Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

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

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

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This rule provides for the consideration of several important pieces of legislation. H.R. 1735, the FY16 NDAA, was the result of months of bipartisan work and includes crucial provisions to ensure our Armed Forces are agile, efficient, ready, and lethal. No debate over these issues would be complete without an expression of our deep gratitude and thanks to the members of our military serving at home and overseas and the veterans who served before them. By providing their compensation, equipment, and vital skills education funding in this legislation, we make a small beginning on the impossible to repay debt that we owe them. Consistent with our constitutional obligation to provide for the defense of our country fulfilled by consideration of the NDAA, H.R. 2048, the USA Freedom Act, similarly meets our responsibilities to secure America by tightening necessary authorities to combat potential terrorist threats, while making fundamental reforms, such as the end of bulk collection of phone records to protect Americans' privacy and civil liberties. The provisions of this bill that increase transparency by declassifying decisions, orders, and opinions of the FISA court and requiring the public posting of reports to Congress also ensure that Congress and the public can hold these actors accountable. These critical reforms strengthen our national security, give the Federal Government the tools needed to combat threats, and ensure that privacy and civil liberties are protected. Our civil liberties aren't the only rights meriting protection, however. The right to life is the most fundamental of rights, and I am proud the people's House will consider H.R. 36, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, getting America out of a group with North Korea, China, and Vietnam as one of only seven nations permitting such late- term abortions. H.R. 36 provides commonsense protections for 20-week-old and older unborn children who can feel pain as you and I do. They have fingers and toes, a heartbeat, and can kick hard enough to startle their mothers. Thanks to the grace of God and the advances of modern science, many of them can even survive outside the womb. Millions of Americans welcome these developments, and a majority of our constituents support defending the lives of almost fully developed unborn children. That is no surprise in the wake of Kermit Gosnell's horrors and will only continue as more Americans learn about the dismemberment and other grotesque practices that accompany killing an unborn child of that age. This legislation is a necessary step in recognizing the truth that science has made more clear with the passage of time; the unborn child in the womb is alive and a functioning member of the human family. I urge my colleagues to join me in speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves by supporting this legislation, and I thank all of my eloquent colleagues who came down today to speak on this rule. Madam Speaker, the rule before us provides for action by the House on three critical pieces of legislation, and I strongly urge my colleagues' support.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Education and the Workforce be discharged from further consideration of the bill (S. 1124) to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to improve the Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Georgia for yielding time. The question before the House is, Should the House now consider H. Res. 231? While the resolution waives all points of order against consideration of today's measures---- Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, while the resolution waives all points of order against consideration of today's measures, the Committee on Rules is not aware of any violation of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. This is a dilatory tactic. These measures will protect our farmers, ranchers, and business community from a massive Federal overreach being perpetrated by the EPA, approve our FY16 budget that puts us on a path to rein in reckless spending, reform entitlement programs, and protect the religious rights of D.C. employers. As a mother, a woman, and an individual of prayer, I am very glad that we are here today defending life and our Constitution, consistent with our congressional prerogatives. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues across the aisle act shocked that we are debating this issue. But what is truly shocking is that we need to be here today at all, discussing whether to grant employers in the District of Columbia the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, but we are. I would further like to point out to our colleagues across the aisle some of the words of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted.'' Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about discrimination against people here. We are discussing the protection of innocent life. As Members of Congress, we have a heightened responsibility to protect the rights of D.C. residents because the Constitution in article I, section 8 gives the Congress explicit jurisdiction over the country's seat of government. It is under that authority that we consider H.J. Res. 43, a resolution to disapprove the action of the Council of the District of Columbia in approving the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act of 2014, or RHNDA. Our country holds as its most fundamental freedom the right to practice freely one's religion and associate with others who hold the same beliefs. It is unthinkable that we could allow the leadership--if you want to call it leadership, the people in control of Our Capital City--to infringe on that right for the millions of Americans who live or work inside its borders. But that is what RHNDA does. It tells churches, religious schools, and advocacy organizations that they may not make employment decisions based on their own core principles, including the respect for precious unborn life, a principle that is central to many of these groups' entire belief system. Cloaked in language purporting to prohibit discrimination and promote tolerance, this law targets these organizations and tramples their rights to exercise their views on the respect for life. In truth, Mr. Speaker, this law