Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the primary sponsor of H.R. 1744, a bill originally introduced by Representative Hastings of Florida, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for his leadership on this legislation.

I rise in support of the PFAS Action Act, a landmark bill that will protect millions of Americans from these toxic forever chemicals.

We know PFAS persists in the environment and the human body, and it is making our constituents sick. This legislation addresses legacy contamination and its associated health effects. Importantly, this bill will also go to the source, and halt active contamination and work to hold polluters accountable.

That is exactly what my provision is designed to do. This legislation includes my bill, the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act, which addresses toxic PFAS discharges and invests in local infrastructure.

No polluter should be able to dump PFAS unchecked into our waterways and into our wastewater systems. PFAS should be handled like other toxic substances that have been regulated through the Clean Water Act.

We must also support wastewater systems to make necessary infrastructure upgrades that will stop PFAS from poisoning our environment and our water. This bill would authorize $200 million a year for these grants.

Madam Speaker, this is a bipartisan issue, and it is an issue that literally affects every State and every district across this country.

Just yesterday I joined a round table of concerned leaders in my district whose message was crystal clear: Pass this bill and protect the health and well-being of our communities and our families.

I heard from the town manager in Bedford, New Hampshire, who spoke to me about residents receiving bottled water for the past 3 years because their wells are contaminated. Families and businesses in several neighboring communities face the same situation. How many more years are we going to let these people wait for clean water?

A constituent of mine named Lisa, from the Seacoast region of New Hampshire, has two kids who drank PFAS-laced water for a number of years when they were growing up. They faced a number of unimaginable health impacts as a result of that.

How many more households like Lisa's will there be in this particular situation if we allow more PFAS out into the environment?

Far too many Americans are drinking from contaminated systems and wells. Far too many Americans are at the mercy of industrial polluters and have brought this problem to our doorstep.

I urge passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rayann Dionne, who is the 2021 recipient of the NH Coastal Adaption Workgroup's Climate Champion Award. The CAW Climate Champion Award is given to members of the Seacoast community who are powerful advocates for climate-related research and adaptation work. For 12 years, Rayann served as the Conservation Coordinator for the Town of Hampton where she championed climate adaptation efforts. In addition, Rayann also serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the Seabrook-Hampton Estuary Alliance.

Rayann has been an invaluable part of the Hampton community, overseeing complex issues including conservation efforts, stormwater management, and floodplain management. Hampton has several miles of coastline and an ecologically critical estuary, and Rayann was critical in working with FEMA to enroll the town of Hampton in FEMA's Community Rating System. She has been able to engage all members of the community in her efforts including by working with local students on projects to maintain the health of the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary, as well as coordinating an auction of rain barrels painted by local middle school and high school students.

Throughout her career, Rayann has been a fierce advocate for climate resilience. A leader on environmental issues, she has overseen both the designing and running of workshops and community events for Hampton residents. From beach clean-ups to snowshoe tours and the installation of a rain garden at the local library, Rayann has dedicated herself to improving the Seacoast community by always bringing others into her work.

Rayann Dionne has made an immeasurable impact on her local community and the state of New Hampshire not only through her concrete actions but also through the energy and positivity she brings to all her endeavors. Foregrounding the importance of climate action, Rayann has served her community in a way that warrants our recognition. Her continued involvement in her work puts her community, and the entire state of New Hampshire, on a pathway towards a more climate-resilient future.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I thank Rayann for her decades of enthusiastic dedication to our state. The Granite State is a better place because of the public service of Rayann Dionne.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anna Thomas as the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Anna has worked in the Manchester Health Department since 1994 and currently serves as its Director.

During her time at the Health Department, Anna has been a model public servant working on behalf of the residents of New Hampshire's largest city. Public health known no boundaries, and Anna has worked hard to build partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders to address the needs of her city. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Anna has served her community as the co-leader of the Manchester Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates municipal first responder agencies and resources. Equipped with a background in emergency response and health promotion, Anna took swift action when the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the health and well-being of Manchester and its surrounding communities. Alongside the dedicated public servants at the Manchester Health Department, which is only one of two standalone health departments in our state, Anna and her many partners have done a remarkable job managing the most severe public health crisis of our time. Now, as the Granite State continues its crucial vaccination effort, Anna has been an outspoken advocate for equity and expanding access to reach our most vulnerable residents.

In addition to aiding public health efforts, Anna is also a proud veteran and active community member involved in a host of local organizations, including Veterans Count, Granite United Way, Mary Gale Foundation, and Bean Foundation. Anna works tirelessly to realize a brighter, healthier future for the greater Manchester area.

