Suzanne Bonamici

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who serves on the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important amendment that is a good investment to save in the long term and take care of our seniors. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act. I am deeply disappointed that this bill includes an indefensible $1.6 billion for the President's so-called border wall. It also violates the bipartisan Budget Control Act (BCA) spending caps, strips a long-overdue provision to sunset the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), and bars any efforts to close Guantanamo Bay. H.R. 3219 includes Fiscal Year 2018 funding for the Legislative Branch, the Veterans' Affairs Department, the Department of Defense, and Energy and Water programs at the Department of Energy and Department of the Interior. Although I have many concerns with the bill, I am pleased that it increased funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, including funding for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which will help dredge and maintain Oregon ports. I am also grateful that a bipartisan amendment that I championed with Rep. Scott Perry to increase funding for the Water Technologies Office at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) was adopted. This will allow Oregon State University to continue their cutting-edge research and development of sustainable hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy. I am deeply concerned, however, that the bill reduces overall EERE funding and eliminates the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program. I also do not support the inclusion of harmful policy riders that prevent implementation of National Oceans Policy protections and authorize the withdrawal of the Waters of the United States rule. I am supportive of provisions in the bill that uphold our commitment to our nation's veterans. The bill provides robust funding for Medical and Prosthetic Research, and prioritizes funding to hire needed doctors, nurses, and medical staff at VA medical centers. Additionally, the bill addresses the ongoing disability claims backlog by requiring regional offices to report on processing performance and remediation efforts. Unfortunately, the bill also included $1.6 billion to fund parts of President Trump's border wall, a waste of money that will not secure the border and will have long lasting humanitarian, diplomatic, and environmental consequences. The bill also appropriates Defense spending at $621 billion, which is $72 billion above the BCA caps. Without a fix to the caps, this funding level would trigger a mandatory 13.2 percent cut in all defense accounts. This reckless cut is irresponsible. Finally, the bill was stripped of a provision to sunset the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which has been used for more than 15 years to justify ongoing military actions overseas. It is long past time for Congress to reassert our authority and responsibility to debate matters of military force. The Majority's decision to remove this provision--which passed out of the Appropriations Committee with broad bipartisan support--shows a disregard for our duties and the legislative process. Additionally the bill bars any funds from being used to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, or to transfer detainees. For those reasons, I am strongly opposed to H.R. 3219 and urge my colleagues to vote no.

Ms. BONAMICI

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

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the remaining time, please.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment and encourage all of you to do the same. As the sponsor of the amendment explained, this does not take additional money, cuts down on bureaucracy, and puts the dollars into important work, like marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy. Mr. Chairman, I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Mr. Perry's amendment and the power and potential of clean marine hydrokinetic energy, and I first want to thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur for their leadership in supporting the Water Power Technologies Office. The Water Power Technologies Office invests in research and development that supports hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy. Furthermore, I want to thank the chair and ranking member for including $30 million in the 2017 omnibus for the creation of a wave energy test center, which is now located at Oregon State University. This robust investment will help the United States lead in the field of marine hydrokinetic energy. The increase this amendment proposes will support hydropower and the development of innovative hydropower technologies, along with marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies. Development of these new technologies can offer the United States leadership in an emerging area of abundant renewable energy. Marine and hydrokinetic energy, in particular, energy from waves, currents, and tides, is an exciting frontier in the renewable energy sector. Currently, Oregon State University, University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks are partnering to support the testing and research activities of the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center. This center will provide visionary entrepreneurs with a domestic location to test wave energy devices, along with other technologies, rather than traveling to Scotland to use the European test center. Without continued Federal investment, Europe will remain the leader in this important work. When fully developed, wave and tidal energy systems could generate a significant amount of total energy used in the United States. As Congress promotes technologies that can help lower our constituents' energy bills, we must explore new and innovative solutions like marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy. Thank you again to the chairman and ranking member for their hard work and legislative leadership on this issue, and thank you to Representative Perry for his leadership. Mr. Chair, I urge support for this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), a strong supporter of hydropower.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 111, a resolution that will undermine the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and allow financial institutions to continue taking advantage of consumers. The CFPB's arbitration rule protects consumers, including students, servicemembers, and seniors, by allowing them access to justice in court and to participate in class action lawsuits against unscrupulous financial institutions. I am a former consumer protection lawyer. I have no problem with arbitration clauses when they are agreed to by parties with equal bargaining power, but we have seen what happens when institutions include nonnegotiable forced arbitration clauses in the fine print of consumer contracts. Private student loan providers, payday lenders, credit card companies, and banks have consumers sign away their rights to access the court system when they are cheated. The CFPB rule will address that inequity and provide consumers with a remedy. We must reject this effort to roll back consumer protections and allow the CFPB to continue to do their important work. Please vote ``no.''

