Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Speier for organizing this Special Order Hour to highlight how state abortion restrictions impact our nation's brave servicemembers and their families. The military is a male-dominated institution where women make up only 20 percent of active-duty forces, and significantly less at senior leadership levels. As a result, women's healthcare needs are cast aside. TRICARE doesn't cover abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life, forcing servicemembers to leave the military base to seek reproductive care. With the upending of Roe, servicemembers in states that restrict abortion must travel even further on their own dime to seek basic reproductive healthcare, risking their career and standing in the ranks. This is outrageous and wholly unacceptable. It sacrifices the readiness of our troops and perpetuates a discriminatory environment for women in the military. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Congresswoman Speier's legislation, the MARCH for Servicemembers Act, to remove the statutory ban on military treatment facilities providing abortion services and Department of Defense funds being used to perform abortions. I believe it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every American who wears a uniform to defend our country has the health services, opportunities, and care they need and deserve. This is a promise we must keep, and I certainly will.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, our Nation has major challenges that have kept me awake at night. The clarion call from young climate activists concerned they won't have a planet to grow old on. I've heard seniors describe their inability to afford their prescription drugs. Today, we change all this by the largest and boldest effort to address climate change in American history. It honors our commitments under the Paris Agreement by investing $369 billion in tax credits, loans, and grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. For seniors, the Inflation Reduction Act reduces prescription drug costs through policies developed by the Health Subcommittee I chair. Over the past three years, we held six hearings focused on this challenge. The hearings brought forward the fact that our Nation has been held back for 20 years by a law that prohibits Medicare from negotiating directly with drug companies. Not anymore. The bill also ensures Medicare beneficiaries won't pay more than $2,000 annually for prescription drugs, and no more than $35 for insulin every month. This legislation also lowers health care premiums by strengthening the Affordable Care Act to save an average of $800 per year for 13 million people. Finally, the entire legislation is paid for by making billion-dollar companies pay their fair share and lowers the federal deficit by more than $300 billion. Throughout my service in Congress, my top priorities have been to grow our economy, make health care more affordable, and address climate change. Today's transformative legislation meets these challenges, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I first thank the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Pallone, for his leadership and all of my colleagues on the committee who have worked so hard. I think today is a hallelujah day, and I say this because two of the greatest challenges facing our country are the following. The climate crisis: This is the single largest investment to take on the climate crisis head-on. I hear from children as young as first graders in my district caring about this issue. Two years ago this time, I had 77,000 evacuees from the wildfires in my congressional district. Taking on the climate crisis is absolutely essential. Seniors, the Medicare beneficiaries, we are changing their prescription drug prices today because Medicare will be able to directly negotiate and bring the prices down. Cap insulin at $35 a month--Senate Republicans sabotaged that cap on insulin for all Americans. I don't know how any politician can go home and brag about that. The out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries will not exceed $2,000 a year. We are investing in the IRS. My constituents have been waiting for too long for their refunds. Added staff is going to expedite the services that the IRS and the American people need from the IRS. Finally, deficit reduction--yes, America, this is paid for. This is truly a hallelujah day. This is a red, white, and blue bill. It is good for all Americans, and it will advance our collective future of America.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, as the Chairwoman of the Health Subcommittee and a senior member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, I've advanced the importance of telehealth for years. Over the last several months, as I've talked to health care professionals and providers in my district, I've heard how the wide adoption of telehealth has been the bright spot during the pandemic. One reason for that bright spot is that HHS waived many rules and payment policies surrounding telehealth coverage in traditional Medicare during the public health emergency. A recent HHS Office of the Inspector General report found that over 28 million Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth during the first year of the pandemic, demonstrating the long-term potential of telehealth to increase access to health care for beneficiaries. Now that beneficiaries have received this important benefit, they fully appreciate what telehealth does for them. We must find a way to continue telehealth access for seniors and all Americans. That's why I'm proud to support Representatives Liz