Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price of Los Angeles, California, who died on February 12, 2021 at the age of 89.

Apostle Frederick K.C. Price is the founder of Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) in Los Angeles, California. He began CCC in 1973 and shepherded it into a ministry of world renown, with services held in the 10,000-seat FaithDome.

In 1978, Apostle Price received instruction from God to begin a television broadcast and, as a result, Ever Increasing Faith Ministries (EIFM) began broadcasting in five major television markets. Thus, the television broadcast soon after became global.

EIFM can be viewed on many television stations in all 50 states and in many foreign countries. Apostle Price is also heard on numerous radio programs and 19 Internet broadcast stations. Additionally, he can be seen on most social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and others. In 1990, Apostle Price founded the Fellowship of Inner-City Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM), which later became the Fellowship of International Christian Word of Faith Ministries before disbanding in 2017. And in 2001, he established an East Coast church, Crenshaw Christian Center East.

A visionary and prolific author, Apostle Price is the author of some 50 books on faith, healing, prosperity, and the Holy Spirit. How Faith Works is a classic on the operation of faith and its life-changing principles.

Although he had already operated in the fivefold ministry gift of apostle, in 2008 Apostle Price was publicly affirmed as an apostle of faith. Under the mantle of the teaching gift, Apostle Price established several schools for ministry and formal education at CCC. Among them are Frederick K.C. Price Ill Christian Schools (preschool to 12th grade); the Ministry Training Institute in 1985; a CCC Correspondence School; the Frederick K.C. Price School of the Bible; and in 2008, the Apostle Price Ministry Training Center. Over the years, Apostle Price has received many prestigious awards, most notably the Horatio Alger Award and the Kelly Miller Smith Interfaith Award.

A year after his affirmation and after more than 35 years of service, Apostle Price stepped aside as pastor to formally install his son, Frederick K. Price Jr., as his successor. For years he served as the presiding prelate of both CCC West and CCC East and as the chairman of CCC's board of directors.

A devout husband and proud father, Apostle Price is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dr. Betty Price, four children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

I am proud to call myself a friend of the Price family, and I extend my deepest condolences to them and to the countless lives touched by the life and work of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which bans police choke holds, creates a national police misconduct registry, and eliminates qualified immunity, among other needed provisions.

I grieved when first watching George Floyd's murder by a cop, and I grieve still over the continued loss of so many Blacks killed by cops. There have been 149 Black men killed at the hands of police since George Floyd's murder. I have been fighting against this police brutality since my first days as a member of the California State Assembly.

But here we are, mourning the victims of police choke holds, Blacks being shot in the back, fathers being killed in front of their children and their families. We Blacks are under siege by rogue cops, who we pay to protect and serve us, and White supremacists and domestic terrorists.

We have to resist this. We have to say to bad cops in blue that we are going to fight you. Or proud boys in yellow gear, we are going to fight you. We are going to resist you.

Madam Speaker, I am so grateful that we have President Biden's leadership in the White House to tackle the ongoing pandemic. H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, carries out this plan and delivers the relief that communities across this country need so very much.

Critically, the bill provides more than $75 billion for programs in my committee's jurisdiction, including $20 billion for emergency rental assistance, $5 billion for 70,000 new housing vouchers, $10 billion in homeowner assistance, $10 billion to boost emergency medical equipment production, $10 billion for small businesses, and $15 billion for airline workers.

I am so pleased that we are increasing the stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 for each of our constituents. I am a happy camper tonight. This is what America needs.

Republicans ought to be a part of this; but if they are not, then we are going without them.

With hunger growing and millions out of work and at risk of eviction or foreclosure, America needs this bill passed into law. Vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, a critical piece of civil rights legislation.

Half a century ago, the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act became law. But we know that housing and lending discrimination remains a widespread problem. Former President Trump and his administration were shameful and cruel adversaries to justice and civil rights and worked to gut protections against housing and lending discrimination.

According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, sex discrimination made up the fourth greatest basis for complaints in 2019. As housing discrimination continues to harm an estimated 6 to 8 million people in the U.S., LGBTQ-plus youth, in particular, remain at greater risk of homelessness compared to non-LGBTQ-plus youth, and same-sex couples are more likely to be denied a mortgage loan compared to hetero-sex couples.

This legislation takes key steps to codify existing protections for our LGBTQ-plus neighbors under civil rights statutes, including the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and is similar to provisions included in H.R. 166, a fair lending proposal by Representative Al Green. My committee has convened several hearings on this topic, including one this week, about ongoing lending discrimination.

