Suzanne Bonamici

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy), who is a cosponsor of this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5890. The most recent omnibus legislation increased funding for the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, or CAPTA, by $60 million, and this bill would help States improve their support for infants, children, and families suffering from the opioid epidemic by requiring Health and Human Services to provide guidance to States on how to implement effective plans of safe care. Pregnant women and young mothers can face seemingly insurmountable challenges when struggling with addiction. I think about Tiffany, whom I met in Oregon. She is from Happy Valley, Oregon, and her struggle with addiction began after she was prescribed medication following a C- section for her third child's birth. After having to send her kids to live with her mom, she was finally able to access treatment and other support services. She is now clean, in recovery, able to care for her kids again, and, importantly, help others. We must do everything we can to support moms like Tiffany and provide the necessary resources and care to parents and their children so they can have the opportunity to be reunited. Although I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, it is important to note that CAPTA, even with the $60 million increase, is not fully funded. Only when CAPTA receives the full amount authorized under law will States be able to meet all requirements and adequately address the needs of children exposed to substance abuse. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, Congressman Garrett and Congresswoman Murphy, for their work on this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright), the cosponsor of this important legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time. Madam Speaker, once again, I thank Congressman Lewis and Congressman Cartwright for their work on H.R. 5892. As we continue with this work, we must recognize that it is much harder for people to be successful in their recovery if they do not have a job. Let's work with our employers and look at the results of this bill that the advisory council will advise us. Let's follow their recommendations. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, 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 S. 1091, as amended, the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act. This bill will provide support to the millions of grandparents and other older caregivers across the country who are raising children. As my colleague, Mr. Lewis, mentioned, more than 2.5 million grandparents are raising their grandchildren across the Nation today. Child welfare experts agree that substance use disorders, especially addiction to opioids, are behind much of the growing number of grandparents raising their grandchildren. Raising grandchildren can dramatically alter the lives of these grandparents, who can sometimes be overwhelmed by the unique challenges they face as they adapt to their new roles and responsibilities. The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act would create an advisory council charged with identifying best practices, resources, and other tools to help grandparents and other older caregivers address common challenges when raising children. This might include how to navigate a school system or access healthcare. This information is vital and will prove to be lifesaving to grandparents striving to care both for themselves and for their families. Madam Speaker, I thank Senator Susan Collins and Senator Bob Casey for their work on this bill, and I thank Congressman McGovern, Congressman King, and Congressman Lewis for their leadership in the House. This bipartisan, bicameral effort is a testament to the importance of this growing and important issue. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1091. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the cosponsor of this House legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, again, I support this legislation, the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, and other efforts of my colleagues to address the opioid crisis, but these policies will only be a drop in the bucket if the administration continues undermining access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare that includes robust Affordable Care Act protections for preexisting conditions like substance use disorder. If we are to stem the tide of this epidemic, Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers must fully cover addiction treatment and safer alternatives to opioids for pain. One thing is clear: Changing policy alone won't stop this crisis. We also need more resources for prevention, treatment, and innovative solutions. The urgent need for more funding is wide and varied. Prevention programs need to be able to reach more people. Researchers need additional funding to gather data that will drive effective solutions. Overstretched public health departments need to be able to coordinate a comprehensive response. Treatment facilities need more beds and more staff. Healthcare providers need further education and training. We must increase the resources to match the scale of this problem, this crisis, and focus on making smart investments to adequately address the opioid crisis. Madam Speaker, once again, I thank Senators Collins and Casey, as well as Congressmen McGovern and King, for their work on this legislation, and I urge its passage. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to thank Congressman Brat and Congressman O'Halleran for their work on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran), a cosponsor of this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, in the time I make these remarks, 1 minute, and every minute after, the equivalent of an entire garbage truck full of plastic will be dumped into the oceans. That is about 8 million metric tons a year, endangering marine life. Today is World Oceans Day, a good time to recommit to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild our oceans and our ocean resources. The health of our oceans reflects the health of our planet. We have work to do. Oceans absorb CO2 produced by human activities, and increasing carbon emissions are stressing the oceans and threatening the livelihood of coastal communities. As oceans become more acidic, shellfish struggle to build shells. Oysters and clams are especially vulnerable. Harmful algal blooms produce acid that accumulates in shellfish, like Dungeness crab, and can be poisonous to humans. We must invest in research to better understand the challenges to ocean health, like ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, marine debris, and overfishing. The ocean is resilient, but we cannot afford to wait. On World Oceans Day, I invite all of my colleagues to join the bipartisan Oceans Caucus. The time to take action is now.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I appreciate that offer of the gentleman to work together on this important issue with a lot of promise for additional renewable energy jobs and sources. So, Mr. Chairman, we do need to be making stronger investments in clean and sustainable energy sources like water power. With that offer to work together, I will withdraw this amendment but do hope that we will work together going forward to increase funding for this very important program. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my amendment.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer a bipartisan amendment to increase investments in research and development that support marine energy, hydropower, and pump storage. I first want to thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur for their leadership in supporting the Water Power Technologies Office. Robust funding for the Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office will support investments in innovative hydropower, marine, and hydrokinetic energy technologies. This bipartisan amendment would increase funding for the Office of Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $10 million for water power and decrease funding for departmental administrative spending to result in no additional cost. Harnessing energy from waves, currents, and tides is an exciting frontier in the renewable energy sector. Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks are partnering to support marine renewable energy research and development at the Pacific Marine Energy Center. The center relies on Federal investments from the Department of Energy to establish the Nation's fully energetic on-grid wave energy test facility off the Oregon coast. This facility will be able to test wave energy converters that capture the energy of ocean waves, current, tides, and in-river resources and turn it into electricity. Hydropower has tremendous potential to become the major source of electricity for the United States and the world, but other countries are ahead of us here. We must continue to develop clean and sustainable energy sources, and that means supporting new solutions like marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy. We should be doing more to harness the power of water to meet our Nation's clean energy needs, create good-paying jobs, and spur economic growth in our communities. Mr. Chair, I again thank the chairman and ranking member for their work on this issue and also Representatives Perry and Pingree for their bipartisan leadership on water power. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to S. 2155 because it will undermine critical safeguards that protect consumers, communities, and the country from another financial crisis. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, comprehensive legislation aimed at curbing the risky behavior of big banks and predatory lenders. Many communities in Oregon and around the country are still recovering from the Great Recession, and we should not roll back the regulatory safeguards that are allowing our economy to rebound. As a former consumer protection attorney, I am deeply troubled by the data breaches that have affected people across the country. Just last year, the credit-reporting agency Equifax allowed the sensitive information of 148 million Americans to be exposed in a data breach. Individuals were urged to enroll in free credit monitoring, and to consider placing a freeze on their credit. Instead of providing further protections to the millions of people who were affected, this bill will harm them by preempting state credit freeze laws. We should be strengthening consumer rights, not weakening them. The bill also undermines the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), which requires lenders to report on key data regarding home-mortgage lending in underserved communities. In 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule that requires lenders provide detailed HMDA data about their loan practices to better understand the gaps in access to credit that exist. This bill expands the existing reporting requirement exemption for certain financial institutions, and would exempt nearly 5,400 banks from reporting that data. As long as underserved communities continue to struggle to access home loans, we should continue to collect the data necessary to shed light on the gaps in accessibility. S. 2155 does include certain provisions to help consumers, including a provision making it easier for financial professionals to identify and report instances of financial fraud against seniors, and a provision to require the Social Security Administration to combat identity fraud. The bill also provides much-needed regulatory relief to our credit unions and community banks. These institutions were not engaging in the risky and