Cheney and Debbie Dingell's bipartisan H.R. 4040, the ``Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2022.'' The bill will allow Medicare beneficiaries to use telehealth services after the public health emergency ends by eliminating geographical restrictions on Medicare coverage for telehealth services and expand Medicare coverage to include audio-only telehealth. I urge my colleagues to support this important, bipartisan bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3771, the ``South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022.'' As Chairwoman of the House Health Subcommittee, I'm proud to have advanced this bipartisan bill and I'm pleased to support it on the Floor today. ``The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022'' sponsored by Representatives Jayapal and Fitzpatrick promotes research and awareness of heart health for communities that are disproportionately affected by heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., but it is a disproportionate killer. According to the American College of Cardiology, South Asian Americans are four times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than any other ethnic group in the U.S. Despite these alarming statistics, researchers still do not fully understand why it is such a targeted threat. This legislation provides $1 million annually for the next five years to advance research and awareness of heart health for the most vulnerable American communities. ``The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act'' was introduced in the 115th Congress, passed the House in 116th Congress, and is past-due to become law in the 117th Congress. I urge my colleagues to help close this health disparity gap in our country and support this important bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 623, the ``Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0.'' As Chairwoman of the House Health Subcommittee, I'm proud to have advanced this bipartisan bill and I'm pleased to support it on the Floor today. Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 reauthorizes the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program and nearly doubles critical funding for pediatric cancer research to $25 million each year for the next five years. Pediatric cancer is the number one disease killer for children in the U.S., claiming roughly 1,800 lives every year. Children with certain birth defects have an increased risk of pediatric cancer, yet the genetic relationship between these conditions is still poorly understood. First launched in 2014, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program connects the dots between birth defects and childhood cancers, with the hope of fostering data-driven solutions for personalized treatments. This program is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, a fierce advocate for childhood cancer research who died of brain cancer at the young age of 10. Ellyn Miller, Gabriella's mother, when testifying at my Subcommittee last year, said that Gabriella told her that she wanted elected officials to ``stop talking and start doing.'' I urge my colleagues to stop talking and start doing by passing this important bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8454, the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act. I advanced a precursor to this bipartisan bill through my Health Subcommittee and I'm proud to support it on the Floor today. According to the Department of Health and Human Services National Survey on Drug Use, over 48 million Americans reported using cannabis in the past year. Thirty-seven states now allow the medicinal use of cannabis and 19 states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for adult use. But state laws and federal policy are a thousand miles apart. As more states allow cannabis, the federal government still strictly controls and prohibits it, even restricting legitimate medical research. The Medical Marijuana Research Act addresses these restrictions on research and alleviates a burdensome, out-of-date process for scientific researchers. First, it creates a new, less cumbersome registration process specifically for marijuana, reducing approval wait times and costly security measures. Second, this bill makes it easier for researchers to obtain the cannabis they need for their studies through reforms in production and distribution regulations. Under this bill scientists will no longer be forced to wait more than a year to become federally-approved to conduct cannabis research. They will also not be forced to use the cannabis grown by a government- authorized farm at the University of Mississippi. This cannabis lacks the properties and potency of commercially-available cannabis and leads to inadequate research. This is a commonsense bill that will update federal policy to advance research on cannabis and its compounds. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7624, the Spectrum Innovation Act, which includes an updated version of my legislation, the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act. 9-1-1 is a lifeline for Americans in their greatest hour of need. In an emergency, few things are more important than these three numbers when it comes to getting help. And it can often be the difference between life and death. After the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001, I co-founded the E-911 Caucus with Representative John Shimkus and Senators Hillary Clinton and Conrad Burns to support first responders and the public safety community by moving our nation's 9-1-1 services into the 21st Century. Unfortunately, we have not reached our goal and most of the United States' 9-1-1 call centers continue to use legacy technology developed over 50 years ago. The Spectrum Innovation Act will provide $10 billion for states and localities to adopt NG911 technology and help modernize most of our call centers. Next Generation 9-1-1 will harness the power of 21st Century technology to respond to 21st century emergencies. It will allow our 9- 1-1 emergency communication centers to receive real-time location information, text messages, photos, and video from individuals at the scene of an emergency, and to share that information with first responders. It will also make our emergency communication centers more secure, resilient, interoperable, and reliable. The benefits of this technology will help save lives. If someone breaks into your home and you're hiding from the intruder, you won't need to call 9-1-1 to speak to an operator. You can text 9-1-1 to summon help while you continue to hide. You will be able to send pictures or live stream video from the scene of a car accident or a home fire to help first responders better respond to the emergency. The investments made in NG911 through the Spectrum Innovation Act will help modernize our 9-1-1 system. I'm pleased it has the support of a broad coalition of law enforcement and public safety organizations, including the Major County Sheriffs of America; the Major Cities Chiefs Association; the National Sheriffs' Association; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the International Association of Fire Chiefs; the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association; the National Association of State EMS Officials; the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials; the National Association of State 911 Administrators; and the National Emergency Number Association. I thank Rep. Richard Hudson, my co-chair of the NG911 Caucus for working with me on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7132, the Safe Connections Act, critical legislation I've co-led to help survivors of domestic violence regain their digital independence. Abusers are increasingly using everyday digital tools to coerce and control their victims and shared phone plans pose a unique danger for survivors of domestic violence. They enable abusers to monitor their victims? phone calls, texts, voicemails and even their precise physical locations. Phone providers make it extremely challenging and expensive to end a cell phone contract early, charging up to $350 to leave the plan and additional up-front fees. Given that 99 percent of all domestic violence cases involve financial abuse, these fees pose an insurmountable barrier to leaving an abusive relationship. I'm proud to have introduced the Safe Connections Act with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure survivors can safely and remotely remove themselves from shared phone plans with their abusive partners without prohibitive costs and contractual obligations. The legislation tasks the Federal Communications Commission with facilitating access to emergency communications support through the Lifeline Program or the Affordable Connectivity Program to empower survivors to obtain new phones or phone services at discounted prices. The Federal Communications Commission is also required to ensure that calls or texts to domestic violence hotlines do not appear on call logs. These are highly important measures to ensure survivors can quickly cut ties with their abusers and remain connected to their support networks. I thank Reps. Kuster and Walberg, Chairman Pallone, and Ranking Member McMorris Rogers for their partnership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in the strongest support of H.R. 8373, the Right to Contraception Act. We all belong to committees here, and when we do, as we do, we get to know Members very well. An observation of mine over these years as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee is--I don't know any Member that has 10, 12, or 14 children. I would say there is some family planning going on here. This is a private decision that we all have had the freedom to make. This bill is about family planning. It is about birth control. It is not about controlling women. It is about the freedom that women can make. No politician or judge should be interfering in private healthcare decisions or restrict access to contraception. The Supreme Court has threatened this fundamental right, leaving this issue on the Court's chopping block. Madam Speaker, everyone should vote for this bill.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of our committee for his leadership. I rise in strong support of this legislation. It is aptly named, Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act. I have listened to the debate so far on this bill, and I really find it hard to believe what I am hearing. I think the people of this country need to know, before we get to the reproductive freedoms, that the Republicans are opposed to contraception. That is a fact around here. Now, because of what the Supreme Court has unleashed with the Dobbs decision, we have a patchwork of States with different laws. Some States provide full healthcare for women; others don't. Now, those living, as the author of this legislation stated, in Texas, they are fleeing Texas to go to other States; but those States want to stop women from traveling. That is what this is about. Stop women from traveling. What are they going to do? Put their Highway Patrol on the border to interview people to find out where they are going and why? This is extreme in terms of what these States want to do. Today, the House, in its votes, makes it crystal clear to those States that they cannot take this freedom away. This bill establishes protections for women who travel for care and for healthcare professionals who provide that care. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in the strongest support possible of the Women's Health Protection Act. In February 2020, I held the first legislative hearing in two decades to protect access to reproductive health. Since then, we have seen the steady rollback of abortion rights in Republican-controlled States. This means that low-income women and minorities have been living in a post-Roe reality for years now. Now, the Supreme Court has fully revoked the constitutional right to abortion, leaving States to outlaw and criminalize abortion if they choose to. This devastating decision has created a patchwork of States with differing laws and restrictions, causing societal chaos and confusion across our country. It is a huntdown of women. It is a huntdown of women. The Women's Health Protection Act makes sure that every American has equal access to reproductive healthcare, no matter where they live. I am eager to vote for this legislation, once again, and I call on my Senate counterparts to codify these vital protections into law.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I offer this bipartisan manager's amendment to improve and strengthen the bill. I thank my Republican colleagues on the Health Subcommittee, including Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, Ranking Member Guthrie, and Dr. Burgess for working closely with me on this bill over the last several weeks. This manager's amendment makes sure that the structure of ARPA-H will help the Agency achieve success. Specifically, the amendment requires: First, two-thirds of the ARPA-H program offices be exclusively dedicated to research and development; number two, not more than 15 percent of the ARPA-H budget to be used on administrative expenses; and, thirdly, removes the requirement of Senate confirmation of the ARPA-H director. I think these are commonsense provisions that improve the bill and, ultimately, strengthen ARPA-H and its mission; and it is why I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee for his full support of this legislation from the very beginning. Mr. Speaker, this has been somewhat of a long journey. It began in March of last year, 2021, when a group of Members, bipartisan and bicameral, were invited to the White House to meet with President Biden. When we gathered there, he spoke about his vision for creating ARPA-H, an advanced research project for health. It is modeled after DARPA, the highly innovative and successful small agency that was created many years ago. I think one of its chief assets is its autonomy, and its successes are extraordinary because of the way it is shaped. They have produced the internet, GPS navigation, and Moderna's mRNA vaccines. This bill is shaped to maximize the promise of ARPA-H. All of us have a relative or someone in our family, extended family, and our communities that when receiving a diagnosis, it is a death sentence. That is what the mission of ARPA-H is directed to address. I have full confidence that, the way this legislation is shaped, it can meet that challenge. It will be a place where highly innovative ideas are tested, and if the approaches fail because these are high-risk undertakings, then the agency will quickly move on to new ones and redirect the money. It will be flat and small like DARPA, but it has a mighty mission. Mr. Speaker, I thank all the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee on the majority and the minority side. We have really worked hard together on this to shape something that is worthy of the American people and has the ability to produce. From the chairman of the full committee to the ranking member, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, to the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Guthrie, ideas kept coming forward. We polished them, added them to the legislation, and, in some instances, dropped other parts of the draft. Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the work of my staffer, Aisling McDonough, who has given her all on this; the staff of the committee; the scientists, because well over 100 of them leaned in and gave us their ideas and advice on how best to create a small agency that would be nimble but highly effective; and the patient advocates. So many of them have cheered us on and given us their best input, as well. Today is the day. The House is poised. I urge all of my colleagues to support this because when this mission is executed, I think even if one deadly disease is addressed and cured, we will have succeeded. I think we are going to do better than that.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jean McCown, her career in public service, and as Associate Vice President of Government Affairs at Stanford University. Jean is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Boalt Hall Law School. Before joining Stanford in 2004, she was a partner at the law firm of Ritchey Fisher Whitman & Klein, where she focused on land use, environmental and real estate matters. Jean was a member of the Palo Alto City Council from 1990 to 1998 and served as mayor in 1993. She previously served on the Palo Alto Planning Commission and on regional transportation committees including the CalTrain Joint Powers Board and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Jean McCown served on the board of the Greenbelt Alliance for many years and is now a board member of the Palo Alto Community Foundation and Alta, formerly the Palo Alto Housing Corporation. The honors she has earned include the John W. Gardner Leadership