Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding time, because I was compelled to come to the floor this morning to protest this cruel Trump GOP policy of family separation. This is a new policy.

Under past Presidents, when people come to this country legally asking for asylum because they are fleeing violence, domestic violence and gang violence in other countries, it is legal to request asylum in the United States of America. But under this new Trump policy that is so cruel and so horrible, he is trying to send a message to the world that this is an anti-immigrant country. We are not. He is trying to send a message to this world that children can be used for pawns. We are not going to let that happen.

President Trump and the GOP now want to use children as bargaining chips to try to exact concessions from Democrats on a very anti- immigrant, very cruel, very wasteful policy, and we need people across America to stand up and speak out.

The calls to my office are overwhelming. People think this family

separation policy that rips children away from their families is horrible and cruel, and it is. And we need you to keep the calls coming.

We are not going to let this happen. We are not going to let children continue to be ripped away from their families, but we need backup.

We are here to say we stand with the families. We love these children. Everyone should love these children, and we are not going to put up with Trump's anti-immigrant, hateful policy any longer.

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

I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to passage, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, the House has been debating legislation to combat the opioid epidemic. While many of the bills we heard last week and this week are fine, together they fail to meet the challenge of this very serious public health crisis where in America today, we are losing about 40,000 lives a year due to opioid addiction.

Now, in the Energy and Commerce Committee over the past few months, we have had numerous hearings and heard from all sorts of experts and families and the DEA and health providers. And then back home, families have been educating us on the challenges of dealing with opioid addiction.

Families and public health experts and the medical community, they have reached a consensus that we need a more comprehensive approach to tackle the opioid epidemic that includes prevention, community-based treatment, and integrated recovery plans. But it is very difficult for us to be proactive in a meaningful way on the opioid crisis when the Republicans and the White House continue to press us backwards when it comes to access to affordable healthcare.

Just last week, the Trump administration launched a new attack on Americans with preexisting conditions, and that includes families struggling with opioid addiction. President Trump and the GOP asked a Federal court to strike down the protection that prevents insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more for a preexisting condition.

This would be a devastating blow to those suffering from addiction, not to mention cancer or diabetes or a heart condition or more. This would leave more families without insurance and more families without addiction treatment.

President Trump and the GOP were not successful last year in ripping health coverage away from families across this country through legislation, so now they are trying to do this through the court system: take away the guarantee of health coverage for millions of Americans with preexisting conditions. This is wrong and it will make the opioid epidemic worse. Instead, we should be working together to develop and fund a comprehensive robust plan to combat and treat addiction.

Mr. Speaker, this is why I am proposing an amendment to strengthen the underlying bill. My amendment, most importantly, makes the 5-year limited repeal of the IMD exclusion for individuals with substance use disorders contingent on the State expanding Medicaid. It is based on the most up-to-date research and everything we know about how important Medicaid and Medicaid expansion is to treating opioid addiction.

Mr. Speaker, Medicaid is central to treating addiction, because families can get early intervention and treatment, including the important medical-assisted treatment. In fact, Medicaid serves four out of ten of nonelderly adults with opioid addiction.

According to a 2016 study by the National Council on Behavioral Health, about 1.6 million people with substance use disorders now have coverage because they live in one of the 31 States at the time that expanded Medicaid. So they are more likely to receive treatment, including access to naloxone and other drugs that help them stay off the opioids.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality highlighted the importance of Medicaid expansion in increasing insurance coverage among people with opioid use disorders just recently. They found that the share of hospitalizations in which the patient was uninsured fell dramatically in States that had expanded Medicaid, from over 13 percent in 2013 to just 2.9 percent 2 years later after those States expanded Medicaid. The steep decline indicates that many uninsured people coping with opioid addiction gained coverage through Medicaid expansion.

Medicaid is part of the solution to the opioid crisis, and Republicans should not irresponsibly press to cut millions of Americans, take away their lifeline as they propose massive cuts again to Medicaid.

The Republican budget came out just yesterday. Surprise, surprise. Again, they go after families who rely on Medicaid, not just Medicaid expansion that has been so important to treating folks who suffer from addiction, but families, children, our neighbors with disabilities, folks that rely on skilled nursing care, the Republican budget released yesterday says $1.5 trillion in cuts to those families. That is not going to help solve the opioid epidemic.

Republicans in Congress cannot, on one hand, say we are facing up to the addiction crisis, and on the other say we are taking away your healthcare, whether it is Medicaid or preexisting conditions.

Mr. Speaker, I urge approval of my motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have the Big Brothers Big Sisters national headquarters in my district, Tampa, Florida. Big Brothers Big Sisters is lead by the former two-term mayor, Pam Iorio who is beloved in Tampa, and we are proud of her and Big Brothers Big Sisters across America. Today in that spirit, I rise to honor the accomplishments of a true advocate for children everywhere, Mr. Rudy Baldoni. His tireless work for Big Brothers Big Sisters has impacted the lives of countless youths. I am grateful to recognize the incredible work he has put into the nation's oldest and most effective mentoring organization.

Mr. Baldoni, as the two-year National Board Chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters, has been instrumental in creating meaningful and positive change within this incredible organization and for young people who need a supportive mentor. Today, he continues to dedicate his time and energy to this important cause--leading the board in a time of progress and change.

