Angie Craig

Mrs. CRAIG

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chair, every Minnesotan deserves access to high- quality healthcare no matter where they live. However, too many of my neighbors face difficulty traveling long distances to the nearest hospital or even finding a nearby pharmacy. On top of that, prescription drug prices are skyrocketing and putting lifesaving medications out of reach for too many families. These critical issues--access to healthcare and the price of prescription drugs--are the top issues I hear about in my district. Therefore, my amendment would take a step toward addressing these issues by giving the Health Resources and Services Administration's, or HRSA, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy an additional $1 million to prioritize its coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish its rural health liaison. This amendment builds on report language in the underlying bill that encourages HRSA to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure communities have access to the full suite of Federal resources and that those resources are used effectively for health outcomes. Madam Chair, for a bit of additional background, Representative Cheri Bustos and Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota, their bipartisan Rural Health Liaison Act of 2018 was ultimately included in the 2018 farm bill and established this rural health liaison position. The liaison position at USDA will be responsible for working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to better coordinate rural health resources across Federal agencies. This new program is critical to rural areas, which have historically lacked access to adequate healthcare, and this disparity is getting worse. It is vital that we move forward to close these gaps and address the rural shortage of hospitals, medical professionals, mental health services, and other healthcare resources to ensure that every family can access the healthcare that they need. Madam Chairwoman, as a Member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have made it a priority to partner with rural communities to improve access to healthcare, broadband, housing, and quality of life for those who live there. This amendment is part of that commitment. Our fight for more affordable, accessible healthcare must include rural America if we are going to truly address this critical issue. When our rural communities are healthy, all of our communities are healthy. Madam Chairwoman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chairwoman, I urge my colleagues as well to support this commonsense amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG. May I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chairwoman, I would like to point out that I, too, am concerned about $22 trillion in deficits. But I can tell you, the rural people in my district, they are very concerned about the $1 trillion tax bill that was a giveaway to the top 5 percent and large corporations in this country. I grew up in a mobile home park, and that was the last time we tried trickle-down economics in this country, and nothing trickled down to my family. So I will tell the gentleman this: If he wants to find $21 million since we have been here tonight, let's take a look at the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and have real middle-class tax reform. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chairwoman, as a mother of four sons, the wife of an educator, and the daughter of a teacher, I know that we should never underestimate the power of a high-quality education, and we need the Federal Government to be a strong partner in this effort. That starts by fully funding special education. Unfortunately, for far too long, the Federal Government has not lived up to its commitment to fully fund special ed. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, the Federal Government is required to fund special education up to 40 percent per pupil. Special education programs in Minnesota currently receive as little as 8 percent. My amendment, which I am incredibly proud to introduce today with my Minnesota colleague, Representative Pete Stauber, stresses the importance of IDEA grants to States to address funding gaps in special education programs. These grants are given to each State to ensure that adequate resources are being devoted to special education programs. As the mother of a son with learning challenges, I am proud to fight for our children and our communities. I want to thank the Appropriations Committee for working on this issue, and I applaud their work in increasing funding for IDEA. This bill provides over $14 billion for special education, an increase of $1 billion over the 2019 enacted level. This is a great start toward that 40 percent. Special education should be a critical piece of any conversation surrounding education because for too long, we haven't given it the attention or the resources it deserves. I am listening to my district. My district wants the Federal Government to send its tax dollars back to Eagan, and Apple Valley, and South Saint Paul, and West Saint Paul, and all of the places where we can do what we need to do for our kids. This isn't just about special education children. It has a ripple effect. When we fail to fund special ed programs, that money is taken from other budgets in our schools to make up the difference, and all students end up at a disadvantage. Every student deserves access to a quality education no matter how they learn. Our public schools give kids the skills they need to become future leaders in our communities and earn a good life for their families. Special education can make all of the difference in a student's life and in a family's life, and we must take action to ensure we are properly supporting these students. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chairwoman, I urge my colleague to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chair, education is at the core of our communities, but for too long, students have been told that traditional, 4-year degrees are their only option for finding good-paying jobs. In reality, we have a major skills gap in Minnesota. We are unable to find skilled workers for the jobs that exist. I have one son in high school, two in traditional 4-year colleges, and my last son, Josh, just graduated from a career training program. He is my son with multiple job offers. Career and technical education needs to be a critical investment in order to connect workers with the right training to help keep our economy strong. My amendment stresses the importance of Perkins funding in adult education to ensure that we are devoting adequate resources to job training programs. Expanding access to grants for career and technical education, including apprenticeships, is critical. Minnesota's economy depends on bright, talented young people, and we need to make sure that they have the skills they need to succeed. That starts with taking a new approach to postsecondary education and training and expanding career and technical education opportunities. Everyone should be able to get the skills and training that they need to find a good-paying job. To make this a reality, we need to take a fresh look at our job market, our education system, and the way we prepare students for the workforce. That starts by investing in these programs and helping our young people see 2-year degrees as part of their career path. We have to change the way we think about postsecondary education in this country. We have to look at the economy in education, and a critical piece is investing in career skills and technical education. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of family farmers throughout the Midwest and in my home State of Minnesota. We are facing a year of unseasonably wet conditions, leaving many producers weighing their options for the future of their farms. I am proud to join my colleague, Representative Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, in introducing the FEEDD Act, a bipartisan bill to give farmers flexibility to graze and harvest cover crops on prevent plant acres. Congress has a responsibility to do right by our Nation's farmers who feed, clothe, and fuel our communities by providing them the flexibility they need to do their jobs successfully. This bill will help alleviate concerns of a forage shortage and improve soil health through the use of cover crops. This is a bipartisan, commonsense solution, and we need a whole lot more of that in this House. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and support this bill and stand up for our farmers throughout the country.

