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

Votes. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on ordering the previous question on House Resolution 708, on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the resolution. The clerk house calendar number 54. House resolution 708. Resolution providing for consideration of the Senate Amendment to the bill, h. R. 3055 making appropriations for the departments of commerce and justice, science and related agencies for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2020, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is on ordering the previous question. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 228, the nays are 192. The previous question is ordered. The question is on adoption of the resolution. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The gentleman from oklahoma. Mr. Cole on that, madam speaker, i would ask for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 230, the nays nays are 194. The resolution is adopted. Without objection, the motion to reskr laid on the table reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on the Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from texas, mr. Green, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 508 4rks on which the yeas and nays are ordered to 5084, on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk a bill to amend the securities and exchange active 1934, to require the submission by issuers of data relating to diversity and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 281. The nays are 135. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Members, take your conversations off the floor. The speaker pro tempore order, please. Can we take the conversations floor, please. For what purpose does the entlelady from new york seek recognition . Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, the house is not in order. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from new york is right. Is not in order. Please, take your conversations off the floor. We please take can we conversations off the floor, please. The hat purpose does gentlelady from new york seek recognition . Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, House Resolution 3055, with up h. R. The Senate Amendment thereto, motion at the desk. The peaker pro tempore gentlelady will suspend, please. He clerk will report the title of the bill, designate the report thedment, and motion, please. The clerk h. R. 3055, an act making appropriations for the commerce and justice, science, and related agencies for the fiscal year 2020, and ember 30, for other purposes. Senate amendment. Moves wey of new york that the house concur in the Senate Amendment to h. R. 3055 inserting the nt ext of rules Committee Print 11638 in lieu of the matter to proposed by the senate. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 708, the motion shall be equally for one hour ivided and controlled by the chair, the ranking minority member of the committee on appropriations. He gentlewoman from new york, mrs. Lowey, and the gentlewoman ms. Granger, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the york. Woman from new mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i ask that all consent members may have five legislative days to revise and and include remarks extraneous material on the house to the Senate Amendment to h. R. 3055. Mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. While the house is he speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from new york. Mrs. Lowey while the house did 12 work and passed appropriation bills through committee and 10 appropriation off the floor, delays in he senate mean the appropriations process is behind. Ith just days until current stopgap funding expires, we must to a continuing resolution keep government open and fund negotiate ies as we subcommittee allocations and finalize individual appropriation bills. His legislation avoids controversial policies and thatad contains provisions reflect shared priorities, including bipartisan language to fully fund a fair and accurate decannial census, a 3. 1 pay raise for our military, and to rescind 1. 6 billion in highway funding. Provisions, to these the c. R. Includes a package of extenders that will keep Health Critical to American Families up and running. Extending these programs and government funding through c. R. Will , this allow additional time to enact responsible longterm funding for priorities country safer and stronger and give working families a better chance at a better life. Pass eaker, even as we today American Families and businesses and communities need the certainty funding. Ear to complete the appropriations settle we must first llocations with the senate republicans. Only by coming together in good responsible, enact fullyear spending bills that invests for theresponsible, people and give americ he American People a better life. I ask colleagues support this and i reserve the balance of my time. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves. The gentlelady from texas is recognized. S. Granger mr. Speaker, its with a heavy heart that i rise in opposition of the continuing resolution. Dont wantpriator, i to support anything short of fullyear Appropriations Bills, to cially when it comes funding for our national defense. Even so, in september i urged my colleagues to join me in voting to a funding for our national defense. Temporary c. R. To avoi Government Shutdown and give the senate time to complete their work. At that time, the budget deal had just been signed into law senate had not yet started consideration of full appropriations measures for f. Y. 2020. I voting for the last c. R. , argued at the time we would provide enough time for appropriators in the house and to complete work on bills. Ar appropriations unfortunately, not only that has there still hasnt been an agreement reached on spending levels for those bills. Could ness in the world survive on temporary funding on a monthtomonth basis. He uncertainty created by the habit Congress Finds itself in repeated c. R. s and a continual of a shutdown is crippling, especially for our military. Continuing resolutions limits the militarys ability to operate, train, care for our and their bers families and continue the Critical Research and evelopment that is needed to meet and defeat all threats. Ongress must not fail to meet its most fundamental constitutional responsibility to provide appropriations. I call on my colleagues in both chambers of oth congress to immediately come aside, put politics and Work Together to reach an fullyear or a appropriations measure that the president can sign. Reserve my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves. The gentlelady from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman allowed to control time. Mainder of the the speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. The gentlewoman from ohio is recognized. Ms. Kaptur mr. Speaker, i yield to the gentleman from maryland, our majority leader, hoyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland is recognized for one minute. R. Hoyer thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. And t to thank mrs. Lowey ms. Granger for their leadership on this committee. Want them to know that i commitment to r doing the appropriations process he way we are supposed to do it. Is a day thats a recognition of failure, a our work as those committeed the budget report 1974, as those of us who served on the appropriations since 1983, 23 years active on the appropriations on it but ut still waiver. This is an admission of failure. Its a recognition of failure. Recognition that the senate did not do its job. The a recognition that white house would not cooperate 302b ting to allocations. I talked to senator mcconnell in this year. Leader mcconnell and i agreed the we wanted to get appropriations work done in a to be that was intended done. Considering discreetly, ndividually appropriation bills, considering them on the floor. Ow, frankly, we did not do that. We did not do it for time sake o we could do things in a timely fashion, and we three omnibus them,ss, minibus, we call and we sent them to the senate 26 of this year, which gave the senate and i the much sort of give senate more time. Hey had all the time they needed. And because the white house and acting chief the of staff, mr. Mulvaney, who has been one of the most negative in terms e dealt with of fiscal responsibility and doing the work of the house on person who would say amen would be john boehner. Not too far ld be behind. To mr. Mulvaney wanted to go sequester. That was his original play. That didnt fly some months gafshity, he ster gamut, he went to the c. R. The pentagon was rightfully concerned about that proposal. Hat would damage our national security. And so he continued to delay. Dont know weather the president was involved in it or not, frankly. So we did not get 302a, and for those watching, that means how much discretionary money you are going to spend in total. By the way, our citizens, mr. Speaker, ought to know, its overwhelm about a third, maybe a little less, that is discretionary. The other Social Security, medicare, medicaid things of that nature. So we needed to come to a agreement on how much we were going to spend. Because after all, we understand the president has to sign the bills. But it was not the committees that made that agreement. It was not the Budget Committee involved in that agreement. It was Speaker Pelosi and secretary mnuchin meeting together. The senate wasnt really involved. And we got to a number, and that was good. July. Which meant that the senate had other two months to pass its bills. To come to an agreement. Didnt have to take our 302b, and they werent, they would have taken it within the constraints of the mnuchinpelosi agreement. More properly the pelosimnuchin agreement. They still did not enact a single appropriation bill. Now the floor is not filled, the galleries are not filled, mr. Speaker. This is sort of inside baseball. But very, frankly, there are only 12 bills that need to pass. All the other bills can be put off. It will have adverse effects, but it will not shut down the peoples government. If we dont sign if we dont pass these 12 bills, it shuts down the peoples government. For the first time in the history of the congress, this congress if we dont sign took government partially shut down. Im going to vote for this c. R. , but i do not delude myself that this is a successful pursuance of the appropriations process. It is not. It is a failure. It is not our failure. We did our work on time. And the whip, republican mipwhip, mr. Speaker, keeps telling me it was a partisan exercise. It may well have been partisan exercise. But 10 bills went to the United States senate. Unattended. Untouched. Unconsidered. So we are here. The alternative is shutting down government on the midnight of the 21st. Thats not an acceptable alternative. I want to tell my friends, and i want to say to those in this chamber, i have Great Respect for Ranking Member granger, with whom i have worked for longer perhaps than any of us want to say, but a long time. I have respect for her commitment to the appropriations process, her commitment to regular order, her commitment to doing our work in the fashion that the American People can have confidence. I have confidence in mrs. Lowey, the chair of the committee. And i know that they are working together and have the same objective. That does not mean they agree on every dollar as to how it ought to be allocated, but it does mean they think it ought to be considered in the way that it should be. This is not the way it should be. This is the way it is. Im going to vote for it. I urge my members to vote for it. But i will tell you if im upset today, if we dont get ur work done, and i mean done, and you talk about a c. R. On be ber 20th, i will not happy. I dont know what that means, but im going to have additional discussions with senator mcconnell as i have had with the chairman of the Appropriations Committee in the senate and the Ranking Member, mr. Leahy. I have talked to both mr. Shelby and mr. Leahy. They want to get this work done. There is no reason in gods green earth we cannot do the Appropriations Bills in a way that they ought to be done, except we lack the will to compromise. We lack the will to Work Together. We lack the will to do the American Peoples business on ime, rationally, and without creating a sense that this institution cannot and does not work. I hope we use these days that are left between today and december 20 in a productive, effective, effective way so that the appropriations process can be concluded on december or before. December 20 or before. This probably is going to have no constructive effect this day, but i hope in the days to come that we will are all have such a sense of urgency that we owe it to the country, to our people, and to this institution to show the American People we can make it work. Lets do it. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yield. The gentlewoman from ohio reserves. Ms. Kaptur mr. Speaker, i reserve. The speaker pro tempore very good. The gentlewoman from texas is recognized. Ms. Granger i yield three minutes to the gentleman from arkansas, mr. Womack. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arkansas is recognized. Mr. Womack thank you, mr. Speaker. And i appreciate the Ranking Member from texas, ms. Granger, for yielding and for her leadership. I, too, am concerned about the direction we are heading with this continuing resolution, but i have another reason, mr. Speaker. This c. R. Includes a provision that has a significant budgetary impact. I am frustrated that the amendment i filed with the rules Committee Last night was not made in order to address it. My amendment would have offset 76 billion in mandatory spending increases from repealing rescission of funds in the 2015 fixing americas surface transportation act. Or fast act. Or transportation bill. This provision, mr. Speaker, would have a Significant Impact on mandatory spending. Which everybody in this chamber knows is driving the nations deficits and debt. Let me be clear the amendment would have allowed for the highway funding to take place but simply calling it for it to be paid for. I dont think thats asking too much. To ask for increases in spending given the fact that we will have a trillion dollar deficit this year on top of a 23 trillion debt to just simply pay for the excesses. The house should have had an opportunity to consider whether to offset the funding in a fiscally responsible manner, in my opinion. I find it troubling we were not given an opportunity. Thats one thing. The manner in which this c. R. Was assembled doesnt provide a great deal of hope that we will enact a full year defense spending bill which the military so desperately needs right now. I share the concerns of the distinguished majority leader. Mr. Speaker, aim not optimistic we will conclude all of these other funding bills before the expiration of the next c. R. The difference is going to be that its going to be the 20th of december, its going to be right before christmas, and we will do whatever we can to get out of town to go celebrate the olidays. The majority leader says, if that happens he will be mad. My recommendation to him is prepare to be mad. I know how this place works. R. Speaker, is it not apparent to the discerning people of america and specifically to the people in this chamber, that this is a flawed and broken . Rocess and we need to fix it can i have another minute . Ms. Granger i yield two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Womack we need to fix it. With the t year distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee as the cochair on budget process and bhn close ons reform on ideas that would fundamentally change the way we do our article 1 responsibility. But we left all that at the altar. What more evidence do we need to show that this process is flawed . Its broken. T needs to be fixed. Im frustrated. The American People are frustrated. Nobody paying attention to this process conducts their business or their personal finances the way this body does. The legislative body of the most incredible country ever nown to humankind. Yet the question today is will we just kick the can down the road to right before christmas in hopes that this congress is going to have some epiphany that weve got to do the work that we have been trying to do for the last seven weeks. We are seven weeks into the fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, i had breakfast this morning with the secretary of the army. Heres what he said. That eventually well give you the money, our men and women in uniform, the problem is we ant give you the time back. That time is running through the clock. So im frustrated. And im prepared to vote no and im prepared to continue to work as long as it takes to make sure that we do our work on time. And not kick the can down the road. I yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. The gentlelady from texas reserves. The gentlewoman from ohio is recognized. Ms. Kaptur mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Kaptur yes, mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this continuing resolution. I listened carefully to what the gentleman has said just prior to my taking the floor, and i wish that the other body had done its work. We did ours. Im pretty proud of our members. This bill ensures that the federal government and its lights stay on, that we pay our bills on time, and that the peoples business continues on negotiations on a full years spending bill. While we are hopeful and agreement can quickly be reached, im really disappointed that the Senate Continues to delay while so much is at stake. I really dont understand their problem over there. For each day we delay in passing a full year appropriation bill, we send a message of uncertainty that has consequences for the business of the American People. Be glad you are not a contracting officer in one of the agencies, certainly the department of defense at this point. Our subcommittee, my bill, the energy and water appropriation bill, proposes key investments through the army corps of engineers and our nations crumbling water infrastructure, and in the Energy Innovation pipeline that is so essential to sustaining life on earth. The United States must remain at the forefront of Energy Innovation to address Climate Change so vital to people across the globe. This bill essentially offers a pathway, thats all it is, for our committees to negotiate on a final bill which makes these key investments and many others across committees. In addition to giving congress the space to finalize our bills, this continuing resolution makes key investments in the census and they make those investments as soon as the Bush Administration passes. We must ensure complete census count. In fact, the country cant wait even one month to invest in this ramp up effort. Ads are out across the country. The Census Bureau has to do their job. And the census will support reapportionment and will impact everything the federal government does from Grant Programs to redistricting. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so the committees can move toward full agreement and i would urge prayerful thoughts for our colleagues over in the other body to do their work. So that we dont have to use up the fulltime before december 20. That we can actually pass the bills that are necessary before that time. I would like to reserve the balance of my time but would yield to the gentlelady. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves. Is gentlelady from texas recognized. Ms. Granger i reserve my time. S. Kaptur yes, mr. Speaker, i yield two minutes to the gentlelady from florida who does such a fine job, ms. Wasserman schultz of florida. The speaker pro tempore the entlewoman from florida is recognized. Ms. Wasserman schultz i thank the distinguished chairwoman for yielding. Reluctant support of this continuing resolution which would keep the government open until december 20, 2019. As has been stated but cant be stated enough, the house has done its job. Appropriations bills earlier this summer. Unfortunately, the senate failed to act in time, and now were the can down the road yet again with a second c. R. A c. R. Is destructive for our agencies, but we need to keep the government open, obviously. A fewately, this c. R. Has provisions that makes this more palatable. It includes extenders for medicare and Medicaid Programs temporary assistance for needy families. The bill also restores necessary funding for the Census Bureau as gears up for the 2020 census 3. 1 pay raise for our troops. As chairwoman of the military onstruction, Veterans Affairs subcommittee, i happily support this necessary pay raise for our me makemembers, but let this clear. We cant responsible govern by an endless series of destructive continuing resolutions. These bandaids keep the lights de facto ve as ourding cuts and undermines planning. Instead of locking ourselves imperative thes senate work with us on top line funding numbers and do so without taking all their the white ders from house. Passing c. R. s also abdicates power of the nal purse. Committee, wetions must not toss all of that thoughtful work aside. Mr. Speaker, i support passage c. R. Is our businesses, families, local communities deserve and need that budget certainty, but i congress to work out amongst ourselves a concrete path forward to fulfill our responsibilities and resume orderly funding of the government. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields. The gentlelady from ohio reserves. Is gentlelady from texas recognized. Ms. Granger i reserve my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves her time. The gentlelady from ohio. Ms. Kaptur mr. Speaker, im prepared to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields. The gentlewoman from ohio is recognized. Ms. Kaptur yes, mr. Speaker. Urge my colleagues to vote for this continuing resolution and ield back the balance of my time. He speaker pro tempore all time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 708, the previous question is ordered. Son the motion by is on the motion by the gentlelady from new york, mrs. Lowey. Favor, say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is agreed to. Without objection askgranger mr. Speaker, i for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those favoring a vote by the will rise. Ys a sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, this 15minute vote on the motion to concur will be votes onby fiveminute agreeing to the speakers approval of the journal, if ordered. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 231, the nays are 192. The motion is adopted. Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20 the up finished business is the question on agreeing to the speakers approval of the journal which the chair will put de novo. The question is on agreeing to the speakers approval of the journal. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The journal stands approved. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . Madam speaker,cy send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the concurrent resolution. The clerk house concurrent resolution 75, concurrent resolution directing the clerk of the house of representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of h. R. 3055. The speaker pro tempore is there objection to the consideration of the concurrent resolution. Without objection, the concurrent resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider s laid on the table. For what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . By direction of the Democratic Caucus i offer a privilege red lees resolution and ask for its immediate consideration. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 712, resolved that the following named members be and are hereby elected to i ask that the resolution be considered as read and printed in the resolution. Ed in record. The speaker pro tempore the resolution is considered as read and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. 23rur7 does the gentleman from virk virginia seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to be removed as cosponsor of h. R. 737. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. I rise in recognition of november as alzheimers awareness month. Its a condition that affects 500 million americans and growing testimony it was believed to be a disease of old age but diet, exercise and lifestyle are becoming larger factors. It is a personal concern for me because im a diabetic. I have a greater chance of contracting it as i age. But alzheimers patients are not the only ones who suffer. The disease take asterable toll ones and sufferers as loved ones demand constant care. We need to devote ones and mores to the disease that could affect us all. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you. Madam speaker, i rise to recognize john obrown as the tennessee second district, november, 2019, veteran of the month. A vietnam war veteran, Sergeant Brown served almost 13 years before medically retiring in 1971. He was born january 1, 1936, in the metropolis of kettle hollow, tennessee. He graduated from Horace Maynard high school in 1951, joined the army in 1958 and deploy to vietnam in 1966. Dur his 12 months in vietnam he rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class before returning stateside. In 1969, Sergeant Brown received orderers to return to vietnam and on june 20 he was wounded in action and medically evacuate. The injury resulted in the amputation of one of his legs for his brave his legs. For his breyry in service he was awarded the purple heart, the silver star, the combat infantry badge, and the Army Commendation medal. Despite living with a servicerelated disability, Sergeant Brown enthusiastically reentered civilian life. He earned degrees from the tennessee Vocational School and Tennessee School of electronics. He worked for sony and became j. V. C. s director of overseas sales. He retired after a 27year career with j. V. C. Brownud to recognize john as our veteran of the month. I yield back the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . Without objection the gentlewoman is recognized for ne minute. Madam speaker, i rise to express my hope and expectation that the Trump Administration and congress will resolve the few outstanding issues that so so that congress can take a strong, bipartisan vote to mornedize nafta, our outdated trade agreement, and replace it with usmca, that will benefit workers, farmers, businesses and families while also codifying our relationship with our two closest neighbors. I believe wellnegotiated trade agreements can improve our economy and security. But i also know poorly negotiated trade pacts can hurt americas workers and make it harder to maintain broadbased support for the concept of freer and fairer trade. Usmca fixing flaws in some nafta chapters based on Lessons Learned since nafta was enacted in 1994. It also adds new chapters to refrequent the realities that the world has undergone major changes in the last 25 years. I support the deliberative discussions taking place. I think both sides are working in good faith with the shared goal of getting the best possible agrement over the finish line. Each side realizes inaction is not an option because nafta must be revive. I also support bipartisan and bicameral efforts by the florida delegation to protect our farmers who grow seasonal produce from unfair competition. When it comes to usmca its important to mauve swiftly and with a sense of urgency but just as important that we get this right. Thank you, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from florida rise . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise to highlight h. R. 5169, the tricare fairness for National Guard reserve retirees act that i introduced with representative gaffered earlier today. It raises the eligibility age for tricare standard and prime, with the age at which National Guard and reserve personnel begin receiving retirement pay. We have heavily relied on National Guard and reserve personnel for the last 20 years. Congress previously recognized their sacrifices by lowering the age that they can receive their retired pay based on their active duty service but its not fair that their eligibility for traditional tricare was left at age 60. This is resulted in early retirees spending the vast majority if not all their pension on tricare pensions until they reach 60. This bill will help these Service Members transition into retirement as intended when congress reduced their retirement agent. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. The speaker pro tempore canada and mexico are two of the commonwealths largest trading partners. In 2018 alone, virginia exported 4. 3 billion worth of goods to our northern and southern neighbors. Last month in chesterfield county, i sat down with local businesses, business leaders, and members of the chamber of commerce to talk about how the usmca could strengthen export opportunities and spur Economic Growth for businesses in our area. Cattlemen and dairy, farmers and producers across my Central Virginia District Care deeply about the certainty and stability of afforded by a trade deal. Amid ongoing usmca discussion,000,000 constituents want an need the longterm certainty of a trade deal between our three countries. I thank the Congressional Working Group for its productive effort to arrive at a deal that meets the needs of our farmers, producers, small business, mediumsized businesses and american workers. We need house negotiators and the administration to come to a final agreement. We need to get this done and deliver trade stability for our constituents back home in my Central Virginia district and across the country. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. My colleague from virginia, on the other side of the aisle, just gave my speech. The usmca is a very important document, a very important measure that we need to pass without delay. Our trade with mexico and canada, our two most important trade partners in the world, needs ton secured so that we can start doing more business with them. Itll be very great for much in agriculture, dairy, forestry, autoparts, california wine, to have the stability of this. And it will show the rest of the world were ready to do business and negotiate better deals with japan, china and others. Lets get this done. Lets not have the usmca vote held up any longer or have it become leverage for other things. I ask Speaker Pelosi, please bring this to the floor, because i think we can get many votes on both sides of the aisle and pass this right away. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition . I ask unanimous condition sent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my prarks my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. For weeks we have heard that action on the u. S. Mexicocanada trade agreement is doable so why havent we gotten it done . Its time to put politics aside. Nafta went into effect in 1994. It was due for modernization by all reasonable accounts, usmca represents progress for farms and ranchers, for auto workers, medical Device Manufacturers and others. This is a multitrillion dollar economic relationship between the United States and our two neighbors. It supports millions of americans jobs. In juth alone in utah alone, trade with mexico and canada supports thousands of jobs, jobs that pay the rent that provide health care, that send kids to college and help utahans save for retirement. Over 18 million of agricultural exports are sent from utah to our north american neighbors each year. We were elected to move forward on priorities that matter to peoples everyday lives. Theres nothing that matter more than stability on the economic front. Today im say nothing more foot dragging. No more big promises about soon. Its time to deliver on what we promised. Come to an agreement, bring usmca to the house floor and lets get it done. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . I seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Today m speaker, i rise in anticipation of transgender emembrance day, to honor the memory of those who have been lost to antitransgender violence. Its important that we recognize bravery of those individuals who have chosen to live truthfully and openly and identity eir gender with the world. Raise upise we must their names and remember those who have been lost to senseless violence and hate. The st shine a light on injustice that has affected this community. I am proud to have a transgender my staff. Art of i would also like to recognize he shaw family from my district. They are the parents of a brave girl. Transgender mr. Cisneros they have their ed not only for daughter but for those in the Transgender Community. School safer ke for transgender children. We must stand in solidarity with the shaw family, their daughter, and the entire Transgender Community and continue to work equality and justice for all. Thank you. Back. D the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . I ask m speaker, unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise in support of the ongoing efforts to secure our nations econo economy. Stanton in arizona that eans giving job creators markets in mexico and canada. Arizonas trade history was leaders who damaged mexico. With such as sb1070. Economy and cost us jobs. As phoenix mayor, i led 18 trade missions to mexico and canada. Our Business Community helped me ake the case for increasing trade and we saw results. Since 2012, while the nations grew. 1 , phoenixs exports grew 20 . 2017, trade with mexico and canada produced nearly 10 in exports statewide. Simply put, trade with our north American Allies is essential is economy. As now, we have a real opportunity to improve these relationships usmca. The a new trade agreement with improved labor standards can for small and ty mediumsized businesses. Rade with our north American Allies provide paychecks to more workers and arizona its time to reassert our role in trade policy. Thank you, Speaker Pelosi, chairman neal, on getting this agreement done. By ntinue to be encouraged the progress being made on usmca. And with that, i yield back. The peaker pro tempore gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Naacp has been at the forefront in the fight for equal social, economic, and legal rights for communities. Can mr. Van drew the manland, leasantville naacp branch, led by president olivia caldwell, continuously fought for those things and they held their annual freedom funds luncheon. Honored the people who fought alongside the naacp and their rights. For equal the president of the atlanta college, barbara, received the Education Award for fulfillment tional in the africanamerican community. Thank the e to president and the naacp for their resilience in the fight for equality that not only mpacts the people of south jersey but all americans everywhere. Blood have the same flowing through our veins. May god bless them. My time. Ld back the speaker pro tempore under announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from georgia, mr. Is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Scott madam speaker, before i begin, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to evise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials n the topic of this special order. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Scott r. Scott madam chair, i have a lot to say. My colleague, mr. Hice, has a lot to do. To mr. Hice yield so he can speak briefly and go back to his committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hice thank you, madam chair. I thank my good friend for moment. A quick there are few people in washington, d. C. , and in america had the impact of senator Johnny Isakson. Think of senator isakson, no question, there are come to our s that mind. Senator, you are, you have been incredible statesman, a phenomenal leader, both in here in the United States senate, and in our country. Thank you t to say for all that you have done for us. First personally when i came to congress, you were one of the first individuals to and to give me advice and encouragement and to day, every time i see you, you do that. And you will never know how much means. I just want to publicly state isakson, senator isakson, is a hero for people country. S this your brilliant mind and your leadership will always be here. We say thank you from the bottom our heart. May god bless you and your family as you go into this next chapter. You. I yield back. Mr. Scott madam speaker, rise my colleagues and i to honor the legislative legacy and the life of my good friend and fellow georgia bulldog, u. S. Senator Johnny Isakson. 20 years, senator isakson have served the people of georgia and the United States congress. Tirelessly fighting for the people of georgia. Uring his tenure, senator isakson has been a bell weather for many in our belweather, many in our delegation and for a United States senator. It a eard it once i heard thousand times, wheres johnny on this . What does johnny think about this . Johnny on oken to this . E has offered counsel thats been learned through his 40 years of Public Service that is me and many of us in the georgia delegation and this nation. I have many personal stories about johnny. Some of them appropriate for the floor. Of them not. My first recollection with a call i maden is a friendager, i needed the ballot through box. Enator isakson picked up the phone. He said, i am not quite sure who spoke to senator isakson but way the next vote is going to go. Took. As all it over the tell you 30 years how much you meant to my family. Forward a sense of bipartisanship and working across the aisle for the good of all georgians. Hes played a key role in maintaining his reputation. I look forward to that special radition continuing in the coming legislative sessions. Public service is much more than service of the member. Its also the service of the family. Isakson, your children, your wonderful wife, diane, we extend our thanks for their to serve georgia and support our delegation and members. Legation their impact cannot be understated, and we look forward o you enjoying more time with diane and your entire family as you enter your next chapter. Decades, senator isakson and his family have faithfully served our state. Godliness and statesmanship will be greatly missed in it washington, d. C. Is faithful service to the great state of georgia is second mascot. Our beloved hes a giant among men and dogs, dedicated and deliberate, and its been an honor to work alongside him fighting for the people of georgia and the veterans of the United States of america. With that, i yield to my colleague and my fellow georgian, mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis madam speaker, i thank my beloved for ague and my friend yielding. I would like to thank our mr. Scott, for rganizing this special order tribute to a great man, a being. Ul human le madam speaker madam speaker, i rise to recognize isakson, a son of georgia. Enator isakson is a special man, he is a goodman. I want to thank him for his in the Georgia State legislature and in the house of tes representatives and now in the United States senate. 