Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to try and speak something called commonsense speak, and that is for my colleagues to understand that Americans reject confusion and chaos.

According to The New York Times, ``An abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the healthcare system--for States, for hospitals and doctors' offices, and, most importantly, for the tens of millions of Americans,'' as evidenced.

This is on the data from the White House, which by the way, under President Joe Biden, crafted a White House COVID task force that began to calm the uncalm waters that we suffered in the last administration.

Does anyone remember, ``maybe we should drink disinfectant'' in the midst of COVID-19?

Well, let me tell you, in Houston, Texas, we remember it. We also know that 6,812,798 persons died around the world from COVID; 1.1 million died in the United States.

It was only after an overwhelming effort by the Biden administration that we began to see the clock move on individuals willing to get their first, second, and third shots; their booster shots. That is why we are living, because we were vaccinated, because we overcame the stigma and the wrongheaded information that was scaring people about vaccines.

We didn't lose 1 million people on vaccines. We lost 1 million people due to not having that vaccination timely. I am struck by this legislation. The pandemic is not over.

Mr. Speaker, 500 people a day die, right now as I am standing here, from COVID. That is a reasonable amount. I know there are other infectious diseases, but doesn't it make sense that if we can have a vaccine and a protocol that allows people, our children, and those with preexisting conditions to live that we want them to do so?

The Biden administration has announced that they intend to reduce this national emergency declaration in May. It will allow our health facilities to get themselves organized for the possible onslaught. It will also deprive impoverished persons from the ability to get free vaccinations, including possibly flu shots, like we are doing in Houston, Texas.

I remember over 70 testing sites that I put in my district with healthcare providers week after week after week so that people could be tested and so we could bring down COVID in Houston, Texas.

I remember vaccination sites where people stood in line, a thousand at a time, to get vaccinated for free. Are we jumping for joy to condemn and now undermine the emergency pandemic that was utilized?

All I can say is that health professionals by and large in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices will say no. They need their patients healthy. As many people that can get vaccinated with information should get vaccinated and, of course, guided by your healthcare provider.

I don't think it makes any good sense to be able to talk about how you never got tested, how you never got vaccinated. That is all well and good. I applaud an individual who is able to survive not getting tested, not getting vaccinated, but I know of so many of my close friends who died because there was not a vaccination, there was not good healthcare. They came to the end stages of COVID and COVID killed them.

So I don't make a mockery of the hard work of President Biden. I truly believe that his time frame--I might think it is a little too quick, but I adhere to the President's time frame of May 2023. Let us organize so that we can save lives.

Mr. Speaker, at any moment we can have a surge of COVID-19. We saw that at the beginning of the convergence of the flu, which was high this year, and COVID.

So I don't celebrate this legislation. I don't take angst or anger with the individual who thinks this is the right way, but I know that I am on the right side. I am on the dominant side of truth that 6 million-plus died, 1.1 million died here in the United States and 500 are dying every day.

This is not a time to precipitously end the emergency declaration. We should also make sure that we are not creating chaos and confusion.

Mr. Speaker, I again emphasize that we need not have chaos and confusion. Unfortunately, I see no purpose in this bill and will vote against it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 382--the Pandemic is Over Act, which would terminate the COVID-19 public health emergency that was declared on January 31, 2020, on the date of the bill's enactment.

Yesterday President Biden announced that the Public Health Emergency would officially end on May 11, 2023.

The purpose of doing this would be to allow hospitals, health care workers, and health officials the ability to manage changes that will come with ending the public health emergency declaration.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, a Public Health Emergency declaration occurs when the Secretary of HHS determines that a disease or disorder presents a public health emergency (PHE) or that a public health emergency exists.

Secretary Becerra and the Biden administration have repeatedly said that the decision to terminate the public health emergency would be based on the best available data and science.

Through mass testing and vaccination campaigns, the public health emergency declaration has helped the American public contain the COVID virus, while also keeping the cost low for those seeking treatment.

The public health emergency has required that group health plans and insurers provide patients with COVID vaccines, testing, and treatment; expanded telehealth services, and extended health coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Abruptly ending these pandemic declarations without a transition period would be extremely irresponsible because it would create uncertainty in health care systems; it would end Medicaid programs that have operated under special rules, telehealth would be impacted, and group health insurance plans could potentially change frequency of testing, vaccination, and treatment for patients.

These programs have been incredibly helpful at slowing the spread of COVID, so we must be thoughtful and practical about how we dissolve the public health emergency, which is why we need a transition period as proposed by the President just yesterday.

We must provide stakeholders with time to adjust to the changes that will come from ending the public health emergency.

I urge my colleagues to join me in opposition to legislation that would end the pandemic far too early and would upend some of the flexibilities that we all have benefited from since the start of the pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a New York Times article, ``U.S. Plans to End Public Health Emergency for COVID in May.''

[From the New York Times, Jan. 30, 2023]

U.S. Plans To End Public Health Emergency for Covid in May

The end of the emergency, planned for May 11, will bring

about a complex set of policy changes and signals a new

chapter in the government's pandemic response.

Washington--The Biden administration plans to let the

coronavirus public health emergency expire in May, the White

House said on Monday, a sign that federal officials believe

the pandemic has moved into a new, less dire phase.

The move carries both symbolic weight and real-world

consequences. Millions of Americans have received free Covid

tests, treatments and vaccines during the pandemic, and not

all of that will continue to be free once the emergency is

over. The White House wants to keep the emergency in place

for several more months so hospitals, health care providers

and health officials can prepare for a host of changes when

it ends, officials said.

