Floor Statements

I thank my colleague for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, yet again, in opposition to the Patients' Rights Repeal Act as 3 years and 37 repeal attempts later, the majority is still playing politics with the health care of real people.

Thanks to ObamaCare, 27 million American women now have access to preventative health screenings and health care without cost-sharing. They can receive cancer screenings, annual wellness physicals and contraceptives without extra costs. Seniors in my district saved an average of $600 last year on prescriptions, and as we close the doughnut hole, the savings will be even greater and families no longer have to worry that their children will be denied insurance due to a preexisting condition.

Repeal would take away these benefits and protections, raising costs for families. It would return us to a broken system, all the while increasing the deficit. It is time to move on. Let's spend our time working on new solutions instead of repeatedly placing partisanship over progress. I urge the defeat of this bill.

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

I am.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer the final and only amendment to this bill. And I want to be clear: passage of this amendment will not prevent the passage of the underlying bill. If it's adopted, my amendment will be incorporated into the bill, and the bill will be immediately voted upon.

My amendment would simply ensure that women and families do not lose the benefits they have already gained from ObamaCare in the event that the law is repealed.

These benefits are critical to keeping families healthy and identifying problems when they are easier and less costly to treat-- benefits like the ability to get preventive health services without any copays.

Thanks to ObamaCare, no longer must women put off critical screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies because of the cost. And women are now able to be screened for domestic violence, gestational diabetes and receive other preventive care without worrying about whether they can pay for it. Millions of us have taken advantage of these potentially lifesaving screenings.

Similarly, young adults--the most uninsured age group in our country--now have the option of staying on their parents' insurance plan until they're 26. This is a real benefit, one that has already enabled 6.6 million young adults to keep their health insurance coverage as they begin to make their way in life.

On top of these benefits, we now have protections from some of the most abusive insurance company practices. For example, no longer can insurance companies cut off your care just because you're too expensive to treat. For too long, individuals who paid their premiums and followed the rules would still be cut off after hitting arbitrary lifetime or annual caps on coverage.

These are our friends, they're our neighbors who did nothing wrong. They just got sick or had a tragic accident. Now they are protected, knowing their insurance coverage will be there when they need it.

In addition, mothers no longer have to worry that their children with a preexisting condition, like autism or asthma, will be denied health care. And starting this January, no American will be told that they cannot get coverage due to a preexisting condition.

All of these benefits have been secured while holding insurance companies accountable to use your premium dollars on actual health care, not on bonuses or advertising.

And all of these protections have been and would continue to be there for American families if my amendment passes.

You truly do not realize the importance of these protections until you or someone you love needs them. And that is exactly the case of Victoria Strong. She's a young mother living in my hometown of Santa Barbara, California.

Victoria's daughter, Gwendolyn, was diagnosed with a rare and extremely expensive disease when she was 6 months old. Despite the fact that she and her husband, Bill, had a good health insurance policy, one they paid thousands of dollars for each month, Victoria lived in constant fear that Gwendolyn would reach her lifetime policy limit before she even reached second grade, and because of her preexisting condition, Gwendolyn would then be uninsurable for the rest of her life.

I cannot imagine how difficult it was for young Victoria to not even know whether her child's basic health care needs would be covered or not in the future, and that's exactly what so many mothers faced before ObamaCare. But the elimination of lifetime caps on care has given Victoria peace of mind, and it's done the same for millions of mothers across this Nation.

That's exactly what ObamaCare is all about: fixing our broken health care system, fixing it for families like the Strong family, for women across this country, for their families. This law gets it right. And now we have one last vote to at least preserve the rights they already have.

I believe that all Americans would be better off if we in Congress worked to ensure swift implementation of the law

instead of wasting time and taxpayer dollars debating repeal for yet the 37th time. But I think we can all agree that taking away existing insurance protections from everyday Americans is the wrong thing to do just because we are setting out to repeal.

I remember the numerous hearings and markups about this law, and there was great agreement on both sides of the aisle that these consumer protections were critical to improving our broken health care system. So no matter what you think of this bill, my amendment would guarantee that no American family loses the care they have paid for now just when they need it the most.

The law provides legal protection and peace of mind to the Strong family in Santa Barbara and to all families like them across our Nation. Our families need this law; and if the majority is willing to vote for the 37th time to repeal it, they at least need to vote on this amendment. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my motion.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of National Nurses Week. Nurses are the largest group of health care providers in the U.S., with over 3.1 million professionals serving individuals and families in a range of settings. We work in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, research labs, correctional facilities, health systems, social service agencies and even right here in Congress.

