Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1. This bill puts the needs of the oil industry over the health and well-being of the American people. Instead of protecting the communities we are here to represent, the bill will cause real harm to people's health and further degrade our environment.

While my colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim the bill will help lower Americans' energy costs and make us energy independent, in fact, the bill does just the opposite.

Here is why. By opening LNG exports and doubling down on fossil fuels, this legislation will further increase our reliance on the global oil and gas markets. It will further subject us to the volatility of the global marketplace. Frankly, it will do nothing to increase our security here at home because we simply can't drill our way toward lower energy costs.

The only way to bring energy costs down here in America, and to make our Nation truly energy independent, is to expedite the transition to more renewable forms of energy.

In addition, any claim that this legislation does not touch some part of our Nation's most important environmental laws is just untrue. The bill decimates the laws that were put in place to protect our air, water, and, most of all, our health. It repeals key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, provisions that actually bring down the costs for Americans and reduce emissions.

So now, instead of working with us to find real bipartisan solutions to the crises we face, the majority severely limited amendments to this bill in violation of the promises they made at the beginning.

I offered some commonsense amendments to the legislation that, unfortunately, were not made in order. One would have restricted the use of eminent domain for natural gas pipelines to ensure communities have a voice in our energy decisions. The other would have required a simple analysis to eliminate methane emissions from projects under NEPA review.

However, we don't have the ability to have those conversations because the majority doesn't want to hear it. I want to say what I said in the committee markup: Mr. Chair, once my colleagues on the other side of the aisle get this out of their system, I stand willing, ready, and able to work on a bipartisan solution that will both help increase our energy security in the United States and will make us independent from a volatile foreign oil market.

Madam Speaker, Colorado mourned one of its finest public servants this week when we lost former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder.

Pat was a pioneer for women's rights, and she was the first woman ever elected to represent the State of Colorado in the U.S. House. For 24 years, she fought tirelessly in this Chamber to expand the rights of women, families, and children across this country.

She cofounded the Congressional Women's Caucus, and she was the first woman ever selected to serve on the House Armed Services Committee. She championed legislation to protect pregnant workers and women in the military, and she was the driving force behind the Family and Medical Leave Act.

What made Pat so unique, though, wasn't just the brilliance that she had or her passion for public service. It was her razor-sharp wit.

Pat could trade barbs with anybody at a moment's notice on any subject. She could disarm her most harsh critics with humor and grace, and she had

an unrivaled ability to light up almost any room she walked into. We can all agree there will never be another Pat Schroeder.

I am grateful for the time I got to spend with her and for the friendship and mentorship she provided to me over the years.

This is something that doesn't happen very often: Pat was elected to Congress when I was in high school; I never voted for anybody for Congress except for Pat Schroeder and myself.

She is a giant whose shoulders we all stand on today, and she will be missed by everybody here, by everybody in the First Congressional District of Colorado, and by millions of people whose lives have been made better because of the legacy of Pat Schroeder.

Madam Speaker, I thank you for helping me honor the memory of Pat Schroeder by observing a moment of silence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jon Asher.

As the Executive Director of Colorado's Legal Services, Jon has dedicated his life to helping others and ensuring that Colorado's legal system is accessible to all those who need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

I have known and admired Jon for over 40 years. The Colorado legal community will agree that he's not just one of Colorado's greatest legal minds, he's also one of the most selfless.

After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1971, Jon moved to Greeley, Colorado where he began his legal career as a staff attorney with Colorado Rural Legal Services. Little did Jon know that this was the start of a long career of service.

His talent and intellect were evident to all those who worked with him. and Jon quickly rose through the ranks to become head of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver in 1980--a position he would hold for the next 18 years.

When Colorado's three legal aid societies decided to come together to form one statewide legal aid program in 1999, Jon was the easy choice to run it; and it was then that he became the first Executive Director of the newly formed Colorado Legal Services--a position he has held ever since.

Under Jon's leadership, Colorado Legal Services has become one of the Nation's premier legal aid organizations--with a staff of more than 80 attorneys and 55 paralegals in 13 regional offices across Colorado.

Jon's reputation as a tireless and effective advocate for low-income and disadvantaged individuals in our state is seen in the quality of the work that Colorado Legal Services has clone and continues to do to this clay.

