Suzan DelBene

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the chair and the ranking member for working with me to include a proposal in this bill that I developed with Congresswoman Black, Congressman Thompson, and Congressman Meehan modernizing Medicare and harnessing the promise of telehealth to improve care for patients nationwide. Allowing patients with end-stage renal disease to receive dialysis at home can dramatically improve their health outcomes and quality of life. This is something I have heard consistently from providers in my home State of Washington, like the Northwest Kidney Centers, who do incredible work to help patients receive dialysis at home when it is medically appropriate. Advances in telehealth hold great potential to extend this treatment option to more Americans, particularly in rural communities, but there are still too many barriers to the use of cutting-edge technologies in Medicare. There is a great need to update our laws to reflect these innovations and reimburse telehealth appropriately; otherwise, we won't just be denying access to healthcare today, we could be preventing the next frontier of innovations from even getting off the ground. Without the long-term visibility of Medicare coverage, startups and entrepreneurs might never get the funding they need to develop new technologies and bring them to market. It is essential that we unlock the full potential of telehealth. By doing so, we can improve patient care, promote health, defeat heartbreaking diseases, and save lives. That is why I am so glad we are taking this step today. Thank you again to the committee for working with me on this important bill, and I hope it is the first of many victories as we work together to expand telehealth. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, Senate Republicans may have delayed the vote, but make no mistake, they are pushing ahead with a destructive, dangerous healthcare bill that is not just mean, it is immoral. The American people are right to be outraged. I am outraged. We should be working together to give people better coverage at lower cost. Instead, Senate leaders crafted legislation that leads to lost coverage for 22 million Americans, skyrocketing deductibles, hospital closures in rural communities, and the return of annual and lifetime caps on care. For families like Colton's in Mill Creek, Washington, who have watched as their 17-year-old son battled high-risk leukemia for 8 years, I can promise you, we are not backing down. Colton is in his fifth remission and still fighting--and so are we. Healthcare is not a privilege reserved for those fortunate enough to be wealthy or healthy. It is a human right, and it is worth fighting for.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate LGBT Equality Day. Today, we mark the anniversary of landmark victories at the Supreme Court that moved our country toward one that is more fair, more equal, and more inclusive of all Americans, and we are a better, stronger Nation for it. Each year, on June 26, we commemorate the decriminalization of loving LGBT couples, in overturning of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, and now marriage equality in all 50 States. But even as we celebrate this incredible progress, we must never forget the work that remains. The LGBT community continues to face staggering rates of harassment and discrimination for who they are and who they love. I invite all my colleagues to stand with me on the right side of history. America is ready to take the next step forward. So today, let's recommit to breaking down the barriers that remain in fulfilling the American promise of liberty and justice for all.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the underlying legislation, which includes my amendment expanding apprenticeships for American workers. I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this important effort in the Ways and Means Committee, and I look forward to its passage. We can all agree that helping people find long-term employment in a high-demand industry is one of the best ways to ensure that everyone has economic security. But technological advancements like automation and artificial intelligence are dramatically shifting the way our economy works, and these changes are only going to accelerate. We cannot allow American workers to be left behind. Congress needs to be forward looking, not reactive, in crafting policies that help workers who are displaced from the workforce. I believe that means we need a national commitment to addressing the skills gap and mitigating disruption in an evolving 21st century economy. Apprenticeships and on-the-job training are an important part of that equation. Apprenticeships can be an incredible opportunity for businesses and workers alike. They allow employers to build a pipeline of qualified workers while equipping job seekers with the specific skills they need to find and keep good-paying jobs. Oftentimes, they provide skills that are portable and meaningful anywhere in the country, giving workers more freedom to transfer between companies and industries. In my home State of Washington, investments and apprenticeships have been shown to give a higher return on investment than any other job training program, returning $23 for each dollar that is invested. It is important to remember these investments not only have an incredible impact on our economy but also on people's lives by helping them become more self-sufficient through specialized training and increased earning potential. I appreciate my colleague's bipartisan support for this amendment, and I urge its passage in the underlying legislation.