vimarsana.com

This bill is critical because it will provide Small Businesses with six more months to figure out how the rule affects them, how to deal wit, an what things changes they need to make to stay out of trouble with the labor department. I urge my colleagues to stand up for Small Businesses and support this bill. I would again i want to again thank congressman walberg for his leadership on this. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the Ranking Member of the oversight and investigation subcommittee of the Small Business committee, the gentlelady from north carolina, mrs. Adams. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady has one minute. Mrs. Adams thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of the department of labors overtime rule that will go into effect on september 1, 2016 this rile wull protect 4. 2 million workers newly eligible for overtime pay and strengthen protections for 8. 9 million workers nationwide. Such a change not only puts more money in workers pockets, it also strengthen os our economy by driving consumer spending. H. R. 6094 is an attempt to delay the implementation of the overtime rule, taking 600 million out of the pockets of 4. 2 million American Workers who would have gained overtime protection on december 1. In north carolina, 425,000 workers will benefit from the new rule. I acknowledge the concerns of my colleagues regarding the impact this rule may have on Small Businesses, universities and nonprofits. Only 3. 4 of employees at colleges and universities and junior colleges will be affected by this rule of. Of those groups only a half percent of employees will be acted by the rule and regularly work overtime. Reserve the preserving the right toover time pay the speaker pro tempore does the gentleman wish to yield . Ms. Scott i yield the gentlelady 30 seconds. Ms. Adam spks i urge my colleagues to vote against h. R. 6 94 and support working families. I thank you and yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from michigan. Mr. Wall berke im pleased to yield a minute of time to representative glenn thompson, the distinguished member from pennsylvania. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson i thank the gentleman for yielding. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of h. R. 6094 6094, the regulatory relief for Small Businesses, schools and nonprofits act, introduced by my colleague mr. Walberg. Im fully supportive of its goal to put the brakes on the department of labors final overtime rule and continue to shield workers, small pisses, nonprofits and educational institutions from its potentially devastating effects. Under the final rule from the department of labor, companies and organizations will be required to pay overtime to employees who make less than 47,476. More than double the current salary threshold. While theres little doubt that the current overtime rules are in need of modernization, the departments drastic approach will do more harm than good. Marginalizing the economic growth, diminishing access to valuable service prossvided by nonprofits and discouraging upward mobility in the workplace. Mr. Speaker, in the midst of an economy that is still struggling, we cannot allow for the enactment of illadvised policy this is a make it harder for hard working americans to make ends meet. For that reason im proud to support this measure and i ask my colleagues to do the same. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott i yield two minutes to the Ranking Member they have Small Business committee, the gentlelady from new york, ms. Velazquez. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady has two minutes. Ms. Velazquez thank you and i want to thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in opposition to this bill. With the minimum wage failing to provide a living wage, americans are working more hours than ever. Full time employees are working on average 47 hours a week. Nearly 40 report logging 50 hers or more. Yet only 50 hours or more. Yet only 50 of salaried workers qualified for overtime last year, down from 62 40 years ago. Updating the rule to restore the intent of the fair labor standards act was long everdue. An additional 3 of the salaried work force will directly benefit from the new regulation. At a time when lower and middle income wages remain stagnant, these changes will be particularly helpful for American Families. Our colleagues on the other side go on about the negative impact on Small Businesses. Yet the data show this is rule will increase payroll less than. 1 . Furthermore, this money will go directly in the pockets of the middle and working class. Who will spend it at their local Small Businesses. Its not going to diminish job creation in this country. It will increase Employment Opportunities in this country. When those workers will go and spend their money in the will call businesses. Theyre not going to go get a loan to buy another home. They will not buy a second hole. They will spend it in the local economy. So in turn, provides an economic boost that will create over 120,000 new jobs. This is a winwin regulation. Lets be clear. No one is asking to be unjustly enriched. Only to be fairly compensated for a hard days work. These ideals are advanced by the d. O. L. s overtime rule. Yet despite this benefit for millions of americans this legislation will delay the rule until june, 2017, when i am sure the speaker pro tempore does the gentleman wish to yield her time . Mr. Scott i yield the gentlelady 30 seconds. Ms. Velazquez thank you. When im sure there will be attempts to eliminate this rule completely. I cannot and will not support this attack on workers. Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to enter this letter from the American Sustainable Business Council in support of the overtime recklation into the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Velazquez i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair will receive a message. The secretary mr. Speaker, a message from the the messenger mr. Speaker a message from the senate. The secretary mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore madam secretary. The messenger i have been directed to the secretary i have been directed to inform the house the he senate has passed bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. With walberg i yield two minutes to the gentleman from alabama. Mr. Byrne the gentleman has two minutes. Mr. Byrne i rise in support of this legislation to require a sixmonth delay in the department of labors new overtime rule. This is an illadvised regulation that will result in hardworking americans losing their jobs and less economic growth. Dont take my word for it. Lets look at what some actual Business Leaders and organizations had to say about the change. Richard a businessman in birmingham, says he, quote, will cut back on employee hours as much as possible since raising their compensation is not my option, close quote. Ability alliance of west alabama, which provides assistance to more than 600 intellectually disabled individuals, wrote that, quote, the untenable financial pressure resulting from the proposed changes would force us into Disastrous Service reductions and program closures. Greg from alabama is much more direct he write this is a he, quote, will have to lay people off to meet the overtime demands, close quote. First heritage credit l. L. C. Wrote to the expect of labor that, quote, increased costs cannot simply be passed on the reproposed rule will mean fewer brampling openings, fewer new hires and fewer lending options to the communities we serve. Our nations education institutions will be hit especially hard by the change. A representative from the university of alabama wrote that, quote, the proposed legislation puts more pressure on the Education System as a whole. They will reduce the level of services and programs or be required to maintain service and programs with inadequate staffing. Regardless, the quality of education will suffer. Close quote. All told this change will cost the university of alabama system 17 million in just the first year. These are just a few stories about the reality of the overtime change. These are real people. Real families who will suffer. I think this change should be reworked altogether but if that is not an option we should at least delay this rule in order to provide relief to these businesses and organizations. I thank the gentleman and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from virginia. Pll scott i yield three minutes to the cochair of the bro agressive caucus, the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Ellison. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has three minutes. Mr. Ellison i thank the gentleman for the time and for his adhave kacy for working people. I ask unanimous condition sent to submit two article which is talk about how the overtime rule is likely to add 100,000 jobs to the economy. One from Goldman Sachs and the other from the National Retail federation and without the speaker pro tempore without objection, they will be entered into the record. Mr. Ellison mr. Speaker, one wonders if there could possibly have ever been any Small Businesses only a few years ago. At its peak, 62 of workers were eligible for overtime pay. Today only 7 are eligible. What did they do then . They hired people. This idea that making it fair for working people who work overtime is somehow going to bring doom and gloom and destruction on Small Businesses is absolutely nonsense. Its typical. We hear it all the time. Anything were going to do for working people just cant possibly be done or Little People themselves will be hurt. This is a constant refrain. If big, big, big agriculture wants something they say, oh, were here for the family farm. If big, big banks want something, they say, oh, were here for the community banks. And if big, big, big businesses want something, and they dont want to pay their evertime they say, oh, well what about the Small Businesses. In fact this bill named for Small Businesses, folks out there listening should know that the titetholve legislation is misleading. The legislation delays the rule for all employers, including Small Businesses, but heres the fact. Walmart. Are they do they benefit from the fact that this overtime rule hasnt kept pace . Mcdonalds, burger king, all types of huge businesses which absolutely have the capacity to pay people fairly, but simply havent done so. Its interesting to me that our republican friends have had the gavels in their hands since 2010 now. They havent stepped up to improve and update this particular overtime rule. Were doing it, the administration has done what they failed to do. Now what do they have to say about it . It cant possibly happen. Cant possibly work. And its going to make everything worse. And you know, how discouraging it must be to an American Workers today. We this Congress Wont look at increasing the federal minimum wage of 7. 25. And a tip wage of 2. 13. A national disgrace. They wont d that. They dont take that up. Theyre constantly attacking the Consumer Financial products bureau, which has brought consumers over 12 billion. And theyre constantly trying to cut taxers in rich and dont want to invest in anything for the working peel. Yet they always justify everything theyre doing by saying, oh, it would hurt the working people themselves. This is ridiculous. This argument has no merit. It has to be rejected. Over the past 35 years, we have failed to meaningfully update our overtime pay regulations. Now is the right time. As i said, at its peak, 62 of workers were eligible for overtime pay. Today, only 7 pnth are eligible because we have let the working people down. We have delayed action to keep the help working families listening enough and we cant ask them to wait any longer. I aurge very strong no. I just want to say this. My time has expired. Mr. Scott i yield the gentleman 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore 30 seconds is yielded. Mr. Ellison it is about real people. One of those is jody t. From minneapolis. She said i work more than 40 hours a week regularly and this will make a great deal of difference for me and my family. Lately i find businesses will eliminate positions and put more work on existing staff regardless of whether they can handle it in the time of the work day. If they pay overtime theyll bear some of the real cost of these decisions. Vote no on this bill, its a bad thing. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan. Mr. Walberg thank you, mr. Chairman. Im pleased to yield two minutes of time to the distinguished gentleman from augusta, georgia, mr. Rick allen. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia, two minutes. Mr. Allen i rise in support of the regulatory relief businesses and schools and nonprofits act. This legislation delays implementation of the department of labors new overtime rule for six months. Without this legislation, the rule goes into effect on december 1, leaving employers scrambling to comply with the new rule and jeopardizing employees paychecks before the holiday season. Very bad timing. As a Small Business owner, i know the challenges that the Business Community will face. Moving salary and employees to hourly, trouble recruiting qualified new hires to accept an permanent position, time spent monitoring the time clock and the hours to be cut and paychecks to dwindle. This is devastating to employees who have worked hard to earn a salaried position. They have earned this position to be salaried and then to move them to hourly and Many Americans will realize they have fewer job prospects, less flexibility in the workplace and less opportunity to move up the economic ladder. In other words, those who can least afford it will be hit the hardest. Small businesses, nonprofits and educational institutions. Could stand here before this body congressman byrne did and tell you all the Small Businesses in my district and employees who have come to me with the struggles of their employees and families will face because of this overtime rule. The president is enacting this rule a mere month before he is out of office to score cheap political points when he knows he wont be here to clean up the mess. Im ashamed, mr. President. We need to take a step back. Unsurprisingly, the administration has no plans to change the rule, so an extra sixmonth grace period is crucial to schools, Small Businesses and nonprofits. I urge support of this legislation, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott i yield myself such time to consume. I want to remind people of the people affected and the people that routinely work overtime 1 , the less 1 10 of cost to nonprofits and to Higher Education way under 1 . And the time has been sufficient, the last time this rule was changed, they got significantly less time to comply and that rule was even more complex than this one. Mr. Chairman, i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from michigan. Mr. Walberg mr. Chairman, thank you. Im pleased at this time to yield two minutes to my friend and colleague on the committee grothman. Sin, mr. Mr. Grothman you have to pay more overtime. What does that mean. The employers will say get out of here. We cant have you working more than 40 hours a week. A buddy of mine back home, his daughter had a new job working for salary and he said make sure you are the first person to show up and be the last person to go home at night. And she was the first person to show up and last person to go home and having a successful career by doing so. So what this bill does is kind of a hard thing, it makes it hard to work hard. Her boss is going to say get outta here. It is part of a pattern we are sadly seeing from this administration to discouraging hard work. Just like obamacare, you lose your subsidy, better not work hard and a bunch of welfare programs, food share, lowincome housing, work hard, you lose your subsidy. We penalize the hardworking. On a daytoday basis, lets say you have to work on a project getsner 5 00 and not satisfied with your work product, what are you supposed to do. Turn in a bad work product . Ive got to turn in a bad work product because my boss is going to kick me outta here at the end of eight hours. Come republicans, come democrats, race to the chamber, vote for a bill 6094 and stand up for the hardworking of our society. Thank you. I yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott i yield three minutes to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Norcross. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Norcross i would like to thank the chairman for his advocacy on behalf of all working families not just today but throughout his entire career. I rise in strong opposition to this bill and support the updating of the overtime rule, a rule that will combat the exploitation of workers across america and put more money in their pockets. In 1938, congress came together to pass the fair labor standards act which revolutionized opportunities for americans to make sure they were fairly compensated and in safe working conditions. One of the provisions in that piece of legislation was the creation of the 40hour work week. In addition, this legislation required employees to compensate employees at time and a half for hose beyond a 40hour work week. They said there is an exemption for protection of those workers who were considered white collar workers, as a result of their salary, work within an organization were exempt. The wage level which determines who is exempt from these Worker Protections has been updated only once, only once in the last 40 years and thats where the problem lies. The last time it was updated in 2004 under republican president bush. Republican president. Today, the threshold where mployees are exempt is 23,660. What this means. Someone making 24,000 a year is routinely required to work 45, 55, 65 hours a week not just for compensation for the overtime but not needed to be paid at all because they are considered exempt employees. A family of four could be living under the poverty line and could be considered to be making too much money to be considered for overtime protection. I support these rules because i know American Families need to succeed. A country as a whole succeeds and the entire Business Community. This is a Partnership Working together. This means updating our laws by simply adjusting the floor to keep up with inflation. This is not a democrat or a republican bill. This is a worker and business bill. 12 years before the success in the fair labor standards act, henry ford created 40hour work week. The founder of labor day, went on to talk about creating a sixday work week. This is very simple. Experiment with minimum wage, which today would be 15 an hour with inflation realized, he realized were realized when his workers could afford to buy the cars he was making, his business and employees and economy would do better. American workers have waited long enough to get a fair days pay for a fair days work. I urge members to oppose this bill and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from michigan. Mr. Walberg mr. Chairman, i am pleased to yield two pipts minutes of time to the gentlelady from missouri, representative hartzler. Mrs. Hartzler i rise in support of h. R. 6094, regulatory relief for Small Businesses, schools and nonprofits act, a bill im proud to cosponsor. This important bill would provide major relief not only for the Small Businesses and charitable institutions that would be negatively impacted by the department of labors overtime rule but the countless workers that depend on midlevel opportunity. This rule will hurt every day americans, raising the cost of living while reducing wages and incomes. Many of the individuals will be forced into parttime employment or be transitioned to jobs with lower hourly wages, no benefits and no overtime at all. People are concerned about the impact this rule will have on them. A bank will have to transition 13 of the salaried tellers to hourly wage workers in order to assume the 129,000 in Compliance Costs they anticipate. Schools have expressed concerns they will be forced to cut staff and limit the Educational Services and activities they provide for our students. I have heard from faithbased and charitable institutions, too. They operate with fixed operating budgets and serve the most vulnerable in our society yet this rule will impose similar Financial Burdens on them. A Senior Care Group in my district told me this rule will lead to a reduction in hiring meaning fewer seniors will be able to get care. For the countless families, Small Businesses and communities that i serve, i urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill and delay this onerous rule. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from virginia you have 1 1 2 minutes left. Mr. Scott im prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. Mr. Walberg mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield to buddy carter from georgia, good friend and special take on this. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia has two minutes. Mr. Carter mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of h. R. 6094, the regulatory relief for Small Businesses, schools and nonprofits act. We are still struggling to buildup our economy after the last recession. Since then, Business Owners have struggled to not only grow their companies but also to provide for their employees. As a Small Business owner, i had both the company and my employees best interest in mind where my employees were like my second family. I would have wanted nothing more to ensure they are getting what they need and fully compensated for all of their work. This rule doesnt do that. On the surface, the administration is saying this is a step forward for American Workers, but its not. They will seek to rearrange schedules so as to stop compounding effects. Universities and colleges will see a sharp jump in payrolls as they have to grapple without managing their existing personnel and keep the personnel. Tuitions will increase. Nonprofit organizations will have to reclassify workers as annual budgets are stretched to the brink resulting in a drop of services to the people who need it most. Department of labor spent the last 27 months working on this rule. Since its implementation they have given businesses a sixmonth window to implement it. I have heard from many who are extremely worried about the impact this will have on their operations. While this rule was intended to ensure employees see an increase in benefits, it will have the direct opposite effect. This will allow to look and congress to find a legislative solution. Mr. Speaker, i have always wanted the best of my employees and this rule doesnt do that. I applaud congressman walberg, chairman kline and the education and Work Force Committee for their hard work in pulling this together and i urge my colleagues to support this legislation and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from michigan. Mr. Walberg mr. Speaker, we are ready to close, so i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott i yield myself the balance of the time. Mr. Speaker, the 40hour work week used to mean something that was installed many years ago so people wouldnt have to work six, seven days a week, 10 more hours a day. They could work five days a week, eight hours and have opportunity to go home. Now the 40hour work week applies to 7 of salaried workers and they can be forced to work 45, 50, 60 hours, no additional pay. We have heard the impact on universities. I think the gentleman from alabama said it would cost the alabama system 17 million. Well, their budget is 2. 