Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the Biden administration's destructive regulatory agenda is jeopardizing the franchise model. President Biden will stop at nothing to advance big labor's agenda, even if it means harming workers. The Biden administration is working overtime to shove as many workers as possible into unions, regardless of worker preference. The Biden administration's proposed joint employer rule will fundamentally destroy the franchise model by taking autonomy away from individual franchise owners, depriving them of the ability to run their own businesses. Being able to own a franchise business, like a fast-food restaurant, is a ticket to the American Dream, especially for women and minorities. Americans who invested their time and energy into building a business do not deserve to have it snatched away all because President Biden wants to appease big labor. To save the American Dream for these businessowners and promote better opportunities for our entire workforce, Republicans will oppose this dangerous power grab. Instead, we will support policies that put workers and job creators first.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Randy Whittington, Gary Foster, Angela Rogers, and Joey Haney of the Retail Solutions Group in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. I was proud to join them recently at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their fourth, and largest, warehouse. In the last few years, Retail Solutions Group has grown from fewer than eight employees to now over 200. This is a magnificent accomplishment. Madam Speaker, North Carolina remains a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, thanks to people such as Randy, Gary, Angela, and Joey. Congratulations to Retail Solutions Group on this new and exciting chapter. I look forward to hearing more about the strides you will make in the days and months ahead.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate the eighth annual National Apprenticeship Week. It is the perfect time to reflect on what is and what isn't working in our Nation's workforce development programs. There are more than 10 million unfilled jobs in this country and nearly 6 million unemployed individuals. There is clearly a crack in the education-to-workforce pipeline. The best way to address our country's skills gap and worker shortage is to promote workforce development programs that actually work. I have been encouraged to see many businesses coming up with their own workforce development programs. Time and again, employer-led programs prove to produce the best results. More industries are embracing apprenticeships as a solution for upskilling and re-skilling workers. As employers realize that baccalaureate degrees do not always prepare workers to fill needed roles, more alternative pathways will be needed. Many businesses are already removing unnecessary degree requirements and are, instead, replacing them with apprenticeship programs. This is a great development for our country and our workforce. Americans should not have to take out mountains of crushing student loan debt to study a subject that has nothing to do with their intended career, only to have to start from scratch once they enter the workforce. For too long, the college-for-all mentality has pushed young people into obtaining a baccalaureate degree, regardless of their intended career. This mentality is slowly shifting, and our country will be better off for it. Now that more young people are turning to apprenticeships, it is important to ensure that there are high-quality programs available. We need apprenticeship programs that prepare workers for the open positions today, not the positions that were open yesterday. We need cutting-edge programs. One-size-fits-all, Washington-knows-best models are not the answer. While President Biden touts his support for apprenticeships, his cancellation of employer-led apprenticeship programs tell a different story. President Biden supports only apprenticeships he can control. Since terminating employer-led apprenticeship programs, the Biden administration has doubled down on support for the registered apprenticeship model. Because this system, founded in 1937, has not been substantially updated in eight decades, it is not easily adapted for innovative industries. Using this model to expand and modernize apprenticeships would be like starting on a journey on an already-leaking ship. We can push as hard as we want, but in the end, the vessel can only take us so far before we sink. It is time for a new system, one with employers in the driver's seat. Job creators know the tools workers need to be successful. Washington swamp dwellers, on the other hand, are clueless. Why the Biden administration believes bureaucrats in Washington are more equipped to run apprenticeship programs than those on the ground is beyond me. It is no surprise that the vast majority of successful and thriving apprenticeship programs are led by private industry. Take Kentucky FAME, for example. The Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education is a partnership of regional manufacturers that creates a pipeline of highly skilled workers through an earn and learn program. By the time participants are done with this program, they will have an associate's degree, an advanced manufacturing technician credential, and years of work experience, all with no student loan debt. This organization operates in 12 States and has an 85 percent employment placement rate. This is an excellent workforce development model that other industries can learn from. The more employers embrace apprenticeships, the better off our economy will be. The best way for our workforce to thrive is for the Federal Government to get out of the way and for industry leaders to lead the way. So, for this National Apprenticeship Week, let's tell the Biden administration to stop putting special interests ahead of workers; let's recommit ourselves to empowering job creators to provide their own solutions; and let's support those jobseekers who want an opportunity to learn and earn at the same time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for a record-breaking 13th consecutive year, Old Dominion Freight Line has been named the number one National LTL Carrier for Quality. Mr. Speaker, this is a tremendous feat, and one that underscores how this company has maintained a commitment to excellence since its inception in 1934. Not only is Old Dominion a force to be reckoned with in delivering freight, both domestically and internationally, but it is also an economic driver in North Carolina. Congratulations to Old Dominion and its countless dedicated employees. The work you do around the clock helps the world keep its promises.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, ``The pandemic is over.'' That is what President Biden declared in an interview on ``60 Minutes.'' OSHA clearly hasn't gotten the memo, or it wouldn't be attempting to revive a COVID-19 emergency temporary standard, ETS, regarding healthcare workers and seeking to make it permanent. Our healthcare industry is strained enough as it is without the Biden administration demanding additional burdensome COVID-19 requirements. This regulation is a perfect example of the left's hypocrisy. President Biden can't have it both ways, pretending there is a permanent pandemic when he wants to further his own emergency powers and declaring it is over when he wants to tout his accomplishments. It is time to let our medical professionals work in peace instead of having to jump through these unnecessary hoops. After all, the President said it himself: ``The pandemic is over.''

