Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1109) to amend section 203 of the Federal Power Act, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Edw. C. Levy Co., which was founded in 1918 when Edward C. Levy, Sr. started a trucking business in Detroit, Michigan area.

A short time later, Levy started hauling away steel slag for the Ford Motor Company's River Rouge plant, and then other steel mills.

He began to crush the slag and sell it as road-base material--a move that paved the way for the company's continuing expansion and development.

Today, under the leadership of Ed Levy, Jr. and S. Evan Weiner, the Levy Group of Companies has grown into an international business with locations across the United States and the globe.

Their products and services include steel mill services, slag, natural aggregates, asphalt, concrete and cement, specialty products, logistics, lab services, land development, and agricultural products.

The company is committed to promoting the well-being of their employees and recognizing contributions made by the hardworking, loyal people who work there.

As a good neighbor, Levy is also active in helping to fund local projects and in contributing to charitable organizations that improve the quality of life in the communities where they are located.

As they celebrate 100 years, Levy maintains a prominent position in the global marketplace and has a sterling reputation for excellence, innovation, and cooperation.

It is a lasting legacy that undoubtedly reaches far beyond Edward C. Levy, Sr.'s wildest dreams.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act.

For families in Michigan who are struggling to make ends meet, figuring out how to pay for college is a big challenge. Young people today who are graduating and entering the workforce face overwhelming college student loan

debt. When considering financial aid options, we need to empower students to make the best, fully informed decisions about their futures.

This bipartisan bill will promote access to financial counseling so students better understand the process and receive personalized advice that speaks to their personal situations.

It also will provide counseling assistance for the first time to low- income students who participate in the Pell Grant Program.

I am grateful to Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Bonamici, and my colleagues on the Education and the Workforce Committee for their work on this legislation.

Encouraging financial literacy is an important step to help prepare students for successful futures. I urge passage of this bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Thompson for this Special Order but, even more importantly, for sponsoring this legislation and giving many of us the opportunity to join with him because, indeed, this is not simply a piece of legislation that changes lives and saves lives, as it does, but it also changes history--the history of individuals, the history of families we trust, and the history of communities and this country--by doing the right thing.

This Special Order on the importance of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act takes this from just simple legislation and the effort that goes there and puts human faces on it, and so I thank the gentleman for that.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of this vital legislation that, for over 30 years, has been protecting and seeking justice for victims of domestic violence, especially women and children, though also for men and parents who are caught in a trap that, sadly, too often takes place within a so-called family situation.

FVPSA was the first Federal law to address domestic violence; and since the law was enacted in 1984, it has continued to focus on providing shelter and services for survivors and children exposed to domestic violence.

Every year, the National Network to End Domestic Violence conducts its annual census, which provides snapshot of domestic violence services provided nationwide during a 24-hour period. Last year, the survey found that, in Michigan, my home State, on just 1 day, 2,359 Michigan residents were given shelter or provided services through a domestic violence program. These are lives. 2,359 lives were touched with this program. This included over 1,600 victims finding refuge at a shelter or temporary housing arrangement, and over 400 calls to the Michigan Domestic Violence Hotline.

I have had the opportunity to visit the SIREN/Eaton Shelter, which provides indispensable services to the community surrounding Charlotte, Michigan. The mission of SIREN/Eaton Shelter is to promote the elimination of domestic violence and homelessness by providing temporary housing, support, advocacy, education, counseling, and information to victims and the community.

Whenever a victim reaches out for help, it is vitally important that they have access to safe refuge, the support services they need to protect themselves and their family, and hold their abusers accountable.

Congress plays an important role in protecting victims of domestic violence as well as children who are the victims of abuse. This important legislation helps keep the lights on at domestic violence shelters across the country so they can continue their efforts to break the cycle of abuse for generations to come and, ultimately, change history.

Mr. Speaker, a thank-you again to Representative Thompson for sponsoring this bill and giving us the opportunity to join with him, and also for holding this Special Order tonight to put faces, connect faces and lives to legislation that can make a difference.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, Michigan.

