Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today, as a member of the House Oversight Committee, I had the opportunity to view classified documents related to General Michael Flynn's disturbing foreign financial relationships.

I am very proud that Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings worked together in a bipartisan fashion to bring those documents before our committee. The issue of Russian interference in our democracy is an issue that affects everyone. I hope that all Members will have the chance to review these critical materials.

While the information in these documents is classified, I remain profoundly disturbed by the additional questions they raised. Unfortunately, I also remain very concerned about how they are being portrayed by the White House.

This growing credibility gap between the administration and the American people only underscores the need for an independent commission to uncover all the facts. I am heartened, however, that today, Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings came together in a bipartisan fashion regarding this issue.

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize a family-owned and operated company celebrating its 50th anniversary on April 21, 2017.

When it comes to trends that will keep America competitive in the global economy for generations to come, we think of innovation, entrepreneurship, environmentally friendly businesses, and manufacturing. I was sent to Congress by my constituents to look for innovative ways to bring these trends together, and today I am reminded that a shining example resides right here in my district in Addison, Illinois.

The founding of Earth Friendly Products (ECOS) is a story that rivals any other. The founder, Van Vlahakis, immigrated from Greece to the United States with $22 in his pocket in 1953 to escape poverty after World War II. First living in homeless shelters and speaking little English, he went on to study chemistry at Roosevelt University while working the night shift at a cleaning products company. During his work, he was exposed to harsh chemicals that gave him headaches and caused co-workers to suffer from rashes and other irritations. Remembering that his mother in Greece used natural substances such as water, vinegar and olive oil for cleaning, Vlahakis decided to start his own business to make better cleaning products. In 1967, he created in his home's garage what would become Earth Friendly Products. ECOS now sells more than 200 environmentally friendly cleaning products in more than 60 countries and has been recognized with safety awards by the Environmental Protection Agency.

We all know we need to make more things in America again. ECOS is a great example of using clean technology to do that while still creating jobs for Illinois working families. Transforming Illinois into a center for science, technology, and innovation is the kind of opportunity that many of us envision for our state. This 50th anniversary for ECOS is an opportunity to remind the country that we can continue to use clean products that protect the environment while creating good-paying jobs at the same time. For ECOS, that means a $17 per hour companywide minimum wage started by the company in 2014.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have Earth Friendly Products in my district, and I look forward to the company continuing to create jobs for my constituents for the next 50 years. I celebrate the 50th anniversary of ECOS and the impact the company has had throughout the country.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor the life of Philip Kalayil who passed away on March 13 this year of natural causes.

It seems like everybody who's anybody in the city of Chicago has a story about Philip Kalayil.

Philip came to Chicago from India in the mid-1950s and became an early leader and organizer of the Indian-American community in the Chicago area.

Before his untimely death, Philip had been recognized by the Association for Asian American Studies, which honored him with its Heart of Asian American Community Award.

Philip's legacy of leadership and bridge-building between all racial and ethnic groups are needed now more than ever. While Philip left this world far too early, we should all take comfort in knowing that his memory and selfless service have left a mark on Chicago and our nation.

The civic contributions and dedication to the Indian-American community by Philip Kalayil have helped Indian Americans in the Chicago area such as myself to pursue professional achievements to further the development of our community.

On behalf of all of Philip's countless friends and associates, I just want to say thank you for all that you did for the people of Illinois. You're leaving some big shoes to fill in the city of Chicago.

Mr. Speaker, I hope we might all keep in our thoughts and prayers the Kalayil family as they mourn their loss. In that spirit, I celebrate Philip's life and think about what an impact that life made on so many people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in honor of Equal Pay Day, which is tomorrow.

Women in our country earn, on average, 78 cents for every dollar that a man makes. For women of color, that gap is larger. Even in my own district, the Eighth Congressional District of Illinois, where the overall disparity is smaller, women still only earn 83 cents on the dollar.

The pay gap is not simply a women's issue, but a challenge for all Americans. Gender wage disparities are a fundamental obstacle to millions of families trying to make ends meet.

At a time when nearly two-thirds of mothers are primary, sole, or co- breadwinners for their families, the pay gap makes it that much harder to pay for groceries, housing, child care, and all the other necessities of daily life.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act and hope all my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill to address pay discrimination.

