Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was not able to be present for the following rollcall vote on July 8, 2013 and would like the record to reflect that I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall No. 306: ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to legislation I'm reintroducing, the School-Based Health Centers Act.

My bill is simple and straightforward. It reauthorizes the only source of Federal support dedicated to the operations of school-based health centers. These centers provide vital, preventive, and primary health services to over 2 million students nationwide. They are often the only source of health care for children and adolescents, and they are easily accessible, keeping students healthy, in school, and learning.

Yet, in the current economic climate, many of the nearly 2,000 centers are at risk of cutting services, jobs, or even closing. That's why I've reintroduced legislation to ensure that these important health centers not only remain open, but can expand to serve even more students.

Students deserve reliable access to quality comprehensive health care services, and at school-based health centers, they can find one of the best ways to do just that.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring the School- Based Health Centers bill.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Flores Amendment.

This amendment would seriously undermine the smart ocean planning activities called for

by the National Ocean Policy. I fail to see why my colleagues on the other side of the aisle oppose smart management of our ocean and coastal resources.

We depend heavily on our oceans. In 2010 alone, maritime economic activities supported 2.7 million jobs and contributed 258 billion dollars to our GDP. But there is increasing competition for the use of our oceans. Offshore energy facilities, commercial fishing, recreation, renewable energy, and shipping are all competing for ocean space and resources.

Yet, despite this complex network of competing interests, our current haphazard system makes planning decisions about each industry individually, rather than looking at the big picture and planning accordingly. Our discussion this week about expanding offshore oil drilling is a perfect example of this piecemeal approach that results in an inefficient use of our ocean resources.

Smart regional planning is one answer to this problem. Planning processes allow us to work together and find the best solutions that offer the most benefits for our oceans and our economies--two systems that we all know are deeply intertwined and highly interdependent. Smart decisions are based on mathematical analyses, ecological assessments, and stakeholder deliberations--not politics. And with the guidance of the National Ocean Policy, these processes will happen at the regional level, which puts ocean management decisions closer to the people on the ground--the industries and jobs that will be impacted by ocean management decisions.

The National Ocean Policy is not a big government initiative, but a mechanism for efficient planning and giving regions and states more control. The amendment in question would disenfranchise states, businesses, and citizens who engage in developing ocean plans.

Mr. Chair, smart ocean planning is the clear way forward to make the most of our ocean resources. The Flores amendment would undercut this process, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, this is a straightforward amendment that is overwhelmingly supported by my constituents, and I hope we can all agree to it. The amendment strikes a harmful and unnecessary provision in the bill that actually mandates new drilling in the sensitive waters off Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties in my district. Whatever the reasons behind this provision, the fact remains that the people most affected--my constituents--don't want new drilling.

My colleagues have heard me before invoke Santa Barbara's devastating 1969 oil spill, and that's because it galvanized central coast residents and actually the entire State of California against more offshore drilling. We were outraged by the damage to the environment, wildlife, and our economy.

We understood the havoc that similar blowouts could wreak on our economy, especially our tourism and our fishing industries. That's why California permanently banned new oil and gas leasing in State waters in 1994. It's why some 24 city and county governments, including both Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, have passed measures banning or requiring voter approval before any new onshore facilities to support offshore drilling can be built. And it's why in 2008, then-Republican Governor Schwarzenegger told President Bush and Congress to oppose new drilling off the west coast. Even the Pentagon has expressed concerns with new drilling in the area.

Mr. Chair, Californians have spoken loud and clear. We do not want more drilling off our shores. I urge my colleagues to join us in striking these harmful and unnecessary provisions from the bill and support the Capps-Brownley-Lowenthal amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I'll just make the quick comment that the suggestion that oil seeps are good for the environment or that more oil drilling would reduce oil seeps is simply bad science. Even the authors of the one study that suggested this might be possible have repudiated its use before Congress.

I am pleased now to yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from coastal California (Mr. Lowenthal).

I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, this amendment simply ensures that the express will of my constituents and the people of California is respected. I find it ironic that some of the same people in this body who decry the overarching Federal Government seem to have no qualms about forcing new drilling upon a local population directly against its wishes.

The American people are tired of these political games, especially those that put our coasts, our communities, and our way of life at risk. Instead of expanding oil and gas drilling, we should be working together on a responsible, sustainable energy policy for the future.

