Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

Madam Speaker, employee-sponsored coverage is the bedrock of our healthcare system, and it is under attack by President Biden and the Democratic Party.

Despite its name, the Affordable Care Act did nothing to make healthcare coverage more affordable. In fact, it did the opposite. Health coverage is now more expensive than ever.

In 2008, before the passage of ObamaCare, the average annual premium for a family was $12,680. Today, it is $22,460. To make matters worse, experts say that 2022 is the calm before the storm, and employers are bracing for drastic cost increases in 2023 due to inflation, health worker staff shortages, and supply chain issues.

It is imperative that Congress address the affordability, transparency, and accessibility of healthcare. I have said this repeatedly: I will not stand by while the Federal Government burdens Americans with heavy-handed policies.

Now Democrats are using their self-made affordability crisis to move all Americans to Medicare for All. The Biden administration has continued its march towards total government control by illegally expanding ObamaCare subsidies. Expanding ObamaCare and its unfettered spending continues to drive inflation, adds billions of dollars to the Federal deficit, and makes health insurance less affordable.

Despite the pandemic being over, President Biden has also failed to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, PHE, prolonging Americans' dependence on the Federal Government.

The American people deserve to know the Biden administration's plans to wind down the PHE and transition the procurement and distribution of

COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and testing to the commercial market quickly.

Furthermore, it is imperative that we continue to protect access to telehealth as part of this off-ramp plan. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that virtual visits can fill glaring gaps in healthcare access nationwide.

Congress allowed coverage for pre-deductible virtual visits for the duration of the PHE. Around 90 percent of high deductible health plans took advantage of that provision this year, up from approximately 80 percent in 2021 and 60 percent in April 2020. This is clear proof that Americans need and are making use of increased access to telehealth.

President Biden and Democrats may not have a plan to address these critical issues, but Republicans do. For the past year, House Republicans have worked to create the Commitment to America which includes policies to strengthen employer-sponsored coverage by increasing competition in the healthcare market, promoting price transparency, and lowering health coverage costs.

Republicans also have plans to help employers lower costs by expanding access to association health plans and tax-advantaged health savings accounts. We plan to remove barriers that currently prevent employers from participating in advanced payment initiatives.

We will reduce the administrative burden on business owners created by outdated ObamaCare paperwork mandates, and we will promote policies that transfer control of health spending back to the patient.

We must shed the layers of bureaucracy blocking Americans from understanding the true cost of their care. This includes codifying the Trump administration's price transparency rule and building on the price transparency provision in the No Surprises Act.

Time and time again, the Biden administration has failed to make the best use of taxpayer dollars. Democrats champion the idea of ``health for all'' and ``universal coverage,'' but they seriously fail to consider the adverse impact their policies have on inflation, costs, access, and quality.

By contrast, Republicans will build on the bedrock of our healthcare system--employer-sponsored coverage. We are committed to making employer-sponsored healthcare and the healthcare market more affordable, transparent, and competitive.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Ellzey for giving me the opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, President Biden is turning the Federal Student Loan Program into a titanic heading straight for an iceberg.

The Biden administration's changes to these programs will make a bad system worse.

For starters, President Biden's sixth extension of the student loan repayment pause brings the total cost of this unjustifiable policy to $195 billion. This is foolish by every measure.

Most college-educated workers were not the ones to lose their jobs during the pandemic and were able to adjust to flexible work arrangements, so why are they getting special treatment from the Biden administration?

Would it be fair to force student loan borrowers to pay off the car and mortgage loans of the millions of blue-collar Americans who lost their jobs because of forced economic shutdowns? The answer is a resounding no.

To add insult to injury, President Biden is falsely promising a $400 billion bailout knowing full well this illegal, disgraceful action will likely get struck down in court.

Using the livelihoods of 40 million borrowers to score political points at the expense of hardworking taxpayers and the next generation of students is politics at its worst.

President Biden's use of the executive pen to stab taxpayers in the back doesn't end there.

Since taking office, President Biden has been canceling massive amounts of loans under the guise of ``fixing'' broken programs. The very programs Democrats themselves created, including nearly $50 billion through the administration's illegal waivers.

This is a blatant disregard for the rule of law. Our student loan system already operates in the red, and these changes will ensure it costs taxpayers even more.