discriminates against and promotes intolerance of anyone who disagrees with the world view of the majority of the D.C. City Council. It is not discriminatory for a church or religious school to believe and preach that life begins at conception. It is not discriminatory to practice these deeply held beliefs; that is, unless you are in the District of Columbia. Mr. Speaker, this law may force religious organizations to relocate outside the District of Columbia in order to protect their rights. Given the clear hostility the City Council has shown them and what we have heard on this floor today, that may, in fact, be the ultimate goal. When we take our oath of office as Representatives, we promise to protect and defend the Constitution. That includes protection of religious freedoms, and it is why I support H.J. Res. 43 which disapproves RHNDA. In order to allow the House to continue its scheduled business for the day, Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on the question of consideration of the resolution.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleague from Georgia for the great leadership he shows in the Rules Committee and on the floor. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have made many comments. Some of them, I am going to do my best to refute comment by comment; others, I am just going to talk about in general. Their one charge is that Congress should stay out of the business of governing D.C. Article I, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress explicit jurisdiction over the country's seat of government. The extent to which Congress should oversee or intervene in the governance of the District is a debate for another day, but it is clearly our responsibility. Current law compels congressional oversight, and we must exercise responsibly that jurisdiction. That includes acting to stop legislation that clearly violates the constitutional freedoms of the citizens of the District. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that women are protected by law, both Federal and D.C., from discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. Their personal medical decisions are also private under HIPAA protections. This discussion is not about how someone chooses to conduct their personal affairs. It is about whether the D.C. government may force an organization to hire, retain, and promote someone who actively opposes their central mission and core beliefs. Pro-life groups, religious organizations, and Republicans, are not the only ones to see significant problems with RHNDA. Even former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray cautioned that RHNDA goes too far, and called the bill ``legally insufficient'' and ``legally problematic.'' Whatever his position may be on life issues, he recognized that the approach taken by the City Council does not adequately protect free exercise. He further noted that the measure ``raises serious concerns under the Constitution and under the Religions Freedom Restoration Act.'' The District's own attorney general also expressed concerns that ``religious organizations, religiously affiliated organizations, religiously-driven for-profit entities, and political organizations may have strong First Amendment and RFRA grounds for challenging the law's applicability to them.'' The D.C. Council's cavalier attitude toward the constitutional rights protecting religious practice and belief is deeply troubling. Unfortunately, RHNDA is a harbinger of continued efforts to undermine the right of free exercise and association. RHNDA denies these fundamental rights to pro-life organizations and religious groups who do not fit the narrow definition of ``ministers'' exempted from the D.C. law. Under this law, these organizations can be forced to hire, retain, and promote individuals who work actively against their central mission and core beliefs. The clear and shameless targeting of these organizations must be opposed by anyone who values the rights guaranteed to us by the First Amendment. Mr. Speaker, our oath of office requires us to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in 2012 that religious organizations have the right to hire individuals that support their mission, saying: ``The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important. But so, too, is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith, and carry out their mission . . . The church must be free to choose those who will guide it on its way.'' Consistent with our oath of office, I commend this rule and disapproval resolution for our support.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the Wilkes Central High School women's basketball team, which recently won the North Carolina 2A State championship. It is the first NCHSAA State championship in the program's history. The Lady Eagles fought hard in the final minutes to beat Kinston High School 44-41 for the win. MVP Laken Blackburn had 15 points to lead the team. Kailey McNeil added 9 points and 19 rebounds. Amber Godfrey had 7 points, and Kamre Gibbs added 6 points, including two free throws with 6.7 seconds left to seal the win. Brooke Bentley scored 5, and Maegan McUmber hit two crucial free throws in the fourth quarter. I commend these young athletes and head coach Scott Waugh, who led them on their winning campaign, and wish the team continuing success in future seasons.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, while we are all hard-working Americans dedicated to the freedom and future of our country, our districts and States are vastly different. House Republicans reject the notion that Washington knows best, and our policies reflect that. By putting power back into the hands of the States, we can ensure the decisions made best reflect the Americans we represent. In the people's House, we understand this more than any other branch. We understand that a top-down approach to government is unrealistic and unfair. We hear the voices of those we represent. Parents don't need bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., to tell them where to send their children to school or what doctor they should see. Our approach gives families the flexibility they need to make these essential decisions. What works for one district may not for another, and we understand that. In the people's House, we are so proud of the individual districts we come from, like mine in the great State of North Carolina, and we are going to advance policies that let the people there thrive.