Award in 1994 from American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley, and the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce Athena Award in 2004. As Associate Vice President within the Office of Government Affairs at Stanford, Jean McCown focused on the University's government and community affairs efforts and initiatives at the city, county and state level. She maintained relationships with community-based organizations, government officials, local businesses and citizens to support effective communication and dialogue within the Stanford community and between Stanford and its neighbors. While at Stanford she provided strategic leadership for the Searsville Watershed Restoration project and provided strategic guidance for the Middle Plaza Housing Project in Menlo Park. She helped build supportive relationships with the Palo Alto Unified School District and secured the fire services contract between Stanford and the Palo Alto Fire Department. Jean led multiple General Use Permit negotiations with Santa Clara County, provided strategic guidance for the Hospitals Renewal projects for the Stanford adult and children's hospitals, and helped spearhead the Palo Alto Mayfield agreement creating new public playing fields and housing for the City. Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Jean McCown for her extraordinary work and in wishing her every blessing in her well-deserved retirement.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Many of us say a prayer, the Lord's prayer. And at the end we say: And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Speaker, where is the soul of America in this Chamber? I have listened to every speaker since the debate began. I think that Shakespeare would say: Thou dost protest too much. We have simple, profound facts. Our children are being blown away. Last week, the first funeral, that casket could not be opened. I think every single Member here is a parent. Walk behind that casket. Think of yourselves and your own children. They deserve solutions to this. There has to be more from you than damning the Democratic Party. Come on. We are Members of Congress.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 7667, the Food and Drug Amendments Act of 2022 and I'm proud to sponsor this strong, bipartisan FDA user fee bill. Our nation is an international leader in biomedical innovation. With that achievement comes an increasingly complex FDA review process for drugs and devices. Over the past few decades, the user fee agreements have evolved to ensure the FDA has the resources necessary so its reviews for drugs and devices are prompt, transparent, and predictable. The agreements included in the bill before us today are the latest evolution, and will in total, provide billions of dollars to the FDA over the next five years, allowing FDA to hire hundreds of new full- time employees. These resources will help the FDA recover from the pandemic and pick up its regular day-to-day work even more effectively. Beyond the user fee agreement, the bill includes several important legislative riders. It includes key portions of my bipartisan DEPICT Act, which I introduced with Representatives Kelly and Fitzpatrick. FDA data shows that for the drugs approved in 2020, 75 percent of clinical trial participants were white. Only 8 percent of trial participants were African American and 11 percent were Hispanic. The DEPICT Act included in the bill would statutorily require drug companies to demonstrate how they will include diverse populations in their clinical trials by reporting to FDA a ``diversity action plan'' with targets by demographic subgroups. As we heard from Dr. Mesa during our hearing, diverse clinical trials are not only fair and just--it's good science. H.R. 7667 also includes important reforms to the FDA's inspections program based on bills introduced by Representatives Griffith and Welch, as well as by myself and Representative Hudson. These provisions will help the FDA catch up from a two-year inspection backlog due to the pandemic and conduct a pilot program of unannounced foreign inspections. H.R. 7667 includes targeted reforms to improve the accelerated approval program so that drugs approved under that program ultimately show their clinical effectiveness. The bill reauthorizes the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA), which I first authored in 1997. Thanks to BPCA and its partner, the Pediatric Research Equity Act, 900 drugs newly have pediatric use information. Overall, this is a very strong bill with many worthy reforms, and I encourage my colleagues to vote for it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of every girl and woman whose rights, lives, and futures are on the line if Roe v. Wade is struck down. For the first time in our Nation's history, the Supreme Court is poised to take a constitutional right away from the American people, creating a time when America's daughters will not have the rights their mothers had. The Court's intent to turn back the hands of time by a half century, without the consent of the governed, is devastating. If Roe falls, there will be a patchwork of States with differing laws and restrictions, causing societal chaos. Twenty-six States are likely to ban abortion, few with exceptions for rape and incest, subjecting more than 36 million women and girls to the black markets of back-alley abortions. House Democrats will gather on the steps of the Capitol today, across the street from the Supreme Court, to stand with the millions of women whose basic reproductive rights are being stripped away by this ruling. The Supreme Court is now surrounded by protective fencing. I think the Justices are fenced off from reality. This is private, personal, and serious, and women should be able to make their own decisions.