Throughout his career, Jon has been recognized. both in Colorado and throughout the Nation, for his talent and dedication to providing those who otherwise couldn't afford it with the quality legal representation they deserve. While his professional achievements are far too many to count, those who know Jon will agree that it's not the awards or recognition that drove him throughout his career--it's the thousands of people he's been able to help along the way.

After more than 50 years of dedicating himself to providing top-notch legal assistance to seniors and low-income individuals across our state, Jon announced recently that he plans to retire as the head ofColorados Legal Services this summer. While there's no doubt that he will certainly be leaving behind some big shoes to fill. the organization he's helped to build from the ground up has never been stronger, and its ongoing success is all but guaranteed thanks to the tireless work that Jon and his colleagues have put into it over the years.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's First Congressional District, I want to express my profound thanks to Jon for all he's done for our state over the years--and his tireless efforts to help so many people along the way. And I want to wish him the very best during his much- deserved retirement.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 89.

Mr. Chair, this amendment requires oil and gas companies operating on our public lands to make one simple pledge to the American people, that it won't gouge consumers at the pump.

It requires the Secretary of Energy to secure that commitment before any new permit to increase production on our lands will be approved.

It would help prevent some of the damage that this disastrous bill would do to our Nation's ability to address skyrocketing energy prices in the country.

Frankly, the bill before us is nothing more than a shameless attempt by my Republican colleagues to help increase drilling. If this bill were titled correctly, it would be known as the big win for Big Oil act, and it would come at a huge price for the American people.

As the chair of the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee in the last Congress, I have been on the front lines to bring down gas prices in this country. I held a hearing last year with the top executives from six of the Nation's largest oil producers to have them explain why Americans were suddenly being asked to pay record-high prices at the pump and why Americans should be forced to provide their companies billions of dollars in subsidies each year when they were reporting record-high profits and hardworking families were struggling hard to fill up their cars.

Despite what the supporters of this bill will tell you, not one executive at that hearing claimed that opening up Federal land for drilling would lower prices at the pump. In fact, one executive at that hearing even admitted that opening up more land to drilling in the country would do nothing to bring the cost of gasoline down.

Why? Because there is nothing--and I repeat, nothing--preventing the oil industry from expanding its production tomorrow if they wanted to. They just choose not to because of profits.

The oil industry currently leases 26.6 million acres of Federal lands. Less than half of that land under current lease, 12.7 acres, is currently being used for production, so there is no relationship between opening up more Federal lands for the production of oil and gas and the price that Americans pay at the pump. None.

Instead of helping to bring down prices for consumers, what this bill does is it really makes it harder for future administrations to respond.

It takes away the one tool that has been used effectively to help alleviate the pain consumers were suddenly feeling this past summer and the one tool we have to prevent it from happening again.

It prevents the President from releasing our Nation's oil reserves on to the market during a crisis. It prevents the administration from taking the steps necessary to curb excessive price increases that can cause real harm to people, family, and businesses across this country.

If Republicans were serious about helping consumers, let's do it, but let's do it explicitly.

Let's include in this bill a provision that will expressly prohibit these companies from gouging consumers at the pump.

My amendment requires the Secretary of Energy to secure from any oil company looking to increase production on Federal lands a commitment that it will not excessively increase its prices during periods of future disruption.

It gives the oil companies what the Republicans say the industry wants, which is the ability to increase production on the public lands. So all we ask for--all we ask for--Mr. Chairman, is a simple commitment that they won't gouge consumers at the pump.

Sounds like a win-win to me.

I would urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment to the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Point of Order

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is focused on the development of the plan in the underlying bill, and therefore, it is germane. We actually narrowed this amendment so we didn't get into actual implementation.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Ms. DeGette

Amendment No. 89: Page 3, line 1, strike ``Limitation'' and

insert ``Limitations''.

Page 3, line 2, strike ``shall not'' and insert ``shall--

''.

Page 3, line 2, strike ``provide for'' and insert the

following:

``(A) not provide for''.

Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent;

and''.

Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:

``(B) only allow for a lease or permit if accompanied by a

certification to the Secretary that it would not excessively

increase the sales price of any petroleum products during--

``(i) a severe energy supply interruption; or

``(ii) any period of decreased supply of petroleum

products.''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Stephen Berman.

