Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this motion is nothing more than a last-ditch attempt to defeat a commonsense bill that will help expand access to affordable healthcare coverage for working families. In fact, this motion represents the same failed approach to health care we have experienced in recent years. We have seen what happens when the Federal Government dictates the kind of health insurance individuals can and cannot buy. Healthcare costs skyrocket and patients have fewer choices. While our Democrat colleagues offer a motion that doubles down on a failed approach to health care, my Republican colleagues and I are offering the American people a better way. The Small Business Health Fairness Act is about empowering individuals, families, and small-business owners so more Americans have access to affordable healthcare coverage. By rejecting this motion and supporting the underlying bill, we can take an important step in keeping our promise to deliver free-market, patient-centered healthcare solutions. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the motion to recommit and ``yes'' on the Small Business Health Fairness Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Theresa Bryant, who is West Forsyth High School's 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year. This first-generation college graduate, Kiwanis member, and Key Club adviser has worked at West Forsyth in Clemmons since 2000, where she teaches sophomore English and Shakespeare as an elective. Theresa's proudest moment in the field of education is her role in the creation of the Shakespeare elective class. After an educational opportunity at the Globe Theatre in London, she worked with a colleague to create an intensive curriculum covering eight plays. The class has brought the words of the Bard to more than 4,000 students at West Forsyth, as well as four other schools in the district. Theresa is known for her dedication to her students and making her lessons relevant to their different learning styles so everyone can understand the material. We are lucky to have a teacher of her caliber serving students in North Carolina's Fifth District.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for years Americans across the country have struggled under a government takeover of health care. Because of ObamaCare, insurance markets are collapsing, healthcare costs are soaring, and patients' choices are dwindling. Simply put, the flawed healthcare law is failing. It is hurting hardworking men and women across the country, and the American people deserve better. That is why Republicans promised to deliver the healthcare solutions Americans desperately need. This week, we are making good on that promise and moving forward with an effort that will provide a better way on health care. After a thoughtful and collaborative process, members of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee recently unveiled a legislative plan that will repeal and replace ObamaCare. The plan, the American Health Care Act, includes a number of positive, commonsense reforms that will help create more choices, lower costs, and give control back to individuals and families. These reforms will create a new and innovative fund giving States the flexibility they need to design programs that fit the needs of their communities. They will responsibly unwind ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion in a way that protects patients and strengthens the program for future generations. The plan will also dismantle ObamaCare taxes and mandates--including the individual and employer mandate penalties and taxes on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, health insurance premiums, and medical devices. It will expand health savings accounts to empower individuals and families to spend their healthcare dollars the way they want and need. It will provide tax credits to those who don't receive insurance through work or a government program, helping all Americans access high quality, affordable health care. At the same time, we on the Education and the Workforce Committee are working to advance additional reforms that will help expand coverage, make health care more affordable, and promote a healthy workforce. One legislative proposal will empower small businesses to band together to negotiate lower healthcare costs on behalf of their employees. Another will protect the ability of employers to self- insure, providing greater access to affordable, flexible healthcare plans for their workers. The third will give employers the legal certainty they need to offer employee wellness plans, helping to promote a healthy workforce and, again, lower healthcare costs. These three legislative proposals reflect a few shared principles. Families should have the freedom to choose the healthcare plan that meets their needs. Americans need more affordable healthcare options, not fewer. Healthcare decisions should rest with patients and their doctors--not government bureaucrats. Instead of prescriptive mandates, we should ensure employers have the tools they need to help their employees afford health care. These proposals--along with those in the American Health Care Act-- are exactly the kind of free-market, patient-centered reforms Republicans promised, and they reflect the priorities of President Trump and his administration. They are the products of a careful process that took into account the ideas and concerns of men and women from all walks of life, and they will now be considered through an open, transparent process that provides policymakers on both sides of the aisle an opportunity to share their views and offer their ideas. I encourage everyone--my colleagues in Congress, as well as all Americans--to join in this process. Visit readthebill.gop. See for yourself the plan we have laid out, and help us move forward with these positive solutions. Together we can help ensure all Americans have access to the high quality, affordable healthcare coverage they deserve.