Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I first want to join my colleagues in thanking Chairwoman Waters for her leadership for so many years and, in particular, her leadership in bringing this bill to the floor.

We are here today to reinstate the powers of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which have been severely weakened, and it includes the curtailing of enforcement of fair lending laws and removing a standalone office on student loans. We must ensure, however, that our elderly population is included in this debate. We must not leave our elderly behind.

My amendment is simple and straightforward. It will require the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to issue an annual report to Congress of consumer complaints from older Americans, including a State-by-State breakdown of complaints by type of consumer financial product or service.

Madam Chair, studies show that people 50 and older hold 83 percent of the wealth in the United States. However, these same individuals, who grew up in a workforce very different than the evolving, technologically driven one of today and who are experiencing aging health disparities, are prime targets for scammers. This has resulted in our seniors losing anywhere from $2.9 billion to $36 billion each year from financial exploitation.

Having served as the director of my State's, Colorado's, Department of Regulatory Agencies in the past, I had the honor of working on behalf of Coloradans to protect them from unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices. We certainly saw many of these practices up close.

While I am proud that our department was able to recover millions of dollars for consumers across Colorado, including senior citizens, we must do more. In an era of sophisticated targeting of our seniors, we must act, and I certainly believe that is the case at the Federal level.

So, in a world in which we continue to hear of calculated financial fraud and various data breaches, I believe we

should be working to protect all consumers, not making it easy for bad actors to take advantage of them, in particular, making sure that we protect vulnerable populations.

Madam Chair, that is why I encourage my colleagues to support this important amendment, and, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for his remarks, for articulating the need for this amendment, and for his support. I very much appreciate it.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee for his leadership, and, in particular, Representative Cicilline for his courage and his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor.

It is long past time that we end discrimination against those in the LGBTQ community in our country, and that is why I am so proud to support the Equality Act.

Fairness, equality--these are core American values. And yet today, in many States across the United States, Americans can be fired, can be denied a mortgage, or they might struggle in being able to obtain housing, all because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

That ends with the passage of the Equality Act. Every American is equal under the law.

And so I would say to my friends at Out Boulder County back home, thank you for your activism. To my friends at One Colorado, thank you for your activism. To every LGBTQ American who has stood up and has fought for equality over a generation, I say thank you.

And to the Members gathered here today, I implore you: Let's join together, and let's pass the Equality Act today and end discrimination once and for all.

Mr. Chairman, across the State of Colorado and across my district, the cost of healthcare is an urgent concern to so many of my constituents. That is why I am proud to support the legislation championed by our chairman today.

Today's legislation will provide much-needed reforms to lower the cost of healthcare, protect people with preexisting conditions, and lower the cost of prescription drugs--and these reforms are urgently needed.

We know for a fact that American consumers pay far more for prescription drugs than it costs to manufacture them. In Colorado, over half a million people each year don't fill a prescription because of the cost--half a million people. The burden has led to heartbreaking stories across my State and

across the Nation of individuals forced to choose between feeding their loved ones and taking life-sustaining medications.

Today's legislation will provide much-needed reforms, will lower prescription drug costs by ending the tactics used by so many drug manufacturers to keep less expensive drugs off the market, and will bring generics to market faster.

I urge passage of the provisions on the floor today to ensure that no American has to skip doses of lifesaving medication because of the cost and no American goes bankrupt paying for their healthcare.

I thank the chairman again for his leadership in championing this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today because on April 22nd Colorado and our nation lost an invaluable public servant--City Council Member Mark Burke of Breckenridge, Colorado.

Mark was renowned throughout his community for the many things he did to help the town grow. During his time in office, he worked tirelessly to better the city's education system and protect the community's natural environment. He also led efforts to develop the city's infrastructure and helped it to recover following the Great Recession.

In addition to being a devoted leader, Mark was also a loving friend to all those around him. Many recall numerous times where he went out of his way to help those in need, or even just to brighten someone's day. To Mark, lending a hand was not a challenge, but an opportunity.

Mark's love of life and those he shared it with fundamentally changed my home state of Colorado and our entire nation for the better. His leadership and devotion to others brought changes to his community that will be enjoyed for years to come. I hope others in this body and throughout this nation will join me in remembering Mark and the tremendous service he gave to his community and country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, because last month the state of Colorado and our nation suffered the tremendous loss of Reverend Tammy Garrett-Williams.

Reverend Garrett-Williams was a civil rights activist whose ceaseless pursuit of justice for every member of our society made her a hero and icon in Denver and across Colorado.

Reverend Garrett-Williams spent her life fighting for criminal justice reform. She was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Vice-President for Political Affairs for the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, and founder of the Above Waters Project which works with inmates and former inmates to help them reintegrate into society after incarceration.

