Joe Courtney

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the FREED Vets Act, a bipartisan measure led by my friend Conor Lamb from Pennsylvania and Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican, from Pennsylvania, that will automatically discharge Federal student loan debt for eligible permanently disabled veterans. Mr. Speaker, there is about a trillion dollars of student loan debt overhanging the U.S. economy, and we have worked on the Education and Labor Committee to pass the College Affordability Act that would open a pathway for people who serve in public service to get that debt discharged after 10 years. This bill is, in my opinion, a great example of bipartisan agreement that there is one population that should get immediate relief, which is the men and women who have worn the uniform of this country and who have suffered grievous injury, whether it is visible or invisible, and who are 100 percent disabled. As again has been stated, the Education Department got off to a start in terms of trying to implement this type of approach. This bill just will again strengthen and support that effort to make sure that the minute the VA has identified an individual who is permanently disabled who served our Nation, that notice will go to the Education Department and the discharge will be automatic. No application process, no matching process, again, it will just happen by operation of law. The statistics show that this is a real problem. There are 42,000 veterans with student loan debt who, again, are permanently disabled, and 25,000 of those are in default. Getting this bill passed, getting this in operation as soon as possible is the most powerful way this country can say thank you, to eliminate one additional burden on people who have just shown their commitment and patriotism to our country. I congratulate the bipartisan sponsors of this bill, Mr. Lamb and Mr. Fitzpatrick, and urge all of us to come together and get this bill passed today, as soon as possible.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan measure to draw attention to a really horrible development that could occur if, again, Congress and the public are not watching, which is a proposal by Major League Baseball to eliminate 25 percent of the minor league teams all across America. I am here next to the logo of the Norwich Sea Unicorns, which is a Class A baseball team in Norwich, Connecticut, a franchise that goes back decades. As many of the other Members have said, it provides an affordable family venue for people to go to a professional baseball game and see the stars of the future, something that, with the price of tickets of Major League Baseball, whether it is Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, or Citi Field in New York City, is just far beyond what a working family can afford to do. The logic of this, in terms of economics, makes absolutely no sense. Over the last 4 years, Minor League Baseball has averaged consistently 40 million fans. The cost to Major League Baseball per franchise is about $400,000 for the entire team for a season. When you look at the average value of a Major League Baseball team, it is about $1.78 billion. Again, there are, obviously, the really high-rent teams like the Yankees in my friend Carolyn Maloney's neighborhood, but even the smallest is worth over $1 billion. So, the notion that Major League Baseball is in desperate financial straits just does not add up. That is why having GAO called upon, which this bill does--this isn't just a feel-good bill. It calls on the gold standard, the neutral analysts in our country to drill down and look at what the economic impact would be. And we who represent these communities know that the impact would be devastating. On February 3, we had a rally in Norwich, Connecticut. Hundreds of people showed up, the vendors and folks who actually benefit from the economic ripple effect of a Minor League Baseball team, but also the families and kids, the high school baseball teams that use the field. We need to rise up and stop this development, which really goes to the heart of our country in terms of its national pastime. Again, I strongly urge all of us to come together and pass this resolution.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which is a pro-middle-class measure that, if enacted, would increase incomes, improve benefits, and promote better working conditions for tens of millions of Americans. The bill essentially debugs all the outdated gaps and loopholes that a cottage industry of unscrupulous lawyers and consultants have exploited over the last 50 years to delay and deny Americans their right to organize for a better standard of living. The data is crystal clear. The decline of unions since the 1970s has coincided with wage stagnation for the middle class and the skyrocketing wealth of Americans in the top one-tenth of 1 percent, re- creating our new gilded age of outrageous income inequality. The rights this bill will secure have been internationally recognized as basic human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations Charter in the wake of World War II and the Vatican in Pope Leo XII's encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891. The right to organize ``is the natural right,'' Leo wrote, ``and the state has for its office to protect natural rights, not to destroy them.'' Passage of this bill will protect those rights. Please vote ``yes'' for the PRO Act. Mr. Chairman, I insert in the Record a letter from 2 million members of the Service Employees International Union, signed by its president, Mary Kay Henry, in support of this legislation.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Daniel Steward on his recent retirement from a remarkable fourteen-year career as first selectman for the town of Waterford, Connecticut. This tenure makes Dan the longest serving first selectman since the founding of the town in 1801 and ensures his legacy will last forever. Dan was born and raised in Waterford and worked in the southeastern Connecticut region his entire adult life. He honed his managerial skills at Southern New England Telephone Company where he worked for twenty-eight years and then spent another three years as supervisor in information technologies at Dominion Energy's Millstone Power Plant, Connecticut's largest electrical energy producer. While still employed in the private sector, he began his impressive career of public service working to improve the town's public schools, first as president of the Parent Teacher Organization, and then when he transitioned to the Waterford board of education where he rose to the position of chair. In 2005, the people of Waterford elected Dan as their First Selectman, and he hit the ground running. This win was especially significant for Waterford, as they now had the leadership of one of their own, a true Lancer. This first-hand knowledge proved crucial for the growth and success of the town. Not only did Dan make structural improvements such as building five new schools; he also paid close attention to the individual problems of Waterford's residents. Dan's vested interest in the town enabled him to connect with everyone as his peer. He took the concerns of his constituents personally; his biggest gripe with the job being only that ``he wanted to make everyone happy.'' During his time as first selectman it became obvious that Dan had a gift for strong leadership and embracing change, something he knew all too well. His own father sold their family's dairy farm to developers who would go on to build the local Lowe's hardware store, giving Dan personal experience with the cyclical economies of small towns. When Dominion Energy's Millstone Power Station, a backbone of the current economy, was renegotiating with the state, Dan remained a fierce advocate for Waterford. Dan's