Dr. Berman dedicated his life to improving the health and well-being of people around the world.

After earning his medical degree from Temple University, Steve moved to Colorado to complete his residency at the University of Colorado.

Little did anyone know that this first-year resident, fresh out of medical school, would go on to be one of the university's most influential professors, the Director of the Center for Global Health and a world-renowned leader in the field of public health.

Dr. Berman was one of the most highly regarded members of his profession. He received numerous awards and recognitions for his work. He wrote multiple textbooks and authored hundreds of peer-reviewed research articles over the course of his career.

He was the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a special advisor to the World Health Organization, to the U.S. Agency for International Development, and to numerous countries around the world.

But what made Steve truly special is how much he cared for his patients, and how dedicated he was to both serving his community and giving back.

He was determined--with a tireless devotion and every ounce of his being--to make the world a better place, not just for the patients he was treating, or the officials he was advising, but for everyone, everywhere.

Steve made a point to form friendships and professional relationships with elected officials across the political spectrum and at every level of government with a singular goal: to make sure that our health care laws ensure access to treatment for every child, no matter their race, economic status or country of origin.

Like so many in our community, I was heartbroken to hear of Steve's passing this week. Our community lost a true leader and many of us lost a dear friend.

His legacy will continue to live on, not only with the thousands of people he treated throughout his life, but with the untold millions he impacted with his work along the way.

During this difficult time, my heart goes out to his family--his wife Elaine, who was his true partner in all he accomplished, his sons Ben and Jim, and his brothers Jim and Ed. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Parvensky.

John has dedicated his life to helping others and, after 37 years as the head of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, there is no doubt that John has done exactly that.

John first moved to Denver in 1984 after graduating law school to begin a career helping nonprofit organizations. It didn't take long, though, for John to realize he had another calling in life. And just 1 year after his arrival in the Mile High City, John set out on a mission to provide real help to those experiencing homelessness throughout the city.

He arrived at the perfect time. It was at just that moment that then- Denver Mayor Federico Pena was putting together a task force to tackle homelessness. Out of that task force came the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

What John thought would be a temporary assignment has turned into a lifelong passion, and the coalition he started has become a permanent fixture in the state.

Thanks to John's tireless work, Colorado's Coalition for the Homeless has grown from a group of 6 people to an organization that now employs more than 750 people across the state. Its budget has grown from $100,000 to more than $10 million a year. And, with John at the helm, the organization that started as a single health care center now serves over 22,000 people every year.

John's leadership and advocacy on behalf of those experiencing homelessness, both in Denver and across the U.S., has led to the development of countless new ideas and innovative strategies that are now being used in cities and towns across the country to help those in need.

John was instrumental in creating the Denver Housing First Collaborative that provides housing and supportive services to more than 200 people with disabilities experiencing homelessness. And he was the driving force behind the development of Denver's new state-of-the- art Stout Street Recuperative Care Center--a first-of-its kind mixed- use development intended to provide medical respite and recuperative care to hundreds of people experiencing homelessness every year after they are released from the hospital.

John's efforts have been widely recognized throughout his career. He currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition for the Homeless; and he has been the recipient of numerous awards to highlight his many achievements in his quest to help others--including the 2018 Philip W. Brickner National Leadership Award from the National Healthcare for the Homeless; the 2016 Carle Whitehead Memorial Award from ACLU of Colorado; and the 2012 Be More Award from Rocky Mountain PBS.

After more than 35 years as the head of Colorado's Coalition for the Homeless, John announced that this summer will be his last running the organization. As he prepares to begin the next chapter of his life, I want to express my profound thanks to him for his tireless advocacy on behalf of those experiencing homelessness and the outstanding work he's done over the years to improve the lives of so many people who call our city home.

I offer my best wishes on his well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, if my Republican colleagues want to condemn the growing level of political violence in this country, let's do it together.

That is not what this resolution does. What it does is it goes to great lengths to condemn attacks against anti-choice groups, and it says nothing about the growing threat of violence targeting women's health clinics across the United States.

It doesn't condemn the numerous bullets that have been fired at healthcare clinics throughout the country.