speculative behavior that led to the recession, and they have always served an important role in our cities and towns. The bill also provides tools for community banks and credit unions to work with customers who are victims of data breaches. Although I support these commonsense reforms, the bill ultimately will undermine consumer protections, not bolster them. I urge my colleagues to oppose the legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, too many working families still struggle to pay their bills, to take care of their families, and to save for their kids to go to college or to take care of aging parents. The middle class--households with an income between 67 and 200 percent of median income--is shrinking and income inequality is growing. Wage stagnation means more families will need safety net services like SNAP--food stamps--and housing assistance at a time when the majority in Congress is trying to cut those programs. What should we be doing? Consider this. Unions helped build the middle class. Unionized teachers, nurses, and firefighters have better access to paid holidays, paid sick leave, and retirement benefits, and less need for safety net services. When workers have the right to join together and have a voice in the workplace, it is also good for nonunion workers who benefit from those higher standards. Unfortunately, here in Congress and across the street at the Supreme Court, with the Janus v. AFSCME case, working families and organized labor are under attack. To grow our economy and reduce the need for safety net programs, we should make it easier, not harder, for workers to form unions and collectively bargain. Until we do, we will continue to see a shrinking middle class.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 2372, the VA MISSION Act because the bill falls short in fulfilling our commitment to veterans. Though this legislation contains many positive provisions to support our veterans and their caregivers, on balance it is a short- sighted approach that does not adequately provide for the long-term needs of those who have honorably served our country. The bill subjects funding for VA programming to the nondefense discretionary caps, which leaves it vulnerable to being underfunded or being funded at the expense of other critical programs in the future. Our veterans and the VA need certainty; this bill does not provide it. Additionally, I am concerned that this bill represents a concerted effort to shift resources away from VA care and instead rely disproportionately on private providers. I support veterans having the flexibility to receive expedited treatment for acute health issues outside the VA if timely care is not available at a VA facility, but veterans often have unique care needs that are best served by dedicated VA providers. Instead of making critical, lasting investments to make sure veterans receive the best possible care, this bill puts future services at risk of significant cuts by relying on funding that may fall captive to political agendas. I am glad this bill expands benefits to all caregivers, and I appreciate the effort to ensure veterans do not have difficulty accessing care. But I cannot support a bill that brings uncertainty because it fails to provide for the needs of our nation's veterans in the future. I urge my colleagues to advance legislation that would provide long-term stable funding and support for the Veterans Administration and our veterans.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, known as the Farm Bill. This bill weakens our ability to fight hunger, undermines conservation efforts, and fails to address the needs of small and family farms. The Farm Bill should provide a safety net for both the hard-working farmers who produce food and those who consume it. In the past, bipartisan Farm Bills have met the needs of both rural and urban communities and have found a balance in the policies that support farmers and those facing food insecurity. Unfortunately, this year Republican leaders on the House Agriculture Committee halted a bipartisan effort and brought a very partisan bill to the floor. The proposal is the result of an ideologically-driven process that was rushed and inadequate, leaving farm and food programs in jeopardy. More than 80 percent of the funding in the Farm Bill supports nutrition assistance programs for the nearly 41 million Americans facing food insecurity. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allows low-income families to purchase food, and the program continues to play a critical role in helping these families escape the devastating effects of poverty. This program is vital for families in Oregon and across the country. According to a Census Bureau report, nearly 20 percent of families in Oregon rely on SNAP. Unfortunately, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act would slash more than $23 billion in SNAP benefits, removing food from the tables of tens of thousands of hungry Oregonians, and an estimated one million households nationwide. Additionally, because SNAP is tied to eligibility for federal school meal programs, this bill would cut access to free school meals for an estimated 265,000 low-income children each year. This cruel and needless policy will result in additional hunger. Children need nutrition to learn and thrive and succeed in school, and hungry children are more likely to stay trapped in poverty. Under current law, able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49, without dependents, are only eligible to receive SNAP benefits for three months every three years, unless they are employed or in training for at least 20 hours per week. This bill would expand these requirements, harming many older low-income Americans and ignoring the caregiving responsibilities and other barriers to employment that many people face. SNAP provides some of our most vulnerable populations with