personal knowledge of the company gave him a unique and well-rounded perspective to facilitate a sustainable, long-term plan for its continued operation. As the Congressman for Waterford during the bulk of Dan's tenure, I had the pleasure of working with him and the town on a number issues, such as the memorial at Arlington National Cemetery to Vietnam hero and U.S. Army Captain Arnie Holm, a beloved son of Waterford, the development of a long term dredging plan for eastern Long Island Sound, and the recapitalization of the New England Central Railroad, to name just a few. I found Dan to be extremely thoughtful and positive, always focused on the big picture of making southeastern Connecticut's future strong and healthy. Although we are from different political parties, he approached the job of governing from a non-political, practical point of view which I believe is a refreshing example elected officials at every level of government should follow. Dan's presence will be sorely missed at Town Hall, although he has certainly earned this next, hopefully more restful chapter that I'm sure he will spend with his wife, Kathy, his four daughters, and his nine grandchildren. Luckily, Waterford residents won't have to look far as he will still support the community by going door to door for the census. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Dan for his service and congratulating him on his retirement.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Rules Committee's motion and passage of the underlying bill, H.J. Res. 76, which will block Secretary Betsy DeVos' antistudent borrower defense rule. Over the last 5 years, for-profit college chains have, without warning, closed their doors on enrolled students who had paid their tuition--Corinthian College, ITT Tech, Dream Center, and Education Management Corporation--as have smaller schools like Ridley-Lowell in New London, Connecticut, which shut its doors midterm without notice on a school day 2 years ago. In 1993, Congress created the borrower defense rule through the Higher Education Act to relieve student loan debt for student victims of fraud. Now, we have a Secretary of Education who wants to gut that law by making students whose classes, diplomas, and certificates have been terminated have to jump through a ridiculous maze of hoops before they can get what Congress intended back in 1993 and what the Obama administration was actually implementing--namely, justice--a complete discharge of student loan debt on the basis that students were victims of fraud. The convoluted explanation that the DeVos Department used to deny discharge is a smokescreen for the administration's blatant bias in favor of for-profit colleges. One group that sees the harm that the Education Department will do with the new rule is, surprisingly to some, The American Legion, America's oldest and largest veterans organization. As the National Commander stated recently, thousands of student veterans have been targeted and defrauded over the years by some of these rip-offs and have lost precious GI Bill benefits as a result. As the commander states: ``The rule, as currently written, is fundamentally rigged against defrauded borrowers of student loans, depriving them of the opportunity for debt relief that Congress intended to afford them under the Higher Education Act.'' Mr. Speaker, this Chamber should heed The American Legion, stand up for student veterans and all students, and vote for H.J. Res. 76.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this issue. Madam Chair, the Chamber can see the chart on my right, which was prepared by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which shows that the American people pay far more for prescription drugs than any other country in the world by wide, unacceptable margins. Per capita, the United States spends 25 percent more on prescription drugs than Switzerland, the country with the next highest drug costs. Specific examples of this outrageous disparity abound. A vial of insulin in the U.S. is $300. The same vial in Canada is $32. In the U.S., an EpiPen two-pack has a list price of $608, in the U.K., $69. About one-quarter of Americans say that it is difficult for them to afford their prescriptions. Seventy-nine percent of Americans think the costs of prescription drugs is unreasonable. Approximately one-third of Americans say they haven't taken their medicine as prescribed because of trouble affording it. This week, Congress will vote finally to use the leverage Medicare has to get U.S. drug prices in line with the international price index for developed countries whose standard of living is comparable to the U.S. and whose life expectancy in many cases actually exceeds the U.S. As CBO confirmed, this bill will save patients millions of dollars and will ensure that this chart changes for the better. Crucially, this bill is unique from other proposals by lowering drug costs not just for Medicare but also for the 50 percent of Americans who receive their health insurance through work. This bill directs the Secretary of HHS to negotiate lower drug prices and extends that price voluntarily to employer-sponsored health plans, reducing the relentless increase in healthcare costs that is driving premiums higher for large employers, small employers, and the self- insured. According to the Connecticut Department of Insurance, the portion of healthcare premiums attributable to prescription drug coverage has increased from 15 percent to 23 percent of every premium dollar since 2010, which eats up wages and salaries. In a nutshell, this bill will put billions of dollars into the pockets of working Americans and their families, at the same time not using a limited formulary, at the same time preserving a research and development tax credit, and at the same time boosting support for pharmaceutical research at the National Institutes of Health. This bill is the most significant healthcare proposal in a decade. It is time for us to listen to the American people, who in 2018 listed healthcare costs, specifically prescription drug care costs, as their number one concern in exit polls in the highest voter turnout for a midterm election since 1914. This is the bill that responds to that loud signal from the American people. I urge passage of H.R. 3.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the final conference version of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. As chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I worked closely with my colleague and friend, Ranking Member Wittman, to produce a strong bill that invests smartly in the defense priorities under our jurisdiction. This year, we also benefited greatly from the contributions of our freshman members of the subcommittee, whose collective experience and intelligence were extremely helpful. The bill authorizes a $23 billion shipbuilding budget for 12 battle force ships, including two Virginia-class submarines, three Arleigh Burke destroyers, the first frigate, two amphibious ships, two T-AO oilers, and two salvage and rescue ships. The final shipbuilding budget also contains adjustments necessary to support the new Block V Virginia-class submarine contract and fully funds the Navy's number one acquisition priority, the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. This bill will, by law, reverse the administration's misguided proposal to cancel the refueling of the carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Our subcommittee also focused on sealift recapitalization, an area that has been overlooked for far too long; legislating reauthorization of the Maritime Security Program; establishing a new-build domestic sealift vessel program; and restoring funding cuts by the administration for a critical training platform, the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel. It also provides strong support for our air projection forces, including the KC-46 tanker, the B-21 long-range bomber, and the B-52 reengining program. Finally, we continued Congress' oversight duties as they relate to the Navy's surface fleet readiness by requiring any shipboard system program of record to have formal associated training to ensure our sailors are competent operators of the equipment they use at sea every day. Outside of seapower, I am extremely pleased that my amendment that reverses last year's awful DOD order blocking longer term servicemembers' ability to transfer their GI Bill educational benefits to eligible dependents is in the conference report. I am also pleased about the fix to widow's tax, which we wrestled with for 20 years, and also the monumental task of providing 12 weeks of paid family medical leave for all Federal employees. I thank the committee leadership, Representatives Smith and Thornberry, for their tireless work. I also thank Phil MacNaughton, Dave Sienicki, Kelly Goggin, and Megan Handal, and Lieutenant Claire Wardius of the Navy, my Navy fellow, for their great work supporting this bill.