Suzanne Bonamici

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for this resolution to terminate the President's declaration of a national emergency on February 15, 2019. No such emergency exists on the U.S.- Mexico border. The President is using this declaration as a false pretense to divert taxpayer money, primarily away from the Department of Defense, toward the construction of a wasteful, ineffective wall along the southern border. This declaration is an unacceptable abuse of power that circumvents the constitutional authority of Congress. For these reasons, I am a cosponsor of this resolution to terminate the declaration pursuant to the provisions of the National Emergencies Act. I support taking action to make sure we have the appropriate personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources to protect our borders from criminal activity like trafficking in drugs or people. Building this wall is not a good investment and it will not stop crime or illegal immigration along our southern border. Instead of building walls, we should instead build bridges to those who are fleeing violence and legally seeking asylum in our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting the President's abuse of power by supporting this resolution.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for this government spending bill negotiated by the bipartisan Conference Committee. Although the bill is not what I would have drafted, and I recognize that we still have much work to do in the area of humane immigration reform, we simply cannot have another painful, costly, and unnecessary shutdown. The members of our Coast Guard, TSA, and other federal agencies are still recovering from the most recent shutdown. They deserve certainty, and they need to know that they can continue working and that they will be paid on time. The President must also act responsibly and fulfill his duty to federal workers and those who rely on government services by signing this legislation. This bill includes many victories I am proud to support; it delivers a pay raise to federal workers to keep pace with the cost of living, invests in the Census to provide a fair and accurate count for underrepresented communities, and dedicates $17 billion in new infrastructure funding to improve our roads, bridges, and mass transit. The legislation increases investments in small business initiatives for minority and women-owned businesses, which will create jobs. The bill also rejects the Trump Administration's attacks on the environment by denying deep cuts to programs that protect clean water, clean air, and public lands. As with any compromise, I have serious reservations about some of the provisions in this bill--particularly regarding immigration enforcement. I appreciate that our conferees were able to prevent the wasteful inclusion of any increased funding for an ineffective border wall and include humanitarian assistance funding for migrants, but the House must continue to push for smarter, more compassionate use of resources for border security and immigration enforcement. I am concerned that this bill gives the Department of Homeland Security too much leeway to continue the unchecked targeting and detention of immigrants who pose no threat to public safety, rather than focusing enforcement efforts on high-priority criminals. I continue to support having the appropriate personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources to address crime and trafficking on our borders, but immigration enforcement should not be militarized and operate with impunity. We can treat individuals in a humane and just manner and still prevent crime, reduce trafficking, and keep our country safe. People fleeing violence in their home countries and seeking asylum in the United States need to be protected, not threatened with more persecution. We must enact commonsense changes to improve accountability and protect the fundamental rights of immigrants--especially those legally seeking asylum. I will keep pushing for rigorous oversight of ICE and reforms to our immigration enforcement system. This legislation is the product of good-faith negotiations between bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate. I am hopeful that this result demonstrates the futility of chaotic brinksmanship, and I hope that we can learn from this experience to resolve differences through dialogue and trust in the legislative process.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Maryland for yielding time. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019, which will provide relief and recovery assistance for those affected by natural disasters. I am pleased that this bill includes $150 million for commercial fishery and fishery resource disasters declared by the Secretary of Commerce. Oregon's commercial salmon fisheries were devastated in 2016 and 2017 when they saw more than a 70 percent decline in their salmon catch compared to the 5-year average. Despite considerable Federal and State investment in Chinook salmon recovery, many factors outside of the control of the fishing industry, including drought and changing ocean conditions exacerbated by climate change, continue to impede salmon populations. In Oregon, the 2016 salmon catch levels were so low that they measured among the worst nationwide fisheries disasters of the year. And 2017 was even worse, at less than half of the 2016 value. These disastrous salmon seasons have already hurt the distressed economies of the coastal communities that rely on the commercial fishing industry. I have heard from salmon fishermen like Jeff Reeves. He fishes, he farms, and he logs to make ends meet. He scraped, and he invested $200,000 in a boat. Then the back-to-back disaster seasons arrived, and he had to sell it. As Jeff points out, fishermen are small business owners, and a bad season can be devastating for their livelihoods. I was proud to lead my Oregon colleagues in calling on Secretary Ross to declare a disaster declaration for ocean troll Klamath River fall Chinook salmon fisheries, and I was glad to see that the secretary issued that declaration last fall. The $150 million included in this bill will allow those hard-hit communities that depend on fisheries revenue, like those in the Pacific Northwest, to seek Federal assistance and begin the recovery process. I thank Chairman McGovern and Chairwoman Lowey for their leadership, and Mr. Raskin, as well, on this commonsense bill to support communities affected by natural disasters across the country. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, a TSA agent along with his wife had to sell plasma to make ends meet. A Federal law enforcement employee just received an eviction notice after trying to explain the shutdown to his apartment manager. In a few days, he and his family will be kicked out of their apartment if they do not receive a paycheck in time to pay their rent. A counselor at a Federal prison is already working under stressful conditions and not being paid. She and her coworkers wonder how they can make their Federal student loan payments when they aren't getting paychecks. Members of the Coast Guard are working hard every day in dangerous conditions to keep our coastal communities safe, not knowing how they will pay their rent or other bills without their next paycheck. Air traffic controllers work in a very complex field that requires concentration and dedication to keep the skies safe, and they are expected to do that without getting paid. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because these Oregonians and hundreds of thousands of people across the country like them are suffering as a result of President Trump's government shutdown. For 20 days, the President has held the American people hostage over his campaign slogan to build a wall along the southern border, a wall that he promised Mexico would pay for. In those 20 days, I have seen firsthand how harmful this shutdown has been for Oregonians. I have spoken with individuals from Astoria, Sheridan, Portland, and beyond who are worried: How are they going to pay their rent? How are they going to afford childcare or continue to pay their student loans if their paycheck does not come through on Friday? Missing even one paycheck can have catastrophic consequences. It is far too high a cost for these dedicated Federal employees to pay for a policy fight that they did not start and have no power to end. This is unconscionable. Hardworking Oregonians should not lose their homes or be forced to sell plasma because the Federal Government is shut down, especially when they are continuing to report to work and protect our country without pay. Since taking the majority last week, the House has taken swift action to reopen the government. We have passed bipartisan bills to fund government operations and pay workers who have been furloughed. The American people have been held hostage long enough. It is past time for the President to abandon his ill-conceived border wall and reopen the Federal Government before more people are hurt.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I do thank Chairman Smith. I have been on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee my entire time in Congress, and I thank him for his years of leadership and service to the committee. Even though Chairman Smith and I have not always agreed on every issue, he has been always willing to listen and to work with me and my colleagues on my side of the aisle on bills like the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, which we worked on for several years together and is now law. So, again, I thank Chairman Smith for his years of service to the committee. I wish him well in the new chapter of his life. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2200, the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018. The NIDIS program has grown tremendously since its creation in 2006, and this reauthorization will aid in continuing its mission to provide a drought early warning system by coordinating and integrating drought research through key Federal, State, local, and Tribal partnerships. This bill also includes a reauthorization of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act, which Senator Nelson and I introduced this Congress with bipartisan support. This bill provides valuable resources to better understand, detect, assess, monitor, and respond to both marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events. Updating this program and investing in research on harmful algal blooms and hypoxia will help Oregonians and people across the country who are facing the dangerous effects of exposure to harmful algal blooms in drinking water sources, oceans, and lakes. Recently, we have seen harmful algal blooms cut off access to clean drinking water for residents of Salem, Oregon, and they have stifled recreational activities on the Willamette River. Harmful algal blooms in the marine environment produce dangerous toxins that make Oregon's prized Dungeness crabs toxic and deprive fishing communities of income. As co-chair of both the House Oceans Caucus and the House Estuary Caucus, I am pleased to reauthorize the research programs that help us better predict and guard against harmful algal blooms in marine and freshwater systems. Additionally, this bill contains provisions to reauthorize funding for programs from the Weather Research and Forecasting and Innovation Act of 2017, which I fully support. Other language in this bill regarding NOAA's Earth prediction innovation center, computing resources, and our next-generation satellite architecture, though valuable, is completely new to this body and is deserving of robust, discussion which has been missing. Though I am supportive of the NIDIS, the algal blooms bill, and the Weather Act programs that are reauthorized in this legislation, I would like to note that we have not had a hearing, a markup, or any substantive discussion of these programs in the House of Representatives this Congress. These critical issues do warrant such discussion, given the number of Americans affected by either drought or toxic algal blooms and hypoxia events, and all Americans benefit from NOAA programs that provide timely and accurate forecasts. I look forward to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee providing a forum to discuss these significant issues next Congress. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 7, the NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2018. In the interest of time, I will be placing extended remarks in the Record. Let me just say that this is a commonsense bill to extend an authority that helps NASA more efficiently manage its assets. I rise in support of S.7, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease Extension Act of 2018''. Enhanced use leasing, or ``EUL'' allows the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--NASA--to enter into agreements with state and local governments, academia, private sector entities, and other Federal government agencies to lease non-excess and underutilized properties at NASA. NASA's EUL authority allows the agency to accept lease revenues, in turn helping NASA to reduce operating costs and make improvements to facility conditions. The EUL authority helps NASA manage the agency's real property, including the preservation of underutilized or unique, historic properties. According to NASA, in Fiscal Year 2017, five NASA Centers used enhanced use leasing resulting in a total of approximately $5.4 million in net revenue for the agency. Congress granted NASA authority to demonstrate enhanced use leasing at two NASA Field Centers as part the Fiscal Year 2003 Consolidated Appropriations Resolution. The Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act expanded the authority to agency-wide use. Since then, the authority has been amended in 2008, and further amended in 2012 to allow NASA to accept in-kind considerations for leases for the purpose of developing renewable energy production facilities. The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017--Public Law 115-10-- extended NASA's EUL authority until December 31, 2018. The bill we are considering today provides a clean one-year extension until December 31, 2019. This extension will allow NASA to continue existing EUL arrangements and to make progress on developing new arrangements that are currently underway. I urge my colleagues to pass S.7, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease Extension Act of 2018.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act. I thank Majority Leader McCarthy for introducing this good legislation. In the interest of time, I will be placing extended remarks in the Record today. I rise in support of H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act. I thank Majority Leader McCarthy for introducing this good legislation. Building a STEM workforce that can meet the demands of our continually evolving economy is one of the most pressing challenges we face today. With a persistent and widening STEM skills gap, companies in all sectors continue to struggle to meet their needs for skilled technical workers. We must do more to ensure we are preparing a workforce that can keep pace with these demands, and not just in the near term. Apprenticeships are a promising approach to bridging this gap. By investing in education and on-the-job training for their workers, employers can develop a workforce equipped with skills tailored to their specific needs. After completing an apprenticeship program, workers are on the path to a long-term, well-paying career. H.R. 5509 directs the National Science Foundation to provide grants for developing or improving associate, certificate, and applied learning programs at community colleges and universities in partnership with employers. This bill also directs NSF to support research on the skilled technical labor market. These are important steps in the right direction. In order to build a strong skilled technical workforce we must do more to expand access to these careers. Women make up nearly half of the workforce but only 6 percent of apprentices. I am glad this bill highlights the need for better outreach and I look forward to exploring what more can be done to ensure women and other underrepresented minorities have the same opportunities to benefit from apprenticeships. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, on December 6, a Rwandan court will decide the fate of human rights activist Diane Rwigara, who faces up to 22 years in prison for speaking out against President Paul Kagame's government, and for running against him to be president. The politically motivated charges against Diane seek to quash any criticism of the ruling party, which has gone largely unchallenged for more than 23 years. Americans know that freedom of speech is essential to democracy. They know that we must protect our right to question our leaders and, importantly, encourage that freedom around the world. I am sponsoring Diane's case as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project, because as Diane faces a prolonged jail sentence, she is still calling on fellow Rwandans to resist fear and speak for their country, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in calling for justice for Diane.