Suzan DelBene

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, the FACT Act, which is part of the underlying legislation, has been touted as an effort to promote transparency and address a supposedly systemic problem of fraud with asbestos trusts set up to pay settlements owed to victims of asbestos exposure, but this bill is a solution in search of a problem and places invasive demands on victims that violate their privacy and open them up to identity theft and other abuses while failing to require transparency from the companies that created this nationwide problem in the first place. The nonpartisan GAO found that 98 percent of trusts perform audits, and none of those audits uncovered fraud. While the bill's proponents claim that this is a measure to protect asbestos trusts for victims, it speaks volumes that not a single victims group supports this bill. For decades, asbestos companies knowingly put Americans at risk-- servicemembers, children, teachers, first responders, construction workers, and even those who work here in the Capitol--with a toxic product that kills close to 15,000 people every year. Today old structures across the country still contain asbestos and can pose serious health risks. Experts have referred to workers who perform repair work as the current third wave of victims. Given the nature of the asbestos threat, it is outrageous that the laws fail to require asbestos companies to disclose information when it comes to public health and safety and disappointing that this has become a partisan issue. In 1988, President Reagan signed into law the Asbestos Information Act, which required manufacturers of asbestos-containing products to report information about these products to the Environmental Protection Agency, but the Asbestos Information Act was just a one-time reporting requirement, and it predated the Internet. That is why, along with my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green), I have introduced the Reducing Exposure to Asbestos Database Act, or the READ Act, which amends the Asbestos Information Act to require those who manufacture, import, or handle products containing asbestos to annually report information to the EPA about their products and any public location where they have been present in the past year. This information would be made publicly available online, helping Americans avoid exposure to asbestos and incentivizing the continued reduction of asbestos use in our Nation until it is finally eliminated once and for all. Unfortunately, when the READ Act was offered as an amendment to this bill, it was not ruled in order. Asbestos poses an ongoing threat to public health, and more transparency about this deadly product, not less, should be the norm.

Ms. DelBENE. I urge my colleagues to oppose the FACT Act and join me in working to promote transparency that helps, rather than victimizes, those who have been facing heartbreaking consequences of asbestos exposure.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the life and legacy of my friend Doug Walker, who passed away on December 31, 2015, on Granite Mountain near Snoqualmie Pass. It is this wild, rugged landscape that lured Doug to Washington state and stoked his creativity, energy, and passions for more than four decades. A gifted mathematician with an insatiable fondness for climbing, he established strong roots in the community. The impact he--along with his wife Maggie--had on our community and the many charitable causes to which he gave his time and wisdom is unparalleled. A true champion for conservation, he cared deeply about protecting the North Cascades most treasured lands. But his greatest passion was broadening the constituency for conservation, and he worked tirelessly to ensure that all people--especially youth and those in underserved communities--could access the outdoors. Doug will be remembered and missed by so many whose lives he touched, with his incredible spirit and generosity. His legacy of inspiring others to experience and protect the outdoors lives on. I ask unanimous consent to submit for the Record a recent Seattle Times editorial commemorating Doug's life. Remembering a Tech, Environmental and Philanthropic Role Model: Doug Walker (The Seattle Times, January 5, 2016) The loss of software pioneer and philanthropist Doug Walker, who died in a mountain accident, is a blow to the region. But it's also an opportunity to remind people--especially the flood of tech workers moving to the Puget Sound region-- about the character and values of those who built the local industry and became universal role models. Walker, the co-founder and longtime chief executive of business-software company WRQ, created much more than technology, jobs and wealth. WRQ was known for the quality of life it provided to employees as much as it was for software that increased productivity. As a second act, he helped build a new vehicle for philanthropy, a giving platform, that continues to channel the expertise and compassion of others who have done well in the tech industry. Long after WRQ was sold and merged with a local competitor, Attachmate, Walker continued to work on his third act, serving as a national leader in wilderness preservation and access. Walker was a lifelong outdoorsman who chose the University of Washington for graduate school in the 1970s because of its natural surroundings. Between adventures, he learned programming and consulted on business computing systems. At the start of the PC era in 1981, he and friends pooled $500 to start WRQ, which became one of the nation's largest private software companies. It helped establish Seattle's leadership in enterprise software, which drew other entrepreneurs and companies to the area. WRQ thrived in part because Walker, the longtime chief executive, made it a great place to work. Before Google's free food and Facebook's hot tubs, WRQ had perks like kayak parking on Lake Union. Later, Walker and his wife, Maggie, co-founded Social Venture Partners, a global nonprofit that encouraged thousands to share wealth and expertise with worthy causes. SVP helped establish Seattle as a hotbed of highly engaged philanthropy. Walker led by example with ``a uniquely powerful style . . . simultaneously passionate, pointed, warm and sophisticated in supporting the causes that he felt were important,'' said Tony Mestres, who joined SVP while at Microsoft and now heads the Seattle Foundation. That level of engagement and generosity has been a hallmark of Seattle's earliest and most successful tech entrepreneurs. Walker is a great example of why that tradition should continue. He is remembered not for how much money he accumulated but by how broadly he shared his gifts, both financial and intellectual.