Elizabeth Esty

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. ESTY. I have an amendment at the desk, Madam Chair.

Ms. ESTY. Madam Chair, I come to the floor once again to urge this House to invest in rail safety. My amendment adds $3 million to the Federal Railroad Administration for safety and operations to fund vital rail safety education programs, like Operation Lifesaver. Railroads move the goods that fuel our economy, and thousands of commuters in my district rely on passenger rail lines every day. In fact, over 11\1/2\ million Americans took the trains along the Northeast corridor last year, a record high ridership. Freight rail traffic is also increasing, reflecting a growing economy and a booming energy sector. However, as we have seen in the news almost monthly, there have been a disturbing number of rail accidents in the last few years, many of them preventable train derailments and collisions. We in this House stood in silence a few weeks ago to mourn the loss of the eight passengers killed in last month's Amtrak derailment near Philadelphia. Those deaths were tragic and completely avoidable. We must do more to promote safe and reliable rail travel. I have worked hard on the Transportation Committee and advocated in this House to implement positive train control and other innovative technologies that can protect passengers against the most dangerous rail accidents. But technologies like positive train control cannot prevent all train-related accidents. On February 3, 2015, six people died when a northbound Metro-North Railroad commuter train collided with an SUV that was stopped at a highway rail crossing. Aditya Tomar, a resident of Danbury, Connecticut, and one of my constituents, was one of those passengers killed. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, these sorts of highway-rail grade crossing accidents lead to 270 deaths every year. Just this morning, media outlets were featuring a viral video from an Amtrak Silver Star train colliding with a car and slicing it in half after the driver drove around the lowered gate at a rail crossing in Jacksonville, Florida. Miraculously, every passenger survived with only minor injuries. This video demonstrates that even when crossings are equipped with gates and warning lights, human error and miscalculation can have devastating consequences. That is why we need to educate drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on how to avoid accidents along railroad tracks and at highway-rail grade crossings. Technological safety advances are essential, make no mistake, but they are not enough. We must educate people about the dangers of walking along railroads or ignoring rail crossing warning signals. The Operation Lifesaver program is an effective public safety campaign that encourages drivers and pedestrians to ``stop, look, and listen'' at highway-rail grade crossings and increases awareness in all 50 States. Congress authorized Operation Lifesaver in 2008, but has failed to provide adequate funding. My amendment to increase funding for the Operation Lifesaver rail safety program is also fiscally responsible and does not increase spending. Instead, this investment is offset by a very small reduction in Federal Government staff offices for the Federal Aviation Administration, an account that will still receive $75 million above the administration's request. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, we should invest in manufacturing, which plays such a vital role in innovation and competitiveness. The Federal Government is uniquely situated to help ensure that manufacturing remains the backbone of the U.S. economy. My amendment fully funds the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program by increasing funding for the industrial technologies account by $11 million. This program is the top priority for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Just earlier today, the Chamber listed fully funding the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at $141 million as its highest priority for the Commerce, Justice, Science bill. My amendment is also fiscally responsible. It decreases funding for the Federal prison system by $31 million to ensure that this investment in manufacturing does not affect our national spending. In Connecticut, we are proud to be a national leader in manufacturing. Our State is home to more than 5,000 manufacturers that provide stable, good-paying jobs for our families. For more than 20 years, our Manufacturing Extension program, the Connecticut State Technical Extension Program, known as CONNSTEP, has been a trusted adviser for our small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies looking to grow their business and increase their workforce in sales. Since 2013, CONNSTEP's clients have helped create 511 jobs, retained more than $527 million in sales, and realized cost savings of $81 million statewide. In Thomaston, in my district, Metallon, Incorporated, a metal stamping and assembly facility, partnered with CONNSTEP to help conduct internal quality auditing and secure new products. Thanks to the partnership with CONNSTEP, Metallon expanded their workforce and increased sales by half a million dollars. Metallurgical Processing, Incorporated, a metal processing facility in New Britain, Connecticut, saw a 20 percent increase in production capacity and $181,000 in cost savings after working with CONNSTEP to streamline product flow and improve production efficiency. CONNSTEP's support for Connecticut business is critical to our continued leadership in manufacturing, as we not only retain but grow these jobs statewide. I have seen firsthand how CONNSTEP's support has successfully helped our manufacturers to be competitive in an increasingly globalized economy. But make no mistake, these successes are not just in Connecticut. The Manufacturing Extension program has a proven track record of effective partnerships with manufacturers all across the country. Since the MEP program started more than 25 years ago, centers across America have created more than 729,000 manufacturing jobs, saved companies more than $13.4 billion, and turned every dollar of Federal investment into $19 in new sales growth. The additional funding of the MEP program will enable our centers to fully execute their mission and undertake a robust technology transfer program to help manufacturers take new discoveries from the research lab to the marketplace. I encourage all my colleagues to support my amendment to fully fund the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and invest in our manufacturing future. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. ESTY. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, my amendment strikes section 532 and 537, two harmful gun riders in this bill. Mr. Chairman, appropriations bills are not the proper place to address significant policy provisions. Instead, such changes to gun policy must be seriously and properly considered by Congress through the regular order. The American people deserve an open and transparent process where a full range of options can be frankly discussed and debated by the proper congressional committee and the entire House of Representatives. Over the past several years, various appropriations riders related to gun policy have had unintended consequences that could have been prevented had these issues been fully and thoroughly debated in Congress. Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Today of all days we can and must do better. We should not allow contentious policy provisions related to important Federal policies governing firearms to be attached to these appropriations bills. Mr. Chairman, I urge the Appropriations Committee and the House as a whole to stop inserting significant gun policy provisions into must-pass spending bills. I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Private First Class William Joseph Oakley, the first casualty of the Vietnam War from Waterbury, Connecticut. At the age of 17, PFC Oakley enlisted in the United States Army. He was extremely proud to serve his country. On May 28, 1965, PFC Oakley was killed when two Army helicopters collided. He was only 18 years old and had served for less than a year. As we commemorate Memorial Day and remember all those who lost their lives while in service to our country, let us pause to think of PFC Oakley on the 50th anniversary of his death. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the ground offensive in Vietnam. Over 58,000 names are written on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. Thirty of these brave Americans, including PFC Oakley, called Waterbury home. The City of Waterbury and the Waterbury Veterans Memorial Committee will never forget the service and sacrifice of the men and women who died while serving in our nation's military throughout our history. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Waterbury Veterans Memorial Committee for all they do to honor our veterans.