4 billion. 24 million would be 1 . If his number is right, 17 million, still under 1 of their expenditures. There are a lot of ways to comply with this rule without any cost at all. Let people go home after 40 hours or you can honestly restate their salary. 30,000 and a lot of overtime, call it 20,000 and have to make 10,000 overdime. Same amount at the end of the year, no cost to the employer but an honest way to assess the salary. Wouldnt cost anything. So there are ways of complying with this honestly that makes the 40hour work week mean something. The new rule only covers about a third of the salary workers. Its a good rule and should not be delayed. Its not being delayed. This is the first step in trying to defeat the rule. This bill should be defeated and let the people get their salaries on december 1. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan. Mr. Walberg in closing i want to remind my colleagues why this is so important. We agree the nations overtime rules need to be modernized and working protection should be strengthened. Thats not what were debating today. Small businesses, nonprofits, and colleges and universities, play a Critical Role in our communities. Right now, theyre struggling to implement a fundamentally flawed rule on an unrealistic deadline and many dont even know about the rule yet. At the very least they deserve more time. More time will allow Small Businesses, nonprofits, and colleges and university toss make significant changes and mitigate the impact on workers, students and individuals in need. For the positive, for the good. I urge my colleagues to provide that time, even if they stand by the departments overtime rule. A vote in support of the regulatory relief for Small Businesses, schools, and nonprofits act isnt just common sense. Its the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, this is what were intending to do. We are intending to do the best for our citizens, for our employees, and our employers. Shouldnt it be worth an additional 24 weeks to make sure that this is implemented to the positive . Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 897, the previous question is ordered on the bill. 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 provide for a sixmonth delay in the Effective Date of a rule of the department of labor relating to income thresholds for determining overtime pay for commecktive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and computer employees. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the passage of the will. Of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott i ask for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. A sufficient number having risen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. Pursuant to clause 2a of rule 1, the chair the claires the house in recess subject to the call of the chair. To sue saudi arabia for any role in the plot. The First Successful override in is presidency. Mr. Obama and his allies vowed to find a way to tweak the. Egislation during this recess for the next hour or so with the house planning to come back at about 8 thirt eastern time, were going to show you floor debate from the house earlier today on the 9 11 lawsuits override. Well show that to you now on cspan. Jasta departs from long standing standards and practice under our foreign sovereign immunities act and threatens to strip all Foreign Governments from immunity from judicial processes of the United States based solely upon allegations by private litigants that a Foreign Governments overseas conduct has some role or connection to a group or person that carried out a terrorist attack inside the United States. This would invite consequential decisions to be made based upon incomplete information and risk having different courts reaching different conclusions about the culpability of individual Foreign Governments and their role in terrorist activities directed against the United States. Which is neither an effective nor coordinated way for us to respond to indications that a Foreign Government might have been behind a terrorist attack. Second, jasta would upset longstanding International Principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that if applied globally could have serious implications for u. S. National interests. The United States has a larger International Presence by far than any other country, and sovereign immunity principles protect our nation and its armed forces, officials and assistant professionals from Foreign Court proceedings. These principles also protect u. S. Government assets from attempted seizure by private litigants abroad. Removing sovereign immunity in u. S. Courts from Foreign Governments that are not designated as state sponsors of terrorism based solely on allegations that such Foreign Governments actions abroad had a connection to terrorismrelated injuries on u. S. Soil threatens to undermine these longstanding principles that protect the United States, our forces and our personnel. Indeed, reciprocity plays a substantial role in foreign relations, and numerous other countries already have laws that allow for the adjustment of a foreign state immunity based on the treatment their governments receive in the courts of other states. Enactment of jasta could encourage Foreign Governments to actress prosally and allow their domestic courts to allow jurisdiction over the United States or u. S. Officials, including our men and women in uniform. For allegedly causing injuries overseas via u. S. Support to third parties. This could lead to suits against the United States or u. S. Officials for actions taken by members of an armed group that received u. S. Assistance, misuse of u. S. Military equipment by Foreign Forces or abuses committed by police units that received u. S. Training. Even if the allegations at issue ultimately would be without merit, and if any of these litigants were to win judgments based on foreign domestic laws as applied by forpe courts, theyd begin to Foreign Courts, theyd begin to look at the u. S. Assets held abroad to settle those judgments with serious financial consequences for the United States. Hird, jasta threatens to implicate relationships even with our closest partners. If jasta paren acted, courts could accuse u. S. Allies or complicitity to be sufficient to open the door to litigation and wideranging discovery against a foreign country. For example, the country where an individual who later committed a terrorist attack traveled from or became radicalized. A number of our allies and partners have already contacted us with serious concerns about the bill. By exposing these allies and partners to this sort of litigation in u. S. Courts, jasta threatens to limit their cooperation on Key National Security issues, including counterterrorism initiatives at a crucial time when we are trying to build coalitions, not create divisions. The 9 11 acts were the worst acts of terrorism on u. S. Soil and they were met with an unprecedented u. S. Government response. The United States has taken robust and wide ranging actions to provide justice for the victims of the 9 11 attacks and keep americans safe from providing financial compensations for victims and their families to conducting worldwide counterterrorism programs to bring criminal charges against culpable individuals. I have continued and expanded upon these efforts. Both to help victims of terrorism gain justice for the loss and suffering of their loved ones and to protect the United States from future attacks. The jasta, however, does not contribute to these goals, does not enhance the safety of americans from terrorist attacks and undermines core u. S. Interest. For these reasons i must veto the bill. Signed, barack obama, the white house, september 23, 2016. The speaker pro tempore the objection to the president will be spread at large upon the journal. The question is will the house on reconsideration pass the bill, the objections of the president to the contrary notwithstanding. The gentleman from virginia, mr. Goodlatte, is recognized for one hour. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, i yield the customary 30 minutes to the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, the gentleman from michigan, pending which i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on s. 2040, currently under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, voted 971 to te override the president s veto. I urge my colleagues to follow the senates action and vote to override this to seek redress against any Foreign Government that chooses to sponsor a terrorist attack on u. S. Soil. The question is whether we should allow those who harm our citizens to hide behind legal barriers not required by the constitution or International Law or permit u. S. Victims to hold those who sponsor terrorism in our country fully accountable in our courts. I think the answer to this question is clear and i hope my colleagues will join me in overwhelmingly overriding the president s veto of jasta. The changes it makes to existing law are not dramatic, nor are they sweeping. Jasta amend the antiterrorism act to make clear that any person who aids, abets or conspires with a state Department Foreign terrorist organization is subject to civil liability to injury to a u. S. Person. It amends the foreign sovereign immupets act to add an exception to foreign sovereign immunity to acts of International Terrorism sponsored by a Foreign Government. The president objects this change to the law on the ground that it upsets principles of foreign sovereign immunity and by so doing our interests will be threatened. The president s objections, however, have no basis under u. S. Or International Law. The foreign sovereign immupets act already has nine exceptions, including the territorial tort exception. This exception provides that a foreign country is not immune from the jurisdiction of our courts for injuries that it causes that occur entirely within the United States. Consistent with customary International Law, jasta for terrorism cases removes the current requirement that the entire tort occur within the United States and replaces it with a rule that only the physical injury or death must occur on u. S. Soil. Jasta makes this change because under current law, a foreign nation can provide financing and other substantial assistance for a terrorist attack in our country and escape liability so long as the support is provided overseas. For example, under current law, if the Intelligence Agency of a Foreign Government handed a terrorist a bag of money in new york city to support an attack on u. S. Soil, the country would be liable under the foreign sovereign immupetsanth tort exception right now. However if we change the fact pattern slightly so rather giving a terrorist money in new york city, the money is provided in paris, the foreign state will not be subject to liability in u. S. Courts. This is a troubling loophole in our antiterrorism laws. When congress enacted the foreign sovereign immunities act it put in place exceptions, including an exception for tort claims involving injuries that occur in the United States. However, the courts have not consistently interpreted those exceptions in such a manner that they cover the sponsoring of a terrorist attack on u. S. Soil. Jasta addresses this ininconsistency with a concrete rule that is consistent with the nine exceptions to fonch sovereign immunity. Jasta ensures that those including Foreign Governments who sponsor terrorist attacks on u. S. Soil are held accountable for their actions. We can no longer allow those who injury and kill americans to hide behind legal loopholes denying justice to the victims. I urge my colleagues to vote to override the president s veto and i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from michigan. Mr. Conyers mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Conyers mr. Speaker, the september 11, 2011 attacks on the United States constituted the deadliest foreign attack on american soil in our nations history. Their impact has been immeasureable as evidenced by the fact that we are still grappling with their cultural and policy with their policy implications. 