Suzan DelBene

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. After carefully reviewing all of the evidence and the Articles of Impeachment before us, it is clear that President Trump abused the power of the Presidency and obstructed Congress. I did not come to this conclusion lightly. Impeachment is an extremely serious matter, but no President can be allowed to pressure a foreign country for personal and political gain. No President is above the law. His behavior has jeopardized the integrity of our elections, put our national security at risk, and placed his personal interests above those of the American people. His obstruction has prevented the House from conducting its constitutional duty of oversight of the executive branch. By failing to uphold his oath of office, President Trump forces each of us as Members of the House of Representatives to uphold ours. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do just that, and defend our democracy.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The rising costs of prescription drugs is one of the top issues I hear about from my constituents, and it has been getting worse. This year alone, I have received nearly four times as many calls and letters about prescription drug prices than all of last year. And there are many, many stories, but I would like to share one today to remind us why this legislation is so necessary. A constituent of mine, Dana from Kenmore, Washington, has lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly 14 years. When Dana was first diagnosed, insulin cost her $50 each month. Today that same insulin costs over $600 per month. That is an 1,100 percent increase for the exact same product. We talked about innovation, but there have been virtually no changes to insulin since Dana's diagnosis, so the price spike is inexplicable. Dana is not only a diabetes patient, but she is also a nurse practitioner and a diabetes educator. And she has told me about her patients that go to Canada where they can get insulin for just $40 a month. She has also shared stories of her own patients who can't afford their medications, who ration their insulin, which we know can lead to poorer health, vision loss, kidney failure, and even death. H.R. 3 will finally give the Health and Human Services secretary the power to negotiate a fair price for insulin, which will dramatically help patients like Dana and all the patients that she serves. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I think this bill is all about making sure that we support consumer privacy and that we do it in a streamlined way. So the legislation in this bill would actually make this more secure for consumers. And, again, I reiterate, the underlying legislation, the FAFSA Act, was passed out by the Republican majority and the Senate Finance Committee almost a year ago, and then passed the Senate by unanimous consent shortly after. So it is a truly bipartisan effort. Currently, each year when verifying their income for an income-based repayment plan, students have to manually go into their FAFSA account and submit their IRS documents. They are submitting those documents. The FAFSA Act would create a more secure way for folks to have their IRS information be sent to the Department of Education for verification by having their data go directly. That is a more secure and streamlined process. That streamlined process means that 8 to 9 million applicants who are currently unable to access their IRS data for their FAFSA applications for verification, that means this process will be automated and they would be able to move forward with going to school and receiving the support that they need. So, I strongly disagree with the concerns the gentleman raised. This is strengthening security, strengthening privacy. Also, students and parent borrowers always have the opportunity to opt out of that transfer. They consent to it originally. They can opt out of that transfer, if they so wish, later on. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge folks to support this bill, which strengthens privacy and supports streamlining for parents and students.

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Adams for her incredible work on this legislation. Yesterday, I reintroduced an updated version of the Faster Access to Federal Student Aid Act, also known as the FAFSA Act. My bill, through better integration with the Department of Education and the IRS, would simplify the application, verification, and student loan repayment process. My bill also provides a more secure way for taxpayer data to be shared between the IRS and the Department of Education for the purposes of verifying income for applicants requesting or renewing eligibility for income-driven loan repayment plans. My home State of Washington ranged 48 in FAFSA application completion among high school seniors last year, leaving millions of dollars in grants to attend college on the table. With the ever-rising cost of education, that is unacceptable. Each year, roughly 19 percent of borrowers in income-driven repayment fail to recertify their income on time, resulting in payment spikes and interest capitalization for approximately 1.3 million borrowers. This important legislation is the first step in reducing the burdensome verification process for students and parents filing for aid, addressing a difficult challenge many students face accessing and affording higher education. I am honored to be working with my colleagues in the Senate, Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray, to simplify and streamline the FAFSA application process and increase access to higher education for students across the country. This bipartisan approach to FAFSA simplification has been a long time coming. I am pleased we were able to get the entirety of my bill included in the FUTURE Act, which I urge my colleagues to support today. In these challenging times, this kind of bipartisan solution is something that we can all support.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Stan Jones, Sr., Scho-Hallem, a former leader of Washington state's Tulalip Tribes who passed away this month at the age of 93. Like many Native households during the 1930s, Stan grew up poor, often without access to running water or electricity. But Stan persevered, and made the brave decision to join the U.S. Marines Corps when he was 17-years-old. He served during World War II in the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division in the Pacific. He was sent to Nagasaki, Japan not long after the Atomic bomb was dropped on the city. Upon returning home, Stan began his life's work improving the lives of his people. He served on the Tulalip Board of Directors for 44 years, including 26 years as Chairman. Stan travelled across the country and the world representing Tulalip, teaching people about the rich history and culture of his tribe. During his time on the Board, Stan met with legislators, presidents, and foreign leaders to advocate on behalf of his people. His work helped his community to thrive and the tribal payroll grew from three to today's 3,500 employees during his tenure. As his daughter Teri said, ``Dad lived and breathed Tulalip.'' Stan was a pillar of the Tulalip community. His dedication and commitment to his people will never be forgotten.