Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, in closing, our government's current sugar program is a job killer. It ensures profits for the connected few at the expense of the many. It operates at a substantial cost to taxpayers, consumers, and businesses. It is rooted in supply management economics that were drafted nearly 90 years ago. Every other commodity program was subjected to reforms during the last farm bill except the sugar program. Economists, consumer groups, environmentalists, manufacturers, editorial boards, and groups on both the left and right of the idealogical spectrum have all endorsed the idea of substantially reforming this program. It is time to end Congress' codification of a special interest giveaway. It is time to modernize the sugar program. I ask my colleagues to support our amendment and the farm bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand before you to recognize the 64th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Because of the relentless courage of Linda Brown, her parents, and civil rights leaders, the abhorrent segregationist policy of ``separate but equal'' education came to an end. As a result, millions of children were afforded the educational opportunities they deserve and their rightful shot at a successful life. Mr. Speaker, as an educator, as a lifelong learner, as chair of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I believe with all my heart that education is the key to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Sixty-four years ago, the end of legal segregation in public schools recognized that inherent value as well. I honor the courage of those students who brought about that change.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize that yesterday marked the 70th anniversary of statehood for Israel. Israel is our close ally and a beacon of democracy in a dangerous part of the world. Throughout history, Israel has made numerous concessions in the pursuit of peace while seeking only the right to exist. A strong Israel is paramount to our Nation's interests in the region, and strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel is vital to the well- being of both countries. I was also proud to introduce H. Res. 835, which passed the House by unanimous consent last week. The resolution calls all nations to enter into robust diplomatic relations with Israel, highlights Israel's recent advances in diplomacy, and affirms the importance of diplomatic recognition of the nation globally. A strong Israel benefits all nations, and I will continue to stand with our friend and ally, Israel.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, we are here tonight to talk about a topic that is forefront on the minds of Americans of all ages. It is a topic at dinner tables across the country, and is finally becoming a leading national news story. We are here to talk about workforce development. The American workforce has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. Right now, there are 6.6 million unfilled jobs in this country in a phenomenon known as the skills gap. Those jobs are unfilled because too many Americans are unskilled, despite the fact that we have record-high numbers of people attending postsecondary education. At the Education and the Workforce Committee, workforce development is at the heart of what we do. All education is career education, and that means all education is workforce development. Education, as most of us know, and many of us have experienced, is the sure path out of poverty for millions of Americans. For all of us, it should give us the tools we need to cultivate the talents God has given us. Whether through a baccalaureate degree, a professional certificate, or any of the new and innovative stackable credentials, Americans look to the educational system for options. Mr. Speaker, I am joined here tonight by some of my colleagues from the Education and the Workforce Committee. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Grothman for his comments. I agree with Mr. Grothman that this is an issue every American needs to be made more aware of. Many are. Every week, every day, I meet with people from my district and outside of my district who come in to see me who say that they have jobs in their companies, in their manufacturing plants, and in their restaurants that they cannot fill because they cannot find the people with the skills to fill those jobs. Everyone in this country has a stake in the future of our country, so we are hoping that everyone will wake up to the skills gap and see what part he or she can play in it. I know that members of the Education and the Workforce Committee have become very well aware of this from their own districts and from their own experiences, many of them as employers before they came to the United States Congress. One of the people that I know that is very attuned to the need in the workforce is our colleague, Mr. Ron Estes, from the great State of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Estes for being here tonight. Mr. Speaker, I want to brag a little on Kansas, also. I had the opportunity last year to visit in Congressman Estes' district and see firsthand the cooperation going on there among the different levels of education--the high schools, community colleges, State universities-- and working with business and industry, particularly the aerospace industry. Mr. Speaker, I ask Mr. Estes if he would like to add to his comments about the great program going on there because I, frankly, have gone all over the country and talked about that innovative program that is going on there. I yield to the gentleman.