Acknowledge your sovereignty over all events and times. Renew america in confident faith and deepen our commitment to seek peace. Help us to work sovereignty over all events and times. Together when whom we find se it difficult to trust, but with a m we must try to forge Common Future of security and prosperity. This peoples house with your that all might seek to find first areas of agreement and openness to Honest Exchange where it is not. May all that is done within the peoples house be for your honor and glory, amen. E speaker pro tempore the the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from. Llinois, 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 pro tempore the up to five ntertain requests for oneminute speeches from each side of the aisle. Or what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Bost i ask unanimous consent to address the house or one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Bost mr. Speaker, i rise to advocate for the victims of Human Trafficking. For the Law Enforcement and organizations who are on the frontlines combating this growing problem. Human trafficking is a growing problem in illinois. Ninth in the nation in reported trafficking cases. Are on the rise nationwide. As the father of three and im angry. Of 11, we must wipe out this evil before it does any more harm. Im proud that the republicans together have passed free antitraffic bills three antitraffic bills this week. Our work is far from over but these bills are vitally important to help protect American Families. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman om North Carolina seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Speaker, i rise this morning to recognize of ive of my home state North Carolina, richard, and a graduate of our alma mater central lina university. Tomorrow night richard will be nccu Alumni Association with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award. Richard is most deserving of this great honor. Since graduating in 1981, he dedicated alumnus to the university, always exemplifying our motto of truth service. Richard continues to serve nccu and its Alumni Community in trust capacities at the local, state, and national levels. Time, talent, resources to help students from across the country to succeed in obtaining a quality education from historically black colleges and universities. Married ith has been to jaclyn for 28 years. As nccu 40 years ago students. Mr. Speaker, time does not describe to fully richards many other contributions. Suffice it to say Richard Smith of this high ng honor the nccu alumni alumni ion 2017 founders Lifetime Achievement award. M proud of Richard Smith and thank him for his extraordinary work. I ask my colleagues to join me congratulating this Great American hero. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina eek recognition . Without objection, the ntlelady is recognized for one minute. You, mr. Speaker. 118,000, the number of people n my district alone who lozz health care if trumpcare passes. 250, the number of people who join me for North Carolina town monday in charlotte. Ms. Adams zero, the number of public hearings the senate has trumpcare. Despite the potential for 22 their people who Lose Health Care if trumpcare passes, senator mcconnell hasnt asked to hear from any of them. Held a town hall where my constituents shared their stories and asked that i share them with you. A mother of 3yearold with autism relies on Medicaid Health care. Hes shes terrified without health care her son wouldnt et the treatment he needs. Unique, ies arent 39 of children rely on medicaid for their care. 35 are cuts the program by 2036. Our constituents are begging for help. Its our responsibility to them. Or i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. House resolution 440 and rule 18, the chair declares the house in the on ittee of the whole house the state of the union for h. R. R consideration of 2810. Will the gentleman from idaho, mr. Simpson, kindly resume the chair. E chair the house is in the committee of the whole house on student for further consideration of h. R. 2810 which the clerk will report by tight. E clerk bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the department of defense and construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, for other purposes. The chair when the committee of the whole house rose on 2017, a july 13, second set of amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from texas, mr. Thornberry, had disposed of. In order to consider amendment number 16 printed in ouse report 115217. Amendment n order to number 17 considered in house report number 115217. For what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition . Designee of the the the gentlewoman from florida, i have a mefpblgt the chair the clerk will designate the amendment. E clerk amendment number 17 printed in house report number 15217, offered by mr. Byrne of alabama. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 440, the gentleman a alabama, mr. Byrne, and member opposed, each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from alabama. Byrne thank you, this straightforward and bipartisan amendment would provide important clarity for the reek recreation of maritime as relates to Workers Compensation coverage. For decades federal law stated dividuals who build, dismantle, or repair recreational vessels less than feet could be covered under state Workers Compensation law instead of the federal workers and harbor compensation act. Under the congress controlled by the democrats in 2009, the simplified by eliminating the size mitation, which allowed more employers to purchase state Workers Compensation. Unfortunately, in 2011, the partment of labor issued a burdensome and confusing rule creating a new definition of vessel. Onal this change contradicted legislation maffed by this ngress in 2009 and effectively denied recreational vessel repair workers access to affordable state Workers Compensation insurance. This regulatory confusion and reducing access to affordable workers mpensation policies and also hurting the overall industry. L repair our bipartisan amendment increases strong protections to ensure that no vessel used for commercial or military purposes inappropriately accepted from the federal requirements. This amendment would provide relief for Small Businesses, including those in coastal alabama, while also workers the maritime receive the protections they need. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his ime. The gentleman from connecticut claim time in opposition . Do i. Is chair the gentleman recognized for five minutes. Mr. Courtney i rise in opposition to this amendment by my good ed friend from alabama, mr. Byrne. This is st note that an amendment thats been around last couple congresses and the to carve out is a larger exemption from the longshoremens act, which is a goes back to 1927. Thats the that if intent, the language of this amendment actually is like a chain saw th nstead of a scalpel. While carving out a larger emption for recreational vessels beyond 55 feet long, basically there is a whole eries of coast guard rules and regulations that have been, again, enforced by the coast many years that this amendment, unfortunately, is oing to sweep up and undermine. Including the rules related to onboard vessels, waste management, coast guard nspection categories, vessel sales to nonu. S. Citizens, tonnage tax, and Safety Management systems. Is out there every single day making sure that these rules, which really protect our ports. Make sure particularly foreign paying per yachts are their fair share in terms of he cost of the Environmental Protection and boating safety are enforced. Amendment will undermine. Thats why last year the coast guard issued a statement the fact that because of the broad sweep of the language of this amendment, really undermining some coast sions that the guard has been doing for decades for the American People. That at the note outset, again obviously there is another issue which is just significant, which is undermining the longshoremens act, which goes back to calvin oolidge. It recognizes the fact that the folks who are engaged in activity but Shipyard Construction are of ed in a highrisk type occupation. And the longshoremens act was that state Workers Compensation commissions because they varied p and down in terms of protections required a federal minimum standard. Something really that has obviously width stood the test of time over the last 0 years. Again, if you look at the data, eople were involved in shipyard work. Their risk of injury is much higher than many other occupations. Proud representative from a district that has the second argest Employment Level in shipbuilding, according to American Shipbuilding stosheation, these folks are dealing with association. These folks are dealing with equipments, and parts that are higher risk than Even Aerospace or other forms manufacturing. Again i think what we ought to do is stick to the coast guard finition of what a recreational vessel is because thats been on the books for many years. Something that i think all of us should listen closely to in terms of evaluating this amendment. Think also we should build a that we can Great American shipbuilding sector in this country for commercial and recreational we should not do it on the backs of worker protection. With that, again, i reserve the alance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. He gentleman from alabama. Mr. Byrne and i appreciate the gentleman. In reciate his leadership the industry. These are recreational vessel companies. They are Small Companies doing types hings on different of vessels than the one that is mr. Courtney and i are typically working together on. Trying to apply the same rules when its a completely to what activity were usually talking about very large ships doesnt make sense. Traditionally been a democrat amendment. I always supported it. Im happy to support it today. Would like us to continue our tradition of bipartisanship on this issue. I reserve the balance of my time. The gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from connecticut. R. Courtney i yield two minutes from a colleague from a another great shipbuilding district but the Ranking Member work force tion and committee, mr. Scott. The chair the gentleman has 1 1 2 minutes remaining. Mr. Scott thank you. Mr. Chairman, i rise in pposition to this amendment. The amendment shifts workers who repair super yachts and watercraft out of coverage under the longshoremen and harbor workers act on to under the Workers Compensation. It doesnt just amend the act, it rather creates the problem with the coast guard law. The oast guard has opposed identical amendment last year because it creates widespread damage to the coast guard and enforcement authorities. Implicates u. S. Treaty ligations and could affect collection