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1768, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act. This bill will reauthorize seismological research and warning systems through Fiscal Year 2022. Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) to carry out a longterm, inter-agency earthquake research program. NEHRP focuses on earthquake warning, hazard reduction, and minimizing loss after earthquakes. Earthquake early warning systems can provide several additional seconds of warning before the strongest ground shaking arrives, enough to save lives and protect critical infrastructure. In Northwest Oregon, it is not a question of if, but when, an earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone will hit our state. The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, Caltech, and University of California, Berkley, developed ShakeAlert, an early earthquake warning system. The technology has been tested and is proven to work effectively. Federal investments in these programs are critical. Although it is difficult if not impossible to know when and where the next large earthquake will occur, we must do everything that we can to prepare ourselves and our communities to mitigate destruction and save lives. Reauthorizing NEHRP is an important step in recognizing the science behind earthquakes and other natural disasters such as tsunamis and landslides. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, the Endangered Species Act was passed to increase protections for and provide for the recovery of vanishing wildlife. Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen countless attacks on the ESA and science-based decisions, and this bill is no exception. This bill would hastily remove Endangered Species Act protections for all gray wolves in the lower 48 States without a rulemaking process or the opportunity for judicial review. Although the population of gray wolves has started to recover, it is now only 5 percent of the number that existed historically. Scientists are just beginning to understand the role of gray wolves in the larger ecosystem, and listing and delisting decisions should be based on science, not politics. Mr. Speaker, there are so many more important things we need to be doing today. Today, instead of undermining the Endangered Species Act, we should be reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, passing the Violence Against Women Act, and the list goes on. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, it is National Apprenticeship Week and Women in Apprenticeship Day, and I want to highlight the potential for apprenticeships to get people into good-paying jobs. When I visit communities across northwest Oregon, I hear from many Oregonians who feel left behind and left out of the economic recovery. Far too many families are still struggling to make ends meet. Their wages are stagnant, and they feel overwhelmed by rising rent prices, barriers to transportation, and skyrocketing costs of childcare. They can't save for retirement or for their kids to go to college. They need access to good-paying jobs so they can support themselves and their families. Workforce development programs can assist them, particularly assisting those who have barriers to employment. Good workforce policies can help them access the education, training, credentials, and support services they need to secure living-wage jobs. Good workforce policies create opportunities for employers to align training with the skills they need. As we recognize National Apprenticeship Week and Women in Apprenticeship Day, we must commit to strengthening apprenticeships and work-based learning programs. Investing in these programs will help more people access better-paying, stable careers and provide our businesses with a workforce that will improve productivity and efficiency. In the district I represent, the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center, or OMIC, is bringing together industry leaders like Boeing with local colleges, including Portland Community College, Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, and Portland State University, to develop a registered apprenticeship program. This collaboration will result in growth, innovation, and efficiency in advanced manufacturing and a more skilled workforce. OMIC is a tremendous opportunity for Oregonians and exactly the kind of partnership that brings value to our communities and to our economy. I was proud to help secure funding for OMIC through the Economic Development Administration, and I look forward to seeing its continued growth and the opportunities it will bring to northwest Oregon and our region and our future manufacturing workforce. Although some employers recognize the importance of recruiting and training all working people, across the country, the representation of women in the trades remains quite low. In Oregon, we are leading the way. Women's participation in registered apprenticeship programs is more than double the national average, demonstrating the value of organizations like Oregon Tradeswomen, with the mission dedicated to promoting success for women in the trades through education, leadership, and mentorship. We can help increase the presence of programs like Oregon Tradeswomen across the country by increasing funding for the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants, and, of course, by supporting the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. To help Oregonians and many other Americans who still face job insecurity, we must expand work-based learning to industries that lack established apprenticeship programs, like healthcare and technology, especially in startups. Unfortunately, small- and medium-sized businesses often do not have the resources to establish work-based learning programs on their own. Industry partnerships like those at OMIC solve