Floor Statements

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

Mr. Chair, this amendment seeks to increase funding for the Women's Bureau within the Department of Labor by slightly more than $1 million and would decrease funding for the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Prices and Cost of Living Division by the same amount.

This increase would restore the proposed cut the underlying bill would make to DOL's Women's Bureau while still allowing the BLS Prices and Cost of Living Division to be funded at almost $3.5 million above the current enacted funding level and more than half a million dollars over the President's request for the coming fiscal year.

For those who might be unaware, the Women's Bureau within the Department of Labor conducts research to help departmental agencies develop policies that advance the interests of working women. It plans and executes research and advises other agencies on the structure and implementation of a wide range of worker programs.

Unfortunately, the President's budget request for next fiscal year sought to cut more than three-quarters of the existing staff within the Bureau as well as almost $9 million. Thankfully, this bill does better than the request. My simple hope is that we can go one small step further and fund this program next year at the level it is currently funded at. That is all my amendment seeks to do.

I urge my colleagues to support funding for the Women's Bureau within the Department of Labor at existing funding levels while offsetting this change with funds in a manner that still permits the BLS Prices and Cost of Living Division to be funded almost $3.5 million above the current enacted level and almost half a million above the President's request.

Mr. Chairman, I urge support for this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I want to reiterate the importance of the Department of Labor Women's Bureau. I believe that our government, especially, should have whatever advice, suggestions, and research that is needed to help all departmental agencies develop policies that further advance the interests of working women. Women currently in our country make, on average, 77 cents to every dollar that a man makes, and that amount is even lower for women of color. This Bureau would work on issues surrounding equal pay, employment rights of pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding in the workplace, paid family leave, and apprenticeships for women and women of color.

These are important issues, and our government needs to do better, and I believe Members of both parties should care about this issue.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey).

Mr. Chairman, again, I urge support for this amendment. My amendment simply seeks to fund this program next year at the level it is currently funded at.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to encourage my colleagues to support my amendment, which simply increases funding for the Behavioral Health Workforce and Training program by $5 million. This is a reasonable show of support for this important program, which saw its funding cut in half in this bill.

The Behavioral Health Workforce and Training program supports education and training for careers in behavioral health at institutions of higher education and through professional and paraprofessional training programs, with a focus on rural and medically underserved communities. This program was created as part of the 21st Century Cures Act in response to the significant nationwide shortage of behavioral health providers.

According to SAMHSA, 55 percent of U.S. counties do not have a practicing behavioral health provider, and 77 percent of counties reported unmet behavioral health needs. These statistics would be alarming at any time, but they are particularly concerning in the midst of a national opioid epidemic.

A 2016 Surgeon General's Report found that only 10 percent of people with a substance abuse disorder receive any type of specialty treatment. Additionally, 60 percent of adults with a mental illness didn't receive mental health services in the previous year.

This lack of access to services has severe consequences for the individuals seeking treatment, their families, and

our communities. When they don't have access to treatment, individuals with behavioral health needs receive a whole different set of services. Jails and sometimes emergency rooms become the de facto behavioral health system.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to make this important investment in the behavioral health workforce, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, this amendment seeks to increase funding for HRSA's Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program by $4 million, restoring program funding to the current enacted level.

I am thankful to the chairman for the funding amount already provided for in this bill, but I am hopeful that we can go one step further and fully fund this program again in the coming fiscal year.

The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program improves healthcare for older Americans by providing clinical training opportunities to students, medical faculty and providers, direct service workers, patients, families, and caregivers that integrate geriatric and primary care delivery systems.

In the 2015-2016 academic year, grantees provided training to 18,451 students and fellows participating in a variety of geriatrics-focused degree programs, field placements, and fellowships. Of these trainees, 11,824 graduated or completed their training during the most recent academic year, and grantees partnered with 365 hospitals, long-term care facilities, and academic institutions to provide clinical training experiences to trainees.

