Brendan Boyle

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, this is a bit of a complex issue, so I will do my best to explain. It is, unfortunately, an issue that my constituents and a number in the suburban Philadelphia area have been dealing with now for the last 2\1/2\ years. The chemicals with the acronyms PFOS and PFOA are part of a class of manmade, highly fluorinated chemicals that are highly persistent in our environment. In the 1970s, the Department of Defense began using a firefighting foam with the acronym AFFF. Unfortunately, that firefighting foam to extinguish petroleum fires contained these chemical compounds. These chemicals have subsequently been linked to problems in liver, thyroid, and pancreatic function, as well as changes in hormone levels. Some studies have shown developmental issues in children, decreased fertility, increased cholesterol, immune system deficiencies, and an increased cancer risk. Production of AFFF has ceased, but stockpiles remain. Today, the Department of Defense is evaluating and testing the drinking water systems of hundreds of communities nationwide due to PFOA and PFOS contamination on or surrounding these defense installations across the country that used AFFF. So far, water contamination has been found near 27 military bases in 16 States. This includes the community that I represent and that my colleagues share in representing. In my district alone, families surrounding Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, as well as the Horsham Air Guard Station, suffer from the uncertainty of wondering whether their child's or their spouse's illness is caused by the military's contamination on the base in their local community. They have paid for endless stockpiles of bottled water and higher utility fees, as their communities have taken steps to reduce the water system's exposure. I commend the steps the military has taken to date, but more can and must be done. I know that our communities in the Philadelphia area are, sadly, just the tip of the iceberg. This past year alone, since the EPA tightened its lifetime health advisory under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Department has completed testing of 480 drinking water systems at locations where the Department supplies drinking water. It continues to conduct preliminary assessments and site inspections under CERCLA to identify sites where PFOA and PFOS may have been released by the Department of Defense. The Department spent approximately $200 million just last year in response to PFOA and PFOS contamination nationwide. This funding has been used to conduct preliminary assessments and site inspections, test drinking water systems, and provide mitigation such as bottled water or drinking water filtration systems where water system tests indicated PFOA and PFOS are above the EPA advisory levels. Unfortunately, though, the Department has been funding this response using existing funds that were originally programmed for other response actions. In order to support near-term outreach and engagement in local communities that have this impacted drinking water system and adequately prepare for long-term remediation of what is likely to be billions of dollars' and many years' worth of response, I worked with the House Armed Services Committee to increase its authorization for the Navy and Air Force environmental remediation accounts by an additional $30 million each in the NDAA the House passed earlier this month. My amendment would bring the appropriation in line with that authorization. This funding is a necessary response to an ongoing environmental issue that is only going to get worse and more expensive for the Department, not to mention the countless innocent communities impacted across the country, both in Republican and Democratic districts. I want to thank my Republican neighbors Pat Meehan and Brian Fitzpatrick for working with me on this issue in a truly bipartisan manner. I hope the House comes together in a similar manner today to strengthen our Department of Defense's response to drinking water contamination it is causing in the communities we represent. Mr. Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), my neighbor and colleague from Bucks County.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, I would like to address Section 131 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. Last week, I filed amendment No. 247 on this matter; however I have since withdrawn the amendment given that the USAF has moved swiftly to replace the UH-1N fleet through an open and competitive process with the recent launch of the RFP. The UH-1N replacement program is a priority for the Air Force and for many members of this Congress, House and Senate. This is for good reason. The UH-1N accomplishes two vital national security missions-- nuclear missile security and continuity of government. Over a decade has passed since our Air Force identified the need to replace the aging Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey fleet. Following collaborative efforts between the Air Force and industry, including meetings and additional requests for information, the Air Force has now released its final Request for Proposal which begins the process of replacing the UH-1N fleet and ensuring a fair and open competition. Unfortunately, language contained in the H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2018, threatens to upend this fair, competitive and open process by pushing a sole-source contract at the taxpayer's expense. Section 131 would allow the Air