This annual tribute begins on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and continues all week to honor the important contributions nurses make each and every day. In addition to setting aside time to recognize the work of nurses, each year a theme is chosen to highlight a different aspect of nursing practice. And this year's is incredibly timely: ``Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care.''

Whether it is helping one patient heal or working towards population level solutions to some of our most costly ailments, nurses are continuously innovating to improve quality of care. Nurses are patients' first advocate in improving their health; educating them about treatments and helping them navigate a sometimes daunting system. Using knowledge, compassion and skills, nurses not only improve quality of care for their patients, but can do so while holding down costs.

For example, using nurse-managed care coordination reduces emergency room visits and readmissions, ultimately lowering Medicare costs. And as nursing staffing levels increase, patient risks of complications and length of hospital stays decrease, helping individuals heal faster, improving quality of life and reducing long and costly hospital stays.

I hope you will join me this week in honoring and supporting this dedicated group of professionals who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty to provide better quality health care for all. As co- House Nursing Caucus, and as a nurse myself, I want to say to all nurses who care for our families and communities day in and day out without recognition--thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 25 years of service by the Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee and to commemorate the designation of May 15th as ``Founding Mother's Day'' within Santa Barbara County.

In 1988, a group of women convened the first meeting of the Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee, an organization founded to increase the number of women in local elected and appointed positions and to promote policies advancing women's status. Through their dedication to promote gender equality, the proportion of women holding local political office has increased dramatically and virtually all candidates for office in the Santa Barbara County have come to seek the group's endorsement.

Today, we celebrate the success of these Founding Mothers who have made it possible for women of every race, age, and class to contribute to the growth and vitality of Santa Barbara County. The Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee is a shining example of the potential for active local efforts to increase women's representation in leadership throughout the country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members join me in honoring the tireless work of the Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee.

Thank you to my colleague for yielding.

I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record opposing the GOP's appalling Mother's Day gift. Happy Mother's Day by giving more work and less pay to working moms.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Colorado for yielding time.

I rise in opposition to H.R. 1406. This isn't the first time we've seen anti-worker legislation paraded as a pro-family solution. But it's embarrassing that here in 2013 we are considering a bill that would reverse over 70 years of worker protections.

The so-called Working Families Flexibility Act is out of touch with what real American working families need. Real working families need protections against egregiously long hours and unreasonable management demands. Real working families need fair wages paid to them in a timely manner. Real working families need predictable schedules with time to care for their families and themselves, and real working families need the ability to take earned leave when they have earned it and when they need it.

This bill does nothing to address those needs. Instead, it sets up a false choice between time and pay. It incentivizes excess overtime scheduling. It reduces the employee's control over her daily schedule, and it provides no guarantee that the time off earned could be actually used.

The only flexibility provided in this bill is to bosses who would be given the flexibility to choose to do whatever they choose without standards and without consideration for the needs of the families of their workers.

I urge my colleagues to come together and support policies that would truly support our working families. A

real family-friendly bill would allow workers to earn paid sick days. It would extend access to job-protected leave. It would work to close the gender pay gap. Instead, this Mother's Day, all we have to offer our hardworking moms is a disingenuous bill that moves us backwards. Our mothers deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize World War II Veterans Lt. Larry Crandell, Col. James Patillo, Staff Sgt. Jack Patterson and Lt. Bob Scott from the 24th Congressional District.

Last week, these veterans were recognized for their service to our country at the luncheon and symposium ``70 Years On . . . Celebrating the `Bomber Boys' of World War II'' presented in collaboration by the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Museum and the Channel City Club & Committee on Foreign Relations in Santa Barbara, California.

The stories these men shared at this event are an important contribution to our country's rich oral history and will serve to edify younger generations in our local community and across the nation. Their narratives are critical in creating a bond of gratitude and respect between the Greatest Generation and its descendants.

I join my Central Coast neighbors and colleagues in recognizing these exemplary individuals. These men and their stories of service are esteemed and cherished by the members of our community.

I extend my deepest gratitude to them for their willingness to share their experiences and for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the San Luis Obispo County Community College District's Cuesta College.

On April 16, 1963, the San Luis Obispo Community College District was established by local voters to serve the residents of the Central Coast. Its first classes were provided in 1964, and it became a fully operational campus and was given the name Cuesta College in 1965. Ground was broken for Cuesta's first permanent buildings in 1970, and since that time, the San Luis Obispo campus has flourished into a high- quality, well-equipped and dynamic institution of higher learning.

