Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 415 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), my dear friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. This rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3004, also known as Kate's Law.

It should be instructive, also, Mr. Speaker, to recognize that H.R. 3004 had a companion bill that we debated on the rule yesterday--not voted on, we will vote on these today--that was a companion bill to this that is a very important bill. These are both effective law enforcement tools that need to be made available not only to protect the people of the United States, but, in particular, people who live in many of the jurisdictions that are being denied that support by effective law enforcement because of political policies that are being instructed by city councils and mayors across the country.

Mr. Speaker, on July 1, 2015, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez shot and killed Kate Steinle at Pier 14 in San Francisco, California, while she was walking with her father. Mr. Lopez-Sanchez claims that he does not fully recall the murder, as he took strong sleeping pills prior to the incident.

Mr. Speaker, this senseless and cowardly murder should never have happened. Mr. Lopez-Sanchez is and was an unlawful criminal alien who had previously been deported five times from the United States of America.

He had numerous felony convictions in the United States of America, including for the possession of heroin and the manufacturing of narcotics in the United States of America.

Despite his lengthy history of criminal acts dating back to 1991, Mr. Sanchez was able to illegally reenter the United States again and again and again with minimal consequences, showcasing serious fault lines in one of our systems of deterrence: our border.

For years, the lack of immigration enforcement and the spread of dangerous sanctuary policies have failed the American people and cost lives. The death of innocent Americans, such as Kate, Sarah Root, Grant Roanebeck, and too many others across this country, is simply unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, that is why we are here today. The American people have had enough. And I believe Congress has heard from the people, and we have heard enough and had enough.

The bottom line is we now have a President, Donald J. Trump, who not only heard this same story as he went around the country running for President, but had a different answer, because I assure you, the major candidates running for President on the Republican and Democratic ticket heard this same content. One person stepped up to the plate. He is now our President: Donald J. Trump.

The American people are sick and tired of turning on their TVs or radios or newspapers and seeing yet another senseless murder committed by a previously deported criminal alien. Their deaths are especially devastating since I believe they could have been prevented if our immigration laws had been carefully enforced or we had, really, what I call the national deterrent: the will to stop these senseless acts. Kate's Law gets close to doing just that.

The underlying legislation that the House will be able to vote on in this rule and in the legislation today enhances the current maximum sentences for illegal reentry. The bill raises the maximum sentence for criminal aliens who reenter the United States to between 10 and 25 years in Federal prison, depending upon the criminal's history.

For all those who are attempting to politicize this legislation--and, yes, they are--I would encourage them to read the bill. Mr. Speaker, I have that bill in front of me as we speak, and it is really not too much of a lift. It is half of a page and four other pages.

Members of Congress do have time to read the bill. Members of Congress do

have time to understand why we are here today. And it is more than just that is just the way it is. It is, in fact, a reality that has become all too known by every single American, and especially moms and dads, moms and dads and uncles and grandparents who hurt when our children are hurt.

So regardless of your position on general immigration reform, I would hope that you would join us today, join us today in agreeing that we should do everything we can to discourage murderers and criminal aliens.

Disagreeing one way or another on immigration policy is not what this is about. This is about where even there is the slightest potential that there could be citizens who would be harmed, we need a second look, a second opportunity, and a chance to address the issue.

The American people, I believe, need and deserve stronger deterrence of those who have come here illegally and have already proven that they are willing to break our Nation's most serious laws.

These are not huddled masses yearning to be free or families attempting to come here for a better life. These are bad people, and we call them criminals. They have violated the criminal conduct code here in the United States of America. They are people who we know are capable of terrible crimes, who, via their own criminal actions, have made sure that they have taken away the right that others had and, in doing so, have harmed the lives of our citizens.

The American people spoke clearly in November. President Donald J. Trump understood that. This is a criminal matter; this is not a politics issue; and the time of letting the worst criminals back in our country over and over and over again must stop. The process begins again today.

