The people in and around houston who again find themselves dealing with serious damages due to flooding. May they and those many First Responders be safe as they begin the recovery of their community. May all that is done be for your greater honor and glory. Amen. The speaker the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house her pproval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved. Madam speaker. The speaker for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition . Mr. Blumenauer pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, i demand a vote on the speakers approval of the journal. The speaker the question is on the approval of the speakers approval of the journal. Those in favor please say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. The journal stands approved. Mr. Blumenauer madam speaker. The speaker for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon further seek recognition . Mr. Blumenauer i object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and make a point of order a quorum is not present. The speaker pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question are postponed. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from ohio, mr. Chabot. Mr. Chabot i ask everyone to please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker the chair will entertain up to five requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . To address the house for one minute. The speaker without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized or one minute. Madam speaker, i rise to honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of richard swan, a constituent of mine who recently passed away. Richards life was overflowing with action and accomplishment, trying and triumph, and above all, family and friendship. Richard lost his childhood sweetheart and beloved wife too young but he poured his energy into his work to his four children and 12 grandchildren and his loyal network of friends. He was a farsighted businessman, and real estate develop enand influential player at the highest levels of american and florida flicks. He was a proud orlando native and foresaw the citys potential before anybody else. Richard did as much as any man to transform orlando into the wonderful place it is today. Mrs. Murphy he was best known as a champion of the political causes and candidates he cared about. He was committed to the concept of responsible and engaged citizenship. At the service celebrating his life, his granddaughter read an excerpt from Teddy Roosevelts speech, the man in the arena. He never sat on the sidelines, always in the arena striving gallantly. He was a pillar of our Central Florida community. He will be deeply missed by all of us who had the honor to call him a friend. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition . Ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Chabot i rise today to thank and congratulate cincinnati state technical and Community College for 50 years of service to the Greater Cincinnati community. I have been privileged to visit cincinnati state many times, most recently to the evendale campus, and see firsthand the opportunities they provide to so many students. With four campuses, small class sizes, and over 100 associate degree programs, cincinnati state is truly an excellent college. Perhaps most notably cincinnati state plays a Critical Role developing our regions work force. Through extensive coop programs and relationships with the university of cincinnati and 600 industry partners, cincinnati state paves many career paths, especially for nontraditional students. Finally, i want to thank dr. Monica posey for her dedication to making cincinnati state an even greater asset to our community. Congratulations, cincinnati state, on your 50th anniversary. We look forward to many more. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon speak recognition . Mr. Blumenauer seek remember nation to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, madam speaker. Every day thousands of americans unwittingly sign contracts for nursing homes, credit cards, Employment Contracts that surrender their right to their day in court before an impartial judge and jury. Instead, buried in the fine print of the contract they agree to rely on an arbitrator that doesnt have to follow the law or facts and will have every incentive to favor the special interests who could give them repeat business. And typically, arbitration is not public. The wells fargo practice of opening unauthorized Bank Accounts would have undoubtedly been exposed and ended sooner if wells fargo hadnt enforced mandatory arbitration. This is our chance to stand up for consumers, for justice, and fairness. I urge my colleagues to support h. R. 1423, the fair act. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. Every day that Speaker Pelosi delays a vote on the u. S. Mexicocanada agreement, American Workers and their families are hurt. Right now farmers, ranchers, and businesses in georgia and across the country face unnecessary uncertainty. This trade deal is vital to our economy and passing u. S. Mca would be a huge min for the American People. Canada and mexico both serve as top markets for a number of our u. S. Agricultural products. In georgia, 22,558 jobs depend on manufacturing exports to canada and mexico. Mr. Allen passing this trade agreement would also strengthen our already vibrant economy. The usmca can add another 176,000 new jobs and add 68. 2 b to g. D. P. Growth. Lets ensure free and fair trade while granting our farmers and ranchers and manufacturers the protections they deserve. I urge my democratic colleagues to end this partisan politics and pass usmca or very least put the bill on the house floor for a vote. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from seek recognition . Mr. Thompson madam speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Thompson thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, i rise today to recognize and congratulate a friend and educational leader, dr. Kneel sharky, Vice President for research at the Penn State University upon his retirement. For the last 22 years he has managed, facilitated, and advanced the universitys entire Research Portfolio to dig deeper and discover Innovative Solutions to societys most challenging questions. Under dr. Sharkys leadership, penn States Research expenditures reached an all time high in 2017 and 2018. Totaling 927 million. This investment in the universitys research has helped Fund ImportantResearch Projects and life science, cyber science, social science, cancer research, energy, and the environment, and a variety of other interdisciplinary fields. Before his position as Vice President of research, he served as the associate dean for research and graduate education in the college of health and human development. As well as professor of kinesiology. I always say we cannot make good decisions without good data. Dr. Sharky has been a leader in this and i wish him the best of luck as he embarks on his new endeavors. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. The speaker pro tempore thank you, madam speaker. Mr. Lamalfa i rise to applaud the unreasonable fuel mileage standards put on consumers by a 2015 obama year rule. In only five model years from now all u. S. Cars would have to average 55 Miles Per Hour. Most people drive cars these days somewhere around 25 to 33 Miles Per Hour. They would be forced to fit very small cars that dont fit their familys needs. What the administration is seeking to do is freeze this timeline at 37 Miles Per Hour until Technology Catches up. So People Choose to fit the that fit their lives. That fit. Under the old rule and what California Resources board is trying to foist upon all 50 states and meeting the obama rule, they will not have that choice. Unfortunately, a few scared auto makers have sat down to try to cut a deal to fix the one they agreed to with no idea how theyd meet the challenge. At this point there are very few 55 Miles Per Hour vehicles to choose from. Most people dont want to buy those cars because it doesnt fit their family, life, what they want, and what they desire. They are trying to place that on all 50 states and all manufacturers are being herded towards it. This needs to be stopped. We draw the line here. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair lays before the house the ollowing enrolled bills. The clerk an act to prevent catastrophic failure or shut down of remote diesel power engines due to emission control devices, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition . Mr. Cicilline mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and insert heir remarks and extraneous material on h. R. 1423, forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal act or the fair act. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Pursuant to House Resolution 558 and rule 18, the chair declares the house in the committee of the whole on the state of the union for the consideration of h. R. 1423. The chair appoints the gentlewoman from illinois, ms. Underwood, to preside over the ommittee of the whole. The chair the house is in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for consideration of h. R. 1423, which the clerk will report by tight. The clerk a bill to amend title 9 of the United States code with respect to arbitration. The chair pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as read the first time. General debate shall be confined to the bill and not exceed one hour equally divided and control by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on the judiciary. The gentleman from rhode island, mr. Cicilline, and the gentleman from georgia, mr. Collins, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from rhode island. Mr. Cicilline thank you, madam chair. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Cicilline i rise in strong support of h. R. 1423, the forced arbitration and justice repeal act or the fair act. Very deep within the fine print of everyday contracts, forced arbitration deprives American Consumers and workers of their day in court when they attempt to hold corporations accountable for breaking the law. This private system lacks the procedural safeguards of our Justice System. Its not subject to oversight, no judge or jury, and not bound by laws passed by congress or the states. But its become a requirement of everyday life. Consumers and workers must surrender their rights to corporations through forced arbitration clauses which are unilaterally imposed by companies before disputes even arise. And when forced arbitration is combined with nondisclosure agreements, it effectively silences the victims rampant corporate misconduct. This shameful, humiliating, and corrupt system has isolated and silenced people and ultimately deprived their right to hold wrongdoers accountable. Few instances are as stark and disturbing as the experiences of the victims of Sexual Harassment and assault who are routinely exploited by forced arbitration. Its also eroded the rights of our men and women in uniform of the these brave americans have sacrificed much in service to our country. They have bought fought to protect the fundamental idea we are a nation of laws and institutions that guarantee the rights to every american. And that every american should have the freedom to meaningfully enforce these rights. But for too long arbitration has eroded these fundamental protections by forcing Service Members claims into private system set up by corporations. The military coalition, which represents 5. 5 million current nd former Service Members. It notes that forced arbitration has funneled the claims of Service Members, veterans, and families into i quote, a rigged secretive system which all the rules including the choice of the arbitrator are picked by the corporation, end quote. Lieutenant commander zoyber who testified earlier this year served in the u. S. Navy serve since 2008. In the fall of 2012 he was called into active duty for employment to afghanistan. Kevin notified his employer and conveyed his desire to resume work upon his return. But after over two years of the company, and the last day of work right before his deployment to afghanistan, following a Farewell Party with big cake, symbol of the United States flag on it, he was fired by his employer for serving his country. When he tried to hold his employer accountable for violating his rights, his company forced his claim into arbitration, citing an arbitration clause in his Employment Contract that he was required to sign six months into his employment, waiving his constitutional right to a jury trial. This is nothing short of a corporate takeover of our merican system of laws and the American People have had enough. The overwhelming majority of oters, including 83 of democrats, 87 of republicans sport ending forced arbitration. To act. E h. R. 1423, the fair act, does that. His ends the use of forced arbitration. Its supported by a Broad Coalition of groups dedicated to women, g the rights of Service Members, veterans, consumers, and hardworking americans. Chair. You, madam and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Collins thank you, madam chair. I rise in opposition to the bill that. Ll speak to arbitration lets go back to asics here provides a simpler, cheaper, faster path to the judicial system. Time when the Oversight Committee found. Evidence showed this term. Companies are continuing to prove the fairness of arbitration agreements and have following arbitration protocols to ensure due process the claimants against them. Considered during the 110th and the court has , confidence in the system. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlighted they ms they faced if didnt have arbitration but had actions. N class predispute, mandatory binding arbitration agreements in the onsumer settings did not come out of nowhere. It stems directly from the repeated abuse of the class ctions that plagued the judicial system in recent decades. Thats not to say the arbitration system is perfect. In fact, the arbitration but the arbitration system is generally good and should be preserved. Not what ely, that is the forced forced arbitration would do repeal act it. It would wipe it out for normous numbers of consumers and employment disputes as well as the many civil rights and disputes. What would what that would do is not end in justice but promote it. What happens when everyday are in employees far too many cases it means of icans will be shut out the Justice System entirely. In their claims are small option. There may be an in 46 states and the district of columbia, small claims courts claims only 10,000 or less. Some limit it to 5,000 or less. With cases claimants worth amounts not much more or able to pay ver be the courtroom lawyers enough to go to trial courts. When if they can have plaintiffs in class actions they can join those actions. Millions more will not. Even though that do can expect o get nothing in return but a postcard telling them they won a few dollars and cents on a coupon. Plaintiff trial lawyers more in fees. If you ask me, it will be better o call this bill the forced class action injustice guarantee act today. But rather wipe rather than arbitration, we should consider ways to make it better. While we do that, we should do we can to reform the abuses of the class action system. Enate judicial chairman graham suggested we ought to do that at this year. Arlier hes right. He Worst Congress can do is to wipe out arbitration but leave an and leave them with uninformed judicial system. Before i yield back, madam chair, this is something to me because this is a bill that my gentleman friend just stated, there is a list of here. Les there is a list of horribles of abuse, military, all these could have been if we s