Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in paying tribute to my dear friend and predecessor, Louise Slaughter.

As evidenced by the many laudatory statements being made today, Louise's contributions to this institution were immeasurable. Louise left a remarkable legacy:

The only woman to chair the Rules Committee;

A stalwart for women and children;

A leader who was instrumental in passing landmark healthcare legislation.

But what I remember most about Louise and what was at the heart of all her accomplishments is how much she cared for her friends and for her community.

Louise was my dear friend not only on the best of days, like when she encouraged me to run for my first elective office or celebrated with me when I was chosen to be the majority leader of the New York State Assembly, but also on the most difficult of days.

When my daughter Lauren passed away, Louise was there that afternoon spending hours at my house with our family. That is just who she was.

She had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. I am better for having known her, and I know that our entire country is better for her many years of dedicated service.

May you rest in peace, Louise Slaughter.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which took place earlier this week on March 3.

My daughter, Lauren, battled triple negative breast cancer for 2 years, with incredible strength, courage, humor,

and tenacity. She shared her story publicly with tens of thousands of people on a Facebook page called Lauren vs. Cancer, underscoring the importance of this serious health issue and encouraging everyone to get tested.

Sadly, Lauren died at the age of 31 from this horrible disease in August of 2017. In Lauren's memory, I have dedicated myself to efforts to eradicate the scourge of breast cancer.

As we recognize Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day, I want to extend my support to the thousands of women and men affected by this devastating and, at times, deadly disease. We must take this opportunity to highlight the need for continued education, research, and action to finally find a cure for breast cancer.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment intended to make it easier to register to vote by ensuring the deadline does not fall on a public holiday.

Millions of registration applications are handled through the mail and through local Departments of Motor Vehicles. Current Federal law requires States to accept registration forms postmarked or submitted 30 days before election.

However, Mr. Chair, it just so happens, in some years, 30 days before election day falls exactly on Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, or another public holiday. This results in a shorter window for preelection registration, and many Americans may not even realize the holiday could disrupt their plans to register. Without Postal Service or DMV hours on the holidays, some voters have been unable to get their registrations in on time.

My amendment makes a simple change. The deadline to postmark your ballots, register online or visit a government office to submit your registration will be changed from 30 days to 28 days prior to election day.

This provides voters simply more time to submit their registration without burdening local election officials with rapid turnaround time and ensures that the deadline never falls on a holiday.

Every day leading up to election day is an opportunity for thousands of Americans across the country to update their registration or register for the first time. By ensuring the cutoff for advanced registration is only 28 days before an election and ensuring that date doesn't fall on a public holiday, we can give more Americans the chance to prepare to cast their ballots.

Now, H.R. 1 already allows for same-day voter registration in every State--a policy I strongly support--as it will make it easier for every citizen to exercise their franchise. But H.R. 1 still provides for voters the option to register in advance if they so choose; and when they choose that option, this amendment will give them enough time to do so, making certain that their paperwork is not rejected for being postmarked or submitted on a public holiday.

This is a simple change, but it is one that can make voting a little easier for Americans across the Nation, and I hope we can all agree that is a change worth making.

Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I thank the ranking member for his extraordinary work, as well as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes), the sponsor of the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of the 25th district, Lee Arthur Howe, III. Mr. Howe passed away on January 8, just 2 months shy of his 87th birthday. Mr. Howe graduated with his master's in education from Fredonia State Teacher's College before spending two years in the army during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge, he moved to Rochester in 1955 to begin his devotion to public education. He began teaching 6th grade at Lincoln Avenue School, known today as Sutherland High School. His promotion to principal came in 1962, and he would serve in that role at three other elementary schools until his retirement in 1988.

The oldest son of a Baptist preacher, he moved to different towns around Western New York along with his mother and three brothers. While he was young, he developed two lifelong loves: jazz, especially big band jazz, and making those around him howl with laughter. He learned the trumpet and played it at every opportunity. He served as a first chair trumpet for the Perinton Concert Band for many years, entertaining countless big band concert fans all around the Rochester region.

Mr. Howe was beloved by his family, and whenever he went, music and laughter followed him. He was a gentle man, who took more pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren than he did in his own accomplishments. Patient beyond words, a trait that is vital to being as avid of a golfer as he was in his retirement, he was able to enjoy his life to the fullest.

While I am saddened by Mr. Howe's passing, I am proud to have represented a man who brought so much joy to so many people for so many years. My heart is with his entire extended family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on an historic piece of legislation that will make its way to the floor tomorrow, H.R. 8, which will require background checks on all gun sales in the United States.