access to affordable food; it is not and should not be a workforce training program. The bill would also eliminate the ``Heat and Eat'' program, which allows Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) participants to receive a modest standard allowance so families do not need to choose between paying their energy bills and having access to food. These cuts would threaten many families, children, and seniors in Oregon and across the country. The Farm Bill should provide support for farmers and ranchers who are struggling to make ends meet because of low market prices for goods, high production costs, and significant market uncertainty. This is especially important in light of the trade disruptions and tariff tit- for-tat initiated by the current Administration. Unfortunately, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act would fail to raise reference prices for most traditional crops to address the continued decline in farm income, limiting support for those who need it the most. Northwest Oregon is home to many organic and specialty crop farmers, and I am disappointed that this bill did not increase funding for Specialty Crop Research Initiative and Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, programs that help a wide variety of food producers such as blueberry and hazelnut farms, as well as vineyards producing world-renowned wines. The bill also neglected to increase funding for research into organic farming practices, an area that has demonstrated tremendous growth and that harbors further potential. Our state exports a large majority of its agricultural products. Even with market uncertainty as a result of inconsistent messages and a changing narrative from the Administration, this bill failed to increase funding for the Market Access Program, the Foreign Market Development Program, and the Emerging Markets Program. The bill also eliminates the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, which supports robust local production and purchasing. The bill also included troublesome language that would prohibit states from establishing standards and conditions on agricultural products sold within their borders. This could preempt several state laws in Oregon related to labeling malt beverages as beer, prohibiting the sale and possession of shark fins, and prohibiting retaliatory discrimination in farm worker camps. Oregonians should have the right to implement standards around labeling and animal welfare and avoid purchasing out of state products that fail to comply. Farmers are natural stewards of the land and have direct experience with conserving natural resources. The Farm Bill should support those efforts, but it eliminates the Conservation Stewardship Program, slashing $795 million in conservation funding. The bill would also remove a requirement that the Environmental Protection Agency consult with wildlife services to protect endangered species, fish, and wildlife from harmful pesticides. Further, it would reduce funding needed to maintain the integrity of the National Organic Program and eliminate existing bioenergy and renewable programs that support farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses. Finally, I am disappointed that my bipartisan amendment to legalize industrial hemp and define it as an agricultural commodity was not allowed to come to the floor for a vote. American farmers have been growing hemp since the country was founded, and hemp products account for more than $680 million in annual domestic sales. Thirty four states have legalized hemp production, and legalizing it at the federal level would bolster our economy and allow farmers and universities to continue researching and cultivating the crop. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance federal policies that support the hemp industry. This bill fails to support hard-working farmers and takes away food assistance from the most vulnerable. We must do better for our constituents. I am unable to vote in favor of increasing hunger and harming local farmers, and I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize May 5, 2018 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Native women in the U.S. face tragically high rates of violence, sexual assault, and murder. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the third leading cause of death for Native women and girls between the ages of 10 and 24 years old. A study commissioned by the Department of Justice found that, in some tribal communities, Native women face murder rates that are more than ten times the national average. This is unacceptable. I'm pleased that the Portland City Council recently passed a resolution recognizing the disproportionate effects of human trafficking on people of color in our region, but we must do more to protect Native women. Importantly, we must recognize the institutional racism and systematic inequalities they face, and we must seek justice on behalf of those who are missing or murdered. For those families who have not received justice, I stand with you. I'm committed to taking action to prevent these crimes in the future, and hope that your missing loved one will return home soon.