Suzan DelBene

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor of representing one of the most beautiful and diverse districts in the country. It includes the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, the North Cascades National Park, and the North Creek Forest, all incredible areas for people throughout our region and across the country to enjoy. Unfortunately, in just 14 days, the congressional authorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund will expire. LWCF was established 50 years ago to maintain outdoor recreational opportunities nationwide. It is the only Federal program dedicated to the conservation of our national parks, forests, wildernesses, wildlife refuges, State and local parks, and working forests. Since its inception, the fund has invested $637 million in Washington State projects alone, including three grants for the North Creek Forest, a 64-acre park I visited just last month. A community organization called Friends of North Creek Forest and a college student named Jordan from the University of Washington at Bothell gave me a tour of the forest. For his senior thesis, Jordan has worked with the community and conservation volunteers to clean up the site and design new trails for hikers and hundreds of schoolchildren to enjoy. This forest is a safe and healthy place for our families and students to have fun and learn about species diversity and the importance of conservation efforts. This is just one project among thousands across the country. Without a new authorization for this critical program, environmental conservation projects and Washington's outdoor recreational industry would be needlessly harmed because not only is the Land and Water Conservation Fund crucial for protecting the Pacific Northwest's beautiful spaces, it is also important for our State's economy as well as the entire country's. In Washington State alone, outdoor recreation supports nearly 200,000 jobs and contributes $20 billion a year to our economy. The Land and Water Conservation Fund uses no taxpayer dollars and is funded through oil and gas receipts paid by energy companies. Unfortunately, in the past, Congress has diverted this money for other uses. That is why I, along with 159 of my colleagues, have cosponsored a bill to permanently reauthorize the fund. My beautiful State boasts some of our Nation's most beautiful forests, mountains, and waterways, and taking care of these natural resources and protecting our environment is critical to preserving the quality of life that we cherish. We can't risk defunding the great work of these environmental conservation projects, which is why Congress must reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. I want to thank Congressman Grijalva for organizing this Special Order hour on such a critical issue.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Whatcom County Fire District 5, Whatcom County Sheriff's Department, Airlift Northwest, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for working together to save the life of Hugh Graham, a Point Roberts visitor who went into cardiac arrest at the Port of Entry. Early on June 7, Hugh and his friend Andy MacLean arrived in Point Roberts, having planned a bike ride. Immediately after passing through the Port of Entry on Tyee Drive, Hugh collapsed. Customs Agents began performing CPR, while a cardiac arrest call went out to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Department and Whatcom County Fire District 5. The first responders worked on resuscitating Hugh using defibrillation and medication until he was stable. Hugh was then transported in an Airlift Northwest helicopter to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham. The strong relationship between the CBP, Airlift Northwest, Fire District 5 and the Sheriff's Department was essential in ensuring the best possible outcome for Hugh, who has since returned home to fully recover. Many thanks go to: Whatcom County Fire District 5 personnel: Jerry Aguiar, Ben Boyko, Christian Craig, Jeff Finlay, Ryan Greene, Mark Puustelli, Fadi Samaha, John Shields, Kristy Steinberger, Christina Tersakian, Scott Van Den Boogaard, Kyle Whiteman Whatcom County Sheriff Deputies: Tom McCarthy, Jayson Loreen Airlift Northwest members: Bonita Haggith, Rose Goure, Rick Rathbun U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents: Larry Tingley, Eddie Proctor, Timothy Johnson, Denton Glaser, Andrew Giles, Merritt Washburn, Christopher Barron, Robert Carter, Detlef Goellner This situation is a great example of how our community benefits when agencies work together at all levels. I am thankful that these men and women are hard at work every single day to keep us safe and secure.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Daniel K. Church, President of Bastyr University, who will be retiring from his position on June 30, 2015. Building on the work of the University's founders and his predecessors, Dr. Church has led Bastyr University to preeminence in the field of natural medicine. The school is now respected worldwide as one of the leading academic centers for the natural arts and sciences. Over his ten-year tenure as President, the University has grown to become one of the most trusted resources for understandable, useful and evidence-based information on healthy living. It is widely regarded for excellence in providing innovative academic programs that are deeply rooted in the historical teachings of natural health, while also incorporating the most up-to-date data to address human health. I greatly admire Dr. Church for his accomplishments, including creating nine new accredited degree programs, supporting the achievement of the United Nations Millennial Development Goals, and contributing to the 24 percent growth of the Bastyr student body, among many others. Dr. Church has embodied the very best attributes of a respected leader and has led the University to a position where it has never been stronger and more capable of fulfilling its mission. He will truly be missed. I want to congratulate Dr. Church on his remarkable achievements and successful tenure, and I thank him for his commitment to health and education.