Mrs. CRAIG

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleagues today in strong support of the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. Healthcare is the number one issue I hear about from the families that I represent, and we must do the right thing for the American people and finally focus on lowering the cost of healthcare. As a child, in my own family, we struggled at times to afford health insurance. I know directly that, if healthcare isn't affordable, it isn't accessible. That is why I have cosponsored bills in this package to lower prescription drug costs and stabilize the Affordable Care Act. It is unacceptable that 29 percent of Americans ration lifesaving medicine because they cannot keep up with the cost. We need to stop brand-name drug companies from keeping affordable generic alternatives from the market and support efforts to develop lower cost options for families. These efforts have bipartisan support, and I am proud to support them.

Mrs. CRAIG

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work of the Farmington High School Rogue Robotics Team, a local robotics team that built a functioning power wheelchair for 2-year-old Cillian Jackson. Cillian was born with a genetic disorder that makes it very difficult for him to get around. Buying a wheelchair would have been cost- prohibitive for his family, so his parents turned to the students of Farmington High School for their expertise and ingenuity. The students of Farmington rose to the occasion and reimagined a Power Wheels into a power wheelchair by outfitting it with a new seat and a joystick that allow Cillian to move around on his own. I congratulate the Farmington robotics team for their ingenuity and hard work in making this possible. They are an example of what is possible when communities come together and share their talents and ideas to help our neighbors.

Mrs. CRAIG

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 16) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 16.

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 16. H. Con. Res. 16 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds this May for the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. The use of the Capitol Grounds is a worthy recognition of the honorable sacrifice of our Nation's brave first responders and their families. This year, the National Peace Officers Memorial will honor 228 women and men, including 158 officers who were killed in the line of duty last year and 59 officers who responded to the attacks of September 11 and recently succumbed to illnesses resulting from their service on that tragic day. There are an additional 11 officers, as defined by the Honoring Hometown Heroes Act, being memorialized who passed away between 2014 and 2018. Unfortunately, this year's honorees also include two officers from Minnesota: Corrections Officers Joseph Gomm and Joseph Parise. Officers Gomm and Parise's deaths are a clear reminder of the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make every day, putting their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. My sincere condolences to the families of these fallen officers who have had to endure the tragedy of their loved ones' deaths. I have a deep appreciation for all of these fallen officers being honored and the ultimate sacrifice that they have made on behalf of their local communities. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 19) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 19.

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 19 authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 2019 Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. This year's derby marks the 78th running of this event in the District. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer, who has been such a champion for this event for his constituents. The Soap Box Derby allows children to develop leadership skills and highlight their creativity, dedication, and commitment to their communities. Not only are these youngsters competing for a trophy and the glory of being the fastest car down the course, but the winners of each division qualify to compete in the National Soap Box Derby at the Derby Downs track in Akron, Ohio. As with all events using the Capitol Grounds, this event is open to the public and free of charge. Its organizers will coordinate with the Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support passage of this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. CRAIG

Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1331) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to nonpoint source management, and for other purposes.