the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's rooms, washington, d.c. september 28, 2018. i hereby appoint the honorable ted poe to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, paul d. ryan, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: the prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. chaplain conroy: let us pray. god of mercy, thank you for giving us another day. may the words of ezekiel stir our hearts. the nations shall know that i am the lord, says the lord god, when in their sight i prove my holiness through you. from all your idols i will cleanse you, i will give you a new heart, and place a new spirit within you taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. lord god of prophets and politicians, through the campaigns, surface out fiction and malicious thoughts so that your people may be led to america's common concerns and the truth upon which to build anew. deepen convictions in all contestants that their hearts may be naturally transformed by the response of the people and your holy inspirations. we pray for civility in the weeks to come and peaceful resolve across our land both now and forever. and may all that is done this day be for your greater honor and glory, amen. the speaker pro tempore: the chair has examined the journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house his pproval thereof. pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved journal. the pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from west virginia, mr. jenkins. mr. jenkins: thank you, will the members on the floor and guests in the gallery please join me in honoring our flag and country with the pledge of allegiance. blagojevich and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. -- i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will entertain up to five requests for one-minute speeches on each side of the aisle. for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition. >> request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, in 2015 russian authorities arrested olaf, ukrainian filmmaker an human rights activist for froasting the occupation of crimea and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. mr. shimkus: on may 14 of this year, he began a hunger strike that has lasted over 130 days. russia has unjustly imprisoned over 150 individuals. they suffer psychiatric confinement, close trials, harsh prison conditions. russia also threatened to strip dissidents and members of religious minorities their parental rights. olag is in prison north of the arctic sirk. he receives i.v. treatments. his sister reported in september that he thinks he will die soon. i call upon russian authorities to release olag. i call upon them to protect political free speech, religious liberty, and protect the sovereignty of international borders. with that i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentlelady from nevada seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from nevada is recognized. ms. rosen: mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the memory of the 58 innocent souls that were taken on october 1. no words can describe the devastation and heartbreak my community experienced that night. so many families in las vegas and across the nation are still grieving from this unspeakable tragedy and their lives will never be the same. i'm forever grateful to our first responders, medical professionals, hotel and security staff, and to the kindness of strangers who helped the wounded to the hospital and stood in line for hours to donate blood. we will never forget the selfless and heroic acts by men and women who risked it it all and gave their lives for others that night. as we continue to heal, but we have always known about our community remains true, we are vegas strong. we're resilient. and even in our darkest hour, we come together united. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back her time. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition. mr. thompson: mr. speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. mr. thompson: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i rise today to applaud the response to hurricane florence which caused extensive damage in the carolinas earlier this month. the mission is far from over, but the federal response has been swift. the national guard units from across the country have been working together to help the recovery efforts. proudly members of the pennsylvania national guard are helping to provide shelter support. the level of professionalism and training shown during this recovery by guardsmen from across the country is commendable. mr. speaker, there are many aspects of the recovery effort, including food assistance. i'm pleased that usda acted quickly to announce disaster it snap. households may not normally be eligible for snap or food stamps may qualify for disaster snap. provideling food assistance to neighbors in need is exactly why the snap program exists. food security is an important step towards bringing back normalcy and stability for families impacted by the disaster. mr. speaker, as our fellow americans begin putting their lives back together, i'm pleased to know they will have help every step of the way. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. green: my good friend it, mr. speaker, the department of homeland security announced proposed rule change that would increase the number of immigrants considered a public charge. this rule change is a dangerous departure from our current immigration policy. the administration is herding immigrant families, including families that are u.s. citizens, by penalizing those who seek a green card or visa use programs like snap, housing assistance, or medicaid. this rule has the potential to impact about 1.8 million texans. the rule has texas children whose parents may forgo critical needs for their families in fear they use these programs it will hinder their access to citizenship. this is another step by the trump administration to it restrict immigration into the country. in houston we have a long history of immigrants and newcomers bringing innovation, entrepreneurship, hard work, and has made houston what it is today. from the separation of families at our southern border, to funnishing immigrant families for using programs they legally qualify for. i'm deeply saddened by this it administration's disregard for the children and their families. i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from west virginia seek recognition? mr. jenkins: ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. jenkins: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today in support of h.r. 6, which we're voting on here today. h.r. 6 includes my legislation, the caring recovery for infants and babies act known as the crib act. the most innocent victims of the opioid crisis are the precious newborn babies that were exposed to drugs during pregnancy. -- pregnancy. simply breaks your heart. three years ago i helped start lily's place in my hometown, a health care facility that has provided compassionate, loving health care to more than 200 newborn babies going through the ravages of withdrawal after birth. passing the crib act today will allow this one of a kind program to be replicated around the country so every child gets the chance, the best chance for it a healthy start in life. i encourage my fellow members to vote yes on h.r. 6, the crib act. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentlelady from missouri seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from missouri is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to it applaud the house passage of the f.a.a. re-authorization act bill. mrs. hartzler: i'm delighted the conference agreement includes provision from my bill, the safeguarding american skies act. these provisions provide the departments of homeland security and justice with the authority to it use counter drone technology to detect, monitor, and interdictdrones that pose a a threat to the safety and security of our country. we must face the reality that drone technology is being exploited to advance crime and threaten our national security. drones are used to smuggle illegal drugs across borders and contraband into prisons. on the other side of the globe, terrorist groups are using drones to target u.s. forces and coalition partners. unfortunately under current law, most federal agencies are prohibited from engaging with drones due to various outdated laws a. this legislation will provide our federal law enforcement agencies with the tools necessary to protect u.s. citizens from criminal and inaireous acts. our skies are safer and our families will be safer. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back her time. for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois is recognized. mr. davis: i rise today to commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as the many advocacy groups, health organization, and constituents working with our offices for ensuring an extension of the violence against women act. while a long-term re-authorization is finalized. this is the crucial first step toward ensuring that victims it of violence continue to have the resources they rely on and our law enforcement officers can keep up the fight against domestic violence and sex crimes. vawa is a landmark piece of legislation enacted over two decades ago. it plays two very important roles. first to prevent violence violent crimes against women. and second to provide care and assistance to woman who were victims it of violence crimes. they have enhanced penalties, added protections for abused elderly and disabled women, helped to fight against sex trafficking, and addressed the rape kit backlog in many states. i look forward to working with my colleagues toward a long-term re-authorization of the violence against women act. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. johnson: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that it the committee on energy and commerce, ways and means, and armed services be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 6886 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 6886, a bill to amend title x united states code to modify the requirement for certain former members of the armed forces to enroll in medicare part b to be eligible for tricare for life and amend title 18 of the social security act to provide for coverage of certainty provenance tests under the medicare program. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the bill? mr. johnson: mr. speaker, i have an amendment at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: amendment number the nature of a substitute to h.r. 6886 offered by mr. johnson of texas. strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following -- mr. johnson: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection? without objection, the reading is dispensed with. without objection, the amendment is agreed to. the bill is engrossed, read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas, mr. brady, eek recognition? mr. brady: mr. speaker, pursuant to house resolution 1084, i call up the bill h.r. 6760, the protecting family and small business tax cuts act of 2018 and ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. caller: union calendar 746, h r. 6760, a bill to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to make permanent certain provisions of the tax cuts and jobs act affecting individuals, families, and small businesses. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to house resolution 1084, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on ways and means printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part c of house report 115-985, is adopted and the bill as amended is considered read. the bill shall be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on ways and means. the gentleman from texas, mr. brady, and the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. neal, each will control 3 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. brady. mr. brady: i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on h.r. 6760, currently under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. neal: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for as much time as he wishes to use. mr. brady: for far too long hard working american taxpayers watched as an entitled federal government took a bigger and bigger slice from their family's budget. that changed last year with the tax cuts and jobs act we choose you, the hardworking taxpayers of this country. with our new tax code we were determined to let you keep more of what you work sod hard to earn and boy, have the results been incredible. eight months later, we've seen an economic turn around with more jobs, bigger paychecks, and historic main street optimism. we've gone from asking where are the jobs to asking where are the workers? our main street small business owners, one of them recently told me thanks to the new tax code they are hiring more, giving bonuses, buy manager equipment, and as he said, they are set to haver that best year ever. this has meant real change for real people. with nearly $1 -- with nearly 1.7 million new jobs created just since january and paychecks rising at their fastest rate in nine years. while this economic turn around for america has come as a shock to opponents of the new tax code here in washington, it's no surprise to millions of hard working families and small businesses across america who are overtaxed and overregulated far too long. thanks to our new pro-growth tax code there's new hope and a new hospital my in america that wasn't here before. to call it a sudden change if the sluggish obama-era economy would be an understatement. for a decade it was like america's economy was going through a 25-mile-per-hour zone. now that the high taxes and the uncompetitive regulate -- regulations of our democrat friends are gone we're on an open highway again. it's critical we keep the strong momentum going, especially for americans who are hit -- who were hit hardest by the great recession. that's what this bill before us today is all about. by making this new code permanent for our families and small businesses. the protecting family and small business tax cuts act will keep america's economy booming and middle class families growing again. in fact, the nonpartisan tax foundation estimates that this bill will add 1.5 million new jobs and increase america's economy over 2%. that's on top, as i said, of 1.7 million new job we was already seen created since president trump signed the new tax code into law. look, we don't want to go back to the bad old days of higher taxes, washington taking more of what our single moms, our hardworking parents, and you are main-street -- and our main street owned business own verse worked so hard to earn. we don't want to go become to when main street wasn't hire, jobs were going overseas and our economic growth was puttering along. given the chance between keeping taxes high and allowing families to keep more of their money, republicans chose and continue to choose the american people. i thank representative rodie davis, representatives mark davis and mark walker, along with our republican ways and means for being the original co-sponsors and lead orse of this bill. in closing, empowering families to run their own lives is at the heart of the american dream. it's the key to america's economic sess. it's the reason that eight months after tax reform became law americans are more hopeful about their future and the american dream. mr. speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the jell from texas reserves his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield myself three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized mr. neal: i rise in opposition to the republican tax sham. it's been eight months since the republicans passed their massive, unpaid-for tax cut without a single democratic vote. at that time democrats and infeint experts warned their so-called tax reform plan that wasn't paid for and so heavily skewed to the wealthy and big corporations would harm our economy and damage important programs like medicare an social security. and now we're beginning to see what many of us feared is coming true. health insurance companies in state after state are announcing higher premiums for next year while health coverage for those living with pre-existing conditions happen to be on the chopping block. to make matters worse, the medicare trustees have cut three years off the life of the medicare trust fund because of the republican tax bill. think of it. this vote this morning will add $631 billion to the national debt on top of the $2.3 trillion that they've already embraced with the recklessness of their tax package. but instofede backing away from this mistake, they're doubling down this morning. their second round of tax cuts for the wealthy will further compromise the future of medicare and social security, depriving seniors of the benefits they've earned. today's bill will understand again demonstrate that they're hardly the party of fiscal correct or conservatism. the tax bill as i noted a moment ago adds $2.3 tl trillion to the debt. so people understand this is all borrowed money that will go to corporations and high income earners who undoubtedly will receive the bulk of these benefits in the tax cut. now republicans want to give the most well off and well-connected americans even more tax cuts with their new proposal. again, emphasizing the following, an additional $3 trillion of debt based all upon borrowed money. republicans are doubling down on this tax law and once again harming the american middle class. there's virtually nothing here that comes to the aid of the middle class because they fwi it to them on one hand and take it away on the other. this proposal would make permanent the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction for individuals even while corporations will face no limits on their deductions. this at -- this at the same time we should recognize eliminate miss tax incentives and pretty important incentives for middle class families to get ahead once again this package, like the one before it, is being rushed through, no hear, no witnesses, and no input from stake holders. a rushed and lopsided process resulted in the disaster that we voted on just weeks ago. so my staff has identified over 100 problems with this proposal and we're happy to share those with any who are interested. this provision that we're voting on today is reckless and a cut for the wealthy that leaves behind hard working families and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: i'm proud to yield two minutes to the leader, the original sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from illinois, mr. davis. mr. davis: mr. speaker, i rise today in strong support of my bill, h.r. 6760, the protecting family and small business tax cuts act of 2018. i really, truely want to thank chairman brady and the entire ways and means committee and the ways and means staff for their hard work in getting tax reform 2.0 to the house floor. last december this congress passed a tax cuts and jobs act. that legislation was the first major tax reform in 31 years and delivered on our promise to breng tax relief to middle class families across the country. in fact, in my district in central illinois, the average family of four making the median income of $78,500 will see a tax cut of roughly $2,200 this year. that is certainly not crumbs, mr. speaker. since passage of tax reform we've seen historic growth in our economy, which currently sitz at 3.9% unemployment with approximately 6.6 million open jobs and a g.d.p. last quarter of 4.2%. with companies raising wages and increasing benefit it's no wonder 90% of workers are seeing bigger paychecks thanks to last year's tax cuts. unfortunately, last year the constraints of the budget reconciliation process in the senate forced us to sunset many of the provisions found within that act and simply sunsetting those provisions we need to make them permanent. these provisions include the expanded child tax credit which we increased from $1,000 to $2,000, the new double standard deduction, and the improved tax brackets which lowered rates for all taxpayers. as our economy continue it is reach new height, h.r. 6760 represent ours continued commitment to millions of hardworking middle class americans who benefited if the tax cuts enacted last year. eurge my colleagues to support middle class families by voting for bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas reserves his time the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: i yield one minute to the gentleman from california, a valued member of the ways and means committee, mr. thompson. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. thompson: mr. speaker, rise in opposition to this bill. this bill represents a gross disregard for the responsibilities entrusted to us by our constituents. we're the stewards of medicare, a critical support for nearly every american at some point in their lives. this bill will trigger hundreds of millions of dollars in across the board cuts to that important program. we're responsible for the federal tax code, a charge that requires us to consider tax are proposals fully and fairly. yet we'll vote on this unpaid for tax bill developed behind closed doors without the benefit of a single hearing. most importantly, we're the cus toadof -- custodians of the federal budget. with passage of this bill, republicans will have added more than $3 trillion to our national debt in less than a year. this is a handout for the rich at the expense of our children and grandchildren. it's an excuse for the majority party to ransack medicare and social security. it's dangerous and it's reckless. we should vote no on this bill. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: mr. speaker, i'm also very proud to yield three minutes to one of the three original leaders of this bill, the gentleman from north carolina, mr. walker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from north carolina is recognized for three minutes. mr. walker: mr. speaker, the tax cuts and jobs act has transformed the economy, delivering economic growth in the form of more jobs, bigger paychecks, increased investment in his tore exly high small business optimism. today i rise in support as an original co-sponsor of h.r. 6760, the protected -- the protecting family and small business tax cuts of 218. i would like to thank chairman brady for his tireless work over the last year and a half to make this legislation possible. continuing to build on the success of the tax cuts and jobs act by locking in those tax cuts for individuals, families, and small businesses. today's bill makes permanent the transformational tax reforms included in the legislation we enacted last december. mr. speaker, locking in those important reforms provides certainty and enhans growth. in fact, according to the tax foundation's analysis, making these reforms permanent will create 1.5 million new jobs, increase wages by nearly a full percentage point and increase the overall g.d.p. by .2%. those are facts. locking in these important reforms reduces burdensome complexity. because of the legislation the vast majority of individuals and families will choose the enhanced standard deduction and will no longer need to do the recordkeeping for itemized deductions. the alternative minimum tax which requires families to cool cue late their taxes twice each year and pay the higher amount will be eliminated for close to 60% of those who paid in 017. thecent tax foundation said simplification will result in $2.1 billion for $5.4 billion for individuals and families. this will fuel the small businesses that fuel the american economy. the tax cuts and jobs act delivered lower tax rates in a new 20% deducks for -- deduction for pass-through business income. today's bill los in those benefits. mr. speaker, now is the time to keep our economy booming and protect the family and small business tax reforms delivered last december. i urge my colleagues to support this, help lock in these benefits if all americans, by passing h.r. 6760. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. a reminder that this is $3 trillion of borrow money to provide for a tax cut for the wealthy. with that, i yield to to a longtime and valuable member of the -- member of the ways and means committee, mr. levin if one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. levin: well, why add to the deficit $3 trillion so-called fiscal conservatives? i guess it's consistency. f you dig a hole, you get -- dig it deeper. oh, it's for workers. workers? one-half of the top percent get 50% of the benefit. it won't pass the senate. so why do it. well, they thought it would be politically helpful. now it's turning out it won't be. it's going to be immigration. this this is a desperate move. it's desperately wrong. i urge we vote no. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas, mr. brady. mr. brady: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm proud to yield two minutes to one of our key members on the ways and means committee, from rural communities on this tax reform bill, the gentleman from nebraska, adrian smith. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from nebraska is recognized for two minutes. mr. smith: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, mr. chairman, for the time. certainly for your leadership on this issue. i rise today in support of this bill to make permanent the tax cuts for families and small businesses we passed last year through the tax cuts and jobs act. i'm particularly pleased the bill also makes permanent the green glitch fix we enacted last spring. this important provision ensures producers and buyers across agriculture could benefit from tax reform as intended. this bill also continues the treatment of property taxes on ag land and property as a fully deductible business expense, which is vital to ag producers in nebraska's third congressional district, as well as across the country. the national version of tax reform we moved out of the ways and means committee and passed in this house last year provided permanent tax relief for our families, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses and they deserve the certainty knowing their taxes will not increase. i'm disappointed we couldn't get the permanence through the senate last year, but i'm pleased we have another opportunity to do so this year. our economy is booming with economic growth continuing above 3% and the certainty of permanence will allow our small businesses to make future investments and for families to know they can keep more of their paychecks as well as plan for the future. i urge strong support for this bill. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: i would like to yield one minute to the gentleman from illinois, a very valuable member of the ways and means committee and voice of chicago, congressman davis. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois is minute.ed for one mr. davis: thank you, mr. chairman. i rise in strong opposition to another tax giveaway to the min. mr. davis: thank wealthiest in this country who need it the least. the republican tax cut already has damaged the health of the medicare trust fund. this bill is more the same. after decades of wage stagnation, over 41 million laborers earn less than $12 an hour, almost none of them offer health insurance. more than 1/4 of americans struggle to cover housing costs, this republican bill helps millionaires, giving an average tax cut of over $39,000 to the top 1%. the republican plan will permanently damage double tax for over 40 million families due to the cap on the state and local income tax deduction. the republican plan permanently takes away critical personal exceptions for millions of families with children which we need to help. we need to help hardworking middle class citizens. we don't need to give $39,000 trach to the wealthy. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas it. mr. brady: mr. speaker, very proud to it yieldle two minutes chairman may, chabot, i scheduled this. thank you, sir. i'm equally proud to introduce a key member of our ways and means committee who played, again, such a leadership role on tax reform for small businesses and agriculture, the gentleman from missouri, mr. smith. the speaker pro tempore: how many minutes? mr. brady: two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri is recognized for two minutes. mr. smith: thank you, mr. chairman. mr. speaker, i rise today in support of this legislation. last year congress partnered our president, president trump, to lower taxes and put more money in the hands of our american people. i heard from the other side how the tax cut was just basically crumbs and scraps, but in my district, in southern missouri, the tax cut and jobs act makes a real difference. in the nine months that the tax cut and jobs act has passed, i have traveled throughout my district and i have seen small businesses in west plains, missouri, that told me, congressman, because of the tax cut jobs act i can build a new building. i have spoken to workers in st. mes, in can ruthersville, in erryville, and bernie, and inesville, and all the other 29 counties in our congressional district of how their wages have increased and how these employees have benefited from the tax cut and jobs act. i have spoken to mothers who, because of their wages being increased, they were able to purchase new child seats in their cars that were defective. this was real, real takes. -- tax breaks. this is real advantages for people that make, in my congressional district, the median income is $40,000 a year. it's not scraps. it's not crumbs. it makes a real difference. it's car payment. it's house payments. it's food on the table. and so, mr. speaker, we need to make sure that this is permanent. this bill is not permanent because it's arcane senate rules that allowed it it to be temporary. and i'm hoping that the other side will join us today in making sure that we deliver this tax relief permanently for families in southeast missouri, but families throughout this district. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. a reminder this is $3 trillion of borrowed money for this tax plan that the republicans are offering. with that i'd like to yield one minute to a very important member of the ways and means committee, mr. kind from miss which is -- wisconsin, for one minute. mr. kind: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in opposition to this legislation because this bill today again shatters one of the greatest cons ever perpetrate the on the american people. that the modern day national republican party is the party of face fist cal responsibility. the three bills we have before us this week coupled with the tax cut version that passed last year will add over $5 trillion to our national debt. at a time when the 70 million baby boomers are fully invested in social security and medicare. giving them the excuse later on to come back and say we have to cut social security and medicare because we don't have revenue anymore. if we're entrusted with the majority next year, we'll do tax reform the right way. we'll simplify it it, make it more competitive, we'll certainly make it fair, and we will do it it fiscally responsible by shutting down extraneous loopholes in the code to pay for it. we will do it with hearings and with the proper feedback, which was lacking here. for all these reasons we should reject this bill and do tax reform the right way. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas it. mr. brady: mr. speaker, i'm proud to introduce a key member of the ways and means committee , the gentlelady from south dakota, mrs. noem. the speaker pro tempore: how many minutes? mr. brady: two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. mrs. noem: thank you, mr. speaker. i just wanted to clarify, i firmly disagree with my colleague on the other side of the aisle who just talked about social security and medicare. in fact, the economic statistics that have recently come back have talked about how the medicare trust fund, how social security is actually doing better since we did this historic tax cut bill because more people are working. they are earning more money. they are paying into those programs. those programs are more secure into the future because we did historic tax reform. and now, mr. speaker, today i rise in support of the protect iting families and small business tax cuts act, a key component of tax reform 2.0. i strongly support this legislation because i worked on it for many years, but also because of the stories i hear across south dakota every day. i had several months ago a mom, single mom of two kids, come up to me. she's a bank teller and told me because of tax reform that her check is $80 bigger every two weeks. that meant her 10-year-old son could get new basketball shoes this year instead of going out and trying to find some that were used from another student that had out grown them. i also had another woman from platte, south dakota, contact my office and tell me that because of tax reform and tax cuts her family doesn't usually get much money, and they don't make a lot of money, their wages aren't great, because of that bill they have more money in their pockets today. it's made a huge difference in paying their day-to-day bills. there are dozens of other stories that i could tell you from folks across the state of south dakota, of the benefits of tax reform. our energy cost vs. gone down. our utility bills have gone down. companies have paid wages, increasing for families. they have also played out bonuses. the tax cuts have been life changing for many in our state. with that passage and with the passage of this bill today, we will have the opportunity to ensure the upward economic trajectory we have experienced because of a permanent culture of growth and stability that is rooted in the tax code. tax reform 2.0 is going to make sure the benefits the families are enjoying today, they'll still be able to enjoy long into the fuhrment while no tax plan is perfect, and -- in the future. while no tax plan is perfect, i'm optimistic this package today will have a huge benefit for south dakota. mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation today. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. a reminder this adds $3 trillion of debt 245 is -- debt that is borrowed money. i yield one minute to the gentleman from oregon, mr. blumenauer, who is a champion of all issues related to infrastructure in america. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon is recognized for one minute. mr. blumenauer: thank you. i heard the gentlelady from south dakota talk about all the stories that she could tell. sadly that's what our republican friends have done. they want to tell stories, cherry pick, but they are afraid to have hearings from the people that this affects. we haven't heard from the experts, from the academics, from people in business. they were afraid to have hearings on their tax bill, rushing it through. they didn't even know what was in it. now they are doubling down, adding another $1 trillion of debt without having a foundation, factually, to let the people know what's going on. look at their budget. they have declared war on social security, on medicare. they understand that it's not sustainable. the tax cuts don't pay for themselves. they are putting at risk things that america cares about. like social security, like medicare. fundamental issues that matter. i hope that if the american public entrusts us with the control of congress next year, that we will go forward, listen to them, make it transparent, base it on facts. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: mr. speaker, because of tax reform, main street businesses are booming and the chair of the small business community has played a key role in that. i'm proud to yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio, mr. chabot. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from ohio is recognized for two minutes. mr. chabot: i thank the chairman for yielding and for his leadership on this very important issue. mr. speaker, i rise in support of h.r. 6760, the protecting family and small business tax cuts act. as chairman of the house small business committee, i have closely examined the effects that the tax cuts and jobs act that we previously passed has had on america's small businesses, on start-ups, and on entrepreneurs. from a small business committee hearing that i chaired in july that reviewed the impact of that law on main street companies to the many small business optimism surveys that are published on a monthly basis, the results are in. and they are positive for our nation's $30 million small businesses, about half of the workers in this country work for. they work for small businesses. the tax cuts have provided small businesses with the opportunity to invest in their workers, invest in their equipment, and invest in their dreams. a small business owner in my district in southern ohio recently testified, and i quote, the recent trucks -- tax reduction will have a positive impact on our employees in 2018 and beyond, unquote. the shops on main street across america are transforming our communities and neighborhoods with job growth and business expansion, and that means jobs for more americans. with our economic engine starting to rev, congress should take the next step in the tax debate which is making the tax cuts for our nation's job creators permanent. that's what we're doing here today. making section 199-a, the small business pass-through provision stronger will be a benefit to small businesses from my state, ohio, to nation -- to our states across from coast to coast. i applaud the work of mr. davis and mr. brady and the other members of the ways and means committee on this issue. it's been very important. when our nation's small businesses and entrepreneurs and start-ups are thriving, so are their employees, the families of those employees, and america's consumers. i thank the gentleman. yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. with that i'd like to yield one minute to the always erudite gentleman from new jersey, my friend congressman pascrell. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for one minute. mr. pascrell: this is the sequel to weekend at bernies. but this doesn't work. the headline yesterday in the post was, the g.o.p. campaign ditched tax law. the first one stunk, this is even worse. look, republican economists, douglas holtz, a good guy, he said, this past may, there is just no evidence that the tax cuts actually pay for themselves. of course they don't. that's why you are targeting health care, that's why you are targeting medicare, that's why you're targeting social security. you already targeted medicaid. look, in new jersey the average salt, we're still a state, the average salt deduction claimed in 2016 was more thannedth 10,000 limit n my district the average is over $18,000. one of the counties in my district is $24,000. hat have you done. the average tax paying household -- ew jersey has to pay tax taxed on more. that's an extra $3,400. >> i yield -- mr. neal: i yield the gentleman an additional minute. mr. pascrell spak thank you, mr. speaker. thank you for your courtesy. thank the courtesy of the chairman and ranking member. for hundreds of thousands of new jersey families, that is a mortgage payment. that's a tuition bill. that's money for unexpected medical bills. instead -- instead it's moving to pay more bills in montana and south dakota. i offered an amendment to restore the full salt, party vote. so every member who votes for this monstrosity today is voting to make the salt tax forever into -- and to impose a permanent tax on middle class families. it is mind boggling a member would want to hammer his constituents like that. i ask my colleagues, how could you vote to punish your middle class constituents with even more money. what's even more fascinating, a number of people on the other side new york wonder they're voting for this thing today, they get less than 1% of their donations from folks like you and me. so that's why they are tuned in to corporate america. have a great month, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: i'm proud to yield two minutes to a gentleman who started a small business at age 25 and built it up from the ground up, the gentleman from georgia, mr. allen. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. allen: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, mr. chairman, for your leadership on this important bill and yes, i came from the small business world. let me tell you, in my district, the small businesses are back. i'm proud to support tax reform 2.0, legislation that will build upon the tremendous success of the tax cuts and john -- and jobs act signed into law last year. after 31 years under an old, outkated, burdensome tax code that stifled our economy and plagued our job creators, america simply needed a change. i'm happy to say we delivered on our promise of comprehensive tax reform to the american people and we are seing new levels of economic growth and optimism around the country. and we're not done yet. in the month of august alone, georgia added over 12,000 jobs in the un-- and the unploit -- unemployment rate fell below 3.%. we are committed to keeping this momentum going. tax reform 2.0 will lock in tax cuts permanently, allow families to more easily save hard-earned money for retirement and help provide retirement plans to workers, help startup businesses and more. as a co-spon or to have of tax reform .0, i urge my colleagues to join me today in supporting this legislation that will unleash our economy and our economic engine that's the american family and small business. with that i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: i'd like to yield one -- the gentlelady ms. sanchez. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized. ms. sanchez: i stand here saddened but not shocked at the i responseability of my colleagues on the other side of the aisleful i guess their giveaway to the ultra wealthy one enough last time around so they've come back for round two, a fake tax reform 2.0. when the bill nor new gimmick eventually comes due, i'm terrified republicans will pay for it by gutting social security and medicare two earned benefit programs on which my constituents rely. i've heard a lot of rhetoric about how today's bill will help the middle class but the only thing that today's legislation guarantees is adding at least $3 trillion more to the deficit over just a period of 10 years. and who picks up the tab? middle class americans, that's uho. working families who are saving for retirement or putting their kids through school. i urge my colleagues to vote down this terrible bill, let common sense reign and i yelled back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: reserve. sproy the -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: i'd like to recognize the gentleman from connecticut, a very effective member of the ways and means -- are you ready? i would like to recognize equally effective member of the ways and means committee from the state of texas, my good friend, lloyd doggett, for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. doggett: today's sequel is as phony as the original republican tax sham. it comes from administration for whom truth is a stranger. clocked in by one analysis at 7.5 lies on the average per dayful but even for such an administration, this bill is based on a true whopper. here we have it from the executive office of the president, telling us this is officially -- this is official administration policy that every american family, the arch household income will be increased by at least $4,000 annually. and yet today fewer than 5% of american families have gotten a dime. increase in their income as a result of this bill. truly, a giant whopper. but like the promise that mexico would pay for the wall that drug companies would bring down their prices, all we have is more misrepresentation today. corporate giants got -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one more minute. mr. doggett: corporate giants got giant tax breaks, gave them back to shareholders and c.e.o.'s but didn't increase wages for workers or give more than a handful any compensation as a result of this. now here on election eve we have a proposal where they are telling the american taxpayer, we promise relief in seven years which is what this bill does. families can't put off the rising health care costs for seven years or their other needs but there is one american family that does really well out of this bill. it's the family of donald j. trump. they got a special provision written into the bill that this proposal freezes into permanent law that gives them a tax windfall most likely of millions of dollars. that's what this bill was all about. helping donald trump, his cronies and allies, not helping the american people. the first tax bill was a hit and run job and with this second bill republicans back up and run over working families again. democrats need to take over the wheel and we'll help americans get some money in their own wallets. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: mr. speaker, yielding myself one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. brady: let me fact check my colleague from texas. since the tax reform bill became law, new year's day, 1.7 million jobs have been created in america. wamings are rising at the fastest rate in nine years. and today, following these new policies, median income married cupple with two kids has $3,200 more in their take-home bay pais than 12 months ago. not at this time, mr. doggett, but i will remind the voters in mr. doggett's district an average family of four making $60,000 a year sees a tax cut of $1,131. my democrat colleagues want this deal back. i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: thank you, flk. i'd like to yield one minute to the gentlelady from alabama, the scholarly ms. sewell. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from alabama, recognized for one minute. ms. sewell: thank you, mr. speaker. less than a year after the first disastrous tax bill here, we are voting on another bill that will double down on this betrayal and put hardworking families that are working every day to make ends meet even further into debt. as my constituents remember, the first tax law cost us $2.3 trillion and those working to reach the middle class will see less investment in their communities. we'll see -- will see their social security, med kay, medicaid shrink and see the cost of health care insurance rise. it is unconscionable that republicans are trying to pass another batch of tax cuts that will add another $650 billion to the $2.3 trillion that they've already spent through the tax code. this will end up costing us $5 trillion over the next 20 years. vote no on this reckless tax cut and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. this gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: mr. speaker, i'm very proud to yield two minutes to one of our key leaders, a member of the ways and means committee, the gentleman from arizona, mr. schweikert. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. schweikert: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. chairman, thank you. before comments, look, this is my first term on ways and means. and i will tell you both on the democrat side and republican side, it's a group of very special members having been on other committees even in moments like this where we see the world very differently, everyone is freaky smart, incredibly respectful and actually if they could see what goes on in the back where we actually get along it's a very special committee. but the fact of the matter is, we sort of see the world very differently and i -- if you -- have you ever had that moment where you're walking up to the podium, you were going to read. i was going to read comments from a number of members particularly on the other side who were incredibly critical of the fact that many of these tax cuts expired and now they're complaining that we're extending them. sort of -- we do have this sort of body where we race to whatever the current argument is but that would be a little hard to do right after saying such nice things about everyone. let's do a couple of comments oen the reality of what we see in the math. do you remember when the tax bill passed? the math was oh the we needed a .4% growth in g.d.p. over 10 years. the tax reform paid for itself. so how are we doing so far? i mean we had now multiple revisions upward, something is working out there in our society. when you see more jobs than workers. when you see in my community the populations that have had a really rough decade with the growth recession of the last decade. they have jobs. there's good things happening. you would think there'd be almost this joyce on both the eft and right saying, when you see in our arizona prisons job training. we brought one of the convicted felons, three times, come to testify in the ways and means committee. it's so hard for this body to actually give a little and say look at the societal great things that are happen right now. and then also the backup on the math. if we do not have substantial economic growth this decade and next, we can't keep our societal promises. i would like to argue when we get beyond this we have the conversation of what does tax reform do for future economic expansion and yes, we're going to have to talk about a lot of other difficult things to keep that economic expansion. but the baseline math, and i know we're only like eight or nine month into the data, it's working. could we at least have a little sound of joy for what is working? with that, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. with that, i yield one minute to the gentlelady from california, the highly effective democratic leader, ms. pelosi. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. ms. pelosi: thank you, mr. speaker. i thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him for his extraordinary leadership in representing the house democrats as the ranking member on the ways and means committee. he brings to that position the values shared by the american people of fairness. fairness. transparency. openness. -- openness in what goes on here in congress. and doing so in a way that's accountable to the american people. so i thank him for his leadership. and i sadly come to the floor again.o talk against yet they talk about how we should be filled with joy. if we're talk about emotion, let us talk about st. awe gus teen. 17 centuries ago -- st. augustine. 