Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, recently the Supreme Court took an unprecedented, deeply disappointing, and ideologically driven action to overturn Roe v. Wade.

This is a targeted attack on Americans' rights to make decisions for their bodies, their lives, and their future.

This decision sets a very dangerous precedent for our Nation's highest court and is the result of a premeditated agenda from radical conservatives to dismantle access to comprehensive reproductive care.

The decision to have an abortion is a deeply personal one, one that should be made between a patient and their doctor, not by politically motivated judges or politicians.

Roe offered Americans protections from the unsolicited belief systems and the ideologies of others being imposed on them and their personal healthcare decisions.

I am committed to continuing to work alongside House Democrats and President Biden in the fight for reproductive freedom and reproductive justice and the right to abortion across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, it was once said: ``The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.''

By this definition, John R. Hatcher, III, was a great man.

As the founding father of the Ventura County chapter of the NAACP, John was guided by his passion for social justice, and he was a champion for diversity, equality, and civil rights.

An Air Force veteran, a civil servant, an extraordinary citizen, our community is forever grateful for his immeasurable contributions.

For these reasons, I thank my colleagues for supporting the passage of H.R. 5659, which will designate the post office in Oxnard, California, as the John R. Hatcher, III, Post Office.

This bill is but a small measure of appreciation that recognizes John and his life's work, and I urge the bill's swift consideration before the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, from day one, House Democrats have been working with the Biden administration to build a stronger and more secure future for the American people. That is why we recently passed the COMPETES Act to fix our national supply chains, boost competition, and strengthen U.S. manufacturing.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Haas Automation in my district in Oxnard, California. Haas manufactures over 90 percent of all American-made precision manufacturing tools and is the last standing major American manufacturer of the machines

that are essential to most manufacturing in America.

We are working to ensure American manufacturing companies like Haas can continue to compete globally and continue to thrive.

That includes ensuring a level playing field with foreign competitors and ensuring U.S. manufacturers have access to adequate supplies of essential semiconductor chips.

That is why we must get the America COMPETES Act across the finish line, because the success of American manufacturing will lead to the success of American working families.

Madam Speaker, last week marked the 1-year anniversary of the passage of the American Rescue Plan.

The American Rescue Plan was the bold and necessary action we needed to take to put us on the path of economic recovery. This was the boost our country needed to get shots in arms, Americans back to work, and money back in the pockets of working families.

Despite unprecedented challenges, the Biden administration has led our Nation to record economic growth, including the largest job creation in American history. In President Biden's first year, over 7.4 million jobs were added to the economy. Also, growth is up, wages are up, and unemployment is down. But we know we still face inflationary times.

President Biden and Democrats are also acting to fix supply chains and taking strong steps to boost competition, strengthen U.S. manufacturing, create good-paying jobs, and lower everyday costs. We are working towards building a better America and delivering for America's working families.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer a straightforward amendment to H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT Act, which would simply ensure toxic-exposed veterans have access to mammography screenings.

I would like to begin by thanking my colleague from Iowa, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, for coauthoring this amendment which is based on her outstanding bill.

As chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I very much want to see the gentlewoman's good bill advance, which is why I am offering this amendment today.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, the conditions related to toxic exposure manifest themselves in many ways and on many different timelines. The incidence rate of breast cancer in women veterans is 20 to 40 percent higher than the incidence rate of breast cancer among nonveteran women. From 2000 to 2015, the VA saw the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer increase by five times for women ages 45 to 65. This is partly due to better screening, but still more can be done, particularly related to those who have been exposed to toxic substances.

Ensuring that veterans have access to lifesaving screening for breast cancer cannot depend on the time after separation from the military and must simply depend on whether a veteran served in a place where they were exposed to toxins.

This amendment, based on the SERVICE Act, directs the director of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mammogram screening for female veterans who served in areas associated with burn pits and other toxic exposure. It also directs the VA to submit a report to both the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees 2 years after enactment that compares the instances of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces.

Women veterans who served in areas with high toxic exposures should not have to wait until they start showing symptoms or reach a certain age to access preventative mammography screenings.

This is why I am proud to join Congresswoman Miller-Meeks in offering this lifesaving amendment.