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the great work of a constituent, Mr. William M. Overby. During a career spanning more than 32 years with State Parks, Bill served in several park ranger and management assignments throughout the state, and managed the Deception Pass Area for the final 20 years of his career. While serving at Deception Pass, Bill began his association with Skagit Valley College as an instructor in its Parks Resources Management and the Criminal Justice programs, becoming a lead instructor the last 26 years. In July 2003, he began serving as the Department Chair of the Criminal Justice program. Bill provided his passion and skills to Washington state, serving a five-year term as the charter Chair of the Washington State Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Council. He is also the recipient of the prestigious President's Award by the Washington Recreation and Park Association. Bill's leadership and commitment to training the next generation of the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and State Patrol members is admirable and his service will continue to benefit our communities for years to come. As Bill enters his retirement journey, I wish him the very best in whatever his next venture may be.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, this destructive legislation hurts middle class families and threatens massive disruption to our healthcare system. And it has only gone from bad to worse. Stripping protections from 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions isn't just wrong, it is inhumane. Nobody in this country should go bankrupt trying to afford the medical care they need to stay alive. This isn't about politics; it is about human decency and who we are as Americans. It is about people like Jackie, a cancer survivor from Snohomish who says the Affordable Care Act saved her life. She wrote to me saying: ``My cancer recurred, but I was covered. I was able to complete my treatments without having to worry about how to put food on the table. Or being left to die. Because of the ACA, I survived.'' We all have stories like this in our districts, but some of my colleagues aren't listening. I hope they find the courage and the wisdom to vote ``no'' on this dangerous legislation.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's first 100 days have been chaos and confusion for American families and businesses. One thing is clear: he has consistently ignored the middle class. His budget decimates programs like Meals on Wheels. His tax plan is a huge giveaway to the wealthiest few. And now, he is trying to eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions. The Republican's latest bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act would be devastating. And as I have heard from constituents--hundreds of constituents throughout my district--getting sick should never mean going bankrupt, like Christine, from Kirkland, who was born with a congenital heart defect and relies on costly medical care to stay alive. She told me her condition is, ``a cruel reality that is nobody's fault. But it is malicious and disgraceful that we might face financial ruin for me to stay alive.'' President Trump spent his first 100 days putting families like Christine's in jeopardy. This must change in the next 100 days for Christine and so many others.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and the underlying legislation, and I urge my colleagues to take a step back and consider the unintended consequences of this legislation. As a former member of the Judiciary Committee, I had the opportunity to hear firsthand from a very diverse range of stakeholders on their experiences in dealing with the Copyright Office, and one of the most common refrains I heard was the dire need for modernizing the Office and updating their IT systems to be more user-friendly. So I was very disturbed to learn recently that 6 years and nearly $12 million were wasted on yet another failed government IT project, this time at the Copyright Office. This waste of taxpayer dollars is unacceptable, and any legislation to reform the Office ought to have successful modernization as its primary goal. This legislation fails that test. H.R. 1695 sets back the clock on considerable progress that has been made already under the leadership of the new Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden. The bill puts the power to appoint the head of the Copyright Office in the hands of a President who, as of February, still had around 2,000 appointments sitting empty. This kind of delay will set back the Office when it is finally on the right track. And to what end? It seems that this bill is just another solution in search of a problem. A vote for this bill is a vote to stop progress, a vote to continue to waste tax dollars, and a vote to add one more person to the list of positions that President Trump seems to have no interest in filling. I am very concerned that this is a misguided experiment without a clear purpose and that taxpayers will be the ones who foot the bill when it doesn't succeed. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Donnetta Walser. Donnetta spent her life dedicated to improving her local community. Her 28 years as an educator, including many in the Monroe School District, is a testament to her steadfast commitment to her students. After her career in public education, Donnetta spent 32 years in public service, serving on the Monroe City Council, Monroe Civil Service Commission, U.S. 2 Safety Coalition, Snohomish County Senior Services Board of Directors, Snohomish County League of Women Voters, and two terms as the Mayor of Monroe. Donnetta had such a positive impact on so many people throughout our community. Her kind and compassionate spirit and willingness to take on tough tasks will surely be missed. Although she has passed on, her memory and impact will continue to live on. My heart goes out to her husband: Fred; her sons and daughters-in- law: Scott and Stacey and Matt and Kimberly; her grandchildren; and all of her family and friends.