Suzanne Bonamici

Ms. BONAMICI

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

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I want to again thank Mr. Guthrie for cosponsoring this legislation with me, and thank the leadership, both Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott, for their support, and all of the staff. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support for this legislation. Mr. Roe from Tennessee mentioned his story, and it is not unlike mine, from a middle-class family, went through 7 years of higher education on my own, working my way through. I ended up with a very modest amount of student debt. As I say, that is not what I am hearing from families today in Oregon, and I know my colleagues are not hearing that from their constituents across the country. I also want to point out how the student loan debt crisis is affecting the workforce issues that we all talk about and care about. An example is that there are many people who wanted to go into primary care. They are going through medical school. They wanted to go into primary care. I just had a conversation with one last week. Too many medical students are choosing higher paying specialties, not because that is where their passion or interest is, but because their student loan debt is so high. I just had a great conversation on Labor Day with some firefighters in the district I am honored to represent. I thanked them for working, keeping our communities safe. They are concerned about student debt, and they are very concerned about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which, of course, is threatened under the PROSPER Act. We need to come back to the table and talk about how we can preserve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Today, however, I urge all of my colleagues to take this important step forward on this bipartisan legislation, the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. I encourage broad support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairwoman for her remarks. This bill we are considering today is an important step to protect students and borrowers, but it is not a substitute for an update to the Higher Education Act. We still have more work to do to invest in our Nation's students, our future leaders. We especially need to do more to keep higher education within reach for low-income students and working families. We need to strengthen the Pell Grant Program, which has served as a foundation of support and opportunity for many Americans and helped them afford college. We need to do more to address State disinvestment and partner with States. State disinvestment in higher education has also led to a rise in college costs, and we need to do more to make sure student loan borrowers have access to affordable repayment plans. The Democratic proposal to update the Higher Education Act, the Aim Higher Act, will do all of this and more. I am glad we are considering this bipartisan proposal today instead of the PROSPER Act, which would actually make college less affordable and accessible by cutting student aid by billions of dollars. The Aim Higher Act, on the other hand, invests in students and makes higher education more affordable through robust funding in financial aid programs. It also addresses the rising cost of college through the creation of a Federal-State partnership to reduce the student debt burden on families. It is a thoughtful package that deserves to be considered on the House floor. The legislation we are considering today, though not a comprehensive reauthorization, will protect students and families and make a real, positive difference for grant recipients and student loan borrowers. Mr. Chair, I do urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, a bill I introduced with Congressman Guthrie. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, and Congressman Guthrie for their leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank the Education and the Workforce Committee staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work to include the shared priorities of Members in this bill. This bill shows that there are areas of bipartisan consensus in Congress. Today, a college education continues to be a powerful force for economic and social mobility in our country. I know. Neither of my parents graduated from college. I worked my way first through community college, which opened the door to the university and then to law school. I am pleased that Democrats and Republicans are working together to take a meaningful step toward addressing the student loan debt crisis, which is now shockingly close to consumer debt in this country. This bill recognizes and addresses the clear need for enhanced financial counseling. More than 40 million Americans are struggling with student loan debt, and default rates are climbing. At the same time, there is evidence that student loan debt is a drag on the broader economy. For many borrowers, student loan debt affects the ability to buy a home, to purchase a new car, or to afford childcare. Student loan borrowers may be unable to access capital to start a small business or they may put off saving for retirement. That is why we need to help current and future students understand their rights and obligations as borrowers, and we need to help them forecast their obligations in the years after college so they can make informed decisions now for the years ahead. One of the frustrations I have heard from former students in Oregon is that they didn't understand all of the jumble of terms in their loan agreement or all of the differences between Federal and private student loans. With this bill, students, whether they are sophomores or seniors, will have information about how much they have borrowed, what they are expected to borrow, how their loans will accrue interest, and what they can expect their monthly payment to be when they leave college. They