Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act, to get our kids out from behind screens and back in the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the previous question. If the previous question is defeated, Republicans will amend this rule to immediately consider H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act, which I am proud to cosponsor.

As a father of two small children, their overall health and well- being is my top priority; not just my children, but all of America's children. And as I have looked around this Chamber, I see lots of Members on both sides of the aisle who I know to be great parents and grandparents, and I know they want the best for their children, too.

I am also a doctor, and I am co-chair of our Doctors Caucus. Throughout this pandemic, we have heard calls from Members, and now from President Joe Biden, that we need to trust the science.

As a doctor, I wholeheartedly agree--and the science is clear-- students and teachers can go back to in-person learning safely. I know this because my own children have been fortunate enough to go back to school in person all of this school year safely.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has stressed the importance of students returning to school for their overall health and well-being, and the CDC research is clear that transmission in schools is extremely low.

Last week, I joined Congresswoman Hinson, Whip Scalise, and Ranking Member Foxx on a call with parents from all across the country who want their children to be able to go back to school. It was a bipartisan event. To them, this wasn't a partisan issue. The parents on the call were from across the entire political spectrum: Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

We heard heartbreaking stories from them about some of their children falling into depression, losing their reading comprehension, and struggling to focus.

Kids are attempting or committing suicide at an alarming rate. In one county in Nevada, the suicide rate doubled from the previous year. Hospitals across the country are seeing unprecedented increases in children suicide attempts and mental health admissions.

Yes, there is some risk to returning, but nothing in life is zero risk. The consequences of staying closed are far too grave and our children are suffering both socially and academically because of it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Reopen Schools Act because we have given schools the funding needed to reopen safely. However, some schools, seemingly under pressure from powerful teachers' unions, refuse to return to in-person learning.

Congress has provided more than $54 billion in State COVID relief grants for education to help reopen schools. We didn't, however, require the schools to actually reopen if they were to access the money, and that was a mistake.

Congresswoman Hinson's bill will address that issue by conditioning those funds on States producing a reopening plan to get students back to school as quickly as possible.

There are at least 3 months left in most school years around the country. We can't just let schools put off returning to in-person learning until next fall or later. We need to do what is best for our students, our children, our grandchildren, our nieces and nephews. We need to reopen the schools now.

We can't, for example, expect sixth-grade teachers to teach fourth graders.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to defeat the previous question. I thank Congresswoman Hinson for her leadership on this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Judge Ethna Cooper for her many years of service to Hamilton County and its residents.

Judge Cooper was appointed to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas by Governor Taft in 2003.

In addition to her service on the Court, Judge Cooper founded and has served as the Presiding Judge of the Hamilton County Felony Veterans' Treatment Court since 2011.

This court was the first Felony Veterans' Treatment Court in the United States, addressing the issues that led to a veteran's contact with the criminal justice system.

Judge Cooper has served Hamilton County with diligence and honor.

I want to thank Judge Cooper again and wish her the best in the future.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

I have had the pleasure of serving with Ms. Stefanik on the House Intelligence Committee, and I couldn't agree more with the points she has made.

As a veteran and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee for the previous three terms and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am familiar with the U.S. military as well as with the intelligence community.

This amendment, if adopted, would require the Director of National Intelligence, not the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report to Congress regarding strikes taken against terrorists outside of areas of active hostilities, as well as an assessment of combatant and noncombatant deaths.

This amendment is problematic for several reasons. First, there already exists transparent oversight mechanisms with respect to civilian casualties, and that report is fully available to the public.

Requiring the DNI to conduct a review already completed by the Secretary of Defense is not only wasteful but demonstrates a gross disregard for the DNI's time that should be spent overseeing the intelligence community's efforts against U.S. adversaries.

Further, this amendment circumvents the normal legislative process and completely bypassed the House Intelligence Committee.

Tasking the office of the Director of National Intelligence, an organization over which House Intelligence has oversight responsibilities, requires consultation with the House Intelligence Committee. However, we were not given the opportunity to weigh in on this amendment until now.

At the eleventh hour, various cosponsors of this amendment performed a sly bait-and-switch, changing what was voted on by the Armed Services Committee and inserting an organization solely within the House Intelligence's jurisdiction. To say am I disappointed with that is an understatement.

This amendment is irresponsible and reflects a disregard for the House Intelligence Committee's equities in this debate.

It failed to navigate the proper jurisdiction process and takes time and resources away from critical national security missions.

So, I understand the desire of this type of well-meaning legislation; however, committees of jurisdiction exist for a reason, and I am surprised that various members of the House Intelligence Committee would flagrantly disregard the implications of ceding our jurisdiction on this matter.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and thank a member of my staff, who is also a constituent from Ohio's Second District, Annie Cummins.

Annie and her stepmother, Linda, have worked alongside me for much of my careers both in Congress and in private medical practice. Linda devoted 20 years as a medical assistant in my practice, and 2019 marks Annie's 20th year working for me in my medical practice and then in my Congressional office.

Annie Cummins is a hard worker, a caring mother, and a loyal friend to all who know her.

I am honored to have worked with Annie for two decades now. She has selflessly dedicated her life to the people of Southern and Southwestern Ohio, and her influence has made my offices and our community a better place.

I thank Annie for her dedication and hard work throughout the years. I look forward to working with her for many more.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Madam Speaker, on roll call no. 381, I mistakenly voted NAY when I intended to vote AYE.