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I think, again, the program that Mr. Estes has there in Wichita is a good role model. It is an indication, again, that we are sort of going back to the future. In the past, most of our education institutions paid attention to where the jobs were in this country and educated people to be prepared for the jobs. There are people who sometimes can be critical of us on the committee for saying that we spend too much time emphasizing people getting a job and perhaps not enough emphasizing a liberal education. Well, I am a huge fan of liberal education. My undergraduate degree is in English, but thank goodness I learned to type in high school because that typing skill is what helped me get through college as I worked my way through. All of us need skills. English majors of today need skills: computer skills, graphic skills. We don't want to diminish the role of liberal education. We want to just make sure that students have a clear understanding of what their choices are going to be when they enter a postsecondary institution and what they might expect when they exit that institution. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), another member of our committee who is very well versed in the issues related to workforce development and education, who has done yeoman's work on many issues related to the workforce and education.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Walberg for speaking on tonight's Special Order topic. I appreciate the comments that he has made, and I appreciate the leadership that he has brought to the Education and the Workforce Committee in so many ways. The gentleman's comments about being with employers tonight mirror the experiences that I have had where, again, every employer that comes to see me says: You know, we love the tax cut bill. It is allowing us to hire more people. The only problem is we can't find people with the skills to take those jobs. So what are we going to do? So this is an issue, again, that faces all of us. The Federal Government cannot solve this issue alone. It is going to take the local schools, K-12, as well as community colleges, as well as universities, as well as business and industry to come together to figure out ways to solve this problem. Of course, what we are doing with the career and technical education bill as well as with the PROSPER Act is to provide the framework for those people to do what needs to be done out there. We are taking the heavy hand of the Federal Government away and saying: We want you to make many, many decisions at the local level, colleges and universities to make decisions. I think we are on the right track. With the leadership of Mr. Walberg and other members of the committee, I think we are going to get there.

Ms. FOXX. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Mr. Walberg for being here tonight. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), another stellar member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, who in the past has led the way in the area of career and technical education in particular, but is well versed in education in all areas.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Thompson for his time tonight. Again, I appreciate the work that he has done in this field session after session, and I appreciate the way he approaches his work on the Education and the Workforce Committee. We respect the gentleman greatly, and he is well respected by all of his colleagues here. Mr. Speaker, we are all pushing to get the bill passed out of the Senate and are very, very hopeful. In addition, we keep our fingers crossed. We pray, we keep our fingers crossed, and we hope. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), another one of the great members of the Education and the Workforce Committee.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Allen. He and the other members of the committee who have been here tonight, as well as Members who serve on the committee, bring real-life experiences and help us better understand what it is that we need to be doing on the committee and in the Congress. Again, this skills gap is something that is of concern to all Americans and should be of concern to all Americans. The Education and the Workforce Committee is doing its best to present good legislation to pass here so that the Federal Government can again give the structure that is needed for business and industry to do what it needs to do. We are the greatest country in the world. We will continue to be the greatest country in the world as long as we respond to the needs of our culture and keep our country moving in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues again and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Charter Schools Week. It is my pleasure to celebrate alongside the students who have benefited from these innovative institutions. Charter schools serve over 3 million students nationwide, providing students in rural, urban, and suburban settings with unique educational opportunities. The reforms in the Every Student Succeeds Act enable charter schools to serve more students and allow States to support new, high-quality charter schools to address the growing demand for these schools. And the demand is high. Currently, 5 million students are awaiting their chance to attend. Charter schools offer American families the right to choose what environment is best for their child. It is clear that parents and students want this choice available to them, and they deserve to have it. Honoring Sean Vestal