25, 1999, i introduced johnny as the newest georgia the congressional delegation to the house of representatives. To congress as a graduate of the university of and a successful businessman. Before coming to congress, he a member of the National Guard, the state House Minority leader, a and as the chair of the state board of education. Day, i said, he brought him. Lth of knowledge with colleagues to our that in his decades of Public Service in our home state, delivered a reputation, reputation as at a bridge builder, a man who has beliefs but also willing to work with others to get things done. Very quickly, members of the discover how te true this was. He senator does not make a lot f noise but he has the ability to the power, the capacity power. O we always found a way to come together, and we continued that was elected tohe the senate. Over the years, we worked issues, on many, many like transportation, water, veteran affairs. We always found a way to get good work o do the the people deserve. And time and time again, he us. Od up with uplift d with us to africanamericans in the state of georgia, to recognize martin als like dr. Luther king jr. And jackie robinson, native of georgia. Talk the talk. He literally walked the walk. Senator, you not only reauthorized the Voting Rights 2006, but a few years later, even coled the to ressional delegation selma, alabama. I want to say thank you for all and great work. Will of us who know you agree that you are always mindful, a warm and welcome gentleman in the truest sense of the word. Decades, you, senator, cross the that could aisle without compromising your values. Our constituents came over and your ing with you felt heard and respected. Hope you do not mind, but i would like to share a moment out for me and will always stand out for me as long as i live. To have very day. One morning before i was scheduled to read the 13th house floor, he you asked me to come and speak your staff about service and my own experiences. We had an honest and thoughtful discussion. It was one of my most meaningful experiences in my years in congress. I carry in my heart to this very day, this very moment, what you said. Years have passed since i stood on the very floor to introduce you to congress. As you to return private life with your beloved years have wi diane, of 51 years, and your wonderful, beautiful children and grandchildren, i would like to thank you, johnny, for your your f service, for service to our state, our nation. Wish you health and happiness a take some time to enjoy beautiful and wonderful life in he state of georgia. You have been very good to the people of the state of georgia. I am blessed to call you a friend and brother. Thank you so much. Mr. Speaker, it is almost difficult to yield back the time when i speak of this good and great leader in the state of georgia. Thank you, brother, for your service. I will come over to meet you, brother. Madam speaker, i wish all of america could be here to see that. Two icons from georgia embracing. What a wonderful sight that i think is representative of the days of the past and the days to come. And how we should Work Together. Thank you. Thank you both so much. So much for not just for what you do but who you are. Madam speaker, i now yield to my colleague, mr. Graves. Mr. Graves i thank representative scott for coordinating this hour of tribute to a dear, dear friend and how humbling it is to follow my good friend, representative lewis, who swore me in just the same, johnny, just over nine years ago right here in the same spot. We could take more than an hour this would certainly take more than an hour and i know this is a georgia delegation moment but senator, i am certain that if the house would allow that member after member from state after state would come down here and pay tribute the same as we are today. But as members, you know, we get up each and every day, we work hard to make sure our constituents have a great place to live and provide for their families. Its not often that we have the opportunity to share about the impact that a Single Person might have made on our very own lives. So today is one of those rare occasions for me, and i get to do that today through the recognition of one of georgias giants. And im going to do this today, senator, take the opportunity to share of our first interaction, my first introduction, my first introduction to senator isakson. It was november 6, 1990. I was just your average 20yearold College Student. I was apolitical. I was just looking for a free meal that night. I was an idealist. Very open minded. And i was invited that night by my roommate to attend a political gathering my roommate just happened to be the son of freddie stevens. Stevenson. Who is a dear friend of ours, senator. And that was my very First Political event ever that i had attended. It happened to be the Gubernatorial Election night celebration, or at least thats what i anticipated that night. I remember that evening as if it was yesterday, i know you can as well, as can so many others. Now the north georgia country boy irk didnt grow up in wealth or politics, i just worked hard every day just trying to get through each and every day. But that night, i was impacted. There was a lot of energy, there was excitement in the room and thats infectious, i know it is. But thats not what it was that night. I was impacted more so than anything by a Single Person. A person i didnt even know yet. A person that i would soon get to know very well,ment of the you might suggest i was prims impressed by his resume hurricanes history what all he had done. After all, we gloss over what has been accomplished but hes served in the georgia air National Guard, he was 14 years in the Georgia House as a minority leader, he was cochair of a president ial campaign, president of one of the Largest Real Estate Companies in the country and yes, its been mentioned, he was a georgia bulldog, all that by 1990. Thats impressive but thats not what captured me that night. I was totally unaware of all those things. Nor could it have been his future because none of us knew. None of us knew what that height be yet, that was so many years ago. The fact that he would one day run and be elected to the state senate that he would be a candidate for u. S. Senate in 1996, that he would head the state school board, be elected to the u. S. House in 1999, sworn in by the great john lewis, and then fife years later elected to the United States senate as our senior senator. That was something so much more, johnny. Something more, there was so much more than that senator, that we had yet to know. It was more than your resume. It was more than your title. It was more than what you were going to accomplish that stirred me or stirred any individual. It was on that night in 1990 where a man i had never met with a name i certainly couldnt pronounce with a history that i didnt know or a a future yet untold, he caught my attention my first true interasting, my first impact by a political figure in my life was that night in 1990. When the results were not what they had hoped for or what the senator had hoped for at the time or what they had worked for and yet they were in a room of friends and supporters and had to address them that night. Now if you were an onlooker like me, a 20yearold College Student what do you expect . You expect maybe theres going to be bitterness. Theres going to be regret, some blaming, some dweistness, sounds so familiar certainly today. But it was different. Instead, Johnny Isakson took the stage with grace, with respect, with digmyity, with vision, and with a confidence that i never expected in a person. And whether he knew it that night at that time, the he chose to impact and he chose to inspire and he chose to inspire me. I know the story is not unique to me. I know its not. 45 years of stories like that, senator. I just happen to be one. He was paying forward before it was even a thing to do. And now 29 years later i can stand before each of you, i stand before you as one who served in the Georgia House for 7 1 2 years and now on my 10th year here in congress, a future still yet untold. I get to stand before you, senator and say thank you. Thank you. Thank you, senator, isakson, thank you for caring, thank you for being an example of what is needed so much today. Its with deep gratitude that i get to pay tribute in your farewell. To the one who might have lost an election in 1990 but won the trust of a 20yearold College Student that night. A true fighter for georgia. Great statesman. A dear friend. Thank you. Thank you so much. May god bless you in the days ahead. Thank you. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Graves. I now yield to my friend and colleague, mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop i thank the gentleman for yielding and i thank my colleagues for this special order, paying tribute to a good and great man. Winston churchill once said, you make your living by what you get. You make your life by what you give. My friend, Johnny Isakson, has given so much to so many for so life. E has truly made a Johnny Isakson has been a true statesman in his remarkable career as a Public Servant for georgians. I first met johnny in 1977 where we served together in the georgia general assembly. We developed a friendship which has endured through our Work Together in the state house, the u. S. House of representatives, and during his service as our georgia senator. Throughout his career hes not viewed issues from a partisan perspective. But from the good of all americans. Johnny served as a republican in both chambers of georgias state legislature but he was appointed by georgias democratic governor, zell miller, to be chairman of the Georgia State board of education. His integrity, his kindness, are invaluable qualities in a legislator and have no doubt been a defining measure of his success. Am honored to call johnny my friend. We will miss him in the delegation. His loss will be felt deeply. But we can all agree that he is very much deserving of a happy retirement spent with his wife diane and their children and grandchildren and we wish you the best, johnny. The poet said, isnt it strange in clouds and kings of paper and saw dust rings, and ommon people like you and me must build and make each stone a stumble block or steppingstone. People in georgia and across the world are so blessed that you have used your life and your career not as a stumbling block but as a steppingstone for a higher, better quality of life for humankind. Thank you and god bless you. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Bishop, i want to thank mr. Isakson as well for his roled on the Veterans Affairs committee. He served our military veterans faithfully for many, many years and i want to yield the floor now to my friend and colleague, mr. Collins, one of the men who serves nuss multiple capacities both in the air force and as a member of congress. Mr. Collins thank you, i appreciate it. To be here, to hear just the accomplishments of senator isakson. Hes one of the people that you go along and find in life you have to know them by title or have to know them by last name. In the state of georgia, when you say johnny, Everybody Knows who youre talking about. Especially when it comes to our politics. For me, to rattle off everything thats already been said is breathtaking what you have cone and accomplished from business to career and those are things thats worthy of the page in your life. But for many of us here, just as my friends were saying earlier. Off personal attachment to many of us, whether you realize it or not. For those of us who come forward in Public Service and you need role models an mentors and hear about those who succeeded and failed and succeeded and failed which is something many of us have to get used to whether we want to or not. For me its watching you in the times when probably you didnt know you were being watched. It was a time it was the when i watched you as a young person in the state house in georgia, going to a meeting, and they recognized and said, you know, johnny is hear, would you like to say a few words . For most of us its struggling to come up with a couple of words that sound good together much less sentence bus Johnny Isakson would stand off and for five minutes would rattle off a speech you would swear had been honed for years and it touched the soul of everybody there. I was in awe and i watched you do it so many times. I was in awe and i watched you do it so many times. I listened in this business. Thats pretty impressive. Thats why you got stuff done. I remember every time id come to you and there would be times that i would be asking a question and i would go along and you would answer, you would listen and answer the question and i went away feeling better just by being with you. I remember when i talked to to you right after you announced that you were going to leave a big hole in our delegation. And the first thing you said to me when i picked the picked up the phone as you did almost every time, doug, thank you, youre doing a great job. Even when i knew that probably wasnt true. When you understand, though, what it takes to lift people up, you leave a mark. You leave a special mark. For those of us in politics who struggled, many times over the past few years, to go into groups that would call us names and not like us, even when they supposedly were on our side, i watched what you did. You would go into those groups, you would sneak . The back after the meeting started sneak in the back after the meeting started. They would see you there, they would recognize you, and you stood and you spoke, you never backed up, you never backed down. But you made a lot of converts simply by being there. For those of us in public or ce, if you showed me showed anybody anything, its being in the room, being a participant, listening to people and caring about them. Even if you disagree with them. Its the largest that we can step we can take to make sure that we have a union that matters. So from me and my house, for a profession that may have taken on who needs role models, we stand on your shoulders. You are the giant in the room. From our perspective of watching what happens. And how it happens. And when i got to washington, d. C. , i knew the one thing that i wanted to do was actually pass legislation because iferede heard you say one time because id heard you say one time before, why do we come up here if we dont get anything done . Johnny, youre far beyond the policy, you were to the heart of people, and it will be missed in this place. But it is alive now and we turn to you and that vision more than anything. And of course as you know, i still represent part of athens and clark county. Youre a georgia graduate. And as we sort of say around those parts, youre a damn good dog. I yield. Thank you, mr. Collins much i now yield to my colleague, the gentlelady from georgia, mrs. Mcbath. Mrs. Mcbath i thank the gentleman for yielding and im so glad that we are gathered here today to honor our colleague. Its an honor to represent georgias sixth district here in congress and its truly an honor to hold the seat that senator irkse once held. Senator isakson has spent decades in service to the state of georgia and to our great nation. S legacy has left an unforgettable mark on georgia and the United States senate. He is known in our community for being a Friendly Neighbor and for being a truly good man and i am honored to call you my friend. We share a passion. A passion to make georgia the best place to live and to start a family. We share a dedication to making america a more perfect union. And i know that ive not been in the georgia delegation