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, over the last 4 years, House Republicans have worked hard to put this Nation on a better path forward. We have passed numerous pieces of legislation to encourage job growth and strengthen America's standing in the global economy. We have also passed bills that would decrease energy costs and increase transparency in how tax dollars are spent. Despite the short time we have had, the obstacles we have faced, and the enormity of our task, House Republicans have managed a number of conservative victories. For example, legislation I authored was signed into law last summer to streamline the Federal workforce development system, including the elimination of 15 duplicative programs. We have worked tirelessly to minimize the damage caused by ObamaCare. The first pieces of legislation to pass in the 114th Congress included the Hire More Heroes Act, which would make it easier to hire veterans by exempting those who already have health insurance from being subject to the employer mandate in the President's health care law, and the Save American Workers Act to change ObamaCare's 30-hour definition of full-time employment and restore the traditional 40-hour workweek, which has long been the standard for full-time work. Additionally, the House Republican working group has laid out an alternative vision to ObamaCare. It includes allowing affected States to opt out of ObamaCare's costly rules and regulations and to opt into a patient-centered system focused on choice and lower cost. House Republicans have been vigilant against any attempt that would impugn the Second Amendment rights of all Americans to own and bear firearms. Our Republican committee chairmen are using their gavels to exercise the constitutionally prescribed system of checks and balances to hold oversight hearings exposing the Obama administration for its unconstitutional overreach. Much of the economic turmoil that has gripped this Nation is the result of the Federal Government spending beyond its means. In North Carolina I often hear from constituents who are worried that our ballooning national debt threatens economic stability and jeopardizes the American Dream for their families. House Republicans have responded to those concerns by passing laws cutting Federal spending 2 years in a row for the first time since the Korean war. We banned earmarks and achieved the most significant spending reductions in modern history. We have protected tax cuts for individuals and families. Unfortunately, President Obama's budget ignores our crushing debt burden. Despite proposing $2.1 trillion in new tax increases, the President's budget never balances because it spends too much. In contrast to the President's budget proposal that ignores our crushing debt burden, House Republicans recently approved a budget that balances in less than 10 years without raising taxes while cutting $5.5 trillion in unnecessary spending. This budget not only places our country on a path to pay off the overwhelming mound of debt we face but will also spur economic growth and increase opportunity. Balanced Budget for a Stronger America also provides a framework for completely repealing ObamaCare and calls on Congress to pass comprehensive tax reform that lowers rates for individuals, families, and employers. Following approval of the budget, the House continued its record of tackling tough issues by passing bipartisan legislation to help stabilize Medicare and secure seniors' access to their doctors. By transitioning to a new provider payment system focused on quality, value, and accountability, we have laid the groundwork for future Medicare reforms. It has been said that no one hears the plane that landed safely. What that very apt adage suggests is that we are often unaware of the good work being done every day, and it isn't until something goes wrong that people take notice. House Republicans are working hard to continue our good work and advance solutions that will build a healthy economy, empowering all Americans to seek new opportunities and achieve a better life.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today Americans across the country face the annual deadline to file their tax returns. Taxpayers shudder at the mere mention of the IRS, and that image hasn't been helped since the Federal Government's most feared agency admitted to singling out conservative groups for unprecedented invasive scrutiny. As Americans, we expect our government to preserve, protect, and defend our rights, not target them for political gain and control. The House is poised to pass several pieces of legislation today that will help ensure that all taxpayers are treated fairly and hold IRS employees accountable for their actions. Tomorrow the House will vote to repeal permanently the death tax so that families who have lost loved ones are not faced with an enormous financial burden in the wake of that loss. While it represents only a tiny fraction of Federal revenue, the death tax can be devastating for a family. We must repeal this unreasonable and unfair burden on thousands of American families, small businesses, and family farms.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and a privilege to introduce our guest chaplain, Reverend Kenneth ``Kenny'' Gooden, today. Reverend Gooden is a vital part of the religious community in northwest North Carolina, and he has faithfully shepherded the flock at Union Grove Baptist Church in Yadkinville for 25 years. He previously served the faithful of Pilot View Baptist Church in High Point and of West Yadkin Baptist Church in Hamptonville. He attended North Iredell High School, Mitchell Community College, and Fruitland Baptist Bible College. He is accompanied today by his wife, Tina; his daughter, Hannah; and his son, Hunter. Reverend Gooden's service to God cuts to the very heart of the gospel message of love. He has brightened and enriched the lives of many throughout the years, and we are blessed to have him in our community. I hope that his words of prayer will remain with all of us as we do the people's work.