Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank my colleague from Colorado for his kind comments about me and my health. I appreciate all condolences. Mr. Speaker, this resolution also provides for consideration of H.R. 527, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015, which is important legislation to improve the Federal Government's treatment of small businesses. Ensuring we are providing the best environment possible to small businesses is vital to support a sector which employs nearly half of America's private sector workers and generates 63 percent of new private sector jobs. As a former owner of a nursery, I know well the joys and trials of running a small business, and I am pleased that the House is considering these vital provisions. Small businesses do not have the staff or background to identify and comply with ever-growing piles of red tape. Federal regulations disproportionately impact small businesses which led Congress to enact the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to account better for the impacts of proposed regulations on small businesses and other small entities and to tailor regulations to minimize adverse impacts on these entities. Unsurprisingly, agencies have failed to comply with these requirements in full. They have taken advantage of loopholes, failed to acknowledge the entirety of impacts for proposed rules, and issued rules that continue to harm small businesses. That failure necessitates our actions this week to consider H.R. 527, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act. This legislation requires Federal agencies to consider the potential ``economic impact'' of proposed rules on small businesses and nonprofits. It also mandates a 10-year plan to review all rules determined to have ``a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.'' That will ensure past regulations will not remain on the books unexamined and able to burden small businesses for decades. The legislation also expands ``regulatory flexibility analysis'' requirements which are currently used to explain the reasoning behind a proposed rule, identify duplicative rules, and explain any recordkeeping or other requirements that may be imposed on small businesses or other small entities. It also requires the Small Business Administration's chief counsel for advocacy to develop interagency rules for conducting flexibility analyses. These changes will ensure that future regulations are tailored to minimize their impact on small businesses. This will allow small businesses to spend more of their investments and time hiring new employees and growing their businesses rather than complying with unnecessary burdens from Federal regulations. H.R. 527 is a simple, commonsense mandate for the executive branch to work together with small businesses and design smarter, less burdensome rules that work for the American people, and I commend it to my colleagues for their support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. 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, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 78 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this month marks 25 years since John Hood and Marc Rotterman founded the John Locke Foundation with the help of Art Pope and the John William Pope Foundation. While its beginnings may have been small, the John Locke Foundation quickly made an impact, and today, it is the leading voice in North Carolina for free markets, limited government, and personal responsibility. This silver jubilee represents a changing of the guard for the organization. After nearly 20 years at its helm, founder John Hood has taken a new role as president of the Pope Foundation. He leaves the John Locke Foundation in the very capable hands of Kory Swanson, who has been a central figure in the growth and influence of the organization over the last 15 years. The future is bright at the John Locke Foundation, and the people of North Carolina are the beneficiaries and are grateful.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Stacy Eggers, Jr., of Boone, North Carolina. On March 20, Stacy will be 91 years old, but he hasn't let age slow him down one bit. He still goes daily to his office on West King Street where he has been continually practicing law since 1950. Back then, he was one of only four attorneys in Watauga County. Stacy is one of the last attorneys in the State of North Carolina who did not attend law school. He was admitted by the North Carolina State Bar to practice law on April 19, 1950, and eventually, his law practice became a family affair. He formed the law firm Eggers & Eggers with his son Stacy Eggers III in 1974 and later formed Eggers, Eggers, & Eggers when his daughter Rebecca Eggers-Gryder joined the practice. His grandson Stacy Eggers IV, who is known as Four, joined the firm in 2001. His granddaughter-in-law Kimberly Eggers joined the firm in 2010. Another grandson, Austin Eggers, joined the firm in 2011. I think it bears repeating that Stacy still goes to work every day at the age of 90. In fact, he tried a property rights case with his grandson Four before a local jury at the age of 88. You rarely see that kind of dedication to one's profession anymore. In addition to his work in private practice, Stacy has served as county attorney for Watauga County, as well as town attorney for Blowing Rock and Seven Devils. His service to the bar also includes terms as councilor of the North Carolina State Bar for the 24th Judicial District, president of the Watauga