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of my friend, Doug Walker, who passed away on December 31 on Granite Mountain, near Snoqualmie Pass. It is this wild, rugged landscape that lured Doug to Washington State and that stoked his creativity, energy, and passions for more than four decades. A gifted mathematician with an insatiable fondness for climbing, he established strong roots in the community. The impact he, along with his wife, Maggie, had on our community and on the many charitable causes to which he gave his time and wisdom is unparalleled. A true champion for conservation, he cared deeply about protecting the North Cascades' most treasured lands, but his greatest passion was in broadening the constituency for conservation. He worked tirelessly to ensure that all people, especially youth and those in underserved communities, could access the outdoors. For his incredible spirit and generosity, Doug will be remembered and missed by so many whose lives he touched. His legacy of inspiring others to experience and protect the outdoors lives on.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. I wish I could say I am surprised that House leaders are kicking off 2016 the same way they spent 2015--attacking women's health--but I am not. For anyone who has forgotten, let me refresh your memory. Last year, the House voted 10 times to attack women's health. That included voting to restrict reproductive health care in private insurance, enact a sweeping 20-week abortion ban, and allow employers to discriminate against workers for using birth control. Now we are voting to defund Planned Parenthood for the fifth time, even though three House committees tried and failed to uncover any evidence of wrongdoing. What is worse, today's vote takes place before the Republicans' taxpayer-funded select committee to investigate Planned Parenthood has even held its first meeting. It is shameful. Americans expect us to focus on facts, not ideology. So far, there are no facts to justify defunding a healthcare provider that 2.7 million Americans rely on. Here is what we do know: Planned Parenthood provides nearly 900,000 cancer screenings each year; 78 percent of Planned Parenthood patients are low-income; and the services provided by Planned Parenthood help prevent more than 500,000 unintended pregnancies every year. With each passing week, it becomes clear this Chamber isn't interested in the facts. It is only interested in pushing an extreme ideological agenda designed to take away women's constitutional right to choose. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Like the mountain of antiregulation bills we have considered in the past, the SCRUB Act is in no way a serious effort to make targeted improvements to the rulemaking process. Touted by its supporters as a job creation measure, this irresponsible bill takes a sledgehammer approach to reform. Particularly egregious is this legislation's complete failure to provide an exemption for emergency situations. My amendment would correct this very serious mistake. In March 2014, the Oso landslide, a horrific natural disaster that took the lives of 43 people in my district, required every available resource to be deployed without delays. And given the many crises the country faced last year alone, from wildfires to terrorist threats, I am alarmed that we are considering a bill today that would get in the way of an agency trying to do its job at critical moments like these. The idea that an agency responding to an emergency would be forced to weigh what existing regulations to get rid of before they can take new action, while lives are at risk, cannot be what this body intends. Bills like this are not jobs packages. They are pandering to a few select corporate special interests that put the lives and well-being of every American at risk. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment and to ensure, the next time our country faces an emergency, the citizens of this country can rest assured knowing that the Federal agencies they expect to provide services in times of crises will not have their hands tied by this irresponsible legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I think that my colleague, Mr. Chaffetz, would agree with my amendment because this bill requires that before agencies can issue a new rule, they get rid of an old one, and there is no exception for emergencies. It seems like a very reasonable approach to make sure that, again, in a time of crisis, agencies are able to respond right away. This is an important amendment. It is a very reasonable amendment. It addresses a serious flaw in the bill. I ask again for my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, the Pacific Northwest has always been a leader when it comes to climate change. However, it is critical the United States shows the same leadership globally. That is why it is so encouraging to hear the reports from the climate summit in Paris. We need to take action not just domestically, but around the world. Mr. Speaker, in Washington State, we know firsthand how damaging climate change can be. From longer and worsening fire seasons, increased pests and invasive species, an acidifying ocean to more unpredictable natural disasters, a vast majority of the population recognizes climate change as a growing problem in need of international solutions. We often hear talk about the debt we will be leaving the next generation but not enough about the environment we are leaving our children and our grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is long past time for bold solutions and an international approach to combat climate change. This summit comes at a crucial time, and we look forward to its progress.