An average of more than 500 people in the United States are

still dying from Covid-19 each day, about twice the number of

deaths per day during a bad flu season. But at the three-year

mark, the coronavirus is no longer upending everyday life to

the extent it once did, partly because much of the population

has at least some protection against the virus from

vaccinations and prior infections.

Still, the White House said on Monday that the nation

needed an orderly transition out of the public health

emergency. The administration said it also intended to allow

a separate declaration of a national emergency to expire on

the same day, May 11.

``An abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create

wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care

system--for states, for hospitals and doctors' offices, and,

most importantly, for tens of millions of Americans,'' the

White House said in a statement.

The announcement came on the eve of a scheduled vote in the

House on a bill that would immediately end the public health

emergency. The bill, called the Pandemic Is Over Act, is one

of several pandemic-related measures that the Republican-

controlled chamber is scheduled to consider this week. The

White House issued its statement as the administration's

response to that bill and another measure that would end the

national emergency.

The back and forth signaled what is likely to be a

protracted political battle between House Republicans and the

White House over its handling of the pandemic. Republican

lawmakers hope to put the Biden administration on the

defensive, claiming it spent extravagantly in the name of

battling the coronavirus.

``Rather than waiting until May 11, the Biden

administration should Join us now in immediately ending this

declaration,'' Representative Steve Scalise, Republican of

Louisiana and the majority leader, said in a statement. ``The

days of the Biden administration being able to hide behind

Covid to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on their

unrelated, radical agenda are over.''

The White House argues that it is only because of federal

Covid policies mandating free tests, treatments and vaccines

that the pandemic is now under better control. Covid was the

third-leading cause of death from 2020 through mid-2022; now

it is no longer among the top five killers, federal officials

said.

The public health emergency was first declared by the Trump

administration in January 2020, and it has been renewed every

90 days since then. The Biden administration had pledged to

alert states 60 days before ending it. The emergency was last

renewed earlier in January, and many state health officials

expected it would be allowed to expire in mid-April.

Ending the emergency will prompt complex changes in the

cost of Covid tests and treatments that Americans are

accustomed to getting for free. Any charges they face will

vary depending on whether they have private insurance,

Medicare coverage, Medicaid coverage or no health insurance.

What state they live in could also be a factor.

Still, the consequences may not be quite as dramatic as

public health experts once feared. Medicaid enrollment

expanded greatly during the pandemic because low-income

Americans were kept in the program for as long as the public

health emergency was active.

But a congressional spending package enacted in December

effectively broke that link, instead setting an April

deadline when states will begin losing additional funding for

Medicaid coverage. State officials are likely to gradually

remove Americans from Medicaid rolls this year beginning

then. That transition avoids a more sudden removal of

millions of poor Americans from their health coverage.

By reconfiguring that expensive policy, Congress was able

to use the projected savings to pay for expanded Medicaid

benefits for children, postpartum mothers and residents of

U.S. territories.

The December legislation also extended coverage for

telehealth visits for Medicare recipients through 2024.

Telemedicine proved a lifeline for many during the pandemic,

and that coverage would have ended when the emergency was

lifted.

Still, other services might prove more costly to Americans,

particularly those with no insurance. People with private

health insurance or Medicare coverage have been eligible for

eight free coronavirus tests each month. Insurers were

required to cover tests, even if they were administered by

providers that were not part of their networks. Once the

emergency ends, some Americans will end up paying out of

pocket for those tests.

And while vaccines will continue to be covered for people

with private insurance or Medicare or Medicaid coverage, the

end of the emergency will mean that some Americans may have

to pay out of pocket for Covid treatments, such as Paxlovid,

an antiviral pill. Hospitals will also no longer receive

higher Medicare payment rates for treating Covid patients.

Jennifer Kates, a senior vice president at the Kaiser

Family Foundation, said the emergency declaration had

provided an important reprieve from the American health care

system's typically fractured way of covering the costs of

care, giving more people access to services that might

otherwise not have been covered by insurance.

The White House's decision, she added, could send the wrong

message about how relaxed Americans should be about the

virus.

``To the extent that it might let people let their guard

down from one day to the next, that could raise some

challenges,'' she said.

Mr. Speaker, this is another moment that I am on the floor of the House, and I thank the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce who has been so dutiful throughout the years that we suffered, somewhat lonely and somewhat confused, about COVID-19.

We never experienced this trauma. It certainly brings me to a deep sense of loss to hear a Member speak about the loss of his mother. These are personal matters for many of us, some having lost dear friends, but nothing can equate to losing a beloved loved one.

So when we stand on the floor, we speak with a sense of compassion and concern. I think it is certainly fine for there to be individual--I turn the card. I flip the coin--individual examples of individuals seeking not to be vaccinated. They can find medical facilities that would allow them to work there.

It is no doubt that the actions of the Biden administration saved lives. There is no doubt that, on our side of this issue, 50 healthcare organizations, professional societies, and others, believe that vaccinations helped healthcare workers save their own lives and save the lives of others.

It is well-known that prior to the widespread availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, healthcare workers in the United States were more than three times more likely to die. I have seen it myself. In my community, the Texas Medical Center, all of the beds in every medical facility within the reach of my district and others had people in hallways, in emergency rooms, individuals who couldn't see their loved ones take their last breaths; individuals who flew in from other jurisdictions, other States, desperate to get the care they thought was here in Houston, Texas because, yes, we did have the ability to save lives with the medical technology that we were using.