Mr. Speaker, that is just the way it is, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), a distinguished Member of this body.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, I have several more speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished young gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King), one of the leading voices in Congress, not only on this issue, but also issues of great importance and it's Americanism: that our country is a great country, and that we live in the greatest country in the world. There isn't one time that I am not around this gentleman that he does not speak about American exceptionalism, the rule of law, and the important attributes of our country that make us world leaders.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), a gentleman who my party prays for on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the dialogue today with the gentlewoman, my friend, from New York, the ranking member of the committee, not only for her professional conduct today, but also for her day-to-day service to the Rules Committee as both she and I work through these difficult issues that face our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, what we are doing here today has a lot to do with two bills that were taken out of a larger immigration bill. Yesterday, we heard a debate on H.R. 3003, and today, on H.R. 3004. They are, in sense, companion bills. Balancing acts is what I would refer to them as, acts about addressing two very specific problems that are in our country that are very interrelated.

These are law enforcement bills. Make no mistake about it. These are not political. These are law enforcement bills. These are law enforcement bills that are designed to make sure that we effectively codify into Federal law the viewpoint that cities cannot harbor criminals, rapists, murderers, or people who are robbing and killing people as they choose--multiple times--and cities turning a blind eye to not even recognize requests from other cities that might want these people, but also from the Federal Government.

The second bill that we have got is one that says that what we are going to do is not only not fund these cities that are sanctuary cities, but we are going to deal more effectively with these criminals in the system. That is Kate's Law.

Both of these bills, H.R. 3004 and H.R. 3003, effectively balance each other because, as Members of Congress, we hear from people back home, many times, not just families from people who are impacted, but really citizens who are worried about our country dividing itself on this issue of criminals.

Make no mistake about it, these are criminals. Make no mistake about it, this is a law enforcement bill. Make no mistake about it, the United States Congress needs to ensure that our cities and States follow the laws, the Federal laws that we know have been, not only cleared by Congress, but signed by the President of the United States. They will be subject to review by the courts. We will be very pleased to take that review also.

Because, in fact, what we are doing is protecting American citizens. We are answering the call. And I would say, we are also making sure that we support the President of the United States, President Trump, who spoke very clearly on these issues, not only during the campaign, but he was elected therein.

I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to offer this amendment with Dr. Michael Burgess, also a member of the House Rules Committee, and also a gentleman from my home State of Texas.

The goal of our amendment is to strengthen the underlying legislation by clarifying the point at which the statute of limitations begins to run.

In Texas, the statute of limitations begins to run from the date the alleged negligence occurs or date of last treatment. This is a certain date that does not leave room for controversy. I believe aligning the underlying text with this approach will benefit both physicians and patients to clarify exactly where harm might occur.

My amendment clarifies that when the date of the breach or tort is known, the statute runs from that date. When the date of the breach or tort is not known, the statute runs from the last date of treatment. By this method, certainty is provided to defendant, plaintiff, and the court. Easy understanding. For example, if there is a surgical mishap, the statute would run from that date. On the other hand, if the injury is from the prescription medication over a long period of time, it would run from the date of last treatment.

I am pleased that the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Alliance for Patient Access, the Health Coalition of Liability and Access, as well as the National Physicians' Council for Healthcare Policy support this process and this amendment. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support this commonsense, reasonable reform that comes to us today in an amendment.

I thank Chairman Bob Goodlatte from Virginia and his awesome staff for their work to make sure this amendment and the underlying legislation conform with their ideas consistent with the legislation.

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

Mr. Chairman, perhaps the debate that the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) had was completely clear, which I would disagree with that statement. The gentleman from Iowa stated very clearly that there are surgeries, there are procedures, and there are processes that cost the Federal Government hundreds of millions, and the gentleman even went into the billions of dollars, which are parts of practices of medicine that doctors do as a defensive part of medicine to avoid exactly what we are talking about: getting sued. It is costing the Federal Government an enormous amount of money.

The gentleman did refer to two Members of Congress from Texas. We will see how they vote.

But the clarifying amendments that we are offering now, amendment No. 1 and amendment No. 2, come directly from negotiations with and understanding with the Texas Medical Association and the National Physicians' Policy Council to ensure that, in fact, the compliance is made that people not only in Texas, but also in other States, would have that would offer a physician the ability for them to use their knowledge, their training, and their expertise as opposed to practicing defensive medicine that harms every single taxpayer. That is why we are offering this today.

