Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I would like to celebrate and give gratitude to Mr. Nicola Bulgari, an avid connoisseur of American-made cars and gracious contributor to the LeMay--America's Car Museum in Washington's 6th Congressional District.

Mr. Bulgari was born and raised in Rome, Italy and as a young boy, became fascinated with American cars. He promised himself that when he grew up, he would own an American car. This boyhood goal grew into supporting a dream that the United States would have a national entity dedicated to the heritage that the automobile brought to American life. Through his extensive efforts and commitment to helping others who share his passion, that dream has become a reality. In 2004, Mr. Bulgari joined the Board of Directors for the LeMay--America's Car Museum and devoted himself to the effort which led to its opening in Tacoma, Washington in 2012.

Most recently, in January 2021, Mr. Bulgari carried out the partnership between the NB Center for American Automotive Heritage and America's Automotive Trust based in Tacoma, WA. The Trust is committed to honoring the past, celebrating the present, and anticipating the future of American automotive legacy.

We are extraordinarily fortunate to have seen firsthand the generosity of Mr. Bulgari in our region. His devotion to the American automobile heritage will have a lasting impression on Washingtonians and visitors from all around the country and world. I have the great privilege of recognizing his impact here in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I was born and raised on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, and I know firsthand how special our region is and how our public lands contribute to the fabric of who we are.

In our region, we understand that protecting our public lands isn't just about saving these unforgettable places for future generations. It also means protecting high-quality jobs for the next generation as well.

That is important to me, as someone who grew up on the peninsula and as someone who worked in economic development professionally for over a decade.

I have seen how our natural resources contribute to our economic vitality. Each year, millions of people and families travel to our State and contribute roughly $22 billion in economic impact and support 200,000 jobs in Washington's outdoor economy.

Our national treasures have helped create opportunities for local entrepreneurs who started restaurants, guided tour companies, hotels, and B&Bs, and other small businesses. That is why it makes sense to protect these special places, and that is why I am proud that the House is considering this comprehensive package, including a bill I introduced called the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

That bill protects some of our most environmentally sensitive areas by establishing a new wilderness area to protect the last remaining old-growth stands on the peninsula and designating 19 rivers and tributaries as wild and scenic rivers to protect critical salmon spawning habitats.

This proposal has evolved through extensive public engagement with Tribes, conservation groups, timber communities, business leaders, shellfish growers, and everybody in-between, to create a bill that works for our local communities.

It is because of that outreach that this bill is now formally supported by more than 800 community leaders, Republicans and Democrats, businessowners, sportsmen, mayors, county commissioners, and Tribal leaders, all of whom agree this proposal moves our region in the right direction.

In addition to protecting recreational access and supporting our outdoor economy, the bill bolsters our region's efforts to protect sources of clean drinking water, supporting critical salmon and steelhead habitats, and protecting key waterways that are vital to our shellfish industry.

But just as important are all the things this bill will not do. This proposal will not close, decommission, or otherwise restrict access to any Forest Service roads or trailheads. It will not impact any harvestable timber base in the Olympic National Forest. I am doing a whole bunch of other work to increase the harvest through other avenues.

This bill will not affect any private property rights. It will not impact how the Washington Department of Natural Resources manages State-owned lands, which is why it has gained support of the Washington commissioner of public lands.

We know that our region's future depends on building a strong and diversified economy, and after years of collaboration, I think this bill we are considering today represents a clear win-win for the communities I represent.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the senior Senator from Washington, Senator Murray, for her partnership in this effort. I want to thank the lead sponsor and the Natural Resources Committee. I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this package of en bloc amendments, which includes a bipartisan amendment I offered to expand access to computer science youth apprenticeship programs that are critical to the 21st century workforce.

We know that education is the door to economic opportunity, and one of the most American and foundational paths to high-quality, worked- based learning and education are apprenticeship programs.

In today's changing economy, it is important to continue to find ways to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future, jobs in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technology, green jobs, and computer science.

According to Code.org, across 24 States, only 35 percent of high schools in the U.S. teach computer science. That same study found that Black and Hispanic students, students receiving free and reduced lunch, and students from rural areas are less likely to attend a school that provides access to this critical subject.

