Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I thank my colleague from New Jersey for his unflagging leadership on the issue of pro-life as well as on other issues related to human rights. Mr. Speaker, since 1973, as my colleague before me said, at least 58 million children's lives have been tragically taken by abortion in the United States. Over these last 44 years, science has made the facts increasingly clear: the unborn child in his or her mother's womb is a member of the human family, fully alive and simply awaiting the right conditions before joining the rest of us in the world. Our laws should recognize and uphold the dignity of these unborn children. And thankfully, we have made significant progress in this endeavor since the decision of Roe v. Wade. The Hyde amendment has saved over 2 million lives since 1976, and just earlier today, we passed H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. This bipartisan legislation makes the Hyde amendment permanent, ensuring that unborn children are better protected and that taxpayers are not forced to fund thousands of abortions each year. The American people overwhelmingly agree that we should protect innocent lives and that taxpayer dollars should not be used to finance abortions. This Friday, hundreds of thousands of Americans will pour into D.C. from across the country to voice their vision of a world where every human life is valued and protected. As we mourn the lives already lost to abortion, we should continue to strive for better legal protections for the unborn so that one day every unborn child will be able to join us in exercising their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Once again, thanks to Congressman Smith for this Special Order.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I thank my colleague from Tennessee for yielding time. Mr. Chairman, today, we take the next step in the process of providing the American people a better way on health care. We have all heard from constituents and families who are struggling to get by as they suffer the consequences of the fatally flawed healthcare law. In my home State of North Carolina, the average ObamaCare premium has increased by a staggering 40 percent. Terry from Advance, North Carolina, is a 70-year-old retiree, but now he is working part time just to help pay for his wife's healthcare premiums, which jumped from $300 a month to more than $887 a month. On top of higher premiums, deductibles have skyrocketed, too. Patricia from Kernersville now has a whopping $6,550 deductible, and her premiums increased by 80 percent this year. Like so many Americans, Patricia is paying more for less coverage. Despite being promised, ``if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it,'' millions of Americans have been kicked off their plans. Scott from Hickory has had his health insurance canceled three times now; disrupting his continuity of care. We have also heard from countless small-business owners who can no longer afford coverage for their employees because of limited resources and soaring costs. Facing similar challenges, school leaders and college administrators have spoken out about how ObamaCare is exacerbating tight budgets--hurting teachers, faculty members, and, ultimately, the students they serve. The current situation is not sustainable; so Republicans are here on a rescue mission by providing the American people relief. It is time to repeal President Obama's government takeover of health care. It is time to advance patient-centered reforms that lower costs, provide more choices, and put working families--not government bureaucrats--in control of their health care. I urge my colleagues to support this budget resolution because it will move us one step closer to the patient-centered health care the American people desperately want and need.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, we celebrated Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which acknowledges the contributions that men and women in uniform make on a daily basis to keep our communities safe and secure. It was heartening to see the display of support for these individuals throughout the House Office Buildings on Monday. As the Sun went down, you could see blue lights in windows across the Capitol complex honoring those brave men and women. The dedicated individuals who serve in law enforcement help to preserve the way of life we hold so dear. They walk the neighborhood beats, patrol our streets, and willingly do dangerous work to protect our families and communities. It is one of the most honorable activities anyone can engage in, and I want to thank them for their selflessness and bravery they demonstrate as officers of the law. They deserve our profound gratitude.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Sandra Myers of Laurel Springs, North Carolina. This remarkable and talented woman is retiring after spending her entire 40-year career with the Social Security Administration. Since the age of 18, Sandra has worked in the Wilkesboro field office where she started in an entry-level position and currently serves as branch manager. My district staff and I have had the pleasure of working with her for many years now, and we have always found her to be a kind, caring person who is dedicated to serving others. Sandra and her husband, John, are nearly lifelong members of their church. Upon her retirement, she plans to continue to assist the community by helping elderly members at her church complete errands, remain active, and attend services. Sandra Myers is a perfect example of servant leadership, as well as the incredible work ethic that so many of my constituents in the Fifth District share. Alleghany County is fortunate to call this hardworking citizen one of its own.