It doesn't condemn the bricks that have crashed through windows at providers' offices or the assaults, kidnappings, and even the murders of doctors and healthcare personnel.

It doesn't condemn the arsons, bombings, death threats, or any one of the more than 7,000 acts of violence that have been reported against these facilities.

By ignoring these acts of violence, Republicans are sending a very dangerous message that will only embolden the extremists behind them.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a resolution that Congresswomen Lee and Pressley and I have introduced to condemn all acts of political violence, regardless of their target or intent, and I urge my colleagues to support it instead.

Whereas workplace violence ranges from threats and verbal

abuse to physical assaults and homicide;

Whereas, for decades, health care personnel for women and

people who access reproductive health care services have been

subjected to intimidation, threats, and violence;

Whereas between 1977 and 2015--

(1) nearly 7,000 violent acts were reported against

providers at health centers for women, including bombings,

arsons, death threats, kidnappings, and assaults; and

(2) more than 190,000 acts of disruption, including bomb

threats and harassing calls, were reported;

Whereas, between 1993 and 2015, there were 11 murders,

numerous attempted murders, 42 bombings, and 186 arsons

targeted at individuals and facilities associated with care

provided at health centers for women;

Whereas between 1993 and 2015, the 11 victims of anti-

choice violence include Dr. David Gunn of Pensacola, Florida,

in 1993; Dr. John Bayard Britton and a volunteer, James

Barrett, both of Pensacola, Florida, in 1994; clinic

receptionists Shannon Lowney and Leanne Nichols, both of

Brookline, Massachusetts, in 1994; Dr. Barnett Slepian of

Buffalo, New York, in 1998; clinic securitv guard Robert

Sanderson of Birmingham, Alabama, in 1998; Dr. George Tiller

of Wichita, Kansas, in 2009; and police officer Garrett

Swasey, Ke'Arre Stewart, and Jennifer Markovsky, all of whom

were lost during a violent attack at a Planned Parenthood

clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2015;

Whereas, in 2016, two defendants vandalized a Baltimore,

Maryland, area abortion clinic on two separate occasions,

with one defendant pleading guilty and the other convicted at

trial of Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act

violations;

Whereas, in 2017, a defendant sent several threatening

emails to abortion clinics located in Chicago, Illinois, and

Hammond, Indiana, and the defendant pled guilty to FACE Act

and other Federal offenses;

Whereas, in 2018, a defendant directed a threatening social

media post to Planned Parenthood facilities and staff and

defendant pled guilty to Federal offenses, including a FACE

Act charge;

Whereas, in 2019, a defendant was indicted for FACE Act

violations and other Federal offenses related to a 2015

shooting at a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado

Springs, Colorado, where he shot at several civilians and

police officers, killing two civilians and one officer, while

injuring several others;

Whereas, in 2020, a defendant pled guiltv to FACE Act

related offenses in connection with a bomb threat call the

defendant made to a Jacksonville, Florida, abortion clinic;

Whereas, in 2021, a defendant pled guilty to a FACE Act

violation and other State felony offenses for throwing a

Molotov cocktail at a Fort Myers, Florida, abortion clinic;

Whereas, in 2022, a defendant was indicted for FACE Act

violations after he assaulted a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

area Planned Parenthood clinic escort twice on the same date,

with one assault resulting in bodily injury; and

Whereas extreme rhetoric continues to fuel a hate-filled

climate that is dangerous for individuals who provide or

access comprehensive health care services: Now, therefore, be

it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) condemns all acts of political violence;

(2) condemns attacks on health care facilities, health care

personnel, and patients;

(3) affirms that all people have the freedom to access

reproductive health care services and medical advice without

fear of violence, intimidation, or harassment; and

(4) calls upon the Biden administration to use all

appropriate authorities to uphold public safety, to protect

health care facilities, and safeguard health care personnel

and patients.

Madam Speaker, the resolved part of our resolution says this, and I think all of my colleagues should be able to join this.

Resolved, that the U.S. House of Representatives condemns all acts of political violence; 2, condemns attacks on healthcare facilities, healthcare personnel, and patients; and 3, affirms that all people have the freedom to access reproductive healthcare services

and medical advice without fear of violence, intimidation, or harassment.

