Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week is Malnutrition Awareness Week, a week when advocates, healthcare professionals, and communities around the country will focus on the issue of malnutrition and hunger. As the cofounder of the Elder Justice Caucus, and as a caregiver, I know how important proper nutrition is for aging Americans to stay healthy. Malnutrition can lead to greater risk of chronic disease, frailty, and increases in healthcare costs. Unfortunately, malnutrition often goes undiagnosed in seniors because healthcare providers and family members do not know how to identify and treat it. We can, and must, do more to protect vulnerable populations who suffer from malnutrition, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition. I also encourage the federal agencies tasked with combating hunger to do all they can to reduce malnutrition. I urge the Department of Health and Human Services to include malnutrition screening measures in their national health surveys of older adults, and to include malnutrition among the national key health indicators for older adults. Additionally, I am calling on the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture to work together to include dietary guidance for the prevention and treatment of older adult malnutrition in the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

I applaud the work of the advocates at Defeat Malnutrition Today, a coalition of eighty organizations and stakeholders who are committed to ending malnutrition through rigorous screening and intervention initiatives, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an organization of food and nutrition professionals who are spearheading efforts to reduce hunger worldwide. Together, we can reduce malnutrition and strengthen outcomes for our senior population.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mayor Bob Andrews, who has served the City of Newberg, Oregon with distinction and dedication for the past 12 years.

The first time I met Mayor Andrews was shortly before I was elected to Congress. He told me he wanted to build and sustain a positive working relationship; and we did just that. For the past six and a half years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Mayor Andrews--a steady, forward--thinking, principled pragmatist with an unsurpassed commitment to Newberg and its residents.

When Phase I of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass opened earlier this year, it culminated a decades-long progression of vision and advocacy to make Newberg and Dundee more livable communities for residents who were constantly stuck in gridlock and congestion. The project was painstaking at times with numerous setbacks, but Mayor Andrews and his dogged determination never wavered. For a decade, with steadfast devotion, Bob attended nearly every meeting and hearing--including those in Salem and the occasional trip to Washington, D.C.--to advocate for resources and support. Although a handful of people pushed this project over the finish line, Mayor Andrews is first among equals.

That same level of persistence and commitment also characterized Mayor Andrews' support for Special Olympics Oregon, which held its Summer State Games in Newberg for six years. He worked to make sure that the city rolled out the red carpet, and he was a champion for the athletes and their families. In addition, Mayor Andrews served on a number of nonprofit boards and helped orchestrate a faith-based emergency preparedness plan to help the city prepare for a Cascadia earthquake. For his achievements, the Oregon Mayors Association awarded him with the 2018 Mayors Leadership Award--the highest honor among his peers.

Newberg is a better place because of the selfless service of Mayor Andrews. His commitment to the people of Newberg is unparalleled, and his goals as a public official always transcended himself--qualities all leaders should aspire to. In a time of deep cynicism and political division, Bob embodies the true meaning of `Civil servant.'

I am honored to have worked alongside Mayor Bob Andrews and consider him both a fantastic mayor and a friend. I wish him the very best in his second retirement, and hope he enjoys some well-deserved time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the congressional interns who serve in our offices here in Washington, D.C., in my State of Oregon, and around the country, and to ask all my colleagues to make internship opportunities available to more qualified applicants by paying interns for their work.

Congressional internships are highly desirable. They provide students and recent graduates with valuable experience, learning firsthand how Congress and how our government works.

Many current staff members and, in fact, many Members of Congress started their careers as congressional interns and were able to use the skills they learned and the connections they made to leverage future opportunities.

The reality is, however, that most young people do not have the option of coming to work on Capitol Hill as an intern because most internships are still unpaid. Many bright and motivated people simply cannot afford to take an unpaid internship, no matter how prestigious it might be, because they need to earn money to continue paying for college or to support themselves or their families.

No one who is qualified who wants to intern on Capitol Hill should be precluded because of financial barriers.

I am proud that I offer paid internships in my office, so students and recent graduates have an opportunity to work and learn and gain experience.

