Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, President Trump had Andrew McCabe, the Deputy Director of the FBI, fired.

His offense?

Well, he is about to be a witness in the Mueller investigation and had copious notes about his conversations with the President. What better way to nullify damning testimony than to fire the person about to give it, all while signaling to anyone else the consequences of crossing the President.

But it is worse than just that. The President fired Andrew McCabe in a way completely devoid of human decency: 2 days before his full retirement.

The message to McCabe and anyone else who would cross him was: I won't just go after you, but your family and your future, too. I will destroy you.

Like a thug in a mafia movie, Trump made his move. Fortunately, the Founders of this country made sure we had checks and balances in the system to avoid this dangerous style of governing.

I and others have offered Andrew McCabe, a 21-year law enforcement professional in the FBI, a job to ensure he will be able to get his hard-earned pension.

No one should fear harm to their family, their pension, their future by a petulant man-child or a ruthless demagogue, depending on the mood of the day.

I stand with you, Andrew McCabe, and so do the American people.

Mr. Speaker, on February 8, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first domestic production of Moly99 by North Star Nuclear Medicine, which is located in Beloit, Wisconsin. Moly99 is the key substance used in 50,000 daily procedures using nuclear medicine to diagnose a variety of illness.

For many years, the United States has been dependent on foreign sources using nuclear fission offshore. These reactors, located in Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Australia, are old and have been the subject of many disruptions of supply causing shortages.

Working with help from the U.S. Department of Energy and the cooperation of the FDA, North Star has developed a system to produce Moly99 without any use of uranium, resulting in little waste and no nuclear waste.

I want to congratulate George Messina, North Star's CEO, and his 130 employees, located in the cities of Beloit and Madison, on their achievement. Nuclear medicine is vital to the diagnosis and cure of many diseases. Thanks to the dedication and perseverance of this Wisconsin company, consumers will have access to the first domestic supply of this much needed medicine.

Mr. Speaker, public education is the foundation of our 21st Century democracy. Our public schools are where our students come to be educated in the fullest sense of the word as citizens of this great country. We strive every day to make every public school a place where we prepare the nation's young people to contribute to our society, economy, and citizenry.

Ninety percent of American children attend public schools. We call on local, state, and federal lawmakers to prioritize support for strengthening our nation's public schools and empowering local education leaders to implement, manage, and lead school districts in partnership with educators, parents, and other local education stakeholders and learning communities. This support would also provide for counseling, extra/co-curricular activities and mental health supports that are critical to help students engage in learning.

We support and value inclusive and safe high-quality public schools where children learn to think critically, problem solve, and build relationships. We support an environment where all students can succeed beginning in the earliest years, regardless of their zip code, the color of their skin, native language, disability, gender/gender identity, immigration status, religion, or social standing.

We promote advancing equity and excellence in public education, and implementing continuous improvement and evidence-based practices. Every child has the right to an education that helps them reach their full potential and to attend schools that offer a high quality educational experience.

We support stable, equitable, predictable, and adequate funding for great public schools for every student in America so that students have inviting classrooms and school libraries with up-to-date resources as well as well-prepared and supported educators. These educators include teachers, paraprofessionals, and principals who provide a well-rounded and complete curriculum and create joy in learning. Our school buildings should have class sizes small enough to allow one-on-one attention and have access to support services such as health care, nutrition, and after-school programs for students who need them.

We believe that public tax dollars should only support public schools that are publicly governed and accountable to parents, educators, and communities. In no way should local, state, or federal funding be taken away from public schools and given to private schools that are unaccountable to the public.

We reiterate our love for public education and pride in our public schools. We will continue to promote the promise and purpose of public education, to elevate the great things happening every day in our public schools, and to engage communities about strategies that help students succeed. We affirm our commitment to fight for resources for public schools, and will be steadfast in our efforts to protect students and their families, public schools, and our communities from any policies that would undermine these values.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Urban League of Greater Madison as the organization celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

Since its founding on February 20, 1968, the Urban League of Greater Madison has championed the educational and professional advancement of the city's African-American population. In the earliest years of its operation, the organization excelled at developing programs to provide skills training and job placement, more than tripling the number of employees of color working for the City of Madison.

Over the last fifty years, the Urban League of Greater Madison has maintained exceptional programming, despite a number of challenges. Through the development of partnerships with community leaders and local businesses, the Urban League of Greater Madison has continued to enhance its operations and has expanded its outreach in minority and immigrant communities.

