Renee Ellmers

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. I thank Chairman Upton; Ranking Member Pallone; Ms. DeGette, my good friend; Tim Murphy from Pennsylvania, who worked so hard on the mental health reforms; and Chairman Pitts, the Health Subcommittee's chairman. Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of effort put into this great piece of legislation, which basically has the goal of bringing our healthcare innovation infrastructure into the 21st Century Cures so that real hope for patients and loved ones can be achieved. From removing barriers in the mental health system, to ensuring collaboration, to modernizing the clinical trial pathways, to boosting modern medical interventions, 21st Century Cures is a win for everyone. It will accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of lifesaving therapies in a safe and effective way. It will also empower families to support their loved ones. In closing, Cures will change lives. I, personally, as a nurse, would like to say that this is one of the most important pieces of legislation we will pass here in the House.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise seeking to honor the life of Eddy Rae'Laurin Gates, who passed away on June 2, 2016 in Fort Hood, Texas at the age of 20. Ms. Gates was a passionate defender of our nation, and died serving our citizens in the tragic flood at Fort Hood, Texas. A recent graduate of Triton High School in Dunn, North Carolina, Ms. Gates eagerly joined the Army in December 2015 and was excited for her assignment to Fort Hood in May. Her dedication to serving her community was apparent in her roles as Homecoming Queen, youth leader at Kingdom Impact Global Ministries, and as a frequent volunteer with the Junior ROTC drill team at Triton High. Members of the community including her family, Triton High School principal, and ROTC Major Steve Jones, serve as witnesses to the impact she made in the lives of others. Rae'Laurin, a beloved neighbor and family friend, is survived by her parents, Marlene J. Strongs (Benjamin) and Deacon Eddie R. Gates; siblings Darryl L. Snipe, Anstrice Epps, Quinn Williams, Dominique Robinson, Traci Strongs, and Deja R. Shaw; grandparents, Eddie and Willie Faye Gates, Ernest and Jean Carter, and Joyce Strongs. A celebration of Ms. Gate's life was held in Dunn, North Carolina, at the Veterans Park on June 7, 2016, to commemorate our hometown hero. Rae'Laurin, like so many of our military members, made the ultimate sacrifice for her country: giving her life for the safety of others. This tragic event at Fort Hood not only impacted the Gates family, but also many others across the nation, and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by members of the military, both abroad and at home. Ms. Gates' bright smile and devotion to this nation will surely never be forgotten.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to seek to honor the life of Carl E. Fitchett, Jr., who passed away May 29, 2016 in Smithfield, North Carolina at the age of 93. Mr. Fitchett had a fierce passion for serving his community, as made apparent through his past roles as director of the N.C. Oil Jobbers Association, president of the Dunn Chamber of Commerce, and Commander of the American Legion. He also served as president of the Dunn Rotary Club which awarded him the Man of the Year award in 1958, and was a deacon, elder, and trustee at First Presbyterian Church of Dunn. In addition to his volunteer leadership roles in the Dunn community, Carl served in World War II and owned and operated Fitchett Oil Co., retiring in 1991. Mr. Fitchett is survived by his wife, Vivian; two children, Carl and Jeanette; and four grandchildren, Duncan, Margaret, Austin and Katherine. Carl Fitchett, like so many of our community leaders, sacrificed time to better the lives of those around him. He spent his entire life helping those in Harnett County, and we are forever indebted to him for his dedication in serving the local community, especially his hometown of Dunn. He truly embodied the role of the local hero.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to seek to honor the life of Carl E. Fitchett, Jr., who passed away May 29, 2016 in Smithfield, North Carolina at the age of 93. Mr. Fitchett had a fierce passion for serving his community, as made apparent through his past roles as director of the N.C. Oil Jobbers Association, president of the Dunn Chamber of Commerce, and Commander of the American Legion. He also served as president of the Dunn Rotary Club which awarded him the Man of the Year award in 1958, and was a deacon, elder, and trustee at First Presbyterian Church of Dunn. In addition to his volunteer leadership roles in the Dunn community, Carl served in World War II and owned and operated Fitchett Oil Co., retiring in 1991. Mr. Fitchett is survived by his wife, Vivian; two children, Carl and Vivian; and four grandchildren, Duncan, Margaret, Austin and Katherine. Carl Fitchett, like so many of our community leaders, sacrificed time to better the lives of those around him. He spent his entire life helping those in Harnett County, and we are forever indebted to him for his dedication in serving the local community, especially his hometown of Dunn. He truly embodied the role of the local hero.