Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable student in my district with a heart for helping veterans, our military, and their families. Morgan Scarbro is a 14-year-old from Eaton Rapids who created a nonprofit called Morgan's HUGS.

Since the age of five, Morgan has been giving back to veterans. If there is a veteran in need, Morgan springs into action. She organizes donation drives and collects items like hygiene products, food, clothing, and more. When Morgan competes in beauty pageants, she encourages her fellow contestants to donate as well.

Morgan helps in so many other ways, too, including visiting veterans in nursing homes and putting her own Christmas on hold to give presents to military families.

Morgan's dad is a disabled veteran, and she has seen, firsthand, the sacrifices made by the men and women who serve our country. We owe them an immeasurable debt.

As Veterans Day approaches, may we follow Morgan's example and do everything we can to take care of our Nation's heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3441, the Save Local Business Act.

For hardworking men and women in this country, one of the most important relationships they develop in the workplace is the relationship they have with their employer. This relationship is paramount to every worker's success. It is a relationship that impacts their paycheck, their schedule, their benefits, and the future of their career.

Unfortunately, under the Obama administration, we repeatedly saw government bureaucrats pursue regulatory policies that harmed workers and small businesses. The National Labor Relations Board's decision in Browning-Ferris is a prime example.

In that decision, the Board placed itself squarely in the middle of the employer-employee relationship by redefining what it means to be a joint employer.

The Education and the Workforce Committee has been fighting to roll back this extreme joint employer scheme since it first took effect, and for good reason. It discarded settled labor policy and blurred the lines of responsibility for decisions affecting the daily operations of local businesses across this country. Quite simply, the scheme is a threat to jobs, entrepreneurship, and local employers across the country.

I have heard from small businesses and franchises across my district about how the new joint employer scheme will upend small businesses, undermine their independence, and put jobs, livelihoods, and dreams at risk.

It is time to settle once and for all what constitutes a joint employer, not through arbitrary and misguided NLRB decisions and rulings by activist judges, but through legislation. The Save Local Business Act will roll back this unworkable scheme and restore the same straightforward joint employer test that workers and job creators relied on for decades.

The Save Local Business Act is about providing certainty for job creators in each and every one of our districts. It is about keeping the American Dream within reach.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 3441.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3922. I want to thank Chairman Walden and Dr. Burgess for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today.

The CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act reauthorizes and funds a number of programs important to my constituents, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program, community health centers, and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program.

H.R. 3922 will continue CHIP for 5 years, allowing this successful Federal-State partnership to provide health coverage for low-income children and pregnant women. It also extends funding to federally qualified health centers for 2 years, a key component of the healthcare safety net; and helps address our increasing health provider shortages by investing in the education and training of future health professionals.

Of importance, this legislation is fully paid for with responsible policies, such as measures to allow States to disenroll lottery winners from Medicaid and prioritize the most vulnerable.

I am proud of the good work that was done by the Energy and Commerce Committee to advance this legislation to the floor, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill and to ensure the programs are available for the people who depend upon them.

Mr. Speaker, I, along with all of our American citizens, recoil today at the senseless and evil mayhem and killing that went on in Las Vegas. We pray for the families of those whose lives were lost, as well as those who are injured and suffering right now.

I, along with, I am sure, many Americans, recoil at senseless abuse of innocent animals that we love and we enjoy. But I wonder how many of us also recoil at the senseless abuse and murder of innocent babies in the womb.

I stand here today to support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, H.R. 36. I support it because it is backed by science. It protects the unborn from suffering. It saves innocent lives. It promotes American values, values that made this country great, that understand the sanctity of life and the beauty of our creator's evidence in this world today in human beings.

I ask my colleagues to join with me and many others this week as we support H.R. 36, and we say to our creator and our God: Thank you for innocent life itself, and may it be preserved and protected.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. David C. Puckett as he completes 35 years of service as CEO of American 1 Credit Union, headquartered in Jackson, Michigan.

In 1982, David Puckett began his journey as General Manager of a small, local credit union which had 15 employees and two locations. Today, American 1 Credit Union has nearly 200 employees, provides service to 56,000 members, and has 13 branches located across the state.

David Puckett not only effectively shaped the fiscal success of American 1 Credit Union, but also forged a lasting legacy of giving back to the people of Jackson County. Over the years, American 1 has funded and provided manpower to support many community programs such as Rose Pageant scholarships, the Rose Parade, the Kids Fest program and the American 1 Grand Prix.