Many States have requirements that healthcare workers be vaccinated against many things: hepatitis, flu, measles, mumps, or rubella. Why are we trying to stand against COVID-19 in this long litany of infectious diseases? COVID-19 vaccines have resulted in 120 million fewer cases and 18.5 million less hospitalizations and saved $1.15 trillion.

So if we just talked about the numbers, that in and of itself would say that this legislation is wrongheaded, but it is also important to recognize that the Mental Health America, 76 percent of the respondents were worried about bringing COVID home to their children.

These are healthcare professionals. We know of some of them who died, unfortunately, because they got COVID, and they didn't even see their families because of this whole issue of separating people who had COVID. Half of the respondents worried about bringing COVID to their partners or an older family member.

Many U.S. physicians found that the portion of the day spent treating COVID-19 patients was associated with higher PTSD scores, depression, and anxiety. This was not a fun time, but it was the commitment of medical professionals and those who wanted to be saved to use the vaccines and use all precautions.

Mr. Speaker, these medical professionals in the early stages were suffering from higher PTSD scores, depression, and anxiety. Many healthcare workers at the beginning of the pandemic saw workers get sick and die from COVID almost right in front of them, and this contributed to their increased stress and anxiety.

We did push them to the limit when we didn't have massive testing or massive vaccines, I hate to say it, in the past administration. According to the University of Chicago, it was found that an increase in staff vaccination rates resulted in fewer COVID cases among staff and patients.

My final words, Mr. Speaker, is, yeah, this is a free country. Laissez-faire, do as you will, but this mandate for medical workers saved their lives, saved patients' lives, and saved families' lives. I don't understand why we are going down this route where soon it will happen in good time, but since I remember 6 million dead around the world as the number that is gleaming and 1.11 million in the United States, this legislation is not going in the right direction. I ask for opposition to the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 290-- the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2023.

This bill would provide for transparent licensing of commercial remote sensing systems and renews the requirement that the Department of Commerce send an annual report to Congress on the status of commercial remote sensing applications.

Commercial remote sensing systems can be used to improve operations in a variety of industries.

Remote sensing is crucial for agricultural production, weather forecasting, and emergency response efforts.

The Aeronautical Survey Program (ASP), the Coastal Mapping Program (CMP), and emergency response efforts all benefit from the ocean data that has been collected by using remote sensing systems.

This data enables the provision of a regularly updated national coastline for marine navigation, establishing territorial limits, and managing coastal resources.

Cities like Houston that are close to coastlines and experience frequent flooding and hurricanes greatly benefit from commercial remote sensing systems.

A study done by the Texas State Climatologist Office at Texas A&M University warned that Texans should brace themselves for more extreme weather in the coming years.

The study found that, as a direct consequence of climate change, Texas should expect the severity of hurricanes and flooding to increase through the year 2036.

In recent years, Texans have experienced the devastating effects of climate change.

On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas, just north of the city of Corpus Christi, as a category 4 storm.

Hurricane Harvey dropped 21 trillion gallons of intense rainfall on Texas and Louisiana, most of it on the Houston Metroplex.

The volume of water that fell on Houston and other affected areas of Texas and Louisiana could fill more than 24,000 Astrodomes or supply the water for Niagara Falls for 15 days.

Hurricane Harvey caused damage to more than 204,000 homes of which 99 thousand were in Harris County.

With commercial remote sensing systems, scientists would have been able to monitor the storm prior to landfall and would have been able to collect information and data from inaccessible areas.

Remote sensing systems provide warnings to locals and prepare them for storms, saving lives and managing potential risks.

The information gathered by these remote sensing systems, such as elevation data, is utilized to create management plans for the restoration, monitoring, and maintenance of the environment and the planet.

Over the last 50 years, the number of disasters has increased by a factor of five worldwide.

With the increase in climate disasters, lawmakers need to protect the American public by passing legislation that would manage risks and save lives.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation that can save lives as we navigate our everchanging climate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 342--``The Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2023.''

H.R. 342 requires the Department of Energy to report quarterly to Congress on the use of the department's authority to reduce or eliminate cost-sharing requirements for various research, development, and demonstration projects.

Specifically, this bill aims to establish the necessary requirements to effectively set the standards for quarterly reporting to Congress in order to ensure proper management of capital allotment between energy departments.

Mr. Speaker, The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 (Public Law 109- 58), the underlying statute of H.R. 342 which provides the background history for H.R. 342, calls for the development of grant programs, demonstration and testing initiatives, and tax incentives that promote alternative fuels and advanced vehicles production and use.

H.R. 342--``The Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2023'' will provide advancements towards energy innovations that will benefit both the state of energy independence of the United States as well as critical energy advancements for the future.

The Secretary of Energy has the authority to reduce or eliminate cost sharing requirements for applied research and development as necessary and appropriate.

Moreover, the Secretary may reduce cost sharing requirements for demonstration and commercial application activities as necessary and appropriate, taking into consideration any technological risk relating to the activity.

Mr. Speaker, based on the S&P Global macroeconomic model completed on January 5th, it is expected that the U.S. real GDP will grow by 0.5 percent in 2023, with economic growth returning after contraction in the first quarter of 2023.

In 2024, the estimated real GDP will grow by 1.9 percent, driven primarily by an increase in household consumption. This means that there will be relatively flat economic growth in 2023 resulting in total U.S. energy consumption falling by 0.9 percent in the forecast. However, total energy consumption then rises by 1.0 percent in 2024.

This evidence provides us a basis for making sure we have the proper standards in place for effective accounting for key departments performing various research, development, and demonstration projects.