In 2017, almost 40,000 Americans died from gun violence--the highest total on record since the Centers for Disease Control began tracking the statistics 50 years ago. This is an epidemic that for far too long has gone unaddressed at the Federal level. But that stops now.

Thoughts and prayers cannot stop the never-ending string of gun violence that terrorizes communities across the Nation, but commonsense legislation can. That is why I am so proud to cosponsor H.R. 8, which marks a significant step forward in our efforts to keep guns out of the wrong hands.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation tomorrow and to continue our work to ensure safer neighborhoods across America.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather in New York and missed votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 88 regarding the ``Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2019 (H.R. 539)'' and YEA on Roll Call No. 89 regarding the ``Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act (H.R. 276).''

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues for their steadfast commitment to pursuing and achieving a bipartisan agreement that prevents another government shutdown, upholds our shared values, and provides stability for American families.

I am encouraged that we have returned to a productive dialogue and set a constructive tone that seeks to unite and not further divide us. The American people expect and deserve nothing less.

Now, it is my hope that we continue that same spirit of bipartisanship as we return our focus to governing and addressing the important issues facing our Nation. That means working together to ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare for every person, to protect the promise of Social Security and Medicare, to expand economic opportunity, and to stop the devastating cycle of gun violence.

Progress can only be achieved through cooperation and partnership, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver results that uplift the lives of all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 105 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 105, providing for consideration of H.R. 840, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, under a structured rule.

The rule provides for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The rule makes in order 21 amendments, each debatable for 10 minutes. The rule also provides for adoption of H. Res. 86, a resolution providing interim funding for our two new select committees.

Lastly, the rule provides suspension authority through next Friday, February 15.

Mr. Speaker, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act would make permanent the VA's childcare pilot program, allowing more veterans to access cost-free childcare when they receive mental or other intensive healthcare treatment through the VA.

A nearly identical piece of legislation passed in the House last year under a Republican majority with bipartisan cosponsors and without objection. It is my hope that this Congress will support these efforts to make it easier for our brave servicemembers to get the care they need while supporting their families.

Millions of working families across the Nation are struggling to afford the rising cost of childcare. Families in my own State of New York often pay upwards of $15,000 each year to place one child in a childcare center. Some parents may find themselves owing their entire salary each month to provision of daycare. This cost can be so debilitating that parents are being driven out of the workforce--many of them women.

For veterans, these struggles can be even more acute. Many veterans are primary caregivers to their children or even their grandchildren. These brave men and women rely on the VA for their healthcare, but many of them are forced to miss appointments or forgo treatment altogether because they

have no childcare options. For many, that can be devastating. We have seen the harm that can be done when military veterans do not receive high-quality mental health services.

This Nation is facing a crisis. Each day, 20 American veterans take their own life. Studies have shown that mental health disparities are a leading cause of high suicide rates among veterans who struggle with depression or post-traumatic stress.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has shown that the suicide rate has increased faster among those veterans who have not recently received treatment through the VA system. Addressing inadequate access to lifesaving mental health and intense health services is critical as we seek to reform our veterans' healthcare system, and we know that making care more accessible will save lives.

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs operates a pilot program to provide cost-free childcare to help primary caregivers seeking mental health treatment at selected VA facilities across the country. This program has been extended by Congress several times and has provided care for more than 10,000 children already.

Congress now has an opportunity to extend not only this pilot, but to expand this essential service to every VA facility in the Nation. This will allow thousands more veterans to receive cost-free childcare, ensuring that they never have to choose caring for their family over caring for their own mental health well-being.

This legislation is especially important for female veterans across the Nation, many of whom are single parents or primary caregivers. An increasing number of female veterans have been in combat. One in five female veterans seen by the VA report military sexual trauma.

It is clear that female veterans face unique health challenges and unique barriers to accessing the care they need. This legislation will work to dismantle those barriers so the VA can build on the progress we have made in treating female veterans.

For many veterans, it is not only essential that they receive mental and intensive healthcare, but that they receive care quickly. When facing a serious mental health crisis, veterans shouldn't have to worry about their babysitter dropping out or how they will pay for a day of daycare or how they will find someone to take care of their child while they go to the hospital and receive services. We must ensure that the men and women who have laid their lives on the line for our Nation have timely access to the lifesaving services they need and that we have promised to provide.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule and the underlying legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First of all, I appreciate the comments by my distinguished and wholly entertaining colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall). I do want to just make a couple of points related to his comments.