We can't end our dependence on oil overnight, but we can certainly do more to encourage innovation and clean energy technologies like solar, wind, and biofuels. We can enact better efficiency standards to make the resources we do have last longer, and we can end the billions of dollars in giveaways for Big Oil and finally level the playing field for all types of energy technology.

A clean energy future is good for jobs, it's good for our environment, and it's good for the American people. This bill is just another recycled bad idea designed to go nowhere.

Doubling down on oil drilling may be good policy for oil companies, but it's terrible policy for the American people. This amendment would help stop these games and stop the reckless expansion of oil drilling off the southern California coast.

I urge my colleagues to respect the will of California's voters and support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Scleroderma Awareness Month this June, I rise today in recognition of the 300,000 Americans with Scleroderma.

Scleroderma is a chronic and disabling connective tissue and rheumatic disorder resulting from an overproduction of collagen in the skin, tissue, and underlying muscle. The word ``scleroderma'' means hardening of the skin, which is often one of the most visible manifestations of the disease. But scleroderma can also affect many other areas of the body including the heart, lungs, kidneys and gastrointestinal system.

Given the unpredictable progression of the disease, Scleroderma, like many other autoimmune diseases, is difficult for medical practitioners to accurately diagnose and even more difficult to treat as there are currently no disease specific treatments. As we recognize the need for awareness of this troublesome disease, we can and must do more for the thousands of Americans who are diagnosed with this condition each year.

This is why I authored H.R. 1429, the Scleroderma Research and Awareness Act. This bipartisan legislation coordinates and intensifies research and awareness of this disease, prioritizes the development and evaluation of new treatments options, and authorizes Director of NIH to pursue enhanced clinical and basic research related to Scleroderma. I want to thank my colleague, Representative Peter King (NY-02), for leading this bill with me and then 11 cosponsors who have already lent their support to this effort.

I urge my colleagues join us in support of this important legislation providing for needed federal investment in this misunderstood disease.

Mr. Speaker, with just 5 days left until the student loan interest rates double, Congress must act now. If we do not, student loan interest rates will double overnight from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.

This will increase the cost of college for more than seven million students across this Nation and on the central coast of California, adding thousands of dollars to a student's college bill. And this will not only saddle students with more debt, but it will hinder our growing economy.

At a time when the cost of college continues to rise, we must do all that we can to make college as affordable as possible for as many students as possible. We must keep open the doors of opportunity for all and, in the process, produce a well-educated workforce that will grow our economy.

That's why I'm a proud supporter of legislation to keep the student rates at a low 3.4 percent. This legislation should be brought to this House floor for a vote immediately.

Mr. Speaker, interest rates in other sectors remain low to help grow the economy. Why shouldn't they remain low for our students?

They are our future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

I rise in strong opposition to this rule and to the underlying bill.

The so-called Offshore Energy and Jobs Act is nothing more than another old idea that will not become law. We have voted on a form of this legislation every year since the majority has been in control of this House, yet the same thing happens every time: it goes absolutely nowhere. Instead of working on new, more sustainable energy ideas, we find ourselves here yet again wasting our time on another misguided, destructive, and unnecessary drilling bill.

I'm particularly dismayed that the bill, yet again, expands drilling in areas where voters have unequivocally said they don't want it. The devastating 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, galvanized our State against any more offshore drilling. That's why California permanently banned new oil and gas leasing in the State waters they control in 1994.

This majority here, which gives lip service to respecting states' rights, has chosen, yet again, to override the will of voters in my district and my State by mandating immediate oil and gas lease sales off the coasts of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, despite our well- known, long-standing bipartisan opposition.

Later this week, I will be offering an amendment to strike these provisions, and I appreciate the Rules Committee for making my amendment in order. But expansion of drilling in southern California only scratches the surface of what's wrong with this bill. Simply put, it's a solution without a problem.

Drilling, both onshore and offshore, has been expanding rapidly in recent years, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Last year, domestic offshore oil production was higher than it was at the end of the Bush administration. Oil production in the United States increased more last year than at any point since the inception of the oil industry in 1859.

The Obama administration has offered, and continues to offer, millions of acres of public lands offshore for oil and gas exploration and production.

Yet, despite this expansion under the Obama administration, nearly 85 percent of the offshore acreage already under lease by the oil industry is not producing. Instead of recycling bad ideas and expanding drilling in areas where voters don't want it, we should be working together on a responsible, clean energy policy for the 21st century. This bill is just more of the same dirty energy policies of the past.

