TJ Cox

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of Ranking Member Lowey, and I move to strike the last word.

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of my amendment to H.R. 2740, which ensures vital funding for the ongoing demining and rehabilitation projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1992, during the fall of the Soviet Union, war broke out in Nagorno- Karabakh. Twenty thousand people were killed and hundreds of thousands more were displaced before the conflict froze. While an agreed upon ceasefire has been held for over 2 decades, the lack of a formal end to the war has left the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh isolated. Un-detonated mines and cluster bombs from the conflict remain in the region. As a result, Karabakh has one of the world's highest civilian casualty rates from land mines and the explosive remnants of war. According to the HALO Trust, there have been nearly 400 civilian casualties from mines and unexploded ordnance in Karabakh over the last 2 decades, and a quarter of those land mine victims have been children. In 2013, a needs assessment estimated that the HALO Trust's interventions in Karabakh have benefited over 80 percent of the region's population. Mr. Chair, families and children shouldn't have to live in fear of dying due to a land mine accident. That is why I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to support my amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chair, I am honored to be here today to introduce my amendment to H.R. 987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. My amendment promotes transparency and accountability to how the Trump administration is spending Affordable Care Act, ACA, user fees. For nearly 2 years now, the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have tried and failed to repeal the ACA. Had they been successful, 23 million hardworking Americans would have lost their health insurance and be left with nothing, no health security for themselves, their children, or their families. When those efforts didn't pan out, the Trump administration and our friends across the aisle turned their attention to sabotaging the ACA, dismantling the law piece by piece. First on the chopping block, they shorted the ACA enrollment periods by over half, from 92 days to 45. Less time to make a decision means less participation. Next up was cutting funding for consumer education and outreach, not just a small cut, but a reduction of 90 percent from $100 million to just $10 million. The goals are clear: let's keep public healthcare options a secret and let's make it as difficult as possible to insure yourself and your family. Funding for vital navigator programs was slashed by 40 percent. This was a move the Government Accountability Office, the GAO, has self- described as ``problematic.'' But it is much more than problematic; it is detrimental. It is clear their goal is and always has been to drive ACA enrollment down to zero. Last year, the administration began allowing insurance companies to provide junk insurance plans, plans that, for one, don't protect consumers with preexisting conditions. Now the administration is pushing the ACA navigators to promote these junk plans, advertising these plans as somehow comparable to qualified ACA plans that provide full protections. Obviously, consumers are going to be confused by this. The GAO found that the drastic reduction in outreach and advertising, ``Likely detracted from the 2018 enrollment.'' That is not likely. That is a fact. This is unacceptable, and it works directly against the intent of the law, which is to get more people healthcare coverage. For some reason, this administration thinks that having uninsured Americans is a good thing. My Democratic colleagues, the American public, and I believe differently. In my home State of California, we saw the value of investing in ACA consumer education outreach. The way to get people covered and reduce uninsured rates is to educate consumers about their healthcare coverage options and make sure they know that healthcare insurance is affordable and within reach. Having strong consumer outreach and enrollment activities can, in fact, lower premiums. This is exactly what we found in California. Our State program covering California estimates that its outreach activities lowered premiums by up to 8 percent for all consumers. This is basic economics. More participants equal lower costs for everyone. That 8 percent reduction amounts to some $576 million in my State alone. That, my friends, is a great investment. There is a clear intent by this administration and the Republican Members to undermine the Affordable Care Act by drastically reducing vital funding for a fully functioning marketplace. And who does that hurt? Everyone. This administration intends to jam the spokes on the progress the ACA has made to increase the number of people with healthcare coverage. Congress and the American people deserve answers to these attempts to subvert the ACA. First, we need to know what the administration has been spending ACA user fees on if they are not using these funds for education and outreach. We need to know why you are still charging States a 3\1/2\ percent user fee to access a Federal platform if those fees aren't being used for the purposes they were collected. And, naturally, we need to know why there was a recent 50 percent increase in user fees for State-based marketplaces. Talk about a tax rate hike. My amendment seeks answers. It requires an annual report to be submitted to Congress that includes a detailed breakdown on spending for, one, outreach and enrollment; two, the navigator program; and, three, the maintenance of healthcare.gov and the call centers. No one should be denied or dropped healthcare coverage because they are a senior, pregnant, or get sick. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and everyone deserves access to quality, affordable care. It is critical now, more than ever, for us to receive answers on how the ACA user fees have been spent over the last 2 years by this administration. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chair, I am honored to be here today to introduce my amendment to H.R. 987, The Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. My amendment would ensure that communities with high unemployment numbers are prioritized in the navigator outreach program. The Affordable Care Act created navigator programs to provide outreach, education, and enrollment assistance to consumers shopping for healthcare coverage. Robust marketing and outreach programs through the navigator program have been very successful throughout the country and have demonstrated meaningful benefits to our consumers. In my home State of California, we have been making these necessary investments to ensure people throughout our State get the information they need to obtain coverage, and it works. Our State-based marketplace, Covered California, estimates that its investment in the marketing and outreach in 2015 and 2016 increased enrollment, which reduced premiums by up to 8 percent for all of our enrolled members. That is savings to all enrolled members of some $576 million. Based on a small budget of some $56 million, that is a great investment. That is a 1,000 percent return on investment. That is a great deal by anyone's measure. That is the goal: to reduce the number of uninsured Americans. We all know that, when we have insurance, we stay healthy, and this strengthens our overall healthcare system, our communities, and our Nation. That is why the navigator program is so important, and the Trump administration's 84 percent cut to the program since 2016 is just unacceptable. It is imperative that funding be restored to navigator programs. Navigator programs help those without employer-sponsored insurance through small companies, sole proprietors, contractors, and every one of those entrepreneurs who are staking their claim to the American Dream. The fact is many people who are eligible for financial assistance through the ACA, which would help them obtain coverage, don't even know they can get help, and this administration wants to keep them in the dark. Some 40 percent of consumers today don't even know there are options available. My congressional district has an unemployment rate of almost 17 percent, and this is made up of rural communities that face unique challenges and barriers with respect to education, communication, and transportation. This makes it very difficult for my constituents to receive information on their healthcare insurance options. This is so similar to many of our rural communities across our Nation. For many of those communities, the navigator program is the only way they can access this vital information. Everyone should have health insurance and know their healthcare options. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and your ZIP Code should not dictate your ability to obtain health insurance. My amendment would help distressed communities like those in my district and so many more across our Nation that may not have the resources to access the full healthcare options. By fully funding the navigator program and by focusing our efforts on areas that have high unemployment, we can get more people covered. And that is the goal. Here in America, the building blocks for success are a quality education, dedication to hard work, and good health. A healthy workforce is vital for America's success. We must fund the navigator program to help educate those who are difficult to reach geographically or who have limited access to ACA resources. This is a critical and necessary investment that will build stronger, healthier, and more productive communities and an America that demonstrates that its best investments are its people. With that, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Arvin High School color guard. Ranked number one in California, the Bears recently won the Western Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, and this last April brought home the silver medal at the World Color Guard Championships in Dayton, Ohio. The team has proven that hard work, practice, and teamwork can bring success in any arena. Led by Director Bryan Dandin, I am so proud of team members Ivan Perez, Andrea Ramos, Ivory Rose Iglesias, Karen Jaqueline Islas Rosas, Jose Nava, Melisa Sierra, Jocelyne Tapia, Yasmin Zavala, Maria Nunez, Maria Ramos Navarro, Juan Gomez, Cithali Barrena, Veronica Sanchez, Cassandra Cervantes, Enrique Portillo, Nevaeh Arriaga, Emily Watson, and Jessica Sierra. I look forward to their future victories and the success I know they will have in life. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the team. Go, Bears.