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

Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining on each side?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), who is the great chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and who has worked diligently on this very, very important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support mammography screenings for toxic-exposed veterans and vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

I would also like to say that we must pass this bill today, a bill that will finally, finally, bring justice to our veterans and provide our commitment and promise that we made to our veterans who served our country, both men and women. So this bill is long, long overdue.

Men and women sign up for the Armed Forces. They know they may have to put their lives on the line. They did not know that they may die of toxic exposures.

This bill is long overdue. We need a ``yes'' vote on the amendment and a ``yes'' vote on the underlying bill.

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

Madam Speaker, as the pandemic put pressure on the pockets of Americans, House Democrats worked to not only bolster our economy but to get people back to work.

The November jobs report shows that our economy is on the right track to doing just that. In fact, 6 million jobs have been created in the first 10 months of the Biden administration. No other administration has created more jobs in its first year. But during the Trump administration's mismanagement of the pandemic, we lost over 9 million jobs. So we still have work to do.

The recently House-passed Build Back Better Act will include specific and urgent measures to uplift working families, lower everyday costs, fight inflation, and generate millions of good-paying jobs.

House Democrats remain committed to creating a strong economy and an economy that works for all Americans.

Madam Speaker, since day one, Democrats have diligently worked with the Biden administration to bolster our economy and rebuild our Nation's crumbling infrastructure.

Earlier this month Democrats delivered on their promise to the American people by passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act. The need for this historic investment in our roads and bridges and public transit and rail systems is clear in every State and every community throughout our country.

Democrats not only delivered one of the largest Federal investments in our Nation's infrastructure, but we are delivering access to broadband and high-speed internet, and we are delivering clean and reliable drinking water to America's families.

The bipartisanship infrastructure deal makes bold investments in our future by creating good-paying American jobs, fighting back against the climate crisis, and rebuilding our economy from the middle out.

We must continue to build on this success--ensuring our democracy delivers for the people--by passing President Biden's transformative Build Back Better Act.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that we do not have economic policies that set women up for success.

The pandemic has put a cruel spotlight on these challenges. In fact, one out of four women has been pushed out of the workforce because the care economy collapsed.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change this paradigm, while supporting a tenuous economic recovery, by making transformative investments in America's working women.

The Build Back Better agenda invests in childcare, paid family leave, home-based care, universal pre-K, and the child tax credit.

There is no doubt that the Build Back Better agenda sets up women and their families for short-term and long-term success.

And we all know that when women and their families succeed, America succeeds.

Madam Speaker, today, we mark 200 days of the 117th Congress and 200 days of delivering for the people.

From day one, House Democrats have prioritized the needs of everyday Americans, working families, and our children. We have delivered transformative, lifesaving legislation that focuses on our recovery from this pandemic.

The American Rescue Plan has been successful in getting shots in arms, workers back to work, and money in the pockets of families, and children back to school. This was one of the biggest jolts to our health and our economy in history, and we cannot let up on our efforts.

We must build on this momentum and pass President Biden's American Families Plan and the American Jobs Plan, and we must seize this moment, rebuild strong, and rebuild by making bold, sustained investments in our Nation and in our future.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a true American leader and patriot, Captain Jeff Chism, on the occasion of his retirement after 26 years of honorable service in the United States Navy.

A native of Tigard, Oregon, Captain Jeff Chism is a distinguished graduate of Biola University, the University of Southern California, the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University, and the Naval War College. Captain Chism earned his commission in the U.S. Navy through the University of California, Los Angeles Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He is a designated Naval Flight Officer, Prowler Tactics Instructor, and operationally flew in the EA-6B Prowler and the EA-18G Growler.

Captain Chism's sea duty assignments included the ``Black Ravens'' of VAQ-135; the ``Garudas'' of VAQ-134; the Balkans Combined Air Operations Center Electronic Warfare Coordination Cell (EWCC) Vicenza, Italy; and the CENTCOM Combined Theater EWCC at the USAFCENT Combined Air Operations Center, Qatar.

During these tours, he deployed aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of Operations DESERT FOX and SOUTHERN WATCH; a combat flying deployment to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH; two combat flying deployments to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; and two individual augmentee deployments first in support of Operations JOINT FORGE and JOINT GUARDIAN and then Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQ FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN.

