Debbie Dingell

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I have nothing but great respect for my colleague who offered this; and I do wish that we could do this together and not politicize it. But that is exactly what we are doing. This motion to recommit would just totally undermine this bill because it is a short and incomplete reauthorization; and it undermines the Violence Against Women Act and this important effort to reauthorize it. This bill takes out things that have become so basic, like the Rape Prevention Fund, testing of rape case kits, which is a horror across this country in how many haven't been tested. It takes away child abuse training. None of that is in this motion to recommit. And what makes me really sad is that this bill is one of the most successful laws this House has passed. In the 25 years since it was enacted, violence against women by a spouse, or an intimate partner, has dropped by 65 percent. We need to build on that progress. Since then, victims, survivors, and the communities where we live have relied on the Congress to help provide resources needed to prevent and investigate these crimes and to assist survivors. I remember what it was like. I remember what it was like when you called the police and they didn't come because your father was an important man in town. I remember what it was like when someone on our college campus was raped, and the police came to them and said: ``It's your fault'' and would do nothing. And I don't want anybody in this House to forget that Michigan State University, with hundreds of victims, was only brought to the forefront last year, when hundreds of victims tried to tell people something was happening, and nobody would listen. We cannot go back to those days. Since the original passage of this bill, we have learned from experience and from the unfortunate continued perpetuation of these crimes. This House, together, on a bipartisan basis, we authorized VAWA in 2000, 2005, and 2013. This bill builds on our progress and success. We must not only reauthorize it, but make its programs even more effective, and help survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other forms of harm with issues that they face. Women are staying in these situations because they need to go to the doctor and they can't afford healthcare; they can't find a place to live; they don't have economic security. These are among the issues that this bill is trying to address. This motion to recommit would kill the bill, and it leaves victims vulnerable. I do volunteer work at these domestic--at places where people go for domestic abuse. Have you talked to anybody there? Do you know how scared they are because funding is already being impacted? Stepping back means looking the other way when victimization is taking place; and they are counting on us to do something. That is why we cannot undermine this important law. And I am going to say one other thing. Do not let the NRA bully you. This is not a poison pill. The provision in this bill--don't forget who I was married to. John Dingell was on the NRA board. Hell, he helped start it. But all this does--we are not taking away due process. All this does is say that if someone has been convicted, convicted, as an intimate partner, that they would not have access to a gun. And if someone has been convicted of stalking-- You know what I would say to all of you?

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this motion to recommit.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chair, I rise to discuss the urgent need for Congress to update the Violence Against Women Act and the lifesaving programs it supports. I have a great deal of respect for my co-chair of the Domestic Violence Task Force, but we disagree very strongly on what this bill does. No woman, no child, and no family should fear for their life because of domestic violence. Without updates and support for the critical programs in VAWA, we are moving backwards. Good programs that are there to help victims are now threatened, and it is one more stress being added on to the pile of these victims, and one more fear that we just add to them. In one 24-hour period in Michigan, domestic violence programs answered 408 hotline calls of people in immediate danger, and served 2,359 victims with emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, and legal advice. The bill before us today is landmark legislation that will respond to our Nation's crisis of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It will equip our State and local partners to provide compassionate care and support to women, families, and, yes, men, too. We need to admit that sometimes they are victims who need to rebuild their lives and heal. VAWA also includes my Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers to close the loopholes that make it easy for domestic abusers and stalkers to purchase weapons without passing a background check. This isn't a poison pill. This will save a life. Shouldn't we be doing that?

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for his leadership on this issue and for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1839, the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act. This bill includes two provisions that are very important to seniors and the disabled. It makes improvements, but, as you have heard my other colleagues talk about, not enough and not for long enough. First of all, it has a provision that I worked on with my colleague, Mr. Upton, that extends the spousal impoverishment protections for seniors in Medicaid through the end of the fiscal year. These critical protections ensure that individuals are not forced to spend down almost all of their resources and potentially go bankrupt to get the care that they need. No American should be forced into poverty just to receive adequate healthcare. In addition, this bill contains a provision that I worked on with my colleague, Mr. Guthrie, to extend the highly successful Money Follows the Person program, again, just through the end of the fiscal year. This program provides grants to States to help individuals voluntarily transition from an institutional setting to a community care setting, their own home. All Americans, regardless of income, deserve to receive long-term care in a setting that they prefer. While I am pleased that these programs will be extended through the end of September and not allowed to lapse--and that is critical--this is only a partial victory. Both the Money Follows the Person program and spousal impoverishment protections need to be extended for the long term, not a few months at a time. We keep doing that. It was 3 months ago that we just extended it for 3 months. Seniors and individuals with disabilities need to have security. They need to know and have peace of mind that these important provisions are going to be there for the long term. And States need stability and certainty in order to fully implement these efforts.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this motion to recommit.