Henry Ford Allegiance Health has a remarkable history that began in 1918 when Mrs. Ida Foote donated the land for W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital in honor of her late husband, W.A. Foote. Foote Hospital, the name that life-long Jackson residents often still use to refer to their local hospital, merged with Mercy Hospital in 1975. In 1983, the two facilities combined and moved to the hospital's present location, adjacent to the original Foote Hospital building. In July of 2008, the system was renamed Allegiance Health System, and in 2016, Allegiance Health System joined forces with the Henry Ford Health System to create Henry Ford Allegiance Health.

This long-standing community institution has continued to expand as it has faithfully served the community of Jackson and beyond. Henry Ford Allegiance Health seeks to fulfill its mission to ``lead our community to better health and well-being at every stage of life.'' The 475-bed health system provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, including a unique 20-bed cardiac universal bed unit, an outpatient surgery center, a state-of-the-art cancer center, a Level II Trauma Center, a short-term acute care facility, a residential hospice facility, a Center for Health Innovation and Education, numerous preventive and well-being programs, and services that target the underserved. As a teaching hospital, Henry Ford Allegiance Health is uniquely positioned to train residents who will serve the next generation.

Henry Ford Allegiance Health is also nationally recognized for quality and patient safety. It has earned many awards and distinctions such as the Foster G. McGaw Prize, the Everest Award for National Benchmarks, and the CareChex Patient Safety & Medical Excellence Award, as well as being named multiple times as one of Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals.

The present staff of more than 400 physicians and 3,700 staff members are committed to providing quality care for those that they serve. Led by long-time CEO and President Georgia Fojtasek, Henry Ford Allegiance Health continues to build upon a rich history that has spanned a full century.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Henry Ford Allegiance Health's tradition of health care excellence as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, as I travel Michigan's Seventh District, from neighborhood stores to the factory floor, there is a renewed sense of optimism. Folks I hear from feel safer and more secure about the future.

The economy is thriving thanks to progrowth policies like tax cuts and regulatory reform. Businesses are hiring, and there are more job openings than job seekers, and workers and families are seeing bigger paychecks and more take-home pay.

It is not just our economy that is getting stronger; our military is as well. We are taking care of our troops, raising their pay, and reforming the VA to help our veterans. We have also taken significant steps to combat the opioid epidemic, crack down on human trafficking, and make our communities safer.

Is there more work to do? Absolutely. Our focus will remain on helping to improve people's lives and making it easier for them to get ahead. The results so far are clear: Americans are better off now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. I also thank my colleagues and sponsors of this legislation, Representative Thompson from Pennsylvania and my good friend from Illinois, Representative Krishnamoorthi.

As I have met with students, teachers, and employers in my district, I have consistently heard the need to expand CTE opportunities and invest in a skilled workforce.

In today's economy, we need to celebrate the fact that not everyone follows the same path. While many students pursue 4-year degrees, many others know their sweet spots lie somewhere else.

Career and technical education provides students with hands-on experience that can lead to a good paying job and a rewarding career.

I am also pleased this bipartisan legislation includes my provisions to address unnecessary and duplicative licensing requirements that act as a barrier for workers trying to get their foot in the door.

I commend my colleagues on the Education and the Workforce Committee for making it a priority to modernize and strengthen CTE programs.

Coming from a manufacturing hub like Michigan, this bill will make a big difference for the hardworking men and women of our State.

Let's pass it today and help every American pursue their personal paths to the American Dream.

Mr. Chairman, I am grateful for your leadership and for the work my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee are doing to tackle the opioid crisis.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. Everywhere I go around Michigan, I hear about the opioid crisis plaguing our State and country. It is a deeply personal and painful issue for many of our friends and loved ones, including the family of Jessie Grubb, whose life was cut short. Her family grieves that a mistake was made that, because of our legislation, hopefully, will never happen again.