Yet, it is only the tip of the iceberg.

Indeed, the Biden administration's new income-driven repayment plan, IDR, will turn Federal student loans into untargeted grants costing taxpayers a fortune in the process.

Because President Biden couldn't get his radical agenda through Congress, he is dismantling the Federal student loan program and pushing Democrats' free college plan by executive fiat.

Between slashing payments for high-income graduate students to expanding the number of individuals who will receive forgiveness, economists and policy experts agree that the average student loan borrower will pay roughly half of what he or she owes if this plan is enacted.

This is not what taxpayers signed up for when the program was created, and it is certainly not the plan Congress wrote and passed.

These changes will have long-term consequences because they create perverse incentives for over-borrowing. Why would students make smart financial decisions when they know Uncle Joe or another administration will pay off their loans?

Instead of solving the problem for all borrowers, President Biden is sticking future borrowers in a ship with cracks in the hull.

These foolhardy changes will accelerate tuition, inflation. With taxpayer-subsidized tuition, colleges and universities will have no incentives to keep costs down. It will also turn more postsecondary institutions into degree mills.

The only thing loan forgiveness does is encourage colleges and universities to offer even more degree programs they know do not pay off once students enter the workforce.

Our country needs reforms that can right the ship, not sink it even deeper into a fiscal abyss. Republicans are proposing commonsense solutions that will make the Federal student loan program seaworthy.

The REAL Reforms Act provides targeted relief for those that need it most instead of stealing from taxpayers to provide ineffective and expensive bailouts.

This legislation also provides practical solutions for the underlying problems plaguing higher education.

These are the kinds of policies we need, policies that will make our Federal student loan program capable of serving borrowers without throwing taxpayers overboard.

Mr. Speaker, on December 8 the House passed the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023 on a bipartisan basis.

I am particularly proud to see that my amendment, the Defense Maintenance Data Transparency Act, was included in this crucial package.

The challenges facing the Department of Defense's inability to access

necessary data to award truly competitive contracts to small businesses in America is unacceptable.

My amendment would direct the Secretary of Defense to clarify existing, ambiguous terms in the U.S. Code as well as in DOD's acquisition regulations that, once corrected, will help the DOD access the data it needs to promote greater opportunity for small businesses to compete for maintenance service contracts and has the potential to save millions of taxpayer dollars.

Greater competition within the defense industry means more value for every hardworking taxpayer in America.

Madam Speaker, for the sixth consecutive year, Appalachian State University has led the entire Nation in the number of alumni who have become National Board Certified Teachers.

Indeed, this is a monumental feat. This accolade not only speaks to the caliber of Appalachian State's alumni, but also to the university's commitment to prepare talented individuals who will go on to make a profound impact upon our society.

Under the steadfast leadership of Chancellor Sheri Everts, and thanks to the dedication of countless members of this university, Appalachian State's excellence continues to be recognized on the national stage.

Congratulations to Appalachian State, the Reich College of Education, and its many alumni on this wonderful accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, there are many wonderful people who work in and around the House to help us do the people's business. Some are very visible, and some are less so. Often the less visible are some of the most valuable in many ways.

One of those people is Patricia Smith, Pat, who is a true patriot and works hard every day to serve others. Ms. Pat prepares and serves food in the Republican Cloakroom. She is unfailingly sweet and caring, not only to Members but to everyone.

In addition to her service in the House, Ms. Pat serves at her church and volunteers on weekends, feeding the homeless. She lives her faith every minute of every day.

As Saint Francis said: Preach a sermon every day. When necessary, use words.

Ms. Pat does not need to use words. She lives the Gospel every day. She will soon be retiring, and she will be greatly missed.

Congratulations, Ms. Pat, on a life well lived. I will miss you and your example more than you can know.

As we say here sometimes to save time, I certainly associate myself with the very eloquent words of Congressman Kelly. He is so good. You see that he needed no notes. He can just come up here and speak without anything.

This is a tough day for me to come in and talk about your leaving, Congressman Keller, but we want to let you know how much we appreciate you. That is why we are here.

One thing I have learned about Representative Fred Keller while serving with him in Congress is that he is someone who always shows up prepared to work on behalf of job creators and workers, and he is committed to upholding the Constitution.