I am delighted. I believe what we have done is right.

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

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

Mr. Chairman, I believe the gentleman, Mr. King, has argued the point very successfully, and that is we believe it is in the best interests of not only the taxpayers, but physicians, physicians who have used their training, their expertise, and their knowledge to perform the necessary missions that are necessary. When those physicians do make mistakes--and mistakes will happen--then we believe that the rights of those that are reported in California and Texas would be consistent with those that would be great for the country. We are willing to share, and we appreciate the opportunity to present this.

Mr. Chairman, I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment that I have presented today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk as the designee of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).

Mr. Chairman, I offer my thanks not only to Chairman Bob Goodlatte, but also the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) for his work on behalf of all Members on the floor today, for his work not only for the Judiciary Committee, but people of faith and confidence that this country can address the issues and needs.

Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment with Dr. Michael Burgess, who is also from my home State of Texas as well as a member of the Rules Committee.

The goal of our amendment is to clarify that healthcare liability claims covered by the legislation include safety, professional, and administrative services directly related to healthcare. In other words, we are bringing in the entire scope, not just necessarily the medical procedure.

I was glad to see that H.R. 1215 adopts many of the reforms that States across this country have thoroughly tested in their efforts to improve medical liability law, including my home State of Texas.

Not all claims asserted against healthcare providers arise from the direct provision of medical care. My amendment addresses the full spectrum of healthcare claims by following the model that Texas has successfully implemented.

Common examples of administrative claims related to healthcare are cases for negligence involving credentialing fraud against hospitals and those serving on their professional committees. In these cases, the plaintiff typically is not a patient of the physician serving on the committee; however, there is significant exposure to liability for the physician.

Safety claims are another necessary component in the scope of this bill. In these cases, a patient's injury does not arise out of the rendition of healthcare, but pertains to the safety of the patient.

The Texas Medical Association, the Texas Alliance for Patient Access, and the National Physicians' Policy Council are among those organizations who not only support this narrowly tailored amendment, but also their support of the entire bill and the inclusions of this amendment.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, the gentleman I respect very much, not only the perspective that the gentleman holds, but perhaps some of his argument could be true.

Mr. Chairman, what we are trying to do is to balance out the opportunity for the American people to have access to healthcare where, many items, they are denied.

I was reminded by the gentleman, the young chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Dr. Phil Roe, who served his great State of Tennessee and the American people as an obstetrician and gynecologist, I was reminded of the facts of the case, as it were, where, when Texas passed this, counties all along our Texas borders received, instead of midwives and others who might perform these important services to deliver babies, all of a sudden medical professionals, doctors, came into play who had been shut out because of the fear of malpractice lawsuits against them. Texas added, in the first year, some 4,500 doctors who came to Texas knowing that it was a level playing field.

In this case, Mr. Chairman, we are arguing that the United States of America and the citizens would not have to pay outrageous amounts of money for defensive medicine, whereby physicians, in order to protect themselves and to protect themselves in a difficult circumstance, might order, as a defensive mechanism, excessive amounts of either X-rays or other procedures that really cost the government money instead of providing better healthcare.

This has been an advantage in the State of California, and in the State of Texas, where physicians use not only their training and their professional conduct, but they use what is in the best interest of the patient. That is why we are here today.

Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the selfless acts of courage displayed by Special Agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey of The United States Capitol Police saving the lives of numerous members of Congress and their staffs. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the wounded and Congressman Steve Scalise and Matt Mika and their families who are fighting for their lives. I include in the Record this poem penned by Albert Carey Caswell.