will be better able to see their road to repayment. Importantly, this bill provides annual counseling, so borrowers who don't graduate will still receive information about what to expect when they leave school and have to start repayment. Borrowers will have more clarity about their monthly payments under two repayment plans: income-based repayment and the standard 10-year option. That is critical for students to see what those differences will be, and they will with this bill. Clarifying and streamlining this information will simplify the repayment process for borrowers and reduce default. Borrowers will be reminded each year they don't have to borrow the full amount made available to them. They should consider grants, work study, and Federal loans before turning to private lenders. Unlike current practice, borrowers will receive financial counseling before signing their master promissory notes, and they will be reminded that they can repay interest before it capitalizes. For the first time, parent borrowers of student loans will be given virtually the same information about their loans that the students receive. Additionally, this bill will extend counseling to Pell grant recipients so they understand the limits on eligibility for the grants and the circumstances under which they would be asked to repay their grants, helping students to avoid expensive surprises. Finally, this bill does not interrupt the disbursement of financial aid, and it delivers enhanced student loan information in consumer- tested formats that check for students' understanding. It will make sure we provide personalized borrower information in a way that borrowers understand. Mr. Chair, again, I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support, and I encourage all my colleagues to support the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be on the House floor for the first vote on July 23, 2018, because my flight from Oregon was delayed. If I had been present I would have voted in favor of H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act. This bill seeks to improve access to emergency services for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis by requiring the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of creating a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make it easier for individuals to access medical care, including mental health care.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from California for yielding time, and also for his commitment to this important issue. I am honored to co-chair the Oceans Caucus with Representative Young, and I thank him for his leadership on this important issue. I also thank my Oregon colleague, Mr. DeFazio, for his commitment and for his passion about the importance of marine debris and addressing it. I rise in support of the Save our Seas Act, a bill to clean up and reduce marine debris. This bill would reauthorize the NOAA Marine Debris Program through fiscal year 2022 and provide resources to help States respond to severe marine debris events. The health of our oceans reflects the health of our planet, and we must do more to keep garbage out the ocean and off of our shores. Every minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic is dumped into our oceans. According to the United Nations, that is more than 8 million tons a year. Plastic bottles, straws, grocery bags, cigarette butts, fishing gear, and abandoned vessels litter the ocean. Currents and atmospheric winds carry floatable marine debris. These movements trap items in debris accumulation zones, also known as garbage patches. A study published in the journal, Scientific Reports, estimated that the Pacific garbage patch is comprised of about 1.8 trillion pieces of debris. We still don't know how long it takes for plastic to biodegrade. Estimates range from 450 years to never. Marine debris harms our coastal economies, endangers marine life, destroys important marine habitats, propagates invasive species, and creates hazardous conditions for the maritime industry. Tiny pieces of plastic, fiber, fragments, and microbeads also make their way into marine life, blocking digestive tracts, altering growth and, in some cases, killing animals and marine organisms. Healthy beaches and waterways are critical to the marine ecosystems that thousands of people rely on to earn a living in Oregon and other coastal communities. After the tsunami hit the coast of Japan in 2011, large materials like docks and boats that carried invasive species ended up on the shores of the Pacific Northwest. But it is not just tsunami debris that is a problem. According to NOAA, a majority of the debris that covers our beaches come from storm drains and sewers, demonstrating that this is not just a problem resulting from those along our Nation's shorelines. Marine debris is entirely preventable, but we must support responsible disposal practices and provide coastal communities with the resources they need. The NOAA Marine Debris Program has partnered with Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and Lincoln County School District to create a curriculum to teach middle and high school students about the effects of marine debris and to promote stewardship activities. There has been growing momentum on this issue, as many companies and cities and jurisdictions across this country stop the use of plastic straws and bags. The ocean is resilient and we can help it heal, but we cannot afford to wait. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to strengthen the Federal response to marine debris. I want to close, again, by thanking all of the bipartisan sponsors and cosponsors of this legislation, but also, especially, the co-chair of the Oceans Caucus, again, Representative Don Young, for his leadership.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2353, the bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, a bill to support students and prepare them for the future. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work on this important legislation. In Oregon, current technical education classes, like Beaverton's Aloha High School's Auto Tech program and Newberg High School's CAD Lab, engage more students, boost graduation rates, and give students the opportunity to learn real world skills. Federal CTE funding provides critical equipment that schools need to make these hands-on classes meaningful experiences for students in Oregon and across the country. I am proud that this bill includes the amendment I worked on with Representative Elise Stefanik, my cochair of the STEAM Caucus, to encourage the integration of arts and design skills into STEM CTE programs. Our provision will help make sure that the next generation of students are creative and innovative by fully engaging and educating both halves of the brain through art and design. Mr. Speaker, I want to, again, thank my colleagues, and especially Ranking Member Scott and Chairwoman Foxx for their leadership on this issue. We have been waiting for a long time for this bipartisan bill, and I am proud to stand in strong support today. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make clear my intent in voting ``Present'' on H. Res. 990. This resolution expresses categorical support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement while failing to address valid concerns about recent ICE actions and policies like child separation. Since President Trump came into office, there have been multiple allegations of ICE officers around the country failing to follow proper protocol and potentially acting in violation of individuals' constitutional rights. These incidents, several of which have been recorded on video, call into question whether ICE officials are conducting themselves in full accordance with federal law and agency policies and procedures. I support having the appropriate personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources to protect our borders and enforce the rule of law in America, but immigration enforcement does not need to 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 fear more persecution. We must enact commonsense changes to improve accountability and protect the fundamental rights of immigrants-- particularly those legally seeking asylum. I will continue pushing for rigorous oversight of ICE and reforms to our immigration enforcement system

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Connie Kurtz, an LGBT rights activist who passed away recently at the age of 81. Connie was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she met and fell in love with the woman who would become her wife, Ruthie Berman. Ruthie and Connie became a couple in 1974, long before same-sex couples were afforded equal rights. Ruthie was a school counselor, and, in 1988, they found themselves at the forefront of the gay rights movement when they joined two other couples and sued the New York Department of Education for domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples. Their advocacy led to the city extending healthcare benefits to same-sex couples in 1994. Ruthie and Connie's activism did not stop there. They continued to fight for LGBT rights, including rights for older LGBT Americans. They recognized the unique healthcare, social, emotional, and housing needs of our aging LGBT population, and they sought to help minimize these disparities. I am honored to have introduced the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act with my colleagues Congressman Ted Deutch and Congressman Charlie Crist. This legislation defines LGBT seniors as a vulnerable population, requires the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary of Aging to collect data on the unique needs of this population, and provides grants for service organizations that are working to improve the health and long-term outcomes of the aging LGBT population. Since Connie's passing, Ruthie has vowed to continue her activism. Ruthie said of her wife: ``Connie took on responsibilities as an activist with the belief that her role had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Working to pass the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act was Connie's last political action before she passed away on May 27, 2018. I hope Congress will honor Connie by passing this law so, like Connie, all LGBT older adults can age with the dignity and respect they deserve. Let's make this happen.'' Mr. Speaker, I couldn't agree with her more. Today, in honor of Connie's life, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this legislation. Together, we can take another step toward equality for LGBT older Americans.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the court-ordered deadline for the Trump administration to reunite more than 100 children under 5 years old with their families. The administration has failed to meet this deadline, and that is shameful. Dozens of babies and toddlers remain in government custody with no idea of when they will see their parents again. As a mom, I am outraged. This administration is failing to comply with a court-ordered deadline. But what is this really about, babies, toddlers, and young children? Ask any pediatrician. This is harmful, and every day creates more harm to these innocent children. This administration is saying they were forced to separate families when, in fact, it was their deliberate zero-tolerance policy, their strategy that forcibly took children out of their parents' arms, and it has always been within their power to stop this coldhearted and inhumane madness. On Monday, I met with Latino and immigrant community leaders in Oregon to hear from them firsthand about how this administration's actions are harming families and communities. They spoke of unprecedented fear, of families torn apart, and of children afraid to go to school. They spoke