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Chairman, I am honored to be here today to introduce my amendment to H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. My amendment takes into consideration the various populations, regions, industries and communities affected by climate change, while reducing any possible impacts on American jobs. We all know that climate change has impacted countries and communities throughout our country and the world. Over the past few years, we have seen the devastating effects of it on the waters of the Caribbean Sea, fueling powerful storms, like Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico and took the lives of close to 3,000 people and displacing another 300,000 from their homes. In my home State of California last year, it led to the deadliest wildfire season in history. According to the National Climate Assessment, rural communities, like the ones I serve, face challenging obstacles in responding to climate change because they are so highly dependent on natural resources. My constituents, the people of California's Central Valley, live in one of the most economically distressed parts of our country. We have been forgotten and left behind. But it is my constituents who have seen the direct impacts of climate change with our recent heat waves and droughts. It is only going to get worse if we don't work together and address this issue head-on. H.R. 9 is the first step we must take in addressing this challenge. This would prohibit Federal funds from being used to take any action in advancing the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. The U.S. committed to joining the Paris Agreement because we are a leading nation. It is unfortunate that this President is taking us backward. Instead of fighting climate change, the President and his administration have proposed to slash funding from the Department of Energy's Efficiency and Renewable Energy offices by over 85 percent, and they even propose to cut energy funding from our States. My amendment would help create a clean energy economy that would provide good paying jobs to millions of Americans, cleaner air for everyone, and a safe, sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. What we continue to hear from our Republican colleagues is that a number of coal jobs will be taken away from Americans. And I can tell you, as somebody who has worked in the mining industry, who has worked underground, I know it is not the way to go. While we know that mining jobs and underground jobs are honorable jobs and provide for families, at one time so was whaling, but we need to be innovative in looking towards the future. The more time we waste on clinging to jobs of the past, the more time we waste on not making progress. Nationally, there are over 240,000 jobs in the solar industry alone, and only about 53,000 coal mining jobs. Reports find that the Paris Agreement would generate over 24 million jobs worldwide. In the State of California, we have over 519,000 clean energy jobs, and it is critical, more than ever, that we continue to connect workers to these jobs that we are creating for the 21st century. My amendment does just that by requiring any climate plan to consider the impact on jobs, wages, and pay. We have the opportunity to be global leaders in the clean energy economy, ensure that so many of these jobs are created right here in the United States--not in other countries, not in India, not in China. We cannot afford to take steps back on the fight on climate change, and we must keep our word to the rest of the world. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, due to a delayed flight, I was unable to make it back to Washington, D.C. in time for votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 168 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 169.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 104th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. April 24, 1915 marked the beginning of the Ottoman Turks' systematic deportation and murder of over 1.5 million Christian Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians, marking the first genocide of the 20th century. To this day, however, neither the President of the United States nor Congress have recognized this tragedy as what it is: a genocide. This does not do justice to the vibrant Armenian-American community in the Central Valley--a result of survivors settling anew after being displaced. The families of the Central Valley have not forgotten the pain of their ancestors and continue to advocate for justice with passion and persistence. Today, I am proud to be their voice and have joined my colleagues in introducing a Resolution this Congress, recognizing and memorializing the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian people are a great example of what it means to move forward while remembering who they are and where they come from. Recognizing what happened in 1915 as genocide is the first step towards reconciling with the past, something that is long overdue. We must reconsider our relationship with Turkey and entities that deny the Armenian genocide and uphold our American values by promoting justice and peace. It is our responsibility to ensure our future generations never forget this critical moment in history and that we continue pushing for its official recognition. Madam Speaker, I call upon my colleagues to join me in condemning all crimes against humanity in the past, present, and future. We must learn from this atrocity and continue to advocate for the protection of human rights for the Armenian people, and for all.