this challenge by bringing together employers, educational institutions, training providers, and local organizations to support the creation and expansion of work-based learning programs that benefit workers and the economy as a whole. I have worked with my colleague from Georgia, Congressman Drew Ferguson, to introduce the Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers' Required Skills, or PARTNERS, Act. This bipartisan bill would use existing dollars to invest in industry partnerships to help businesses recruit workers, develop training curriculums, and provide workers with access to tools, work attire, transportation, childcare services, and mentorship support. These support services help businesses retain employees and help workers balance caring for and providing for their families while they are learning new skills. The PARTNERS Act and funding for the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act are two pieces of the greater need to invest in apprenticeships and other paid on-the-job training programs. During National Apprenticeship Week, I stand ready to continue the fight for policies that can help more people access better-paying jobs and meet the demands of our local employers.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, this week is Malnutrition Awareness Week, a week when advocates, healthcare professionals, and communities around the country will focus on the issue of malnutrition and hunger. As the cofounder of the Elder Justice Caucus, and as a caregiver, I know how important proper nutrition is for aging Americans to stay healthy. Malnutrition can lead to greater risk of chronic disease, frailty, and increases in healthcare costs. Unfortunately, malnutrition often goes undiagnosed in seniors because healthcare providers and family members do not know how to identify and treat it. We can, and must, do more to protect vulnerable populations who suffer from malnutrition, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition. I also encourage the federal agencies tasked with combating hunger to do all they can to reduce malnutrition. I urge the Department of Health and Human Services to include malnutrition screening measures in their national health surveys of older adults, and to include malnutrition among the national key health indicators for older adults. Additionally, I am calling on the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture to work together to include dietary guidance for the prevention and treatment of older adult malnutrition in the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. I applaud the work of the advocates at Defeat Malnutrition Today, a coalition of eighty organizations and stakeholders who are committed to ending malnutrition through rigorous screening and intervention initiatives, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an organization of food and nutrition professionals who are spearheading efforts to reduce hunger worldwide. Together, we can reduce malnutrition and strengthen outcomes for our senior population.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mayor Bob Andrews, who has served the City of Newberg, Oregon with distinction and dedication for the past 12 years. The first time I met Mayor Andrews was shortly before I was elected to Congress. He told me he wanted to build and sustain a positive working relationship; and we did just that. For the past six and a half years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Mayor Andrews--a steady, forward--thinking, principled pragmatist with an unsurpassed commitment to Newberg and its residents. When Phase I of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass opened earlier this year, it culminated a decades-long progression of vision and advocacy to make Newberg and Dundee more livable communities for residents who were constantly stuck in gridlock and congestion. The project was painstaking at times with numerous setbacks, but Mayor Andrews and his dogged determination never wavered. For a decade, with steadfast devotion, Bob attended nearly every meeting and hearing--including those in Salem and the occasional trip to Washington, D.C.--to advocate for resources and support. Although a handful of people pushed this project over the finish line, Mayor Andrews is first among equals. That same level of persistence and commitment also characterized Mayor Andrews' support for Special Olympics Oregon, which held its Summer State Games in Newberg for six years. He worked to make sure that the city rolled out the red carpet, and he was a champion for the athletes and their families. In addition, Mayor Andrews served on a number of nonprofit boards and helped orchestrate a faith-based emergency preparedness plan to help the city prepare for a Cascadia earthquake. For his achievements, the Oregon Mayors Association awarded him with the 2018 Mayors Leadership Award--the highest honor among his peers. Newberg is a better place because of the selfless service of Mayor Andrews. His commitment to the people of Newberg is unparalleled, and his goals as a public official always transcended himself--qualities all leaders should aspire to. In a time of deep cynicism and political division, Bob embodies the true meaning of `Civil servant.' I am honored to have worked alongside Mayor Bob Andrews and consider him both a fantastic mayor and a friend. I wish him the very best in his second retirement, and hope he enjoys some well-deserved time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, there is bipartisan consensus that our Nation's families, on behalf of our Nation's children, who are our future and our future leaders, must be able to access affordable, high quality childcare and other early learning opportunities to fulfill their potential and succeed in college and