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my common sense amendment that will protect consumers by creating the position of the Aviation Consumer Advocate at the FAA. More than nine million flights take off and land in the United States every year. In my home state of Oregon, nearly 20 million people passed through the Portland International Airport last year, and that number will continue to grow. Unfortunately, many passengers have experienced inconveniences such as lost luggage and delayed flights that result in missed connections. Some passengers have experienced much worse, including being forcibly removed from flights when seats are oversold, or sitting on a tarmac for hours. With more than two and a half million people flying U.S. skies every day, it is critical that they have somewhere to turn if things go wrong. They deserve to be treated with dignity and to have a reliable advocate who is on their side. My simple amendment would enhance the FAA's existing Aviation Consumer Protection Division by creating the position of the Aviation Consumer Advocate. This will provide travelers a dedicated person at the FAA to help navigate the Aviation Consumer Protection Division and try to resolve problems that arise with airlines. In addition to helping travelers, the Aviation Consumer Advocate would provide the FAA with recommendations on how best to enforce consumer protection rules and improve the flying experience. The Aviation Consumer Advocate would also evaluate the FAA's response to complaints, and provide a report to Congress about the volume and frequency of complaints, as well as recommendations on how Congress can take action to bolster consumer protections for fliers. This is a common sense amendment to protect all our constituents. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in strengthening consumer protections and supporting the millions of Americans who fly every day.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3144, a bill that would require the implementation of a specific Federal Columbia River Power System operation plan. I am committed to increasing consumer access to affordable and reliable electricity, but this must be done without jeopardizing our region's ecosystem. I cannot support this bill because it would undermine longstanding environmental protections, including the Endangered Species Act, harm salmon and steelhead populations, and threaten the recreational and commercial fisheries, tribes, and species that benefit from healthy salmon runs. The Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act require the federal operators of the Federal Columbia River Power System to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service on how the System's hydroelectric dams could affect several salmon and steelhead stocks that are listed as threatened or endangered. Unfortunately, instead of responding in a systematic manner using the best available science, this bill would disrupt regional salmon and dam management efforts, jeopardize the existence of salmon and steelhead, and damage this vulnerable ecosystem. In addition to the troubling effects on the region's ecosystem, implementation of this bill could also harm tribal fisheries. Native Americans have lived and fished along the banks of the Columbia River for centuries. Despite signing treaties with the tribes to preserve their rights to fish, hunt, and gather at their accustomed places, the federal government has a long history of failing to protect these tribal fishing rights. Tribes have a right and a deep cultural and historical connection to the fish populations threatened by this bill. Oregon's economic vitality is dependent on the health of the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. We rely on the natural resources in our region to support a significant portion of our economy, and we are very vulnerable to changes to our ecosystem. This bill could harm the businesses that are dependent on healthy salmon and steelhead runs, including the commercial and recreational fishing industry, guiding and outdoor retail businesses, restaurants, and coastal communities that benefit from tourism. The Pacific Northwest's social and environmental landscape is changing. We need to find a sustainable path forward that supports renewable power, commerce, and habitat conservation for salmon and steelhead populations. In addition to supporting the responsible use of hydropower that does not put salmon populations at risk, I also support investments in additional renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and wave energy. Through diversifying our investments in renewable resources, we can protect our environment and support new industries, jobs, and innovative businesses. In short, we can--and should--address the energy needs of our region without furthering policies that will harm our ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to work together to develop a more appropriate solution that will protect salmon and steelhead and provide affordable and reliable electricity to consumers in the Pacific Northwest. I note for the record that my husband, Judge Michael H. Simon, wrote the judicial opinion that was discussed in the debate about this bill. Before voting, I checked with the House Ethics office and was assured that there is no conflict of interest under the House Rules because the bill does not benefit my spouse's or my personal interest or finances.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution. This amendment, if ratified, would likely result in devastating cuts to programs like Social Security and Medicare that would harm Oregonians and families around the country. H.J. Res. 2, the Balanced Budget Amendment, would require the federal government to cut any spending that is not fully offset by incoming revenue, including spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I agree that Congress must act in a fiscally responsible manner, and we owe it to our children and grandchildren to not leave them with a country that has a significant debt burden. But there are many ways to be fiscally responsible, including finding smarter, better ways to provide important services and by making investments that actually grow the economy. It is important to note that the majority is bringing this measure to the floor for a vote now, not long after the passage of their partisan tax bill that will further exacerbate income inequality and explode our deficit by about $1.9 trillion dollars. Our seniors deserve better than having their Social Security benefits-which they have earned over a lifetime of hard work-jeopardized under the guise of fiscal responsibility. If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are serious about reining in federal spending, we should look to commonsense reforms, not across-the-board measures that put Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid at risk