Isn't that what this is all about in this country, fear from violence? No violence, everybody gets the healthcare services they want and they deserve without fear of being killed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 26 and urge my colleagues to instead support my motion to recommit to take up and pass Representative Judy Chu's Women's Health Protection Act that will restore the protections that we had under Roe v. Wade.

If there is one thing this last election showed us it is that the American people believe strongly that every woman in this country should have the ability to make her own healthcare decisions, including abortion.

Sadly, however, if there is one thing this past week has shown us, it is that the House Republicans just don't care at all about that.

They don't care that 61 percent of the American people strongly support a woman's access to abortion care.

They don't care that just 2 months ago a record number of Americans showed up at polling locations across the country to overwhelmingly reject the GOP's plan to criminalize abortion care.

They don't care that in every State where abortion restrictions were on the ballot they were rejected overwhelmingly--in places like Kansas.

They don't care that Americans think that people, not politicians, should be making these decisions.

Apparently, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle think they know how abortion decisions should be made, not a woman and her doctor.

So instead of taking heed of the will of the American people, my Republican colleagues are intending to do just the opposite.

The legislation before us today is part of a concerted effort to fast-track this extreme agenda of anti-choice legislation. It creates new criminal penalties for healthcare providers that fail to provide specific standards of care--that the politicians on the other side of the aisle will enact--after an attempted abortion.

It doesn't really protect newborn children in any way. Why?

Because if a child is born it is already illegal to kill it--as it should be. Unlike what the majority leader said, it is already illegal in every single State in this country. It is illegal to kill people in this country.

Just in case anybody was confused about this, as Chairman Nadler said, in 2002 Congress passed the Born-Alive

Infants Protection Act, and all of us, including me, the co-chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus voted for it because clearly if the baby is born, we shouldn't kill it. Duh.

So what does this bill do? What it does, as I said, it creates criminal penalties for healthcare providers that don't do what the Republicans think they should do, and it creates new, complicated standards that will make it harder for healthcare professionals to do their jobs.

What it does is it hopes to deter doctors from providing abortion care in the first place, which is exactly what we saw after the Dobbs decision. This is not what the American people signed up for.

I strongly urge my colleagues to reject these extreme measures and instead support my motion to recommit to take up and pass the Women's Health Protection Act to ensure that everybody in this country, no matter where they live, has the access to the reproductive care they need.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to add the text of this amendment into the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, if there was any overriding issue of clarity in the last election it was that Americans feel strongly that they should have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions, not politicians.

Apparently, House Republicans weren't listening because just 2 months after a record number of Americans voted to vehemently oppose the GOP's efforts to criminalize abortion care in this country, we have today a set of rules that will make their extreme agenda a reality. These rules will pave the way for the immediate passage of not one, not two, but three bills that will limit women's rights to reproductive care.

Mr. Speaker, 25 percent of their initial agenda is anti-choice. This is not what the American people want. Sixty-one percent of this country strongly support a women's right to abortion care.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to stand up to this extremism and stand up for the people who we were elected to serve.

Vote ``no'' on the previous question to bring up the Women's Health Protection Act and vote ``no'' on the rule. Let's listen to our constituents.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Jason Crow, Congressman Joe Neguse, and Congressman David Cicilline, to honor the victims of the tragic shooting that took place at the Club Q Nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado on November 19, 2022.

It has been nearly 1 month since the horrific events that unfolded when a shooter, armed with a semiautomatic assault weapon and high- capacity magazine, entered the popular LGBTQ+ nightclub and opened fire, killing 5 people and injuring at least 22 more.

It was the latest in a growing number of violent attacks targeting the LGBTQ+ community throughout the country, and it led the Department of Homeland Security to issue a new

warning about the growing threat facing the LGBTQ+ community here in the U.S.

Let us be clear: no one in this country should have to live in constant fear of being attacked for who they are or who they love.

No one should have to experience the unimaginable pain and suffering that so many in our community are now feeling in the wake of this senseless attack at Club Q.

Among those killed in the attack was Ashley Paugh, a 35 year old wife and mother of an 11 year old daughter. Ashley was not a member of the LGBTQ+ community but had driven to Colorado Springs to spend time with friends at the popular club and see a comedian who was performing there.