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 120th anniversary of New Hope Baptist Church in Danbury, Connecticut. This weekend, New Hope Baptist Church will celebrate over a century of visionary leadership and faithful service that has contributed to achieving a healthy, thriving community. In 1895, Rev. Thomas Garnett founded the New Hope Baptist Church of Danbury with area residents who were drawn together by faith and kinship. Eight pastors have led New Hope over the past 120 years, shepherding the parish through many periods of growth. Increasing membership throughout the decades also necessitated expansions in church programs and services as well as physical additions to the church itself. This year, under the leadership of Rev. Leroy Parker, New Hope expanded its ministry to include services in Waterbury to reach even more individuals and families in western Connecticut. Rev. Parker is an inspiring preacher, and I was honored for him to join me at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC earlier this year. New Hope Baptist Church is an outstanding example of what a faith community can accomplish through ministry and fellowship. The parishioners are welcoming and eager to share their faith with community members and visitors alike. I enjoy worshiping at New Hope and cherish the friendships I have made. Congratulations to New Hope Baptist Church on its 120th anniversary.

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would increase support for women in entrepreneurship at the National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps, also known as the I-Corps. It has been an honor and privilege to meet with women across Connecticut who are creating and building their own startups and small businesses. In March I hosted a Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math roundtable, bringing together educators, innovators, and business owners to identify barriers that women face when looking to advance in the critical STEM and entrepreneurial fields. These local leaders all agreed that one of the biggest problems for women in the STEM fields is the lack of mentorship and support, and, quite simply, women do not have the same support and mentorship as their male counterparts because they are often the first women in leadership positions in their fields. In fact, our Smaller Manufacturers Association in Connecticut just elected their first female president, Anne Strobel, and she has already hit the ground running to build on our State's strong manufacturing tradition. National studies and experts echo the concerns women raised at the STEM roundtable in my own district. The Kauffman Foundation recently surveyed 350 female tech startup founders and found that the number one shared concern is a lack of role models and mentors for women thinking of going into business for themselves. Recent news reports have noted the chronic underrepresentation of women in the booming tech sector, including startups. In fact, women make up only 30 percent of the tech workforce and 22 percent of the leadership roles, despite being 60 percent of the workforce. It is clear that we must do more for women so they can build businesses and create good- paying jobs. My amendment would provide that support to women through the NSF's Innovation Corps, known as the I-Corps, by expanding their mission to specifically include support for and investment in female entrepreneurs through mentorship, education, and training. The I-Corps program fosters entrepreneurship by giving students the tools they need to move discoveries and technology from the research lab to the market. I-Corps is making a difference in helping teach and support entrepreneurs across the country. In my own State, the University of Connecticut recently received I- Corps funding, and it is designated as an I-Corps site. Accelerate UConn will build on the investment the State of Connecticut is already making to ensure that they remain a leader in our national innovation ecosystem. Our competitiveness as a nation depends on robust research and technology and on ensuring that we draw on the best and the brightest, whether they be men or women. By increasing the number of women entrepreneurs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, we as a nation will all benefit from the innovation that comes from a diverse workforce. It is not only morally right, but economically smart to foster entrepreneurship of women. I encourage all my colleagues to support my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. ESTY. I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), the ranking member, with my thanks.