Cuesta College expanded to include a North County Campus in Paso Robles in 1998 and now offers off-campus evening instruction at its South County Center in Arroyo Grande. In addition to its academic course offerings, Cuesta provides technical, vocational, and continuing education programs to better serve a variety of students throughout the county. Cuesta College now serves more than 11,000 students among all its campuses.

Cuesta College is a source of great pride for San Luis Obispo County and the entire Central Coast. I commend its faculty, administration and other teaching staff for their commitment to excellence and dedication to the students they serve.

Today, I congratulate Cuesta on 50 successful years in providing high-quality educational resources to Central Coast students. I am honored to represent such an esteemed institution and look forward to seeing the important and innovative resources Cuesta will continue to provide to our local students in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Father Junipero Serra's birth.

Father Serra was born in Petra, Mallorca, Spain in 1713. After studying theology and being ordained to the Catholic priesthood, Serra left his beloved homeland in Mallorca and journeyed across continents and oceans in order to reach the New World.

Upon Serra's arrival on the West Coast of North America in 1769, he began founding a chain of missions that would eventually stretch from San Diego in the south to Solano in the north. This chain of 21 missions has developed into some of the central cities and towns of modern day California.

In what is now my Congressional district, Father Serra founded Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Since its establishment in 1772, this small Spanish outpost has grown into the beautiful city of San Luis Obispo.

Today, Father Serra's legacy is still present in San Luis Obispo and throughout California. The cultural and spiritual heritage of Serra continues as an enduring, living tradition and has shaped various aspects of Californian life up to the present day. Indeed, a statue of Father Serra now stands in the United States Capitol's Statuary Hall in Washington, DC, attesting to his profound influence in the shaping of American history.

This week, Palma de Mallorca, Spain will host a festival commemorating the occasion titled ``300 anos de Junip Serra (300 Years of Junipero Serra).'' I send my best wishes for a wonderful celebration as Spain recognizes Father Serra's significant contribution to American and Spanish history and reflects on his cultural and spiritual legacy.

Madam Speaker, earlier today, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed, for the third time in 2 years, a bill to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

I voted against the bill for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that it doubles down on a dead-end oil-based energy policy that is hurting our economy, hurting our environment and our health.

Burning fossil fuels is a primary cause of climate change, and we simply can't afford to continue down this destructive path. It makes far more sense to focus on developing the clean, renewable energy technologies that we all know we're going to need down the road. Developing these technologies will create quality long-term jobs that can't be shipped overseas. It's good for business; it's good for our planet; and it's good for our national security.

There's no reason we can't put aside our differences and take action to promote a clean energy future. It's what our constituents sent us here to do.

Our window of opportunity is rapidly closing. The time to act is now.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the distinguished efforts of the Santa Barbara Summit for Tibet (SBST) in raising awareness about the vibrant culture, deep spirituality, and peaceful philosophy of the Tibetan people. SBST has worked diligently to ensure the Santa Barbara community is engaged on this issue of great importance.

Recent acts of protest in Tibet have served as a disturbing reminder of the suffering that Tibetans continue to endure. We are witnessing the profound struggle of a people that seek to preserve their traditions and religion.

SBST recently held the First Annual ``Tibet Week Awareness Celebration'' to honor the perseverance and resiliency of the Tibetan people and their culture, and to demonstrate our shared cultural values. This celebration will raise awareness in our community surrounding the struggle faced by Tibetans and promote the universal values of compassion and non-violent practices.

To express my commitment to this issue, I recently joined many of my colleagues in the House of Representatives in sending President Obama a letter, urging him to prioritize addressing human rights issues in Tibet during his second term. Like SBST and the residents of Santa Barbara, I believe the U.S. should take a leading role to engage partner nations on measures to bring improvements in the human rights situation in Tibet.

Today, we stand with the people of Tibet and express our solidarity with them and to all people suffering oppression around the world. As your Representative in Congress, I commend and thank you for your deep commitment to this issue.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Equal Pay Day. Today is a day I wish we didn't have to mark. After 99 days of 2013, women have finally caught up with what their male coworkers earned last year.

And while unequal pay clearly hurts women, it also affects their families. The additional $11,000 a woman would make each year if she was fairly compensated would pay for a year and a half of child care, or feed a family of four with money to spare.

As we continue to pull out of the recession, every dollar matters, and that is why hardworking women across this Nation are counting on us to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and close this gap for good.

We are listening, and we must act. Our sisters, our daughters, and our granddaughters deserve nothing less.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20 years of service by the American Cancer Fund for Children and Kids Cancer Connection and to commemorate the designation of April 7-13 as ``Childhood Cancer Awareness Week'' within the City of Solvang.