In recent years, the Urban League of Greater Madison has been at the forefront of fighting for equality in our community with its vision to make Greater Madison the ``Best in the Midwest'' for everyone to live, learn, and work by 2020. Last year, the organization launched a campaign to place 1,500 low-income job seekers into career pathway employment by 2020, continuing its long legacy of advocating for economic justice and opportunity.

Through its efforts to pursue education, employment, and empowerment, the Urban League of Greater Madison has remained committed to fighting for progress and our future. It is my honor to now recognize the Urban League of Greater Madison in celebration of its 50th Anniversary and I wish them many more years of success.

Mr. Speaker, on January 29, 2018 a flight delay prevented me from participating in the 6:30 p.m. vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 45, and YEA on Roll Call No. 46.

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of rhetoric out there about why there is a government shutdown and who is to blame. Well, let's look at the facts.

The GOP is, indeed, in charge at all levels of Federal Government yet has not been able to do much of anything since then. They can't fund the government, and now they are asking for their fourth continuing resolution of only a few weeks yet again.

The only major, concrete thing they have really done is give tax breaks to their wealthy donors, and now they are in full spin mode trying to say the government is shut down because we want to let certain people into our country.

Please.

Look, we are fighting for parity on non-defense funding for things like schools, Head Start, and programs like Meals on Wheels and homeless veterans' assistance. We want to get funding for community health centers and CHIP. And, yes, repairing the DACA agreement that has allowed a lot of good, talented young people to stay in this country is important to many of us as well.

Let's remember, the only thing the Republicans have to show for their last year is a giant, wet, sloppy tax break for their donors and a way too extended honeymoon with the President.

It is time to step up and put our country before our party, and we need to do that now.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 4872, the End the Shutdown Act of 2018, a continuing resolution that would immediately reopen the government through Tuesday while negotiations continue on a budget agreement that adheres to parity and on other critical issues.

Mr. Speaker, in bizarre Washington news of the last week, the raging controversy is whether the President of the United States referred to other countries and a continent as s---holes or s---houses. As if either word means a drop of difference, especially when you insult other nations in the world as our President did.

Equally worrisome is that the leadership of this branch of government, the U.S. House of Representatives, a coequal branch of government, has been complicit or silent about how to respond to the comments made by our President. In fact, Speaker Paul Ryan took 19 hours and 53 minutes to respond.

And with all of that time, enough time to have driven from Washington, D.C., to Dallas, Texas, or to watch the movie ``Jaws'' nine times, what was his stinging and necessary rebuke after that much time and thought? ``Unfortunate.'' The Speaker said the President's comments were unfortunate and unhelpful.

Look, it is unfortunate when you walk outside and step in a puddle of water. This was more like walking into a global-sized pile of S.

We are not on the staff of the White House. We are a coequal branch of government, and it is about time we acted like it. Saying nothing, or basically nothing, is unacceptable. We need to put our country before our political party.

Calling other countries, and even a continent, names like s---holes or s---houses puts our servicemembers and our Americans overseas at greater risk. Weak words or silence makes Congress complicit with the President's racist rhetoric.

And, by the way, people outside the beltway just think Congress is full of S. Everyone else had the proper response to the President's comments, that they were pure BS.

Mr. Speaker, during my medical recovery, I missed the following roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted:

December 13, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 676

No on Roll Call No. 677

No on Roll Call No. 678

No on Roll Call No. 679

No on Roll Call No. 680

December 14, 2017

Yea on Roll Call No. 681

No on Roll Call No. 682

Yea on Roll Call No. 683

No on Roll Call No. 684

December 18, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 685

Yea on Roll Call No. 686

Yea on Roll Call No. 687

December 19, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 688

No on Roll Call No. 689

Yea on Roll Call No. 690

Yea on Roll Call No. 691

No on Roll Call No. 692

Yea on Roll Call No. 693

No on Roll Call No. 694

Yea on Roll Call No. 695

December 20, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 697

No on Roll Call No. 698

No on Roll Call No. 699

Yea on Roll Call No. 700

Yea on Roll Call No. 701

No on Roll Call No. 702

Yea on Roll Call No. 703

December 21, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 704

No on Roll Call No. 705

Yea on Roll Call No. 706

Yea on Roll Call No. 707

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the bill before us that takes away National Labor Relations Act protections for hundreds of thousands of workers.

