Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. House Of Representatives 20240713

The speaker the house will be in order. The prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. Eternal god, we give you thanks for giving us another day. Send your spirit of peace and calm that all might have confidence in your faithfulness to us. That no matter what lies ahead your grace is abundantly available. Now we approach a week during which all americans will gather to remember who we are. A nation generously blessed not only by you, our god, but by courageous ancestors faithful allies, and the best good wishes of people everywhere who long for freedom, who would glory in the difficult work of participative government and who do not enjoy the bounty we are privileged to possess. Bless the members of this assembly and us all that we would be worthy of the call we have been given as americans. Help us all to be truly thankful and appropriately generous in our response. May all that is done this day be for your greater honor and glory, amen. The speaker the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house her pproval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from new york, mr. Brindisi. Mr. Brindisi i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker the chair will entertain up to five requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition . Mr. Cicilline madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Cicilline i rise today to highlight the tremendous progress House Democrats have made to get government working for the people. In less than a year we have passed nearly 400 pieces of legislation, including more than 275 bipartisan bills that are currently sitting on Mitch Mcconnells desk. We passed legislation to protect coverage for preexisting conditions, to build on the progress of the a. C. A. , to drive down the costs of Prescription Drugs. We fought to get hardworking folks goodpaying jobs they need to put food on the table by passing legislation to raise the minimum wage, to ensure equal pay for equal work, and invest more than 70 billion in green job creating infrastructure projects. We fought to clean up corruption in washington by passing the most comprehensive anticorruption bill since watergate. Yet Mitch Mcconnell would rather tout himself as the grim reaper than vote on these bills that would help his constituents and the American People. I have a message for you, senator mcconnell, do your job or your constituents will pick someone who will. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to direct their remarks to the chair. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise . Ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized. Thank you, madam speaker. We are now in week two of the quote, public phase of Speaker Pelosi and chairman schiffs impeachment inquiry. What comes to mind is a song from 1980, r. E. O. Speedwagon. Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend. Thats the evidence that has been presented in private and in public. No substance. In fact, when you looked at mr. Morrison and mr. Ambassador volcker, both claim to have had firsthand knowledge, testified they witnessed no bribery, no quid pro quos, and no illegal actions by President Trump. Yesterday am was door sondland said, quote, i never heard from President Trump that the aid was conditioned on the announcement of investigations, end quote. Heres what it is. We are talking about innuendos, thoughts, feelings, but no facts. Thats whats happening thats whats happened in the scif whether it was rehearsed, thats what happened in the Public Performance these past couple weeks. What i say to my colleagues on the other side the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, you madam speaker. I rise today in support of the advanced manufacturing that is happening in new yorks medical device industry. Medical Device Companies across new york employ nearly 20,000 people paying good wages, helping patients live healthier lives, and making products here in the United States. Companies like welch allen and conrad are expanding manufacturing in upstate new york and creating hundreds of new jobs. This growth could be hurt if we see the return of the medical device tax. The current suspension of the device tax expires on december 31. Allowing this tax to return could erode gains in employment in the med tech sector from the last four years. Ultimately hurting innovation and Patient Access to new technology. I hope we can Work Together this year as democrats and republicans to delay this tax and keep supporting american manufacturing. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson madam speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Thompson thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, service plays an Important Role into communities across the nation. From small acts of kindness to grand gestures, we can all do our part to make a difference. Its something im personally passionate about having served as a volunteer firefighter for many years and being involved with scouting my entire life. Nobody embodies this Mission Better than the countless volunteers and Service Organization that is can be found nationwide. Thats why im honored to cochair the congressional Service Organization caucus with my colleague, congressman panetta of california. The Service Organization caucus is a group of members who not only support their local volunteer organizations but share a mutual admiration for Community Service and humanitarian assistance. The spirit of service is something that both republicans and democrats can come together to champion. Thats why congressman panetta and i are asking for the support of our colleagues in joining this caucus and upholding our support for these organizations and the communities they serve. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to speak directly to white house chief of staff economic mulvaney. Recent reports suggest you personally intervened to stop vietnam vets from getting health care. All just to save a buck. It sounds crazy, and it is. Thousands of veterans were affected by exposure to agent orange during the vietnam war and deserve to have health care. The v. A. Secretary tried to add four medical conditions caused by agent orange the list the v. A. Would cover. Economic mulvaney intervened to stop it. This issue is personal for me. My grandfather served in vietnam, was exposed to agent orange, and died from lung cancer. And sadly his story is not uncommon. I refuse to stand by and let other veterans die because they didnt get the health care they need. Thats not who we are. Our veterans fought to keep us safe and many sacrificed life and limb, the last thing they should have to do is come home to fight another battle for the health care they earned. There is still time to turn this around and i beg you to reconsider. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair. The gentleman has yielded back. For what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized. Madam speaker, i rise today to share my concerns with patients access to groundbreaking and lifesaving a. L. S. Treatments. This is a very personal issue to me as some of my Close Friends and neighbors have been affected by this difficult disease. I applaud the enactment of the right to try act, allowing some people another option to receive the treatments they need. However, this should not be the end of the conversation. And its important to acknowledge that the passage of this act has not opened all of the doors we expected and many are still denied access to treatments. The f. D. A. s lengthy approval process continues to limit Patient Access. At times forcing my constituents to spend large sums of money traveling overseas for treatment or more commonly, forfeiting treatment all together. The use of stem cells to treat a. L. S. Widely used even deemed safe in other countries has been studied in the u. S. For over 12 years and has yet to be approved despite its fast track status. Delaying approval of this treatment commonly known as neuron is putting lives at rifpblgt i urge the f. D. A. To prioritize its approval and give access to thousands of a. L. S. Patients. Had mr. Curtis with that mad chamaire, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california rise . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, the federal government is the nations largest purchaser of electricity. Yet it buys Renewable Energy at a rate that is far less than the rest of the country. With a Climate Crisis threatening ourmanet and our way of life, this is not acceptable. When we can and must leverage the resources of the federal government to accelerate the Technology Technological innovation needed to transition to a lean and green economy. That is why earlier this week i introduced the green energy for federal buildings act. My legislation would require the federal government to increase the share of electricity it gets from renewable sources. Under current law the federal government is only required to utilize 7. 5 Renewable Energy for its electricity needs. My bill would up the ante raising the requirement to 35 by 2030, 75 by 2040, and 100 by 2050. This crisis is upon us. We must have the strength and we must have the foresight to act decisively. Ms. Brownley and boldly. There is no time to waste. I yield back. Madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from North Carolina rise . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to celebrate the 78th anniversary of National Bible week. In this very bible the apostle paul tells us in second timothy chapter 4 for the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but have itching ears, will accumulate for themselves teachtories suit their own passions and turn away from listening to truth and wander off. Even as i look behind me at the words, in god we trust, i wonder if we as a nation are succumbing to what the apostle paul warned about 2000 years ago. There is a solution to this problem and its found in the very same chapter. He writes preach the word, be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, resort with complete patience and teaching. He writes in the prior chapter second timothy, chapter 3 that all scripture is breathed out by god and profitable for teaching for reproof for correction for training in righteousness, that person of god may be complete, equipped for every good work. So we see the people of his creation are intended for purposeful good works and we are guide food that purpose by god through the very scriptures we celebrate this week. Mr. Budd i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from New Hampshire seek recognition . I rise to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Good morning, madam speaker. I rise today on national turel health day to bring attention to the importance of health care in Rural Community across this country and New Hampshire. Ms. Kuster far too often there are substantial Health Disparities for those living in Rural America, our Rural Communities face growing and unique health care challenges. Exacerbated by distance and the time it takes to see a provider. Thats why i am a proud cosponsor of h. R. 4995, the Maternal Health Quality Improvement act. This legislation would create rural maternal Network Grant programs and ensure Maternal Health providers are eligible for telehealth. This is especially impact futh for Granite State families who face long distances and deal with extreme work force shortages that make it difficult to access much needed care. For them having access to telehealth for maternal care is a real life changer. For most all we must continue to support and lift up innovation, quality, and service of Rural Health Care providers and facilities. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today in recognition of two important events, november pulmonary hypertension awareness month, and National Adoption month. Pulmonary hypertension was first brought to my attention by my dear friend, jack, whose daughter had p. H. Because of her early diagnosis and his terrific leadership, emilys been able to lead a relatively normal life. Recently graduated college and married. However not all patients are as fortunate as she. Thats why can the work of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association is just so important. Their efforts to increase awareness and Research Across federal agencies is making a huge difference in lives across the nation im proud to represent the lone star chapter in the woodland, texas. November is also National Adoption month and its a cause i hold close to my heart because its thanks to miracle adoption i have my incredible family today. During this month we recognize and thank the adoptive parents, dedicated professionals, in the faithbased organizations who work tirelessly to provide our nations children with love and support. Mr. Brady madam speaker, i ask my colleagues to join me in raising awareness and saying thanks to these two great causes. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman rom connecticut seek recognition . Mr. Courtney madam chair, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and insert remarks xtraneous material on h. R. 1309, the Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act. Withoutker pro tempore objection. Pursuant to the House Resolution 18, the chair declares the house in the committee of the whole house on for the of the union 1309. Eration of h. R. The chair appoints the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Jackson lee, to preside over the committee of the whole. Is in the the House Committee of the whole house on the state of the union for the consideration of h. R. 1309 which the clerk will report by title. Clerk to direct the secretary of labor to issue an Occupational Safety and Health Standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social Service Industries to develop and implement a comprehensive Workplace Violence prevention plan, and for other purposes. The chair pursuant to the rule, is kred the first time is considered read the first time. Debate shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and member of the y education. N the gentleman from connecticut, mr. Courtney, and the gentlewoman from North Carolina, ms. Foxx, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the from connecticut. Mr. Courtney thank you, madam chair. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Courtney madam chair, vote on h. R. 1309 is an important milestone in what has process of year getting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to the tively act to protect health care and social Service Workforce from skyrocketing rates of violence. Sadly, in america today, nurses, doctors, social workers, nursing assistants are more likely to be the victim of onthejob violence than any ector of our nations workforce. This violence comes in the form of assaults, kicking, hitting, spitting from patients and residents and clients or those who may accompany them. Affects a workers sense of safety at work. Burnout, utes to absenteeism, high Worker Compensation costs and stress. It can also lead to death. According to the bureau of labor statistics, health care and workers are more than five times as likely to suffer a serious injury from violence than workers in other settings, and this chart, which shows the red line workers versus other sktors sectors in the powerfullyy vividly, demonstrates the data coming to the department of labor on this issue. Psychiatric hospitals, that number is drastically higher. 50 recent survey, nearly of Emergency Room Physicians report having been physically at work and 60 of those who have these occurrences happened in the past year. As this graph shows, these numbers are on the rise. Incidents of violence in workplace has increased 80 over the last decade. Osha has not effectively addressed this emergency, this bill is necessary to ensure that is issued and enforced in a reasonable period of time. The bill precedent, calls for an interim final standard within one year and a standard within 42 months. The Public Comment and preserved process is in the development of the final standard. Very simply, the standard by the bill would require that covered employers uch as hospitals and psychiatric facilities develop a Workplace Violence prevention to the ts tailored specific conditions and hazards present at each workplace. Onesizefitsall requirement. Mr. Chair madam chair, rocket ng a plan is not science. For over 20 years, osha has ublished voluntary guidelines on violence prevention that includes Training Staff about highrisk ntify patients, share the information with coworkers, not be alone dress can late threats. Threats. Late we know these measures work and the problem is there is no enforceable standard to ensure their application and thats precisely what this bill does. Not eliminate all attacks, we violent can cut the Workplace Violence. Nurses, doctors, social workers, e. M. T. s who care for and need s of crisis deserve to have these protections soon, not in seven is s, not in 20 years, as likely if we fail to pass this legislation into law, leaving own rulemaking to its ilatory, almost colome toes comatose devices. I want to thank Organizations Union representation who diligently fought for these protections for years, the alma adams, chair, the workforce subcommittee on education and labor, chairman bobby scott for their also to Richard Williams and jordan, our committee staff, whove done maria work, as well as from my personal office, who just worked night and day for ears to try and get us to this point. And with that i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina. For what purpose does do you rise . Ms. Foxx madam speaker, the metleman has yielded time to to speak on the bill. The chair you are recognized for such time as you may consume. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in opposition to workplace the violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act. Workers deserve to be kept out of harms way while on the job, allowing them to return home to their families and loved ones healthy and safe. Laboring to the bureau of and statistics, health care and ocial Service Workplace experience the highest rate of Workplace Violence, totalling 71 of all Workplace Violence injuries in 2017, and these are more than four times likely to suffer a Workplace Violence injury. Heres no question that these caregivers deserve meaningful but ffective protections, h. R. 1309 is shortsighted and partisan and fails to address an important issue in effective and feasible manner. Labor education and committees single hearing on this issue back in february, sides of the h aisle expressed a desire to work ogether to produce real policy solutions. Committee republicans believe there can be a bipartisan that se to this issue would aid in the rulemaking process and provide protection social h care and Service Workers. Instead, Committee Democrats ave decided to advance legislation that circumvents the longestablished rulemaking valuable d blocks input from workers and other stakeholders who know better to prevent ow Workplace Violence in these unique circumstances. Occupational safety and Health Administration, or osha, he federal agency that helps ensure safe and healthy work currently working on a Workplace Violence which includes gathering important Stakeholder Input to create the most and effective federal safety and Health Standard possible. Requiring osha to circumvent established under the procedures Occupational Safety and health ct and the administrative procedure act, h. R. 1309 would undermine and threaten this collaborative and evidencebased process by osha the ability to be responsive to important feedback rom the public and impacted stakeholders. R. 1309 severely limits the participation of industry, worker representatives, the tific community, and public from having a say in the development of a new comprehensive standard. Emocrats are rejecting a thorough complex and highly technical issue thats backed by meaningful input. Legislation turns a blind eye to comprehensive research and data. Agreed y, theres no upon set of policies to prevent and mitigate Workplace Violence health care and social Service Workers and researchers in the field have pointed out for additional studies to determine the most effective response. 2019, the centers for Disease Control and prevention said needed to earch was identify effective strategies hat prevent Workplace Violence and health care and social service in health care and settings. Vice in 2016, the Government Accountability office, g. A. O. , there have been a limited number of studies done on the effectiveness of workplace prevention programs, and g. A. O. Chose not to call on a standard blish without further study. Continuing with their record of haphazard legislation, democrats are pushing a false sense of urgency h. R. 1309. This bill wrongly implies that swift s should impose a and sweeping standard immediately, ignoring that enforcing ady Workplace Violence prevention. Occupational and Health Safety review committee, dudy clause al duty clause for health care afeties for not adequately addressing Workplace Violence. I remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that american to a 2018 Hospital Association survey, 97 respondents indicated they already have Workplace Violence policies in place. Matters even worse, h. R. 1309 mandates yet another costly regulation. Me imply put, financially struggling Health Care Facilities, such as rural ospitals and Small Businesses, cannot afford another costly connelly imposed mandate from washington. Will argue they didnt intend for the bill to have such coso e scope and tost much. What and to cost so much. What else didnt they intend to appen when they rushed through the process, forcing an overly prescriptive mandate on the public . Mr. Speaker, republicans are committed to ensuring that health care and social service orkers are protected from Workplace Violence. Theres bipartisan support for to createrent efforts a standard on Workplace Violence prevention. However, congress should aid in rulemaking process, not 1309 vent it, as h. R. Does. R. 1309 will likely have unintended consequences which health care pact and social Service Workplaces in addition to having a costly andate on Health Care Providers. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this unnecessary get to ion so we can solution. Bipartisan i reserve the balance of my time, madam speaker. The chair the gentlewoman from reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from connecticut is recognized. Mr. Courtney thank you, madam speaker. This is a e, bipartisan effort. There are 227 cosponsors in the and, eight republicans, again, weve had lots of engagement, accommodated a number of the issues that came at the public hearing process. Again, id just note, i appreciate the fact that the member spoke highly of oshas voluntary guidelines, i have in my hand here. Those are actually incorporated into the bill language for the so we final standard, are working exactly with the guidelines that she endorsed. Speaker, id now like to yield two minutes from an early this measure, the entleman from california, representative khanna. The chair the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Khanna thank you, madam chair. I thank the gentleman from tireless, for his bipartisan leadership in shepherding this bill to this historic point. Honor to work on the Health Care Worker portions of this bill and i am proud it will today. Madam speaker, i rise today in support of the Workplace Violence prevention for health are and social Service Workers act. For far too long, the workers the front lines of our communities have had to work conditions without adequate protection. Every day, our nurses and social Service Workers face high levels of dangers, levels most of us unacceptable in our own occupation. Their courage to keep working, of violence, risks exemplifies the selfless nature of health care. Bill follows what california has done in creating nationwide Workplace Violence prevention standard so people no in fear. Ve to work since the implementation of californias own standard, have care workers experienced market improvements in Workplace Violence prevention measures. The California Nurses Association reports that hospitals in california are increased security staffing, increased training, reporting. Ensive these commonsense protections did not exist prior to standard. s its time to expand these protections to health care and ocial Service Workers nationwide. This affects real people. Eve heard stories of people who have been injured, killed, whose families have been harmed ecause of this kind of violence. I ask unanimous consent to submit a letter for the record nurses united al in support of this legislation. Nurses united has boldly led on this issue for many years, including getting he standards across the finish line in california. I want to thank, again, the for eman from connecticut his leadership and i yield back the balance of my time. The gentlemans time has yielded back. The gentleman request will be covered by general leave. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina rise . Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chairman. To the three minutes gentleman from georgia, mr. Allen. The chair the gentleman from georgia is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Allen those who work in hospitals and social services are remarkable. They provide americans with compassion and care in some of lifes most difficult situations. But every day these workers face real risk of Workplace Violence. The bureau of labor statistics reports health care and social Service Workplaces have higher rates of Workplace Violence. No american should feel threatened while on the job. Thats why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or osha, has recently taken steps to work with stakeholders and Industry Partners to analyze the issue on how best to protect these workers. H. R. 1309 threatens this collaborative work and denies osha the ability to respond to feedback from the public and stakeholders. As a Small Business owner, i know that topdown mandates simply do not work. The bottom up approach is the tried and true method, gather input from all impacted before create agnewpolicy. This bill also lacks the Research Needed to identify and prevent Workplace Violence in these settings. 