Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, Republicans predicted all the bad things that have resulted from the so-called Affordable Care Act. It has not been affordable and has actually increased the cost of health insurance and care. Unfortunately, our colleagues are so invested in supporting this legislation that they blame Republicans for its failure. The legislation has failed because it is hopelessly flawed and cannot be fixed. Mr. Chairman, the piece of legislation before us, as I said earlier, is a choice-limited, freedom-limiting bill, and should not pass. I would also like to make one more observation. My colleagues have made repeated references to junk plans. Every time they do that, they are insulting the person who has chosen that plan for one reason or another due to individual circumstances or preferences. Just because a product isn't something I would buy, or you would buy, does that make it junk? No. Dismissing less expensive and more flexible health plans as junk isn't taking up for anyone, it is actually putting them down. That is not the way we should be in this country. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ron Wellman, Athletics Director at Wake Forest University, who is retiring in May 2019. He leaves as the longest-tenured athletics director in the country at the NCAA Division I level, having been named to the position at Wake Forest in 1992. He has overseen the most successful period in athletics history at Wake Forest, which ranks first in the Directors Cup in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), while achieving a student-athlete graduation rate of 94 percent. Under Mr. Wellman, Wake Forest has thrived and has become a national powerhouse in men's tennis, men's soccer, and women's field hockey. The football program has seen the most successful stretch in school history recently as well. Wake Forest's accomplishments under Wellman's leadership include five team and seven individual national titles, 22 ACC championships, 171 first team All-Americans and the renaissance of athletics facilities. During his tenure, Wake Forest has raised over $400 million in philanthropic support for athletics. Wellman has also played a significant role in shaping intercollegiate athletics on a regional and national level. He served on multiple committees, including the NCAA Division I Management Council and was chairman of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Committee. Additionally, as former president of the Division I-A Athletic Directors' Association, Wellman served on the NCAA Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee. Wellman's efforts leading Wake Forest have not gone unnoticed. In 2007-08, he was honored by two organizations: Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal named him College Athletic Director of the Year and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) selected him as its AstroTurf AD of the Year for the Southeast Region-- the second time in his career he received that honor. Off the playing fields, Wellman helped enhance the overall development of the student-athlete. He stressed academics and instituted programs to assist and develop student-athletes in ways outside of competition. Most recently, Wake Forest athletics launched its Deacon Leader program, a comprehensive leadership development system designed to identify and develop student-athlete leaders from their arrival on campus through their senior year and beyond graduation. Wellman earned his undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University, where he was a pitcher on the baseball team. After receiving a master's from Bowling Green, he joined the faculty and coaching staff at Elmhurst (IL) College in 1971, serving as head baseball coach, assistant basketball and football coach and associate professor of health and physical education. Wellman was the athletics director during his last five years at Elmhurst. I ask the House to join me in recognizing Mr. Ron Wellman, a leader of extraordinary conscience and character.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, as the national conversation revolves around infrastructure this week, I would like to highlight H.R. 300, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, or UMITA, which I introduced with my Democratic colleague, Representative Cuellar. UMITA will further our goal of renewing our country's infrastructure by making sure that overly burdensome Federal regulations don't hinder progress on State and local levels. State and local governments shoulder the greatest cost of infrastructure projects, and any Federal legislation to assist their efforts must account for costs of regulatory compliance. Every dollar spent on compliance with burdensome mandates is less money for the projects States and localities need. UMITA passed with a bipartisan vote in the last four Congresses, and I call for it to be included in any comprehensive infrastructure legislation considered in this body.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize May 12 through 18 as National Police Week. We are blessed to live in a country founded on the rule of law, and it could not be preserved without our Nation's courageous police. This week, we show gratitude to the 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line daily for our safety. We also honor those who have given their lives in the line of duty. This year, 371 fallen heroes were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, including Trooper Samuel Newton Bullard, who died serving Surry County in North Carolina's Fifth District. These brave officers' sacrifices will not be forgotten, and their families are in my prayers. This Police Week, and every week, let's show our support for those who risk so much to keep us safe.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the inauguration of the Borealis, Borouge plant in Taylorsville, North Carolina. It is the first of the company's North American facilities dedicated to automotive materials production and is well positioned to source suppliers and original equipment manufacturers in the Southeast United States. It is exciting to see another way that progrowth policies adopted by the North Carolina State Legislature and this body last Congress are attracting capital and creating new jobs. The investment by Borealis also says much about the high caliber of people in Taylorsville. They are entrepreneurial-minded and working hard to grow their business community. Beginning with 30 new full-time jobs, Borealis aims to expand in the region through local relationships and by developing a new generation of talent. I am very proud to represent the Taylorsville community and to see new opportunities taking off in its economy.