15 years later, their powerful emotional effect on americans remains as strong as ever. Those who lost loved ones or were injured as a result of this horrific attack deserve our deepest sympathy and our help. And it is in this vein that we consider whether to override the 2740, thes veto of s. Justice against sponsors of terrorism act, which among other things amends the foreign sovereign immupets act of 1976 to create a new exception through the acts germ grant of foreign sovereign immunity. The bills supporters present compelling and sympathetic arguments in favor of ensuring that the 9 11 families have access to a welldeserved day in court. In this veto message, however, the president raised a number of serious substantive concerns about the potential unintended consequences of this legislation. First that the president stated undermine theould effectiveness of our nations National Security and counterterrorism efforts. African, other nations may become more reluctant to share sensitive intelligence in light of the greater risk that such information may be revealed in litigation. Moreover the president raised the concern that this legislation would effectively allow nonexpert private litigants and courts rather than National Security and Foreign Policy experts to determine key foreign and National Security policy questions like which states are sponsors of terrorism. Econd the private the president s assertion that enactment of s. 2040 may lead to retaliation by other countries against the United States given the breadth of our interests and expansive reach of our global activities. While it seems likely at this juncture that s. 2040 will be enacted over the president s veto, i remain hopeful that we can continue to work toward the enactment of subsequent legislation to address the president s concerns. I understand that the moral imperative of enacting legislation in this manner. But i am sensitive to the seriousness of the concerns that the president raised. I had expressed the hope during floor debate on this bill that congress and the president could Work Together to find a better balance that would still nabble 9 11 victims to seek justice while tempering the president s concerns. There is no doubt as to the passion of the bills supporters through advocating bring to advocating the victims of the september 11, 2001 attacks, a passion that i share. As legislators, however, we must be given not only by understandable emotions, but by thoughtful consideration of the longterm interests of our country. Speaker, i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte its my pleasure to yield three minutes to the gentleman from new york, mr. King, the chief sponsor of this legislation. The speaker pro tempore jarninged for three minutes. Mr. King i thank the gentleman from virginia, chairman of the Judiciary Committee for yielding and let me thank him for the outstanding work he has done in bringing this bill, this legislation to historic moment where i hope and urge the house of representatives to join the senate in overriding the president s veto of jasta. I take seriously the objections the president has raised but this bill wasnt drawn in a vacuum. Prime aerially read by chairman demrat, congressman nadler, chief cosponsor of the bill and leading sponsors in the senate, all of the president s rejections were addressed and changes were made and this bill is not going to put american soldiers at risk or diplomats at risk. What it is going to do is allow the 9 11 families to have their day in court and seek the justice they have been denied and if the government of saudi arabia has no involvement, no liability, they have nothing to worry about. The fact is, those of us who live in new york and new jersey, no matter where you live, know how much this affected all of us. Think of how it affected those families, those who lost the husbands and wibes and children and grandchildren and mothers and fathers. So its essential that this house today stand on the side of those who seek justice, realizing we arent doing anything at all to put americas lives at risk but seek justice against those who caused americans to die. I thank the senate. I thank chairman goodlatte. I thank jerry nadler, dan donovan who has done so much and urge the house of representatives to join with the senate and overriding the veto of the president of the United States. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york yields back. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers its my pleasure now to recognize a Senior Member of Judiciary Committee, the honorable mr. Nadler of new york five minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Nadler i want to start by thanking peter king and Bob Goodlatte in bringing this bill to the floor. I rise in strong support of overriding the president s veto of jasta. Jasta is a carefully crafted narrow bill that would hold accountable Foreign Governments that provide substantial assistance to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization that launches mr. Allen attack in the United States. December plight the overblown rhetoric, jasta will not be at peril. They would be protected because jasta applies only to governments. To the extent that a Foreign Government may pass broader legislation may make a person subject to liability, that country would be engaging in the unjustifiable act of aggression. The strength of the United States makes such action unlikely. Attackgue states tend to United States. We must not 9 11 families hostage. 15 years ago on september 11, we suffered the most deadliest terrorist attack on our soil. My district in new york was the epicenter and effects felt across the country and at the pentagon and in pennsylvania. We all have interests in ensuring that the families can bring to justice anyone who is responsible for the vicious attack. Jasta simply reinstates what was understood to be the law for 30 years, that foreign states, not individuals, not soldiers, foreign states, may be brought to justice for aiding and abetting International Terrorism that occur on american soil, whether or not the conduct that facilitated the attack occurred in the United States. Some courts have held if a Foreign Government agent hands over a check to al qaeda in new york to fund a terror attack, that government can be sued in an American Court. If the same Foreign Government funds the same attack by handing over the same check in a cafe in geneva, the government is immune from suit. That makes no sense. And it flies in the face of what had been settled law for many years. Language law provides jurisdiction to sue foreign states of injury on american soil. This is the international norman not prompted retall tar yore conduct. If a foreign state murders thousands of americans on american soil or provides substantial assistance to a designated terrorist group that murders thousands of americans on american soil, that government cannot hide from justice merely because the actions occurred abroad. This does not target a country. Any government brought before a u. S. Court will have relief available to it and protections to government privileges during discovery to protect against disclosure of Sensitive Information. We have hypotheticals that they would target american citizens. Again, if a Foreign Government uses legislation that mirrors jasta, americans would still be protected because jasta applies to governments and if a government is highly unlikely to if a rogue state does in fact authorize suits against american personnel abroad we have a wellestablished process for defending such actions. According to the office of foreign litigation at the department of justice, anytime foreign lawyers under the direct supervision represent the United States in approximately 1,000 lawsuits, pending in the courts of over 100 countries, closed quote. This is not a new issue for the United States, and we are well equipped to deal with any consequences. We are warned that saudi arabia will be very angry if we approve this bill. That the saudis may retaliate against the United States. May perhaps withdraw some investments. History shows that the saudis will do what is in their interest. They need american support and american arms in the volatile middle east where they fear and fight iran and its proxies. They are not going to prefer their emotions to their interests and act against the United States. If the saudi government was not complicit in the attack on 9 11, the plaintiffs will fail to prove such complicitity in an American Court, justice will have been served and the saudis will be vindicated after years of suspicion. But if it is proven in an American Court that the saudi government was complicit in the attacks on 9 11, justice will have been served, and we, not the saudis, will have justification to be very angry. Mr. Speaker, this bill was carefully negotiated over more than six years. It passed the house and Senate Unanimously and the senate ted 971 to override the president s veto. All that stands in the way for the 9 11 victims and their families is a vote in the house. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, at this time its my pleasure to yield three minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. Thornberry, chairman of the Armed Services committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Thornberry mr. Speaker, i first want to thank the gentleman from virginia for yielding and, secondly, commend him for his work to try to tailor this measure in as narrow a way as possible. I also want to commend the gentleman from new york, mr. King, for his strong persistent advocacy for the families of the victims of 9 11. All of us share in their grief. We have not the country has not gotten over that horrible incident, and all of us have contempt for those who carry out terrorist attacks and those who support them. My concern for in legislation, however, is more related to the unintended consequences that it may have because one of the key protections that the military, diplomats, Intelligence Community of the United States has around the world is this doctrine of sovereign immunity. And once that doctrine gets eroded, then there is less protection. And we, the United States, has more at stake in having our people protected than any other country because we have more people around the world than anyone else. So in this congress we can control the laws of the United States, and we can write them narrowly in a fine tuned way to just achieve our objective, but then other countries respond. They may not have their laws narrowly defined in such a fine tuned way. They may make them broader. Their practice may not have the protections that ours do. So the concern this starts a series of unintended consequences that will increase the risk to u. S. Military personnel around the world, u. S. Intelligence Community Personnel around the world and diplomats around the world, and thats the reason you have widespread concern that has been voiced in each of those communities for this legislation. Let me just read briefly from a letter from the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff that has been available to all members that says, any legislation that risks reciprocal treatment by Foreign Governments increases the vulnerability of u. S. Service members to foreign legal action while acting in an official capacity. Thats the concern, that we lower the protections that our people have around the world. And remember, when we send our military out, they got to follow orders. They are implementing u. S. Policy. They have no choice, and if they are called before a Foreign Court, if they are required to give testimony in a Foreign Court, even if theyre not the defendant, then they are jeopardized as is Sensitive Information from the United States. So my point, mr. Speaker, is i understand totally the sympathies for the victims as people have esires to override this veto. But we should also keep in mind the longer term consequences for our military who serve our nation all around the world. If it has not already been granted, i ask unanimous consent to include in the record a letter from the secretary of defense and a letter from the chairman of the joint chiefs on this issue. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers mr. Speaker, im pleased now to yield to a former member of the Judiciary Committee, now the Ranking Member on the education and labor committee, the gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott. And i yield to him five minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks perpetrated against our nation 15 years ago killed nearly 3,000 people. No one can fully fathom the grief still felt by families to lose their loved ones in such a horrific way. We understand the need to continue to seek justice against those who may have aided and abetted the individuals that orchestrated these attacks. However, this legislation is not the right way to go about achieving that justice. Foreign sovereign immunity, there are several that recognizes it. Jasta goes much further than any recognized practice of International Law. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from texas just suggested, one fundamental indication of fairness of legislation is not how it would work for our benefit but what would we think of it if it was used against us . The United States allows our citizens to haul foreign nations into Foreign Courts, what will other nations enacting legislation allowing their citizens to do the same thing to us . Obviously we would not want to put our diplomats, military and private companies at that risk. Consider our nations actions in iraq. While there may be questions about saudi arabias indirect involvement on 9 11, theres no question about who the state sponsored actor was in 2003 when we bombed baghdad and killed and injured hundreds of thousands of people with little to no evidence that iraq was any immediate threat to the United States or our allies. Hat would we think if iraq enacted similar legislation to jasta, allowing them to sue the United States during the iraqi war, contractors living and working in iraq today could be hauled into iraqi court, tried by an iraqi judge, held responsible by an iraqi jury that would assess the amount of money owed to each and every iraqi citizen killed or maimed. Furthermore, if they adopted similar legislation to this, other nations could sue the United States and our citizens for sponsoring organizations they deem as terrorist organizations. Unfortunately, these discussions are already taking place in capitals around the world because of this legislation. Jasta does not make clear how the evidence would be gathered to help build a credible case against the foreign nation. Would the plaintiffs be able to subpoena foreign officials or would the u. S. Department of state officials have to testify . Would we be required to expose sensitive materials in order to help american citizens prove their case . And, again, how would we feel about foreign judges and juries deciding whether or not the United States sponsored terrorism . Theres also questions about how the judgment under jasta would be enforced. The legislation does not address how the court would enforce the judgment, could foreign assets be attached, how would this process work if other countries enacted similar legislation . Would u. S. Assets all over the world be subject to attachment to satisfy the foreign jury verdicts . Mr. Speaker, there are more responsible mechanisms that this body could enact, their involvement in International Terrorism without exposing the United States citizens to lawsuits around the world. Mr. Speaker, we should do the right thing and sustain the president s veto of this legislation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia yields back. The gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, i yield myself one minute to respond to the gentleman from virginia. First of all, with regard to some of the examples given by the gentleman from texas, i want to make clear that this is the foreign sovereign immune its act thats being amended. Immunities act thats being amend. Foreign sovereign. If they were to flip action to do something in their courts, it would only apply to governments, not to individuals. So with regard to the assertions made by the gentleman from virginia, many countries have already done what were proposing to do here today. The whole tort rule thats utilized in the United States, which says, just as an example, if you provide a bag of money to a terrorist in the United States, you can sue that Foreign Government and our countrys right now and our courts would change if they provide the bag of money in paris you can do it. Right now its a loophole. Guess what, any Foreign Government that wants to sponsor terrorism in the United States, whats the first thing theyre going to do right now under current law . Theyre going to make sure the money is transferred outside of the United States so theyre not subject to the jurisdiction of u. S. Courts. Customary International Law does not seem to require the entire tort limitation. Article 12 of the United Nations i yield myself an additional minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte article 12 of the United Nations convention on jurisdictional immunities of states and their properties would apply the territorial tort exception if the act or omission occurred in whole or in part in the territory of the state exercising jurisdiction. Most nations that have codified the exception appeared to require some act or omission in their territories. But it is not clear that these nations have done so from a sense of International Legal obligation rather than from comity. Even if customary International Law were properly read to preclude a nation from applying the territorial tort exception on the base of death or damage within its territory, the application of jasta to the 9 11 cases, as an example, would still not violate International Law since the 9 11 attacks clearly involved tortious acts within the United States. And jasta require that the physical harm occur in the United States. But to have an exception that says that if people aid and abet from outside of the United States, their government the government aids and abets from outside the United States i yield myself an additional 130ekds to point out one additional thing and that is under jasta of the president or his representative, the secretary of state can appear in the court where a lawsuit is brought and delay the proceedings for a period of time. But not forever. Then, if that time expires and whatever effort the United States is making to resolve this with a Foreign Government does not change the circumstances, they can still go back to the court and they can require the court they can ask the court to delay it further. But then its up to the court to make that decision. Again, i urge my colleagues to override the president s veto. At this time im pleased to yield two minutes the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. But mr. Goodlatte ill yield two minutes to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Lance. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Lance thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of overriding the president s veto of the justice against sponsors of terrorism act. This is our constitutional prerogative. We in congress can override the veto of a president and in this case a strong bipartisan majority disagrees with the president. Earlier today, the senate of the United States voted 971 in favor of an override. If is right and just that the victims of the horrific terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001, be able to pursue full justice in our courts of law. I also represent a Congressional District in new jersey that lost 81 people on 9 11. Opposing views fear repercussions against the United States if this legislation becomes law. But the United States does not support, finance, or condone International Terrorism. Were the nation that historically has helped rid the world of evil and we have nothing to fear from truth and justice. Nations around the world should recognize the fundamental justice in legal remedies against a terrorist network that killed nearly 3,000 americans. It is our duty to provide the victims of 9 11 this legislative remedy by which they can seek the facts and the federal government should be as transparent as possible with the evidence and the intelligence. The still grieving families of 9 11 deserve their day in court. They have waited long enough. And this narrowly tailored legislation will give them recourse for full justice and compensation. Mr. Speaker, any override of a president ial veto is a serious and sober matter. I do not advocate an override lightly. I deeply respect the office of president of the United States. This president has never been overridden by the congress. I believe, however, that an override is the better Public Policy in this momentous situation. Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers thank you, mr. Speaker. Im pleased now to recognize the distinguished gentlelady from texas, who serves both on Homeland Security and Judiciary Committee with great skill. I yield to her four minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from texas is recognized for four minutes. Ms. Jackson lee i thank the Ranking Member. I think it is important to state on the floor of the house that president obama has been an outstanding commander in chief. I have served on the Judiciary Committee proudly for the tenure i have had in the United States congress and on Homeland Security since the tragedy of 9 11. I have and im committed to engaging in efforts to develop policies that anticipate and respond to new and emerging challenges to and curity of our nation peace and safety of the world. Stood on the front steps of the capitol and saying with members of this congress, god bless america. Visited the World Trade Center in months and weeks after this heinous tragedy. And grieved continuously each year as we commemorate sadly 11. The loss of these families will be painful and piercing. Just recently the Judiciary Committee heard justice against sponsors of terrorism in a hearing or had a hearing on the bill. And the supporters of the bill offered powerful and compelling testimony in favor of ensuring that 9 11 families have access to their day in court against the parties directly and vicariously libel for the injuries they suffered. I also take into consideration the concerns of the administration which deals with underlying sovereign immunity and open up u. S. Diplomats and u. S. Torges for legal action for see if Foreign Countries pass resip prokohl laws n addition the president has said it would upset longstanding let