Not everyone is going to have a tech-related job, but we know that there is a growing demand that we are struggling to meet for preparing students for these in-demand jobs and for equipping workers with advanced computer science skills.

In fact, a lot of employers in the region I represent in northwest Washington have job openings going unfilled because they can't find folks with the necessary computer science skills.

To prepare students to be successful and innovative in the workforce, the Federal Government should help expand computer science education and pathways to more students.

That is why my amendment would ensure that computer science youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs are prioritized for funding through the historic National Apprenticeship Act of 2021.

Growing the number of computer science programs, including youth apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships for students in high school and beyond, will provide more 21st century job opportunities for our kids, more high-skilled and qualified employees for our local employers, and more economic resiliency for our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his support of this simple yet important amendment, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the package and ``yes'' on the bill.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the 100th birthday of one of my constituents, John T. ``Mike'' Wolf. In 2015, Mr. Wolf was awarded Congress' highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal. He and three dozen American Fighter Aces were honored for their war contributions in World War II and subsequent wars.

The ceremony that took place in May 2015 was convened by Seattle's Museum of Flight and recognized the accomplishments of the 1,447 American Aces who achieved the elite designation. Six years ago, only 77 Aces were alive, and approximately 36 of them gathered in Washington, D.C. to receive the recognition in person.

As Mr. Wolf celebrates his 100th birthday on February 4th, I wanted to take a moment to bring distinction once again to his service and dedication to our country. The stories of the Fighter Aces cover some of the most formative periods in aviation history. Some gained their victories in open-cockpit biplanes, others in the powerful propeller- driven fighters of World War II, and still others in the jets that fought over Korea and Southeast Asia. Aces come from each major combat branch of the U.S. military and nearly every state in the union.

Wolf trained in a Boeing N-25-3 Shearman, then fought in a Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat and the Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat. He was a member of Fighter Squadron Two during World War II, whose roster included Lt. Cmdr. Butch O'Hare, namesake of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport; and Cmdr. Roy ``Butch'' Voris, who is the founder of the Blue Angels.

Recounting his experience Mr. Wolf recalled, ``I was more scared of not being able to do the right thing. We had received six months of training. My fear was, can I analyze [the situation] and do the right thing?'' He didn't get a lot of time to analyze the situation. An engagement might last the few seconds it took to get some shots off, or it could be longer. All told, Wolf downed seven Japanese fighter planes--three in one day, and five between June 11 and 19, 1944. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.

After the war, Wolf embarked on a career in life insurance to support his young family. The discipline of a Navy pilot came in handy because he didn't exactly enjoy selling life insurance. He would tell you, ``I got good at it and stuck with it.''

Today, we honor and celebrate John ``Mike'' Wolf--whose love for the Navy has never wavered and whose service to his country and community is greatly appreciated and will be long remembered.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the life of Dr. Eloise Whittlesey Kailin--a champion of public health, good governance, and environmental issues who recently passed away on June 1, 2019 at the age of 100.

Dr. Kailin was born in New London, Connecticut, but moved frequently during her father's career in the U.S. Coast Guard. From the age of eleven, she expressed her desire to become a physician, and that dream was realized when she became one of the few women accepted into the George Washington University Medical School class of 1943.

She married Harvey Kailin, Sr. in 1942, the year before her graduation, and began her distinguished medical career in Washington, D.C. She became board certified in allergy and immunology, served for over thirty years as a writer and editor of medical abstracts for the Journal of Allergy, and testified on Capitol Hill for the Clean Air Act. After the family moved to Maryland, Dr. Kailin developed a friendship with Rachel Carson, author of the seminal 1962 work about the impact of pesticides on the food chain, Silent Spring. This friendship likely strengthened Dr. Kailin's commitment to addressing environmental issues both for the health of her patients and for people throughout our country.

Dr. Kailin and her husband retired to Sequim in 1971 based on her recollection of ``Sunny Sequim'' from high school years in Seattle in the 1930s. Living on the North Olympic Peninsula, she saw the critical need to protect its pristine beauty and spent nearly fifty years in service to that cause.