As a senior Member of the Budget Committee, I understand the importance of providing clarity and transparency to the American people on the allocation of funds.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of H.R. 342, ``The Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2023'' so we can provide transparency to the American people while addressing the proper implementations towards efficient allotment of cost-sharing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 500--the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2023, to amend the Investment Company Act of 1940 to postpone the date of payment or satisfaction upon redemption of certain securities in the case of the financial exploitation of specified adults.

H.R. 500 would allow a registered open-end investment company to better protect seniors by delaying the redemption period of any redeemable security if it was reasonably believed that such redemption was requested through the financial exploitation of a security holder who is a senior or individual unable to protect their own interests.

The legislation would also require the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit a report to Congress that includes recommendations for regulatory and legislative changes that would address financial exploitation of older adults.

16.9 percent of the United States population are adults 65 years and older. The nations' population is aging, and it is predicted that one in five Americans will be 65 years or older by 2040.

As our population gets older, it is imperative that we continue to protect ourselves against those who take financial advantage of our elders.

According to the Department of Justice, there were more than 92,000 victims of elder fraud in 2021. These 92,000 cases accounted for $1.7 billion in losses in 2021.

Financial exploitation refers to financial crimes committed against older adults. Financial abuse is typically committed by someone that the senior knows and trusts, whereas financial fraud is committed by a stranger.

The median income of seniors 65 years and older is $47,620, while the average annual expenses for this age group is $48,872.

With this budget mismatch, many seniors are already on strict budgets, and with the risk of financial exploitation, it is essential that this age group is protected by legislation that makes it more difficult for unscrupulous individuals--whether a family member or a stranger--to take their hard-earned money from them.

In 2021, Texas ranked number three in the number of victims of financial exploitation. Almost 6,800 seniors were impacted, and the total losses were over $150 million.

This legislation would help our seniors by requiring that financial institutions delay the redemption period for redeemable securities if it is believed that the request was made under financial exploitation.

As the number of elders increases in our Nation, the risk of financial exploitation increases. Lawmakers must work together to ensure that we are protecting Americans and their investments, and this legislation would do just that.

This common sense, bipartisan legislation passed the House in the 117th Congress, and shows that the two parties have the ability to come together to work on legislation that positively impacts the American public.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the isle to support H.R. 500-- the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2023.

As we grow older as a nation, we must work to protect our elders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 582, the ``Credit Union Board Modernization Act'' which would give credit unions more flexibility in their governance by not mandating monthly board meetings.

H.R. 582 would allow credit unions to dedicate more time and resources to serving their members by reducing the frequency that the board of directors of a federal credit union would be required to meet each year.

In the modern world, with increased connectivity from today's technology, boards of Credit Unions should not be subjected to mandated minimum meetings but should be provided with the flexibility to determine the frequency of their meetings as provided within the guidelines outlined in this bill.

By modernizing Credit Unions, we are ensuring that working class people who are exercising their right to choose what financial service they want, get the most from their chosen service.

This bill would be helpful to small credit unions, especially those that are closest to individual communities and whose boards may not be able to meet every month.

For years, I have supported Credit Unions by supporting their tax- exempt status in 2004 and 2011.

In 2012, I recognized and supported the Texas Dow Employees Credit Union full-service center, which was an important asset to the community.

Credit unions provide a critical resource to many working families by allowing them to have access to our financial system when they might otherwise be restricted from such access.

My constituents and many Americans rely on credit unions as a reasonable and trustworthy financial service.

According to the CUNA (Credit Union National Association), nationally there are over 135 million Americans who are members in a credit union.

In Texas alone, credit unions have 422 credit unions headquartered in the state and over 10 million members' total as of 2022.

If we require credit unions to dedicate resources to meetings instead of providing service to their members, we are failing our constituents.

America's credit unions are a central part of our Nation's financial prosperity and must be supported and uplifted through shifting times of essential modernization.

I support this bill and urge my colleagues to join me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 298-- the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act.

H.R. 298 requires the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, an entity within the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit an annual report on the various challenges small businesses in rural areas face when attempting to secure capital.

This bill was first introduced in 2017 and continues to be reintroduced into congress with the sole hope of helping the small businesses that truly are the backbone of our economies.

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was originally created to regulate securities transactions in the secondary market in order to promote more financial integrity, transparency and to reduce fraud and manipulation.

Over the years, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 has been amended in response to various needs of our capital markets.

The Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation was established in January 2019 as an independent SEC office.

Among other things, this office is responsible for advancing the interests of small businesses and their investors at the SEC.

The office also facilitates the expanded access to capital for rural area small businesses.

Rural businesses in Texas and around the nation frequently encounter significant challenges when attempting to raise funds to expand and improve their operations.

Lack of capital or funding, a faulty infrastructure or business model, and ineffective marketing efforts are a frequent cause of failure for small businesses.

This legislation would support our rural economies by assisting rural small businesses in overcoming these obstacles.

It is crucial for Congress to support small and rural businesses if it wants to help this country continue to prosper and grow.

In 2022 Texas had a population of about 30 million, with 3.8 million of them residing in rural areas.

And in 2022, between 13 and 14 percent of all jobs in the United States could be found in rural areas, a rate that is only anticipated to increase over time.

These continuing increases in employment and population indicate a developing trend and the requirement for new businesses to develop in rural areas with easier access to capital which provides new employment opportunities.

With more than 13,000 unemployed Texans and 6 million Americans throughout the USA, it is essential that we, as elected members of Congress, support the economic growth of our rural populations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues of the scourge of human trafficking and its impact on children.

It is well known that human trafficking is more profitable than drug trafficking because the vicious cycle of using someone over and over again is both profitable and obviously devastating for that human being.