Throughout his tenure, David has brought the private and public sectors together in ways that have benefited the community. The most noteworthy example of these partnerships is the agreement made in 2016 in which American 1 will donate $4 million towards the construction of a convention center in Jackson. The American 1 Credit Union Convention Center will be utilized for conferences, trade shows, weddings, and entertainment, and will foster the ongoing development of Jackson's downtown riverfront area.

David Puckett's leadership and spirit of cooperation will be remembered for years to come by all who continue to benefit from the results of his commitment. I congratulate David on an impressive career at American 1 Credit Union and wish him the best in the future.

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

Mr. Chairman, in recent years, we have seen a growing

number of instances where the government has confiscated private property from citizens and small businesses without any criminal conviction, or even criminal charges.

Under current civil forfeiture law, the system is ripe for abuse, and has undermined the constitutional rights of far too many Americans.

In response, 24 States and the District of Columbia have adopted reforms to their forfeiture laws.

However, through a practice known as adoptive seizures, Federal agencies, like the Department of Justice, can circumvent State and local laws to continue this practice.

In July, the Department of Justice announced a continuation and expansion of civil forfeiture, reversing a previous ban on adoptive seizures.

My bipartisan amendment, introduced with Representatives Cohen, McClintock, and Ellison, would prohibit funds for the DOJ to implement this expansion.

Our amendment is also supported by a broad and diverse coalition of organizations, including the American Conservative Union, the Institute for Justice, the NAACP, and the ACLU.

Today's vote takes an important step in halting the practice of adoptive seizures, protecting the rights of States and localities, and limiting some future abuses.

Ultimately, this amendment is a starting point, and we can't stop here. Congress must submit more comprehensive changes into law, changes like those included in the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act, my bipartisan bill, that calls for sweeping reforms to curb civil asset forfeiture abuse.

America was founded on the principles of due process and property rights, and these principles must be vigorously defended.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Cohen for yielding. I think that what he said is absolutely true. When you do a complete circle, you have come to a point of understanding that something is amiss, in good will we work together in a bipartisan fashion to fix it.

There can be useful issues relative to civil assets, but it needs to follow due process. Our civil liberties must be protected. We want to support law enforcement; it is a tough job. But, nonetheless, in our great country, liberty is still the most important ideal that we have, and the freedom that makes us different from other nations.

Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend for his support, and I would ask my colleagues to support it.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I, too, want to thank Chairman Cole for the good effort on this piece of legislation.

I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 3354 that would block the NLRB from enforcing the extreme and partisan ambush election rule. Under the ambush election rule, workers are being rushed into union elections before they have the opportunity to consider all the consequences.

According to one report, since the ambush election rule took effect, union elections have been organized 38 percent faster. Before this rule took effect, the union election process typically took 38 days. Now, workers may have as few as 11 days to consider whether joining a union is the best decision for themselves. Eleven days is simply not enough time for workers to make an important decision that impacts their job and their paycheck.

In addition to speeding up the process, the NLRB's rule greatly limits an employer's ability to communicate with its employees through the pre-election hearing process.

To make matters worse, employers have as little as 7 days to find legal counsel and appear before an NLRB election officer--7 days. This is a taxing time constraint, especially on small businesses with limited resources and a lawyer team that is nonexistent.

But workers are the ones who are really hurt the most. As a former union worker myself, I respect the right of workers to join a union, but they deserve a real choice in the matter and the opportunity to hear from both sides of the debate. At the very least, they deserve privacy as they come to their decision, but this rule forces employers to hand over their employees' personal information, including phone numbers, work schedules, home addresses, e-mail addresses, and work locations.

The NLRB should ensure fair and transparent elections. Instead, the board implemented a rule chilling employer free speech and restricting the rights of workers.

By adopting this amendment to block the ambush election rule, we can restore the rights of workers and employers in union elections.

I would note that there is still more to be done beyond blocking funding of this extreme rule. The Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, which I introduced earlier this year, would amend Federal law to ensure union elections are fair and prevent similar NLRB overreach in the future.

This commonsense bill was approved by the Education and the Workforce Committee, and it is my hope that it will come up for a vote in the House, but today we have an opportunity to take a first step toward putting an end to this radical scheme once and for all.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this amendment, as well as the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments of my colleagues from the Education and the Workforce Committee. We have debated that very clearly. We have discussed the fact that individuals ought to be able to make a decision and have a full understanding of what is available for them.