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, last week, the Second Circuit confirmed what a lot of Members have been saying for years: the NSA has brazenly exploited the PATRIOT Act to conduct surveillance far beyond what the law permits; but the court refrained from enforcing its decision, instead placing the burden on Congress to protect Americans from unwarranted mass surveillance. That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of this year's USA FREEDOM Act, a serious reform bill that would go a long way to protecting Americans' privacy by ending bulk collection and by creating greater transparency, oversight, and accountability. After the House acts today, it is up to the Senate leaders to pass these reforms or let the expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act sunset on June 1 because a clean reauthorization is absolutely unacceptable. I urge my colleagues in each Chamber to support this critical effort to end bulk collection and protect both Americans' privacy and America's security.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 36, a nationwide 20-week abortion ban. It is truly appalling to me that House leaders keep ignoring the needs of middle class families while taking up bill after bill restricting women's access to health care--and during National Women's Health Week, no less. The legislation we are debating today is an unconscionable attack that ignores medical safety and puts women's health at risk. It creates unnecessary burdens to care for sexual assault survivors, who are already facing extraordinarily difficult circumstances, and it injects ideology into the doctor-patient relationship. It puts politicians, rather than women, in charge of their medical care. Madam Speaker, House leaders need to stop interfering in what is a deeply personal medical decision. The American people expect better from this Chamber, and they deserve real solutions to the challenges they are facing. This bill fails women and their families, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

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

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer a simple and straightforward amendment to this year's Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Every year since 1991, Congress has included a provision in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill to require that military agencies purchase anchor and mooring chain from American manufacturers. My amendment simply clarifies that this requirement also applies to anchor and mooring chain purchased by the Army Corps of Engineers. Everyone in this Chamber can agree that taxpayer dollars should be used to buy goods manufactured right here at home whenever possible. While our economy continues to recover, it is imperative that we protect and support Americans' production capabilities. Doing so not only supports employment opportunities for Americans, but also reinforces our national security. Both Congress and the Pentagon have long recognized the importance of maintaining a strong industrial base right here in America. While I understand that we must balance our procurement needs with shrinking budgets, we should not be putting foreign workers ahead of Americans. My amendment is a commonsense way to protect a critical production capability, support our manufacturing industry, and put American workers first. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this extreme and misguided resolution. I am deeply troubled that this Chamber continues to waste its time attacking women's health rather than crafting solutions for the American people. Instead of addressing the real challenges facing our Nation, this resolution is yet another attempt by House leaders to inject ideology into women's personal medical decisions. A woman's healthcare choices should be made between her and her doctor, not by her boss. By overturning D.C.'s new antidiscrimination protections, this resolution would give employers the right to fire workers based on the decisions they make about their birth control. This is simply unacceptable. All Americans should be free to make medical decisions without the fear of being fired or demoted. Now is the time for House leaders to stop undermining women's reproductive rights and focus on the actual needs of working families. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Justice Lively, who on March 25, 2015, received the Washington Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Award. Justice was honored for his achievements in overcoming a tumultuous childhood and serving as a leader in his community. The Youth of the Year Award has been the highest award attainable by the national Boys & Girls Club since 1947. Justice previously received the Skagit County Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Award. Justice's upbringing was filled with far greater challenges than any child should face. As a young boy, with his father deployed in the U.S. Army and his mother frequently absent, Justice was cared for by his oldest brother. When his father returned, Justice was brought into a new home with an abusive stepmother. Just as his mother began to get her life back together, she was killed in a car accident when Justice was only seven years old. When he was 10, Justice's life finally took a turn for the better. He was adopted by his aunt and uncle and was brought to Mt. Vernon, where he later joined the local Boys & Girls Club. Today, Justice is a leader at the club, focused on helping children. He frequently reads books to the club's younger children as part of a class on early childhood development. As he prepares to graduate from high school, Justice intends to attend the Cascade Job Corps, Skagit Valley College and Western Washington University in pursuit of his goal of becoming a pediatric nurse at Seattle Children's hospital. I want to congratulate Justice Lively on this achievement, as well as his work with the Skagit County Boys & Girls Club. I wish him the best as he pursues his dream of helping children.