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to observe and mourn the passing of one of the pillars of civic life in the Northeastern Corner of the state of Connecticut, Cathy Thomas. Sadly, Cathy passed away on November 26, 2019 surrounded by family and friends at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut. Madam Speaker, Cathy served for 40 years as the Chair of the Thompson Democratic Town Committee--a record that I am confident will never be broken. In that role, Cathy supported hundreds and hundreds of candidates for town, state and federal office, generously volunteering her time to the nuts and bolts of campaigns--organizing conventions, lining up delegates, filing the critical paperwork to ensure ballot access and most of all, giving wise, common sense counsel to public officials about what the important issues were and how to talk about them, and address them. Forty years ago, Cathy was a pioneer political leader paving the way for women to occupy positions of power. Over time, the respect she garnered with her quiet, steely manner became an inspiration for other women to succeed in public office. It was truly fitting that she was awarded the 2019 Ella Grasso Women's Leadership Award this year. This is a special honor reserved to an elite group of Women in Connecticut named after the first woman in America to be elected the governor of a state in her own right. I personally experienced and benefitted from Cathy's dedicated work during all my campaigns for Congress. I will be forever grateful to her for her unstinting, unselfish help. Her life was not solely defined by politics and government. Cathy grew up in Thompson and attended Annhurst College and Nichols College where she received her degree in accounting. She worked as an accountant for many years at Davis publications in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was close to her brother Paul LaRoche of North Grosvenordale and had many friends in town with whom she enjoyed going to concerts, the beach, and Kittery, Maine. She was also an avid New York Yankees fan, living in an area that leans in favor of the Red Sox. Nonetheless, she reveled in the rivalry. Cathy's passing is a big loss for Northeastern Connecticut and was felt far and wide by all who knew her and will miss her. Madam Speaker, I ask the House to please join me in expressing our deepest condolences to her family and friends

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to observe and mourn the passing of retired Police Captain Gary Mazzone of East Windsor, Connecticut. Sadly, Gary's death was the result of a tragic plane accident that occurred on October 2, 2019 at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Gary's full and productive life touched thousands of his fellow citizens. First, as a police officer in the town of Vernon, Connecticut where I reside, later as an inspector in the office of Chief State's Attorney, the highest office in the Connecticut criminal justice system, and eventually as the lead Inspector in the office of the Litchfield State's Attorney. Altogether his service in the police and court systems of Connecticut totaled 42 years of diligent, competent, ethical professionalism. As a lawyer in practice in Vernon before entering Congress, I personally witnessed Gary's relentless work ethic, as well as his commitment to upholding the laws and Constitution of the state of Connecticut and the United States. His exemplary service and friendliness made him a natural role model to young officers who served under him as he rose to the rank of Captain. Despite his high rank and the extensive powers that go with it, Gary never ``put on airs'' and always kept a very grounded perspective on life. He had a great sense of humor and was always willing to listen to an opposing view point with respect and consideration. He was the quintessential American police officer--tough but fair, fearless but human. As the many accolades and reminiscences poured forth in statewide media and in North Central Connecticut in response to the heartbreaking news, stories abounded not only of his work in public safety, but also of his volunteerism in the town of East Windsor, his support of the special Olympics, and his devotion to honoring our country's veterans. Madam Speaker, perhaps most powerfully, his family shared with the people of Connecticut stories of his abiding love for his wife Joan, their children Daniel, Brian, Maureen, Kim, and Stacey, and his father Pasquale. He took an active and enthusiastic interest in all their pursuits and successes. In particular, the Hartford Courant sports page published a wonderful story describing his passionate love of high school football, particularly the Stafford/Somers/East Windsor Bulldog high school team that his son Brian coaches. He attended all their games and was always there to positively help his son and the players succeed. Three days after the crash, Brian summoned his father's memory to find the strength to coach the Bulldogs to an emotional victory against rival Valley Regional/Old Lyme. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record, the Courant's story by Mr. Shawn McFarland dated October 6, 2019 which captures so well the essence of Gary's lively spirit, family devotion, and deep impact he made on all who knew him. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me in expressing our profound admiration for Gary Mazzone's lifetime of public service and deepest condolences to his family for their loss. [From the Hartford Courant, Oct. 6, 2019] Three Days After His Father Died in the B-17 Crash at Bradley Airport, Brian Mazzone Is Back on the Sideline Coaching After each Stafford/Somers/East Windsor football game, Gary Mazzone would be the first to greet his son, Brian, the team's head coach, with a hug. Those close to the team say that Gary never missed a game. Gary Mazzone, 66, a retired police inspector in the Litchfield State's Attorney's office, was one of seven killed in Wednesday's B-17 crash at Bradley International Airport. Boarding the World War II era bomber was described as a ``bucket list'' type event for Gary Mazzone, who had a passion for history. Saturday was Brian Mazzone's first game coaching without his father; the first game in which he wouldn't receive the traditional hug and ``post game report,'' as Stafford assistant Bob Grant described. As the final seconds ticked off in the Bulldogs' 21-7 win over Valley Regional/Old Lyme, one by one, Stafford players surrounded Brian Mazzone until the entire team had formed one giant hug around their coach. The final whistle blew, and Mazzone--who had remained composed for the entire game--broke