I thank Representative Cicilline for authoring this bill and Chair Nadler for his leadership. I urge my colleagues to please support this important bill that will ensure equal access to housing and wealth- building opportunities for generations to come by expressly prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Mr. Speaker, I happily rise in support of this joint budget resolution for fiscal year 2021 to enact our President Biden's American Rescue Plan and provide urgently needed COVID-19 relief.

Thank God for President Biden. We have been without a plan with a President who was busy trying to steal votes and abandon the American people when he knew that we were suffering.

Communities across the Nation continue to suffer during this pandemic crisis. Congress has a duty to act and come to the aid of struggling individuals, families, and small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, this is not about giving tax breaks to the richest people in America the way the past President and the Republicans are intent on always doing.

President Biden's plan provides the relief that America needs so badly. The plan increases the stimulus payments to individuals in December to $2,000, adding $1,400 for every individual; extends enhanced unemployment assistance; and provides nutritional assistance to address growing hunger.

Mr. Speaker, people are hungry all over America. They are hungry in the cities, in the little towns, in the rural areas. This plan provides nutritional assistance to address this growing hunger and includes $350 billion in funding for State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments.

Mr. Speaker, as chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, I have been sounding the alarm about the urgent need for emergency rental and homeless assistance during this crisis, as millions are at risk of losing their homes. They don't care on the other side whether families will be set out on the sidewalks with their children. The past President turned a blind eye to the fact that people have not been able to pay their rents since March.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to this resolution, my committee will quickly consider an additional $25 billion to support renters and their landlords, including by funding emergency housing vouchers, Tribal housing assistance, and rural housing. We will provide another round of funding for people experiencing homelessness, who are often the most vulnerable to the pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, my committee will also quickly respond to the urgent needs of small and minority-owned businesses by establishing programs used successfully during the financial crisis to promote growth in the economy.

Mr. Speaker, importantly, my committee will support our President's effort to roll out a comprehensive Federal plan to address the pandemic by considering how to bolster the authorities under the Defense Production Act to ensure our frontline workers have the medical equipment and supplies they need to fight this pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased we finally have a plan for America.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of impeaching again the

worst President in the history of the United States.

Since his first day in office, this President has spent 4 years abusing his power, lying, embracing authoritarianism, and radicalizing his supporters against democracy.

This corruption poisoned the minds of his supporters, inciting them to willingly join with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and paramilitary extremists in a siege of the United States Capitol Building, the very seat of American democracy.

The Republican Party is now the Trump party. And I want you to know that this is a Trump power grab that will not stop. It will not stop with attacking the Capitol and our State legislatures. This President intends to exercise power long after he is out of office.

It is reported that the President of the United States watched the invasion of our Capitol from the Oval Office and seemingly enjoyed it. I want you to know we should be concerned that the Republicans will defend him, and he is capable of starting a civil war.

He must be impeached. He must be stopped now.

Mr. Speaker, on January 6, 2021, domestic terrorists the President has empowered for years stormed the Capitol, desecrated the people's House, and threatened the lives of the Speaker, Vice President, and countless other Members and staff. None of us will ever forget that day.

The invasion of the Capitol was not only foreseeable, it was inevitable because of the many years the President has spent fanning the flames of hatred and racism in our country.

The facts are clear: The President rallied his supporters at the White House and then sent them to the Capitol to disrupt our democracy and overturn an election.

I won't spend another second explaining why Donald Trump should have long ago been removed from office. Donald Trump showed us who he was from the very beginning. Too many people turned a blind eye, and, last Wednesday, our country paid the price.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1988) to clarify seasoning requirements for certain refinanced mortgage loans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, last year, when Congress passed S. 2155, it included as section 309 a bill sponsored by Senators Tillis and Warren titled Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending Act of 2018.

That provision put new requirements in place to protect veteran borrowers from the aggressive and deceptive marketing practices of lenders pushing mortgage refinance deals.

However, the drafting of this provision caused some unintended consequences; specifically, an estimated 2,500 loans that were in full compliance with all requirements at the time were later denied Ginnie securitization simply because they were in the process of being refinanced or securitized when the law became effective.

Senators Warren and Tillis weighed in with Ginnie Mae, stating that it was not their intention to orphan those loans and have urged Ginnie Mae to address the issue.

