Mark DeSaulnier

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Willie Mims. Mr. Speaker, throughout Mr. Mims' life he has shown his commitment to educating, serving, and empowering residents of the community that I have represented for some time now in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1963, Willie began engaging in local politics, advocating for the Rumford Fair Housing Act, which aimed to combat racial discrimination in housing in California. He went on to obtain his teaching credentials and had a long career in teaching with the Vallejo City Unified School District. Willie is also an original member of Pittsburg's Black Political Association and part of the executive committee of the East Contra Costa County Branch of the NAACP. He was instrumental in the creation of the Antioch Unified School District's African American Male Achievement Initiative, which sought to address racial disparities in education. Willie received the Dr. Martin Luther King Freedom Fighter Award in 2008 in recognition of his many efforts to promote racial justice and equity. Willie is a true leader and friend. We are grateful for the positive impact that his work has had across our community. Please join me in recognizing Willie for his many years of devoted service to his community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose H.R. 1. H.R. 1 reverses our hard- fought progress for clean water, and it also severely undermines States' abilities to protect water quality under the Clean Water Act. Under this bill, States like California would have their hands tied in their efforts to maintain water quality for drinking, recreation, and protecting our natural environments. California has always been a leader in clean water issues, and this bill is a direct assault on our efforts to counteract pollution and protect both public health and the health of the environment. What is more, H.R. 1 will dangerously limit States from protecting their own natural resources and bodies of water. It will limit California's efforts to conserve water, which is especially important given the extreme drought that we were in and will continue to see in the face of changing climate. Maintaining section 401 of the Clean Water Act is vital. My friends on the other side of the aisle claim the proposed changes in the bill will prevent States from hijacking the permitting process and preventing important energy projects. However, in the past 50 years, California State water agencies have processed thousands of section 401 permit requests without issue. Only a handful each year are denied. The States have utilized this section to rightfully protect against violations of their own State water quality standards. We see this legislation for what it truly is: a giveaway to corporate polluters at the expense of our environment. Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose this bill and the larger movement it stands for. We cannot and should not roll back these bedrock environmental laws.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Alfred ``Al'' Hoffmeister. Throughout his life, Al had shown incredible dedication to his community and his country. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and later in life when he returned home to California, he worked as a metal trading manager at Kaiser Aluminum of Oakland, California. Al worked for Kaiser for 25 years, retiring in 1989. In his retirement, he was a strong advocate for our community's youth, serving as a leader with the YMCA and the Concord American Little League board. He also worked with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Al was dedicated to his faith and was an original member of the St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Concord where he served as an usher for many years. Sadly, Al passed away recently, but he will be remembered for his humility, hardworking nature, and devotion to his family, his community, and this country. Please join me in honoring Alfred Hoffmeister for his many contributions to our country.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Alfred ``Al'' Hoffmeister. Al was born in New York and was named after former governor of New York, Alfred Emanuel Smith. Throughout his life, Al has exemplified his dedication to his community and his country. Al was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps working with B-17 Flying Fortress--China/Burma/India Theater. Following his service, he studied business administration at St. John's University. He then began working as a metal trading manager with Kaiser Aluminum of Oakland, California where he met his future wife, Georgia Belle Davis. Al and Georgia moved to Concord, California in 1962 to start their family and have lived there ever since. Al worked for Kaiser for 25 years, retiring from the organization in 1989. In his retirement, he remained active and engaged with the community. He was a strong advocate for our community's youth, serving as a leader with the YMCA, on the Concord American Little League Board, and working with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Al was also dedicated to his faith and was an original member of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church where he served as an usher for many years. Sadly, Al passed away on December 9, 2022 at the age of 98. He is survived by his wife Georgia, daughter Laura, sons Stephen, Thomas, and Philip, sister Dorothy, and nine grandchildren, Tessa, Hannah, Trent, Hope, Grace, Jacqueline, Johnathan, Matthew, and Erik. He will be remembered for his humility, hard-working nature, and devotion to his family. Please join me in honoring Alfred Hoffmeister for his many contributions to our community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. The Department of Labor's environmental, social, and governance rule is good for retirees, and it is good for the American economy. Allowing ESG considerations can help financial professionals identify investments that will be sustainable in the long term and in the best interest of their clients. The rule is not an ESG mandate. It simply clarifies that the professionals who make investment decisions for retirement plans do not violate their fiduciary duties by merely considering ESG factors. Existing law already says that these professionals' primary purpose is to make the best financial choices for the plans, and this rule does not change that at all. It merely is a recognition that if a company is inherently risky because of the business they do or their internal practices, its stock could suffer in the long run. Just like American consumers can be motivated to disinvest from companies that pollute or mistreat their workers, now investors will have the same abilities. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, I have seen overwhelming support for this rule, especially from the financial industry. Rolling it back would be a significant step backward. I strongly oppose H.J. Res. 30 and encourage all Members to do the same so they can leave retirement plan decisions to the retirees and the professionals they respect and they work with.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of former Mayor of Pleasant Hill Michael Harris as he retires after more than 30 years of service to Contra Costa County. Throughout his career, Michael has shown his steadfast commitment to bettering the lives of Contra Costans and improving our community. He began his career in public service with the Moraga Planning Commission, later going on to serve 4 years on the Moraga Town Council. When Michael moved to Pleasant Hill with his family, he used his skills to serve his new hometown. He was appointed to the Pleasant Hill Planning Commission in 1999 and was a key player in the creation of downtown Pleasant Hill. Thanks to Michael's leadership, the city has grown significantly, allowing businesses to thrive, and fostering a greater sense of community in Pleasant Hill. Michael also spearheaded the city's Community Service Day, allowing residents to unite in an effort to better the community. Further, Michael has worked tirelessly to support our community's youth, establishing the Pleasant Hill Education Initiative to expand educational opportunities in the city and regularly volunteering at local schools. He also served on the Contra Costa County Managed Care Commission, managing the county's healthcare system and advocating for a reliable and effective healthcare system for all Contra Costans. Michael's work has had a profound impact on both Pleasant Hill and the county at large. Outside of his work in government, Michael is also an esteemed optometrist and devoted educator. He serves as Clinical Professor Emeritus and Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. Michael has been a part of UC Berkeley's faculty for over 50 years, training thousands of optometrists and preparing them to enter the field. He has also authored over 200 scientific papers and published 4 books on this subject. Through his professional experience, Michael is able to offer a unique perspective and provide a clear vision of leadership for our community. Please join me in congratulating Michael Harris on his well-deserved retirement after more than 3 decades of outstanding public service to Contra Costa.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, alongside Congressman John Garamendi, to recognize the life and service of former Mayor of El Cerrito, Janet Abelson. Throughout her life, Janet was a fierce advocate for marginalized communities. Janet was a resident of El Cerrito beginning in 1970 and was first elected to the El Cerrito City Council in 1999. She served as mayor in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2017, a record five times, during her tenure with the city. Driven by a genuine passion for service, Janet spearheaded many efforts to advance transportation equity, disability rights, and to improve the lives of seniors within the city. She was a strong supporter of El Cerrito's Student Bus Pass Program, advocating for improved accessibility for all. Janet was also instrumental in modernizing El Cerrito's infrastructure and advocating for the interests of her fellow community members. Among her many achievements, Janet was especially proud of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, a plan she authored which would establish a clear vision for San Pablo Avenue and provide greater opportunities for work and community life in the city. Janet was also a key member of a variety of regional groups, constantly seeking ways to serve Contra Costa families. She worked closely with the League of Women Voters, PTA of Harding and El Cerrito High School, Soroptimist International of El Cerrito, and served as chair of the West Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and the East Bay Division, League of California Cities. Her leadership has been critical in helping to improve quality of life for residents throughout the Bay Area. Sadly, Janet passed away on January 26, 2023 at the age of 76. Janet leaves behind an indelible legacy and her work will continue to have a lasting impact on the West County Community. She will be remembered for her determination, compassion, and for her many contributions to our community. Please join me and Congressman Garamendi in honoring Janet Abelson for her outstanding 23 years of public service to the City of El Cerrito and the Bay Area.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I also thank my partner in this legislation and Chairman Graves for his positive comments. As was mentioned, in 2017 an Air Canada plane at San Francisco International Airport got within 59 feet of crashing into four planes loaded with passengers, putting the lives of more than 1,000 people at risk, which would have been the greatest aviation disaster in American history. When the National Transportation Safety Board investigated, they found that the outdated NOTAM system was the largest part of the near disaster. Since then, I and others have been working with the aviation industry, the FAA, the NTSB, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to address the critical issues with NOTAMs. Updating them and making them more accessible to the people who use them is essential to the safety of the flying public and the confidence of the users. Earlier this month, we learned what happens when there is an outage in the system: chaos and grounded flights. In response