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Equality Act. Too often in our policy debates, it is our rural communities that are forgotten and left behind. And for LGBTQ people living in rural America, this is no different. If you want to live and work and raise your family in rural America, you should be able to have that choice, but it is unfortunately the case today that rural LGBTQ families are denied opportunities in housing, employment, and healthcare access. While in California we have comprehensive laws to protect LGBTQ people and protect them against discrimination, this is not the case everywhere. That is why we need bills like the Equality Act. This bill would take important steps to protect every LGBTQ family from discrimination in housing, employment, and financing. It will help ensure that every family that chooses to live in rural America can fully participate in our society free from fear of discrimination simply because of who they are or who they love.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Caruthers girls basketball team, our CIF Division V State Basketball Champions. On Friday afternoon, despite playing a school with roughly four times the enrollment, our Blue Raiders rolled to an impressive 62 to 38 victory over Ramona-Riverside. Friday's victory is a testament that hard work, practice, and teamwork is a recipe for success in any arena. Coach Almeida put it best when she said her girls are, ``Winners by nature. They're fighters and tough and never give up.'' I am proud to represent: Anna Marshall, Eshnoor Gasoj, Felicia Ramirez, Jacklyn Kulow, Kathleen Duran, Destiny Giles, Jennyfer Balino, Paige Sterling, Aileen Cortez, Elvis Ponce, Jaque Magana, Malia Ishii, Mikayla Duran, and Jasmine Torres. I am excited to see their future victories and the success I know they will continue to have on the court and in life. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Blue Raiders, our Division V California State Basketball Champions.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Patsy Squire for her service and dedication to the United States Postal Service in Corcoran, California. After thirty-six years of exceptional customer service and commitment, Ms. Squire will be retiring. Ms. Squire began her career at the Post Office in 1983 and everyone in the community can attest that she has gone above and beyond her daily duties. Ms. Squire is an integral part of the City of Corcoran and has become a dear friend to all her customers and colleagues. From working as a letter carrier, to being a friendly face behind the counter, Ms. Squire has spent close to four decades serving the people of Corcoran at the Post Office. Throughout the years, Ms. Squire has seen children grow up, graduate, get married and even have children of their own. She has played an important role in the lives of everyone in the community and her customers and colleagues alike will miss her presence dearly. Ms. Squire plans on spending her well-deserved retirement working within her home, golfing, taking road trips, and going hunting and camping. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in commending and congratulating Ms. Patsy Squire for her service to the City of Corcoran and her retirement from the United States Postal Service.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the McFarland High School girls basketball team. Undefeated in regular season Division IV play, our girls were moved up to Division III for State. Undaunted, the team's motto is ``relentless,'' and that is what they have been. On Tuesday night, our girls brought home the school's first Southern California Regional Championship. They are a textbook example of what can be accomplished through hard work, practice, and teamwork. Led by coaches Johnny Samaniego and Gino Barajas, the girls: Lucia Barajas, Heiry Bojorquez, Neli Diaz, Angelica Gonzalez, Emily Gonzalez, Julie Hernandez, Adilene Lopez, Shania Perry, Lucia Rocha, Kathy Rodriguez, and Pilar Samaniego are now playing Oakland High School, represented by my friend and colleague, Barbara Lee, in tonight's State Championship game. I ask my colleagues to join me in sending them the best of luck. We are so proud of our girls and their families. Go Cougars.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act. I am an engineer, and as an engineer, I fix things that are broken, but it doesn't take an engineer to tell you that our politics is broken. Confidence in our government and in the House of Representatives has never been lower. We have a system of gerrymandering where in many parts of the country today, voters don't choose their politicians, politicians choose their voters. Special interest money has drowned out the voices of working people. H.R. 1 is an opportunity to fix this imbalance. H.R. 1 will ensure the peoples' voices are heard at the ballot box. H.R. 1 will ensure the influence of big money in our politics and our policies is ended. H.R. 1 will ensure the voices of the people are heard. Passing this bill is a moral imperative for our democracy and our Nation.