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Monte Marti, the district manager at the Snohomish Conservation District and valued member of our community, in honor of his retirement on August 9th, 2019. Mr. Marti has a long history of active participation in the betterment and support of Snohomish County in Washington state. Raised on a farm in the Columbia Basin in Eastern Washington, Mr. Marti's interest in agriculture and our environment began early in his life. He pursued this path academically, achieving a Master's degree in Agriculture Economics with an emphasis on natural resources from Washington State University. That was certainly not the end of Mr. Marti's work in conservation. In 1983, Mr. Marti began volunteering at the Snohomish Conservation District, becoming a volunteer board member. Almost a decade later, he took on another volunteer position as secretary-treasurer for the Washington Association of Conservation Districts. His illustrious career continued as he served on the WACD Plant Material Center Advisory Board, and finally as the district manager at Washington's own Snohomish Conservation District. I cannot fully express how much his dedication to our state and our community means to all who have the pleasure of meeting him. For the past 25 years, Mr. Marti has never ceased his conservation efforts. As district manager he worked tirelessly to build strong relationships between with environmental groups and his reputation as a collaborator is well deserved. Thanks to Mr. Marti's interest in agriculture and natural resources, he brought passion to his work that will not be forgotten, and will be greatly missed. Thank you, Mr. Marti, for your unwavering love of our state, our region, and the importance of conservation.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019. This legislation has been a bipartisan goal since I came to Congress in 2012, the permanent repeal of the Cadillac tax. The original design of the Cadillac tax was meant to be a narrowly targeted tax on the most extravagant plans. Instead, the tax will hit working families for a variety of factors far beyond their control. That includes age, geography, and occupation. A recent analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the Cadillac tax will impact over 20 percent of employers when the tax goes into effect in 2022. When flexible spending account contributions are included, that number jumps to over 30 percent and would affect just under half of all workers by 2030. While the intended goal of the Cadillac tax was to put downward pressure on plan costs, the mechanics of the tax will simply put more costs onto working families in the form of higher deductibles and greater cost-sharing so employers can avoid the tax. Madam Speaker, I remind my colleagues that healthcare costs are a top concern of the American people, and today we can take a meaningful step to address that concern. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Nevada.

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan F. Boyle).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Judy Chu).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 748. The ERISA Industry Committee, Washington, DC, July 15, 2019. Dear Member of Congress: This week, the House is expected to vote on H.R. 748, the ``Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019.'' The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) is the only national trade association that advocates exclusively for large employer plan sponsors on health, retirement, and compensation public policies on the federal, state, and local levels. ERIC member companies employ workers in every state and community and provide health coverage that is valued and relied upon by families across the country. ERIC urges members of Congress to vote YES and support this legislation. H.R. 748, supported by more than 360 cosponsors in the House, would eliminate the impending 40% ``Cadillac'' excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health insurance. The tax does not target overly-generous benefits; instead, it attacks plans based upon their costs. As such, plans that insure more individuals with chronic conditions, more seniors, more women, and populations more likely to incur health care costs will be unfairly taxed at an unsustainable rate--as will those based parts of the country where health care is more expensive. If Congress fails to repeal the Cadillac tax, employers may have to: Directly shift costs to employees. This could include increasing the portion of the plan premium employees pay, increasing deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Eliminate employer contributions to consumer-directed accounts. This includes Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Reduce access to care. This includes tightening networks and excluding high-cost providers, implementing barriers to high cost treatments and providers (step therapy, prior authorization), moving expensive medicines deeper into Rx formularies, and eliminating coverage for some medications. Eliminate coverage for spouses and dependents, and separate out or eliminate excepted benefits. These include dental, vision, hospital indemnity, cancer-only, or other ``add-on'' benefits. Drastically redesign plans. For instance, ending preferred provider organization (PPO) or similar plans, and implementing a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) or a health maintenance organization (HMO). Eliminate investments in health. Investments that plan sponsors make to improve health may save money later, but the costs of those investments could be considered to add value to the plan. As such, plans may consider eliminating on-site clinics, wellness programs, telehealth benefits, health information technology investments, and other health improvement efforts that have up-front costs. As we have previous reported to Congress, the Cadillac tax is an existential threat to employer-sponsored health benefits. Repealing the Cadillac tax is ERIC's top priority on behalf of our member companies. While employers support efforts to reduce health care costs, a tax on benefits will do the opposite, making health insurance less affordable for workers, their families, and retirees. As such, when H.R. 748 comes to a vote, ERIC urges members to vote YES. We look forward to working with Congress to finally repeal this damaging tax, to ensure affordability of health benefits for patients. Sincerely, James P. Gelfand.