Force to sole-source the replacement of the UH-1N helicopter. Frankly, I find this language appalling. The Department of Defense's Better Buy Power 3.0 directive states, ``Real competition is the single most powerful tool available to the Department to drive productivity.'' The Federal Acquisition Regulations clearly articulate the importance of competition to satisfy cost, quality and timeliness aims. Competition is essential to maintaining a healthy industrial base. In Congress, we should be encouraging the Department of Defense to remain committed to competition. Congress has repeatedly supported and directed a fair and open competition for the replacement of the UH-1N; yet, the language in Section 131 goes against congressional and Air Force efforts to ensure an open and fair competition. Given the fact that responses to the RFP will be due prior to the FY18 NDAA's completion, changing course from a fair and open competition to a sole-source procurement at this time would limit options, create more delays, increase costs for taxpayers, and potentially impact mission requirements. There is also no justification for a sole-source contract of helicopters when multiple candidate aircraft, including commercial aircraft built cost effectively here in the United States on existing, hot production lines, can be leveraged in support of this mission. In 2016, twelve Members of Congress signed on to a letter in support of a UH-1N replacement competition, which was instrumental in moving the Air Force towards its current strategy. We must allow the Air Force to continue their competition to replace their UH-1N aircraft and accelerate their ability to field new aircraft without further delay in the interest of national security. We should applaud and support the Air Force for moving forward with replacing the fleet of UH-1N not force them to stop and change course. Changing course from a fair and open competition to a sole-source procurement would create more delays, increase costs, and potentially impact mission requirements. We cannot let this happen to the Airmen of our nation. I applaud the Air Force in moving forward with replacing its fleet of UH-1N aircraft that help ensure the security of our land-based nuclear forces. Taking any other path would further jeopardize this critical program. While I have withdrawn my amendment, I will be working to ensure this language is removed from the final bill during conference. Mr. Chair, replacing these assets is long overdue and I look forward to working with the Chairman and Ranking Member on this and other Air Force priorities.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the House Armed Services Committee for working with me to strengthen the Defense Department's response to PFOA and PFOS water contamination issues. These contaminants are plaguing communities due to the use of AFFF firefighting foams across our Nation, including in Horsham and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, in my district. I have been fighting for Federal resources and responsibility since first learning of these issues. With my amendment, and the $30 million increases each for the Air Force and Navy to combat this issue that we fought so hard for, this bill is an important step in the right direction toward addressing this issue any and every way we possibly can, but our fight continues. My bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3106, would require an enforceable nationwide drinking water standard for PFCs, including PFOA and PFOS, rather than the current voluntary advisory. I will keep fighting to address this issue with the seriousness it merits.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today, Americans are more burdened by student loan debt than ever. The statistics are truly stunning. They owe over $1.4 trillion in student loan debt spread out among 44 million borrowers. That is about $600 billion more, or double the total United States credit card debt. And the problem is only getting worse. The average class of 2016 graduate has more than $37,172 in student loan debt, which is up 6 percent from the previous year. Yet President Trump just proposed gutting the best lifelines and safeguards that these borrowers have. The Trump budget cuts the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which makes public interest and nonprofit work attainable for students, despite their debt loads; it consolidates income-based repayment programs that are critical to managing repayment; and it completely scraps subsidized interest on some student loans. Mr. Speaker, we cannot profess to stand for the middle class, for American workers, and for American values while pulling the rug out from under 44 million borrowers bearing the weight of what is the greatest systemic threat to our economic stability.