career and in life. In fact, a recent poll done by the First Five Years Fund found that 89 percent of voters, including 82 percent of Republicans, support making quality early childhood education more affordable for working families. Last year, I joined Ranking Member Bobby Scott and more than 120 of my colleagues to introduce the Child Care for Working Families Act. This bill would ensure universal access to quality early learning programs for all families making less than 150 percent of their State's median income. Today, the average annual cost of full-time, center-based childcare in the United States exceeds the average annual cost of in-state tuition. In Oregon and other places around the country, lower and middle- income families are forced to pay up to 30 percent of their annual income on childcare, with many of the lowest income families unable to afford care at all. The Child Care for Working Families Act is a bold solution to fix this national problem. The legislation would mean that no family of four earning an annual household income below $139,000 per year would pay more than 7 percent of that income for quality childcare. This legislation would also ensure that early learning teachers and caregivers finally get the time, attention, training, and resources they deserve. Whether in childcare, preschool, prekindergarten, or in other early learning environments, every child should receive quality care. Parents are out working hard. They deserve the peace of mind that comes from the confidence of knowing that childcare and early learning professionals are well trained, and that means well paid. No longer would a full-time early learning professional have to enroll in public assistance to make ends meet. Decades of research shows that properly nurturing children in the early years of life is instrumental in supporting enhanced brain development, cognitive functioning, and emotional and physical health. Research also shows what all of us know: investing in quality early learning programming leads to better educational outcomes, stronger job earnings, and lower crime rates. Quality early learning helps prevent and mitigate academic achievement gaps, it provides indisputable long-term benefits for our Nation. And nothing returns more money to the Treasury than investments in early learning programs. Our Nation receives $7 in economic benefit for every $1 invested in these programs. That, my colleagues, is a good investment in our future, our children. This bill is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. The Child Care For Working Families Act lays out the path of what early learning in America could and should look like. If we want a promising future for our children, if we want strong and stable families, we must make sure that all families can access high quality early learning opportunities. Quality childcare is a national priority. This bill deserves immediate attention and, importantly, bipartisan support. Our future is at stake.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the congressional interns who serve in our offices here in Washington, D.C., in my State of Oregon, and around the country, and to ask all my colleagues to make internship opportunities available to more qualified applicants by paying interns for their work. Congressional internships are highly desirable. They provide students and recent graduates with valuable experience, learning firsthand how Congress and how our government works. Many current staff members and, in fact, many Members of Congress started their careers as congressional interns and were able to use the skills they learned and the connections they made to leverage future opportunities. The reality is, however, that most young people do not have the option of coming to work on Capitol Hill as an intern because most internships are still unpaid. Many bright and motivated people simply cannot afford to take an unpaid internship, no matter how prestigious it might be, because they need to earn money to continue paying for college or to support themselves or their families. No one who is qualified who wants to intern on Capitol Hill should be precluded because of financial barriers. I am proud that I offer paid internships in my office, so students and recent graduates have an opportunity to work and learn and gain experience. But paying interns doesn't just help them. It helps us, too. My staff and I benefit greatly from having interns from all backgrounds and all walks of life working in our office. The diversity of perspectives is critical as I consider legislation and think about how to best serve my constituents who are also from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. Many of my colleagues understand the importance of equitable intern opportunities and, through the leadership of Representative Tim Ryan and others, are working to increase funding and cut red tape so that all our offices will be able to offer and support paid internships. Capitol Hill is best served when our offices reflect the diversity of our districts and our country. I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure that all qualified applicants can apply for internships and serve as interns regardless of their financial situation. It helps our offices, it helps the interns, and it helps the country.