Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the administration's proposed national parks entrance fee hike from $25 to $70 per vehicle, which will prohibit many American families from enjoying these beautiful sites.

Joshua Tree National Park in my district welcomes as many as 2.5 million visitors each year, contributing $128 million to our local economy. It is a haven for so many: local veterans find solace and healing in the quiet of nature; children experience the beauty of their first hike; visitors come to love the grandeur and the mystique of our desert when they come to stay in Joshua Tree; families bond over the lasting memories they make in the park.

Everyone, not just the rich, should have access to these incredible places. Working families are deserving of access to our national parks. Nearly tripling the price of entry means that many families will be priced out of visiting these parks, including many people in my district who live right next to Joshua Tree National Park.

Our national parks are not just only for the economically privileged. They are for we, the people, to enjoy.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Neal for the opportunity to speak on this bill.

The fact is I do want to simplify our Tax Code and I do want tax reform, a tax reform that relieves the burden on our middle class, our seniors, our veterans, and our students. But let's just see how this bill fares with the middle class, seniors, veterans, and students.

My middle class constituents in California will be double-taxed on their income, but big corporations will get tax relief.

Veterans in my district will find it harder to find work or a home because this bill eliminates tax credits for hiring veterans and harms efforts to end veterans' homelessness.

Middle class homeowners across California will see the value of their homes decrease by as much as 10 percent.

Students will get hit with the largest relative tax increase in this bill.

Seniors will see a Medicare cut by $25 billion a year. That is over $100 billion of Medicare cuts over the next 4 years.

And 38 million middle class families will see their taxes increase. They always point to this family of four earning $59,000 getting a certain amount of tax cuts, but 38 million middle class families will see their taxes increase, all this while giving tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires, and corporations who ship jobs overseas and raise the deficit by $1.44 trillion within 10 years. In fact, nearly 80 percent of the tax cuts in this bill go to millionaires, billionaires, and multinational corporations that ship jobs overseas.

The bottom line is this bill raises taxes on the middle class and gives tax breaks to billionaires. This is irresponsible and unacceptable.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and protect Medicare, protect the middle class, protect seniors, protect veterans, and protect students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the outstanding service and retirement of one of California's finest, Cathedral City Police Chief George S. Crum, Jr. Chief Crum is an exceptional leader in the community, dedicating his life to public service for over three decades.

He started his career 30 years ago as a police officer with the Fullerton Police Department. His commitment to keeping our citizens safe earned him many promotions over the years, from sergeant, to lieutenant, and, eventually, captain of the Fullerton Police Department. He was appointed as police chief of the Cathedral City Police Department on December 10, 2014, and recently retired on November 2, 2017.

Throughout his career, his dedication to community engagement has helped to ensure justice and build a strong community. He is a member of numerous organizations that promote safety throughout California, including the Riverside County Law Enforcement

Administrators Association, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, and the California Police Chiefs Association.

Not only has he been a strong leader in law enforcement across the region, Chief Crum is also a leader in molding the minds of our students. He was an instructor at Fullerton College for nearly 20 years, and he is currently a Public Safety Academy instructor at College of the Desert in the valley. He serves as a mentor to the next generation of law enforcement leaders in our region, inspiring them to serve their own communities.

I am so humbled to have worked with him over the years to keep the public safe, and I am proud to call him a friend. It has also been my honor to work with him on legislation to provide robust benefits to the families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty.

Chief Crum has given so much to the community over the years, and I have a feeling this will continue even in his retirement.

So on behalf of my wife, Monica, and the entire 36th Congressional District, I want to thank Chief Crum; his wife, Rebecca; and his children, Dylan and Madison, from the bottom of my heart, for their service and sacrifice to keep our communities safe.

While we are sad to see him retire, I wish him and his family the best during his well-deserved retirement.

Recognizing Pete M. Ortiz on Veterans Day

Mr. Speaker, this week, on Veterans Day, we honor those who have bravely served in our Nation's military. Our veterans served with incredible selflessness; they served with great courage; and they served with sacrifice, often leaving behind spouses, children, and loved ones to keep our Nation safe and to protect the freedoms we hold so dear. For this, our veterans and their families have earned our respect and our deep debt of gratitude.

On Veterans Day, we take a moment to pause and reflect on their service. So today, I want to recognize the life of one of my district's finest members, Pete M. Ortiz.