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, this amendment does one thing: it maintains oversight and accountability of the Air Force. This will ensure that the Air Force follows through on their promise of providing adequate air support to ensure there is no negative impact on the readiness of Fort Bragg paratroopers. I have said this is a terrible decision, and today's amendment is about holding the Air Force accountable. It will require the Secretary of the Army and the Air Force to evaluate and to report the levels of air support provided to Fort Bragg by the Air Force. As the Representative of Fort Bragg, this will allow me to monitor jump numbers and ensure military readiness is not jeopardized in any way, shape, or form.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I write in recognition of Detective Mike Copeland, a financial crimes investigator from Chatham County, North Carolina. For the past thirteen years he has served and protected the people by investigating crimes ranging from robbery and larceny to assault and homicide. Recently, Detective Copeland managed to recover $10,000 extorted from a victim. This noble effort marks just one example of how Detective Copeland continues to protect the ill-fated targets of malicious scammers. I would like to thank Detective Copeland for his outstanding service and his work to protect those who become victims of financial fraud.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I seek to honor the life of John Morris Davis, Jr., who died May 7th 2016 due to a cardiac arrest suffered while volunteering as a firefighter in Kenly, North Carolina. Mr. Davis had a fierce passion for serving his community, as made apparent through his role as a local police officer and also as a volunteer firefighter. He always sought to provide aid to people in need, frequently showing up to help even on days he wasn't expected to. Mr. Davis' heroic bravery in seeking to save the life of another speaks volumes about his character and his dedication to the motto of others before self. Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Dwaina; three children, Courtney, Autumn, and Hanna; and his brotherhood of the Kenly Fire Department. John M. Davis, like so many of our brave firefighters and policemen, sacrifice time with their families and loved ones to ensure our community's safety. We are forever indebted to them for their courageous service.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Irvin Warren was born to a rural farming family in Sampson County, North Carolina where he spent his early years learning the value of hard, honest work and the importance of education. Later Mr. Warren pursued higher education at both East Carolina and North Carolina State Universities; Mr. Warren acquired his Master's degree in Education. During his tenure in school he returned home on the weekends to continue working on his family's farm. Upon graduation, Mr. Warren became a professor and it was during this time that his Uncle offered him a partnership in an auto parts business. To follow this new aspiration, Mr. Warren secured a loan from his mother and started Warren Oil Company in 1976 with only three employees. Mr. Warren expanded his company over the next few decades, growing to over 450 employees and packaging oil products under its own brand, and for other companies. The company has expanded across the country, distributing its product across the United States and in over 49 countries globally. Warren Oil Company is currently the largest independent lubricant manufacturer in North America. Mr. Warren's grit and persistence have allowed for him to remain competitive with multi- national oil and gas corporations such as Exxon and BP. Even through this impressive growth Mr. Warren has never wavered in his commitment to his employees--even referring to them as part of his own family--furthermore, he continued to give back to the community. His generosity, commitment to service and love for people is evident. He has provided relief funding for events such as the earthquake in Haiti in 2010--even personally visiting the country during this tragedy and remaining onsite during a significant portion of the recovery process. Perhaps most notably, Mr. Warren has also provided several all- expenses-paid tours for WW II veterans to visit the D.C. museums and memorials, assuring that priority was given to those who had never been. Mr. Warren is committed to continuing these trips until each veteran has had the opportunity to see the Washington sites. This self-driven entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with the generosity and family-like connection to his employees should be a model for aspiring business people across the United States. Through hard work and dedication, Mr. Warren has managed to create a highly competitive business while still remaining deeply connected to his hometown of Dunn, North Carolina.