not on my watch

They awake on each new day

With a hug and kiss

saying goodbye to their loved ones out on their way

As to themselves ``Not on My Watch'' they say

No one is going to hurt you this day

Putting on a bullet proof vest

while strapping a holster and gun to their chest

To watch over all of us to bless

moving out to serve and protect

Not knowing what evil to expect

Or if this will be their last day, yet

Who while all in the midst of hell

must find the strength to make their souls swell

Living by a noble code and creed

to watch over us . . . you and me

It's all in a Police Officer's day

Saying, ``Not on My Watch'' all at speed

To vanquish evil's darkest of all needs

Ready to lay down their own lives if need be

Standing on that thin blue line

where death lies so close all the time

When, who lives and dies

And see's another sunrise

So all depends on you

relies

And on that fateful morning in June

When two Capitol Police Officers went deep

stood true

Who against all odds

just like Gods kept their oath through and through

Out gunned

who from the face of death would not run

All in their stride stood tall in the morning sun

Until, they vanquished what this dark evil had begun

Thank you

Officers Griner and Bailey as you have blessed each and

everyone

But, ``hate is hard . . . and it makes me cry''

When, I see those tears in those wounded loved ones eyes

But remember

the darkness is no match for the light

The kind that which on this day

burned in Griner's and Bailey's hearts so bright

Goodness

Evil

Darkness

Light

Those Brave Hearts Who Evil Must Fight

Who Bring The Light

Together Enjoined

As We Battle On

Into The Darkest of Nights

``Not On My Watch''

Those Brave Hearts Who Evil Must Fight

You Bring The Light

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize several important people in the Richardson Independent School District music community: First, the students and band directors of the Lloyd V. Berkner High School Full Orchestra under the leadership of Craig Needham and Jason Schayot for receiving an invitation to the 2016 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois; second, the Liberty Junior High School Symphonic Band under the direction of Christopher Pineda for receiving an invitation to be a guest performing band at the Midwest Clinic, hosted by Berkner High School alumnus and outstanding music educator, Frank Ticheli; and, third, Frank Troyka, a Former Head Band Director at Berkner High School, nationally renowned clinician, music educator, and teacher, for his induction into the 2016 Bands of America Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have greatly impacted the nation's bands and music education. Again, congratulations for your outstanding achievement and national recognition

Mr. Speaker, I rise this Memorial Day in honor and remembrance of all The Fallen who gave That Last Full Measure. I include in the Record this poem penned in their honor by Albert Carey Caswell.

They're Not Coming Home

(By Albert Carey Caswell)

They're not coming home

To their families where they belong,

who now must live so all alone

And to their Brothers In Arms,

who heard their last most heroic moans

No, they're not coming home

As up to Heaven they have flown

On the wings of an Angel which they now own

As Angels In The Army Lord to fight this new battle,

but not alone

They are not coming home

Could any of us such courage own?

And go off to war

And leave all that you so love and adore

For all the more

And for all their Brothers and Sisters to their left,

to their right endure

Oh the dreaded cost and horrors of war

Am sorry my dear child,

your Daddy or Mommy are not here no more

To hold you and tell you how much you they adore

To tuck you in at night

To assure you everything's all right

I know it's hard to hold the tears back you fight

Daddy, Mommy, oh how I wish you were here tonight!