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, the underlying bill, H.R. 1112, is a critical and carefully crafted bill to address the Charleston loophole. We have discussed it here today, but I will repeat, the very name ``Charleston loophole'' is a grim reminder of the deficiency in current law that allows killers to get guns even if a firearms background check has not been completed. This is a dangerous flaw that we can address with a minor change to the system. When a background check cannot be completed within a 3-day period, it is important that the FBI work to resolve the unanswered questions presented, because these are the very cases that present the most danger. Unfortunately, we have seen many default proceeds go forward in domestic violence cases, allowing an abuser to obtain a firearm even when he or she is prohibited from owning one. The statistics back that up. In 2013 and 2014, a plurality of default proceed transfers to prohibit a person were related to domestic violence. In that same period, 30 percent of denials due to convictions for misdemeanor domestic violence were issued after the abuser took possession of the gun. My heart goes out to my colleague, Mrs. Lesko, because she should never have suffered from domestic violence. Unfortunately, we are colleagues that both know it. I have spent more time thinking about how you keep guns out of the hands of abusers, probably, than anybody in this Chamber. I know better than most the dangers they pose. It is not easy for me to talk about it this week, but more than once--and I think of the abuser. I will be honest on this floor. My father was mentally ill. I had to hide in that closet with my siblings wondering if we would live or die. One night, I kept my father from killing my mother. He shouldn't have had a gun. This is what I remember as a child. My mother went out and bought a gun, and then all of us were scared to death about her gun and my father's gun. We had two guns to worry about. No child, no woman, no man should ever have to go through that. The additional time provided by H.R. 1112 will help us stop more massacres such as the one in Charleston, and may it prevent another child or family going through what I did as a child. These amendments made by this motion would undermine the lifesaving improvements to current law that this bill will initiate. I oppose this motion with every bit of my heart and soul and urge my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, I yield my remaining time to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the distinguished whip.

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Being here today with this bipartisan group of people working to preserve our land, he is looking from up above and saying: Well done, all of you.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding and for his leadership on this issue. I rise in strong support of S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. And as my colleague from Utah so eloquently stated, this landmark public lands legislation is the product of years, decades of work at the committee level, and months of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations. It includes support from key conservation, sportsmen, and environmental stakeholders. The outstanding provisions in this bill will enshrine and safeguard our Nation's conservation legacy for decades to come. This begins with permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It should never have expired. Permanent reauthorization of LWCF will mean this program and its important work can continue unimpeded for future generations. Almost 20 years ago, John Dingell led the first effort to permanently reauthorize it with his friends Don Young, George Miller, Billy Tauzin, and Chris John, a geographically and diverse group of leaders who happened to like the outdoors and, yes, hunting and fishing. LWCF funding has protected some of our country's most treasured natural resources, while creating jobs, supporting local economies, and providing countless opportunities for recreation. Since 1965, LWCS has provided over $3.9 billion for over 40,000 projects in every county across this country, with every $1 invested returning $4 in economic value. This benefits every congressional district, every county, and every State in this country. Preserving our beautiful and iconic places matters to us all and was the reason for initially starting it.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 37, which would end U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and will soon enter its 4th year. The humanitarian situation in Yemen is grave and deteriorating. Since the conflict began in 2015 between the Saudi-led military coalition and the Houthi militias, Yemen has faced what is widely recognized as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The conflict has displaced millions of Yemenis, shattered the country, and triggered a famine that has 13 million men, women and children facing starvation. Additionally, the country is facing an outbreak of cholera of unprecedented scale, with over a million cases of this disease because of the destruction of Yemen's water and sanitation infrastructure. The United States has provided weapons, targeting assistance and refueling support to the Saudi-led coalition since the conflict began. However, this support was never authorized by Congress and is not covered by any existing Authorization for the Use of Military Force. In addition, the coalition's bombing campaign has caused significant numbers of civilian casualties, and the conflict continues with no end in sight. My district is home to a large Yemeni-American community, and I constantly hear stories of the suffering caused by the Yemen conflict and the dire humanitarian situation on the ground. The breadth and magnitude of the humanitarian crisis is almost unimaginable, and we must take action to address this without delay. This begins with ending our nation's involvement in the Yemen war. U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict has undermined our nation's moral authority and has never been authorized by Congress. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important resolution, which will send a strong signal that this Congress will not stand idly by in the face of such actions. H.J. Res. 37 will help bring an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people and reassert Congress's authority as a coequal branch of government. It is my hope that passage of this resolution will be the first step toward healing Yemen and ending this brutal and senseless conflict.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand before this House heartbroken. This past weekend, tragedy struck our Dearborn community as we learned of the death of all five members of the Abbas family. They were killed by a drunk driver while driving back from a family vacation in Florida, and their loss has devastated our community in ways that you cannot imagine. In every sense of the word, they were our community. The parents were born and raised there. Rima served many as a respected doctor at Beaumont and had just been promoted to head all of the doctors at the hospital. And Issam had a successful career as a lawyer and real estate agent. Their children--Ali, age 13; Isabelle, age 12; and Giselle, age 7--were gifts from God and the center of their parents' lives, and so many other families in Dearborn. Their family, their very extended family was devoted to everything that they did. Their absence stunned this community and is felt deeply and emotionally. Thousands attended one of the memorial services this week and then the funeral. Many in attendance chose to remember the good memories-- the smiles, the laughs, their careers, their deep connections to friends, neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and friends--but some came up to me and spoke very honestly. I was struck by the children and grown men who came up to me in tears, asking me why we hadn't done something to stop drunk driving. A young girl, a classmate, who will never see her friend again, had channeled her grief into research. She came up to me and asked why, when the technology exists, has Congress never done anything to mandate interlock breathalyzers to prevent this kind of senseless accident from ever happening again. She wasn't alone. Elders in the community had also researched this subject, and the senior men, in their very deep way, asked me why nothing had been done, why weren't we using and mandating technology that would save lives. And I had no good answer. Too many lives across this country are taken because of drunk driving. In 2016, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. That is 28 percent of all traffic-related deaths. The young girl was right and the elders of the community were correct that technology does exist to stop drunk driving once and for all, and Congress has never had the will to take it on. I have to go home tomorrow to a community that is still grieving. I can't look them in the eye unless we are really willing to try to do something. This week I am introducing legislation in memory of the Abbas family that would mandate all new vehicles be equipped with interlock breathalyzer devices. This will stop intoxicated drivers from ever starting a vehicle and keep them off the roads. If we can keep one person from dying on the roads and make people think twice before getting behind the wheel when they shouldn't, even when they are buzzed and think they will be okay, then won't we have been successful? I know that some will say: ``This is too much of a burden. It won't work. Why should we have to do that?'' Well, I am going to look them in the eye and tell them why no community should ever have to feel what our community is still feeling this week. I will work with all my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, and the auto industry to save lives. It is our moral imperative. Nothing will bring back the Abbas family, but their lives were too important to forget. Our community will deeply miss them, but we need to make sure that their death was not in vain. We must dedicate ourselves in their memory and those of others we know to try to prevent another life being lost this way senselessly.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time. I rise in strong support of H.R. 269. This important bill reauthorizes the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act and provides FDA with needed revenue and authority to improve oversight of over-the- counter drugs. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this bipartisan legislation at the end of the 115th Congress, and I am pleased that we are acting on this bill once again at the beginning of the 116th Congress. I am proud to have helped introduce this legislation, and I urge my Senate colleagues to quickly pass this bill into law. My chairman, Mr. Pallone and Representative Burgess have talked and spoken well of why we must address the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Headlines in the Detroit paper today talking about a death in an area hospital because of a power outage is why we must prepare these institutions to be ready for crises, but I want to speak about the over-the-counter part of this bill. Today, 60 percent of all medicines sold in the United States are over the counter. Americans trust that they are safe, yet the FDA has only 18 full-time employees--only 18--to oversee the entire market of drugs sold across this country. This outdated system has the potential to put patients at risk and does not match the realities of our modern healthcare system. The bill we are discussing today reforms this system for the better. It creates a new user fee program to give FDA the resources it needs to improve public health. It also improves the efficiency by allowing the agency to update OTC monographs through administrative order rather than the rulemaking process. These changes are a big win for patients, who will benefit from improved product safety, and for industry, as they will have a reliable pathway to bring new, innovative products to market. It has been years since a new sunscreen product has been brought to market simply because of this outdated system. I want to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for all the time and effort they put into this legislation; to Representatives Eshoo and Brooks, who worked so hard on the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act; and to my colleague, Representative DeGette, and my Republican colleagues, Representatives Latta, Guthrie, and Burgess, for all the work that they did. We need to get this important bill passed and into law. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 269.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the recognition and yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 259, the Medicaid Extenders Act. Our long-term care system is broken. Like millions of Americans, I, too, am a primary caretaker for my husband, and I meet people every single day. I often say taking John to the doctor is like attending a town hall meeting. While we continue to work towards a much needed overhaul of our long-term care financing, we also need to build on and protect existing programs. The Medicaid Extenders Act includes a 3-month extension of the highly successful Money Follows the Person program. This program provides grants to States to help individuals voluntarily transition from an institutional setting to a community care setting. Money Follows the Person is a win for both the beneficiaries and the taxpayers because the program has demonstrated significant savings over the years while bringing a real-time benefit to people's lives. The Medicaid Extenders Act also extends spousal impoverishment protections for seniors in Medicaid. These important protections ensure that individuals are not forced to spend down all of their resources, and too many go bankrupt, just to get the care that they need. However, this bill is just a partial victory. I do hope the House will pass it. Both programs are extended for only 3 months. While this is enough to keep these important programs alive for the moment, we must pass long-term extensions of both programs as quickly as possible. I will soon be introducing bipartisan legislation to do just that, and I look forward to working with all of my colleagues this year on long-term extensions of these critical programs. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 259.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7328, and I thank all of my colleagues for the very hard work that has gone into this. This important bill reauthorizes the Pandemics and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, and it also gives the FDA revenue and authority to improve their oversight of the over-the-counter drugs. Although the hour is late, I am very glad we are sending this bill to the Senate today, and I urge my colleagues to quickly pass this bill before the 115th Congress expires. I know we all want it to expire, but we can do some good things before it does. Today, 60 percent of all medicines sold in the U.S. are over the counter; yet the FDA has only 18 full-time employees overseeing that entire market. That is not reflective of the way that our healthcare systems run, and it is putting patients at risk every single day. Our bill reforms the system for the better by creating a new user fee program to give the FDA resources it needs to improve public health, and it allows the agency to update OTC monographs by administrative order rather than the ineffective rulemaking process we have been watching. This will be a big win for patients, who will benefit from the improved safety of their products, as well as the industry, as they will have a reliable pathway to bring new, innovative products to market. We haven't seen a new sunscreen on the market in more than a decade. I want to thank all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Energy and Commerce Committee for all of the time and the effort they put into this legislation. I especially want to thank Kim Trzeciak of the committee staff for all of her hard work. Let's get this done before we go home for the holidays. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7328.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ranking Member Gene Green, for yielding me the time. I rise in support of H.R. 7217, the IMPROVE Act, and I thank Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, and Representatives Upton and Guthrie for their leadership in negotiating this important bill and for bringing it to the floor today. I also thank and acknowledge my dear friend Joe Barton for all of his leadership on the ACE Kids Act and congratulate him on his retirement. Joe has been a great friend to John and me over the years, and he will be dearly missed in the next Congress. Getting the IMPROVE Act signed into the law by the end of the year will be a fitting tribute to his decades of service in the Congress. Ranking Member Green has also been critical to so many measures. Texas has had two valuable public servants. Improving long-term care has been one of my top priorities since coming to Congress, and our system is completely broken. We need a broader overhaul of long-term care financing, and we also need to build off existing programs to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure that we are enhancing the opportunities for independent living and supporting aging with dignity. I am proud to have authored two important provisions in the IMPROVE Act that extend critical programs that are about to expire. The first is a 3-month extension of the Money Follows the Person program. This very successful program provides grants to States to cover transitional services for individuals who voluntarily wish to leave a