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2014-2015 Lummi Nation School boys' basketball team. This year, Lummi put together a perfect 27-0 season, beating rival Neah Bay 54-33 in the Class 1B state championship game. I congratulate them on this exemplary achievement. The title game was the first time two Native American teams faced off for a state championship in Washington, and the Blackhawks' victory was the first time a Native team has won the boys' 1B championship. Along with the team's historic victory, four Lummi players also earned individual honors. Sophomore forward Trazil Lane was selected as the Associated Press (AP) Class 1B State Player of the Year after averaging 18.2 points per game. He was also selected as the Northwest League's (NWL's) Most Valuable Player. Senior guard Austin Brockie averaged 14.2 points per game and was an AP all-state honorable mention and a first-team all-NWL selection. Senior Dino Williams was a first-team all-NWL selection, and senior Kavarez Lane was a second-team all-NWL selection. Lane was also chosen to play in the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association's (WIBCA's) all-state game. Finally, Coach Jerome Toby was selected as the WIBCA Coach of the Year. The Blackhawks displayed a great deal of character and determination this season. Their success resulted from their hard work and ability to play unselfishly for their teammates. Again, I congratulate the Lummi boys' basketball team on all of their success. Their accomplishments on the court this season are hard- earned and well-deserved.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, our thoughts are with the people of Nepal and their families. My heart sank when I heard about the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and its unthinkable devastation. It is estimated that thousands of people have died, and more are missing. Three of those still missing are constituents of Washington's First District. These people are pillars of our community: retired special education teacher Doreen Richmond, retired Bellingham firefighter Jim Lane, and small-business owner Jeannie DeBari. I want to do everything I can to assist and support their families during this difficult time. I will continue to pray for their safety and their return home. I was glad to see the State Department provide $10 million in initial disaster assistance. To the people of Nepal and those affected in the region or here at home, know that the United States stands with you during this tragic time.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise today to honor, recognize, and remember the events from 1 year ago when lives in my district changed in a matter of seconds. Part of a mountainside slid into the Steelhead Haven neighborhood, claiming 43 lives, numerous homes, and damaging public infrastructure. The people of Oso, Darrington, Arlington, the Stillaguamish Tribe, and the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe will never be the same, but I have great faith in these communities. The Highway 530 mudslide was a heartbreaking disaster. It caused unbelievable devastation and tragic loss of life. But even through such a painful tragedy, it has been inspiring to see how the community has come together, people doing everything they can to help each other. Their response in the face of calamity has been incredible. I joined these communities yesterday to honor the memories of those we lost and recognize everyone's efforts, including the first responders who selflessly risked their lives to save others. Recovery continues to be a slow, difficult process, but I am confident that through our work together we will continue to get through these difficult times stronger and closer than ever. Federal, State, and local agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and the State Department of Transportation responded to calls for aid when our communities needed roads rebuilt, an extension for filing taxes, help to get kids to school, or to find new housing. I will continue to push for resources until these communities are fully restored. But instead of simply sending aid after a disaster, lawmakers need to do more to ensure that we fund programs and research efforts to prevent future natural disasters from becoming national tragedies. One thing that struck me most while spending time in these communities and with local emergency command centers was the spirit, courage, and cooperation of everyone who pitched in to help. FEMA officials even commented that this was the first time they allowed locals to be so heavily involved in rescue efforts. They did so because the people of these communities brought unique skills, experience, and determination. For example, loggers understood how to use heavy machinery in a challenging environment with 40 feet of mud, rocks, and trees. It was the first natural disaster where everyone-- Federal and local--worked together so well. Lawmakers in our Nation's Capital