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Drouhin Family, who this month celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, their esteemed winery in the Willamette Valley's Dundee Hills. The Oregon wine industry, now so acclaimed, was still in nascent form back in 1987 when the Drouhins purchased land in Dayton, Oregon. Their bold leap to Oregon from Burgundy, France, brought great recognition to our region, and international confirmation of our enormous potential. It is rightly considered a historic moment for Oregon wine. In 1989, the Drouhins built their landmark winery, a building that will continue to inspire guests from all over the world while facilitating the production of exceptional wines for decades to come. The Drouhins embraced the character and soul of Oregon. Through hard work, and in collaboration with their fellow Oregon wine producers, the Drouhins have helped Oregon wines take their place on the world stage in the finest restaurants, in the most respected shops, and in the best cellars. Oregon wine country is a destination, and Oregon wines are sought around the world. The Drouhin Family's Oregon adventure vividly shows the cooperation--in knowledge, experience, and passion--between France and America, between Burgundy and Oregon, in the service of excellence. I am proud to acknowledge that, over the years, the Drouhins have contributed their extraordinary energy and resources to a substantial range of charitable pursuits in Oregon, working to strengthen the community that warmly welcomed them many years ago. Wine is a reflection of people and place, and it is with great pleasure that today we recognize the Drouhin Family of Burgundy and Oregon. Please join me in thanking the Drouhin Family for their enormous contributions to the Oregon wine industry. I look forward to their next 30 years, and more, of work in and on behalf of the Oregon wine industry.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1215, a misguided and misnamed bill that will limit access to justice, especially for women. The bill caps the amount of compensation a jury can award to a victim who suffers medical injuries, even catastrophic injuries, because it creates a lifetime cap of $250,000 for noneconomic damages. This means that women, or men, for that matter, who are at home raising their families, or children who are victims of devastating medical malpractice are told that the value of their injuries and their lives is less than that of their wage-earning counterparts. That is patently unfair. It disproportionately penalizes people who are family caregivers--a very important job, but one that does not involve wages. Furthermore, many women across the country have been victims of medical malpractice that has left them unable to bear children. How can we say to these women that the loss they have suffered, the loss of an opportunity to be a mother is without value? That is unacceptable, and it is cruel. Many medical errors are preventable. We should be focusing on improving patient safety, not taking away rights from victims. I oppose this bill, and I will continue to fight back against attempts to limit access to justice for those who need it most. Please join me in voting ``no.''