I urge my colleagues to reject this rule and reject the underlying bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for her leadership in opposing this unconstitutional and cruel bill. I rise in strong opposition to it.

This legislation ignores the very real medical challenges that are faced by so many women, erecting barriers to women who are trying desperately to access medical care, who are making some of the most personal and difficult choices and decisions. This is a coldhearted political maneuver that is being played out upon this House floor today.

Women need the confidence to be able to make these difficult decisions in consult with their doctors, with their families, with their spiritual advisors. Politicians have no place in that equation.

If we really wanted to protect life, let's support efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies, improve maternal health, improve funding for WIC, for early child care, for support for women and families who are raising children in the most difficult circumstances. Let us trust women to make decisions that are right for them. And let us show a little compassion instead of offering condescending lectures, as the other side did last month to a very courageous witness who shared her life story.

It is long past time that this Congress learn to trust women to make their own decisions.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the retirement of Dr. Jim Tedford from San Luis Obispo, CA, who is a beloved pediatrician in the community.

Dr. Jim Tedford has resided in San Luis Obispo County for over 30 years. He graduated from UCLA Medical School in 1969 where he completed his residency at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. He then worked as a pediatrician at the Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, before opening his private practice in San Luis Obispo in 1975.

Beyond his medical practice, Dr. Tedford has a strong history of community engagement. He has participated in several prominent medical organizations including: the SLO County Medical Society, California Medical Association, Sierra Cascade Trauma Society, California Chapter 2 of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the SLO Medical Foundation. Moreover, the First 5 of San Luis Obispo County has recognized him as a ``Champion of Health'' for his dedicated service.

On a personal note, Jim has always extended a gracious hand when working together on issues of importance to our community. I am pleased to honor Dr. Tedford as we recognize his contributions to pediatric medicine and wish him nothing but continued success in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is already taking a devastating effect on our planet. We're seeing its evidence in everything from Hurricane Sandy to more extreme droughts and wildfires, but we must not forget that we live on a blue planet--so climate change is an ocean issue, as well.

The same greenhouse gases that are changing our climate are also changing our oceans. Our oceans absorb a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So as carbon pollution increases, so too does the acidity of the oceans.

Ocean acidification is threatening the survival of entire food chains and ocean ecosystems that we all depend upon for food, for jobs, and recreation.

Mr. Speaker, our window of opportunity to address this problem is quickly closing. And with every day we fail to act, we further jeopardize the future of ocean resources.

The President has declared this month as National Oceans Month. And last weekend, the international community celebrated World Oceans Day.

Let's live up to this challenge. Let's take action on commonsense measures for healthy and productive oceans now and into the future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for yielding.

I rise in support of the progress this underlying bill makes in combating military sexual assault. Sexual assault in the military continues to be a serious problem. In 2012, an average of 70 servicemen and -women were sexually assaulted each and every day. This is unacceptable. Moreover, only a fraction of these are reported. Fewer yet are prosecuted.

More needs to be done at every level to establish comprehensive uniform solutions. I am pleased to see that this bill offers a renewed determination to stop these unacceptable crimes that undermine the strength and honor of our military. The included provisions make progress to increase transparency with new victim protections and services, and improved processes to hold offenders accountable.

But we must do more. We must work diligently to put an end to this problem so we can again--with full confidence--encourage our daughters and sons to serve this great country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. This law was the very first step to closing the gender wage gap. It was also a statement about our values-- that women and men deserve equal pay for equal work. But 50 years later, women continue to be devalued.

Equal pay is not only a women's issue, it's a family issue. Families rely on women's wages to make ends meet, and the extra $11,000 a woman would make each year if she was fairly compensated has real value. It could pay for a year and a half of child care, or feed a family of four with money to spare. Every dollar matters for hardworking women and families.

What's better than the Equal Pay Act's 50th anniversary? A Paycheck Fairness Act birthday. It is time the Paycheck Fairness Act got a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the end of the first Preeclampsia Awareness Month.

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening disorder that can occur during pregnancy or the postpartum period and is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. Each day hundreds of women and babies are affected by this condition, which is marked by a rapid rise in blood pressure that can lead to seizure, stroke, organ failure or death. Any pregnant woman is at risk, but symptoms are often dismissed as typical pregnancy complaints. Knowing the warning signs can help lead to more timely diagnoses and improve health outcomes for both the woman and her child.