about why people come to the United States in the first place: to make a better life for themselves and for their children. Miriam Corona from Yamhill County said that there is no greater gift of love than to leave everything you know for your children's future. That is why my grandparents got on a boat in 1921 and crossed the ocean from Italy for the American Dream. It is why many people are now fleeing terrible violence in Central America and in Mexico to make a better life for themselves and their children and, oftentimes, to save their children's lives. That is what we stand for in this country of the United States of America: a better life, a peaceful life free from violence, and a better future for the next generation. As a parent, that is what I want for my children, and as a Member of Congress, it is what I want for everyone in our community. The Trump administration's actions contradict these fundamental values. We are better than this. I continue to demand that the administration reunite all separated children with their parents--not later, now. This is a court order, not a suggestion. If the problem is that these agencies are understaffed, I will come over to the agency. I will go over to Health and Human Services to help. I am sure many of my colleagues will join me. Mr. Speaker, when the families are reunited, our work is not done. We must fix our broken immigration system. It is long past time to vote on a comprehensive, humane, and compassionate immigration reform bill. That is what Oregonians want, and it is what the majority of people in this country want.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act. This bill will help reduce sea lion predation on threatened and endangered fish populations. Salmon and steelhead are an important part of our heritage in the Pacific Northwest, and they are facing devastating threats. At present thirteen salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River, Willamette River, and Snake River systems are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Because of successful conservation efforts under the protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, California sea lions have fully rebounded and have reached carrying capacity. Many of the thriving species are moving up the Columbia River for easy access to migrating salmon and steelhead. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, between 2002 and 2015 California sea lions consumed an estimated 46,000 salmonids within a quarter mile of the Bonneville Dam. It is unlikely that we will see the necessary recovery of threatened and endangered fish populations without responding to the ongoing predation by sea lions in the region. Oregon's economic vitality relies on the health of the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. The natural resources in our region support a significant portion of our economy, and we are very vulnerable to changes to our ecosystem. Healthy salmon and steelhead runs support the commercial and recreational fishing industry, guiding and outdoor retail businesses, restaurants, and coastal communities that benefit from tourism. In addition to the troubling effects on the region's ecosystem, sea lion predation is harmful to tribal fisheries. Tribes have fishing rights and a deep cultural and historical connection to the fish populations threatened by sea lions. The health of native fish runs is dependent on Congressional action to protect these threatened species from sea lion predation. This bill will allow for more efficient intervention by allowing states and tribes to apply for permits to remove sea lions along the Columbia River and its tributaries. I am pleased to see changes to this bill in its amended form, including the removal of language that would undermine the National Environmental Policy Act. The revised language is the result of negotiations with a coalition of local stakeholders, tribes, and agencies in Oregon and Washington State. I appreciate the Ranking Member's concerns that this bill only addresses one of the many threats facing our salmon and steelhead populations, but it is an important step toward mitigating the damage to the fish population. We must continue to address the threat of sea lion predation and avoid further loss of irreplaceable species of salmon and steelhead in our region. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be on the House floor on June 19, 2018 because my flight from Oregon was delayed because of weather. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 5676, the Stop Excessive Narcotics in our Retirement Communities Protection Act, and H.R. 5687, the Securing Opioids and Unused Narcotics with Deliberate Disposal and Packaging Act of 2018. These bills take important steps to stem the tide of opioid abuse in this country, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to combat this crisis.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5788, the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act. The STOP Act requires the U.S. Postal Service to collect Advanced Electronic Data on international shipments, making it easier for U.S. Customs to target high-risk shipments for inspection and seizure. This is particularly important to stem the deadly flow of fentanyl coming from China. I understand the concerns about potential civil penalties that could be imposed if USPS fails to meet terms of compliance. But with the updated language added to the final version, I am confident this legislation provides sufficient flexibility allowing USPS to avoid those penalties as long as it is making a good faith effort to institute AED collection in a meaningful way. I will closely follow the implementation of this policy and will work to make sure USPS can comply without leading to cost-saving actions such as reductions of service, consolidation or closing of post offices, or cuts to the employee workforce. We must stop these dangerous shipments to help save the lives of those who are addicted to opioids. Although there is more to be done to tackle the opioid crisis, this is one step forward that I support.