As it gets harder to see their face with each year insight

But, they're not coming home

And as you awake in the middle of the night

Hush my child and don't you cry,

everything is going to be all right

Your parents are Angels now at the height

As they watch over you in the middle of the night

Both day and night,

as you will always be in their sights

Can't you feel their angel's breath envelop you,

and hold you so very tight

And one day up in Heaven together again you'll take flight

America, on this blessed day

Give thanks,

and give your most solemn praise

As you kneel and pray

For all those heroes who gave

That Last Full Measure,

who make up the home of the free and brave

On this Memorial Day

Give thanks to all of those who gave

As out to their loved ones call each and every day

And tell them how much their sacrifice means to us in every

way

For the real heroes are the ones who fell,

who now lie in deep dark cold quiet graves I do tell

Who on Christmas mornings we no longer hear,

their laughter as they appear

Even the warm memories we take,

in our hearts still can't replace

Just to look into their face

Oh how your hearts break

Cause they're not coming home

But, in a box with the names they own

And some will never be found,

only our Lord God knows them now

No, they're not coming home

Sadly, for any Nation to grow and thrive

Our most precious and most courageous of all loved ones must

die

Must lay down their lives

As it the price of freedom so very high

The price all of their loved ones so despise

Who must now live with tears in eyes

The magnificents who upon this Nation relies

Am so sorry but they're not coming home tonight

Amen

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, tonight, Members of Congress who are Eagle Scouts are taking to the floor of the House of Representatives to say thank you not only to the Boy Scouts of America but to recognize and to highlight our opportunity while in Boy Scouts, and now, as Members of Congress, to talk about how important the Boy Scouts of America is to the youth, the young men and young women of this country, and, also, to highlight the leadership that takes place every single day in this country: men and women who volunteer their time to make sure that the Boy Scouts of America are prepared and ready to meet not only the times that we live in but the advances of young people and the challenges that they have.

Tonight, as an Eagle Scout of the Eagle class of 1970, it is my opportunity to introduce Members of Congress and then to follow up at the end as we talk about how important Scouting is.

Today, there are 1,262,311 boys in Scouting from ages 6 to 10 in Cub Scouts. There are 822,999 boys aged 11 to 17 in Boy Scouts of America and Varsity Scouts. There are 119,268 young men and young women between the ages of 10 to 20 who are engaged in exploring based upon programs that may be STEM or other Scouting programs.

As you see, Mr. Speaker, the Boy Scouts of America is important to the youth of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins), who is the head of our Scouting Caucus, and the Eagle class of 1963.

Eagle Scout Chris Collins, thank you very much.

By the way, one of those presidents of the Boy Scouts of America was Ed Whitacre. When I was at AT&T, Mr. Whitacre led the Boy Scouts of America, understanding how important it is.

Ladies and gentlemen, the gentleman from Texas, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, the gentleman from Dallas, Texas, is also an Eagle Scout. Jeb Hensarling not only is a bright, young, thoughtful, articulate leader in the United States Congress, he is Eagle Class of 1971.

Chairman Hensarling, as an Eagle Scout, not only distinguished himself to Scouting, but also, that led him to Texas A&M University and then, further, to the University of Texas Law School. He is a young man who not only deeply believes in his country and his God, but he believes in the things that have brought him forward to become a leader in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, Eagle Scout Jeb Hensarling.

Chairman Hensarling, Eagle Scout, class of 1971, thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I hold a Scoutbook, something I call the second good book. Of course, we know in Scouting, the

good book is the Bible; but to Scouters, also the second good book is the Boy Scout Handbook. This was given to me in 2010 by Bob Mazzuca, who is our chief Scout executive, and he gave it to me with really a guide to my life to continue down that pathway of talking about Scouting in great ways. And that is what we are doing tonight.

I acknowledge that we not only have John Garamendi, who is an Eagle Scout, class of 1960, who will be speaking in a bit, but on a bipartisan basis, this body has young people, young men who understood why they got into Scouting. They understood about their life. They certainly understand it now.

At this time I would like to bring forth Eagle Scout French Hill, 1972, from Arkansas, a relatively new Member of Congress, not only a mature man, but a man who comes with the proxy of knowledge of what Boy Scouting has helped provide him.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), an Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, Eagle Scout Congressman French Hill, Eagle class of `72, thank you very much.

It is with great distinction now that I recognize Congressman Eagle Scout Jim Bridenstine, 1991. It was about a week ago that Eagle Scout Bridenstine came up to me and said: Pete, I want you to know that my son is involved in Scouting, and I deeply believe in it, but I think we ought to get together here.

So it actually is Eagle Scout Jim Bridenstine who said: Let's get together our Eagle Scouts and talk about it.

And I hope that the gentleman will have a chance to come on July 24 or so, as Eagle Scout Members of Congress, along with Senator Mike Enzi, and perhaps others--my Down syndrome son, Eagle Scout Alexander Gregory Sessions, Troop 890, Lake Highlands, Texas, will join me--that you, too, with your son, may be able to go with us to the reserve and do that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine), a distinguished Eagle Scout.

Eagle Scout Jim Bridenstine, Member of Congress from Oklahoma, Eagle Class 1991, thank you very much.