In children and youth, they are used for sex trafficking. It is well known that you are apt to be trafficked from your school, from your primary or secondary school, online.

So I have introduced H.R. 30. I ask my colleagues to join me in the Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act, in which I am joined by my colleague, Congressman McCaul, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

We have seen human trafficking go beyond the borders of this Nation. It is international. It is dastardly, as I said. It is in airports. It is in bathrooms in public transit places.

I want to congratulate the NTZ operation in my own community that has stopped human trafficking at sports arenas.

Let's protect children. Join H.R. 30, the Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 346, the ``NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023'', which will be beneficial to the modernization of the safety, efficiency, and productivity of the future of aviation in the United States of America.

Specifically, this bill aims to reinvigorate the current system of Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) by pinpointing failures within the existing standards. This will be achieved by:

Aligning the NOAM and aeronautical information systems under a single governing office with the authority to standardize and ensure compliance with FAA Orders and ICAO requirements.

Redesigning the current NOTAM information management system with single technology gateways for entering, processing, and retrieving all NOTAM data.

Creating a unified training and outreach strategy for federal and non-federal NOTAM users.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Budget, it is my pleasure to support and urge members to strongly consider H.R. 346.

This bill aims to modernize flight across all The United States of America and not only increase the safety of the existing system of Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) but maximize its efficacy.

Mr. Speaker, hundreds of flights were grounded Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Houston airports and across the nation's airports, domestic and international which the Federal Aviation Authority reported as a nationwide outage that was felt across the country.

Millions of Americans were grounded away from their homes, families and loved ones. The cause of this devastating outage was attributed to a computer system glitch.

More than 21,000 flights in the U.S. were scheduled to take off on January 11, 2023, mostly domestic trips, and about 1,840 international flights expected to fly to the U.S., according to aviation data firm Cirium.

``The FAA's infrastructure is a lot more than just brick and mortar.'' Investment in the agency is set to be addressed this year by Congress when the 5 year FAA Reauthorization Act signed in 2018 expires. Strong consideration for this bill should be thoughtfully considered.

Throughout the years we have lagged in advancing our aviation systems. The tragic events that transpired earlier this year could have been avoided, but ``Because of budgetary concerns and flexibility of budget, this tech refresh has been pushed off.''

AOPA recently surveyed 30,000 members about improving Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs), and 77 percent of respondents said making Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) easier to understand was important while 46 percent said addressing the number of Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) was important.

Sources and tragic instances have continuously given us warning signs plus evidence that our NOTAM system is an example of aging infrastructure that is considerably due for an overhaul.

This bill firmly establishes the strategic steps towards harnessing the will power of strengthening our domestic air space, our nationwide digital aviation infrastructure and cybersecurity measures.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of H.R. 346, the ``NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 388-- the Securities and Exchange Commission Real Estate Leasing Authority Revocation Act.

This bill would amend Title 40 of the United States Code and would limit the Securities and Exchange Commission's ability to lease general purpose office space.

The authority to lease general purpose office space should be under the General Services Administration.

Involving the SEC in real estate leasing is useless, excessive, and redundant when GSA was created for that very reason.

This bill was first introduced in 2011 after the SEC engaged in improper sole-source procurement of nearly one million square feet of leased space.

In 2021, the SEC said that GSA will be used in the future for real estate procurements, but this bill would ensure that going forward.

This bill would also mandate the Comptroller General of the United States to submit reports on Independent Leasing Authorities to both House and Senate committees.

H.R. 388 would ensure that Congress is able to accomplish its constitutional obligations and enhance the efficiency and accountability of the federal government for the overall good of the American people.

Furthermore, due to the Comptroller Generals reports measuring the effectiveness of spending policies, it is crucial that these independent leasing reports are updated without fault.

The government itself cannot operate effectively without such essential information being updated annually and being communicated to other committees and federal agencies that profit from such insight.

It is pertinent that the American public's tax dollars are being utilized efficiently and this bill will ensure that.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important legislation that will ensure that the General Services Administration would be in charge of leasing office space for governmental agencies.

We must utilize federal funds properly and this legislation will be one step closer to that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 255 to amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to develop a study regarding streamlining and consolidating information collection and preliminary damage assessments.

Specifically, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act extends the deadline for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a study and develop a plan under which the collection of information from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will be made less difficult and time consuming for applicants and grantees.

H.R. 255 also would require FEMA to create a plan for the collection and reporting of data regarding federal disaster aid awarded.

In addition, FEMA must provide Congress with a detailed report on the strategies for organizing and expediting data collection, and preliminary damage assessments.

Natural disasters are occurring more often and are causing more damages and adverse impacts for Americans, including harm to homes and property.

On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas, just north of Corpus Christi, as a category 4 storm.

An estimated 13 million people were impacted by Harvey, nearly 135,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by the catastrophic flooding, and up to a million cars were totaled.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm caused $125 billion in damages. Except for Hurricane Katrina, that number surpasses all previous natural disasters in American history.

In order to support reaction and recovery activities across 270,000 square miles, FEMA organized massive deployments of federal employees both before and after the hurricanes' landfalls.

Only $571.8 million in FEMA aid was given to Texas households out of the disaster's $125 billion in damages.

Despite the fact that catastrophe required a great deal of aid, few people actually received aid due to obstacles in the application process.

H.R. 255 would eliminate some of the obstacles that Texas residents experienced when attempting to obtain federal aid after Hurricane Harvey.

This bill would streamline the collection of information, reduce duplication of process, and make it easier for disaster victims to obtain assistance.