could learn a lot from the people of Oso, Darrington, and Arlington. We too need to work together to ensure our communities are better prepared for natural disasters and landslides, in particular. During this session of Congress, I plan to introduce legislation that would standardize and share research and mapping methods across the country while increasing funding for research and hazard assessments in high-risk areas. In addition, a primary goal of my bill will be to determine a national strategy to increase public awareness of the risks associated with landslides and identify slide-prone areas. We must also create education programs and increase rapid response efforts because, as we all know too well, disasters strike with little warning. We will never forget those who were lost in the slide and the incredible community that continues to be ``Oso strong.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Together Center in Redmond, Washington. This month, they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. For the past quarter-century, Together Center has worked as a coalition of several agencies, providing services and resources such as shelter, counseling, child care, mental health services, and medical and dental care. Together Center has an incredible impact on the lives of more than 40,000 individuals in East King County every year. Together Center has become an integral part of the community, supporting individuals and other organizations by connecting them in a convenient and efficient manner. Individuals may address a variety of needs on one of Together Center's three campuses, which conveniently house 20 agencies. I greatly appreciate the work Together Center does to lower the barriers to getting critical help that many people need, such as medical care or temporary shelter. I want to thank Together Center for their steadfast commitment to our local community, and congratulate them on their impressive record of achievement since 1990.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, in my State of Washington, we are very familiar with the vital role the Department of Homeland Security plays. Nearly 1 year ago, in a matter of seconds, 1 square mile of land slid into the Stillaguamish River near Oso, Washington. That landslide was a heartbreaking disaster that was unbelievably devastating in the damage and the tragic loss of life that it caused. Forty-three people died in the blink of an eye. But FEMA, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, was immediately on the scene to coordinate search-and-rescue operations. Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to do everything possible to ensure that resources are available to respond to disasters because landslides have no season, earthquakes have no season, and terrorist attacks have no season. By failing to fund the Department of Homeland Security, the Congress risks the lives of Americans, and that is simply unacceptable. Now, some have said that most employees will be deemed essential, meaning they will be asked to do their already high pressure jobs of protecting our communities without pay. That will be the case for more than 6,000 workers in my State. But FEMA Administrator Fugate said a lapse in funding would delay urgent disaster relief services because he would have to call staff back to work while the agency responds to an emergency. Not only that, emergency responders who have requested Department of Homeland Security grants would be left without much-needed assistance. The Whatcom County Fire District 18, a mostly volunteer force that serves part of my district, applied for a $24,000 firefighters grant to replace vital equipment. This is equipment that protects the lives of these volunteers who are saving the lives of others. But if Congress fails to fund the Department of Homeland Security, those grants are at risk. If House leadership would simply bring a clean DHS funding bill to the floor, we have the votes to pass it today. But instead, that legislation is being held hostage because some disagree with the President's executive actions. Mr. Speaker, I helped introduce H.R. 15, a comprehensive immigration reform bill during the last Congress. But we never got a vote. If leadership agrees that this is such an important issue, so important that it is worth defunding an essential federal agency, then Congress should be working right now on comprehensive immigration reform and consider legislation immediately--but after we finish our job of funding the Department of Homeland Security. We need to stop playing politics and fund the Department of Homeland Security now.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so that we can consider my proposal to boost education and job training for our veterans. Everyone in this Chamber can agree that we have an obligation to care for those who risk their lives and make sacrifices for our freedoms. Unfortunately, there are too many veterans struggling to find work today, and we are not doing enough to help. Last year, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans stood at more than 7 percent, substantially higher than the national rate; and across all age groups, there were more than 500,000 veterans out of work in 2014. This is unacceptable. Congress must do more to meet its commitment to these brave men and women. That is why I encourage my colleagues to join me and more than 40 of my colleagues in supporting the Manufacturing Jobs for Veterans Act. My bill will establish State-based manufacturing employment programs to provide skills training in manufacturing jobs for veterans and servicemembers who are reentering the workforce. These pilot programs would support on-the-job training opportunities, apprenticeships, and certification classes for unemployed veterans; and it will encourage manufacturers to recruit, hire, and train our Nation's heroes. With as many as 600,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs, we have an opportunity to connect employers with a pipeline of skilled, capable workers. Instead of voting on yet another partisan bill, we should be focused on real solutions that help the American people, grow our economy, and strengthen the middle class. I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can take up this important bill and put our veterans back to work.