into tears. ``I never used to cry, ever,'' Mazzone said. ``My mom died 10 years ago. Once my mom died, you say `hi' to me and I start crying now. When someone grabs you and hugs you . . . there's a lot of emotion in that.'' Mazzone was a walking tribute to his father during the game. He wore Gary's Stafford football hoodie, which Brian picked up early Saturday morning at his father's home in Vernon. He wore a camouflage Bulldog hat, an homage to his father's love for hunting. Mazzone said he had gotten the hat for his father as a Christmas gift years back, and ironically enough, Gary Mazzone had requested a normal Bulldog cap instead. Brian Mazzone then went and got a camouflage hat for himself. ``He went to every game,'' Grant said. ``Big Gar was something special. We'd go down and sit in the coach's room, and he'd sit with us. He was one of a kind.'' Prior to kickoff, a ``moment of celebration'' was held in lieu of a standard moment of silence. All in attendance applauded Gary Mazzone's life, as Brian broke down in tears and was consoled by Grant. Brian Mazzone said his dad would have loved it. ``We've been crying a lot, and we've been watching the news,'' Mazzone said. ``[Gary Mazzone] would be patting his chest, going, `See me on the news? I was on CBS nightly news. You see that? I'm on the front page of the paper.' Every time, even back when he was working, he'd be, `I'm in the news today. I'm in the news today.' He would eat up the attention. I'm very similar to him.'' Mazzone described his dad as ``funny as hell'' and as a man who was full of life and loved having fun. He was known for his famous prank calls, where he would call a business and apply for an internship, and then never show up. In the days since Gary's passing, Brian has had many reach out to pass along their condolences. Almost all of them have had a new Gary Mazzone prank story to share, too. Like Gary, Brian is lively. When his team forced a fumble early in the first quarter, Mazzone sprinted onto the field, pumping a fist and pounding his chest. When senior Tyler Ouellete connected with junior Trent Kology on an 84-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, Mazzone sprinted the length of the field celebrating, nearly stride-for-stride with Kology. ``They always make fun of me when we watch the film and I'm jumping around and running,'' Mazzone said with a laugh. ``If you notice, I run like an idiot. I've got my chest out like this. I don't know who taught me to run.'' There was never a doubt for Mazzone that he would coach Saturday's game, though he said it had less to do with his father and more so to do with the fact that he didn't want to rearrange the schedule. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference granted the team permission to move Saturday's game to a later date, though Mazzone didn't want to force his players to sit through back-to-back bye weeks. That was to be expected of Mazzone, as his assistants, current and former players will tell you. In the face of an unbearable tragedy, his motives were for his team. ``We knew that we had to pick him up, because he's supported us all this time,'' said Ouellette, who threw two touchdown passes in the win. ``We knew that we had to come through and support him. It was great to see him here. We all came together, and we all played hard for him.'' Each Bulldog helmet had a ``GM'' decal in memory of Gary Mazzone. Valley Regional/Old Lyme also wore the decals on their helmets. Tim King, head coach of the Warriors who opposed the Bulldogs on Saturday, is a longtime friend of Brian Mazzone, and understands what he was going through Saturday. In 2015, King coached two days after his father, George Sr., passed away at age 92. ``It's a football family,'' King said. ``For 48 minutes, you battle on the field. But reality is this type of stuff. When I heard about it, it's the first thing I told our kids. You can worry about grades, you can worry about whatever, but when something happens as horrible as what happened to Brian's dad, that's reality. The game of football means absolutely nothing. All respect in the world, I know exactly what he was going through.'' A handful of former Stafford players were in attendance, standing behind the Bulldogs' sideline, many wearing team gear. Mazzone greeted each with a hug following the end of the first quarter.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to observe and mourn the passing one of Southeastern Connecticut's most accomplished and revered citizens, Mr. Melvin E. Olsson. Mel, as he was known to all, grew up in that region's historic city, New London, attended public school there, and upon graduation, immediately enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard where he served from 1959 until 1967. He also became part of the workforce at our nation's premiere submarine shipyard Electric Boat, where he was hired as a pipefitter embarking on a 47-year career, building and designing the world's most capable submarines. After his start as a metal tradesman, he migrated to the design workforce, which was responsible for the flawless conception, execution, and production of the Los Angeles, Seawolf, Ohio, and Virginia class submarines that have made America's ``silent service'' such an effective deterrent in keeping the peace for the last 75 years. Mel was a strong advocate for Electric Boat's unionized workers, and over time he emerged as the president of the Marine Draftsman's/UAW Local 571 which represents all the drafting professionals and designers. For thirteen years Mel held that position and successfully negotiated contracts in tandem with his brothers and sisters in the Metal Trades Council to ensure their skilled work was adequately compensated with good salaries and benefits. In the early 2000s, Mel was presiding at a time of great change at the shipyard which went from a workforce of around 30,000 down to just 8,500 in the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union. Mel worked tirelessly to assist the people he represented, making sure they were given transitional help as downsizing occurred. All the while, he continued to advocate for the Navy's investment in a new class of Seawolf and Virginia submarines, which in hindsight we now know kept that shipyard alive. Madam Speaker, as the Congressman from Eastern Connecticut I had the honor to work with Mel in the shipyard's efforts to keep the unique, irreplaceable skills that made Southeastern Connecticut ``The Submarine Capitol of the World.'' When I was elected to Congress in 2006, and was selected to serve on the Seapower Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee, we immediately began a push to boost submarine production, building a coalition of the UAW, the Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, and industry to ``plus up'' the 2008 shipbuilding budget. By the Fall of 2007 we defied conventional wisdom that a freshman member would never pull that off, when $588 million was added to the defense budget, igniting a new era of hiring in Groton. Mel's support and advice did not end there. He always made himself available, with good advice and a ready smile, if I had a question or challenge to face. I will always treasure his friendship. Madam Speaker, when Mel stepped down from his union office in the 2000s, after 47 years of work at the yard, I think most would agree he had earned a quiet, easy retirement. However, as many noted, Mel's ``retirement'' marked the beginning of a second career when he threw himself into the region's Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), the job training platform designated by the federal Workforce Investment Act, to shape education and apprenticeship programs to meet the region's local economy. Mel was perfect for this role. While at Electric Boat, he was always pushing for the shipyard