America's population is aging, and it is imperative that new generations of healthcare professionals and providers have the skills needed to care for older Americans. Every person in this Chamber at some point in their life will wish their healthcare provider had this training. I hope we will all recognize that fact today and do what is prudent.

I hope we will unanimously support this amendment, plan for the future healthcare of our Nation, and restore funding to the HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program account.

Mr. Chair, I urge support for this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, again, this amendment requires that the program be fully funded. I do look forward to working with the chairman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with the support of my colleague, Congressman Crowley, to honor the life and exceptional service of New York State Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz. Mike passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2017, at the age of 46, after battling a long illness. Mike was a dedicated public servant, a devoted family man, and a truly remarkable individual.

Mike began a lifelong career in public service as chief of staff to former New York State Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn more than twenty years ago. He was later elected to fill her seat after her retirement in 2011. A long-time active member of his community, Mike volunteered with the New York Police Department's auxiliary program at the 107th Precinct in Flushing, Queens, for 15 years, and was its commanding officer for nine years. And as one of only a few Orthodox Jews in the New York State legislature, Mike was proud of his faith and was a strong voice for the Queens Jewish community.

When speaking to Mike's constituents, you will hear nothing but words of praise for his passionate commitment to his district and community. Congressman Crowley and I counted Mike as a great friend, and we join the entire New York community in mourning this terrible loss.

Congressman Crowley and I offer our deepest condolences to Mike's wife and four children, his parents, and all of his friends, colleagues and constituents. We continue to keep Mike's family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of former New York State Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn, and her landmark law, commonly known as the ``Baby AIDS'' bill, that was enacted in New York State On June 26, 1996. The Baby AIDS bill requires mandatory testing of infants for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and HIV antibodies, and authorizes disclosing the results to infants' doctors and guardians.

Before the Baby AIDS bill became law, infants born in New York State were tested for the HIV antibody through studies that the New York State Department of Health initiated in 1987. But confidentiality laws at the time required these tests to be anonymous. Therefore, the guardians and doctors of the infants who tested positive were kept in the dark about the results. This caused nearly sixty percent of the 1,500-1,800 infants who tested positive per year to be sent home without diagnosis or treatment. As a mother myself, I cannot imagine the horror of being legally barred from knowing the health status of my child. That is why I am proud to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn for her relentless efforts on the behalf of New York families.

When Assemblywoman Mayersohn was informed that existing New York State law was preventing babies with HIV from being treated, she immediately took action by introducing the Baby AIDS bill in the New York State Assembly in 1993. As lawmakers, we all know that bills can go through multiple versions and can face criticism from the community. The Baby AIDS bill was no different. Assemblywoman Mayersohn worked tirelessly to show opposition groups that the Baby AIDS bill would allow infants to receive the treatment that they desperately needed and their guardians and doctors to be informed about their condition. As Assemblywoman Mayersohn said, ``I went to bed with it, and I woke up with it.'' Assemblywoman Mayersohn's efforts paid off, and it is no wonder that Assemblywoman Mayersohn's colleagues gave her a standing ovation after the final version of the Baby AIDS bill passed in the assembly in 1996.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that due to Assemblywoman Mayersohn's hard work, every infant in New York State is legally required to be tested for HIV and require hospitals to inform the infant's parent or guardian of the results. Statistics gathered soon after the law was enacted showed a 98.8 percent success rate in the number of HIV infants identified and connected to treatment. According to the New York State Health Department, from 1998 to 2013, Assemblywoman Mayersohn's Baby Aids law saved an estimated 900 infants from a lifetime of HIV. I am truly honored to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn, fondly known as ``Nettie'', and her law that truly improved the quality of life for so many New Yorkers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my report language that was included in the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to prevent and mitigate flood damage associated with ice jams. I'd like to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey, as well as Chairman Simpson, Ranking Member Kaptur, and the entire subcommittee for their work on this bill.

I offer a special thank you to the Energy and Water subcommittee staff for working with me to include this necessary language to encourage the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pursue projects to prevent and mitigate flood damage associated with ice jams in regions comprised of cities whose historic flooding has been caused predominantly by winter snowmelt and ice floes.