I am so glad your staff and family are there in the gallery with us today because I know they have heard positive things about you before, but I think it is helpful for them to hear us come here today in this special place to say these things to you.

I have greatly appreciated and admired Fred's strong commitment to conservative principles. As a businessman and job creator himself, he knows the free market works and is dedicated to protecting it.

It is clear why Fred recently received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business.

His stalwart defense of limited government and fiscal responsibility will serve as an example to current and future lawmakers alike.

Fred has been an important leader on the Education and Labor Committee. As the Republican leader on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Fred worked hard to protect the rights of workers and job creators.

He was well suited for this function because he has real-world experience in business. Managing a plant of 250 people for 25 years gave Fred the experience needed to serve our country's workforce. The committee and this Congress have benefited from his insight and wisdom.

I have also admired Fred's commitment to the sanctity of life, which has been second to none in this body. I will never forget the story Fred told during a hearing that none of us had ever heard before and were not expecting to hear.

The story was about his son, Freddie, who suffered a traumatic brain injury at a young age. Doctors told Fred and his wife that there was zero chance his son would recover. Despite pressure from doctors, Fred and his wife refused to take their son off life support. Freddie recovered and is now in his thirties, working for the healthcare industry. What a victory for parents' love for their son and the principle of life.

Fred's commitment to life didn't end back in his son's hospital room. It is something he has been dedicated to throughout his life.

No matter where he goes, Fred wears a pin on his collar that represents the exact size and shape of baby's feet at 10 weeks after conception. It is a daily reminder that life is sacred, and it is our duty to protect the most vulnerable.

It is no surprise that Fred received an A-plus rating on the Susan B. Anthony List National Pro-Life Scorecard.

As he said on the House floor: If my time in Congress is to be remembered for one thing, let it be that I fought to defend the sanctity of life.

You have certainly done that, Fred.

Congressman Keller, we will remember. We will remember that you stood against the Democrats' radical pro-abortion agenda. We will remember that you stood up for the conscience, rights, and religious freedoms of healthcare workers. We will remember that you gave a voice to the 63 million unborn babies killed in the womb before they had voices.

Today, when our first freedoms are called into question, we need leaders who will take a stand without wavering and defend our constitutional rights. That is exactly what Fred did when he introduced the Restoring Academic Freedom on Campus Act. Defending the freedom of expression on college campuses is imperative, and I appreciate Fred's work on this issue.

The freedom to speak and think freely comes from God. Students should not have to sign away their First Amendment rights after enrolling in college, especially if those institutions accept taxpayer funds. It is time for colleges and universities to be held accountable when they refuse to protect the free speech of students and faculty.

I also greatly appreciate how Fred led the Congressional Review Act resolution against OSHA's tyrannical vaccine mandate. Fred used every legislative avenue to help nullify President Biden's emergency temporary standard that would have forced millions of workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine or face losing their jobs.

His commitment to protecting the individual liberties of every American stands out. When OSHA finally withdrew this authoritarian measure after losing at the Supreme Court, Fred and I celebrated.

This is a lesson to us all. Even when the hill is steep, we must fight on. In this case, standing up for the Constitution saved so many Americans from being coerced into making a medical decision they were uncomfortable with. We need leaders who have the courage of their convictions. Fred is such a leader.

Being a leader means having the prudence also to know which hills to fight on, which hills to abandon, and which hills are worth dying for. I believe Fred and I agree that the preservation of our God-given rights is worth any and every sacrifice, and that is why it has been an honor to serve alongside him.

Common cause always creates uncommon bonds, and I will miss you as a partner.

Lastly, Fred has something that far too many of our national leaders lack: humility. Fred has always cared more about service than the spotlight.

Saying Fred will be missed is an understatement. He is what every statesman should be: prudent, decisive, and gracious.

Congressman Keller, we wish you the best in your future endeavors, knowing that whatever you do next will be in further service to the American people.

From a grateful country and from someone who is honored to call herself your friend, thank you for all you have done to protect freedom and constitutional government. You will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, the House is losing many fine Members at the end of this session, and I wish them all well. There is one retiring Member I want to say a few words about today.

That Member is my good friend, Louie Gohmert.