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the legacy of a dear friend, a mentor, and a colleague, Norm Mineta. Secretary Mineta was an American patriot who served his country with distinction in the military, in Congress, and as a cabinet secretary in two administrations. He was a trailblazer and a man of many `firsts'. He was the first Asian-American mayor of a major city, San Jose, California; the first Japanese American from the contiguous 48 states to serve in Congress; and the first Asian-American cabinet secretary. When I entered Congress in 1993, I was fortunate to serve with and learn from Norm Mineta. With our Congressional Districts bordering each other, we worked shoulder to shoulder on behalf of our constituents. Our staffs worked closely together as well, and our offices had a friendly baseball competition in which Team Eshoo faced off against Team Mineta. Secretary Mineta held a great love of his country, and despite being interned during World War II, he was not consumed by bitterness. Among his many contributions to our nation was the key role he played in enacting the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided reparations and an official apology to Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II. While serving as Secretary of Transportation, he was highly regarded for his steady leadership after our country was attacked on September 11, 2001, when he grounded all air traffic in the U.S. in little more than two hours. He is also remembered for his work to establish the Transportation Security Administration, the TSA, and for his insistence, informed by his personal experience having been interned, that the agency never engage in racial profiling. It is fitting that he was recognized during his life by having the San Jose International Airport named in his honor, and being awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. Through his lifetime of service, Norm Mineta made our country better and stronger. He was a hero in Silicon Valley and beyond, and I'm proud to have worked with him and proud to have been his friend and colleague. I shall miss him greatly and hope that my prayers are a source of comfort to his beloved wife Deni, his sons David and Stuart, his stepsons Robert and Mark, and his many grandchildren.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present during Roll Call vote number 131. Had I been present, on Roll Call vote number 131, I would have voted YES.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5497, the BURMA Act which is important legislation to support the courageous people of Burma as they struggle to wrest democracy from the hands of their authoritarian military. On February 1, 2021, after a decade of promising democratic reforms in Burma, the Burmese military (also known as the Tatmadaw) seized control of the civilian government, declared a state of emergency, and unlawfully detained State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and many Members of Parliament. In response, the people of Burma took to the streets to demand the restoration of civilian rule, only to be met with the Tatmadaw's brutal campaign of repression, involving extrajudicial executions, mass arrests and disappearances, and other authoritarian tactics. H.R. 5497 is legislation to hold the Tatmadaw accountable for their human rights abuses by authorizing targeted sanctions against the Burmese military and its affiliated entities. These sanctions will deprive the Tatmadaw of the resources they need to continue their violent suppression of the Burmese people. H.R. 5497 also provides much-needed funds to support pro-democracy civil society groups in Burma and alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the Tatmadaw's violence and mismanagement of the economy. I'm pleased that this legislation advances many of the goals outlined in H. Res. 896, a resolution I introduced on the one-year anniversary of the coup to condemn the Burmese military's human rights abuses. My resolution calls for tough sanctions against the Tatmadaw, robust humanitarian assistance for the Burmese people, and increased efforts to hold the Tatmadaw accountable for atrocities. At a time when democracy is being threatened around the world, it's imperative that the United States join with the courageous people of Burma who are fighting to restore democracy in their country. By passing H.R. 5497, Congress will demonstrate our solidarity with the Burmese people, and I urge all my colleagues to support this bill and vote yes.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank the gentleman for his kind comments about me. I think that there are a couple of important points to be made. And that is that CBO estimates that insurers will respond to this bill by raising premiums by less than 0.1 percent. What CBO does not score are the savings from providing this needed medical care because that medical care goes on and on and on. And the costs to families are exorbitant. As I said earlier today, I think this is a very good bill. I acknowledge all the advocates from all over the country that worked so hard to bring us to this moment. Madam Speaker, I look forward to the vote today on this bill that has been with us since 2020, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, the bill that we are taking up today was passed by the Energy and Commerce Committee. It hasn't changed. The gentleman, Mr. Griffith, had an amendment. He withdrew it. He had the opportunity, but he withdrew it. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.