Every year, flooding that results from the piling up of frozen ice in rivers across the United States costs our economy millions of dollars. When free-floating ice catches on obstructions, such as bridge pilings, rocks, or logs, flooding can result upstream from the blockage and, again, downstream when the ice finally releases.

During my time in the New York State Assembly, I can remember hearing horrible stories from my colleagues in upstate New York and wondering what more could be done to prepare for these events.

In my home state of New York, the Mohawk River Basin is particularly susceptible to flooding associated with ice jams. I am pleased that the bill encourages the Army Corps to pursue projects and technologies to mitigate the damage caused by flooding associated with ice jams in areas, like the Mohawk River Basin, that truly need this support.

I appreciate the time today to highlight this problem, and I thank my colleagues for their support on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in welcoming President Moon Jae-in to the United States for his first State visit this week.

The United States and the Republic of Korea share a long history of friendship and cooperation based on shared values and interests. Our ties are based on common values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Our two countries work together to combat regional and global threats and to strengthen our economies. In fact, the Republic of Korea is the United States' sixth largest goods trading partner overall, and the 13th largest economy in the world.

President Moon's visit will reaffirm our strong bilateral relationship at an important time, as our countries work together to address mutual security threats and improve regional security. This is especially important now as the Democratic Republic of Korea's external aggression increases, and as the Republic of Korea's role as a regional and global leader continues to grow.

President Moon's visit will continue our partnership and I am sure his visit will lead to new areas of cooperation between our countries.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the legislation before us. Of course, this bill might not look like what it might if we had written it by our individual selves, but I think it is a good example of what genuine and honest compromise looks like. I thank Ranking Member Lowey, Chairman Frelinghuysen, and their respective staffs for their months of hard work in producing this omnibus.

Because of their joint efforts, the NIH will receive $2 billion in increased funding, America's coal miners will continue to receive the health benefits they have earned, an additional $600 million is provided to combat the opioid epidemic, needy students will be able to receive year-round Pell grants, $3.4 billion in LIHEAP funding will be distributed to our seniors, and $838 million will be made available for seniors' nutrition programs.

This is what responsible governing looks like. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I look forward to working together in this manner in the future.

Thank you again, Ranking Member Lowey and Chairman Frelinghuysen, for your hard work in crafting this bill. I support it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with the support of my colleague, Congressman Suozzi, to honor the life, service, and bravery of New York City firefighter William Tolley, who was killed in the line of duty on April 20, 2017.

Congressman Suozzi and I are saddened that New York has lost such a beloved hero. William Tolley was a courageous firefighter with Ladder Company 135 in Glendale, Queens and a respected community member on Long Island. Thousands attended his funeral at St. Martin of Tours Church in Bethpage, Long Island, and many Long Island residents decorated their streets with red ribbons in remembrance. William's memory was also honored in Queens as the flag at the firehouse of Engine Company 286/Ladder Company 135 was flown at half-mast on the evening of his death. In addition, many Queens residents paid their respects with a makeshift memorial outside the firehouse on Myrtle Avenue. We believe that William's dedication to protecting Queens citizens from harm and his service to the Queens community will never be forgotten.

As a heroic New York City Fire Department (FDNY) veteran for fourteen years, William not only risked his life in the line of duty for his profession, but he also volunteered at the Bethpage Fire Department on Long Island. Congressman Suozzi and I commend William's unwavering selflessness that led him to dedicate both his career and free time to protecting fellow community members.

William was not only a hero in the FDNY, but he was a beloved father, husband, brother, friend, and neighbor. Outside of the uniform, William enjoyed being the drummer in a heavy metal band and being an active presence in his daughter's school. William is survived by his wife, Marie, and his 8-year old daughter, Isabella.

Congressman Suozzi and I offer our deepest condolences to William's family, friends, and the FDNY during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to be here today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women serving in Congress.

I thank the Speaker for allowing this legislation to come to the floor. And I thank my good friend and former colleague, Secretary Zinke, for authoring this legislation with me. His support has been instrumental in ensuring the consideration of this bill, and I am deeply grateful to him.