Mr. Ortiz passed away on September 14, 2017, at the age of 76. He came from a family that has committed themselves to serving our country in uniform for generations. Since World War II, over 50 members--50 members--of the Ortiz family have bravely served in our Armed Forces, putting their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.

Following his family's legacy, Mr. Ortiz honorably served in the Army National Guard from 1956 to 1960. He was awarded the Marksman Badge and Pistol Bar, an honor presented to soldiers with high marksmanship skills. I was proud to help obtain and personally present him with these medals for his distinguished service.

Mr. Ortiz was also a beloved member of the Coachella Valley. Not only was he a carpenter and avid fisherman, he was part of a unique desert skydive team, the Desert Skydivers of Coachella.

All those who knew him remember his zest for life and devotion to family. One of his greatest joys was getting his entire family together for a barbecue. His family remembers his masterful skills for grilling, especially carne asada, and his dream of one day opening his own taco stand.

To his wife, Patricia, and children, Pete, Tina, Sherry, and Sally, your father was an example to us all. His bravery, selflessness, and courage in the military are an inspiration challenging us to better serve our own communities. His adventures and curious spirit are a reminder to us all to live life to the fullest and enjoy the people and places that bring us joy.

So on behalf of my wife, Monica, and my daughters, Sky and Sage, we honor the service and legacy of Mr. Ortiz and his entire family.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all of our veterans for their dedication and sacrifice for our country as we honor their service this Veterans Day.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3043, the Hydropower Policy Modernization Act, which undercuts Federal-Tribal treaty and trust obligations. In fact, parts of this bill specifically eliminate protection for Tribes and ensure that dams and other hydropower projects do not harm Tribal fisheries, livelihoods, or violate treaty rights.

This is unacceptable. Not only does this undermine Tribal sovereignty, but it flies in the face of our moral and legal obligation to protect Tribal treaties, land, and resources under the Federal trust responsibility.

I am especially disappointed that the majority had the opportunity to fix this issue, yet walked away from the table. Even though I brought this up as an issue to fix in committee, the majority rushed this bill through committee for a House vote without adequately addressing Tribal concerns.

Furthermore, the majority refused to make in order my amendment, meaning they denied the fix to empower Tribes to set reasonable conditions on hydropower projects to protect their reservation and resources. In fact, the letter sent by Democratic Ranking Member Pallone requesting a hearing to allow Tribal input and Tribal participation on this particular issue was left unanswered.

So I say this to those Republicans who do support Tribal sovereignty and self-determination: You can still fix this issue and improve the Federal hydropower licensing process, simultaneously, while still protecting Tribal treaty rights, by supporting the Rush substitute amendment.

Join the Democratic Rush amendment that includes language to empower Tribal governments to determine when a project may harm their Tribe. Without this fix, this bill undermines Tribal governments and harms resources and lands, therefore, putting energy profits above Tribal treaty rights.

I urge my colleagues to take a stand. Do not ignore your responsibility to Tribes when it matters most. Support the Democratic substitute amendment sponsored by Representative Rush that preserves the responsibility of the Federal Government to honor treaty obligations and protect Tribal resources.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life and honor the memory of Richard Coover, a loving father and husband. Richard, who valiantly served our nation during World War II in the U.S. Marine Corps, passed away on October 27, 2017 at the age of 92.

In February 1945, three U.S. Marine divisions landed on Iwo Jima, Japan; Richard was one of them. He not only survived the war, but he also endured and bravely defended our country facing many challenges. He fought right at the bottom of Mount Suribachi while bearing the sound of explosions that lasted all night long.

Richard is indeed a hero. He was just a young man, thousands of miles away from his home, his friends, and his family when he bravely served our country in Japan. His actions embody the true meaning of valor.

When I met Richard, I was deeply touched by his humility and spirit of service. He passionately expressed his love for our nation and was proud to have witnessed the U.S. flag being raised in Iwo Jima. His courage and strength is truly an inspiration.

Richard's courage was displayed not only overseas, but also when fighting against cancer. My office had the honor to help him obtain medical assistance. I even had the humbling opportunity to present him with a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of his service. Throughout the process, Richard maintained an admirable and graceful presence.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize and honor an outstanding constituent, Richard Coover. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I extend my deepest respects and condolences to his family. His years of committed service to our nation are an example of excellence and dedication, all should seek to emulate.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of my bill, the bipartisan Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2017.