me suggest to our friends that under the facts that we know, 19 of these attackers on 9 11 were saudi citizens. They did not represent the government. This is not giving permission to sue the government under its government actions as much as it is to recognize that these were citizens who operated outside of that realm and to allow these citizens of the United States to have relief. You cannot deny the citizenship of these individuals. I would also suggest that these individuals are common criminals. And why should individuals who have been harmed be prevented from addressing the common crimality because they are from a different country . I make the argument were not finished with this at this point. I hope there will be further discussions. I do believe that if countries decided to take up and sue legitimate actions of the United States in defense of their nation, they would have the full power and force of law of the United States to be defended. I dont believe that will happen. I do believe we should continue further discussion on this very important topic. But as well, having been a Senior Member, again, on Homeland Security during the many meetings that we have with the 9 11 families, and ultimately passing the 9 11 legislation as i chaired the transportation security committee, i believe that listening over and over again to the devastation and the need to ensure there are laws to protect this nation that this measure provides the extra opportunity to address the common crimality of individuals whose citizenship lies in one place or another. We should stand, however, in protecting u. S. Diplomats, military service, Intelligence Community members, and i believe this country has the power to do so. So i believe at this point the 9 11 families, their matter should be addressed and we should address it today. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, at this time its my pleasure to yield two minutes to the gentleman from new york, mr. Donovan. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Donovan thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you, chairman, for yielding to me. Foreign threats should never dictate american policy. Thats unfortunately what happened with president obamas eto of this legislation. That a Foreign Government can hide behind sovereign immunity after slaughtering americans in our own homeland is an outrage. Its no wonder that this bill was passed by congress unanimously. Terror victims can already sue individuals for their complicity in an attack. A Foreign Government shouldnt be immuned from justice simply because its a government. For those of my colleagues who may be reluctant about voting for an override of this veto, i think chairman goodlattes explanation of the bill should give them peace. There are already nine exemptions to the sovereign immunity law and jasta will not create a 10th. It modifies one of those nine. Just jasta is about 9 11 victims who have waited more than 15 years to have their day in court. Its about the families of over 300 People Killed that day who lived in my Congressional District. Its about my friend, lawrie, whose husband, firefighter joseph, died that day saving other peoples lives. I urge my colleagues to put american victims first by voting to override the president s veto and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york yields back the balance of his time of the the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers mr. Speaker, im pleased now to recognize the gentlelady from new york, mrs. Loney, for 2 1 2 minutes the speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized for 2 1 2 minutes. Mrs. Maloney thank you so much for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise to express my support for overriding the president s veto of the justice against sponsors of terrorism act. I understand and give weight to the president s concerns, but i believe that this bill is focused on and applies to overwhelm those attack that is are committed on u. S. Soil that harm u. S. Nationals. The attacks of 9 11 were singular acts of appalling cruelty. They were targeted knowingly and specifically to civilian noncombatants. They were barbaric crimes that violated all new orleans of civilized conduct, and all of the International Conventions of armed conflict. The hijackers of those planes died that day, it is virtually indisputable that there are people who conspired with them in the planning, preparation, excuse, and financing of those horrific acts who walk the streets freely in foreign capitals today. They walk comfortably, securely, suggestly, believing that because of a peculiar interpretation of International Law they are safe from the long arm of justice immune to any consequences. Jasta as it is called is needed to correct some shortcomings in previous legislation and lower court decisions. The bill is needed to make it possible for the survivors and for the families of the victims of savage acts of International Terrorism to seek a measure of justice through the civil courts. This bill is needed because both congress and the executive branch have affirmed that civil litigation against terror sponsors, including Foreign Governments, can have an important deterrent effect. The attacks of 9 11 were roundly condemned by people and governments around the world. So this bill is needed not just by the families of those who died in new york and at the pentagon and in pennsylvania, it is needed to send a message to people all around the world, a message that the long arm of american justice will not be deterred, will never tire, and will never falter. As we have done in the past, we will pursue the perpetrators of such savage acts of inhumanity as we saw on 9 11 to their very graves, there is no loophole and there will be no escape. Yes, it may be true there are risks in passing a bill like this that may have some unintended consequences, but compare that to the risks of doing nothing and the risks that are very real that are all too present. I urge my colleagues to not forget and to overturn the president s veto. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. Mrs. Maloney it is a deterrent to future crimes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, at this time its my pleasure to yield three minutes to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Smith. The speaker pro tempore gentleman from new jersey is recognized for three minutes. I thank my good fren for yielding and and congressman king for their leadership on this bill. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the president of the United States, the central argument in his veto message accompanying the justice against sponsors of terrorism act, reciprocity, is weak, unsupported, and egregiously flawed. The white house drafters of the veto message either didnt read the carefully crafted bipartisan bill or seeking to conflate the text since jasta only permits access to u. S. Courts by waiving immunity for Foreign Governments not government officials and employees, and corrects conflicting case law except in the cases where someone knowingly aides, abets, or conspires with a state department designated terrorist organization. The president is wrong to assert under the haloed principle of reciprocity, u. S. Officials and military personnel could be subjected to lawsuits. Its worth noting that nothing precludes that now or ever, but as an argument for veto it simply doesnt pass muster. While sovereignty immunity has its place in the conduct of responsible diplomacy, it is not absolute. As even the 1976 foreign sovereignty immunities act contains nine exceptions n 2008, as you negotiation the u. S. Court of appeals for the sick circuit dismissed legal actions against saudi arabia and other defendants holding u. S. Courts lacked jurisdiction. Other actions by the courts have thwarted the full accountabilities that americans expect and deserve. Jasta corrects that. The victims of 9 11 and their greefing families deserve what jasta empowers. A judicial process to discover the unfettered and ugly truth that to this day remains cloaked, concealed, and covered up. Jasta provides a way to hold perpetrators and enablers of terrorism to account. Anyone who has read the recently declassified 28 pages of findings from the House Senate Intelligence joint inquiry in 2002, despite the heavy redactions, knows the provocative evidence of saudi complicity in 9 11, and that remains unexamined. The 28 pages are filled with names and suspected associations with the government of saudi arabia. Mr. Speaker, i have worked with and befriended many of the 9 11 family members. Many died in my from my district, and i can state unequivocally there would have been no 9 11 commission and other historic policy initiatives without them. They have been extraordinary, tenacious, committed, and courageous. On september 20, many of us many of those family members gathered outside the white house to appeal to the president to sign jasta. Two of the remarkable widows from new jersey, laurie and mindy carried this sign on my left, your right, with a picture of president obama and king the saudi king from the front page of the new york daily news. The headline said, dont choose them over us. U. S. , United States. The president chose the caning kink and he vetoed the bill. We can correct that today. Vote to override. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers mr. Speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers there is no doubt at theres so much passion involved in this with the bills supporters, but as legislators, id like to urge that you carefully and thoughtfully consider the longterm interests of our country. And im pleased to indicate that the scholars that and others that will be voting to sustain the president s veto former ael mukasey, the attorney general under george w. Bush, steven headly, the former National Security , visor for that president richard clark, the former white house counterterrorism advisor for bill clinton and george w. Bush, thomas pickering, the former United States ambassador to the United Nations, all gree that we must be considerate of the longterm interests of our own country. And so for the foregoing reasons and those stated by the National Security experts, the International Law scholars, the president of the United States, i find that i must vote to. Stain the president s veto and mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, i urge my colleagues to override the president s veto. It is the right thing to do. It is the right thing to let american citizens have access to their courts for torts, for terrorist attacks that occur on american soil. This bill is a modest amendment to already existing exemptions to the foreign sovereign immunities act. It is the right thing to do. I urge my colleagues to join me in overriding the pres addressed the senate vote overriding the president s veto during a washington ideas for them today. The interview lasted about 20 minutes. We will show you a short portion of that now. Thatthink we all recognize the motions associated with 9 11 are still quite palpable. I was at the Ground Zero Museum this week. The victims families are still seeking justice. The clerk report to accompany House Resolution 901, resolution providing for consideration of the Senate Amendment to the bill, h. R. 5325, making appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2017, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore referred to the house calendar and ordered printed. For what purpose does the gentleman from oklahoma seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, by direction of the committee on rules, i call up House Resolution 901 and ask for its immediate consideration. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the resolution. The clerk house calendar number 154, House Resolution 901. Resolved that upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to take from the speakers table the bill, h. R. 5325, making appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending september 30, twenlt, and for other purposes. 2017, and for other purposes. The Senate Amendment thereto, and to consider in the house, without intervention of any point of order, a motion offered by the chair of the committee on appropriations or his designee, that the house concur in the Senate Amendment. The Senate Amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. The motion shall be debatable for one hour, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on appropriations, the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to adoption, without intervening motion. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from oklahoma is recognized for one hour. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, i yield the customary 30 minutes to my good friend, the gentlelady from new york, ms. Slaughter, pending which i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Speaker, earlier today the rules committee met and reported a rule for consideration of the Senate Amendment to h. R. 5325, the continuing appropriations and military construction, Veterans Affairs and related agencies appropriations act of 2017. And zika response and preparedness act. Mr. Cole the rule makes in order a motion offered by the chair of the committee on appropriations that the house concur in the Senate Amendment to h. R. 719, with 60 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and the Ranking Member of the committee on appropriations. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the appropriations committee, im always disappointed when were forced to consider continuing resolutions. Especially given the work this house has done in the appropriations process this fisscagcal year. For two years in a row, the House Appropriations committee was able to complete all 12 Appropriations Bills and complete them before the august recess. In addition, this house passed five Appropriations Bills. Unfortunately, just as in years past, democrats prevented consideration of many Appropriations Bills on the floor of that body. This leads us to the unfortunate situation of having to put forward a shortterm c. R. To fund the government through december 9. I hope that in the weeks and months ahead, the house, the senate and the president can come to an agreement on a path forward which ensures we are not in the same position this same position in deals. At the same time, i am pleased that this amendment also includes a fully conferenced milcon v. A. Bill. The milcon v. A. Portion provides a 4 increase for the v. A. , Additional Resources to address the disability claims backlog, and contains a number of important oversight provisions to make certain our veterans receive the care that they deserve. The military construction portion provides 7. 9 billion for military family housing, guard and reserve facilities, and military bases both in the United States and around the world. This ensures that we can sustain quality housing for 1. 3 million military family. In addition, the milconv. A. Bill maintains a provision which prohibits the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the construction of any facilities to house detainees in the United States or its territories. Importantly, mr. Speaker, this amendment also provides a total of 1. 1 billion to fight zika. And offsets 400 million of that of this spending. While i would have preferred offsetting the entire amount and have supported legislation to do just that, i believe this is a reasonable compromise with both the senate and the administration, both of whom initially proposed no offsets at all. When combined with funds already preprogrammed by the administration for zika response activities, the total available resources to respond to zika equals 1. 7 billion. This legislation provides the necessary funds for the centers for disease control, the National Institutes of health, and the state department and the usaid to develop vaccines and dying not tick tests for diagnosic tests for Mosquito Control and provides Health Care Resources to those areas experiencing the highest rates of zika transmission. All while maintaining the Hyde Amendment restrictions, barring the use of taxpayer dollars for abortion services. Im encouraged by the hard work of chairman rogers, Ranking Member lowey, and of course the speaker, whose leadership has made all this possible. While the c. R. Is not the ideal vehicle, the alternative of a Government Shutdown is not what we have been sent here to washington to do. Additionally, im encouraged we are finally returning to regular order and passing fullyear appropriations measures by the end of the fiscal year. This is the First Time Since fiscal year 2006, when we passed two bills by the end of the fiscal year, that we have passed any individual Appropriations Bills through both chambers of the United States congress. By september 30 by the september 30 deadline. While we have a long way to go, this is a good first step that we can hopefully build upon next year. I urge support for the rule and the underlying legislation and with that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlelady from new york. Ms. Slaughter good evening, mr. Speaker. I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from oklahoma, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. And i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Slaughter mr. Speaker, the deadline for keeping the government running has been staring us all in the face for months. Jet the yet the majority is using martial law rule to get the continuing resolution to the floor, just two days before the weekend deadline. I wish wed penalty is the last four weeks properly debating the bill under regular order. Mr. Speaker, i am releaved that a reasonable compromise was reached on a bipartisan amendment to the water sources Development Act that will authorize funding for the people of flint, michigan, who have been forced to drink and bathe in poisoned water for years. As the only microbiologist in congress, i can detail the many ways that this is a Major Public Health failure. The children that have been impacted could suffer everything from neuro developmental damage to Behavioral Changes changes, to anemia, to hypertension. These are lifelong impacts, mr. Speaker, along with a statistically higher risk of incarceration. This compromise is a positive step forward, but theres much more work to do at all levels of the government. To get the resources needed to help the people of flint and of the United States. Thankfully, mr. Speaker, the bill finally provides the resources to tackle the zika virus more than seven months after president obama submitted his funding request to congress , to combat the spread of the virus, and accelerate research into finding a vaccine. I am disappointed that this continues the poison pill that would prevent the securities and Exchange Commission from moving forward with the rule. Requiring publicly traded companies to disclose their political spending. This is so important. I think the fact that spending is out of control, money comes in from everywhere, we dont know how much, where it goes, and it is not a good thing for a emdemocracy. I think its nothing more than an for a democracy. I think the nothing more than an attempt to hide from the American People the big corporate donors and people from all over the whorled who are sending money in world who are sending money in here to affect our campaigns. If sunlight is the best disinfectant, then we certainly should have spread some sunlight on the s. E. C. To be able to do what we asked them to do. Were very concerned that electoral spending is increasingly being conducted in the dark. Its also disappointing that despite overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support, the continuing resolution fails to ensure that the Exportimport Bank is able to fully help businesses and workers across the country by restoring a board quorum to the bank. This continuing resolution is going to avert a crisis in the short term. But its a clear demonstration of the failure of the majority to do the most basic job, fund the government. The majoritys been so preoccupied withholding what more than 60 votes to repeal the Affordable Care act and investigating nonexistent scandals involving planned parenthood, that they have allowed the body to lurch from crisis to crisis, instead of enacting longterm appropriations. All the while, our infrastructures crumbling and the cost of College Education and the College Loans and the interest on them, which is crippling, is skyrocketing. Mr. Speaker, cbs news has highlighted that it costs the taxpayers an estimated 24 million a week to run the house of representatives. The abundantly clear that under this leadership, taxpayers arent getting their moneys worth. Nonetheless, i am pleased to be here to be part of passing this tonight, to prevent the awful crisis of a shutdown. I think weve all learned lessons there. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from oklahoma. Mr. Cole mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Cole thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to begin by congratulating my friend and thanking her, because i know shes committed to the resumption of regular orders and shes worked that way tirelessly. Thats a goal that we share with our friends on the other side of the aisle. I think the worth pointing out that you cant have regular order in the house if you dont have regular order in the senate. The real reason were here is because the senate has refused consistently to take up Appropriations Bills that have been passed by this house. At some point you simply quit passing the bills because the senate isnt going to deal with you. Once we finally have a senate that will work in regular order, and i hope we do at the beginning of next january, perhaps we can overcome this and get back to the system that i know my friend from new york and i want to see on this floor, passing each individual appropriations bill, doing so in a way that members can participate, conferencing with our friends in the senate and then moving forward. As to zika, i think the worth pointing out that nothing has not been done for lack of money. The reality is, when the zika when the Administration Made its initial request for zika funds, it immediately received a letter from chairman rogers, from subcommittee chairman granger, on state and foreign ops, and from myself saying, look, we know this is an emergency. We agree with you. You have billions of dollars of funds, start spending that money, ebola money, socalled, and we will replace that money. And frankly, theyve done that, to their credit. They set aside 600 million, not all of which has been spent, but that was the responsible thing to do, as congress studied and looked at this problem. Chairman rogers actually led a could he dell that went to a codell that went to brazil and peru and some of the areas that have suffered from this disease and weve continued to work. We have twice put on this floor hundreds of millions of dollars for zika response that our friends on the other side didnt see fit to vote for. Zika didnt get funded because, frankly, ow friends just simply didnt want our friends just simply didnt want to pay for it. Its not been about zika. Its been about whether or not you pay for zika. The original request from the administration was for 1. 