One hundred years ago, Jeannette Rankin was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first woman elected to Congress, and was elected before passage of the 19th amendment which granted women the right to vote.

Jeannette Rankin was a trailblazer her entire life. In 1902, she graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in biology. Afterward, she became active in the women's suffrage movement, moving to New York City and assisting in the founding of the New York Women's Suffrage Party and working for the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

Rankin would eventually return to her home State of Montana, and was elected to office in the congressional election of 1916. Upon winning, she declared: ``I may be the first woman Member of Congress, but I won't be the last.''

I am happy to say that she was right.

In recognition of Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin's many accomplishments, and in celebration of the centennial anniversary of her service in Congress, Secretary Zinke and I introduced the 100 Years of Women in Congress Act.

Because Jeannette Rankin was a woman of science more than 100 years before our current push to have more women enter STEM fields, we felt it appropriate to rename the Department of Agriculture's Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program after her.

This program currently supports collaborative research projects at institutions of higher education, and seeks to increase the participation of women and minorities from rural areas in STEM fields. It will continue to do so in the future, but now it will also recognize the many contributions Jeannette Rankin made to American life.

Madam Speaker, thank you again for allowing this legislation to the floor today, and thank you again to Secretary Zinke for partnering with me on it.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.

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

Mr. Chair, I thank Representative Wenstrup for his thoughtful amendment, and I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for bringing it to the floor today.

Clearly, there are staffing shortages within the Department of Veterans Affairs, and, clearly, something must be done. Personally, I think this legislation is a good first step toward improving the VA's ability to identify staffing shortages, recruit and retain high-quality employees, and onboard new hires.

The amendment I am offering today speaks to the identification of staffing shortages portion of this bill. Under current law, 38 U.S.C. 7412 to be exact, the inspector general of the VA is required to submit a report to the VA Secretary annually highlighting the five personnel occupations with the largest staffing shortages throughout the Department. After receiving this report, the Secretary is then permitted to recruit and directly appoint qualified individuals to fill those vacancies.

Section 2 of the bill before us does something important to current law. It will require the IG to report on not just the five occupations with the largest staffing shortages, it will require the IG to report on the five clinical and five nonclinical occupations with the largest shortages in the VA. Additionally, it will require this reporting to be done for each medical center. Mr. Chair, I think this is a wonderful change, one that is sorely needed.

What my amendment would do is add to this expanded reporting requirement a simple clarification: the IG must report on, at minimum, the five clinical and nonclinical occupations with the largest staffing shortages at each facility. It would allow the IG to report on more than the five occupations with the largest shortages, should his findings require it.

This amendment is not an additional reporting requirement. It simply makes clear that should the IG find additional staffing shortages, he may highlight those so that the Secretary may fill them more quickly. It is a simple attempt to avoid the necessity of passing similar legislation 2, 3, or even 4 years from now.

Our veterans need the care that they have earned and that they deserve. They need it now. The first step in that endeavor is making sure that the VA staffing levels are adequate.

Again, Mr. Chair, I am pleased to see this amendment on the floor today and to do my small part in ensuring that veterans get the care they need. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which would allow the VA inspector general to highlight additional staffing shortages within the Department.

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

Mr. Chairman, I urge support for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would require the VA Secretary to establish a program encouraging members of our Armed Forces serving as health professionals to pursue jobs with the Veterans Health Administration upon discharge or separation from the military.

As we all know, the VHA has existing shortages of health professionals. We also know that our servicemen and -women sometimes have difficulty transitioning back to civilian life after serving.

What would be better than having a servicemember with healthcare training and experience transition into employment with the VHA serving their brothers and sisters?

Mr. Chair, I believe that everyone wins with this amendment. This program would be completely optional to participate in, would help reduce staffing shortages at the VHA, and would provide job opportunities to recently discharged servicemembers.

I urge support for this commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of my bill, H.R. 423, the Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017.