Mr. Baldoni was born and grew up in California, eventually attending the University of Southern California. He earned his J.D. from Western State's College of Law and attended UC Irvine in 1989 to earn another degree in Commercial and Industrial Development and Management. Following his education, Mr. Baldoni worked in real estate development as President of Arnel Development Company until 2007 and became President and CEO of Newport Investment Associates in 2008, where he continued to manage growth and venture capital investments.

Mr. Baldoni got his start with Big Brothers Big Sisters after volunteering to host a dinner for the Orange County, California affiliate. In the fine tradition of volunteer organizations everywhere, after raising more money than any previous dinner, he found himself chairing the board. In 2012, Mr. Baldoni joined the National Board. His passion and drive for Big Brothers Big Sisters caused him to stand out, as he drove to find new ways to improve the organization and both expand and improve its reach. Mr. Baldoni was named National Board Chairman in 2016 and was instrumental in sculpting a five-year plan for the organization, along with the introduction of new modern technology that tracks the match between a Big and a Little. He has also played a huge role in adopting new criteria for all Big Brother Big Sister affiliates to improve standardization between chapters and has worked to rebrand the organization as a whole.

Overall, Mr. Baldoni's time working with Big Brothers Big Sisters has been characterized by his unwavering loyalty and dedication to this cause of mentorship. His national perspective combined with a local understanding of issues has made him an incredibly gifted leader who continues to work for change. His unwavering and endless dedication to this cause has made him a true champion for kids.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay community, proud home of the national headquarters for Big Brothers Big Sisters, I am proud to honor Mr. Baldoni for his formidable efforts and investment in our children all across America. The time and energy he has put into this organization shaped the futures of children from all different backgrounds. By strengthening communities and allowing these positive relationships to grow within Big Brothers Big Sisters, his work empowers children from Tampa Bay and beyond to achieve, succeed and flourish a blessing not just for them but for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, this week, the House is considering a number of bills relating to the opioid public health epidemic.

I serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and over the past year, our committee has heard from experts. We have had numerous hearings on all facets of the opioid crisis. We have gathered facts, listened to witnesses, including those struggling with addiction; doctors; providers; the Drug Enforcement Agency; and more. Plus, many families and experts back home have informed us and encouraged the Congress to act.

Last year, one loving father in my home district in Tampa, Florida, came to meet with me to share his experience. He said:

Our son has been an addict for the last 5 years. During

that time, our family has discovered how impotent the

healthcare system, government system, insurance companies,

criminal justice system, and our family have been to combat

this disease.

Prior to our personal experience, we were like most

Americans who believed this was not our problem, but we were

saddened by those who experienced the crisis. In addition, we

cannot believe how futile and limited our resources and

efforts to help our son overcome this illness have been.

We still believe, although to a lesser degree, that the

people afflicted with this illness still hold the key to

unlocking their own happiness to managing this illness.

However, what is abundantly clear now is that the resources

necessary to provide even a remote chance for addicts to

achieve temporary or permanent remission must be

substantially increased. We have invested, personally, over

$100,000 trying to help our son.

His remarks echo what we heard from experts all across the board in our committee, like Dr. Andrew Kolodny, director of Opioid Policy Research at Brandeis University, who emphasized that treatment has to be expanded exponentially, and it must be easy to access. ``We have to build a new system in America that does not exist.''

Democrats have urged our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in truly tackling the crisis. What became apparent in committee and what is apparent through these small-ball bills on the floor this week and next week is that Republicans still are not there. They are not willing to adequately address this public health crisis. We need a robust, long-term solution that truly meets the challenge of the opioid crisis.

A consensus has emerged, and it is based upon these devastating facts right now. Over 40,000 people are dying from an opioid overdose every year. In my home State of Florida, we are losing about 5,700 people per year to overdose. That was in 2016. That was a 35 percent increase from the previous year.

The CDC says opioid overdoses have quadrupled since 1999. Only 10 to 15 percent of Americans suffering from opioid addiction are currently receiving treatment.

Those numbers cry out for a meaningful, comprehensive approach. But our Republican colleagues have failed to get there with us.

We have been through this before. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, we were struggling with the HIV/AIDS public health epidemic. For many years, the Congress was criticized for not adequately addressing the crisis. There was a harmful stigma involved, just like there is for opioid addiction.

But by the early 1990s, the Congress came together and adopted the Ryan White CARE Act that provided resources all across the country in a consistent fashion and provided funds to local communities and local nonprofits to help us. The death rate from HIV/AIDS is dramatically less.

This is what we have to do when it comes to opioids: provide that comprehensive, long-term solution that simply isn't being demonstrated in these small-ball, little bills that are nibbling around the edges.

Mr. Speaker, at the same time, it is very difficult to be proactive in a meaningful way on the opioid crisis when Republicans and the White House continue to drag us backward when it comes to affordable healthcare.

Just last week, the Trump administration and the GOP launched a new attack on Americans with preexisting conditions like opioid addiction. They asked a Federal court to strike down the Affordable Care Act preexisting condition protection. That is the bedrock protection contained in the Affordable Care Act that says, if you have a cancer diagnosis, Alzheimer's, or heart disease, an insurance company cannot deny you coverage, and they cannot charge you exorbitant rates. The GOP has never really been for that protection.