But paying interns doesn't just help them. It helps us, too. My staff and I benefit greatly from having interns from all backgrounds and all walks of life working in our office. The diversity of perspectives is critical as I consider legislation and think about how to best serve my constituents who are also from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life.

Many of my colleagues understand the importance of equitable intern opportunities and, through the leadership of Representative Tim Ryan and others, are working to increase funding and cut red tape so that all our offices will be able to offer and support paid internships.

Capitol Hill is best served when our offices reflect the diversity of our districts and our country.

I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure that all qualified applicants can apply for internships and serve as interns regardless of their financial situation. It helps our offices, it helps the interns, and it helps the country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, there is bipartisan consensus that our Nation's families, on behalf of our Nation's children, who are our future and our future leaders, must be able to access affordable, high quality childcare and other early learning opportunities to fulfill their potential and succeed in college and career and in life. In fact, a recent poll done by the First Five Years Fund found that 89 percent of voters, including 82 percent of Republicans, support making quality early childhood education more affordable for working families.

Last year, I joined Ranking Member Bobby Scott and more than 120 of my colleagues to introduce the Child Care for Working Families Act.

This bill would ensure universal access to quality early learning programs for all families making less than 150 percent of their State's median income.

Today, the average annual cost of full-time, center-based childcare in the United States exceeds the average annual cost of in-state tuition.

In Oregon and other places around the country, lower and middle- income families are forced to pay up to 30 percent of their annual income on childcare, with many of the lowest income families unable to afford care at all.

The Child Care for Working Families Act is a bold solution to fix this national problem. The legislation would mean that no family of four earning an annual household income below $139,000 per year would pay more than 7 percent of that income for quality childcare.

This legislation would also ensure that early learning teachers and caregivers finally get the time, attention, training, and resources they deserve. Whether in childcare, preschool, prekindergarten, or in other early learning environments, every child should receive quality care.

Parents are out working hard. They deserve the peace of mind that comes from the confidence of knowing that childcare and early learning professionals are well trained, and that means well paid. No longer would a full-time early learning professional have to enroll in public assistance to make ends meet.

Decades of research shows that properly nurturing children in the early years of life is instrumental in supporting enhanced brain development, cognitive functioning, and emotional and physical health. Research also shows what all of us know: investing in quality early learning programming leads to better educational outcomes, stronger job earnings, and lower crime rates.

Quality early learning helps prevent and mitigate academic achievement gaps, it provides indisputable long-term benefits for our Nation. And nothing returns more money to the Treasury than investments in early learning programs. Our Nation receives $7 in economic benefit for every $1 invested in these programs. That, my colleagues, is a good investment in our future, our children. This bill is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do.

The Child Care For Working Families Act lays out the path of what early learning in America could and should look like. If we want a promising future for our children, if we want strong and stable families, we must make sure that all families can access high quality early learning opportunities. Quality childcare is a national priority. This bill deserves immediate attention and, importantly, bipartisan support. Our future is at stake.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, a bill I introduced with Congressman Guthrie.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, and Congressman Guthrie for their leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank the Education and the Workforce Committee staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work to include the shared priorities of Members in this bill.

This bill shows that there are areas of bipartisan consensus in Congress.

Today, a college education continues to be a powerful force for economic and social mobility in our country. I know. Neither of my parents graduated from college. I worked my way first through community college, which opened the door to the university and then to law school.

I am pleased that Democrats and Republicans are working together to take a meaningful step toward addressing the student loan debt crisis, which is now shockingly close to consumer debt in this country.

This bill recognizes and addresses the clear need for enhanced financial counseling. More than 40 million Americans are struggling with student loan debt, and default rates are climbing.

At the same time, there is evidence that student loan debt is a drag on the broader economy. For many borrowers, student loan debt affects the ability to buy a home, to purchase a new car, or to afford childcare. Student loan borrowers may be unable to access capital to start a small business or they may put off saving for retirement.

That is why we need to help current and future students understand their rights and obligations as borrowers, and we need to help them forecast their obligations in the years after college so they can make informed decisions now for the years ahead.

