Anthony Brindisi

Mr. BRINDISI

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his leadership on this important topic. The free market is the cornerstone of America's economy, and this bill would ensure that free-market competition is protected on the internet. However, for many Americans living in small towns, basic internet access remains out of reach. Too many homes in rural areas are not connected at all to high-speed broadband, and those that are online suffer from slow speeds and constant interruptions in service. Customers see their bills go up month after month, and service just gets worse and worse. Internet access is essential in today's economy, and we need to do more to connect rural areas to high-speed broadband. My amendment would direct the Government Accountability Office to issue recommendations on how to expand broadband internet service in rural and other underserved areas. This information will help guide our work on how to best expand broadband access in rural communities. I urge adoption of my amendment, and I, again, thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his leadership on this bill and urge our colleagues to pass the underlying legislation. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chairman, I again urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRINDISI

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chairman, I first want to thank the gentleman from Maryland for his work on this important topic, and I also want to thank him for his willingness to work with Members of this body to address our concerns regarding the finance of this bill. Thanks to the changes that I supported and pushed for, we have ensured that no taxpayer dollars will go towards financing political campaigns. It is a testament to what we can accomplish when we work together and compromise. This bill has many important provisions which will make it easier for working families to have their voices heard. My amendment would extend these wins to the people of upstate New York who have been treated unfairly for years by arbitrary restrictions on polling hours. In New York State, voters in New York City and neighboring downstate counties have 6 more hours to vote in Federal primary elections compared to voters in my district. A voter in New York City can vote on their way to work when the polls open at 6 a.m. A voter in Binghamton, on the other hand, can't vote in that very same election until their polls open at noon. My amendment would fix this situation and institute some basic rules to prevent States from reducing polling hours for people based solely on where they live. This is an important step to ensure that all voters across the State are treated fairly. I urge adoption of my amendment, and I again thank the gentleman from Maryland for his leadership on this bill, and I urge our colleagues to pass the underlying legislation. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chairman, I again urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BRINDISI

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the need for better oversight of cable and internet providers. Between price increases, slow internet speeds, and baffling fees, customers in all regions of the country, and in my district in New York State, are overcharged by their cable company and don't always get what they have paid for. For customers on fixed incomes, a sudden jump in the cable bill can put a painful squeeze on other parts of the family budget. Customers in rural areas often find their broadband speeds are not nearly as fast as advertised, if they are lucky enough to have broadband at all. That is why I am introducing the Transparency for Cable Consumers Act. Under this bill, if a cable or internet company is fined by the State public service commission, the company would be required to report to the FCC what they are charging customers and what they are delivering in return. By bringing more transparency into the market, we can help increase competition and improve services for consumers across the country.

Mr. BRINDISI

Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Speaker, due to inclement weather in central and upstate New York on February 25, 2019, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted Yes on Roll Call No. 88 (H.R. 539, the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2019) and Yes on Roll Call Vote No. 89 (H.R. 276, the Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act).

Mr. BRINDISI

Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from California, chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee's Health Subcommittee, for introducing this important bill, as well as the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the gentleman from California. Veterans should never have to miss a doctor's appointment or medical treatment because they don't have access to affordable childcare. This bill is a commonsense solution that removes this roadblock and ensures our Nation's veterans have access to the care they have earned. I am glad to see the House take up this issue. My amendment would clarify that community-based outpatient clinics are included under the bill's definition of facilities of the Department and ensure that veterans who receive their care from CBOCs are able to access VA childcare assistance. Many veterans who live in rural areas in my district and across the country do not have a full-service hospital nearby, and they rely on CBOCs to receive primary and mental healthcare. It is important to make clear that this childcare benefit would include them, no matter how small or large their VA facility is. As a new Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I will continue working to improve access to VA healthcare and benefits for veterans, including veterans living in rural communities. I urge adoption of my amendment and again thank the gentlewoman from California for introducing this bill, and I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the underlying legislation. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), the chair of the committee.

Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRINDISI

Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituent to recognize the staff of the Canandaigua, New York U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. Health care for our nation's veterans is truly one of the most important services the federal government provides. All too often however, we read news stories about substandard and unacceptable care that those who served our country in uniform receive. I was heartened recently to receive correspondence from a constituent, Beth Jones of Rome. Beth is the sister of a Vietnam veteran who served a total of six years in the Air Force and Army. He suffered trauma connected to his service, and through the years has resided in several facilities for veterans. Beth told my office that, for nearly ten years, her brother has resided at the VA's Canandaigua community living center. During that time, he and the other patients there have received individual attention with staff members that take care of any health issues or other concerns promptly; communicate with out of town family members; and maintain the facility so that it is a clean, comfortable environment for its residents. On Beth's behalf, I would like to commend the staff of the Canandaigua VA Medical Center for providing such devoted and compassionate care to this veteran and his family. Our nation's veterans have earned our steadfast support and respect, and I am glad to hear that this military family has received the care they needed at Canandaigua. Veterans in New York and across the country deserve this same level of care, and I will continue fighting to ensure that they have the support and resources they need both when wearing our country's uniform, and when they return home.

Mr. BRINDISI

Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here today as a Representative of New York's 22nd Congressional District. When I talk to upstate New Yorkers, there is one thing I hear time and time again: that Washington is broken. We are all tired of Washington's partisanship, and I am here today to reiterate my promise to work with anyone who is willing to solve problems. I will work with Members of both parties to address skyrocketing healthcare costs and make sure everyone has access to high-quality, affordable care. I will work to bring good jobs to upstate New York, strengthen our schools, and improve job training programs. I will fight to make sure our local farmers have the support they need to get a fair price for their goods, succeed financially, and make an honest living. And I will stand with servicemembers and veterans to ensure they have the support and resources they need when wearing our country's uniform and when they return home. I will fight for everyday people and take on companies that use power through monopolies to abuse consumers. Above all else, my top priority will be to listen to my constituents, to be a voice for upstate New Yorkers. I know that, by working together, we can deliver real results for hardworking people.