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert ``Bob'' Craves, who recently passed away at the age of 72. I would like to honor Bob Craves, a founding officer of Costco, for his support of students throughout Washington state in their pursuit of a college degree. In 2000, Mr. Craves started the College Success Foundation, which provides scholarships and mentoring to low-income and first-generation Washington students. Mr. Craves served as CEO of the foundation until his retirement in 2013, and thereafter remained with the organization as a member of the Board of Directors. His efforts to make higher education accessible were not isolated to Washington state. The foundation estimates that 5,000 students across the country are currently enrolled in college due to the generosity of Craves' work. The organization has raised an estimated $600 million, and now includes a branch in Washington, DC. Scholarship recipients continue to vocally express the meaningful impact Mr. Craves had on their lives by providing them with the opportunity to attend college. Several have gone back to work with the non-profit upon graduation to offer career training services and help graduates find jobs. I would like to commemorate Bob Craves on his lifetime of achievements. He will be remembered by his uplifting demeanor and unfailing optimism, and as a committed community servant whose significant work will continue to echo in years to come. My thoughts go out to his wife, Gerry, and all of his family and friends.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of the Bravo 369 Flight Foundation and their current project, ``Warplanes to Siberia.'' Additionally, I want to recognize the efforts of the project's co-founders, Craig Lang and Jeff Geer. Mr. Geer, who serves as the President and Chairman of the Bravo 369 Flight Foundation, will pilot his own plane as part of the project. I applaud their work to educate and inspire the next generation of aviation enthusiasts. ``Warplanes to Siberia'' is a historical re-creation of the Alaska- Siberia air route (ALSIB) with both American and Russian pilots flying together in formation to celebrate the end of World War II. It will commence in 2015 and follow the exact flight route from Great Falls, Montana to Krasnoyarsk to Moscow, flying the same types of aircraft used 70 years ago. The project is intended to pay tribute to the men and women of the United States, Russia, and Canada who were involved in this effort during the war, and to bring awareness to the significance of their work. The Alaska-Siberia air route was used to deliver warplanes to the Eastern Front of the war effort as part of President Roosevelt's Lend- Lease policy, and contributed to the success of the Allies in World War II. The re-creation of the flight route will be documented for educational and broadcasting purposes, and accompanied with school, airport, and museum visits. I want to commend the Bravo 369 Flight Foundation and their continued work on the ``Warplanes to Siberia'' project, celebrating past achievements and building strong relations for the future.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. H.R. 7 is yet another direct attack on women and their families. It creates sweeping new restrictions on abortion coverage for women who purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act, with no meaningful exception to protect a woman's health, and experts predict that it could cause many insurers to limit women's health options in their plans altogether. This bill injects ideology into personal medical decisions and puts politicians, rather than doctors, in charge of women's health care. Instead of this extreme legislation, Congress should address the real challenges facing women and families today. At a time when 42 million women are either living in poverty or on the brink of it, Congress must do more to help. We should be focused on expanding access to child care, providing workers with paid sick leave, and ensuring women equal pay for equal work. This bill does none of these. It fails women and their families. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on both the rule and H.R. 7.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bert Isackson, who was recently nominated for the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating Americans who volunteer 4000 or more hours of their time. Mr. Isackson was honored for his extraordinary work at the Blaine Food Bank in Blaine, Washington. Additionally, he received plaques from the City of Blaine and the Volunteer Center of Whatcom County, honoring his decades of work. Mr. Isackson worked as a commercial fisherman until his retirement, but has continued volunteering at the food bank that he and his wife founded more than 40 years ago. Even though Mr. Isackson recently celebrated his 100th birthday on December 8, 2014, he still dedicates four days each week to preparing coffee for volunteers and organizing materials for pick-up and distribution. The Blaine Food Bank serves between 375 and 400 families weekly, distributing 75,000 pounds of food each month. Mr. Isackson's commitment is an inspiration to the food bank's 25 volunteers and the community alike. At the time of the food bank's founding, Mr. Isackson was one of few community members who recognized the need for a food bank in the Blaine community. This award recognizes Mr. Isackson's invaluable contributions to the Blaine area, and I am grateful that he plans to continue his valuable work. I want to congratulate Bert Isackson on his well-deserved recognition, and I thank him for his tremendous commitment to the entire community of Whatcom County.