Louie and I came to Congress in the 109th in the year 2005 in a relatively small class. But that class had five fine Texans, three of whom have already retired.

Louie Gohmert has been a great friend and an extremely dedicated patriot and Representative. He has been actually a great friend to all people in this body. He is kind and gentle. He is very serious also about the work that is done here.

I know he has often been frustrated by the actions of both the House and Senate, but he has continued to work diligently to make our country and, indeed, the entire world better.

The highest compliment I think I can pay him is that he is a good man who has always sought to do good.

Our country has been blessed by Louie Gohmert throughout his life, and I am sure he will continue to do good.

Mr. Speaker, I will miss Louie, but will pray that God will continue to bless him, Kathy, and his daughters.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize four members of the Boone and Church Band, who recently won the 95th Annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) National Convention Talent Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jaxton Boone, Ethan Church, Eli Church, and Walker Boone performed before a crowd of 62,000 at the convention and came away with a resounding victory, and they were the only applicants from North Carolina.

What is most impressive, Mr. Speaker, is the backgrounds of these young men. Eli, Ethan, and Jaxton are all current high school students, and Walker is a full-time college student.

Two others associated with the Boone and Church Band deserve recognition: Colton Boone, another recent high school graduate balancing college courses with a full-time job, and Lynn Church, a father who manages the group.

The six-member group has traveled across western North Carolina since 2016 and has performed at church services, fairs, and even festivals.

Mr. Speaker, I had the great fortune of hearing them this weekend at the Avery County Historical Museum, and I saw firsthand how great they are. While they make beautiful music, they also really enjoy themselves as they perform. It was so uplifting to be there to see that.

Their caliber of talent is awe-inspiring, Mr. Speaker. Based on the variety of songs that they perform, they use 10 different instruments, such as a banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and piano, to name a few.

Together, they blend a variety of music styles, including bluegrass and southern gospel. But what is truly magnificent, aside from their wonderful talents, is how these musicians live the truth found within the gospel every single day. The lives they lead and their relationship with God is directly reflected in the music they share with so many people.

Truly, they are a shining example of what makes western North Carolina so great.

Congratulations, again, to the Boone and Church Band on this wonderful accomplishment.

May God continue to bless them and their great work.

Save Franchisees

Mr. Speaker, the Biden administration's destructive regulatory agenda is jeopardizing the franchise model. President Biden will stop at nothing to advance big labor's agenda, even if it means harming workers. The Biden administration is working overtime to shove as many workers as possible into unions, regardless of worker preference.

The Biden administration's proposed joint employer rule will fundamentally destroy the franchise model by taking autonomy away from individual franchise owners, depriving them of the ability to run their own businesses.

Being able to own a franchise business, like a fast-food restaurant, is a ticket to the American Dream, especially for women and minorities.

Americans who invested their time and energy into building a business do not deserve to have it snatched away all because President Biden wants to appease big labor.

To save the American Dream for these businessowners and promote better opportunities for our entire workforce, Republicans will oppose this dangerous power grab. Instead, we will support policies that put workers and job creators first.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Randy Whittington, Gary Foster, Angela Rogers, and Joey Haney of the Retail Solutions Group in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

I was proud to join them recently at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their fourth, and largest, warehouse.

In the last few years, Retail Solutions Group has grown from fewer than eight employees to now over 200. This is a magnificent accomplishment.

Madam Speaker, North Carolina remains a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, thanks to people such as Randy, Gary, Angela, and Joey.

Congratulations to Retail Solutions Group on this new and exciting chapter. I look forward to hearing more about the strides you will make in the days and months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate the eighth annual National Apprenticeship Week. It is the perfect time to reflect on what is and what isn't working in our Nation's workforce development programs.

There are more than 10 million unfilled jobs in this country and nearly 6 million unemployed individuals. There is clearly a crack in the education-to-workforce pipeline.

The best way to address our country's skills gap and worker shortage is to promote workforce development programs that actually work.

I have been encouraged to see many businesses coming up with their own workforce development programs. Time and again, employer-led programs prove to produce the best results.

More industries are embracing apprenticeships as a solution for upskilling and re-skilling workers. As employers realize that baccalaureate degrees do not always prepare workers to fill needed roles, more alternative pathways will be needed.