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, April is National Internship Awareness Month, and I rise to highlight the wonderful educational opportunities internships provide. They promote experiential learning that helps people make career choices amid a wide range of potential professional tracks. Employers increasingly prefer to hire people with relevant work experience, and internships are a great way to gain this asset. Congress mirrors this trend and financial means should not be a limiting factor in one's participation in a congressional internship. That is why I, in past years, set aside part of my annual office budget to offer paid internships, and I am pleased that appropriations passed into law last year provide funding for all House offices to do the same. I encourage more employers to consider offering internships, and I encourage people to explore those opportunities in Congress and all fields to help them inform their career paths.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 35th anniversary of the founding of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NCMEC. Every child deserves a safe childhood, but each year, hundreds of thousands of children are abducted, abused, and exploited. NCMEC serves as the national clearinghouse and coordinated response center to locate missing children, combat sexual exploitation, and prevent victimization. NCMEC's impact cannot be overstated. Since its founding in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement and families with more than 25,000 cases of missing children and helped to identify more than 16,700 children who were victims of sexual abuse. Thanks to NCMEC's efforts, law enforcement has successfully recovered more than 290,000 missing children. NCMEC's dedication to serving vulnerable children and their families is remarkable, and I am proud to honor NCMEC as it continues its tireless efforts to bring children home.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Arizona for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. The Violence Against Women Act, originally enacted in 1994, was reauthorized twice with broad bipartisan support. Unfortunately, today's bill has followed the same path as other bills this Congress. Democrats are more interested in playing politics and falsely painting Republicans as anti-women rather than passing legislation to actually protect women. Sadly, despite years of work through local, State, and Federal efforts, domestic and sexual violence remain serious problems. I have heard from women and those working to help them about the challenges faced by women due to violence, but as Republican leader of the House Education and Labor Committee, I can tell you they have never asked for a GAO study on student loan repayment. Such a study is included in this bill. Another study about repayment options and the challenges of student debt will not help those women who are victims of violence. If Democrats ever had a compelling argument, Americans would never know, since this bill was marked up in only one committee instead of the seven that have jurisdiction. This bill also requires a study by the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services on workplace responses to victims of violence against women. We are concerned this study is overbroad, and that the workplace is not the best avenue to address domestic violence, especially when those resources can be directed to already existing programs like the National Domestic Abuse Hotline. I supported the 2006 reauthorization of this bill and stand strongly against all perpetrators of violence against women. I will always stand for the protection of women, and any reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act should do the same. Republicans have been ready and willing to work in a bipartisan fashion to reauthorize a bill that truly addresses domestic and sexual violence, but the legislation before us today is not a product worthy of its predecessors. This bill should go back to be thoughtfully considered by the Education and Labor Committee and all the committees of jurisdiction before we consider it on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote to reject the rule and the underlying bill.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an historic moment for North Carolina's Fifth District last week, when Lincoln Heights School in Wilkesboro joined the National Register of Historic Places. From 1913 to 1927, Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington built nearly 5,000 schools in African American communities by matching seed funds provided by public and private entities. Lincoln Heights is among the few of these schools remaining. Constructed in 1924, students attended from six surrounding counties after facing discrimination and lacking educational opportunities near their homes. As a National Historic Place, Lincoln Heights reminds us of the disgraceful history of segregation in our country, but our country is not defined by this injustice. Rather, as a nation, we are shaped by brave men and women who stand for justice when society fails.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, my friend, the chairman, is a diligent and thoughtful colleague, and I believe his heart is in the right place. Everyone in this House is in agreement that pay discrimination on the basis of sex is wrong, no matter how you look at it. The law is very clear about this. But this bill doesn't do anything to help working women. This is a bill for trial lawyers, plain and simple. That is what shows a fundamental difference in outlook and principle. Democrats want women to sue their bosses; Republicans want women to become the bosses. Republicans have favored strong economic policies that will empower and enable women to keep driving the economy forward and build the lives they want for themselves. Instead of looking for ways to line the pockets of trial lawyers, we stand with working women. I am proud, Madam Chair, to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney), one of the hardest working women I know.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), my distinguished colleague.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne).

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik).

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, before I recognize the next speaker, I include in the Record a chart which shows that pay discrimination charges filed per year with the EEOC have remained statistically consistent during the George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. EEOC Equal Pay Act Statistics Equal Pay Act (EPA) Charges Filed with EEOC (Average Per Year) George W. Bush Administration (FY 2001-2008): 1,036. Obama Administration (FY 2009-2016): 999. Trump Administration (FY 2017-2018): 1,031. EEOC EPA Charges Resolved* (Average Per Year) Bush Administration (FY 2001-2008): 959. Obama Administration (FY 2009-2016): 1,078. Trump Administration (FY 2017-2018): 1,220. * EEOC resolves charges in a number of different ways: negotiated settlement, withdrawal of charge upon receipt of desired benefits, successful conciliation, unsuccessful conciliation, a finding of no reasonable cause, or closure for administrative reasons. Lawsuits filed by EEOC with EPA Claims (Average Per Year) (NOTE: Numbers do not include private litigation) Bush Administration (FY 2001-2008): 9. Obama Administration (FY 2009-2016): 3. Trump Administration (FY 2017-2018): 8.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Miller).