Shortly after their arrival in Sequim, the Kailins became involved in the fight against a proposed nuclear power plant on the Miller Peninsula east of Sequim, which led to the founding of Protect the Peninsula's Future (PPF)--a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of the North Olympic Peninsula. The opposition prevailed, and the site once considered for that power plant is now a part of Miller Peninsula State Park. Dr. Kailin remained a board member of the organization she helped found until her passing.

Through PPF, Dr. Kailin was instrumental in addressing countless environmental concerns. Many believe one of their most significant achievements was the fifteen-year court battle with the city of Sequim over sewage treatment. In 1998, that fight resulted in the construction of a state-of-the-art water reclamation facility which was expanded in 2010, nearly doubling its capacity.

This centenarian was the recipient of many awards including the Clallam County Community Service Award, People for Puget Sound's Warren Magnuson Puget Marine Protection Award, Washington Environmental Council's Environmental Heroes Award, and the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award. Before her passing, she was also recognized by the City of Sequim.

I am humbled to speak in recognition of Dr. Eloise Kailin--who is often referred to as the ``matriarch of environmental activism'' on the North Olympic Peninsula. I join her children, Harvey, David, and Janet, and the citizens of our region's beautiful peninsula in mourning her passing, but also in recognizing that her good work will contribute to the health and well-being of the citizens in this gem of the Northwest for generations to come.

Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Carbajal, my good friend, for his leadership on this amendment.

I am proud to cosponsor this amendment which would prohibit future oil and gas sales off the West Coast, including my beautiful home State of Washington.

The fact is the people of Washington State don't support drilling off our coast. Our commercial and recreational fishermen who generate billions in economic impact for our State don't want to see our fisheries compromised by another disaster like the 1988 spill which released more than 230,000 gallons of oil and affected over 110 miles of our coastline.

The 17 Native American Tribes who have fished throughout the Puget Sound watershed since time immemorial don't want to see our coastline exposed to these harmful and polluting activities.

Our shellfish growers, who support roughly 3,200 jobs in our State, don't want to see their jobs threatened. They saw how the Deepwater Horizon spill devastated Louisiana's coastal economy.

Coastal towns including Ocean Shores, Westport, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Montesano, Long Beach, and Ilwaco have passed resolutions saying they don't want it.

Even former Department of the Interior Secretary Zinke in his testimony before the Appropriations Committee last year admitted that the oil and gas industry doesn't want to drill off the coast of Washington because there aren't the resources or infrastructure to do it.

He also said, ``I think I'm going to mark down Washington as opposed to drilling.''

Mr. Chair, I believe this body ought to mark Washington State down as off-limits to drilling, and this amendment does that.

This matters to our economy. It matters to our region's identity. The survival of the last 76 southern resident orca left in the world depends on keeping the Puget Sound protected from the harmful impacts of oil and gas development.

There is a lot at stake here. That is why I urge my colleagues to support the will of the residents of the State of Washington and pass this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for yielding, and I thank her for her leadership on these issues and so many others in her committee's domain.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1921, the bipartisan Ocean Acidification Innovation Act. Ocean acidification is a rising threat to coastal communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and threatens entire livelihoods and industries in my home State of Washington.

There are generation of folks along the sound and in our coastal communities who have worked in fishing and in shellfish growing, but that is endangered if we don't maintain a healthy Pacific Ocean.

Growing evidence suggests that acidic ocean conditions harm the ability of many marine organisms to generate shells. These marine organisms, which include oysters, mussels, and pteropods are a key part of the food chain for salmon, herring, and other fish.

Scientists back home at the University of Washington recently discovered that ocean acidification also threatens the more than $220 million Dungeness crab fishery, raising serious concerns about future implications for species and ecosystems in the region.

In Washington State alone, the commercial fishing and seafood processing industry, which includes shellfish aquaculture, contribute nearly 16,000 jobs and $9.4 billion in revenue to our economy. According to a report by Washington Sea Grant, Washington State is the Nation's leading producer of farmed clams, oysters, and mussels, and not only are these products delicious, they support jobs.

So really, the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act is really about jobs. This bill would allow Federal agencies to use existing funds to conduct prize competitions to increase the ability to research, monitor, and manage ocean acidification and its impacts. I agree with the chair that this can't and shouldn't replace direct investment in research. But this bill creates a strong incentive for experts to focus on developing innovative solutions to this serious challenge.