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I spent the day before Father's Day at the Federal prison in Oregon, meeting the 123 asylum-seeking immigrant men who are incarcerated in prison. They were fleeing horrific violence and religious persecution. They were Christian and Sikh men from India. There was an LGBTQ man from Honduras and a man from Mexico whose property was burned because he has been targeted by gangs. We spoke with men who were separated from their wives and children and who, on Father's Day, had no idea where they were or how they were. Criminalizing asylum seekers and separating families is cruel, and it is appalling. Now we find out that there are tender-age shelters. Babies don't need their own jail. They need their own parents. This must stop. The President and the Department of Justice could stop it right now. The American Academy of Pediatrics said that separating families in this way causes irreparable harm. Mistreating children for political leverage is outside of moral bounds, even for this administration. As a mother, it breaks my heart. As an American and granddaughter of immigrants, it makes me furious. And if the President won't sign something today, which he could, then, Speaker Ryan, bring us the Keeping Families Together Act, and let us do something to stop this horrific atrocity that is happening to children and to people who are coming to this country.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, it is almost Father's Day, a good time to think about the fathers in our lives and in the families we are honored to represent. I think about the families in Northwest Oregon, and I know that too many are still facing challenges. Too many are still struggling to make ends meet. Their paycheck, if they are fortunate to have one, just isn't enough to pay the bills, and it is hard for them to even think of saving for the future. One policy that can make a big difference in the lives of families is paid leave. It is an economic issue for working families; and we need to recognize that both women and men need to be able to take paid time off when a child is born, or to care for their children or other family members when they need them. In Oregon, our parental and family medical leave laws cover more people and have stronger protections than current Federal law, and I applaud those efforts; but there are still far too many workers across the country who are not able to care for a sick child or aging parents because they cannot pay their rent or buy groceries if they lose a day of work. According to the Department of Labor, only 15 percent of workers in the United States have access to paid family leave through their employers. And although some employers recognize the importance of providing paid leave for all working people, most still do not. Outdated gender norms in too many workplaces often pressure men, especially those in jobs without paid leave, to limit their time away from work for caregiving. We need to see a cultural shift in our societal expectations about men as caregivers, and we need to dismantle the stigma that being a caregiver is incompatible with success in the workforce. Congress should get serious about supporting families and enact a meaningful paid family leave law. We should pass the FAMILY Act, legislation that will provide much-needed financial security to working people and their families and provide certainty for businesses. A national paid family and medical leave program would help to foster a healthier and more equitable society. It would help to bring our Nation's policies more in line with the needs of our families and our workforce, and it would be a very meaningful way to say Happy Father's Day.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5889, which would help reduce childhood trauma by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and technical assistance to early childhood professionals about the best ways to help treat children struggling with trauma related to substance abuse exposure. Children exposed to adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are more likely to suffer from substance use disorder later in life. We can save money and lives by better supporting these children. I recently held a listening tour throughout northwest Oregon to better understand how opioids are devastating our communities and to identify and discuss the tools we need to combat this epidemic. I heard from healthcare professionals, families who lost loved ones, individuals in recovery, and community leaders, who all called for greater Federal investment to fight back against opioids. One of the discussions I convened focuses specifically on the needs of children and how we can better support them to succeed both in the classroom and in life. Busy educators and other early childhood professionals now often find themselves serving as first responders to a growing crisis. Some schools in my home State of Oregon are adopting a trauma-informed care approach to better support affected students. For instance, Warrenton Grade School, which I recently visited, is a shining example. They are deliberately building a ``culture of care'' that focuses on meeting the emotional needs of children hand-in-hand with their academic growth. Schools and especially school-based health centers are already facing budget shortages and urgently need additional resources for prevention programs and for screening. I encourage my colleagues to support the passage of this legislation, but this bill will not be effective if we don't invest in comprehensive supports for young children and their parents. Traumatic events during childhood often trigger substance abuse later in life. It is vital that we support early learning initiatives to provide children the comprehensive support they need, including programs like Head Start and home visiting programs. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Brat and Congressman O'Halleran for their work on this legislation. I know they care a lot about this issue. Mr. Speaker, 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 H.R. 5891, which would establish an interagency task force to identify, evaluate, and recommend ways in which Federal agencies can better coordinate responses to the opioid epidemic and carry out their authorized duties. Many factors have contributed to this crisis, and it will take significant efforts to overcome it. Throughout my listening tour around northwest Oregon to discuss the opioid crisis, it became abundantly clear that local, State, and Federal officials must work together to address this epidemic and stem the loss of lives. As I previously mentioned, I heard from numerous providers, individuals in recovery, families who lost loved ones, teachers, community leaders, all who called for greater Federal investment to fight back against opioids and more assistance for State and local entities that are working on the front lines. Because of the breadth of programs required to assist families, any government effort to address substance use disorder and the opioid crisis must be a coordinated and collaborative approach across agencies. I am hopeful that this interagency task force will result in a more collaborative plan of action to address the many issues facing my constituents and the other people across this country. I am, however, concerned that a plan of action without the necessary funding to carry out the recommendations will remain just a plan. So I urge my colleagues to support providing sufficient resources to implement these solutions. I want to thank my colleagues, Congressman Grothman and Congressman Lamb, for their work on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamb), who I know is very concerned about this issue as well.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I, again, want to thank Congressman Grothman and Congressman Lamb on this important legislation and emphasize again, that once we get the report from this task force, we need to have the funding--the resources, the money--to implement its recommendations to make sure that it really helps the people we are serving. So, again, I thank them for their work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation. I want to thank Congressman Garrett and Congresswoman Murphy for their work on the legislation. I also want to thank Chairwoman Foxx for reminding us that we are not just talking about abstract policy. We are talking about real people: men, women, and especially children who are affected by this crisis. So, again, thank you to the cosponsors of the legislation. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5892. In addition to the severe health consequences of substance use disorders, the opioid epidemic has taken a serious toll on the workplace. More than 10 million full-time workers have a substance use disorder. A 2017 survey from the National Safety Council found that 70 percent of employers have seen some effect of prescription drug usage, including absenteeism, impaired or decreased job performance, injuries or near misses, and arrests on or off the job. When I traveled across northwest Oregon to talk to community members about the opioid crisis, I heard from many employers and employees whose work had been affected by addiction. Oregon's low unemployment rate is resulting in local employers struggling to find qualified personnel. The opioid crisis has weakened our workforce at a time when our economy needs more workers. For instance, a timber company on the coast of Oregon reported that only one applicant passed a drug test during a recent hiring process. When I hear from people in recovery, many say that they could not continue working while they were struggling with addiction. We must acknowledge that our work and our personal lives are intertwined, that an employer's interest in the health of its employees should not end at the door, and that investing in employees through proactive prevention or flexible support policies can be good for employees and for the bottom line. An estimated 20 percent of the decline in men's labor force participation over the last 20 years can be attributed to the increase in opioid prescriptions. For women, that number is 25 percent. Sadly, the disease of addiction is affecting people far beyond their homes. If we are going to make any progress in addressing the opioid epidemic, our workplaces must have policies that support affected workers. This legislation would establish a council to advise the Secretary of Labor on actions the Department of Labor can take to provide informational resources and guidance to address the effects of substance use disorders on the workplace. The advisory council will be comprised of a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including substance use disorder experts, unions, and employers. This includes supporting workers with substance use disorders, as well as those in recovery. The advisory council would be charged with assessing a range of workplace policies best practices. These identified best practices will benefit employers and employees alike by keeping workers safe, healthy, productive, and on the job. I also urge my colleagues to support legislation for other workplace policies and protections that are vital for people struggling with substance use disorder, such as paid leave. There is certainly more that we, as policymakers, can do to make sure that workers can access and seek treatment when they need it, and be able to return to their jobs as soon as possible. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Lewis and Congressman Cartwright for their work on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.