Many businesses are already removing unnecessary degree requirements and are, instead, replacing them with apprenticeship programs. This is a great development for our country and our workforce.

Americans should not have to take out mountains of crushing student loan debt to study a subject that has nothing to do with their intended career, only to have to start from scratch once they enter the workforce.

For too long, the college-for-all mentality has pushed young people into obtaining a baccalaureate degree, regardless of their intended career. This mentality is slowly shifting, and our country will be better off for it.

Now that more young people are turning to apprenticeships, it is important to ensure that there are high-quality programs available.

We need apprenticeship programs that prepare workers for the open positions today, not the positions that were open yesterday. We need cutting-edge programs. One-size-fits-all, Washington-knows-best models are not the answer.

While President Biden touts his support for apprenticeships, his cancellation of employer-led apprenticeship programs tell a different story. President Biden supports only apprenticeships he can control.

Since terminating employer-led apprenticeship programs, the Biden administration has doubled down on support for the registered apprenticeship model.

Because this system, founded in 1937, has not been substantially updated in eight decades, it is not easily adapted for innovative industries. Using this model to expand and modernize apprenticeships would be like starting on a journey on an already-leaking ship. We can push as hard as we want, but in the end, the vessel can only take us so far before we sink.

It is time for a new system, one with employers in the driver's seat. Job creators know the tools workers need to be successful. Washington swamp dwellers, on the other hand, are clueless.

Why the Biden administration believes bureaucrats in Washington are more equipped to run apprenticeship programs than those on the ground is beyond me. It is no surprise that the vast majority of successful and thriving apprenticeship programs are led by private industry.

Take Kentucky FAME, for example. The Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education is a partnership of regional manufacturers that creates a pipeline of highly skilled workers through an earn and learn program. By the time participants are done with this program, they will have an associate's degree, an advanced manufacturing technician credential, and years of work experience, all with no student loan debt.

This organization operates in 12 States and has an 85 percent employment placement rate. This is an excellent workforce development model that other industries can learn from.

The more employers embrace apprenticeships, the better off our economy will be. The best way for our workforce to thrive is for the Federal Government to get out of the way and for industry leaders to lead the way.

So, for this National Apprenticeship Week, let's tell the Biden administration to stop putting special interests ahead of workers; let's recommit ourselves to empowering job creators to provide their own solutions; and let's support those jobseekers who want an opportunity to learn and earn at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, for a record-breaking 13th consecutive year, Old Dominion Freight Line has been named the number one National LTL Carrier for Quality.

Mr. Speaker, this is a tremendous feat, and one that underscores how this company has maintained a commitment to excellence since its inception in 1934.

Not only is Old Dominion a force to be reckoned with in delivering freight, both domestically and internationally, but it is also an economic driver in North Carolina.

Congratulations to Old Dominion and its countless dedicated employees. The work you do around the clock helps the world keep its promises.

Madam Speaker, ``The pandemic is over.'' That is what President Biden declared in an interview on ``60 Minutes.''

OSHA clearly hasn't gotten the memo, or it wouldn't be attempting to revive a COVID-19 emergency temporary standard, ETS, regarding healthcare workers and seeking to make it permanent.

Our healthcare industry is strained enough as it is without the Biden administration demanding additional burdensome COVID-19 requirements. This regulation is a perfect example of the left's hypocrisy.

President Biden can't have it both ways, pretending there is a permanent pandemic when he wants to further his own emergency powers and declaring it is over when he wants to tout his accomplishments.

It is time to let our medical professionals work in peace instead of having to jump through these unnecessary hoops. After all, the President said it himself: ``The pandemic is over.''

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank my good friend from California for yielding time.

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 7780, the Mental Health Matters Act, is a package of bills our country would be better off without. For example, Title VI of the bill, the Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act, contains dangerous policy which would threaten access to critical workplace benefits.

How would this legislation drive employers to drop benefits? H.R. 7780 allows the Department of Labor, DOL, to levy civil monetary penalties against plans and employers for ambiguous mental health parity violations.

Employers who offer mental health benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, ERISA, do so voluntarily. They should not be penalized for violating standards that are unclear and vague. Republicans and

Democrats alike support mental health parity, which is why Congress has passed multiple laws to ensure employers are able to meet mental health parity requirements.