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Gibson. I just want to start right off by saying, Madam Speaker, that our colleague, Mr. Gibson, has been a tireless voice for our military and certainly has been a resource for me and has always been more than open and honest with me when it comes to decisions that are facing our military and national security. Again, I just want to thank the gentleman for his service and, also, for coming to Washington to serve our country yet again, to be such an advocate for the military, and to be such a support for the rest of us who are trying to help in that capacity as well. I am here tonight to discuss in this Special Order the introduction of the POSTURE Act, and I thank the gentleman for this great piece of legislation. The POSTURE Act is an important piece of legislation that will prevent further troop reductions and improve military readiness. As the Representative of Fort Bragg based in North Carolina, I have the unique perspective to see how this troop drawdown is directly impacting our national security. It is my top priority to ensure that we restore our military's end strength not only to serve as a deterrent, but also so that our military can appropriately and effectively respond to any threat represented to our country or our allies. The POSTURE Act will ensure that our troops are ready and prepared to defend our Nation at a moment's notice. I would also like to thank Mr. Gibson for his help raising awareness about the serious issues facing Fort Bragg, including the deactivation of the 440th Airlift Wing. The 440th Airlift Wing provides unparalleled support to Fort Bragg paratroopers, more specifically, the famed 82nd Airborne's Global Response Force, a unit Mr. Gibson knows all too well, as he was the commander of this force just a few years back. Because of the potential deactivation of the 440th Airlift Wing, I have been having this very discussion about maintaining military readiness and maintaining sufficient troop levels for the last 2-plus years. This certainly is not the first time I have stepped foot onto the House floor to rail against the Air Force's ill-conceived decision to deactivate the 440th. In fact, I have stood in this very spot and stressed my concerns about the threats their decision poses to the readiness of the Fort Bragg paratroopers. Unfortunately, what I thought was going to happen is indeed taking place as we speak. While the Air Force has promised they would continue to provide necessary airlift support for Fort Bragg, the Air Force is already falling well short of this promise. Fort Bragg aims to complete 10,000 jumps a month to prepare troops for combat, but the Air Force's decision to prematurely hollow out this wing has prevented them from meeting this jump goal. Last month, only 6,100 paratroopers jumped from Air Force planes. In fact, the Air Force has even fallen short on Fort Bragg's 8,000-jump minimum--a number they consider to be their threshold for proficiency. This is yet another consequence and, unfortunately, it is a concrete example of how drawdown can and will affect military readiness and training. Not only have I met with Fort Bragg leadership, but I have also met with our Nation's top military officials and still, to this day, I do not understand why the Air Force insists on making decisions based on zero strategic merit. To make matters worse, deactivation of the 440th is happening at a time when the 18th Airborne Corps was recently called upon to lead the fight against the Islamic extremist group ISIS. Members of the 18th Airborne Corps are set to deploy this summer. Meanwhile, we are on the track to have the smallest size Army since the end of World War II. Russia has become increasingly aggressive and China's military presence continues to grow in southeast Asia--all the while our President insists on drawing down our military and cutting its funding. This is not the time to be cutting our military. This is the time to strengthen it. Mr. Gibson's bill ensures that we will have appropriate end strength to keep our Nation and our allies safe and secure. I look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Gibson and standing by him in this capacity, as I believe that strengthening our military is one of the most important issues facing Congress to date.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 124, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. I thank my friend and colleague from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis). I just want to say how much I appreciate her leadership, especially today, as we are talking about Women's History Month and the different roles that we, as women in Congress, are playing, and how we want to formulate and build the structure into the future for all women. I thank her for her service to all of us in representing Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, this month is Women's History Month. It is an opportunity to highlight the various ways women in America are pushing the envelope to leave a positive and lasting imprint on society. As the first woman to represent North Carolina's Second District, and the first woman in our State to represent Fort Bragg, national security remains one of my utmost priorities. So when I learned of a proposal to deactivate the 440th Airlift Wing located at Pope Army Airfield in Fort Bragg, I rallied my North Carolina colleagues. For nearly 2 years, we went toe-to-toe with the Air Force on this misguided decision. The 440th is known for its ability to rapidly mobilize and execute last-minute exercises. It is unique in its mission and provides unparalleled levels of training to paratroopers of the 18th Airborne