However, Ginnie believes legislation is needed to grandfather these orphaned loans and address other administrative issues that have resulted from the slight differences between the new requirements in S. 2155 and Ginnie's prior requirements.

That is why we are here today with the bill from the gentleman from Georgia, H.R. 1988, which is a reasonable step to address what were clearly unintended consequences of the previous legislation. I am pleased to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Scott and Mr. Zeldin for introducing this bill, urge Members to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott), a senior member of the Committee on Financial Services and sponsor of H.R. 1988.

Mr. Speaker, I would inquire, through the Chair, if my colleague has any remaining speakers on his side.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

H.R. 1988 will address some unintended administrative complications that resulted from implementing laws that were put in place to help protect veterans from unscrupulous lenders.

I thank Mr. Scott and Mr. Zeldin for working in a bipartisan manner to bring H.R. 1988 before the House. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2515) to amend the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to amend the definition of whistleblower, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank Representative Green, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, for working with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) to craft this timely piece of legislation to ensure that all whistleblowers reporting suspected securities law violations are protected from retaliation by their employers.

In the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress provided the Securities and Exchange Commission the authority to reward whistleblowers who voluntarily provide the SEC with original information that leads to a successful enforcement action with monetary sanctions exceeding $1 million.

Realizing that these whistleblowers may be deterred by their employers, Congress also required the SEC to issue regulations to protect them from retaliatory efforts, such as firing or demotion; but in 2018, the Supreme Court held that whistleblowers who report alleged misconduct internally but not to the SEC are not protected by the antiretaliation provisions of Dodd-Frank. This is not what Congress intended. Indeed, requiring whistleblowers to race to the SEC in order to be protected discourages them from reporting their suspicions to their superiors.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlighted the importance of internal reporting in its 2010 letter to the SEC, stating: ``The experience of the many companies with robust internal reporting programs, as well as the empirical evidence, demonstrate that all stakeholders benefit when those with knowledge of potential securities law violations report internally, thus enabling management to promptly investigate and take remedial action.''

By clarifying that whistleblowers who only report alleged misconduct to the employers are also protected by the antiretaliation provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act, this bill would encourage employees to communicate potential securities law violations to their employers without fear of being fired before they are able to report to the SEC.

Again, I thank Chairman Green and Mr. Huizenga for pushing this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the sponsor of H.R. 2515.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important measure that will increase corporate accountability and help those companies committed to ferreting out wrongdoing to take action without government involvement and protects those workers who help them to do so.

I commend the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from Michigan for working in a bipartisan manner to bring this bill before the House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2162) to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to discount FHA single-family mortgage insurance premium payments for first-time homebuyers who complete a financial literacy housing counseling program, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 2162, the Housing Financial Literacy Act, a bipartisan bill authored by Representative Beatty, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion, and cosponsored by Representative Stivers. This bill will make homeownership more affordable for FHA borrowers who complete a housing counseling program from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency.

While HUD currently has the authority to provide premium discounts to incentivize housing counseling, HUD is not taking advantage of this opportunity to help borrowers and strengthen the FHA. Research has consistently demonstrated that loans made to borrowers who have received prepurchase counseling perform better than loans made to comparable borrowers who did not receive prepurchase counseling.

And when borrowers avoid delinquencies, lenders save money, too. A 2013 study by Freddie Mac found that, when 90-day delinquencies were lowered by 29 percent, lenders saved an average of $1,000 per loan.

So this bill would not only benefit consumers; it would also help increase the financial health of FHA.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Beatty and Representative Stivers for their work on this commonsense, data-driven bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2162.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), the chair of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion and the sponsor of H.R. 2162.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman and gentleman from Ohio for pushing this bill forward. This bill incentivizes financial literacy that will help avoid delinquencies and may have an impact well beyond the housing area.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 456) emphasizing the importance of grassroots investor protection and the investor education missions of State and Federal securities regulators, calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission to collaborate with State securities regulators in the protection of investors, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Pressley and Representative Huizenga for bringing H. Res. 456 to the floor, a bipartisan resolution that highlights the importance of our State securities regulators to protecting investors. This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of the North American Securities Administrators Association, the oldest international investor protection organization with a membership consisting of 67 State, provincial, and territorial securities regulators in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico.

The primary mission of both State securities regulators and NASAA is to protect and advocate for the protection of investors, especially the most vulnerable investors, like our Nation's seniors, who may lack the expertise, experience, and resources to protect their own interests.