Yet, despite receiving explicit direction from Congress outlining what DOL must provide to plans, the Department has yet to issue guidance. Employers and plans have been asking the Department for years to comply with the law and provide examples which illustrate compliance and noncompliance, recommendations to advance compliance, and clarifying information on how plans may demonstrate compliance.

However, instead of helping plans comply, DOL has blamed them for not being able to read the minds of Washington bureaucrats. Providing DOL with the authority to levy civil monetary penalties against plans and increase their risk of litigation will only force plans to drop mental health coverage.

This legislation would also increase DOL's budget for mental health parity enforcement by an additional $275 million over 10 years, a sure sign DOL wants to double down on its aggression toward employers. This money would be better spent on compliance assistance instead of targeting employers based on ambiguous standards.

Additionally, Title VII, the Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act, gets rid of arbitration clauses, class action waivers, and discretionary clauses in employee benefit plans. This opens the door to increased litigation against plan sponsors which could drastically increase the cost of administering these plans.

Democrats are treating ERISA arbitration like a treacherous backroom deal, but, in reality, arbitration settles disputes more quickly and more often in favor of claimants than litigation. The only people who benefit from months and years in litigation are trial lawyers.

This bill also contains provisions regarding the youth mental health crisis. There is bipartisan agreement that addressing the mental health of youth matters. However, we can't ignore the fact that Democrats exacerbated the youth mental health situation by prolonging school shutdowns.

At the behest of teachers unions, Democrat politicians from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to school district administrators kept classrooms shuttered, despite knowing that schools were not major vectors of spread and that children were suffering from this forced isolation. The results have been catastrophic.

In 2021, more than one-third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to one study, from February to March 2021, the number of ER visits by young girls for suspected suicide attempts was up by more than 50 percent compared to 2019.

School closures fail students, which is why we should be spending our time addressing the massive learning loss students suffered because of these shutdowns. This is a problem that cannot be neglected, especially if we want to see these young people have as bright a future as possible.

Lastly, H.R. 7780 includes the Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act, or RISE Act, the intent of which Republicans support.

While I agree that students with disabilities shouldn't have to jump through hoops to obtain accommodations at school, this legislation will have unintended consequences as currently drafted.

For example, this legislation forces colleges and universities to accept outdated documentation from students who are claiming disability status but who do not, in fact, have a disability. This legislation should have been debated with stakeholders before being rushed to the House floor, but, as usual, Democrats took a shortcut.

I encourage my colleagues to work across the aisle and utilize the deliberative process to form more commonsense and targeted legislation if they actually want to address our country's mental health situation.

H.R. 7780 is a bill that tries to do too much and none of it well.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. Chair, our colleagues keep saying the goal is compliance. Well, if the goal is compliance, then it is up to the Department to define the standard. Employers do not know what the standard is. Therefore, they do not know what is expected of them to comply.

Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).

Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain).

Mr. Chair, I would like to correct the record regarding a comment Chairman Scott made at the Rules Committee Tuesday that employers must offer mental health benefits.

Most health plans governed by ERISA are not required to offer mental health benefits. Let me repeat myself: Most mental health benefits offered by employers with ERISA plans are offered voluntarily.

Offering comprehensive health coverage is a valuable tool used to recruit and retain employees. When employers choose to offer mental health benefits, those benefits must be at parity with other benefits. What parity means is a matter of debate, which is the root of the problem here.

The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 required mental health parity for plans that choose to provide mental health benefits. When these employer-sponsored plans cover mental health benefits, they must abide by mental health parity laws.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 directed the Department of Labor to provide additional assistance to plans to comply with parity requirements. DOL has ignored Congress' mandate to provide additional assistance to plans and is instead expecting plans to read the minds of Washington bureaucrats or face litigation and fines.

The problem with this top-down approach is that employers do not have to subject themselves to DOL's whims. Employers are choosing to cover mental health benefits. They can just as easily choose not to offer mental health benefits if Washington is intent on making it too challenging or costly.

DOL should follow the law and issue additional guidance, specifically standards, to employers and plans.

Helping employers would undermine the Democrats' long-term goal of weakening employer-sponsored insurance and implementing government-run healthcare.

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

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

Mr. Chair, passing H.R. 7780 would do a disservice to students, workers, and job creators. This legislation has been weighed, it has been measured, and it has been found wanting.