Ashore, he served with the ``Bloodhounds'' of VX-30; as Commander, U.S. THIRD FLEET (J7); and with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Sustainment Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Tactical Warfare Systems.

Captain Chism also Commanded the ``Zappers'' of VAQ-130. During this tour, he deployed aboard the USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Under his command, the squadron earned the 2013 Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet Battle ``E'', 2013 Commander Naval Air Forces Admiral Arthur W. Radford Award, and 2013 Chief of Naval Operations Safety ``S.''

Captain Chism's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (fifteen Strike/ Flight awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), and various campaign and unit awards.

In June 2018, Captain Chism assumed his duties as commanding officer of Naval Base Ventura County, located in California's 26th Congressional District. With great distinction, he dutifully oversaw a diverse installation that supports more than 80 tenant commands with a base population of more than 19,000 personnel, including the Naval Construction Group ONE--also known as the ``Seabees.''

Captain Chism's career at Naval Base Ventura County has been underscored by his exemplary leadership, perceptive planning, and focus on both mission execution and community engagement. These efforts were clearly demonstrated by Captain Chism's remarkable command of major aviation, shore, and port facilities, comprised of three primary sites: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, and San Nicolas Island.

Captain Chism also directed the day-to-day operations at the base, providing comprehensive support services to the Fleet, Fighter, and Family. He also directed diverse installation

programs, including fleet support operations, facilities maintenance and construction, utilities, environmental stewardship, housing, childcare, recreation, safety, resource management, protocol, public affairs, family support service, and IT technology management.

Naval Base Ventura County plays a critically important role in our national defense, and it will continue to do so for many years to come, thanks in part to Captain Chism 's wise stewardship over the past 3 years.

As Representative of California's 26th Congressional District, including the men and women who serve our Nation at Naval Base Ventura County, I am pleased to join a grateful community to extend my most sincere congratulations and appreciation for his countless contributions to Ventura County, the U.S. Navy, and the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, this week, the House will consider the INVEST in America Act.

This bill is a critical and transformative component of President Biden's bold action plan to invest in our Nation's infrastructure while creating good-paying American jobs and rebuilding our economy as we continue to navigate through the pandemic.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased the bill includes several of my provisions that make significant investments in building resilient infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change, including wildfires and floods, while at the same time putting the U.S. on a path to achieving zero emissions in the transportation sector.

The INVEST in America Act provides us an opportunity to fix our country's crumbling infrastructure while ensuring economic prosperity for America's workers and their families.

I am committed to continuing to work with President Biden and all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure these historic investments in our future come to fruition now.

This is our moment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and Ranking Member Bost for their support. This bill is a simple one. It only addresses the disparity between veterans who must pay for contraception, and civilians and women currently serving in uniform, who do not have to pay for contraception.

As the chairwoman of the Women's Veterans Task Force and chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I have worked to identify disparities in healthcare for our women veterans, and where necessary, introduce, advocate for, and pass legislation that eliminates those gaps.

Madam Speaker, I was proud to work with my Republican colleagues to pass the bipartisan Deborah Sampson Act last Congress. This legislation, which was the most comprehensive bill to address the needs of women veterans in more than a decade, received overwhelming bipartisan support. But there are still far too many areas where women veterans have to pay more for their healthcare than men; and in this case, they have to pay more than nonveteran women.

These inequities create an environment that perpetuates the notion that women are not equal to men, and in this case, veteran women are not even equal to other women. This bill passed through the House last Congress by voice vote. It also passed out of the VA Committee this Congress with strong bipartisan support.

It was deeply troubling that misinformation and politics got in the way of helping our women veterans last week, when the bill failed to pass under suspension, which is why we are back here again this week.

Let us be clear, this was a direct slap in the face to nearly 2 million women veterans living in the United States. Because of the Affordable Care Act, women using civilian health insurance may access basic contraceptive services, like the pill, or an IUD without any copay. Additionally, Active Duty servicemembers receive contraceptive care without any copays. So current law is specifically penalizing our women veterans. As we know, choosing when, or if, to have a family is essential to women's health and to their economic security.