One of the frustrations I have heard from former students in Oregon is that they didn't understand all of the jumble of terms in their loan agreement or all of the differences between Federal and private student loans. With this bill, students, whether they are sophomores or seniors, will have information about how much they have borrowed, what they are expected to borrow, how their loans will accrue interest, and what they can expect their monthly payment to be when they leave college. They will be better able to see their road to repayment.

Importantly, this bill provides annual counseling, so borrowers who don't graduate will still receive information about what to expect when they leave school and have to start repayment.

Borrowers will have more clarity about their monthly payments under two repayment plans: income-based repayment and the standard 10-year option. That is critical for students to see what those differences will be, and they will with this bill. Clarifying and streamlining this information will simplify the repayment process for borrowers and reduce default.

Borrowers will be reminded each year they don't have to borrow the full amount made available to them. They should consider grants, work study, and Federal loans before turning to private lenders.

Unlike current practice, borrowers will receive financial counseling before signing their master promissory notes, and they will be reminded that they can repay interest before it capitalizes.

For the first time, parent borrowers of student loans will be given virtually the same information about their loans that the students receive.

Additionally, this bill will extend counseling to Pell grant recipients so they understand the limits on eligibility for the grants and the circumstances under which they would be asked to repay their grants, helping students to avoid expensive surprises.

Finally, this bill does not interrupt the disbursement of financial aid, and it delivers enhanced student loan information in consumer- tested formats that check for students' understanding. It will make sure we provide personalized borrower information in a way that borrowers understand.

Mr. Chair, again, I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support, and I encourage all my colleagues to support the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act.

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

Mr. Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairwoman for her remarks.

This bill we are considering today is an important step to protect students and borrowers, but it is not a substitute for an update to the Higher Education Act.

We still have more work to do to invest in our Nation's students, our future leaders. We especially need to do more to keep higher education within reach for low-income students and working families.

We need to strengthen the Pell Grant Program, which has served as a foundation of support and opportunity for many Americans and helped them afford college.

We need to do more to address State disinvestment and partner with States. State disinvestment in higher education has also led to a rise in college costs, and we need to do more to make sure student loan borrowers have access to affordable repayment plans.

The Democratic proposal to update the Higher Education Act, the Aim Higher Act, will do all of this and more.

I am glad we are considering this bipartisan proposal today instead of the PROSPER Act, which would actually make college less affordable and accessible by cutting student aid by billions of dollars.

The Aim Higher Act, on the other hand, invests in students and makes higher education more affordable through robust funding in financial aid programs. It also addresses the rising cost of college through the creation of a Federal-State partnership to reduce

the student debt burden on families. It is a thoughtful package that deserves to be considered on the House floor.

The legislation we are considering today, though not a comprehensive reauthorization, will protect students and families and make a real, positive difference for grant recipients and student loan borrowers.

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

Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

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

Mr. Chair, I want to again thank Mr. Guthrie for cosponsoring this legislation with me, and thank the leadership, both Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott, for their support, and all of the staff. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support for this legislation.

Mr. Roe from Tennessee mentioned his story, and it is not unlike mine, from a middle-class family, went through 7 years of higher education on my own, working my way through. I ended up with a very modest amount of student debt.

As I say, that is not what I am hearing from families today in Oregon, and I know my colleagues are not hearing that from their constituents across the country.

I also want to point out how the student loan debt crisis is affecting the workforce issues that we all talk about and care about.

An example is that there are many people who wanted to go into primary care. They are going through medical school. They wanted to go into primary care. I just had a conversation with one last week. Too many medical students are choosing higher paying specialties, not because that is where their passion or interest is, but because their student loan debt is so high.

I just had a great conversation on Labor Day with some firefighters in the district I am honored to represent. I thanked them for working, keeping our communities safe. They are concerned about student debt, and they are very concerned about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which, of course, is threatened under the PROSPER Act.

We need to come back to the table and talk about how we can preserve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Today, however, I urge all of my colleagues to take this important step forward on this bipartisan legislation, the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. I encourage broad support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from New York, for her amendment. It improves the bill, and I support its acceptance.

Financing a college education can be a daunting process, especially for first-generation students. It can seem like there are things that everyone else knows but no one is telling them. If we are going to improve student counseling, we need to recognize this fact.