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, this week we expect that our colleagues in the Senate will vote on the latest version of TrumpCare. Recently, I voted against a very similar bill because it will be a disaster for Oregonians and Americans. Under the Senate bill, millions of people--up to 22 million people--will lose coverage. Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents are rightly worried. One of those is Kalpana. Kalpana is caring for loved ones with cancer. As she put it recently, she is sandwiched by cancer. She manages intravenous chemo treatments for her 7-year-old son who is fighting leukemia. Presently, he is winning that fight. Her father has been through countless therapies in his decade-long battle with prostate cancer, which has now spread to his lymph nodes. Kalpana is amazing--our own local wonder woman. Fortunately, she can devote time and attention to her family's care without having to choose between paying for healthcare and paying for rent, food, and other basic necessities--for now. But after the House vote on TrumpCare, she said this: I feel like someone had punched me in the gut. Before the Affordable Care Act, families lived in fear that a cancer diagnosis or a heart attack would leave them in economic ruin and make them ineligible for insurance in the future. Early in my career, I worked at Legal Aid. I did financial counseling with clients who were struggling--often because they got sick with no insurance or because they had insurance that didn't cover them when they needed it. We can't go back to the days when medical debt drove too many families into bankruptcy and financial ruin. Oregonians and Americans need the stability of knowing they will have affordable healthcare coverage when they get sick or when they are injured. With the Affordable Care Act, families across the country have had that peace of mind and security that comes with having affordable health coverage. All of that is in jeopardy this week. Mr. Speaker, this is the United States of America. Healthcare can and should be available for all, not just the healthy and the wealthy. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to reject TrumpCare, and let's all get back to the table and talk about how we can improve--not take away-- access to affordable healthcare for our constituents.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, the amendment I am offering with my colleague, Representative Susan Davis, strengthens coordination between subsidized employment through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, program, other Federal workforce development programs, and the Federal Work-Study program. The goal of the Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act is to help low-income individuals gain the experience and skills necessary for long-term success in the workforce and access to family-sustaining wages. Yet studies of the long-term effects on unemployment from short- term, subsidized employment programs demonstrate differing outcomes, which is why I commend my colleagues for including robust reporting and evaluation requirements in the underlying bill. We already know that other efforts have clear long-term benefits. Adults who attain postsecondary credentials and degrees are much more likely to be employed and much less likely to rely on public assistance. For example, about 90 percent of young adults who earn a bachelor's degree are employed. The employment rate for those who don't complete high school is just 48 percent. Not surprisingly, the vast majority--approximately 93 percent--of TANF recipients did not attain education beyond high school. Helping more low-income adults complete postsecondary credential programs and degrees is a proven strategy for reducing reliance on public assistance and promoting self-sufficient households. This is a bipartisan goal. Our amendment advances this goal by helping to give more low-income parents high-quality work opportunities while enrolled in postsecondary programs. Currently, the Federal Work-Study program provides part-time jobs to students. Studies show that those students who are lucky enough to get a Federal Work-Study job have higher completion rates and are more likely to work in a position that aligns with their program of study. Unfortunately, Federal Work-Study alone cannot meet the demand for connecting low-income students with valuable, work-based learning opportunities. In fact, only about 2 percent of community college students participate in Federal Work-Study. The subsidized employment program authorized in the bill we are debating today could help address this unmet need and target additional support to low-income student parents, helping them attain a credential or degree and vastly improving their long-term employment prospects. Administering the subsidized employment program in conjunction with the Federal Work-Study program requires coordination among State agencies and higher education institutions. My amendment encourages this coordination, and I encourage Members to support it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, a number of State programs leverage Federal Work-Study funds to help TANF recipients who are enrolled in community college programs meet work requirements and get real-world experience in jobs that reinforce what they are studying. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office has recommended improving coordination between employment and training programs, and the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines on helping TANF recipients succeed in career pathways makes recommendations for using the Federal Work-Study program in conjunction with TANF to boost the attainment of industry-recognized credentials. There is precedent and widespread support for improving the coordination of programs that help low-income individuals gain work experience to subsidize employment. Again, our amendment does not require States to devote funds from TANF-subsidized employment programs to low-income student parents, but it does ask States to consider how they are using subsidized employment--whether through TANF or Federal Work-Study--in concert to give more people the opportunity to earn a higher education degree or credential and, thereby, a significantly improved chance at finding a long-term, living-wage job. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act is an important step in educating students and preparing them for the workforce. It increases opportunities for historically underserved students. It strengthens alignment between CTE programs and stakeholders. It includes the amendment I worked on with Representative Stefanik to encourage CTE programs to integrate arts and design skills. This bill will support more programs that respond to local workforce demands and teach advanced skills and creative thinking, like the one I just visited at Portland Community College. Employers, including Intel, support the school's new STEAM Lab, where students are pursuing certificates and degrees in fields like microelectronics technology. The Federal Government does have an important enforcement role, and I am disappointed that the bill weakens the Department of Education's ability to hold States accountable for improving low-quality CTE programs. But despite that concern, this bill is worthy of support. I thank Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, Representative Thompson, and Representative Krishnamoorthi for their bipartisan work, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding. I rise today in strong opposition to the Financial CHOICE Act because it will gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and roll back important protections for seniors, for students, and for hardworking families across the country. The CFPB protects Americans from unscrupulous financial practices and deceitful debt collectors. Since its creation, it has assisted more than 29 million consumers, many of them seniors, with mortgages, credit cards, and debt collection. Unfortunately, seniors are especially vulnerable to financial fraud and abuse. This bill would roll back the CFPB's ability to identify and stop unfair and abusive debt collection and telemarketing practices; and this harmful bill would also prevent the CFPB from cracking down on predatory payday lenders who take advantage of struggling families by issuing loans at exorbitant rates. I worked as a consumer protection attorney, and I worked with too many families there who lost their homes, too many seniors who were harassed by debt collectors, too many people who were victims of predatory payday lending and got into the quicksand and were not able to get out. We cannot allow this shortsighted bill to stop the good work of the CFPB. This bill is called the CHOICE Act, but it is the wrong choice, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1761, the Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act. Although I support the goal of the bill, which aims to strengthen existing laws that criminalize engaging in sexual acts with a child that result in the production of an image or video, I am concerned that its overly broad language could cause unintended consequents that go beyond the sponsors' intentions. Make no mistake, our children deserve the strongest possible protection against such heinous acts and abuse. I am deeply concerned; however, that the bill does not take into consideration situations between consenting teenagers. Teenagers today have access to more technology than ever before, and far too many of them do not comprehend the seriousness of exchanging sexually explicit images of themselves with one another. Although I do not condone such behavior, I cannot support a bill that does not distinguish between those situations and the morally reprehensible crimes against children. I commend my colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, for offering an amendment that would make consensual activity between a minor who is fifteen years old or older and an adult who is nineteen years old or younger punishable as a misdemeanor, rather than a felony. The amendment was narrowly tailored to make sure that the punishment for such consensual situations is proportionate to the severity of the crime. I was disappointed that the House did not adopt the Jackson-Lee amendment, and I cannot support the underlying bill without the inclusion of this important policy provision.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act. This bill unnecessarily expands the federal death penalty, and does not further the laudable goal of bringing justice to the law enforcement officers who make the ultimate sacrifice for our safety and security. The United States is in the minority of countries that still use the death penalty, and Americans' opposition to it has increased in recent decades, particularly as social scientists better understand the disparate effects of the death penalty on minority populations. A sentence of death is disproportionately used in cases involving defendants of color. According to U.S. Department of Justice, in 2011, 41.7 percent of all death row inmates were African American, despite only making up 13.1 percent of the population. Furthermore, since 1973, 159 people who were sentenced to death were later exonerated. There is no doubt that innocent individuals have been put to death in the United States--a fact that must not be ignored in a country that values justice under the law. I greatly respect and appreciate our law enforcement community. Local police, firefighters, and first responders put their lives on the line every single day to protect people in Oregon and across the country. Those criminals who target and murder police officers have no place in our society. Nothing in current law prevents those individuals from being prosecuted to the highest extent of the law, and to receive a sentence of death. Under current law, there are 16 aggravating factors that can be considered during criminal sentencing, and the federal government can allege the targeting or killing of a law enforcement officer--federal, state, or local--as an aggravating factor when considering the death penalty. This bill creates a 17th aggravating factor that is duplicative of existing law. I will continue to do all I can to support our law enforcement officers, particularly the admirable men and women who serve our communities in northwest Oregon. This bill, however, is an unnecessary expansion of the death penalty, and I therefore cannot support it.