During an unprecedented year of loss, Anna has embodied smart, compassionate leadership benefitting our entire community. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I congratulate Anna Thomas for being named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and thank her again for her lifetime of public service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of Paul Plotkin. Born on June 19, 1921, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mr. Plotkin is a veteran and a resident of Derry, New Hampshire. During World War II, he answered the call of his nation and joined the U.S. Army, serving with the 66th Infantry Division in Europe.

Mr. Plotkin endured great hardship during his military service. He was among the more than 2,000 American soldiers being transported from Southampton, England, to Cherbourg, France, aboard the troopship SS Leopoldville when the ship was struck by a torpedo from a German submarine on the evening of December 24, 1944. 763 American soldiers tragically lost their lives in the initial blast and the resulting sinking of the ship in the frigid waters of the English Channel, but Mr. Plotkin survived and made it to France. Although discussion of the Leopoldville disaster was censored in the aftermath of the tragedy, Mr. Plotkin preserved the memory of what he experienced and carried it on to today. Now, as a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1617, Mr. Plotkin continues to honor the memory of his comrades and their sacrifice by supporting fellow veterans and speaking out about his experiences during the war.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to wish Mr. Plotkin a happy 100th birthday and thank him for his service to our nation. I hope that he has a wonderful celebration with his loved ones and fellow veterans. His sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the incredible efforts of the staff at the Manchester, New Hampshire, VA Medical Center, who worked long hours to resolve a massive backlog of unpaid medical claims for community care.

In a district where veterans travel long distances to get to a VA facility, community care has been a game-changer for vets to receive the services they need closer to home. But in the early years of the Choice Act, and now the Mission Act, provider payment delays and bureaucratic errors threatened the stability of community care networks and, ultimately, the access to critical lifesaving care for veterans.

One of the first providers who contacted our office was an acupuncturist who provides care to veterans experiencing PTS and debilitating pain. The acupuncturist was passionate about caring for those who served, but the chronic billing delays were creating severe uncertainty and financial hardship for her office.

She introduced me to a group of veterans that she cares for in her office to learn a little bit more about their experience. They all had a remarkable story about how their quality of life had improved since accessing these services through VA community care. But they understood that payment delays could disrupt that.

Countless other providers, including large hospital systems and small care organizations, were also caught up in this claims backlog. The VA was making it difficult, if not impossible, for many of these providers to continue serving veterans.

The issue of unpaid claims was compounded in the Northeast region by VA's multiple transitions between third-party administrators over the last few years. It created confusion and frustration in both the provider and the veteran communities.

I knew we couldn't let our veterans down, and that is why I am so thankful for the efforts of the community care team at the Manchester VA for working with our office, with providers, as well as the third- party billers to thoroughly address this issue.

Our office worked closely with the leadership at the Manchester VA Medical Center and the New Hampshire Hospital Association and its members. A plan was developed to painstakingly delve into the minutiae of the claims backlog, line by line, so that providers could be paid for legacy claims and receive timely payments for future services.

The Manchester VA Medical Center's Office of Community Care steadily plowed through the backlog, giving specialized attention to each provider. After more than 15 months of their hard work, I am proud these diligent efforts have resulted in tens of millions of dollars of paid claims to New Hampshire's VA Community Care providers. They were so successful in this work that their internal process is now being shared nationally across the VA system as a model.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally thank the team members at the VA in Manchester who put in so many hours to address this backlog, including:

Michelle Mercer, who spent considerable time dealing with each member's hospital billing department;

Patricia Patterson, who also spent considerable time dealing with each member's billing department;

Tracy Allaire, who worked closely with Tri-West on claims on behalf of hospitals on the back end;

Charlene Eaton, who supervised and provided oversight to the VA Office of Community Care staff;

Dr. Brain Phemester, who worked and provided leadership and served as a conduit between VA Central Office and the New Hampshire Hospital Association and its members;

And Daniel Wilson, who initially spearheaded the billing resolution effort within the VA Central Office, and worked with our district office and the Hospital Association.

These Manchester VA Medical Center employees went above and beyond the call of duty for our veterans and the providers, as well as the future of community care. I couldn't be more proud to be able to recognize them for their efforts here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Susan Huard, who is being honored today for her retirement from the Community College System of New Hampshire. She has served as the interim chancellor of the Community College System of New Hampshire since 2020. Throughout her time as chancellor for CCSNH, Susan guided her team through a global pandemic, helping students and staff to adapt to new challenges posed by the public health crisis.