I am honored to have authored this bill with Congressman Barton and Congressman Lance once again, and I thank Amy Murphy and Ryan Farrell of their respective staffs for working so closely with mine. I also thank the COMET Civic Association from my district for first bringing this problem to my attention.

This legislation seeks to combat spoofing, which is when phone call recipients are tricked into answering the phone due to inaccurate caller ID information. Criminals have used this technique to scam thousands of Americans and steal millions of dollars. Recent spoofing attempts have included scam artists pretending to be sheriff's offices, hospitals, and even the IRS. The bill before us this afternoon expands spoofing protections to calls that originate outside of the country as well as text messages.

It is often stated that a measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. Almost every day, I receive new reports of spoofing that harm the most vulnerable in my district, including immigrants, seniors, veterans, and those in need of help from law enforcement. That is why this legislation is endorsed by senior citizens, law enforcement, and consumer protection groups.

The Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017 is a bipartisan bill. It passed the House in both the 113th and 114th Congresses under suspension of the rules, and it is my sincere hope that this bill will continue to be noncontroversial and that we will do everything in our power to combat telephone scams against our constituents.

In closing, I thank Representatives Blackburn and Doyle for their support this afternoon, as well as Energy and Commerce Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone. Without their support, this legislation would not be on the floor.

I urge the Senate to quickly take up this legislation.

I urge all of my colleagues in this Chamber to support it once again.

Thank you to the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker. Governor Mario Cuomo's legacy is important for all of us to remember here in Congress. Although the late Governor Cuomo is most well known nationally as an eloquent orator and bastion of liberalism, he first received public attention for his career creatively merging the values of social justice and access to affordable housing while protecting family values in my home borough of Queens.

Governor Cuomo's life is a personal inspiration as he was also raised in Queens and born to immigrant parents. Perhaps it was this background that allowed him to regard himself as a progressive pragmatist who upheld the idea that government should be a positive source for good.

This is best seen through Governor Cuomo's advocacy for an activist government that provides shelter for the homeless, work for the idle, and care for the elderly and infirm even in times of austerity. This belief in a dynamic government met some opposition, but Governor Cuomo recognized the crucial safety net and that government investment is the foundation for a strong economy, an understanding that is imperative in today's political and economic climate.

As a mom of two young children, I am particularly touched by his launching of the Decade of the Child to enact educational and health care reforms affecting children. He deeply understood that improving children's lives ultimately betters our communities and empowers our future. Under his leadership, New York was the very first State to enact seatbelt laws, and today we continue focusing on making sure that children's toys and car seats are safe and effective. This academic year, New York City implemented universal pre-K, a concept that the late-Governor Mario Cuomo championed and the current Governor Andrew Cuomo aptly budgeted for success.

I believe in what Hubert Humphrey said:

The moral test of a government is how it treats those who

are at the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the

twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow

of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.

I think that Hubert Humphrey would have found Governor Cuomo to be a

strong, moral leader and, like the rest of us, would have mourned the loss of an inspired beacon of progressive ideology.

I join my colleagues today from the New York delegation in sending condolences and sympathy to the entire Cuomo family, and know that Governor Cuomo's respected legacy will be a blessing to us all.

Mr. Speaker, on January 6, 2015 I missed recorded votes #1- 7 as I was attending the funeral of Governor Mario Cuomo in New York.

I would like to reflect how I would have voted if I were here and sworn into office:

On Roll Call #2 I would have voted for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker.

On Roll Call #3 I would have voted no (Motion to Table).

On Roll Call #4 I would have voted no (Previous Question).

On Roll Call #5 I would have voted yes (Motion to Commit).

On Roll Call #6 I would have voted no (Passage of House Rules Package).

On Roll Call #7 I would have voted yes (Passage of H.R. 22--Hire More Heroes Act of 2015).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my colleagues to Father Joseph T. Holcomb, the guest chaplain today.

Father Holcomb serves St. Andrew Avellino Roman Catholic Church in Queens, New York.

A native New Yorker, Father Holcomb attended Holy Family Catholic Grammar School, Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, and Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.