Throughout her life, Reverend Garrett-Williams put herself forward as a beacon of hope for her community; an exemplar of all the good that can come through the pursuit of justice, and fairness, and wholehearted dedication to the progress of our society--a progress which she fought to ensure left no one behind. She demonstrated a commitment to her community that placed her on the front lines of change, and she never shied from the challenges we face, instead insisting on lifting others with her as she climbed.

I send my prayers to the Reverend's mother, two sons and granddaughter.

May Rev. Tammy Garrett-Williams' life inspire those of us who remain to stand and fight, as she always did, for a society of hope, possibility, and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the holidays our nation is recognizing this week--National Nurses Week and Mother's Day.

To recognize these auspicious occasions, I want to highlight the work of an incredible organization founded in my home state of Colorado--Nurse-Family Partnership.

An evidence-based program, N.F.P. works in 42 states sending registered nurses to the homes of vulnerable expectant mothers, from pregnancy through the child's second birthday.

Mothers served by N.F.P. in Colorado have a median annual income of $7,500, demonstrating that this program serves the most vulnerable of our communities' mothers. Most importantly, for every $1 invested in Colorado, N.F.P. saves nearly $8--that's a nearly 8 times return on our nation's investment. And those results are being duplicated across our nation, with mothers in Alabama and Oregon, Oklahoma and Virginia, and nearly everywhere in between.

I want to thank N.F.P. for their commitment to families, and in particular I want to recognize the nurses who make these partnerships possible and ensure that our most vulnerable mothers will be supported this Mother's Day.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment. It is at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I am offering an amendment today to provide a pathway for the curriculum in our elementary and secondary schools to include information on the impacts of

climate change. Eighty percent of parents and 86 percent of teachers believe that schools should teach about climate change and its impacts on our environment, our economy, and our society.

As our future generations grow up in a world that is impacted by extreme weather events and a changing climate, it is essential that we educate them on the causes and impacts of the crisis, as well as equip them for finding solutions to combat it.

Climate change truly is an existential threat, in my view, that we must begin tackling head-on. Science is perfectly clear that we have a very short runway to avoid catastrophic consequences for our planet, and this moment requires bold action now. The solutions we find and the bold policies that our country requires to combat this current crisis must begin with education.

While it is our duty to get the ball rolling on policies and programs that will begin to mitigate climate change-related issues, make no mistake: It is our children who will feel the brunt of the effects that our scientific community has outlined time and time again.

When my daughter, Natalie, who is now 8 months old, is attending middle school, climate change and its impacts on our planet will be her reality. She should be equipped with every resource we are able to offer her at that time, and that begins with education.

This amendment underscores the importance of State and local efforts to teach our youth the causes and effects of climate change. Again, the science is clear, and it is of the utmost importance that the next generation is presented with the facts of this crisis.

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

Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I again thank the chairman for his distinguished leadership in chairing the Foreign Affairs full committee and for his leadership in shepherding this important resolution to the floor.

Mr. Chairman, I would hope that my colleagues across the aisle could come to consensus on this amendment. I think it is a commonsense, reasonable amendment that ensures that our children, the next generation, are, as I said, well-informed about the causes and the effects of climate change so that they can work with all of us to try to stop it and to try to deal with the planetary crisis that we find ourselves in.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today because in early March my district and the state of Colorado lost Hans Berg of Empire to an avalanche in Jones Pass.

Hans was a professional photographer for an experienced and well- reputed backcountry ski company. He was working with a guided group when an avalanche struck the pass.

Hans' death is the seventh in my home state this season and was the second within one week's time.

I share my deepest condolences with Hans Berg's family and friends during this time of loss and ask for a moment of silence in his honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of my constituent Dr. Larry Clark who the Federal Laboratory Consortium recently recognized as the Lab Director of the Year out of over 300 federal labs nationwide.

Dr. Clark is currently the Director of the National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. Through his work, Dr. Clark has made a number of breakthroughs in understanding how our nation's wildlife interacts with society and how these interactions can be improved. As a result of his work, numerous groups in both the public and private sectors have been able to make changes that mitigate their environmental impact.

At a time when our country faces enormous challenges related to our changing climate, it is critical that we understand how our decisions impact the creatures in the world around us. A better understanding of these effects allows us to minimize the impacts of human activity on the world which we all share.

Dr. Clark's tireless dedication to scientific exploration and excellence allows Americans to live in peace with the species that share our world with us. For this reason, I would like to thank him and all those working at the National Wildlife Research Center for all that they do for our nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the numerous accomplishments of Mr. Max Stein.

As a World War II Navy Veteran and long-time Professor of Mathematics at Colorado State University in my district, Mr. Stein knows the meaning of hard work better than most. Throughout his career, he worked tirelessly to ensure that any students he came in contact with understood the concepts they needed to succeed. This was true whether he was teaching World War II pilots how to use their radar technology or instructing doctoral candidates on how to defend their theses.