Prior to serving as chancellor, Susan served as president of Manchester Community College for nine years, retiring in 2019. Her leadership and commitment to supporting the next generation has touched numerous lives and has played a vital role in building a brighter future for our community. Throughout her tenure, she has served with dedication and adapted to challenges with grace.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank Susan for her years of service to our community. I congratulate her again on her incredible career, and I thank her for all that she has done to make our state such a wonderful place to learn, live, and grow.

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for their work in putting together this comprehensive group of bills today to support our veterans, including this bill, and I appreciate their support for it.

I rise in support of this legislation, the Improving VA Accountability to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act, a bill that I introduced, along with Representative Hinson.

This bipartisan, bicameral bill will take critical steps to combat sexual harassment by updating VA's antiquated policies and structure, in addition to creating stronger reporting requirements.

We know that at least 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men who have served in the military are survivors of sexual assault, harassment, or abuse.

At the VA, we know that at least 1 in 4 women veterans and 1 in 4 women employees experience sexual harassment in healthcare settings.

It is simply unacceptable that someone who has proudly served our Nation is subjected to sexual harassment in the institution whose charge it is to serve them.

It is long past time for us to make systemic change at the VA that will honor the service of our veterans and healthcare providers and keep people safe.

This is commonsense legislation that came out of an Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee hearing that we held last July. We heard from the GAO and the VA on this issue. While important steps have been made by the VA in the recent past, this is important legislation that is going to continue to improve this situation and make the kind of long-lasting change that is long overdue.

I urge my colleagues to pass this commonsense bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ranking Member Bost, for introducing this legislation. I was proud to support it alongside my colleague, Tracey Mann, from the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. It is the VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021.

Now, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis turned our world upside down, and it hit our veteran community especially hard. The issues our veterans faced before the pandemic

have only been exacerbated by COVID-19, and they contend with a new host of health and financial hardships.

That is why I joined with many in this Chamber to strongly urge for support to our veterans in COVID-19 relief packages, including the American Rescue Plan. That plan provided a much-needed investment in the VA, but we must all work together to ensure that this funding is used effectively to support our veterans and to increase the quality care that they receive.

As chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, and ensuring veterans get the care they have earned is a top priority.

This legislation would require the VA to report to Congress on the emergency funding that it has already received. It will provide the enhanced oversight that is warranted to ensure funds are being used efficiently and in ways that are truly meeting the needs of those who have served us all.

Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the veterans of our military who, following their service, are housing insecure.

Although we have made significant strides in combating veteran homelessness, the fact remains that more than 37,000 veterans are homeless right now, and many more are worried about keeping a roof over their heads.

That is why the Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act is needed. I introduced this bill with Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Mann, and it is included as part of H.R. 2878 today.

This legislation will allow the VA to continue to acquire homes through foreclosure, and then sell or lease these homes to veterans in need of housing.

This much we know: A veteran who has sworn to give everything for the United States, up to and including their life, should not be without a roof over their head and a safe place to sleep when their service is over.

As President Kennedy said of those who have served: ``As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.''

Let's show our veterans our gratitude by addressing housing insecurity and passing this legislation today, as well as the underlying bill sponsored by Representative Gallego.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate my constituent, Raude Rayche, for becoming a citizen of the United States of America on January 29, 2021. Raychel has established herself as a pillar of her Somersworth community, and committed her life to bringing together her neighbors in Somersworth and her Indonesian culture. It is with great excitement I celebrate her citizenship to the country we love.

Raychel's dedication to the U.S. and to New Hampshire started long before becoming a citizen of this country. As the President of the Somersworth, NH nonprofit Indonesian Community Connect (ICC), Raychel designed programs to educate and engage community members in the traditions of her culture. Her caring nature and desire to grow her community has improved the lives of those living in the tri-city area and beyond.

However, Raychel did not stop there. With the help of her many partners Raychel led the efforts on the Little Indonesia project. Under

her leadership, Somersworth will be home to the world's first Little Indonesia--a cultural attraction that will expand educational and economic opportunities, and which aims to benefit all in my state. New Hampshire is proud to call Raychel a resident, and we all benefit from her ingenuity and her commitment to her community.

I want to recognize Raychel for not just saying the oath of allegiance to her new country, but for embodying the very meaning of being a citizen. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I welcome Raychel as an American Citizen and celebrate the work she does for the people of the Granite State. I thank her for her many contributions and continued efforts to improving the lives of all in our state.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the opening of the Little Indonesia in Somersworth, New Hampshire. After years of diligent planning, Indonesian Community Connect Inc. has made international history by unveiling this new cultural landmark and opening the first Little Indonesia in the United States.