He went on to attain a bachelor's degree from Cathedral College in Douglaston, New York. He also received a master's degree in divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York, and a master's in social work from Fordham University in New York City.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1980 and has been faithfully serving multiple communities ever since. In July 2009, he was appointed as the sixth pastor of St. Andrew Avellino Roman Catholic Church and has worked tirelessly to make improvements where possible.

His efforts have led to crucial enhancements in the church and an enriched connection with its parishioners. Father Holcomb's work in the church has touched thousands of lives, and we are so privileged to have him in the Queens community.

Father Holcomb is a pillar of leadership and faith in my district. I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Father Holcomb to the House of Representatives and to thank him for serving as our guest chaplain today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, the Flushing Remonstrance Study Act, H.R. 3222. This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Flushing Remonstrance and significant local resources.

The Flushing Remonstrance is not only an important part of my local history, but also a significant event in our Nation's history. The Flushing Remonstrance is recognized as a precursor to the First Amendment and our Nation's commitment to the freedom of religion. During these troubling times in which religious freedom is not a globally recognized right, it is especially important to remember the history of our great Nation and the heroic actions taken by those before us to ensure individual liberty.

In the mid-17th century, the Quakers residing in New Netherland, an area including parts of what is now New York State, were not allowed to observe their religious traditions and practices. In response to this injustice, a group of local non-Quaker activists wrote the Flushing Remonstrance as a declaration against religious persecution in an attempt to allow the free practice of one's religion. It was met with great opposition from the local government, and an effective ban on specific practices was enforced.

John Bowne arrived in New Netherland during this time and proceeded to hold Quaker meetings in his home despite the political repercussions. He was eventually arrested, fined, and deported. He made his way to Holland and appealed to the Dutch West India Company for the religious liberty granted to New Netherland in its charter. John's appeal was accepted, and the company demanded that religious persecution end in the colony.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Flushing Remonstrance is historically significant and will benefit from further study and that its associated location, such as the John Bowne home and the Quaker Meeting House, deserve more national recognition. If signed into law, the Park Service would work with all stakeholders to find the best path forward to include these important locations in the National Park system.

The story of the Flushing Remonstrance is not for New Yorkers alone. It was an early struggle to establish the fundamental right to practice one's religion, but each demand for tolerance ultimately paved the way for the First Amendment, which protects our religious freedom today.

I stand today in strong support of my bill, the Flushing Remonstrance Study Act, and hope it will help us all remember the courage of John Bowne and the passion for religious freedom held by the authors of the Flushing Remonstrance.

I would also like to thank Chairman Hastings for his leadership and guidance, Ranking Member DeFazio and Congressmember Grijalva for their support, Congressman Rush Holt for cosponsoring the bill, and all the staff on their work and support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate International Plasma Awareness Week, which will occur October 12 to 18, 2014. During this time, there will be observances throughout the United States and Europe designed to raise global awareness of the need for plasma to create lifesaving therapies, recognize the value that plasma donors contribute in saving and improving lives, and increase understanding of rare diseases and plasma protein therapies.

Raising awareness about plasma protein therapies is vitally important for the following reasons:

Plasma-derived therapies and recombinant blood clotting factors, collectively known as plasma protein therapies, are unique, biological products for which no substitutes or alternative treatments exist. They save and improve lives of individuals throughout the world;

Plasma protein therapies are used to treat bleeding disorders, primary immune deficiency diseases, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and certain rare, neurological disorders;

These therapies are also used in emergency and surgical medicine to save and improve lives;

Plasma protein therapies have significantly improved the quality of life of, markedly improved patient outcomes for, and extended the life expectancy of individuals with rare, chronic diseases and conditions;

Healthy, committed donors provide plasma essential to manufacture these lifesaving therapies; and

There are over 430 plasma collection centers in the U.S. that have demonstrated their commitment to plasma donor and patient safety and quality by earning International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) certification.

I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me and rise in commemoration of International Plasma Awareness Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness about crucial, lifesaving therapies attained through using plasma proteins.