I was proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan bill with my friend on the other side of the aisle, Congressman Dr. Phil Roe.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Roe and his staff for their many years of hard work and advocacy on this issue. I am pleased that our offices were able to work closely on this bill, building a strong, bipartisan working relationship.

H.R. 849 eliminates the well-intentioned but misguided Independent Payment Advisory Board, or IPAB, that was created under the Affordable Care Act.

Everyone can agree that we need to address the high cost of healthcare and strengthen the solvency of Medicare. However, the IPAB approach is misguided, because it establishes an appointed and unelected panel that would have the authority to make cuts to Medicare, with no accountability to seniors.

Our constituents must be able to hold elected officials accountable for decisions made regarding changes to Medicare regardless of who is in power.

What is more, if the board failed to act, the Health and Human Services Secretary, whether Democrat or Republican, would be able to singlehandedly make cuts to Medicare.

Fortunately, the targeted Medicare growth rate to trigger IPAB has never been reached and the board has not yet been appointed. However, we must act now to ensure that it never happens.

Again, we can all agree that we must address the high cost of care and strengthen the solvency of Medicare, but we should do this by addressing the overall long-term cost of care.

I am pleased we are taking action in the House now, and I hope the Senate can consider this bill quickly. I encourage my colleagues to join me in passing this commonsense, bipartisan improvement to the Affordable Care Act and work together to protect and strengthen Medicare for our Nation's seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, we need a hearing on burn pits immediately.

Burn pits are used by our military at bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to eliminate tons of waste, including chemicals and plastics. They cause giant clouds of black smoke containing carcinogens.

Thousands of our men and women in our military are exposed to these cancer-causing hazards. I know because my constituent and friend, Jennifer Kepner, a 39-year-old wife, mother, and Air Force veteran, died from pancreatic cancer 2 weeks ago. Her oncologist made the most probable link between her exposure to burn pits while serving in Iraq and her pancreatic cancer.

Congress must act. Too many questions remain. Are burn pits still being used? What are the DOD and VA doing to help veterans who have been exposed?

On behalf of Jenn and all concerned veterans, I, along with Republicans and Democrats, demand hearings in the Armed Services and VA Committees immediately to get answers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and legacy of a wonderful person, an incredible wife, loving mother, exceptional citizen, and one of our Nation's finest servicemembers, Jennifer Kepner.

Jennifer passed away on October 18, 2017, at the young age of 39. She lived in my congressional district in Cathedral City, California. My heart breaks for her family and loved ones. She is, by far, one of the most courageous and inspiring people I have ever met. She put family, country, and community before self.

At 23, Jennifer answered the call to serve our Nation as a medic and a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force. She served for 6 years, from 2001 to 2007, and helped save countless lives on the battlefield.

After being honorably discharged at the rank of staff sergeant, Jenn continued her life of service, helping patients in our local communities as a radiology technician at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

She led a healthy and full life in so many ways. Her many hobbies included CrossFit, hiking, camping with her family, quilting, and even painting.

All who met her remember her love of country, her determined spirit, her passion for serving others, and her devotion to family.

Despite her healthy lifestyle and no other risks, in 2016, Jennifer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a terrifying diagnosis for anyone, let alone a young mother.

After exhaustive work to investigate the potential causes of her cancer, her oncologist linked Jennifer's exposure to burn pits in Iraq as the only identifiable and plausible risk for her cancer.

Burn pits are commonly used by the military to eliminate waste in Iraq and Afghanistan. The large burn pit at Balad Air Base in Iraq, where Jennifer was stationed for 6 months in 2006, covered 10 acres and burned over 240 tons of trash each day, including everything from computer parts, medical waste, plastics, and chemicals; some items we wouldn't allow to be burned in open air in our neighborhoods here in the United States. Yet, in a crowded camp of thousands, our men and women in uniform are exposed to giant plumes of black smoke.

After learning of the potential link between her exposure while she served our great Nation and her cancer, she went to the VA seeking answers and help. After being denied medical assistance and benefits from the VA initially, Jennifer reached out to the advocacy group Burn Pits 360 and my office.

Along with others, and as a team, we helped her navigate the complicated VA process, cut through the red tape, and get her the benefits that she had earned.

I visited Jennifer at her home. During our kitchen table talk, she told me about her daily struggle raising two small children while battling pancreatic cancer. She was brave and had an optimistic attitude.