Mr. Speaker, as revelations of Russian interference in our democracy continue to emerge, the need for a full and transparent investigation by an independent commission could not be more clear. The reason is simple: We need badly to restore trust in our government.

Though the House and Senate Intelligence Committees have begun related inquiries, neither will have fully investigated the activities of the Kremlin or its agents. Not a single member of the administration has testified under oath about their contacts with Moscow. The inherent politicization of these committees has made it nearly impossible for any congressional body to render the nonpartisan, irrefutable answers the American people deserve.

As a member of the House Oversight Committee, I echo Senator John McCain's call that Congress ``no longer has the credibility to handle this alone.'' Now is the time for an independent commission to fully investigate the ties between the Kremlin and the White House, along with Russia's broader interference in our democracy.

Mr. Speaker, the GOP's American Health Care Act would turn back the clock on health care for the American people while driving States toward bankruptcy and devastating our economy.

Under the Affordable Care Act, 1 million people in Illinois gained health insurance. Under this plan, over 1 million would lose it. Millions more across our country currently receiving coverage through their jobs would lose their health care as well.

State and local budgets would face cuts in Federal aid, forcing a choice between cutting coverage and raising taxes. My home State of Illinois alone would lose $40 billion over the next decade.

And this bill would wreak havoc on the American economy. The American Health Care Act would kill nearly 2 million jobs, while eliminating billions in healthcare funding that would otherwise support hospitals, community health services, and the development of new cures.

We need to invest in the health of both our people and our economy. Unfortunately, this plan does neither.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few months, we have seen a surge of hate-driven violence, vandalism, and threats against numerous communities. As a member of the Oversight Committee, I am calling for hearings to determine the root cause of this wave of hate crimes and how we can combat it.

While our government must show its commitment to answering these attacks, the American people already have. Desecrations of Jewish cemeteries were met with waves of volunteers assisting in their restoration. Mosque burnings were met with contributions from Americans of all faiths to help the rebuilding. And when two Indian men in Kansas were shot and one murdered, a Caucasian third man was wounded when he heroically sought to intervene.

These actions speak to the resilience of our people, the highest principles of our Nation, and why we are proud to be Americans. America is, indeed, an exceptional nation.

I hope Chairman Chaffetz will heed my call and hold hearings on this wave of hate-inspired attacks to help America remain exceptional.

Mr. Speaker, the Republican healthcare plan would not only fail to improve upon the Affordable Care Act, it would undo the benefits millions of Americans depend on and devastate our economy in the process.

This plan would strip millions of working families of their health care, cut benefits for millions more, and increase premiums for older Americans by 25 percent. It would ravage our economy by destabilizing the healthcare sector and pushing State and local governments to the brink of bankruptcy.

Four Republican Senators have even rejected this bill because of its economically devastating Medicaid cuts.

The Republican plan would force the counties I represent to pay hundreds of millions of dollars more for health care.

This bill would force local governments to raise property taxes or deny health care.

We need healthcare solutions that improve care and strengthen our economy at the same time. We must not settle for this plan, which accomplishes neither.

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment today is a probusiness, pro-innovation amendment. This would exempt any regulations that affect the safety of our National Airspace System.

It is important to note that commercial drone operations are only possible because of FAA rules. Last August, the FAA's small UAS rule-- unmanned aerial systems rule--opened the door for small businesses to use unmanned systems easily and without cumbersome paperwork.

The current inaction on the ``flights over people'' rule could limit UAS operations, such as news reporting, disaster relief, and public safety from becoming a reality. As a result, many businesses and the country could lose out on the full societal and economic benefits of

Mr. Chairman, investments into this particular industry are predicated on whether or not regulations are predictable. As a former small-business man, I can tell you that investments will not happen if there is an unelected commission that exists that might change the very rules and regulations upon which current investments have been made.

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

Mr. Chairman, as a small-business man, I can tell you that small businesses rely on the predictability of regulatory rules and the regulatory regime. This commission is creating unpredictability in the system. Therefore, it is going to stifle investment, it is going to prevent innovation, and it is going to further throw a monkey wrench into our National Airspace System.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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

Mr. Chairman, my second amendment to the SCRUB Act would protect the countless citizens, including many of my own constituents, who depend on airport noise restrictions to sleep through the night or learn uninterrupted in school.