to the Air Canada incident, I authored the Safe Landings Act, which would work to improve many aspects of aviation safety technology, including to the NOTAM system. With Members of both parties and the chair and ranking member, we have worked over the years to continue to hold the FAA accountable for the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft. In 2018, we included a requirement in the FAA reauthorization to speed up the modernization of the NOTAM system. Last year, more than 4 years after the provision passed into law, I led a letter with Ranking Member Larsen to the FAA asking why the system was still outdated. The mass flight cancellations that resulted from the outage further emphasized the need to make rigorous and immediate updates to the NOTAMs, and brought public awareness to this critical system. I am proud to have worked with my colleague and friend from Minnesota on this bill in a bipartisan manner and look forward to protecting the safety of the flying public. With the creation of this task force, this will be accomplished.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a good friend and a wonderful professional, Randy Sawyer. Randy has been a dedicated public servant in the county I represent in San Francisco Bay Area, Contra Costa. Contra Costa is home to a heavily industrialized part of the bay area with refineries and chemical plants. Randy has served important roles at the Contra Costa Health Services, beginning as a specialist engineer in the Hazardous Materials Division, then becoming the Chief Environmental Health and Hazardous Materials Officer, and ultimately ending as the Deputy Director. Among Randy's efforts to promote public health, he helped to champion the county's community warning system, one of the best response teams in the State and the country, to alert county residents and businesses when they are impacted or in danger of being impacted by an emergency. He also helped Contra Costa lead the county in refinery safety with his work on the industrial safety ordinance, which I am proud to be an author of. The legacy of Randy's work will continue to protect residents in the bay area for years to come. Please join me in congratulating Randy on his retirement and honoring him for his 30 years of public service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Dr. Chris Farnitano. Dr. Farnitano has dedicated his career and his life to improving the lives of others and advancing wellness and compassionate care in the district that I represent in Contra Costa County and the San Francisco Bay area. Over the course of his 30 years, Chris has served in an important leadership role at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and its clinics and ultimately ended up as the Contra Costa County health officer in 2018. Chris' commitment to promoting public health and well-being in our community is apparent in all of the work he has done. In 1997, he assisted in the development of the Pittsburg Health Center's HIV Medical Clinic, which was the first of its kind in the Nation. Chris was also instrumental in minimizing the spread of the coronavirus in our county and in the region. Chris' work has had significant impact on our community, and our county admires his compassion and his dedication and wishes him well in his retirement.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Delano Johnson as he celebrates his 80th birthday. Delano has dedicated his life to serving and empowering the East County community in Contra Costa, California. Delano is the founder of Bay Point Community All-N-One Inc., a nonprofit founded in 2012 that helps connect Bay Point residents with essential resources including housing, food, clothing, and hygiene products. The organization hosts a weekly event that provides critical support and services to up to 200 families each week. Further, thanks to Delano's leadership, the organization recently hosted a very successful Thanksgiving Giveaway, distributing over 1,000 turkeys and chickens to the community. Delano participates with a number of nonprofits in the area to do more work to better his community, including White Pony Express, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, Village Keepers, and Stand Together Contra Costa. Additionally, Delano regularly hosts meetings between local charities, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations, allowing these groups to easily connect and to better provide for the residents of East County. Delano's hard work and dedication are admired by all who know him. Please join me in recognizing and thanking Delano Johnson for his years of dedicated service as we celebrate his 80th birthday.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Amy Worth, a wonderful constituent and friend. It has been my pleasure to have worked alongside Amy through her many contributions to the bay area and her community. From library commissioner to city council member to mayor to chair of the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Amy has selflessly served the city of Orinda and the bay area for the last 24 years and has served as mayor of Orinda for 5 years. As a member of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, her leadership was critical in a major transportation improvement, the expansion of the Caldecott Tunnel in the east bay, which improved traffic congestion throughout the bay area. She also helped pass Measure J, a transportation sales tax. Her passion and commitment to her family and community are extraordinary. Amy has always been a dear friend and a tenacious force for good in our community and in my life. Please join me in congratulating Amy on her well-deserved retirement and honoring her for her many years of dedicated public service to her community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with Congressman Jerry McNerney and Congressman Mike Thompson to recognize the service of Beverly Lane as she retires from the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Board of Directors. Beverly has been a strong advocate for Contra Costa residents and has worked tirelessly to help this community thrive. As former Mayor of Danville, she was committed to preserving open spaces and