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. As someone with a consumer protection background, I thank her for her amendment. It has already been stated during the debate that there is close to $1.5 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. It should be no surprise that there are companies and individuals poised to make money on the backs of student borrowers through fraudulent means. In recent years, there has been an explosion of third-party debt relief scams targeting student loan borrowers. These businesses claim that, for a fee, they can cut through the red tape for borrowers and get their student loan house in order. They misrepresent services, make promises they can't keep, and charge for activities that cost nothing. State and Federal consumer protection groups have already started cracking down on these groups. State attorneys general, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have either sounded the alarm or conducted enforcement actions targeting these fraudulent companies. We should use this opportunity in this bill when conducting loan counseling to remind students that their loan servicer is paid through the Department of Education to provide assistance with these services free of charge. They should be wary of any third-party company attempting to facilitate repayment of their Federal student loans. It is a commonsense addition to the bill, and I thank the gentlewoman for offering the amendment. Again, I support this amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I am supportive of this amendment because it simply allows institutions to encourage in-person counseling, but I would be remiss if I did not state that this provision is not necessary. The underlying bill already permits institutions to provide either in-person counseling or use the consumer-tested online tool that would be created by the Department of Education. H.R. 1635, the underlying bill, was written intentionally in this way to provide flexibility to institutions. Some institutions will be able to provide high quality in-person counseling, but underresourced institutions may find it difficult to do so. This is why the bill contains provisions to have the Department of Education create a standardized tool to ensure at least a base level of quality within and across institutions. Because the success of in- person counseling is informed not only by the content but also by the individual providing the counseling, this online tool will make sure that students receive the same caliber of counseling regardless of where the counseling is provided or who provides the counseling. To confirm effectiveness, the tool will be tested by students, financial aid advisers, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders. Again, in-person counseling would be fine and best for some students when the institution can provide it, but having that flexibility is important as well. Mr. Chair, I do urge support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from Georgia for his amendment. It improves the underlying bill, and I support its acceptance. I rise in support of the amendment to clarify that institutions have the ability to provide additional financial counseling beyond the requirements established in the underlying bill while making sure that the additional counseling will in no way preclude students from receiving their aid on time. Although the underlying bill does not prohibit institutions from providing this counseling, this amendment makes explicit the institution's ability to provide that additional support. Institutions know their students and the individual capacity of those students, and it is important to provide this flexibility so schools can provide more counseling as needed. Again, I support the gentleman's amendment, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from Minnesota for his amendment. It improves the bill, and I support its acceptance. Students may be eligible for many different forms of financial aid, and in our effort to improve financial counseling, we should make sure that appropriate disclosures and information are being shared with the borrowers based on the type of aid they are receiving. This amendment addresses Parent PLUS loans, loans that parents or guardians can take out to pay for the education of a dependent student. Parent PLUS loans have a higher interest rate than direct loans, and because they can cover unmet need up to the cost of attendance, the loan balance can grow rather quickly. As such, parents should be counseled that there may be other forms of aid that their student can take advantage of to help reduce the size of the Parent PLUS loan that is needed. A robust counseling program will also inform parents, as the gentleman stated, that there is no penalty to prepaying either the interest or the principal on these loans. Again, Mr. Chair, I support the gentleman's amendment because it improves the underlying legislation, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from New York, for her amendment. It improves the bill, and I support its acceptance. Financing a college education can be a daunting process, especially for first-generation students. It can seem like there are things that everyone else knows but no one is telling them. If we are going to improve student counseling, we need to recognize this fact. This amendment requires that as part of the annual counseling students receive, they be made aware, if their financial circumstances change, they can and should contact their financial aid office on campus. There they can seek someone with the professional background, judgment, and assistance to help them make changes to awards, or they may find out about other aid for which the student may be eligible. Additionally, students may not know that while they are eligible for a certain amount of Federal aid, they are not required to take the full amount. Many debt-conscious students may prefer to fund a smaller portion of their education through loans but may not know that this is an option. This amendment clarifies that in cases where the student specifies they would like to receive less aid, that is an amount that is discussed in their counseling. Again, I support the gentlewoman's amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.