Floor here on cspan. The eakepro teore the housel be ider. The ar bed by ourpln,he conroy. Tnkfor ngs anotherpray. Every it to your prom weskouresence wh r the s grows dim a the dayght is masedn th kns a phant ye cn discern as e distance f be fors, liht help teers congres make ear judenhat propl asedur mo any shadow cloud so t t follow thetef yo inspiio. Lo of eges be with u du eseost conntio daand a tt iso in the peoes hous for mrthompson ory an. 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 15 requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Excuse me, for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . To address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Higgins mr. Speaker, drug prices in the United States have been rising at rates significantly faster than anywhere else in the world for the past 25 years, according to the commonwealth fund. Investments by the federal government and research from the foundation of advances in new treatments and cures. The federal government does all the costly basic research in pharmaceutical industry does all the profitable distribution and marketing. Now the federal government should use its considerable laverage to negotiate fair drug prices so that the American People can truly benefit from their taxpayer invissments. I am pleased to see the house moving forward this week with h. R. 3 that will do just that. We must create leverage whenever we k despite promises from President Trump last year, the drugmakers would announce massive voluntary price degreeses on their rod prods, patients continue to face enormous year over year drug price increases on the drugs they need in the first half of 2018 for every drug that saw a price decrease, 96 drugs saw a price increase. We also know that drug price hikes are almost never connected to any evidence of innovation and improved ben fifment why do Drug Companies raise the price of existing drugs . Because they k it is imperative we protect patients from unaffordable drug prices and unjustified price increases on those drugs. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition 1234 mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday i was pleased to join 158 of my colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker Pelosi highlighting the critical importance of the usmca trade agreement. Tates been nearly 400 days since President Trump sipped the agreement with our two closest trading partners, at long last it seems a vote may finally be in the future. With less than two weeks left in the legislative calendar, a vote is long overdue. Farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and everyone in between will benefit from the passing of usmca. Usmca will help increase market opportunities, keeping trade free and fair and the projected impact on our nations Agricultural Industry is staggering. Nder this new revamped agreement, u. S. Agricultural exports will increase leading to an estimated 325,000 additional jobs here at home. Thats good news not just for our local Rural Communities but each and every american. Usmca will help bring u. S. Trade policy into the 21st century. Each day that passes without a vote is leaving money and opportunity on the table. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for ne minute. Ms. Jackson lee 2017 the gulf region experienced one of the greatest catastrophic flooding and hurricanes in our history. 51 trillion gallons of water. Neighborhoods that had never flooded, flooded. People in desperate conditions, reservoirs breaking, dams breaking, and i knew that we had to rescue them. I introduced the first Hurricane Harvey legislation, 174 billion. But, mr. Speaker, there was a group that i did not want to forget because i know that they are entrepreneurs and thats why i established the Small BusinessGrant Program modeled after 9 11 that now has come into fruition with 100 million. I will go home and announce this to my local community, the grants are grants and not loans. Unique. They are not like the s. B. A. Of the they are grants. We fought for that from the federal government all the way down to the state government. Im asking my constituents to meet me in houston at 2 00 p. M. For a grand announcement in order for the Small Businesses still impacted by Hurricane Harvey to get grant relief, money that is not alone, and im fighting for those loans to be small enough to help all of our small entrepreneurs. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . To ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. This week Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are continuing their threeyearold quest to overturn the 2016 election and tear down president donald trump. Recently Speaker Pelosi said current impeachment force is not rushed because its been going on for 2 1 2 years. That seems to me to be admission of what we have known for a long time. That the democrats do not care how or why they impeach the president so long as they do so. This impeachment sham is the result of a quest that began the moment President Trump descended the escalator at trump tower in 2015 to announce he was running for president. Mr. Keller its also the result of career Brewer Contracts and House Democrats to prevent or stop President Trump from taking power out of their hands and returning it to the people. Just this week we have seen evidence that the f. B. I. Has been weaponized against the president ial candidate, chairman schiff abusing his power by releasing phone records of members of congress and reporters. And his refusal to defend a onesided report drafted by him and his crafted by him and his staff. Lets stop the sham and get back to the work of the American People. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from neverauskas seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Horsford thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak in support of h. R. 3rks the Elijah Cummings lowering drug cost now act. Across america seniors and families are struggling to afford the prescription drugs they need to stay healthy. One of my constituents from the rural part of my district, kristi, was receiving telehealth care through her senior care plus coverage before her health plan cut its rural coverage. Until she enrolls in another coverage, she will have to pay out of pocket for her prescriptions. Her insulin alone will be 500 each month. Under h. R. 3, some commonly used insulins can cost as little as 400 per year. For kristi and for the 30. 3 million americans who live with diabetes, we must pass h. R. 3 and lower drug costs now. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one inute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. In september i was named the National Defense authorization act conference committee, which is tasked as reconciling differences between the house and Senate PassedDefense Authorization bills. Mr. Delgado in this role i believe i have the chance to advocate for provisions dealing with pfas contamination and devastating effects including thyroid disease and cancer. The contaminant has reached havoc in my district. Unfortunately, leaders in both parties opted to high jack negotiations at the 11th hour behind closed doors and disturbingly undemocratic fashion. In the end, nearly every meaningful pfas provision was stripped from the agreement. While aim pleased my Bipartisan Legislation requiring the chemicals to be listed on the e. P. A. s inventory was included, i am deeply frustrated by an incredibly flawed process completely void of transparency. For this reason, i decided not to sign the final conference report. I expected more from this process and quite certain the American People expect more from this body. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Our nation faces an alarming crisis, the cost of prescription drugs continues to rise placing a dangerous burden on american families, especially our older citizens. Thats why this week the house is taking action to lower the cost of lifesaving medication individuals need to survive by passing h. R. 3, Elijah Cummings lower drug costs now act. Im especially proud this landmark legislation will include a provision i authored with my colleague, congressman rose, to reduce Medicare Part d cost for lowincome seniors. H. R. 3 will finally allow medicare to negotiate drug costs and our provision len sure the cost savings goes right back to support medicare recipients by expanding access to programs that lower outofpocket expenses for vulnerable adults and individual with disabilities. An orel this marks important step forward ensuring medication is accessible and affordable for everyday americans. Thank you, mr. Speaker. 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, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. His name was Carlos Hernandez vazquez. He was 16. He was sick with the flu. So sick with the flu that he passed out. He was being detained by u. S. Border patrol. He lay on the floor of his cell for hours without a Single Person coming to help him. Ms. Brownley hours until he died. On the floor, alone. When c. B. P. Detained him they were responsible for his wellbeing. We were responsible for his wellbeing. And we failed him. Some say we must create a deterrent from children fleeing their home country. I ask, mr. President , is this deterrent enough for you . Our country was founded on the principle that human rights are universal rights. It is at the very core of our constitution, our democracy, nd it is why this democratic experiment endures. Without it we are nothing. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the the gentlewoman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to speak for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. On this fifth day of salt, my constituents have said to me that the salt cap has lit the values of their homes and forced them to even sometimes sell their property. A constituent recently shared that when he bought his home, his fatherinlaw patted him on the back and told him he had done a great job. Last year he had to sell that home where he raised his three children because he could no longer afford it. Not only did my constituent have to move, but had he to sell his home for less than it was worth. He drew a direct link to the 2017 tax bill salt deduction cap. And this constituent is not alone. A moodies economist found the salt cap has taken 1 trillion hit to home values. Nowhere is that felt more than in my district. Mr. Speaker, he section county is the most impacted county in the entire country. With an average of 11. 3 drop in home values. But counties in texas, illinois, connecticut all rank in the top 30. Home ownership is a pillar of the american dream. The federal government should not be putting up barriers to owning a home. We need to get rid of the salt cap and stop punishing homeowners. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 748 resolved, that any time after adoption of this resolution the speaker may, pursuant to clause 2b of rule 18, declare the house resolved into the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for consideration of the bill, h. R. 729, to amend the Coastal Zone Management act of 1972 to authorize grants to Indian Tribes to further achievement of tribal coastal zone objectives, nd for other purposes. The First Reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and amendments specified in this section and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on Natural Resources. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the fiveminute rule. An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of rules Committee Print 11640 shall be considered as adopted in the house and in the committee of the whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the fiveminute rule and shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. Section 2. A, no further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in order except those printed in the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution and amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution. B, each further amendment printed in the report of the committee on rules shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the house or in the committee of the whole. C, all points of order against the further amendments printed in the report of the committee on rules or amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution are waived. Section 3. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the committee on Natural Resources or his designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on Natural Resources or their designees, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the house or in the committee of the whole. Section 4. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee Shall rise and report the bill to the house with such further amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or ithout instructions. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for one hour. I yield the customary 30 minutes to the the gentlewoman from arizona pending i yield myself such time as i may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for purposes of debate only and i ask unanimous consent that all members may be given five days to revise and extend their legislative remarks. The rules committee provides for consideration of h. R. 729 coastal and great lakes communities enhancement act under a structured rule. This rule provides one hour of debate equally by the chair and Ranking Member of the committee. The rule makes in order 29 amendments and provides en bloc authority and provides one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, the coastal and great lakes enhancement act brings 10 meaningful and bipartisan bills that have necessary benefits to the American People and im proud to add my voice in support of this many much needed legislation. All around us we see spikes in Severe Weather patterns, rising sea levels and destroyed ecosyste