This legislation was created in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the XPRIZE Foundation, an innovative nonprofit organization that creates competitions designed to encourage increased investment in solutions to major societal problems. So, for example, the Ansari XPRIZE awarded for personal spaceflight technology helped launch a brand-new $2 billion private space industry.

Research also suggests that prize competitions often increase exponentially the amount of research focused on solving a problem. For example, the Ansari XPRIZE yielded over $100 million in private research as 26 teams competed for a $10 million prize.

So Federal agencies have increasingly viewed these prize competitions as a means of maximizing the return on taxpayer dollars, leveraging prizes to attract more resources to tackle different scientific challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the Ocean Acidification and Innovation Act will encourage collaboration and spur innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification. It will help communities, environments, and industries that rely on healthy oceans and are facing the hard realities of increasing ocean acidification.

I want to thank my colleague from the Pacific Northwest, Representative Jamie Herrera Beutler, as well as Suzanne Bonamici and Don Young for cosponsoring this important legislation. I also want to thank the chair and the ranking member for their continued leadership and their support of this.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Joel Jean Courreges, Sr., a decorated veteran and Kitsap County community member, who passed away on May 10, 2019.

Joel was born in France on March 15, 1950. He attended Roosevelt High School in Seattle and immediately enlisted in the Marines after graduation. Through his decorated career of military service, Joel attained the rank of Sergeant and served two tours as a mortarman in Phu Bai and Danang, where he was wounded. Returning home from Vietnam, he married Kandace K. Hove and had two children, Joel Jr. and Danielle. In 1973, he met his current wife, Carol, and they were married, expanding his family to include Deanna and Tami.

After his time in the military, Joel continued to seek ways to serve his community and contribute to its growth and vitality. He spent thirty-six years as a truck operator before retiring in 2006. Not long after his retirement, Joel became a service officer for the Bremerton chapter of Disabled American Veterans, eventually taking on the role of Commander.

Through his work with Disabled American Veterans, Joel served his community diligently by outreaching, connecting, and supporting veterans across Kitsap County. His work earned praise and numerous accolades during his tenure, including a Golden Tennis Shoe award from Senator Patty Murray.

In addition to his work with Disabled American Veterans, Joel also served on the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board, helping shape the County's efforts in supporting its many veterans who call our region home.

Madam Speaker, Joel set an example for all of us who strive to serve and better our communities. Even in the face of increasing health hardship, Joel maintained a steadfast commitment to working on behalf of veterans and we are better off because of his great work.

I am honored to recognize Joel Jean Courreges, Sr.'s great life and legacy of service and send my very best to his family, friends, and the staff of the Bremerton chapter of Disabled American Veterans.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to celebrate the career of my constituent, Mr. Lawrence Greaves. Following nearly two decades of service as a Silverdale Port Commissioner, Mr. Greaves recently retired from the commission, leaving behind an impactful legacy in our region and in his hometown of Silverdale, Washington.

Mr. Greaves' family roots were first planted in Silverdale when his great-grandfather, Charles Greaves, purchased land in what is recognized today as downtown Silverdale. Mr. Greaves was born and raised in Silverdale, where his parents, Lawrence and Ellen Greaves, owned a farm and local business. After graduating from Central Kitsap High School, he attended the University of Washington where he earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Mr. Greaves then began working for the Shell Oil Company, which moved his career to Anacortes, Washington, and then to Wood River and Chicago, Illinois.

Eventually, Mr. Greaves found his way back to Silverdale, where he tested torpedoes at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Keyport. Following his retirement, Mr. Greaves began his service as a Commissioner at the Port of Silverdale, where he spent the next 20 years overseeing port facilities, as well as making marked improvements upon the expansion, improvement, and programming of the Port of Silverdale.

His dedication to the community and to the Port of Silverdale will long be recognized, and I am especially grateful for his continued service to our region. Congratulations, Mr. Greaves.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for organizing today's Special Order to celebrate the life of Ellen Tauscher.

I didn't serve with Ellen. I had the opportunity to meet her and enjoyed that, and I now have the distinct honor of serving in a role that she held, not just previously but exceptionally, as chair of the New Democrat Coalition.