The Scouting stories of leadership, of character, and of opportunity began in my life with my father, who was an Eagle Scout. His father, Dr. Will A. Sessions, in 1947 wrote the original God and Country Award Handbook. I wanted to be an Eagle Scout because of my dad. I have two young sons: William Steele Sessions II, who is an Eagle Scout, age 27; and Alexander Gregory Sessions, a Down syndrome young man, an Eagle Scout, who is 23. Scouting is in our blood, we believe it, but it is also in family blood. Jim Bridenstine spoke about it, and Chris Collins spoke about the Eagle Class of `63.

This other next young man who is here will talk about Scouting and what a difference it makes. I wish we had hours, Mr. Speaker, but the rules allow 1 hour. He is a young man from Pennsylvania, Eagle Scout Glenn ``GT'' Thompson. I had an opportunity to go to Pennsylvania with the Chief Scout Executive and give GT Thompson his National and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and pin him.

Glenn's wife is a Scouting widow. She is proud of her Eagle Scout sons, but she knows that the weekends are made for Scouting.

GT Thompson is a man who will be with me again at the Summit Bechtel Reserve this year for the Scouting Jamboree.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Eagle Scout Glenn Thompson, Eagle Scout 1977. On behalf of Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh and Members of Congress who gathered together this evening to tell another story, I intend to do it again next month. I intend to get John Garamendi, who is one of our dear friends from California, Eagle Class of 1960.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Eagle Scouts of Congress who had time to come tonight, myself, Chris Collins, Jeb Hensarling, French Hill, Jim Bridenstine, GT Thompson, I am thankful for the hour you have allowed us to tell the story about the Boy Scouts of America, about exceptionalism, about the Order of the Arrow, and about the opportunity for character to lead a great nation.

Mr. Speaker, we are thankful for the time. We will be back. We hope that we leave our campsite better than the way we found it. That is what we try to do every day.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the gentleman who has just given our invocation, Dr. Bruce Hargrave. As a faith leader, a city council member in Rowlett, Texas, and a trusted member of his community, he has dedicated his life to helping others. He has served in the Baptist and United Methodist churches for more than 40 years and continues to help those not only in need in his community, but those who seek him out and who he seeks through spiritual and emotional guidance.

As a civil servant, Bruce has played an integral role in his community. He is a member of the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce and the Rowlett Rotary Club, where he is a Paul Harris Fellow.

In the wake of the devastating tornados that hit north Texas over a year ago on December 26, Bruce decided that he wanted to do more than just help but rather to rebuild the city that he called home. So he ran for the city council and was elected to serve in May.

It truly is a distinct honor not only to have a well-respected person from Rowlett, Texas, in the 32nd Congressional District with us today, but it highlights how important it is that each of the Members of Congress who are so proud of those that we represent come to our great Nation, our Nation's Capital, and not only give us best wishes but pray for our success.

I would like to thank the Honorable Dr. Bruce Hargrave for his service to not only Rowlett, Texas, to his country, but also to our Lord. And I thank him very much.

God bless Texas, and God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 289 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my friend, the ranking member of the committee, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.

General Leave

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule. It is a fair rule that enables this body to continue working in a bipartisan fashion to get our work done for the American people. Essentially, it is to fund the government for one more week as final preparations are made and as the Appropriations Committee finalizes its work. It enables us to continue to serve our constituents. It enables the American people to have confidence not only in what we are doing, but to provide the necessary resources so that this Nation can continue to protect itself also.

I also rise in support of the underlying legislation that is in this rule. This short-term CR, while being far from ideal, is exactly what we need to do so that we can allow our colleagues in the House, as well as the Appropriations Committee and this body, to move forth a bill that will find its way to the United States Senate and to the President's desk.

For months now, our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, under the great work of our brand-new chairman, Chairman Frelinghuysen from New Jersey, have been working towards funding a government agreement while they are trying to reach a long-term bridge.

Yesterday at the Rules Committee, the young chairman, along with the ranking member, Mrs. Lowey from New York, came and spoke to the Rules Committee not only with great confidence about the work that they are doing, but with great confidence about how they worked well together. It was once again another opportunity for Members of Congress in the performance of their duties to have confidence not only in their working relationship, but in the product that they would wish to move forward.