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), the lead sponsor of this legislation.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, a little over 5 years ago, on March 22, 2014, Washington State experienced one of the worst natural disasters to date. In a matter of seconds, a tragic landslide near Oso killed 43 people, destroyed over 40 homes, and severely damaged public infrastructure and private property. That day forever changed the people of Oso, Darrington, Arlington, and the Stillaguamish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes. They are an inspiring community who did everything possible and came together to help their neighbors. The Federal Government declared a major disaster in the State of Washington and made sure that Federal resources were available to supplement State, Tribal, and local recovery efforts. While the recovery was slow, these agencies responded to calls for aid when our communities needed roads rebuilt, an extension to file taxes, assistance to get kids to school, or to find new housing. Unfortunately, this type of event is not unique to Oso or to Washington State. Every State in the country faces some amount of landslide risk, a risk that has not been well identified or addressed when compared to earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods. Substantial work needs to be done to gain a better understanding of landslides and their potential impacts in order to reduce losses of life and property. According to the U.S. Geological Survey and National Research Council, landslides result in an estimated 20 to 50 deaths and between $1 billion and $2 billion of damage each year. There is no one collective landslide inventory for most counties, States, or the entire country, and there isn't an agreed-upon methodology for creating one. The establishment of a program addressing landslide hazards as well as increased funding for mapping, education, and risk assessment is crucial and could help save many lives, homes, and infrastructure in the future. We need to do more to ensure that we fund programs and research efforts to prevent future natural disasters from becoming national tragedies. That is why I introduced this bill, the National Landslide Preparedness Act. This legislation would establish a National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program through the U.S. Geological Survey to better identify and understand landslide risks, protect communities and property, improve emergency preparedness, and, most importantly, save lives. My bill would also direct the USGS to implement a 3D Elevation Program to update and coordinate the collection of enhanced high-resolution elevation data across the country. This is crucial for numerous reasons: To help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards; To update the Nation's topographical maps; and To inform a myriad of uses, including public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, administration, agriculture, and natural resource management. Currently, much of the country still relies on data collected more than 30 years ago using older technologies that do not provide the same resolution and benefits. It is time that landslide hazards are addressed properly and in a collaborative fashion. This legislation will allow significant progress to be made in landslide science and will allow communities to be better prepared for when landslides do occur. We will never forget those who were lost in the slide and the incredible community that worked so hard to rebuild. Five years ago at the Oso firehouse, President Obama said that the Nation was with the community every step of the way in the rebuilding process. Part of that process is making sure we do everything in our power to make sure that all communities have the necessary information to be better prepared for dangerous landslides. Mr. Speaker, given the importance of this issue to communities across the country, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise today in support of the SECURE Act. It is time that we address the retirement crisis in our country. The SECURE Act takes several important steps to make it easier for Americans to save for retirement, and one important example is helping provide retirement benefit opportunities to home care workers. Home care workers provide critical services for the elderly and disabled. Their service is vital to ensure that patients under their care lead a dignified life, and it is only right that they are able to have a secure retirement. The SECURE Act fixes a tax inequity that unintentionally prohibits many home care workers from participating in a 401(k) or contributing to an IRA. If we do not pass the SECURE Act, between 15,000 and 30,000 workers in my home State of Washington could be kicked out of their defined contribution plan. With passage of the SECURE Act, home care workers will rightfully have the same opportunity to save for retirement as other workers. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to join my colleagues in passing the Equality Act, which ensures that LGBTQ Americans are treated equally. In more than half our Nation, LGBTQ Americans can still be fired, denied credit, and evicted from their home simply based on who they are and whom they love. It happened to someone in my State. He was a volleyball coach at a college in Virginia. They had just finished their most successful season when he was fired without explanation. Unfortunately, in Virginia, there are no employment protections for being LGBTQ, so he and his family moved to Washington State where there are protections for LGBTQ workers, and they are thriving. Not everyone can just pack up and leave, and they shouldn't have to. That is why we need to guarantee that LGBTQ Americans have equal rights and protections in all 50 States, no exceptions. I urge the Senate to take action and pass the Equality Act so all Americans are treated equally.