But when we talk about a streamlining rule, it only works for the union organizer. It doesn't work for the employee, and certainly not for the small-business person who isn't blessed with having a large lawyer team, attorney team, who can go into all of the background information to find out how, indeed, they even represent themselves and communicate with their employees in relationship to a union that is well-versed in what they will do with their challenge in the lawyered- up situation that they have.

It discourages any comprehensive study by the employee--let me state that again--by the employee of what they are looking at with union representation or without.

Seven days for a businessperson to get their act together is not a streamlining that works for them. It works for the union organizer alone, not the employee or the employer.

Mr. Chairman, I continue to state that, if we truly want our employees to make informed decisions with all of the information that can be available to them and the assistance needed so that both sides are served when they look for a final decision, we must do away with this rule.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pastor Frank Hampton, Jr., as he celebrates 50 years of ministry at the Church of God in Jackson, Michigan.

Over the years, Pastor Hampton has been a steady example of what it means to be a father, a pastor, a mentor, and a community servant.

In addition to faithfully shepherding his congregation, Pastor Hampton has served as a volunteer chaplain for Allegiance Health, counseled disadvantaged youth, and helped build strong leaders in the community.

He has worked in conjunction with Jackson's judicial system, Jackson Public Schools, Jackson County Jail, and the Interfaith Shelter.

The longevity of his service to his congregation and to the community is a reflection of his mission to make a profound difference in the lives of everyone he meets.

Pastor Hampton is a remarkable man of integrity, perseverance, and servant leadership. His 50 years of ministry have set the standard for our community. I congratulate him on his milestone and pray for God's many blessings in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, all too often, the important work we are doing in the people's House does not get the attention it deserves.

So far this year, we have rolled back 14 overly burdensome regulations from the Obama administration, saving taxpayers billions of dollars in the process.

We passed landmark reforms that are now law to bring greater accountability and better care to the Veterans Administration.

Here in the House, we kept our promise to rescue families from the collapsing ObamaCare law.

We have taken action to rebuild our military, give our troops the biggest pay raise in 8 years, and expand the GI Bill to improve educational benefits.

We have enhanced border security and public safety by passing Kate's Law.

And we have passed measures to strengthen career and technical education, combat human trafficking, and reform the FDA to encourage medical innovation.

Madam Speaker, these policies, and many more that are languishing in the Senate, will make a real difference in people's lives.

And we will keep working hard on the issues that matter, even if it doesn't always make the headlines.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Monroe County, Michigan's bicentennial celebration.

Founded on July 14, 1817, Monroe County is the second oldest county in Michigan and is named in honor of our Nation's fifth President, James Monroe.

Home to the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Monroe County takes great pride in preserving local history and telling the story of the War of 1812 and those who fought to secure our freedoms.

Monroe County is blessed with many precious natural resources, wildlife, and outdoor areas for the community to enjoy. Whether it is fishing for walleye on Lake Erie or watching waterfowl in the unique coastal marshes, the outdoor opportunities are the finest in the Nation.

Serving as an important transportation hub, Monroe County features the largest highway gateway into Michigan and the State's only international port on Lake Erie.

Monroe County is also known for its rich agricultural heritage, as well as its strong manufacturing presence, including the headquarters of furniture manufacturer La-Z-Boy.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend my gratitude to the many citizens and organizations that comprise the Monroe County Bicentennial Alliance. They generously gave of their time to coordinate a number of special programs and events throughout the year. It is an honor to join with them to commemorate this exciting milestone for Monroe County, a place where the community proudly comes together to make it a special place to visit and call home.

Congratulations, Monroe County, on 200 years. I look forward to celebrating it with you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the FDA Reauthorization Act, and I want to thank Chairman Walden and the other bipartisan leadership on the committee for bringing this bipartisan bill to the floor today.

As science and technology advances at a rapid rate, the potential for breakthroughs to treat and cure some of the worst diseases are truly within our reach; yet all too often, our laws and regulations are stuck in the past. That is why reauthorizing the Food and Drug Administration's user fee programs is so important.

This bipartisan bill builds off the important work we accomplished through the 21st Century Cures Act. It will help speed up the approval process for lifesaving drugs, foster greater competition, and bring down costs for patients. It will also help ensure America remains on the forefront of medical innovation and that good-paying jobs in the medical device industry remain here at home.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and together we can offer a healthier future for our patients.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2664) to direct the Secretary of Labor to train certain Department of Labor personnel how to effectively detect and assist law enforcement in preventing human trafficking during the course of their primary roles and responsibilities, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2664.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2664, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act.

