Elijah Cummings

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Federal CIO Authorization Act would make several commonsense changes to existing law: First, it would update the name of the Administrator for E-Government to the Federal Chief Information Officer, and it would require direct reporting of that individual to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. It is very, very important. Second, it would establish the position of Federal Chief Information Security Officer, who would report to the Federal CIO and assist OMB in the cybersecurity efforts. Finally, this very important bill would require the Federal CIO to submit a proposal on consolidating IT across Federal agencies, especially smaller agencies, through the use of shared services. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to vote in favor of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I want to join my colleague, Congresswoman Foxx, in thanking Mr. Hurd, Mr. Connolly, and Congresswoman Kelly for all the hard work that they put into this legislation. So often in our Congress, we are blessed to have somebody like Mr. Hurd, who is very, very familiar with these sometimes very complex issues, and he brings just a reasonable approach to coming up with bipartisan solutions to the problems that are facing our country and, just as significant, bringing solutions that will prevent problems from happening. So I want to thank him for working so hard on this, along with our colleagues, Mr. Connolly and Ms. Kelly. Again, Madam Speaker, I urge all of our Members to vote in favor of this bill. It is a significant piece of legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 150) to modernize Federal grant reporting, and for other purposes.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 150, currently under consideration.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency Act, introduced by Representatives Virginia Foxx and Jimmy Gomez, would standardize reporting for recipients of Federal grants and cooperative agreements. Grant recipients often have to report the same information in different ways because Federal agencies do not use the same forms or even the same terms to describe required information. Madam Speaker, I have often said that the most important thing that we must do in our lives is to operate in an effective and efficient manner, and that also includes this Congress. Under this bill, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of Health and Human Services would be required to establish governmentwide data standards for grant reporting--again, efficiency and effectiveness. The bill would encourage OMB and HHS to make the information that grant recipients report fully searchable and machine-readable. This would provide greater transparency into the money spent on the grants because spending data would be more usable. The bill also would require that data collected from grant recipients be published on a single public portal. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentlewoman, Ms. Foxx, for working with Representative Connolly last Congress on the use of nonproprietary identifiers for grants and grantees. She, too, has worked in a hard, bipartisan way to bring solutions to problems, to bring practical solutions to problems. The bill before us would allow this issue to be carefully considered to ensure it is workable. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this bill is intended to reduce the burden on applicants for Federal grants by enabling a more streamlined electronic process for completing grant applications. It would require HHS and OMB to develop uniform data standards for common application elements, such as the name and address of the organization and the name of the grant. This will, hopefully, lead to the development of a uniform grant application that could be used across all Federal agencies. That would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the grant application process immensely. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this measure, and I hope that the Senate will quickly pass it. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I again thank Ms. Foxx for this very important legislation and all of the bipartisan efforts that made it happen. This bill and the others that we have dealt with today, where there was such great bipartisanship to get it done, I hope that we will take these as a model of what this Congress can do. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 24) to provide for the compensation of Federal and other government employees affected by lapses in appropriations.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As we, Mr. Speaker, enter day 21 of the Trump shutdown, it is incumbent upon the House to do everything we can to address the pain and suffering being felt by dedicated Federal workers who are missing their paychecks. Most of them are living from paycheck to paycheck, and now they approach this day, on Friday, having moved from paycheck to no check. Today, 800,000 Federal employees will not receive their first paycheck of this new year. Regardless of what Members think about the causes of the shutdown, every single one of us should agree that hardworking Federal employees who give their blood, their sweat, and their tears to lifting us up as a Nation should not be held hostage to politics as a result. Mr. Speaker, 380,000 Federal employees have been furloughed and locked out of their offices. Another 420,000 hardworking Federal employees are working without pay. We will see them at our airports. We will see them working today and tomorrow, as they have been for the last many days, without pay. Some even had to cancel already scheduled vacation days or sick leave to report to work. These 800,000 men and women include personnel at the Federal Aviation Administration; the Bureau of Prisons; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security; the Food and Drug Administration; and the Departments of Agriculture, Treasury, and Justice. These are the men and women who keep our country safe, ensure the safety of our airports and food, protect our national parks, and, yes, keep our economy moving. S. 24 would provide back pay to Federal employees furloughed during this shutdown and potential future shutdowns. The measure also would allow essential employees to use their annual leave instead of having to cancel already scheduled and approved vacation plans. Many Federal employees are suffering. But not only are they suffering, Mr. Speaker, their children are suffering. They are in pain; they are worried; and they are scared. You see, they have mortgages and car loans to pay, day care expenses to cover, and food to put on the table. And even while they struggle to pay these bills, furloughed employees face the stress and anxiety of not knowing whether or not they will be paid when the shutdown ends. The least we can do is to relieve that uncertainty. The President claims that Federal employees support this pointless shutdown. He also had the nerve to say: Why don't they just adjust. Adjust with what? And how? I have not heard from a single Federal employee that they support this shutdown. What they want to do is to get back to work serving the American people, and what they are saying over and over again is: Government, do not hurt us; help us. Do not hurt us; help us. So, promising they will receive back pay once the shutdown ends is the least that we can do. Finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill passed the Senate with every single Senator's consent, and President Trump has indicated that he will sign it. I urge every Member of the House to do the same and support this bill, and let's end this shutdown and get the government open and working again. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), distinguished Speaker of the House.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from the State of Maryland (Mr. Raskin).