very long. But i thank you for putting people over party and for your commitment to the best policy, which is not always easy politics. We live in an age where loyalty to partisanship has too often come at the expense of the American People. And we live in an age where compromise has become a dirty word. We live in an age where the American People have become disillusioned with the american government. Senator isakson, you have defied that age. Senator isakson has always been open to that tough conversation and youve always been open to finding Commonsense Solutions to forge uncommon ground. And that is why im so proud to follow in your foot steps as the representative from georgias sixth congressional district. It is why i work so hard to make sure that we are passing bipartisan bills. Bills that will help protect the communities that we truly love. I thank you, sir. I thank you so much for your service to the people of georgia and your service to the freedom of our country. Godspeed, my friend. God bless. And i yield back the balance of my time. Kyle austin i thank the gentlelady and mr. Austria i thank the gentlelady and i now auftauft mr. Austin i thank the gentlelady and i now yield to my colleague, mr. Woodall. Listening i enjoy to the partnership conversation. I want to come from a different perspective. I want to talk about the partisanship conversation. When i was 6 years old and list to the partnership senator isakson was elected as a u. S. House member, it was 23 out of 180 members of the house, as i recall. I dont know how many there were before you got there, senator. But being a republican in georgia in 1976 was not a popular thing to do. And i think about all the things that we want to do together in this body, senator. And i think about folks who say, oh, we cant do that, its too hard, its going to take too long, lets do something today, but lets not focus on those longterm goals. You might think that when Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980 that that was a big jump in georgia. As i recall, there were still 23 members in the u. S. In the Georgia House in georgia in 19 80. 23 out of 180. Somebody had to be the first one to stand up and we talk about partisanship in this institution, madam speaker, like its a bad thing what i have always thing. What i have always loved about you, senator, is you have never been embarrassed to be a republican. You knew what you believed, you knew why you believed it. Now, you might not like the way someone else expresses their republican values, but you led with your heart. You can sit right beside a democratic hero like john lewis and i cant tell a difference when it comes to southern but l tilt gentility, youll never be embarrassed to share who you are as a republican. Thats what it takes to grow from 23 members in a 180member body, into the institution that tom graves had an opportunity to serve in, and into the institution that so many of our colleagues had a chance to serve in. We talk about bipartisanship as that holy grail. It requires partisanship to get there. And but for the example that you set, we wouldnt have the Republican Party in georgia. And we wouldnt have isakson values in that party. Talked about partisanship, madam speaker. I want to talk about people as the second part of that. Ive always imagined the roughest part about being a United States senator, senator, is that you lose that oneonone contact that youve had. In a congressional district, you can get to know people, you can be with them in community. Your entire career has been about people. I watch you when you walk into a room, folks that i ought to know who they are, because ive worked with them, i just cant remember, i see you go up and greet them by name. Folks that have come into the room from all different congressional districts, youve got a relationship with them. Maybe from back in 1976 when you were trying to grow the party across the state, maybe from back when you were leading education, maybe from back in the sixth district, maybe from your time as a United States senator. But youve always put people first. I see that in every speech youve given. Youll stand up, youll always thank the staffers who are working for you. Its your cademy day that i enjoy the most. Thats my favorite time that we spend together. Each year. If you dont know, madam speaker, the isakson academy day is a statewide event that brings all the young men and women who love an opportunity they can do anything they want to with their life. They want to serve the United States of america. They want to be the future generation of leaders. And even as young as seventh, eighth and ninth grade, they come to this event that senator isakson puts together. Talk about all the lives that youve changed here in this institution, dont even get started on the number of lives youve changed as it relates to leadership and opportunity to serve through your academy day. Thinking about you being a republican, a republicans republican. I think about reeva jennings in forsythe county. You know reeva. She is as hard core for folks who dont know, forsythe is one of the most conservative counties in the state of georgia. Conservative state, conservative county. Reeva jennings has been building the Republican Party up there for as long as anyone can remember. Lost her in an untimely way but while Everybody Loves you on your way out the door, senator, you might remember a tough primary season or two where folks might come to you and say, johnny, why arent you more angry about this . Why arent you doing this . Why arent you as republican primary seasons are, we tend to eat our own. And reeva jennings, the first time i met her, was fielding one of those questions. Somebody came up and said, weve got to get somebody to challenge that Johnny Isakson in the next primary. Hes soft for a republican. You know reeva. She doesnt have any soft innocence her. She went right to your steel backbone, she went right after it. She took to that whole crowd of republicans saying, you can poormouth anybody you want to in this town, but you cannot poormouth Johnny Isakson because hes done more for the Republican Party than anybody in this is it this state has, and let in this state has, and let me tell you how. Its not hard to find detacters out there these days. Its hard to build those lifelong friendships that , that gift well of relationship that you have offered so many. Youve offered to me. Im grateful to you for it. I wouldnt be standing here today but for the work youve done over those years. Thank you, senator. And thank you, mr. Scofment mr. Scott madam speaker, i scott. Mr. Scott madam speaker, i know my friend has to head to the rules committee and the house has to pause momentarily for a procedural motion. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker, i send to the desk a privilegedsed report from the committee on rules for filing under the rule. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title. The clerk report to accompany House Resolution 713. Resolution providing for consideration of the bill, h. R. 1309, to direct the secretary of labor to issue an Occupational Safety in Health Standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social Service Industries to develop and implement a comprehensive Workplace Violence prevention plan and for other purposes. Providing for proceedings during the period from november 22, 2019, through december 2, 2019, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules. The speaker pro tempore referred hot house calendar and ordered printed. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Scott madam speaker, i yield now to my good friend and colleague, mr. Carter. Mr. Carter thank you, mr. Speaker. And thank you, representative scott, for putting this together. Indeed, something well deserved. You know, i rise today to recognize a great georgian and a great senator. You know, senator isakson, ive been blessed in my life. The grandson of a tobacco farmer, the son of a paper mill worker. And here i am walking the halls of congress. In the short period of time that hive had to serve here, ive things. D many great got to listen to the pope. Something i never thought i would have the opportunity to do. One of the great religious leaders in the world. Right here in things. Got to this room. But i think what i just saw just a few minutes ago, when i saw not only two great georgians but two great americans, john lewis and Johnny Isakson, embrace, you know, i pinch myself sometimes. How did this happen to me . How did i get to witness all these great things in my life . I want to thank you both and i want to thank you especially, senator isakson. Ive been fortunate to call you a friend and a mentor for many years. Ive had Many Political mentors in my life. Tom triplet, tom coleman. Just to name a few. And Johnny Isakson. I can remember hearing the story from thenminority leader of the house of representatives in the Georgia State house, when you, senator isakson, would tell the story of leading such a small group that general custer had better odds than you had at that time. Ill never forget that. And you know, it taught me perseverance. It taught me to always work hard and to continue on. And ive always looked at that and admired that in you and i appreciate it very much. Your dedication to hour state and our nation has truly been unmatched. Its something that ive admired throughout all my time in Public Service. Senator isakson, youre one you are the only georgia to serve in the Georgia State house and senate and house of representatives and United States senate. I got three out of four. I dont know if i will make it across over here, but if i do, im going to catch it, because i have had the honor as well. And at each of those levels that you served, you have been successful in pushing policies for the benefit of the state of georgia and United States of america and i think that is so important, everywhere youve been, every step of the iowa way. Its always been for the people and for the benefit of our state and our nation. During the time in our political history in which americans seem to be increasingly divided, i have always looked to you as one of the most important achievements that i think you made us to build bipartisanship, is to reach across the aisle, is to come together. You know, i hear my staff tell the story of, you dont hear about senator isakson being involved in a big fight over in the senate, but in the background, hes in a nice fight and hes winning. Senator, thats what we aspire to do. We want to be statesmen and be successful and win our matches, but your and we dont even know about it most of the time. For example, you have always been a staunch supporter of our nations veterans and that is extremely important for us to remember. Chair of the Veterans Committee for so many years. I have heard the stories of problems at the v. A. And of senator isakson picking up the phone and calling a Family Member and apologizing. This is the chair of the Veterans Senate committee and calling a Family Member apologizing for a problem at the v. A. Center. But thats what we admire. V. A. Rhaul to the veterans choice and modernizing programs, all these signed into law as a result of your efforts. Every year for over a decade, senator isakson has held a barbecue in the russell building and fed his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. We will lose one of our great political assets and you made the point that you will sprint to the finish line and that is important. I thank you, senator, to our service to our state and nation. And thank you for the example that you have set for people like me. Thank you for always being a step above of the political infighting to do what you thought was best. What you continue to do what is best for your health, you and your wife will be in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you, senator, for your service to our country. God bless you. Mr. Scott can i inquire as to how much time we have remaining . E speaker pro tempore the gentleman has 18 minutes remaining. Mr. Scott i now yield to my friend and colleague, mr. Loudermilk. Mr. Loudermilk thank you, representative scott, for this time here and thank you for organizing this. Its a moment that im sure all of us are having mixed feelings. There has been a lot of accolades given here today to senator isakson and talk about his accomplishments, which are absolutely many. What a lot of people dont understand about georgia, we have legends, there are legends from georgia, if you go to any history book and talk to anybody, they will recognize those names as georgia and james ogelthorpe. Luther ch, dr. Martin king and the legendary coach of the university of georgia and tom murphy, longest speaker of the house in the nation that served in the Georgia State house that i know that senator isakson served with when he was in the state house. I believe that Johnny Isakson is one of those legends as well. He is the only one in the history of our state, in the history of this nation to serve in both houses of the state legislature and both houses of the United States legislature. An accomplishment that no one else has ever achieved. The one thing i know about senator isakson is the character of the man, that he didnt accomplish those things because it was a personal goal but because of a heart of service. And one thing that i have been able to consistently and honestly say about senator isakson is that he is a statesman. And that is something that seems to be lost in the line of Politics Today of those who are true statesmen. And things about him and statesmen that are common across the board. One is truthfulness. And i can tell you that senator isakson, johnny will tell you the truth, even if it is something you dont want