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America is a nation of laws, where the government derives its limited powers from ``We the People,'' the consenting governed. Since 1789, the Constitution has served as our country's legal foundation. Its wisdom is timeless. And just as George Washington called the Constitution the guide he would never abandon, we won't abandon it either or try to tinker unnecessarily with its brilliance. Thanks to the foresight of the Constitution's Framers, their understanding of government overreach, and their grasp of human nature, we have an abiding document that checks the power of the Federal Government and protects the rights of individual citizens. It is genius in its brevity, in its endurance, and in its aforethought to limit and separate the governing powers established therein. As a Member of Congress, it is an honor and sacred duty to protect and uphold the Constitution.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) for organizing this Special Order tonight. Mr. Speaker, I am rising also to join my colleagues to commemorate the 75th annual celebration of National Bible Week. And I want to thank all of my colleagues for giving us such wonderful history lessons and quotes about how important the Bible has always been to our country, and particularly to the Founders of our country. As I stand here tonight, I am looking straight up at the full face of Moses looking down on us. When I have people in the Chamber, I point out to them that around the top of the Chamber are profiles of ancient lawgivers. The only full-face figure is that of Moses, who looks straight down on the Speaker's podium. I think that it is so important that people understand that we are a Judeo-Christian country and that the Bible, both the Old and New Testament, are so important to us. As we approach this celebration, Mr. Speaker, which is traditionally held during the week of Thanksgiving, it is important to take a moment and reflect on how this Good Book has changed the course of history, stood as a guiding light for the world, shaped our Nation, and inspired countless lives. The Bible is a precious gift from God to his people that teaches us how we ought to relate to our Creator and how to love our fellow human beings during times of turmoil, confusion, and strife. I can think of no more important source of guidance than this deep repository of fundamental and universal truth. It offers us hope when circumstances are dire and is a source of strength when our human frailty brings us low. When we are surrounded by darkness, as the psalmist wrote, the Bible ``is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.'' I hope it will be encouraging to the American people to know that there are people in the Capitol who make every effort to live their lives by the precepts of the Bible. We have many Bible studies and prayer groups that meet every week here. In fact, the National Prayer Breakfast grew out of our weekly bipartisan prayer breakfast in both the House and the Senate. I have collected some of the stories told in the House prayer breakfast in a book called ``God Is in the House,'' which people are telling me is a great inspiration to them. Today, I offer a prayer of gratefulness for this gift of God's Word and encourage my fellow Americans to dig deep into the Good Book and discover for themselves what riches it has in store for them.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Communities In Schools of Wilkes County, which has been awarded a $500,000 grant from AT&T to increase its assistance to underserved youths in Wilkes and Alexander Counties. The funds will be used to expand the Increasing Intentionality Initiative into seven high-poverty, rural high schools in North Wilkesboro and Taylorsville. Of the more than 5,500 students in grades 9 to 12 who will be served by this expansion, more than 1,000 will receive individualized, case-managed services. Growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, I learned firsthand how education plays a vital role in the success of individual Americans. Education can change lives, especially when you have community support and a network of caring adults dedicated to helping all children reach their potential. That is what Communities In Schools is all about and why I am excited to see it expand in North Carolina's Fifth District.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Chabot for organizing this Special Order tonight so that we could pay tribute to our colleague, Steve LaTourette. And Jennifer, I hope that you and the children are being comforted by the words that you are hearing here tonight. I want to associate myself with all the comments that I have been able to hear tonight about Steve. He truly was a dedicated public servant and a champion for his constituents in Ohio for 18 years. As we mourn the loss of Steve, we remember a Representative who stood for what is right and who fought on behalf of what makes America great. I had the privilege of standing in the back corner a lot of times with Steve, and I can certainly testify to his quick-wittedness, his sense of humor, but also his ability to discern, again, the heart of the matter, as has been mentioned here. I learned a great deal from Steve by listening to him. He was a man of great principle. And as I thought tonight about coming here and sharing a few comments to pay tribute to Steve, the poem by John Donne, ``For Whom the Bell Tolls,'' kept coming back to me. So I am going to share that poem tonight because I do think that it epitomizes how we should think about Steve and his presence here and his absence. ``No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.'' We are all diminished by the loss of Steve, but we are all the better for having known him, and I feel very blessed to have known and worked with him. God bless you, Jennifer, and your family.