Mr. Stein has not only been a long-time role model for his discipline, but for quality of character as well. As a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he ensures that those around him understand how much he treasured them. This devotion has also been extended to the sports teams he tirelessly cheers, powering through with them in the good seasons and the bad. In addition to all of this, Mr. Stein's love for laughter has made

his community a happier place every time he graces those around him with a smile.

In honor of his 100th birthday last month, I believe it is only fair that we thank Mr. Stein for being an example of what it means to be an outstanding American. His dedication, character and good spirit has made the 2nd Congressional District of Colorado a better place. I am extremely proud to have the honor of representing such a distinguished individual in Congress and believe someone of his caliber should be honored with the utmost respect.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I would like to engage in a colloquy of sorts with my fellow colleague in House leadership, a Representative of the freshman class, Representative Hill, and, of course, our co-class president, Representative Stevens.

Representative Hill, what do you think about the freshman class?

I couldn't agree more, Representative Hill.

Representative Stevens, what do you think about the freshman class?

Well, I couldn't agree more, and I want to associate myself with the remarks of Representative Stevens and Representative Hill.

We have got an incredible freshman class in this 116th Congress. Not only is it the youngest and most diverse in history, but we got straight to work. We hit the ground running.

At the end of the day, this freshman class is making a lot of progress, so I would like to give the American people a sense of what the freshman class has been up to.

Over the last two recesses, the freshman class has held over 100 townhalls and over 400 events. That is a lot of events, Representative Hill.

That is right. Congressman Andy Kim from the great State of New Jersey has held more townhalls in the last 3 months than his predecessor did over the last 4 years, and he has responded to over 5,000 letters from constituents--quite a feat.

Well, let me tell you about my friend, Congressman Antonio Delgado, who has held six townhalls over the first in-district work period.

Clearly, this freshman class is making townhalls the rule and not the exception. But the freshman class is also taking great care to talk about the issues that really matter to their constituents.

Let me tell you about my friend Congresswoman Angie Craig from the great State of Minnesota, who held a flood briefing to start discussions around different agencies working together in the case of major flooding.

I don't want to brag, but I will. Congressman Jared Golden, from the great State of Maine, is advocating to lower the cots of prescription drugs for his constituents.

This freshman class truly is legislating with aggressive momentum.

Eighteen freshmen, quite an incredible feat. But I will also say that freshman Members of Congress have had much success legislating.

Congressman Max Rose from the great State of New York has had three amendments pass this House, including an amendment to expand childcare services for veterans seeking additional treatment.

Representative Hill, I know that you know my great friend and colleague Abigail Spanberger, who was able to include an amendment as part of H.R. 1 that would prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections.

Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan created a new bipartisan caucus to represent the interests of veterans.

I do know that Members of this House would be well familiar with Congressman Chris Pappas, who has introduced bipartisan legislation to increase protections for first responders on the front lines of our Nation's opioid epidemic.

All of these accomplishments that Representative Hill and I have outlined that this freshman class has accomplished I think demonstrate that the freshman class is continuing to deliver for the people.

Nearly 100 days into our transformative majority, we have passed major legislation across issue areas.

The first gun violence prevention legislation passed in nearly a decade.

So as we conclude and head into the next 100 days, I think it is important to stress that we are going to continue to work to lower the cost of healthcare.

Raise workers' wages.

And, of course, address the existential threat--climate change.

As am I, Representative Hill.

Madam Speaker, today, I want to share the story of a family in my district. In 2015, the Cerrato family was in the NICU, fighting for the life of their son Ethan. At just 10 days old, he had undergone two major surgeries, had been the subject of dozens of procedures, and had spent the first days of his life traumatized and struggling through pain.

After only 10 days, the Cerrato family had accumulated a hospital bill of over $250,000. While little Ethan was fighting for his life, Christine and Matthew Cerrato were grappling with the thought of filing for bankruptcy.

At this moment, the question became: What could they rely on? The answer was the Affordable Care Act, which was passed into law this week 9 years ago.

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice called on the Federal courts to overturn the ACA in its entirety, the latest attack from this administration on the affordable healthcare of millions of families, including many in my State of Colorado and in my district.

These relentless efforts to repeal this law would have harmful impacts on families across the country, like the Cerrato family.

We cannot move backward on the progress we have made to provide affordable healthcare to American families. Instead, we must move forward to lower drug prices, to lower the cost of healthcare, and to ensure that Colorado families and families all over America can get the care they need.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership and for introducing this incredibly important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the investigation currently under way by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is incredibly important: an open investigation into incredibly serious allegations, potential obstruction of justice, corruption, and possible links of coordination between President Trump's Presidential campaign and the Russian Government, efforts to meddle in our democratic process, and mislead and manipulate American voters.