Each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer. Far too many have been affected by this disease, and the emotional as well as financial toll it takes on families is significant. Through their unique and compassionate approach, Steven Firestein and his team at the American Cancer Fund for Children and Kids Cancer Connection have eased the burden of this disease for countless families.

Innovative partnerships and projects, like the Magical Caps for kids program and the Courageous Kid recognition award ceremonies, have improved the quality of life for thousands of children across the country. Moreover, the vital psychosocial services that

American Cancer Fund for Children and Kids Cancer Connection provide to children undergoing cancer treatment at Cottage Children's Hospital in Santa Barbara and at participating hospitals across the country are invaluable. A major part of helping these children is to raise awareness, which is exactly what the City of Solvang and the American Cancer Fund for Children and Kids Cancer Connection are doing.

I ask that you join me in honoring the tireless work of the American Cancer Fund for Children and Kids Cancer Connection in easing the suffering of children afflicted with this disease, and in supporting the City of Solvang for raising childhood cancer awareness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the looming crisis of climate change. The effects of climate change are diverse, but they all impact American lives and livelihoods, and we are realizing and witnessing these occurrences in real-time.

Extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy, severe drought, and major flooding are becoming more frequent and growing more intense. Sandy alone caused at least $50 billion in damages, killed dozens of Americans, and upended the lives of millions more. But Sandy was only one of 11 separate billion-dollar extreme weather events last year.

And not only are things getting worse each time, but these events are occurring more frequently now than they were even a decade ago. And of course, the cost of all these catastrophes--cost which is borne by the taxpayer--is also escalating.

One of the first actions of this Congress was to enact over $60 billion in emergency aid for all those impacted by Sandy. Who knows how much the next catastrophe will cost?

Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to sit back and wait for the next Hurricane Sandy to devastate American lives and property. Especially in these tight economic times, I think we can all agree that reducing the cost of extreme weather events is a good idea. And one of the most effective ways to reduce these costs is to plan ahead. Regardless of what you think about its causes, extreme weather is happening, and because we cannot guarantee that these events will not happen in the future, we can and we must do more to prepare. Imagine the lives, infrastructure, homes, and businesses that could have been saved if we'd better anticipated and prepared for the impacts of these events before they occurred.

By smarter planning and building more resilient infrastructure, we can reduce storm damages, we can lessen economic impacts, and we can save lives. And these mitigation and adaptation measures also create good quality American jobs that can help to grow our economy for the future. It's a win-win that we should all support.

That's why last month I reintroduced two bills that would help our local communities implement these cost-saving measures. One is the Coastal States Climate Change Planning Act, which would provide help for coastal States who wish to carry out adaptation projects in order to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Another bill is the Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act, supporting States wishing to update their aging storm, waste, and drinking water systems in order to adapt for climate change. These bills would help our local communities to plan and prepare for the impacts of climate change and increased extreme weather. Our communities deserve protections from these potentially devastating events and we have a responsibility to help.

Mr. Speaker, we have a choice. We can continue to spend tens of billions of dollars annually on emergency aid packages that will only grow in size and quantity, or we can spend a fraction of that on planning smarter and building more resilient infrastructure that creates jobs and strengthens our economy for years to come.

I think the choice is clear. Let's choose to protect our coastlines and to fortify our infrastructure. Let's choose to create good American jobs and strengthen our economy. Let's choose to plan ahead to protect lives, to protect property, and the Federal Government itself from the impacts of extreme weather.

I urge my colleagues to join me in taking action on this critical issue and to help our communities to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

I thank my colleague from California for yielding.

I rise in opposition to the rule and to the underlying bill. At a time when more and more people are starting their own businesses, we should be doing everything we can to encourage entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, current rules make it difficult for Workforce Investment Boards, or WIBs as we call them, to provide entrepreneurial training services or to count the successes of those programs in their outcome measures, the very thing that we ought to be doing through these Workforce Investment Boards. As a result, very few WIBs even offer these programs, depriving aspiring entrepreneurs of valuable resources to help them thrive.

That's why in the last Congress I introduced legislation to fix the guidelines for self-employment training. Our goal would make it easier for Workforce Investment Boards to offer these programs in the local community and expand access to training for aspiring entrepreneurs.

I would like to thank Mr. Tierney, Mr. Hinojosa, and Mr. Miller for including my legislation in their amendment that will be considered tomorrow. Job training and reemployment issues always have been, and always should be, bipartisan. So it's very sad that this rule and the underlying bill have come to the floor under a strictly partisan process and that they will actually harm the very programs that they're designed to support.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''