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I thank my colleague from Georgia for his leadership on this rule. Mr. Speaker, all too often, the executive branch enacts policies that sound wonderful but impose unintended consequences and burdens that make the lives of hardworking Americans more difficult. The issue underlying H.R. 6094 is another tragic example of that pattern. The Department of Labor acted in May to revise overtime regulations covering millions of American workers. This regulation will require companies to reclassify a significant portion of their workforce, eliminating flexibility in work times, bonus compensation, and opportunities to advance. It will also impose significant compliance costs that will only serve to further bury job creators under red tape. While members of both political parties want to see all Americans earn more, we cannot ignore the financial consequences of this rule. By dramatically increasing the number of employees who do not qualify for an exemption under the regulation, the Department is significantly increasing the cost of delivering services and is making it more difficult to maintain existing staffing levels. In plain English, this regulation could cost hardworking Americans hours at work or even their jobs. Entire sectors could be less profitable with a predictable result for the employees who are doing that work. These impacts do not fall solely on frequently and unfairly demonized big business. They affect nonprofits and schools as well as local and State governments. This will raise the cost of operation for nearly every organization and company in the country. I have heard from small-business owners, nonprofits, and universities across North Carolina that are deeply concerned about this rule. For example, an independent supermarket owner said that this rule would ``effectively put him out of business. Most of our managers make less than $40,000 a year. When you make only one penny on the dollar net profits, this would force us to raise prices and make us uncompetitive against Walmart and other national chains.'' For many employees, the biggest impact this legislation will have on them is the loss of prized flexibility and advancement opportunities. No longer will they be able to work flexible hours to cover children's doctors' appointments or other family needs. They will be forced to clock in and out, lose aspects of their positions that provide positive morale, and be reclassified into positions that do not provide the same satisfaction. It is fair to say that our Nation's overtime rules need to be modernized, but the Department of Labor's extreme and partisan approach will lead to damaging consequences that the American people simply cannot afford. That is why I cosponsored H.R. 6094, the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act, which would provide a 6-month delay in the implementation of this rule in order to allow the small businesses, nonprofit organizations, State and local governments, and corporations confronting it with desperately needed time to prepare and make changes to accommodate the needs of their employees. The rule before us today will provide for the consideration of this important legislation, and I commend both of them to my colleagues for their support.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the FDA's inappropriate efforts to decimate the vaping industry. Dozens of my constituents have written to me about the dramatic positive impact vaping has had on their lives. Each of these Americans has also expressed concern that the FDA's regulations will take away the very thing that has helped them begin to lead a healthier lifestyle. Andrew Driscoll of Boone wrote: ``Vaping has allowed me to quit a pack-a-day habit of smoking after years of trying other nicotine products to quit . . . innovation by small businesses to create helpful products that facilitate positive lifestyle changes should not be stifled by overregulation by the FDA.'' Dorothy Berryhill-Sanderson of Winston-Salem started smoking when she was 16 years old. She wrote that she was ``able to finally stop smoking a year and a half ago by vaping. I went off asthma meds within 6 months and high blood pressure meds shortly afterwards.'' Seth Marion of Yadkinville tried a variety of measures to quit smoking, but nothing worked until he tried vaping. He wrote to me to stress ``how important it is to support vaping and the lives it is changing.'' Kayla Hildebran of Taylorsville vowed to quit smoking when her 3- year-old daughter asked her to stop. She wrote about her opposition to the FDA regulating ``something that has not only changed my life for the better but hers too.'' In addition to numerous individuals, I am also hearing from business owners in my district who will be impacted by these rules. The FDA estimates there are between 5,200 and 10,200 businesses in the United States that make and/or sell electronic nicotine-delivery systems. The agency has said that number could drop between 30 percent and 70 percent with the new regulations, which is outrageous. Vaping helped Chris Winfrey of Winston-Salem quit smoking. As a result, he organizes nationwide trade shows and conventions for vaping. He wrote that ``my businesses will no longer be able to exist, and I will no longer be able to employ the people I do.'' Josh Frazier of Statesville owns a local vaping business and asked me ``why the FDA wants to basically eliminate this industry.'' These regulations are yet another example of the Obama administration's pattern of stifling the American economy through unnecessary rules. It is important for the well-being of citizens across this country that we stop this Federal overreach and that we allow vaping and other nontraditional products to compete in the marketplace.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, in May, the Department of Labor released its final overtime rule, which is another egregious example of the burdensome regulations that continue to hamper our economic recovery and hold North Carolina families back. By stifling workplace flexibility, threatening upward mobility, and burdening small businesses, unelected Washington bureaucrats are harming the employees they claim they want to help. The Congressional Review Act of 1996 established a process through which Congress can overturn regulations issued by Federal agencies, and I have introduced a joint resolution of disapproval to block this controversial rule. Our Nation's overtime rules need to be modernized, but the Department of Labor's extreme and partisan approach will lead to damaging consequences that the American people simply cannot afford. I will continue to fight for a more balanced and responsible approach to updating Federal overtime rules.