Corps. Deactivation of the Airlift Wing would undoubtedly affect our military readiness and it could jeopardize the safety of our paratroopers. Given the global uncertainty abroad right now, this decision just doesn't make sense. To fight this ill-conceived decision, I coordinated with my North Carolina colleagues to question top military leaders here at the Capitol. During these same meetings, we sought answers to tough questions and asked for data to back up their justification for the Wing's closure. As a woman representing the military base, I have remained unwavering in my work to acquire answers. I have asked for meetings with the Air Force Reserve, the Army, the Pentagon, members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and local Fort Bragg commanders. The threat of terrorism abroad and the growth of radical groups like ISIS makes the decision to deactivate even more baffling. Constituents back home in North Carolina feel the same way, so I have charged forward in my efforts to prevent its closure. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to reiterate that the Republican women in Congress are making history in a variety of ways. As women, we are working to create new opportunities, restore a confident America, and ensure the safety and security of every family living in our country. Again I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Lummis, for hosting today's Special Order, for being the person that she is, representing Wyoming, being a leader amongst all of us, as women in Congress, and allowing us to speak about the individual initiatives that we are tackling as women.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. First of all, I thank the gentlewoman for her piece of legislation on that particular issue because it shows the importance and how incredibly accurate you are when you are saying that there are so many differences in treatments geared towards women and geared towards men. When you highlight heart conditions, that is the number one killer of women in this country, when we look at disease. Heart disease is the number one. When we look at this, we know that women respond differently to symptoms of heart disease than men do, and so do the drugs. So that is a perfect example of why we have to be focusing from a perspective where we consider both genders. There are so many things that are being worked on here in Washington by the women leaders that we have. For instance, some of the things that we have been able to pass on a large bipartisan scale have to do with breast cancer. The USPSTF came out with a decision saying that women between the ages 40-49 don't necessarily have to have mammograms, and so, therefore, their insurance companies shouldn't have to pay for it. I worked across the aisle on legislation to stop that from moving forward, and we were able to put a 2-year moratorium on that decision so that we can actually bring a consensus together. The last thing we want to do for women in this country is send out more mixed messages on breast cancer and the treatment of and the prevention of. So we are working with our colleagues, as Republicans and Democrats. Another perfect example of a healthcare decision that is being made by the USPSTF right now is essentially interrupting the process for men to get a PSA test, which is the only way we can diagnose prostate cancer. It is a simple blood test, and right now they are making decisions as to whether or not insurance companies should have to pay for that. I think that is devastating. And then, of course, I will just say, Medicare remains one of the major issues that we are working on. I will tell you that all of the women in the Republican conference are dedicated to this effort. There are some new rule changes that are coming out from CMS now that we are all targeting, and we have got to do that for every senior in this country who is receiving Medicare. They need the health care that they deserve, and we have got to do everything we can to make sure that it is accessible to them. But, obviously, the largest--the elephant in the room, if you will, is, of course, the Affordable Care Act, and we continue to be dedicated to this issue. In North Carolina, I can tell you it is a mess with the insurance plans. The individual plans themselves have skyrocketed from 30 to 40 to 50 percent increase in premiums, with an equal increase on the deductible. The out-of-pocket costs that families in North Carolina now are spending is outrageous. They are literally making decisions to not go to the doctor when they need health care because they don't want to have to pay extra. This is unacceptable. It certainly was not the intention of the Affordable Care Act. As you know, my dear colleague, we have had many of the solutions to this problem, and I believe that the women in our conference are going to lead and be a strong voice to our leadership for us to move forward so that we can show the American people that we have alternatives to the Affordable Care Act that will continue to give them good coverage, but also continue to support good health care. The 21st Century Cures Act we passed in 2015 is another perfect example of all of us coming together to ensure the American people get the coverage, the cures. What better way to save dollars in health care than to come up with cures? If we could just find one on Alzheimer's alone, we would save incredible amounts of money. Listen, I am just proud and honored to be able to have a voice, especially when it comes to health care because, as we know, health care touches every life, and we have to do everything as Members of Congress, as mothers, as sisters, to do everything we can for the American people.