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, March is National Reading Month, and students across the country often kick off this observance by celebrating the birthday of treasured children's author Dr. Suess. Last week I visited Forsyth Academy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where I read ``There's a Wocket in My Pocket!'' to first grade students. Forsyth Academy is a charter school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The school was founded on the principles of academic excellence, moral focus, parental partnership, and student responsibility. Its leadership believes in setting high standards, making expectations clear, providing meaningful instruction, and watching children surpass expectations as a result. It is always a pleasure to visit local schools and witness the great things happening in classrooms across the Fifth District. Every student in every school deserves an excellent education, but, unfortunately, we are falling far short of that goal. Thankfully, innovative charter schools like Forsyth Academy are providing thousands of families new hope and opportunity. School choice is a powerful tool to help children succeed, and I am encouraged by the momentum that is building. I look forward to the work ahead and exploring additional opportunities to provide parents more choices for their children's education.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Alabama for his able testimony in regard to this resolution. I rise today in support of this resolution because it will reverse an unlawful power grab and restore responsible worker health and safety policies. Article I of the Constitution is clear. It is the Members of this body--the legislative branch--who write the law. Why? Because we are closest to the people and, therefore, more responsive to the needs and demands of those we serve. It is the responsibility of the executive branch to enforce the laws--not write them. Unfortunately, the previous administration failed to abide by this founding principle. President Obama boasted about his days teaching constitutional law, yet his administration tried time and time again to rewrite the law unilaterally through executive fiat. The Volks rule is just one example of this unprecedented overreach. Under Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations, employers are required to record injuries and illnesses and retain those records for 5 years. This information has long been used by safety inspectors and employers to identify gaps in safety and enhance protections for workers. To ensure hazards are addressed in a timely manner, the law explicitly provides a 6-month window under which an employer can be cited for failing to keep proper records--6 months. But never one to let the law stand in the way of its partisan agenda, the Obama administration decided to unfairly target a Louisiana construction company for recordkeeping errors from nearly 5 years earlier. That's right, 5 years. Not even remotely close to what the law passed by Congress permits. The consequences of this unlawful power grab were predictable. Employers large and small faced significant regulatory confusion and legal uncertainty. Fortunately, a Federal appeals court unanimously struck down this power grab as my colleague from Alabama has cited. Even President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Merrick Garland, referred to OSHA's action as unreasonable. How did the Obama administration respond to this judicial rebuke? It completely ignored the court's ruling. The agency doubled down on its abuse of power and tried to rewrite the law extending the threat of penalty from 6 months to 5 years. Again, it is Congress that writes laws, not government agencies. That is precisely why we must support this resolution. By supporting H.J. Res. 83, we will provide more certainty for small businesses and uphold the rule of law. Just as importantly, we must demand a better approach to worker health and safety. To be clear, this rule does nothing--I repeat nothing--to improve the health and safety of America's workers. Instead of shaming employers, OSHA should collaborate with employers and develop a proactive approach that will keep workers safe. That is exactly what Republicans have demanded for years, and we will continue to demand so in the years ahead no matter which party has the Presidency. As my colleague from Alabama has said, this is exactly the appropriate way to block this unlawful rule, not only because the agency has no authority to do what it did, but because it is why we have the CRA. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to block an unlawful rule by voting in favor of H.J. Res. 83. I wish to thank the chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, Representative Byrne, for his leadership on this important issue.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) be permitted to control the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 116, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 66) disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by States for non-governmental employees, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 66. The Obama administration spent a lot of time and taxpayer dollars emphasizing the need to protect retirement savers, but as was often the case with the previous administration, their rhetoric rarely matched their actions. For example, the Obama Department of Labor spent years advancing a flawed rule that will limit access to affordable retirement advice for low- and middle-income families. Despite repeated calls for a more responsible approach, the Department pushed forward with an extreme, partisan rule. Then, late last year, the Department finalized two additional rules that will also negatively impact the retirement security of workers. The administration crafted a regulatory loophole that allows States to establish government-run IRAs by circumventing protections workers and employers have enjoyed for decades. As was usually the case, the actions of the previous administration hurt the very people it claimed to be helping. First, this loophole would lead to fewer protections for retirement savers. Working families will have less information about