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, we have made it clear that we do not believe H.R. 7 is good for working women, but no one has to take our word for it. There are more working women today than ever before. Here is what many of the job creators who have helped make that a reality have to say about H.R. 7. The H.R. Policy Association said: As written, the bill would penalize legitimate, nondiscriminatory pay decisions; impose an unworkable burden of proof on employers that even The Washington Post has said ``potentially invites too much intrusion and interference with core business decisions''; and add to the confusing labyrinth of State and local pay history laws. The National Federation of Independent Business said: H.R. 7 requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to issue regulations providing for collection of employers' compensation data. Most small business owners do not have a human resources department or a full-time staff member in charge of reporting and compliance. NFIB members report unreasonable government regulations as their second most important small business problem. Americans for Tax Reform and the Center for Worker Freedom says: ``Unfortunately, this bill would actually likely harm the women the Democrats are claiming to help. If signed into law, the legislation would likely lead to less flexible work schedules for women, fewer incentives for those who work hard, and lower pay for all.'' The National Taxpayers Union said: Though well-intended, H.R. 7 would not resolve lingering issues of pay discrimination, particularly when safeguards are already available under the Equal Pay and Fair Labor Standards Acts. Instead, under H.R. 7, women could be perceived as a legal liability, ultimately reducing employment opportunities. Rather than impose new regulations that increase the cost of doing business and kill jobs, Congress should remove barriers that limit prosperity for both men and women. This bill, as my colleagues have said, is a sham, and it simply doesn't do what my colleagues across the aisle say it will do. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, earlier, my colleagues presented some interesting numbers. The wage gap is a truly fascinating subject to study because there are statistics to show it is vast, and there are statistics to show, in many cases, it is virtually nonexistent. We should note the numbers that really aren't up for debate. There are more working women today than ever before, 74.9 million. A record 2.8 million new jobs were created in the past year, and nearly 60 percent of those jobs are now filled by women. There are more women owning businesses and employing Americans than ever before. That was no accident. Women are the direct beneficiaries of strong economic policy. They need strong economic policy. They don't want more ways to sue people. They want more freedom to work in the jobs they want. We are here for women, Madam Chair, not their lawyers. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I have worked for most of my life. I entered the workforce as a young woman, not because I wanted to but because I had to. I knew the burden of poverty well. If I didn't work to support myself, if I didn't contribute to my family income, we would go hungry. Well, I have been enormously blessed to have gone from working for survival to working for pleasure and, I hope, a greater purpose. I know there are millions of women of all ages in this country today who must work to survive, just as I did. When I entered the workforce, equal pay for equal work--equal pay for women--was a demand, but not yet the law. Today, it is the law. The Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act are clear that pay discrimination is wrong, it is unacceptable, and it is illegal. Managers who discriminate on the basis of sex are breaking at least two Federal laws, and they have no excuses. No one should operate under the assumption that women have reached their full potential in the workplace. Over the years, I have experienced sexism and misogyny. I have seen unfairness. I have seen, also, remarkable advancement, and I have remained disappointed in many ways. So, for the sake of all the working women I have known and know now, women who work because they choose to and women who work because they must, I looked for anything in this legislation worthy of their support. I found that this bill wasn't written for their sake at all. This bill is a cynical political ploy that borders on paternalism. There is not a single new or strengthened legal protection against pay discrimination for working women in H.R. 7. This bill is entirely designed for trial lawyers, and Democrats must think women are too dumb to understand what they have done. It is an insult to women everywhere that Democrats are passing this bill off as something good for them. This bill is like every other cheap product in drugstores and supermarkets across America that has been covered in pink packaging, marketed as the solution women have been waiting for, and sold for twice what it is worth. We know women are smarter than that. Democrats, who have assumed that women will always follow their agenda, realize they are running out of time, and that is why they have stooped to a stunt like H.R. 7. Women in America are embracing their power and potential in ways they never have before. I am not talking about the record number of women in Congress. I am talking about the historic, groundbreaking number of women in the workforce. More than half of the record number of new jobs created in the past year have gone to women. More women are stepping up to start and lead businesses, to be job creators themselves, than ever before. Women need Representatives in Washington who will cheer for them, not their rich lawyers. If Democrats want to champion a bill to make life easier for trial lawyers, that is their choice, but they should be honest about it and, for once, bypass the opportunity to talk down to hardworking women everywhere. For the women who work today because they must, I am glad they have the legal protections I didn't when I was in their shoes. It was women like them who paved the way for suffrage a century ago. It was women like them who made equal pay for equal work the law of the land, and it is women like them, today and tomorrow, who will continue to clarify, to sharpen, and to exemplify what ``a more perfect Union'' was always supposed to look like. This House should follow their lead. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.