How are we going to adequately address the opioid addiction crisis when they want to tear away affordable healthcare, including the protection on preexisting conditions?

We need a robust solution here, a comprehensive solution. Otherwise, this is simply nibbling around the edges.

Mr. Speaker, in April, I filed a resolution, it is H. Res. 834. It is a resolution of no confidence in the EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. We now have over 140 cosponsors to this resolution.

This is a resolution that points out that we have high standards for government service and it is unacceptable to have scandal after scandal, the waste of taxpayers' money, coming out of the Environmental Protection Agency's Administrator's office in Scott Pruitt.

What we know now, scandal after scandal that comes to light, is that Administrator Pruitt, he has a penchant for luxury travel at taxpayer expense, he likes to fly first class at taxpayer expense, he likes to stay in luxury hotels at taxpayer expense, and this is unacceptable.

Federal ethics laws bar public officials from using their position or using their staff to enrich themselves.

In addition to his luxury travel and luxury accommodations, we now know that he installed a secret privacy phone booth in his office to the tune of $43,000, paid for by the taxpayers. He has installed biometric locks on his door at the EPA that cost over $5,000.

Due to good journalism, we know that the EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt rented a condo here on Capitol Hill for $50 per night. The Administrator said that the condo owner did not lobby him, but then it was discovered later that, in fact, that was not true, that was a lie.

Just in the past week, it has now been discovered that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has ordered very special fountain pens, paid for by the taxpayers, about $1,500 worth of special pens for him to use and give out.

We know that he has received gifts, like court-side seats to a basketball game given to him by a coal baron.

It was also reported yesterday that he made from his office an official phone call to the CEO of a fast food franchise to try to secure for his wife a fast food franchise business. That is not acceptable.

We know, also due to good reporting, that he asked his staff to go out and find a mattress for his home. You are not allowed, as a government official, to use your government staff to do personal tasks. That is against Federal ethics laws.

All of that pales in comparison, however, to his standing up for special interests, the cost to our health, to our clean water and clean air, while the EPA Administrator again and again is siding with special interests, many of whom have lobbied him and are implicated in a lot of these sweetheart deals.

The interest of the public, the air we breathe, the water we drink, of simply confidence that our Environmental Protection Agency is going to stand up for us: that is what is really at issue.

All of these things are awful, they are a violation of Federal ethics laws, and Scott Pruitt should resign.

I am very troubled, and a lot of my colleagues are troubled that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, many of them have not called him out, they have not signed on to the resolution.

Down at the White House, they continue to say it is acceptable for Scott Pruitt to serve as our EPA Administrator.

I am here on the floor today because we simply cannot stand for this any longer. I am asking for all of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to sign on to H. Res. 834 and say it is time to stand up for ethics in government.

This wasteful spending is undermining the confidence that the American people have in our country and the ability of our government to protect them from air pollution and water pollution and toxic chemicals.

But more importantly, this is a time for us to say to our Environmental Protection Agency, we have very high standards, we have high standards for what we believe in: the landmark Clean Water Act, the landmark Clean Air Act, everything that we do to protect the climate and to reduce carbon pollution.

It has just gotten that swampy here in Washington, D.C., Mr. Speaker, and it is time for a change at the EPA. The White House needs to take action.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to speak up, stand up, and say we are not going to stand for these lapses of ethical behavior anymore. Scott Pruitt needs to resign.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, we simply must do more for pediatric cancer and the children and families who are impacted by it. That is why I urge adoption of S. 292. It is also H.R. 820. I would like to thank my colleagues--Congressman McCaul, Congresswoman Speier, Congressman Butterfield, and Congressman Kelly--for leading the charge on this. It has broad bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I mostly want to thank the families and the parents across America who have helped educate us--folks like Bonnie Woodworth; her husband, Scott; and kids Joe, Delaney, and Piper--who have educated me and

many policymakers across the Tampa Bay area. See, they lost their daughter and sister, Tatum, in 2012 to pediatric cancer.

On behalf of so many families who often are held back by the pain of losing a child or dealing with childhood cancer, they channeled their energy into making things better for other families. They have educated me and others, along with Mary Ann Massolio with the 1Voice Foundation, back in the Tampa Bay area.

I am so happy that it is paying off today. What they have explained is that, after you suffer this diagnosis, it is very isolating. America doesn't do a lot of research on pediatric cancer. It is not coordinated very well, and the resources just are not there to help bring families together to get through these kinds of varied diagnoses.

The STAR Act hopefully will make things better because we are going to ask the Centers for Disease Control to do more with States to track pediatric cancer. We are going to do a little more research on how it is best to care for survivors. We are going to try to endeavor to do better in coordination of care for kids with pediatric cancer, do more on research, and also, help folks in the minority community who often don't have the resources dedicated to them that they need.

Hopefully this will bring great relief to the families, and I urge a swift adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his leadership and for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, S. 204 is harmful legislation that offers a false hope of access to investigational therapies and endangers patients who have serious and life-threatening diseases. The bill establishes a dangerous and unnecessary alternative pathway that is void of any FDA review or oversight. It is opposed overwhelmingly by the patient community.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter to the Speaker and minority leader from 104 patient advocacy groups. It includes such groups as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Lung Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation--all opposed to this bill--the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and about 100 more.