to connect young people to the specialized work that went on there, and he fostered a mentorship program for high schoolers that still operates today. At EWIB, he saw that the need to recapitalize the submarine force was going to cause a new hiring spree that the tech schools, community colleges and apprenticeship programs needed to adjust to-- fast. With his help, EWIB's innovative Manufacturing Pipeline Program received $6 million from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2014, establishing an accelerated ``pre-apprenticeship'' program. The program far outperformed Labor's targets and has become a national model used all over Connecticut and the U.S. to generate new job-ready workers. Back home the pipeline has enabled Electric Boat to regrow to a workforce that reached 17,000 this year. Electric Boat also restarted its own apprenticeship program that Mel had been pressing for years. It is showing impressive results, with a new generation of diverse talent--more women and minorities in particular--who are embarking on not just jobs, but careers. For Mel, this type of work, which was done in collaboration with Electric Boat's unions and management, was the essence of the value of collective bargaining. Seeing a person's life transformed because of the pipeline or an apprenticeship was, in my experience knowing Mel, what truly animated him and made him happy. It also demonstrated to me what a caring person he was, particularly when it came to helping young people. What also made Mel very happy was his beautiful family. He shared 54 years of marital bliss with his wife Dorothy DeGroot Olsson. Together, they have a daughter, Alyssa A. Olsson Gaus, and two grandsons, Kyle Chase Olsson, and Gavin Olsson Gaus. Mel was also close with his brother Karl and his wife Glenda of Niantic. Despite all of his time- consuming work in the region, his family always came first. Madam Speaker, Mel is truly an example of ``a life well lived.'' His funeral service in New London where he was born was packed with family, co- workers, and friends who shared a deep awareness of what a special person he was. Please join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Mel's family for their loss and our highest respect and regards for his inspiring legacy.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Mr. Suozzi's resolution, again saying that it is in America's national interest to protect the Good Friday Agreement peace accords. As was stated on the floor, the U.S. has equities in this agreement. The work of George Mitchell back in the 1990s was instrumental, according to all the parties involved, in terms of its success. Since then, Congress has reaffirmed that involvement by appropriating funds for the Northern Ireland Trust Fund, which promotes reconciliation amongst the sectarian factions that unfortunately are still apart, to an unfortunate degree. Nonetheless, it has been a great success over the last 21 years. As an undergraduate student studying in England in 1973, I visited Belfast and Enniskillen in those dark days of The Troubles, with 30,000 British soldiers patrolling the streets, bombings taking place, over 3,000 causalities. Fast forward to today, I brought a trade mission from Connecticut over with an aerospace-focus. There is calm. There is a functioning government and system and rule of law that has transformed that island and, particularly, Northern Ireland's society. It is all about trying to protect that future with this resolution. I would just end by saying this is in accordance with the people of Northern Ireland. When Brexit was voted on, the people of Northern Ireland voted almost 56 percent to remain in the European Union because they wanted to make sure there was no risk of a hard border. Again, the measure passed, including Great Britain's votes, but only by an even smaller margin of 51 percent. So this resolution is not just a sentimental expression by people here in the U.S. It is totally in accordance with what I think is the will and the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland. I thank the sponsors on both sides of the aisle, in terms of making sure that this important diplomatic success for the 20th century, that the U.S. was an instrumental part of, will be protected.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to observe and mourn the passing of long-time Connecticut State Representative Linda Orange who passed away on November 20, 2019 after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer that she met with bravery and grace, which characterized her overall approach to the challenges and vagaries of her life. At the time of her passing, Linda was in her 23rd year of service as a state representative in a district that she shared with me in eastern Connecticut. I can personally attest to her unstinting focus on advocating for her constituency in ways both big and small. Whether it was her committee work, work on the House floor where she rose to the position of Deputy Speaker, or taking a call from a constituent at any time of day, she kept complete and total fidelity to the people who sent her to the State Capitol in Hartford. I had the privilege to see Linda at work at another time in her life, when she worked in my Committee room during part of the time I served at the State Capitol from 1991-1994. She clerked for me and my colleague then State Senator Ken Prysbyz when we co-chaired the Joint Committees on Human Services and Public Health. The two of us were a handful for Linda, partly because of the volume of the bills that passed through our doors, but also because the sometimes frenetic pace that could make it a real pressure cooker. To say that we tested her patience at times is an understatement. Her natural good humor and kindness always overcame any drama, though, and after I left the State Capitol she, Ken, and I always had a lot of laughs reminiscing about that fun time in our lives. The other special view I had of Linda was through the eyes of my former District Director, the late Jenny Contois, who was Linda's closest friend. Jenny was First Selectwoman in their hometown of Colchester for 15 years before taking the helm at my district office. The two of them were inseparable and were so close they could practically finish each other's sentences. Some of their friends nicknamed them ``Laverne and Shirley'' since the non-stop banter they engaged in when they were together resembled the memorable comedy duo of sitcom fame. During election season, when Linda and I shared campaign headquarters, Jenny and Linda would hold court in front of the staff and volunteers, always with lots of snacks, drinks, and many times even full meals. It gave the headquarters a special feel that kept morale high which translated into a lot of happy successful Election nights. Jenny sadly passed away four years ago, which was a terrible loss for many, many fellow public officials and townspeople, but it was extremely hard for Linda. At a difficult time like this, it is maybe some small consolation to think that Linda and Jenny are together again, looking down on us all, with lots of new funny banter commenting on all of us who knew them. Madam Speaker, I would ask the entire body to join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Linda's husband Dennis, and her entire family for their loss and salute her inspirational example of a life week lived in the service of others. I include in the Record the text of her obituary, which perfectly captures her life and legacy. CT State Representative Linda Ann (Smith) Orange, 69, of Colchester, passed away peacefully at Middlesex Hospital, surrounded by her loving husband, sons, family, and friends, on November 20, 2019 after a sudden and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. During this time, she continued to put