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2014 Bothell High School football team. On December 6, the Cougars won the 4A Washington State football championship, finishing their outstanding season with a perfect record of 14-0. I congratulate them on this exemplary achievement. The resounding 24-14 victory over the defending champions, Chiawana High School, left no doubt that Bothell is the state's best team. This championship win is especially remarkable for the Cougars, as it is the football team's first state title in school history. I would like to give special recognition to Caleb Meyer, Damani St. John-Watkins, and Ross Bowers, for their exceptional performances in Saturday's game. Meyer and St. John-Watkins both capped the season with over 100 yards rushing, but it was quarterback Ross Bower's score with 6 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter that grabbed the headlines. On a scramble from 5 yards out, Bower landed a complete front flip over the Chiawana defenders on his way into the end zone. He also went 17-19, passing for over 200 yards and a touchdown. The Cougars displayed a great deal of character and determination throughout this season led by Coach Tom Bainter. His constant encouragement and training helped guide the Cougars to this momentous victory. Again, I congratulate the Bothell football team on all of their success. Their accomplishments on the field this season are hard-earned and well-deserved.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2014 Lynden Christian girls volleyball team. On November 15, the Lynden Lyncs won the Class 1A state championship, a fitting end to their impressive season. I congratulate them on this memorable achievement. The Lyncs only suffered two defeats during the entire regular season. On the way to the first title in school history, they defeated Kalama, Cascade, and Bellevue Christian, dropping only one set throughout the state tournament. The team's motto for the year, ``Start Strong, Finish Stronger,'' was on display during the championship match, when the Lyncs secured the title with a resounding 3-0 victory over King's High School. I would like to give special recognition to Kara Bajema, Madison Weg, and Carli Tjoelker for their pivotal roles in the championship match, and throughout the season. Bajema, a junior, had 14 kills and 13 digs, while Weg had 11 kills and 14 assists. Tjoelker added 14 assists. Lynden Christian's impressive performance on the court is also a testament to the leadership of Coach Kim Grycel. Coach Grycel provided the team with the encouragement and training necessary to achieve this notable victory. The title provided a fitting cap to the most successful season in school history for the Lyncs volleyball team. Again, I congratulate the Lynden Christian girls volleyball team on all of their success. Their accomplishments and success are hard-earned and well-deserved.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Officer Robert Buendia of the Bothell Police Department. Officer Buendia was recently awarded the prestigious 2014 Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding work by police officers in the safe and effective use of crisis intervention techniques in response to mental health crises. Officer Buendia received this award in part because of his quick and skilled response to a situation involving a suicidal woman. This woman was a recent victim of sexual assault who became upset after learning that the court case against her attacker did not have sufficient evidence for prosecution. When this woman threatened to end her own life, Officer Buendia used his training, intelligence and quick thinking to defuse this potentially tragic situation. He was able to open a dialogue with the woman, and was eventually able to convince her to come out of her apartment. The outstanding actions of Officer Buendia are emblematic of the heroism that the members of the Bothell Police Department, and all our first responders in the 1st Congressional District, exhibit every day while serving our communities. I am incredibly thankful for the dedication of these public servants. I want to thank Officer Robert Buendia for his commitment to serving the people of Bothell, and offer my congratulations on this recognition of his work.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, the influx of unaccompanied children across the southern border is a serious humanitarian situation that requires immediate action. We desperately need Members of Congress to work together in a bipartisan way to develop an effective and humane course of action to address this problem, and I am disappointed that we are playing politics with this crisis instead of developing solutions. The rule we are considering today would allow us to consider two bills. The supplemental appropriations bill is an irresponsible funding measure that fails to address the true needs of this crisis while also making irresponsible cuts of over $400 million to FEMA's disaster relief fund, impacting the Federal response to disasters. The other bill needlessly punishes innocent children, known as DREAMers, and would do nothing to address the humanitarian situation caused by violence in Central America. This deportation-only