May 21, 2018.

Hon. Paul Ryan,

Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

The Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi: The undersigned

organizations collectively represent millions of patients

with serious and life-threatening diseases. We write to

express our strong opposition to the Trickett Wendler, Frank

Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try

Act (S. 204).

On March 21st, The House of Representatives passed a

version of the Right to Try Act (H.R. 5247), that

incorporated important patient safeguards such as more robust

informed consent and public reporting requirements,

additional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight, and

a narrower definition of eligibility for this pathway. The

Senate version does not include these safeguards and

therefore could greatly increase the likelihood of our

patients being harmed by unsafe and ineffective experimental

therapies. Therefore, this version is substantially worse for

patients.

We reiterate our concern with creating a secondary pathway

for accessing investigational therapies outside of clinical

trials. This pathway removes FDA approval and consultation

and would not increase access to promising therapies for our

patients because it does not address the primary barriers to

access.

FDA's expanded access program, though imperfect,

facilitates access to investigational therapies for over a

thousand patients facing serious and life-threatening

conditions each year. FDA repeatedly approves over 99 percent

of requests while sometimes making important dosing and

safety improvements to proposed expanded use. Conversely, it

is often times the pharmaceutical company that denies access

to its investigational therapy outside of its clinical trials

for any number of reasons.

The Senate version of the legislation is less safe than the

pathway proposed in the House version and is dangerous

compared to the current expanded access process. The Senate's

bill would allow unproven therapies to be given to patients

without FDA notification for up to a full year and would not

establish any standards for informed consent.

Additionally, both versions prohibit FDA from halting

access to these experimental therapies short of placing a

clinical hold on all clinical research on the therapy in

question. Both House and Senate versions would also remove

FDA's consultation on dosing, route of administration, dosing

schedule, and other important safety measures available under

FDA's current expanded access program.

While we did not support the recent House passed version of

this legislation, the House legislation includes improved

patient safeguards compared to the Senate version. The Senate

version would negatively impact patient safety substantially,

and our collective organizations are strongly opposed. We

appreciate past efforts in the House to consider stakeholder

perspectives and desire to continue the dialogue, but

returning to the Senate version is simply not the way

forward.

Sincerely,

A Twist of Fate-ATS; ADNP Kids Research Foundation; Adult

Polyglucosan Body Disease Research Foundation; AIDS Action

Baltimore; Alliance for Aging Research; Alliance of Dedicated

Cancer Centers; American Cancer Society Cancer Action

Network; American Lung Association; American Society of

Clinical Oncology; American Syringomyelia and Chiari Alliance

Project; Amyloidosis Support Groups; APS Type 1 Foundation;

Association for Creatine Deficiencies; Association of

American Medical Colleges; Benign Essential Blepharospasm

Research Foundation; Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer

Foundation; Bridge the Gap-SYNGAP Education and Research

Foundation; CancerCare; Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation

to Cure Batten Disease; Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation.

Congenital Hyperinsulinism International; cureCADASIL;

CurePSP; Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation; Cystic Fibrosis

Foundation; Defeat MSA; The Desmoid Tumor Research

Foundation; The Disability Rights Legal Center; Dupl5q

Alliance; Dysautonomia Foundation; Dyskeratosis Congenita

Outreach, Inc.; Equal Access for Rare Disorders; Fight

Colorectal Cancer; FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer

Empowered; Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA);

Friends of Cancer Research; The Global Foundation for

Peroxisomal Disorders; Glutl Deficiency Foundation; The

Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation; Hemophilia Federation of

America.

HLRCC Family Alliance; Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartomas;

Hyper IgM Foundation, Inc.; Incontinentia Pigmenti

International Foundation; Indian Organization for Rare

Disorders; International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans

Progressiva (FOP) Association; International Myeloma

Foundation; International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid

Foundation; International Society for Stem Cell Research;

International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation

(IWMF); The Isaac Foundation; Jack McGovern Coats' Disease

Foundation; The LAM Foundation; The Leukemia & Lymphoma

Society; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Association (LFS

Association/LFSA); LUNGevity Foundation; Lymphangiomatosis

& Gorham's Disease Alliance; M-CM Network; Mattie Miracle

Cancer Foundation; MitoAction.

MLD Foundation; Moebius Syndrome Foundation; The MSA

Awareness Shoe; Mucolipidosis Type IV Foundation; The Myelin

Project; Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation; National Brain Tumor

Society; National Comprehensive Cancer Network; National

Consumers League; National Health Council; National MPS

Society; National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation; National

Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD); National Patient

Advocate Foundation; National PKU Alliance; National PKU

News; Neurofibromatosis Northeast; The Oley Foundation;

Operation ASHA; Organic Acidemia Association.