As my friend from Wisconsin said, the New Dems is made up of forward- thinking, pro-growth, pro-innovative, and fiscally responsible Democrats. This Congress, we have 101 members, making us now the largest ideological caucus in the House. It is the largest the coalition has ever been.

It is safe to say, and it is certainly not hyperbole to say, that this coalition would not be what it is if it wasn't for Ellen Tauscher. The coalition came into existence with the election of Ellen Tauscher and several other current and former colleagues back in 1996.

Shortly after she took office, Peter Beinart wrote a profile piece about Ellen and the New Democrats in Time magazine. In it, Beinart describes the early days of a growing New Democrat Coalition that represented predominantly suburban districts across the country. He declared the Democratic center was moving toward what he called Tauscherism, a phrase that stuck around to describe the socially progressive, fiscally moderate, pro-business focus that were many of the policies New Democrats advocated not just then but now as well.

Ellen quickly gained respect, both in the coalition and within the broader Caucus. She was elected to the serve as the New Dem chair in 2005 and served in that position until 2009 when she left Congress to serve as Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs at the State Department.

As chair, Ellen made a consequential impact on the direction of the New Democrat Coalition. Under her chairwomanship, the coalition fought for a forward-looking innovation agenda, strong national defense, and more effective government.

Ellen also rose in leadership positions on the Armed Services Committee, chairing the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. She worked closely with our leadership when Democrats took the majority in 2007, to help shepherd landmark legislation through the Congress.

Those who knew her well, and you have heard from many of them tonight, remember her tenacity, her creativity, and her patriotism. Since her passing, we have heard from former colleagues and friends about the extraordinary impact that Ellen made on their lives and on them.

They say the measure of a person's life is the impact they have on others. From this measurement alone, it is very clear that Ellen lived a life of purpose. We are so thankful for the time that she spent here, for the time she spent blazing a trail for the New Democrat Coalition.

We are absolutely keeping Ellen's daughter, Katherine, and the entire Tauscher family in our thoughts and prayers this month as we celebrate her extraordinary life and her extraordinary legacy.

Again, I thank our colleague from California for organizing this Special Order in honor of Ellen's life.

Mr. Speaker, there is no denying it, climate change is real, and Congress has a moral obligation to act.

The communities that I represent in Washington State are already experiencing the impacts. Coastal Tribes are in the process of trying to move to higher ground. Changing ocean chemistry is impacting our marine life and the industries that depend on it.

The Department of Defense has called it a threat multiplier that makes our world less safe.

And, today, Congress will take an important, tangible step toward addressing climate change by passing the Climate Action Now Act, a bill that reaffirms America's commitment to the Paris climate agreement and directs the administration to develop a comprehensive plan to meet the significant emission reductions that we as a Nation, and nearly every Nation in the world, committed to back in 2015.

We know that making progress is not only about protecting our environment, but also about protecting our economic interests and our national security.

The American people are not just demanding action, but leadership, to counter the impacts of climate change.

This legislation is an important first step toward meeting our long- term carbon emission goals, and I am proud to cosponsor it and vote in favor of it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 30th anniversary of Safe Streets. Since its founding in 1989, Safe Streets has made a lasting and transformative impact across the many diverse neighborhoods and communities throughout Tacoma and Pierce County.

Operating as a community-led grassroots effort, Safe Streets has thrived through a dedication to building a broad coalition of friends and neighbors that seek to create vibrant and flourishing neighborhoods across Pierce County. They are made up of interfaith leaders, business owners, school teachers, law enforcement, and devoted volunteers from the community.

Safe Streets has organized and trained a network of 125 Neighborhood Groups in neighborhoods, involving over 13,500 community leaders and 190,000 residents who work daily to ensure that their neighborhoods and schools are safe. Safe Streets' Community Mobilizers help these Neighborhood Groups define and address their own needs by utilizing organized block watches, youth leadership teams, graffiti removal teams, safe routes to school, and widespread substance abuse and violence prevention education initiatives.

Safe Streets is doing significant work in adapting and evolving as an organization to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of its communities. Through the development of their Non-English Speaking (NES) program, Safe Streets now provides services to residents who have limited or no English-speaking experience. As a result, Safe Streets has been able to regularly connect and meet with community members from the Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Chinese, Philippine, and Cambodian communities, among others, of Pierce County.