This amendment requires that as part of the annual counseling students receive, they be made aware, if their financial circumstances change, they can and should contact their financial aid office on campus. There they can seek someone with the professional background, judgment, and assistance to help them make changes to awards, or they may find out about other aid for which the student may be eligible.

Additionally, students may not know that while they are eligible for a certain amount of Federal aid, they are not required to take the full amount. Many debt-conscious students may prefer to fund a smaller portion of their education through loans but may not know that this is an option. This amendment clarifies that in cases where the student specifies they would like to receive less aid, that is an amount that is discussed in their counseling.

Again, I support the gentlewoman's amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from Minnesota for his amendment. It improves the bill, and I support its acceptance.

Students may be eligible for many different forms of financial aid, and in our effort to improve financial counseling, we should make sure that appropriate disclosures and information are being shared with the borrowers based on the type of aid they are receiving.

This amendment addresses Parent PLUS loans, loans that parents or guardians can take out to pay for the education of a dependent student. Parent PLUS loans have a higher interest rate than direct loans, and because they can cover unmet need up to the cost of attendance, the loan balance can grow rather quickly. As such, parents should be counseled that there may be other forms of aid that their student can take advantage of to help reduce the size of the Parent PLUS loan that is needed. A robust counseling program will also inform parents, as the gentleman stated, that there is no penalty to prepaying either the interest or the principal on these loans.

Again, Mr. Chair, I support the gentleman's amendment because it improves the underlying legislation, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from Georgia for his amendment. It improves the underlying bill, and I support its acceptance.

I rise in support of the amendment to clarify that institutions have the ability to provide additional financial counseling beyond the requirements established in the underlying bill while making sure that the additional counseling will in no way preclude students from receiving their aid on time.

Although the underlying bill does not prohibit institutions from providing this counseling, this amendment makes explicit the institution's ability to provide that additional support.

Institutions know their students and the individual capacity of those students, and it is important to provide this flexibility so schools can provide more counseling as needed.

Again, I support the gentleman's amendment, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I am supportive of this amendment because it simply allows institutions to encourage in-person counseling, but I would be remiss if I did not state that this provision is not necessary. The underlying bill already permits institutions to provide either in-person counseling or use the consumer-tested online tool that would be created by the Department of Education.

H.R. 1635, the underlying bill, was written intentionally in this way to provide flexibility to institutions. Some institutions will be able to provide high quality in-person counseling, but underresourced institutions may find it difficult to do so.

This is why the bill contains provisions to have the Department of Education create a standardized tool to ensure at least a base level of quality within and across institutions. Because the success of in- person counseling is informed not only by the content but also by the individual providing the counseling, this online tool will make sure that students receive the same caliber of counseling regardless of where the counseling is provided or who provides the counseling.

To confirm effectiveness, the tool will be tested by students, financial aid advisers, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders.

Again, in-person counseling would be fine and best for some students when the institution can provide it, but having that flexibility is important as well.

Mr. Chair, I do urge support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. As someone with a consumer protection background, I thank her for her amendment.

It has already been stated during the debate that there is close to $1.5 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. It should be no surprise that there are companies and individuals poised to make money on the backs of student borrowers through fraudulent means.

In recent years, there has been an explosion of third-party debt relief scams targeting student loan borrowers. These businesses claim that, for a fee, they can cut through the red tape for borrowers and get their student loan house in order. They misrepresent services, make promises they can't keep, and charge for activities that cost nothing.

State and Federal consumer protection groups have already started cracking down on these groups. State attorneys general, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have either sounded the alarm or conducted enforcement actions targeting these fraudulent companies.

We should use this opportunity in this bill when conducting loan counseling to remind students that their loan servicer is paid through the Department of Education to provide assistance with these services free of charge. They should be wary of any third-party company attempting to facilitate repayment of their Federal student loans.

It is a commonsense addition to the bill, and I thank the gentlewoman for offering the amendment.