Labor trafficking is the illegal exploitation of an individual for commercial gain. It knows no geological limits. It happens across our country and around the globe, including in my home State of Michigan.

Victims of labor trafficking are not a uniform group of people. Victims are young children, teenagers, men, and women.

In my home State of Michigan, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported over 38 cases in 2016 involving labor trafficking. This is a 52 percent increase in the number of reported cases since 2015.

Globally, the International Labor Organization estimates there are 21 million people trapped in forced labor.

The growing number of human trafficking cases is alarming and more needs to be done to identify victims, catch traffickers, and end this form of modern-day slavery.

In the course of inspecting workplace safety and labor law compliance within the United States, Department of Labor employees often have a front line to view and to identify patterns of labor exploitation. Providing these employees with the proper training to detect and respond to the signs of human trafficking is an important part of the larger comprehensive effort to eradicate this unthinkable crime.

The Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act would ensure the Department has a formal framework in place to detect trafficking and refer cases to law enforcement for prosecution.

Specifically, H.R. 2664 would:

Direct the Department of Labor to train appropriate staff on how to effectively detect instances of human trafficking;

Ensure personnel regularly receive information on current trends and best practices;

Allow flexible training options, including in-class and virtual learning options;

Establish a clear course of action for referring suspected instances of human trafficking to law enforcement; and

Require an evaluation and report to Congress on the implementation of the training and the metrics used to measure and track the agency's response to human trafficking.

Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest obstacles we face in the fight against human trafficking is awareness. H.R. 2664 will ensure Department of Labor employees have the right training so that they recognize and effectively respond to this modern-day slavery.

I also thank Ranking Member Sablan for his bipartisan support and work on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), the distinguished chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

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

Mr. Speaker, each year millions of men, women, and children are trafficked around the world, including in the United States. It is important that we combat this epidemic.

The Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act is truly a bipartisan bill that will ensure that those who are in the field have knowledge, skills, and tools that they need to identify instances of human trafficking, assist victims, and properly refer cases so perpetrators can be brought to justice.

I would like to reiterate my appreciation to Representative Sablan for his support and work on this important issue. This is truly a bipartisan issue. It is an American issue. It is a human issue.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 2664, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are a national treasure, and nobody knows this better than the people in my home State of Michigan.

Our environment, economy, and quality of life depend upon maintaining a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem. One of the most harmful threats are invasive species like Asian carp that decimate every ecosystem in their path.

Last week, we learned some alarming news when a live Asian carp was found just nine miles from Lake Michigan beyond the electric barrier. If Asian carp are able to infiltrate the Great Lakes, it would be devastating for Michigan's fishing, boating, and tourism industries and all the jobs they support.

The Army Corps of Engineers has completed a report called the ``Brandon Road Study'' that provides a roadmap of how to best prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. They should release it immediately.

We must take bipartisan action before it is too late. We simply cannot allow, Mr. Speaker, Asian carp to wreak havoc on the Great Lakes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for sponsoring this legislation.

I rise today to voice my strong support for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, H.R. 2353. In today's economy, we know that not everyone follows the same path into the workforce. Whether a student wants to pursue a

job in the auto industry, healthcare, energy, or IT, the reforms we are advancing will help aspiring workers get the hands-on experience they need to thrive in the 21st century workforce.

This bill is particularly important for my home State of Michigan, the heartland of American manufacturing, where high-skilled jobs are a vital component of our State's economy. I am also glad it includes my bipartisan provisions to address outdated and burdensome occupational licensing requirements.

As I meet with educators, workers, and manufacturers across my district, I consistently hear about the need to improve CTE programs and close the skills gap. Let's pass this bipartisan bill and help more men and women in Michigan and across the country secure fulfilling and good-paying jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carly Claucherty for being named a Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.

Carly recently graduated from Springport High School and was nominated for her outstanding work in their CTE agriscience program. She is one of just 20 students from around the country to receive this distinguished award.

In high school, Carly was active in Springport's Future Farmers of America chapter, served as president of the National Honor Society, and was involved in student council. This fall, Carly will be attending Michigan State University, where she tentatively plans to study crop and soil sciences.

Carly's selection as a CTE Presidential Scholar puts her in an elite group, but I suspect it is just a starting point for many more exceptional things to come.

Mr. Speaker, career and technical education provides valuable hands- on experience, and this week we will be voting for strengthening these important programs to help more students find their sweet spot, just like Carly did.