I support Tribal sovereignty. In my home State of Wisconsin, I am proud the Ho-Chunk Nation is in my district. Potawatomi, Oneida, Menominee, St. Croix, Stockbridge-Munsee, Lac du Flambeau, Lac Corte Oreilles, Red Cliff, Bad River, and other Tribes all reside in my home State, and I am glad to support the autonomy of those Tribal nations. But this bill isn't about Tribal sovereignty. It is about going after workers' rights.

Look at the track record of the majority in this Congress. The Republicans have continued to go after workers' rights, as they have so far. They have repealed the rule that required companies seeking large Federal contracts to disclose violations of labor law. They made it harder for people whose jobs are shipped overseas to get unemployment insurance. They have made it harder for workers whose employers don't offer retirement plans to save for retirement. They have repealed an OSHA rule requiring employers to maintain accurate records of serious workplace injuries for 5 years, while the administration drastically reduces the number of OSHA inspectors.

This bill isn't about meaningful sovereignty. It is about selective sovereignty, because it only goes after labor rights.

If this were a bill about sovereignty, it would include a number of other areas that Tribes are compelled to follow in addition to the National Labor Relations Act: the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, ERISA; the Family and Medical Leave Act; and the public accommodations of Americans with Disabilities Act, just to start.

If this bill was about sovereignty, it would exempt OSHA and ERISA and the FMLA and the ADA, for starters. But it doesn't do that. This bill only exempts labor protections for hundreds of thousands of workers, Tribal members and nonmembers, because the majority in this Congress isn't really worried about sovereignty. It is concerned

about taking away the rights of workers, and that is what this bill is really about.

Mr. Speaker, if this body wants to help Tribes, I am here to help. Bring a bill to the floor that covers all exempted areas, and that is a bill that I could support. But that is not what is in front of us today.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of opposition from the International Union of Operating Engineers, the United Auto Workers, United Food and Commercial Workers, and Unite Here.

International Union of

Operating Engineers,

Washington, DC, January 8, 2018.

Hon. Paul D. Ryan,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Washington, DC.

Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi: The International

Union of Operating Engineers opposes the Tribal Labor

Sovereignty Act, legislation contained in S. 140 (115-54)

that would eliminate the labor protections currently

guaranteed to hundreds of thousands of American workers.

Indeed, if enacted into law, this bill would constitute the

biggest rollback in labor law since the passage of the Taft-

Hartley Act in 1947.

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)

represents nearly 400,000 men and women across North America.

Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers

maintain and operate Native American and non-Native American

gaming facilities around the United States, from Connecticut

to California, and this legislation would have a dramatic

effect on their lives and livelihoods. The IUOE is the

second-biggest union in the hospitality sector. But this

legislation extends beyond casinos and gaming. IUOE members

work in mining and energy facilities on Native American lands

in a number of locations, and those workers eventually could

lose their rights as a result of this legislation.

In a few short words, this bill changes current law by

exempting the National Labor Relations Act from tribal

enterprises on tribal lands. Today, the National Labor

Relations Board (Board) implements a case-by-case review of

whether labor law applies to tribal enterprises.

The precedent-setting case that comes from the San Manuel

Band of Mission Indians is instructive. The Tribe operated a

92,000-sq.ft. casino (over two acres), with 1,400 employees.

Only five of the workers were Native American. The Board

determined that this large commercial establishment should

not receive the exemption from labor law provided to states

and local government because its operations were

fundamentally different than a government. The San Manuels

were not providing a public good to members of the tribe.

They were not behaving like a government. Instead, the Board

determined that when the tribal operation in question is

commercial in nature, employs significant numbers of non-

Indians, and caters to a non-Native American clientele, ``the

special attributes of sovereignty are not implicated.'' The

Board determined that private labor law applies to the San

Manuel casino, just as it would with any other commercial

operation. Federal courts have supported this interpretation.

Sovereignty does, however, apply to governmental functions of

the tribe, just as they would with any state government.

If passed, the exemption from labor law would unfairly

advantage commercial tribal operations at the expense of non-

Native American private-sector companies. Competitors with

Native American commercial operations must comply with labor

law; Native American operations will not. As mentioned above,

the bill's reach extends well beyond the gaming industry.

Tribes are engaged in a variety of commercial enterprises,

from mining and energy development, to manufacturing and

construction. Over time, it is reasonable to expect that

tribal enterprises will expand and compete more aggressively

with non-Native companies in a wide variety of commercial

sectors, without any concern for the rights of workers.

Tribal labor law is woefully inadequate--virtually non-

existent in most tribes around the country. It is no

replacement for the nation's basic legal framework that

protects workers' rights. Eliminating the NLRA for tribal

enterprises will strip away freedoms guaranteed to Americans

today, including hundreds of thousands of workers at tribal

casinos who are not Native American. S. 140 (115-54) would

immediately eliminate the rights of thousands of Operating

Engineers in workplaces all over the United States.

