Suzanne Bonamici

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the updated United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. In the years that followed NAFTA'S enactment in 1994, American jobs were outsourced to Mexico, and the wages and working conditions were not improved for Mexican workers. This agreement, while not perfect, is an important opportunity to fix the damage from NAFTA and to create a new baseline for future trade agreements. The renegotiated USMCA strengthens labor rules so that it will be easier to prove violations. It includes robust monitoring systems and strong enforcement tools, including people on the ground in Mexico to monitor compliance. Importantly, the updated USMCA no longer includes harmful provisions that would have locked in high drug prices and made it more difficult for patients to access affordable generic drugs. This final agreement also makes important advancements to protect our environment. It improves environmental rules, puts them in the text of the agreement, provides a path to reducing hydrofluorocarbon emissions, protects against overfishing, makes it easier to prove environmental violations, and secures more than $600 million to implement the environmental provisions and address pollution and marine debris. Throughout the negotiation process, I fought hard for the inclusion of strong climate provisions. I am disappointed that the Trump administration rejected our efforts. We did, however, include a clause that creates a path for adding additional environmental and conservation agreements in the future. I will continue to do all I can to pass and implement bold policies to combat climate change. The USMCA is significantly better than the agreement that the Trump administration brought to us. It is a major improvement over the NAFTA rules that are currently in place. It will bring more certainty to workers, to Oregonians, and for the environment. I thank Speaker Pelosi for appointing me to the working group and the hardworking staff that got us to today.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I take seriously my oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and I do not take today's proceedings lightly. The Founding Fathers included the impeachment process in the Constitution to uphold our values and to maintain the checks and balances that are essential to separation of powers and to democracy. They knew way back in 1787 that a President could abuse the power of the office. In fact, they adopted the phrase ``high crimes and misdemeanors'' from a phrase that had been used in the English Parliament since 1386 intended to cover situations where an official abused his power and included disobeying an order from the Parliament. Donald Trump has abused the power of his office by inviting a foreign government to interfere in the U.S. election. He did this not to help the United States but to benefit himself. That is wrong, and it is an impeachable offense. Then, when Congress exercised our constitutional duty to investigate these wrongdoings, he obstructed the investigation every step of the way. That is also wrong, and it is also an impeachable offense. In our country, no one is above the law. That includes the President of the United States.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which President Obama signed into law 4 years ago yesterday. When I came to Congress, updating the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was one of my top priorities, and I was proud to stand with President Obama on the day that we finally left behind No Child Left Behind. More than 50 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act into law, and he said ESEA represents a major new commitment of the Federal Government to quality and equality in the schooling that we offer our young people. I agree with President Johnson. When we promote and realize equity in education, when we expand and invest in educational opportunities, we can improve outcomes for all students at all levels. Reauthorizing ESEA in 2015 was meant to put us closer to achieving that equality envisioned in the original law, but there is still much work to be done. ESSA created new opportunities to make sure that all students, regardless of their race, color, national origin, ZIP Code, or family wealth, could have an equal opportunity to obtain a high-quality public education. It returned flexibility and autonomy to States and districts to set high standards for all students, to evaluate schools using multiple measures of student learning, and to design systems for identifying schools in need of additional support. With provisions I championed, States were also given the ability to eliminate unnecessary or duplicative testing and access to resources for fewer, better quality assessments. Importantly, the Every Student Succeeds Act put more emphasis on well-rounded education that prepares students to be creative, critical thinkers. Since ESSA's passage, I have worked hard with appropriators to make sure Congress fulfills the commitments made in this law with robust funding of Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants. As we continue to implement this law, strong Federal accountability and support are necessary to make sure that the flexibility and autonomy that States and districts now have is used to identify and close achievement gaps, rather than to shirk responsibility to students. We know there is more work to be done in that area, as well. Unfortunately, the current Department of Education is more focused on privatizing education than on making sure that the States fully implement the law. They are not holding States accountable for improving outcomes of disadvantaged students. This is most noticeable in the Department's approval of State plans that ignore the performance of subgroups altogether and the lack of guidance and regulation available to help States implement the Every Student Succeeds Act. As we reflect on passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the opportunities it provides, I urge the Department of Education and Secretary DeVos to support States and hold them accountable for implementing this law with fidelity. My colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee will continue our robust oversight of the Department's implementation to make sure that the Every Student Succeeds Act fulfills a promise we made to all students when President Obama signed it into law.