PSC Partners Seeking a Cure; Platelet Disorder Support

Association; PRP Alliance, Inc.; Pulmonary Fibrosis

Foundation; Rare and Undiagnosed Network (RUN); Rothmund-

Thomson Syndrome Foundation; The Snyder-Robinson Foundation;

Sofia Sees Hope; SSADH Association; Susan G. Komen;

TargetCancer Foundation; Tarlov Cyst Disease Foundation; Team

Audrey; Treatment Action Group; The Turner Syndrome Society;

United Leukodystrophy Foundation; United Mitochondrial

Disease Foundation (UMDF); Vasculitis Foundation; Veterans

Health Council; Vietnam Veterans of America; VHL Alliance;

Wilhelm Foundation; Worldwide Syringomyelia & Chiari Task

Force; The XLH Network, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is a bill in search of a problem. FDA has approved 99 percent of the expanded access requests it receives. FDA's expanded access program approves nearly all requests for investigational drugs or biologics it receives.

Physicians at the FDA are available 24 hours a day to approve any emergency expanded access requests that the agency receives, and it typically grants those emergency requests immediately over the phone and nonemergency requests in a median time of 4 days and generally no longer than 30 days. FDA has also taken actions to streamline this entire process.

The process of clinical trials at FDA is vital to the protection of the health of all of our neighbors and the folks we represent. In 11 percent of expanded access applications, FDA has raised a red flag and said: Do you know what? You have got to change this.

That is who we are trying to protect here: the actual patients. The patient groups across the country agree with us.

Many States have tinkered with right-to-try laws, but this is different. Forty States have enacted right-to-try laws, but there is no evidence that anyone has obtained the type of therapy via these laws that couldn't have been obtained through the FDA's expanded access program.

Right-to-try laws do not compel companies to provide patient access to these treatments. Therefore, under these laws, patients still do not have a right to try, only the right to request it from the company.

Sometimes those insurance companies will say: Do you know what? We are not going to pay for it.

So that is going to be another barrier.

Mr. Speaker, in the end, these right-to-try laws put patients at higher risk by prohibiting and weakening the FDA oversight, leaving our neighbors on the hook to cover the cost of unproven treatments.

For all of these reasons, I urge a ``no'' vote on the bill. Join with the patient advocates across America, who, in this letter, called this a dangerous proposal.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge Paul Danahy, Jr., a leader of distinction from Tampa, Florida, and part of Florida's Greatest Generation. Judge Danahy is celebrating his 90th birthday this week.

Judge Danahy was one of the longest serving members of Florida's Second District Court of Appeals. The judge may also wish to be remembered for working his way through college at the legendary Tampa's Valencia Garden restaurant as the only Anglo member of the Spanish waiters for many, many years. Wherever Judge Danahy worked and served, he earned a reputation for working tirelessly and gaining the respect of all he worked with.

Born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Judge Danahy was drawn to Tampa to play basketball at the University of Tampa. In Tampa, he found both a new hometown and the love of his life, Georgia Reed.

Judge Danahy enlisted in the Army during the Korean war and has a very unique military record, including three honorable discharges from two branches of the military: the Marine Reserves, the U.S. Army Infantry, and finally from service in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps, a precursor to the CIA. Upon return from military service, he found his true calling and earned his law degree from the University of Florida in 1957.

Judge Danahy became an influential member of the Florida House of Representatives, serving from 1966 to 1974. True to form, Judge Danahy played a significant role as part of what many believe to be Tampa's greatest State legislative delegations during the 1960s and early 1970s.

There, amongst other progressive policies, he drafted and championed the first ethics law in the State of Florida, which continues in force to this day and is now firmly ensconced in Florida's constitution. The Florida we know and love today would not be possible without the contributions of Judge Danahy and his partners in Florida's Greatest Generation.

After leaving the legislature, Judge Danahy's service was only beginning. He was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeals in 1977, and sat on the bench a record-shattering 33 years, serving as chief judge from 1986 to 1988. In his 30th year at the court, Judge Danahy received a fitting recognition: the largest conference room at the Tampa branch of the Second District Court of Appeals was named the Judge Paul Danahy, Jr., Conference Room. This recognition not only honored his record-setting time on the bench, but also his legislative accomplishments. He was largely responsible for obtaining the legislative funding to bring the branch to Tampa.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pride to honor and send many wishes to a great Tampanian, part of Florida's Greatest Generation of leaders, Judge Paul W. Danahy, Jr., on his 90th birthday. His legacy continues as the patriarch of an ever-growing family to whom he imparts his wisdom and through whom his lessons and beliefs will surely echo in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, the United States of America and our North American neighbors of Canada and Mexico have a wonderful opportunity to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. This is a combined North American bid.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Representative LaHood, and Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their support of this resolution, and I also commend my colleagues, Congressman Bacon and Congressman Kihuen, who also co-chair the Congressional Soccer Caucus.

The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994. We had nine cities. The attendance was over 3\1/2\ million. We think now for 2026 it is going to be bigger and better than ever because we are going to combine efforts with our North American neighbors of Canada and Mexico, where they will also host many of the tournament matches.

Mr. Speaker, I noticed that Mr. Webster was on the floor, along with Ms. Ros-Lehtinen and Mr. Deutch, and they should be proud to know that Orlando and Miami, from our home State of Florida, will be participating, and we love soccer in the Sunshine State.

But I also offer my strong support for this resolution because of the inspiration that the World Cup soccer tournament provides to young people all across this country. It is like the Olympics. It encourages them to be healthy and well, to participate in team supports and athletics. It exposes and encourages children and young people to be good sports and understand what a world competition means in a friendly way.