Over the past 2 weeks, the House has considered more than 70 bills to enhance treatment and recovery programs, increase prevention efforts, protect communities, and fight the synthetic drug fentanyl. These measures include two bipartisan bills I introduced with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. They have been incorporated into legislation we are voting on today, including Jessie's Law.

This is an urgent crisis, and I urge the Senate to take swift action and advance these solutions. There is not a moment to waste.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for working with me on this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5009, Jessie's Law.

Everywhere I go in Michigan, I hear about the opioid crisis. It truly is the crisis next door. For many of our friends and loved ones, the terrifying realities of addiction are difficult to escape.

The story behind Jessie's Law is a tragic one. The bill is named in memory of Jessie Grubb, a young woman living in Michigan at the time she died of an opioid overdose. Jessie was training for a marathon when a running injury required her to undergo surgery.

Before the procedure, Jessie and her parents informed the hospital that she was in recovery from addiction; however, that information never made it to her discharging physician. Jessie was unknowingly discharged from the hospital with a prescription for oxycodone, which ultimately led to her death. If Jessie's history of addiction had been noted on her chart in a manner similar to other potentially lethal medical concerns, like a drug allergy, Jessie might still be here today.

Jessie's tragic story was entirely preventable and is an example of why we need commonsense legislation like Jessie's Law.

Jessie's Law will require the Department of Health and Human Services to establish best practices for hospitals and physicians for sharing information about a patient's past opioid addiction when that information is willingly shared by the patients with their doctor. By ensuring medical professionals are equipped with the right processes and tools to safely treat their patients, we can prevent future overdose tragedies like Jessie's.

Mr. Speaker, the opioid crisis is devastating the dreams of a generation. Let's pass Jessie's Law today and help save lives in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5041, the Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Act is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that simply allows trained hospice personnel to dispose of unused medications in a patient's home once the patient has passed away.

For patients in hospice care, opioid medication can be effective in alleviating pain associated with the end-of-life care. Unfortunately, current DEA regulations restrict visiting home hospice personnel from disposing of leftover medication after the patient has passed away. As a result, hospice staff must leave behind dangerous medications that have a high risk for diversion or misuse.

In my home State of Michigan, we have seen some real challenges with the diversion and misuse of leftover medications that have contributed to the opioid crisis.

Earlier this year, the Energy and Commerce Committee heard testimony that just one hospice, caring for 2,000 patients per year, might be leaving behind tens of thousands of pills in need of disposal each year. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 1.4 million Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in hospice care in 2016. This means hospice workers across the country are potentially leaving huge quantities of unused medication in a home after a patient's death.

Mr. Speaker, we must act to curb the diversion of these powerful prescriptions. We know that, tragically, many people begin the cycle of addiction through the misuse of prescription medication. Hospices and hospice personnel could play a key role in stopping that cycle before it begins by ensuring powerful drugs are disposed of in a responsible manner once they are no longer needed by the intended patient.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the committee staff for all of their hard work in getting this commonsense bill on the floor today, as well as my good friends Representative Debbie Dingell, who worked closely with me on this legislation, and Representative Richard Hudson, as well, for their support on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5041.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my commonsense amendment to ensure our Nation's injured and amputee veterans will continue to have the ability to choose the orthotist or prosthetist that best meets his or her healthcare needs, whether that practitioner is a VA employee or a VA-contracted provider.

The VA currently is proposing a rule that I fear will reverse a decades-old policy of allowing injured and amputee veterans to choose who provides their artificial limbs and orthotic braces. The VA would have the sole authority to make what they describe as this ``administrative business decision.''

But choice of provider is a clinical decision and an important patient protection. These men and women have sacrificed greatly for our country and it is imperative we do everything we can to make sure they receive the timely and patient-centered healthcare they have earned and deserve.

O&P care is very intimate and specialized, and the correct practitioner for that veteran makes all the difference in the lifestyle the veteran leads. We should do everything we can do in our power to make the often difficult and frustrating transition from service to civilian life as easy as possible, especially when veterans have incurred a disabling condition.