family, friends and community first. Linda's grace and courage never faltered. Linda and her family are grateful for the outpouring of well wishes that brought her joy and smiles. She never lost her sparkle. She was born in Hartford, CT on September 25, 1950 to the late Arthur L. and Anna (Gemeasky) Smith. Linda grew up in Marlborough and attended RHAM High School, became a respiratory therapist, and had a distinctive public service career. Linda was very dedicated to her two sons and always active in their lives, especially as they were growing up. She was very active in their schools, Boys Scouts, baseball games and as a second grade catechism teacher. She served as a member and chair of the Colchester Board of Assessment Appeals, the Colchester Police Commission, the East Haddam Historical Society, and as a corporator of William W. Backus Hospital. She also was an honorary member of the Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Company and a Major in the Connecticut Civil Air Patrol, Legislative Wing. Linda was an enthusiastic member of the Colchester Democratic Town Committee and the Colchester Democratic Women's Club which led to her eventual career at the State Capitol. In 1991, she became assistant clerk of the Human Services Committee and later became clerk of the Public Health Committee. She made many friends and learned the working of the legislature so well that she ran as a candidate for State Representative of the 48th District in 1996. She went on to serve twelve terms in Hartford, becoming one of the longest serving members at twenty-three years. The interests of her constituents were always her priority without regard for political labels. As a legislator, Linda served on many committees and currently was a member of Legislative Management, General Law and the Public Safety and Security Committee. She became a knowledgeable authority on public safety issues and the legislature's chief advocate for work of first responders--police, fire fighters, emergency medical personnel, dispatchers and others. Linda also was Deputy Speaker and often presided over the House of Representatives controlling the process by recognizing members wishing to speak, putting all questions to a vote, and directing the business of the legislature. While presiding, her charming personality, ability to add a quip or joke, and her booming voice endeared her to all her colleagues on both sides of the aisle. The staff at the Capitol, the Senators and Representatives, and all those associated with the Connecticut General Assembly will remember Linda for being such a kind and warm- hearted person, friendly to everyone, and always ready for a good laugh at herself or playing a joke on others. Over the years, Linda was recognized by many organizations too numerous to mention all. She humbly accepted such honors and was grateful to those who appreciated her work. Some of her distinctions included awards from the Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association, the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, UCONN Advocates, the Middlesex County and New London County Medical Associations, the Connecticut State Fire Fighters Association, the Connecticut Council of Police Unions, the National Guard Association, the Eastern Connecticut EMS Council, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Association of Connecticut Ambulance Providers. Recently, the charter of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut was changed to make Linda the only life-time honorary member. Linda was known to end her many encounters on the phone and in person with: ``Bye, Bye, Now!'' Her spirit will live on with her many friends, using this phrase to remember her extraordinary life. Linda is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dennis Orange, Sr.; her son Patrick Orange and his partner Jennifer Nadeau; step-son Dennis Orange, Jr., all of Colchester; step- daughters, Denise and Darleen O'Neal of Arkansas; her beautiful grand-daughter, Dezarae Ann Orange, whose love is everlasting; brothers, Brian and his wife Linda Smith, of Marlborough, George and his wife Phyllis, of Windham, ME; god-daughter, Lorna Smith, of Marlborough; sisters-in-law, Genevieve Lescoe, of Meriden, and Marion Coriaty, of Willimantic; many extended family members; and a host of amazing long-time friends. In addition to her parents, Linda was predeceased by her son, Matthew Orange who passed away in 2018 of pancreatic cancer, her brother Bruce Smith, parents- in-law William and Rose Orange, brother-in-law Henry Coriaty, and her sister-in-law Rosemarie Hart.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to observe and mourn the passing of an extraordinary American, Mr. Amarjit Singh Buttar of Vernon, Connecticut. Amarjit passed away surrounded by his loving family in Connecticut on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. His life was a quintessential American story. Born in 1938 in the Punjab region of India, he was raised as a disciple of the Sikh religion. In 1965, he emigrated to the United States with his wife, Rajinder Kaur Thind, and immediately embarked on an epic, relentless effort to contribute and succeed in his new homeland. He was accepted to University of Michigan Law School in 1966 and after graduation used his degree to pursue a lifetime of work helping fellow citizens in need. He moved to Connecticut with Rajinder, his two sons, Gursimrit Singh Buttar and Angad Singh Buttar, and began a career applying his legal acumen at the State of Connecticut Workers Compensation Commission. This agency adjudicates all the work-related injury claims in the state, affecting thousands and thousands of on-the-job accidents and illnesses that can result in tremendous stress and hardship if not handled correctly. Amarjit assisted the quasi-judicial state Commissioners in the handling of claims, demonstrating total command of the law and its processes. His innate compassion for people was a huge help to workers and their families who often found the system frustrating and daunting. As a young lawyer who represented workers compensation clients years ago, I personally saw him in action, deftly resolving complex cases and issues before the Commissioners even needed to rule. His diligence and competence were respected and admired by all who came into contact with him. Amarjit's other best known public service was his passionate dedication to our country's democracy. He valued the right to vote, to participate in elections, and to run for office. In Vernon, where we both lived, Amarjit and I met a long time ago as members of the local Democratic Town Committee, and in every election, whether at the local level or for the U.S. Presidency, he was a stalwart volunteer showing up at every meeting, phone bank, ``literature drop'', or election night gathering to support the candidates. Sometimes I benefitted from his help, when I ran for State Representative from 1986 to 1992, and later for U.S. Congress 2006 to the present. But also Amarjit himself benefitted when he successfully ran for the Vernon School Board, where he served two terms, including a stint as Chair. When he was first elected in 2001, it was an exciting moment, since he was the first Sikh-American in Connecticut to achieve the milestone of elective office and one of the first nationwide. It's important to note that as strong a Democrat as Amarjit was, in office he demonstrated total respect and comity for his Republican colleagues and was always focused on advancing the best interests of the school children of the town, not a partisan agenda. His other notable electoral highlight was when he was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts. There, he witnessed in person Barack Obama's famous keynote address, a 20- minute speech that introduced him to the country, and that