bolstering the town's transportation system. Additionally, she spearheaded efforts to protect local sites of cultural and historical significance and to educate others about the Bay Area's rich history through her work with a variety of organizations including the League of Women Voters (California), Central Contra Costa Transportation Authority, California League of Cities, the Oakland Museum of California History, the Contra Costa County Historical Society, and more. She is the author of four books on local history and led efforts to establish the Calaveras Ridge trail as well as an agricultural park in Danville. Beverly has received extensive recognition for her outstanding public service, receiving the Association of Bay Area Governments Growing Smarter Together Award for Distinguished Leadership, Save Mount Diablo's Mountain Star Award, Tri- Valley Hero and Woman of the Year, and many more. Beverly joined the East Bay Regional Park District Board in 1994 representing Ward 6. During her time with EBRPD, she has worked to extend the Iron Horse Trail, establish the Sycamore Valley Open Space Park, and promoted a range of other projects to support our regional parks. Recently, Beverly has played a key role in the creation of Thurgood Marshall Regional Park--Home of the Port Chicago 50. Throughout her tenure with EBRPD, Beverly has continually advocated for improved access to parks and trails and shown her commitment to safeguarding Contra Costa's environment and open spaces. Her dedication and service have helped to connect Contra Costa residents to nature within their own communities, encouraging a healthy lifestyle for all community members. Please join me, Congressman McNerney, and Congressman Thompson in congratulating Beverly on her well-deserved retirement after nearly four decades of service to Contra Costa County.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an ABC news piece titled: ``Lawmakers aim to strengthen transparency in the lucrative--and murky--Federal contracting process.'' [From ABC News] Lawmakers Aim To Strengthen Transparency in the Lucrative--and Murky-- Federal, Contracting Process (By Soo Rin Kim) A bipartisan coalition of senators introduced legislation on Monday meant to improve transparency in the highly competitive and notoriously murky federal contracting process, taking aim at companies that accept lucrative work from government agencies without having to disclose potential conflicts of interest The bill, called the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act would seek to mitigate conflict-of-interest concerns by forcing contractors to ``disclose other parts of their business that conflict with the work they are bidding to perform for the government,'' according to Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. ``If we don't know whether [federal contractors] are serving other, potentially conflicting interest, we can't be confident that Americans are getting exactly what they pay for,'' said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a cosponsor of the bill. For many American companies, federal contracts represent a crucial source of revenue, as well as visibility and credibility. Firms from every major business sector compete for this work, and winners often execute their end of the agreement while pursuing outside business opportunities-- which sometime overlap with their frederal contracts. While existing rules stipulate that government agencies assess potential conflicts of interest before determining contract winners, watchdogs say the process remains opaque. ``Based on current federal contract regulations, agencies cannot always discern whether government contractors have business relationships with foreign governments and private entities that could create a conflict of interest,'' said Noah Bookbinder, president of the nonprofit government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Scott Amey, general counsel for the government ethics watchdog Project on Government Oversight, warned that ``without more guidance, organizational conflicts of interest can result in unfair competitive advantages and biased contract awards--both of which compromise the impartiality of the federal government and the integrity of the contracting process.'' In a press release announcing the new legislation, lawmakers cited reporting in ProPublica that raised conflict- of-interest questions about consulting giant McKinsey & Company's recent work for the Food and Drug Administration. ProPublica reported that in at least one FDA contract, McKinsey allegedly failed to disclose its conflicts of interest with corporate pharmaceutical clients despite its contract with the agency obligating the firm to do so. According to documents obtained by ProPublica, McKinsey allegedly advised the FDA's drug-regulation division for more than a decade while simultaneously accepting work from major pharmaceutical companies. In some cases, according to ProPublica, McKinsey helped those clients navigate FDA regulations while advising the FDA on how to strengthen regulations for the pharmaceutical industry. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said McKinsey's handling of its work with the FDA demonstrates ``the danger that conflicts of interest can pose in government contracting.'' ``Our bipartisan bill would help ensure that companies that enter into a contract with the government are acting in the best interest of the American people,'' Hassan said. McKinsey spokesperson Neil Grace told ABC News that McKinsey's consulting work with pharmaceutical companies ``did not create a conflict of interest'' for the firm's work with the FDA because it ``has not advised the FDA on regulatory policy or on specific pharmaceutical products.'' Instead, said Grace, McKinsey's work for the agency ``focused on administrative and operational topics, including improvements to organizational structures, business processes and technology.'' ``Given the absence of a conflict of interest, there was no requirement for any McKinsey disclosure,'' Grace said. ``That said, McKinsey's proposals to the FDA frequently mentioned the company's and personnel's experience with the pharmaceutical industry, making the FDA aware of this aspect of McKinsey's work in the field.'' Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa joined Peters, Grassley, and Hassan in sponsoring the federal legislation.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1518 and ask for its immediate consideration