Thousands of my constituents near O'Hare International Airport benefit from these restrictions, as do the millions of people that live near major airports across the country. As the father of a 10-month-old baby girl, I can speak from experience to the value of an uninterrupted night of sleep.

Many FAA noise rules are the product of careful discussions between airports and local authorities. While noise restrictions have a slight economic impact on air carriers, the economic benefit to surrounding communities more than outweighs this.

The unelected commission created by this bill should not have the ability to overturn restrictions that have been carefully considered by local governments, the FAA, and airport officials.

Without FAA noise restrictions, people and businesses would suffer, Mr. Chairman. This would decrease property values in my district, make it harder for people to start a business, and have a negative effect on people's health.

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

Mr. Chairman, these particular rules and regulations were crafted carefully at the local level, and I believe very strongly that this commission, which is a Federal commission, should not somehow upset the balance that has been achieved through local voices having a say in these particular regulations.

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

Mr. Chairman, the SCRUB Act should not have the ability to review regulations and rules that were developed by local people with local concerns in mind.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, my guest for the President's speech tomorrow is my constituent, Debbie Trueblood. Debbie reached out to my office to support the Affordable Care Act because she knows firsthand the difference the law can make in people's lives.

Debbie suffers from a rare, potentially life-threatening genetic condition. The only treatments for the condition are a handful of specialized drugs that can cost more than $100,000 per year.

Before the Affordable Care Act, Debbie could have been denied coverage because of her preexisting condition, and she would have faced medical bills greatly exceeding her salary. Because of the Affordable Care Act, Debbie is able to afford the treatment she needs to work, support her family, volunteer in her community, and be of service.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act without effectively replacing it would rob millions of people like Debbie not only of their access to health care but also of their ability to contribute to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, recent executive actions have resulted in confusion, demonstrations, and late-night court rulings. Many executive orders have been announced with little notice, and the American people have had to wait hours afterwards to see the text.

Federal agencies have also been blindsided by these orders. The Secretary of Homeland Security found out about the President's immigration orders through cable news. In some cases, the President himself has been uncertain of what his executive orders contain.

Sir, we need transparency today. Congress has a responsibility to eliminate this confusion and make sure that executive actions are clear and transparent to all Americans.

That is why I am introducing the Executive Order Transparency Act. This one-page bill requires that all executive orders be posted on the White House website 72 hours before each is signed. This simple bill is an investment in a working government, and I urge all my colleagues to join me.

Mr. Speaker, as debates over the meaning of last fall's elections continue, one fact is not in question: The American people want us to work together on commonsense, bipartisan solutions to grow our economy and create good-paying, middle class jobs. Neither party can meet this challenge alone.

I am proud to say that Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher and I have joined together in founding the Middle Class Jobs Caucus to bring greater attention to these issues and to advance proposals to address them. The caucus will meet regularly to address a wide array of key issues facing working families, such as job training and infrastructure and transportation modernization.

Every era of prosperity in our history has been built on a thriving middle class. In the plainest terms, middle class jobs mean a strong America. I encourage all of our colleagues to join us in helping families reach the middle class and stay there.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 66.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to President Trump's executive order against legal immigration.

I was sworn to uphold the Constitution and I was elected to grow our economy and help unify our country.

Unfortunately, this order is an assault on the Constitution, it harms the economy by harming working families, and it divides the country.

On Saturday night, I went to O'Hare International Airport to help American, legal permanent residents be freed from detention. They are people integral to the success of our community and our economy.

I ask my honorable Republican colleagues to stand with them and oppose the executive order.

Mr. Speaker, for millions of Americans, homeownership stands as a source of personal and economic security and is a defining part of the middle class life.

Earlier this month, under President Obama, the Federal Housing Administration announced a plan to make mortgages more affordable for nearly 1 million working and middle class families who are buying their first homes. In his first hours in office, President Trump reversed President Obama's plan with an executive action that will cost Americans an average of $500 more per year to get a mortgage. Experts project that 40,000 families who would have bought homes will no longer be able to do so.

The Trump administration's order to make mortgages more expensive will not strengthen our economy; it will not create jobs; it will not make America great again--but it will make life harder for working families.