how their retirement plans are managed, and they will have fewer options if those plans are not managed well. They will also have less control over the money they worked so hard to put away. We need to honor hardworking taxpayers, Mr. Speaker, who save for their retirement and not have the Federal Government do things to harm them. The loophole also threatens to inflict significant harm on small business employees. It is already hard enough for many small businesses to provide their employees with retirement options, and this regulation only makes it less likely they will do so. In fact, many small businesses could actually be discouraged from offering 401(k)s or other private sector options. Others could cancel their retirement plans and dump their employees into government-run retirement plans. Finally, the Obama administration's regulatory action puts taxpayers at risk. We already know that many government-run pension plans for public employees are woefully underfunded. Let me repeat that, Mr. Speaker. We already know that many government-run pension plans for public employees are woefully underfunded. If government-run IRAs for private sector workers are mismanaged, does anyone seriously believe hardworking taxpayers won't be asked to foot the bill? These may be unintended consequences, but they will be detrimental to workers, retirees, and small business all the same. Too many hardworking men and women struggle to plan for the future and retire with financial security and peace of mind. The resolution under consideration today will close a loophole that threatens that security and peace of mind. To be clear, these resolutions will not prevent States and cities from providing workers and retirees with new, innovative retirement options. These resolutions will simply ensure that all workers and retirees enjoy the same protections that have been guaranteed for decades. I want to thank Representatives Walberg and Rooney for leading this effort and working to protect the retirement security of hardworking men and women across the country. I urge my colleagues to support both resolutions. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, in a time when so many Americans are looking for ideas and policies we can unite around, one point of agreement stands out. There is strong consensus among Americans that they do not want their taxpayer dollars being used to fund abortions. A Marist poll released in January revealed that 61 percent of Americans feel this way. States have always had the freedom to direct funds away from abortion providers, such as the Nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, and there are many reasons States may wish to do so. The most important reason, one that we should all carefully consider, is that abortion is not health care. Abortion takes the lives of unborn children and hurts women. Many States have recognized this tragic reality and, as a result, have chosen to award funds to health clinics and organizations that do not provide abortions. But in December, the Obama administration issued a regulation that forces many States to drastically alter their previous course of action. The regulation requires States to include abortion providers as recipients of title X grant distributions. Not only does this regulation ignore the American people's wish that their tax dollars be directed away from abortion providers, it also denies States the flexibility to choose to allocate title X funds in a way that meets the needs of their citizens. H.J. Res. 43 disapproves of this unacceptable regulation, allowing States to return to the status quo under which they were operating prior to the rule's issuance. If States wish to disburse title X funds away from abortion providers, that wish should be respected. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this rule and H.J. Res. 43.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague Mr. Rokita for yielding time and for handling this on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 57. For years, the Federal Government operated under the flawed idea that Washington knows best when it comes to education. Policies put in place in recent decades vastly expanded the Federal footprint in the K-12 schools and prevented State and local education leaders from delivering the high- quality education all children deserve. Something needed to change. Yet, under the Obama administration, the problem only got worse. For years, the last administration used regulations, waivers, and pet projects to unilaterally exert its control over education. Its heavy-handed, one-size-fits-all policies only increased the Federal role in America's classrooms, moving K-12 education in the wrong direction. That is why Republicans and Democrats came together to pass the Every Student Succeeds Act. Enacted just over a year ago, the law was built on three important principles: empowering parents, reducing the Federal role, and restoring local control. It sent a clear message that the American people were done with the top-down approach to education. Unfortunately, the previous administration didn't get the message. The Department of Education continued using rules and regulations to push its failed education agenda--the same agenda Congress rejected with overwhelming bipartisan support. We are here today to put a stop to two of those rules. The resolution under consideration, H.J. Res. 57, will roll back a regulation implementing accountability provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act. The law empowers States to develop ways to hold schools accountable to the students and parents they serve, and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly. The Department's accountability rule, however, does the exact opposite. Not only does it impose prescriptive accountability requirements on State education leaders, but it also violates specific prohibitions the law places on the Secretary of Education's authority. We also considered, a few moments ago, H.J. Res. 58, which will block implementation of a regulation that significantly expands the Federal Government's involvement in teacher preparation. Yet, another example of Obama overreach, the teacher preparation rule essentially creates a Federal system for evaluating teacher performance. It would be virtually impossible to implement and could lead to fewer teachers serving low-income students. Together, these two resolutions of disapproval will move us towards limiting the Federal role in education and protect the local control promised with recent education reforms. I want to thank Representatives Rokita and Guthrie for their work to fight against the flawed policies of the past and for leading the way in delivering a more positive, more limited, and more responsible Federal role in education. I urge my colleagues to support both resolutions.