First of all, as the gentleman indicated, the amendment that he talked about was not germane, not before the House, and that was ruled such yesterday. But, as it relates to the paygo rule, we are entirely in compliance with that. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office advised us that there is no direct spending in the bill.

As my mother is often wont to say: You can't be holier than the church. CBO has ruled on it and indicated that the bill does not add a single penny to our deficit or to the national debt, period.

I do, Mr. Speaker, however, find it somewhat ironic. I was thinking about this just yesterday after our conversation in the Rules Committee, and I do note that the appropriation over the next 5 years, $120 million--that is million with an M, not billion with a B, and certainly not trillion with a T. And I do find it ironic to some agree that the gentleman and his colleagues last year would enact a tax cut which provided that 83 percent of its benefits went to the wealthiest Americans.

And, if we were here each day, Mr. Woodall and I, for 365 days a year, for the next 30 years--10,000 days, 10,000 times--that tax bill would have spent more money than this would during that time, if we did this for 10,000 days. Think about it.

The work that we do here: authorized spending on a program for veterans, not our wealthiest Americans; those who are struggling; those who have,

during their time, provided great service and sacrifice to our country; those who have kept us safe. And I know Mr. Woodall and I share an appreciation for all the work our veterans do.

But this is a policy bill, Mr. Speaker. It is not an appropriations bill, and it has no direct spending. What it does: It helps save the lives of veterans, and it helps put them on a safer, more sound bearing for the future.

The cost for implementing it is, as I said, $120 million over the next 5 years. And it seems to me, it seems to my colleagues, that this is appropriate given the priorities we have for our Nation and for our veterans.

So the next step, as the gentleman knows, is to provide funding through the appropriation process, and I hope that this Congress does invest in our veterans, particularly those who have challenging health issues, whether they be physical, mental, or behavioral, who also happen to be the parents or caretakers of our young children.

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

Mr. Speaker, I inquire of the gentleman whether or not there are other speakers or whether I should use this opportunity to close.

Mr. Speaker, I apologize. I am still learning this. The lingo on the floor of the House is much different than the lingo on the floor of the New York State Assembly, where I had the privilege of serving, and I do appreciate the gentleman's help through this. He has me at a bit of a disadvantage.

I do want to just reiterate before I yield that, in fact, this is a policy that we set with this bill and this rule. It will be up to the appropriators to make a decision about whether this is a priority as they go through this process and determine whether there will be funding for it in the appropriations bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his indulgence and his patience as I hopefully will get the training wheels off at one of these points, but I appreciate his comments.

I do want to note that this bill, the amendment which the gentleman speaks of, will not have been germane in the previous Congress either, and it was not ruled germane during the Rules Committee deliberations.

But, Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank all my colleagues for the words of support for H.R. 840, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act. The Veterans' Access bill, I want to especially thank the sponsor, Congresswoman Julia Brownley and Chairman Mark Takano of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, as well as the ranking member, Mr. Roe, for their work in supporting our Nation's veterans.

I am proud that this rule provides for the consideration of so many diverse ideas, including minority and bipartisan amendments, something that would not be allowed in the previous Congress. I am proud we have taken this bipartisan approach, and I appreciate all the work that Chairman McGovern has done to make sure that that is part of the work that we do.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and a ``yes'' vote on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 4 o'clock and 38 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, February 7, 2019, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Madam Speaker, this is a frustrating time in Washington, in which most of us have been focused on the ongoing government shutdown. But I want to take a moment to talk about something positive the House is doing to protect everyday Americans across this country.

My colleagues and I have passed a motion to intervene in the Texas vs. United States lawsuit. If allowed to stand, this lower court ruling would pull the rug out from under millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for health coverage, many of whom were denied coverage in the past for a preexisting condition.

133 million Americans are living with chronic illness, serious medical conditions, or even minor medical histories that used to disqualify them from all but the most expensive insurance coverage. We cannot return to a time when a cancer survivor or a child with diabetes is rejected for coverage because of a preexisting condition.

Affordable, quality healthcare should be a right for every American, and we should be making it easier, not harder, for everyone to get the insurance they deserve. That is why I am proud that the House has taken the action to intervene in the lawsuit, demonstrating our steadfast commitment to fighting back against those who seek to dismantle the fundamental protections no person should be denied.

I will continue to work tirelessly with my colleagues to uphold and protect access to American healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize someone we all know well, a true American patriot, the Honorable Louise M. Slaughter. It is truly a privilege to have introduced H.R. 7293 honoring Louise and her husband, Bob Slaughter. It is particularly fitting to do so in the 115th Congress, with so many colleagues who worked side by side with this remarkable woman.