and enforcement-only approach to changing our Nation's immigration law is misguided and will do absolutely nothing to prevent our broken system from spinning further into dysfunction. In my district, there are businesses, farmers, faith leaders, law enforcement leaders, and families who have been asking Congress for years to find solutions to our broken immigration system. I helped introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill, H.R. 15, to help these constituents who deserve a functional immigration system that they can rely on; instead, House Republicans have decided to make today's divisive bill a priority. They want to make sure that absolutely nothing is done to improve overall our immigration system. After more than a year of refusing to act on comprehensive legislation, this is unacceptable, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael Werner, who was recently selected as the first Innovative Teacher of the Year by the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing for his extraordinary work at Granite Falls High School. Since Mr. Werner began teaching at Granite Falls in 2007, he has been a pioneer for its STEM education programs. In addition to the classes he teaches, Mr. Werner has created an excellent manufacturing program for his students from the ground up. Mr. Werner's teaching engages students by pushing them to apply materials learned in class to real-world projects and challenges. His dedication to preparing his students is important for the future of Washington state's skilled workforce and manufacturing industries. Mr. Werner plans on introducing similar hands-on technical education in elementary schools to encourage an interest for engineering in our youngest students. In 2009, Mr. Werner began the Eco Car program at Granite Falls High School. The program challenges students to design and build extremely fuel-efficient cars for the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas competition. As a strong advocate for female participation in the historically male- dominated manufacturing and engineering fields, Mr. Werner has created an all-girls team, ShopGirls, to compete in the competition, as well as a coed team, UrbanAutos. I want to congratulate Michael Werner on his well-earned achievement, and I thank him for his commitment to building a better future for the students of Granite Falls High School.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, several weeks ago, I joined my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee in supporting the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act when it was reported out of committee by a vote of 30 to 4. It is clear that there is broad bipartisan agreement that we should not allow the current moratorium on Internet access taxes to expire. While I joined my colleagues in moving this legislation forward to provide clarity and certainty in this area, I also have serious concerns that Congress has failed to resolve another critical issue related to state taxation and the Internet: e-fairness and the current exemption for state and local sales tax collection for online purchases. Since the Internet Tax Freedom Act first passed in 1998, Congress has made far too little progress in developing a coherent policy that addresses the intersection of state taxation and the Internet. Aside from extending this tax moratorium three times since it first passed, Congress has yet to pass legislation like the Marketplace Fairness Act or similar legislation that would allow states to tax e-commerce sales at the same rate as sales from brick-and-mortar stores. Instead we have seen states attempting to set a patchwork of policies that simply doesn't work. A federal solution is needed from Congress. In the meantime, adoption of the Internet has exploded since ITFA first passed in 1998, and today, 75 percent of American households subscribe to broadband Internet services, and hundreds of billions of dollars worth of commerce is done over the Internet annually. The Census Bureau recently announced that total e-commerce sales for 2013 were estimated to have increased nearly 17 percent (16.9 percent) from 2012, totaling $263 billion in 2013. Given the importance of the Internet to consumers and to economic growth, it is Congress's responsibility to determine a federal approach to e-fairness, and I am disappointed that we are simply looking at this bill in isolation without regard to the other issues related to Internet and taxation. While I support an extension of the current moratorium on Internet access taxes, I believe we cannot move this legislation forward while also continuing to allow the Internet to serve as a sales tax loophole. The issue of e-fairness is a related issue that we must commit to tackling, and I know there is bipartisan support for doing so. This is a critical jobs issue that I continue to hear about from small businesses in my district. It is the role of Congress to ensure that our nation's tax policies and regulation don't unfairly burden one business model over the other. Yet, brick and mortar businesses can't fairly compete right now because states do not have the ability to efficiently collect the taxes owed from online purchases. Only Congress can fix this and I believe we must continue to move forward on legislation like the Marketplace Fairness Act. I hope that House Leadership does not consider our work on Internet tax policy complete after voting today on the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act and I look forward to continuing to work with members on both sides of the aisle to work to find a solution to move forward on both ITFA and e-fairness legislation like the Marketplace Fairness Act before the end of this year.