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler) pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1518, providing for consideration of four measures. First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1948 under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and a motion to recommit. Second, the rule provides for consideration of S. 3905 under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and a motion to commit. Third, the rule provides for consideration of S. 4003 under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and a motion to commit. Fourth, the rule provides for consideration of a Senate amendment to H.R. 1437. The rule makes in order a motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations that the House concur in the Senate amendment with a House amendment and provides 1 hour of debate on the motion equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule also deems passage of a motion to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 2617 with a House amendment. The rule further deems passage of H. Con. Res. 124 and H. Res. 1516. Lastly, the rule provides the majority leader or his designee the ability to en bloc requested roll call votes on suspension bills considered from December 12 to December 15. The rule also provides roll call votes on suspension bills considered on December 12 may be postponed through December 15. Mr. Speaker, as we come to the end of the 117th Congress, we are working this week to pass legislation that deserves to make it across the finish line before the end of the year. First, the VA Employee Fairness Act. The healthcare workers at VA medical centers are exceptional at what they do serving our veterans. Many of them are veterans themselves. They deserve the same rights as their counterparts outside of the VA system to collectively bargain. In today's world, the balance of power is disproportionately skewed towards employers over employees. As a former union member and a small business owner myself, and as the current chair of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions subcommittee, I can think of no better way to honor these workers and the people they serve, who we all respect and honor, than to provide them the tools to empower them to have a voice in this important American workplace. From our national security to the regulation of prescription drugs, the Federal Government relies on services of contractors and consultants to provide for the American people. It is critical that we know that these contractors are working in the best interest of the American people. Unfortunately, the current Federal acquisition process allows bad actors to slip through the cracks without disclosing their potential conflicts of interest. As a member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, I am proud of the work that the committee has done to investigate McKinsey & Company for this very reason. This contractor--one of the oldest and most prestigious consulting firms in the world--was advising the FDA on the safety and efficacy of prescription pain medications at the same time the very same consultants were also advising Purdue Pharma on how to ``turbocharge'' sales of OxyContin, a major driver of the opioid epidemic. While the McKinsey scandal shined a light on organizational conflicts of interest, the issue itself is not new. The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act would require Federal contractors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest before they are awarded a Federal contract to ensure they are effectively serving the taxpayers. In the Senate it was bipartisan, and it should pass without objection and without delay. Also included in today's rule is the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act, which would direct the Department of Justice to develop trainings on alternatives to the use of force and safely to respond to an individual experiencing a mental health, behavioral health, or suicidal crisis. We shouldn't even have to be including this bill in the rule, but unfortunately, partisan politics caused it to need to be reconsidered this week. On this topic, I am proud that the district I represent is leading the way with an initiative we call A3, anyone, anywhere, anytime. This program connects people in need of mental health support that is outside the police system to help respond to the emergency while simultaneously allowing the police to focus on more appropriate police matters. This was a long, developed partnership between our behavioral health departments and our local law enforcement, which support it very strongly, and is working to protect the public. Finally, the rule includes a 1-week continuing resolution. Appropriators are hard at work to come to a year-long agreement over spending, and they need an extra week to finalize it. Mr. Speaker, we have a wonderful opportunity this week to make transformative changes with these bills. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, conflicts of interest are not a new issue, but it is clear that more needs to be done by this Congress. The American people ought to have faith that their tax dollars are being spent wisely on contractors who are working in their best interest. This bill will increase impartiality and integrity within the Federal consultant and contractor system. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, first of all, my good friend from Pennsylvania and the gentleman from Texas--you know, I am always open to working on these sometimes difficult rules that we have in our Congress. I respect the opinion, but I have a different perspective. What we are doing today is keeping the lights on. With all due respect, the last time the Republicans were in charge of the Congress the lights went off. That is not good for anyone. It is not good for the American people, and it is not good for the world economy. What we are trying to do here in the House is make it a little bit easier for the arcane rules that, I think, most of us would agree to in the Senate to make it easier for the bill to come back over and, hopefully, have an agreement, a bipartisan agreement, on longer spending in an omnibus. With all due respect, we have something that we have here in these Chambers: a disagreement. The tone, I think you can tell, of my voice is very different. But I do think the things that both gentlemen have brought up are real issues. Immigration is a real issue. We have tried, many of us, to come up with something that is bipartisan that leads to solutions to a difficult situation that multiple administrations and Congresses have struggled for; that has a long history in this country when it comes to immigration, the benefit and the challenges around that; and being able to make sure that the beneficiaries of immigration are consistent with treaties that we have signed around the world, and principles, but also to American citizens. On the other issues, those are all real issues. What we have here in front of us today in these resolutions are laws that will actually help the American people, too, and, lastly, will continue to keep the lights on by funding government. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We are not talking about the Federal budget in its entirety today. That will continue to be negotiated and debated, and there will be a vote on it. What we are talking about are specific resolutions that the Committee on Rules has passed down here to this body to talk about protecting workers who protect veterans. That is what we are talking about today. We are talking about improving healthcare for America's veterans that we all say we respect, admire, and honor. We know that when people are able to organize in the workplace, or at least to present the opportunity, they are safer. Research shows that hospitals that have had the ability for workers and nurses to organize and have a fair say in how they treat their patients, that mortality rates improve, that people are served better. That is what we are talking about today. We are talking about giving police departments the resources they need in the world today so that behavioral health people can do their job, so that police officers can do their job and not respond to almost one in four calls in the United States that involve mental health, where the police officers are asked to do something that they shouldn't be asked to do. As I mentioned in my opening comments, I have spent 30 years involved in my own district--from a mayor of a city of 130,000 people, to the legislature, to this body--developing programs with the police department in behavioral health, which started with a conversation with a beat patrolman and a mental health clinician. All it is about is improving the safety of Americans. That is what we are talking about here. We are talking about helping with the opioid crisis. I haven't heard anything from the gentleman about the things that are actually in this rule. Do we want to help people with the high mortality and suicide crisis in opioids that we know now, from the hearings that we have had, that the chair and I have asked for in the Committee on Oversight? We brought the CEOs of the largest corporation, Johnson & Johnson, to testify in front of Congress about what they did at what used to be a great American pharmaceutical company that once had one of the most admired CEOs in the world and now has somebody who has lied on his college resume twice and has helped to kill Americans by deliberately turbocharging the sale of opioids to Americans. That is what we are talking about in this rule, holding people accountable. McKinsey & Company, a company that was based in San Francisco for years--I have known people who lived in my district and worked there. It once was a shining light of American innovation and management. Now, it has fallen to this epitome of greed and hypocrisy. That is what we are talking about, stopping that kind of behavior, in this rule. We are talking about keeping the lights on in the United States Congress, and the Federal Government, for 1 week so that we can have an omnibus, and then we can debate those other things. Do I agree that the process is not perfect? I agree. Do I agree we could do better? I agree, and I am open to those things. But let's focus on what is in this rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing. Mr. Speaker, let me say that I always enjoy being on the floor and debating my friend from Pennsylvania. I will miss this if I am not afforded the opportunity to do it again. Mr. Speaker, again, focusing on the rule here. First in this rule, we are helping veterans. We are helping the people who serve veterans to be able to organize. One of my favorite quotes on the ability of workers to have a voice is from Dwight David Eisenhower, who said, Only a fool would try to stop an American man or woman in the workplace from organizing. So that is the first point, helping people to have a voice in the VA to serve our veterans better. The second point is on holding McKinsey & Company, a very large corporation, American company, accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic. Third in the rule is helping our investment in public safety, a bipartisan effort that came out of the Senate, to help provide them to de-escalate when they are in a difficult situation. Lastly, we are here to keep the lights on. Mr. Speaker, while I appreciate the debate and the passion, we do have work to do today, and I would request and ask Democrats and Republicans to vote ``yes'' on this rule. This rule is an important step in passing these bills that will make a difference in the lives of the Americans that we represent and help restore faith in this institution and the government. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question. The material previously referred to by Mr. Reschenthaler is as follows: Amendment to House Resolution 1518 Strike sections 8 and 9.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1518, I call up the bill (S. 3905) to prevent organizational conflicts of interest in Federal acquisition, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure before us.