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, as any hardworking American knows, health insurance costs and regulations impact all of us on a daily basis. Americans need patient-centered solutions to address our healthcare system's key problems, and House Republicans have a better way than the so-called Affordable Care Act to improve health care. Our plan gives Americans more control and more choices. It makes sure they never have to worry about being turned away or having their coverage taken away, regardless of age, income, medical conditions, or circumstances. Our plan clears out the bureaucracy to accelerate the development of lifesaving devices and therapies, and it protects Medicare for today's seniors and preserves the program for future generations. This reform can't come soon enough. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, most North Carolinians are projected to have just one insurer's plan to choose from in the 2017 Federal individual health exchange. I will not rest until ObamaCare is repealed and we have returned control of medical decisions to doctors and their patients.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for yielding to me and for the work that he has done on this important bill. Mr. Speaker, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act has provided Federal support to State and local career and technical education programs for more than 30 years. But for far too long there has been a discrepancy in what students are learning in the classroom and what employers say they need in the workplace. H.R. 5587 updates the law to reflect today's economic needs and the challenges that students and workers currently face. This bipartisan bill goes a long way toward ensuring that individuals who pursue a technical education have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Educational success is about more than just a degree. It is about preparing students for a satisfying life and teaching them the quantifiable skills that employers need in their employees. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act will help students reach those goals. I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize HanesBrands, a company headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a long history of innovation, product excellence, and brand recognition. Today HanesBrands is celebrating its 10th anniversary as an independent publicly traded company, which is the largest basic apparel company in the world. It sells high-volume, high-quality apparel, and can credit its success to anticipating what the consumer wants and working to meet those needs in value, fit, comfort, and customer service. HanesBrands has been named by Forbes Magazine as one of America's best large employers and has been honored for workplace practices, community contributions, environmental achievement, and business ethics. A valued corporate partner in the local community, the company and its employees have volunteered countless hours and have made contributions of more than $35 million to charities over the past decade. It is a pleasure to have this outstanding company in North Carolina's Fifth District. Congratulations, HanesBrands.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, on July 11th and into the late evening of July 12th, I was unavoidably absent from the House. I have indicated the manner in which I would have voted on each of the roll call votes that I was absent. Roll Call 401: YEA. Roll Call 402: YEA. Roll Call 403: YEA. Roll Call 404: NAY. Roll Call 405: NAY. Roll Call 406: YEA. Roll Call 407: YEA. Roll Call 408: YEA. Roll Call 409: YEA. Roll Call 410: YEA. Roll Call 411: NAY. Roll Call 412: NAY. Roll Call 413: NAY. Roll Call 414: NAY. Roll Call 415: NAY. Roll Call 416: YEA. Roll Call 417: NAY. Roll Call 418: NAY. Roll Call 419: NAY. Roll Call 420: NAY. Roll Call 421: NAY. Roll Call 422: NAY. Roll Call 423: NAY. Roll Call 424: NAY. Roll Call 425: YEA. Roll Call 426: YEA.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my condolences to the people of Turkey following the horrific suicide attack at Ataturk International Airport on June 28. At least 44 innocent people were killed and more than 200 were wounded in the attack, including an American citizen. Turkish police and first responders reacted swiftly and heroically and ought to be commended for their actions that prevented further loss of life. Evidence has led officials to believe that the attack was carried out by ISIS militants, and the loss of innocent lives in Istanbul strengthens our shared resolve to defeat this terrorist organization and its affiliates. I extend my sincere condolences to the Turkish people and to the vibrant Turkish American community as well as the families of those killed and those who suffered injury in the attack.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for far too long there has been a discrepancy in what students are learning in the classroom and what employers say they need in the workplace. The passage of the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014 was an important step for the millions of Americans who are looking for work and for the employers who have job opportunities that remain unfilled due to the skills gap. However, great jobs are still going unfilled. Americans are still missing out on rewarding careers, and many businesses are still suffering. The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act has provided Federal support to State and local career and technical education programs for more than 30 years. H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, updates the law to reflect today's economic needs and the challenges that students and workers currently face. In particular, I am pleased that the bill streamlines the number of performance measures for postsecondary programs and aligns them with the performance measures in WIOA, retaining that law's precedent- setting accountability standards that let taxpayers and lawmakers see clearly which programs work and which programs