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, if Republicans crafted legislation that lived up to the promise of insurance for everybody, they would have broad bipartisan support. But that is not what they did. This bill threatens massive disruption and chaos, not only to our healthcare system, but to middle class families, families who sit at their kitchen table trying to figure out how to pay their mortgage, buy groceries, and also get health coverage for their kids. This Republican bill does nothing to help them. In their rush to check a political box, Republicans have crafted legislation that does nothing but hurt working Americans, and, in the last 24 hours, it has gone from bad to worse. Make no mistake, the changes made in the 11th hour to appease the most extreme Members of Congress have put lifesaving care even further out of reach. Some may use alternative facts, but this is reality, and the reality is that their bill robs $75 billion from Medicare, forces older Americans to pay five times more than others, and shifts $312 billion in out-of-pocket costs onto middle class families. But this is about more than numbers. It is about people like Rachel, from Kirkland, Washington, who suffered a heart attack and blood clot at the age of 35. She now depends on frequent tests, medications and doctors' visits to stay healthy. Thankfully, it is all covered by her insurance. Rachel told me: ``I'm horrified by the talking point that equates repealing the Affordable Care Act with getting freedom back. For me, the loss of the ACA gives me nothing but the freedom to die sooner and worry more.'' I am not voting against this bill because it is a Republican bill. I am voting ``no'' for families like Rachel's. Health care doesn't need to be a partisan issue, and I stand ready and willing to work on commonsense solutions that expand coverage and reduce costs. But I was sent here to make my constituents' lives better. This bill does not do that. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, last night, House Republicans released a dangerous and irresponsible bill that threatens to destabilize our Nation's healthcare system and rob millions of Americans of their health insurance plans. Since coming to Congress, I have worked tirelessly to find commonsense fixes to our Nation's healthcare laws. We should be working together to build upon the reforms we have already made to expand coverage and reduce costs. But what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have put forward would make working families, seniors, children, and people with disabilities foot the bill for their poorly conceived experiment. What is worse, they are giving our constituents and their Representatives in Congress less than 48 hours to review it before jamming it through committees. As a former businesswoman and entrepreneur, I am always stunned to see leaders in Congress put forward a half-baked plan like this--one that threatens massive disruption and chaos, released in the middle of the night without any data or metrics to show how it makes literally anything better. In the private sector, that is the sort of behavior that can get you fired. For a moment, let's put aside the fact that committees are planning to mark up this legislation tomorrow without any data from the Congressional Budget Office on how many of our constituents can expect to lose health coverage or see their taxes go up. Let's talk about the one thing we do know: this bill is an enormous tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. Through this bill, Republicans are trying to give an average tax cut of around $7 million to the 400 highest-income households--a tax cut they don't need and didn't ask for. They are doing it while ripping health insurance away from millions of hardworking Americans; forcing seniors to pay a staggering $3,200 more on premiums every year, for less coverage; increasing the cost of prescription drugs for middle class families; eliminating coverage for women's health care, like birth control, breast cancer screenings, and maternity care; and decimating the Medicaid program for 62 million children and families, seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. This is hardly what I would call a great deal or a better way for the middle class, which is what the American people were repeatedly promised by President Trump and Speaker Ryan. No, their idea of a healthcare plan is a tax cut for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. When our healthcare system falls apart, we will all pay the price. My in-box has been flooded with phone calls, emails, and letters from constituents who are terrified about what the Republicans are trying to do. Like Stacie, from Snoqualmie, who got coverage under the Washington State exchange after spending years struggling to pay for health care. She recently wrote to me and said: ``Just last week I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am terrified--not as much by the cancer, but by the thought that we might not be able to pay for health insurance.'' This bill spells disaster for people like Stacie. As her representative in Congress, I will not stand for it. I will fight every day to protect the reforms that have made health insurance accessible and affordable for her. We can't go back to a time when getting sick meant going bankrupt, and that is exactly what this legislation would do.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, too often we forget that the Affordable Care Act is about more than numbers. It is about real people. So for the next 6 weeks, I will be highlighting the voices of my constituents who have flooded my inbox with heart-wrenching stories about why the law must be preserved, constituents like Paul from Snohomish, whose son-in-law died of cancer before the Affordable Care Act. His disease started small, but, growing up, his family couldn't afford insurance, and he delayed seeking care. By the time he got a job with health coverage, the disease had progressed too far, and he died at the age of 29. Paul wrote to me and said: ``The certificate of death says my son-in-law died from cancer, but I believe he died from a broken healthcare system.'' We can't go back to a time when getting sick meant going bankrupt. Across the country, Americans like Paul are telling Congress not to repeal the Affordable Care Act. We should heed their advice.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing important legislation to ensure that all perpetrators of child abuse are held accountable. It closes a Federal loophole that wrongly denies justice for some survivors, like Penny Saum from Washington State. Last month, I heard from Penny directly about the horrific abuses she faced at the hands of her father. He was convicted, sentenced to prison, and ordered to pay $5 million in damages. But because he is a military retiree, Federal law has shielded him from paying a cent of the restitution that he owes. It is unacceptable. Congress already passed a law in 1994, holding Federal retirees accountable for abusing a child. Now it is our responsibility to apply the same standard to all perpetrators. I am honored to be working with my colleague from Washington State, Congresswoman Herrera Beutler, to close this heartbreaking loophole. In these challenging times, this is exactly the kind of bipartisan solution we can all work together on.