Studies show that team sports lead to healthier lifestyles, increased knowledge about exercise and nutrition, positive gains in reading and math; and that is why the Congressional Soccer Caucus works with the U.S. Soccer Foundation because they really provide the national model for programs about ``the beautiful game,'' and they make so many helpful investments in communities across the country to encourage kids to get out, be active, and learn about great sportsmanship.

So here is this resolution. We are coming together in a bipartisan way, to recognize the effort, to support it, to make sure that Americans everywhere know that we expect the men's team to live up to their expectations. The women's team, national team, of course,

has been champion after champion after champion. It is time, also, for the men's team and this generation to try to meet their goals.

We would like to encourage everyone to pay attention, support the effort.

Again, I thank my colleague, Mr. LaHood, Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel; and I urge the House to kick this resolution towards passage so that we can meet our goals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge Paul W. Danahy, Jr.'s 90th birthday, a member of my hometown of Tampa and the state of Florida's Greatest Generation. He may wish to be remembered as much for working his way through college at the legendary Valencia Gardens restaurant as the only Anglo member of the Spanish Waiters than for being one of the longest-serving members on Florida's Second District Court of Appeals. Wherever Judge Danahy served he earned a reputation for working tirelessly and for gaining the respect of all with whom he worked.

Born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Judge Danahy was drawn to Tampa to play basketball at the University of Tampa. In Tampa he found both a new hometown and the love of his life, Georgia Reed. Judge Danahy enlisted in the army during the Korean War and has a very unique military record including three honorable discharges from two branches of the military: the Marine Reserves, the U.S, Army Infantry, and finally from service in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps, a precursor to the CIA. Upon return from military service he found his true calling and earned his law degree from the University of Florida in 1957.

Judge Danahy became an influential member of the Florida House of Representatives serving from 1966 to 1974. True to form, Judge Danahy played a significant role as part of what many believe to be Tampa's greatest state legislative delegations during the late 60s and early 70s. There, amongst other progressive policies, he drafted and championed the very first enactment of our state's Ethics Law, which continues in force to this day, and is now firmly ensconced within Florida's Constitution. The Florida we know and love today would not be possible without the contributions of Judge Danahy and his partners in Florida's Greatest Generation.

After leaving the legislature Judge Danahy's service was only beginning. He was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeals in 1977 and sat on the bench a record shattering thirty-three years, serving as Chief Judge from 1986 to 1988. In his 30th year at the court, Judge Danahy received a fitting recognition--the largest conference room at the Tampa branch of the 2nd DCA was named the Judge Paul W. Danahy, Jr., Conference Room. This recognition not only honored his record setting time on the bench but also his legislative prowess-- he was largely responsible for obtaining legislative funding to bring the branch to Tampa.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pride to honor and send many wishes to a great Tampanian, Judge Paul W. Danahy, Jr., on his 90th birthday. His legacy continues as the patriarch of an ever-growing family to which he imparts his wisdom, and through whom his lessons and beliefs will surely echo in the years to come.

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

I am opposed.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, my motion to recommit is simple and should garner the support of all Members who dislike government waste and abuse of power.

My motion goes to the heart of the costly ethical violations by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his penchant for flying first class in violation of Federal regulations and billing it to taxpayers.

He has done this at a time when he has supported cuts to EPA clean water and clean air initiatives in the communities we represent back home.

So my amendment is simple. It says: ``Nothing in this act may be construed to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to charter a flight, or travel in any class of air accommodation above coach class.''

See, Federal regulations right now require government officials to consider the least expensive class of travel that meets their needs. Now, agencies are allowed to travel first class in very rare instances, such as a flight of 14 hours or more, a medical disability, or for exceptional security circumstances if your life or government property is in danger.

Well, Administrator Scott Pruitt has abused these exceptions. This came to light after the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked the EPA Administrator to explain his costly travel records, which showed he repeatedly booked first class flights at taxpayer expense, and he hoped no one would notice. There is no adequate justification for this wasteful spending and abuse of power by Scott Pruitt. If he enjoys flying first class and staying in luxury hotels, then he should pay for it himself and not ask the taxpayers to foot the bill.

Here is what we know per press reports and committee research: last June 5, Pruitt settled into his $1,641 first class seat for a short flight from D.C. to New York. The ticket cost more than 6 times that of the two media aides who traveled along with him and sat in coach. In Manhattan, Administrator Pruitt made two brief television appearances praising the White House's decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. He stayed in an upscale hotel near Times Square and returned to Washington the next day. That Wednesday, after traveling on Air Force One for an infrastructure event in Cincinnati, Pruitt and several staffers raced back to New York on a military jet, at the cost of $36,000, to then catch a plane to Rome. The transatlantic flight was part of a round-trip ticket for the Administrator that cost over $7,000, according to EPA records, several times what was paid for other officials who went.

In total, the taxpayer-funded travel for Pruitt and his top aides during that stretch in June cost at least $90,000, thanks to the Environmental Integrity Project, which got the records. His travel practices are quite different from previous EPA Administrators', who very rarely traveled first class and always announced their travel schedule to the public.

But Scott Pruitt's travel is different. It is secretive, it is costly, and it is frequent. In fact, we have come to learn that this year he plans to travel to Israel, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and possibly Canada. None of those have been officially announced, but we have been digging. Pruitt rarely discloses where he plans to be.