The allegations at the center of this investigation, as I said, are serious, they are credible, and they are unprecedented. With 37 indictments and counting, it is of paramount importance that the special counsel's report and the underlying evidence be made public for the sake of transparency and trust in our government.

As a nation, as a Congress, and as a Republic, we need to know all of the facts about this investigation and what unfolded between players in the President's campaign and Russia in 2016. We must protect and respect the work of Special Counsel Mueller, and his report must be released, in full, for the Congress and for the American people to see.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the chairman for introducing this resolution, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I am proud to offer an amendment today to ensure early registration, or pre-registration, for all 16- and 17- year-olds

across the country ahead of their 18th birthday.

To be clear, my amendment does not lower the voting age; it simply allows individuals to pre-register so they are registered and ready to vote when they turn 18.

Today, 14 States, including my home State, the great State of Colorado, as well as the District of Columbia, permit pre-registration beginning at 16 years old. Four States permit pre-registration beginning at 17 years old, and five other States allow for pre- registration a few months ahead of voters' 18th birthday.

States across the Nation are taking up pre-registration to integrate young people in the democratic process early, and I think it is time for us to take up these reforms at the Federal level.

We see young people interacting with the government agencies most frequently when they are 16 and getting their driver's license or learner's permit. This is common sense to allow our young folks to register early when they are already at the Department of Motor Vehicles in their respective State, where voter registration services are typically offered, to ensure that when they turn 18, they have no barriers to casting their ballot on election day.

Madam Chair, the foundation of our democracy is built on the ability of our citizens to vote. We must hold this right precious and sacred, and we must encourage, in my view, our citizens of every age, from every background and every locality and every local party to engage in our political process. Pre-registration helps us do that by investing in our next generation and by encouraging democratic participation from an early age.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from the other side of the aisle for his thoughtful comments. I would say that I think this amendment is a bipartisan amendment in the sense that it will apply equally to every 16- and 17-year-old across the country, irrespective of their political affiliation.

In Colorado actually, in some months we have had more Republican 16- and 17-year-olds pre-register than Democrat 16- and 17-year-olds. So really what this is all about is just ensuring that young folks in our country are able to integrate into the political process and engage in their civic duties at an earlier age.

From my perspective--I appreciate the gentleman's comments with respect to visiting high schools. I certainly do that quite a bit in my district, to meet with young folks, to talk to them about how to become better citizens and engaged in their community. And often the question I get is, How? And I think this is a great answer.

The ability to say to them that if they go, when they get their driver's license, and pre-register to vote so that, ultimately, when they turn 18 they are automatically registered and ready to participate in our elections; I think that, at the end of the day, it will do a great service to our country and get more young people involved in our political process.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren), a distinguished colleague and the chair of our Immigration Subcommittee and, of course, the chair of the House Administration Committee. Ms. Lofgren.

Madam Chair, I certainly will take my colleague up on his invitation, and look forward to visiting his district and having him come to Boulder and Fort Collins, where I know there are plenty of 16- and 17-year-olds who are very eager to be able to advocate for other young folks to be able to pre-register in other States, as they have been able to in Colorado, thanks to the incredible election reforms that we have enacted in our State.

I understand that we have a respectful disagreement with respect to the merits of the underlying bill, but I would hope that, on this particular amendment that is not particularly controversial and that, as I said, is really a nonpartisan approach to just getting young folks of all political affiliations involved in our political process.

I would hope and trust that colleagues in both parties here in this Chamber would think about this amendment thoughtfully, and I would certainly urge them to support it.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a Coloradoan, an environmentalist, and a conservationist to support S. 47.

I want to thank my home-State colleagues in the Senate; of course, my friends from the other side of the aisle; and, most importantly, our chairman, Chairman Grijalva, for his leadership with respect to this bill.

In the great State of Colorado, we understand the value of our public lands. Our State's outdoor recreation economy brings in $28 billion and $10 billion in workers' wages alone.

Investing in our public lands, conserving our wild places, is good for our economy, and it is good for our future generations.

I am proud that this bill not only includes nine measures that would impact my State, but two provisions, in particular, that I introduced earlier this Congress that directly benefit Colorado's Second Congressional District.

First, the Bolts Ditch Access and Use Act is an important provision that allows the town of Minturn, in Eagle County in my district, water access with use of the Bolts Ditch headgate.

Secondly, the WEDGE Act incorporates 124 acres of land adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park into Arapahoe National Forest.

I am excited to take up both of these provisions on the House floor today, both of which will have a real local impact on the communities that I am so honored to represent in Colorado's Second.

Not only this, but, of course, S. 47 provides permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is long overdue and a milestone for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this bill and look forward to continuing to work to conserve our public lands.