The International Union of Operating Engineers opposes S.

140 (115-54), which eliminates nearly one-million workers'

individual right to take collective action to improve their

working conditions, and respectfully urges you to oppose it

when it comes to the floor of the House of Representatives on

Wednesday.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

James T. Callahan,

General President.

Mr. Speaker, during my medical recovery, I missed the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted:

November 28, 2017: Yea on Roll Call No. 638; No on Roll Call No. 639.

November 29, 2017: No on Roll Call No. 640; No on Roll Call No. 641.

November 30, 2017: Yea on Roll Call No. 642; No on Roll Call No. 643; No on Roll Call No. 644; No on Roll Call No. 645; Yea on Roll Call No. 646; Yea on Roll Call No. 647; No on Roll Call No. 648; and Yea on Roll Call No. 649.

December 1, 2017: Yea on Roll Call No. 650; No on Roll Call No. 651; Yea on Roll Call No. 652.

December 4, 2017: No on Roll Call No. 653; Yea on Roll Call No. 654.

December 5, 2017: Yea on Roll Call No. 655; Yea on Roll Call No. 656; Yea on Roll Call No. 657.

December 6, 2017: No on Roll Call No. 658; No on Roll Call No. 659; No on Roll Call No. 660; Yea on Roll Call No. 661; Yea on Roll Call No. 662; No on Roll Call No. 663; and Yea on Roll Call No. 664.

December 7, 2017: No on Roll Call No. 665; No on Roll Call No. 666; Yea on Roll Call No. 667; Yea on Roll Call No. 668; Yea on Roll Call No. 669; No on Roll Call No. 670; and Yea on Roll Call No. 671.

December 11, 2017: Yea on Roll Call No. 672; Yea on Roll Call No. 673.

December 12, 2017: Yea on Roll Call No. 674; No on Roll Call No. 675.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Capital Times on the publication's 100th Anniversary.

The Capital Times has been an integral part of our community since its founding on December 13, 1917. In the earliest years of the publication, the Capital Times earned its reputation as a champion of progressive values by fighting for workers, farmers, and small businesses.

From its humble beginnings on King Street, the Capital Times has expanded and adapted, yet has remained dedicated to the values upon which it was founded. Over the last one hundred years, the Capital Times has never lost sight of its mission to serve its readers and the people of Wisconsin.

Since 1917, the Capital Times has been at the forefront of the most significant stories in Wisconsin and the United States. At a time when freedom of the press is being challenged and many news organizations are facing setbacks, the Capital Times continues its outstanding work.

Through its efforts to pursue truth, the Capital Times and its well- respected team of journalists have remained committed to progress and our future. It is my honor to now recognize the Capital Times in celebrating its 100th Anniversary and wish them many more years of success.

Mr. Speaker, during my medical recovery, I missed the following roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted:

October 31, 2017

Yea on Roll Call No. 591 November 1, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 592

No on Roll Call No. 593

Yea on Roll Call No. 594

Yea on Roll Call No. 595

Yea on Roll Call No. 596

Yea on Roll Call No. 597

No on Roll Call No. 598

Yea on Roll Call No. 599 November 2, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 600

No on Roll Call No. 601

No on Roll Call No. 602

No on Roll Call No. 603

Yea on Roll Call No. 604 November 3, 2017

Yea on Roll Call No. 605

No on Roll Call No. 606 November 6, 2017

Yea on Roll Call No. 607

Yea on Roll Call No. 608

Yea on Roll Call No. 609 November 7, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 610

No on Roll Call No. 611

Yea on Roll Call No. 612

Yea on Roll Call No. 613

No on Roll Call No. 614 November 8, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 616

No on Roll Call No. 617

Yea on Roll Call No. 618

Yea on Roll Call No. 619

No on Roll Call No. 620

Yea on Roll Call No. 621 November 9, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 622 November 13, 2017

Yea on Roll Call No. 623

Yea on Roll Call No. 624

Yea on Roll Call No. 625 November 14, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 626

No on Roll Call No. 627

Yea on Roll Call No. 628

Yea on Roll Call No. 629

No on Roll Call No. 630

No on Roll Call No. 631 November 15. 2017

No on Roll Call No. 632

No on Roll Call No. 633

Yea on Roll Call No. 634

Yea on Roll Call No. 635

Yea on Roll Call No. 636 November 16, 2017

No on Roll Call No. 637

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation in honor of the 175th Anniversary of Foley & Lardner LLP:

Whereas, Foley & Lardner LLP is celebrating its 175th anniversary and has made a distinct impact in the state of Wisconsin through economic investment and community engagement; and

Whereas, Foley & Lardner traces its roots in Wisconsin to 1842 when Asahel Finch and William Pitt Lynde opened the doors to their law firm in Milwaukee six years prior to Wisconsin gaining its statehood; and

Whereas, the firm, from its humble beginnings, has grown along with the state of Wisconsin, expanding to the city of Madison, and becoming the state's largest law firm; and

Whereas, Foley & Lardner opened an office in Washington, DC, in 1971, becoming the first Wisconsin law firm to open an office outside the state;

Whereas, the firm has since expanded to include 19 offices in the United States, Belgium, and Japan; and

Whereas, Foley & Lardner attorneys and staff have helped Wisconsin industries grow and thrive locally, nationally, and internationally; and

Whereas, the firm's attorneys have served the state and its communities by providing leadership in elected offices and helping shape public policy; and

Whereas, Foley & Lardner has played a significant role at critical times in our nation's history, including during the Civil War, the Great Depression, the New Deal; and

Whereas, Foley & Lardner attorneys and staff are a pillar in the community, providing many hours of pro bono and volunteer efforts; now, therefore, I, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan, do hereby proclaim Foley & Lardner on this special 175th anniversary, a leading Wisconsin business, as well as a keystone to the ongoing growth and development in our congressional district.

On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Wisconsin, I wish Foley & Lardner continued growth and success in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation:

Whereas, Temple Beth El was founded in 1939 as Madison, Wisconsin's first and only Reform Jewish congregation; and

Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Biatch has been the spiritual leader supporting the vision and mission of Temple Beth El since 2004; and

Whereas, boys celebrate Bar Mitzvah when turning 13; and

Whereas the Temple Beth El community proclaims Rabbi Jonathan Biatch a ``Bar Mitzvah'' celebrating his 13th year of service,

Now, therefore, I congratulate Rabbi Jonathan Biatch on his 13 years of leadership at Temple Beth El.

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from Arizona, also, for his leadership within the caucus.

I am proud to rise in support of the Congressional Progressive Caucus' budget alternative. This is a practical, progressive vision for our country by providing solutions to counter the Republican cuts to vital programs and tax breaks for the wealthy.

Let me contrast the House GOP budget with the Progressive Caucus budget.

First, in healthcare, the Republican budget embraces TrumpCare by incorporating the House-passed American Health Care Act, which cuts at least 20 million people from their care. This includes up to $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, threatening care for seniors in nursing homes, children, and struggling families. It makes $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, ending the Medicare guarantee and shifting cost risk on to seniors.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus budget defends and strengthens the Affordable Care Act. It lowers prescription drug costs and expands access to mental healthcare and addiction treatment.

We invest in workers. The GOP plan slashes investments in workers and programs to help more Americans get back to work, programs like apprenticeships and job training. And yet the people's budget would create 2.4 million jobs over its first 3 years and raise wages for American workers.

The Republican budget, their $5.4 trillion in spending cuts means less funding for roads and bridges and schools. Our budget puts a $2 trillion investment into strengthening our Nation's infrastructure.

The Republican budget drastically cuts Federal funding, which could undermine our ability to respond to disasters. The people's budget provides $200 billion in emergency disaster funds to rebuild communities devastated by hurricanes.

The Republican budget guts our public education system with cuts that could devastate schools and further disinvest in public universities. The Progressive Caucus budget makes debt-free college a reality and provides for the refinancing of student loans. It expands access to pre-K education and provides childcare for all families.

Let's get real. The reason we are debating the budget this week: Republicans can't wait to get started on their tax breaks for the wealthy. The Republican tax plan should be called the Trump Family Tax Plan because it enriches the wealthy on the backs of the middle class.

The Progressive Caucus gets it right. Not one more penny in tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest Americans. The Progressive Caucus budget ensures that the top 1 percent pay their fair share in taxes, we close corporate loopholes, and we expand the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit for working families.

We must reject the Trump Family tax cut and invest in our roads and bridges, our schools, our healthcare, and our workers. Progressives are proposing bold policy solutions as clear alternatives to the cruel budget cuts Republicans are proposing.

The people's budget is an investment in the American people, and I urge you to support the Progressive Caucus people's budget.