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, today the House is voting on a harmful bill that puts the most vulnerable members of our community at risk. We know that millions will lose coverage. And the Affordable Care Act protects people with preexisting conditions--this bill does not. High- risk pools don't work. My constituents are scared, and so are people across this country. Arden from Gearhart, Oregon, wrote to me, distraught, because she and her daughter, Selah, could lose coverage. Arden took the loving step of adopting a child with special needs, and now the support program they rely on is at risk of being terminated by this bill. This is a critical vote. I implore my colleagues to think about all of the people like Arden and Selah in their communities. Think about the millions across this country who risk losing coverage. I implore my colleagues to do no harm. Vote ``no'' on this harmful bill.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate amendments to H.R. 244, the FY2017 omnibus spending bill. This is not a perfect bill, but many priorities that are important to my constituents in Oregon and people around the country are funded and protected, and it prevents a government shutdown. In March, President Trump released a budget proposal that, if enacted, would be devastating to Oregonians, Americans, and people worldwide. Thankfully, this omnibus bill largely bypasses the President's misguided funding recommendations, and instead focuses on making sure our federal dollars are being spent to help hardworking families get ahead, support vulnerable populations at home and abroad, and help grow the economy This bill funds the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and allows Legal Aid work to continue through Legal Services Corporation. There is a strong commitment to securing our infrastructure through robust funding of TIGER transportation grants and environmental cleanup projects, and there is funding for Flint, Michigan to continue upgrading its drinking water infrastructure. Importantly, the bill does not waste any taxpayer dollars to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico, and it does not include harmful policy riders to defund Planned Parenthood, unwind the consumer protections of Dodd-Frank, or withhold federal funds from cities and states that decline to enforce federal immigration law that is outside their jurisdiction. In Oregon, I hear from families of all backgrounds who are struggling to maintain their economic security. This bill provides funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and increases funding for housing programs such as Choice Neighborhoods, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS, and Housing for the Elderly. The bill secures funding for Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children and provides robust funding for Meals on Wheels and summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, to address food insecurity among some of our most vulnerable Americans--children and seniors. The bill also recognizes the devastating toll of the opioid epidemic in our communities by providing a $650 million increase over 2016 funding to help address this crisis. That funding, coupled with a $2 billion increase to the National Institutes of Health, will help fulfill the commitment Congress has made to partner with our states and communities to address this and other health crises facing our country. As a member of the Science Committee, I am committed to funding basic science research, mitigating the effects of climate change, and supporting healthy oceans and estuaries. I am glad the bill includes increases for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which provides weather forecasting, oceanic and atmospheric research, ocean and coastal services, and fisheries management to the communities I represent. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I am committed to making sure that all students can receive a quality education, from pre-K through college. The bill before us will provide supports for students, including reinstating year-round Pell grants, increasing Head Start funding by $85 million, and increasing Title I, IDEA, TRIO, and Gear Up funding over FY2016 enacted levels. I am disappointed, however, that Congress has raided the Pell Grant reserve fund to pay for other programs. I am also concerned that this bill significantly underfunds the Student Support Academic Enrichment Grants created in the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The ESSA provided $1.6 billion for these grants to enable school districts to provide locally-tailored programming and supportive services for students who need them most, including school-based mental health programs, drug and violence prevention programs, and well-rounded learning opportunities such as arts, music, and civics education. This bill only provides a fraction of the amount necessary to fully fund this grant program, and I will continue to advocate for full funding as we consider the FY2018 spending bills. I am also disappointed that the bill reauthorizes the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) program that funds vouchers for private schools in Washington, DC, despite the program's negative outcomes for students. In fact, a study released just last week from the Department of Education showed that students who received SOAR vouchers had lower math scores than before their enrollment in the program. Finally, I do not support yet another increase in defense spending, especially when the President has failed to outline a clear strategy for how he intends to use our powerful military around the world. With cuts to programs that protect the environment, provide consumer protections, and provide access to women's health services, it is shortsighted to further increase our defense spending without a plan in place from the President on how he will keep our country safe. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our leaders in the House for working together on this bipartisan legislation that protects many of our most vulnerable communities and restores confidence in our economy by preventing a government shutdown. It is not a perfect bill, but one that I will support. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on bipartisan agreements that will keep our communities safe, support public education, protect our natural resources, and create good jobs in our 21st century economy.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, too many workers in Oregon and across the country are still facing a great deal of economic uncertainty. They worry about rent payments, healthcare costs, saving for retirement, balancing family responsibilities and work, and making ends meet. Congress should be considering policy changes that support workers, not a bill that threatens their economic security. This bill takes away overtime pay and, instead, a workers gets a vague IOU for compensatory time sometime in the future, and only if the comp time does not unduly disrupt the operations of the employer--whatever that means. I would like to share the story of Anjeanette. She said: I work as a waitress in a restaurant in Gresham, Oregon, that is part of a large chain. I have three children. I have never had a single paid sick day. A few years ago, when I was working in construction, I sprained my ankle badly and couldn't go to work for a week. I didn't have any paid sick days, so I lost a whole week's pay, which meant I wasn't able to pay all of my bills and I wasn't able to pay for gas. Anjeanette is a single mother of three sons who also struggles to care for them when they get sick. In fact, when her youngest got the flu, her older son had to stay home from school to care for him. In May and June, we celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day. This is a perfect time for Congress to focus on legislation that allows parents like Anjeanette to be more present in their kid's lives and still pay their bills. Instead, this legislation would result in taking their overtime pay from their pockets. The so-called Working Families Flexibility Act is not a solution. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Claire Lovell, an accomplished columnist and devoted resident of Seaside, Oregon. North coast residents are richer for Claire's presence, and I join them in celebrating her life and her legacy. For 27 years, Claire's column chronicled the happenings of Seaside with cogent prose and an observant eye. First known as ``Overheard: Notes from Seaside,'' and later ``Scene and Heard,'' her column was the first thing readers went to when they eagerly opened their newspapers. Indeed, some readers bought the newspaper just for her column. Claire was a Seaside resident for almost all of her 96 years, and no one was better qualified to document the city's life. Whether she was sharing her observations on politics, popular culture, growing older, or the birth of her first great-grandchild, Claire enriched each topic with her signature verve and keen love of the written word. In a recent column, Claire wrote: Whether one is 5-years old or 95, as the case may be, life's small pleasures are very important. For decades, one of Seaside's small pleasures was reading her column. It is my honor to recognize Claire Lovell's many contributions to our community and to offer my condolences to her family and the Seaside community on the loss of this remarkable woman. Her wit, wisdom, and well-chosen words will not be forgotten.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 353, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, which also includes the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act. The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act is a product of hard work and negotiation over the past two Congresses. I want to thank Congressman Frank Lucas, Chairman Lamar Smith, and former Environment Subcommittee Chairs Jim Bridenstine and Chris Stewart, who were great partners in getting us here today. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is responsible for important work at the cutting edge of science and public service. Weather forecasting is one of the most critical tasks for our country. At a time when budget uncertainty jeopardizes some of the most fundamental services NOAA provides to our Nation, it is imperative that we support legislation like H.R. 353 to give the agency the resources and flexibility needed to fulfill its mission. The northwest Oregon communities I represent and communities across the country rely on timely and accurate weather forecasts to decide when to harvest their crops, when to go to sea to fish, how to navigate the roads safely when there is freezing rain or snow and to prepare for possible flood conditions. The National Weather Service provides excellent forecasting products to support our economy, but with the increasing frequency and severity of severe weather events, there can be and should be improvements in our forecasting capabilities and delivery. Improvements in forecasts can provide more lead time to allow communities to prepare, especially in severe weather events. More effective communication of forecast information to the public and those in harm's way can reduce the loss of life and property. This bill connects the research side of NOAA--the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research--more effectively to the forecasting needs of the National