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Sean Vestal of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This year the North Carolina High School Athletic Association awarded Mr. Vestal the Homer Thompson Memorial Eight Who Make a Difference Award. This honor is awarded each year to one coach from each region of the State for excellence in sportsmanship, dedication, and being a student role model. Known for his supportive relationships with athletes and using the game to teach life lessons that go beyond the court, Mr. Vestal finished his career as North Forsyth's head basketball coach after 12 seasons to spend more time with his family. However, he continues his dedication to students as the school's athletic director. Congratulations to Mr. Vestal in receiving the Eight Who Make a Difference Award. We are fortunate to have him as an example of sportsmanship and an encouraging role model in North Carolina's Fifth District. I wish him success in his future endeavors.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize--and say farewell-- to a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce staff who is retiring after more than 29 years of public service to the People's House. Molly McLaughlin Salmi began her congressional career on the Committee as a Staff Assistant in the 100th Congress. With hard work and unparalleled policy expertise, she rose through the ranks, serving as the Deputy Director of Workforce Policy for the last 16 years. Eight Committee Chairs--Republicans and Democrats--have had the benefit of Molly's guidance, direction, and honest feedback. Her tireless dedication to sound policy and extensive knowledge has resulted in a better workplace for every working American. Molly has relentlessly worked to modernize wage and hour laws-- clarifying requirements that would otherwise have a detrimental effect on working Americans, preserving volunteer opportunities, enhancing employment opportunities for America's youth, and, in particular, increasing workplace flexibility. Molly has navigated us through countless hearings, markups, floor debates, field hearings, member briefings, roundtable discussions, and stakeholder meetings, and through it all, she has been a trusted adviser, dedicated public servant, distinguished colleague, and an invaluable member of our Committeee family. While Molly's policy achievements over the years are immeasurable, she is equally regarded for her mentorship and grace. Countless young staffers have been blessed to receive Molly's advice and guidance, much to their great appreciation and benefit. Molly Salmi, on behalf of my colleagues, we are deeply grateful for your many years of service to the American people and the U.S. House of Representatives, and we wish you all the best in the years ahead.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of my Special Order.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. We all know and appreciate his background and his experience in healthcare and the wonderful wisdom that he brings to us on the Education and the Workforce Committee, not only on this issue, but on so many issues facing Americans today. As the gentleman pointed out, the health and stability of our communities are in serious trouble because of opioid abuse across the Nation. Since 1999, the opioid death toll has quadrupled. There are many estimates of how many Americans die in a single day because of opioids, and we are so sorry to hear of any deaths from opioids. It is heartbreaking that all of those estimates are in the hundreds. These people were fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, neighbors, coworkers, and friends. They were real people in our communities. I have had families from the Fifth District come to see me to share their heartbreaking stories of family members, often adult children, who have died from opioids. My own heart breaks for them and the pain they are feeling for their tragic loss. There are newspaper stories and obituaries in newspapers reporting on opioid abuse and deaths and its devastating impact every day. As opioids continue to claim the lives of Americans in cities and towns across the Nation, it is our responsibility to work together to find solutions that will bring relief to American communities. The Committee on Education and the Workforce has recently held two hearings on opioids, and we have learned from employers, educators, local leaders, and addiction experts about how chronic and rising rates of opioid misuse and abuse are impacting families, schools, workplaces, and communities as a whole. We have heard about how the epidemic's societal burden on households and the private sector exceeded $46 billion in 2016. In schools, many principals attribute a recent decline in attendance to parents not getting up and having their students attend school because the parents are using drugs and they are not able to either take the children to school or have them ready to ride a bus. I am pleased to share the floor tonight with my colleagues from the Education and the Workforce Committee, who have not only had hard conversations with their constituents about the toll opioid abuse has taken on their communities, but they have been having productive and helpful conversations with each other about possible solutions. There is no single answer to solving the opioid problem, but if we are to bring this deadly chapter to an early close, we will need collaboration across the aisle, ingenuity, and a uniting commitment to bringing peace and healing to our communities. I will once again yield to my colleague Mr. Thompson for any closing comments he would like to make.