Safe Streets is also revered for their work in engaging, mobilizing, and mentoring young people across Pierce County. Many high schools in our communities have established Youth Leading Change (YLC) clubs that are made up of core students, guided by a teacher and coach, and supported by Safe Streets staff. Participants in YLC learn leadership skills and present on prevention issues to their fellow students throughout the year. Alumni of this program have won numerous awards on the state and local level, including a trip to Washington, DC in 2014 and multiple City of Destiny Awards for Youth Leadership in the City of Tacoma.

Madam Speaker, I can say with certainty that our neighborhoods and communities across Tacoma and Pierce County are safer because of the work of Safe Streets. It speaks to their tenacity that even after 30 amazing years, the many volunteers and staff that make up this organization are committed to

evolving and growing to ensure that every neighborhood in Pierce County is a thriving and safe place for all its residents. I wish them the best in this effort and pledge my commitment to supporting them however I can.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of a member of my district staff, Kate Irwin, who passed away this morning following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

While she was taken far too soon, I feel so lucky that she was part of my team and part of our lives. Kate was the ultimate public servant.

If she was meeting with the Navy about issues of national security, she had a smile on her face.

If she was serving food to folks who were down on their luck at the Salvation Army, she had a smile on her face.

If she was visiting a local high school and getting to try out a flight simulator, Kate had a really big smile on her face.

She looked at every day that she got to serve the people of Washington's Sixth Congressional District as a blessing because she knew that every day on this Earth was one as well.

When I interviewed Kate for a job on my team, she memorably said: ``I will work harder and will care more than anyone you'll ever meet.'' And every day that she came into work, every time she staffed an event, every time she followed up with a constituent in need, she showed that extraordinary commitment, even in the face of impossible circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my condolences to Kate's amazing family, and I want to thank them for sharing such an extraordinary young woman with us.

You are in our prayers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions and Making Healthcare More Affordable Act.

I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, which is more important than ever following the administration's court filing last week that pushes for the complete and total repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Now, I wasn't in Congress when that law was passed. I don't think it is a perfect law, but there are components of it that are undeniably positive:

It is a good thing that people with preexisting conditions can't be discriminated against by insurance companies;

It is a good thing that young people can stay on their parents' insurance until their 26th birthday;

It is a good thing that preventive care, like mammograms and cancer screenings, and even annual physicals, can be covered without copay;

It is a good thing that millions of people in our country that now have insurance for the first time are able to get the care they need.

Now, unfortunately, all of those positive steps are put in jeopardy as a consequence of the administration's court filing.

Now, rather than unwinding the progress that has been made, we are proposing to build on the success of the existing law. For example, we propose an expansion of the tax credits available under the law, reducing cost for low-income families and enabling more middle-class families to be eligible for assistance to make healthcare affordable.

This is the beginning of the effort on healthcare, not the end. Folks in D.C. shouldn't be sabotaging the American healthcare system; they should be making it work for the people of America.

Mr. Chairman, I want to start by saying thank you to Congressman Sarbanes for his important work on leading this legislation.

I am proud that we are bringing forward H.R. 1 to restore faith in the legislative branch, because right now Congress is less popular than head lice and colonoscopies. That is because every time my constituents see a bill that is written behind closed doors, or see a government shutdown, or see floor debate that looks like the Jerry Springer Show, they need to see a restoration of faith in government.

This bill will protect voting rights, strengthen ethics rules, and reduce the role of big money politics. It will refresh our democracy; and that is why the new Democrat coalition has endorsed this bill.

Listen, we don't talk enough about it. This bill includes bipartisan provisions in support of good government. It includes a bipartisan bill that I am leading, the Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act, which would reform the Federal Election Commission, and enable it to weed out campaign finance abuse, and hold those who skirt the rules accountable.

It includes the Honest Ads Act, my bipartisan bill.

It includes the Honest Ads Act, my bipartisan bill that would shine a light on the murky world of online political advertising by requiring digital ads to meet the same disclosure requirements as print or broadcast ads.

Americans deserve to know who is paying for political ads that they see online. They deserve to know that the Nation's election watchdog is back on the beat. They deserve to have their voices heard in Congress again. That is why this bill is important. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this bill.