Ms. ESTY. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. My amendment provides $750 million to passenger railroads to help them implement positive train control. Tragically, last week, Amtrak 188 derailed, killing 8 people and injuring more than 200. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones. Unfortunately, last week's tragic accident is just the latest in a series of incidents that are unacceptable and largely preventable. According to National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt, the lead investigator of last week's Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia: ``Had PTC''--positive train control--``been installed on the section of track, this accident would not have occurred.'' Now, what is positive train control? Positive train control, commonly referred to as PTC, is a communications and signaling system that uses GPS technology and sensors to communicate train location, speed, restrictions, and moving authority. Most importantly, PTC can save lives. For instance, positive train control technology can detect if a train is going too fast for an area and use onboard equipment to automatically slow or stop the train. Now, Mr. Speaker, last week's derailment is not the first time NTSB has recommended implementing positive train control. This recommendation has been made since 1969, following an investigation of a head-on collision of two Penn Central commuter trains near Darien, Connecticut, in my home State. That collision killed 4 people and left 43 injured. Forty-six years after that deadly collision in Connecticut, the NTSB is still demanding and waiting for action. During this time, the NTSB has investigated 144 accidents that would have been preventable if railroads had installed PTC. Not surprisingly, positive train control has been on the NTSB's most wanted list of safety improvements since 1990. 144 accidents over 43 years--try and think about that, and try to comprehend 6,532 preventable injuries and 288 preventable deaths. This just isn't an issue only on the Northeast corridor. In 2008, a tragic accident in California killed 25 people and injured 102. After that accident, this House enacted legislation requiring PTC on commuter and intercity passenger rails by December 31 of this year; but protecting lives requires leadership from this Congress. The American Public Transportation Association asked Congress to provide Federal funding for 80 percent of the installation costs on passenger rails. We in Congress can help. We can and must make this investment before another terrible accident, before another life is tragically and needlessly lost. We can't afford to wait. Less than 2 years ago, a Metro-North Railroad engineer fell asleep as the train he was operating sped up to 82 miles an hour through a tight curve. The restriction for that section was only 30 miles an hour. As a result of the derailment, 4 people died, and 61 were injured. With tragic predictability, the NTSB investigation determined that positive train control could have prevented that tragedy as well. How many more times does the NTSB need to repeat its recommendation before PTC is implemented? There is no reason why this Congress should continue to ignore its responsibility to help passenger railroads implement the lifesaving technology as soon as possible. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment to provide the necessary funding to help passenger railroads implement PTC across the United States. Let me be clear: this funding won't prevent every single accident. The fact that PTC will not prevent every accident should not--cannot-- be an excuse for this Congress' failure to act. Failure to act today on implementing positive train control is wrong. It is unworthy of a great country. A great country does not respond to crises with duct tape; a great country leads with action. I ask all House Members to join me to vote for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. ESTY. I am, in its current form.

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. ESTY

Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, there are only 5 legislative days until the highway trust fund expires. Once again, this House is governing by crisis and needlessly endangering 660,000 good-paying jobs. This needs to stop. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives America's infrastructure an overall grade of D-minus. Mr. Speaker, 35 percent of my State of Connecticut's bridges are structurally deficient, functionally obsolete, or both. We shouldn't wait until the trains derail, the bridges collapse, or projects shut down before we fund our infrastructure in this Nation. A great nation does not respond to crisis with duct tape. A great nation leads by bold action. I join Democrats and Republicans who are ready to work together to pass a long-term, sustainable, robust highway and infrastructure bill. The time is act is now.