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Thompson, and I know the people of his district are well served by him. I thank him for his service on our committee, on the Agriculture Committee, and all that he does to help us write good legislation and pass good legislation. As Congressman Thompson said, unfortunately, this problem with opioids affects people at all ages and in all walks of life, at every income level, every category of people--male, female, old, young--but we particularly grieve over the young people. We have heard about babies becoming addicted because their mothers were addicted and of the work that is done to help those babies become free from opioid addiction. We have heard about the veterans who become addicted because of the treatment that they have received. We know nobody is attempting to get anyone addicted to opioids or anything else, for that matter, but we realize that over the years, we have had stronger use of these drugs than we probably should have had used. There are many ways to approach pain relief and pain management, and, unfortunately, in the past, too often it has been the path of least resistance. We do hear over and over the stories about young people who suddenly get addicted because of surgery or an injury, and it happens sometimes very, very quickly. As Representative Thompson has said, it has a huge impact on jobs. We have, right now, 6 million unfilled jobs in this country, and the reasons are very many; but some of the reason is because we have so many people addicted to opioids and other drugs, and they are simply unable to pass drug tests. We hoped, by this graphic here, to illustrate that the problem with opioids is very close to all of us at home, very close to us; and what we are hoping for is to find ways at the Federal level to get beyond opioids, to help people who are addicted have some stability, regain their health, be healed of their addiction. But this cannot all be done at the Federal level, and we know that. In fact, too many people look first to the Federal Government for an answer. The Federal Government usually is the worst place to come for an answer. It usually has to be done at the local level, then at the State level, and, last, the Federal level. But I know, as Representative Thompson has pointed out, many Members--in fact, I believe all Members of Congress now--are concerned about this problem we are facing with opioids, and we will answer the call to do something. My only hope is that we put everything into perspective. As we have learned from our hearings and talking to other people, much of this work needs to be done in the family to start with, in the medical communities, and once people become addicted, then in the local communities as people collaborate, work together to help people not become addicted to opioids, and once they do get off of the addiction, to get back to a normal life. I know that all of us pray for those who are addicted and pray that they will find a suitable program to help them become free from opioid addiction, and for those who have never become addicted, to be in a great environment so they never seek out drugs as an answer, because they are not an answer. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for being here tonight, I thank the staff, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to dispute the absurdity that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act benefits only the wealthy, leaving nothing but crumbs for the rest. As someone who started contributing to my family's household income at age 12, I am all too familiar with the many struggles of our country's working and middle classes. Despite their steady perseverance in the face of politicians whose fiscal philosophy was ``government knows best,'' the working poor and middle class have been chewed up by the system that same philosophy promulgated. Republicans' Tax Cuts and Jobs Act delivers a modern Tax Code that is fiscally responsible, levels the playing field, and supports working- class Americans. Republicans understand that progrowth tax reform means simpler and fairer taxes that provide much-needed relief to the middle class and our small businesses. It also means security for American jobs, more take-home pay for the workforce, and a level playing field for Americans' farms and businesses. By doubling the standard deduction, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will move more low-income Americans into the zero tax bracket. For married couples filing jointly, this translates to $24,000 yearly that is free--free--from Federal taxes. This also means that working-class Americans will be able to take home more of their hard-earned paychecks. Currently, over 70 percent of the people in the United States already take the standard deduction. By doubling the standard deduction, even more Americans will be spared from itemizing, and the process will be so simple that they can file on a postcard. For those few Americans who do elect to itemize, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act preserves the child and dependent care tax credit, the adoption tax credit, the deduction for charitable contributions, the home mortgage interest deduction for existing mortgages, and the deduction for newly purchased homes for interest on up to $750,000 of mortgage principal. It also continues to allow for writeoff of State and local property taxes up to $10,000. Finally, it expands the medical expense deduction in 2018 for medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income and rises to 10 percent beginning in 2019. Last, by lowering the crippling taxes on businesses, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act translates to an increase in employment and workers' wages. We are seeing the lowest unemployment rate since 2000, and 4 million workers and counting have seen the benefits of these historic tax cuts in their income. Businesses across the country are giving bonuses, pay raises, and new investments. Bonuses alone amount to over $4 billion across businesses countrywide. The evidence that tax cuts provide substantial relief for the working and middle classes is clear. The Democrats' approach was to defend a Tax Code riddled with high taxes and loopholes, but I am proud that Republicans delivered on our promise to bring relief to American workers and happy to say that we are only beginning to see the benefits of this historic tax cut for America's businesses, workers, families, and job creators.