Louise loved Monroe County and everyone who called it home. Through her dedicated work in public service, she made immeasurable contributions to our region, our State, and our Nation.

That is why I am proud to sponsor this legislation to dedicate the United States Post Office located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport to Louise Slaughter and her devoted husband, Bob Slaughter.

The new Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office Building, located in their hometown just blocks from their house, will be a fitting tribute to a truly remarkable couple.

On a personal note, it was Louise Slaughter who counseled me at a young age and encouraged me to run for public office. Louise, Bob, and their family remained dear friends for nearly 40 years.

Our entire community grieves her loss and misses her dearly, but Louise left behind an incredible legacy that everyone in this room witnessed firsthand.

She was the first and only woman to chair the Rules Committee of the House. Louise was not only a fierce and influential legislator but a true champion for those in our Nation in real need of champions.

From landmark healthcare legislation to education and infrastructure projects that have strengthened our local and national economy, Louise was a trailblazer who, with every success, shattered glass ceilings.

She was a friend, a colleague, a mentor, and a role model for so many people, both in this room and in my community back home in Rochester, New York. She and Bob Slaughter are more than deserving of this honor, and I look forward to the day when the Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office is open for business to serve Fairport residents and honor their memory.

I am grateful to my colleagues in the New York delegation who have joined me in cosponsoring this legislation. Its widespread bipartisan support is a testament to the profound impact Louise Slaughter has had on all of us and will have on us all for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed the vote on S. 3191, the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, on Friday, December 21, 2018. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 482.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Connie Mitchell, an iconic civil rights activist and leader in the Rochester community, who passed away on December 14.

Connie dedicated her life to the pursuit of equality and racial justice, and her commitment to breaking down barriers was truly awe inspiring. She was the first African American woman elected to office in Monroe County, winning a seat on the board of supervisors in 1961. She was a role model in the fight for equality. Her contributions helped to open the door of opportunity for so many people in our community.

I join all of Rochester in mourning her passing and extend my prayers and deepest sympathies to the entire Mitchell family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituents, Ms. Donna Strickland and Mr. Gerard Mourou, who were recently awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for their inventions of ``tools made of light.'' Their incredible research on laser physics was done at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics, a world- class scientific institution in my district, and was made possible thanks to federal support by the Department of Energy.

Dr. Strickland is only the third woman to receive the prize in physics, joining Marie Curie, in 1903, and Maria Goeppert-Mayer, in 1963, and is the first woman laureate in Rochester's history. Additionally, Drs. Strickland and Mourou are now two of twelve University of Rochester students or faculty who have been recognized with a Nobel Prize.

Drs. Strickland and Mourou have received this momentous award for their ground-breaking work into the design of high-power lasers. Their discovery of ``chirped-pulse amplification'' enabled a stunning advance in laser power and paved the way for the creation of very short, intense laser pulses lasting only a fraction of a second, making it possible to build more compact and precise laser systems. The ``chirped-pulse amplification'' technique, first realized in their table-top terawatt, or ``T-cubed'', laser, has since been used in a variety of applications, from Lasik eye surgery to the manufacturing of materials used in smartphones.

Their discovery enabled significant increases in the peak power of lasers by overcoming the existing limitations due to laser pulses damaging the material used to amplify them by first stretching the light pulse, amplifying the longer lower-power pulse, and then re- compressing the light into a short high-power pulse. Although their research was performed in the 1980's, to this day, ``chirped-pulse amplification'' remains the state-of-the-art technique for generating the highest-power lasers in the world and has opened the door to new fields of inquiry, such as femtochemistly, and enabled new medical, scientific, and commercial applications.

The Laboratory of Laser Energetics is the largest university-based research center funded by the Department of Energy and is currently home to 350 scientists, engineers, and staff. In addition, it is the only National Nuclear Security Agency facility with a specific mission to train graduate students in inertial confinement fusion, high-power lasers, and high energy density physics research. In addition to being a significant source of scientific education and leadership, the Laboratory of Laser Energetics is a vital contributor to our national security and an engine of innovation and growth for the laser, optics, imaging and photonics sector which have been so important to the Rochester and Finger Lakes region.

It gives me great pleasure to represent an institution and a district with such a proud and storied history of innovation. I am proud to recognize Drs. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou for their outstanding research accomplishments and contributions to the scientific community which have rightly earned them a Nobel Prize. I wish them all the best in their future endeavors and look forward to the continued success they will achieve.