began his journey to the White House in 2008. As busy as Amarjit was with his public service, he always found time for his family. They are a close-knit group, sharing time and activities (including volunteering at Democratic Headquarters). In August of this year his family celebrated 50 years of marriage to Rajinder. Amarjit was also intensely devoted to his two sons. His son Angad shared a story of his dad's devotion: ``Though not a sports fan himself, he raised two sons who are avid fans. When he would take his oldest son to Hartford Whalers games when he was a child, he would playfully cheer for the opposing teams such as the rival Boston Bruins or the Montreal Canadiens, while his son would vigorously cheer for the hometown team.'' Madam Speaker, showing your playful love of your children in the middle of hostile hockey fans I believe is the ultimate proof of familial devotion! Both boys today are now grown and graduates of the University of Connecticut, pursuing successful careers-- Gursimrit in New York and Angad in Virginia where he lives with his wife, Simmi Bhuller. Amarjit also found time for his fellow Sikh community in Connecticut and across the country. My casework staff in Connecticut can amply attest to his high volume of calls, asking for assistance for his many many friends--which we always welcomed. Madam Speaker, I believe Amarjit's life can be summed up with a simple phrase: ``He made a difference.'' For his family, his Sikh community, his Vernon community and his American community, Amarjit created a transformational legacy that touched thousands of lives, for the better. That is a proud legacy, and I ask that the entire House join me in expressing our deepest condolences to his family and saluting his groundbreaking life.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, today's vote on H.R. 1309 is an important milestone in what has been a 7-year process of getting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to effectively act to protect the healthcare and social service workforce from skyrocketing rates of violence. Sadly, in America today, nurses, doctors, social workers, EMTs, and nursing assistants are more likely to be the victim of on-the-job violence than any other sector of our Nation's workforce. This violence comes in the form of assaults, kicking, hitting, choking, and spitting from patients and residents and clients or those who may accompany them. It affects a worker's sense of safety at work. It contributes to burnout, absenteeism, high workers' compensation costs, and stress. Tragically, it can also lead to death. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social service workers are more than five times as likely to suffer a serious injury from workplace violence than workers in other settings. And this chart, which shows the red line of healthcare workers versus other sectors in the U.S. economy vividly, powerfully demonstrates the data that is coming into the Department of Labor on this issue. In psychiatric hospitals, that number is drastically higher. In a recent survey, nearly 50 percent of emergency room physicians report having been physically assaulted at work, and 60 percent of those who have these occurrences said they happened in the past year. As this graph shows, these numbers are on the rise. The incidents of violence in the workplace have increased 80 percent over the last decade. Since OSHA has not effectively addressed this emergency, this bill is necessary to ensure that a standard is issued and enforced in a reasonable period of time. Using past precedent, the bill calls for an interim final standard within 1 year and a final standard within 42 months. The public comment and rulemaking process is preserved in the development of the final standard. Very simply, the standard required by the bill would require that covered employers, such as hospitals and psychiatric facilities, develop a workplace violence prevention plan that is tailored to the specific conditions and hazards present at each workplace. It is not a one-size-fits-all requirement. Madam Chair, developing a plan is not rocket science. For over 20 years, OSHA has published voluntary guidelines on violence prevention that include commonsense measures, such as training staff about how to identify high-risk patients, share the information with coworkers, not be alone, and ways to de-escalate threats. We know from the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation that these measures work, and the problem is, though, that there is no consistent enforceable standard to ensure their application, and that is precisely what this bill does. While we will never eliminate all risk or stop every violent attack, research on the measures in this legislation have been shown to substantially cut the incidence of serious injury from workplace violence. The nurses, doctors, social workers, and EMTs who care for us in our times of crisis and need deserve to have these protections soon, not in 7 years and not in 20 years, as is likely if we fail to pass this legislation into law, leaving OSHA rulemaking to its own dilatory, almost comatose, devices. I would like to thank the large coalition of healthcare professionals, their organizations, and union representation who have diligently fought for these protections for years; the subcommittee chair, Alma Adams, of the Workforce Subcommittee on Education and Labor and Chairman Bobby Scott for their leadership; also, Richard Miller and Jordan Barab, our committee staff, who have done amazing work, as well as Maria Costigan from my personal office, who have just worked night and day for years to try and get us to this point. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC, September 6, 2019. Hon. Bobby Scott, Chair, Committee on Education and Labor, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Scott: I write concerning H.R. 1309, the ``Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act,'' which was additionally referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 1309, the Committee on Energy and Commerce agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. I also request that you support my request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. Finally, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter in the report on the bill and into the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 1309. Sincerely, Frank Pallone, Jr. Chairman.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, again very quickly, the mandate costs that CBO scored, the $1.7 billion, that is spread out over 200,000 facilities, if you read their note closely. If you do the math, we are talking about a $9,000 cost per year for facilities. That, in my opinion, in terms of protecting their workforce, is not a high price to pay to make sure that the people who work there are safe. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), the chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, and I want to thank her for moving this bill this calendar year.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 1309.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just note that this is a bipartisan effort. There are 227 cosponsors in the House, 8 Republicans. And again, we have had lots of engagement, accommodated a number of the issues that came up at the public hearing process. Again, I would just note that I appreciate the fact that the ranking member spoke highly of OSHA's volunteer guidelines, which I have in my hand here. Those are actually incorporated into the bill language for the interim final standard. So we are working exactly with the guidelines that she endorsed. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Khanna), an early advocate of this measure.