The Rules Committee was quite blunt to them that, while we were pleased to see them, we wanted to see them get their work done a week from now. I think the American people feel the same way. I think they are willing to take the time to do it right, but it is now time to feel a little bit of pressure towards completing the work that needs to be done.

Mr. Speaker, today we are going to have one of the most distinguished members of the Rules Committee who will speak with us. He shares a role not only as vice chairman of our committee, but he also has an opportunity to sit on the Appropriations Committee; a person responsible as a cardinal for a massive part of not only the Federal Government spending, but the authority and responsibility for the Federal Government to deliver in so many areas in support of the American people.

I will be introducing the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) in just a few minutes, who will also provide detail and information not only in support of the great work that is being done, but why we are doing that for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee are going to continue their work. We are asking this body today to consider this rule to move forth legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman, my friend from Massachusetts, for his words of wisdom about the direction we ought to be going. That is what we are going to do; we are going to continue moving.

I find in my job, as I perform my duties, that I have a chance to really interact with a lot of people in government. Over Christmas, I had a chance to visit our troops around the world and look at them and give them the confidence that what we do in Washington will allow them to keep working for freedom and to represent us.

Dr. Francis Collins at the National Institutes of Health, an enormously brilliant man who helped with the genome project, who keeps NIH up and working; and at the National Eye Institute, Dr. Paul Sieving; and so many others who do count on us getting it right, whether it be the United States military, whether it is our border patrol, whether it is our health and human services, but the person who knows these characteristics of what it takes to get agreements is also on the Rules Committee. He is a valuable member of our Rules Committee. He is the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), vice chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, also I want to recognize the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for another birthday today. The gentleman from Oklahoma was very silent last night at the Rules Committee. He didn't let us know, so we didn't say anything. But today is his birthday, and I congratulate him for that.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, last night at the Rules Committee, we had a debate where we focused our attention not only on the legislation, but also on the need to get this done.

I appreciate the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor), the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) and their attention to the ideas that they have. They do have ideas, and they do have decisions that would help make this process even better. We are here today for the right reasons.

I would advise the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) that I do not have any further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time pending his close.

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

I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentlewoman from Texas for their comments about trying to focus us on the activities that perhaps they would want or not want.

Mr. Speaker, today we are here because Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey came to the Rules Committee yesterday and asked us to please consider the offer that they were laying on the table, and that is to fund the government for 1 more week, with an assurance that they needed 1 more week to complete their work.

You heard the gentleman, the Honorable Tom Cole, distinguished gentleman from not only Oklahoma, but a gentleman from the Appropriations Committee, reinforce how important the work is.

We have heard from our colleagues on the Democratic side how important the NIH is, Francis Collins, the work that he does there; the United States Military; Secretary of Defense Mattis; the men and women that protect us; those people that are in Homeland Security. That is what we are going to do, so that is what we are going to focus on, and that is just the way it is.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would urge all my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Rules Committee issued an announcement outlining the amendment process for H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017, which will likely be before the Rules Committee next week.

An amendment deadline has been set for Monday, May 1, at 10 a.m.

The text of the bill is available on the Rules Committee website.

Feel free to contact me or my staff if you have any questions.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 4 minutes p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, April 28, 2017, at 9 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent when the House adjourns today, it shall adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in House Concurrent Resolution 48, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of today, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 2 o'clock and 32 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Saturday, April 8, 2017, at 11 a.m., unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 48, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Mr. Speaker, together with Congressman Eric Swalwell, we rise today to thank Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Stephen M. Ostroff, and his team for their efforts to assist Congress and the Administration in improving patient enrollment, retention, minority participation and equitable access in cancer clinical trials, especially among underserved and underrepresented populations.

Patient participation is the single most critical ingredient to successful cancer trials being completed on time and on budget as well as bringing life-saving cancer drugs to market.

Unfortunately, most cancer clinical trials only provide for the cost of the trial drug and require the patient to cover all other costs affiliated with participation including but not limited to travel, lodging, and ancillary medical costs.