9 billion. Over a twoyear period, to come out of state and foreign ops and laborh. Two committees which in that same period have 425 billion to spend. The not hard to pay for 1. 9 billion out of 425 billion. But still, at the end of the day, my friend is absolutely correct, were here. Nothing weve not failed to do anything, but we do need to provide a framework to go forward and guaranteed continuity. Im pleased and proud this does that. Frankly, we reserve the option next fiscal year to look at actually covering other parts of the unfunded spending on zika. In terms of the Exportimport Bank, im going to agree with my friend. I dont know that this was the appropriate vehicle, but i think the point she makes is exactly right. We need to restore this particular institution to full functioning. Thats been a matter of some partisan debate. But actually i agree with my friend. I support the Exportimport Bank and i think we need to reestablish it. If we could have done it in this bill, i would that would have been fine with me. But i trust the people that negotiated the final product and they did try to remove a lot of issues that were controversial and divisive so that hopefully we can get a substantial majority of both parties to vote for continuing the government. I want to invite our friends in the senate to participate in regular order. In some ways they have done that. I give them credit for this year and last year passing all Appropriations Bills at least through the full question level but it was a decision by their leadership not to let those bills come to the floor. Not anything that was done in this house. We didnt give up on that process until it became clear that the senate wasnt going to move. We are at the last moment. Im pleased we have negotiated together in good faith. Frankly within this body across the rotunda with the other body and the administration to arrive at something that will get us through the election and give us the time when we return from the election to sit down. In that period of time, i want to commit to my friend, i will be looking forward to work with her and her colleagues to make sure we finish the appropriation process. There are some that dont want to do it but do a continuing resolution to next year, dumping off the work of this congress and administration on the next administration and next congress. That would be a big mistake. I know my friend feels exactly the same way. I commit to her, i will do everything i can on my side of the aisle and i know she will on her side to make sure we continue the full appropriations process and make sure fiscal year 2017 is funded. New administration when it shows up is going to have a lot to do. They are going to have to advance their agenda and name the cabinet members and get them confirmed and write a budget for f. Y. 20818 by the middle of february and debt crisis in march and have the sequester to deal with that will return on schedule on time. That is plenty for a new president and new congress to do. I would hope we do our job in the socalled lame duck session and make sure they dont have the Additional Task of picking up and doing the work that this congress and this president should have done on their own. My friends right on that point. With that, mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlelady from new york. Ms. Slaughter may i inquire if he has any speakers . Mr. Cole im prepared to close. Ms. Slaughter the house of representatives has been in session for the last four weeks, more than enough time to properly debate the continuing resolution under regular order, but instead we have taken up a lot of one house bills that will never become law. Mr. Speaker, you cant run the United States government in three months traumps. The majority should focus on the issues the that the American People care about like repairing our roads and bridges and bringing down the cost of College Education. I accept his offer to work with him. Its a temporary stopgap measure and threats of a Government Shutdown are always hanging over us. And i would be happy to join him in, because frankly, what we have done now is no way to run our government. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. Mr. Cole i thank my good friend for her debate and cooperation and hard work in this exercise. It has been valuable and significant. And i want to agree with her basic point. We need to do our business. I wish it would have been done by this point. Its extended into the period after the election, but thats a place i hope we finish our business. I know my friend will be working to that end and i will as well. Passage of this legislation is critical to prevent a Government Shutdown, provide the necessary funds to address the zika virus and to demonstrate to the American People that congress can actually govern. I would have much preferred 12 individual Appropriations Bills, im encouraged that one conference bill is included in the legislation before us today. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. And i move the previous question on the resolution. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The question is on adoption of the resolution. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The resolution is agreed to and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Rogers seek recognition . Mr. Rogers mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and stepped their remarks and include extraneous material on the further consideration of h. R. 5325 and tabular material on the same. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Does the gentleman call up the bill . The clerk will report the title of the bill and designate the Senate Amendment. The clerk an act making appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2017 and for other purposes. Senate amendment. Mr. Rogers of kentucky moves that the house concur in the Senate Amendment to h. R. 5325. The speaker pro tempore the motion shall be debatable for one hour. The committee on appropriations. The gentleman from kentucky, mr. Rogers and mrs. Lowey will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore jarninged. Mr. Rogers i present the Senate Amendment to h. R. 5325. This legislation includes the fiscal year 2017 continuing resolution and full year appropriations for military construction and Veterans Affairs. It includes funding to fight and prevent the spread of the zika virus and assistance to communities affected by recent devastating floods. This is a reasonable and necessary compromise that will keep the government open and operating, address urgent needs across the country and provide the necessary support for our service members, their families and our veterans. First and foremost, mr. Speaker, this bill helps us avoid the unwarranted damage of a Government Shutdown by providing the funds required to keep the government open and operational past our september 30 deadline. The funding is provided at the urrent rate of 1 trillion and lasts through december 9. This short time frame will allow congress to complete our annual appropriations work without jeopardizing important government functions. Secondly, the package contains the full year military constructionv. A. Bill for fiscal 2017, which was conferenced by the house and senate and passed by the house already in june. In total, 82. 5 billion is provided for our military infrastructure and Veterans Health and benefits programs, 2. 7 billion above current levels with targeted increases to address mismanagement and improve operations at the v. A. Its important to note that once the president signs this bill into law, it will be the First Time Since 2009 that an individual appropriations bill has been conferenced with the senate and enacted before the september 30 fiscal year deadline. Third, this legislation includes 1. 1 billion in funding to respond to and stop the spread of the zika virus. This funding is directed to programs that control mosquitoes, develop vaccines and treat those affected. This funding is spent responsibly, balanced by 400 million in offsets in unused funding from other programs. Lastly, this legislation includes important provisions that address Current National needs including an additional 37 million to fight the opioid addiction which struck my district hard and 500 million to help states recover and rebuild from recent destructive flooding. I believe this legislation is a good compromise that this house can and should support. Its not perfect. But it ensures we meet our nations current critical needs. I have said many times before, standing in this exact spot that a continuing resolution is a last resort, but at this point, it is what we must do to fulfill our congressional responsibility to keep the lights on in our government. So i urge my colleagues to vote aye on this necessary legislation so we can send it to the president s desk without delay. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky reserves the balance of his time. The gentlelady from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i rise in support of the 2017 continuing resolution. Seven months after president obama requested Emergency Assistance to respond to the zika virus, it is long past time for congress to act. The 1. 1 billion provided equals the total funding the senate in may. Y a vote of 898 the continuing resolution also includes the full year, 2017 appropriations bill for military construction and Veterans Affairs, providing 82. 7 billion to address the needs of those who have served our nation in uniform as well as Construction Costs necessary to support active and reserve components of the military and their families. It extends current federal spending rates through december 9, which is sufficient time for congress to negotiate and enact an omnibus consisting of each of the remaining 11 appropriation bills. I object to the inclusion of 400 million which could lead some to believe incorrectly that emergency spending should be offset or will be in the future. I also object to the continuation of a rider shielding corporate political spending from public disclosure. During the lame duck Session Congress must enact a Water Resources Development Act conference report that includes robust funding to respond to the manmade disaster in flipt and emergency funding to respond to the Natural Disaster in louisiana. I intend to vote for this continuing resolution. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Rogers i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlelady from new york reserve . He gentlelady from new york. I am pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from alifornia, mr. Honda, of the finance subcommittee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Honda we know the republican majority wants to adjourn and go home but we shouldnt be going home until the work is done. Americans understand that concept. They stay at work until the job is done. So why dont the republicans . Here you are once again voting on another continuing resolution just hours before a devastating Government Shutdown. The last shutdown in 2013 cost american taxpayers 2 billion. Thats a lot of money that was wasted because republicans refused to do their job. That was money that could have been used to tack they will zika outbreak or the water issues in flint or provide muchneeded assistance to flood victims in louisiana. In this lastminute c. R. , we are finally addressing zika. Thats after months of ignoring this serious issue. We could have, should have done better. Pregnant women and children affected by zika deserve better. The same goes for flint. After thousands of children were poisoned by lead we have some assurances that the contaminated water supply will be addressed

© 2024 Vimarsana

vimarsana.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.