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, we are only 2 days away from April 15, also known as tax day. It is a day that we all dread every year. Between mountains of paperwork, complicated codes, and the fear of fines, paying taxes every year is a huge burden for hard-working Americans. In fact, U.S. taxpayers and businesses spend about 7.6 billion hours a year complying with the filing requirements of the IRS. But if you listen to the political discussion in our country very long, you will inevitably hear some lawmakers repeat one of their favorite lines, that all of our country's budget problems would be solved if only we increased taxes, except increasing taxes increases government spending and crowds our private sector investment, diminishing our prosperity. Instead, it is past time to simplify the Tax Code and decrease the tax burden that Americans currently spend close to a third of the year bearing. It is vital that we enact policies that strengthen and stabilize our economy, as well as give individuals and businesses long-term certainty.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome a distinguished visitor to the House floor today. Flat Stanley is visiting Washington, D.C., this week from Miss Martin's second-grade class at Clemmons Elementary in Clemmons, North Carolina. Through Flat Stanley's adventures, the students in Miss Martin's class are learning about geography and maps. It has been more than 50 years since Stanley Lambchop was first flattened by a bulletin board in Jeff Brown's 1964 children's classic. Today, the Flat Stanley Project is a global literacy activity that engages hundreds of thousands of children and includes more than 6,000 schools registered in 88 countries around the world. It has been my pleasure to show Flat Stanley around the U.S. Capitol. I hope he has a safe trip back to North Carolina's Fifth Congressional District and that Miss Martin's class enjoys learning about his visit to Congress.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the United Nations and what can only be described as its increasingly outrageous actions on the world stage. How else would you describe planning a conference on gender equality, feminism, and sexual violence that invited only men to participate? or telling the Catholic Church that its pro-life stance equals psychological torture? Well, last week, the United Nations really went off the deep end when its Commission on the Status of Women adopted a resolution that singles out and condemns Israel for violating the rights of women. That's right. This Commission condemned a country that has guaranteed women equality in work, education, health, and social welfare for more than 60 years. It denounced a country where rape, including spousal rape, is a felony punishable by 16 years in prison, whose Ministry of Social Affairs operates battered women's shelters and a hotline for reporting abuse and whose parliament passed nearly 50 initiatives to promote gender equality and empower women over the past 4 years. It accused the only country in the Middle East that fully respects the rights of women with violating the rights of women. To say I wholeheartedly disagree with this fiction the U.N. has concocted would be an understatement. Let's look at the facts. On its Web site, the Commission lists selected grim statistics for the status of women in the world: They inform us that one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence; they let us know that 120 million girls have been forced into intercourse or other sexual acts at some point in their lives; and they tell us 133 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation. When you consider those numbers, it is mind-boggling that the Commission believes that Israel is the only one of the 193 U.N. member states worthy of condemnation for its record on women's rights. How is that even possible? Israel's entire population is less than 10 million. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 40 percent of all murders of women worldwide are carried out by an intimate partner. Yet dozens of countries around the world do not have specific laws against domestic violence. Where is the Commission's condemnation of Russia and Kenya? of Burkina Faso and Pakistan? of Congo and Lesotho? of Niger? Why didn't the Commission cite Sudan, where the legal age of marriage for girls is 10 years old and 88 percent of women under 50 have undergone female genital mutilation? Why didn't the Commission condemn Iran, where a woman's testimony is only worth half of a man's in court, and rape within marriage is not recognized as a criminal offense? Where is the censure of India, where statistics show a rape occurs every 22 minutes? Why didn't the Commission want to talk about the victims in that country, who include a nun in her seventies who was gang-raped by a group of bandits when she tried to prevent them from committing a robbery in a Christian missionary school, as well as two teenaged cousins from a low caste who didn't have a toilet in their home and were raped, strangled, and found hanging from a tree because they went outside to relieve themselves during the night. Why aren't these countries worthy of the same denunciation? You might be surprised to learn they all sit on the Commission on the Status of Women. That's right. Some of the world worst violators of women's rights sit on a commission that calls itself ``the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.'' It is clear from the facts that this single-minded attack is just the latest salvo in the U.N.'s never-ending anti-Israeli agenda, and it is time we stand up for our friend and ally. As a founding member of the U.N. and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, United States has a duty to insist on a higher standard. The status quo is simply unacceptable.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, we have all had hands-on experience balancing a budget, sitting at the kitchen table long after the kids have gone to bed shuffling through bills and pay stubs. We all know the feeling. In my family, balancing our budget isn't just a priority, it is a requirement. We must view America's budget the same way. The House Republican Balanced Budget for a Stronger America is not only realistic, but proactive. Our budget not only balances in less than 10 years, it does so without raising taxes. It places our country on a path to pay off the overwhelming mound of debt we face and creates a simpler Tax Code to ensure we continue to flourish. Mr. Speaker, our kitchen table may be bigger and the voices may be louder, but the same rules apply. Our budget balances and provides American families with the security they deserve.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 152 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. General Leave