Raymond Vance was 22 years old and was visiting the club for the first time that evening with his longtime girlfriend and her family. Raymond, who had just gotten his first job and was excited to have received his first paycheck, was there to help his girlfriend and her family celebrate the birthday of a longtime friend.

Kelly Loving was a 40 year old transgender woman from Denver who had driven to Colorado Springs for the weekend.

Daniel Aston and Derrick Rump were both bartenders working at the club when the shooting occurred. Daniel, a 28 year old transgender man, had moved to Colorado Springs 2 years earlier to be closer to his mom and dad and started working at the club, which was just a few minutes from his parents' home.

Derrick, who friends say was always full of smiles, found more than just a job at Club Q, he had found a community that he loved and a place where he felt he truly belonged.

Daniel and Derrick were beloved members of the Club Q family, and together they helped create a space that felt safe for so many who visited there.

As we take time to honor the memory of those we lost, we also must honor the bravery and heroism of those whose actions likely prevented even more bloodshed that day.

Retired U.S. Army veteran, Richard Fierro, who was at the club with his family that evening to celebrate the birthday of a friend, and Thomas James, who was performing at the club when the shooting began, have been widely credited for their heroic actions to subdue the shooter and save countless lives.

We owe them and all those who responded to the scene that evening, including local law enforcement, first responders, and civilians, a tremendous debt of gratitude.

We wish all those who were injured in this attack a speedy recovery. And we send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who were lost in this horrific attack.

The hate-filled rhetoric that's fueling this rise in violent attacks against the LGBTQ+ community has no place in our society, and neither should the weapons of war being used to carry these awful attacks out.

At some point, we, as a society, have to come together and say, `enough is enough.'

At some point, we have to realize that the toxic combination of hate and access to guns is resulting in deadly attacks across this country, and the time to end the hate-filled rhetoric that's demonizing the LGBTQ+ community is now.

Every single member of the LGBTQ+ community deserves to live their life openly without fear of hate and violence. And every person in this country deserves to live a life free of the constant threat of gun violence that we face.

That's why, today, my colleagues and I are introducing a resolution condemning this attack and the growing wave of violence. I'm thankful to the House Equality Caucus, the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and a number of organizations that helped us draft this resolution and who are joining us in pushing for its passage.

But, condemning these attacks is not enough. The time to act is now.

We need to get these assault weapons off our streets and ban the sale of these high-capacity magazines today.

Taking these steps will not bring back all those we have lost to gun violence, but it will save others from meeting the same violent fate. This is our resolve as we continue to fight for commonsense gun safety measures.

We send our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those we lost at Club Q. They will not be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, at the hearing I had on this issue in my subcommittee the other day, Dr. Resneck, the president of the AMA, said he doesn't want to have, when he is in clinic with a patient, a State Attorney General sitting on his shoulder.

I know how he feels because many of my colleagues on the other side not only want to stop a patient's ability and decision to have an abortion, they apparently want to tell people now what kinds of birth control they can use.

Today I have heard my colleagues on the other side say falsely that IUDs, that chemical birth control, that other forms of birth control are ``abortifacients.'' Not only is this patently untrue, but it harms millions of Americans.

I would say that I think everybody listening to this debate is probably confused. My colleagues say, oh, we support birth control. But make no mistake about it, there have been bills in a number of States, and there have been bills in this body to ban common forms of birth control--not abortion, birth control--and that has got to stop.

My colleagues across the aisle, they think that the rhythm method or condoms or something like that are okay, but the things women use to stop getting pregnant can't be used, and I think that is important to point out.

I think every woman in America needs to know this, and, frankly, every patient in America should be able to make their open decision about their healthcare for abortion and birth control.

Madam Speaker, the horror of a 10-year-old girl, the victim of rape, re-victimized when her parents were forced to take her out of State because of Ohio's abortion law.

A woman who was having a miscarriage, whose doctor refused to give her the medical procedure she needed because of fear of being prosecuted.

A woman trying to get long-acting birth control, whose pharmacist refused to prescribe the necessary medication for the procedure.

The chaos in the wake of the terrible Dobbs decision is only going to get worse from here.

The Supreme Court and the Republican Party have declared a war on Americans' healthcare rights. Every single American has the right and the freedom to make the healthcare decisions that they need, including abortion.