Madam Speaker, Robert Morrison, a WWII veteran from Ohio, turned 100 this past Saturday. I am honored to recognize Mr. Morrison for his service to our nation on this important occasion.

Mr. Morrison joined the Army on March 16, 1942 as a Tech 4 with the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion. He served throughout Europe and fought in Normandy.

I thank Mr. Morrison for his service to our country and am honored to share my home state with such an outstanding American hero. Our world is freer because of his service, and we owe him a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. I am glad to be able to celebrate him, and his service to our nation, today.

I wish Mr. Morrison a Happy Birthday. God bless him, God bless our nation's servicemembers, and God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Georgetown, Ohio, for its bicentennial anniversary this year.

For two centuries, Georgetown has been a pillar of Brown County.

Annually, Georgetown hosts the Brown County Fair for neighbors to come together and celebrate life in Southern Ohio.

Georgetown is also the hometown of one of our nation's greatest generals and our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant. Visitors come to Georgetown each year to tour Grant's boyhood home and schoolhouse, which are National Historic Landmarks.

Georgetown continues to foster some of the best people Ohio has to offer. I am proud to be the representative in Congress for the good citizens of Georgetown, Ohio.

Congratulations to all of Georgetown and her residents, past and present, on this historic occasion, and may they look forward with optimism to the next 200 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a member of my staff and a constituent from Ohio's Second District, Ryan Dierker.

After 4 years in my office, Ryan will be leaving at the end of the month for a higher calling. He will be going to Officer Candidate School for the United States Marine Corps.

Ryan will surely be missed in my office, but I could not be prouder to watch this young man answer the call

to serve his country. Ryan will be joining the finest 1 percent of our Nation who have put on the uniform of the United States.

I welcome Ryan to the club, the United States military. It is the best club I ever joined, and I know he will soon agree.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ryan for his hard work in my office, but more importantly, I thank him for his service to our great Nation. I salute him.

Oohrah.

Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Roe for yielding. I appreciate his leadership on the Veterans Affairs' Committee for the many years that he has been here and has always been a leader.

As an Iraq war vet and an Army reservist, I know how important it is to help our warfighters succeed in their transition from Active Duty to civilian life. We should prepare our warfighters for success outside the military from the day they take their oath of enlistment to the day they begin their civilian careers. I think we have ignored this for too long.

Leaving the military with a plan and a purpose is key to the long- term well-being of all of our servicemembers.

I know when I came back from Iraq as a reservist, they said, ``You have 90 days before you have to go back to work.'' I said, ``I am going next week. What am I going to do, sit around my house and just look at the walls?''

You go from having a job in the military, where you have a purpose and a meaning, and it is important that when you get out that you have the same. That makes the transition and your life that much better.

Economic opportunity and transition programs are critical support for veterans when they complete their service. The current structure of the VA allows economic opportunity and transition programs for our veterans to fall by the wayside. These programs should be treated with the same importance as health, compensation, and other benefits.

The Veterans' Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act, known as the VET OPP Act, aligns transition, education, and employment programs in a fourth administration within the VA. This ensures that these opportunity-focused programs get the high priority they deserve and the oversight they need to better serve our veterans.

The VET OPP Act would streamline services and help the VA empower veterans and set them on a path to a successful civilian life.

Madam Speaker, due to the death of my father, I was unable to attend the following votes.

Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 185; YEA on Roll Call No. 186; YEA on Roll Call No. 187; YEA on Roll Call No. 188; NAY on Roll Call No. 189; NAY on Roll Call No. 190; YEA on Roll Call No. 191; YEA on Roll Call No. 192; NAY on Roll Call No. 193; NAY on Roll Call No. 194; YEA on Roll Call No. 195; NAY on Roll Call No. 196; NAY on Roll Call No. 197; NAY on Roll Call No. 198; NAY on Roll Call No. 199; YEA on Roll Call No. 200; YEA on Roll Call No. 201; and NAY on Roll Call No. 202.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the American Jewish Committee of Cincinnati's 75th anniversary on May 2nd.

For three-quarters of a century, the AJC Cincinnati has been a major support system for the Greater Cincinnati Jewish Community and worked to create lasting relationships with people of other faiths, races, and denominations.

I thank the AJC Cincinnati's leadership and members for making a positive interfaith impact on the Cincinnati community.

Congratulations to the AJC Cincinnati on this noteworthy anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Highland Masonic Lodge's bicentennial on May 4th.

The Highland Masonic Lodge has served the Highland County since 1819, just ten years after the city of Highland was founded.

The Highland Masonic Lodge has over 350 members who are dedicated to helping local charities, especially those benefitting our youth and individuals with special needs.

Congratulations to the Highland Masonic Lodge on this notable anniversary. Our community is grateful for their many years of service.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of WVNU Southern Ohio Broadcasting.

May 1, 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of WVNU delivering the latest news and entertainment to the people of Southern Ohio.

I am honored to recognize Pat and Elaine Hays, who founded the station in 1994 and have owned and operated it since then, and all the employees at WVNU.

Every day, Ohioans depend on local radio to keep them informed about the latest news affecting our communities. WVNU's continued investment in Southern Ohio has helped distinguish the station as a reliable, trusted source.

Congratulations and a heartfelt `thank you' to WVNU for 25 years of valued service to their community.