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

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today to oppose the amendment offered by Representative Porter and Representative Trone.

Much of this amendment is well-intentioned. The amendment authorizes the Department of Education to conduct a study to better understand the prevalence of mental health disabilities and substance use disorders on campus.

The amendment also authorizes the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, to issue guidance to institutions on how they can continue to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other legal obligations, when serving students with mental health disabilities and substance use disorders.

However, this amendment has some issues. This amendment includes broader language that could allow the Department of Education to deviate from issuing guidance on complying with these existing laws and open the door for the Department of Education to speculate on a variety of other institution policies.

For example, language in this amendment could permit the Department of Education to prohibit colleges and universities from enforcing their codes of conduct when students engage in drug use that violate campus policies, which would make campuses less safe and less able to support students with mental health disabilities or substance use disorders.

Unfortunately, this amendment did not go through the normal committee process, where it would be my hope that much of this language could have been discussed and revised.

I believe we all want to ensure students struggling with mental health disabilities are provided the appropriate legal accommodations by their institutions. However, this amendment fails to do that.

Mr. Chair, I will oppose this amendment; I encourage my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, we are hearing a lot lately about how bills are imperfect, but we should go ahead and pass them.

Mr. Chair, we have an opportunity to improve legislation before we pass it, but there seems to be no appetite on the part of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to act in a bipartisan fashion to improve legislation.

Why in the world do we want to vote for things that are imperfect but could be improved when there is a will to do that on our side of the aisle?

It makes no sense.

This amendment needs work done to it before we could possibly support it, and I suggest that we set it aside--set the bill aside--and work on those things that need to be improved, demand that the Department of Education do its job. Clean this up. Then we could pass good legislation, maybe not perfect, but certainly better than what we are facing here today.

Mr. Chair, I agree, don't let perfect be the enemy of the good. For heaven's sake, let's pass good legislation, not legislation that isn't as good as it could be.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, ``no'' on the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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

Republicans are committed to addressing the Nation's mental health crisis, including in the workplace. Unfortunately, this amendment, while spending $30 million, puts the cart before the horse and does nothing to address the serious flaws in H.R. 7780.

If Democrats were serious about improving mental health resources and implementing best practices in the workplace, they would strike the provisions in the underlying bill that will make it more difficult for employers to offer mental health benefits.

Still, the amendment, as written, is not ready for prime time. First, I have concerns about the program's bloated $30 million price tag over 3 years. It is all too common for Congress to throw money at a problem without any oversight or accountability to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent in the most effective way possible.

The amendment also establishes inappropriate criteria for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, to examine. This includes how changes in workplace protocols or traumatic grief from COVID-19 in the workplace contributes to adverse worker mental health.

These criteria are overly prescriptive. Congress should let NIOSH do its job in determining what kinds of workplace factors contribute to poor mental health.

Further, the amendment directs NIOSH to report to Congress within a year on whether the best practices have been developed and adopted by relevant stakeholders. However, the Department of Labor's vague and unclear guidance on mental health parity makes it challenging for employers to offer mental health benefits; and H.R. 7780 would only increase the risk for employers offering mental health benefits.

I am disappointed by the lack of effort to develop a workable bipartisan solution to study the mental health of our Nation's workers before this flawed legislation was rushed to the floor by Democrats. This is a partisan amendment to a partisan bill, and a missed opportunity to improve healthcare for workers.

I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

As I stated on the last amendment, this bill needs a lot of work. Republicans are more than willing to work with our colleagues across the aisle to make the bill better, to make this amendment better.

Again, Democrats' favorite ploy to solve a problem is to throw money at it, but not have clear standards, not hold agencies accountable, and not have a clear plan.

Republicans have plans for how to get things done better in this country, and we would be so much better off if we could work in a bipartisan manner to bring bills to the floor; have them go through regular order; and spend time debating them together.

We want legislation that helps our situations in the country; not throw money at it; not just say, well, let's try this imperfect approach and see what will happen. Throw something against the wall and see if it will stick. That is a rotten way to run this country, Mr. Chairman. We can do better.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend roll call vote No. 454 and No. 453 on September 22nd.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 454, and NAY on Roll Call No. 453.