Veronica Escobar

Ms. ESCOBAR

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

Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment be modified in the form that I have placed at the desk.

Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. The navigator program is crucial to communities like El Paso, where we have one of the highest uninsured rates in the State of Texas. Navigators provide free assistance to my constituents as they maneuver through the marketplace to find a healthcare plan that is right for them. When funded adequately, these programs help decrease the uninsured population across the country. However, the Trump administration has sought to cut funding for the navigator program in its plan to systematically undermine the Affordable Care Act. By slashing the program's funding by 84 percent over the last 2 years, the total funds allotted for it now stands at $10 million. To exemplify these draconian cuts, consider this: In 2017, there were nine navigator programs funded in Texas and two operating in El Paso County. In 2018, the number of navigator programs in Texas dropped to just two, with only one now operating in El Paso County. This presents a challenge to States and districts like mine that have seen their populations increase over the past decade. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has coupled these deep cuts with a rule overturning a requirement for navigator programs to train their assisters to help individuals with chronic illnesses and limited English proficiency. While the Trump administration claims this will give navigators more flexibility to tailor their training for the populations they serve, it is really another attempt to scale back what has proven to be a successful program. By cutting funds and reversing this requirement, navigator programs will be forced to choose between extra training for their assisters or hiring more of them to cover counties now lacking operational programs. Navigator programs that do not provide proper training could result in their assisters being underprepared when a consumer from a vulnerable population comes to them for assistance. Enrolling in the marketplace can be complex for anyone, especially for those whose primary language is not English. While H.R. 987 restores funding to the navigator program, we must ensure these programs continue to train their assisters to help underserved populations. My amendment does just that by requiring Navigators to provide training for their assisters to serve vulnerable populations, including individuals with chronic illnesses and limited English proficiency. In my home county of El Paso, there are almost 25,000 uninsured individuals who are not English proficient. This amendment will ensure navigator programs are able to help all El Pasoans find suitable healthcare plans. Simply put, Mr. Chair, access to affordable healthcare is a right, and my amendment ensures we make every attempt to leave no one behind. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I thank Representatives Torres and Porter for their cosponsorship. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, climate change is a major threat to our national security; and military leaders agree. Last year, the Department of Defense studied 79 mission-critical bases and found that climate change threatened most of them. In the past year alone, three of our military installations suffered significant damage from natural disasters, and they are still not fully recovered. It is clear that the scale of this challenge is great. That is why today I am introducing the Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act to help tackle this challenge. By setting clear goals and ensuring regular dedicated resources, my bill gives military leaders the tools and flexibility to implement policies that work best for their missions. We will also ensure the DOD budgets for resiliency and maintains a focus on cutting-edge technologies like hybrid microgrids and additive manufacturing. As one of the world's largest energy consumers, DOD can offer invaluable leadership toward addressing the global climate challenge, while bolstering U.S. national security; and that starts today.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a father, son, and public servant, Sheriff's Deputy Peter John Herrera, who passed away at the age of 35 on Sunday, March 24, after being fatally shot at a traffic stop. A lifelong El Pasoan, Sheriff's Deputy Herrera proudly served the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for 11 years. His leadership was exemplary. He was widely commended by his fellow officers for always wearing his badge with pride. He was the epitome of a public servant who loved his community and demonstrated it every day. He was highly respected, supported, and loved by many as a devoted father, husband, brother, and friend. The community of El Paso mourns his untimely death, but we are endlessly thankful for his unwavering service and contributions to our community. It was a privilege to stand alongside so many El Pasoans last week as he was laid to rest. Sheriff's Deputy Peter Herrera's memory will live on among us for dedicating his life to protecting and serving with integrity and purpose.

