Renee Ellmers

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great support of S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Today marks a significant milestone in the fight against human trafficking, and I am honored to see my amendment adopted into this legislation. Having served as a nurse, I recognize that members of the medical community are the only outside aid to have direct contact with trafficking victims. Mr. Speaker, my amendment will educate and train health care professionals on proper techniques in order to better administer care. But, more importantly, it empowers members of the medical community so they can intervene on behalf of those being trafficked. It has been an honor to work with my colleagues on this pivotal piece of legislation, and I am thrilled to see this legislation and my amendment move to the President's desk to be signed into law.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Thornberry and the committee staff for continuing to work with me on issues facing Fort Bragg, including the deactivation of the 440th Airlift Wing. My amendment is simple. I am demanding accountability for what I believe to be a terribly misguided and shortsighted decision. The airborne and special operations units the 440th supports are unique because there are paratroopers within the Global Response Force who are on call 24/7, packed and ready to deploy anywhere in the world within hours. It is safe to say that the level of readiness required for these forces is unparalleled. In the midst of global uncertainty, the idea of deactivating such a vital element is simply baffling to me. I see this as dangerous to our paratroopers, and I demand accountability for this ill-advised decision. As the Representative of Fort Bragg, I will not stand idly by when I see a decision that negatively impacts the brave men and women serving our country.

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina

Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I just want to extend my thanks to all of the members who have worked so hard, both on the Energy and Commerce Committee, but my Democratic colleagues across the aisle, those who we are working with in the Senate. I just want to say to the American people, don't look now, but we are actually governing. And this is what the American people want to see. I have a speech here to read, but I am actually going to go offline and tell you from my heart what this means for our seniors. This is about certainty. This is about governing. This is about giving solutions to a problem. Yes, it comes with a price tag. But when we continuously look at things from a one- dimensional perspective on something so important as health care--it is so multidimensional--we can't stop ourselves from moving forward. Imagine a year from now where we will be when we are not trying to come up with another billion-dollar bandaid to continue the SGR failed formula, when we can actually be looking forward for solutions in health care, continuing our work on 21st century cures, and showing our seniors and every American family in this country how important it is in the work that we are doing.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for this very important discussion that we are having today. Yes, I rise in support of H.R. 596, which aims to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare. ObamaCare has been a costly disaster to my constituents in the Second District of North Carolina and across this country. I have heard numerous stories, ranging from young women to senior citizens, and they all touch on the same underlying problem: ObamaCare is unaffordable and results in severe consequences. As a nurse, I know that repeal alone is not enough because the American people need high-quality, patient-centered health care. I am so proud to be standing with my Republican colleagues and many of the Democrats that we serve with who are now going to say to the American people, not only are we against this awful law, but we are for good, patient-centered health care, and we are going to provide that plan of action for the American people to see. We need to stand with the American people, who overwhelmingly disapprove of ObamaCare.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to say again to my good friend and colleague from Florida, thank you for putting forward this effort to work with us. To my colleague, Mr. Pallone, I, too, believe that we need to work together. So just know that my door is open, that we will continue to work on these issues together, and I am just so glad that in a bipartisan effort today we are all coming together to stand up for victims of human trafficking and again get them on a path to recovery. At this point, Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), my good friend, who has been a tireless and passionate advocate for women and families and children who are affected by human trafficking really long before many of us were even aware that it was an issue here in this country.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 398) to provide for the development and dissemination of evidence-based best practices for health care professionals to recognize victims of a severe form of trafficking and respond to such individuals appropriately, and for other purposes.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the ongoing domestic problem with human trafficking. H.R. 398, the Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act, will create a program dedicated to training our Nation's health care professionals in order to identify the early warning signs for the act of human trafficking. Oftentimes, members of the medical community encounter these individuals while they are still being trafficked. By training health care professionals and equipping them with the right knowledge, we are enabling them to identify hallmark signs of this despicable act for early intervention. This pilot program will test and examine the best practices needed for determining the protocol used for implementing human trafficking awareness within the medical community. As a nurse, I know that our country's medical professionals already play a significant role in caring for victims of human trafficking. This legislation will better prepare those on the front lines, so that they can identify and care for those being trafficked. Most Americans are unaware as to how prevalent and pervasive human trafficking is within our own borders, but it is time we acknowledge this fact and stand up against this heinous crime. Our medical base is in a position to help these victims break free, and I am proud to push forth legislation further empowering them. This legislation trains health care workers to recognize the hallmark signs of human trafficking, thus allowing professionals to intervene on the patient's behalf. I would like to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, for helping me introduce H.R. 398 in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, I just want to say again how proud I am of our Congress and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle coming together to work on very, very important legislation dealing with those who have been trafficked. Human trafficking is a travesty, it is a heinous crime, and it is today's modern-day slavery. This is something that we must eradicate in this country. This is what the American people need for us to be a part of and work on. I am just so happy that we are dealing with an issue that is going to affect so many out there in this country who do not have a voice right now. We have the opportunity now to stand up for what is right. We have the opportunity to do what is right, and by us working together and having legislation that will be sponsored in the Senate, as many of us do, we feel very strongly that this will become law, and we will be able to enact it and help those victims so that they can be looking towards recovery and empowering their lives. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important day with 12 different bills that we are addressing. I am just so proud to be a part of it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you to my colleague from North Carolina for, once again, being such a strong defender of life. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for H.R. 7. I believe in the sanctity of human life and that life begins at conception and ends at death. My life's experiences as a mom, as a nurse, and as a Christian have helped me to form these core beliefs. I have held the hands of newborn infants, and I have held the hands of elderly patients in the last moments of their lives. I have been blessed to have had such special moments, and because of them, I know that every life is precious and is a gift from God and that it is not for us to judge its worth. Madam Speaker, the unborn need us to stand up for them and to be the voice that they do not have. I support this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do so as well.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove myself as a cosponsor of H.R. 36.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the House of Representatives on unanimously passing its first piece of legislation yesterday to prioritize employment opportunities for veterans and reservists. This is particularly important to me as I proudly represent Fort Bragg and over 100,000 veterans, servicemembers, and their spouses. Recently, I held a military roundtable in Fayetteville, North Carolina. As you can imagine, the number one concern for military spouses and veterans was unemployment. Unfortunately, ObamaCare's employer mandate has made employment opportunities for veterans scarcer than ever before. However, the Hire More Heroes Act is a step in the right direction in improving veterans' transition into the civilian workforce. This commonsense legislation is to be held up and applauded. I am proud to have been an original cosponsor, and I look forward to do more for our veterans every day.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1281) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize programs under part A of title XI of such Act, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that I am so proud and honored to have been asked to join with my good friend, Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, as an original cosponsor on this very important bipartisan EARLY Act and thrilled to see this reauthorization considered in the House of Representatives. The EARLY Act has a proven record of success, saving countless lives through both preventive and early detection measures. Unfortunately, like many good friends like my friend from Florida, they were stricken with an awful cancer. There are still far too many courageous women fighting this disease, including a dear friend of mine back home in Dunn, Fonnie Godwin. Fonnie was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 42, and 4 years later, she continues her courageous fight against this disease. The EARLY Act will serve to shed light on this disease and give hope to all women like Fonnie who are still fighting this awful, awful cancer. This legislation ensures that all women, young and old, have the information and resources necessary to protect themselves and also supports those who are in remission. This legislation will continue its important work of educating future generations on the risks associated with this disease. I look forward to seeing the EARLY Act pass this House and advance on to the Senate today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, we are ready to close. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I just want to say again thank you to my good friend for allowing me to be a part of this. I know how important it is to her and, again, thousands and thousands like her; and, again, to my friend Fonnie Godwin back home, Fonnie has touched so many lives. She is a teacher, she is a wife and a mother, and she is involved in her church and her community. On Christmas Eve, she will be at First Presbyterian Church in Dunn playing the bells in the choir. I always see a smile on Fonnie's face, and today, I want to make that smile even bigger. Again, Mr. Speaker, thank you so much for allowing this to move forward today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. I am honored to stand before you to speak on behalf of my dear friend, the dean of our delegation, Howard Coble. He has been a source of wisdom, an esteemed colleague, and a loyal friend to all since taking office in 1985. One of the fondest memories that I have of Howard was when I had the privilege of watching him accept the Bertholf Award. This prestigious honor was awarded to Howard for his unwavering support of the brave men and women serving in the United States Coast Guard. When I arrived at the ceremony, I wasn't surprised to find the committee room packed from wall to wall. Seating was scarce, and there was hardly any standing room left for supporters. Everyone was there to show support and appreciation for our good friend Howard, just as he has been there to show support and appreciation over the years to all of us. While speaking at the ceremony, Admiral Papp shared some words of advice that Howard once gave him: Always take care of your shipmates. Howard, you have truly embodied this piece of advice through your service in Congress, especially when taking care of your constituents. You have always taken care of each of us, your shipmates, through both your dedicated service and loyal friendship. On a personal note, I have had the incredible honor of following Howard in representing Moore and Randolph Counties in District Two, and I must say, you are truly loved and respected, and I have very big shoes to continue to fill. Your retirement marks the end of an era here in Congress, but launches the beginning of another incredible journey for you. I wish you a long and relaxing retirement, and I will be forever grateful for your friendship and guidance through the years. Thank you.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pitts for his leadership, and my colleague, Bill Cassidy, for this wonderful bill, H.R. 3522. This bill is very simple. It will allow people to keep the health insurance they had before ObamaCare took it away, their choice. Eighty percent of those people in this country are women who have made those choices in health care, and this would put it back in place. President Obama infamously stated, as my colleague before me stated, ``If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan, period.'' However, many plans offered prior to the ACA were not compliant with the numerous requirements this law required. As a result, millions of Americans were no longer able to purchase their old plans. One of many of the business owners who provide health care coverage for their employees right there in my district, Mr. Steve Lozinsky, who runs Sparkle and Shine Cleaning Service in Apex, North Carolina, called me just the other day concerned about this issue. Steve has about 240 employees, and he will be forced to lay off 31 of them because of the ObamaCare mandate. Mr. Speaker, it is because of employers like Steve Lozinsky, who take care of their employees, who consider them family and want to do the right thing, it is because of them, and every American and every family in this country, that we need to pass H.R. 3522.