17 centuries ago, 1,700 years ago. he said a state which is not governed according to justice is ust a bunch of thieves. pope benedict who voted augustine, the state must never leave how justice can be achieved here and now. benedict cautioned against the danger of certain ethical blindness caused by the dazzling effect of power and special interest. that's what they talked about. this is about justice. justice for our country in terms of economic justice. justice in our society in terms of everyone participating in the prosperity of america. not yet again the warmed over stew of trickle-down economics. if you give 83% of the benefits the top 1%, glory hallelujah, it may trickle down on you. if it does not, so be it. that's what the former speaker said. so be it. so here we're again at a time when -- well, let me just say, i'll quote some of the republicans enforcing what i said earlier. who are these tax scams for? senator -- congressman chris collins said my donors are basically saying get it done or don't ever call me again. senator lindsey graham said, the financial contributions will stop if -- and i say if this tax scam fails. here we're again. here we're again at a time on this last day of the session, as this body prepares to it package -- pack its bags and return home for the next six weeks, the g.o.p.'s priorities have been laid bear as we waste our final moments debate agnew version of the republicans' same old tax scam. with no accountability. no transparency, and no fairness for the american people. the first g.o.p. tax scam for the rich added $2 trillion to the national debt when you talk about the tax cut plus the interest on the debt. sticking our children with the bill for massive tax breaks for big phrma, big banks, big corporations, enabling them, making it more profitable for them to ship jobs overseas. and the wealthiest 1%. people across america have raised their voices to condemn the republicans' plan to spend trillions on tax cuts for the wealthy. what's so sad about it is in their first tax scam they decided that they would set up a thing where individual mandate was repealed and erefore the benefit of pre-existing condition no longer barred you from having access to health insurance. the first tax scam was an assault on the pre-existing condition benefit in the affordable care act. not only that, that was not good enough for them, the president went further in his budget and said, we have a tax -- we have increased the debt. now we have to pay for it. because contrary to the illusion that our republicans like to present, these tax breaks do not ever pay for themselves. don't take it from me. those who have worked even with jack kemp had said anybody who tells you that these tax breaks pay for themselves is selling you something that is not true, is nonsense, and is b.s. except said the whole word in our testimony. here they are now they have to pay for it. where they are going to get the money. just give 83% of the benefits to the top 1%, big tax breaks or corporations. they want to send jobs verseas. a benefit for middle income seniors. $214 billion from food stamps, a benefit needed by our seniors, by our veterans, by our poor children in america. all of this to pay for tax cuts for the rich. so here we're again, imagine what the republicans will try to do after adding trillions more to the deficit. heir intentions are clear. whatever the president's advisor, whatever his title is now, larry cud low, his top economic chief said, if republicans control congress, they will immediately move to cut the larger entitlements, probably next year. in budget after budget republicans have made their plan perfectly clear. add trillions to the deficit with their g.o.p. tax scam for the rich and then use those deficits to justify slashing medicare, medicaid, and actually disability benefits for people on social security. adding $2 trillion to the debt with the first tax scam, putting forth a budget that would again cut millions of dollars back for seniors and hardworking americans. they want to do it again. don't take it from me. a aarp wrote a letter to congress yesterday to warn against the grievous damage that would be done by the second phase of republicans' deficit exploding tax scam. they wrote, we have grave concerns about h.r. 6760, aarp is troubled by the further negative effect of this bill will have on the nation's ability to fund critical priorities, they said. and they then said the joint committee on taxation estimates that h.r. 6760 will reduce federal revenue by approximately $631 billion over the 10-year budget window. this is in addition to the 1.5 trillion reduction in revenue over the 10-year budget window. revenue. revenue that can be used for investment. think of what we could have done with those resources to build the infrastructure of america. to a small piece of it to address the pension crisis in america. the recognition that ininvestigationments in education with the best investments we can make because nothing brings more to the treasury than investments in education and instead we have the aarp goes on to say additional increases of this magnitude will lead to calls for great spending cuts which are likely to include cuts for medicare, medicaid, and other important programs serving older americans. the letter concludes aarp -- t support h.r. 677 o 6770. they give this trach -- tax break to give bone bohnouses. that's good if you worked there a long time, gout a bonus. it didn't add to your base salary which would have been the important increase for people to make. one estimate by goldman sachs was that there would be, following this former tax bill, $1 trillion in buybacks. in other words, corporations buying back their stock. not investing in their work force. not recognizing that their success depends on the productivity of the work force. and that any increase in productivity should also include an increase in the wages of the workers. but instead increase the compensation for the c.e.o. it's shameful. to conclude on that point, there is a better way to do this. that could have been, instead of as they did with the first tax scam, now this one, the first one, in the dark you of night in the speed of light, putting forth a bill that they almost didn't even know what they were voting for. did a grave injustice to our nation for what it deprives us by giving us these tax breaks at the high end. there is a way to do it. mr. neal has suggested over and over again, let's see what we have done before. ronald reagan, tip o'neill, 1986, almost a year of hearings and transparency and openness for the public could see and people could understand what it meant to them in their lives. instead, they just go into those rooms, say how can we, how can we, how can we milk the public? how can we exploit the taxpayer to the to it the debt. it's shameful. like st. augustine said, unless a government is formed to promote justice, it's just a bunch of thieves. we're robbing from our children's future with this national debt. we're robbing from the participation in the full benefits of our prosperity, of our workers in our country. we're robbing our nation's ability to be itself, to make america good again. in doing so, to again have people have financial stability in their lives so that they can be entrepreneurial, so that they can take risk, so that they can invest in their children's future. it's not only good for the individual taxpayer or person in our country. it's good for our country because it makes us competitive in the world with our values and with our economy. with that i urge a no vote and yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. gentleman from texas. mr. brady: i would note average middle class family in the 12th district of california will see a tax cut of $5,508 each year. proud to yield two minutes to it a key member of the ways and means committee, the gentleman from ohio, dr. wenstrup. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. wenstrup: thank you, mr. chairman. i find it interesting that i keep hearing the tax reforms were for the rich. the only phone calls i got complaining about our tax reform were from the rich. i had one gentleman call me and actually say, for those of us with three or four homes, this is going to kill us. are you kidding me? you keep saying this is a tax break for the rich. they are the only ones complaining to me. but as a former small business owner, can i tell you how difficult it is to plan for the future. when you sit down to look at your company's finances, you may be worried about paying your employees' salaries or making rent on time. so many in this body historically have never run a business. yet they have historically done a very good job of running some businesses into the ground. the last thing any business owner wants to think about is, i wonder what the federal government is going to do to my taxes, five, 10, 15 years from now. constant incertainty does not work for the american people. high taxes don't work for the american people. people want to keep their money. the house of representatives is prepared to remedy these concerns for many years to come. the protecting family and small business tax cuts act of 2018 that is on the floor today as part of tax reform 2.0 would make lower tax rates for all income levels permanent. critically this bill permanently extends a major deduction for pass-through businesses which make up most of the small businesses in the u.s. this is significant peace of mind for the barbershop in town, for your neighbor's lawn care business, for your garage, to main street start-ups, and millions of business streams that are for now still dreams. mr. speaker, we now have one of the most competitive tax codes on the globe. let's make certain that we keep it it that way. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: might i inquire of the distinguished chairman how many more speakers that he has? we're prepared to close on this side when the chairman deems it appropriate. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman reserve. mr. neal: reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. brady: mr. speaker, very proud to introduce one of the three original lead sponsors of this tax bill, the gentleman from north carolina, mr. meadows. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman is recognized for what amount of time? mr. brady: three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: three minutes. mr. meadows: i rise today in support of the pro-growth, pro-family, and pro-small business reforms and tax reform 2.0 led by my good friend, chairman brady. i want to say a special shout out to him. but also to the ways and means staff. let me just tell you a lot of times we take credit for things that are done, but it is the staff that has done not only a yeoman's job, but an outstanding job in doing this shout out to representative rodney davis, the bill's sponsor, who believes that it's a good thing to give more of the taxpayers' money back to them. you have heard arguments on the floor today, mr. speaker, all about revenue. and about what this needs to do. but the revenue that we're talking about is actually the hardworking wages of men and women on wane street. it's their money. and i have -- on main street. it's their money. i have been around this place too long. i would rather trust a mom and dad on main street to spend their money more wisely than any spenders here in washington, d.c. it's time that we give it back. since we signed the last tax bill, the largest in american history, the economy has been booming. unemployment is at a 50-year low. new job openings are setting record base. we're increasing wages. consumer confidence, mr. speaker, is at its highest level in decades. and while these strong numbers continue to roll in, congress needs to it act to make sure that we're more resolved than ever to make these tax cuts permanent. we talk about a vibrant economy. 4.2 g.d.p., according to some sources now at 4.4. when we look at that g.d.p. growth, economic growth, it means increased wages, job security and that's what we need to make sure that we put back on the docket today. i ask my colleagues opposite to vote for that, vote for the men and women on main street. they may call this tax reform 2.0, but whey call this is actually making sure that we're responsible in washington, d.c. to give the money back to its rightful owner which is we the people. now this indeed makes the tax cuts for individuals permanent but it also gives a whole lot of options for families saving for education and those savings accounts. it encourages small business development. it is time, mr. speaker, that we act on behalf of those that are doing all the hard work here in america. those small businesses and men and women on main street that deserve a break from washington, d.c. so with that, i'd like to thank chairman brady and rodney davis for their leadership and also look forward to working with them to deliver these tax cuts and make sure they're permanent. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: i'm prepared to close if that consistent's with the chairman's position. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm still trying to sort the commentary of one of the previous speakers who said he took a call from somebody who said, i have three or four homes and i'm not getting enough in this tax bill. that's the point of this. he doesn't need any tax relief. that's the very example we've been highlighting throughout this morning. three or four homes an they're complaining they didn't get nough? this bill was bad on policy and it was bad on procedure. not one hearing on this legislation, not one witness, so two tax bills totaling $3 trillion of debt all borrowed money with the promise of higher interest rates coming from the federal reserve board and they're suggesting that that poor fellow who must be speaking on the grates with three or four homes needs more tax relief. that's what this was about. the party of fiscal rectitude has now added $3 trillion of borrowed debt to provide a tax cut for that struggling individual who has three or four homes. now they want to give him enough or her enough to maybe get to five or six homes with the tax bill. only someone who believes perhaps in the argument of big foot would then conclude that that individual needs tax relief. every mainstream economist who has spoken about the debt in this -- and this by the way costs $631 billion this morning with what they're about to do, borrowed money added to the debt, added to our children's responsibilities and our grandchildrens' -- our grandchildren's responseabilities and to make matters worse this represents a long-term threat now to social security and medicare. because they're going to come back and say well the debt is so high that we have to cut social security and we have to cut medicare. they should back away from the mistake they're making this morning. go back to some hearings, go back to some process, barack obama was at 28% on the corporate rate. we could have found a common point of agreement on. this this sham is a reckless tax cut for that poor individual who has three or four homes. but at the same time and same all -- simultaneously they leave behind the hardworking individuals of this country. yield -- i yield become. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. brady: i yield myself as much time as i may consume. may i ask how much time is left? >> the gentleman has four minutes remaining. mr. brady: thank you, mr. speaker. i would note that the average middle class family in my good friend mr. neal's district back home in massachusetts will see a tax cut of nearly $2,000 each year. so let's fact check a couple of these claims. not at this time, my friend. let's fact check a few things. starting with my friend mr. neal's point about dr. wenstrup's call that gentleman was complaining he didn't get enough tax cuts he said his taxes would go up significantly an he's correct. because under the tax cuts and jobs act this relief goes to middle class families and low income families working their way up. in fact, after the tax cuts an jobs act, millionaires in america who used to shoulder 19% of the tax burden now will shoulder 20% of the tax burden. they will carry more because this tax reform was designed for middle class working families. earlier today we heard our respected democrat leader say many things including that the g.o.p. tax cuts provide at least $1.3 trillion tax breaks for corporations. fact check -- factcheck.org says that claim is misleading. in fact, 1.5 -- in fact $1.5 trillion, other $1 trillion is for individual tax cuts. leader pelosi said 86 million middle class families will see a tax increase. "washington post" gai her two pi folk owes saying almost every u.s. tax -- gave her two pinocchios, saying almost every u.s. taxpayer will get a tax break. a democrat lawmaker said republicans don't support tax cut for anyone but the rich. po lit fact gave that a pants on fire. chuck schumer said companies are laying off american workers, plit fact said that's mostly false. -- ornia assemblyman said senator claire mccaskill said for uts won't be helpful most people and "the washington post" gave her two pinocchios. said it's flat wrong. of course dozens of democrats continue to state 80% of all tax breaks go to the 1%. factchecks doirling misleading. it cites projecks for 2027. the only way that will be true if you vote no today. if you vote yes, these middle cls tax cuts are permanent. you heard today scare tactics about the impact to social security and medicare. we cite the joint economic committee that shows the congressional budget office said the medicare trust fund solvency improved after tax reform. the tax reform strengthened the major funding source for medicare trust fund, americans leaving disability for job due to a stronger economy will improve medicare solsen -- is solvency and the numb of uninsured americans fell after tax reform ended the individual mandate. the final point, let's talk about debts and deficits. this is a pleasant surprise to hear our democrats suddenly concerned, they weren't under president obama when they doubled the national debt. they added $ trillion in just one year. they were -- i'm not going to talk about sailors who drink. i'll just say this. democrats were concerned, didn't care about deficits when they were spending your money. now that you're spending your money, all of a sudden everything has changed. the truth of the matter is, who do you trust? washington to spend your money or you and your family? i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. members are reminded not to engage in permits toward the senators. all time for debate has expired. the question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. third reading. caller: a bill to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to make permanent certain provision os they have tax cuts and jobs act affecting vins, families, and small businesses. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from connecticut seek recognition? >> i have a motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: is the gentleman opposed to the bill? >> in its current form. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the motion. caller: mr. larson of connecticut moves to recommit the bill back to the committee on ways and means. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will suspend. a point of order is reserved. the clerk will read. caller: with instructions to report the same back to the house forthwith with the following amendment. add at the end the following new title. title 3, effective date. section 3, short title. this title may be cited as the protect medicare and social security trust funds kt of 2018. section 301 effective date. notwithstanding any other provision of this act new york provision of this act or any amendment made thereby shall take effect unless an until the cheaf actuaries of the medicare hospital insurance fund and old age and survivor insurance insurance trust funds have certified the enactment of this act will not harm these trust funds. such shall be based on widely agrowed on economic theory and accepted models of distribution and growth. the speaker pro tempore: purr soothe -- pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from connecticut is recognized for five minutes in support of his motion. mr. larsen: mr. larson: i want to say straightforwardedly to my colleagues on the other side, this is as straightforward and simple as it can be. nothing in this bill can take effect unless and until the chief actuaries have certified this that -- that this bill will do no harm to medicare and social security. ow, unlike members of congress who have a pension plan, who have a thrift savings plan, who also have social security, for one third of all seniors in this country, they rely on social security alone. for 2/3 of all seniors, that's your mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and friends and family, 90% of their income comes from social security. 10,000, 10,000 baby boomers become eligible for social security every single day. and yet as mr. neal pointed out, the lack of hear the lack of any substantive debate on social security and medicare has been nonexistent. i'd like to submit for the ecord a letter from robert greenstein of the center for budget policies and i think it bears listening to so you get a full understanding and impact of what happens when this so-called tax reform bill takes effect and it's -- and its burden is struck squarely on the people who are in most need at the time. he says, we have to think the legislation would cost roughly $2.9 trillion over 2026 to 2035, the first full decade it would be in effect. the revenue loss would come at a time when the bay be boom generation will be retiring in large numbs. causing medicare and social security's costs to rise considerably. indeed, when this bill kicks in in 2026 is the first year in which all members of the baby boom generation including the youngest will be eligible to draw social security retirement funds. it's also the year in which those in that generation will turn 80. as we all know that's the time when they need medical attention the most and the time when the nation will desperately need these revenues. my republican colleagues are paying for this tax reform on the backs of american seniors, forcing devastating cuts to social security and medicare. under the guise of tax reform, trillions they are adding to the deficit is no accident. and cutting social security and medicare has always been the next step. news flash to my colleagues who refer to social security and medicare as an entitlement. it's not an entitlement. it's the insurance that people have paid for. working all their life. how do we know this? how do we know this america? all they have to do is check their pay stubs where it says fica. federal insurance contribution. whose? theirs. the hard working people of america. who understand that this is the insurance that they have paid for. this is what they need in life and at the very critical time when the full complement of baby boomers are retire they get burdened and saddled with this debt. i'd like to hope that our colleagues would at least listen to president trump. president trump who said, we're not going to hurt the people who are paying into social security their whole life and then all of a sudden they're supposed to get less? i hope our colleagues follow their president's lead and understand the vital importance of making sure in the only that we protect social security that we expand it at a time when it's most critical to all of them. it would be great if we ever have a public hearing on it. but i have a profound inclination to understand that when mr. neal is chairman of this committee, we will take this bill up. with that, i reserve my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman cannot the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman may not reserve his time of the gentleman yield back. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. brady: thank you, mr. speaker. i withdraw my -- the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. brady: mr. speaker, i seek to withdraw my reservation. pound of order. the speaker pro tempore: the reservation is withdrawn. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas vehicle recognition. mr. brady: i rise in opposition to the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. brady: you know washington, you know washington. you don't have an argument, just scare people. just frighten them to death. that will work. people are smart. when you calm down all the rhetoric and alt anger and outrage, what we know is this, the congressional budget office, isn't republican or democrat, it found the medicare trust fund solvency got better after tax reform. in fact, tax reform strengthened the major funding source for the medicare trust fund. now because wave more people, especially those disabled, going back to work, getting a job that they hoped for, in fact it's improving medicare solvency. that great big scare tactic just got fact checked. in fact, already this year federal government is receiving $105 billion more, mr. speaker, in payroll taxes, individual taxes, and those payroll taxes are what are the foundation of social security and medicare. the truth of the matter is as we look at this bill, both parties claim to be champions of hardworking taxpayers. let's check. so under this bill, a single mom working her way out of poverty permanently will see $1,700 more in her paycheck each year. democrats who vote no will steal that money back from that single mom. middle class family of two teachers in my district with two kids, under this bill, permanently will see a tax cut of $2,636. a no vote steals that money back from that family. that main street business working mom and pops working all hours, all weekend, all year, under this bill permanently they'll see a tax cut of $3,000 every year, and they can write off from their taxes that new competer, that new equipment, that new improvement to their store. a -- computer, that new equipment, that new improvement to their store. a no vote hammers main street businesses. this bill makes sure the doubling of the child tax credit is permanent. and millions more americans, middle class families, will get help raising their precious children. a no vote is to take that money back from those young parents. by the way, take back their tax-free savings for school and college for that childle as well. and, yes, in this bill we make sure seniors can write off more of their high medical expenses. some called it the cancer tax. a yes vote will help millions of seniors and millions of families with high medical bills more easily write those taxes off. a no vote is to deny american seniors, american families the ability to write off those taxes. obamacare, s to high out of pocket conditionses is now it the pre-existing condition. this bill makes sure we stand on the side of those seniors, whether they are battling cancer or some other medicine. at the end of the day, while someone say look, we need to raise the salt cap, let me just say this, that salt cap is a $10 tax cut for the middle class and $146,000 tax cut for millionaires. in other words, democrats who vote no say they just want more tax cuts for the rich. the fact of the matter is, states are seeing a $20 billion windfall. state governments and governors all they need do, don't pock that's money for their budget, pass it on to hardworking taxpayers. at the end of the day, revenues are up. payroll taxes are up. social security and medicare are strengthened. tend of the day who do you trust? who do you -- at the end of the day who do you trust? who do you trust with your hard-earned money. is it washington so they can spend it on their special interest? is it you? your family? your american dream? this bill is about making sure that we choose the american people. we choose you, the middle class families, we choose you, main street america to better use your money than washington does. and as we conclude, mr. speaker, aid like to thank our tax team led by barbara, our hief tax counsel, and randy, aaron, lauren, john, donald, victoria, john, and quentin for doing a remarkable job for us and for the american people. i urge a question on protecting tax cuts for individuals, middle class families, and small businesses. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. the question is on the motion. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. mr. larson: i request a roll call be taken. the speaker pro tempore: the noes have it. mr. larson: the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. a sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. the chair lays before the house an enrolled bill. the clerk: senate 1668, an act to rename waterway in the state of new york as the joseph sanford jr. channel. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which a recorded vote or the yeas and nays are ordered, or votes objected to under clause 6 of rule 20. the house will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time. for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition? mr. walden: mr. speaker, i move that the house suspend the rules and pass the resolution h.res. 1099. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the resolution. the clerk: house resolution 1099, resolution providing for the concurrence by the house and the senate amendment to h.r. 6, with an amendment. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from oregon, mr. walden, and the gentleman from new jersey, mr. pallone, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: thank you, mr. speaker. i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and insert heir remarks and extraneous materials in the record on the resolution. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. walden: mr. speaker, i have dozens and dozens of letters of support for this legislation. we're at 90 or 100 different letters of support from different groups. 