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Well, I will just say that I have had the honor of being part of the Republican Study Committee group that has worked on alternatives to the Affordable Care Act, and we have come up with about 10 or 12 different issue-based sections that are good policy that really have been there for a while, that many of our members have had; and we have actually culminated it into a plan of action that would take care of the issue and cover those things that the Affordable Care Act is leaving the American people behind. One of the issues is choice, being able to choose a plan for your family that you feel is appropriate. Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act, it was promoted as something that provided incredible choice. You were going to be able to go to your doctor. You were going to be able to go to the hospital you wanted. It was going to bring down the cost. And none of those things have come to be true. So now we have to go in and we have to change that. You should be able to buy insurance across State lines or from a different perspective rather than what you have within your own State. You should be able to have a healthcare savings plan where you can put dollars away and be responsible for yourself. Young people are in a different situation. They shouldn't have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars every month on a healthcare plan that they cannot afford when they can have a much more economical issue there, another situation that they can deal with. Another big issue is tort reform at the national level. I think this is something that will also save dollars. There are many, many ideas from the business side of it, with small businesses to larger businesses having better choices, being able to negotiate healthcare plans. So when we are talking about health care and we are talking about the affordable care, what we really are talking about is healthcare coverage. And I think that is one of the most important parts of this discussion that many times, I think, gets confused. We are talking about healthcare coverage, which leads to better health care. We should be doing everything we can to make sure that it is accessible to every American, and to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. Pre-existing conditions is a huge issue. We have to be able to deal with that. We know that we cannot leave the American people hanging. In other words, when we talk about wanting to repeal it, we know that there has to be a process in place to make sure that there is a safety net for all of those families who have been forced off of their insurance plans and on to an affordable care plan that was not their choice, only they were forced to do it because it became law. Now we have to make sure that we are providing an option for them, one that will move them from one place to another, a much better place. I will just say again that we are dedicated to this issue. It is the main reason I ran for Congress to begin with. I will not let up on this until we actually have the solutions that we are looking for. I am looking forward to our working together over this next year on this issue and just moving health care forward in so many different ways. Unfortunately, the Federal Government does have a lot to do with what is working and what is not working, and I am just very happy to be part of that conversation.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on March 2, 2016, H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with an overwhelming 406 ``yea'' votes. Had I been I present, I would have voted in favor of this legislation.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. I thank the chairman for yielding on this specific issue and for leading our subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4444, the EPS Improvement Act of 2016. This bipartisan bill would provide certainty to North Carolina lighting manufacturers that provide over 3,000 jobs in my home State. H.R. 4444 will resolve the underlying issues of the Department of Energy External Power Supply rule. In 2005, Congress directed the Department of Energy to develop energy efficiency standards for external power supplies. The DOE initially stated that products intended to be covered by these standards ``convert household electric current into DC or lower voltage AC to operate consumer products such as a laptop computer or a smartphone.'' Years after the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, new technologies such as OLED and LED drivers were introduced into the marketplace. While the development of these drivers increased energy efficiency, it has also caused uncertainty in the manufacturing sector. This is because DOE roped in drivers as products to also be covered under the EPS rule. DOE is now attempting to regulate a product that was not in the marketplace at the time Congress