of tonnage taxes on foreign vehicles. The department of labor also amendment because it could lead to uncertainty and foster litigation under the longshoremen coverage. Moreover, by shifting workers out of longshoremen into the workers comp laws such as florida, it could impoverish workers. Last year the Florida Supreme Court held that the florida was rs compensation law so anemic it was unconstitutional. Provide al is to reasonable insurance rates, it should be in the insurance complicating the coast guard complicating and epartment of labor denying workers their benefits under the longshoremens compensation act. On this ge a no vote amendment. And yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from alabama. Mr. Byrne we have heard nothing from the coast guard opposition to this amendment. In years past i think the gentlemen are correct. We heard from them. Heard no we opposition. In fact, a recreation vessel as a repaired is the same recreation vessel being manufactured and used as a be ic vessel and should treated the same in law. The coast guard also enforces whether that determine a vessel is recreational and forces those who would unlawfully use them. I suggest to gentleman this is not something the coast guard opposes. Reserve. The chair the gentleman from has the only time remaining. Back. Rne i yield the chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from alabama. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18 further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from alabama will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 18 printed in house report 115217. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Hunter mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 18 printed in house report 115217 offered by mr. Hunter of california. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 440, the gentleman from california, mr. Hunter, and a member opposed, each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Hunter mr. Chairman, thank you very much. This important amendment would help safeguard u. S. Courts. It simply clarifies where the claim must be brought when the case has no meaningful connection to the United States. Specifically, the amendment limits the ability of foreign crewmembers working on foreign ships in foreign waters to sue in u. S. Courts when a remedy is available in their home country or the country on the ship of which they served. If no such remedy is available abroad, the amendment would allow those crewmembers to file suit in the United States, assuming they could meet the same burden needed to file any other suit. To be clear, again, this amendment no in way restricts foreign crewmembers access to judicial relief if they are injured or suffer damages working on a foreign vessel. It simply says they need to seek relief in their home country or the home country of the vessel which they served on before seeking relief in u. S. Courts. I reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves his time. Who claims time in opposition . The gentleman from new york is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Nadler thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this antipernicious labor amendment that would make it easier for u. S. Owned to exploit and the right for sea fairers to seek injuries for damages while at sea has been part of u. S. Maritime law. The effect of this amendment is clear it would restrict foreign seafarers employed on foreign flag crew ships expenses related to personal injury, death in u. S. Court. This provision is contrary to a general maritime law principle thats been around since at least the 12th century. A principle thats remained applicable because of the International Nature of shipping and the plain fact even today Ship Operators maintain leverage over seafarers. This violates International Convention that the u. S. Ratified. Under the ship owners liability convention, International Laws and regulations have been interpreted and enforced to ensure quality treatment to seafarers, irrespective of nationality, domicile or race. This amendment would shred that international obligation. It is also contrary to the principles in terms defining seafarers rights. It is also worth mentioning that the amendment before us may be unnecessary because in many cases seafarer contracts contain binding arbitration clawses. In any event, it makes no sense to deny access to u. S. Courts to foreign seafarers seeking compassion for maintenance and cure claims. The cruise lines can avoid frivolous lawsuits. All they need to do is honor their long standing customary responsibility to pay for the care and recovery of the seafarers they employ when they are ill or injured. No one has provided any evidence, much less compelling evidence to justify the reverse long standing seafarer protections. In the absence of evidence, the house should reject this unwarranted amendment. This vote is purely to injure seafarers, purely to disobey maritime conventions to which we are a party, purely to disobey the laws of the sea from the 12th century that we have obeyed since we have obtained our independence from england to no purpose other than to help often americanowned, not always, with foreign flagged cruise ship lines. Theres no purpose to this amendment. The house should reject this amendment as it has in the past. I urge a no vote and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from california. R. Hunter id lik