Lawmakers must improve the process for our constituents to receive aid as we see an uprise in these climate disasters.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation that would make the federal assistance process easier for victims of natural disasters.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 400, the Investing in Main

Street Act of 2023, to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the amount that may be invested in small business investment companies.

As a strong supporter of small businesses, I believe that this bill will improve the livelihood of many small businesses that have continuously been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This bill is designed to release more capital investment into small businesses in America.

The bill would allow certain banks and savings associations to invest more into small business investment companies by increasing the statutory cap from 5 percent to 15 percent.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States saw a significant rise in small businesses.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020 had the highest total number of applications for new businesses by far compared to all years that data was available.

From 2019 to 2021, there was a 20 percent increase in the number of small businesses created. That is more than double the average growth rate year to year.

According to the Kauffman Foundation, the increase in the rate of entrepreneurship during the pandemic was highest amongst Blacks, Latinos, and immigrants.

Even though there has been a significant rise in the number of small businesses during the pandemic, many businesses report negative impacts due to COVID.

In April 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau launched the Small Business Pulse Survey to produce data in real-time on the challenges small businesses were facing due to the pandemic.

When the first survey was collected in April of 2020, 90 percent of businesses surveyed stated that the pandemic had a negative effect on business.

When the last survey was collected in April of 2022, 70 percent of businesses surveyed stated that the pandemic had a negative effect on business.

Almost 3 years into the pandemic, small businesses are still struggling with getting back on their feet.

Cities such as New Orleans and Honolulu had some of the highest rates of small business closures in the country because their economies are largely built around serving visitors.

In large cities like San Franciso and Austin, the food industry was largely impacted because those who would typically eat out on their lunch break were now working from home.

The time for small business recovery is now.

The Biden-Harris administration has laid the foundation and has helped create the conditions for business and job creation.

With the evolution of almost 5.4 million small businesses in 2021, we must work to maintain and support these growing businesses.

The Biden-Harris administration partnered with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to reform the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The policy changes targeted small business and companies that were left out of previous relief efforts.

The data shows that these PPP policy changes provided more support in minority communities than the rounds under the previous administration.

The Small Business Relief under the American Rescue Plan included targeted grant relief and tax credits for small businesses hit by the pandemic.

The Small Business Relief produced immediate relief to more than 600,000 of the hardest hit small businesses.

The Biden-Harris administration was able to provide more than 6 million small businesses with $450 billion in emergency relief via the Small Business Administration.

Investing more in our small businesses has had a profound impact on the job market in the United States.

In the first 3 quarters of 2021, small businesses with 50 employees or less created almost 2 million jobs in the United States, the fastest start to small business job growth in any year on record.

Investing in main street should continue to be a priority for Congress.

Through this bipartisan bill, certain financial institutions would have the ability to invest more into small business investment companies by raising the statutory cap.

I urge my colleagues to join me and support this important legislation that will expand access to capital, increase the number of small businesses, and create jobs at home.

We must show the American public that improving the economy is a priority in Congress. This bill is a good first step at doing so.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 259 and I am pleased to explain why all members should vote in support of this bill--To provide for an online repository for certain reporting requirements for recipients of Federal disaster assistance.

This bill would require the Office of Management and Budget to establish an online repository to publish information on the total amount of disaster assistance provided as a result of natural disasters each year.

It is imperative that the American public is made aware of how much money is spent each year on federal disaster assistance; and especially by those caused by climate change.

Climate change is here, and extreme weather has become the new normal.

In February 2021 Winter Storm Uri swapped through Texas and across the nation.

Over 154 million people, roughly half of the country, was in subfreezing temperatures. The storm crippled Texas with temperatures as low as 6 degrees.

The debilitating temperatures overwhelmed the power grid, damaged Texas roadways, and left 2.8 million Texans without power.

Winter Storm Uri was the costliest natural disaster in Texas history causing over $195 billion in damages.

As a member of the Budget Committee, I understand the importance of providing clarity to the American public about how much money is being spent as a result of natural disasters.

The devastation that occurred in Houston serves as a reminder that states must be ready for natural disasters, safety measures must be effectively planned to prevent casualties and damages, and careful reviewing of recipients needing assistance must be documented for reasons that include:

Detailed accounting of parties that are requesting and have requested assistance.

Transparent accounting of transactions and deposits from parties that are requesting and have requested assistance.

Retrievable access of all information listed for future planning and budgeting for capital spending.

In addition, H.R. 259 will serve as an integral building block towards achieving this objective for the benefit of information allocation from recipients who have received assistance and who have not, accurate predictions of resources plus capital transfers to the respected parties that are requesting assistance and for those that do not require assistance.

H.R. 259 encapsulates and provides the necessary and critical application of planning that needs to be implemented.

Keeping record of federal assistance should be dealt with importance as this keeps our budget in check and trackable. Further, it allows us to be responsible and cognizant of our spending.

Quite frankly, it is a central part of our job as Members of Congress to advocate and push forth ways to protect our citizens, our states, and future advancements. To do so requires thoughtful planning and H.R. 259 exemplifies these core principles.

With the support of this bill, we can help reinforce and modernize our systems for more efficient, accountable, and transparent record keeping for how and to whom we provide with federal assistance.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of H.R. 259, ``To provide for an online repository for certain reporting requirements for recipients of Federal disaster assistance, and for other purposes.''

Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of the Jackson Lee Amendments to H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, which will improve the bill.

As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and a member representing the 18th Congressional District in Houston, Texas, I am well aware of the critical importance of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to our nation's security.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world's largest supply of emergency crude oil, was established primarily to reduce the impact of disruptions in supplies of petroleum products and to carry out obligations of the United States under the international energy program.