initially directed the Department to set external power supply standards. Both manufacturers and the energy efficiency community agree that this was and is not the intent of Congress. DOE has continued with this misguided rule despite the distinct difference in the design and use of LED drivers to that of the design and use of EPS. One example demonstrating the difference is that EPS uses single-stage power conversion while LED drivers use a two-stage power conversion. Thankfully, H.R. 4444 is a promanufacturing, proconsumer piece of legislation that resolves this problem. It will exclude certain technologies from being included in other broad rulemakings. I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives DeGette, Pompeo, Matsui, and Dent for their leadership on this important issue. Additionally, I would like to thank Chairman Whitfield and the Energy and Power Subcommittee staff for their time and efforts in advancing this legislation.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This annual campaign sheds light on a disease that affects nearly 30 million Americans and has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. While recovery is certainly possible, early detection and intervention is key. Unfortunately, many people are unfamiliar with the signs typically associated with an eating disorder. This is why I introduced a bipartisan bill with several of my female colleagues, H.R. 4153, the Educating to Prevent Eating Disorders Act. It would create a pilot program in middle schools to begin educating school counselors, teachers, and nurses about the symptoms of eating disorders. The facts are clear: education and early detection save lives. This legislation, H.R. 4153, would allow for us to provide both. We have a responsibility to improve the public's understanding of eating disorders so that we can prevent this mental illness.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, ``Keep Pounding'' is the motto of my Carolina Panthers and one that transcends the football field. Even when Sam Mills was diagnosed with colon cancer--Sam was one of the team's coaches and a former player--he kept fighting. He was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments but kept pounding. Now this phrase is used to inspire players and to remind the team to keep fighting, even when they are feeling weak or run down. Mr. Speaker, just as the Panthers keep pounding all the way to the Super Bowl, the Committee on Energy and Commerce keeps pounding in a bipartisan manner to discover cures and fund research for many of the rare cancers and diseases that exist today. The 21st Century Cures initiative, which passed the House last July, will allow us to develop cures for cancer, like the one that took Sam Mills from this world and the one that affects our young superfan, Braylin Beam, who courageously battles each day. During this year's Super Bowl, I encourage fans everywhere to remember those who have been the inspiration behind our motto, ``Keep Pounding.''

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bipartisan amendment. I join my colleague, Congressman Jerry McNerney of California. Together, we chair the Grid Innovation Caucus with the belief that we need to have a bold and ambitious vision for modernizing our Nation's electric grid. Our current electric infrastructure resembles that of the original grid built over 100 years ago. New technology has given us the opportunity to transform a 20th century grid into a 21st century grid, and my home State of North Carolina is helping to lead the way. In fact, North Carolina is the second-leading State in grid innovation technology development behind California. There is a need to bring our electric grid and the entire electric system up to date in order to meet the changing demands of our digital economy. This amendment is simply a statement of policy and a blueprint for what we want our future grid to consist of and how we want it to perform. By adopting this amendment, we begin to develop a concrete plan to further secure our grid. This is a conversation that needs to happen now, and this energy package moves the debate forward. Technology has given us the ability to further secure our grid from physical and cyber threats as well as increase the efficiency, reliability, and redundancy of this vital component. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney).

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan and commonsense amendment that would provide certainty to manufacturers and resolve this DOE rule. I would also like to thank my colleagues DeGette, Pompeo and Dent for working with me on this issue. This problem stems from an overly broad interpretation of a provision within the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in which Congress directed DOE to set energy efficiency standards for External Power Supplies. DOE is now attempting to regulate a product that was not in the marketplace at the time Congress directed the department to set External Power Supple Standards. Because of DOE's interpretation, other products--such as LED Drivers not intended for regulation--are now a facing regulation under the EPS rule. This problem is, sadly, just another example of DOE expanding the scope of their rulemakings and capturing products that were not intended by Congress. Thankfully, my amendment resolves the problem for this technology and prevents it from being included in other broad rulemakings. The lighting industry is already strenuously regulated for energy efficiency, accounting for 20 percent of DOE's total efficiency regulations. Regulations like this have had a negative impact of 750 million dollars to U.S. lighting manufacturers. This regulation will only stifle innovation, ultimately leading to less energy efficient products and higher energy prices for consumers. Manufacturers cannot operate in an uncertain marketplace and without Congressional action, this rule will unintentionally threaten thousands of jobs. In North Carolina alone this industry provides over 3,000 jobs. I urge my colleagues to join this bipartisan effort.