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, passing H.R. 7780 would do a disservice to students, workers, and job creators. This legislation has been weighed, it has been measured, and it has been found wanting. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank my good friend from California for yielding time. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 7780, the Mental Health Matters Act, is a package of bills our country would be better off without. For example, Title VI of the bill, the Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act, contains dangerous policy which would threaten access to critical workplace benefits. How would this legislation drive employers to drop benefits? H.R. 7780 allows the Department of Labor, DOL, to levy civil monetary penalties against plans and employers for ambiguous mental health parity violations. Employers who offer mental health benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, ERISA, do so voluntarily. They should not be penalized for violating standards that are unclear and vague. Republicans and Democrats alike support mental health parity, which is why Congress has passed multiple laws to ensure employers are able to meet mental health parity requirements. Yet, despite receiving explicit direction from Congress outlining what DOL must provide to plans, the Department has yet to issue guidance. Employers and plans have been asking the Department for years to comply with the law and provide examples which illustrate compliance and noncompliance, recommendations to advance compliance, and clarifying information on how plans may demonstrate compliance. However, instead of helping plans comply, DOL has blamed them for not being able to read the minds of Washington bureaucrats. Providing DOL with the authority to levy civil monetary penalties against plans and increase their risk of litigation will only force plans to drop mental health coverage. This legislation would also increase DOL's budget for mental health parity enforcement by an additional $275 million over 10 years, a sure sign DOL wants to double down on its aggression toward employers. This money would be better spent on compliance assistance instead of targeting employers based on ambiguous standards. Additionally, Title VII, the Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act, gets rid of arbitration clauses, class action waivers, and discretionary clauses in employee benefit plans. This opens the door to increased litigation against plan sponsors which could drastically increase the cost of administering these plans. Democrats are treating ERISA arbitration like a treacherous backroom deal, but, in reality, arbitration settles disputes more quickly and more often in favor of claimants than litigation. The only people who benefit from months and years in litigation are trial lawyers. This bill also contains provisions regarding the youth mental health crisis. There is bipartisan agreement that addressing the mental health of youth matters. However, we can't ignore the fact that Democrats exacerbated the youth mental health situation by prolonging school shutdowns. At the behest of teachers unions, Democrat politicians from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to school district administrators kept classrooms shuttered, despite knowing that schools were not major vectors of spread and that children were suffering from this forced isolation. The results have been catastrophic. In 2021, more than one-third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to one study, from February to March 2021, the number of ER visits by young girls for suspected suicide attempts was up by more than 50 percent compared to 2019. School closures fail students, which is why we should be spending our time addressing the massive learning loss students suffered because of these shutdowns. This is a problem that cannot be neglected, especially if we want to see these young people have as bright a future as possible. Lastly, H.R. 7780 includes the Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act, or RISE Act, the intent of which Republicans support. While I agree that students with disabilities shouldn't have to jump through hoops to obtain accommodations at school, this legislation will have unintended consequences as currently drafted. For example, this legislation forces colleges and universities to accept outdated documentation from students who are claiming disability status but who do not, in fact, have a disability. This legislation should have been debated with stakeholders before being rushed to the House floor, but, as usual, Democrats took a shortcut. I encourage my colleagues to work across the aisle and utilize the deliberative process to form more commonsense and targeted legislation if they actually want to address our country's mental health situation. H.R. 7780 is a bill that tries to do too much and none of it well. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, our colleagues keep saying the goal is compliance. Well, if the goal is compliance, then it is up to the Department to define the standard. Employers do not know what the standard is. Therefore, they do not know what is expected of them to comply. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I would like to correct the record regarding a comment Chairman Scott made at the Rules Committee Tuesday that employers must offer mental health benefits. Most health plans governed by ERISA are not required to offer mental health benefits. Let me repeat myself: Most mental health benefits offered by employers with ERISA plans are offered voluntarily. Offering comprehensive health coverage is a valuable tool used to recruit and retain employees. When employers choose to offer mental health benefits, those benefits must be at parity with other benefits. What parity means is a matter of debate, which is the root of the problem here. The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 required mental health parity for plans that choose to provide mental health benefits. When these employer-sponsored plans cover mental health benefits, they must abide by mental health parity laws. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 directed the Department of Labor to provide additional assistance to plans to comply with parity requirements. DOL has ignored Congress' mandate to provide additional assistance to plans and is instead expecting plans to read the minds of Washington bureaucrats or face litigation and fines. The problem with this top-down approach is that employers do not have to subject themselves to DOL's whims. Employers are choosing to cover mental health benefits. They can just as easily choose not to offer mental health benefits if Washington is intent on making it too challenging or costly. DOL should follow the law and issue additional guidance, specifically standards, to employers and plans. Helping employers would undermine the Democrats' long-term goal of weakening employer-sponsored insurance and implementing government-run healthcare. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today to oppose the amendment offered by Representative Porter and Representative Trone. Much of this amendment is well-intentioned. The amendment authorizes the Department of Education to conduct a study to better understand the prevalence of mental health disabilities and substance use disorders on campus. The amendment also authorizes the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, to issue guidance to institutions on how they can continue to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other legal obligations, when serving students with mental health disabilities and substance use disorders. However, this amendment has some issues. This amendment includes broader language that could allow the Department of Education to deviate from issuing guidance on complying with these existing laws and open the door for the Department of Education to speculate on a variety of other institution policies. For example, language in this amendment could permit the Department of Education to prohibit colleges and universities from enforcing their codes of conduct when students engage in drug use that violate campus policies, which would make campuses less safe and less able to support students with mental health disabilities or substance use disorders. Unfortunately, this amendment did not go through the normal committee process, where it would be my hope that much of this language could have been discussed and revised. I believe we all want to ensure students struggling with mental health disabilities are provided the appropriate legal accommodations by their institutions. However, this amendment fails to do that. Mr. Chair, I will oppose this amendment; I encourage my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, we are hearing a lot lately about how bills are imperfect, but we should go ahead and pass them. Mr. Chair, we have an opportunity to improve legislation before we pass it, but there seems to be no appetite on the part of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to act in a bipartisan fashion to improve legislation. Why in the world do we want to vote for things that are imperfect but could be improved when there is a will to do that on our side of the aisle? It makes no sense. This amendment needs work done to it before we could possibly support it, and I suggest that we set it aside--set the bill aside--and work on those things that need to be improved, demand that the Department of Education do its job. Clean this up. Then we could pass good legislation, maybe not perfect, but certainly better than what we are facing here today. Mr. Chair, I agree, don't let perfect be the enemy of the good. For heaven's sake, let's pass good legislation, not legislation that isn't as good as it could be. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, ``no'' on the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Republicans are committed to addressing the Nation's mental health crisis, including in the workplace. Unfortunately, this amendment, while spending $30 million, puts the cart before the horse and does nothing to address the serious flaws in H.R. 7780. If Democrats were serious about improving mental health resources and implementing best practices in the workplace, they would strike the provisions in the underlying bill that will make it more difficult for employers to offer mental health benefits. Still, the amendment, as written, is not ready for prime time. First, I have concerns about the program's bloated $30 million price tag over 3 years. It is all too common for Congress to throw money at a problem without any oversight or accountability to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent in the most effective way possible. The amendment also establishes inappropriate criteria for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, to examine. This includes how changes in workplace protocols or traumatic grief from COVID-19 in the workplace contributes to adverse worker mental health. These criteria are overly prescriptive. Congress should let NIOSH do its job in determining what kinds of workplace factors contribute to poor mental health. Further, the amendment directs NIOSH to report to Congress within a year on whether the best practices have been developed and adopted by relevant stakeholders. However, the Department of Labor's vague and unclear guidance on mental health parity makes it challenging for employers to offer mental health benefits; and H.R. 7780 would only increase the risk for employers offering mental health benefits. I am disappointed by the lack of effort to develop a workable bipartisan solution to study the mental health of our Nation's workers before this flawed legislation was rushed to the floor by Democrats. This is a partisan amendment to a partisan bill, and a missed opportunity to improve healthcare for workers. I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. As I stated on the last amendment, this bill needs a lot of work. Republicans are more than willing to work with our colleagues across the aisle to make the bill better, to make this amendment better. Again, Democrats' favorite ploy to solve a problem is to throw money at it, but not have clear standards, not hold agencies accountable, and not have a clear plan. Republicans have plans for how to get things done better in this country, and we would be so much better off if we could work in a bipartisan manner to bring bills to the floor; have them go through regular order; and spend time debating them together. We want legislation that helps our situations in the country; not throw money at it; not just say, well, let's try this imperfect approach and see what will happen. Throw something against the wall and see if it will stick. That is a rotten way to run this country, Mr. Chairman. We can do better. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend roll call vote No. 454 and No. 453 on September 22nd. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 454, and NAY on Roll Call No. 453.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the American people are at their wits' end. They fear that our great country has fallen into a state of disrepair the likes of which have never been seen before. They have watched as our time-tested institutions have become engulfed by a smog of bureaucratic rot. They have gathered at their kitchen tables for nights on end wondering how much further they could stretch their budgets to support their families. All the while, Washington has trudged onward with more spending schemes and irresponsible policies that are poisoning America. Mr. Speaker, I cannot overstate the severity of the catastrophes that this administration has created. From the southern border being overrun to inflation that has robbed hardworking Americans and their families, no matter where you turn, the carnage is palpable. Republicans are taking a stand to end this madness and move America in the right direction. That starts with our Commitment to America. The American people deserve an economy that is strong, a Nation that is safe, a future built on freedom, and a government that is accountable. These are the tenets of the Commitment to America. Mr. Speaker, let me be clear, the American people can no longer afford one-party Democrat rule in Washington. Under one-party rule, Americans are bearing the brunt of 40-year high inflation. Crime has exploded in major cities across the entire country. Millions of illegal aliens have poured across the southern border. Gas and grocery prices are growing by leaps and bounds. The list goes on and on. Mr. Speaker, there is no denying that. Americans are not witnessing progress under one-party rule, they are watching our Republic crumble by the second. It is time for a serious change in leadership in Washington. No more reckless spending. No more policies that are antithetical to the will of the American people. No more bureaucratic assaults on the freedoms and values that this country was built upon. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve much better than the hand that Washington Democrats have dealt them. In a few short weeks, Americans across the country will make their voices heard, and I can guarantee you that they will not speak softly. The disarray, incompetence, and negligence in Washington must be put to an end. It is time that Washington truly delivers on the priorities of hardworking taxpayers and families across our country. There is not a second to lose.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, workforce development programs are spreading across the country because of organizations like Be Pro Be Proud. In March of 2016, Be Pro Be Proud was launched by the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas to serve the future leaders of America's workforce more effectively. Thanks to Be Pro Be Proud, more young people know that they can find a good-paying job and have a successful career without going to college. They have learned that there are alternatives to a baccalaureate degree--alternatives that can produce equal, if not better, outcomes. In June of this year, I had the privilege of traveling to Arkansas and attending the national Be Pro Be Proud conference alongside Representative French Hill and Senator John Boozman. The progress that has been achieved to date by this organization is remarkable, and in the realm of workforce development, its gains are second to none. In February of this year, officials in North Carolina signed a contract that established a Be Pro Be Proud pilot program within the State. This is wonderful news indeed. As you can probably tell, Mr. Speaker, this is truly a State-led effort that is a model to other States and becoming a national movement, and it is one that is a force to be reckoned with. States need to know that the power is in their hands to implement strong and effective workforce development programs. They need to know that they, in fact, are in the driver's seat. I thank everyone who has worked so diligently to make Be Pro Be Proud what it is today. The work they are doing will go on to leave a positive impact on America's future leaders for generations to come. Americans Are Not Celebrating

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder the American people believe that Washington is out of touch. Last week President Biden held an event on the White House lawn to celebrate the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. He took a victory lap in front of the entire country alongside his allies on live television. But, Mr. Speaker, do you know who was not celebrating with President Biden? Hardworking taxpayers and their families who are being pummeled by the President's inflation catastrophe and inflation tax. That same day, new numbers were released showing that inflation continues to surge. Mr. Speaker, President Biden couldn't read a room if he tried. The rising cost of goods and services will cost the average American household over $700 a month. When added up, that is over $8,000 that they will be forced to fork out in a year. Grocery prices are up 13.5 percent, and food prices are up 11.4 percent since last year. This is the largest 1-year increase in prices since 1979. Mr. Speaker, anyone who believes that these numbers are worth celebrating needs a serious reality check. The Biden administration's fiscal irresponsibility put us in this mess. Come November, Republicans will be the ones to fix it.