to hear. He will tell you in a way that you will appreciate that, because he is doing it to uplift you and make you better and not to draw you down. Faithfulness. He has been faithful to his faith, his god, his family, his political beliefs, his party, but more importantly, this country and the institutions he has represented. Another is trust. That is something that is lacking in modern politics, but i can tell you this. Johnny isakson has never ever told me something that i ever questioned after that. If he told you he was going to do something, it was going to happen. Loyalty. Loyalty is another area that he has always been loyal to those who are his friends, for those he represents, for his nation and for his state. Commitment. He is a very committed person to those things which he believes in. Civility is one of those that is really lost today, but as many have spoken here today, he has not only reached across the aisle but reached across the state to bring civility back into politics. And the last one which i think is most important to me is friendship. The mark of a statesman is all of those, but mostly friendship. I was in another member of Congress Office lately and senator, there was a poster and it made me laugh and there was a poster who said if you wancht a friend in washington, get a dog. I dont think that member meant Johnny Isakson. He is a friend not to only me but to georgia and United States. Thank you for your service to our state and nation. You will be missed. And i am so honored to be able to say im a friend of the legend from georgia. God bless you. Mr. Scott as i yield to mr. He n, sir isakson is a dog, is a georgia bulldog. Mr. Allen thank you for organizing this time. As many times said, he is a legend. I never thought i would be standing here in front of two georgia legends as i speak specifically about one, but i do rise today to honor migrate mentor and friend, senator Johnny Isakson. Along with greetings to diane and your wonderful family. I was there last saturday to witness your bulldogs to beat my auburn tigers and congratulations on this and i hope and pray they will go all the way for you. And i think that would be a great tribute. Johnny has been a champion for the state of georgia for decades as a reflection of his many years of service. As has been mentioned by all of the accomplishments, a life of political service. But and also mention about his influence on education. You know, when i was first elected, i had not been in politics before and i didnt know how to get things done up here. But i did, as my service on the education and labor committee, was attracted to a bill called the every Student Succeeds act. And i worked feverishly to get that bill passed in the house. Votes, gin of mere five 218213. Sometime later as we get together in georgia for lunch, johnny was asking me about that legislation. And i told him, i said we are going to return control to the states and try to get the federal government out of the classroom so that teachers can have more time to teach. And you quickly became a champion in the senate and helped garner bipartisan support. Now this is the way things should work. That bill, the every Student Succeeds act, passed the senate 8117 and went to a Conference Committee all because of the influence of this incredible man. When that version then came back to the house, im standing right there looking at our Ranking Member and that bill passed in this house 35964. I had never seen anything like that, johnny and all owed to you and the impact on education is goings to be felt throughout this nation. It is quite a influence in these halls of congress. Throughout your service, you have demonstrated the true meaning of Servant Leadership by always putting the needs and priorities of georgia first. The greatest servant leader in history said there is no greater love than to give your life for a friend and you have given your life to a big part of it to this country. As someone who came from the Business World and had not served in Public Office before, im thankful for your leadership. Georgia has been named the best state to do business in the last seven years and there is no coincidence you had a lot to do it. I called on you for sound advice and guidance and now you are retiring this year, i hope you know we will be still reaching out to you for advice. We will deeply miss you and your impact and it will be missed for generations to come. There is no doubt that georgia has big shoes to fill and i think our delegation is up to the task, which is a testimony of your lp and my colleagues. We will do our best to make you proud and honor your legacy. We wish you and your wife all the best in this next chapter. God bless you and your family. And i yield back. Scott scolt i now yield to mr. Scott i now yield to my fellow colleague, mr. Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson thank you, mr. Scott. Senator isakson, that feels a little formal saying it, johnny, is a constituent and how i know you. I want to thank you so much for your dedicated service to our state. Others have talked about their first meetings with you, i remember mine fondly, unlike not unlike my colleague, mr. Graves who is at the university of georgia. I was a freshman sitting on the steps of a fraternity house, completely clueless about the world and not having an understanding and i remember sitting on the steps, as you who you were, ea and you talked to us about a Brighter Future. You talked to us about what it meant to be a who you were, and you georgia n. I remember thinking two things of that moment. That is probably the nicest person i have heard in my entire life. I was pretty touched that someone was looking out to my future that didnt even know me. As i watched you and began to follow you, i saw that play out firsthand. I saw how important the state of georgia was to you, and what made it important for the millions that you love and care about. The ones that you dont know, the ones that you do know, the once who are yet to come. Your unwavering commitment to make a better state and nation is something not to be forgotten. You are a gentleman and statesman that we should all follow. It is pretty remarkable that we as the georgia delegation are getting to sit here today and not only speak to you, which our Dear Colleague john lewis as well, because many of those same things that we say about you, we have to say about our colleague, mr. Lewis. As a again you inlove for our people, the sense of optimism, desire for a bright future, all of those things come through, not just in your words but in your actions. I want to thank you for that. 40 the tribe, just this past year, in hearing about some extraordinarily innovative work that they are doing to try to reduce recidivism in our criminal Justice System and give people a second chance. Sitting down just this past year for lunch with the leaders of another tribe in a beautiful tribal center, and hearing about some of the challenges that their tribe face and some of the opportunities they have. Visiting with a Child Development center and seeing the investments they are making in kids and in future generations. Developing a friendship with the tribe and chairman who has come into this chamber for the state of the union who has beaten me in basketball and hearing him speak passionately about treaty obligations. I could talk about others. Another tribe from your district isited with me just today. A tribe thats very important in our region is where i almost proposed to my wife before i chickened out. Listen, these communities have shown us the importance of caring for iconic Natural Resources like salmon and shell fish that are found throughout the Pacific Northwest and have fought to protect our land and waters, not just for themselves, but for future generations. They have shown all of us the importance of honoring and respecting the role of our elders and never forgetting the timehonored traditions that are passed down. They have defended our freedom by putting on the uniform of the United States military. And they play a key role in driving our local economies. This month native American Heritage month reminds us that we have an opportunity to build the foundation of cooperation as partners to secure a Brighter Future for tribes not just in the Pacific Northwest but all around this country. And unfortunately the federal government has failed to uphold the promises made to these communities far too often. So today, as we mark native American Heritage month, i want to affirm my commitment, i think all of my colleagues want to affirm their commitments to ensuring that the federal government honors its treaty and trust obligations. I am grateful that earlier today the house Natural Resources Committee Held an oversight hearing on the recent u. S. Commission on civil rights report called broken promises. Continuing federal funding shortfall for native americans. And i called a couple years back on the commission on civil rights to produce this report, to give congress a road map for how to meet its treaty and trust obligations for Indian Country and im proud to see Congress Taking concrete steps to address the recommendations outlined in this report. Because the decisions we make today should be with an eye toward how they will effect our children several generations into the future. So i want to invite those at home and my colleagues to join us in celebrating the history and culture of our tribes and all tribes around this country and lets recommit to working with our tribal partners to make a Brighter Future for all. Thank you, madam speaker. And i yield back. Ms. Haaland thank you, madam speaker. I wish to yield to my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from wisconsin, again moore. Gwen moore. Ms. Moore thank you so much, the gentlelady from new mexico, for yielding. And thank you, madam speaker. I am so very pleased to join my of eague, ms. Hall and, one the first hall understand, one of the first mate ms. Haaland, one of the first native americans serving here, its about time. Its fitting here as we think about thanksgiving to celebrate native American History heritage month, considering the welcoming of foreigners to this land. First inhabited by the native peoples. This month really allows us the opportunity to formally remember the great contributions that native americans have made and they continue to make to bridge our communities and to improve our nation. And all you have to do is walk right down the street to the Smithsonian Native American Museum to just get a glimpse of the many ways that native americans have contributed to the fabric of our nation. Despite the many hardships, the broken promises, and trials they have faced. Indeed, as you walk through that museum, you will see the dozens and dozens and dozens of documentation of the treaties that have been executed and violated in this country. But the rich culture and heritage of native americans has still come through all of these hardships. They have been an indelible and undeniable positive impact on the american way of life. And im reminded of that every single day in my community. In fact, i hail from wisconsin, where earth day was inaugurated by the late great senator gay lond nelson. Because gaylord nelson. Because indeed one of the things weve learned in wisconsin from our native community, to have stewardship over our environment. One of the legacies of the native peoples. My home state my home state is home to 11 federally recognized tribes and im so proud of the many contributions that these tribes have made to the cultural and economic richness of my state. In fact, the city of milwaukee, which i represent, has a name that is derived to some of the native brothers and sisters who inhabited the region. The Gathering Place by the water, the bluffle land, the pleasant land, in fact the Host Committee for the Democratic National convention is called the good land Host Committee. These tribes have helped refine and strengthen our state. In my city of milwaukee, the Forest County foundation has not shied away from helping to address some of the most problems facing our communities including high unemployment, access to higher education, ensuring better access to health care and reducing Health Disparities among other things. And im so inspired by the dedication that the Forest County has made to invest in milwaukee and give a helping hand serving those in the vulnerable in the community. From Young Children to seniors in our community. You know, in my life as an elected official, first at the state level and now in congress, i have had so many wonderful friends and allies in the Tribal Community. As a matter of fact, i grew up in a community where i had many friends that i learned so many things from my native friends. And im extremely honored to now serve in this body with the first native american women. What a difference one session makes that have been elected to this body. And to be able to work across the aisle even before they arrived with concerned colleagues with native backgrounds, such as mr. Cole, and with mr. Young, on legislation to address the needs of native americans. I want to take a few seconds if you indulge me, lady from new mexico, to reinforce my commitment to the first peoples of this nation. And as they are citizens of this nation, i just want to remind the body that native people are dual citizens because of their treaty rights and its in the constitution, are a sovereign nation. And we ought to double down on our efforts of the federal government to fully live up to these trust obligations. Unfortunately, the history of our country is not the same as our aspirations. And our countrys policies towards the Tribal Community is not a proud one. It actually is quite horrifying. Which