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers spoke recently on valuing the input of parents in building great public schools, but the actions of one AFT affiliate stand in stark contrast to that vision. As Chicago resident Michael Hendershot explained in The Wall Street Journal, his daughter's elementary school was forced to lay off its librarian last year. Fortunately, parents stepped up and volunteered their time to keep the library open. Unfortunately, the Chicago Teachers Union shut down the parents' plan and the library along with it. It seems anything that weakens union control over the school must be stopped, even if it denies students access to their library. How shameful. If we want to build great public schools, then we must work with parents, not against them. So let's work together--Congress, the new administration, and the American public--to empower parents and help all children receive an excellent education.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a list of organizations supporting this disapproval resolution. Letters in Support of H.J. Res. 37 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Other Stakeholders (19 signatories): Aerospace Industries Association, American Council of Engineering Companies, American Foundry Society, American Hotel & Lodging Association, American Trucking Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Associated General Contractors, College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), HR Policy Association, Independent Electrical Contractors, Information Technology Alliance for the Public Sector, International Foodservice Distributors Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Defense Industrial Association, Professional Services Council, Society for Human Resource Management, The Coalition for Government Procurement, U.S Chamber of Commerce, WorldatWork.

Ms. FOXX. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to stand up for workers, taxpayers, and small businesses. We all agree employers who do business with the Federal Government should be held to high standards, and their employees deserve strong protections. That is why for decades the Federal Government has had a system in place to deny contracts to employers who violate Federal labor laws. Time and again, Republicans in Congress urged the Obama administration to enforce the current system to ensure workers receive fair pay and safe workplaces. Instead, the previous administration did the exact opposite. It went in search of a problem that doesn't exist. It took its eye off the ball, and we are here today to demand better. The Obama blacklisting rule empowers government agencies to deny employers Federal contracts for alleged violations of various Federal labor laws and similar State laws. That is right. Under this rule, bureaucrats can determine employers are guilty until proven innocent, and then deny them the ability to do business with the Federal Government. This is one important reason why a Federal district judge recently blocked implementation of the rule because it would have a chilling effect on the due process rights of American citizens. But that is not the only reason why we are here today. Rather than streamline the procurement process to better protect taxpayers and workers, the Obama administration added new layers of red tape on to a system plagued by delays and inefficiencies. Simply put, this rule is a bureaucratic nightmare. It turns our already complex Federal procurement process into a convoluted regulatory maze. Despite what our Democrat colleagues will claim, this rule will actually hurt workers by making a system designed for their protection less efficient. Law-abiding small-business owners, the backbone of our Nation's economy, will be less inclined to bid on Federal contracts. As a result, we will see less competition in the Federal contracting process. With less competition, hardworking taxpayers will be forced to pay more for goods and services provided to the U.S. Government. Perhaps most concerning is the threat this rule poses to our national security. Higher costs and a delayed contracting process will jeopardize the resources our Armed Services depend on to keep our Nation safe. With men and women currently stationed in harm's way, this is simply unacceptable. If workers, taxpayers, and small businesses stand to lose, then who stands to gain? The answer is Big Labor. Union leaders often file frivolous legal complaints to gain leverage against employers. This is just one more partisan rule that stacks the deck in favor of union leaders. The facts are clear: this rule is fatally flawed. It is not in the best interest of workers, small-business owners, our military or hardworking taxpayers. It is also unnecessary, but you don't have to take my word for it. Last October, our colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus--Representatives Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva said: ``The Department of Labor has full authority under current law to hold Federal contractors accountable.'' I could not agree more. In fact, that is what Republicans have been saying all along. I urge my colleagues to stand up for workers, small-business owners, taxpayers, and our national security by supporting this commonsense resolution. Then let's work together to ensure existing policies are enforced and workers have the protections they deserve.