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Senior Corps Week 2017, to recognize the extraordinary work being done by hundreds of thousands of seniors across this country through Senior Corps. Through its Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, and nationwide RSVP volunteer programs, seniors are making a huge difference in the lives of millions. In my home state of Pennsylvania alone, these programs and the over 11,000 seniors that support them have provided tutoring and mentoring services to almost 4,000 students; helped 1,500 homebound seniors live independently through the Companion program; and supported the work of an additional 1,300 local organizations with their efforts. The RSVP program in particular, with installations in my district in both Philadelphia and Montgomery County helps by counseling Medicare recipients, helping adults improve their literacy skills, mentoring at- risk youth, delivering Meals on Wheels, staffing domestic hotlines, and so much more. Despite all the amazing work these programs support, President Trump's budget calls for the complete elimination of its parent organization--the Corporation for National and Community Service. This makes no sense. Not only would doing so have almost no real impact on the federal budget--CNCS makes up less than three hundredths of 1 percent of total spending--it would be devastating blow to our seniors and communities. It is also completely inconsistent with the sense of service and civic duty on which our country is built. I call upon my colleagues to reject this harmful budget, and stand with me in support of the great work of Senior Corps.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today I stand to support the lifesaving work of drug courts and veterans treatment courts during this National Drug Court Month, and to honor a constituent of mine with an incredible success story. These courts are an indispensable resource to law enforcement and other community stakeholders impacted by the opioid epidemic, claiming the lives of 91 Americans each and every day. Timothy Wynn is a veterans treatment court graduate from my district, whom I had the honor of meeting today. When the decorated marine returned home from Iraq in 2003, he turned to alcohol and other substances to ease his transition back into society. His substance use escalated. He found himself arrested seven times, and spent a year of his life in prison away from his young family. After his final arrest, Tim found the Philadelphia Veterans Treatment Court, where he was given the accountability he needed while also connecting him to the services he had earned. Today, Tim is reunited with his family and continues his mission as the mentor coordinator for the court where he once stood as a participant. There are drug court and veterans treatment court graduates just like Tim across the Nation. I call on my colleagues to support these graduates and the good work of drug courts and veterans treatment courts.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and proud Philadelphian. Today, the world famous Philadelphia Orchestra departs for a three country tour of Asia. In these uncertain times as my colleagues and I focus on East Asia, I think we can all agree that the Philadelphia Orchestra is a critical tool in the diplomatic toolbox. Working with our diplomats at the Department of State and with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's Department of Community and Economic Development, over 150 Pennsylvania musicians, non-profit and business leaders will travel to China, Mongolia and Korea. In China, they will celebrate 45 years since President Richard Nixon and Secretary Henry Kissinger personally requested that they open bilateral relations for our two countries. They will engage in innovative people to people diplomacy. In Mongolia, they will celebrate 30 years of U.S.-Mongolia bilateral relations. They are the first western orchestra to visit this proud democracy who often labels the United States its ``third neighbor.'' I was honored when the President of Mongolia visited Philadelphia in September 2016. The trip to Korea has taken on added importance this year. The delegation will include proud Korean Americans who are constituents of mine. Philadelphia and Incheon are Sister Cities. My district is home to a vibrant Korean-American community that has made successful contributions to the area. Large public concerts and events in Korea will demonstrate for the world to see the unbreakable bond between our two countries. As we focus our attention on the geopolitics of East Asia, I think we can all agree that this tour could not come at a more important time.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this week, it is a privilege to honor the men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every single day to keep us safe. In my hometown of Philadelphia and across the Nation, police officers serve our communities with immeasurable courage. Every police officer goes to work knowing that any day could be their last. In Philadelphia alone, more than 260 police officers throughout our city's history have lost their lives. One thing in Congress that we could do to show just how much we honor their sacrifice is to enact the legislation that myself, along with Congressman Fitzpatrick, Senators Casey and Toomey, have introduced. It would provide a boost of education aid, up to the maximum Pell grant award, for the children of fallen law enforcement and first responders who have died in the line of duty. The bipartisan Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act is widely supported by the law enforcement community. Although we can never fully repay our debt to those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice, I believe this would be an important step in the right direction.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. As my colleague was just mentioning, someone who has really been a champion on these issues for decades, someone who intellectually gets it, but also speaks on these issues not just with her head but with her heart, and now as the climate in our country has, I think, evolved on some of these issues, some people are recognizing that what she was talking about for quite a while has been proven to be correct. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) who I am honored to serve with.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. I should have mentioned when I was introducing Mr. Norcross that he is the founder and the chairman of the Building Trades Caucus. When he talked about that one electrician, he was talking about himself. I understand from some of his former electrician buddies that he was a top-rated electrician. He is someone who has literally walked the walk. It now gives me a real pleasure to introduce someone who has represented Chicago and the Chicagoland area for a number of years, someone who also gets it when it comes to the issues that most concern the Blue Collar Caucus, and then specifically what we are addressing tonight in the Special Order, the need to reinvest in our Nation's infrastructure and put people back to work. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kaptur. I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, at the very beginning of my remarks that we kicked off infrastructure week on Monday morning at an event at Philadelphia International Airport. One of those Members of Congress who joined me for that event is the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross), someone who practices what he preaches when it comes to the issues that most concern the Blue Collar Caucus, and someone who can really speak about infrastructure from many different perspectives. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross).

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this is Infrastructure Week in the United States, and while Hallmark may not quite yet be making cards to observe Infrastructure Week, I hope those of us here in Congress can take a moment to recognize that this is a unique opportunity to talk about the importance of the state of our Nation's infrastructure. This is a time, as I was mentioning, really to focus on all modes of transportation and our utility systems that most of us only tend to notice when they are broken. Well, Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of broken infrastructure in our country to notice lately. In fact, even President Donald Trump has recognized that the roads, bridges, and all the other underpinnings that make our modern world possible are crumbling and need urgent attention. So the President has vowed repeatedly, both as a candidate and as President, to invest at least $1 trillion in our infrastructure system. That was a key promise of his campaign and critical to his appeal to working class Americans, including in my home State of Pennsylvania. But that promise is, so far, as broken as our Nation's infrastructure. Instead, 4 months into his administration, this President is laying the groundwork to shortchange American workers and manufacturers. Mr. President, it is most disappointing. I stood Monday morning at Philadelphia International Airport. I stood with the former Governor of our State, Ed Rendell, who is part of a bipartisan group called Building America's Future. I stood with both Democratic and Republican Members of this body who happen to represent the greater Philadelphia area. I also stood with Senator Coons of Delaware, who, himself, lives not too far from the Philadelphia International Airport. We used that setting to talk about the importance of Infrastructure Week and reinvesting in our Nation's infrastructure today and for tomorrow. I mentioned in those remarks something that I am going to mention here tonight: 100 years ago, there was no doubt that the United States of America was the leader in the world when it comes to infrastructure. Our roads, our bridges, our waterway systems, our mass transit, and our gas lines were rated number one. Today, if you seek out the report of the American Society of Civil Engineers--these are not Democrats; they are not Republicans; they are really nonpartisan; they are civil engineers--we are rated a D-plus. The International Civil Engineers do not rate the United States of America in the top 20 when it comes to infrastructure. That should bother all of us, whether you are Democrat or Republican or Independent or nonpolitical. I have to say, as someone who believes in this country and believes that we should always strive to be number one, not even being in the top 20 bothers me, and it is simply not good enough. It is unwise economic policy. Part of why the 20th century became known as the American Century is because we were the number one world leader when it came to our infrastructure. How are we supposed to compete today and in the future if we are not even in the top 10 or the top 20? Mr. Speaker, for the needs of our infrastructure and for a myriad of other issues related to this, I have cofounded the Blue Collar Caucus. I have spoken on this House floor about the need for our country's leaders to pay attention again to our blue-collar workers and our blue- collar economy. I am so happy that, while tonight might be specifically about infrastructure and that sliver of the overall blue-collar economy, I am joined in this effort with my cofounder, the co-chairman of this caucus, Marc Veasey of Texas. He will be speaking in a moment, as well as a few other members of our caucus, about the importance of reinvesting in our Nation's infrastructure and why that is critical to our economy. Mr. Speaker, if we really want to put Americans back to work and put them back to work not in low-paid jobs but in good-paying jobs--family- sustaining jobs--the way to do it is to reinvest in our Nation's infrastructure. I have many other things to say on this topic that I will be saying throughout the next hour or so. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey), the co-chairman of our Blue Collar Caucus. He is someone who has been a real leader on this issue and feels just as passionately about it as I do.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Lipinski for his words, and I appreciate his membership in the Blue Collar Caucus. In going through this entire discussion on infrastructure, because there are so many things that we could talk about as part of this, certainly I would encourage those interested in this topic to read the report of the American Society of Civil Engineers. It is an overwhelming case for why we need at least a $1 trillion infrastructure plan really making up for decades upon decades of underinvestment in our Nation's infrastructure. We could certainly talk about that and talk about many different aspects of it. In the few minutes that we have remaining, I want to talk about its overall effect on our country. I am not talking about dollars and cents. I am not talking about in a tangible way. I mean something that is not tangible, that you can't exactly put your fingers on; and that is the spirit of America. Mr. Speaker, something that Americans have always been known for is our eternal optimism. So much so that if you are friends with folks in Europe and in other places, they would always gently make fun of Americans for being so optimistic, for our undeniable, unending belief in the power of the future; that tomorrow will always be better than today. Yet we know, Mr. Speaker, in recent times too few Americans are feeling optimistic about our country's future. All the polls are showing that. There has been a pretty dramatic turn in just the last 20, 30 years in how Americans feel about their own personal futures and the future of this country. Part of what leads to that, part of it is stagnant economic wages. I have talked about that at length on the floor as part of a previous Blue Collar Caucus hour. Part of that also, though, is the sense that we are not building anymore; that 100 years ago we were building, that we were launching the first airplane; that 50 years ago we were going to the Moon. In the Eisenhower era we were building the world's best highways. But in today's day and age, we don't build anymore. That growth is happening in Asia and in other parts of the world. So just imagine what that would do not just for the economy, not just for our infrastructure, but imagine what it would do for the spirit of America if they saw a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill take hold, if they saw our roads being rebuilt and new roads being built, if they saw the investments that we can make in our mass transit and our intercity rail. I happen to represent a district smack dab in the middle of the Northeast corridor. I met today in my office with the chairman of The Northeast Maglev project, a project to take a technology that exists today in Japan, build it here in the United States, and make it possible that you could get from New York City to my district in Philadelphia in a half hour, that you could get from New York City to Washington, D.C., in 1 hour instead of the 3 hours that it takes today. That would have a transformative effect. No other place in the world has the maglev. Even in Japan, which has invented the technology, it is only in a small snippet. So making sure that we can move forward in a bipartisan way, actually achieving something with Democrats and Republicans working together with this administration, we would send such a signal beyond the substance of the issue itself. I believe that we would have a dramatic effect in improving the way that the American people feel about their future and the future of our country. Mr. Speaker, literally, over a million jobs will be created by a $1 trillion infrastructure bill. I wanted to speak about the importance of making sure that those are high-paying jobs and why the Davis-Bacon Act is linked to that, but knowing that my co-chairman will speak about this issue, I am happy to turn that over to him now to speak about that issue and others that are affected by this. As it may be my last time speaking on this, I thank my colleagues for their passion on this issue. I appeal to the White House, to President Trump specifically: Please work with us on this issue. It is, I believe, the single best way we could unite Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate. We can get this done. It is something that must get done. It would put millions of Americans--that is not an exaggeration, by the way. It would put over a million Americans back to work. It is critically needed for today and tomorrow, and I appeal to this White House, even in this hyperpartisan, fractured time, to work with us on this issue and finally, 4 months after taking office, unveil your infrastructure plan. I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey), my colleague and co-chairman.