Again, I support this amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be on the House floor for the first vote on July 23, 2018, because my flight from Oregon was delayed. If I had been present I would have voted in favor of H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act. This bill seeks to improve access to emergency services for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis by requiring the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of creating a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make it easier for individuals to access medical care, including mental health care.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2353, the bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, a bill to support students and prepare them for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work on this important legislation.

In Oregon, current technical education classes, like Beaverton's Aloha High School's Auto Tech program and Newberg High School's CAD Lab, engage more students, boost graduation rates, and give students the opportunity to learn real world skills.

Federal CTE funding provides critical equipment that schools need to make these hands-on classes meaningful experiences for students in Oregon and across the country.

I am proud that this bill includes the amendment I worked on with Representative Elise Stefanik, my cochair of the STEAM Caucus, to encourage the integration of arts and design skills into STEM CTE programs. Our provision will help make sure that the next generation of students are creative and innovative by fully engaging and educating both halves of the brain through art and design.

Mr. Speaker, I want to, again, thank my colleagues, and especially Ranking Member Scott and Chairwoman Foxx for their leadership on this issue. We have been waiting for a long time for this bipartisan bill, and I am proud to stand in strong support today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from California for yielding time, and also for his commitment to this important issue.

I am honored to co-chair the Oceans Caucus with Representative Young, and I thank him for his leadership on this important issue.

I also thank my Oregon colleague, Mr. DeFazio, for his commitment and for his passion about the importance of marine debris and addressing it.

I rise in support of the Save our Seas Act, a bill to clean up and reduce marine debris. This bill would reauthorize the NOAA Marine Debris Program through fiscal year 2022 and provide resources to help States respond to severe marine debris events. The health of our oceans reflects the health of our planet, and we must do more to keep garbage out the ocean and off of our shores.

Every minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic is dumped into our oceans. According to the

United Nations, that is more than 8 million tons a year. Plastic bottles, straws, grocery bags, cigarette butts, fishing gear, and abandoned vessels litter the ocean.

Currents and atmospheric winds carry floatable marine debris. These movements trap items in debris accumulation zones, also known as garbage patches. A study published in the journal, Scientific Reports, estimated that the Pacific garbage patch is comprised of about 1.8 trillion pieces of debris.

We still don't know how long it takes for plastic to biodegrade. Estimates range from 450 years to never.

Marine debris harms our coastal economies, endangers marine life, destroys important marine habitats, propagates invasive species, and creates hazardous conditions for the maritime industry. Tiny pieces of plastic, fiber, fragments, and microbeads also make their way into marine life, blocking digestive tracts, altering growth and, in some cases, killing animals and marine organisms.

Healthy beaches and waterways are critical to the marine ecosystems that thousands of people rely on to earn a living in Oregon and other coastal communities. After the tsunami hit the coast of Japan in 2011, large materials like docks and boats that carried invasive species ended up on the shores of the Pacific Northwest.

But it is not just tsunami debris that is a problem. According to NOAA, a majority of the debris that covers our beaches come from storm drains and sewers, demonstrating that this is not just a problem resulting from those along our Nation's shorelines.

Marine debris is entirely preventable, but we must support responsible disposal practices and provide coastal communities with the resources they need. The NOAA Marine Debris Program has partnered with Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and Lincoln County School District to create a curriculum to teach middle and high school students about the effects of marine debris and to promote stewardship activities.

There has been growing momentum on this issue, as many companies and cities and jurisdictions across this country stop the use of plastic straws and bags.

The ocean is resilient and we can help it heal, but we cannot afford to wait. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to strengthen the Federal response to marine debris.

I want to close, again, by thanking all of the bipartisan sponsors and cosponsors of this legislation, but also, especially, the co-chair of the Oceans Caucus, again, Representative Don Young, for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make clear my intent in voting ``Present'' on H. Res. 990. This resolution expresses categorical support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement while failing to address valid concerns about recent ICE actions and policies like child separation. Since President Trump came into office, there have been multiple allegations of ICE officers around the country failing to follow proper protocol and potentially acting in violation of individuals' constitutional

rights. These incidents, several of which have been recorded on video, call into question whether ICE officials are conducting themselves in full accordance with federal law and agency policies and procedures.