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader of this great House.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, first of all, I thank the distinguished gentleman, Mr. Hurd, for his cooperation in working with us, always approaching these issues with a commonsense attitude and always striving for bipartisanship. We look forward to working with him and others to continue to support our Federal employees. As this shutdown drags on, it is wreaking havoc, Madam Speaker, with the lives of patriotic Federal workers who just want to get back to work, and they need their paycheck. Hundreds of dedicated public servants have called my office as this shutdown goes on record as one of the longest in history. They are worried and anxious about how they will pay their bills. For example, the shutdown is having a dire effect on a 30-year employee at the IRS whose finances and health are being imperiled. She has multiple sclerosis and needs a monthly injection that has a $50 copay, which she simply cannot afford. She hasn't paid her mortgage, and her lender won't give her a break. This is not an isolated example. Thousands of Federal employees face similar circumstances. Madam Speaker, we must end this shutdown and send our Federal employees back to work as soon as possible. I urge all Members of the House to vote in favor of this legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us would change the enrollment of H.R. 4174 to make several corrections to the bill. Concerns were raised earlier today about the impact H.R. 4174 would have on independent agencies, particularly financial regulators. The changes would make clear that the bill should not apply to monetary policy. It would also make clear that title 1 of the bill applies only to the 24 largest Federal agencies. The underlying bill would establish a framework to support greater access and use of government data and help ensure that Congress and the Federal agencies are able to make important policy changes based on the best available evidence. I urge Members to support this resolution and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind everyone that the enrollment period to sign up for 2019 health plans on healthcare.gov, and in many States like my home State of Maryland, ends in just 3 days. That is Saturday, December 15. I have often said that voting for the Affordable Care Act was the most important vote of my career. When Congress passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010, we enshrined into law the promise that all Americans have a right to accessible and affordable health insurance coverage in this great country. By strengthening the individual health insurance market, protecting people with preexisting conditions, and expanding Medicaid, we brought this promise closer to reality. We promised that individuals would not have to worry about affording health insurance or paying outrageous rates because of preexisting conditions. We safeguarded access to care for people who need it by preventing health insurance providers from placing limits on their coverage. Because of the ACA, individuals and families across this country do not have to live with the daily fear of financial disaster they could face if they got sick while they were uninsured. In total, approximately 20 million Americans gained health insurance coverage as a result of the ACA. During the November election, the American people reminded us that they want their elected officials to protect their access to affordable healthcare. In my home State of Maryland, the uninsured population is at an all-time low of 6.1 percent. As more people have gotten coverage, the cost of uncompensated care in Maryland hospitals has gone down by $400 million from 2013 to 2017. The open enrollment period that is quickly coming to a close in many States is the only time during which people can act to protect themselves and their families by purchasing coverage through healthcare.gov or their State health insurance marketplace. Quality health plans for 2019 are more affordable than many people may realize. Eight in ten people using healthcare.gov qualify for financial assistance, meaning that most people can find a health plan with a premium of less than $75 per month. According to data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through December 1, enrollment is down 11 percent on the Federal exchange compared to last year. I am proud that Maryland has embraced the ACA to help people in our State secure the coverage they need to keep their families healthy and safe. I am proud of all the hard work the Maryland Health Connection continues to do to make it easier for people to get enrolled. The Trump administration has focused their efforts on sabotaging the ACA by making it harder for Americans to sign up for coverage through actions such as shortening the enrollment period, slashing funding for marketing and outreach programs, and lowering spending by more than 80 percent on local in-person assistance through the navigator program. Because of these efforts, there is fear about the future of ACA. I want to make one thing very clear: The ACA is not going anywhere, despite the efforts of the Trump administration to sabotage this law. Please know that I intend to do everything in my power to keep the ACA intact and to make sure that people have health coverage that is meaningful, affordable, and accessible. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone in the next 3 days to discuss your options and find out how to get the best plan for you as an individual and for your family. Everyone deserves access to healthcare that will improve their lives. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and I pledge to do my part to protect that right.