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, another week, another attack on women's health. Only 6 days ago, the Senate confirmed a Secretary of Health and Human Services who opposes women's access to no-cost birth control--a man who claimed that not one woman has struggled to afford contraception. Now, House leaders are working to eradicate the number of places where women can access birth control. It is unacceptable. For more than 40 years, title X has been a bipartisan program that helps vulnerable Americans get basic health care like cancer screenings, HIV tests, and contraception. In 2014 alone, it prevented over 900,000 unintended pregnancies. But if this resolution passes, millions will find themselves without access to the essential care that they need, especially those in rural and underserved communities. I have said it before and I will say it again: Our constituents deserve better. It is time to focus on the priorities that matter to the American people. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent some of our nation's leading innovators in Congress, who are pioneering unprecedented improvements in manufacturing and infrastructure from Washington's First Congressional District. The exciting work being conducted by forward-thinking companies like Modumetal, a woman-owned business in Washington state, has the potential to lower the long-term costs of rehabilitating our roads and bridges while also making them safer and longer-lasting. Christina Lomasney, co-founder of Modumetal, published an open letter to President Trump on January 6, 2017, highlighting the importance of performance-based standards as he begins to work with Congress on investments in our infrastructure. I am pleased to share her letter with my colleagues, as we look to develop infrastructure solutions that will allow us to get the best return on our investments. President-elect Trump, on election night, you promised cheering supporters, ``We're going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none.'' As we move from the script of campaigning to the act of execution, you may find a more challenging landscape than your statement belies. That's not because you won't endeavor to achieve nor that Congress won't collaborate with you to fund. But the challenge of bringing the United States back to a ``top 10'' infrastructure position in the world, much less number one, is one that many have tried and failed and that could, in present reality, undermine the solvency of our Nation. In the span of the decade that precedes your Administration, we have fallen from 1st place in Global Competitiveness, according to the World Economic Forum, to between 3rd and 7th place. This has been attributed in great part to the decades-long decline in the viability and competitiveness of our national infrastructure. (We've not even been in the top 10 of transportation infrastructures for several years). More to the point, to keep up with expected infrastructure decline, the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates we'll need to spend $3.6 trillion just in the next five years. This estimate doesn't get us to 1st place, this just keeps us from failing further! Why has this issue of infrastructure become such a burden to competitiveness and our deficit? For one thing, if we continue rehabilitating our infrastructure as we have, our Nation will be stuck installing and repairing infrastructure using outdated technology from the 1930s. Today, through the Departments of Transportation at state and federal levels, the regulatory frameworks for materials of construction define requirements that, in most cases, were set several decades to almost a century ago. For a case in point, hot-dipped galvanizing, one of the most commonly used corrosion resistant coatings technologies in the world, was specified in 1928. This specification (ASTM A123) is still actively required by most state and federal DOTs around the country. Epoxy-coated rebar, considered a ``new'' and now widely specified technology, was finally specified for use in the 1970s, and that only after over 20 years of field trials and testing. As these regulations are defined as a snapshot in time-- focusing on how the materials are manufactured instead of how they should perform--new technologies that offer better performance and cost advantages can't currently qualify for major infrastructure programs. And, since it takes about 17 years to take a new technology through the regulatory specification cycle, most innovative technologies fail to ever reach beyond the test phase, much less to ever achieve full scale deployment. Using these last-century manufacturing techniques means we have to use more metal and spend more, when more durable and safer innovation would work. It means that now and for the foreseeable future, infrastructure requires more frequent replacement or the possibility of major failure when degradation and corrosion set in. Why is it so important we employ the best-available metals technology? Because corrosion is a quiet infrastructure killer. Corrosion degrades--sometimes catastrophically. When you read about bridge collapses and unsafe structures, think corrosion. Corrosion is a budget-buster--using lower quality metals which corrode quickly creates a ruinous cycle of more maintenance and faster required replacement of our infrastructure. The National Association of Corrosion Engineers pegs the direct cost of corrosion in the U.S. at over 4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of our Nation. Innovative companies across our Nation have answered the call to improve America's infrastructure by reinventing the metals industry. As an example, our nanolaminated metals-- using a different manufacturing technique than traditional