I support having the appropriate personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources to protect our borders and enforce the rule of law in America, but immigration enforcement does not need to be militarized and operate with impunity. We can treat individuals in a humane and just manner and still prevent crime, reduce trafficking, and keep our country safe. People fleeing violence in their home countries and seeking asylum in the United States need to be protected, not fear more persecution. We must enact commonsense changes to improve accountability and protect the fundamental rights of immigrants-- particularly those legally seeking asylum. I will continue pushing for rigorous oversight of ICE and reforms to our immigration enforcement system

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Connie Kurtz, an LGBT rights activist who passed away recently at the age of 81.

Connie was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she met and fell in love with the woman who would become her wife, Ruthie Berman. Ruthie and Connie became a couple in 1974, long before same-sex couples were afforded equal rights.

Ruthie was a school counselor, and, in 1988, they found themselves at the forefront of the gay rights movement when they joined two other couples and sued the New York Department of Education for domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples. Their advocacy led to the city extending healthcare benefits to same-sex couples in 1994.

Ruthie and Connie's activism did not stop there. They continued to fight for LGBT rights, including rights for older LGBT Americans. They recognized the unique healthcare, social, emotional, and housing needs of our aging LGBT population, and they sought to help minimize these disparities.

I am honored to have introduced the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act with my colleagues Congressman Ted Deutch and Congressman Charlie Crist. This legislation defines LGBT seniors as a vulnerable population, requires the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary of Aging to collect data on the unique needs of this population, and provides grants for service organizations that are working to improve the health and long-term outcomes of the aging LGBT population.

Since Connie's passing, Ruthie has vowed to continue her activism. Ruthie said of her wife: ``Connie took on responsibilities as an activist with the belief that her role had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Working to pass the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act was Connie's last political action before she passed away on May 27, 2018. I hope Congress will honor Connie by passing this law so, like Connie, all LGBT older adults can age with the dignity and respect they deserve. Let's make this happen.''

Mr. Speaker, I couldn't agree with her more. Today, in honor of Connie's life, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this legislation. Together, we can take another step toward equality for LGBT older Americans.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the court-ordered deadline for the Trump administration to reunite more than 100 children under 5 years old with their families.

The administration has failed to meet this deadline, and that is shameful. Dozens of babies and toddlers remain in government custody with no idea of when they will see their parents again.

As a mom, I am outraged. This administration is failing to comply with a court-ordered deadline.

But what is this really about, babies, toddlers, and young children? Ask any pediatrician. This is harmful, and every day creates more harm to these innocent children.

This administration is saying they were forced to separate families when, in fact, it was their deliberate zero-tolerance policy, their strategy that forcibly took children out of their parents' arms, and it has always been within their power to stop this coldhearted and inhumane madness.

On Monday, I met with Latino and immigrant community leaders in Oregon to hear from them firsthand about how this administration's actions are harming families and communities. They spoke of unprecedented fear, of families torn apart, and of children afraid to go to school. They spoke about why people come to the United States in the first place: to make a better life for themselves and for their children.

Miriam Corona from Yamhill County said that there is no greater gift of love than to leave everything you know for your children's future. That is why my grandparents got on a boat in 1921 and crossed the ocean from Italy for the American Dream. It is why many people are now fleeing terrible violence in Central America and in Mexico to make a better life for themselves and their children and, oftentimes, to save their children's lives.

That is what we stand for in this country of the United States of America: a better life, a peaceful life free from violence, and a better future for the next generation. As a parent, that is what I want for my children, and as a Member of Congress, it is what I want for everyone in our community.

The Trump administration's actions contradict these fundamental values. We are better than this. I continue to demand that the administration reunite all separated children with their parents--not later, now. This is a court order, not a suggestion.

If the problem is that these agencies are understaffed, I will come over to the agency. I will go over to Health and Human Services to help. I am sure many of my colleagues will join me.

Mr. Speaker, when the families are reunited, our work is not done. We must fix our broken immigration system. It is long past time to vote on a comprehensive, humane, and compassionate immigration reform bill. That is what Oregonians want, and it is what the majority of people in this country want.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act. This bill will help reduce sea lion predation on threatened and endangered fish populations.