Following the oil shocks of the late 1970s, the nation prepared to secure its energy future by developing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

On August 4, 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued Executive Order 12231--Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In this action, he transferred the functions vested in the President by Section 7430(k) of Title 10 of the United States Code to the Secretary of Energy.

The nation owes a debt of gratitude to President Carter for his foresight and willingness to pursue such a bold effort to ensure the nation's energy security.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a federally-owned oil stockpile of crude oil stored in huge underground salt caverns at four sites along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico.

Two Strategic Petroleum Reserve containment facilities are near Houston, Texas: the Bryan Mound in Brazoria County and Big Hill in Jefferson County.

Over my tenure in the House of Representatives I have seen the value and necessity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

For the past 27 years, I have been Co-Chair of the Energy Braintrusts of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Energy is the Live Blood of the Economy.

The electricity that powers our cities, heats our homes, fuels innovation in businesses, and supports the work of local, state, and federal governments to serve the public all depend on low-cost, accessible, and available energy.

Too often, we take for granted how fortunate we are to live in a nation and what a rich store of energy in the form of fossil fuels, wind, solar, and hydropower.

I believe in the importance of an innovative and forward-thinking energy posture for this nation.

My work includes hosting Energy Braintrusts designed to bring all relevant players ranging from environmentalists to producers of energy from various sectors, including coal, electric, natural gas, nuclear, oil, and alternative energy sources, as well as producers from Africa.

The oil and gas industry provides many jobs for many of my constituents and opportunities for small businesses in the 18th Congressional District of Texas.

In past Congresses, I have offered bills to promote deficit reduction and job creation that could increase leasing of the outer continental shelf oil and gas resources under the control of the federal government.

Times change as does the needs of the nation--today our major threat is climate change.

For these reasons, throughout my time in Congress, I have advanced my interests in a balance among the sources of home-grown energy sources comprised of fossil fuels, natural gas, wind, and solar energy.

The Jackson Lee Amendments offered for consideration under H.R. 21 would create avenues for providing access to routine operational functions for maintenance of the Petroleum Reserve that is essential to operations.

Mr. Chair, I ask that you consider that the location of the reserves and the location of the refineries that produce gasoline, fuel oil, and heating oil are highly concentrated along the Upper Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast.

The strategic importance is not just when gasoline prices might go up but when the nation's national interests are threatened.

Instances of the reserve's oil being used include:

2011 IEA Coordinated Release

2005 Hurricane Katrina Sale

1991 Operation Desert Storm Sale

1990 Desert Shield Test Sale

2017 Hurricane Harvey Exchange

2012 Hurricane Isaac Exchange

2008 Hurricanes Gustav and Ike Exchanges

2006 Ship Channel Closure Exchange

2006 Barge Accident Exchange

2005 Hurricane Katrina Exchange

2004 Hurricane Ivan Exchange

2002 Hurricane Lili Exchange

2000 Heating Oil Exchange

2000 Ship Channel Closure Exchange

1999 Maya Exchange

1996 Pipeline Blockage Exchange

If the reserve had not been tapped in each of these instances, the consequences to the American public would have been higher fuel prices.

Shocks to the economy are difficult to weather by those on set incomes like retired persons or low-income families.

Economic harms caused by higher fuel costs are a threat to American families and should be considered when considering the national interest in using the reserves, which are paid for by the working people of this nation.

Jackson Lee Amendment No. 35

This Jackson Lee amendment would continue to allow the Secretary of Energy to permit drawdowns of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to supply refineries should natural or manmade disasters disrupt port facilities or transportation systems that disrupt deliveries of crude to refineries for the production of gasoline, fuel oil, or heating oil.

An important benefit to having the world's largest crude oil reserve occurs following a major hurricane hitting the upper Texas or Southern Louisiana Coast when ports and docking facilities may have sustained damage that prevents the off-loading of crude to refineries.

Drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to disasters does aid the national interest in keeping supplies of gasoline, fuel oils, and heating oil flowing to consumers.

Any disruption in the production of these energy products would immediately trigger higher prices that would hit the pocketbooks of American families.

The benefits of providing exchanges of oil from the preserve to refiners and having the crude delivered later to replenish what was used with additional amounts added to the reserve a few months after the drawdown is beneficial to the nation and the oil industry as a whole.

This Jackson Lee Amendment would preserve exchanges that occur and protect the nation from gasoline shortages and likely much higher fuel prices following natural disasters that impact the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts.

Jackson Lee Amendment No. 36

This Jackson Lee amendment would allow the necessary and routine test drawdowns that occur as part of the work to maintain the efficiency of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to ensure that it functions as intended during an emergency use permissible by law or regulation.

Tests are essential to the core mission of the preserve and often involve 5,000,000 barrels or less being drawn down.

This Jackson Lee Amendment would provide that Strategic Petroleum Reserve tests would not trigger the provisions of this bill.

The Jackson Lee amendment would ensure that tests can continue without delay or suspension out of concern regarding the requirements of this bill.

I ask my colleagues to support both of these Jackson Lee Amendments.

I understand that the bill's authors have a specific policy objective in mind and believe that the legislation will accomplish a minor policy change.

I would offer that sometimes a little change can have severe consequences and that we might be far better if bipartisan efforts were pursued when it comes to a successful policy accomplishment that is the envy of the world and a vital national resource.

Mr. Speaker, I ask to present amendment No. 35.

Mr. Chairman, I see that I have my good friend, Mr. Pallone, over on this side, and I thought I would have my good friend from South Carolina, but now I have my good friend from Texas who is here.