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act, which includes legislation to improve ocean data collection and information sharing between Federal agencies and coastal observation partners. Our coastal communities rely on accurate ocean data and monitoring for information about ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia forecasting, tsunami preparedness, navigation, and port security. I worked with my fellow co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus, Don Young, to reintroduce the Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing System Act, which is included in this bill and will allow the Integrated Ocean Observing System to strengthen its work using satellites, buoys, underwater gliders, and tide gauges to deliver accurate and continuous data on our oceans and coasts. Mapping the ocean floor is expected to be a top priority as the United Nations' Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development begins in 2021. We must strengthen investments in the Integrated Ocean Observing System and ocean monitoring so we can meaningfully contribute to these efforts. I thank my colleague from Alaska (Mr. Young) for his leadership on this issue, and I thank Chairman Grijalva for his support. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the en bloc amendment. The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet. It supplies much of the oxygen that we breathe, it regulates our climate, it is linked to the water we drink, and it is home to more than half of all life on Earth. But despite our intrinsic connection to our ocean, we know very little about what is beneath its surface. As co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I have worked with my fellow co-chair for the caucus, Congressman Don Young from Alaska, to improve ocean data and monitoring efforts through the introduction of our BLUE GLOBE Act. My amendment parallels those efforts and would direct the NOAA administrator to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to assess the potential for, and feasibility of, an Advanced Research Project Agency-Oceans, or ARPA-O. Coastal communities, like those I represent in northwest Oregon, rely on accurate ocean data and monitoring for information on ocean acidification, forecasting of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, tsunami preparedness, navigation, and port security. And after the stark findings in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on ``The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate,'' we know that ocean data and monitoring are more important than ever in adapting to the climate crisis. My other amendment would add and expand a new grant program established in the underlying bill to strengthen research opportunities on coastal acidification and hypoxia. The basic chemistry of our oceans is changing at an unprecedented rate, and additional research efforts like those established in this bill will help communities respond. I thank Chairman Grijalva and Mr. Crist for their support of these amendments and for their leadership. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the en bloc amendment.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5363, the FUTURE Act. This bill will provide critical support to our Nation's minority- serving institutions by permanently reauthorizing mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and universities, Tribally controlled colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions. These schools serve an important role in expanding opportunities for African American students and historically unrepresented student populations. Congress must do all we can to make sure these institutions have the resources they need to support their students, and I thank Representative Adams for her tireless leadership on this issue. In addition to the critical support for the historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions, this bill will also allow for the secure--and I repeat, secure--direct transfer of taxpayer data from the IRS to the Department of Education to enroll and reenroll borrowers in income-driven repayment plans. This change will make a real difference for borrowers. We know that borrowers with small loan balances are more likely to default than borrowers with six-figure debts. Those who owe less than $10,000 are most likely to default, are less likely to have completed their degrees, and are often burdened by low incomes or unemployment. I have heard from many borrowers in northwest Oregon who describe loan repayment as anxiety-inducing, daunting, and overwhelming; and I have heard from several constituents who faced financial consequences for missing the deadline to annually recertify their income for income- driven repayment plans. This change will protect many borrowers from default by getting and keeping them in manageable, income-driven repayment plans. This bill will also remove burdensome paper requirements for borrowers who are totally and permanently disabled. This has been a longtime priority of mine through the bipartisan SIMPLE Act, and I applaud my colleague, Representative DelBene, for her leadership on the language included in the bill before us today. Finally, I am pleased that this bill includes a much-needed increase in Pell grant funding. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this critical legislation when it comes to the floor, as we continue our work to make college more affordable and equitable for everyone.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Healthcare and Social Service Workers Act. A few years ago, two workers in Oregon were tragically wounded in a workplace stabbing at an organization that provides essential support services to youth who are facing addiction, homelessness, and behavioral health issues. Following the incident, Oregon AFSCME members organized to improve difficult working conditions that were compromising the quality of services for vulnerable clients as well as the safety of employees. Unfortunately, the experience of these workers is too common. According to a November 2018 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social service workers face a disproportionate risk of on-the-job violence and injuries. The workers in Oregon, and healthcare and social service workers across the country, need evidence-based workplace violence prevention plans tailored to the needs of the populations they serve. That is why I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 