So, at the request of congressional Democrats, the EPA's Office of Inspector General is conducting probes of Pruitt's travel. He has attempted to justify his luxury travel by noting that he has been approached by people in the airport numerous times to talk about his environmental record. However, it is unclear why this justifies purchasing first class tickets.

These new justifications also contradict previous explanations of this questionable travel as a way of providing an opportunity to hear directly from people affected by the EPA. The Administrator simply prefers to be wasteful with taxpayer dollars.

We have asked about other conflicts of interest. He has continually sided with dirty energy and chemical companies, so it is no matter that members of the public would like to discuss these pressing issues with him. According to the Environmental Integrity Project, new travel records shared with the media show Pruitt and EPA employees spent up to $150,000 on premium commercial and chartered flights just in a 6-month period.

So, Mr. Speaker, Administrator Pruitt says he will start flying coach after all the attention it has garnered, but he hasn't promised to do so. Through this motion to recommit, we would like to make it permanent. We would like to hold him accountable.

And for anyone who would like to eliminate waste in government and make sure that our officials do not abuse their power, it is time to adopt this amendment, and I urge Congress to do so.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the MISSION ZERO Act, H.R. 880, and I would like to thank Chairman Burgess, Ranking Member Gene Green from Texas, and Mr. Hudson from North Carolina for sponsoring this legislation with me.

The MISSION ZERO Act will assist the Department of Defense in assigning trauma surgeons to our civilian trauma centers. It will help fill the gap that we currently have in care recently examined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The MISSION ZERO Act will establish grant initiatives for eligible trauma systems to incorporate full military trauma teams or individual military trauma providers into our hospitals--the ones that have busy emergency rooms.

This mutually beneficial partnership will allow civilian doctors and nurses and care providers the chance to learn more about military best practices and will give our military trauma care providers the opportunity to utilize their cutting-edge expertise without leaving the military.

I have seen this initiative in action already back home in Tampa at Tampa General Hospital, located just a few miles down the road from MacDill Air Force Base, which is home to U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and the 6th Air Mobility Wing, which is also home to the 6th Air Medical Group.

Since about 2011, they have had an ongoing partnership to do just what this bill provides: create a lot of energy and shared expertise in the civilian trauma center at Tampa General Hospital and bring in the military specialists so they can continue to hone their caregiving and craft. They use nurses, surgeons, and all sorts of specialists.

The initiative allows military and civilian medical teams to work in the most intense trauma environments--that is, our level one trauma center--and take very good care of folks all across central Florida. These partnerships are vital for continued training for our community and our military.

I think Dr. Burgess and Mr. Gene Green from Texas are doing a great service by replicating this in other trauma centers across the United States.

The MISSION ZERO Act is endorsed by the American Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Surgeons, and the Trauma Care Association of America.

Again, I thank Dr. Burgess, Ranking Member Gene Green from Texas, Mr. Hudson, and all my Energy and Commerce colleagues, and I urge everyone here in the House to support this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate one of Tampa's finest civic leaders Attorney Carolyn House Stewart. During this Black History Month, we honor her timeless dedication and almost 50 year record of honorable service to our community.

A Tampa native, Attorney Stewart graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Social Science Education. She continued along the road to academic success and began her impressive 39-year legal career graduating with a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Attorney Stewart became the first African-American partner at Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen, one of Florida's oldest law firms.

Throughout her career she made significant contributions to the issues of social justice and human rights, health, global poverty, economic security, education, and environmental stewardship. She served as a member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners for five years and practiced before the US District Courts for the Middle and Southern District of Florida, as well as the US Court of Appeals for the 11th and 5th Circuits. Attorney Stewart currently serves as the CEO of Stewart Consulting Group, Inc. and is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Attorney Stewart is a renowned member of the prestigious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., (AKAs), where she served as an example of their motto, ``By Culture and By Merit''. The AKAs are well-known for their life-long personal and professional development of each of its members and Attorney Stewart ascended to various leadership positions, including the 28th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chapter President, Cluster Coordinator of the South Atlantic Region, Chairman of the International Program Committee, International Secretary, and International First Vice President. Under her leadership, AKAs have volunteered over 6 million hours of service and impacted the lives of 26 million people in communities all over the globe. She was instrumental with the AKAs Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) Program that worked with over 15 thousand middle school-aged girls to develop the ``skills and talents necessary to become leaders at their respective school, within their local communities, and other venues.'' For her dedication to the AKAs, she has received commendations, including the Carey B. Preston International Leadership Award, Margaret Davis Bowen Award, and Soror of the Year.

Attorney Stewart has been recognized for her exceptional commitment to service through various other awards including the 2006 Florida Commission on the Status of Women ``Achievement Award,'' the National Bar Association Presidential Award, and one of the National Bar Association's highest honors, the Gertrude E. Rush Award. In 2013, she was presented the Sadie T.M. Alexander Award from the National Association of Black Law Students. Attorney Stewart was recognized by the Trumpet Awards Foundation with the High Heels Award, and in March 2014, she was presented the Phenomenal Woman's Award from the Black Women's Expo and also received the United Negro College Fund National Alumni Legacy Award for her support on education.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I would like to take this opportunity to once again honor Attorney Carolyn House Stewart during this Black History Month for her many years of unselfish service and leadership, and for consistently being at the forefront of effective advocacy and social change throughout the Tampa Bay community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work of a visionary and a dedicated leader of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Dr. Paulette C. Walker during this year's Black History Month. Dr. Walker has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others through education and public service. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honor her valuable contributions to our community.