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce staff who is retiring after more than 29 years of public service. Molly McLaughlin Salmi began her congressional career as a staff assistant on the committee in the 100th Congress. She rose through the ranks and has served as Deputy Director of Workforce Policy for the last 16 years. Eight committee chairs, Republicans and Democrats, have had the benefit of Molly's guidance, direction, and honest feedback. Molly may be the longest serving member of the committee's workforce staff, but she has the heart of an educator. Long ago, she established herself as a trustworthy, wise, and encouraging mentor to members of the committee staff. As an educator myself, I know it sometimes isn't easy to share what you know with someone one-on-one, to watch them try, sometimes fail, and get back up again. Molly has not only made mentoring look easy, but she has set a standard for paying it forward that we should all strive to reach. Mr. Speaker, we wish Molly all the best, and we will miss her more than she will ever know.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Wilson for leading the Special Order on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I will agree with him; the Lord has blessed me with living in one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Fifth District of North Carolina. I am very, very grateful for it. Last week, tax day was, for once, an occasion to celebrate because this was the last time Americans filed under the broken 32-year-old Tax Code. Next tax season, they will file under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by this Congress last December. Across the Fifth District of North Carolina, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has already relieved North Carolinians who are cashing bigger paychecks and benefiting from the country's lowest unemployment rate since 2000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina added 9,000 jobs this February alone. And thanks to lower rates for individuals and small businesses under the new code, North Carolinians are keeping more of their hard-earned money. And as Congressman Wilson points out, it is their money, not the government's money. This year, married couples in the Fifth District who take the new standard deduction could receive a tax cut to the tune of $1,834. For the over 52,000 taxpayers of the Fifth District who have small business income, these tax savings are not crumbs, as my colleagues on the other side of the aisle falsely assert. A restaurant owner in Mount Airy recently told me that allowing immediate capital expensing under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act empowered her to purchase a new $20,000 piece of equipment for her business. You spoke of the Business Roundtable. The Business Roundtable reports that 68 percent of business leaders similarly expect their capital spending in the next 6 months to be at its highest in 15 years. This increased purchasing power for the backbone of our economy is evidence that progrowth tax cuts work. Continued growth is also expected by the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO estimates, for every one-tenth percent increase in GDP, nearly $270 billion is added to revenue over 10 years. After years of malaise under the Obama administration, even modest increases in GDP growth caused by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will substantially contribute to a leveling off of the deficit. And for the first time since 2008, the CBO's budget and economic outlook revised its upward economic potential for 2018. Under current conditions, it notes that 3.5 percent growth is possible. In further good news, Fifth District businesses share this optimism and are investing more in their employees and communities. Just last week, as part of its initiative to invest in community health with its tax savings, BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina gave $1 million to Winston-Salem State University's nursing school. North Carolina is projected to have the second largest nurse shortage in the Nation. This investment will develop the Fifth District's medical workforce and increase access to high-quality healthcare, especially in rural areas. This is just one of the many examples that illustrates how philanthropy has fostered and communities are developed when the government scales back. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that House Republicans kept our promise to bring about more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks for hardworking Americans; but I am more proud of the hardworking men and women in the Fifth District who are seizing the opportunities unleashed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to create wealth and serve their communities. Again, I thank Congressman Wilson for his leadership on this Special Order and for allowing us to correct the record that has been distorted about this bill and bring to the American people the facts about this wonderful Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, like so many others, to honor the memory of Barbara Bush. She has already been noted in the history books for her place as one of the only two women to be the wife of one President and the mother of another. But for millions of Americans, Barbara Bush's legacy is deeply personal. As First Lady, she drew attention to the issue of family literacy in a way that resonated with the American public. In her own straightforward and down-to-earth way, she worked to remove the shame and stigma of illiteracy for adults. She knew and believed that children are the future, but she recognized that if a child's parents didn't have basic reading and writing skills, the whole family's future is at risk. As the House continues to focus on workforce development and closing the skills gap, it is fitting to recognize the voice Barbara Bush gave to that basic cornerstone of all education: the power of reading. She embraced lifelong learning, and the best way to honor her legacy is to do the same. As chair of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, it is a privilege to honor her memory and her contributions to the work we continue to do every day.