1309, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Courtney. Healthcare and social service workers help to care for our families, friends, and loved ones. Today, we have the chance to support their well-being in the workplace. Madam Chair, I include in the Record a letter in support of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act from the National Association of Social Workers. Good morning: We are writing today to encourage your boss to vote to approve H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which is scheduled to come to the House floor for a vote next week. This bipartisan legislation is instrumental in promoting safer working conditions for millions of social workers, nurses and other similar professionals who experience unacceptably high levels of violence on the job. The National Association of Social Workers represents the interests of over 750,000 social workers nationwide who are employed in wide variety of settings, including hospitals, community clinics, schools and correctional facilities among others. Many social workers provide services outside the four walls of an office, such as in family homes. As you may know, healthcare and social service workers are nearly five times more likely to be assaulted at work than other professionals, and the rate of violence is growing. Between 2007 and 2017, the rate of violent injuries grew by 123% in hospitals, 201% in psychiatric hospitals and substance use treatment facilities, and 28% in social service settings. The costs of this violence are high: in injury rates, in professionals being driven from doing the work they love, in workers' compensation claims and staff shortages. Workplace violence is also highly problematic for patients. Safe environments are healing environments. Currently, there is no federal enforceable violence prevention standard covering healthcare and social services and federal guidelines do not cover those working in public facilities. H.R. 1309 would require hospitals, residential treatment facilities, substance use disorder treatment centers, clinics at correctional or detention facilities, and other service facilities to develop and implement comprehensive violence prevention plans and provide whistle- blower protections for workers. These commonsense plans can be customized to reflect the unique safety needs and concerns of each setting. When the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act comes before your boss for consideration, we urge your boss to support its passage. Thank you for your consideration and please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Dina L. Kastner, MSS, MLSP, Senior Field Organizer, National Association of Social Workers.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4674, the College Affordability Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The Federal role in education is centered on equity. When we promote and realize equity in education, when we expand and invest in educational opportunities, we can improve outcomes for all students, at all levels. President Johnson signed the first Higher Education Act into law in 1965, more than 50 years ago. The goal was to make certain that no student is denied a college education because of a lack of resources. At that time, President Johnson said: ``This act means the path of knowledge is open to all that have the determination to walk it.'' We have made some progress over the past 50-plus years. But for many students, especially first-generation and low-income students and many students of color, they have the determination, but there are still too many barriers for them to overcome. I am glad this bill addresses those barriers and includes several of my longtime priorities, informed by conversations I have had with students, community colleges, colleges, and universities across my home State of Oregon. These priorities include strengthening financial counseling for student borrowers and modernizing the Federal work-study program to direct resources to students who need it most. I have also heard from numerous student loan borrowers in northwest Oregon who describe loan repayment as anxiety-inducing, daunting, and overwhelming, which is why I have included language in the College Affordability Act to help protect many borrowers from default by getting and keeping them in manageable, income-driven repayment plans. Also, unfortunately, I have heard that housing and food insecurity are prevalent for too many students across this country. This bill includes language I authored, along with my Education and Labor Committee colleague Representative Takano, to address the issue of food insecurity by making sure that students who are eligible for SNAP are aware of their eligibility and have the support they need to secure those benefits. The College Affordability Act also increases Pell grant funding, supports school-based childcare centers, provides stronger accountability measures for institutions, creates an emergency grant program for students who encounter unexpected financial barriers, and makes urgently needed improvements to the public service loan forgiveness program. I am proud of the work that the Education and Labor Committee has done in crafting the College Affordability Act. I am grateful to Chairman Scott for his leadership. I urge all of my colleagues to support this crucial legislation when it comes to the floor as we continue our work to make college affordable and equitable for everyone.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, it is National Apprenticeship Week. In Oregon and around the country, registered apprenticeships and pre- apprenticeships are helping people access good-paying jobs, improving economic security, and increasing opportunities for women, people of color, and dislocated workers. Last week I met with more than 30 apprentices and union leaders at the UA 290 Training Center in Tualatin, Oregon. Their stories are inspiring. I heard from apprentices like Sade with Steamfitters Local 290, who said, ``I love what I do, and people who look like me coming into these spaces matters.'' Jackie, who was once incarcerated, is now helping others overcome barriers and enter the workforce. She said IBEW ``gave me a chance.'' In discussing the Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, Sarah, a single mom, said that, without it, ``I would never be here providing a better life for my kids and myself.'' During National Apprenticeship Week, I say to all of my colleagues, join me. Let's work together to protect and expand registered apprenticeship programs to provide workers with quality training, portable credentials, high wages, support services, and a pathway to a permanent job. These programs do more than train a workforce; they change lives for the better.