I am sure they understand that everyone who comes to the floor is sincere. The gentlewoman from New York and others who have offered their amendments are sincere and factual. They have knowledge. I just want to put that in the Record so that no one's integrity is challenged.

I am sincere, and I believe that we need to have a little history lesson as to what the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is all about.

It exists first and foremost as an emergency response tool that the President can use should the United States be confronted with an economically threatened disruption in oil supply. It is also where oil can be released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve under exchange arrangements similar to loans to private companies. Exchange contracts provide for a loan of crude oil to be repaid in kind within a certain timeframe and with additional petroleum barrels.

However, as we move toward an increasing respect for climate change, I think amendments have to be in place that strategically allow for the utilization of this reserve to decrease emissions, to provide relief in emergencies, and to understand that we must have a 21st century Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Let me cite for you, Mr. Chairman, when this reserve has been used: 2005, Hurricane Katrina sale; 1991, Operation Desert Storm; 1990, Desert Storm--Shield tests; 2006, ship channel closure exchange; 2006, barge accident exchange; 2005, Hurricane Katrina exchange; 2000, heating oil exchange.

Again, it is doing what it is supposed to do. At the same time, I believe it is important to modernize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

I have a very simple amendment. My amendment would preserve exchanges that occur and protect the Nation from gasoline shortages and likely much higher fuel prices following natural disasters. We have had many, and I cannot, for the life of me, understand the opposition to what President Biden did where we have heard complete silence about high gasoline prices.

So it is important in amendment No. 35 that we have the ability to help those desperately suffering from natural disasters that certainly occur in the Gulf. They also occur in the Atlantic, and they occur in the Pacific, and we need to be able to help the American people.

I ask my colleagues to support Jackson Lee amendment No. 35 that would preserve exchanges that occur to protect the Nation from gasoline shortages in the likely face of the terrible natural disasters that have hit our American citizens or our country in various regions.

Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support amendment No. 35 to help the American people and to ensure that when disasters come, America stands with the American people.

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, No. 36.

My good friend from Texas apparently did not understand the prior amendment in terms of its utilization in the time of disasters that his district faces as mine does all the time and many other Americans.

So let me indicate as I move to No. 36, this is, again, an effort to help Americans and to address the question of the efficiency of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

My amendment would allow the necessary and routine test drawdowns that occur as part of the work to make sure the reserve can fulfill its function of providing access to the resources on a moment's notice in time of emergencies. Those of us in various parts of the Nation understand emergencies.

In keeping with our commitment to addressing the core mission of many of us to reduce emissions, we may need a number of tests. Tests are basic to the core mission of the reserve and often involve numbers of barrels or less being drawn down.

The Jackson Lee amendment would provide the provisions of this bill should not be triggered by Strategic Petroleum Reserve tests. The Jackson Lee amendment would ensure that tests can continue without delay or suspension out of concern regarding the requirements of the bill so that this Strategic Petroleum Reserve can stand ready to be able to efficiently address what is needed.

I am concerned about the direct attack because the CEO--the President of the United States--in the executive article utilizes his powers to help Americans in the midst of a disaster.

I hope that this amendment can be accepted by my friends which says that we have to do due diligence on testing. I understand the authors of the bill have a specific policy objective in mind and believe that the bill will accomplish a narrow policy change. However, I would hope that they believe in efficiency, and the utilization of this Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an efficient manner requires tests and drawdowns if we are going to be ready for emergencies to save lives in a crisis that is either heating or otherwise.

Again, let me remind my colleagues that we did not hear a word--a Republican word or a Democratic word--when gasoline prices came down.

So the executive branch should have the right, if you will, to make those emergency decisions. But to have the ability to test is a reasonable response to ensuring that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve works well every single day that we need to use it.

I ask my colleagues to support Jackson Lee amendment No. 36. I will also finish by saying: Please understand what we are saying. Please know that we understand both the legislation and the need for improvement of the legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support amendment No. 36 Jackson Lee, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 399 the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2023, which classifies the primary function and duties of the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

Specifically, the bill would set requirements for the Small Business Administration to include research on how small firms contribute to the global economy.

H.R. 399 also requires the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration to represent the views and interests of small businesses before foreign governments and international entities to contribute to regulatory and trade initiatives that may affect small businesses.

According to the United States trade Representative, small firms, which account for two-thirds of all new jobs in recent decades, are the backbone of the American economy.

Small businesses make up 98 percent of all known U.S. exporters and indirectly support roughly four million jobs in local communities around the nation.

Residents in Houston take pride in their neighborhoods and places of business, and when faced with hardships--most notably Hurricane Harvey in 2017--they band together, resilient, and unwavering in their will to move forward.

Small businesses, especially minority owned businesses, face many challenges.

Nationwide, women and minorities start businesses at a much higher rate than their white and/or male counterparts, despite facing disproportionate amounts of obstacles while establishing and maintaining their ventures.

By enabling more women and minorities to start small businesses, we will see advancements in wealth and greater economic mobility.

According to a study by Next Street, research shows that self- employed business owners, specifically minority women in Houston, experience faster earning growth compared to employees who are compensated by salaries.

A study by the University of Georgia states that the buying power of African American,

Asian American, and Native American consumers has increased over the past 30 years to $3 trillion in 2020, making up 17.2 percent of the nation's total buying power that year. (Based on data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and other sources.)

I strongly support the Small Businesses Advocacy Improvements Act because it allows women and minorities who own small companies to express their interests and opinions in the on the global market.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 399 because of the significant effects its passage will on millions of small business owners around the nation.