She told me what it was like living every day in Iraq right next to the burn pits--the smoke, the smell, the irritated cough, and the sickness that followed.

Her main concern was to ensure her husband and children were going to be okay after she passed. Her second concern was for her fellow veterans who, like her, were exposed to burn pits. She wanted to bring awareness to what she called ``the Agent Orange of our generation.'' Imagine that. During the toughest battle of her life against an aggressive cancer, she elevated her family and fellow veterans above herself. Her advocacy was for us to prevent future exposure to burn pits and serve veterans who have already been exposed.

That is why we are here, to honor Jennifer and fight for her, her family, and fellow veterans. We must find a solution. Unfortunately, it is too late for Jennifer, but we can fight in her honor.

I was there with Jenn; her husband, Ben; children, Aida and Wyatt, at her bedside hours before she passed away, and I am honored to call Ben my friend.

On behalf of my wife, Monica, the 36th Congressional District, and our entire Nation, we join together as a community to grieve with you, Ben, little Aida and Wyatt, and to honor your wife, your mother, and the life of Jennifer Kepner. We are awed and humbled by Jennifer's life of patriotism and service, and her life and her love of family.

Jennifer, we thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, Jennifer's memory will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a local hero, Garrett Paiz, a Mecca native and firefighter, killed in the line of duty while fighting fires in northern California on October 16 at the age of 38.

I grew up with Garrett's family. Garrett embodied the best values of service and sacrifice. He put others above self, willing to rush toward danger when others ran from it. He traveled to northern California with firefighters from around the country to battle the deadly fires threatening so many homes and families. Being a firefighter was his lifelong dream.

He was humble, hardworking, and devoted to his family, and he was always smiling and laughing. Garrett had an adventurous nature and kind heart. He was always willing to do whatever was needed to take care of others.

I join my wife, Monica, and the entire 36th Congressional District to mourn this heartbreaking loss and honor Garrett's legacy.

To his wife, Bobbie; daughter, Terri Ann; parents, Judi and Armando; brother, Carlos; and sister, Cinthia; and the rest of the extended Paiz family, we support you, and we honor Garrett's dedication to selfless service. His life and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, on October 1, 2017, a gunman opened fire on thousands of innocent people at a music festival in Las Vegas.

As our families mourn, I want to honor the life of Hannah Ahlers, a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend to many, and beloved by her community, whose life was taken too soon. Her brother recently told me: ``She was loved by everyone that met her . . . she was our sunshine.''

Her beautiful personality was felt by all, from her family and friends, to the mothers she worked with in her children's schools, to the volleyball team she volunteered with. As her husband shared: ``She wasn't too good for anybody; beautiful inside and out.''

At 34, her dedication to family and community is felt in her home in the city of Beaumont and across the Inland Empire.

On behalf of my wife, Monica, and the entire 36th Congressional District, we join together as a community to mourn her heartbreaking loss and celebrate her life.

To Hannah's husband, Brian; her children, Briannah, Brice, and Hailey, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We commit to take up Hannah's mantle of dedication by serving our own communities. Her love and devotion will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the lives of Palm Springs Police Officers Jose ``Gil'' Vega and Lesley Zerebny, who were tragically shot and killed 1 year ago in the line of duty.

Officer Vega lived by the mantra of ``To Serve and Protect.'' He served our community for nearly 35 years and was just 2 months away from retirement when he was taken from his family and our community.

Officer Lesley Zerebny had recently returned to work following the birth of her daughter, Cora. Now a year old, Cora will never hold her mother. Lesley's community will always remember her as a fighter and a protector.

This weekend, the entire Coachella Valley community will honor their memory by dedicating a 4-mile stretch of Highway 111 in their honor. I am proud of our community for supporting the Vega and Zerebny families. Let's come together to ensure they have what they need to mourn, recover, and prosper.

Officers Vega, Zerebny, and family: We honor you for your sacrifice, and we are grateful for your service. Officer Vega and Officer Zerebny, end of watch, October 8, 2016.

Mr. Speaker, like every physician, I took an oath to do no harm and make every decision in the best interest of my patients in the emergency department.

That oath drives every choice a doctor makes, whether it is prescribing medications, treating chronic illnesses, and even choosing how best to triage and treat a trauma patient. H.R. 36 would stand in the way of a doctor's ability to best care for their patients. This bill would force doctors to ignore the symptoms that they have learned through years of training and practice that show a patient's condition could become a more serious medical condition.