Bar Association, and president of the 24th Judicial District Bar Association. He is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association, where he served on the Client Security Fund Board, which helps reimburse individuals who have suffered financial loss as a result of the dishonest conduct of lawyers. In 1996, Stacy was inducted into the North Carolina General Practice Hall of Fame and received the Liberty Bell Award in 2008. The Liberty Bell Award is given annually by the North Carolina Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division to one individual who ``has strengthened the American system of freedom under law.'' Active in the local community, Stacy has served as a member of the Watauga County Hospital Board of Trustees, the Watauga County Board of Elections, the Boone Rotary Club, the executive committee of the Watauga County Republican Party, the Boone Chamber of Commerce, and the Watauga Savings and Loan Association Board of Directors. He also currently serves on the board for LifeStore Bank. Prior to his career as a lawyer, Stacy served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. When describing the experience to his children in later years, he would say he received a personal invitation from the President to take an all-expense paid world tour. He left on a transport out of Charleston, North Carolina, and by the time he arrived in Los Angeles at the end of the war, he had served his country in locations across the globe, including Africa, the Mediterranean, India, and Tinian. Stacy is a lifetime member and past commander of the American Legion and a lifetime member and judge advocate of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Stacy raised four children with his loving and supportive wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Bingham Eggers, who passed away in 2004. He is blessed with eight grandsons and three great-grandsons and has another great- grandbaby on the way. His family is one of the most respected families in Watauga County. Stacy is a man of few words but great wisdom. He has tremendous insights into human nature, and his observations are well worth hearing. Watauga County is fortunate to call this hardworking citizen one of its own.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this week the House is considering 12 bills designed to fight the growing problem of human trafficking in the United States. These bipartisan bills will provide support and services to the victims of trafficking crimes and boost resources for law enforcement. According to the FBI, sex trafficking is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world. More than 300,000 American children are at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking annually in what is estimated to be a $9.8 billion industry. Human trafficking is modern day slavery that preys on vulnerable individuals, and this epidemic is not isolated to far-off places. It is happening every day in the places we call home. As we take steps at the federal level to end this despicable and horrifying practice, there are many organizations dedicated to helping victims and preventing even more people from being mistreated. Earlier this month in Rowan County, North Carolina, nearly 200 supporters gathered to hear testimonies from human trafficking survivors as well as discuss ways to increase awareness and assist victims in the local community at the Triad Ladder of Hope's First Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Gala. And today I'm wearing a bracelet made from recycled soda tabs that was designed by Monarch, a Christian ministry that creates accessories as a unique way to engage in the fight against human trafficking. As the charm on this bracelet reminds us, there is hope that lives discarded can be reclaimed.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, last week in his State of the Union Address, President Obama proposed to fund publicly the first 2 years of community college for all Americans. As a former community college president, I am a huge fan of community colleges and the great educational opportunities they provide students from all walks of life. However, I am reminded of the old Peanuts cartoon where Linus says to Lucy: ``Every time there's a good suggestion, someone brings up the budget.'' Making higher education affordable and attainable for America's students must be a priority, but President Obama's $60 billion proposal is the wrong approach for the Federal Government to take. Rather than yet another top-down Federal Government boondoggle, we need to focus on new ways to promote innovation, access, and completion, and we need to eliminate Federal impediments that prevent institutions from delivering higher education in more creative, cost-effective ways.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, paying for college is hard work, and it is getting more difficult as tuition and fees continue to increase at rapid rates. Fortunately, American families have an investment tool known as a 529 plan to help them save for their child's college education. Since 2001, students have been able to withdraw earnings from these plans tax free if the funds are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses. It was disheartening to learn last week that President Obama now wants to tax those withdrawals and treat the earnings as student income, which would hurt a child's chances of receiving financial aid. With student loan debt surpassing credit card debt, it is incredibly irresponsible of the President to take away this valuable tool that millions of American families use to save for college. House Republicans will fight this attempt to raise taxes on hardworking American families. We want to encourage, not discourage, families from investing in their child's future.