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act of 2014. This bill will improve the health care system's ability to recognize and respond to victims of trafficking by providing health care professionals with the knowledge and training they need to deal with this modern day form of slavery. We know that the victims of sex and labor trafficking in the United States suffer from wide-ranging physical and mental health problems. In one study, over 87% of these victims have sought care from an emergency ward in a hospital, a neighborhood clinic, or a family physician. Because of this, these health care professionals are in a unique position to identify trafficking victims and help them recover. At the same time, we are also discovering that healthcare providers and professionals remain unaware of sex trafficking and the role that they can play to help them. In fact, even when medical personnel think they have identified a victim, which is only about half the time, they don't know how to help or are not even aware that there are protocols in place to refer them to others for help. This is even more distressing because the medical professional is probably the one expert most likely to encounter a victim at some point during their enslavement. Although trafficking is demonstrably expensive to our society--and a debilitating public health issue--current federal law does not require medical care professionals to receive training regarding the nature and scope of sex trafficking in this country. Nor does current law require health care professionals to be trained to identify possible trafficking victims, nor how to respond to victims if they are able to identify them. My bill would take the first necessary steps to make this training available. The Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act mandates that HHS take steps to develop evidence-based protocols to recognize and respond to victims of trafficking. It also sets up a comprehensive pilot program to test these protocols and determine whether or not the protocols will actually result in victim identification and rescue. Those protocols that are shown to be evidence-based can then be taught to health care professionals as part of their medical and nursing school curriculum. They can also be included in continuing-education modules. The U.S. government estimates that more slaves exist today than ever before. Currently, there are more than 20 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. Yet most Americans don't realize that trafficking is also a huge problem here in the United States. Some estimate that as many as 300,000 U.S. children are at risk of sex trafficking each year. We must take action to stop this horrendous danger to our people. The bill I am introducing today instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to work with medical and nursing schools to evaluate existing protocols, and develop new ones to identify and respond to victims of trafficking. It is an appropriate concern for healthcare workers and it is my hope that, once health care professionals are convinced that the protocols are tested and evidence-based, they will welcome the opportunity to incorporate them into their medical training so that they can assist the victims and help them heal.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 418 I mistakenly voted ``no'' when my intention was to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the excessive audit system that exists for our medical equipment providers that provide essential medical equipment for our seniors across this country. It is negatively affecting them and their businesses. These businesses provide essential services and education to our seniors and Medicare patients. It is important to point out that this practice was put in place because of the fraud and abuse that existed within the system; but rather than targeting fraudulent practices, they are targeting people playing by the rules and are being punished because of the bad actions of a few of the bad actors. One example is a business in my community that provides essential health care to Medicare and senior patients, providing oxygen and hospital beds, which are essential, basic equipment. They have been audited 50 percent of the time. This is a practice that has to end; and I am introducing legislation tomorrow that will address this issue, reform the system, and get to the point of really addressing the fraudulent practitioners that need the reform.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment, and I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney) for his leadership as well and working with me to promote further research that protects and improves our Nation's energy infrastructure. This amendment will have a positive impact on our Nation's energy reliability, efficiency, and security. It will help us maintain a robust manufacturing presence and will ensure the critical research and development to continue in the vital areas of energy transmission, smart grid technology, energy storage, and cybersecurity. Technological advancements in the energy sector are occurring across the country at a rapid pace, and there is no better example of the industry's success than in North Carolina. The success of research and development is due in part to the strong partnership between the private sector and universities. Mr. Chairman, I have seen firsthand on the campus of North Carolina State University where they have partnered with industry leaders to innovate grid technologies to create the Smart Grid Center of Excellence. I have also seen the positive impact of implementing this technology and the benefits it brings to our rural communities and their rural electric cooperatives. Mr. Chairman, with a growing need for grid reliability and cybersecurity measures to promote our Nation's energy infrastructure, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, today it is my honor and privilege to recognize a true American hero, SPC Walter Winn. SPC Winn was recently recognized as the first ever Wounded Warrior of the Year for his work with the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg. SPC Winn entered the WTB program during Operation Enduring Freedom from the heralded 82nd Airborne and 1st Theatre Support Command. SPC Winn was nominated by officials at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg for his ``dedication, service, integrity, leadership and his inspiration to all Wounded Warriors who have served this great country.'' Out of 3,500 candidates, SPC Winn was chosen for his exemplary perseverance and determination. SPC Winn pressed on in the face of adversity, and as a result, he received high marks in the Warrior Transition Unit. Mr. Winn is an inspiration to countless veterans and active-duty soldiers at Ft. Bragg and around the country. His commanders have noted that SPC Winn's compassion and hard work is contagious around the WTB. Mr. Speaker, I am honored and proud to recognize SPC Walter Winn, the Wounded Warrior of the Year.