Ms. ESCOBAR

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

Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I thank Representatives Bass and Fitzpatrick and Chairman Nadler for their work on this bill, which will provide critical support to women. My amendment has two components to help ensure our work reaches women in every corner of society. The first requires an annual report on the status of women in Federal incarceration. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, women account for approximately 7 percent of the Federal inmate population. As of March 28, the U.S. had 180,181 Federal inmates. This means that the number of female prisoners in America is about 12,613. Women in prison face unique challenges. For example, they are more likely to have their children taken away from them while they are incarcerated, more likely to have trouble accessing basic hygiene products, and more likely to suffer from mental health problems. A report done by the Center for American Progress found that 75 percent of incarcerated women suffer from substance abuse problems, while 68 percent experienced physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. This commonsense amendment would compile more comprehensive, badly needed data to help us better understand the needs of incarcerated women and help us deliver the services they need. The report on women would include data points such as sexual orientation and gender identity, exposure to sexual and domestic violence, whether the woman was pregnant at the time of her incarceration, and length of sentence. The report would also collect data on all Federal facilities where women are incarcerated to determine best practices and the availability of trauma treatment. This information can then be used by Congress to develop policies that would better serve women and their families. The second component of my amendment directs the Attorney General, in coordination with the Chief of U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services and the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, to collaborate on reentry planning and services for incarcerated women, including the development of a national standard on domestic and sexual violence prevention. Reentry and planning services are vital because reentering society is a difficult process for many and represents a critical point of transition that may help solidify rehabilitation or may, if poorly managed, pose new risk to success. This is especially the case for women because of the unique circumstances I mentioned previously. Many are caretakers for their children, victims of abuse, and have addiction issues. For example, finding a place to live is especially difficult. Formerly incarcerated individuals are nearly 10 times more likely to become homeless. Data from the Prison Policy Initiative show that formerly incarcerated women face homelessness at much higher rates than men. For women of color, the rate of homelessness only increases. Further, many shelters are reluctant to accept women with children. When developing reentry plans and services, the Department of Justice officials are required to address gender-collaborative services; housing; previous exposure to and risk for domestic and sexual violence; and the need for parenting classes, securing childcare assistance, and assistance securing jobs that afford flexibility. Finally, the establishment of a national standard on domestic and sexual violence prevention will ensure that the government sets the bar for protecting vulnerable women from abuse. Affirmatively including incarcerated women in the reauthorization of VAWA will enable the government to treat these women with dignity and respect and ensure we are doing all we can to prevent future victims of violence. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Chair, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Georgia, and I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Speaker, I come from El Paso, Texas, which is right on the U.S.-Mexico border. I live on the border. My family has lived on the border for more than 100 years. I can assure my colleagues that the border has never been safer; the border has never been more secure. In fact, what I am more worried about today than what is happening on the U.S.-Mexico border, than those vulnerable asylum-seekers coming to our front door asking for help, is I am more worried that people in this Chamber are willing to ignore the oath of office that we took on the day that we were sworn in, that we would violate the Constitution that we promised to uphold. I am also far more worried about the fact that they are willing to divert funding that is going to our U.S. military in favor of a political prop, a monument to xenophobia, a campaign promise. In fact, Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, stands to potentially lose $275 million. Why didn't they get it done when they had an iron grip over the House, the Senate, and the White House? Because there was no emergency.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an American hero, Bloyce Bradford, who passed away at 90 years old on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. Mr. Bradford was born Christmas Day in 1928. He went on to enroll in the Army, where he served during the Korean War. While in Korea, Mr. Bradford was wounded multiple times and, at one point, was considered missing in action. According to Mr. Bradford's son, for more than 30 days, Mr. Bradford avoided capture and eventually was able to find his way back to the American forces. Mr. Bradford received the Purple Heart and several other military awards for his distinguished service. After his retirement from the Armed Forces, Mr. Bradford started his own business in Northeast El Paso, showcasing his entrepreneurial drive and his commitment to the community. Mr. Bradford will be remembered as one of the oldest-living veterans in El Paso and beloved by many across the city who will miss his mentorship and kindness. His legacy lives on through his sister Gwendolyn, his five children and their families, as well as his companion of 43 years and her family. The El Paso community mourns his loss and thanks him for his contributions to our nation.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, I am here to correct the Record, to bust the myth, to make sure that Americans know the truth about my wonderful, generous, incredible community, El Paso, Texas. Last night, in this Chamber, as I was seated in the audience listening to the State of the Union Address, I heard our President misinform the American public. He said that El Paso, Texas, was once one of the most dangerous cities in America, and then a wall was built. Well, Madam Speaker, that is not true. El Paso is one of the safest cities in America. However, we have been a safe community; we have been a safe city. We are right on the U.S.-Mexico border, and we have been safe for decades. The wall was built in El Paso, Texas, in 2008. Our ranking as one of the safest communities in America dates back to the 1990s. Many people wonder why El Paso is so safe. Why is El Paso, which is, again, right on the U.S.-Mexico border, one of the safest communities in America? Last night, in those conversations, I pointed to my guest at the State of the Union Address, Senaida Navar, who is a Dreamer; she is a teacher; she is an activist; she is exactly the kind of community member, constituent, citizen who makes El Paso and the country great. As these debates over comprehensive immigration reform, over border security, continue to get louder and, in fact, uglier here in Washington, D.C., El Paso has been, in many ways, at the center of those debates and those discussions. I will tell you, they should be. El Paso should be at the center of that debate. The reason why El Paso should be at the center of that debate is not because we were the site of the President's zero-tolerance policy, not because we were the site of the tent city at Tornillo, not because our processing center is the site where detainees are right now being force-fed through a nose tube against their will. We should be at the center of deciding the future of this country in terms of comprehensive immigration reform because of our generosity, because of our goodwill, because of our kindness. El Paso has absolutely set an example for our country, and we have done it with the way that we have opened up our arms to everyone and treated people with the dignity that they deserve. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Sablan for the opportunity to correct the Record.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, today, on the 26th day of the Trump shutdown, I rise on behalf of Lauren, an El Pasoan in my district on the U.S.-Mexico border. Lauren is married to one of our DEA agents, and he is one of nearly 10,000 Federal employees in El Paso. Every day, her husband puts his life on the line to serve El Pasoans and our Nation, and, last week, he missed his paycheck. Lauren describes the shutdown as discouraging and scary. They are struggling to make ends meet for their family of three small children. Lauren and her family, and the hundreds of thousands of Federal employees in America, should not have to face this dire reality and don't deserve this treatment. We must reopen the government now and give our public servants the pay they have earned for their honorable work. And I will repeat what I know to be true: The border has never been more secure or safer. Madam Speaker, we, in the House, have voted on a number of bipartisan bills to reopen the government. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to come together, end this absurdity, have some compassion, and do the same.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Raskin for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule for H.R. 268, the Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019. This bill would provide over $12 billion in necessary funds to help affected communities recover from natural disasters, including Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and farmers who lost crops due to Hurricanes Michael and Florence. I would like to thank my colleagues for introducing the underlying bill and for making in order an amendment to prevent these funds from being used to plan, develop, or construct a new border barrier. Sadly, this amendment is necessary because this administration wants to divert critical disaster aid meant for other projects to go toward border wall construction. The reality is that our country needs help recovering from some of the greatest natural disasters we have seen in our lifetimes. Puerto Rico is still recovering from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a storm that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. I am glad to see that the underlying text provides $600 million in disaster nutrition assistance to the island where over 3 million U.S. citizens reside. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, the underlying text, and this important amendment. Let's hold this administration accountable and ensure they do not deceive the American people by pulling a bait-and-switch.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman McGovern for yielding and for offering this amendment. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of amendment No. 2, which would prevent funds in the underlying bill, made available for the Army Corps of Engineers or the Department of Homeland Security, from being used for the planning, development, or construction of any new physical barrier along the southwest border. Sadly, this amendment is necessary because this administration wants to divert critical disaster relief funds meant for other projects to go toward border wall construction. The reality is that our country needs help recovering from some of the greatest natural disasters that we have seen in our lifetime. Let's ensure that our Nation has the necessary tools to recover, rebuild, and mitigate future natural disasters. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to hold this administration accountable and ensure that they do not deceive the American people by pulling a bait-and-switch.