124 it looks like that we'll enter in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. walden: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. walden: mr. speaker, i rise today in support of h.r. 6. this is the support for patients and communities act that your energy and commerce committee has worked on diligently for nearly two years. my own case in 10 round tables throughout oregon i have heard from everyday people on the frontlines of this fight in our communities. they are the victims, they are the families. they are medical providers and treatment advocates. they are local law enforcement. and they are first responders. they are our neighbors. they are our loved ones. each of these people puts a name and a face to what i would say is the worst drug epidemic we have seen in america, the opioid crisis. i have heard from oregon families, i have heard from mike and whinny from grants pass who have seen their loved ones struggle with addiction. mike's sister who died, she was a nurse, became addicted and overdosed. he told me that at a town hall in a community forum. their son struggles with his addiction to this day from a sports injury starting with opioids, ending with heroin. we'll never know what could have become of the 72,000 americans who died last year. every 24 hours, 1,000 people go to emergency rooms, overdosing from opioids. roughly 115 die. i heard it from paula, whose two sons and step sons struggle with their opioid addiction today. as a parent i can only imagine parents of children with opioid addiction must feel every time the phone rings. they think it may be that call. for the millions of people currently struggling with addiction, please know, don't give up. it's never too late to seek help. we stand with you. mr. speaker, this legislation is a product of months of bipartisan, bicameral work, eight house committees involved. think probably every member of this house, five senate committees, dozens and dozens members of congress. the faces we came to know, the parents and the children who they lost, amanda being one of them. beautiful young woman. talented. struggling with her issues. overdosed on heroin heavily laced with fentanyl. we're here for them, mr. speaker. we're here for our neighbors, for our loved ones who deal with this crisis every day of their life. and in the great joy and cause of those who lost. mr. speaker, with that i'll reserve the balance of my time because we're going to hear from a loft our members who put so much work into this. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you, mr. speaker much -- mr. speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. pallone: i rise today in support of h.r. 6, the support for patients and communities act. this bill is the product of many months of hard work by several committees in the house and senate. it's important that we pass this bill today as another step in addressing the opioid crisis that is ravaging every community in our nation. last year a a record 72,000 americans died of drug overdoses. that's about 200 people dying every day. this is a national crisis that is devastating families and this congress must act on. while this legislation will not solve every problem, i do believe it includes important policies that will help turn the tide of this tragic opioid epidemic. it will also improve treatment options for those battling other substance use disorders. i'm proud that h.r. 6 builds upon carea, the comprehensive addiction and recovery act, by including a provision channed by 3450 -- championed by my colleague, congressman tonko, that would allow registered nurses to treat patients for opioid abuse disorder. it gives nurse practitioners and physician assistants the authority to treat patients with it it permanently and codifies the 275 patient physician cap. this is a critical step in expanding access to the treatment of these drugs. one of the major challenges that we continue to face in the fight against this epidemic. mr. speaker, the legislation also expands access to coverage. it includes an important provision that i worked on with ways and means ranking member neal that expands medicare coverage of opioid treatment programs and medication assisted treatment. in the medicaid space, i'm pleased to see the inclusion of several democratic priorities. this bill requires state medicaid programs to cover all forms of medication assisted treatment, which plays a critical and lifesaving role in treating opioid use disorder. it provides grants to state medicaid programs to help increase the number of substance use disorder providers and services. it increases access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment for children and pregnant women covered by chip. it ensures former foster youth are able to keep their medicaid coverage across state lines up to the age of 26. and it improves the continuity of medicaid coverage for juveniles in the justice system. i'm also pleased that we have been able to improve upon the house-passed i.m.d. policy. this bill adds new safeguards to ensure that states continue to provide an adequate level of outpatient services and offer medication assisted treatment. it does this by making clear that this policy does not impact the more comprehensive efforts to provide care and i.m.d.'s that is ongoing in many states today. h.r. 6 also includes provisions from my legislation, the screen act, that will give the food and drug administration the ability to take action against illicit controlled substances coming in through international mail facilities across the country. f.d.a. will now be able to prohibit the importation of drugs by people who have repeatedly imported illicit drugs. it also allows the agent gi to cease dribble shun or recall controlled substances like opioids if they are endangering patients. these provision also provide f.d.a. expanded authority and capacity needed to more effectively combat the influx of deadly synthetic opioids like fentsal from reaching our shores through the mail in the first place. . it also provides stronger enforcement tools to go after bad actors taking advantage of the suffering of individuals combating adicks. there's one provision that's concerning and i do want to mention. it did not go through regular order and was not properly vetted. in fact it was added at the very last minute. that's a proposal by senator rubio to create a new criminal anti-kickback statute. to ow this is well intended punish those referring patients to fraudulent providers. this is an issue. but since the bill was introduced last tuesday night, multiple stake holders have raised concerns the language does not do what we think it does and may have unintended consequences. i hope this is a lesson to all of thause passing legislation that's not been properly vetted is unwise. i hope to get a commitment to work -- from chairman goodlatte and chairman wood yawl to work on that in coming months. these are all policies that have the potential to make an impact on this epidemic but our work sn't complete. this bill is an important step but i want to stress we have to do a lot more. the opiate crisis continues to get worse. a lot more needs to be done to provide treatment and expand the treatment infrastructure and more resources are needed to help the families and communitied impacted by this crisis. what we're doing today is helpful but not enough. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from arkansas. -- from oregon. mr. walden: i'm honored to recognize the distinguished chairman of the house ways and means, mr. brady, to speak on this for one minute. mr. brady: thank you, chairman walden and ranking member pallone for your work. the opioid crisis has impacted every community in america and robbed countless individuals of their full potential. we all know someone who lost a loved one because they were exposed to opioids and quickly addicted an we know sometimes from routine surgeries that didn't even need them. this can be prevented. that's why i rise today in support of h.r. 6. thises a bicameral, bipartisan, it address this is crisis by putting in place many commonsense measures to reduce the unnecessary prescription of opioids and get people treatment once they become addicted. i want to thank the ranking member, ways and means committee mr. neal, the ranking member of the health subcommittee mr. levin as well as leaders on our de and mr. roskam, mr. curbelo, mr. bishop for authorizing key provisions of h.r. 6. they'll save lives and heal communities. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon -- mr. walden spb i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is ecognized. >> i'd like to yield four minutes to the gentleman who work sod hard on this legislation, mr. neal. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. neal: i rise in support of h.r. 6. i want to acknowledge mr. pallone, mr. walden, mr. brady of the change of the wavepls committee for the work they offered on this as well. the opioid crisis is not a partisan issue. it's a health, safety, family, community issue. everybody in this chamber today has a family member or knows someone close to them who is connected to the opiate crisis. h.r. 6 represents the best of bipartisan and bicameral negotiation. this indeed is the way policy can and should be done. the bill includes a number of democratic priorities to expand treatment options for our neighbors, family members and friends suffering from on yat use disorders. it includes my bill with member pallone that would require medicare to cover opiate treatment programs so our nation's seniors might have more outpatient options for treatment. opiate use disorders are rapidly growing amongst medicare beneficiaries nand 13 states the highest rate of opioid related hospital stays is those over the age of 65. 24 would give access to a range of treatment options leading to more hope for long-term recovery. i'm also pleased that h.r. 6 includes the securing the international mail against on yats act which would help stop the flow of open yats through the united states. this legislation stems from the stop act, a bill i worked with mr. tiberi on before his retirement earlier this year and i want to commend the work in addition to trade subcommittee member pascrell for his work on this bipartisan legislation. while the bill before us is a step in the right direction, epidemic won't turn around overnight. it needs a thoughtful, long-term, sustainable approach. h.r. 6 represents the initial step in addressing this crisis but it cannot be the end. part of that long-term approach must include protecting and strengthening medicaid and the affordable care act. i want to take a moment to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their usual good work in this chamber for the weeks of hard effort they put in bringing this bill to fruition. the effort exemplifies bipartisan cooperation and particular thanks to house and senate legislative counsel who worked long nights and weekends to finish the bill. thanks a also to c.m.s. office of legislation and c.b.o. who played a critical role in finalizing the bill. this is a complicated issue and h.r. 6 won't solve the public health epidemic and its impact on society at the moment but it certainly is a good step i feel encourage all of us here in this chamber today and in congress to continue to work together to develop policy sloughs for members of our community who were suffering from this terrible epidemic and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentleman from oregon is recognized ms. walden: i yield to mrs. brooks for 30 seconds and concur in my colleague's recognition of the staff here. mrs. brooks: the opioid crisis continues to hit hoosiers hard. we haven't turned the tide yet. it's robbing the futures of americans never state in the nation. we must support those battling addiction. i've met with so many hoosiers battling addiction. i visited treatment centers and recovery houses like the lodge house for men. ohana house for women. i talked with addicts and those battling addiction with what's working and what's not working with different recovery options. passing this strong bipartisan before -- bill before us today is critically torrent important. it will help ensure more people have better access to treatment and -- thank you. and we can try and save more lives across this country. with that, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon continues >> i yield -- mr. pallone: i yield four minutes to mr. cummings. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. cummings: thank you, mr. pallone for yielding and for your great work on this legislation. i rise in support of provisions in this package re-authorizing and reforming the office of national drug control policy to improve coordination of our national response to the drug crisis. at my request, the bill creates a demand reduction coordinator position parallel to the existing interdiction coordinator. to strengthen demand reduction initiatives including efforts to expand treatment. among other critical reforms, this legislation also requires omdc fombings report whether drug control program agency budgets are adequate to achieve the goals of the national drug control strategy. it requires the compilation of a -- of essential data on overdoses, deaths and other information in a data dash board so the american people have a clear, accessible picture of the effectiveness of efforts to combat the drug crisis. i thank chairman gowdy, chairman meadows and vice ranking member connolly for working with me to develop legislation that will reform omdcp. i thank chairman grassley, ranking member feinstein, and senator cornyn for their leadership. let me also give special thanks to the committee staff and i must say to the majority and the minority staff, they did a phenomenal job working hard in conference and throughout this effort. without their extraordinary efforts, this legislation would not be in this package today. i close with a simple warning. there are a lot of people suffering. almost 198 people dying a day. a day. and those are the people who are dying. but there are a lot of people in the pipeline who are in so much pain they don't even know they're in pain. so while the provisions of h.r. 6 are important, without significantly expanding access to treatment and wrap dts around services through long-term, sustained, sustained funding, we continue to nibble at the edges of our national crisis and the crisis will continue to worsen. with that, i yield back and i thank the gentleman for yielding. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey continues to reserve. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: thank you, mr. speaker. it is my great honor and high privilege to recognize my classmate from the class of 1998 -- of 1998 and my dear friend from wisconsin, the speaker of the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. ryan: i rise today to talk about something that's really close to all our hearts. we have reached a point in this country where opioid overdose has claimed more than 100 lives each and every single day. think about that for a moment. more than 100 lives every day. mothers and fathers, burying sons and daughters. or in some cases sons and daughters burying mothers and fathers. i bring this up simply to impart the gravity of the situation which makes our response all the more urgent. while the situation is certainly grave, that does not mean we should ever lose hope. as we have worked on this legislation, we will soon send to the president, we all had to go out and gain this understanding. everybody on both sides of the aisle has spent so much time on this bill. in doing that, we have gleaned so much understanding. that is after all how our republic work. that's what the people's house does. we learn from our constituents, we hear their stories, we see the suffering. and then we act. and this is a fantastic moment of people coming together to solve a problem. and i think in this process we gain something very special. many of us heard the stories from incredible souls who have known unspeakable loneliness and who struggle with drug addiction. and they made it through to the other side. we met family members and friends who have known the pain and fear that accompanies loving someone wrestling with addiction. every one of us knows somebody or is related to somebody who has gone through this. and we met those who will never again have the chance to see the ones that they love so much. amid the overwhelming darkness, we have gotten to see their spark, their strength. from this pain has come something more powerful. resolve. resolve and passion to make sure that others have a safe place to turn. that this doesn't happen to their family. witnessing this kind of strength, witnessing this kind of resilience, that's what helps produce this legislation. through these bills we are trying to ensure that anyone who needs help is not too isolated to receive it. we are giving our communities the resources that they need to provide stronger treatment networks and support systems. that is where the healing happens. that is where americans are at our best. if this legislation can save one life, if this legislation can save one life, bring help to one person, that is what matters. it's going to do far more than that. so i want to thank all of those who are brave enough to share your stories with all of us. i want to thank all those people what all of us met with for being brave, for coming here, for meeting us, and just testifying and giving us your stories. and for all of those who are continuing to struggle in silence, i want you to know that there's no shame in your trials. in our own ways, we all fall. you know, in our catholic tradition we look to st. jude as the patron saint of lost causes. a keeper of those who in society are written off. to me, his guardianship is written into this legislation. there are no lost causes. no one is permanently down. it is about offering a helping hand, it's about opening our hearts. i'm very proud of this legislation and i am so thankful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who came together to put these families and to put these communities first. thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon continues to reserve. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. . mr. pallone: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from new york, mr. tonko. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. tonko: thank you to the gentleman for yielding. all across my district i have encountered stories of individuals and families whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the scourge of opioid epidemic. a father who lost his daughter too young and is pouring his grief into advocacy. a former neighbor and dad who left behind two young children. a young man who is walking the hard path of recovery and showing others how to do the same. these are the stories i hear day in and day out. they fill my heart. they fill my voice. and it is because of them that i'm so develop proud to cast a vote in favor of h.r. 6 today. it is my hope that this legislation will be another small step for our nation on s road to recovery from this epidemic. i am particularly proud that this bill incorporates legislation that i have introduced along with my good friend, representative ben ray lujan of new mexico which will provide a meaningful expansion to high quality addiction treatment by allowing additional health care providers such as nurse and midwives to prescribe a medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. in addition, this provision will make permanent the prescribing authority for nurse practition iters and physician assistants and allow certain providers to treat more patients in the first year of their license. these changes will make a big difference for individuals struggling from addiction across our country. especially in rural areas and for vulnerable populations lying pregnant and post paragraph tell -- postpartum women and 13,000 babies born each year with neonatal abstinence syndrome it. i want to highlight a the influential of my medicaid re-entry act into this bill which aims to improve care for individuals who are leaving jail or prison and re-entering a community setting. these individuals are highly vulnerable to opioid overdose due to lack of effective addiction treatment while incarcerated. by passing this legislation we will allow states to engage in demonstration projects to improve medical care and transition related services to medicaid eligible incarcerated individuals in the 30 days prior to their release. reducing the risk of overdoses individuals are coming back into the community for a second chance. i truly believe that this provision will transform lives. i thank ranking member pallone and chairman walden and their staffs for the continued efforts on this process without their dedicated bipartisan work, we would not be making this progress today. with that i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 6 and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: i now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from texas, the country's well served by his chairmanship of our subcommittee on health, dr. burgess. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. burgess: i thank the gentleman for yielding. mr. speaker, h.r. 6 is by far the most comprehensive legislation to address this national crisis. more work remains. i'm the first to admit it. but this provides meaningful solutions and vital resources for our states and localities. many of the priorities developed by the energy and commerce committee are included in h.r. 6, like 21st century tools for it pain and addiction treatment act, partially repealing the institutions for mental disease exclusion, and strengthening interagency coordination and our international mail facilities so that perhaps once and for all we can do something about this poison coming into our country from eastern asia to the detriment of our citizens. i believe h.r. 6 could have been stronger, it could have included a language aligning 42 c.f.r. part 2 with hipaa. that stand alone bill received 357 votes in this house and i promise you you will see it again. i am kearned about expanding perfect scripive authority for nonphysicians, and i hope we'll be able to look at that again in the future. but i cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. i urge our members to support this product today. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from oregon reserves. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield two minutes now to the gentlewoman from michigan, also a member of the committee, mrs. dingell. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for two minutes. mrs. dingell: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, ranking member pallone, for yielding. and chairman walden for your leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. i rise in strong support of h.r. 6, the support for patients and communities act. this is a critical first step in addressing the opioid epidemic. i have lived on all sides of this. i lived in a home with a father who was an opioid addict before anyone knew what it was. i had a sister who died of a drug overdose. and yet i also lived with a man who has a very serious chronic pain and needs opioids to live his life comfortably. we cannot let the pendulum swing too far in either direction, and we cannot be denying medication to those who need it it. i'm confident that this legislation strikes the right balance. this bill has four provisions which i authored included in it. the's research act which i co-sponsored with my friend, mr. upton, will spur innovative research into nonopioid pain medications at n.i.h. and will help lead the next big breakthrough and bring benefits to patients. we need nonaddictive pain drugs. i'm also pleased that jessie's law, which i have worked on for years with mr. walberg, this provision which is named after a young woman we lost far too soon, would require h.h.s. to establish best practices to ensure the medical professionals have full knowledge of their patients' opioid history. the safe dispose a.f.l. unused medication act fixes a critical ap in our laws by committing household employees to it destroy the opioids. finally i was pleased to work on language with to ensure that the welcome to medicare wellness examine includes review of the beneficiary's current opioid prescriptions and screening for potential substance use disorder. as we pass this legislation to combat this epidemic, which claims so many lives, we cannot forget the 25 million people who do live in pain. we cannot let the pendulum go either way. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired. the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: thank you, mr. speaker. it's my privilege to recognize the very effective chairman of our digital commerce and consumer protection committee, mr. latta of ohio, for 30 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. latta: i appreciate the gentleman for yielding. mr. speaker, i rise today in support of h.r. 6. this legislation will make a significant difference to ten its of thousands of americans who are strug itling with addiction. i'm pleased that my bill info act is part of the fight against the opioid crisis. the info act is essentially ensuring we're providing behavioral health professionals, advocates, and families with the tools, resources, and funding information they need to event, identify, and treat addiction. with 190 americans dying every day -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. latta: mr. speaker, i yield back. i thank the gentleman for yielding. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from oregon reserves. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield two minutes to the ranking member of our health subcommittee, mr. green. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. green: thank you, mr. speaker. i thank my ranking member for yielding to me. i rise in support of the support for patients and communities act. bipartisan legislation that will help stem the tide against the nation's opioid crisis and support americans overcoming opioid addiction. in 2016 alone, 42,000 americans died from opioids, including prescription pain relievers, opioid like fentanyl. this has affected public health, social and economic welfare of communities throughout our great country. the energy and commerce health subcommittee which i proudly serve as ranking member has held several hearings on the opioid crisis this last spring. i'm proud to see our committee and both chambers of congress come together and support the package before us today that includes a comprehensive opioid recovery centers act that i introduced along with my friend, representative guthrie of kentucky earlier this year. this legislation would fund designated treatment centers where americans suffering from opioids abuse can receive competitive patient centered care. our bill would allow designated treatment certainties to provide wrap around services, including mental health counseling, recovery housing, job training, and reintegration into the work force. thee services have shown to help many americans successfully overcome addiction. the support for patients and communities act includes several provisions to combat this crisis, including strengthening the federal government's authority to restrict illegal drugs entering our country and providing medicaid for our at-risk youth and foster children. i ask my colleagues to join me in support this important legislation. mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the chair will receive a message. the messenger: mr. speaker, a message from the senate. the secretary: mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: madam secretary. the secretary: i have been directed by senate to inform the house that the senate has passed s. 3354, an act to amend the missing children's assistance act, and for other purposes. in which the concurrence of the house is requested. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i now am privileged to recognize the gentleman from new jersey, mr. lance, for 30 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for 30 seconds. mr. lance: mr. speaker, i rise in strong support of h.r. 6, which cliffers greater resources, treatment -- delivers greater resource, treatment, and tools to fight opioid addiction. i'm pleased that a bill i sponsored related to infectious diseases is included in the final package. i commend congressman joe kennedy from massachusetts for being my lead co-sponsor on this part. i feckshuss disease complicate the lifelong path toward addiction recovery. h.r. 6 is one of the most important measures to pass this congress. it should be supported unanimously. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from oregon reserves. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: mr. speaker, can i inquire as to how much time remains on each side? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey has three minutes remaining. mr. pallone: i yield one minute to the gentleman from new mexico, mr. lujan. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. lujan: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today in support of h.r. 6, the support for patient and communities act. this is an important step forward in the fight against the nation's opioid epidemic. however this congress must acknowledge that this is not the end. health care is a right, not a a a privilege. there is much more work to do to ensure that families get the help that they deserve. i'm pleased that this package includes language that i championed to address gaps in prevention and gaps in access to treatment. in addition, this bill will create pathways to behavioral health care jobs in communities like new mexico. but still congress must do more. as we have heard from representative cummings, this is going to take much more money, investment, and comprehensive legislation. i thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i'm privileged to recognize the gentleman from kentucky, mr. guthrie, for 30 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. guthrie: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in support of the support for patients and communities act. one of the main things i hear back home is how our nation's ongoing opioid crisis has hard will i affected either themselves, their loved oneser, or their community. mothers, fathers, children, bankers, dentists, bus drivers, high school athletes niven can fall victim to this disorder. that's why i'm proud to work with my colleagues to -- for the support for patients and communities act so we can help these people suffering from this terrible ack democrat -- epidemic. i urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation so we can deliver to those communities. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from oregon reserves. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: mr. speaker, i yield myself the one minute. before we conclude debate, let me take a moment to thank it everyone for all their hard work getting this bill across the finish line. this bill represents a collection of member ideas and policies across the political spectrum. many people may not know this, but the staff from the house and senate committees negotiated this bill in matter of weeks. that's no small feat. it took a lot of efforts, long hours, and weekend work to pull this off and a it's a product we can be proud of. let me thank legislative counsel for their efforts as well. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: thank you, mr. speaker. i'd like to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from florida, mr. bilirakis, to speak about the legislation. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. bilirakis: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, mr. chairman. the support for patients and communities act is the product of a year of hearings and investigation into america's opioid crisis. . i'm proud we included my legislative efforts to help medicare beneficiaries and address the problem of patient brokering. we need to pass this bill and give our constituents the help they need. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey. mr. pallone: i continue to reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: i would like to recognize mr. johnson from ohio. mr. johnson: this is months of tireless work driven by stories by lives were destroyed. i'm grateful for the hard work of our colleagues and proud that my legislation to improve how health professional students are taught to recognize, prevent ap address and spapped the availability of health care for those struggling with addiction is included. i'm looking forward to continue the hard work on this issue. and i urge support for the bill and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon reserves. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: i continue to reserve. i'm not sure i have any more speakers. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: we have a number. we'll work through them. i would like to recognize dr. on our committee. >> i rise in support of this bill. this will help our communities to combat the epidemic to improve care for those in need which i n 2002 authored would provide screening for chronic pain and increase early detection of opioid use disorder and i am proud to have worked with my colleagues on solutions to this epidemic and i urge support of h.r. 6 and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: mr. speaker, i assume the gentleman is reserving? i recognize the gentleman from michigan, mr. walberg. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. walberg: and mr. speaker, i rise today in strong support of this bipartisan package to address the opioid crisis devastating our communities. this legislation includes two provisions authored by myself and good friend debbie dingell. one will dispose of unused drugs and prevent their diss petitioner in the community and will help prevent future overdose tragedies. this legislation will help save and rebuild lives. urge passage today and look forward to advance it to the president's desk. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: i recognize our resident pharmacist, the gentleman from georgia, mr. carter, for 30 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. carter: i would like to thank chairman walden and chairman burgess to work with our partners across the aisle to come to on consensus to combat the opioid epidemic. i have seen families saved by paying medications and seen families torn apart. since this body began tackling the opioid epidemic, there are prevention, law enforcement and treatment. this legislation teaches all three prongs with a number created solutions in addition to solve the public health crisis. this package is not a silver bullet but we need to do everything in our capacity to prevent the addiction and overdoses that occur every day in the united states. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: i recognize the gentleman from illinois, mr. roskham. mr. roskam: what a joy it is to be on the floor today. what a joy it is to be amongst a group of people that have set aside partisanship and come together to address a crisis that crushing our constituents. what a joy it is to be a part of a process and among a group of people that are trying to find common ground. this is a good day, mr. speaker. there's good work that is happening. i chair the health subcommittee and it was incredible to see the work that that subcommittee did in the ways and means committee. i strongly endorse this bill and i urge its passage and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: i'm honored to recognize the gentleman from minnesota who has worked so hard on these issues, mr. paulsen, for 30 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. paulsen: i'm excited to support this legislation. it's bipartisan and the people that will be helped on the front lines and aid millions of american families that are affected by this epidemic and includes a bipartisan measure that will prevent opioid addiction among seniors by giving them alternative pain management and treatments and the proper safe disposal, helping more than 90,000 at-risk seniors. less addiction, fewer overdoses and safer minnesota communities. i thank the chairman for yielding time and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: i recognize the gentleman from ohio, mr. renasty. mr. renacci: i rise in support of this legislation which includes the strengthening. the opioid epidemic has hit my home state of ohio with thousands of them diing of drug overdoses and h.h.s. to combat traud, waste and abuse and prevent the overprescribing of opioids to vulnerable seniors. i thank members of this conference committee for including my bill in this package and hard work to pass legislation to address the opioid epidemic. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new jersey continues to reserve. mr. walden: could i inquire how much time each side has remaining. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon has 8 1/2 minutes. mr. pallone has 1 1/2 minutes. walled equaled i recognize distinguished the gentleman from michigan, mr. bishop. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. bishop: i rise in strong support of h.r. 6 which will make great strides toward ending the opioid crisis. i'm pleased this package includes the stop act which is targeted to stop fentanyl from enter inour country through international mail systems. i thank all the parents, educators, law enforcement, emergency response personnel, health care professionals, victims who have been working with me to ensure this legislation gets signed into law. and i want to thank my colleagues for their support. and i urge support for this bill. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey continues to recognize. mr. walden: few states have been harder hit than kentucky. i would like to recognize mr. barr for 30 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. barr: on behalf of the families on the commonwealth of kentucky who suffer with the third highest mortality rate, i thank the chairman on this. this legislation marks a critical investment to help individuals and families struggling with addiction rise aabove addiction and transition back into the work force. it includes my legislation the career act, which creates a demonstration program to have transitional housing that work force training and job placement. i thank the many nonprofits for sponsoring this legislation and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: could we get order in the house, mr. speaker. i would like to recognize mr. .arr leta -- barletta his thoughts on it and been a real leader. mr. barletta: i rise today in support of h.r. 6 which includes my bill. the appalachian region has an overdose 65% higher than the rest of the country for people ages 15-64. my legislation will allow communities to use regional commission funding for everything from attracting doctors to putting in broadband for telemedicine and will spur economic growth to communities hit hardest and helping those struggling with addiction by breaking down barriers to employment. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: from california, my my walters is recognized for 30 seconds. >> i rise in support of h.r. 6 modeled after my bill, the i.m.d. care act. the repeal was part of this final agreement because increasing patient options is essential in our fight against the opioid epidemic. the orange county board of supervisors agree that the end . splution act can overdose deaths in orange county. i urge my colleagues to address this public health crisis. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields. the gentleman from new jersey resevers. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. pal mrs. den: i recognize walorski. mrs. walorski: i rise in support of the includes my name named for dr. todd graham. with this legislation we can build on his legacy treating patients for their pain and underlying causes. we are taking arbitrations and give our communities better tools to prevent and treat addiction. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: i would like to recognize the gentleman from michigan, mr. mitchell, for 30 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mitchell: thank you, mr. chairman. i rise today in support of h.r. 6. the opioid crisis has impacted every community in order to effectively combat the crisis we must have a comprehensive response plan. this invudes a version of my amendment to track federal funding for drug control efforts and know where the money is being spent, how it's being used and if it's working. i support this bill and i ask my colleagues to do as well. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: mr. knight is coming from -- we have heard from doctor and family members and someone who has a distinguished career in law enforcement. mr. knight. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. knight: as a police officer and street cop in l.a., i have seen the problems that the opioid epidemic has done to our communities. it has literally destroyed families and hurt our communities to no end. h.r. 6 is a much needed display of bipartisanship to address the ongoing opioid crisis and epidemic. many of the issues that have come out of this development spur best practices for substance abuse recovery housing and incorporates my bill to establish meaningful penalties for profitting off of other people's pain. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentleman from oregon. mr. walden: i would like to recognize the gentleman from virginia, mr. brat, for 30 seconds to speak on the measure. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. brat: i rise today to thank chairman brady, chairwoman foxx for addressing opioid and substance disorders on h.r. 6. i'm grateful to my colleagues for treating this the urgency it deserves. this crisis has affected too many. and my bill recognizing early childhood trauma of 2018 was included in the final package before us today. thank you, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walden: i don't believe we have any other speakers of our side of the aisle. i would reserve and recognize my colleague for -- and then i'll close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: i urge support for this legislation. it is a good bill. it expands access in a number of ways and coverage. but i do want to point out there are limitations to the bill. we do need to do a lot more. for example, we still have an expanded medicaid coverage in many states and medicaid coverage is crucial in terms of providing treatment. and the bottom line is that the treatment infrastructure in our country is very much inadequate. many people really do not have access to treatment in many parts of the country including my home state. i want to close by urging everyone to support this bill because it does do a lot and at the same time we have a lot more to do if we are going to address this opioid crisis which is getting worse than better. with that, i yield back. . the speaker pro tempore: gentleman from oregon is recognized. mr. walledin: -- mr. walden: thank you, mr. speaker. i want to thank our staffs on both sides of the aisle for incredible work. they have worked day and night and through the weekend. the folks at the congressional budget office and legislative counsel. especially for our team, josh, kristen, caleb, dan, jay, and j.p., daniel, adam, melissa, ryan, peter, and the whole team at energy and commerce on both sides of the aisle. we worked through a lot of difficult issues. issues where we didn't start on ott same side butted on the same page. as we listened to each other, listened to our constituents at home. there's seldom times when you're legislating that you can say what you're doing will actually save lives. this is one of those times. what we're doing here today, my colleagues and friends, is saving lives. we will lift people out of addiction who are trapped there today. we will prevent people from ending up in that emergency room because they overdosed, because maybe they will find a better path. we will go after those who perpetrated this on the country and after those who tried to smuggle in the illicit synthetics and fentanyls cut with heroin and kill our people. so today's effort is about people like amanda who left this world tragically at a very young age through an overdose. it's about her parents. it is about mike and whinny. it's about paula. it's about their sons. his sister. it is about a woman i met who had had to travel five hours to find a physician who could oversee her treatment because nobody in the community was available. we helped fix that in this legislation. it's about my friends at winding waters and enterprise oregon who i was with last week, the sheriff and others who talked about the continuing problems and challenges they face and who have given me great guidance on these and other issues. one end of my district to the other, from one end of our country to the other, we have all listened, we have all heard, we have, frankly, cried as we heard the stories of parents who help their children through addiction only to drop them off at college and a matter of days later retrieve a body. that's what brings us together here today. it is their stories that are woven deeply into this legislation. it is because of them that we will make a difference and we will do it right and we will know as we pass this today in the senate after us that more work does remain to be done. we're on a journey together, though. and we will find solutions. mr. speaker, i thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. i thank our staffs. i thank the american people who have reached out to us. counseled us. and helped us. and with that i urge my colleagues to strongly support passage of the support act for patients and for communities. h.r. 6 needs to become law and it will shortly. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and agree to house resolution 1099. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative -- mr. walden: mr. speaker, i 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. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20 , further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20 , furtherings -- proceedings will resume on questions previously postponed. votes will be taken in the following order. the motion to recommit on h.r. 6760, passage of h.r. 6760, and the motion to suspend the rules and adopt house resolution 1099. the first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. remaining electronic votes will be conducted as five-minute votes. the unfinished business is the question on agreeing to the motion on h.r. 6760 offered by the gentleman from connecticut, mr. larson, on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will designate the motion. the clerk: motion to recommit on h.r. 6760, offered by mr. larson of connecticut. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on agreeing to the motion to recommit. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a 15-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned 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 226, the nays e 180 -- on this vote, the yeas are 184. the nays are 226. pursuant to house resolution 1084, yeas and nays are ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned 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 220, the nays are 191. the bill is passed. without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. he house will be in order. the house will be in order. members are asked to please take their conversation off the floor. he house will be in order. for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to speak out of order for the purpose of making a scheduling announcement. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the gentleman is recognized. mr. mccarthy: members are advised that votes are no longer expected in the house during the weeks of october 1 and october 2018. -- and i'd also like to make another announce pt. today is the one-year anniversary of our friend, majority whip steve scalise, returning to kuok after the attempt on his life. -- returning to congress after the attempt on his life. i will not forget the day of that shooting. many of you may know steve did not know at that moment, but kevin brady, patrick and i, sitting with the doctor, waiting for jennifer to arrive, we celebrate him coming back but we didn't know that he was even going to make it. steve and i have been friends for 20 years, long before we entered this floor. but steve always had the strength and cuverage and this is the example for a public servant and for all of us and i'm so glad that steve is back with us and i yield back. i yield. i will yield. mr. hoyer feather i'll ask the majority lead aeroquestion to make sure we understand the schedule but before i do that, i want to join the majority lead for the saying how pleased we are that steve scalise not only came back but is making such a positive contribution to the congress of the united states. i want to say to steve that when he came back , he gave one of those talks that i will always remember. his gratitude for the care of so many people around the world for a member of our body and i want to thank him for his friendship and working together. hopefully we'll continue to do so, hopefully in a very constructive way for the american people. but welcome back and god bless you and we wish you a full, full recovery. we don't want you to be too strong, we want you strong. and with that, mr. leader, we were talking on this side, it appeared you said we weren't going to be here next week or the week after. is there a possibility from that that we may be here during the onth of october? mr. mccarthy: no. november 13 is the first time we'll come back. hopefully we'll come back in the same order we leave. mr. hoyer: we look forward to being back on november 13. thank you very much. mr. mccarthy: i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. without objection, five-minute voting will continue. the unfinished business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from oregon mr. walden to suspend the rules and pass house resolution 1099 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will report the title of the resolution. the clerk: house resolution 1099 providing for concurrence of the house in the senate amendment to h.r. 6. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, will the house suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.] the speaker pro tempore: the yeas are 393, the nays are 8. 2/3 being in the after fivetive, the the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair lays before the house a communication. the clerk: the honorable, the speaker, house of representatives, sir, on september 27, 2018, pursuant to section 3307 of title 0 united states code, the committee on transportation and infrastructure met in open session to consider 19 resolutions including in the general services administration capital investment and leasing programs. the committee continues to work to reduce the costs of federal property and leases. 19 resolutions considered and two 1 alteration $700 uction and represent million in savings. i have enclosed copies of the resolutions adopted by the committee on transportation and infrastructure on september 27, 2018. signed sincerely, bill shuster, chairman. the speaker pro tempore: referred to the committee on ppropriations. for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the committees on oversight and government reform, financial services, agriculture, house administration and the judiciary be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 6870 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. h.r. 6870, a bill to rename the stop treating on congressional knowledge act of 20123 in honor of representative louise mcintosh slaughter. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to consideration of the bill? without objection the bill is engrossed and read a third time and without objection. >> i ask unanimous consent that the committee on oversight and government reform be discharged from further consideration of its 5791 and ask for immediate consideration in the house. the clerk: h.r. 5791 a bill to designate the facility of the united states postal service loathed at 9609 south university plfled in highlands ranch, cole sheerlock.ty sheriff the speaker pro tempore: without objection the bill is engossed passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on oversight and government reform be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 5792 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: a bill to designate the facility of the united states postal service loathed at 90 north fourth avenue in brighton illinois as the deputy sheriff gum post office. >> i have an amendment at the desk. lerk clerks detective heat mcdonald gum. >> i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. without objection, amendment is agreed to. the bill is engrossed, read a third time, passed and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. without objection, the title is amended. >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on oversight and government reform be discharged for further consideration of h.r. 6780 and ask for consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 6780 a bill to designate the facility of the united states postal service loathed 7521 as the major o'keefe post office building. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the bill. the bill is engrossed and read a third time and passed. for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent that the committee on oversight and government reform be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 6591 and ask for consideration in the house. the clerk: a bill to designate the facility of the united states postal service loathed at 501 south kirkland road as the knapp ford post office building. the speaker pro tempore: the a third ngrossed, read time, passed and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to take from the speaker's table the bill s. 3354, missing children's assistance act of 2018 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the clerk: senate 3354 an act to amend the assistance missing children's and for other purposes the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the bill is read a third time and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on he table. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on education an work force be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 6014, a bill to re-authorize the family violence prevention and services act, and i ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: a bill to re-authorize the family violence prevention and services act. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the bill? without objection the bill is read a third time and pass and this emotion to reconsider is laid on the table. frup does the gentleman seek recognition >> i ask unanimous consent to ke if the speaker's table s. 3509 congressional reward program of 2018 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: an act to re-authorize the congressional award act. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the bill? without objection the bill is read a third time and pass and the motion to reconsider is laid n the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on education and the work force be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 6964, juvenile justice reform act of 2018, and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 6964, a bill to re-authorize and approval the juvenile justice and delinquency act of 1984 and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the bill? without objection, the bill is engrossed, read a third time and passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to take from the speak ears table senate bill 2269 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: senate 2269 an act to re-authorize the global foods security act of 2016 for five additional years. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration othey have bill? without objection, the bill is read a third time and pass and the motion to reconsider is laid n the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on the judiciary be discharged from further consideration of s. 2152 -- and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. e clerk: senate 2152, an act to amend united states code to provide for victims of this child pornography and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman -- seek recognition? >> i have abamendment at the desk. the clerk: strike all after the -- >> ask unanimous consent to dispense with reading of the amendment. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the bill is agreed to, the amendment is passed and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. frup does the gentleman rise? >> i ask unanimous consent that the committee on the you dishary, homeland security be discharged from further consideration of s. 1311 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of he bill. the clerk: an act to provide assistance in abolishing human trafficking. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the considering of the bill? for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition? >> i have an amendment at the deffing. the clerk: strike all that follows -- >> i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment. the clerk: without objection the reading is dispensed. with the bill is read a third time, passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laden the table. for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent that the committee on the judiciary, education, an the work force and foreign aware -- affairs be discharged from further consideration of s. 1312 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: an act to prioritize the fight against human trafficking in the united states. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the bill. for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition? >> i i have an amendment at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the amendment. >> i ask unanimous consent to adense with the reading of the amendment. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the dispensing with the reading of the amendment is agreed to. without objection the amendment is agrowed. to the bill is read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that that the committee on the judiciary be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 68 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 68. a bill to amend the omnibus crime control and safe streets act of 1968 to re-authorize the juvenile accountability block grant program and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the bill? for what purpose does the gentleman from pell seek recognition? >> i have an amendment at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will rereport -- report the amendment. >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading they have amendment. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the motion to dispense with the reading of the amendment is agreed to. without objection, the amendment is agreed to. the bill is engrossed, read a hird time, passed, and weather it is agreed to. for what purpose does the gentleman rise? >> i ask that the committee on the judiciary be discharge from further consideration of h r. 6896. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title. the clerk: h.r. 689 a bill to provide for the continued performance of the united states commission and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the bill? without objection, the bill is engrossed, read a third time, and pass and the motion to econsider is lid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous condition sent that when the house adjourns today it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on tuesday, october 2, 2018. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. the chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> i rise today to celebrate september being national recovery month. sponsored by the substance abuse and mental health services administration i encourage everyone to take this time -- to take time this month to reach out to those that they know are suffering or have suffered from mental and substance abuse dised orest. currently 115 people die every day from opioid abuse. mr. carter: clearly that's way too many and sadly only one example of types of mental abuse and substance abuse -- of mental disorders and substance abuse disorders in the united states. if you or anyone you know is struggling, there are resources available, including the suicide holtline, samsa's hotline and more. samsa.org has the phone numbers and more. with hard work, smart policy decisions, and a dedicated american public we can turn these numbers around. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from georgia yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from illinois seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for onemen. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> i rise today to thank a longtime staff member my longtime chief of staff aud rah wilson. after her years of service she's leaving my office to serve as new executive direct of the league of women voters in illinois. i first met aud rah in 2003 while serving as a state representative. she's been with my con yegsal staff if day one as my deputy chief of staff an district director, she played an important role in essential district programming and has skillfully managed our local district's task forces. she's also my constant plus one when i want to grab a bite of indian food. i congratulate aud a and her her daughter ally ava who will be my staff corrector in 2038. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek reck necessary? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. poe: one in four women will be experiencing domestic violence in their life. nearly three women are murdered by their spouses every day. this is violent america in our time. violence in the family unit. these crimes affect the spouse, the children, the quality of life of our community. the violence against women act, vawa, has helped women throughout our nation. life--- life-saving programs and resources have given victims a chance for a better life. my legislation to re-authorize the full funding of vawa through 2019 will help victims of violence and support groups that work with battered families. but congress has only extended vawa for tree months. women affected by domestic violence deserve better than more delay. standing up for victims is not a partisan issue. congress needs to fully fund and re-authorize the violence against women act because domestic violence victims are people too. and that's just the way it is. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas yields back. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from connecticut seek recognition? without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. delauro: the united states senate is about to embark on a misguided journey. how can there be a vote to place judge kavanaugh to a life-time point to the supreme court thunder cloud. to be sure a person is innocent until proven guilty but without a full and public hearing about the veratsity of these serious charges about sexual harassment a decision today to elevate judge kavanaugh to the supreme court it's as cut -- casts doubt on the entire process. allegations of sexual ha ratsment are serious charges an deserve serious consideration. the justices of the supreme court must demonstrate respect for law and for individual rights. dr. ugn the character of is not a lasey ford credible tactic. the american people deserve to know the truth. let us take time to uncover the truth. i gave this same exact speech on october 8, 1991. the only difference is -- differences were the substitution of clarnte thomas' name for brett kavanaugh's and anita hill's for christie blasey ford's. republicans attempted to censure me for that speech. history is repeating itself before our eyes an women are once again being ignored instead of being believed. we must do better than that in the united states of america and the united states congress. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition? without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to urge the senate to confirm judge brett kavanaugh. judge kavanaugh has a clear record as a thoughtful jurist who respects and will defend our constitution. those who have worked with him over the years and the him best strongly tetched his record as a good man who loves his family and our country. i am say shame wed find ourselves where we are today. it is shameful the way that judge kavanaugh has had his name smeared just as it is shameful that dr. ford has been used as a pawn in a political game. frankly heart hurts for both of them. mr. byrne: our government is only as good as the people who serve in it and i'm deeply concerned that this whole series of events will encourage fewer good men and women to take up the call of government service. thiser is circus must end. the senate should vote on judge kavanaugh, approve him to serve on the supreme court and allow our great country to move forward. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition? the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: first i'd like to join my friend from texas as the author of the violence against women act of 2018, i really encourage my colleagues to step up and pass this vital legislation that now protects all who have been abused in some way for sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking and yes, domestic violence. i'm saddened that the house has not seen fit to join this bill that i've authored with over 35 national nonpartisan groups and as well with over 150-plus member os they have united states congress. it is time now. finally, sitting in the united states senate listening to the hearings regarding judge kavanaugh and dr. ford, let me say that i hope our colleagues will yield not to pl tick -- politics but to the rule of law, adhere to the american bar to ciation that says pause, the the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time wits who took away their endorsement and realize we are not the important factor. s the weight of the supreme court that requires better. finally i'm delighted to note we're moving forward on jewell justice as we have done today, legislation i have authored and that we are working on behalf of the people. but again, mr. speaker, it is important in the united states senate that the rule of law and the constitution prevail. advise and consent must be fwiven with knowledge. the speaker pro tempore: the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend. without objection. >> i support my resolution h.res. 1088 a resolution recognizing september 29 as national urban wildlife refuge day. these are places for families to gather and enjoy the outdoors. communities can come together to preserve nature and places to inspire the next generation of hunters and andlers. i encourage all generations to 101 one -- one of the national wildlife refuges in the united states. i thank congressman jeffries to emphasize the value of our nation's wild life refuges. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition? without objection, the gentleman from rhode island is recognized for one minute. mr. langevin: i rise to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the wild and scenic rivers t signed into law october 2, 1968. this bill launched a movement and helped us recognize and protect the free-flowing rivers with and i quote, outstandingly remarkable characteristics. in rhode island and corner cut we have the branches of the wood and in cooperation with senator jack reed i introduced resolution to designate the 110 mile river system as as a wild and scenic river. after three years of intense study, the national park service found it has recreational opportunities and untouched wilderness. the study community association and all of those who volunteered their time to protect this river. i look forward to work with the national tral resources committee to complete this designation and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? >> address the house for one minute and revise and extend the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to congratulate mr. jim packs ton of the first district of kentucky on his retirement from the paducah sun newspaper. he rose through the ranks to serve as the editor and publisher. as he and his brtthers joined the packs ton family members who have led and managed media group, they expanded their operations into local television broadcasting and radio broadcasting, owning and managing 35 weekly and daily newspapers throughout the united states. their success is a testament to jim's pleff that local newspapers should focus on news from the community while striking the appropriate balance of state and national coverage. he has established a legacy as a public servant. he is widely percent perfected for his pursuit of meaningful journalism and i'm thankful for his friendship and guidance. as he gips the next phase of his life, i join with his family and friends and those he has impacted during his career to express our dedication and gattude for his contributions to western kentucky. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> i ask address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> mr. speaker, i rise to support h.res. 1088, a resolution recognizing september 29 as national urban wildlife refuge day authored by representative whitman, our bill became law. that bipartisan re-authorized the community partnership and education program for our national wildlife refuge system. we believe in the important taps of maintaining a system of wildlands throughout this great country. i am proud to join representative whitman in sponsoring this resolution to sponsor 101 national wildlife refuges. they experience natural beauty and help to mold the next generation of conservationists by providing learning experiences and cherished memories. refuges have a tremendous impact on communities all over america even in my hometown of brooklyn. we must proper text the wildlife and beautiful environment god has given america. urban refuges are essential in achieving that goal. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition? >> permission to address the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to thank the members of the michigan delegation and house of representatives for their support and unanimous passage of my legislation to rename the everton post office in honor of the late colonel alfred ash. he was born and raised in beaverton. in september of 1941 after graduating high school, he entered the army corps. he flew more than 70 migs over north africa and europe earning decorations while documenting his experiences to his girl friend and wife-to-be and continued to serve in the air force until 1968 and made contributions to military and civilian flight. his work took him away from michigan but he always kept his hometown in his heart. he funded a scholarship for students and proceeds from his memoir helped fund the beaverton activity center. father y said their helped face challenges. alfred ash was a great american and hometown hero for beaverton, michigan. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> permission to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman is recognized for one minute. ton tong during this session of congress, the house lost one of its most passionate souls, late representative louise slaughter. she worked day in and day out with great passion and with great integrity. she under stood that it was about trust that was placed into a member of congress by the people that have chosen to have you be their voice here in congress. so to louise slaughter, it was important to make certain that government was transparent and accountable. and so she drove the stop trading on congressional act which was dubbed the fast act. i am so proud to have sponsored legislation today that has renamed in her honor. louise slaughter worked for that transparency and knew it was about making lives of constituents that we represent all the stronger and all the ller and not enriching our lives. this is renamed because of your hard work and integrity. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. i honor the bravery of thela granching fire department. the department received a fall for a house fire. the flames were so hot that their hose melted in two. firefighters were trapped in the house but everyone made it out but some suffered severe burns and injuries. josh, jim and sean, all are on the mend but they suffered very severe injuries. these brave men and women put their lives on the line every single day to keep our loved ones safe in an emergency with no expectation of recognition for their heroism. i would like to pause and think about the tough work ta they do and the danger they put their lives in. i want us to thank them and stepped our deepest gratitude to these firefighters and all of those around the nation. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from missouri seek recognition? >> permission to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. i recently spent time listening time to farmers, large manufacturers and leaders of smaller companies in my district to hear them express their frustrations on how tariffs are affecting their bottom line. i visited a steel fabrication company, an aluminum design company and a brewery and they vary in product, they all shared one common fear, wondering what would be their fate in the presence of these ill-advised tariffs. i listened to farmers offer feedback how they are affected. agriculture is one of missouri's top industries bringing in $88 billion. most tell me the recently announced payments are helpful, but that ultimately in their words, and i quote, we want trade, not aid. i met with local chamber of commerce and business councils and for those i didn't have a chance to visit, i created a survey on my website. what i learned is this, these tariffs are deeply damaging to these businesses in ways that those who promoted them perhaps not even contemplated. hundreds of thousands of jobs may be in jeopardy because of these tariffs. harley-davidson that i brought to kansas city as my term as mayor, they were closing the plant and moving overseas and left nearly 1,000 workers unemployed overnight. now, just imagine that if you multiply that around the country, what kind of instability have been created? so, mr. speaker, i hope that this administration will recognize that these tariffs are unstable to the community and then move to end this trade war today. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman is recognized. >> i rise today to recognize mr. brian kelly from jacksonville, florida, who has been named a 2018 adoption honoree. this congressional award recognizes and honors outstanding individuals who have made contributions to the adoption community. for more than 25 years, brian kelly has worked as an adoption attorney and through his work at his law firm and jacksonville legal aid, he has touched thousands of lives promoting adoption in northeast, florida. he has worked with the florida bar to encourage the practice of adoption across the state. in addition to his professional work, brian has devoted his life to his community. a center that provides services to people with developmental disabilities. brian has dedicated countless service to oice. i have known brian and pleased to honor him today on behalf of the grateful families of northeast florida. i commend pry and kelly being named a 2018 angels in adoption honoree. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition? >> permission to address the house for one minute and revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> i rise today to congratulate 160thca as they celebrate anniversary. with the mission that is dedicated to eliminating racism and promoting justice, freedom and dignity for all, the ymp wca is the organization we need today. it provides leadership development programs for young women and topics from economic empowerment and engaging young girls in stem fields. wca are in 4 states and serving two million women and girls. has been at the forefront from civil rights to voting rights to equal pay and the largest network of providers to help victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. in my district, the ywca serves nearly 4,000 people a.m.ly through its domestic violence program. thank you for 160 years of great work. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> permission to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize the life of a remarkable man and fellow west tex and captain carl a. weathers. he devoted his life's work to serving our country and my home state as a soldier in the united states army and over 40 years in the texas law enforcement beginning as a state trooper and rising to the ranks of captain in the texas rangers. through the history, the rangers have remaped the best of the best in texas law enforcement. captain weathers carried out the legacy in true west texas fashion with integrity and courage. along with his dedication to the texas rangers he was a devoted family. i join you in celebrating a life well lived and trusting he has heard those beautiful and powerful words from our creator. well done, good and faithful servant. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from colorado 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. >> i rise to recognize the extraordinary work of former united nations high commissioner who left his post on september 1. his tireless efforts enabled him to become a voice for those who found themselves defenseless against those who abuse the human rights of others in order to gain and maintain power. high commissioner zayed was helpful in the debate over the passage of house resolution 128 supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in ethiopia. he not only publicly enforced -- enforce -- endorsed the resolution but sent a representative during a critical debate. mr. speaker, former united nations high commissioner will forever be remembered by the ethiopian people for his role in the passage of house resolution 128. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> mr. speaker, as i traveled through by district the women of orange county have expressed their support for policies that safeguard women and children including the violence against women act. as a mother of two daughters, i share their support for this legislation and care deeply about ensuring the safety of all women. for 24 years the violence against women act has provided life-saving services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. while i'm please wed passed a short-term extension of the violence against women act, we must work together toward a long-term re-authorization that will allow us to continue to protect and support survivors. we owe it to survivors to ensure this law remains in place and i'll continue to work to make this happen. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman rom arkansas seek recognition? without objection. >> mr. speaker, it's my pleasure to rise today to congratulate the six arkansans in the 218 class of inductees for the arkansas black hall of fame. this year's inductees include kevin cole a celebrated painter, print maker and sculptor. brent jennings, an award winning actor and director. u.s. army deputy chief of staff at the pentagon. daryl walk aeroformer nba player and current men's basketball coach at university of arkansas-little rock. mary louise williams, a legendary educateor and political leader and florence price, the first african-american woman recognized as a sim phonic composer and to have had a composition played by a major orchestra. i'm proud to recognize these six arkansans who will join the hall of fame's more than 140 member for their lasting kibbings to their communities and our state. i congratulation these inductees who represent the spirit and dedication mind this fine honor. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york 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. >> thank you, mr. speaker. army specialist ryan wilcox heroically served our in addition in two combat tours. specialist wilcox first deployed to iraq as a combat engineer with the 479th engineer battalion in 2007 he suffered a gunshot wound to his leg at that time. in 2012 he returned to active duty in afghanistan with the 444th engineer battalion. during this war he suffered chronic pain resulting in ultimately the amputation of his right leg. now retired, specialist wilcox is looking to start a new life inup state new york with his wife and two children. this saturday, a terrific organization known as homes for our troops will donate a specially adapted home in mexico, new york, for specialist wilcox and hi family. it will allow him navigate easily throughout his home so he can focus on his family, finishing college, and continuing to help fellow veterans in need. ease join me in thanking specialist wilcox for his service an thank this organization for their work. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields back. does any other member seek recognition? under the speaker's announced spoil of january 3, 2017, the gentleman from texas, mr. flores is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority eader. mr. flores: i rise today to honor murray watson jr. of mark, texas who pass aid way on july 24, 2018. murray was born in 1932 in mark, texas, murray watson sr. and ethel briceson -- bryson watson he graduated in room in 1949, from baylor university with a bch lohr's degree in 1952 and a juris doctorate from baylor in 1954. in 195 he was elected to the texas house of representatives. in 1963 he was elect todd texas senate where he served for 10 years. during his lifetime in elected office, murray was involved in crafting an pass manage piece os influential legislation including the establishment of what is now known as texas state technical college, a vocational school based in waco with campuses all across the state. murray serve as the psychological's general counsel and the watson family's contributions to the school are significant. both murray and his wife have buildings named in their honor on the tstc campus in waco. his passion for education extended long after his retirement from politics he took a leading role in founding the bra sos higher education authority and the brazos higher education inc. to help students fund their education he also served as a trustee of the mcclennan community college foundation. in 2017 he was named as baylor lawyer of the year for his commitment to education and his philanthropic spirit. he was a member of the rotary club of ray woe, austin avenue methodist church, baylor masonic lodge, thed orer of the eastern star, the baylor law alumni association, the baylor bear foundation, and the baylor founders club. while murray was committed to serving others, his role as a family man was the pride of his life he alloweding in to come between him and his family including fwretta, his wife of nearly 59 year, two children, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. murray also owned and operated the family's ranch in his -- and historic feed store in mark, texas. mr. speaker, murray's life was defined by service to those around him he worked tireless will i to better families across america. he'll be forever remembered as a selfless servant, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a friend to hundreds. my wife geena and i offered our deepest heart felt condolences to the watson family and we left up the family and friends of murray watson jr. in our prayers. i've requested that a united states flag be flown over the capitol to honor the life and slig of murray watson jr. as i close today i urge all members to continue praying if our country, for our military men and women, and for our first esponders. mr. speaker, i rise today honor milam county sheriff david groan of cameron, texas who passed away july 20, 2018. sheriff green was born in 1952 in sherman, texas, to oscar and marguerite green. in 1996 he married janelle. he had three sons and was blessed with three grandsons. sheriff green dedicated his life to public service in texas. he served as a game ward fortune the texas park and wildlife service for almost 30 years before becoming a milam countieson the tabble. in 2008 he was elected milam county sheriff and was re-elected for two additional four-year terms. sheriff green went well beyond the call of duty in 2010 by establishing the milam county sheriff's office program to raise money to buy christmas gifts for underprivileged children in milam county. this year's event was held just days after his passing and was the largest in its history. sheriff green's life was defined by his service to those around hi he work tirelessly to better our community. he'll be forever remembered as a selfless public servant, a husband, a father, and a grandfather and a friend. my wife and i offer our deepest heart felt condolences to the green family and we also lift up the family and friends of sheriff green in our prayer. i've requested that a united states flag be flown over the capitol to honor the life and legacy of sheriff david green. as i close today, i urge all americans to continue praying for our country, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats from -- and for our first responders who protect us here at home. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor olive delucia of bryan, in 2018. passed away as a young woman, during world war ii, she served in the united states naval reserve and the men accepted for volunteer service, the waves program. she moved with her two sons to bryan-college station and made a career work for texas a&m university for 3 yores. while working for our alumni association he served as director of class programs and later oversaw the traveling aggies program which gave her the ability to visit all seven continents. he was thanked for her service to the university with a distinguished service award. even though she was only about five feet tall she had immense wisdom of i remember the days she would give me that look and tell me what i'd done wrong or how to do things better and i always paid attention to what olive told me to do. olive's life was defined by service to those around her. her life enriched the lives of many. she'll be forever remembered as a selfless servant, an ag fwee, a mother, a grandmother, and a dear friend. my wife and i offer our deepest heart felt condolences to the entire delucia family and we lift up her family and friends in our prayers. i've requested the united states flag be flown over the capitol to honor the life and legacy of olive delucia. i urge all americans to continue praying for our country, for our military men and women who serve overseas and for our first responders who keep us safe at ome. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor george boyett of college station, texas who passed away september 7, 2018. george was born in 1935 and was a native of the brazos valley he graduated from steven f. austin high school in 1953 and attended texas a&m university. at texas a&m he was a member of the corps of cadets, ross volunteers and the swim team. in 1957 he married his wife ga etha at he all faiths chapel. he served our country in the united states army for six years before returning to college station while continuing to serve in the army reserve. he was a successful businessman, forming local firms and companies before he was elected as a brazos county justice of the peace in 1988. his precincts were redistricted and renumbered many times throughout his tenure but most recently he served as justice of the peace for precinct 3 which included much of the texas a&m campus before retiring in 2015. during his career as a judge, george taught at the judicial college and the texas department of public safety he served as a reserve sheriff's deputy for the burleson sheriff's office and associate judge for the city of college station. his dedication to public service went far beyond law enforcement and the judiciary system. he was a dedicated volunteer within the church of jesus christ of latter day saints and the boy scouts of america. after becoming an eagle scout as a yuck man he continued his involvement in the boy scouts serving -- serving theats troop, district, and council levels. he was award t.d. to -- awarded the silver buffalo and the national outstanding eagle scout award for his work in boy scouts. mr. speaker, george's life was defined by his selfless service for those around him. he worked through his capacity as a judge and involvement in the boy scouts. he will forever be remembered as a selfless servant, a mentor, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather and a friend. our deepest offer condolences to his family. i request the united states flag be flown over the united states capitol to honor the life and legacy of george. as i close today, i urge all americans to continue praying for our country, for our military men and women in serve and our first responders -- service and our first responders who keep us safe here at home. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor mary fay lucas arnold of bryan, texas, who passed away. mary was born in east texas on november 17, 1920 to william and cora terrell. in 1943 at the midst of world war ii, mary decided to serve her nation by joining the women's army corps. a few months later she met william evert "bill" lucas. after the war, bill's took him, mary, and their family to live in haiti, venezuela, and college station, texas. upon retirement, bill and mary moved to bryan, texas. bill passed away in 1972 and mary later married t.h. john arnold. mary was active in serving the bryan college station community. she was the assistant credit manager at sears and bryan and was one of the two oldest members of the baptist church in college station. she belonged to the american legion and the v.f.w. auxiliary. mr. speaker, mary's life was recognized by herselfless service. she was loved by her community and certainly left an enduring legacy. she will forever be remembered as a veteran, a community eader, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and a dear friend. we offer our condolences to the lucas and arnold family. arms in our prayers. i ask that the united states flag at the capitol be flown in her honor. i ask that our country pray for our military men and women who serve our country and for the first responders who keep us safe here at home. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor james robert bemon of edge, texas, who turned 100 years old on september 15, 2018. mr. bemon, who is known as bob to his friends, was born to eufaula, alabama. his family loved to goliad texas when he was 2 years old. he would ride on a horse to school with his brother. he attended a house dance where he met annie. they would marry on december 13, 1937, and were married for 74 years. at the outbreak of world war ii, bob was drafted in the military service and although he could have opted to defer, bob went on to serve in the united states navy as a gunner for the pb-4-y-2 privateeer patrol train, the fighting wolverines. bob flew 17 missions for the navy in the war's pacific theater before returning to the united states. after his service, he came home and he raised five children with annie, four sons and one daughter. he worked for over 60 years in the painting business and eventually owned his own company. now retired, bob enjoys making wahoo game boards with his family, visiting military museums and until recently enjoyed hunting and fishing. recently bob celebrated his 100th birthday with dozens of friends and several generations of his family. he recounted many stories from his military service days and played with his great-grandson, rage, who turned 1-year-old old on september 15. mr. speaker, i'm proud to recognize bob on this joyous occasion and i know his friends and family are proud of him. i wish him many more years of happiness. i ask that the united states flag be flown over the capitol to honor his 100th birthday. i urge all members continue praying for courn, for our military men and women and their service and for the first responders who keep us safe at ome. mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize c.h.i. st. joseph's hospitals, air med 12 team for their outstanding achievements -- roviding lifesaving res. valley. rve the brazos the only air medical support was available from houston with response times of over an hour. for patients in the brazos valley, such wait times made air medical support an unrealistic solution for their medical solutions. p.h.i. partnered with st. joseph's hospital who was looking to expand services in their trauma center. just a few months later in august, 2005, air med 12 would lead a group of 12 helicopter noose new orleans after hurricane katrina. these would be the first civilian medical helicoptering in the city after the hurricane and teams have used air med 12's leadership and example to improve medical care for storm survivors. disaster response is not the only way you that air med 12 has revolutionized air medical support. in 2008, three members of the air med 12 team were tragically lost in an accident outside of huntsville. since that loss, the air med 12 team has become involved in improving safety standards for all air medical support that includes increased weather minimums, the use of night vision goggles on every flight, and national collaboration amongst air medical providers. air med 12 has shaped more than just air medical support in the brazos valley. their group values, collaboration with the texas a&m college of medicine, school of rural public health, and nursing school have brought a high standard of health care across central texas and the brazos valley. the impact of air med 12 cannot be understated. in 2018 alone, they have transported 23 critical pediatric patients to specialty hospitals, administered 27 units of blood to patients either directly at the scene or at rural hospitals and in august, completed a record number of 48 flights in one month. mr. speaker, i would like to honor air med 12 and c.h.i. st. joseph's hospital for the work they have done to provide the brazos valley and all of central texas with improved emergency medical care. i request the united states flag be flown over the united states capitol to honor air med 12. as i close today, i urge all americans to continue praying for our country and for our military men and women whose service and for our first responders who keep us safe at of home. mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the jar yields back. under the speaker's announced policy of january 3, 2017, the gentlewoman from the district of columbia, ms. norton, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority eader. ms. norton: thank you, mr. speaker. it's probably appropriate that ou will be hearing on this last full day before the mid terms about statehood for the district of columbia. i'm going to speak about why that is the appropriate way for us to go into mid terms. as i represent 700,000 mericans who are number one, please remember this number, number one in taxes paid to support the federal government but also have the distinction of having no final vote on this house floor and having no representation in the senate of the united states. it is very clear, if you want a history lesson -- and i'm not going to offer that lesson in the time allotted to me this afternoon -- but it is absolutely clear that the framers and the founders of our country did not go to war with the slogan of taxation wount in order to allow that -- without representation in order to allow that slogan to fly everything except in the nation's capital. for that reason, we want to almost the mocrats, full caucus, who have already become co-sponsors of the district of columbia statehood bill. now, i hasten to add that i do not yet have my you republican friends. i believe that will occur. meanwhile, democrats have to low ahead, and i must thank my colleagues for the support they have given me because we're very close to 100% here in the house. and i have to offer my thanks, , well, to senator tom carper because senator carper is the lead sponsor in the senate, and he's gotten more than 60% of the democrats in the senate to support d.c. statehood. if i could mention the last democrat before we go home and there will still be time before the end of this session for the few who remain off the bill, i do want to thank eric swalwell, because he's the last one before we went home. i sent out a message, don't go home without signing onto d.c. statehood. he heard that message. there will be a few stragglers. i mention stragglers because when i meet people who aren't on the bill, they say, oh, my goodness, i thought i was on the bill. so that does not mean because we don't have 100% that we can't get 100%. it just means that members overlook it and don't yet come onto the bill, so we will get you before the end of the 115th congress. i also want to explain, particularly since we don't have republican co-sponsors yet, that signing onto the bill help the district of columbia. in any case, because we are the first to concede with no republican co-sponsors yet that d.c. statehood is an uphill climb. and i'm here today to say we are prepared to make that climb, and i think we are showing that as i shall indicate. but getting co-sponsors is going to help us in the next congress. we are almost sure it's going to help us to get what the congress can give us now, even without statehood, as more people awaken to the injustice of having americans who don't have democratic representation, a small d, in their congress. it's going to help us get incremental -- incrementally to statehood. for example, the district's local laws, even the final budget raised entirely in the district of columbia, they all have to come here and be voted by congress. that's an insult, frankly. most members don't know about it. waste of time. that is the kind of thing that even without statehood i think we can get and getting more co-sponsors for statehood can only help us get that. i do want to mention what my colleagues already know -- there is not a poll, not a single poll that does not show that democrats will in fact be in the majority in the next congress. that means at the very least the uphill climb will begin even if statehood is not around the orner. if ever there was an incentive r district residents to keep going in the street, going around the congress to get statehood, this chart shows it. this illustrates what i have just said about the district of columbia paying the highest federal taxes in the united states. so if you live in california, to name a big state if you live in new york, and cain go down the line line, we do have a chart that shows you where the states rank, they are all beneath the district of columbia. what am i talking about? most $12,000 perez dent in taxes paid by the people i represent to support the government that does not give them full representation. i don't have all the states listed here but you can see how it goes down. so it gets to mississippi which has the lowest federal taxes, whose citizens pay the lowest federal taxes, in the united states. so here's mississippi. has two senators. i don't remember how many representatives. paying for a lower tacks to support the federal government. than the americans i represent. and yet they have full representation. in the house of representatives nd senate. so some may say well, you've got 700,000 residents, is that a lot of people? it's more residents than two of the states, vermont and wyoming. each has one representative, just like me, except that representative can vote on this loor and two senators. but vermont and wyoming are representative of about seven states in the united states which have about the same number of residents as the district of columbia. i picked these two out only because they rank below us. we are equal in population or near equal in population to even states. perhaps it can be understood when you see that, not to mention the ranking on per capita taxes why we seek statehood for the district of olumbia. this is in the the first time i have sought statehood. i did so when i first came to the congress. in 1993, i got the first and only vote on statehood. let me tell you the results of that vote. and why it is important that that threshold has been laid. i was new to the house. fervent the most advocates for statehood did not predict that the vote would be 153 for statehood, 277 against. so i come candidly to tell you we've gone on the floor for statehood before and didn't get t. indeed only 40% of democrats supported us. how could that be, when you say, congresswoman norton, that you have almost all the democrats now on the bill? the difference of course is that it was a very different congress. for 40 years the democrats had control of the congress and that was in no small part because of southern democrats. by the way, southern democrats voted with the district on in many, many bills and in many ays i would welcome them back. but of course they were more conservative democrats than the democrats now in the house. democrats fully recognize that when we get the majority and i say when and not if because i fully expect we will have the majority in the next congress that there will be some democrats who are more conservative than i am prand than the average member of the house. and that is to be expected if you want to be in the majority. so i'm not lamenting we got only 40% in that first and only statehood vote. i'm trying to make the case as to how votes come and why they ome. we were proud of that vote because it was way more than had been predicted. there was dancing in the galleries up there because the vote came far above what the press was saying the district was going to get. and what even the district and its residents were saying. i hasten to add that as i've already shown the district is already a state in all but name and representation in this ongress. for example, when time comes from appropriations, unlike the territories -- and i do want to distinguish us from the territories, they are our sisters in many ways, but puerto rico, guam, the virgin islands, and the rest don't pay federal income tax. so note that difference. some of them in fact almost none of them, have come forward for statehood. there's now some interest in tatehood by puerto rico. but the reason most territories don't come forward and ask for statehood is very clear. there's a quid pro quo for them. in exchange for not paying federal taxes, they don't have the votes in congress. we have paid federal taxes and we have no vote in congress making us unique in the union. so my friends or at least virtually all my friends in the territories don't even ask for statehood. sometimes they say yes, we want statehood but they understand for them it is more difficult. it is certainly true that this late in the history of the united states one has to wonder why the word territory is out -- and to hope for equal equality for the residents of the territories and that has got to be up to them. so i don't come here to speak for them. i only want them to be treated equally to other americans. but when i say the district is the same in ways many count the states i even point to how the house does its appropriations. the district gets a per capita appropriation, in other words based on our population. if our population is 700,000 we'll get the same as others who have that population. that's not true for the territories and the basic complaint is that they do get federal fund bug they don't get the per capita funding that the district gets and the reason we get that per capita funding is because of money we give to support our government. so here's the -- so here the government has recognized the district's contribution in some ways. it simply has not given us the representation that a democratic country owes all of its itizens. some may believe that the reason the district does not have statehood is that it needs help from the federal government. far from it. it is the district that helps the federal government. because of the strength of the city's local economy. in local economy outstrips the local many of economies of the state. the district's own local budget is more than $12 billion. that's larger than the budget of 12 states who already have full representation in this congress. its surplus an these days it's hard to find a sizable surplus in the states, but its surplus is more than -- is almost $200 billion. that's money that the district ts away in taxes and other revenue it gets, mostly from its own citizens. that would make it just that sur plus the envy of the country. the district's per capita income is higher than the per capita income of any state. this is not a poor city asking for help from the federal government. this is a city that helps the federal government. with taxes paid without epresentation. it is also true that republicans o fancy themselves the local control party in the congress tries its very best here in the to take in the senate away what home rule or self-government that the district now has gives it. the district in 1974 after most 100 years got the right to elect its own mayor and city council. the last time it had that right republicans were in charge right after the civil war when republicans gave district what we call home rule. it is democrats who took away that local self-government. it is democrats, my party, who was in charge of most of the years we were without local government that took it away. many of those were more conservative or southern democrats, but there's no escaping they were democrats and they were often in control of his house. so republicans who come to this floor on both sides to argue even against federal intervention that is authorized by the constitution and by federal law, isn't it amazing that the party of local control would persistently interfere with the local control that the district of columbia has had since 1973 that that is what we see. i just want to cite not all of them but i want to give examples of some of this interference and indicate why i think this nterference takes place. it doesn't take place on all the law os -- laws of the district of columbia but what it does mean is that the congress uses the fact that the district does not have statehood to intrude self by trying to overturn some laws in the district of columbia that they happen to disagree with. now the district of columbia is a big city. like most big cities, even within the states, it's more progressive than other parts of our country. so although they have nothing to gain, republicans try to make political points back home by intruding and trying to take ay laws passed by the d.c. council. . and i want to give examples of some of those laws and even to indicate some of the members who help me get rid of the attempts to overturn our laws. or example, our laws that have legalized recreational marijuana. that makes us one of nine tates. that's controversial but the congress has done nothing about ose states who have departed from federal law and legalize marijuana. the republican congress has done nothing about it, but each , the ery congress congress stands with keeping he district of columbia from commercializing marijuana. i say commercializing because those states are now taxing marijuana. marijuana is wholesaley consumed in the united states. nobody gets arrested for it anymore. so these states have simply said what is -- what is pro forma law shall be law and we ill tax marijuana. well, the district of columbia passed a law to legalize marijuana and republicans made an attempt to undermine that aw, simply erase it. they were not smart in the way and two t and thus ounces are still legal to possess in the district of columbia. and it's interesting that as and these s become marijuana laws have become more widespread in the united states , they have not come back and attempted yet again to overturn our marijuana law. the reason that the district was addment about our marijuana law -- adamant about our marijuana law, enormous disparities between who got arrested on marijuana offenses which are misdemeanors will give you a record. they turned out to be largely frican-american. -- we had an additional reason of great importance to our city. the republicans failed to overturn the law, but they left us without the ability to commercialize marijuana. "the washington post" reported this -- and we call them riders. this amendment is a license -- quoting a drug dealer -- for me to print money. some call it the drug dealer protection act because with no ability to commercialize marijuana, the drug dealers have not gone out of business here as they have in the states that have legalized and ommercialized marijuana. i want to name just a few others. we have a bill. only one state and two other states have similar bills. it's called the productive health nondiscrimination act. it says that you can't