metals--corrode significantly less, are stronger and lighter, and can require less energy and materials to produce. At Modumetal, we have demonstrated structures that resist corrosion thirty times longer for the same basic cost as the currently-specified materials. This means our bridges could last hundreds of years instead of decades. The net result: safer, longer-lasting infrastructure for less money. Mr. President-Elect, you have the opportunity now to work with Congress to approve legislation that incentives industries to use innovative materials of construction, based on safer performance-based specifications. Such legislation could provide an incentive tax credit for technologies that extend the life and performance of our infrastructure, thus encouraging competition and adoption of best-performing, lowest-cost, state-of-the-art corrosion mitigation technologies for our Nation's infrastructure and industrial applications. You don't have to accept the status quo, and I hope that our Government will work together to seek and take on the challenge of innovating, to achieve a national infrastructure that is second to none, at a price that will be sustainable for generations.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, this weekend, millions of women marched across the country to send a clear signal to Congress and President Trump: Hear our voices and protect our rights. Yet here we are, just 2 days later, voting on the same extremist policies that House leaders have been pushing for years. Women will not be fooled. We know H.R. 7 is another direct attack on our health and our families. It creates sweeping new restrictions on abortion care for women who purchase coverage under the Affordable Care Act, with no meaningful exceptions to protect a woman's health. That means women like Stephanie, from my district, who faced heartbreaking complications during her wanted pregnancy, would be left without coverage for the doctor-recommended care she needed. We should not be injecting ideology into a woman's personal medical decisions. This bill is an insult to the millions of women who marched this weekend, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this reckless budget resolution. Congress had an opportunity to start on a bipartisan note, to work on creating jobs, building an economy that works for everyone, and investing in our infrastructure. Instead, House Republicans are ringing in the new year by repealing the Affordable Care Act, stripping more than 20 million people of their health insurance. What is worse, there is still no plan for what comes next, threatening massive disruption to the entire healthcare system. I offered a number of amendments to this legislation, none of which were allowed a vote today. My amendments would have stopped this dangerous process from moving forward if the Republican budget reduces access to treatment for those suffering from addiction, reduces access to health care in rural areas, forces seniors to pay more for care, or privatizes Medicare. I also cosponsored an amendment by Congresswoman Lee to protect women's access to reproductive health and family planning services. Apparently, the majority is not concerned with these issues. Before the ACA, the situation was unacceptable. It was a time when people went bankrupt because they got sick, when individuals with preexisting medical conditions found it virtually impossible to obtain affordable coverage. But now, more than 120 million Americans with preexisting conditions are no longer denied coverage, and young adults can stay on their parents' plans until they are 26. Over 10 million seniors have received help with their prescription drug payments, and all insurance plans are required to cover preventative services with no copayments. Rather than focusing on commonsense reforms to strengthen the ACA, Republicans want to eliminate vital lifesaving policy with no plan for what comes next. I strongly urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Article V: ``The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several States . . .''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, at this very moment, House and Senate leaders are working on a dangerous plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and strip more than 20 million Americans of their health insurance. And if they succeed, it will have devastating consequences for our constituents, particularly women. Repealing the ACA means allowing insurance companies to charge women more, simply for being a woman; endangering access to care for 65 million women with preexisting conditions; and stripping more than 55 million women of free preventative care, like birth control and cancer screenings. It is easy to forget how broken the system was before the Affordable Care Act. But make no mistake: dismantling it now means being a woman will once again be treated as a preexisting condition. It will mean fewer options, less access, and higher costs for tens of millions of women. We should be building on the progress we have made, not turning back the clock. Women deserve better.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition. This resolution provides an additional $800,000 of taxpayer money to a select investigative panel that should never have been created in the first place. As a member of that panel, I can tell you it has been nothing more than a bully pulpit for the majority to spread extreme anti-choice falsehoods and fabrications, with no basis in reality. This so-called investigation has repeatedly shown contempt for the facts and disdain for the truth. Instead of carrying out a fair and evidence-based process, the panel has spent the last year publicly targeting women's healthcare providers, bullying scientists and medical students, delaying medical research, and trying to cut off lines of scientific inquiry, all because the majority opposes a woman's constitutional right to choose. Now we are voting to double the panel's budget. It is ridiculous. No one in this Chamber should be condoning this kind of harassment and intimidation, let alone approving hundreds of thousands of additional taxpayer dollar to do so. This has been a brazenly partisan and ideological witch hunt, and