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his leadership on this issue and for holding this very important leadership hour talking about the issues that obviously affect our allies in the world but also the safety of the American people. As we are discussing these issues and the views that are taking place and the discussion and the debate that is going to be had on this issue, I think it is important, again, that we remember this is an American national security issue, and we in the House have to be as vigilant and as strong as we can be on the issue. The attacks carried out on Friday by radical Islamic extremists can only be described as barbaric, and we are responding with force. Yet, this morning, the President announced at a G-20 summit in Turkey that there ``wouldn't be any major changes to the approach taken against ISIS.'' The President's passive approach has proven to be no deterrent to these Islamic extremists, and it is time that he implement a clear and comprehensive strategy to completely destroy ISIS abroad, on their soil, so that we are not fighting them on ours. This is an issue of American national security. Additionally, this is why again and again I have repeatedly called on the need to secure our border and repair our broken immigration system to keep these threats out. It has never been a matter of if, but a matter of when, we might face this type of attack here at home. Time has shown that it is up to us in the House to be the voice of strength for the American people. As we work together to determine a stronger path forward, we will proudly stand with our allies--as they did with us--against these extreme forces of evil. We will continue to hold the people of France in our prayers.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for allowing me to speak on the floor today during this rule debate. As a sitting member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I am proud to see my committee taking the lead on the investigation of Planned Parenthood. As a woman, a nurse, and a mother, I have fully supported the decision to defund Planned Parenthood. But as a representative of the people, our responsibilities are more than that. We have a responsibility to ask questions that will produce answers. Our constituents deserve to know how this organization is using Federal funds, and they deserve to know which medical services they are actually providing to women. In forming this panel, we will begin finding the facts and hold Planned Parenthood accountable.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Thank you to the gentleman from Pennsylvania. I, too, want to thank him for his tireless work on this effort. This is such an important piece of legislation in dealing with mental health and putting necessary reforms in place. The gentleman has truly been an absolute champion on this issue, and H.R. 2646 is such a meaningful piece of legislation that will help in so many different ways. Mental health in this country is a crisis and it is an epidemic, and there are so many families across this country that are dealing with this issue. The gentleman came to my district a little over a year ago, and we had a wonderful roundtable discussion. There were so many individuals who came to it, so many family members who came to it to speak on this issue. They were so appreciative of the fact that there was actually some legislation that was being developed to deal with this issue. These are families that have nowhere else to go. In my experience as a nurse, in health care, but then also as my experience has gone forward in taking care of those in my district and then traveling across the country and meeting with families and talking with individuals about how much this affects their lives, and it is almost amazing when you start having the conversation about this piece of legislation because I don't even think they think that anybody wants to help them anymore. I think they feel so far and left behind that it isn't even in their mind that someone is out there looking for an answer and helping in a way that will be meaningful into the future. The gentleman from Pennsylvania has done extensive work with so many groups, so many patient advocacy groups. His own personal knowledge as a child psychologist has played into this issue. There are certain barriers that are in place, and they are in place because we have put them there. Well-meaning, well-intended HIPAA laws, all of these things that have been put in place to help protect