is why remembering, commemorating and celebrating our native brothers and sisters is so important but also to remind us where we have fallen short and that we have learned from our past and that history never repeats itself. You heard some of the things that my sister has talked about here, talked about the and row gation of families and moving nativeAmerican People into assimilation programs. That t of that, part of legacy has come to pass because we have not protected the sanctity of our tribal obligations and respected the sovereignty and promoted the political, economic and social determination for native american communities. This is of paramount importance, if we are not to repeat the same negative legacy. As we celebrate this month, let us dedicate ourselves to the numerous bills and initiatives that can help make a difference to our native brothers and sisters and not this be a fiveminute or special order talking about how wonderful native americans are. One of our key legislative priorities this year is a strong reauthorization of the violence against women act. For too long, nonnative men could assault nativeamerican women with impuent and the bill that passed earlier this year sitting over in the Senate Graveyard would take more steps to end this scourge to empower native Law Enforcement and native Law Enforcement courts to protect native american women and children from domestic violence. The need for Affordable Housing in Indian Country just cannot be understated. Some of the poorest and most remote communities in this country are nativeamerican communities and nativeamerican elders and children are living in deteriorating housing and mold and structures that cannot protect them against the harsh environment. The native housing selfdetermination act provides tribal government the ability to provide safe and Affordable Housing to native communities that is consistent with their status as sovereign. And we need to stop punting and undertake a real authorization to unlock these programs to improve life for native americans. I continue to work with the house and Senate Colleagues to find a path forward so we can have this program reauthorized. And with that, i would yield back. Ms. Haaland i would like to yield to the the gentlewoman rom florida. Music music we take time to Powell Powell we reflect time of native americans. The rich traditions history shaped our nations democracy and cultural fabric long before the writing of the constitution. They continue to impact all acets and have endured gin justices. Must build a mutual sustainable relationship between our government and tribal nations. At home in floridas 26th congressional district, it is an a great privilege to work with the mikusuki people. They have been in the restoration of the natural flow of water. I am proud to have the tribe in my district and im so grateful for their participation in the protection and prosperity of south florida. As our country faces new challengeses, we should strive to include indigenous voices in our national. Lets commit to the native nations and celebrating the indispensible contributions of the first americans. Thank you. Ms. Haaland i yield time to the gentleman from hawaii. Governor kasich i would like to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Governor kasich thank you very much. I deeply appreciate my friend and colleague from new mexico leading this special hour and yielding me time to join and recognizing november as native American Heritage month, a time for us to reflect and celebrate the rich history and diverse cultures of our nations Indigenous People. Cultural heritage is the sum total of unique ways of living handed down from generation to generation and customs, practices places, objects, language and values, all amounting to a distinct identity and integrity as a people. By that measure, most americans have some familiarity with the rich Cultural Heritage of the rich Indigenous People of the United States and quea and i listen to my colleagues to talk about from new mexico, florida, washington and wisconsin. As we celebrate the identity and integrity of these great people, i want to highlight the native hawaii answer. Our unique waiis history with the United States, most americans are not aware of the 600,000 among us who identify in whole or in part of native hawaiian an. And im deeply humbled to represent a native group with a deep and rich heritage. Today our descend ants of the original voyagers who made the 1,500 somewhere around years ago, a full 1,000 years before the universeally recognized people of new zealand arrived. By the arrival of the west through captain cook in 1778, native hawaii ans handed down a unique cultural, dance and music, the customs and practices values and religion. They were their own people in every sense of the word. Hover, like all other Indigenous People, they endured marginalization and discrimination to the point that by the middle of the 20th century, the heritage was at risk at extinction as most others. In the beginning of the mid1960s, traditional hawaii an arts and culture began to emerge. They brought back the study and practice. I had the honor of presenting uncle george as the 2006 national fellow, our nations highest honor intraadditional arts. The language disappeared. In 1982, a small group of educators came together and formed preschools which focused on native speakers in education in the native language. The first school was established in 1984 and today, there are many such schools in native language speakers. Another anchingechent practice as the art of polynesian voyaging. And the average chint ways of navigating was lost. In 1975, the society bought a can ue first captained Whose Mission was to follow in the footsteps and sail unaided. Voyaging canoes sail freely and se the ancient ways. These are just a few of the tens of thousands who simply decided that the rich Cultural Heritage of the Indigenous People of awaii would not die. Their stories and the story of all native people should not be left unrecognized by this congress either today or in the laws of our country focused on Indigenous Peoples and i honor them and their special contributions and legacy to our great country and join my colleagues who advocate so forcefully for our Indigenous People. Thank you to the gentlewoman from new mexico to celebrate native American Heritage month. May all americans reflect on the diverse legacy gifted to all of us by our Indigenous People. I yield back. Ms. Haaland this native American Heritage month, let us pay honor and respect to those who came before us and let us not forget the genocide and let us all Work Together to ensure that the future for the native americans and native happy ans is as promising as any american living here. I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my special order. And i yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore without under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the chair recognizes the gentleman from arizona, mr. Schweikert, or 30 minutes. Mr. Schweikert thank you, madam speaker. My wife accuses me of not being able to speak without a chart. So now when im home i walk around the house with a chart for my 4yearold trying to explain what being a good girl is. So far its not working. Hey, tonight, and we try to do this every week. But im going to try to put some more details into last weeks presentation. And the reason i have this first board up is, once again, to show the math on the single biggest threat i believe to our country, to our society. And the absurdity that this body actually isnt dealing with it. If you actually look at this chart, and this is from the manhattan institute, its now several months old, it is the 30year window. If you remove Social Security and medicare, lets try to make this all make sense. If you remove Social Security nd medicare, we have 23 trillion in the bank 30 years from now. If you pull Social Security and medicare into the numbers, you see up on the top line, youre 103 trillion in debt. If you then normalize it for, i believe, inflationadjusted dollars, constant dollars, its like 83 trillion in debt. Youre a couple hundred percent of debt to g. D. P. , youve blown up the society. Why cant we just have an honest conversation that our debt driver is demographics . But its the health care portion of the demographics. And how do we have a revolution here around the cost, the availability of health care, instead of the absurd debate conversation we have around this place all time where its about the financing. Once again, lets be honest. The a. C. A. , many of you know it as obamacare, was substantially a financing mechanism. Who got subsdiced, who had to pay . Our republican alternative was a financing mechanism. It was about who had to pay and who got subsidized. Instead of what to pay. Because the what to pay discussion is so difficult, because you really do challenge a lot of our vested interest, a low of our friends, a lot of preconceptions a lot of our friends, a lot of our preconceptions. Just a quick thought experiment to have this make sense. I think republicans and democrats both sort of like the idea of telemedicine. Ok, great. But most of us end up thinking of telemedicine as, im going to grab my phone and im going to talk to a nurse or doctor, you havent thought it through that the fact of the matter is where the technology is at today, you should have one or two body sensors on and you should be talking to an avatar thats reading your body sensors, thats doing an algorithm, that can give you incredibly accurate information. And that would crash the price of that telemedicine. But thats hard because that isnt the model that we all think of. We dont futureproof our thinking of understanding where the technology is today, and if we dont do that, we dont hit the cost breakthroughs and as you look at the math here, youll start to see about 2 3 actually in some ways it becomes 3 4 if you work through some of the math, of the next 30 years, its medicare. The unfunded liabilities in medicare, what were going to spend and what it would cost to finance it. Remember, the next five years, just the growth of Social Security, medicare, health care entitlements, just the growth equals the entire defense department. Every 10 years, thats two full defense departments, is just the growth. The next 10 years, 91 of our spending growth will be Social Security, medicare, the health care entitlements. Is that republican or democrat . Its just demographics. So, its one of my great heartbreaks, ways and Means Committee about three weeks ago moved a piece of legislation called h. R. 3. And im going to try to tie this in on why the mechanism in that bill is so bad for the future disruption in health care to crash the price and make us all healthier. The advertised headline, is hey, h. R. 3 is about referenced pricing u. S. Pharmaceuticals to the five key European Countries and well adopt their pricing mechanisms. Do understand the revolution we are on the cusp of. A few years ago this body, with a democrat president , republican congress, passed something called the cures ac. We created new channel act. We created new channels, other ways to finance them. Speedier approvals for what dogs are often referred to as bilogics. We had the cure for heemphilia here. Were going to talk about Cystic Fibrosis and other miracles that are here. Remember, 5 of our brothers and sisters, the chronic population, that 5 is the majority of our Health Care Spending. Do the two things i keep proposing over and over. Adopt and legalize technology that allows us to be healthier. Legalize the data, the ability for the thing you blow into that tells you have the flu, legalize it so it can order your antivirals. The Technology Disruption is there to keep us healthy. The other side is the revolution is here to cure or to stabilize just horrible, de debilitating diseases, are here. But theyre really expensive because were dealing with small populations and increably incredibly Expensive Research. But the miracles are here. And god for bid if h. R. God forbid if h. R. 3 were to become the law, the model itself, and as you dig in and dig in and dig in, you understand, many of the things that would help us crash the future price of Health Care Get ripped away from us because those curetive revolutionary bilogics, small molecules, even some of the synthetic genome type farm suit Caps Pharmaceuticals dont happen. And the logic is very simple. Weve seen this before in u. S. Pharmaceutical manufacturing. If theres not the big reward for the really big risks, you remove the really big risk and you just basically take todays pharmaceutical, make small improvements, small adjustments, and thats you what market. And thats what we were at 20 years ago. Even 10 years ago. The disruption really has happened just the last few years because of what we did here in this body by getting the policy right and also technology. So part of the thought experiment, to understand what those who support h. R. 3 you got to understand what youre voting for. Or what youre pursuing. Over the weekend i was reading some of the mechanisms that are used in Great Britain. Theres a formula. In Great Britain, a single so lets say you had a new pharmaceutical and its going its being presented to the folks that do the pricing in the National Health service in so lets grea. How do they price it . Well, one of the key aspects of their formula, its very simple, it says, well, if this were to extend someone one year of healthy life, whats that worth . In Great Britain its 38,000. So, if this pharmaceutical costs 40,000, but were to give you one more year of healthy life, t doesnt get purchased. Is that really were going to import that formula . Look, we need to do something with