We passed this bill last September. We passed it in September after the first decision in the Supreme Court. We are going to pass this bill today in the U.S. House of Representatives. We are going to pass this bill, which codifies Roe v. Wade, every time we need to, to protect Americans' rights to healthcare and to protect everybody's equality.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my amendment to add the first six titles of the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act and, also, Congresswoman Leger Fernandez's bill to protect the Cerro de la Olla in her State to this year's NDAA bill.

Taken together, this amendment will preserve more than 1.6 million acres of public land across Colorado, California, Washington, and New Mexico and will add more than 1,000 miles of river to the national wild and scenic rivers system.

Preserving these pristine, untouched wilderness lands is about more than just protecting our environment. It is about protecting our economy, our way of life, and ensuring our Nation's top military pilots have the space they need to train.

Among the areas that would be protected under this measure are some of our Nation's most important military training grounds, including the high altitude aviation training sites in Colorado where some of our Nation's most elite helicopter pilots train to take on some of the harshest environments anywhere on this planet.

The areas to be protected under this amendment also play a key role in combating the climate crisis which the Pentagon itself has deemed a preeminent threat to our national security.

The designations in this bill were not drawn from a hat. They are the product of decades of work, and that is why this amendment has widespread support from every single area where that is included in this bill. That is why this Chamber has taken steps to pass it not once, not twice, but four times now in just the past 2 years alone including as a part of last the 2 years' NDAA bills.

Taking on the fight against the climate crisis and ensuring our Nation's military pilots have the space they need to train for some of the world's most difficult environments is something all of us should be behind.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me just clear up a few of the pieces of misinformation that have come out about this bill tonight. The first one is that the HAT, the high-altitude training I talked about which is used by the military, is not supported by pilots.

Actually, the Colorado National Guard has issued a statement of support of this legislation because we do protect those training areas, and it is very important--it has been important ever since Afghanistan--to do that.

The second thing I want to talk about is that all of the economic studies have shown that more wilderness actually creates more jobs. So for people who are in rural communities in remote areas, when there is wilderness around them, the growing and new economy in the West is for more jobs in recreation and other industries.

Last but not least, the portion of this bill that is in my State of Colorado, the Colorado Wilderness Act, which is my bill, is about 660,000 acres. Those acres are almost all currently wilderness study areas. All the wilderness study areas are currently managed by the BLM as if they are wilderness.

These claims that are being made that there are going to be new fires, that there are going to be new problems, that is simply not true. We are taking something that has been a reality in those areas for 40 years and simply making it permanent so that our children and our grandchildren can enjoy those wonderful areas, so that we can stimulate the recreation economy, and so that we can protect those lands for preservation and for helping to address the climate issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues: Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Ken Buck, Congressman Joe Neguse, Congressman Jason Crow, and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, to recognize the best team in U.S. hockey, the Colorado Avalanche. We make this tribute after the Avalanche clinched the 2022 Stanley Cup with their Game 6 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, June 26, 2022.

For fans of the Colorado Avalanche, who have patiently waited for more than 20 years to see our favorite team triumphantly raise the Stanley Cup again, the journey to Sunday night's victory has been long but worth the wait. We have watched this team battle through setbacks and injuries with admirable grit and determination, culminating this year in a 16-4 post-season record and a well-deserved trophy.

To secure their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Avalanche overcame formidable teams, including their Western Conference challengers the Edmonton Oilers, who they swept in four games to advance to the Finals. There, they defeated the two-time defending

champions, the Lightning, in an exciting six-game series. The Avalanche took an early 2-0 lead in the series after notching wins in Games 1 and 2. Then, after suffering a loss in Game 3, a nail-biting overtime win in Game 4, and another loss in Game 5, the Avalanche emerged as victors in a well-played and hard-fought Game 6.

Truly, the credit for this team's incredible victory goes to the combined talent, drive, and sacrifice made by each player and member of the coaching staff and management. The immense skill and leadership demonstrated by this special group of players and coaches, both on and off the ice, is extraordinary.

On behalf of Avalanche fans everywhere, especially those in our home state of Colorado, we are incredibly proud to celebrate this team's tremendous victory; to have the Stanley Cup back in Colorado--exactly where it belongs; and to cheer on the nation's best hockey team to even more victories in the future: Go Avs Go.