These grassroots regulators are often the first line of defense against investment fraud and often respond to emerging frauds and investment scams before they are detected at the Federal level.

In 2017 alone, State securities regulators conducted nearly 4,790 investigations, leading to more than 2,100 enforcement actions, including 255 criminal prosecutions. These actions have

resulted in approximately $486 million in restitution for harmed investors, nearly $79 million in fines and/or penalties, and 1,985 years in incarceration or probation being ordered.

In addition, in 2017, NASAA's U.S. member jurisdictions reported bringing formal enforcement actions involving more than 1,100 senior victims, illustrating their unwavering commitment to protecting senior investors.

NASAA also engages and collaborates with Congress to promote Federal laws to improve protections for senior investors. For example, in 2018, we worked with NASAA to pass the Senior Safe Act, which was inspired by a training program developed by NASAA in partnership with the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention. The Senior Safe Act addresses barriers that financial professionals face in reporting suspected senior financial exploitation or abuse to authorities.

NASAA also collaborated with us on the Senior Security Act, which passed the House with broad, bipartisan support in April. That bill would, among other things, require the SEC to work across divisions and with the State securities regulators to ensure that seniors are not subject to financial exploitation.

I strongly support our State securities regulators, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley), the sponsor of H. Res. 456.

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

Mr. Speaker, this important resolution demonstrates that our Federal form of government serves us well. Both Federal and State authorities have important roles to play, and this is certainly true in the securities arena.

I congratulate my colleagues from Massachusetts and Michigan for bringing this bipartisan bill before the House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2919) to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to carry out a study to evaluate the issues affecting the provision of and reliance upon investment research into small issuers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of our Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets Subcommittee, Representative Huizenga, and Representative McAdams, for working across the aisle on this bipartisan bill to improve investment research coverage for small issuers.

Investment research helps to raise investor awareness, understanding, and interest about a company, which in turn can promote informed investment and overall trading in a company's securities.

However, reports indicate significant declines in analyst research on small public companies. In fact, it appears that most exchange-listed companies with less than $100 million in market capitalization have no research coverage at all.

To address this concerning trend, H.R. 2919 would direct the SEC to conduct a study on the issues that are affecting the availability of research coverage for small issuers, including emerging growth companies, companies considering an initial public offering, and minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. It also directs the SEC to report back recommendations to improve the quality and availability of investment research for small issuers.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill to enable us to identify some of the barriers small businesses face when attempting to get their story out to investors in our public capital markets.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that Mr. Huizenga and Mr. McAdams worked in a bipartisan manner to bring forth H.R. 2919. Markets work best when there is adequate public information, and the study on additional research provided for in this bill will help ensure that this is the case.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3050) to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to carry out a study of the 10 per centum threshold limitation applicable to the definition of a diversified company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Our capital markets are the envy of the world. This is due, in part, to the fact that once a company goes public, it can efficiently raise money for mom-and-pop investors who, in turn, can easily buy and sell shares.

However, there is some evidence that initial public offerings, or IPOs, of smaller companies, known as microcap companies, have declined since the dot-com bubble in 2001. This decline accounts for the main reason that the total number of stocks has declined.

I think it is important that we look into why this is the case and find out what policies we should be working on in Congress to ensure that our Nation's small businesses are able to access the public markets.

I support the gentleman from Wisconsin's bill, the Expanding Investment in Small Business Act of 2019, for doing just that. This bill would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to study and solicit public comment on the existing rules restricting a diversified mutual fund's exposure to a single company. It would also require the SEC to determine whether that requirement limits capital formation considering current investing trends and other factors the SEC determines are necessary and appropriate to protect investors.

The SEC would have to issue a report to Congress with its findings and determinations made in carrying out the study and any legislative recommendations, including any recommendation to update the current thresholds.

This bill helps ensure that we have the facts and data necessary to make an informed decision on whether we should change the current diversification limits for mutual funds and whether doing so will provide additional investment in small company IPOs.

I thank Representative Steil for working with me this Congress to ensure that the revised text of the bill also seeks to promote competition in our capital markets, and Mr. Gonzalez for cosponsoring this bill.