My state is home to a vibrant and welcoming Indonesian community seeking to contribute to their home as proud Granite Staters. ICC has built strong ties within the community and created lasting connections by hosting cultural events and offering educational opportunities for all to attend. The opening of Little Indonesia aims to expand on this spirit of togetherness, and I am proud to see this project come together. As this region emerges from the pandemic, Little Indonesia will serve as a cultural and community gathering spaces for all to enjoy for years to come.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to congratulate the Indonesian Community Connect Inc., the City of Somersworth, and the members of the community who have made the Little Indonesia project come to life. Let us celebrate this new hub of cultural exchange,

economic opportunity, and community engagement that will elevate New Hampshire's status on the global stage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Align Credit Union on opening their new location in Seabrook, their first in New Hampshire.

Every day brings unique challenges to our entrepreneurs here in the Granite State--even more so during these unprecedented times--but as someone who has owned and operated a family restaurant, I know that it's institutions like Align Credit Union that help drive our economy and form the fabric of our communities. Since its founding in 1922, Align has built strong bonds within New England communities, and maintained its focus on members, regardless of circumstance.

Community financial institutions like Align have long served an essential purpose in expanding financial literacy and strengthening local economies. Now, their work is more important than ever, as Americans turn to credit unions to disburse essential relief funds and rely on their support of Main Street businesses. Align's cooperative model and ``people helping people'' approach has been essential to its members during this crisis. We welcome Align to the Seacoast of New Hampshire.

Once again, I want to congratulate Align Credit Union on this great achievement, and them for all those who have been involved in making this possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise today during Municipal and Town Clerks Appreciation Week to honor New Hampshire's City and Town Clerks for the hard work that they do each and every day to ensure our local governments run smoothly and that our citizens get the services they need.

Municipal clerks deliver important public services and each year interact with hundreds of members of their community. Whether maintaining public records, registering motor vehicles, licensing dogs and other pets, or administering local elections, chances are you've relied on your local clerk more than once in the last year and on countless occasions throughout your life.

During this pandemic, we've asked city and town clerks to go above and beyond under incredibly difficult circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic necessarily shut down many aspects of society in order to keep our families and communities safe. But the work of a clerk must continue to ensure that citizens are served and that the wheels of local government continue to move forward.

Administering an election in the best of times is incredibly challenging. Doing so in a pandemic meant clerks had to rewrite the playbook and develop and implement new best practices on short notice. New Hampshire residents voted in record numbers last fall, and even with an unprecedented number of ballots cast early and by mail, our elections ran as smoothly as ever because of the dedication and hard work of our municipal clerks. Providing services and maintaining vital records in the best of times is complex and time consuming. Doing so in a pandemic meant clerks needed to adapt to meet the needs of their neighbors to do their job while keeping residents safe. These are no small feats, and we are grateful.

The New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Code of Ethics states: ``Town and city clerks are elected and/or appointed by the citizens who have the utmost trust and faith in the clerk's ability to fairly and honestly serve their community. Let us all live up to that trust with honor and dignity.'' Over the last year, our municipal clerks have indeed lived up to that trust and performed their duties with honor and dignity throughout New Hampshire.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank our municipal clerks for their dedication to New Hampshire and convey the thanks of a grateful state for their continued public service.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today and urge the swift passage of H.R. 2630. This legislation will save American lives by getting deadly chemical fentanyl analogues off our streets and allowing law enforcement to swiftly bring drug traffickers to justice.

The CDC reports that there were more than 50,000 deaths involving synthetic opioids in the 12-month period ending in July 2020--50,000 deaths in 12 months.

The addiction crisis has worsened as a result of this pandemic, and this is not the time to let regulations lapse or to back away from our commitment to get people the help that they need.

My State of New Hampshire, like so many, has been hit incredibly hard by fentanyl and its chemical analogues. Chemical versions of fentanyl are ever-changing, and we know that traffickers intentionally make small variations in substances, knowing that the scheduling process may take months in order to place these deadly drugs on schedule I where they belong. This means that traffickers are often one step ahead of law enforcement.

Madam Speaker, this legislation helps prevent that by ensuring all fentanyl analogues are categorized as schedule I.

The DEA first issued a temporary order in February of 2018, and Congress wisely passed legislation extending that order through May 6.

Madam Speaker, my legislation, the Extending Temporary Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act, would extend that order and, again, ensure that constantly changing chemical versions of fentanyl, often smuggled in from Mexico and China, are labeled as schedule I.

The bill would prevent our communities from being flooded with synthetic opioids and will ensure that those trafficking them will be held accountable without delay.

People are in a fight for their lives right now. Our country continues to be ravished by addiction. To let down our guard at this moment would cause unmistakable harm to our families and our communities.

I am hopeful that we will see swift bipartisan action in Congress to grant this extension.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this bill.