Salmon and steelhead are an important part of our heritage in the Pacific Northwest, and they are facing devastating threats. At present thirteen salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River, Willamette River, and Snake River systems are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Because of successful conservation efforts under the protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, California sea lions have fully rebounded and have reached carrying capacity. Many of the thriving species are moving up the Columbia River for easy access to migrating salmon and steelhead. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, between 2002 and 2015 California sea lions consumed an estimated 46,000 salmonids within a quarter mile of the Bonneville Dam. It is unlikely that we will see the necessary recovery of threatened and endangered fish populations without responding to the ongoing predation by sea lions in the region.

Oregon's economic vitality relies on the health of the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. The natural resources in our region support a significant portion of our economy, and we are very vulnerable to changes to our ecosystem. Healthy salmon and steelhead runs support the commercial and recreational fishing industry, guiding and outdoor retail businesses, restaurants, and coastal communities that benefit from tourism. In addition to the troubling effects on the region's ecosystem, sea lion predation is harmful to tribal fisheries. Tribes have fishing rights and a deep cultural and historical connection to the fish populations threatened by sea lions. The health of native fish runs is dependent on Congressional action to protect these threatened species from sea lion predation.

This bill will allow for more efficient intervention by allowing states and tribes to apply for permits to remove sea lions along the Columbia River and its tributaries. I am pleased to see changes to this bill in its amended form, including the removal of language that would undermine the National Environmental Policy Act. The revised language is the result of negotiations with a coalition of local stakeholders, tribes, and agencies in Oregon and Washington State. I appreciate the Ranking Member's concerns that this bill only addresses one of the many threats facing our salmon and steelhead populations, but it is an important step toward mitigating the damage to the fish population. We must continue to address the threat of sea lion predation and avoid further loss of irreplaceable species of salmon and steelhead in our region. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5788, the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act. The STOP Act requires the U.S. Postal Service to collect Advanced Electronic Data on international shipments, making it easier for U.S. Customs to target high-risk shipments for inspection and seizure. This is particularly important to stem the deadly flow of fentanyl

coming from China. I understand the concerns about potential civil penalties that could be imposed if USPS fails to meet terms of compliance. But with the updated language added to the final version, I am confident this legislation provides sufficient flexibility allowing USPS to avoid those penalties as long as it is making a good faith effort to institute AED collection in a meaningful way. I will closely follow the implementation of this policy and will work to make sure USPS can comply without leading to cost-saving actions such as reductions of service, consolidation or closing of post offices, or cuts to the employee workforce. We must stop these dangerous shipments to help save the lives of those who are addicted to opioids. Although there is more to be done to tackle the opioid crisis, this is one step forward that I support.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be on the House floor on June 19, 2018 because my flight from Oregon was delayed because of weather. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 5676, the Stop Excessive Narcotics in our Retirement Communities Protection Act, and H.R. 5687, the Securing Opioids and Unused Narcotics with Deliberate Disposal and Packaging Act of 2018. These bills take important steps to stem the tide of opioid abuse in this country, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to combat this crisis.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I spent the day before Father's Day at the Federal prison in Oregon, meeting the 123 asylum-seeking immigrant men who are incarcerated in prison. They were fleeing horrific violence and religious persecution. They were Christian and Sikh men from India. There was an LGBTQ man from Honduras and a man from Mexico whose property was burned because he has been targeted by gangs. We spoke with men who were separated from their wives and children and who, on Father's Day, had no idea where they were or how they were.

Criminalizing asylum seekers and separating families is cruel, and it is appalling.

Now we find out that there are tender-age shelters. Babies don't need their own jail. They need their own parents. This must stop. The President and the Department of Justice could stop it right now.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said that separating families in this way causes irreparable harm. Mistreating children for political leverage is outside of moral bounds, even for this administration.

As a mother, it breaks my heart. As an American and granddaughter of immigrants, it makes me furious.

And if the President won't sign something today, which he could, then, Speaker Ryan, bring us the Keeping Families Together Act, and let us do something to stop this horrific atrocity that is happening to children and to people who are coming to this country.