2340816, the Government Accountable Office said there hasnt been enough studies done on the effectiveness of Workplace Violence prevention rograms and that other osha needed to review it further. Then why do some of my colleagues think that its better than the industryle worker representatives and the Scientific Community and the public . Lets also not forget that rushed mandates like this one come at a cost. It the Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of private entities will be at least 1. 8 billion in the first two years if the rush osha rule is in effect, and 750 million annually after that. Its also estimated to cost public facilities at least 100 million in the first two years, and 55 million annually after that. When im back home in my district and talk to Health Care Providers the last thing they want is another costly mandate from washington. Lets not put the cart before the horse here. Workplace violence is a serious issue and it needs a serious solution. We should not pass this bill until we have a thoroughly vetted and researched fix. So let osha do their job to develop an effective solution by working with the very people that we are trying to help. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. Thank you. I yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from connecticut is recognized. Mr. Courtney very quickly the mandate cost that c. B. O. Scored, 1. 7 billion, thats spread out over 200,000 facilities. If you read their note closely. If you do the math, we are talking about a 9,000 cost per year for facilities. That, in my opinion, in terms of protecting the work force is not a high price to pay to making sure that the people who work there are safe. Madam chair, i now yield two minutes to the gentlelady from North Carolina, representative adams, the chair of the subcommittee on work force protections. I want to thank her for moving this bill this calendar year. The chair the gentlelady from North Carolina is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Adams thank you. I thank the gentleman from connecticut account. Madam speaker, i rise today to join my colleagues in strong support of h. R. 1309, the Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Services Workers act. Workplace violence impacts over 15 million Health Care Workers in this country. These workers offer critical assistance to some of our most vulnerable members of our society. They work in our hospitals. Our Nursing Homes. Our hospices and they do this in spite despite the fact that there are nearly five times as likely to suffer a serious Workplace Violence injury than workers in other sectors. Those statistics account for just physical injuries. When the body recovers from workplace assaults, these professionals are often plagued with career ending posttraumatic stress disorders for the rest of their lives. Im glad that the house is considering the gentleman from connecticuts bill today to finally compel osha to create a standard to protect these workers in their places of work. Madam speaker, it can take up to 20 years for osha to issue standards, as in the case of other standards. Health care and social care Service Workers cannot wait that long while they serve under the constant threat of violence. H. R. 1309 takes a different approach. It would require osha to issue an interrecommend standard requiring employees to develop and implement a Workplace Violence prevention plan within one year and final standard within 42 months. Contrary to the claims of my friends on the other side of the aisle, this is not a radical requirement. Osha has already held extensive Public Comment on this topic since 1996, and h. R. 1309 would allow osha to conduct a full Public Comment and hearing progress sess process before a final standard is issue. Our health care and social Service Workers cannot wait and neither can we. Madam speaker, id like to insert in the record a support letter from organizations representing our Nations Health care and social Service Workers, as well as support letter from aflcio. I ask the house to pass without delay the gentleman from connecticuts legislation. Madam chair, i yield back the balance of my time. The chair it the gentleladys time has expired. The materials will be covered by general leave. The gentlelady from North Carolina. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. Let me be clear, the safety of our Nations Health care and social Service Workers is not a partisan issue. Regardless of political beliefs, all of us in this chamber can appreciate the hard work and empathy that Health Care Workers and Community Caregivers demonstrate every single day on the job. Their dedication to caring for the most vulnerable members of our communities is extraordinary and these workers deserve our gratitude, our respect, and our commitment to ensuring they are safe on the job. The nature of work in these dristris requires health care and social Services Workers to interact directly with individuals who are experiencing tremendous stress, trauma, and grief. Which can cause situations to devolve and put workers safety at risk. American workers should be kept out of harms way on the job so they can return on to their every day healthy and safe. These care caregivers deserve protections, but h. R. 1309 is not the right way to address this important issue. Our Health Care Workers and caregivers deserve a thoroughly vetted and researched solution that protects them in the workplace. I think we can do better by working together. I yield and reserve. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves her time. The gentleman from connecticut. Mr. Courtney thank you, madam chair. Its my honor to yield three minutes to the gentleman from virginia, representative scott, the chairman of the committee on education and labor. The chair the gentleman from virginia is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Scott thank you, madam speaker. I want to thank the gentleman from connecticut for yielding and for his untiring leadership and Workplace Safety issues. I rise in support of h. R. 1309, the Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act. Health care facilities are where we should be going to get well, but too often hardworking, highly skilled employees of these facilities are regularly beaten, kicked, punched, and sometimes killed while performing their jobs. Health care and social Service Workers are four times as likely to suffer serious Workplace Violence injuries compared to workers in other sectors. Many can never return to work after the assault. The Government Accountability office has found dangers to such workers has gotten worse over the past decade. From 2008 to 2017 Workplace Violence indents rates more than doubled at private hospitals and Home Health Care services with the highest rates of violence found in psychiatric and Substance Abuse hospitals. Most acts of Workplace Violence and Health Care Facilities are foreseeable and they are preventable. By implementing Workplace Violence prevention plans. Although osha and the joint commission for hospital accreditation vs. Found issued authoritative guidance, voluntary efforts alone are not enough to ensure the safety of these workers. Currently osha has no standard for requiring health care and social Service Employees to implement Workplace Violence prevention programs and it takes the agency from seven to 20 years to issue a new standard. The new beryllium standard, which is just being finalized, has been under consideration for about 17 years. And that time frame is not unusual. Instead of waiting for years, or even decades for osha to act, h. R. 1309 would first direct osha to issue an interim standard within one year and a final standard within 42 months requiring health care and social Service Employees employers to implement a Workplace Violence prevention plan. Further it protects workers from retaliation for reporting assaults to their employers to government authorities. Furthermore, since Public Employees in 24 states lack any osha protections, this legislation requires Public Hospitals and Skilled Nursing facilities receiving medicare funds to comply with the Workplace Violence standards in this bill. Health care and social Service Workers play a Critical Role in health care for our families and our communities. At the very least we must do whatever we can to ensure these workers will come home uninjured at the end of the workday. Before i close, madam speaker, id like i would be quling leaving to enter into the record requesting leave to enter into the record from the education and Labor Committee involving Committee Jurisdiction and thank chairman pallone for his cooperation and moving this bill to the floor. I want to thank mr. Courtney, representatives alma adams, chair of the subcommittee on workplace protections for their leadership in advancing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support h. R. 1309. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlemans request will be covered in general leave. The chair the gentlelady from North Carolina. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. Yesterday the department of labor issued its fall 2019 regulatory agenda. The department announced plans to initiate a Small Business regulatory enforcement fairness act panel for the prevention of Workplace Violence in health care and social assistance in january. This is a very positive and important development. Unfortunately, h. R. 1309 encourages and allows osha to skip this important step of gathering feedback and advice from Small Businesses. All to satisfy the arbitrary oneyear deadline for issuing interim final standard. Shortchanging the views of Small Businesses at the expense of a rushed, sweeping, and overly prescriptive standard is not an appropriate tradeoff. Additionally, the legislative text and scope of h. R. 1309 are so prescriptive that osha wouldnt be able to deviate from the mandates in the bill even if the recommendation from the Small Business panel are contrary to that of h. R. 1309. The Trump Administration is moving forward with the rule making process. Rather than pass h. R. 1309, we should be allowing osha to do its work on a comprehensive standard, including soliciting necessary input from Small Businesses. Madam chair, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from connecticut is recognized. Million courtney thank you. Mr. Courtney thank you. Yesterday that notice went out scheduling that panel. I would just notice thats the third time the department has sent out such a notice and they have canceled the prior panels. Well see whether or not it happens in jafpblet we are in the third year of this in january. We are in a third year of this administration after a g. A. O. Report, after statistics and hearings where we asked questions of the department to move on this. Frankly we are talking about adopting oshas own guidelines in the interim standards. This is not some farfetched radical proposal. Its their own recommendations about how you can safely and effectively reduce Workplace Violence. Madam chair, i would like to yield two minutes to the gentlelady from oregon, great member of the education and Labor Committee, representative bonna beachy. The chair the gentlewoman is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Bonamici thank you, madam chair. I rise in strong support of h. R. 1309, the Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act. A few years ago two workers in oregon were tragically wounded and a work site stabbing at an organization that provides essential support services to youth who are facing addiction, homelessness, and behave yorble health issues. Following the incident workon membersp organized to improve difficult working conditions that were compromising the quality of services for vulnerable clients, as well as the safety of employees. Unfortunately, the experience of these workers is too common. According to a november, 2018 report from the u. S. Bureau of labor statistics, health care and social Service Workers face a disproportionate risk of on the job violence and injury. Hey need evidencebased Workplace Violence presentation plans tailored to the needs of the populations they serve, and im proud to be an original cosponsor of h. R. Introduced by my colleague, congressman courtney. Service re and social workers help to care for our families, our friends and loved ones. We have the chance to upport their wellbeing in the workplace. Madam chair, id like to introduce into the record a of the n support Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social workers act from the National Association of social workers. He chair the request will be covered by general leave. Ms. Bonamici thank you, madam chair. Urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlelady yields back. The gentlewoman from North Carolina. Ms. Foxx madam chair, ill reserve. Reserves, the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from connecticut. Thank you, madam chair. Its now an honor to yield three inutes to one of our great new freshmen, the representative ohio, amy finkenauer. The chair the gentlelady is recognized for three minutes. Ms. Finkenauer thank you, madam chair. Of h. R. 1309, rt the Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act. Rise to share tinas story with the house of representatives. Constituent and shes proud iowan, wife, mother, grandmother, and also a spent 15 nurse who has years caring for those living conditions. Health tragically, this tough and thickskinned woman with a great sense of humor and natural gift for helping people can now no physically hurt. More than a year ago, tina was ofribly injured at the state iowas independence mental district. Titute in my as an aggressive patient triggered call for additional ssistance, although tina was working in a different section at the campus at the time, she with er way over to help about a dozen other coworkers. For roughly 45 minutes, the and nt was erratic repeatedly threatened to hurt the first person that tried to get close to him. Worked to calm him, grabbed a padded shield. See, nobody knew that the and ity had this equipment they werent trained to use it. Coworker came, she so the patient hit tina many times she lost consciousness. After dedicated her career and life for caring for others, tina was now the one in need. And then, shes been in out of surgeries and the emotional damage remains. Was the worst day of tinas life. Made it e state has worse by denying her unpaid time and kicking her off the payroll. Ina wants her story shared today so that employees like her are protected, and im upset that thats hard to do in states like iowa. 2017, iowa i was a state representative in iowa who spent two days fighting back the gutting of collective bargaining in my state where they went after our teachers, corrections officers, our bus drivers and folks like tina. I stood on that floor and i no. D unfortunately, we didnt have votes, and that bill passed and they gutted the rights of, all , folks like tina across my state. And iowas working families are for nuing to pay the price those politically motivated attacks. Nearly 1,000 jobs in our state actually been eliminated since 2011. Hese staffing shortages, because of this and the failure to train employees on vital lives measures, have put like tinas on the line. Same facility several other employees have been attacked within the last year. The chair the gentlewomans time has expired. Mr. Courtney i yield an additional minute. The chair the gentlelady is recognized for an additional minute. Ms. Finkenauer in other facilities across the state, they have been attacked within year. St its unconscionable. His is not how you treat people. The law forced people to go hrough costly recertification processes and stop them from being able to collectively bargain and being able to fight their rights. But luckily for us in iowa, our Public Employees are strong. Banded together and they were recertified and i am proud to represent them. This votel be casting for tina succo, who i know is watching at home today. Bill will require places like the state of iowa to stop by ing their employees requiring workplace protections and its a first step in front ing iowans on the lines. Im standing with our hardworking men and women today workplace. A safe and now im standing with them n the floor of the u. S. House, proudly voting yes for them and for folks all across my state. To submit also like a letter from ask me in support 1309, and i yield back the remaining balance of my time. Thank you. Will be that request taken care of during general leave. The gentleladys time has expired. I thank the gentlelady. The gentlelady from North Carolina. S. Foxx thank you, madam chair. Ill reserve. The chair the gentlelady from North Carolina reserves. Connecticut. N from thank you, madam chair. Now its my pleasure to yield two minutes to the gentlelady representative schakowsky. The chair the gentlelady from two ois is recognized for minutes. Ms. Schakowsky i want to thank courtney. I proudly rise today in support of your legislation. Scale of ncy and Workplace Violence is alarmingly statistic, even the startling ones that we have reflectabout, can fully the pain, the loss and suffering can cause. Incidents and as we consider a bill the thatbefore us today, i ask you remember and honor pamela knight. Pamela was a council, local 344 member. For the Illinois Department of children and amily services as a Child Protection specialist. Take a been sent to 2yearold child into protective father, rom an abusive and as she got out of her car, amela was attacked by the boys by the boys father, brutally beaten. Knight suffered blunt force traumatic trauma to her head. Years on the job, she succumbed to her injuries. For g the ultimate price protecting children from abuse and neglect. And her fellow employees defense innt line of protecting children in illinois country. D the in this vital work, they can ncounter families in crisis stemming from poverty, Substance Abuse, mental illness, and violence. And for two decades, osha has employers on oluntary guidelines to address Workplace Violence and, yet, the rate of violence has gone up. Is enough. Today, we can do the right thing unsung a knight and the heroes in health care and social this es by passing important and critical and of legislation. I yield back. The chair the gentlelady yields back. The gentlewoman from North Carolina. The gentlewoman from North Carolina will reserve. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. Connecticut. From mr. Courtney thank you, madam speaker. Now its my honor to yield three the gentlelady from florida, representative wilson, the chair of the subcommittee on employment, labor, and pension. The chair the gentlelady is recognized for three minutes. You, madam thank speaker. Im pleased to speak in support important wilson thank you, madam speaker. Im pleased to speak in support important legislation. As the former chair of the ubcommittee workforce protections, i worked to protect workers from unsafe conditions workplace. This legislation is an important tep toward protecting our health care and social service violence. Om workplace unfortunately, it also is a very step. Ary we know that health care and workers rvice experience the highest rate of workplace ury due to violence. There are literally they are jumped on and beaten up by their patients at work, thrown against walls and floors, bone fractures and brain injuries. Time workers have a lost 10,000 rate of 14. 8 per workers compared to 3. 1 for all other workers, according to the statistics. Bor currently, federal efforts to workplace kers from violence depends solely on the se of oshas general duty clause. That part of the osha act equires employers to provide workforce workplace free from hazards. D however, it is legally cumbersome to apply and is after an injury occurs. To is needed are standards prevent injuries and advance, enforcement. T, while osha has adopted guidelines for preventing violence against health care and Service Workers, these temporary. And voluntary. This legislation will codify provide delines and osha with the Necessary Authority to require health care and social Service Providers to develop and mplement a Workplace Violence prevention plan. Madam speaker, while these changes are important to the nation, they are even more important to my district in florida. Given the Large Population of senior citizens, the need for ealth care and social Service Workers is great. Performing these jobs can be emotionally ly and draining, even without the attacked. Being the added danger of physical many ce may leave potential health care and social Service Workers to seek leave ent elsewhere, to the field altogether or quit. Iolence in the workplace has a cascading effect on everyone involved, from the workers who ear the brunt of the violent attacks, to the families they serve, to the patients who some in a violence, very fragile state. What we do know from Evidence Research is that Health Care Facilities that have the chair the gentlewomans expired. S. Wilson mr. Courtney i yield 30 seconds. The chair the gentlelady is 30 seconds. Ms. Wilson i ask my colleagues on h. R. 1309, the Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social act. Ce workers mr. Speaker, i urge i ask a nimous consent to place letter in support of this from the american ederation of teachers into the record. I yield back. The chair the gentleladys request will be covered under general leave. The gentlewoman from North Carolina. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Chairman. The gentlewoman from north reserve. Continues to the chair the gentleman from connecticut. Mr. Courtney thank you, mr. Chair. Again, its my honor to yield two minutes to the gentlelady rom texas, representative Sheila Jackson lee. The chair the gentlelady is recognized. Lee i thank the and eman from connecticut, i thank him for his leadership. Rise as a cosponsor of the Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act. The chairman of the full committee, mr. Scott, chairwoman ms. Adams. Ommittee, i thank the complete committee for bringing this important floor. Tion to the as ive listened to testimony over the last couple of days, i to frame a concept that we must do the right thing. Interacted with my constituents, as i understand he work of Health Care Workers and social Service Workers, they ake care of the broken of our society, some who may be ill, necessarities ve of life that have not been fulfilled. Individuals are necessities of life that have not been fulfilled. Individuals, caring for these people, have the largest heart. Sympathetic and empathetic. I am reminded of a swigs in my situation in my local where an individual broke loose because that person as suffering from a mental challenge, illness, health need, mixed in with the population was there for other reasons. And that person was in the mix toHealth Care Workers trying care for others but trying to be as kind and sympathetic and that person was in a state of crisis that was threatening to the patients and to the workers. This is a crucial act. Crisis moment. It is important to recognize as have e incidents, been evidenced on the floor of the house, happen every day, even as we speak. Individuals with that person was not able to bring him resolve, and Law Enforcement had to be engaged. We need this response and quickly. 200,000 facilities will be covered. As was evidenced on the floor by mr. Courtney, 9,000 per facility. That is a worthwhile investment to stop someone who is injured from having a lifelong series of injuries. Mr. Courtney additional 30 seconds. The chair the gentlelady is recognized for additional 30 seconds. Ms. Jackson lee i thank the gentleman very much. For coming from the Texas Medical Center in my community and many other hospitals and seeing the proliferation of Health Clinics, federally qualified Health Clinics, social Service Agencies all attempting to do the right thing. Antipatients who are there deserve to have and the patients who are there deserve to have the best care possible. They are in many instances bill, broken, and in order to have the staff continue to serve them, lets protect those workers. Lets stand alongside those workers. I congratulate mr. Courtney. I ask my colleagues to enthusiastically support this legislation and let us begin to stand alongside of those who work with those who are most in need. I yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlelady from North Carolina. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Chairman. Ill continue to reserve. The chair the gentleman from connecticut. Mr. Courtney we have exhausted all speakers. We are prepared to close on our side. The chair the gentleman reserves . Mr. Courtney reserves. The chair the gentlelady from North Carolina. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Chairman. Im prepared to close. The chair the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Chairman. As we debate the impact of h. R. 1309 on Health Care Providers, i note that this bill is in violation of the houses houses pay as you go, or payasyougo rule. It requires legislation affecting direct spending not increase the deficit. Any legislation projected to increase direct spending must be offset by equivalent amounts of direct spending cuts. Revenue increases, or combination of both. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, h. R. 1309 will increase the deficit by 60 million between 2020 and 2029. In addition, c. B. O. Estimates the cost of h. R. 1309 to private entities will be at least 1. 