Diana DeGette

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Denver International Airport's (DIA) 20 years of service to the people of Colorado. The airport started serving flyers on February 28, 1995 and has brought travelers to and from Denver safely and swiftly ever since. Today, Denver International's CEO, Kim Day, and the airport staff operate the fifth-busiest airport in the country. DIA has become an economic engine for the state of Colorado, stimulating more than $26 billion in annual revenue for the region. Additionally, DIA now supports more than 183,000 jobs, with an estimated annual payroll of nearly $8.5 billion. The airport has grown to serve more than 170 nonstop destinations around the world in nine countries, representing new gateways to cultural and economic opportunities in Asia, Central America, Europe, and beyond. In addition to serving the people of Colorado, DIA set the standard for environmentally responsible airports. Denver International's translucent fabric canopy takes advantage of our 300 days of sunshine per year to create a passively lit interior. Additionally, the airport hosts a 9,000 panel solar array that produces 3.5 million kilowatts of power. For me, DIA's distinctive profile that mimics both the snow-peaked Rockies and the Native American teepees of Colorado's history means that I have arrived home. I congratulate everyone involved with the airport in reaching this milestone anniversary and extend my sincere gratitude for their continued success and service to our community.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the horrific ongoing brutality of ISIL and mourn the senseless loss of life in the Middle East. Just yeterday, the United States confirmed the death of Kayla Mueller, the fourth American to die while a hostage of ISIL. Ms. Mueller had dedicated her young life to serving the struggling people of Syria as they endure a civil war and violence from many sides. In recent weeks, we have also learned of the murder of two Japanese citizens, Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa, and Jordanian Air Force Pilot Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh. These most recent casualties join American, British, and Russian captives as victims of ISIL's deranged ideology. All these victims, and their families, will be in our thoughts and prayers. As co-chair of the Congressional Study Group on Japan, I was especially appalled that ISIL executed the Japanese captives in response to Japan pledging non-military aid to support the victims of ISIL's terror. Millions of Iraqi and Syrian refugees are in desperate need of assistance, and I applaud Japan for standing with the United States and a coalition of nations committed to confronting ISIL's barbarity. The continued murder of foreign captives and the ongoing atrocities committed against tens of thousands of Iraqis and Syrians are a stark reminder that we cannot allow ISIL to continue unchecked. Instead, as international community we must remain united in our resolve to stop this evil and help work toward a stable, peaceful Middle East.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), the Democratic Caucus chairman, for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Democratic leader, for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Thank you very much. Madam Speaker, I am going to state this as simply as I can. There is no public funding for abortion. Whether you like it or not, the Hyde amendment, which has been the law of this land for decades now, says there is no public funding for abortion. That has not changed. There is no public funding for abortion under the Affordable Care Act or any other government program. This bill would vastly expand the current restrictions on a woman's right to get her own health care through her insurance, with her own private money, that she, her family, and her doctor think she needs. Let me say how this would work. Under H.R. 7, people who buy their insurance in exchanges--and their employers--now would not be able to spend their own private dollars to buy insurance that they need for themselves and their families. This not only would be a radical expansion over current law, it would be a terrible wedge between patients and their doctors. I do not care how many polls there are that you might cite, because the vast majority of Americans think that a woman's private health care decisions should be made between herself, her family, and her doctor--certainly, not by politicians in Washington, D.C. H.R. 7 is an idea that has been proposed time and again. It is not going anywhere. I am sure it will probably pass this House today, and it will go over to the other body, and it will die. If not, the President will veto it. Here are my questions to my friends on the other side of the aisle: Why aren't we spending this week talking about how the women of America can get better paychecks? Why aren't we spending our time talking this week about how the women and men of America can get tax credits so that the children they do have can go to child care that is quality child care? Why aren't we spending our time this week talking about how women and men should be able to get paid the same amount for doing the very same job? That is what I think this Congress should be spending its time doing, not passing these bills which are false statements about a woman's private decisions about her health care. I urge the body to defeat this bill.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the distinguished ranking member of Energy and Commerce.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I am now pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Madam Speaker, I have good news for my friends on the other side of the aisle. There is no taxpayer funding for abortion. Let me say that again. There is no taxpayer funding for abortions. There hasn't been for many decades because of the Hyde amendment. Under the Affordable Care Act, that prohibition did not change. Now, some of us might disagree with the Hyde amendment, but that is the law of the land, and it was a carefully constructed compromise under the Affordable Care Act. This bill would be a vast expansion of the restriction of a woman's right to choose what type of insurance she can purchase with the consultation of her doctor and her husband because it would prevent women from purchasing insurance with their own money on the exchanges, and that would be a restriction on their rights. So I am going to urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this ill-conceived piece of legislation, and let's talk about some things that really matter, like jobs, child care, and pay equity. I reserve the balance of my time.