Madam Speaker, 87 percent of Americans agree that everyone deserves access to the full range of birth control methods, no matter who they are, where they live, what their economic status is. The vast majority of the American people believe veteran women deserve to be recognized and deserve to be treated with the respect they have earned. The vast majority of the American people also believe that birth control should be a basic part of women's healthcare.

I am particularly disappointed that this bipartisan commitment to supporting our women veterans seems to have hit a roadblock this Congress. Our veterans, both men and women, have sacrificed so much for our country. It is past time that we ensure they get the equitable healthcare they have earned and deserve.

Let us do the right thing today on behalf of our women veterans, for their equality, for their liberty, for their healthcare, and for their economic security.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 239.

Madam Speaker, many families across the country have felt the crushing economic burden of the pandemic, but additional help is on the way.

The American Rescue Plan is delivering on President Biden's promise to help working families make ends meet. This once-in-a-generation investment includes an expanded child tax credit, and many American families are eligible for a refund of up to $3,600 per child, with $300 monthly payments beginning on July 15.

This direct assistance to families will help parents put food on the table, buy clothing for their children, or pay for other expenses while building better lives for their families. These tax credits will also help lift millions of families and children out of poverty, including more than 145,000 children in my district of Ventura County in California.

Ending childhood poverty will help increase educational attainment and lifetime earnings, allowing for a prosperous future for America's families and children. The expanded child tax credit also ensures families can keep more of their hard-earned money and keep our Nation on the path to recovery.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule providing consideration for my bill, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act.

As you know, this rule is necessary to bring critical veterans' healthcare legislation to the floor, because last week House Republicans failed to support the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act when it was considered under the suspension of the rules.

They voted ``no'' despite the bill having passed in the 116th Congress by voice vote with broad support.

They voted ``no'' despite the fact that veterans' service organizations overwhelmingly support the bill.

They voted ``no'' despite the fact that women veterans have put their lives on the line for our country and overwhelmingly want equal access to healthcare.

They voted ``no'' despite 87 percent of the American people supporting women's access to contraception.

While it is both disappointing and perplexing to me that anyone would vote to deny women veterans equal access to healthcare--the same healthcare we give women currently serving in the military--I am grateful the Speaker and the majority leader have given us--all of us-- a second chance to do what is right. I thank the Committee on Rules for its swift action.

Contraception is a medication used by millions of Americans for a wide range of conditions, and it is estimated that 62 percent of our Nation's 2 million women veterans use contraception. In addition to family planning, contraception is used to treat or alleviate migraines, acne, endometriosis, and PCOS.

In fact, the median number of contraception methods used by women in the U.S. is three, and nearly one-third of women in the U.S. have used five or more methods over their lifetime. Contraception is essential to a women's whole health and to her economic security. Yet women veterans who use VA healthcare are not treated the same as women in the military or civilian women.

Addressing this inequality is long overdue. All veterans and former servicemembers deserve the very best healthcare without any unnecessary barriers. They earned it, and they deserve it.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to demonstrate their commitment to the patriotic women who make up 20 percent of our military and 10 percent of our veteran communities and vote ``yes'' on the rule so we can bring the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans back to the floor.

Let's do the right thing, for equality, health, and economic security for our women who bravely served our country for all of us to have the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, my bill to ensure that veterans have access to contraception coverage without any copay.

I thank the chairman for working with me to advance this legislation.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, women using civilian health insurance may access basic contraceptive services, like the pill or an IUD, without any copay. Active Duty servicemembers can also receive contraceptive care without any copay.

However, women veterans who receive healthcare through the VA do not have access to the same benefit.

Clearly, we need to fix this inequity.

The benefits of contraception are widely recognized.

Choosing when, or if, to have a family is essential to women's health and to their economic security.

Today, there are two million women veterans living in the United States, and women compromise the fastest growing subpopulation within the military and veteran populations; yet many of their health needs go unaddressed in a VA system that has not evolved to equitably serve a rapidly changing population.

As chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force and chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I have worked to identify disparities in healthcare for women veterans and, where necessary, introduce, advocate for, and pass legislation that eliminates these gaps.

Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country. It is past time that we ensure that they get the equitable healthcare they have earned and deserve.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 239.