8 billion in the first two years, and at least 750 million annually thereafter. Democrats wrote this particular payasyougo rule months ago and they are already abandoning it. Its not hard to find 60 million in savings for the taxpayers and the democrats failure to do so speaks volumes about their regard for fiscal discipline. This significant violation of the budget rules is yet another reason to oppose this bill. Madam chairman, protecting the safety of health care and social Services Workers is not a partisan issue. I reiterate that statement. All of us here today, regardless of their hill beliefs, appreciate the hard work and empathy that Health Care Workers and Community Caregivers demonstrate every single day on the job. There is much agreement on both sides of the aisle that these workers deserve protections in the workplace. Given this bipartisan interest, its frustrating that the democrats have moved forward with the rushed and illconceived legislation we are debating today. H. R. 1309 ignores expert and practical input, imposes mandates that may ultimately harm the very people this legislation intends to protect, forecloses better, more protective, and Feasible Solutions that would result from the established rule making process, fails to allow meaningful public input, and imposes costly requirements on regulated entities. Our Health Care Workers and caregivers deserve a thoroughly vetted and researched solution that protects them in the workplace. But h. R. 1309 badly fails to deliver on that front. I strongly urge a no vote. With that i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from connecticut. Mr. Courtney quickly, regarding the paygo issue. Just to be clear it applies to the budget impact. Andle gentlelady is absolutely correct. C. B. O. Calculated a 60 million Deficit Impact over 10 years in the medicare program. Again, we spend over 700 billion a year in medicare. By all projections thats going to go up. By the way that 60 million is for rural hospitals. If you read the c. B. O. Note, thats really the retroactive impact thats caused that budget dust in terms of the impact to the medicare program. Madam chair, we have heard today about the urgency that this emergency requires. We understand the statistics. Workers are uniquely vulnerable in the Health Care Setting to violence as they care for the most vulnerable among us. We know how to help. We know that evidencebased practices will blower this trend line and we know that when hospitals and other facilities adopt them, rates of violence against staff goes down. In closing, id like to share a few words from a letter written to me by jean from louisiana balance nurse in baton rouge, louisiana, until her death just this past april this year in the hands of a patient while she worked. Lynn saw the patient attacking one of her colleagues, when she intervened the patient turned on her, grabbed her by the whack of the neck, slammed it into a desk, she passed out. And suffered additional injuries. A few days later she died from her injuries. Lynns brother came to washington unannounced to my office a few months ago to share his familys grief and explain why we cannot wait another 20 years for osha to act. It wasnt until this is what he said, it wasnt until days after my sister registered nurse lynn was brutally attacked and murdered by a patient inside a baton rouge General Hospital during her shift six months ago that i learned that the violent workplace incidents rates are four times higher in health care than all other industries. As a Small Business owner in new orleans, i have firsthand experience with the complex and often burdensome nature of government regulation. I get that. But and i support fewer regulations in smart certain circumstances. However in the six months since lynns death i have learned how gravely and disproportionately vulnerable Health Care Workers are to acts of Workplace Violence against them. It is unconscionable that less care is given nor the health and wellbeing of those who care for us who need it most. Thank you for trying to spare other families from the grief and tragedy that mine has endured every day since we lost our beautiful sister, mother, and daughter. She should be home making thanksgiving dinner for her children, mother of two. But because we dont have a national enforceable standard to reduce Workplace Violence in Health Care Settings and social work, this gentleman, hes not a lobbyist, hes not a super p. A. C. , hes a brother who came to washington at his enexpense. Like so many others to talk about the fact that we have a crisis, its our job to address that crisis. Thats what this bill does. With that i urge a yes vote on h. R. 1309. I reserve the balance of my time. Yield the balance of my time. The chair does the gentleman yield back . Mr. Courtney i do. The chair the gentleman yields back. All time for general debate has expired. Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment under the fiveminute rule. In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on education and labor, printed in the bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute conciesing of the text of rules Committee Print 11637 modified by the amendment printed in part a of house report 116302, shall be considered as adopted. The bill as amended shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the fiveminute rule and shall be considered as read. No further amendment to the bill as amended shall be in order except those printed in part b of the report. Each such further amendments may be offered only in the order printed in the report, by a amendment designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. Shall not be subject to amendment. And shall not be subject to demand for division of the question. For what purpose does the gentleman from florida rise . Mr. Hastings i have an amendment at the desk. The chair it it is now in order to considered amendment number 1 printed in part b of house report number 116302. The clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 1 printed in part b of house report number 116302. Offered by mr. Hastings of florida. The chair it pursuant to House Resolution 713, the gentleman from florida, mr. Hastings, and a member opposed, will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from florida. Mr. Hastings madam chair, my amendment, number one, requires employers covered by Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act to make their organizations Workplace Violence prevention plans available to their employees through email and other methods. Before i proceed, i want to say for you to mr. Courtney bringing this matter to our attention. What i didnt say to joe before now is that 27 years ago i came to this institution as a member of the house of representatives. Either the second or third measure that i proposed dealt with Workplace Violence. And its this long that we are finally addressing this in a meaningful way. This is a short and simple amendment that will help the employees covered under the legislation stay familiar and comfortable with their organizations plans for preventing Workplace Violence. H. R. 1309 requires the department of labor to promulgate an Occupational Safety and Health Standard for certain employers in the health care and social Service Sectors. The standard requires them to develop and implement comprehensive plans for protecting their employees from Workplace Violence. Specifically taylored to workplaces and their employees on a taste by case basis and important tools for identifying and mitigating risks. As a part of the requirements for these plans, h. R. 1309 requires employers to provide comprehensive training on these plans to employees. And to make their Workplace Violence prevention plans available to their employees at all times. My amendment, which is cosponsored by my good friend and colleague, congressman desaulnier, expands on this specific requirement and requires employers to share their plans with their employees through email and other methods following the completion of their annual training. Doing so would ensure that in addition to the other training and guidance provided by their employers, employees have access to their own digital copies of their organizations violence prevention plans. Having this access will permit them greater flexibility to access and review these Important Documents as they feel necessary. This is a commonsense amendment that will make it easier for covered employees to feel comfortable with their organizations Workplace Violence prevention plans. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from North Carolina, for what purpose do you rise . Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The chair does the gentlewoman claim the time in opposition . Ms. Foxx i claim time in opposition. The chair the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. This amendment is unnecessary. The underlying bill mandates each Workplace Violence prevention plan required by the bill, quote, be made available at all times to covered employees. This amendment adds yet another overly prescriptive requirement on health care establishments. Osha as it proceeds with its rule making should have the ability to determine the specific elements required of each employer after analyzing their effectiveness and potential cost. Ultimately h. R. 1309 circumvents the longstanding established osha rule making process which is intended to research thoroughly the underlying circumstances that may merit a health and safety regulation and gather meaningful Stakeholder Input in order to create the most feasible and protective safety and Health Standards possible. By dodging the established regulatory process, h. R. 1309 is foreclosing other potential solutions. To 1309 will require osha enforce an interim final standard in health care and social Service Settings within a year. The legislation does not allow osha to consider Important Information such as the experience of california which has a brand new standard in place, the views of experts in the field, and the input of workers who have invaluable workplace experience. H. R. 1309 discounts the complex it of the underlying issue and importance of the knowledge andcomplexity of the underlying issue and importance f knowledge and experience workers have to implement a solution. The chair the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from florida. Mr. Hastings madam chair, i close by reiterating this amendment is a short and uncontentious proposal to help covered employees feel comfortable with their organizations Workplace Violence prevention plans. By making it available through emails and other methods, this that ent would ensure employees have access to their own digital copies of their plans. Ations having this access will permit mployees with greater flexibility to access and review hese Important Documents as they feel necessary. I urge my colleagues to support i yield backt, and the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman yields back. The question is on the amendment ffered by the gentleman from florida. Those in favor say aye. No. E opposed, in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. Agreed to. Nt is ts now in order to consider amendment number 2 printed in 116302. F house report for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Desaulnier madam chair, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 2 printed in part b of house 116302 offered by ms. Of california. The chair pursuant to house 703, the gentleman from california, mr. Desaulnier, and a member opposed, each will five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Desaulnier thank you, madam chair. Madam chair, my amendment requires that Health Care Workers and social service are provided with information on available mental ealth resources, trauma, and related counseling. It is appalling that those who dedicate their lives to caring in need suffer Workplace Violence. At disproportionately high rates across the country. In 2018, health care and social times workers were four as likely to suffer a serious Workplace Violence injury than overall. Between 2013 and 2016, one in registered nurses and nursing students reported being physically assaulted at work by patient or a patients family member. And in 2017, State Government and social Service Workers were almost 10 times an likely to be injured by assault than private Sector Workers. Re some tragically do not survive these incidents. Esterday, i spoke about a former constituent, donna kay gross, of concord, california, psychiatric technician at Napa State Hospital in california. He was brutally murdered by a patient outside the unit where she worked. She chose to go into this field a technician because of a history of Mental Health in her mother was at Napa State Hospital. Her story, unfortunately, is not completely unique. A few years ago here in mendy, a mindy, a registered nurse, was working in when the y unit, patient she treated becamage agitated. The patient became combative. Withatient strangled mindy her own stethoscope. Survived with the support of her staff. Violence has serious physical and emotional consequences for workers and alike. Rs hile h. R. 1309 includes provisions for Workers Medical Care as part of the underlying the we must address psychological effects of Workplace Violence. Survivors of Workplace Violence re at an increased risk of longterm emotional problems and osttraumatic stress disorders, which can be debilitating, lead to lost days of work, productivity and morale and sometimes even end workers careers. Turnover that results weakens our Nations Health Care Workforce thats already thin and discourages good people from entering these professions. I am cloud california led the way in preventing and responding violence against Health Care Workers, including equiring that Mental Health Service Information that this amendment provides. These s a clear need for services. According to the bureau of labor in istics, 18,400 workers the private industry experienced workplace nonfatal violence in 2017. Of those victims whose xperienced trauma from Workplace Violence, 71 worked in the health care and social industry. This amendment would bring the prevention olence for health care and social Service Workers act in line with by ensuring a law that health care and social Service Workers are provided critical information about on trauma and related counseling for employees after a incident. I urge support for the amendment, and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. For what purpose does the North Carolina rise . Ms. Foxx i claim time in opposition to the amendment, madam chair. The chair the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. I yield myself such time as i may consume. This amendment adds yet another overly prescriptive regulatory on Health Care Providers, small and large, without going through the established rulemaking process. Amendment provides no opportunity for osha to examine listed the requirements in the amendment would be beneficial and useful. The provision in this amendment during a smalled business Stakeholder Panel and a period if osha were permitted to engage in these important steps before an interim final rule. We still need Additional Research and data to identify to mitigate and in ent workforce Violence Health care and social Service Settings. There have been calls for dditional research on the topic, including from the Government Accountability office and the centers for disease prevention. Democrat amendments to this to the bill, such as the one we debating, do not change facts. Asic democrats will add more red fact it wont change the that h. R. 1309 fails to allow for the development of a effective, and feasible Workplace Violence prevention standard. That, madam chair, i yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from back her lina yields time. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Desaulnier id like to my distinguished friend from florida, mr. Hastings, for one minute. The chair the gentleman from is recognized for one minute. Mr. Hastings thank you so much. Madam chair, im pleased to rise in support of my colleague, mr. Desaulniers amendment to h. R. 1309. As my good friend knows, i was planning to introduce an mendment that was virtually identical to his, and so i was happy to make this a combined effort and support his amendment as a cosponsor. As has already been explained, would require employers to provide information traumarelated counseling for employees in heir reporting, incident pulse incident investigative procedures. Doing so will ensure employees vital cess to this information in the wake of incidents involving Workplace Violence. An important s consideration as we consider this legislation, responding to workplace of violence. Our nations caregivers, including nurses, social and many others working in the health care and social suffer sectors, Workplace Violence injuries at than any other profession. I yield back. Chair the gentleman yields back his time. California. An from mr. Desaulnier madam speaker, with that id just urge my colleagues to support the back. Ment, and i yield the chair the gentleman from california yields back. Amendmenton is on the offered by the gentleman from california. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. Its now in order to consider amendment number 3 printed in b of house report 116302. For what purpose does the alabama seek recognition . Mr. Byrne madam chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 3 printed in part b of house by mr. 16302 offered byrne of alabama. The chair pursuant to house the gentleman from alabama, mr. Byrne, and a member opposed, each will minutes. Ive the medicare now recognizes the gentleman from alabama. Madam ne thank you, chair. I yield myself such time as i may consume. Let me be clear, protecting from Workplace Violence is a policy priorities that epublicans and democrats see eye to eye on. American workers should be kept out of harms way on the job so to their eturn home families every day healthy and safe. Epublicans and democrats appreciate the hard work and empathy that Health Care Workers caregivers y demonstrate every single day on the job. Their dedication to caring for vulnerable members of our communities is combra and ary extraordinary these workers deserve our gratitude, our respect, and our commitment to ensuring they are on the job. Today, we can do right by them, orking together to address the critical need for protection and prevention of violence in the workplace. Impactful legislation is possible in an effective and i echo an manner, but Ranking Members foxx Ranking Member foxxs observation that bill is the wrong approach. While h. R. 1309 stands no chance of becoming law, i believe we real opportunity here to advance legislation that could be enacted and provide the for workers protections for workers we all desire. The amendment i am proposing osha, ecognizes that having noted the hazards and risks that exists with health are workers, is currently advancing the rulemaking process to address this important issue. Thatamendment would ensure the regulated community has an opportunity to provide on the ul comments Workplace Violence prevention tandard which will inform an effective and final regulation before the agency begins enforcement. Convene lls on osha to the already planned small usiness regulatory enforcement fairness act panel before proceeding with the rulemaking allow Small Businesses the opportunity to comment on regulatory text. Finally, the amendment would osha to conduct an Educational Campaign on prevention inence health care and social Service Industries. His commonsense amendment acknowledges and supports the work already under way and protects this progress so it can propel solutions to Workplace Violence. Addressing Workplace Violence crucial. N is the Obama Administration delayed action on this issue and first ade moves to initiate a rulemaking process in the final year of president obamas tenure. Ar meanwhile, the department of labor is working on a workplace rulemaking vention as we speak. As i said, the panel is january. For we agree, theres work to be done, but h. R. 1309 is not the answer. Colleagues to support my amendment so we can make real steps towards protecting American Workers and industry. Reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from alabama reserves the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from connecticut rise . Mr. Courtney i rise in opposition to the amendment. Does the gentleman claim time in opposition . Mr. Courtney i do. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Courtney thank you, madam chair. Again, i rise in opposition to the amendment but certainly with Great Respect for the proponent, actually supported making this amendment in order because i have such high regard for him. Amendment is essentially, madam chair, guts the bill. To essence of this bill is say to Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who has een studying this issue since the 1990s and has issued guidelines, commonsense again, some at, said the chairwoman the Ranking Member foxx has touted example of how, this isnt a real problem that we need to accelerate, but the fact of the is, we incorporate those uidelines in the underlying bill with a real deadline of 42 months. That has precedent. Congress has done this before. Osha is an act of congress, and eve accelerated deadlines for loodborn pathogens back bloodboren pathogens back in he 1990s to implement a standard for h. I. V. , had he been ights b and c hepatitis b and c and thank god because congress stepped in and set a standard for osha to act. For Hazardous Waste materials. We put a deadline for them to act. Deadline what were atrocious is oshas record forgetting something out. Silica, 19 years. Suffocate silica, you and get cancer. Confined spaces in construction, 22 years. Trenches, and, yes, yesterday, the trump dministration, for the third time, scheduled a preliminary canceled the prior two. Ere three years into this administration. Still to date, nothing has happened except for notices hich have been canceled over and over again. Madam speaker, while we were here on the floor, one of the ost credible voices on this issue, which is the American College of Emergency Physicians, who, when e folks these unruly, agitated patients and a heroin, Opioid Crisis Behavioral Health crisis are coming through the doors, are really the ones at the front with their nurses and assistants and they urged oppose the byrne amendment that would eliminate give a line for osha to standard. In 2018, they did a survey of Emergency Physicians all across who reported being physically assaulted while at assaults 60 of those occurring within the previous year. This is happening in real time, is accelerating and the trajectory is something we cannot wait for osha to back and reinvent the wheel that they already issued in terms of guidelines reduce risk in workplaces and thats why, in addition to other issues in this that eliminates the whistleblower protection as the interim final standard which, again, incorporates oshas already rules that i rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Lets move forward and lets do timely fashion for Americas Health care and social services workforce, and i reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from alabama. Mr. Byrne i return the gentlemans respect. I know hes worked long and hard on this and i agree with him this is a real problem thats getting worse. We are not going to make it better if we pass something in this house that will not get up on the floor of the senate, wont be signed by the president. We know it wont. I suggest to the gentleman this vehicle is how we get something passed and do something for the workers you care so much about. I reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from connecticut. Mr. Courtney again, ill close here at this point, which again just say that the problem again, hes absolutely right. The Obama Administration took too long to move on this. Im along with George Miller the ones who requested the g. A. O. Study back in 2013. The results came in in 2016. Hes right the first regulatory step didnt take place until january of 2017 on the way out the door. We are three years into this administration and they are not setting the world on fire in terms of addressing this issue. That piano which you described, to call it a baby step is an overstatement. Its a baby crawl in terms of this process. Again, we have seen the track record. 22 years, 19 years, 17 years to get a standard out. Our Health Care Work force cannot wait that long. Thats why h. R. 1309 should proceed without the byrne amendment. With that i yield the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from connecticut yields back. The gentleman from alabama, mr. Byrne, is recognized. Mr. Busch mr. Byrne i would close by this. We need to do something and woof we dont adopt my amendment well end up doing nothing. I think something is better than nothing. The chair the gentleman from alabama yield back all time. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from alabama. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. The amendment mr. Byrne i ask for a recorded vote. The chair the gentleman asks for a recorded vote. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18 , further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from alabama will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 4 printed in part b of house report 116302. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Harder madam speaker, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 4 printed in part b of house report number 116302, offered by mr. Harder of california. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 713, the gentleman from california, mr. Harder, and a member opposed, each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Harder reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. Nyone seek time in opposition . For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina rise . Ms. Foxx ms. Foxx madam chair, i yield to the gentleman from california i believe the gentleman wantsdzes to be recognized i yield to the chair. The chair i thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina. Now we are ready to recognize the gentleman from california for his amendment for five minutes. Mr. Harder thank you, madam speaker. Our amendment is going to ensure nothing in this act shall be construed to limit or prevent Health Care Workers from reporting violent incidents to appropriate Law Enforcement. This is really critical because obviously this amendment is going to put some new restrictions on Workplace Violence. Its so critical to make sure we do that, but we want to also make sure there are safeguards in place to make sure that that reporting is actually not only going to the Law Enforcement agencies, but also is around the rest of the community, thats why our amendment is so critical here. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair does the gentleman reserve . Mr. Harder i do. The chair reserve his time. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. I yield i claim time in opposition although i am not opposed to the amendment. The chair without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for five minutes. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. This amendment underscores two obvious points. First, that health care and social Service Workers should be free to report Workplace Violence incidents to Law Enforcement. Second, that this bill was drafted poorly. Such a commonsense provision should not need to be ordered added to the underlying legislation. But in the democrats rush to force osha to promulgate a Workplace Violence prevention standard, they are bypassing key elements of the established rule making process that would ensure a provision such as this amendment if needed is in the regulatory text. H. R. 1309 circumvents the longstanding established osha rule making process which is intended to gather information on the underlying circumstances that may merit a health and safety regulation and to receive meaningful Stakeholder Input in order to create the most feasible and protective safety and Health Standard possible. By dodging the established regulatory process, the democrats are ignoring or unaware of many key issues like the ones addressed in this amendment. Madam chair, i will support the amendment and i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Harder madam speaker, i request a recorded vote. I yield for one minute. The chair the gentleman from california yield to the gentleman from connecticut. The gentleman from connecticut is recognized for one minute. Mr. Courtney thank you, madam chair. Mr. Harder, for feeling. I want to salute your amendment. Just for the record there is no prohibition built into osha that you cant have dual jurisdiction in terms of criminal investigations or prosecutions from injuries in any setting that osha covers. However, i still aplaud the member for just sort of foot stomping this point to make sure that plause because so many of these that because so many of these incidents involve assault that there is a clear signal there is no hindrance or obstacle. For that purpose i certainly strongly support the amendment and urge its adoption. With that i yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from connecticut yields back. The gentleman from california. Mr. Harder yield back the remainder of my time. The chair are you yielding back your time . The gentleman from california yields back his time. The now in order question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from california. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. Mr. Harder madam speaker, i request a recorded vote. The chair a recorded vote having been requested. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from california will e postponed. Its now in order to consider amendment number 5 printed in part b of house report 116302. For what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . Mr. Levin madam chair, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 5 printed in part b of house report number 116302, offered by mr. Levin of michigan. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 713, the gentleman from michigan, mr. Leffy, and a member opposed mr. Levin, and a member opposed, each will control five minutes. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from michigan for five minutes. Mr. Levin thank you, madam chair. My amendment ensures that our Incredible Health care and social Service Workers are aware they are legally protected from retaliation by their employers. Id like to begin by thanking my colleague, congressman joe courtney, for his hard work on this outstanding bill. And chairman scott for leading on this issue and bringing the bill to the floor today. Health care and social Service Workers are some of this countrys most precious workers. Taking care of us and our loved ones. Sometimes under so many of the most trying conditions imaginable. H. R. 1309 will help protect these workers by requiring employers in the health care and social Service Sectors to develop Workplace Violence prevention plans. My amendment will require that mandatory violence prevention plan trainings include the critical information that these workers, when faced with any violent or unwanted behavior in the workplace, can safely report the incident without fear of retaliation. Bureau of labor Statistics Data tell us that private sector injury rates from Workplace Violence in health care and social Service Sectors increased 63 between 2006 and 2016. In just a decade. Due to underreporting, injury rates and Workplace Violence are widely assumed to be higher than the reported levels. This is a huge problem for workers, but also for those they care for. As violence and Health Care Settings compromises quality of care. We cannot expect health care and social Service Workers to be able to deliver essential, lifesaving services under the threat of violence and assault. And fear of repercussions for reporting any incident that may occur. The same goes for social Service Workers, a safe and Violence Free workplace is essential to a functioning social Service System that will help our communities thrive. We cannot expect workers to come forward with reports of violence if they fear retribution. My straightforward amendment aims to ensure that health care and social Service Workers covered by this bill are aware of their right to come forward and report any incident of violence at work without fear or retribution. Madam chairwoman, let me just add this is really personal for me. I dont want to reveal my age but i started organizing Health Care Workers in 1983. I remember my very First Campaign at shore haven nursing home in grand haven, michigan. And some of the workers in the nursing home did face violence on the job. They really had no way to handle it. So mr. Courtneys bill, his leadership on this is so essential for all of the health and social Service Workers of our country. I urge my colleagues to sbrort this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time. To support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. Who seeks time in opposition . Ms. Foxx madam chair, i seek time in opposition. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized for five minutes. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. This amendment is yet another example of democrats assuming bad motives on the part of american employers and handcuffs them handcuffing them with micromanagement from washington. The vast majority of employers in america follow the laws, take good care of their employees, respect their rights in the workplace, and do not need more red tape imposed on them. Yet this amendment adds additional requirements on americas Small Businesses without receiving any meaningful input from them or other stakeholders. Democrat amendments such as the one we are debating do not change the basic fact that h. R. 1309 is already overly perfect scripive and forecloses important input prescriptive and forecloses important input from stakeholders. It will require osha to enforce an interim final standard in health care and social Service Settings within a year. This legislation does not allow osha to consider Important Information, including the experience of california, which has a brand new standard in place. The views of experts in the field and the input of workers who have invaluable workplace experience. This data and evidence in the views of stakeholders may very well not align with the bills requirements. Adopting h. R. 1309 discounts the complexity of the under lying issue and the importance of the knowledge and experience stakeholders can offer. With that, madam chair, i yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina yields back. The gentleman from Northern Ireland is recognized. Mr. Levin thank you, madam chair. Im sure we can all agree that retribution for people reporting violence in the workplace is something thats important. That people should not face retribution. That they should not fear reporting when they personally or their coworkers face violence on the job. And so i hope that well have broad support for this amendment. Thank you. I reserve. Le it the chair the gentleman has the only time remaining. Mr. Levin i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. Le it back his time. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from michigan. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. For what purpose does the gentleman from connecticut seek recognition . Ask that the i committee rise, madam speaker. The chair the question is on committee that the rise. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, no. It. Ayes have the motion is adopted. Accordingly, the committee rises. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Madam chair. He chair mr. Speaker, the committee of the whole house on the state of the union having ad under consideration h. R. 1309 directs me to report that t has come to no resolution thereon. The speaker pro tempore the chair of the committee of the whole house on the state of the the committeethat has had under consideration h. R. 1309 and has come to no resolution thereon. The chair lays before the house bill. Llowing enrolled senate 2710, an act to prohibit the commercial export of covered munition items force. Hong kong police the speaker pro tempore the committee will resume its sitting. House resolution 713 and rule 18, the chair declares the committee of the whole house on the state of he union for further consideration of h. R. 1309. Texas,he gentlewoman from ms. Jackson lee, kindly resume the chair. The committee will come to order. The house is in the committee of the whole house on the state of for the further 1309 whichon of h. R. The clerk will report by title. Bill to direct the labor ry of to issue an Occupational Safety and Health Standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social Service Industries to develop and implement a comprehensive Workplace Violence prevention plan, and for other purposes. The chair when the committee of the whole rose earlier today, printed in mber 5 116302 offeredt by the gentleman from michigan, mr. Levin, had been disposed of. To consider rder amendment number 6 printed in 116302. F house report for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Green i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 6 house in part b of report 116302 offered by mr. Green of texas. He chair pursuant to House Resolution 713, the gentleman from texas, mr. Green, and a ember opposed, will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. Thank you, madam chair. Madam chair, i am proud to be a 1309 for a. R. Multiplicity of reasons, and i courtney for introducing this legislation. Madam chair, i am proud to tell that within my Congressional District in houston, texas, we have the in the Medical Center world, the largest in the world, madam chair. Houston medical enter encounters 10 million patients annually. The houston Medical Center also, chair, has 106,000 employees. Is 17uston Medical Center times larger than the average ity in the United States of america. We understand the scope of this problem, and there is a problem, problems are not best explained with statistical information. Word of people can make the difference in understanding a problem. I have within my hand a letter the National Nurses united organization. Words. W their iolence on the job has become indemic for r. N. s and other workers in health care and assistance settings. Nurses report being punched, kicked, bitten, beaten, threatened with violence as they care to others, and for too many have experienced shootings. D madam chair, the evidence is overwhelming. Problem. E a and to understand the scope of he problem, you have to have some intelligence, accorded some can be properly assessed. The secretary of labor will be the repository. To ill get the information the secretary, but this is not enough to merely have the the tary of labor have sense of what the scope is. The buck stops with congress. Congress needs to know the scope of the problem. If changes are necessary and not made, the buck stopses with us. With e the buck stops us. We have to take up our duty and obligation and responsibility to provide the proper legislation. With this understanding, we have filed this amendment, amendment number 6. Amendment understands that he secretary will receive the information and then this amendment would require the annually report to congress, annually report to will ss so that congress have the transparency that the so congress and can take appropriate steps, if necessary. Helping you understand the scope f the problem makes you understand the take appropriate steps. Madam speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from north recognized. Ms. Foxx madam chair, i claim time in opposition. The chair the gentlewoman is in gnized for time opposition. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. It is very disturbing to me as a citizen of this country to hear he talk about increasing incidents of violence. All ow thats occurring over our country everywhere. Is not going bill o respond to the underlying causes of that those violence. What this amendment and neither will this amendment. Ignores the t fundamental reason that employers maintain good record keeping. Allows employers to review their internal procedures and etermine how to improve their safety culture. While its very important for keep accurate records of incidents, responses o incidents and annual data, providing this information resulty to osha will not in greater safety benefits. Requiring the secretary of labor to provide this data to congress yet another illadvised forward. Employers utilize these records to improve internal management and processes in order to their workplace. However, if they must submit these reports to osha, who will turn provide them to congress, this will discourage these records to make improvements. As the employer have no guarantee the records will not released by osha, either intentionally or unintentionally. Workplace violence records must be maintained and protected on they contain personal employee information as well as patientclient information. An osha inspector would still have the right to review the ecords upon inspection of the facility. Again, this amendments underlying nd the ecord keeping reporting provisions provisions should be discussed during a true rulemaking process and should mandated by congress. We definitely should be looking reasons that ing Workplace Violence is and neither this bill nor this amendment will have any impact on that. I yield back. The chair the gentlewoman yields back. Yields back. An mr. Green the gentleman would like to know how much he chair the gentlewoman yields back. Apologize. I i yield. The chair just want to ensure back. Re yielding the gentleman from texas has two minutes remaining. Mr. Green thank you, madam chair. Madam chair, the gentlelady from North Carolina and i are very ear friends, and i have Great Respect for her. , in fact, have a deep ray abiding deep abiding affinity her. Ruth smeltser says some measure and years. Others by heartthrobs, passions and tears. Surest measure under gods sun is what others in your lifetime you have done. Provides us to do something for others who are in harms way, who are caregivers who are doing what they can to provide the kind of Health Care Services that we need. They do it at great risk. We are the people who can minimi minimize that risk. Its our responsibility to do for others what we would have for us. O if i were a Health Care Worker, i would Want Congress to take kind of appropriate action to protect me. I also would remind my we do ues that if nothing, we will at some point find people reluctant to go into this area of endeavor. Who wants to go to work with the harmed . Being i love my dear lady from North Carolina, but we respectful and i yield back the balance of my time. The buck stops here. The chair the gentleman from yields back the balance of his time. The question is on the amendment by the gentleman from texas. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. Its now in order to consider printed in mber 7 part b of house report 116302. For what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition . I have n madam chair, an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 7 of house part b report 116302 offered by mr. Brown of maryland. To house pursuant resolution 713, the gentleman rom maryland, mr. Brown, and a member opposed, each will minutes. Ive the chair recognizes the gentleman from maryland. The gentleman from minutes. For five mr. Brown thank you, mr. Chair. I want to first recognize the ard work of my colleague from connecticut, congressman joe courtney, on the underlying workplace or making safety a priority. Workplace violence is a serious problem and occurs more often realize. Ay according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administrat n dministration, incidents of serious Workplace Violence were 12 times higher among health Service Workers nd 70 of nonfatal workplace assaults occurred in the health are and social assistance sectors. Nurses, physicians, emergency responders, medical assistants, social workers care for our families in our times of need. Violence against them have reached epidemic proportions. Patients, clients, and demands these workers can nter on any given day expose them to occupational risk with little training on what hey should do if those interactions turn violent. With uneven federal enforcements, states are leading the way to address this issue. Establishing a process for responding to, and workplace cidents of violence and requiring regular orkplace violence prevention training. Similarly, the underlying bill addresses Training Needs for exposed to o may be Workplace Violence, hazards, and risks. Is not each situation always the same. Ot all circumstances and patients are the same. We must adjust our training to eflect all communities and situations that professionals may face on the job. Additional ensures training for employees who work torture, human rafficking, and Domestic Violence. As a result of trauma, many problems ntal health that require timely, comprehensive and compassionate situation even if the involves physical or psychological assaults. Necessitate a different approach from our medical professionals and must part of Workplace Violence prevention training. Proper training on best deescalation can help ensure the safety of both the patient and the Health Care Worker. Doing so, we can prevent further trauma that can be etrimental to the survivors recovery. I have been a champion of survivors of abuse and will so. Inue to do safe work environments and uality care are mutually reinforced. Both must be considered in order to promote positive outcomes for communities. Ur i strongly encourage my colleagues to support this mendment and the underlying legislation, and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from maryland reserves the balance of his time. Who seeks time in opposition . Ms. Foxx madam chair, i seek time in opposition. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized for five minutes. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. While the amendments wellintentioned there are federal agencies other than osha that would be better equipped to handle this type of regulatory requirement for the education of Health Care Workers who work with the individuals identified in the amendment. The question of whether employer Education Programs governed by osha are appropriate to address the objectives of the amendment should be thoroughly vetted and discussed during the rule making process before decisions impacting employers are made. Unfortunately, h. R. 1309 bypass opportunities for that conversation to take place such as a Small Business panel and public hearings and this amendment does nothing to change that. A question of additional education for specific employees is exactly the dined of issue kind of issue that should be addressed by receiving feedback from affected stakeholders in the rule making proscies this. Opportunity is foreclosed by h. R. 1309. Amendments like the one we are debating dont change the fact that h. R. 1309 fails to allow for the development of a feasible and effective Workplace Violence prevention standard. I yield back, madam chair. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina yields back her time. The gentleman from maryland is recognized. Mr. Brown i yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from connecticut. The chair the gentleman from maryland yields the balance of his time to the gentleman from connecticut. The gentleman is recognized. The chair thank you, madam chair. Again i rise in strong support of. Mr. Browns amendment which i think makes a good bill even better and does focus on one of the causes which, again, no big secret in terms of whats driving this upward trajectory in Domestic Violence in particular is one of those types of case that is are coming through the emergency room doors, agitated patients, sometimes family members there, and thats where, again, we know nursing, nursing assistants, and docs are getting subjected to unprecedented levels of assault. Thats why the emergency room nurses Association Just issued an endorsement of h. R. 1309. This is a trade association. This is a union affiliated organization. They represent emergency room nurses all across america in union and nonunion settings. We have already heard earlier today that the emergency docs have come out for this. Again, what mr. Browns measure does is focus on one of the causes thats causing the unprecedented, unacceptable levels of assault that are taking place in Health Care Settings. I just want to close by saying my wife is i have been married to for 30 years, is a pediatric Nurse Practitioner works in a specialty clinic at connecticuts Childrens Hospital that deals with victims of child sexual abuse and physical abuse. Thats precisely the type of patient that mr. Browns amendment is focused on. If you want to talk about high tension, high risk environment in terms of those types of case that is come through, which, again, is causing unprecedented incidents out there, this amendment helps those employees to make sure that they are going to be able to deal with these cases and continue to go on and be productive in the Health Care System. Again i want to thank mr. Brown for offering this amendment. I yield back. The chair the gentleman from maryland is recognized. Mr. Brown i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from maryland. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. He amendment is agreed to. It is now in order to consider amendment number 8 printed in part b of house report 116302. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Ms. Garcia i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 8 printed in part b of house report number 116302, offered by ms. Garcia of texas. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 713, the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Garcia, and a member opposed, each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the the gentlewoman from texas for five minutes. Ms. Garcia thank you, madam chair. Im proud to cosponsor h. R. 1309 by my colleague, congressman joe courtney. This bill requires the secretary of labor to develop a comprehensive Workplace Safety and Health Standard. Ultimately this legislation will protect the millions of workers in the health care and social Service Industries by implement be a violence prevention plan. Prevention plans and training are critical tools to mitigate dangerous situations if and when violent emergencies occur in the workplace. Clear and effective plans that address violence prevention benefits both the workers and their patients or clients. And violence prevention plans cater to their Respective Industries using evidencebased practices or even more effective. In the health care and social Service Industries especially, Workplace Safety reforms are much needed. Social workers like Health Care Workers are particularly vulnerable and susceptible to instances of Workplace Violence. Workers in both of these professions interact daily with people struggling with Mental Health, addiction, and other recovery others recovering from trauma. Madam speaker madam chair, let me just tell you personally that i have been impacted by this and a former social worker. Tell this quick story. I went to make a home visit. I was a social worker at the time. It was in a house, shotgun house right down lions. Le thats in your district now. I knocked on the door and to my surprise and shock and fear, a little old lady, she was probably about 85 or 90, comes out with a gun pointing right at my face. Pointing right at my face. Thats not what a social worker expects when they are coming to visit a home to make plans for a Home Health Care aide, which is what i was doing. But she thought that i was there to take a child away from her that she had in her home and that i was a Child Welfare worker. So she was defending her son. Actually it was a street child. I had to convince her with every persuasive part of my body that i was not there to take her child. That i was actually there to help her and give her a Home Health Aide to help her in her home. And quite miraculously i talked her out of it and i actually got her to put the gun away. Now, i was lucky, but regrettably those things may still be happening out there in america. A social worker facing a gun. A social worker facing violence. A social worker facing harm or injury to herself. Or others. Thats what this bill is about. Its not about what the employers will or will not do, its about the protection of the workers in making sure that employers do have plans, much like they do for hurricanes, that they have plans for violence. So all employees, regardless of the line of work, deserve to feel safe and not feel the fear that i did that day. And to be protected from violence in their workplaces. They also deserve to have a peace of mind that an informed violence prevention plan is in place. With that in mind, members, im proud to offer an amendment to an already excellent bill. My amendment would ensure that annual evaluations of violence prevention plans includes changes based on informed findings by employers. Employers can use their personal experiences or Lessons Learned to effectively update the violence prevention plan and their mandatory annual plan reviews. Simply put, the goal of this amendment is to enhance the participation and protection of covered employees, and employees in the creation of updating their annual plans. This a commonsense amendment intended to implement best practices. Employer input along with Employee Input will create the best violence prevention plans possible. It will also help industries update their prevention plans as needed to cater to that specific industrys needs. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. Madam chair, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlelady from texas reserves the balance of her time. For what purpose does the the gentlewoman fromle North Carolina rise. Do you rise to claim time in opposition . Ms. Foxx i do rise to claim time in opposition. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx first, madam chair, id like to express my condolences to our colleague for the situation that she found herself in with the person she was trying to help. No one wants to be in that kind of situation. Im very sorry that it happened. But this amendments just another example that h. R. 1309 was poorly drafted, rushed, and not well thought out. The provisions and requirements relating to the details of maintaining a Workplace Violence prevention plan should be thoroughly vetted during the rule making process. In the established rule making process, stakeholders can comment on what provisions should be included in the final standard. This allows for robust evaluation of what provisions ultimately help create the most feasible and protective safety and Health Standard possible. We all share in the common goal of preventing Workplace Violence in health care and social Service Settings. We need to trust that the rule making process will result in the most protective standard possible. Health care professionals deserve the right to comment on a highly complex and new standard. This amendment does not address the underlying concerns with the bill. Democrat amendment to the bill such as the one we are debating do not change these basic facts. This bill is unworkable in its current form and this amendment doesnt change the fact that h. R. 1309 fails to allow for the development of a workable effective and feasible Workplace Violence prevention standard. I yield back. The chair the gentlelady yield back. The gentlewoman from texas is recognized. Ms. Garcia madam chair, i accept the condolences fortunately for me i was under threat but did not die. Regret fully regretfully that situation may happen again and someone may die and thats what i just want to underscore is that social workers, Health Care Workers, all social Service Workers are put in danger many times. And this bill and this amendment would simply make sure that we got participation, input from employers, plotty employees, everyone concerned to make sure we have a good plan and that we use best practices. Because regrettably not much things have changed since the days i was a social worker. The chair the gentleladys time has expired. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from texas. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. He amendment is agreed to. It is now in order to consider amendment number 9 printed in part b of house report 116302. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition . Ms. Wexton madam chair, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 9 printed in part b of house report number 116302, offered by ms. Wexton of virginia. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 713, the gentlewoman from virginia, ms. Wexton, and a member opposed, each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from virginia. Ms. Wexton thank you, madam chair. Thank you also to mr. Courtney for introducing this important Bipartisan Legislation. My amendment to h. R. 1309 is a clarifying amendment to ensure that nothing in this act shall be construed to limit or diminish any existing protections and relevant federal, state, or local law related to Domestic Violence, stalking, dating violence, or sexual assault. According toal 2016 osha report, approximately 75 of the nearly 25,000 workplace assaults reported each year occur in health care and social Service Settings. And workers in Health Care Settings are four times more likely to be assaulted at work than workers in other sectors. These cases have led to psychological trauma, not only for the victim but also for those who witness the these attacks, as well as serious injury and even death. With Workplace Violence on the rise, it is vital that congress address this issue to ensure the safety of workers, and thats why this bill is so important. While most incidents of Workplace Violence fit the definition of simple assault, a study by the joint commission those that sexual assault, rape, and stalking are not uncommon. Approximately 38 states include rape, sexual assault, and stalking in their definition of Domestic Violence. My amendment makes it clear that nothing in the underlying legislation preempts or diminishes these protections in any way. A survey was recently conducted in my district on the incidents and cost of nurse Workplace Violence purpose traited by hospital patients or patient visitors. The results show that 75 of nurses experience violence within the past year. With emergency nurses experiencing significantly greater number of incidents. Nurses reported many barriers to reporting these incident, including unclear reporting policies, fear of retaliation, and the disheartening perception that violence just comes with the job. These statistics show that the current voluntary efforts to prevent Workplace Violence are not working. The results of the survey highlight a real need for effective training and clear, convenient reporting programs, and environments that support workers who are experiencing violence. This bill seeks to address this need. As a form Domestic Violence prosecutor, i have seen firsthand how laws protect and provide valuable resources to the more than 12 million individuals who are survivors of violence violent crimes. I offer this amendment to ensure that it is abundantly clear that Workplace Violence prevention plans developed under this bill complement existing Legal Protections against Domestic Violence and sexual assault, and in no way diminish or limit those protections. Its crucial that our laws at the state, federal and local levels continue to help and support victims of Domestic Violence, stalking, dating violence and end sexual assault, which is exactly what my amendment does. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. For what purpose does the gentleman from North Carolina rise . Ms. Foxx madam chair, i rise to claim time in opposition, although i am not opposed to the amendment. The chair without objection, the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized for five minutes. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. This amendment is yet another wellintentioned addition to a flawed bill. A provision this obvious should have been included in the underlying text, but democrats are unnecessarily rushing through this legislation, even though oshas working on a rulemaking. What others seemingly obvious provisions or considerations are left out of the bill that are not being offered as amendments today . And which mandates included in the bill are unworkable, costly and illadvised . These questions are exactly why the established regulatory process solicits necessary feedback from stakeholders and the public. H. R. 1309 circumvents the longstanding established osha rulemaking process which is intended to research thoroughly the underlying circumstances and gather meaningful Stakeholder Input in order to create the most feasible and protective safety and Health Standards possible. By dodging the established regulatory process, h. R. 1309 will miss key issues like the ones addressed in this amendment. This bill is unworkable in its current form and democrat amendments dont change the change the fact that h. R. 1309 fails to allow for the development of a workable, effective and feasible Workplace Violence prevention standard. And with that, madam chair, i yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina yields back her time. The gentlewoman from virginia is recognized. Ms. Wexton i simply request that my colleagues support this underlying amendment and the underlying bill and with that i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from virginia. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. The amendment is agreed to ms. Wexton madam chair, i request a recorded vote. The chair a record vote has been requested. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from virginia will e postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 10 printed in art b of house report 116302. For what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Mr. Delgado madam chair, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 10 printed in part b of house report 116302 offered by mr. Delgado of new york. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 713, the gentleman from new york, mr. Delgado, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from new york for five minutes. Mr. Delgado thank you, madam chair. I yield myself as much time as i may consume. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Delgado i want to first thank my colleague, congressman courtney, for his leadership on this bill, the work force Workplace Violence prevention for health care and social Service Workers act. This is a long overdue legislation to protect our nations caregivers, including nurses and physicians and many others who dedicate their lives to healing. Workplace violence is far too common in facilities that are supposed to be places of rehabilitation, treatment and therapy. Last year the bureau of labor statistics found that health care and social Service Workers were over four times as likely to suffer a serious injury from Workplace Violence than workers in other sectors. The legislation were considering today would make an important improvement in Workplace Safety by defining Workplace Violence as any act or threat of force against an employee that could result in physical injury, psychological trauma, or stress, and ensure that osha and employers develop and implement combre hencive and comprehensive and workplacespecific plans to prevent such violence. These plans will not only protect employees but also keep patients, visitors and those in medical facilities out of harms way. We all deserve to feel protected in hospitals and social Service Settings and this bill would accomplish that. However, to facilitate these plans we need to work in partnership with employers and businesses to ensure that they have the proper resources and information to comply with these protection plans. My amendment seeks to strengthen this legislation by prioritizing Technical Assistance for employers during the first year of the bills implementation enacted. This businessfriendly amendment will work to ensure our employers are equipped with the tools to better protect their employees and prevent Workplace Violence. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our health care and social Service Facilities across the country, and include my amendment to strengthen the underlying bill. Lets stand with our nations employees and employers to make our workplaces safer for everyone. Madam chair, id like to reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from new york reserves the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina rise . Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. I rise to claim time in opposition. And i am opposed. The chair the gentlewoman is recognized for the time in opposition, for five minutes. Ms. Foxx thank you, madam chair. This amendment is simply more window dressing on a flawed bill. While Technical Assistance is welcome and appropriate, this amendment places an arbitrary time limit that is woefully insufficient to cope with the flawed rule. And theres no telling how short and unfriendly an under how short an Unfriendly Administration will allow this to last. Technical assistance after employers are subject to a rule in which they had no input is too little, too late. Rather than amend a flawed bill by allowing the department of labor to help businesses after they are subject to a flawed rule, we should reject this bill and instead allow osha to pursue its established rulemaking process that provides ample opportunity for feedback from stakeholders and the public. Before theyre subject to another washington regulation. Democrat amendments to the bill such as the one were debating do not change the basic fact that h. R. 1309 is overly prescribtive and circumvents the established rulemaking process. Failing to allow for the development of a workable, effective and feasible Workplace Violence prevention standard. This amendment should be defeated. Thank you, madam chair, and i yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina yields back her time. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Delgado i yield a minute to my colleague, congressman courtney. The chair mr. Courtney is recognized for one minute. Mr. Courtney thank you, madam chair. Again, i want to congratulate mr. Delgado for his amendment. I want to point out the fact that when we voted on the rule yesterday, there was a selfeffectuating provision that eliminated 5 500,000 Health Care Workplaces from the scope of this bill. Again, it was at the suggestion of c. B. O. Because it was never our intention to do doctors offices, dentists offices. They are not what this bill is about. These are about larger Health Care Facilities which we know are the hot spots where this type of unfortunate activity goes on. Osha, just so you know, has a free Consultation Program for employers, 90 funded by osha in all 50 states, that will provide free assistance as new rules and regulations are ruled out. And i want to, again, say, mr. Delgados amendment, which just footstomps the fact we want to prior tites the flow of information, is in prioritize the flow of information, is, in my opinion, a very benign request and very much sensitive to employers and facilities all across the country. But again, we took care of the small guys in the rule yesterday and this amendment, again, just makes sure that anyone else will have all the help that they need to understand this rule. With that, i yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Delgado i want to piggyback on that if i may and say, there were 27,000 Small Businesses in my district which are a priority of mine. Someone who is part of the Small Business committee, i take very seriously the ways in which our government is able to aid and not frustrate the workings of our local economy. So with that, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman has the only time remaining. Mr. Delgado i do . The chair yes. Mr. Delgado thank you, madam chair. Im prepared to close. The chair the gentleman is recognized is recognized to close. Mr. Delgado i want to once again thank mr. Courtney for introducing this critical legislation and urge members on both sides of the aisle to support my amendment and i request store and i ask for a recorded vote. The chair does the gentleman yield back . Mr. Delgado i yield back, my apologies. The chair the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from new york. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. Mr. Delgado i ask for a recorded vote, madam chair. The chair the gentleman has requested a recorded vote. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from new york will be postponed. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, proceedings will now resume on those amendments printed in part b of house report 116302 on which further proceedings were postponed in the following order. Amendment number 3 by mr. Byrne of alabama, amendment number 4 by mr. Harder of california, amendment number 9 by ms. Wexton of virginia, and amendment number 10 by mr. Delgado of new york. The chair will reduce to two minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote after the first vote in this series. The Unfinished Business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 3 printed in part b of house report 116302 by the gentleman from alabama, mr. Byrne, on which the further proceedings were postponed and on which the noes prevailed by voice vote. The clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 3 printed in part b of house report 116302 offered by mr. Byrne of alabama. The chair a record the vote has een requested. Those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. A sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the chair on this vote the yeas 238. 77, the nays are this amendment is not adopted. The Unfinished Business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 4 printed in part b of house report 116302 by the gentleman from california, mr. Harder, on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote. The clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 4 printed in part b of house report 116302 offered by mr. Harder of california. The chair a recorded vote has been requested. Those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. A sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be, members, a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the chair on this vote, the yeas are 414, the nays are 1. This amendment is adopted. The Unfinished Business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 9 printed in part b of house report 116302 by the gentlewoman from virginia, ms. Wexton, on which further proceedings were postponed, on which the noes the ayes prevailed by voice vote. The clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 9 printed in house report 119302, offered by ms. Wexton of virginia. The chair a recorded vote has been requested. Those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. A sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the chair on this vote, the yeas are 415 the nays are 1. This amendment is adopted. The Unfinished Business is the request for recorded vote on amendment number 10 printed in part b of house report 116302, by the gentleman from new york, mr. Delgado, on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote. The clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 10 printed in part b of house report 116302, offered by mr. Delgado of new york. The chair a recorded vote has been requested. Those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. A sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the chair on this vote the yeas. Re 242, the nays are 176 the amendment is adopted. There being no further amendments under the rule, the committee rises. Mr. Speaker, the committee of the whole on the state of the union has had under consideration h. R. 1309 and, pursuant to House Resolution 713, i report the bill as amended on that resolution back to the house with sundry further amendments adopted in the ommittee of the whole. The speaker pro tempore the chair of the committee of the whole house on the state of the Union Reports that the committee has had under consideration the bill h. R. 1309, and pursuant to House Resolution 713 reports the bill as amended by that resolution back to the house with sundry further amendments adopted in the committee of the whole. Under the rule, the previous question is ordered. Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment reported from the committee of the whole . If not, the chair will put them engross. The question is on the adoption of the amendments. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The amendments are agreed to. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Third reading. The clerk a bill to direct the secretary of labor to issue an Occupational Safety and Health Standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social Service Industries to develop and implement a comprehensive Workplace Violence prevention plan and for other urposes. The speaker pro tempore members. Members. The house is in order. At this time the house is not in order. The gentleman deserves to be heard. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise . Mr. Speaker, i have a proposal to recommit at the desk. The speaker pro tempore is the gentleman opposed to the bill . I am in its current form. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the motion. The clerk mr. Kelly of pennsylvania moves to recommit the bill the speaker pro tempore the clerk will suspend. For what purpose does the gentleman from connecticut seek recognition . I reserve a point of order. The speaker pro tempore a point of order is reserved. The clerk will report. The clerk h. R. 1309, to the committee on education and labor, with instructions to the report same back to the house forthwith with the following amendment. Add and the at the end the following, title 3, sense of congress, section 301, sense of congress. It is the sense of the congress that the current House Majority has failed to deliver results for the American People on Critical Issues facing our nation by prioritizing impeachment of the president over working with the administration and republicans in congress to enact policies such as the following. One, an act implementing the United Statesmexicocanada trade agreement. Two, the National Defense authorization act for fiscal year 2020. Three, the department of defense appropriations act for fiscal year 2020. Four, legislation to secure operational control of the southern border. Five, Bipartisan Legislation to ower Prescription Drug prices. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The gentleman deserves to be heard. The gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Jerry kelly madam speaker, as we mr. Kelly madam speaker, as we get ready to leave the house today and go home for thanksgiving, i think its been alarming that as we read the newspapers, as we listen, we find that so many families are not going to be celebrating thanksgiving together because of the political divide thats taking place not only here on the floor of the peoples hour but in our homes. It is incredible to me that we have allowed our political rhetoric to divide not only republicans and democrats on the floor, but also our families back home. This has never happened before in in the speak ears house. We should in the peekers speak ears house. We should never have speakers house. We should never have this happening on the floor. I know we have differences of opinions. The relentless pursuit to delegitimatize the election of donald trump has taken over any activity that should be taking place on the floor of the eoples house. Madam speaker, the house is not in order. The speaker pro tempore the house is not in order. The gentleman deserves to be heard. The house is not in order. Members. The gentleman can be recognized. Mr. Kelly thank you, madam speaker. As we stand here in the house, on the floor, the peoples house, and we get ready to depart for thanksgiving celebration, its hard to imagine what it is that this majority has in mind when it comes to legislation, because we are not doing legislation. We have concentrated on impeachment. Madam speaker, the house is not in order. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is correct. Members, take their conversations off the floor. The gentleman deserves to be heard for the few minutes left in his statement. Mr. Kelly now, i would ask all. Embers to recommit and recommit for the purposes that the American People elected us. To do legislation that makes sense. To do legislation that is long overdue. To do legislation that is critical. To do legislation that makes sense for every single american. I appeal to you not as a republican, but as an american. Have we left this floor and decided that we can no longer Work Together because the American People are drawing that conclusion and when i go home they say to me, cant you all agree on anything . And i say, yes, we can. But madam speaker, the floor is not in order. The speaker pro tempore the house is not in order. My good friends, please take your conversations off the floor. The gentleman deserves to finish. Mr. Kelly thank you, madam speaker. We have wasted precious time and millions of hardworking american taxpayer dollars on a pursuit of an effort to impeach the president of the United States. We have done nothing to legislate and to act in the best interest of every american. I would ask again that we look at what were doing as americans and not as republicans or democrats, because the people back home cant understand why it is that they sent us here to do what were not doing today. Why, why are we not doing it . That is, that is the madam speaker, the house is not in order. Hank you, madam speaker. At some point i would hope and pray that the greatest nation the world has ever known, the defenders of liberty and freedom all over the world, could take a lock and see what were doing right now and ask, what is the message we are sending to the rest of the world . Really . America is caught up in an effort to impeach the duly elected president of the United States . And why . Because we have been so consumed with hate that we can no longer see straight. Look, why are we not passing the United Statesmexicocanada trade agreement, which is a jobs ill . Why are we not passing the National Defense authorization act for fiscal year 2020, which is critical to our safety . Why are we not passing the department of defense appropriations act the speaker pro tempore the gentleman will suspend. Mr. Kelly madam speaker, i appreciate you saying it, but im going to ask my colleagues the same, please extend to me the same respect the speaker pro tempore youre out of order. You direct your remarks to the chair. Mr. Kelly i would, madam speaker, but i dont think the other side is interested in hearing what i have to say. The speaker pro tempore you are recognized. Mr. Kelly we also have not passed the department of defense appropriation act. Can you believe we are that irresponsible . Legislation to secure operational control of our southern border. Were not doing that. And were not doing Bipartisan Legislation to lower Prescription Drug prices and handle surprise billings and preexisting conditions. Why are we not doing those things that are the most important things to our citizens back home . I would ask that we look into what we are doing and if we are doing it strictly for political purposes, and in a power grab, that is not why the American People sent us here. That is not why the majority on the floor of the house changed during the last election, but now that people are seeing exactly what happens when the majority switches over, and when i go home, people ask me, why arent you doing something about whats happening in Congress Today . And i say, you know what, that was americas choice. Not ours. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Kelly i sincerely wish all, i would like to sincerely i the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from connecticut. The gentlemans time has expired. The house will come to order. The gentleman from connecticut deserves to be heard. For what purpose does the gentleman from connecticut rise . Mr. Courtney madam speaker, on behalf of americas nurses, doctors and social workers who are begging for relief from unprecedented levels of Workplace Violence, i insist upon my point of order, the motion violates clause 7 of rule 6, germaneness rule. The speaker pro tempore does any member does any member wish to be heard on the point of order . If not, the chair is prepared to rule. The gentleman from connecticut akes a point of order that the instructions proposed in the motion to recommit offered by the gentleman from pennsylvania are not germane. Is there pursuant to rule 16, the germaneness rule provides that no proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall be committed under color of amendment. Motion uctions in the express the sense of congress with respect to certain legislative items. The amendment proposed in the motion to recommit addresses a different subject matter than the subject matter of Workplace Violence prevention as addressed by the underlying bill. Accordingly, the chair finds that the instructions proposed in amendment that is not confined to the subject matter of the underlying bill. The amendment is nongermane and the point of order is sustained. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Kelly madam speaker, i ppeal the ruling of the chair. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland rise in mr. Hoyer i have a motion at the desk. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the motion. The clerk mr. Hoyer of maryland moves to lay the appeal on the table. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the motion to table. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Kelly i ask for a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore a recorded vote is requested. Those favoring a recorded vote will rise. A sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, this is a fiveminute vote on the notion table, will be followed by a fiveminute vote on passage of the bill if arising without further proceedings in recommital. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 222, the nays are 188. The motion is adopted. The question is on passage of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Request a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina requests a recorded vote. A recorded vote is requested. Those favoring a recorded vote will rise. A sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 251, the nays are 158. He bill is passed. Without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. In the spirit of thanksgiving, e chair will remind all signs of approval of the proceedings is in violation of the house. The speaker pro tempore the chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Payne madam speaker, i rise today to urge the Senate Majority leader, Mitch Mcconnell, to bragg bring our bills to the floor to bring our bills to the floor. My house colleagues and i have passed 400 bills this congress. 400. Unfortunately, more than 300 are stuck on mcconnells desk, ncluding 275 bipartisan bills. These bills include things like raising the minimum wage, protecting retirees, protecting consumers when they sign contracts, and support our veterans. These for our veterans. These are not partisan issues. These are american issues. Every day we are trying to do the will of the American People. Every day we fight to make their lives better. Yet every day our Public Opinion drops because the people do not see any results. The time to act is now. The betterment of every american depends on it. And with that, madam speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks as necessary. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to honor the life of judge david taughten who passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on november 8. As the longest serving judge in gulf county, florida, he will be remembered by many for his unending dedicate to dedication to children and providing them with a second chance. Judge taughten and his wife dedicated their lives to opening a shelter for homeless children. In 1978 the taughten family Childrens Home welcomed its first child and since then over 400 children have called their home their own. Mr. Duncan abigail and the judge mr. Dunn abe gale and the judge made sure each abigail and the judge made sure each child their sed as if he was child. In addition to serving as judge for 20 years, david searched served as a logger, a school principal, a church pastor, and editor of his newspaper. Madam speaker, police join me in honoring the legacy and life of judge david taughten. He will be missed by many. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Madam speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus i ask for its immediate consideration. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 725. Resolved that the following named member mr. Jeffries madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered as read and printed in the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Jeffries thank you. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from georgia seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for ne minute. Mrs. Mcbath i rise today to speak on h. R. 5041, the Family Violence prevention and Services Improvement act. Too Many Americans have been injured and too many families have been torn apart by Domestic Violence. One in four women and one in nine men will experience some form of Domestic Violence in their lifetime. Victims and survivors span all races, backgrounds, genders and income levels. Domestic violence is just not a womans issue. That is why im proud to have introduced this, with representatives gwen moore, tom cole and john katko. Though there are centers around the country doing incredible work, too many people still are turned away each day due to lack of resources. Our bill will provide adequate resources for prevention and treatment services. I urge all of my colleagues to support this vital bill. Together we fight for the people, help survivors of Domestic Violence, and prevent such tragedies in the future. And i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today in recognition of a dear friend and local leader in my district, former Bailey County commissioner, Floyd Butch Vander ber, vanderber, who is currently fighting cancer. Hes the epitome of a servant leader and he personifies the spirit of west texas. Having operated a family farm for more than 35 years, butch understands the trials of tilling the soil, the blessings of a bountiful harvest, and the faith and freedom it requires. During his two decades as Bailey County commissioner, butch served with excellence, always putting the interests of the people he served over himself. Mr. Arrington i first met butch on a flight back to lubbock. He was returning home from treatment at m. D. Anderson. Clearly fatigued from his fight against cancer, he never once complained. Instead, he encouraged me. Butch, you inspire me with your authenticity, your humility, and your unwavering faith. I want you to know we love you and were praying for you and your family and we know you are in gods loving and capable hands. God bless and go west texas. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for ne minute. Yesterday we observed latina equal payday. Latinas across the country made our voices heard, demanding an end to the gender pay gap that affects latinas the most. We latinas are fighters. Yet on average latinas make 53 cents to the dollar earned by white nonhispanic men. Were talking about our mothers, our madres, our grandmothers and others. Hardworking latinas deserve better. We should not have to work 23 months to make what white nonhispanic men make in 12 months. Ms. Garcia we must level the Playing Field. Its not only the right thing to do, but America Works best when women are empowered and treated equally. I wont stop fighting until latinas and all women receive equal pay for equal work. Thank you, madam speaker. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman s recognized for one minute. I rise today to wish mr. George hike of victoria, texas, a heartfelt happy 100th birthday. And to thank him for his service to our country. George is an example of a life well lived. He and his precious wife, sara, have been married for 71 years and their family has flourished. George served our nation heroically during world war ii. Storming the beaches of normandy on dday, fighting in the battle of the bulge, and liberating a nazi concentration camp. After the war, he returned home and continued operating the Dicks Food Stores in victoria. Which he cofounded. The longevity of the store earned it the texas treasure business award. As we look to celebrate thanksgiving, we as a nation do have a lot to be thankful for. Including veterans like george. May mr. Hikes life serve as a reminder of the price that he and others like him paid for our freedom. Thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from hawaii seek recognition . Mr. Case i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Case thank you, madam speaker. Can anyone seriously dispute that our federal fiscal house is seriously out of order . Our National Debt stands at 23 trillion, doubling in just the last decade alone. No end is in sight as we just registered 1 trillion annual deficit in the last fiscal year, and this fiscal year looks the same or worse. Interest payments alone will exceed defense spending by 2025. We need look no further than into the mirror for the root cause. It is our collective inability to face the music of fiscal responsibility and sustainability. We clearly need help. H. R. 5211, the sustainable budget act, cointroduced today with my colleague from arkansas, the Ranking Member of the budget committee, mr. Womack, would follow the models of simpsonbowles and other independent commissions charged with focusing on our debt and recommending a sustainable path forward for an up or down vote by congress. In that our bill is similar to other measures ive also cointroduced. H. R. 4907, the trust act with representative gallagher and mcadams, and the act with representative burchett. Together they offer a far better way forward to tackling our debt crisis and i urge their prompt consideration in passage. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from puerto rico seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Miss gonzalezcolon mr. Speaker, today i rise and am pleased to say that the continuing resolution to keep our government open until december 20 extends once again the provision for the 2018 b. B. A. To provide puerto rico 100 medical cost assistance percentage in the Medicaid Program. But however, the Time Available for extension is quickly coming to an end. Unless Congress Acts quickly to adequately fund this vital program, puerto rico will face a 1 billion shortfall as early as march of 2020. Putting in grave jeopardy the 1. 1 million american citizens in my district who rely on this program. This insecurity in funding also makes it impossible to negotiate longterm provider contracts and it disrupts the ongoing implementation of important transparency and integrity measures. Without a decisive and longterm funding, the progress toward stabilizing puerto ricos Medicaid Program will be reversed as payments to providers will once again fall close to 40 medicare fee schedule and provided ex odd us. Puerto rico will also not be able to pay for lifesaving hepatitis c medicines that possibly impact the positively impact the quality of life while decreasing longterm health care costs. Puerto rico will also not be able to subsidize premiums and Keep Health Care costs in medicare where they belong. I simply the lack of solutions for puerto rico Medicaid Program such as the proposed by the house could have a Ripple Effect have a effect on the health care. I urge my colleagues to act on medicaid provisions. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Madam speaker, i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today in solemn memory of ms. Verna campbell, a constituent, block ofed mother, grandmother and eternal fighter for the working class. Ms. Campbell left us on october 22 but leaves hayden powerful legacy in my community. She was a loving mother to 10 children and stepchildren and always worked to support her second family, she was a longtime delegate for 1199 where she fought for labor rights, fair pay and dignity for all workers. Mr. Rose she devoted herself to the mr. Rose rose she de mr. Rose she devoted herself to the Staten Island naacp, political caucus and the 120th precinct council. Ms. Verna was a founder of the Staten Island africanamerican Political Association and over the years has worked to bring africanamericans into Staten Island politics. Ms. Verna also played key roles in electing numerous africanamericans to Public Office throughout her life. Staten island and all of new york city will deeply miss ms. Verna campbell deeply. But we are also blessed for her membership in our community throughout her lifetime. Thank you, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek ecognition . Request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. The house of representatives this year has had one of the most productive sessions in u. S. History. We passed over 275 bipartisan bills to the United States senate. Let me say that again. We have passed over 275 bipartisan bills to the United States senate. Unfortunately, Republicanled Senate has not gotten around to letting these bills go far vote. Some of these bills include commonsense legislation such as the violence against women act reauthorization, the save the internet act, securing americas federal elections act, the gold star family tax relief act, the Climate Action now act, the paycheck fairness act and the raise the wage act. It is time for the donothing republicans to start doing their jobs. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands seek recognition . Ms. Plaskett i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and rhett rith and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Plaskett today is National Rural health day. More than 65 million americans live in rural areas. They tend to be in Poorer Health than those in urban and suburban areas, and experience greater rates of crnic disease. The u. S. Virin islands is one of these rural areas. The v. I. Has high rates of chronic disease, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and experience unique challenges in accessing health care. The virin islands, however, due to geographic distance from the contiguous United States, and our territorial status face further charges including inequitable federal funding. Our Health Providers and families have to make difficult decisions not based on care but on distance and funding. All americans deserve easy accessibility to high Quality Health care. I want to take this time to recognize the Health Care Providers in the Virgin Islands for their tireless work and commitment to the health and well being of our people. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . The gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today to recognize a longterm Public Servant and new york 14 constituent, linda loria. On november 30, 2019, she will retire from the Social Security administration. Lindas retirement will mark the close of a phenomenal 34year career that spans multiple decades of public service. Linda began her career with the Social Security administration in august, 1973. As a claims development clerk in the east bronx. In the east bronx Social Security office as a gs2. She was promoted to positions in the field including Service Representative and claims representative. Linda has been instrumental in the timely resolution of several thousand cases. Eliminating barriers between our most Vulnerable People and their essential benefits. Lindas outstanding contributions to the agency have been recognized with several awards including Deputy Commission of citations and new york regional Management Society employee of the year. Shes been strumal in helping my own District Team from the very beginning. Ms. Ocasiocortez shes brought intelligence, technical savvy and a strong commitment to excellence to every assignment. Today my staff, the Social Security administration and i thank her for her dedication, passion and commitment to our community. Madam speaker, i would seek permission to submit an extension of my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Today, i want to recognize atlanta care, a Major Health System in south jersey for over one century. The group started with one hospital in 1898 and has now expanded to over 100 different locations. Its across the region and to fulfill the medical needs of our communities. Atlanticare helps the people of south jer sy see by providing high Quality Health care which has been celebrated with a gold beacon award, the nursest Association Lantern award and more. Beyond that, theyve been a stapele to south jersey because of their focus on Community Outreach programs which are so very important. Mr. Van drew they have tackled a variety of issues facing our area. Atlanticare has supplied school lunches, to bring helly options to those struggling with Food Insecurity and provideres. Tency opportunities for localed me school medical School Students so they stay in the area. We are lucky to have atlanticare to better our region. Thank you to them for caring about our community in south jersey and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jackson lee i have worked in yufle justice for the many years i have served in the United States congress. Dealing with juveniles here in this country and giving them a pathway of opportunity success has been my dream and goal. I intend to introduce the omnibus juvenile justice restoration and uplift act. There are 75 million juveniles plus since 2013. That number has grown. That means one in four have the being in the juvenile delynn again i sy ystem. Delinquency system. Ban the box so they dont have to say throughout their life i was arrested as a juvenile. Alternative sentences so oldfashioned juvenile detention jails can be closed. Gang intervention to find a way for resolution and direction in another way for the gang activity. Gang prevention. Violence cessation. Wraparound services. Sentence, l juffle closing all juvenile sentence over a 10year period and finally conflict resolution. I encourage my colleagues to join me in introducing this legislation, our children are our priority. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. Thank you. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . To address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in support of the for the People Agenda generated by this house. Mr. Green i am antithetical to the senates agenda a for the president agenda. We have passed legislation for gun safety. The president has merely talked about it. We passed legislation tand fina security for women. The president says ugly things about women. We have passed legislation that helped the dream the president is about ending the dream. We passed legislation helping those who are being discriminated against in the lgbtq community, the president ignore this is community. We passed legislation to help with elections and democracy security, the president wants to do all that he can to help putin an those in russia with their security, ignoring ours. In our house we have for the people passed bills to increase minimum wame. The president seems to be antithetical to it. If we have our for the People Agenda and we pass these bills and send them to the senate, the least the senate can do is generate their own version so these bill mace go to conference committee. They dont have to have a for the president ayen dasm im for the people. The speaker the time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. Green i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president. Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from arizona, mr. Ohalleran, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. Mr. Ohalleran i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my special order. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Ohalleran i rise today in honor of National Rural health day. To mark this important day, my colleagues and i will discuss the unique challenges that Rural America faces when seeking Quality Health care close to home. Or as close to home as Rural America has it. I am proud to represent arizonas first Congressional District in the house of representatives. Our district is actually larger than the entire state of illinois. It is one of the most rural in the country. This year, i have held 26 town halls across the vast district and diverse district. In each and every one i hear from rural residents struggling to access Quality Health care. Especially emergency care. Many of my constituents must spend hours traveling hundreds of miles to access any kind of care, let alone Specialist Care or maternity care. Since i was elected, i have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to identify legislative solutions to the issues our rural residents are facing. This year, i introduced the chime act, legislation to extend the Community Health centers fund in the national Health Service corps for five years and increase funding for priority areas. Community Health Centers are critical to serve hundreds of thousands of patients every year just in arizona. In my district, in many rural areas, Community Health centers are often the primary care facility for large portion of he population. If funding for Community Health centers in arizona were to lapse, just in my district, tens of thousands of rural residents would be left without access to critical care. My language to extend this funding was included in this weeks continuing resolution. But it is at risk of expire if we cannot come together to fund the government. We need a longterm solution. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this bill into law. Permanently. So our communities have the support and certainty they need. Additionally this year, i introduced the g. M. E. , graduate medical education, amendment to lower drug costs and now act also. My amendment would instruct the department of health and Human Services to establish a Grant Program for hospitals in rural and medically underserved areas. We must act now to ensure that Rural Communities have the resources they need. According to the association of american medical colleges, our country will suffer a shortage of over 120,000 physicians by 2032. Rural areas will be hit especially hard. We must to what we can now to prevent this from happening and to mitigate the effects. My amendment would help incentivize doctors to stay and practice in our Rural Communities. We know very well that when a resident comes to a Rural Community or any other community theres a higher pert centage that want to stay in that community after their residency. This may, after years of work with stake holders, community leaders, and Veterans Associates and advocates, i was able to secure federal funding for construction of veterans Nursing Homes in flagstaff. In my district and yuma in western arizona. We found out during that time that you cant build a facility like that on tribal lands. So we have a bill that is trying to change that so the many tribal nations in our country and nations like the Navajo Nation that are as big as West Virginia can have a Nursing Center close to the many veterans that they have. For too long, these rural Construction Projects were unfairly penalized by an outdated v. A. Funding formula that left too many families without the help they deserved. We must continue to expand access to health care. For Rural Americans. But i know these are merely first steps. Theres much work to be done and many hurdles that must be crossed before we overcome and ensure that our vet raps, seniors, and families across Rural America have access to Quality Health care that is close to home. Quickly, Rural America is tied closer to urban america than many people know, but the families that we need there that supply the food, the water, the energy, everything that makes urban america survive wont be there if we dont have people that want to be able to live there. That means we have to have good schools. We have to have Good Health Care and we need to have job opportunities. And we want our children to move back to Rural America. And we will not have that if we do not address the appropriate concerns. Now i yield to my colleague from where are you from new york. Written written thank you to my friend from arizona. I rise in honor of National Rural health day. I am proud to represent a rural district in upstate new york. These are Strong Communities of hardworking men and women, but too often i hear about the challenges facing these families. I recently heard from farmers at a round table about the stress of losing a farm thats been in the family for generations. And the barriers to reaching out for help when you are in distress. Rural americans too often face long travel times to Access Health care and the lack of adequate resources locally. And tragically, the c. D. C. Reports that the suicide rate in Rural America is 45 higher than in urban areas. We need to do better. Thats why i am proud to work with representative katko and representative craig to have the seating rural act. This bipartisan bill will direct more resources to reduce the stigma around Mental Health care and connect farmers with available resources. Shouldnt matter if you live in new berlin or new york city, you deserve access to quality, Affordable Health care. Its time for congress to deliver more access to Affordable Health care coose our Rural Communities. I urge swift passage of my bill and other actions to address the specific needs of Rural Americans. Thank you, i yield back to my friend from arizona. Mr. Ohalleran i yield to representative van drew from new jersey for five minutes. Drew thank you for yielding the five minutes of time. Im honored to be joined by my colleagues today on National Rural health day to express the importance of Rural Health Care across america. Nearly 57 million americans call their communities Rural Communities and call these places their home and includes many residents of in south jersey. The department of health dines a a l community that has population density of less than 500 pernings per square mile. They tend to have a lack of health care but more need for accessible, Affordable Care. The pop you layings in Rural Communities tend to have more households with people over 65 years of age. Many of whom live alone. They have higher rates of suicide, cancer, diabetes, asthma, obesity and most do not have any Health Insurance at all. We must act on Health Legislation that not only supports development of Community Health centers and ways ccess but creative to support these communities and ultimately we will save their lives. It is important we address these threatening world Health Concerns and offer accessible and affordable Health Services. And now i yield back to my friend, the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Ohalleran i yield five minutes to my colleague, mr. Costa from california. Mr. Costello i thank for leading mr. Costa i thank the gentleman from arizona. The blue dogs represent the diversity of our country but many of us represent rural areas and health care is a critical need, a critical issue. In 2010 before the Affordable Care act became law, in the district that i represent in california in the san joaquin valley, 22 of my constituents had no Health Care Insurance whatsoever. And 17 were underinsured. The Affordable Care act has a number of areas that we could provide much improvements if we could get bipartisan agreement. But the fact that we have the ability to protect individuals from who have preexisting conditions, the fact that children can be on their parents Health Care Insurance until 25 and things that have expanded medicaid and medicare and what gets often overlooked is the 8 billion that was provided in the Affordable Care act for Rural Health Care clinics across america. What does this mean in my district, a district that represents some of the richest agricultural region in the entire country and world, from 22 underinsured, we have gone to 10 underinsured and cut the people who have no insurance by more than half and reduced the level of those underinsured. In addition, clinics in my area, to gston, Golden Valley mention a few have expanded their Rural Health Care clinics to provide more health care for people who live in rural areas. In addition, they have done innovative things like other clinics. They put Health Clinics in high schools and middle schools and provided greater access to health care. So we have made a difference. We have improved the level of health care. But the reality is this, three decades and the number of hospitals in rural areas has declined at a steep pace. Among the 50 rural hospitals in california, more than a dozen have closed. Since the early 2000 and it has been devastating to not only the level of health care and to the residents. Hardworking people that contribute to our communities every day. It is important to note for every thousand people in the place i live, we have. 09 positions. Physicians. While this is an important part of improving health care, we need to get medical schools and that is something i have worked on. I have worked on trying to get additional medical schools not only across the country in the san joaquin valley. It provides an opportunity for students who graduate from that medical school to practice in the area in which they graduated from. We have proof of that. We have residency programs that i have been supportive with the California University of San Francisco that has over 280 residents being trained in the valley right now and over half of those physicians that have graduated from that program have stayed to practice in our valley. So a medical school is an important part of an overall strategy. As blue dogs we want to continue support expanded health care throughout our rural areas and this is something i believe dem cats and republicans can come together in a bipartisan manner. These are many ways in which we can work to ensure that Rural America gets reliable, Affordable Health care that they deserve like every other american. And thats why blue dogs are speaking out on this issue today. Since taking office, this administration sadly has made repeated efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care act without putting anything in its place. That makes no sense. It makes no sense whatsoever. Just this week, we voted on a continuing resolution to keep the government open for the next six weeks. We should have a real budget in place at this time. And its irresponsible ever as the president did earlier this year to shut down government. But in this continuing resolution we have funding to ensure our Community Health centers keep receiving the funding they need to stay open. This year alone, congress has voted on 10 different proposals to improve the health care and stabilize the Affordable Care act for American Families and they are over in the senate right now. And senator Mitch Mcconnell refuses to bring these Good Measures up. Instead of action, we could be lowering the cost of Prescription Drugs, which affects all americans whether you live in rural or urban areas and to ensure we protect those who have preexisting conditions. Preexisting conditions of heart disses ease, cancer and diabetes. And these bills are sadly collecting dust on the majority leaders desk. So i want to close as a 15year member of the blue dog coalition, our caucus, that we stand together to try to improve health care for all americans. For those of us who represent Rural America like congressman ohalleran and myself and many others, we must improve our Health Care System for the people who live in the rural areas. Its time for the senate to do their job. Pass these important bills. And we continue to work to try to expand access to health care in rural areas with our clinics, to create medical schools in areas that are significantly underserved and while we continue to patiently ask the senate to act, i know the blue dogs will continue to advocate for policies that improve access to health care for all americans and especially for those Rural Americans who we represent. I yield back. Mr. Ohalleran i thank the gentleman. I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership in this important area as the legislative chair. Citizens of arizona are fortunate to have a good representative. Have a happy thanksgiving. I thank all my colleagues for joining me to participate in this important show of support by the blue dog caucus for Rural Health Care across america and access, today. A couple of quick examples. First of all, when you are traveling across the country from urban america through Rural America, this medical issue is your issue because the hospitals that we have or the hospitals you will be taken to, the ambulances have to take an hour, two hours to get to the site where youre at are the ambulances ta you are going to be taken to. And people on dyalisis in Rural America whether it is a Tribal Community or another community, some of them have to dive two hours one way to get their treatment. And then two hours back home. And then sometimes they do three days a week, sometimes up to four days a week. Sick people traveling hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles to get this type of treatment so they can live. Cancer, the same way. Cancer patients have to find a way to get that treatment and its very scarce in Rural America. Rural communities make up the very fabric of america. Their success is our nations success. I am committed to fighting to improve access to health care for rural, tribal and other underserved communities and hardworking families and veterans who travel hundreds of miles for basic care. As i stated before, my district is rural for the most part. And we have 60,000 veterans within the district. For Rural Health Care to be totally successful, we must improve broadband and expand it so that telemedicine is meaningful for the people that live across america in rural areas. Improving access to care is not a partisan issue. We must come together across the aisle and continue to work to identify legislative solutions o the barriers our rural residents face. Madam speaker, thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the alance of his time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair lays before the house the following personal request. The clerk leave of absence requested for mr. John lewis of georgia for today. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the request is granted. The chair will receive a message. The messenger madam speaker, a message from the senate. The secretary madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore madam secretary. The secretary i have been directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has agreed to h. Con. Res. 75, directing the clerk to make a correction in the enrollment of h. R. 305. The speaker pro tempore under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from arkansas, mr. Hill is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Hill i thank the speaker. Oday i rise to mark Global Entrepreneurship week where all across the globe, cities will be hosting events that will inspire millions to explore their potential as an entrepreneur while fostering connections and increasing collaborations within their communities. Small business Small Businesses and entrepreneurs are the engines of our economy in arkansas and across our country. They support millions of jobs in this nation, they create and support jobs within their local community, and employ approximately half the private Sector Workers in the United States. As a cochairman and founder of the house entrepreneurship caucus im proud to celebrate the visionary men and women who boldly pursue their passion to build a growth build the growth businesses that fuel our economy. The United States has served as a global beacon of innovation, delivering remarkable new products and services that improve the lives of all americans. Today over 99 of u. S. Employers are Small Businesses that create 57 million jobs that yen rate 44 of our economic activity. The spirit of the startup is built in to the american d. N. A. Our country is home to the worlds greatest inventions, company, and technological advances because we believe that anyone with a good idea and demmings can build a business that changes the world. The house entrepreneurship caucus believes in empowering the pursuit of americas innovators by removing the barriers that make it harder to start a business in this country. Now over the past four decades, ive had a long career focused on different aspects of entrepreneurship and technology. Back in 1980, i helped start a Payment System innovator in the banking industry, a company that became pulse, the largestshared a. T. M. P. O. S. System in the southwest. Pulse is now owned by discover and i didnt know it at the time as a young person, but i was an entrepreneur. I took leave from a Public Company i worked for to help start an Innovative Technology business that really changed the face of banking in texas in those years. Likewise, later, in the late 1980s, early 1990s, i served as Deputy Assistant secretary of the treasury for Corporate Finance and there, working with my colleagues at the commerce department, we focused on how to make American Companies more competitive. How do we lower barriers to our global competitiveness. That was a key moment at that time, given the world in the late 1980s with amazing increases in foreign competition from asia, from europe, and also how do we reduce the barriers for investment in technology companies. Something that now america again 30 years later is so well known for and yet still investing in technology, whether its biotech or Silicon Valley or in the worldwide web investing, thats still a challenge to come up with the right number of dollars to support investing in technology, where you dont have traditional assets. So throughout my career, ive tried to lead in looking for solutions to build our entrepreneurship and build our business ecosystem. And ive had a pleasure to work in a variety of different industries. As a chamber chairman, as a Community Banker, i led the way in my hometown of little rock to improve our ecosystem by supporting the bioventures incubator at the university of arkansas medical campus, support the creation of a Venture Center so these are all things that ive seen help create a spirit of entrepreneurship and not only in not only little rock but across the country. Perhaps steve case said it best, by creating an environment where theres the rise of the rest, where technology, entrepreneurship, business startups are not limited to the west coast or the east coast of the United States, but are spread across all of our towns and communities in a better way. Things like the Innovation Hub or the program called the conductor are bringing to Middle America the kinds of entrepreneurship, talents, and abilities that we need. But most things a startup Business Needs more than anything else besides capital is to take that idea and have a good set of mentors or advisors. Thats something that again the conductor and the Innovation Hubs in our Small Business administration, Small Business Development Centers across the country help create, that local Community Entrepreneurship culture. Since joining congress, some 4 1 2, almost now five years ago, i continue to focus my work to expand the flow of capital, reduce barriers to business startups and Business Growth, and consistently, mr. Speaker, ive tailored my thoughts in the following key areas that federal policy can influence entrepreneurship. We need to tailor regulatory regimes for businesses. We need to be very sensitive about the Regulatory Burden to a startup, to a Small Business or to a mom and pop. We need to lower taxes for Capital Investment and Capital Gains taxation to encourage longterm investment and some of the changes we made in the 2016, or 2017 tax bill reflect that. Lowering taxes on investment. Encouraging investments in opportunity zones, encouraging longterm Capital Investment, returning capital to the United States. All of this creates a better entrepreneurship environment. We want to mitt gate barriers for companies who want to go public who want the ultimate recognition of raising capital on the Public Markets. And over the last three decades we have seen the number of Public Companies fall, mr. Speaker, dramatically and we want to know what are the barriers that are causing fewer companies to go public in our country. We want a re we want to reward innovation, we want to make sure federal policies streamline efficiencies and compliance for our business and finally we want to make sure that credit is available equally across this great country. In furtherance of these ideals i would like to highlight the work of the coffman foundation and their new report just released, americas new Business Plan. The coffman foundation is a leader in this field and recently formed the start us up coalition in collaboration with over 100 entrepreneurship advocacy groups to address many of the issues that ive touched on and are discussing today. Americas new Business Plan outlines four key principles that are necessary to support entrepreneurship in business development. One opportunity one, opportunity. A level Playing Field and less red tape. When it comes to starting a business, entrepreneurs need a level Playing Field to compete with larger, more established enterprises. Number two, funding. Equal access to the right kind of capital, not just bank loans, but also Venture Capital. The idea of an innovation grant. Called an sbir. The opportunity to raise angel capital or Venture Capital. Number three. Knowledge. The knowhow to start a business including understanding the requirements and barriers that come with turning an idea into reality. And having been engamed in so many emerging companies and Startup Companies over my career, thats always that strict assessment that an entrepreneur, a visionary, a Startup Company owner really needs. Perspective. Perspective on what are the requirements needed to start your business and any barriers that would make it difficult and have a realistic plan to deal with that. And the fourth key area that coffman outlines is support. The ability for all to take risks while having the proper support after becoming an entrepreneur and leaving behind that stability of a traditional job and that paycheck every two weeks and the benefits that come with it. Thats why i emphasize those four areas are so key. The university of arkansas at fayetteville recently established their Startup Village to address a few of these issues by providing students and the Community Entrepreneurs with the resources and support needed early in the process to help them launch their own business and pursue happiness. I know how important it is to have a wide range of Funding Options that i talked about and in Central Arkansas im proud to note that private equity has created over 1,600 jobs and invested more than 2 billion just in the last five years. Demonstrating that steve case is right that all communities can share in this prosperity if they have that right ecosystem. Specifically to push some of these ideals, ive supported different causes and different legislation in this house that i want to highlight during Global Entrepreneurship week. First, we formed the entrepreneurship caucus to address these issues and have the support, have our support in the house of job creators across this country. We did that in conjunction with the United States senate which also has started an entrepreneurship caucus. Its led its led by Senate Klobuchar and senator senator klobuchar and senator scott. I was pleased here in the house to have my colleagues join me from house financial services, house ways and means, and house Small Business. And to start it we had my colleagues, congressman foster, chabot, murphy of florida, schweikert, and veasey, call coming together with the idea that we will be a voice to create, i would say, ability to watch for legislation in this house that may have either a positive effect on Capital Formation and business formation, or a deleterious effect. Number two, weve introduced the enhancing entrepreneurship for the 21st century act. As part of this caucus work weve introduced legislation with the cochairs that directs the secretary of commerce to conduct a comprehensive study into the underlying economic factors driving the decline and rates decline in rates of entrepreneurship. Senators klobuchar and scott have introduced a Senate Companion of this bill as well. I also introduced with my friend representative schweikert from arizona a bill that i saw was a big help to people starting a business and i call it the Fair Investment opportunities for professional experts act. What this does is it changes the definition of accredited investor. Right now, mr. Speaker, you have to invest in a private business, to participate in a Venture Capital idea, to go into what the s. E. C. Calls a regd private placement offering, you have to be an an accredited investor. You have to have a certain net worth. You have to have a certain income. For many people that discriminates against their ability to lead a company, informs in a company in which they have terrific expertise. So this bill simply says that professional expertise can also count to that definition of accredited investor. Its not limited to just High Net Worth individuals. Additionally ive cosponsored legislation called helping startups continue to grow act. This extends that regulatory balance, those compliance costs, it reduces those for emerging Growth Companies from five years up to 10 years. This is where companies that are just growing, accessing capital through the Public Markets have a lower Regulatory Burden now for 10 years rather than five. So those are some of the key things that were doing in this first few days of the entrepreneurship caucus. I encourage all my colleagues to get involved whether theyre entrepreneurs or not. If they have that entrepreneurial spirit or if they believe that we should limit the governments red tape and bogging down innovative americans from starting their business. According to the coffman foundation, 7 of new Business Owners feel they did not have that kind of support from government when they started heir business. The caucus was created to attack that issue and identify comprehensive efforts to how to answer these problems that have limited business formation and make it easier to start a business. Working with entrepreneurs, Business Leaders and economists to identify the root causes of what the Kaufman Foundation calls the current slartup slump is a critical step to unleashing a new wave of Business Growth in this country. Having effective policies in place to encourage innovation can make a difference in the world in the first few years. Im working hard to create that environment where all americans can boldly pursue their passions and build a business that could change the world. Supporting this is a mission that is not a partisan one. And with our voices, both democrat and republican in this new caucus, it wont be. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to commend the Arkansas Department of Human Services for taking action to address the urgent need for better Mental Health care by establishing a support line to connect us to low cost Mental Health and Substance Abuse services. Far too Many Americans, about one in five, are suffering from some form of mental illness, a problem that has disrupted too many families and caused violence and pain and cost far too many lives. Untreated Mental Health disorders and Substance Abuse have resulted in countless tragedies in our country including over 45,000 lives lost lost to e and 70,000 drug overdoses in 2017. We must continue to move forward in addressing the issue of Mental Health and Mental Health access and do what we can to save the lives of all americans and reverse this deadly trend of suicides and overdoses. The arkansas support line is now live. F you or a loved one needs please share this number and all the d. H. S. Help line the 8447630198. Mr. Speaker, i rise to recognize the good work of the arkansas chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and to call attention to this topic that is so important throughout our nation. Since i have come to congress, i have met with arkansas American Foundation members, their family and tyler west and christopher every son. I cosponsored the National Suicide hotline designation act in honor of them and for so many like them and their families that have been affected by suicide. And hope we can reduce suicide nationwide. This bill would designate 988 as the universal telephone number for the National Suicide hotline making it just as simple dialing 911 for emergency help. I want to thank representative Chris Stewart for introducing this vital legislation. We must Work Together and save the lives of our fellow citizens and reverse this deadly trend. I look forward to the day we vote on this house floor to make 988 that lifesaving number. Mr. Speaker, i rise to recognize and congratulate ben long on opening a new manufacturing , arkansas. Morrelton this company was started from a small Weaving Group of local omen in 1976 and expanded into a multimillion Dollar International operation. The company has grown to become one of vietnams natural fiber manufacturers. The new facility in arkansas will have approximately 75 employees and use local suppliers in the production of furniture and other Household Goods for retailers in north america such as ikea and has invested 10 million in the facility which is the first vietnamese facility to locate in the United States. It is a pleasure to visit this new facility, greet the team and learn about their plans for manufacturing in Central Arkansas. I look forward to their continued success. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize arkansas for residents to gain Financial Independence through the bank on arkansas plus initiative. A statewide coalition of Financial Institutions has partnered to fight the unbank individual, which were individuals that dont have access to affordable local banking services. Mr. Speaker, around 27 of our residents are considered underbanked and one in 10 arkansas households had no bank account. I thank my friend, darren williams, the chief executive nd Founding Partner on bank on arkansas plus. They provide checking accounts with no Overdraft Fees and access to a debit a. T. M. Card. Financial security is a freedom that many people in the low income areas of our country may not be able to afford or may not be able to have access. As a former Community Banker in little rock, i commend darren and his team and all the participating institutions for partnering to create bank on. This is a worth while strategy to help all have access and opportunity to build savings and build wealth for themselves and have Financial Independence. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to congrat you lailt jean waldrop on receiving the librarian academic award. Of is given in memory suzanne spurrier. Each year the library is dedicated to the professionalism that we expect from all librarians. She has been working at hardings Bracket Library since 2006 and oversaw several areas of the library before becoming its director and served as the secretary of art link, a board member for amigos and serving on the White County Library board. I would like to extend my con congratulations and wish her much continued success. And with that, mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from arkansas seek recognition . Mr. Hill i ask that the house. Eet tomorrow at 1 30 the speaker pro tempore without objection. Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the chair recognizes the gentleman from iowa, mr. King, for 30 minutes. Mr. King its my privilege to be recognized to address you here on the floor of the house of representatives and through i will be recognized for 30 minutes as the week closes out and we head back to our ziggets for christmas. And the scenario that has been playing out here now for several weeks in this congress has been a topic across the news across the land and certainly continues within the walls of this building and the halls of the outside buildings and i speak of e attempt to impeach our president. And peoples minds and circumstances around this week and last week are pretty fresh in their mind. But i would like to paint this scenario of how we got to this point and how the effort to impeach donald trump has evolved into the hearings that were seeing now that are taking place before the select committee on intelligence and finally out in the open and in the hearings and the deliberations that i think are likely to take place on the other side of this thanksgiving divide, madam speaker and fits a path and its something that one can trace back clear into as far back as i will say perhaps the fall of 2015. And being a representative from iowa, i have been involved in the president ial selection process, first in the nation caucus. We did an event on january 24, 2015 that launched the president ial campaign for the nation on that day. And brought in a dozen candidates that were eventually announced as candidates for president on the republican side. And a number of other folks that we had speak that day that we thought they might enter the race. Small handful that were invited that didnt come to that event. But because of that, i found myself in the middle of the churning of the nomination process so the policies and the issues that flowed from that debate and i was in the middle of the debate myself intensively for nearly a year and a half. At that event we did in des moines, a theater, future donald trump spoke from that stage that day as did a good number of others. As we watched this unfold and saw that donald trump was moving closer and closer to the nomination, we didnt know this at the time, there were powerful forces within the departments of government that were positioning things against whoever the republican nominee would be, but certainly against donald trump as he became the nominee. And we have seen the teches that came forth from peter strzok and lisa paige and ta it could never happen that he could beat Hillary Clinton but had an snurn policy that outside long shot actually took place. I want people to be reminded of this because this is being executed right now here in the house of representatives in these impeachment hearings that are being conducted by adam schiff, the chairman of the select committee on intelligence. A number of things that need to be investigated that were not investigated nearly as deeply as they should have been and that is, for example, the mishandling of classified information on Hillary Clintons server, her using a private server she set up intentionally to avoid the secure server that one would have as a secretary of state. And the evidence shows that its very likely, if not already confirmed, that barack obama communicated with Hillary Clinton through that server knowingly and that he had an email address that was exclusive to him and certainly known by a number of people that he communicated with on the offline offchannel against the law effort to communicate outside the bounds of the government secure servers. That was going on. And she paid for bleach bit and hired people to scrub the servers and get rid of the information. Over 30,000 emails that were the popt of the American People, that were destroyed. We havent found those and not been held accountable for that. And the mishandling of that information was clear, it was a stark violation of federal statute and in october of 2015 and in april of 2016, then president barack obama said well Hillary Clinton would never intend to jeopardize our furet. And when he spoke those words, he spoke those words in what became effectively the law. The law doesnt require there be intent. Gross negligence is the only requirement. He was grossly negligent and circumvented the servers that were set up to protect the classified information. All of the emails we got out of Anthony Weiners laptop, some of them were classified emails that nt into that laptop of ant Anthony Weiners. There was an interview of Hillary Clinton that took place july 2, 2016. That interview had in it by testimony of the attorney general then Loretta Lynch and also james comey, the director of the f. B. I. Testified there were agent agents in that room that questioned Hillary Clinton. They disagreed how many were from the department of justice and the f. B. I. Since the f. B. I. Is a division of the department of justice, it is probably not as an important an issue as this, we dont know their names. But i believe they were hand picked to bring about the result and that 1517 long presentation that sounded like an indictment of Hillary Clinton until you got to the last few sentence was written in may and had the words gross negligence in it and they changed those words from gross negligence because that matched the statute that would have been a clear violation to extreme carelessness as opposed to gross negligence and then james comey said Hillary Clinton would never intend to and you cant prove intent and no serious prosecutor couldnt prosecute. But the statute doesnt require the intent. It was Barack Obamas words that plugged intent into the effect of the language in the statute that i believe was clearly violated by Hillary Clinton. Of the eight in that room, thats a number agreed to by Loretta Lynch and by james comey, those eight, we dont they are. I asked her under oath, who was at the table . She didnt know. In fact, she had never known. Previous attorney general that question, what are the odds that an attorney general under those circumstances, the highest level investigation that the could everof justice conduct aside from impeachment, by the way, was the of hillary n clintons mishandling of the emails and the classified documents, what are the odds, i asked the former attorney eneral, that the current that Loretta Lynch wouldnt know who was in that room questioning clinton . That former attorney general didnt want to go on record, so hand up. Is zero is what he signaled with his fingers. That fashion it looks like an ok for the record. Of course it wasnt ok to get answer. I didnt believe it. I dont believe it today. Under ve i was lied to oath. When i asked james comey the same question under oath as me a similar question. He didnt know. What are the odds james comey that roomw who was in questioning Hillary Clinton . Of then i asked the question peter strzok under oath, and eter strzok gave me an honest answer. He said, i was. Well, weve seen him in most going on. That was in fact, he was on robert Investigative Team as well until the text between himself and lisa paige came out he had e was no choice to be removed from the mueller team. Peter strzok showed up these kind of things were going on and i believe he was the one that put that am together questioned Hillary Clinton that brought about a result that they wanted and not necessarily an one. Tive so i would ask each one of them, i want to see this is a attorney general, Loretta Lynch, and james comey and peter and others, i want to see the videotape of the interview took lary clinton that place the second of july, 2016. Videotape. E is no then, i want to hear the audiotape. There is no audiotape. I want to read the transcript. There are no transcript. Sorry. E not we know that, madam speaker. There is no videotape of the highest level interview that one could imagine at the time. Audiotape. There is no transcript. What is their answer . 302 report. Its compiled from the notes of the investigators that were in the room. We dont know who those were except for peter strzok. He said he was in the room but he wouldnt tell me who the were. And so someplace out there, here are presumably eight sets of notes. Seven other people were there hat heard the testimony of Hillary Clinton, and they are all anonymous. Before this m congress and we were able to ask them questions under oath, im or more guess that one of them will tell us the truth about what took place in that day. That but nonetheless, they went through that process, james up and delivered a 15 to 17minute statement to the press and to the public that action onn no further the gross negligence, which is statute, by federal Hillary Clinton. And therefore, we moved on to president ial election and peter strzok, lisa paige, i am going to suggest many others, set about trying to from t donald trump becoming president of the United States. And they were pumping information into the press. The steele dossier. You know much of this narrative unfolded. But once we got to the election nd donald trump was elected president of the United States, hes president elect on the tuesday after the first onday in november, the following sunday, in the manned manderin al orientaltel, the hotel, according to an article i george soros in that hotel. Is face is front and center in the article. It tells of this gathering. Their gathering was scheduled to going to hey were utilize and i use that word a d of cautiously instead of word i would prefer how they were going to utilize the president the new presidency clinton. Y but, of course, they had to change their plans, madam speaker. The plans instead were, of do we deny the ability donald trump to govern this country . What shall we do . And out of that conference that sunday, following monday, tuesday, wednesday ornings, they planned how they would resist this president , this duly elected president under the constitution of the with over 62 million votes cast for him and over 300 al victory, electoral votes, they planned on the hey were going to deny will of the American People under the constitution. Plan started out with resist the the resistance immediatelyd almost you saw protests in the cities across the country. And i know some of those paid to go ere protest, madam speaker. Societyisruption in our began. The resistance began. What about the rest of the lanning that likely took place there . I use that word carefully, too, because a lot of this was never spoken to. Ever but we know they planned the and you e movement, would see demonstrations in the treet with big banners that said resist or resistance. A million women came to this city that protested donald guration of trump, wearing the pink hats, say what it said. I argued with scores of them, as setting of fact, at a over one part of the city that night. Any of them were carrying obscene signs, obscene symbols, and they were there to resist of the guration president and let the world know asy rejected President Trump a duly elected president of the United States. Nd other things took place, i believe, in the oriental in manderin oriental hotel. To weaponize tegy certain words in our english language and into the political in the United States. Resist was one of those words used. Hey and that canotes you are a youreionary group, that fighting against an illegitimate government. Or resistance. T and it foments friction within streets and it divides americans and it accentuated the us. Erences between instead of coming together after an election like we want to do, to do, instead we are divided by a strategy put together in the hotel in this town. Unfolded, other pieces of the strategy came together. I some of those things that believe happened inside that hotel were the acceleration of of words, and on i can think of one that i know it data on from memory and was this. White nationalist. Looked this up in lexus nu exu nexus. See if i ck first to had ever used that term. Never from the year 2000 all the until january of this ear when the New York Times misquoted me of using it. It was virtually unused from the year 2000 all the way up to 2016. Times a s 100 to 200 year it would show up in print somewhere in a blog or maybe a report or some kind or another, the term White Nationalist. E didnt use those words about americans. It was outside the mind of anything that we were paying collectively. 100 to 200 times a year. 2000 graph is flat from up to 2016. 2016 abruptly it shoots up to 10,000 times a year. Unused until 2016. 10,000 times. Many of that was in the latter year after the meeting in the hotel and then 2017, that g year, term White Nationalist was used 30,000 times. In 2018, it was still used p there 20,000 times, madam speaker. That was one of the words they weaponized. Nazi and fascism White Supremacy altogether and they want to attack western civilization itself. This is there are other ways to divide america and to pit us against each other but they were weaponizing terms. The insurance policy i mentioned earlier. Its tied the president up with protests, lock up everything, the confirmation so he cant put his government in place. You saw that happen in the again. Over and over where they did everything they could do to slow down the president s of the appointees and not let the president have the team that he wanted to run this country. To slow down the confirmation of judicial system. All of that was taking place. Strategy and a a plan that i believe was rooted that sunday in after the election beginning there sunday, monday, tuesday, and wednesday after the election donald trump. Furthermore, the resistance, the language, the of delay of confirmations, the obstruction of the ability of to deploy the people he wants within this meanwhile then, there was the strategy that was implemented initially james comey and also robert mueller. Interviewed to be the continuing director of the f. B. I. Comey, hes admitted this under oath. And i the public this think bragged about it and that meeting withad his President Trump, he went out and sat in his car and he typed up on what he remembered. He took those notes by his own dmission to a professor at columbia university, who is his riends, with directions for that professor to leak that information to the new york imes, by leaking the interpretation that was typed up by comey to the new york would they thought they have a special counsel and that special counsel needed to be robert mueller. Pulled that all off with of the second in command at the department of justice, rod rosenstein. So as those recommendations unfolded, we had the mueller as comeyecial counsel, james was fired by the president. He resisted that, of course, but report, then, as they dug through that and spent nearly 30 million and they had team of never trumpers that they put on to investigate and all the while they were smoking gun. The i am going to use the term the blue dress, the reasons they donald trump. They never found it. And so nearly two years of the investigation, democrats in this town and across the anxiously e just this g, when will information will come out until we say, we got you . Hen you can investigate when there is not a crime when you want to find a person guilty is not guilty and scour up something that you can use to declare the man to be guilty what you t you can do already wanted to do which was remove this president from and if they cant remove him from office they want to so they m ineffective agenda down on him and at the very least they want to wound him in such a way so they can figure out how to beat him in the election, thats speculation, madam speaker. Thats out of the mouth of one of our members that speaks on house almostn this every single day. That we have to impeach donald trump because we cant beat him in the election. The will of the people has lready been inhibited, and diminished because of the actions of this congress and the ations ever a complicit of complicit press and here we sit ith all that unfolding through the Mueller Report, it came out with a big flop. And if youre wondering how this together, then think back, madam speaker, there were five weeks of kind of silence after the Mueller Report flopped. Tried to some that resurrect it again and try to find something they can grab and embellish. They just couldnt get traction because there was nothing there, to five that four weeks, then we end up with the whistleblower. Whistleblower that was not to this telephone conversation that took place on july 25, a whistleblower that i believe is a thought i believe is a democrat operative, the associations we reported that are reported to me and others, say and been under the wing up in the employment of and in cooperation of many of the partst level people on the f the democratic side and this at the triggers an impeachment investigation with second, third and fourthhand information and no eyes on, earson experience of any kind. He writes this second, third, fourthhand report. A team of lawyers wrote this. And emailed it to the chair of the select committee on intelligence on august 12. Now, so we had adam schiff with this whistleblower report in his hands august 12 and Nothing Happened for weeks because they were still planning their strategy. Adam schiff says he doesnt know who the whistleblower is. Uhhuh. That is going to turn out to be one of the clearest examples of untruth that one has seen in this congress with a straight face, he looks into the camera and says i dont know who the whistleblower is and that will come out to be that will be corrected eventually in the record and the whistleblower must come forward. When he filed the whifle blower report that was written by the lawyers for him, secondhand, third hand, fourthhand information, when he filed that, it was filed with the Inspector General in the Intelligence Committee and the rules on accepting it it requires be firsthand information and the Inspector General accepted second, third, fourthhand information. How far do you have to go to change the rules on the spot for that complaint to be considered and the whistleblower is public and now the social media that i believe many of them are complicit in this effort to get rid of donald trump and take down any information that would identify this president he is like the emperor with no clothes and known by tens of thousands of people in this country and known by at least half of the members on the republican side, i dont know how they can speculate. Half the people know who this whistleblower is. We are going to act we dont know who he is but his information is credible even though it is hear say and putting americans through this pain and agony, turn over another stone and maybe there is something we can use to get rid of this president. The firsthand information that is missing. They bring ambassador sondland forward and he would have firsthand information and he testified that he understood that there was a quid pro quo. It turns out that his understanding was an assumption, it wasnt necessarily an anything he could point to. He testified just yesterday, i thought it was pretty interesting, the Republican Attorney asked him this question and he asked this, and why dont you tell us what did the president say to you on september 9 that you remember . What did the president say . That would be firsthand information to answer that question. And ambassador sondland said words to the effect that i decided to ask the president in an openended fashion because there were many different scenarios floated around. Rather than ask the president nine different questions, is it this, is it that, he is demon stating how he might ask nine different questions, i said what do you want from ukraine. And this is the exact quote. He said i may have used a fourletter word. And he said, quote, he said the president , sondland, the ambassador testified yesterday that the president s answer was this, and i quote. I want nothing. I want no quid pro quo, i just want zelensky to do the right thing to do what he ran on, closed quote and finished up, or words to that effect. Well, that makes it pretty clear that the president isnt asking for a quid pro quo if there is some kind of suspicion on the part of dislocal bureaucrats that have a different ideology, that dont agree with his Foreign Policy and try to undermine the presidency itself. Thats what happens. They create these scenarios and say well surely, he must have wanted a quid pro quo. There is clear evidence that there was not one and he stated multiple times that there were no preconditions for the aid to be released. And so, i want to thank congressman Michael Turner for bringing this out yesterday in ch a clear fashion when he asked ambassador sondland so directly that question. And then representative turner, to nail this down said to him, ambassador sondland, after you testified, chairman schiff ran out and gave a press conference and says he gets to impeach the president because of your testimony. And he this continues this question to sondland and if you pull up c nmp n right now, their banner says quote, sondland ties trump to withholding aid. Is that your testimony, ambassador sondland, that you have evidence that ties donald trump to the aid because i dont think you are saying that . The ambassador said i was presuming and i said that trump turner says, so no one told you, giuliani didnt tell you, mulvaney didnt tell you, pompeo, nobody else on this planet told you that donald trump was tying aid to these investigations, is that correct . And sondland said, i think i already testified. Turner cut him off again and said no, answer the question, is it correct that no one on this planet told you that donald trump was tied to the aid . If the answer is yes, the chairman is wrong and the banner is wrong so no one told you, yes or no . He answered yes, which means no one told him there was any quid pro quo and all in his head and america is all tied in these knots over this secondhand information that is distorted in the minds of the people that delivered it to us. It must be firsthand information. America needs to be released from this. Theres nothing here again. And we are into the third year of this presidency and still they persist. And so, madam speaker, i appreciate being recognized to address you and i wish you and everyone a very, very happy thanksgiving and lets hope we come back happier than i am today. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Does the gentleman have a motion. Mr. King i move the house do now adjourn. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the motion to adjourn. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is adopted. Accordingly the house stands t giuliani issued a statement they had never met either. No matter how convinced we are, dr. Hill, no matter how much we believe we know that what weve heard is true, it is still just what weve heard. But so far, in this hearing, in these series of hearings, the only thing that we have is volker saying i spoke to the president and ive spoke to the ukrainians, neither of which believe aid was conditioned, neither of which believed that the president was requiring it. And ambassador sondland, which said no one on the planet told him that that was the case. Thats the sole evidence. Ambassador sondland believed a meeting was conditioned upon investigations, ambassador volker who i think is a man of very significant integrity said that was not the case. Even if ambassador sondland is correct, that somebody and dr. Hill, you testified, and again its hearsay, you dont know, that supposedly mulvaney told him that, because he didnt testify to that, but lets say somebody besides the president told him that, you guys want to be the laughing stock of history to impeach a president of the United States because he didnt take a meeting. Oh, please, dear god. Please undertake that. Now, mr