The result of this has been abysmally low cancer participation rates. Overall, only 6 percent of eligible cancer patients participate in clinical trials and a mere 5 percent of those participants represent the Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and Pacific Islander populations combined. According to Tufts Research, 38 percent of all clinical trials fail to finish on time or within budget due to lack of enrollment, and an astonishing 11 percent of trials fail to ever enroll a single patient, primarily due to the financial burden on patients to participate.

Joined by over a dozen of our colleagues from both sides of the aisle, we sent a letter to the FDA regarding possible misperceptions surrounding the regulatory meaning of inducement and coercion and asked for its assistance in providing clarity.

The FDA's letter in response we include in the Record today, helps provide this needed clarity, explaining that reimbursement is neither inducement, coercion, nor even a so-called ``benefit'' but rather fair compensation creating parity and equality in cancer trial access. The letter also states the FDA's commitment to further addressing our concerns when it finalizes guidance on this issue.

Accordingly, we, along with our colleagues, will continue our dialogue with national stakeholders, patient advocacy organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, and the Administration to continue to improve patient enrollment, retention, minority participation and equitable access in cancer clinical trials, especially among underserved and underrepresented patients.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration,

Silver Spring, MD, March 22, 2017.

Hon. Pete Sessions,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Sessions: Thank you for the discussion on

September 21, 2016, with Dr. Robert Califf, the former

Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA or

the Agency) and Dr. Richard Pazdur, regarding the improvement

of patient participation, enrollment, retention, and

equitable access to oncology clinical trials. In a follow-up

letter dated October 6, 2016, you asked the Agency to confirm

that it views reimbursement for travel expenses to and from

clinical trial sites, including reimbursement for travel

costs such as parking and lodging, as permissible and

suggested that such reimbursement should not be construed as

coercion or inducement.

As discussed with you on September 21, 2016, FDA generally

would not consider reimbursement for such expenses to be

undue influence or coercion intended to induce participation

in a clinical trial. FDA has stated in the past that it is

not uncommon for subjects to be paid for their participation

in research, and has provided guidance on how those payments

should be addressed during Institutional Review Board (IRB)

review of a proposed clinical tria1. When appropriate, the

informed consent would identify any additional costs to the

participant that may result from participation in the

research and whether such expenses would be reimbursed.

In July 2014, FDA issued a draft guidance entitled,

``Informed Consent Information Sheet Guidance for IRBs,

Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors,'' which provides

recommendations on informed consent content and the informed

consent process. In this draft guidance, the issue of

additional cost and payment to research participants is

briefly addressed. For example, we recommend that, beyond the

costs directly related to participation in the research, it

may be appropriate to identify additional costs that the

subject may incur. Additional costs may include the loss of

income when the subject takes time off from work to

participate in the clinical investigation and transportation

costs. The consent form would also make clear whether and, if

so, how funds for reimbursement will be made available to

subjects, or the form would provide direction to subjects

regarding how to obtain further information. The draft

guidance also states that FDA considers payment to subjects

for participation in clinical investigations to be

compensation for expenses and inconveniences, not a benefit

of participation in research and that if payments are

provided, the consent process should not identify them as

benefits. Further guidance on when payments to research

participants may be considered coercive or an exercise of

undue influence is available on FDA's webpage ``Payment to

Research Subjects--Information Sheet.''

As we finalize the draft guidance, we will look for ways to

address your concerns about reimbursement of these types of

expenses so that the final guidance will be more useful to

patients and our stakeholders. We will also take advantage of

our educational outreach activities to clarify this issue

with the research community.

Thank you again for bringing this important issue to our

attention. Please let us know if you have any further

questions.

Sincerely,

Stephen M. Ostroff, M.D.,

Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Rules Committee issued announcements outlining the amendment processes for two measures likely to come before the Rules Committee next week.

An amendment deadline has been set for Monday, April 3, at 10 a.m., for the following measures:

H.R. 1343, Encouraging Employee Ownership Act; and H.R. 1219, Supporting America's Innovators Act.

The text of these measures is available on the Rules Committee website. Feel free to contact me or my staff if anyone has any questions.