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 660, a resolution establishing procedures for the House of Representatives Committees investigating President Donald John Trump to continue their ongoing impeachment inquiry. No one is above the law, and the President must be held accountable for his actions. I first called for an impeachment inquiry in May, and witnesses have revealed even more evidence of wrongdoing. The President withheld Congressionally appropriated foreign aid money while asking a foreign government to investigate a political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden and his family. Congressional committees, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Oversight and Reform Committee, and the Judiciary Committee, have been leading investigations into the President's actions, and the Administration has obstructed those investigations at every turn. My colleagues on the committees of jurisdiction have been diligently working to bring the truth to light. It is clear from the evidence already uncovered, along with the President's own remarks, that he has betrayed his oath to the Constitution and threatened our national security. The investigation must continue. The resolution on the floor today outlines the procedures for the next phase of the impeachment investigation. The next phase of the inquiry will allow Oregonians and people across the country to witness the process designed by our Founding Fathers to uphold our values and maintain the checks and balances that are essential to a functioning democracy. Although we do not know the breadth of the evidence that the inquiry will uncover, it is clear that this is a grave time for our democracy. We must use all the tools at our disposal, including this impeachment inquiry, to uncover the full scope and significance of the President's actions.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I urge all of my colleagues to support the bipartisan Dignity in Aging Act of 2019. We know that the OAA programs--Meals on Wheels, community meal programs, caregiver support, protection against elder abuse--help older Americans live their lives with dignity. Once again, I thank Representatives Stefanik, Lee, Comer, Wild, and Johnson for joining me in leading this effort. Again, I thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Foxx for supporting this legislation as it moved through the committee process. The bipartisan engagement and the involvement of many committee members was crucial to achieving this legislation to successfully address many priorities and incorporate the input of numerous stakeholders. I am sincerely grateful for the contributions of all involved, and I am eager to support the passage of this bill today so we can better empower every older American to age with dignity. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) who, along with Representative Stefanik, were lead sponsors of the Younger Onset Alzheimer's Act, which was included in this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), a member of the Education and Labor Committee and a passionate advocate for suicide prevention.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I include in the Record letters of support from AARP supporting H.R. 4334, a letter from the Jewish Federation of North America supporting H.R. 4334, a letter from the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement supporting the legislation, a letter from 72 national organizations representing older adults and caregivers across the country, and a letter from Meals on Wheels supporting H.R. 4334 and its attention to the impacts of social isolation.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4334) to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 4334, the Dignity in Aging Act.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4334, the Dignity in Aging Act of 2019. I introduced this bipartisan bill to reauthorize and update the Older Americans Act, or OAA, which was first passed in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society initiative. For more than 50 years, OAA programs have helped older Americans maintain their independence and their dignity. Today, the Older Americans Act serves about 11 million individuals each year, with 3 million of those Americans relying regularly on OAA programs to meet their basic needs. Unfortunately, funding for the Older Americans Act lags far behind the increasing demand for its services. Although the population of Americans over age 60 has grown more than 60 percent since 2001, OAA funding has only grown by about 20 percent. Adjusting for inflation, this means that OAA funding has declined by about 16 percent. That erosion of funding exacerbates the vast unmet need in my home State of Oregon and across the country. It means that every day in our communities there are seniors who do not have the care they need and deserve. I have heard and read too many stories about seniors rationing medication or saving portions of their meal so they can stretch their resources just a bit further into the week. I will never forget the story I heard of an 80-year-old woman in Oregon who was living in her car. She did not know where to turn for help. Far too many Americans continue to face poverty, discrimination, and barriers to basic necessities. This is, in part, because OAA programs are underfunded and not fully supported. According a 2015 GAO report, OAA services do not reach 83 percent of the low-income, older Americans who experience food insecurity. That is more than four out of every five seniors in need. Today, we recommit to investing in OAA programs because we have an obligation, a moral obligation, to take care of those who cared for us. The Dignity in Aging Act authorizes record levels of funding for OAA programs, which will help expand access to food assistance, transportation, and other basic services that the growing population of seniors needs to live independently. Under this bill, all OAA programs are eligible to receive an immediate 7 percent increase in funding and a 6 percent increase each year thereafter. This will result