This has been a very important issue to me, and I would like to take the time to thank my colleague, Representative Rutherford, for working with me on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to thank both the Appropriations Committee and the Veterans' Affairs Committee for working with me on this important and timely issue.

Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and empower our veterans in making their personal healthcare decisions, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his commitment and I certainly respect his position and that he will carry that out. I have legislation to do this, but this is the opportunity to at least make the point and give some certainty to our veterans that their care has and will be taken in deep and grateful consideration.

Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and empower our veterans in making their personal healthcare decisions, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michigan International Speedway as they celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2018.

Located in my district in the heart of the beautiful Irish Hills, Michigan

International Speedway is one of the Nation's premier racing facilities. Throughout the season, MIS will be commemorating this milestone by showcasing many of the memorable moments and drivers in the track's history.

I look forward to joining everyone to kick off their first NASCAR race of the year, which is just weeks away. In addition to NASCAR, MIS offers year-round entertainment and festivals, making it a leading tourist attraction for people near and far.

Through their extensive charity work and programs like the Spirit of America Blood Drive, MIS is actively involved in improving the community and impacting lives.

Mr. Speaker, Michigan International Speedway is a staple of our community and the world of racing. We are fortunate to have them in the Seventh District.

Here is to 50 more years of lasting memories for fans and drivers alike.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Foxx for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's emphasis on preparing people for the real world through educational experiences that expand not only their abilities, but also their dreams. A lot of times the best education takes place when a person is dreaming. I have seen a lot of things happen in Michigan as a result of people all of a sudden being caught with a sweet spot dream saying, ``Could I do that?'' and they have done it.

Since coming to Congress, my top priority has been creating good- paying jobs and growing a healthy economy in Michigan. We have had our challenges. We are delighted to see some very positive things taking place in Michigan, and specifically in my district. That is why every year we hold a large job fair at multiple places in my district. We had one just last week, in fact.

Over the years, we have helped the hardworking men and women in our communities find employment, further their education, and pursue career advancement opportunities. That is a key: to let them know that they can advance; they are not stuck; you can always move on.

When we did our first job fair back in 2011, the national unemployment rate was around 9 percent. Now it is down below 4 percent for the first time since 2000.

As our economy continues to thrive, there are currently 6.6 million job openings waiting to be filled across the country, and businesses are anxious to hire workers with the right experience to fill them.

I just met with six of those employers just before coming here, and their only concern is: How do we fill the jobs that we have to take on all the contracted projects in construction that we have?

My colleagues and I on the Education and the Workforce Committee are working in a bipartisan way to help bridge the skills gap by expanding career and technical education.

In today's economy, we need to celebrate the fact that not everyone follows the same path. That is a good thing. We need to move beyond the notion that a 4-year degree is the only way to climb the ladder of opportunity.

In Michigan, we have a number of community colleges, career centers, and school districts leading the way in career and technical education. I think they have heard Chairwoman Foxx speak and they have gotten the point. We let it slide too long, and now we are picking up. These programs have helped numerous students thrive and develop a diverse and marketable skill set that prospective employers are seeking.

The bipartisan legislation we passed in the House will strengthen CTE programs to help more students obtain the in-demand skills and jobs of the future. The House-passed bill will also remove unnecessary and duplicative licensing requirements that act as a barrier for workers trying to get their foot in the door.

Coming from Michigan, we have a long and rich tradition of manufacturing, engineering, and other highly skilled fields. Our State's hardworking men and women are second to none.

I am here tonight to say let's keep up the momentum. Let's continue to invest in building a talented and dynamic workforce and help prepare our people for a lifetime of success. And, oh, may I add, enjoyment in a sweet spot that they have found by being educated for the real-world jobs that make a difference.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the opportunity to speak on this issue tonight.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. Speaker, on that very point, I think it is crucial to understand that, if we are going to get people educated for real- world jobs, we are going to have to sometimes move the whole system out of its comfort zone, and that means higher education as well. It can't be assumed that that is the only game in town when, in fact, employers are looking for something in certain cases very different and very unique and very specific, custom made to fit those jobs.