Ms. ESCOBAR

Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to proudly deliver my first floor speech as the new Representative for Texas' 16th Congressional District. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, a resilient, beautiful community along the U.S.-Mexico border, I am a proud fronteriza and know firsthand the realities of the border. That is why I have been profoundly disturbed by the rhetoric and policies from this administration. I will use my time to tell you the truth about the border, the opportunity she represents, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform. El Paso, like other border communities, is one of the safest communities in the country, with a rich history made strong by our bicultural, binational character. Our people are generous, compassionate, and kind. We share a border with our sister city, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. This border unites our families and our values, and it promotes commerce and trade. The border has never been safer or more secure. El Paso already has a wall, but we were safe long before it was constructed. The truth is that additional border barriers will not address the real challenges that we face. Instead, I hope to work with my colleagues in this Congress to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, address the root causes of migration, and value immigrants as critical to building our economy and our country. According to the Pew Research Center, there were an estimated 10.7 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States in 2016. Some came when they were small children, seeking refuge in our country, and, today, have limited protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Others have been here for decades under temporary protected status, establishing businesses and cultivating deep roots in communities across the Nation. It is unsafe for them to return home because of ongoing strife in their home countries, but this administration decided to terminate protections for them anyway. The majority of others live in the shadows, afraid to avail themselves to assistance because of our current immigration climate. Life for immigrants and asylum-seeking families, unfortunately, has gotten increasingly worse since January 20, 2017. This administration has cruelly separated a reported 2,654 families at the border, and these are only the families that we know of. It has built tent prisons for children; teargassed immigrants near ports of entry, including many women and children; criminalized migration and prioritized detention; and attempted to drastically curtail the number of immigrants coming into our country. Further, this administration's unlawful asylum ban on migrants who do not enter at ports of entry has strained our border crossings. Due to metering at ports, a practice that limits the number of people who may enter the U.S. each day, families are sometimes pushed out to more dangerous and deadly crossings. I hope we will investigate whether metering contributed to the tragic deaths of two young Guatemalan children, Jakelin Caal Maquin and Felipe Alonzo-Gomez. These policies and practices are inhumane and un- American. Building walls and sowing hate divide us as a nation. Instead, we must focus on reforming our immigration system to ensure a safe and humane process. For example, we must create a pathway to citizenship for DACA and TPS recipients; make investments in additional personnel and infrastructure at our ports of entry where most illegal drugs flow; hire more immigration judges and grant them Article I independence in order to address the backlog of cases and ensure due process; overhaul training for CBP and ICE agents that will boost safety and increase oversight, transparency, and accountability; and end the criminalization of migration, especially that of asylum-seeking families. Above all, families belong together and should not be detained, especially when there are cost-effective, humane alternatives. Finally, for any of my colleagues who think that the border is unsafe, I invite you to my district to see it for yourself.