don't. This bipartisan bill goes a long way toward ensuring that individuals who pursue a technical education have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. However, I believe it is time we acknowledge that all education is career education and stop dividing the path to a high school degree into two tracks. Students pursue education to develop the necessary skills to find a job--preferably a career--in a chosen field. It is the same objective, whether the student is pursuing a medical degree at an Ivy League university or taking automotive performance courses at the local community college. Unfortunately, there is an unnecessary stigma attached to career and technical education. It is too often referred to as the ``other'' track, with the incorrect implication that it is the path individuals take if they won't be able to handle the rigors of college. In reality, students who pursue CTE complete a diverse curriculum where they learn important skills for succeeding in the workplace, such as problem solving, research, time management, and critical thinking. They are more engaged, perform better, and graduate at higher rates than their college-bound counterparts. We should be celebrating that success and studying how we can translate it across the board. As long as we have two educational tracks, we have a problem in the way people perceive those who choose career and technical education. We need to shift our perspective away from the idea that every student must attend an expansive and expensive 4-year program to succeed in the workforce. Educational success is about more than just a degree. It is about quantifiable skills that employers need in their employees.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 822 provides for a closed rule providing for consideration of S. 304, the Conscience Protection Act, and a motion to concur with the Senate amendment to the House amendment to S. 764, GMO labeling requirements. Madam Speaker, the rule before us today provides for consideration of S. 304, the Conscience Protection Act. This bill protects rights of conscience for healthcare providers who choose not to participate in abortion. The bill reinforces current law and makes clear that Federal, State, and local governments, including subsidiary agencies, cannot discriminate against healthcare providers who choose not to provide abortions. This bill is necessary because the California Department of Managed Health Care has mandated that all health plans must cover elective abortion. This includes health plans offered by religious nonprofits, and even churches. This action by the State agency violates a provision of Federal law known as the Weldon Amendment, which provides that States receiving Federal funds may not discriminate against health plans based on their decision not to cover or pay for abortions. Religious employers in California who offer group health plans to their employees lodged an objection with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees enforcement of the Weldon Amendment. HHS massively and incorrectly reinterpreted the Weldon Amendment to allow California to continue to force these employers to pay for and provide coverage for elective abortions. In addition to providing commonsense protections, S. 304 also allows a private right of action, giving providers recourse should they face penalties or punishment for exercising their conscience rights. To be clear, this bill does not ban or restrict abortion in any way. If enacted, abortion will remain just as legal as it is today. In spite of this fact, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will continue to protest this sensible legislation. The Conscience Protection Act is not the only important legislation the House will consider this week. This rule also provides for consideration of a motion to concur with the Senate amendment to the House amendment to S. 764, GMO labeling requirements. The Senate amendment establishes a national labeling standard for bioengineered food, with exceptions for foods and products primarily composed of meat, poultry, or eggs. This measure represents a truly bipartisan effort to prevent a complicated patchwork of State laws and regulations for labeling food products sold throughout the country that inevitably would lead to increased prices, confusion, and more than a few frustrated customers. Americans would be well served to have both S. 304 and S. 764 considered this week, and I commend both bills to my colleagues as deserving of their support. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 822 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, predictably, our colleagues are misrepresenting the contents of this bill. This bill does not affect any abortion provider who currently performs the procedure and who wishes to continue. If the Conscience Protection Act becomes law, abortion will still be just as legal and accessible as it is today. The bill seeks only to ensure that healthcare providers will not be forced by government to violate their moral or religious convictions. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, each year, families across the country face difficult decisions about where they can afford to send their children to college and what institution is the best fit for them. Students must wade through massive and often conflicting amounts of information in order to make an informed choice. Taking time to fully understand the available data can be an aggravating task that may get put off and ultimately ignored, often with disastrous consequences. I want to thank my colleagues for their support this week of my legislation to help students gain access to the facts they need to make an informed decision about where to pursue higher education. H.R. 3178, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act, will begin to streamline the overwhelming maze of information currently provided to students and families at the Federal level. It is crucial that we continue to increase transparency in the country's higher education system. This legislation is a positive step forward in that effort.