Then, as the gentlewoman knows better than probably any of us, these same employers will add to the benefit by adding additional training opportunities for these good employees to continue to upgrade their skills with more education. That is where we see higher education is going to have to compete and come to an understanding that it is a different world now and there are changes that have to take place if we are going to continue to succeed. I appreciate that point, and we need to get it done.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his good work in organizing this Special Order this evening.

The tragic opioid epidemic has, unfortunately, become a major part of our national conversation, and that is what brings us here tonight, to raise awareness and continue our push for bipartisan solutions.

I am grateful for Chairman Walden's and Chairman Burgess' leadership and the work of my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee doing a lot of work to tackle this public health crisis head on.

Too many Americans from all walks of life and from all parts of the country are facing the terrifying realities of the opioid crisis. It is a deeply personal and painful issue for many of our friends and loved ones.

I recently held a number of community forums in my district to collaborate with local leaders and hear from families whose lives had been swept up by the opioid epidemic. At one of those events, I joined with my good friend, a very successful electrical contractor, Mike Hirst, to speak with students at Jackson High School about the dangers of drug addiction.

In 2010, Mike's son, Andy, died of a heroin overdose at the age of 24. This tragic loss has led Mike to dedicate himself to sharing the experience of his son's death and helping educate the community. Mike started a foundation in honor of his son and called it Andy's Angels, where he has counseled addicts, supported families, mentored at-risk youth, and more. People like Mike are making a real difference, and I am committed to ensuring that the Federal Government is a strong partner in this fight.

Thanks to this committee's leadership, we took significant strides last Congress with the 21st Century Cures Act and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, but we need to redouble our efforts.

One example is Jessie's Law, which is a bipartisan bill I introduced along with my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. It is named after Jessie Grubb, who tragically died of an opioid overdose in Michigan in 2016.

Jessie was a recovering addict doing very well, who was unknowingly discharged after a surgery from the hospital with a prescription for oxycodone that ultimately led to her death. It is a heartbreaking and entirely preventable story, and it is why we need to pass Jessie's Law so medical professionals are equipped to safely treat their patients, prevent overdose tragedies, and ultimately save lives.

I am working with Congresswoman Dingell as well on another bipartisan bill, the Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Act. Our legislation will help prevent the misuse or diversion of unused medications by equipping hospice professionals with the legal authority to safely dispose of unused drugs after a hospice patient's death. Many patients receiving hospice care need painkillers to help with end-of-life pain, but any leftover medications can, unfortunately, end up in the wrong hands, and we need to stop that from happening.

The committee has made addressing the opioid epidemic a top priority, and these are just two of many legislative solutions that we will hear tonight. This is an urgent crisis, and I stand ready to continue working together to advance a bipartisan and comprehensive response, and I thank the leadership for taking this on. There is not a moment to waste.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deputy Andrew Jenkins of the Eaton County Sheriff's Department for being awarded the Congressional Badge of Bravery. He is only the second law enforcement officer from Michigan to ever receive this high honor.

On the evening of December 20, 2016, Deputy Jenkins was the first emergency responder to a Delta Township residence which was already in flames. Although he had no protective clothing or equipment, he immediately entered the home, finding three family members, two of whom were disabled and unable to walk.

He subsequently rescued all three occupants, carrying the disabled individuals to safety as the fire continued to spread, putting himself in great danger. All three residents and Deputy Jenkins were hospitalized and treated for smoke inhalation, and one person was subsequently treated at the University of Michigan burn unit.

If Deputy Jenkins had not acted so quickly that night, three lives may have been lost. His heroism and selfless actions that night clearly established why Deputy Jenkins is so deserving of the Congressional Badge of Bravery.