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. Washington's First District is home to some of our Nation's most beautiful parks, mountains, and waterways, and we are already seeing the consequences of climate change: Snowpack in the north Cascades is currently 20 to 40 percent below normal amounts; Last year, wildfires ravaged the West Coast, resulting in poor air quality and public health issues; Washington State just had the second driest March on record, and there is a greater likelihood of more fires through the summer. This is why Congress must take action and pass H.R. 9. We need to be moving forward, not backward. President Trump's statement of intent to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement is a grave mistake that would have lasting effects on our planet and our economy. H.R. 9 is an important step forward, ensuring the United States upholds our commitments under the agreement and leads in the green economy. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and the underlying legislation.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Sumas, which was voted to have the best-tasting water in Washington State. I congratulate them on this exemplary achievement. On August 29, 2018, the Evergreen Rural Water of Washington held its sixteenth annual Water Taste Test, and the City of Sumas placed first among twenty-three competitors from across Washington state. The judges graded the water samples on taste, odor, and clarity. This is the second time in seven years Sumas has won best-tasting water title in the state. By placing first in Washington State's Water Taste Test, the City of Sumas then qualified for the Great American Water Taste Test, hosted by the National Rural Water Association in Washington, D.C. On February 6, 2019, the City of Sumas' water sample placed fifth in the nation. I am incredibly proud to see the City of Sumas' hard work and efforts be recognized at the state and national levels. Again, I congratulate the City of Sumas on their accomplishments and look forward to enjoying a glass of their water the next time I am in town.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise to call on the President and Senate Republicans to reopen the government. We are now on day 27 of the Trump shutdown, and more and more families are being harmed. 800,000 Federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay--workers from the Forest Service, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Patrol, and TSA. These workers clock in every day to make sure the rest of us are safe, and they can't count on a paycheck. Federal employees aren't the only ones impacted. I recently met with a small business in my district that works on Federal contracts supporting space exploration and research, a growing industry. Because of the shutdown, they haven't been paid for work they have already done, forcing this small business to lay off 20 percent of its workforce last week. It never had to happen. Every day, this shutdown the President is so proud of hurts more families and businesses. It must end.

Ms. DelBENE

Ms. DelBENE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Theodor Baseler, who will be retiring next month from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Mr. Baseler began his career over thirty-four years ago, serving as a marketing professional before becoming the president and CEO of Ste. Michelle in 2001. His vision and leadership for Ste. Michelle, and the industry in general, fueled the evolution of the Washington wine industry. Ste. Michelle was almost exclusively a Washington-focused company when Mr. Baseler was named president and CEO. Through his work, the company expanded to become the third-largest premium wine company in the U.S., propelling Washington to become the nation's second-largest wine producing state. Mr. Baseler also attracted some of the world's greatest winemakers to come to Washington to make wine; including Marchese Piero Antinori of Italy, Ernst Loosen of Germany, and Michel Gassier and Philippe Cambie of France. Mr. Baseler's unwavering commitment to quality resulted in wines lauded by critics, including Wine Spectator magazine's coveted ``No. 1 Wine in the World'' title for the Columbia Crest 2005 Reserve Cabemet Sauvignon in 2009. For all of his success, Mr. Baseler has received several awards including ``Man of the Year'' from Wine Enthusiast magazine in 2009, being named one of the ``20 Most Admired People in the North American Wine Industry'' by Vineyard & Winery Management magazine in 2013, the Seattle-King County First Citizen Award for community leadership in 2015, and the Executive Excellence Award by Seattle Business magazine in 2018. Mr. Baseler is not only a business leader, but remains a community advocate for higher education. He spearheaded the establishment of the world-class Wine Science Center at Washington State University, which was later named the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center, and is a member of the Washington University Board of Regents. He has also helped to generate more than $3 million in scholarship funds to students in need. I want to congratulate Theodor Baseler on his well-deserved recognition, and I thank him for being a leader in the local community.