nursing home or other institution and transition to a community care setting. Money Follows the Person is a win for both beneficiaries and taxpayers, because the program has demonstrated significant savings over the years while bringing a real benefit to people's lives. I am also pleased that legislation I authored with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), my good friend, the Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act, is also included in this bill. Extending spousal impoverishment protections for seniors in Medicaid is just common sense. Nobody should be forced to spend down all of their resources and have to go bankrupt just to get the care they need. But these are only partial victories. Both programs are extended for 3 months. This is enough to keep these important programs alive for now, but all of us have a lot of work to do when we come back in the new year. Let me be clear: I will continue to fight for long-term extensions of both programs in the next Congress, and I am confident that we can get that done with the Democratic majority. These programs clearly have bipartisan support, and they do so much good for so many people. Once again, congratulations to my two dear friends from Texas for their leadership. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to H.R. 6784, the Manage our Wolves Act. Despite the claims made by our colleagues across the aisle, gray wolves play a critical role in keeping ecosystems healthy and balanced, including across Michigan and the Great Lakes region. At one time, gray wolves roamed in the hundreds of thousands. Today, there are fewer than 6,000 gray wolves in existence. Just this week, the National Park Service announced that a gray wolf died after being relocated from Minnesota to Michigan's Isle Royale National Park. The threat to gray wolves is still real, and they must be protected. The bill before us would remove all protections for gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act, including reissuing a 2011 rule by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that delisted the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes. H.R. 6784 also seriously undermines scientific integrity, which is one of the foundations of the Endangered Species Act. It would remove scientists from the decision-making process to delist gray wolves. Scientists, not Congress, should be making listing or delisting decisions. As a keystone species, these iconic animals are vital to the structure of the ecological communities in which we live. Two decades ago, the lush landscape of Yellowstone National Park was not as we see it today. Instead, it was riddled with defoliation, erosion, and an unbalanced ecosystem. Due to the absence of predators, deer and elk populations were out of control. Despite efforts to manage them, they overgrazed the park's vegetation. That all changed when gray wolves were reintroduced into the park in 1995. As a top predator in the food chain, wolves hold together that delicate balance of the ecosystem. Once wolves were brought back to the park, the natural balance of the ecosystem was restored. The regenerated forests stabilized the riverbanks, leading to less erosion and more suitable wildlife habitat. And not to mention, wolves reduce the coyote population by as much as 50 percent. The whole landscape was dramatically transformed with the reintroduction of just a few gray wolves, and their presence can similarly be felt across the Great Lakes region. Finally, gray wolves not only benefit the ecosystem, but they provide significant economic benefits as well. Just 10 years after reintroduction, wolf-related tourism generated more than $35 million for communities in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Mr. Speaker, we have seen what the absence of gray wolves can do to the ecosystem. We have seen how wildlife and plant populations suffer, from our national parks to the Great Lakes, without a proper predator- prey balance. Yes, good progress has been made to revive the gray wolf population, but there is more work to do. H.R. 6784 would halt and potentially reverse the progress that has been made. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding and Chairman Walden for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. This is a critical first step in addressing the opioid epidemic. I have lived on all sides of this. I lived in a home with a father who was an opioid addict before anyone knew what it was. I had a sister who died of a drug overdose. Yet I also live with a man who has very serious chronic pain and needs opioids to live his life comfortably. We cannot let the pendulum swing too far in either direction, and we cannot be denying medication to those who need it. I am confident that this legislation strikes the right balance. This bill has four provisions which I authored included in it: The ACE Research Act, which I cosponsored with my friend Mr. Upton, will spur innovative research into nonopioid pain medications at NIH and will help lead the next big breakthrough and bring benefits to patients. We need nonaddictive pain drugs. I am also pleased that Jessie's Law, which I have worked on for years with Mr. Walberg, is in this. This provision, which is named after a young woman we lost far too soon, would require HHS to establish best practices to ensure that medical professionals have full knowledge of their patient's opioid history. The Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Act fixes a critical gap in our laws by permitting hospice employees from disposing of unused opioids after a patient has passed away or the medication is no longer needed. Finally, I was pleased to work on language with Dr. Bucshon to ensure that the Welcome to Medicare wellness exam includes a review of the beneficiary's current opioid prescriptions and screening for potential substance use disorder. As we pass this legislation to combat this epidemic which has claimed so many lives, we cannot forget the 25 million people who do live in pain. We cannot let the pendulum go either way.