it should have been shut down months ago. Rather than wasting another $800,000 on this dangerous panel, Congress could use that money to provide more than 270,000 school lunches to low-income students, purchase nearly 12,000 textbooks to make higher education more affordable for college students, or purchase more than 3 million diapers to help new mothers care for their babies. But instead, that money will go toward intimidating doctors, harassing researchers, and delaying the progress of science. It is shameful. We shouldn't throw good many after bad by passing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of State Senator Andy Hill from Redmond, Washington. After beating lung cancer in 2009, he turned toward a bright future in public service. He was elected to represent the 45th Legislative District of Washington in 2010. Senator Hill, a tough negotiator who fought strongly for conservative principles, served as the Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Senator Hill has been praised by people from both parties for his sharp intellect and tireless work ethic. He led bipartisan budgets for our State and education was his top priority. He made much needed reforms to the State's mental-health system and helped reduce the waitlist for services for people with developmental disabilities. Senator Hill was a devoted father and husband. My heart goes out to his family--his wife, Molly, and his children, Allie, Charlie, and Katie. While the State of Washington has lost a well-respected leader and dedicated public servant, I cannot imagine the loss they must feel. Senator, you will be greatly missed.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor First Lieutenant Jeffrey D. Cooper from Mill Creek, Washington. Lieutenant Cooper died on September 10, 2016, while serving in Kuwait. He was serving in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, a part of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Lieutenant Cooper was just 25 years old. He joined the Army in June 2013 and had been assigned at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, since July 2015. Lieutenant Cooper was an infantry officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. While no words can hope to ease the pain and grief of his loss, my heart goes out to Lieutenant Cooper's parents--Master Sergeant Douglas Cooper and Diane Cooper--and all his loved ones. This was a tragic loss of a brave young man who was ready and willing to give his life for our great nation. Our country mourns with you. Let us take a moment of silence to honor his life and service.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a very heavy heart. On Friday night, there was a tragic shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, where five people were killed. The victims included a 16-year-old cancer survivor from Mount Vernon High School, a dedicated public servant from Arlington and her 95-year- old mother, a Boeing employee from Lake Stevens, and a Macy's cosmetic counter worker. As our community comes together during this difficult time, our region grieves for the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragedy. We will always remember Sarai Lara, Belinda Galde, Beatrice Dotson, Chuck Eagan, and Shayla Martin. I want to thank our local law enforcement for their long hours searching for the shooter who was apprehended less than 24 hours after the incident. While there is no one law that will prevent every single instance of senseless violence, we must do more to end the tragic cycle of gun violence affecting our communities.

Ms. DelBENE

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

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 3438, which would exempt from the bill any rule related to increasing the affordability of higher education. It is no secret that the rising cost of college is posing grave challenges to students and families across the country. Every year, Americans are being forced to take out higher loan amounts to pay for tuition, fees, textbooks, and housing. Today, student debt totals more than $1.3 trillion. In my home State of Washington, 56 percent of graduates from 4-year universities leave school with debt and, on average, those students owe more than $23,000 upon graduation. At a time when Americans owe more in student loan debt than credit card debt, it is more critical than ever that we prioritize college affordability for all. The issue is personal for me. When I was young, my father lost his job, and my parents never got back on track financially. But thanks to student loans and financial aid, I was still able to get a great education. With that education and hard work, I was able to build a successful career and be in the position that I am in today. We need to make sure students have the same opportunities that were available to us. That starts by protecting the Department of Education's ability to administer vital financial aid programs like Pell grants and Federal student loans. These programs have enabled millions of low-income students to attend college. If we restrict the Department's ability to administer them, we are also endangering the millions of hardworking Americans who rely on their critical support. This year alone, more than 8.4 million low-income students will benefit from Pell grants. Over 20 million student loans will be issued to help students and families afford the cost of college. We cannot put these essential resources at risk. They help ensure higher education is never out of reach, and they must be protected. That is why I am offering this straightforward and narrowly tailored amendment. It simply protects the Department of Education's ability to administer Federal student aid programs that keep college affordable and accessible to all. Today, too many families are struggling to put their kids through college, and we should be making it easier for them, not harder. My amendment will prevent the underlying bill from threatening the vital assistance offered each year through Pell grants, student loans, and other forms of financial aid. Particularly as students are heading back to school in communities across the country, I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.