patients and their privacy and their issues, yet it prevents us from being able to understand the situation. It prevents families from being able to get care for their loved ones. Maybe an adult child of parents who are struggling to help their child, their son, their daughter. They may be out on the streets; they may be at home; they may have issues; they may not be working. I mean, there are so many different things that can be happening, and they know that that individual needs help, and they have no one to go to. Madam Speaker, this legislation will change much of that. It is a step in the right direction. There is much more that needs to be done. We were just talking a moment ago about our jails, our prisons, and how many of those who are within those walls and behind those bars literally are there because they have mental health issues. Yes, they may have committed a crime; yes, they may have found themselves in a terrible situation and ended up in jail, possibly even drug abuse; but the bottom line is the mental health issue that lies there. We are talking even about issues of fiscal responsibility in this country, and I think of how much money we will save and how much of a difference it will make if we deal with this issue in the way that it needs to be dealt with. So, Madam Speaker, I am a cosponsor of this legislation. This is an incredibly important piece of legislation. It is bipartisan, and it is for every American in this country, every American in this country that is dealing with this issue with a loved one or with a friend. We all have them. We all walk down the streets and see individuals who we know are homeless, and we know that the root cause is mental illness. We can change something in this country. This is one change we need to make. We need to come together as a whole House of Representatives to pass this piece of legislation. Again, I just want to finish by thanking the gentleman from Pennsylvania one more time for his tireless efforts. You have truly been the champion for every mental health issue, and this piece of legislation passed by the House of Representatives will be a monumental step in the direction of mental health reform.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a hidden epidemic facing millions of Americans and their families. It is the epidemic of malnutrition, often unrecognized, yet directly impacting many of our own families and the constituents we serve. It increases the burden of our nation's health care costs and hits our elderly and minority communities especially hard according to a number of studies. For example, a 2014 study conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found that of older adults living at home, one of every six are malnourished when they enter a hospital. Other studies have shown that an additional 1 in 3 become malnourished while in the hospital. Why is this important? Patients with malnutrition have been shown to potentially heal slower, experience longer hospital stays and be at greater risk for re- hospitalizations and complications. This economic burden of disease-associated malnutrition is profound. One study estimates that the U.S. burden is roughly $156.7 billion per year--and for those aged 65+ it is estimated to be $51.3 billion per year. As we struggle to contain health care costs and get the most value for patients and our health care dollars, it seems counterintuitive to ignore malnutrition, particularly among our most vulnerable populations. So what can we do? A broader engagement by the healthcare community is the first step. The critical role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease should have a greater emphasis in physician training. Malnutrition screening should become part of regular patient assessment. Knowing the nutrition status of patients and undertaking appropriate interventions are low-cost, common-sense solutions that will improve health outcomes and save health care dollars. This week of September 28 through October 2 is Malnutrition Awareness Week. Let's help foster a greater attention to the problem and make a difference through solutions that better support healthy aging among senior citizens across our country. Sometimes the solution is easier than we think.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. I thank the gentlewoman from Tennessee for holding this important discussion today. I would like to thank Chairman Upton, Chairman Pitts, and the full committee and staff of Energy and Commerce for their hard work. Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 3134, and I proposed an amendment to be included within that bill, which redirects $235 million to health centers across this country. I am a nurse, and my husband is a general surgeon. One of our favorite places in the world is our back porch in Dunn, North Carolina, where we sip scuppernong wine and have a wonderful time, and we discuss good health care in this country. Let me tell you and the American people that Planned Parenthood is not good health care. You can see that this chart clearly shows that the 13,000 federally qualified healthcare centers in this country provide comprehensive health care for women. You can see this chart is just a mere example of 17 provided basic healthcare services for women to Planned Parenthood's 6.