Dr. Walker served as the 25th National President of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A Detroit native she is now a proud Floridian calling the Tampa Bay area home since February 1990. Dr. Walker has served Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on the local, regional and national levels for more than 45 years.

Dr. Walker was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. through the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter in 1966 and earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics education from Michigan State University, master's degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Michigan, and her doctorate of education in administration and supervision also from UM.

Dr. Walker's research was on curriculum and instruction as well as administration and supervision with a focus on urban schools. She has also served as a classroom teacher, middle school and high school counselor, director of counseling, assistant principal and district- wide supervisor of state and federal projects. Her education, experience and expertise even combined to help her co-author a book, ``We Can Have Better Urban Schools.''

In July 2011, she retired as the Director of Undergraduate Programs and Internship in the College of Education at the University of South Florida.

Throughout her career, Dr. Walker received numerous awards from several professional, civic and religious organizations. These flowed from her hard work and belief that every person has a special gift that should be shared with the world. She is the recipient of the Hank Nuwer Anti-Hazing Hero Award; Ronald McNair Scholars Research Mentor Award; Ronald McNair Scholars Role Model Mentor Award; Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Award from the University of South Florida; Certificate of Merit, Institutional Award, American College Testing Program and National Academic Advising Association; and the President's Affirmative Act Award, University of South Florida.

Dr. Walker is an active member of Mt. Olive AME Church in Tampa, Florida where she serves on the Trustee Board. Her other professional and community affiliations include: Board of Supervisors for Coahoma County; Member of the Council of Presidents--The National Pan-Hellenic Council; PACE Center for Girls Advisory Board; Moffitt Cancer Center African American Advisory Board; Mt. Olive Tampa Community Development Center, Mt. Pleasant Charter School Advisory Board. The State of Florida has recognized how valuable her counsel can be and appointed her to the Governor's Commission on African American Affairs. Also, at the state level she serves on the American Cancer Society's Hank Warren Advisory Board. Our neighbors also don't lack for her service and vision as she serves in Hillsborough County on the Literacy Volunteers of America Board of Directors, American Diabetes Association Board of Directors, Bible-Based Christian Fellowship Academy Board of Directors and Moffitt Cancer Center Community Council Research Board.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my neighbors in my hometown and indeed the entire Tampa Bay community where she has touched so many lives, we thank Dr. Paulette C. Walker for inspiring everyone to find their special gift and serve the world. I am proud to honor the ``Devastating Diva of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc.'', Dr. Paulette C. Walker during this year's Black History Month for her uncompromising commitment to her country, state and community for more than 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifetime of professional and personal achievements of an outstanding business leader in the Tampa Bay community, Joli Cooper-Nelson. Ms. Cooper's commitment to her work and our community has truly made her a role model for women everywhere. That is why, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize her selfless dedication and honor her invaluable contributions to Tampa Bay.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Ms. Cooper attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High School before she began her impressive business career at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Ms. Cooper then earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, where she was honored in 2002 as Alumnae of the Year.

After starting her professional career on Wall Street, Ms. Cooper transitioned into the consumer products industry as an Associate Brand Manager at Nestle in Los Angeles, California. During her time there, Ms. Cooper was influential for expanding the brand past our borders, including conducting business in Latin America and the United Kingdom and she was also responsible for boosting sales by more than 15 percent in areas of the company. When she moved to Tampa in 1998, Ms. Cooper served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Pasco Brands, at that time the largest private label juice beverage company in the United States.

Just as she has been dedicated to her business career, Ms. Cooper has dedicated her time and resources to make a difference in the lives of children in the Tampa Bay community. She has served on several non- profit boards including the United Way of Tampa Bay; The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce; Junior Achievement and The Children's Home. Currently, she serves as a member on the board of trustees of the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, the organization's philanthropic arm and the Academy Prep Center of Tampa. The Academy Prep Center of Tampa is a tuition-free, independent school for middle-school aged children who qualify for need-based scholarships. Additionally, she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she has certainly embodied their mission of, ``Service to All Mankind''.

Now, Ms. Cooper serves as the 25th National President of the premier organization for African-American families, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. As a member of the Greater Tampa Chapter in the Southeastern Region, she previously served as the National Vice President, Regional Director, Regional Secretary-Treasurer and two-term Regional Program Chair.

In addition to being awarded the Wharton Alumnae of the Year, an award that recognizes distinguished Wharton alumnae who have demonstrated professional success and who serve as role models for women in business, Ms. Cooper has earned The Network Journal's 25 Influential Black Women in Business Award, and was featured in the publication, Beverage Industry and Working Mother.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize Joli Cooper-Nelson for her outstanding success in her business endeavors encouraging supportive environments for women in business, and her dedication to serving all of our children throughout the years. Ms. Cooper's hard work should be an inspiration to us all, and it is my honor to recognize her during this Black History month.