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, February 27th marks the 31st anniversary of the ethnic attacks against Armenians in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. During these horrific pogroms, hundreds of Armenians were wounded or murdered, women and children were raped and even burned alive. Despite Sumgait's close proximity to Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, police and law enforcement stood by and allowed the persecution to continue on for three days. The violence was just the start of continued attacks against Armenians in Azerbaijan, resulting in a war with Nagorno-Karabakh where thousands of more were killed. To this day, the conflict in Azerbaijan remains and a military blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic continues. Devastatingly, these pogroms have led to a huge refugee crisis, ultimately displacing thousands and eliminating the once- significant Armenian population in Azerbaijan. The government of Azerbaijan has never been held accountable for these atrocities. Now more than ever these acts of murder must be condemned. As we mourn the loss of the innocent lives, we must be mindful of the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the recurring incidents of hate rhetoric led by Azeri political leaders, and the continued military clashes along the border. Azerbaijan's leaders must commit to fruitful negotiations to bring lasting peace in Nagorno-Karabakh. Madam Speaker, I call upon my colleagues to join me in condemning this violence and injustice. We must learn from this atrocity and continue to advocate for the protection of human rights for the Armenian people, and for all. I'm committed to working with my colleagues on the Armenian Caucus to always remember the victims of the pogroms in Sumgait and to ensure this history never repeats itself.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Black History Month. This month, as we pay tribute to the pioneers, the trailblazers, and the leaders who have helped bend and force the moral arc of our Nation closer to that more perfect Union, I rise to recognize my constituent, Paula Massey of Hanford, California. Paula is the founder of Women with Visions Unlimited, a nonprofit organization that works with youth in literacy and summer school programs to improve the academic attainment of children in the Central Valley. Through her organization, Paula raises scholarships for high school seniors; organizes numerous events to empower African-American women; and focuses on bringing awareness to valley fever, an illness deep in and dear to her heart. Paula lost her son to valley fever in 2017 and quickly realized there was a lack of knowledge about the disease, not only from the community, but from the physicians treating their patients. Thanks to the advocacy of Paula and many others, in 2018, California Governor Brown signed a bill requiring the California Department of Public Health to create outreach and awareness to educate healthcare providers and physicians in the public about the symptoms and treatment of valley fever. As Paula put it: ``Awareness is the key. In the Central Valley, we are an agriculture community with many open fields where the dust and dirt blow in the air. Unless there is awareness, many more people will contract this disease and not know until it is too late.'' Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Paula in the 21st Congressional District.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Pv. 2 Gary John Borba, II who lost his life too soon at the age of 23. Born in Hanford on July 6, 1995, Gary joined the United States Army on October 20, 2017 and was stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Gary was a young man full of life, hope and aspirations. He was someone full of character who enjoyed spending time with his family and making people smile. Above all Gary was someone who brought joy to the lives of those he surrounded. He had a passion for the outdoors, guns, hunting and aspired to become a police officer upon completing his service in the Army. Gary tragically lost his life on January 19, 2019 at the Fort Campbell base in Kentucky serving our nation. His dedication to the United States and willingness to serve is something we shall never forget. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Araceli Borba, his mother Carol Elliot, father Gary J. Borba, Sr., stepfather Corey Elliot, sister Madison Borba, brother Mathew Borba, his half-brothers Branden Borba and Jacob Borba, and half-sister Brigitte Borba. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service and life of Gary John Borba, II. May he rest in peace and may we always remember the sacrifice he made for our country.

Mr. COX of California

Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Federal workers in my district who are suffering because of the government shutdown. I rise today for my constituent, Raj Kaur, a single mother of two, a breast cancer survivor, and a correctional officer at the Mendota Federal Prison. Raj is currently on leave as she recovers from surgery. She went on medical leave believing she would be financially secure as she recuperates. Now, not only is Raj worrying about her health and recovery, but as a single mother, she is faced with the burden of trying to figure out how to provide for her family on grit alone. Unfortunately, Raj doesn't have a rich father to bail her out. We say we are a Nation that values work and workers, but today we are forcing thousands of working men and women to work without pay because our colleagues in the Senate and the White House won't do their jobs. Today, in solidarity with Raj and the hundreds of thousands of unpaid Federal workers nationally, I am asking the Chief Administrative Officer to withhold my pay until our government reopens. This situation has gone on for far too long. It is time to get back to work.