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of my aunt, Mrs. Judith Davis Whitacre. Judy was born on today's date in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio--the third daughter of Ruth and Powell Davis. She passed away on Thursday, October 29. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and wife, and she constantly placed people at the top of her priority list. Through her life, she was a Head Start volunteer teacher, Northwest Opportunity Center volunteer driver, Dryden School PTA volunteer tutor, Cub Scout Den Leader & coordinator for Pack 129, and volunteer at the homeless shelter PADs. She also gladly helped out at church. Whether as church school teacher, couples group presidents with Jock, Elder, kitchen coordinator, or hand bell choir member, Judy was always willing to spend her time serving others. She enjoyed sailing, crafts, and traveling, but most of all she loved people. Judy will be remembered for putting others before herself and as a committed volunteer whose dedication has touched so many in her community. My heart goes out to Jock, Harold, and Tammy, Gregory and Kathleen, and their kids.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio as well as subcommittee Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Holmes Norton for their work on this important bill. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Foxx for cosponsoring this amendment. This amendment is bipartisan, straightforward, and will ensure the Federal Government is getting the best return on our investment while helping the greatest number of people. The underlying bill provides grants through an innovative frontline workforce development program to train and recruit underrepresented populations for career pathways in transit maintenance and operations. By establishing apprenticeships and forging local and regional training partnerships, these grants will provide targeted, hands-on training for workers across the country. This is critical for identifying potential workforce shortages in the future and filling those gaps with skilled workers. Workforce development programs are often referred to as ladders of opportunity. Helping people find good-paying, long-term employment is the best way to ensure everyone has access to economic opportunities. The program included in today's bill is a great example of this. It will help low-income Americans become self-sufficient by giving them specialized training to secure a career in the transit field and increase their earning potential, and it will identify the best ways to help the most people succeed. My amendment would simply require a report on the frontline workforce development program for each fiscal year. The report would include an evaluation of the overall program and would include policy recommendations to improve the program's effectiveness. The amendment would not affect direct spending or revenue and is budget-neutral, according to the Congressional Budget Office. I firmly believe that this amendment improves the underlying bill, which will inject a sorely needed boost to our Nation's infrastructure and economy. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his support of the amendment and encourage others to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Farm to School Month. Having healthy foods in our schools is crucial. We know that, when students are provided with wholesome foods, they are more likely to pay attention in class and to learn. In addition, by introducing kids to a variety of fruits and vegetables at a young age, we can teach them how to eat healthy over the long term. We are fortunate in my district to have farmers who grow some of the best food in the world. If our children know where their food comes from, they are also more likely to be passionate and connected to their food choices. Across our region hundreds of different fruits and vegetables are grown. These crops provide fresh, quality foods to our schools. Why buy berries from another State when we can purchase them from our local farmers? I strongly support the efforts of our local Farm to School movement and recognize those working to increase access to nutritious foods in schools.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Forest Products Week and the forest products industry's contributions to greener manufacturing practices. In Washington State, we have over 58 sawmill, millwork and wood treating facilities; 12 engineered wood and panel facilities; and 16 facilities manufacturing other wood products. We know that forests play a critical role in filtering and renewing our air. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and water, and release oxygen. Some of the carbon absorbed by trees is stored for a long period of time. In fact, one-half the weight of wood is carbon. Wood can be manufactured into many useful products. In addition, a large portion of the energy used in forest products manufacturing is produced from biomass like bark and sawdust, meaning the amount of energy used to produce wood products can be vastly lower than other materials. Finally, wood is also renewable and provides for an increase in ``green'' buildings that have a positive carbon footprint. Recently, Secretary Vilsack visited my district and described the many benefits to building with wood products such as cross-laminated timber. During Forest Products Week, let's all recognize the many employees and products that contribute to an increased environmental awareness in sustainable building materials as well as in many other areas.