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, just really quickly, it is true, yesterday that notice went out scheduling that panel. I would just note, that is the third time the department has sent out such a notice, and they have canceled the prior panels. We will see whether or not it actually happens in January. We are in the third year of this administration, after a GAO report, again after statistics and hearings, where we have asked questions of the department to move on this, and frankly, we are talking about adopting OSHA's own guidelines in the interim standards. This is not some farfetched, radical proposal. It is their own recommendations about how you can safely and effectively reduce workplace violence. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), a great member of the Education and Labor Committee.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Harder) for yielding. Again, I want to salute his amendment. For the record, there is no prohibition built into OSHA that you can't have dual jurisdiction, in terms of criminal investigations or prosecutions from injuries in any setting that OSHA covers. However, I still applaud the Member for just sort of foot-stomping this point to make sure that because so many of these incidents involve assault, there is absolutely a clear signal that there is no hindrance or obstacle. Again, for that purpose, I certainly strongly support the amendment and urge its adoption.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, again, I rise in opposition to the amendment, but certainly with great respect for the proponent. I actually supported making this amendment in order because I have such high regard for the gentleman. However, this amendment, essentially, Madam Chair, guts the bill. The essence of this bill is to say to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who has been studying this issue since the 1990s and has issued commonsense guidelines--that again, Ranking Member Foxx has touted as an example of how this isn't a real problem that we need to accelerate, but the fact of the matter is, we incorporate those guidelines in the underlying bill with a real deadline, 42 months. That has precedent. Congress has done this before. OSHA is an act of Congress, and we have accelerated deadlines for bloodborne pathogens back in the late 1990s, gave them a 1-year deadline or a 6-month deadline to implement a standard, again, for HIV, hepatitis B, and C, in healthcare. And thank God. We are a safer country because Congress stepped in and set a deadline for OSHA to act. We did it for hazardous waste materials. We put a deadline to make them act. Without a deadline, what we are stuck with is OSHA's atrocious record of getting rules out in a timely fashion. Beryllium, 18 years it took; silica, 19 years. If you inhale silica, you suffocate and get cancer; confined spaces in construction, working in trenches, 22 years. And, yes, yesterday, the Trump administration, for the third time, scheduled a preliminary panel with the SBREFA panel, having canceled the prior two. We are 3 years into this administration, and still, to this date, nothing actually has happened other than notices, which so far have just been canceled over and over again. Madam Chair, while we were here on the floor, one of the most credible voices on this issue, which is the American College of Emergency Physicians--when these unruly, agitated patients with the heroin and opioid crises and behavioral health crises are coming through the doors, they are the ones who are really at the front line, along with the nurses and their assistants. They urge legislators to oppose the Byrne amendment that would eliminate the deadline for OSHA to issue a standard. The reason they give is that, in 2018, they did a survey of emergency physicians all across America who reported being physically assaulted while at work, with 60 percent of those assaults occurring within the previous year. This is happening in real time, and it is accelerating. The trajectory is something that we cannot wait for OSHA to basically go back and reinvent the wheel that they have already issued in terms of guidelines about how to reduce risk in workplaces. That is why, in addition to other issues in this amendment that eliminate the whistleblower protection, as well as the interim final standard, which, again, incorporates OSHA's already preexisting rules, that I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Let's move forward, and let's do it in a timely fashion for America's healthcare and social services workforce. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, on behalf of America's nurses, doctors, and social workers who are begging for relief from unprecedented levels of workplace violence, I insist upon my point of order. The motion violates clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, again, I want to congratulate Mr. Delgado for his amendment. And I want to point out the fact that when we voted on the rule yesterday, there was a self-effectuating provision that eliminated 500,000 healthcare workplaces from the scope of this bill. Again, it was at the suggestion of CBO because, frankly, it was never our intention to include doctors' offices, podiatrists' offices, dentists' offices. That is not what this bill is about. It is about larger healthcare facilities, which we know are the hotspots where this type of unfortunate activity goes on. OSHA, just so you know, has a free consultation program for employers, 90 percent funded by OSHA in all 50 states, that will provide free assistance as new rules and regulations are rolled out. And I want to again say, Mr. Delgado's amendment, which just foot stomps the fact that we want to prioritize the flow of information is, in my opinion, a very benign request and very much sensitive to employers in facilities all across the country. Again, we took care of the small guys in the rule yesterday, and this amendment, again, just makes sure that anyone else will have all the help that they need to understand the new rules.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chair, again I rise in strong support of Mr. Brown's amendment, which I think makes a good bill even better and does focus on one of the causes, which, again, it is no big secret in terms of what is driving this upward trajectory. Domestic violence, in particular, is one of those types of cases that are coming through the emergency room doors--agitated patients, sometimes family members there--and that is where, again, we know nurses, nursing assistants, and docs are being subjected to unprecedented levels of assault. That is why the Emergency Room Nurses Association just issued an endorsement of H.R. 1309. Again, this is a trade association. This is a union-affiliated organization. They represent emergency room nurses all across America in union and nonunion settings. We have already heard earlier today that the emergency room docs have come out for this. Again, what Mr. Brown's measure does is focus on one of the causes that is causing the unprecedented and unacceptable levels of assault that are taking place in healthcare settings. I just want to close by saying my wife, Audrey, whom I have been married to for 30 years, is a pediatric nurse practitioner who works in a specialty clinic at Connecticut Children's Hospital that deals with victims of child sexual abuse and physical abuse, and that is precisely the type of patient that Mr. Brown's amendment is focused on. Again, if you want to talk about high tension, high-risk environment in terms of those types of cases that come through, which, again, is causing unprecedented incidents out there, this amendment helps those employees to make sure that they are going to be able to deal with these cases and continue to go on and be productive in the healthcare system. So, again, I want to thank Mr. Brown for offering this amendment.