Unfortunately, few people are adequately aware and informed of the risks. That is why I worked with my colleagues Representative Roybal- Allard and Representative Moore to add Preeclampsia Awareness Month to the National Health Observances Calendar.

We must improve the full scope of maternal health and need continued research to advance the field and improve the standard of care. In the meantime, we must build awareness to ensure women understand preeclampsia and are prepared to appropriately respond to warning signs.

Together we can eliminate preventable maternal death and disability by aligning resources, tools, and knowledge to address our most troublesome challenges. And this is exactly what the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative is doing in my home state. Just this year the Preeclampsia Collaborative began to help hospitals manage preeclampsia, reduce complications, and improve care for patients. I hope that as preeclampsia awareness grows this will be one of many initiatives across the country focused on helping providers deliver comprehensive, high quality maternal healthcare.

Thank you to the Preeclampsia Foundation and the many groups who worked tirelessly on behalf of women across the country to secure a national recognition. I am proud to be able to help commemorate the end of the first ever Preeclampsia Awareness Month and excited to see what the future brings.

I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3. The Keystone proposal itself is a bad idea. This bill simply makes it worse.

It's no secret that we are dependent on oil and other fossil fuels for our energy needs. But it's also no secret that this dependence is polluting our planet, harming public health, and threatening our national security. But rather than reduce this dependence, H.R. 3 and the Keystone pipeline just make this problem worse.

We have the greatest innovators and entrepreneurs in the world and they're eager to build a sustainable energy future, but they can't do it on their own. Instead of doubling down on fossil fuels, we should be encouraging development of clean, renewable energy resources and technologies. These investments protect our planet for future generations and they improve the health of our friends and our family. And they create permanent, local jobs that can't be shipped overseas.

Finally, there's no denying that construction of this pipeline would create jobs, but they're mostly temporary jobs. And while we're facing estimated job losses of 750,000 due simply to sequestration, creating a few thousand temporary jobs, though helpful, does not constitute the comprehensive jobs legislation our Nation really needs. This Congress needs to take steps to move to a clean energy economy and create millions of permanent jobs right here in the USA that cannot be shipped overseas.

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3 is a giant step in the wrong direction on both counts. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

I thank my colleague for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, whether it's drilled on land, offshore, or transported via pipeline, oil spills are inevitable. Spills happen, and they will continue to happen, regardless of what we've been told by the oil companies building and maintaining the pipelines.

TransCanada says it will implement lots of safety measures, but accidents happen. In fact, accidents have already happened 14 times on the existing TransCanada Keystone pipeline. And they will almost certainly happen on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, too. Our amendment simply ensures that those responsible for the spill pay to clean it up.

In 1969, my home district was victim to one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history. I know firsthand the devastating damage to human health,

property, and natural resources that are caused by oil spills. I know there have been numerous assurances that Keystone XL will be safer and spill risks will be minimal, but safer simply does not equal safe, especially when transporting tar sands crude. Tar sands crude is not only more corrosive and dangerous than conventional crude, but it's far more difficult to clean up in the event of a spill.

We need look no further than the tar sands spill in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2010. Nearly 3 years after that spill, the cleanup is still ongoing and the costs are approaching $1 billion. A spill from Keystone could have similarly devastating impacts in America's heartland. If we're going to bear 100 percent of the spill risk as Americans, the least we can do is ensure those responsible pay to clean it up. That's all this amendment does. And I think there's broad agreement on this point.

This is our opportunity to fix the problem right now. If the Keystone XL pipeline is approved as is, the tar sands crude oil will literally get a free ride through the United States. Our amendment ends this.

I urge my colleagues to end the free ride and vote for this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the growing threats that climate change poses to public health.

Increasingly, severe and frequent weather events and heat waves not only threaten people's health and safety but also jeopardize our food crop production and the availability of clean drinking water. Foodborne illnesses, asthma, and cardiovascular disease are expected to worsen in a changing climate.

Despite these anticipated impacts, however, most American health professionals do not have the tools they need to prepare for the changing needs of their patients, and climate change's threats to human health will only escalate with every day that we fail to take action.

That's why last week I reintroduced the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act, which will help health professionals prepare for and respond to the public health impacts of climate change.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the impacts of climate change, especially when it comes to the health of our friends, our neighbors, and our families. I hope we can work together to pass this and other commonsense measures to address the critical issue of changes to our climate.