I urge all Members to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to, again, thank the sponsors of H.R. 3050 and the gentleman from Wisconsin for working with my side on the text of this legislation. I think it is a good bill and will, along with other measures that we are considering today, improve the access of small businesses to U.S. capital markets.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2409) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to expand access to capital for rural-area small businesses, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Representatives Axne and Mooney for working together to put forth this bipartisan piece of legislation to require the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation at the Securities and Exchange Commission to pay particular attention to the unique challenges rural-area small businesses face in accessing the funds they need to grow and thrive.

This important bill has gained broad bipartisan support because it is aimed at understanding and addressing real problems faced by Americans all across our country: the capital needs of rural startups and entrepreneurs.

When we created the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation we recognized that our Nation's small businesses are proven job creators which require special attention from the SEC. However, it is also important for the advocate to recognize that different types of small businesses face unique challenges. For example, as a result of my amendment to the legislation creating the position, the advocate is required to specifically consider the challenges facing minority-owned and women-owned small businesses.

H.R. 2409 would recognize another important category: small businesses in rural areas and require the advocate to pay special attention to and report to Congress on the unique challenges and issues they face.

According to a recent survey by the Small Business Majority, roughly one in five rural small businesses rated access to capital as one of the top three challenges to maintaining or growing their business in their community. What is more, these businesses largely get their funds from personal savings, and only 13 percent said that they received investments or gifts from friends or family. So I think it is time for the SEC to look into why that is and see what, if anything, we can be doing to encourage capital formation for our Nation's rural small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Axne), who is the sponsor of H.R. 2409.

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

Mr. Speaker, I inquire through the Chair if my colleague has any remaining speakers on his side.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Axne) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mooney) for introducing this important legislation.

This bipartisan bill passed the House by a near unanimous vote last Congress. It is time for it to become law to help rural businesses across this country become even more important job creators.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Chair, my amendment simply removes $1 million from the Administration for Children and Families programs account, but it replaces it back in the very same account. My intent in doing this is to highlight an issue for my colleagues and for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Before I go into detail on this, I want everyone to know that I was one of the early participants in the Head Start program as an assistant teacher. I was there when Head Start was first developed under the Federal poverty program.

I love Head Start. I understand it very thoroughly, and I wish that every child that needed the advantages of this program could have it and benefit from it.

In California alone, the Head Start program serves over 100,000 children. Nationwide, more than 1 million children and families across the country rely on its essential services.

However, children and families can't receive the care and valuable benefits of Head Start if we aren't strategic in determining the organizations and communities that receive aid.

When Federal auditors determine whether a Head Start program must recompete for funding, they compare the metrics of a program against national averages. However, a successful program operating within an urban community must be defined differently than one operating in the suburbs or a rural community. Comparing providers to national averages disadvantages those with fewer resources and more obstacles to success.

In my own district, the 43rd Congressional District of California, there have been six Head Start organizations that serve predominantly minority communities that have lost their funding in

favor of organizations operating in more affluent areas.

I fear these closures in Los Angeles may be indicative of a nationwide trend. There are also reports of Head Start programs serving minority communities in Detroit, Michigan, and Little Rock, Arkansas, that have been forced to recompete because they did not rank high enough when compared to programs nationwide.

Instead of helping struggling programs improve, which would ensure that families living in those communities still receive uninterrupted Head Start services, this recompete process forces providers to divert resources from programmatic priorities to administrative costs associated with competing for Federal grant dollars. This only compounds the difficulties faced by the Head Start provider.

The result of this process may be that affluent Head Start providers are better able to navigate the bureaucratic system HHS has created while those providers struggling to overcome obstacles, such as funding deficiencies and higher teacher turnover rates, are shut down.

Further oversight is required. The Department of Health and Human Services should comprehensively examine its Head Start selection and evaluation process for any evidence that such processes are having a disparate impact on either the minority communities that the programs serve or on minority-operated Head Start programs.

HHS should submit a report to Congress no later than January 1 of 2020--and I am going to be working on that--on its findings and any changes necessary to remedy the effects of such disparate impacts on communities of color. We must do everything possible to ensure that all children, not merely the ones who happened to live in affluent communities near a well-funded Head Start provider, have access to the support services they need.

Although I will be withdrawing this amendment, I strongly urge my colleagues to support a comprehensive audit of the Head Start application, evaluation, and recompete processes.

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Mr. Chair, I would simply like to say that I think that the processes that we are examining have unintended consequences that we think we can straighten out.

I thank Congresswoman DeLauro for her support in taking a look at this issue. We will be working together.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time, and I withdraw the amendment.