in a more than 35 percent total increase in program funding over the 5-year reauthorization program, restoring OAA funding to prerecession baseline. This is a good investment because OAA programs help seniors stay in their homes and out of costly facilities. The bill also recognizes the need to support family caregivers and direct-care workers. It extends the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, which helps develop a national strategy to recognize and support those caring for their loved ones. My 91-year-old mother has Alzheimer's, so I know how important caregivers are. H.R. 4334 strengthens our focus on combating social isolation, which greatly increases the risk of stroke, heart disease, dementia, and premature death. It does so by incorporating social isolation screening into the health and supportive services that seniors receive and by empowering local organizations to evaluate solutions for social isolation. The Dignity in Aging Act also establishes a National Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Center for the Aging Network. This center will be responsible for conducting, promoting, and coordinating research, including evaluation and demonstration projects and related technical assistance through the act. The center will increase the repository of information on evidence-based programs and interventions available to the Aging Network. The bill improves economic opportunity and engagement for older Americans. It includes individuals who are justice-involved as a priority population for the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The bill also encourages the inclusion of arts education and cultural experiences, among other supportive services, and further allows for demonstration funds to be used for multigenerational collaboration projects that provide opportunities for older individuals to participate in multigenerational activities and civic engagement activities. Finally, this bipartisan legislation seeks to improve services for historically underserved and marginalized individuals, including Native Americans, Holocaust survivors, and LGBT seniors. For example, it will create a National Technical Assistance Center dedicated to expanding the Aging Network's capacity to deliver person-centered, trauma- informed services that meet the needs of aging trauma survivors. The bill codifies the National Resource Center on Women and Retirement to recognize the ongoing importance of their work, and it improves data collection and outreach for all resource centers that focus on populations needing additional or unique services. This bill provides a rare bipartisan opportunity to help millions of older Americans across the country spend less of their limited income on costly care and, just as importantly, empowers every individual to age with dignity. I would like to thank Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx, as well as my coleads on the bill--Representative Elise Stefanik; Subcommittee Ranking Member Representative James Comer; and Representatives Susie Lee, Susan Wild, and Dusty Johnson--for working together to bring this bipartisan bill to the floor. I also want to thank the hardworking staff, especially Carrie Hughes and Ali Hard from the committee; my personal office staff: Jack Arriaga, Allison Smith, and Rachael Bornstein; and the staff on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation so we can better care for those who have cared for us, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), chairman of the Education and Labor Committee.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood), a member of the Education and Labor Committee.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 728, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act and to highlight the importance of title VIII programs, a critical lifeline for America's nursing workforce and the patients they serve. Demand for healthcare services provided by nurses continues to grow, so we must expand and support these programs to maintain a highly educated nursing workforce. Title VIII programs support more than 61,000 students in almost every State, but there are still significant nursing shortages in northwest Oregon and across the country. Title VIII programs increase the nursing pipeline and also create a culturally diverse workforce to make sure that our increasingly diverse patient population is cared for by culturally aware providers. Title VIII programs prepare nurses to serve the most vulnerable communities and regions, such as rural areas, that are in desperate need of providers. Title VIII programs also provide crucial support for our nursing educators, greater diversity in the nursing workforce, and more successful careers for nurses who work tirelessly on the front lines of patient care. Our nurses are critical to the health and well-being of our communities. That is why I am honored to serve as a leader on the Nursing Caucus along with several other cosponsors of this legislation, Representatives Joyce, Davis, and Gabbard. I thank them and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership on this bill. I look forward to our continued bipartisan effort in advocating for the title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Oregon, like much of the country, is facing a housing affordability crisis that is hurting families and the economy. I recently held six listening sessions in the district I represent. In every community--urban, suburban, and rural--I heard from individuals, employers, local officials, and nonprofits that told me the lack of affordable housing is having serious consequences around northwest Oregon. Over the last several years, housing costs have gone up significantly, but wages have not. Available housing stock has not kept up with demand, driving prices higher and higher. Much of the new housing that is being built is unaffordable for middle- and low-income households. To afford a modest one-bedroom unit at fair market rent, someone earning minimum wage in Yamhill County, Oregon, for example, would need to work 65 hours a week. In Multnomah County, someone would need to work 81 hours a week to pay for a modest one-bedroom apartment--81 hours a week. Housing is foundational. It forms the bedrock of a family's stability and security, and it is vital to each person's full participation in society. The toll of this crisis on families and communities is devastating, and it is also hampering economic