pharmaceutical prices. But theres things we can do on the financing side on actually the incentives of the capital that goes in. Actually the health care bond that ive come over and over to this floor to talk about as way to finance the really disruptive pharmaceuticals. But really really are you really ready to tell americans that when were doing a reference pricing in this pharmaceutical, if its in Great Britain, can only be sold if its under that 38,000 for the being healthy for a year, is that really the reference pricing mechanism were all ready to go for . So, it sounds great. Until you actually start to understand whats underneath it. So lets actually walk through my incredible optimism of the technology cusps were on the side of, but also how this bodys going to have to figure out how we make these cures available. So you all sought news, i just put up this board because its something i care a lot about. Cystic fibrosis. Theres only about 30,000 americans. Some of the best efficacy drugs we have right now only take care of about 6 , maybe up to 20 of the population. We have a breakthrough, we have a huge breakthrough. But its going to be at least the current model right now, and its a combination of different drugs, functionally built on decades of research, but its a gnose to be about 311,000 year. If you suffer with this disease, does our society have a moral obligation to you for you to have another healthy year where we have functionally found a discovery that helps basically stabilize a disease where you functionally drown in your own lungs . Whats the moral obligation . Are you going to test that up against 38,000 of one more year of good life . Because thats functionally what wrure being asked to put into the formula. Its just instead, shouldnt we be pushing for the next revolution of saying, how do we permanently cure these diseases so that 5 of our population, that is the majority of our Health Care Spending we start to cure our brothers and sisters . So, one of the other very hopeful things from last year is a pharmaceutical combination that looks like it stabilizes a. L. S. The drug looks like its going to be expensive. You may need one or two, three shots a year. But it stabilizes you. The drug may be 100,000 for that shot. Turns out the math, thats dramatically less expensive than someone regressing with their a. L. S. I mean, if you have to put it on a calculator, turns out this is a good investment. O we intend to deny this drug . How about the research thats going on in arizona right now . Arizona state university, the biggest university in the country, my alma mater, has a major project going on right now. And ill do my best to try to describe in the way a couple of the researchers and professors have described it to me. Weve all heard the therapy right now where you can take a cancer you have and we sort of your bodys reacting to it. We figure out saying, hey, with the process, lets give your body the immutherapy, lets grow those cells and go attack that cancer. Ok. And we figured out that actually we can cure lots of types of cancer. Theres even a great article out a couple weeks ago, even on heart scar tissue. So it turns out its more than we can actually do other things. This is wonderful. But someone really smart a few yers ago said, well, hold it. If we can we can actually do ot immutherapy, for give me if im mispronouncing it, ive had a lot of could haveue today, that goes after a cancer, why wouldnt we figure out lots of different types of cancers, look at human body reaction, what the tcells say and build a vaccine that says, hey, it turns out these 16, 17 immune responses to all these different types of cancer, we could actually turn your body,n, educate like a vaccine does, that if one of those cancer types pop up in your body, you already have your bodys reaction ready to go and attack it. Its brilliant. Because we actually know its over here, we know we can do it on the individual cancers. Why not now turn it into a vaccine that covers dozens of different types . Theyre working on it. This is an incredibly expensive and incredibly highrisk, very the odds are it will not work. But if it does, what does it do to the health costs of this country . Do we have a moral obligation to at least not rip this opportunity away . And my fear is, bills like h. R. Thatincredible violence to future thats incredibly optimistic. This slide is almost impossible to read. But this slide is actually about diabetes and the medicare population. You remember how the first slide we were talking about that medicare in many ways, its cost because remember, when you pay your fica tax, all were collecting in that, your governments collecting is really the part a, the hospital portion, the other parts are general fund spending. Turns out that 30year projection, we found some data that was saying, 30 of that looks like its going to be diabetes costs. Could you imagine could you imagine a cure for diabetes . You have 1 and 2. We have to deal with obesity. E have to finish the research that would allow pancreatic cells to start producing somehow to restart the insulin. Ake its own we have a revolution going in a lab right now. Its incredibly Expensive Research and multiple lines of failed. Have but that single cure of diabetes greatest the single fiscal impact on this countrys future. It. K about if i come to you and say, hey, take a look. Medicare and Social Security over the next 30 years, its like 103 trillion of debt, of borrowing and interest costs. Adjusted for current dollars, trillion. Around 83 3 4 of that, 2 3 of that are just medicare. If you cured diabetes, you reduce that by a third. We s an example of, are about to destroy our own future or great political theater today on a formula that cant work and theres dozens of ways to cheat . I wont even go into today because i did that once before on the floor, walked through all cheatfferent ways you can on h. R. 3. This isnt republican, this democrat. Its just science. Demographics. Its math. Why cant we come together as a say, we need the disruption of technology over here to keep us healthy and the technology over work o cure, we need to our financing mechanisms and incentives to keep going and a r here, we need to change lot of laws because a lot of this technology over here is illegal . One of the reasons i come to this floor every week is were convince our fellow members and anyone thats is a g to listen, there path that our country does not have to fall off the debt cliff. Is a path our country does not have to wake up one day and have a debt crisis. E have offered pieces of legislation, everything from how to manage parts of the debt, verything from longterm bonds to something called trills which interest in wit debt as an equity interest in ebt which is to provide stability in the capital markets, all the way to building a layered policy that says from tax, regulatory, policies thatrade maximize Economic Growth, incentives for individuals to be in the labor force. We have done lots of on the floor of those. Incentives to change the rules around technology, and thats talking what were about today. Incentives for Older Workers to or instantly lose benefits not have their benefits decline where there is a disincentive not to work. Brothers and sisters in the labor force. Is use this next chart really, really important. 1998 to this is only 2028. Its a little hard at this angle, but understand, if you and i were here 1998, doesnt that long ago. If you were to look at the quartiles, it was 15. 9 of our population. Years, nine years, its only 11. 5 of our population. Demographic wins we are driving winds we are soving into, and this is why many of the economists before we did the tax reform came to us and said, david, we know we need fix the Corporate Tax code. President obama has talked about here,uring his whole time but you cant grow that much, cant produce healthy labor markets because youre getting society. S a well, turns out youre wrong. It turns out were breaking all the l the rules of economic textbooks i grew up with, but this xhart is critical but this chart is critical to understand. F you take a look at the top quartile here which is 55 years and older, 1998, not long ago, 12. 4 of the population. In eight years, its 25. 2 of the population. Do you see a trend here . I swear to you, it feels Like Congress didnt know there would by boomers that start turning 65. I swear to you, if you think the crazy place and debates we have, the childish where ats brought here people just make stuff up of the running jokes in our family, i went to congress, where they dont have a calculator. This drives all our policy. Costs inhat drives the Social Security, medicare. This is what drives our debt and grows things we can do to he economy and provide if we intend to keep our promises. Ut my fear is immediate ashiation of rage and satiation and rage and politics us whats y blinds important to all of us. Once again, when we did tax told the two e going to s that were keep it from actually working, stock. Capital americans saved more of the tax reform dollars and we ever modeled for repatriation you saw the report. I think it was from a full quarter ago. 140 billion more came in than we ever modeled. Ecause we have such a healthy economy, capital is coming from all over the world. America is awash in capital. Capital to invest in people and their ideas and the growth. Fragility we ran into that all of the fancy conomists said was labor availability. David, you cant really get over 1 Labor Force Participation next year. As a matter of fact, our model predicts says well fall under 60 . To understand, were getting so old and there are so me lennials with and millennials and and opioid ales addiction and they were right, except they were wrong on the actual numbers. We now have blown through 63 63. 3 labor force than the last report. Aknow this is geeky, but its big deal. We a demonstration that if can grow, if we can encourage our brothers and sisters to be meane labor force and does this body needs to change many of the rules to make it easier fiscal cliff on someones benefits to go into the labor force, were going to adopt the technology that scares and creates disruption. And the simple thought experiment ill give you, did you go to Blockbuster Video last weekend . Not. Urse its sort of silly, but its the same thing. Doesnt it feel like we all woke night and instead of etting the silver disc and we go watch netflix and hbo go and ow disney, the fact of the matter is, in that we allowed the Disruptive Technologies become part of our lives. We need to do the same thing. We need to change many of the incentives for Older Workers to and then labor force, the holy gral, which will be ery gral, which will be grail, which will be difficult, arned benefits, we have a societal contract with those that become older. Things e incentives and we can design into that to actually help on the demographic and actuarial curve . E talked about those on the floor. So this chart here is a very simple one to talk about labor and you got pation to understand, there is a math miracle here. Is it possible to have 164,000 people enter a labor youre already down unemployment . And i will tell you, lots of the conomists would say, nah, at that point you have hit full employment, theres not even that many available workers. Were seeing is workers who are not looking, so theyre ot in that unemployment number coming back in the labor force. That actually tells you we have elasstiesity. Led elastisity. It means if we can hit the curve we can do sing, amazing things. And sort of the tiein slide. Trying to make the point i a w this slide is getting little beaten on. I am trying to make the point listen. Ne that will there is a path, but its not a to do one or get two shiny objects. Policies do all the together because they interlink. What we do in tax reform has things to do with labor participation. Labor participation will have effects on what your immigration a ds and moving to talentbased immigration system. Well, turns out those will ctually have effects on family formation. Well, family formation it all ties together. Were now in our 11th month. And weve done nothing. E have functionally functionally done nothing of value for this country. We should be ashamed. I have a daughter. Yearold the ran i ran and the reason i m running again is i will find a way her future will be better than mine. Will have my brothers and asters to understand there is crazy, doing g rage, doing anger, doing just doesnt get us anywhere. There is a path. Turns out this stuff isnt republican or democrat. Policy. T good so madam speaker, as i yield ack, thank you for tolerating me. Dear lord, i hope were starting to make some progress here. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Oes the gentleman have a motion . Mr. Schweikert a motion to adjourn. A motion ker, i make to adjourn. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the motion to adjourn. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is adopted. Standsngly, the house misdeeds, if that was a fact worth investigating you certainly would be supportive of ukrainians trying to get to the bottom of that, correct . I cant speculate as to the specifics of what was motivating burisma or not. Ukrainian government authorities investigating possible corruption is a perfectly proper thing to do. Mr. Morrison, i want to turn our attention back to the july 25th call. You were in the room. Did anything concern you on the call . No, and after the call ended you, like colonel vindman one of your next steps was to engage the nsc lawyers and your reasons for doing that were slightly different than colonel vindmans and you articulated three concerns and do you want to share them with us or would you rather i do it