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. Every Member in this House should be able to support it. It is how Congress should work, and it is what the American people expect. Overall, the bill would authorize $6.1 billion in Federal funds for the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out new and existing projects critical to our Nation's economy, environment, public health, and safety, including the Great Lakes region. This legislation also includes the Drinking Water Systems Improvement Act, which the Energy and Commerce Committee approved last year, in bipartisan fashion. These provisions will improve drinking water systems and authorize $4.4 billion for the State Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Program, which will provide much-needed Federal financing for States and utilities to strengthen drinking water infrastructure. Everybody remembers Flint. Now we have PFAS. It is important that every American be able to trust the water they are drinking. This is why I am proud that this bill includes important provisions from legislation I introduced that would increase drinking water notifications and make consumer confidence reports on drinking water easier for every American to understand. It is an essential part of our response to drinking water crises in this country. We have a crisis of confidence in our systems, and consumers deserve clear and immediate notifications and transparency when it comes to the quality of the water they are drinking. By requiring large water systems to provide consumer confidence reports biannually, the American people will have more frequent reports on water quality, which will help identify and mitigate risks sooner. With 90 percent of Americans receiving their drinking water from a public drinking water system, it is our collective responsibility to provide strong funding authorizations for modernizing drinking water systems, and we must continue to find effective ways to keep the public informed.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This Act has saved millions of migratory birds, protecting over one thousand species important to Americans and our natural world. Since being signed into law in 1918, the MBTA has played a pivotal role in animal welfare. Within my own state of Michigan and in the 12th district, birds contribute greatly to the environment of our region. Southeast Michigan even includes designated Important Bird Areas like the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie Basin, which are used extensively for migration by waterfowl such as Canvasbacks, Tundra Swans, and more. What's more, their presence also provides substantial economic benefits. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that there are more than 2 million birders in Michigan, and throughout our nation there are over 45 million birders who collectively spend around $41 billion on birdwatching each year. And birds remain in serious need of protection. According to the 2016 State of the Birds Report, from the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, more than one third of North American bird species are in need of urgent conservation action. Most of the U.S. species are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so this foundational law remains key to their conservation. 100 years after its implementation, it is critical that we ensure the MBTA's continued success. We owe our children and our grandchildren the joy of experiencing the rich bird life in this great country. The Fish and Wildlife Service has long used reasonable discretion to apply the law to hazards including spills and oil waste pits, saving countless numbers of birds by incentivizing the adoption of simple practices that protect birds. We should build upon its success and find solutions that benefit birds and people. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this monumental anniversary. My hope is that we continue building on the legacy of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so that there are many more anniversaries to come.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Yemeni American News as it celebrates 10 years of service to our Michigan community. Its journalism serves as a valuable voice highlighting national and local matters affecting the Yemeni American community in Southeast Michigan while facilitating dialogue on pressing issues facing this valued community. Founded in 2008, the Yemeni American News was established with the mission of highlighting issues such as education, culture, and the economy while providing diverse viewpoints from within the Yemeni- American community. Today, the Yemeni American News is published by Rasheed Alnozili and headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan where it serves the same population that it set out to serve one decade ago. The paper honors outstanding individuals, and always works to highlight the rich cultural background and vibrant heritage of Yemeni Americans. The Yemeni American News prints monthly, producing hundreds of stories, and showcasing the successes of our Southeastern Michigan community. It plays an important role in keeping our community informed and has kept pace with Yemeni-American society as it emerges within the fabric of our great multi-ethnic American society, while pressing for justice and reinforcing the importance of a free press, one of the most important pillars of our democracy. The Yemeni American News launched its website in 2008 as a cultural platform to spread educational, political, and legal awareness which is vital to southeast Michigan's dynamic Yemeni American population. Not only is it a bilingual newspaper, it is a platform that strengthens Yemenis' ties with their roots and history while building bridges and interdependence with other local communities. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Yemeni American News for enriching the lives of countless Michigan citizens through 10 years of service to our Michigan community. We look forward to the Yemeni American News' continued honest journalism and outstanding performance in the years to come.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Downriver Senior Olympics for three decades of providing seniors the opportunity to compete in a variety of events. This event brings our community together for recreation and fun each summer. During these decades, the Downriver Senior Olympics has hosted different athletic competitions where seniors can face off against their peers. More than 500 senior athletes will compete in the 2018 event and participate in the Unity Awards banquet at the end of the week. The Olympic athletes are divided into five divisions depending on their age. Sports include golf, horseshoes, bowling, bean bag toss, bocce ball, shuffleboard and many more. The Downriver Senior Olympics is a testament to the toughness of Michigan's seniors. It is not a common sight to see hundreds of septuagenarians fiercely trying to win a game of frisbee or hockey. These activities help bring people from all walks of life together and foster friendships and community among seniors from our local community. We are grateful for the work that the volunteers do to make this event happen and look forward to its continuation in the years to come. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Downriver Senior Olympics for giving our seniors the chance to experience the thrill of competition while engaging with the community in a healthy and positive atmosphere. Our seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and one of the ways to do that should be to actively include them in our communities with events like the Down River Senior Olympics.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 65th anniversary of the Korean War's Armistice Agreement. On July 28, 2018, the City of Dearborn is hosting its annual tribute at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center to honor local heroes who died in Korean battle. The event is supported by the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 51. Korean War veterans, their families and members of the public will be in attendance. Known as the ``Forgotten War,'' the Korean War took place from June 1950 to July 1953 and claimed the lives of more than 36,000 soldiers. 103,000 soldiers were wounded, and more than 8,000 were listed as missing in action. More than five million Americans served in the war. The Armistice formally divided the Korean peninsula into the two countries we know today. The signed Armistice established the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the de facto new border between the two nations, put into force a cease-fire, and finalized repatriation of prisoners of war. During the Dearborn Armistice Agreement Tribute, a wreath is placed at the memorial to honor the 26 men from Dearborn, Michigan who died in the war, in addition to all of those who bravely served our country. The Henry Ford Centennial Library campus is home to the City's Veterans Park and War Memorial--the library's outdoor memorial has four monoliths listing all the Dearborn service members who died during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. It also includes a representation of an Eternal Flame and a Battlefield Cross, and information on every war America has fought. It is an honor to pause and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great nation during the Korean War. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Korean War veterans from Dearborn and calling attention to the anniversary of the Armistice Agreement. This day reminds us that our obligations to our soldiers and their families endures long after the battle ends.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove myself as a cosponsor of H.R. 2069.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act. Suicide is now the tenth leading cause for death in adults aged 18 to 64, and, for every suicide, there are 25 attempts. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that suicide rates increased by 28 percent between 1999 and 2016. Mr. Speaker, 49 States experienced an increase in suicide rates during that period. As my colleague said, we also know that the risk is significantly higher for veterans. Veteran men are at a 19 percent higher risk, and veteran women are at a 2\1/2\ times higher risk than nonveteran women. These statistics point to a problem that is all too real and, sadly, all too common. That fact was evident last month when, unfortunately, both Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, both very successful in their careers, took their own lives. It is heartbreaking when someone is suffering so much that they choose to end their own life. Unfortunately, I know it in my own family, when people are afraid to reach out. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act before us today would make it easier for people wanting to connect with someone through that hotline. The bill would set up a process to give Americans an easy-to-remember, three-digit code, like 911, to call when they or their loved one are in crisis, rather than the current 10-digit number. The bill would also require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to study the effectiveness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, currently known as 1-800-273-TALK, and the Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to study the effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line. The Senate has passed a companion bill by unanimous consent. H.R. 2345 is a bipartisan, commonsense bill, and I want to thank the authors, Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, for the very hard work and leadership they put into this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), the cosponsor of this legislation.