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome Minister La'Shawn Worrell as our guest chaplain here at the United States House of Representatives. Minister Worrell has demonstrated leadership in Baltimore and throughout the Seventh Congressional District of Maryland. She has served as an associate minister of my church, the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, since 2007. During her time at New Psalmist Baptist Church, Minister Worrell received her bachelor of science degree in religious studies from Notre Dame of Maryland University in May 2017 and completed the Baltimore City Police Department chaplaincy program in May of this year. It is clear to me that, considering Minister Worrell's drive and extensive contributions to our district, she is just getting started. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Minister Worrell for her leadership and for her wonderful prayer.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Pallone for yielding, and for his great work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of provisions in this package reauthorizing and reforming the Office of National Drug Control Policy to improve coordination of our national response to the drug crisis. At my request, the bill creates a demand reduction coordinator position, parallel to the existing interdiction coordinator, to strengthen demand reduction initiatives, including efforts to expand treatment. Among other critical reforms, this legislation also requires ONDCP to report whether drug control program agency budgets are adequate to achieve the goals of the National Drug Control Strategy. It requires the compilation of essential data on overdoses, deaths, and interdiction in a data dashboard, so the American people have a clear, accessible picture of the effectiveness of efforts to combat the drug crisis. I thank Chairman Gowdy, Chairman Meadows, and Vice Ranking Member Connolly for working with me to develop legislation that will reform ONDCP. I thank Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Senator Cornyn for their leadership. Let me also give special thanks to the committee staff and, I must say, to the majority and the minority staff. They did a phenomenal job working hard in conference and throughout this effort. Without their extraordinary efforts, this legislation would not be in this package today. Mr. Speaker, I close with a simple warning. There are a lot of people suffering. Almost 198 people die a day--a day. Those are the people who are dying, but there are a lot of people in the pipeline who are in so much pain, they don't even know they are in pain. So while the provisions of H.R. 6 are important, without significantly expanding access to treatment and wraparound services through long-term, sustained funding, we continue to nibble at the edges of our national crisis, and the crisis will continue to worsen. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Electronic Message Preservation Act of 2017, and I want to thank Mr. Gowdy, our chairman, for getting this bill to the floor as he has today. I introduced this bill with the goal of modernizing the Federal and Presidential Records Acts. This bill would require the Archivist of the United States to issue regulations mandating that all Federal agencies manage and preserve their email records electronically. This bill would help ensure that email records from Federal agencies and the White House are preserved. According to an October 2017 report from the National Archives and Records Administration, approximately 46 percent of agencies continue to print and file paper copies of email messages. These records are more likely to get lost and are harder for agencies to retrieve during record searches under the Freedom of Information Act. This bill would put into statute what agencies are already required to do under a directive issued by the Archivist and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. In 2016, the National Archives issued a document for agency records officers titled: ``Why Agencies Need to Move Toward Electronic Recordkeeping.'' The document identified a number of reasons, including long-term cost savings, information security, and more efficient and effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. This bill also would require the Archivist to establish standards for the preservation and management of email records that are Presidential records and to certify annually that the White House has records management controls in place that meet those standards. Under this bill, the Archivist must report 1 year after a President leaves office on whether the controls used by the President met the required standards. This legislation would provide accountability to encourage every President to have the controls in place that are necessary to preserve emails and other electronic records. This bill has been passed by the House with bipartisan support several times before. I urge my colleagues to support the bill again today, and I hope that the Senate will act on the bill and send it to the President's desk before the end of the year. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman from North Carolina and I have laid out very nicely exactly and eloquently what this bill is all about. It is very important that we modernize all of our systems in the Federal Government, and recordkeeping is so important. We see it, particularly in our committee, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, because we are constantly trying to get records and requesting records and occasionally subpoenaing records. So this is a way, I believe, to make that whole process more effective, efficient, and transparent. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.