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Washington Ireland Program which works every day to support leaders committed to building a future of peace and prosperity for Northern Ireland and Ireland. For over two decades, the Washington Ireland Program has played an important role in post-conflict Ireland by bringing together young leaders from a wide range of communities and backgrounds for an outstanding leadership and skills-development program. Specifically, I'd like to highlight the work of Claudia and Tom Corcoran who have a deep and steadfast commitment to Ireland and its young people. They believe in providing opportunities for people to experience life changing perspectives and opportunities. The Washington Ireland Program's impact today can be attributed to Claudia and Tom's early and effective advocacy. They have been involved in setting up opportunities for young people from the United States to participate in exchange programs to Ireland, in which both countries benefit from these programs to foster transatlantic relations and deeper understanding between our two countries. Claudia's clear passion for students and background as an educator is evident through her deep involvement and leadership on the Washington Ireland Program Board of Directors. Originally from Ireland, Tom is exemplary of the American Dream. At age 13, Tom emigrated by himself to the United States from County Caven Ireland, where he was born and his siblings and parents still remain. He is now quite successful as President at Corcoran Enterprises and serves as a Senior Advisor in the Aerospace and Defense Sector at The Carlyle Group where he assists in developing strategy and identifying investments in the aerospace and defense sector. Tom believes in America as the ``land of opportunity.'' Both Tom and Claudia are focused on paying their successes forward and creating opportunities for others who come behind them, bettering the lives of young people from all parts of Ireland, North, South, East, and West.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, President Trump campaigned throughout this country, including my home State of Pennsylvania, as a great populist, as a champion of the working class. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank President Trump and his administration for revealing their true intentions yesterday when they revealed their Wall Street written and designed tax plan--a giveaway for millionaires and billionaires. And not one thing--not one--for 99.9 percent of the working American people. Mr. Speaker, we do need tax reform, and you would see broad bipartisan support for that. But it has to be real. It has to be paid for. And it must include relief for those three-quarters of the American people who pay more in payroll taxes than they ever do in individual income taxes. Enough of focusing on Wall Street and the corporate income tax rate, and let's start focusing on Main Street and American workers.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I have to say that the working people of not just Ohio but this country are very lucky to have Marcy Kaptur fighting for them and for her years of service. There is not a more passionate champion for working Americans in this House than the gentlewoman from Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I come here not with a prepared text, but really to speak from my heart. As the son of two hardworking parents who were working in industries that were supported by organized labor, and it depresses me to see the great decline in our workforce today that is in a union. Now, the subject that we are speaking about tonight is about the trade deficit, and I just started talking about unions. To some that might seem as if I am off topic, but there is no question the two are absolutely related. Mr. Speaker, I want to correct a fallacy that sometimes is out there about those of us who may be critical about NAFTA and other trade deals. I am not antitrade. I recognize that the United States of America, despite being a large country of over 320 million people, we are only 5 percent of the world's population. We must engage in trade with the rest of the world. I also look at those economic statistics that tell us, without question, the most productive workforce in the world today is the American worker. So if the grounds of trade are fair and if the rules of the game are fair, we can compete with anyone. Our workers can compete and outcompete anyone in the world. But, Mr. Speaker, they have not been fighting on a fair playing field. Now, let's not forget that over the last 20 to 23 years or so since NAFTA was passed, that happens to also coincide with this point in American history in which most wages have been stagnant. Indeed, for middle class people and lower middle class folks, their real wages have declined, not to mention the most lower income quintile, which has seen a dramatic drop in real wages. I think that it would be unfair for any of us to say that this is because of NAFTA or that this is because of any specific trade deal. But it is also very fair for us to point out that none of these trade deals did anything to raise the living standards and wages of American workers. Here we are in an environment in Congress in which, recently, we were talking about the TPP and moving forward with other trade deals and talking about nothing really to raise wages and living standards for our own workers here at home. Look at the example of NAFTA, something that was promised to raise wage standards in Mexico, that we would benefit from having on our southern border a country with a rising middle class population. There is no question that would be in the best interest of the United States and, obviously, in the best interest of Mexico. However, Mr. Speaker, here we are in the last few years with more jobs going to Mexico, including the closing of the Nabisco plant in my district that I stood on the well of the House floor and protested against. It goes to a nice new facility in Monterrey, Mexico. Is that helping to raise wages in Mexico? Actually, wages are lower today in Mexico