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the great work of a constituent of mine, Mr. Don Wick. Throughout his 28 years as Executive Director of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, Don has been critical to supporting businesses throughout the county and region. From the many business workshops and seminars to the outreach and mentorship programs, Don's tenure at EDASC has expanded and diversified the access to opportunity in Skagit County. One such program, the Leadership Skagit program, was recognized by the 2004 Governor's Leadership Award and strengthens the community by developing leaders who are informed, inclusive and connected through shared learning experiences. Don understands that the engine of our economy is driven by our people and communities. His success at EDASC is due in part to his ability to engage with people and build relationships with them. His leadership and commitment to the Skagit County community has allowed EDASC to build successful partnerships with local businesses and foster job growth that will continue to sustain the quality of life in our region for years to come. It has always been a pleasure working with Don who is always enthusiastic and upbeat. It's contagious. Whether through radio broadcasting or economic development, he has left a lasting positive impact, and I wish him the very best in whatever his next venture may be. He has dedicated the past 28 years to helping Skagit County grow and prosper, ensuring it's better off than when he started, and I have no doubt he'll continue giving back to the community in his retirement.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate 50 years of incredible work by the Job Corps program. For a half-century, Job Corps has been expanding hope and access to opportunity for millions of young people across the country. Administered by the Department of Labor and funded by the Workforce Investment Act, Job Corps offers hands-on technical training, career planning, job placement, housing assistance and academic training at no cost to Americans aged 16 to 24. It serves a vital pipeline to long-term career success for our youth, providing the tools necessary to find and keep a stable job that pays a living wage--a foundation that these students will be able to build from for the rest of their lives. In Northwest Washington, we take real pride in the remarkable success of the Cascades Job Corps Center in my district. Cascades Job Corps provides economically disadvantaged youth the opportunity to learn technical and career-based skills, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good-paying job. I have had the pleasure of visiting the Cascades Job Corps classrooms and facilities on numerous occasions, and for the last two years, I have been honored to give the commencement speeches for their graduating students. In Congress, I will continue to speak up for Cascades and the great work they do for students in the First Congressional District of Washington. By ensuring everyone has access to these kinds of opportunities, as well as the chance to succeed through hard work and determination, we can shape stronger communities and finally build an economy that works for all Americans.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. Just 10 days ago the House took a vote to attack women's health. At that time, I said it felt like deja vu. Now I am starting to wonder if this is the only issue that my colleagues care about. Have we taken a vote to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank? No. Have we taken a vote to extend the Land and Water Conservation Fund? No. Have we taken a single vote this year to fix our broken immigration system? No. Yet, somehow we found time to take vote after vote restricting women's access to care. It is reprehensible. The bill we are considering today is one of the worst yet. It is a dangerous and unprecedented assault on women and their healthcare providers, and it does nothing to address the real issues that Americans are facing. Mr. Speaker, voters didn't send us here to intimidate their doctors and interfere in their private medical decisions. It is time for Congress to stop wasting time and get to work. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule and the underlying bill.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, this feels like deja vu. Once again, the House is ignoring the challenges facing our Nation in order to attack women's health. Already this year, the House has voted to restrict reproductive health care in private insurance, enact a sweeping 20-week abortion ban, and allow employers to discriminate against their workers for using birth control. Now, with just 5 legislative days before a shutdown, we are wasting our time on a bill the President has said he will veto. It is past time for Congress to stop focusing on ideology and start focusing on the facts. The fact is defunding Planned Parenthood would have a devastating effect on women's access to health care. That care includes cancer screenings, immunizations, and birth control. As my colleagues are well aware, current law already prevents Federal funding for abortion services. It is shameful that the House is allowing the reckless actions of a few extremists to jeopardize the critical safety net provided by Planned Parenthood. We can't let that happen. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate University of Washington Professor Dr. Yuichi Shoda on being recognized this week as a recipient of the 2015 Golden Goose Award. Created in 2012, the Golden Goose Award celebrates obscure science to show how basic research--even research that may sound odd--can lead to major breakthroughs and significant impacts on society. Dr. Shoda's work with the ``Marshmallow Test,'' first funded by the National Institutes of Health in the 1960s to test a child's self- control, is more than deserving of this honor. His test was seminal in interpreting human behavior and has impacted how we educate children and save for retirement today. Each year, federal investments in research like this help push the boundaries of scientific knowledge, support new industries and address the challenges facing our country. But to remain a world leader, we need to ensure our researchers and institutions continue to have the tools to explore new ideas and frontiers in research, as well as the funding opportunities to do so. Unfortunately, research continues to face irresponsible funding cuts in Congress. When sequestration took effect two years ago, more than 1,000 grants at the National Science Foundation went unfunded, and NIH funding was slashed by $1.6 billion. It's time we learn that research isn't a spigot that can just be turned on and off. Breakthroughs come after years of incremental research, and cutting funds now could set us back for decades to come. Through my post-graduate research work, I have also seen firsthand the economic impact of these investments in communities nationwide. In my home state of Washington, for example, funding for NIH supports more than 14,000 jobs. I hope this week's recognition of obscure science by the Golden Goose Awards helps renew our commitment to research. We must support the tireless efforts of those who allow our country to continue to break new ground in scientific discovery. Congratulations to Dr. Shoda and the other Golden Goose Awardees, and thank you for your continued contributions to our nation.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. The so-called Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act would turn back the clock to deter good-faith litigants seeking justice, like women who are denied equal pay for equal work. The harmful effects of this bill are not speculative. We know this bill will undercut important civil rights and equal pay litigation because it would restore a version of rule 11 that was in effect from 1983 to 1993. Under the version of rule 11 that this bill would resurrect, sanctions were disproportionately imposed against plaintiff's in civil rights and antidiscrimination cases. The old rule's onerous provisions created a chilling effect on civil rights litigation, created time- consuming and costly satellite litigation, and gave rise to needless delay and harassment in the courtroom. This amendment would ensure the bill's harmful effects do not apply in cases brought under employment discrimination laws, including laws to ensure women earn equal pay for equal work. When President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law 50 years ago, women, on average, made 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. While we have made some progress since then, with women appointed to the Supreme Court and to executive leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies, we are still nowhere near the goal of equal pay for equal work. Just as recently as 2007, the Supreme Court ruled against Lilly Ledbetter, making it nearly impossible for workers who suffered discrimination to seek justice. Because she was prohibited from discussing her salary with coworkers, Lilly didn't find out she was making significantly less than her male counterparts until her retirement. The court ruled that she waited too long to file her lawsuit. Luckily, in 2009, Congress intervened, passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to reverse the Supreme Court's decision. Unfortunately, stories like this are not unique. Women still make only 79 cents on the dollar, about 20 percent less take-home pay than their male counterparts. That is why it is critical that Congress vote for this amendment: to ensure women can continue fighting for equal pay at work. Because equal pay is not just good for women, it is good for families, businesses, and our economy. When women aren't paid what they deserve, middle class families and communities pay the price. Families today rely on women's wages to put food on the table, save for retirement, and pay for their children's education. It is estimated that the pay gap costs a woman and her family more than $10,000 in lost earnings each year, a significant number by any standards. I recently spoke with a mother of three named Adriana. She told me that, while working her way through college as a waitress, she had to approach her manager after discovering her less-experienced male colleague made more than $1 an hour than she did. Adriana said she felt lucky that she worked for a small, family-run business. Otherwise, she might have been too intimidated to ask for equal pay. She said it seemed ``criminal and ridiculous'' to pay people unfairly and that lawmakers should think about their wife, sister, or daughter and the effect this financial barrier would have on them. I agree. I hope everyone in this Chamber does as well. For women seeking justice under employment discrimination laws, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act would be a disaster. Women taking on huge corporations with limitless funds and armies of attorneys will face an uphill battle in court, at best, or may be completely deterred from even pursuing their day in court. We have come a long way in expanding opportunities for women, but there is no question that we have a lot more to do. We cannot create more barriers to success than women and families already face in America today. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this motion to recommit and support the women and families in our communities who we were sent here to represent. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. DelBENE. I am opposed, in its current form.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.