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

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 152 provides for a closed rule providing for consideration of S.J. Res. 8, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board, and a closed rule for consideration of H. Res. 132, providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the 114th Congress. Across the Capitol, the United States Senate took positive action on March 4 when it passed a resolution, S.J. Res. 8, invoking the Congressional Review Act to overturn the National Labor Relations Board's recent ambush election rule. On that same day, my colleagues and I at the Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on legislation I strongly supported and cosponsored, H.J. Res. 29, which is identical legislation to that which will come before the House today. The National Labor Relations Board's ambush election rule is just the latest of its outrageous actions taken in defiance of longstanding precedent, jeopardizing employee free choice and privacy and employer free speech. This rule would give workers as few as 11 days to consider a consequential decision before voting for or against joining a union, prevent employers from having adequate time to prepare for union elections, and postpone critical questions over the election, such as voter eligibility, until after the election. While providing little consideration of the longstanding rights of employees and employers, the rule further violates their privacy by ensuring that workers' personal information such as email addresses, work schedules, phone numbers, and home addresses are provided to union leaders. There is a myriad of consequences to this harmful regulation, including constraining the rights of workers to make informed decisions, severely hampering employers' rights to speak to their employees during union organizing campaigns, and weakening privacy rights of workers. These consequences will seriously impact the relationship of workers and employers and upend a carefully crafted process for organizing elections. These precedents have arisen over decades of practice within existing rules and should not be upended by hyperpartisan bureaucrats to the benefit of national unions at the expense of hardworking Americans. H. Res. 152 also provides for consideration of H. Res. 132, the committee funding resolution for the 114th Congress. Since taking the majority, House Republicans have been careful stewards of taxpayer dollars, streamlining House operations and saving funds wherever possible. In fact, this Congress, the House remains below the amount authorized in 2008. This bipartisan resolution will allow our committees to continue their vital work on behalf of this institution, including legislative reforms and oversight with additional investigations and field hearings. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying resolutions, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My colleague from Colorado knows very well that the House is doing its work and focusing on the things that are important to hardworking Americans. Just this week, we are holding 81 hearings here in the House in various committees. That is definitely doing our work. We are here on the floor today looking at a very important piece of work and overriding this onerous rule. That is not a waste of time. Mr. Speaker, the National Labor Relations Board has been attempting for years to tip the scales toward union organizers, and last December, it was finally able to accomplish one of its major goals with approval of this ambush election rule. The two Board members who descended from the decision were clear about the rule's primary purpose: enabling initial union representation elections to occur as soon as possible. This rule will shorten the length of time in which such an election is held from the current median of 38 days to as little as 11 days. The Board's decision was broad and unprecedented, overturning decades of practice in labor laws and skewing elections in favor of unions. One of its most outrageous provisions is postponing decisions about who is eligible to participate in an election to after the election. One of the most fundamental principles of a fair election is ensuring only those eligible to vote to have the ability to vote, maintaining the value of each voter's individual vote. That basic democratic protection would be shattered by this rule. It may also lead to more union representation elections being set aside and new elections being ordered. Glenn Taubman characterized the consequences of this ambush election rule very fittingly in testimony before our Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, saying: It is akin to a mayoral election in which it is unknown, either before or after the election, whether up to 20 percent of the potential voters are inside or outside the city limits. The rule will also require a new mandatory poster be placed in the workplace within 2 business days of receiving a petition for election, the content of which will be determined by the National Labor Relations Board. Employers are also provided only 8 days to find experienced representation before facing a hearing and must file an in-depth statement of position within only 7 days of receiving a petition for election. Companies of any size--and, in particular, small businesses-- frequently do not have in-house counsel and are not prepared at the drop of a hat to respond to complex, consequential legal situations. A provision with a serious impact on employee privacy is the access provided to unions of additional contact information, including every employee's name, address, personal phone number, and personal email address, which must be provided within 2 days of an election order without any option to opt out. Important review procedures would be set aside by this rule as well, including the opportunity for review of decisions made prior to the election by the Board itself. The Board's requirement for review of postelection disputes would be made discretionary for the first time as well, limiting oversight. This flawed decision is currently facing litigation from the private sector as well, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other trade associations filing a lawsuit to block its implementation as a violation of the National Labor Relations Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and employers' rights. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.