growth. I heard time and again from employers who are struggling to attract workers in areas where housing was unaffordable or unavailable, employees commuting long hours because they cannot afford to live closer to their jobs. In Columbia County, for example, I heard how the lack of affordable housing for just one individual negatively affected the whole community. The county government recruited a highly qualified new finance director from another State, only to have that person struggle to find a permanent place to live. After staying in an RV for 4 months, she finally had to quit in the middle of budget season because she could not find a place to live. Federal policies and resources are a vital part of addressing this true national crisis. Unfortunately, Federal support for cost-burdened individuals and families is severely insufficient and declining. According to the Oregon Center for Public Policy, more than one-third of Oregon households are cost-burdened. That is 530,000 households spending more than 30 percent of their income on shelter, with some spending more than half of their income for a place to live. Despite that tremendous need, only one out of every five eligible families receives any Federal housing assistance. Wait lists at public housing authorities often stretch into years. At the Federal level, we have many tools to help address these problems: tax incentives, voucher programs, public housing, and grants that empower nonprofits and communities that implement local strategies. But the resources Congress provides are woefully insufficient. We need to do much more if we honestly want to make sure that every person in our communities has the dignity and stability of a roof over their head. Mr. Speaker, this crisis is why I support transformative legislation like the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act. It would invest $445 billion to create 3 million deeply affordable homes and cut rental costs by 10 percent. I also strongly support the Ending Homelessness Act to comprehensively address chronic homelessness by providing a surge of resources that will drastically expand access to housing and case management that integrates healthcare and other supportive services. Our communities are better and families will thrive when everyone has a home. Ultimately, any solution will require a determined and coordinated effort by all stakeholders, including community activists, developers, lenders, nonprofit leaders, and elected officials at every level of government. Congress must step up and be part of the solution. I ask my colleagues to join me today in committing to bold action to address the housing affordability crisis in Oregon and across the country.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Astoria Regatta, the City of Astoria, and Clatsop County on the 125th celebration of the Regatta. This is a joyous milestone for one of the oldest festivals west of the Rocky Mountains and an important moment to pause and reflect on the significance of the Regatta to our region. Since the Astoria Regatta's founding in 1894, it has celebrated our connection to the mighty Columbia River and our heritage as a seafaring and fishing community. The first festival, which evolved out of the custom of boat racing on the river, included a parade of 22 decorated yachts and the presence of the U.S. Monitor Monterey. Early Regattas featured a four-and-a-half mile swim across the river, and the popular Salmon Derby. Since then, the Regatta has grown with the additions of the Regatta Court, the Grand Land Parade, the Seaman's Memorial, the rose planting ceremony, and many other special community traditions. Today, the Astoria Regatta embodies the best aspects of our region. Through the Royal Court, the Regatta helps develop the leadership skills of young women. The Regatta is also an opportunity to praise the dedication of community leaders who serve as Regatta Dignitaries: the Admiral, Admiral's Aide, and the Grand Marshals. And through the Seaman's Memorial, the Regatta allows us to remember and memorialize those we have lost on the river and the ocean. Although World War I and World War II interrupted the celebration of the Astoria Regatta, the community always found a way to restore it. In fact, many of our long-standing community institutions have ties to the Regatta: in 1933, the newly-founded Astoria Yacht Club helped bring the Regatta back after the First World War, and the Clatsop County Fair began in 1905 as an agricultural exhibit of the Regatta. Past Regattas marked the Lewis and Clark Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1955, the opening of the Astoria-Megler Bridge in 1966, the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976, and the Bicentennial of Astoria in 2011. We can only imagine what E.J. Smith, editor of The Daily Morning Astorian, and Frank M. Gunn, secretary of the Astoria Football Club, would think about the 125th anniversary of the tradition they started in 1894. Like us, surely they would be proud of the community that Astoria has become, the growth and vitality of this region, and the continuation of this grand tradition.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for yielding. In Oregon and across the country, people have worked hard to provide themselves and their families with a secure retirement by contributing a portion of their income to pensions. But now, through no fault of their own, too many of these hardworking Americans find that their pension plans are struggling, and without intervention, these plans will become insolvent, putting the retirement security of about 1.3 million people at risk. The bipartisan Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act, the Butch Lewis Act, will help protect retirees, workers, and employers by creating the Pension Rehabilitation Administration to issue bonds to finance loans for critical and declining status multiemployer pension plans. Importantly, this bill does not cut benefits for workers and retirees, benefits they have earned. Workers, families, businesses, and retirees are counting on Congress to address the growing retirement security crisis in our country and protect the benefits workers have earned over their lifetime. This bipartisan bill is one important piece of the solution to address the multiemployer pension crisis, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it. I thank Chairman Scott and Chairman Neal for their leadership on this issue.