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say that we must refuse to accept gun violence as normal. Today, I stand with students from Oregon to Florida, who are courageously and peacefully demanding that their elected leaders take real action to prevent gun violence in their communities. This past weekend I met Madeline, a high school student from Beaverton, Oregon. She said that now when she enters a classroom, her first thought is: where can she hide, and how could she escape. As a mom, that broke my heart. And I heard from students in McMinnville, Oregon. They told me they are terrified when they hear a fire alarm because that is how the Parkland, Florida, massacre started. How have we become a country where our students are afraid in their classrooms? Mr. Speaker, we owe it to Madeline and to all of the students around the country to protect them from violence and to keep them safe in school and in their communities. The STOP School Violence Act is a modest first step, but we must do more. We must listen to the voices of the students and work toward creating a safer future for them and for everyone.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose this legislation. Of course, infants born alive deserve healthcare. As Dr. Bera just explained, doctors are already obligated to provide that. But this bill threatens to send healthcare providers to jail and women to back alleys. Instead of debating this bill, we should be working to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies which, of course, reduces the number of abortions. History shows that when abortions are restricted or banned, they do not go away. They become dangerous and unsafe. Look at countries that restrict abortion. Every year, thousands of women die from unsafe procedures. Yet here we are debating a bill that will make criminals out of doctors and will drive more women to hazardous self-help methods. There are effective ways to reduce unintended pregnancies and improve maternal health, which is what we should be doing. Instead, this bill disregards the professional judgment of trained medical professionals. It imposes extreme new standards of care. That is why providers like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly oppose this legislation. Madam Speaker, women in this country will continue rejecting archaic and counterproductive policies like this, just as my colleagues should reject this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that the Department of Justice is ignoring States' rights and encouraging the prosecution of small cannabis businesses, many of which are in Oregon. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice rescinded the Cole memo, which had provided Federal guidance to discourage prosecutors from charging individuals and businesses with Federal marijuana-related crimes in States where marijuana is legal. Oregon is one of those States. Today, more than 700 small cannabis businesses operate across the State, where, like with alcohol, marijuana businesses are licensed, regulated, and taxed. These small businesses follow State law, create jobs in their communities, and pay taxes, yet now their livelihood is threatened because this administration wants to revive the futile war on weed. This is absurd, especially when the Department of Justice should be putting its efforts and its resources into the extremely dangerous and addictive heroin and fentanyl. Our small cannabis businesses should not be jeopardized by this misguided Federal policy. The voters have spoken. Their will must be respected.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I am a Member of Congress, but I am also a mom. And as a mom, I am puzzled and, frankly, dismayed because Congress has not found a bipartisan way to provide long-term funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. More than 9 million children and pregnant mothers, including thousands in Oregon, receive basic health care through CHIP. In the past, this popular program has always had broad bipartisan support. We must do better than the stopgap Band-Aid that is forcing States to rely on short-term funding and, importantly, leaving vulnerable families with uncertainty and with distress. Recently, I met a wonderful family in Oregon that relies on CHIP for the health of their two kids. Their story pulled at my heart. This is David. David is 5, and his brother, Jacob, is 20 months old, and both children have neurological conditions. Both require long-term medical care. David battles a life-threatening form of epilepsy that requires expensive medications as well as regular physical and occupational therapy. Their mom, Renee, fears the worst. I spoke with her and their pediatrician, and she told me that, without long-term funding to support Medicaid and CHIP, she said: ``David could die. It's that simple.'' Mr. Speaker, this is about real people, and their lives are on the line. Funding CHIP is a good investment. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office recently predicted that a 10-year reauthorization of CHIP would actually save the Federal Government $6 billion. It turns out preventing illness not only saves lives, it saves money. There is no excuse for leaving CHIP unfunded. Working families like David and Jacob's family need to know that they will have health care when their kids need it. David and Jacob are children whose lives are at stake, but there are millions more like them in Oregon and across the country. Mr. Speaker, David and Jacob deserve better. All of our Nation's children deserve better. It is that simple, and we must not let them down.