Can you imagine going into your doctor's office as a pregnant woman and being told your twins would not live and that giving birth could rupture your uterus, causing severe bleeding? That is what happened to Phil and his wife from Missouri. They learned at week 21 that she was at risk of a ruptured uterus and that the twins would die because of twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Phil said: ``Decisions about abortion need to be made with families and the best medical information available.'' I couldn't agree more. A physician's sole focus should be the health of their patient, not the consequences of an arbitrary law that has no basis in medical evidence, and no basis that this bill is even necessary or that it will improve health outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, that is why, as a physician and a father, I oppose this legislation. We need less bureaucratic obstacles that get in the way of a doctor caring for their patients. We cannot interfere with a provider's ability to deliver the best care for their patients.

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that we should deport known criminal gang members who are undocumented. That's why I voted for H.R. 3697, the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act. However, I have real concerns about the overly vague language of

this bill and believe there is much room to improve. We need to make sure that families, humanitarian aid workers, and religious institutions that help rehabilitate gang members are not penalized. I am disappointed that the House leadership did not follow regular order or allow amendments to the bill, so we could have addressed these concerns. I urge the Senate to work together to make improvements to the overly broad language in the bill.

Mr. Speaker, the decision to end DACA goes against the very core of our American values of the American Dream. The future of 800,000 young people who study, serve in our military, and contribute to our economy, and who serve and protect America is at risk.

DREAMers are understandably worried, anxious, depressed, petrified, and terrified about what will happen 6 months from now.

DREAMers like Juan in my district who was brought here at a young age is a medical student and wants nothing more than to be a doctor and save lives--even your life. For Juan and nearly 1 million DREAMers like him, we must act. That is why I have joined House and Senate leaders to demand a vote on the bipartisan Dream Act.

Mr. Speaker, put politics aside and bring the Dream Act to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.

Rather than ending the DACA program and tearing families apart, instead, let's work together toward comprehensive immigration reform that will secure our Nation's borders, keep our citizens safe, help our economy, and fix our immigration system.

Mr. Speaker, the Graham-Cassidy bill is the worst version of TrumpCare yet.

By block granting healthcare, this bill puts healthcare on the chopping block. In order to make ends meet, States will have to change their eligibility criteria, meaning millions more left uninsured. They will have to cut certain benefits and expensive coverage like perhaps cancer treatment or that extra stay in the hospital. They will have to reduce reimbursements for hospitals, clinics, and doctors.

That is a big, disproportionate cut to those healthcare providers, especially in rural and underserved communities. This means that millions more will be uninsured and hardworking families will be forced to pay more out of pocket for healthcare.

This also means that patients with preexisting conditions will be priced out of their healthcare and pay more out of pocket for higher premiums and higher deductibles. They will have to pay for needed care that will no longer be guaranteed coverage under essential healthcare benefits. Furthermore,

older Americans will be faced with paying higher premiums under the bill's age tax.

We cannot let this bill become law. We cannot allow patients, families, seniors, and those who have diabetes and chronic illnesses like asthma, COPD, or obesity to be left to fend for themselves. That is not the America that we know. That is not the values that we share.

We don't believe that healthcare is a commodity only for those that can afford it. Those who can't afford healthcare will have to fend for themselves, simply because they can't afford it. We believe that we all have a responsibility for health as a common good, with a social responsibility to make sure that our neighbors and our communities are well, that our neighbors' kids are free from infections that can spread to other kids. That is why we have strong vaccination programs.

Health is, fundamentally, a human right. The rest of the world sees it that way, so why not America, the leaders of our globe. We must and we can do better.

To my Republican colleagues, I know that passing a bill is important politically because you campaigned on this for the past 8 years. I understand that you have a lot of pressures from donors. Just think about patients. Do the right thing. Put politics aside.

Let's heed the words of Senator McCain. Let's come back to regular order. Let's figure out what we can do together to fix and improve on the Affordable Care Act to bring down premiums and bring down the cost of healthcare and medicines and make sure that we expand coverage to more people and not take away coverage for millions of people.

Let's put people above partisanship. Let's put solutions above ideology. Let's do the right thing. Let's come together and help pragmatically improve healthcare for millions of Americans.