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, life is the most fundamental of all rights. It is sacred and God-given, but millions of babies have been robbed of that right in this, the freest country in the world. That is a tragedy beyond words and a betrayal of what we, as a nation, stand for. One day, we hope it will be different. We hope life will cease to be valued on a sliding scale. We hope the era of elective abortions, ushered in by an unelected court, will be closed and collectively deemed one of the darkest chapters in American history, but until that day, it remains a solemn duty to stand up for life. Regardless of the length of this journey, we will continue to speak for those who cannot, and we will continue to pray to the One who can change the hearts of those in desperation and those in power, who equally hold the lives of the innocent in their hands. Madam Speaker, the commonsense measure before us restores an important, longstanding, bipartisan agreement that protects the unborn and prevents taxpayers from being forced to finance thousands of elective abortions. It reflects the will of the American people and is the product of what has historically been a bipartisan, bicameral consensus in Congress. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule and H.R. 7.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan, Dr. Benishek.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas, Dr. Babin.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows, this legislation is identical to H.R. 7, which passed the House last Congress after moving through regular order, including a full committee markup. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), one of the strongest champions of life in this House.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 42 provides for a closed rule allowing consideration of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Since 1973, at least 52 million children's lives have been tragically taken by abortion in the United States. It is unconscionable that in America, where we fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we tolerate this systematic extermination of an entire generation of the most vulnerable among us. In the midst of that darkness, there has been one area of consensus, Mr. Speaker: protecting taxpayers from paying for a practice they sincerely oppose. Since 1976, the Hyde amendment, which prohibits the Federal funding of abortions, has been included in relevant appropriations bills. Each year it has been consistently renewed and supported by congressional majorities and Presidents of both parties. NARAL, an abortion advocacy group, has suggested that prohibiting public funds for abortion reduces abortion rates by roughly 50 percent. That means that half of the women who would have otherwise had a publicly funded abortion end up carrying their baby to term. In 1993, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Hyde amendment prevented as many as 675,000 abortions every single year. That means that millions of Americans are alive today because of the Hyde amendment. After 38 years, it is time for this lifesaving amendment to become permanent law. When Barack Obama was elected in 2008, a myriad of long-established laws, including the Hyde amendment, created a mostly uniform policy that Federal programs did not pay for abortion or subsidize health plans that included coverage of abortion, with only narrow exceptions. Unfortunately, ObamaCare destroyed that longstanding policy, bypassing the Hyde amendment restriction and paving the way for publicly funded abortions. The President's health care law authorized massive Federal subsidies to assist millions of Americans to purchase private health plans that will cover abortions on demand. In other words, Mr. Speaker, hard-earned taxpayer dollars are now being used to pay for elective abortions. This is simply unacceptable. H.R. 7 will codify the principles of the Hyde amendment on a permanent, governmentwide basis, which means that it will apply to longstanding Federal health programs such as Medicaid, SCHIP, and Federal employees' health benefits, as well as to new programs created by ObamaCare. H.R. 7 prohibits the use of Federal funds for abortions. It does so by, one, prohibiting all Federal funding for abortions; two, prohibiting Federal subsidies for ACA health care plans that include coverage for abortion; three, prohibiting the use of Federal facilities for abortion; and four, prohibiting Federal employees from performing abortions. This commonsense measure, which restores a longstanding bipartisan agreement, protects the unborn and prevents taxpayers from being forced to fund thousands of 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. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), 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. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 42 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. While it is true that the Hyde amendment and its companion amendments have been renewed every year, recent implementation of the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, has ignored these restrictions. Rather than renewing various amendments each year, we should make the prohibition on Federal abortion funding permanent and governmentwide. Additionally, provisions contained in the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act have been included in H.R. 7. These provisions require the exchanges to prominently display, one, whether a plan provides for abortion coverage; and, two, if it does, the amount of the abortion surcharge that the consumer is required to pay. Unfortunately, for most consumers, finding out if the plans on their State's exchange or the Federal marketplace covers abortion is nearly impossible because the information is not consistently available. Knowing whether these plans cover abortion is absolutely critical to many consumers because plans that cover elective abortion are required by law to impose a mandatory monthly abortion surcharge. These surcharges are not optional. Once you sign up for a plan with abortion coverage, you must pay the surcharge. This means that, potentially, many Americans who strongly oppose elective abortion could be unknowingly contributing to the practice financially. Madam Speaker, that simply isn't right. H.R. 7 will stop funding for plans that cover elective abortion under ObamaCare and ensure that abortion coverage and the accompanying surcharge are made transparent to the American people. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote for the rule and H.R. 7, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The passage of H.R. 7 will be welcome news for the majority of Americans who do not want their tax dollars paying for the grisly business of abortion. This bill will make existing policies like the Hyde amendment permanent and will rid ObamaCare of its massive expansion of public funding for abortion insurance plans. The President repeatedly assured Americans that ObamaCare would ``maintain current Hyde amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extend those restrictions to newly created health insurance exchanges.'' Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, that promise didn't pan out. It now joins ``if you like your plan, you can keep it'' in President Obama's panoply of broken promises. Madam Speaker, today, hundreds of thousands of Americans are coming to Washington, D.C., to brave the cold and march for life. Participants hail from all 50 States, have various religions, and are from all different walks of life and ages. But the one thing they have in common is the shared dedication to protecting the unborn. The March for Life gives a voice to the voiceless and sends a powerful message to the Representatives of the people assembled here in Congress. It is heartening that so many Americans of different backgrounds are willing to take a stand for life. Madam Speaker, this is not a partisan issue and this is not a partisan bill. H.R. 7 reflects the bipartisan, bicameral agreement that our government should not be in the business of subsidizing abortions. This is not a radical idea. It is a commonsense proposal that codifies a longstanding compromise. Therefore, I again urge my colleagues to vote for this rule and H.R. 7. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to say as forcefully as I can that there is nothing in H.R. 7 that restricts the private sale of plans that include abortion. There is nothing in H.R. 7 that restricts the private sale of plans that include abortion. Consistent with the Hyde amendment, the bill ensures that Federal dollars--wherever those Federal dollars come from--do not subsidize plans that cover abortion. What is important to explain is that the Hyde amendment has only in the past applied to annual appropriations bills. As we have done our best to explain to the American people, ObamaCare is not subject to annual appropriations bills but is funded under mandatory spending. Therefore, Madam Speaker, it is important that we codify that no Federal funds can be used for abortions. That is what this bill does. If our colleagues believe it is unnecessary, then they should have no problem voting for it because, then, it is not doing anything that violates what has been done in the past. However, this bill is necessary. Let me say again, Madam Speaker, that H.R. 7 simply codifies the longstanding bipartisan agreement that Federal taxpayer funding should not be used to destroy innocent life. H.R. 7 does so by establishing a permanent, governmentwide prohibition on taxpayer subsidies for abortion and abortion coverage, including cutting off taxpayer funding for plans that include abortion under ObamaCare; It prevents funding for abortion in government programs like Medicaid, the Federal Health Benefits Program, and the Children's Health Insurance Program; The bill also ensures that subsidies made available in the form of refundable tax credits under the ACA are prevented from flowing to plans that include abortion; H.R. 7 also explicitly states that private individuals may purchase separate abortion coverage or plans that include abortion as long as no Federal subsidies are used to pay for the abortion coverage. Similarly, H.R. 7 explicitly states that insurance companies may offer abortion coverage as long as the coverage is not paid for by using taxpayer dollars. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Ellmers).

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I just want to say that it is clear some of our colleagues have not read the bill or have not listened to the debate. This bill does not prohibit women from purchasing abortion coverage with their own money. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).