discriminate against one of your own employees or their families based on the reproductive health decisions they make. the republicans tried to get deep into the business of individuals by looking at such matters. for example, firing or declining to hire a woman for having had an abortion even if it was due to rape and that's why they knew about it in the first place because i don't know how you could even know about such private business or declining to hire a woman using in vitro fertilization. the reason that you have the district of columbia and two other cities with similar laws is there have been some matters brought to the attention of .heir local legislature that is one unlike the marijuana commercialization law that i have been able to get removed but it is an example of one that continues to come ack. one of the most troubling is the district's abortion law. 17 states spend their own local funds on abortion for poor women. abortion -- federal funds for abortion have long been barred by the congress so these 17 states spend their own funds except for the district of columbia which till this day can't do so. there is an organization that helps women, a local nonprofit organization which helps women because of this bill but you can see what i mean about intruding in the most private affairs. i'm not asking people to support the choices made by the district of columbia. i'm certainly not asking the congress to do that. i'm asking to get out of our lives, to give us equality with their own citizens in choosing their laws -- in choosing our lawyers however controversial. another example that is controversial, and i point these out because they are controversial and because other states have passed similarly controversial laws. it's called d.c.'s death with dignity act. and the congress has tried to bar unsuccessfully the district law that is law in six other states that allows a self-administered lethal medication for people who have six months to live and who doctors have said are in such terrible pain or misery that these people, not the doctors, should be allowed to give themselves a lethal medication. talking about a private matter. i don't know where -- where most americans stand on this. i'm told that most approve it, by the way. but i know where the people i represent stand, and i know it's up to them and only them and it gives you another reason why we fight for statehood. look, i have been able -- and i point this out to keep this attempt to take away our law, our death with dignity law from in fact becoming law. but it does give you an indication of the kind of continual fight that has to be made here for the district of columbia, and this is in addition for all the work that i, like other members, have to do on the national bills, the bills that are legitimately ntroduced in this house. i suppose at least one more order to be mentioned -- how could i not? the district has a local budget autonomy law. they tried to abolish it. this is as we give the district the ability to have its local law go into effect without coming here to the congress where they do nothing about it bill try to use it as a allowing them to attach what we call riders. if you want to do an amendment, there has to be a bill, so they want our budget over here so they can do bills like the one i just discussed on marijuana. well, we want to get rid of that by giving the district budget autonomy so that its local laws would not have to ome here in the first place. the congress has tried to overturn the budget autonomy law, has been unsuccessful. the district went to court. the court said our local budget autonomy law was in fact constitutional and legal, although the congress has not overturned it and we are grateful for that. pass a local law saying the local budget's now law so you see how redundant that is. they don't do anything about it but they pass it and say we made it law, we say it's already law, but you say, until we get to the point where they don't have anything to say , we will local budget ot be the equal of the states. what makes this particularly painful, all of this interference particularly painful to the district of how the district viewed by those who have no acts to grind and the best examples of those would be the rating agencies. for example, moody's has given rating ict a triple a and i'd like to quote what moody's says about the district of columbia and its economy and how its government is run. i quote, the dynamism of the district's economy has led to the largest population in 40 years and strong growth in the tax base. financial governance -- i repeat the words -- financial governance is exemplary, reserves are robust, end quote. talking about people who have nothing to gain except seeing it as the data reports it, that was moody's speaking about how the district's financial governance rates. et me quote standard & poor's. and here's what standard & poor's has to say. this is very important because it is a critique in effect of this congress. we continue -- by the way -- they have a a.a.a. rating. we continue to have concerns about the role of the federal government in future district budgets. view this as an ongoing factor that has a negative effect on the district's finances and as a slight offset to the district's otherwise very strong management practices. in effect, what the -- what standard & poor's is saying, it , money e district money n how the district pays -- and use that word -- the district pays in dollars and cents because of congressional interference and how it pays, that it affects how -- how the congress interference affects how investors view the district's economy. it is a price to be paid literally in dollars and cents by the residents of the district of columbia. i do not want to be misunderstood. if not stand here and say you don't give us statehood, there's nothing we can do. i do want to illustrate what we have to do. in order to be treated equally with the states, for example, ust -- just look at last year. we had to defeat 15 attempts to overturn district's local laws. there were three attempts that to disseminate the district of columbia's gun safety laws. this is a district of columbia where there are members like senator marco rubio in the senate, who continues to put in a bill that would eliminate every single gun law in the district of columbia. imagine what that would mean in the -- in the nation's capital here. where some of those ntroversial figures are seen on our streets, restaurants, and public place, and anybody can come in with a gun. we have tight gun laws in this town. i have had to fight very hard -- yes, we have succeeded even without statehood. that is no argument for statehood. that reinforces the notion we need statehood because those things should not have happened, should not have taken my time on the floor or the time of presidents to come here to stay please don't do this to us. there's another favorite of the republicans to put private school vouchers on the district of columbia. let me indicate why that is particularly outrageous. the district of columbia does, in fact, have it's public school system and it has an almost equal number of students in what are called charter schools, which are not a part of the d.c. public schools. they have done that on their own. when the education bill comes before the congress and a national charter school bill is the floor, members of congress vote down charter schools for their own schools. except for those -- except there are those who don't have charter schools. we have charter schools. we have improved our public schools as well. but they are our public schools, they are paid for by our tax dollars. worse, there's always an education bill that it has private school vouchers in it. we very much oppose private school vouchers because you have no control on how well your children are even doing in those schools. we do have that kind of control over how well your children are doing in charter schools and in public schools. but if they go to any private schools, some of these private schools are fly by night schools, but even those that are not, are private, and therefore not subject to regulation of any kind. so when vouchers are a part of the education bill that comes before us every few years, vouchers for schools in the united states, that bill is voted down every time. that makes the district of columbia the only jurisdiction that does have school vouchers, and we do have school vouchers. but they are for a very small number of students, because our students choose our charter schools and our public schools. as i speak i hope i will be successful. i believe i will be successful again in getting d.c. tuition access grants. those are unusual because the strict does not have a university system. it simply has one public university, and i have been able to get tuition assistance rants so that our youngsters go to every -- to schools -- universities and colleges go to every in every state, all 50 states. it's interesting i do have a lot of support for this bill because there's not a member that doesn't have d.c. students going to school in their states. the federal government pays for the difference between what the stunchte pays and the cost -- student pays and the cost that would otherwise be out of state tuition. so they pay the same in-state tuition. that has been a help. and it is help from the federal government. it is supported by members in this congress who know that their own public universities ave benefited from it. i don't maintain we don't get anything from the federal government. we already indicate we get the same per capita as others. and i don't indicate if i don't have statehood i can't get any bills passed. people come to the district of columbia today and they'll find on both waterfronts, the southeast waterfront, the southwest waterfront, southeast waterfront is called capital riverfront, the southwest, the wharf. there are essentially whole new neighborhoods on those waterfronts. yes, i got those without statehood. but i dare republicans to say, well, since you can get things e -- like that for without statehood, what are you crying about? i'm crying about taxes without representation is what i'm crying about. i know we can get funds, for example, for things like the arlington memorial bridge, which brings people from the south to the nation's capital. yes, i'm grateful that even in a republican congress i have been able to get the wharf bill passed, i have been able to get the southeast waterfront bill, the capital river front passed that we got money for the arlington memorial bridge. i bring those up because i don't want to hear, well, if you're able to get things done, what is your problem? our problem is what i have been discussing here. it's undoing what our city has , and undemocratically it's failure to give us the same representation in the congress of the united states as every other tax paying american. do the etimes i have to very unusual -- there's a tax bill, for example, that just went through here. it's interesting to notice, not very popular with the american people. and i certainly was against it. i couldn't vote for it or against it it. but if there is a bill going through here, and i can find a way to get my district in it, i'm going to try to get in it. so there are parts of this bill that promote incentives and investment in some of our low-income parts of the city, that promote private and affordable housing in the district of columbia. so i'm in the tax bill, but i oppose the tax bill, that way i'm like many other democrats who voted no on this floor but yet tried to get in the bill and did get in the bill. that's how the congress works. nothing makes the case for d.c. statehood better than this chart. this chart showing the district war carbleualties in the 20th century when we fought our major wars -- casualties in the 20th century when we fought our major wars. world war i, more casualties in three rates. korean war it had gone up to more casualties than eight states. by world war ii we were seeing more casualties than four states. remember, the district is smaller than most states. and the vietnam war, perhaps the very worst, more casualties than 10 states. since then we have eliminated the draft. but this chart, and these ombstones make the best case for equal treatment for the residents of the district of columbia. even as i speak, the residents of this city have volunteered and served in a volunteer army. the statistics illustrate united states when we had a draft. so we don't have a draft now. and yet district residents are found in every part of the country. forgive me, every part of the world. where our troops are. it's time that will our country recognized -- it's time that our country recognized its city and itsries dents and particularly those who -- and its residents and particularly those who serve, have served before them, and those who died in service to their country. we're now in the 21st century. it seems impossible we have .otten here 217 years since the district of columbia has been the nation's capital. 217 years of inequality in your own country. 217 years of paying taxes ithout representation. 17 years of going to war without benefit of equal treatment even by those who served. his is why for these reasons the residents, the american citizens i represent, cannot ossibly give up on seeking equal treatment, first by perfecting what is called home rule or self-government, but becoming a state like every other state. no longer being treated as frederick douglass said, as aliens, not citizens, but subjects. we're americans. that is why we insist that the american citizens in the district of columbia become citizens of the 51st state of the united states of america. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. the chair announces the speaker's appointment pursuant to section 1 of the library of congress trust it fund board act 2 u.s.c. 154 and the order of the house of january 3, 2017, of the following individuals on the part of the house to the library of congress trust fund board for a five-year term it. the clerk: mr. lawrence peter fisher of chevy chase, maryland. mr. gregory paul ryan of hillsborough, california. the speaker pro tempore: the chair announces the speaker's appointment pursuant to 20 u.s.c. 204-b and the order of the house of january 3, 2017, of the following member on the part of the house to the board of trustees of of the harry s. truman scholarship foundation. the clerk: ms. granger of texas it. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house a communication. the clerk: the honorable the speaker. house of representatives, sir, after a great deal of thought and prayer, i have decided to accept west virginia governor jim justice's appointment to it immediately take the oath of office to serve as a justice on the west virginia supreme court of appeals. during this time of crisis, i hope to help restore the public's trust and confidence in our state's highest court. in order to ensure justice is administered fairly and without bias or conflict, i must resign my seat in the people's house of the united states congress so i may begin serving the citizens of west virginia as a justice on the people's court. i wish to sincerely thank the people of west virginia's third congressional district for the distinct honor and opportunity to serve and represent them these past four years. my outstanding congressional staff, district field staff staff, and constituent service representatives are available, ready, and committed to continue assisting the citizens of southern west virginia until a new member of congress is elected. please accept this letter as my resignation effective midnight, september 30, 2018. signed, sincerely, evan h. jenkins, member of congress. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from district of columbia seek recognition. ms. norton: mr. speaker, i move that the house do now adjourn. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on the motion to adjourn. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it it. the motion is agreed to. accordingly, the house stands adjourned until 12:30 p.m. on >> today, the house approved the bill to make some of the individual tax bills passed permanent. it was the last bill in a series of three republican tax policy bills that's being called tax reform 2.0. they also approved to address opioid and substance abuse. members of the house will be in their home states and districts for the month of october so we'll see them next after the mid term elections. live coverage of the house when they return in november, as always, on c-span. >> about 15 minutes ago, the senate judiciary committee committee voting to approve supreme court nominee brett avanaugh to the full committee. and flake would vote to approve the nominee in committee if the full senate would delay its vote by one week in order to pursue further investigations of the sexual assault allegations against judge kavanaugh. we are taking your phone calls. e join them in progress. caller: i feel sorry for. host: let's hear from connecticut. how did senator blumenauer do, henley? caller: absolutely great. i expected him to. he's a very straightforward, no nonsense -- host: all right. what else did you want to say today? caller: yes. oy, some of these calls. if they could stick to the subject, people sebring in sorrows. last night the nominee the clintons back into it. they talk about it, the republicans and independents, has to do with politics. i think it's right to consider what happened with the girl. the proposal or nomination it was. they sought to humiliate a very fine injurist for -- jurist for 10 months. as far as delaying the reporting on the incident on the part of the lady, the thing is that this is a trauma we're talking about. a sublings aggressive act known as rape -- a sexual aggressive act known as rape. the people that have these experiences and it's so traumatic that it becomes buried, you know, in the memory. look at the roman catholic situation with people coming forward now about when they were children. so that's the kind of thing that happens. and lindsey graham, i don't know where this guy is coming from. i mean, whether he's running for late night comedian or something else, but he seems to have suddenly become good buddies with our president. look at the person who nominated kavanaugh who is telling us that kavanaugh is a and how t person qualified he is it is donald trump who is demonstrably a liar. host: thank you for your three points. somerset, new jersey, on our independent line, karen, what did you think about our judiciary committee hearing? caller: well, it was just a continuation of the three-ring circus that democrats have .tarted i am an independent but i basically think -- while i felt that both judge kavanaugh and credit were both toible some diagnose-degree, our whole judicial -- credible to some degree, our whole jewel dirble system -- judicial system is based on evidence. they testified either it wasn't true or they had no knowledge of it and i say go ahead with the f.b.i. investigation because unless another fly-by-night accuser comes, like this ms. ramirez who already dropped out because her ccusations were so flemsy -- flimsy. u also have of a netty's sexually o -- i was abused as a child and date raped as a young woman, you do remember things. yes, you do. the difference between an individual being sexually abused and these young children who are abused by priests is that many children from the same parishes have come forth and said these priests did this to me. with mrs. ford, she has no crab rating evidence. now, the f.b.i., i hope they go ahead with the investigation but what are they going to investigate? there's no witnesses, there's no physical evidence and once again, gets back to the he said-she said, which is very said for her. i do believe that something happened to her, but i think that in -- over the last 35 years, something has happened to her memory about it. host: ok. we're going to go to eugene in minnesota, republican line. eugene, your senator klobuchar had quite a high profile during these hearings. caller: i think they should announce before they begin which ones are running for office because they tended to pontificate and glorify themselves and make everything sound like you better vote for me, instead of asking questions. when they had the prosecutor in there, she asked questions. the other ones made these wonderful statements about how great they were one way or the other and more campaigning than asking questions and doing what they are supposed to do as servants of the american people, not the democrats or the republicans, but the people of this country. i'm ashamed of the provision in our country -- division in our country now. host: what do you think of the deal or agreement that senator flake came up with the democrats to delay the floor vote on judge kavanaugh? caller: well, they delayed too much already. why should it take this long? it's ridiculous. host: all right. thanks for calling in. let's hear from lynn, impouria, kansas, democrat. lynn, you're on c-span. caller: thank you very much for taking my call. i feel sorry for both of them. i do have a comment to make on -- she's a clinical psychologist. what year did she graduate? should she have known better to come with this sooner since she has spoken to many people about this? find it alarming that she's a clinical psychologist and taking care of other people when she has not resolved her own issues. i do believe her but i don't lieve going back to 15 years old, we all partied. i'm sure every committee member partied. i'm sure they all took a stand back on where they were going and what parties they were going to and not only sometimes s a man make misjudgment but so can a woman. i thank you for your time. host: ruby, covington, georgia. republican. hi, ruby. caller: hi. i am so proud you took my call. but the guy from connecticut was downgrading mr. graham, he is a fine man and knows what he's talking about and i appreciated him down in the -- can i say stupid -- democrats. my mother is in her grave and i am sure she has flipped because of the way they have acted. i cannot believe that they have paying r tax money on her lawyer and the other lady and her expenses from our tax money. the democrats did that to get her to come and talk against this wonderful, wonderful man. host: why do you think -- ruby, why do you think -- why do you think that taxpayer money is paying for dr. christina ford's -- caller: because einstein, the feinstein woman said they paid it. i think it was yesterday she said it. host: huh. that's the first time i heard that. thank you. sharon, florida on our independent line. hi. caller: hi. good afternoon. host: good afternoon. caller: i feel like a lot has been lost what's important in terms of approving a supreme court justice. putting aside the sexual matter -- i don't mean to make light of it. i am kind of on the fence of that issue. i was feeling sorry for mr. kavanaugh in his opening statement. when he started answering questions, i just felt like he was very belligerent and just not of the character and the steady nature we are looking for to put on the supreme court. i was against him from the beginning because of his prior judicial decisions. they seem to favor the wealthy and corporations, and we certainly don't need more of that in washington. but i just, again, i feel like a lot has been lost in terms of what's important. the sexual matter does speak to character, but that's just one of three points that are important to me. host: sharon, do you agree with judge kavanaugh about how broken the system is? caller: yes. i think anyone in this country can answer that in the affirmative. host: now, your senator bill nelson is up for re-election this year. will his vote on this nomination matter to you? caller: yes. i tried to reach his office earlier. his line was continuously busy and so was the white house. host: that's sharon in florida. this is rob in east rutherford, new jersey, democrat. hi, rob. caller: hi. it's rod, by the way. i just wanted to make three quick points. this should dispel forever the myth that the supreme court is not a partisan body. number two is that president eisenhower -- and this goes way back -- president eisenhower said that the worst mistake he ever made was nominating earl warren for the supreme court. that's on record. and the third is the lady that talked about george sorrows. there is all kinds of -- george soros. there is all kinds of dark money in our political system now and all this goes back to the citizens united and mccutchen decision which opened the floodgates to anybody being able to contribute as much oney they wanted to and to whomever they wanted to to fix elections. there's fault on both sides. host: rod, can you go to your first point, again, and explain that a little bit? caller: ok. if you go back, if you look at the dread scott decision, for example, the krukshank decision -- lieve in 17777 -- 1877 excuse me -- and citizens united votes -- and i could name any number of nominations. frankly, i don't think clarence thomas should be sitting on the supreme court right now for what he did when he was on the eeoc, but that kind of got glossed over because of the concentration on the anita hill controversy. and i would point out he's sitting on the supreme court right now, justice scalia has been accused of violations of the judicial cannons and some other justices have too. but the judicial cannons do not apply to the supreme court. host: all right. we got it, rod. kenny, columbus, ohio. hi, kenny. caller: hi. i really appreciate for giving me the time. what i want to point out, i think it's -- i think it's the right process to take to actually conduct an investigation. it's just like putting the cart before the horse. pulling the horse before the cart. not get anything out of it. it will end up to the he says, she says. i'm not blaming any side in saying they don't play partisan politics. republicans denied -- i'm an independent. i don't care about what they have to do but what i care is let the process judge itself. let the process be the judge. if you don't allow due process [indiscernible] wait one week, it's critical. lindsey graham can say, he held a seat for 10 months for another supreme court justice when the sitting president nominates one. and they didn't schedule a hearing. it's just hypocritical. host: ok, kenny, thank you for your comments on a variety of related topics. little bit of a surprise ending at today's judiciary committee hearing. 11-10 was the final vote to advance brett kavanaugh's nomination to the senate floor. but then as chuck grassley, the hairman, called it was a gentlemen's and gentlewoman's agreement to delay vote on judge kavanaugh and it was struck by republican senator flake of arizona and the democrats and this is what the report shows on their front page, on its front page. "kavanaugh clears hurdle but flake flakes and calls in the f.b.i." well, this is how the hearing ended. [video clip] senator grassley: i recess the meeting until the fall of the gavel. we're going to take action with a motion that's before us. we got to make sure we have a quorum.

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