Weather Service, cultivating a research-to-operations pipeline that is essential for the continued improvement of our weather forecasting enterprise. The bill contains several provisions that will improve interactions and information sharing between NOAA's researchers and the National Weather Service. It improves communication between NOAA and the broader research and private weather communities. The bill also formally establishes the pilot program currently operating at NOAA to engage in contracts with the commercial sector for weather forecasting data. Even the best forecasts will not adequately serve the public's needs unless there are effective communication systems in place. H.R. 353 directs NOAA to do more research, listen to experts, and improve its risk communication techniques. The bill also establishes interagency coordination through the Office of Science and Technology Policy across multiple agencies outside NOAA that share responsibilities for weather research and forecast communications. This is essential, and it highlights the important role the Office of Science and Technology Policy and NOAA share to help speed the adoption of best tools and practices across the various agencies of the Federal Government. The legislation before us today also includes the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act, legislation I have introduced over the past three Congresses. The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act seeks to improve our country's understanding of the threat posed by tsunami events by improving forecasting and notification systems, developing supportive technologies, and supporting local community outreach preparedness and response plans. This bill helps to address the risk faced by communities on both coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico by improving our mitigation and research program and enhancing community outreach and planning. Many, if not most, of my colleagues represent districts that have experienced some kind of natural disaster. The threat of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami is real because of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. West Coast Members take this threat very seriously. I have heard from coastal communities, people who fish, the tourism and maritime industries, marine and public safety officials, sheriffs, emergency managers, small-business owners, older Americans, and students who are concerned that their communities are not prepared for a tsunami. Students at Seaside High School, a coastal community in my district, engaged in a year-long project to educate Oregonians about the threat a tsunami has on lives and property. Three of the four public schools in Seaside are still located inside the tsunami inundation zone. The high school students have practiced their evacuation route, and they know that, in the projected time between a major earthquake and the devastating wave of a tsunami, they couldn't make it to higher ground. That is unacceptable. The University of Oregon and Oregon State University are working on seismic warning systems and tsunami preparedness to help make sure that our communities are prepared and have the best research available to give the most warning time possible, and this bill compliments their work. I am proud to have worked on this legislation which is so important to the people of northwest Oregon and all coastal communities, but I do remain very concerned that the funding level is below current spending. This cut would have serious consequences. The operation and maintenance funding for the buoy network we rely on to detect tsunami could decrease, adding hours of delay in appropriately warning coastal communities. Tsunami warning centers in Alaska and Hawaii are likely to see a reduction in staff, resulting in gaps in coverage and creating greater risks because of time delays in sending out accurate warnings and, in some instances, not being able to provide adequate warning at all. Tsunami are among the most deadly natural disasters. In the past two decades, tsunami have caused the deaths of roughly a quarter million people around the world. These disasters also have profound economic consequences. The 2001 tsunami in Japan caused more than $200 billion in economic losses. We are fortunate, in the United States, to have been spared these catastrophes so far. But our coastlines, from the Gulf of Mexico to Alaska, are very susceptible to the same kind of disasters we have seen in Indonesia and in Japan. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. Tsunami program activities protect coastal Oregonians just as hurricane forecasting protects coastal Floridians, Carolinians, and others up and down the East Coast of the United States. It is important that we reauthorize these lifesaving activities, and just as important to provide the necessary funding to support them. I will work tirelessly with my colleagues to make sure this program receives the full funding it needs to serve our communities and save lives and property. Although there are always areas where we can do more, this underlying bill, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, with the tsunami bill, is a good bipartisan agreement and one that I am proud to support while continuing to ask for current levels of funding. I ask my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on H.R. 353. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in addition to thanking all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked so hard on this legislation, I want to take a moment, also, to thank all of the staff in our offices and committee on both sides of the aisle who worked so hard on this legislation. I encourage all my colleagues to support the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, which includes the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act. This legislation will improve weather forecasting and tsunami preparedness. Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.