than they were 3 years ago. That is an economic fact. Under the letter of the law of NAFTA, that is something that our administration could take up with our Mexican counterparts, but they don't. Instead, we see Nabisco. And I am taking one specific example because it affected my district. We see them closing a plant that had existed in Philadelphia since before my parents were born lay off 325 workers, lay off double that in Chicago, and move to Monterrey, Mexico, which they can do in accordance with NAFTA. If we are going to move forward with new trade deals, which inevitably at some point in years moving forward we will, I would simply ask--and strongly suggest--that we look out not just for the corporate interest, not just for what is in the best interest of consumers, but also what is in the best interest of American workers. We should not be surprised that we see this tumult in the United States politically at the same time that we are seeing stagnant wages and stagnant benefits for decades. Those two are inextricably linked. Mr. Speaker, finally, let me say to all those who are interested in working on this trade issue on both sides of the aisle: You have committed and passionate public servants on this side of the aisle who want to get it right, who want to ensure that we finally have trade deals that put American workers first and foremost.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I am someone who believes in this institution. So, Madam Speaker, this week, to me, has been an embarrassment. It is an embarrassment that we here in the House can't have a real, genuine bipartisan investigation by our Intelligence Committee. Fortunately, this afternoon, the chairman and ranking member--one Democrat and one Republican--of the Senate Intelligence Committee have signaled in a joint press conference that they are interested in having a real investigation. Wouldn't it be nice if the House of Representatives would do the same? Madam Speaker, it gives me no pleasure to say this, but the chairman of our House Intelligence Committee has acted in a way that makes a real investigation in our House impossible. He should do the right thing and recuse himself, and this House should join the Senate in having a real investigation.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to TrumpCare, the Republican plan to cut Medicare and Medicaid, increase healthcare costs, and take health care away from tens of millions of Americans, all while providing the largest transfer of wealth from working families to our Nation's richest, and all of this in the name of choice and freedom. But we all know that, under this bill, that is just code for survival of the fittest, economic Darwinism. Mr. Speaker, let me bring this a little closer to home for me. Thanks to TrumpCare, 36,700 of my constituents covered by the ACA's Medicaid expansion now stand to lose this lifesaving coverage. Here is one of them, constituent Maura McGrath, a 17-year-old with Down syndrome. Maura's parents, Joe and Rita, know firsthand why Medicaid is so important. Medicaid has been critical to keeping their daughter alive and saving their family from bankruptcy. Even though Joe and Rita both work, the cost of Maura's care is too expensive to afford on their own, not to mention that Rita is a breast cancer survivor and Joe suffers from Parkinson's disease. Medicaid provides the McGraths peace of mind knowing Maura will receive the care that she needs and they aren't alone to fend for themselves, given the tough hand they have been dealt. Mr. Speaker, for Maura and everyone in my district, say ``no'' to TrumpCare.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of ambitious students from Central High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since Central High School was chartered in 1836 and opened in 1838, it has established a reputation and a rich history that sets it apart from other high schools in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. Central High School offers many prestigious academic opportunities for their students, including the International Baccalaureate Program, Advanced Placement courses, and dual enrollment programs. They value curiosity, high academic achievement, inclusive extra-curricular activities and service, which are essential to cultivating a student's overall positive experience. The school's dedication to building a cohesive path for their students is, in part, why I was grateful for the privilege to provide several Central High School students with the unique opportunity to attend the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2017. The inauguration welcomed Avery Adeshigbin, Romie Azor, David Bango, Chris Bruch, Monet Bunch, Jasmine Duong, Sh-Mya Durham, Darnell Faison, Michael Granovskiy, Lindsay Holmes, Kayla Jaquay-Davis, Morgan Mifflin, Tamika Miles, Han Nguyen, Sorya Noun, Aliyyah Ouattara, Sundus Pervez, Aniyah Pinkney, Kristian Rhim, Bruno Sauli, Kejsi Shahaj, Sahmir Thompson, Krystal Torres, Tiffany Tran, David Weihe, Marguerite Faison, William Graham, Michael Horwits, Ashley Zeserman, and Patrick Elgert. The hard work these students put towards their academics and their unwavering commitment to civic engagement is inspiring. I hope their curiosity and tenacity persists in future endeavors and they continue to make an important difference throughout my home state of Pennsylvania.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on March 9, 2017, I missed roll call vote No. 139 on the floor of the House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted nay.