Ms. FOXX. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the chair of the Committee on Small Business.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to our distinguished colleague from Michigan (Mr. Mitchell).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne), my distinguished colleague.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, I thank my colleagues--Chairman Chaffetz, Chairman Chabot, and Representative Mitchell--for joining us in this important effort as well as to thank my colleagues who came and spoke on this resolution. Workers deserve strong protections. The best way to ensure fair pay and safe workplaces is to enforce the existing suspension and debarment system. It is also important to remind my colleagues of what the Congressional Progressive Caucus said: The Department of Labor has full authority under current law to hold Federal contractors accountable. It is clear we don't need more layers of red tape to prevent bad actors from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts. Creating a bureaucratic maze would only make a system less efficient that is designed to protect workers. Furthermore, the blacklisting rule would undermine the ability of small businesses to compete for Federal contracts, would increase costs for taxpayers, and would jeopardize the resources of our Armed Forces--the ones they need to keep this country safe. I urge my colleagues to block this harmful rule and vote ``yes'' on H.J. Res. 37. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, every campaign season, like clockwork, families are bombarded by an endless stream of political robocalls. There is little voters can do to stop the annoyance, which all too often comes right in the middle of family dinners and bedtimes, because politicians made sure to exempt themselves from the power of the Do Not Call Registry. That is why I have introduced legislation, H.R. 740, to stop the intrusion of political robocalls in homes across America. The Robo Calls Off Phones Act, or Robo COP Act, directs the Federal Trade Commission to revise its regulations regarding the National Do Not Call Registry and prohibit prerecorded campaign messages from being sent to telephone numbers on the national registry. It gives the American people the opportunity to opt out of these bothersome interruptions. Removing the exemption for political robocalls is a matter of fairness that will help bring some peace and quiet to homes throughout the campaign season.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, our colleague on the other side of the aisle asked: Who the hell are we to be here speaking on this legislation and passing this legislation? Well, Madam Speaker, we are the Representatives of the people of this country. Madam Speaker, the most conservative estimates show that we have lost 54 million children to abortion since 1973. In a nation founded upon principles that recognize the dignity of every human life, we should not tolerate this extermination of innocent lives. The majority of Americans recognize this tragedy for what it is, and there is consensus among them that they do not want their tax dollars paying for a practice they sincerely oppose, and we are their representatives. Since 1976, the Hyde amendment has been included in relevant appropriations bills to prohibit Federal funding of abortions. Each year it has been consistently renewed and supported by congressional majorities and Presidents of both parties. Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office indicate that the Hyde amendment has prevented hundreds of thousands of abortions each year. That means millions of Americans are alive today because of the Hyde amendment. After 40 years, it is time for this lifesaving amendment to become permanent law. H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, makes the Hyde amendment and other current abortion funding prohibitions permanent and government-wide. This commonsense measure restores a longstanding agreement that protects the unborn and prevents taxpayers from being forced to finance thousands of elective abortions. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote to respect our Nation's consensus on abortion funding and affirm life by voting in favor of this rule and H.R. 7.