Bill Foster

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my constituents, Blake Burton, on his seventh birthday and to recognize his resilient spirit in the face of unbelievable hardship. Blake was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of four and has been bravely battling it ever since. On several occasions, Blake's condition worsened, and his family feared that they might be losing him. After countless surgeries, transfusions, needles, surviving being on a ventilator, kidney dialysis, and three failed stem cell transplants, his fight with leukemia has now come to an end and Blake was recently put into hospice care. Blake's family describes him a boy with a zest for life who makes an impact on anyone he comes in contact with. Despite a taxing fight against leukemia, he always has the energy to stick up for the underdog--a lesson we can all learn from. On October 14, Blake will turn seven years old having experienced more challenges than most people will over the course of their entire lives. We can all learn from Blake's bravery and strength, and I am honored to represent him and his family as part of the 11th Congressional District of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Blake on his seventh birthday and in honoring his courage, perseverance, and spirit.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the 20th Anniversary of the Naperville Illinois KidsMatter Organization. Since 2001, KidsMatter has served to develop and empower young people of all races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. Their work has been critical to understanding how a child's upbringing and environment can affect their development. More importantly, they recognize that the obstacles faced by young adults do not determine their future. Through mental health services, tutoring and leadership academies, and many other services, KidsMatter is leading our community's children to brighter futures ahead. In addition to serving young adults, KidsMatter provides critical resources to families and parents. This influential organization is building a healthy and resilient new generation, and I look forward to the work they will continue doing in the years to come. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring KidsMatter for their exemplary service to the people of Naperville, Illinois and the surrounding area, and to congratulate them on their 20th Anniversary.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life and work of Bill Habel, of Naperville, who passed away suddenly just a few weeks ago at the age of 63. Bill was a tireless champion for workers and their families, and he never missed an opportunity to help amplify their voices. He started his career as a union electrician in 1986 and was a dedicated member of IBEW Local 701. Beyond his day-to-day work, Bill made it a priority to give back and to help others begin their careers. He spent 23 years as an instructor for the electrical workers' apprenticeship program, helping introduce others to good-paying career opportunities in the building trades. He was a leading voice for the economic development of the Naperville community and never missed a chance to advocate for job creation and infrastructure development that attracted so many people to Naperville and to DuPage County. Madam Speaker, Bill knew instinctively what many of us have learned, that when you prioritize workers and their families, the entire community benefits. Simply put, the Naperville community is a better place because of the work that he did and what he did to help build it up. I am proud to call Bill a friend and even more proud of the work that he accomplished for his community. We will all miss him dearly.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 2225, the NSF for the Future Act; and H.R. 3593, the DOE Science for the Future Act. Both are tributes to the thoughtful bipartisanship of the leadership and the staff of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, on which I have the honor of serving. Last Congress, the Science Committee found itself in the remarkable position of discussing dueling bipartisan proposals to essentially double the science budgets, which, needless to say, represents a big change from years past. Out of that shared commitment to the future came the thoughtful and bipartisan NSF for the Future Act and the DOE Science for the Future Act. These bills, which represent significant and overdue increases to the budgets for the NSF and the DOE Office of Science, are crucial to ensuring that our Nation maintains its leadership in the science that will continue to change the world. H.R. 2225 was specifically written to ensure that the NSF will have the funds to accept a much larger fraction of the qualified research proposals that it receives every year, which is the single most important thing that we can do to ensure the health of the science it supports. H.R. 3593 contains aggressive but feasible budget profiles for the existing programs of DOE's Office of Science. It has specific language to reexamine opportunities to expand these programs into new areas under these more ambitious but now, hopefully, realistic budget growth scenarios so that next-generation projects in fields like nuclear fusion, bioinformatics, energy storage, basic energy research, and much more can now be contemplated. As the only Ph.D. physicist in Congress, I urge my colleagues to support these bills, which I am proudly cosponsoring, to provide our scientific researchers with the support that they need to lead us into the future.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maria Manzo for 10 years of service to our office, to the communities that we represent in Illinois, and to our country. Maria was one of the first people who we hired back in the spring of 2008 when I left the crazy business of science to enter the sane and steady business of the United States Congress. Maria began as our ambassador to the Hispanic communities in Aurora, the second largest city of Illinois, and she now coordinates outreach to all citizens of Illinois' 11th District. Maria was with me during the terror of the economic collapse, the historic victories of ObamaCare, and the political firestorm that accompanied it. She was with us during the electoral defeats of the Tea Party wave and the electoral victories of our subsequent return to office. Maria is now a steady and trusted voice in our community as we navigate the coronavirus crisis. During those 10 years, I had the chance to watch Maria's wonderful children, Elijah and Sophia, progress from early childhood to becoming enchanting adults. Maria Manzo, it has been a great 10 years.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the waiver for General Lloyd J. Austin, III to become our next Secretary of Defense. However, I want to be clear that this vote should not be seen as supporting a precedent for routine granting of waivers for future noncivilian nominees to lead the Department of Defense. We must keep the waiver requirement in place, and waivers should be reserved for the most extreme circumstances. I strongly support civilian leadership of the military, and the waiver requirement was created to protect this important principle. That being said, our country is facing the simultaneous threats of a global pandemic, unprecedented cyberattacks on our government, and the recent departure of a president who attempted to enlist military personnel to disrupt civilian protest. Considering these extraordinary circumstances, we need a qualified Secretary of Defense in place immediately. Under normal circumstances, a public hearing before the House Armed Services Committee would be an important part of the waiver process. Unfortunately, because the House Armed Services Committee is not fully set up, the committee cannot hold public hearings on the waiver yet. However, unlike the Trump Administration, the Biden Administration has made General Austin readily available to Congress, and he has demonstrated that he understands the importance of civilian leadership of the Pentagon. With these assurances, I express my support for General Austin's waiver to move forward in this confirmation process. However, I reiterate to my colleagues that this vote cannot be seen to support a precedent to grant future waivers of the cooling-off period for non- civilian Secretaries of Defense.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the University of St. Francis located in Joliet, Illinois, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Since 1920, the University of St. Francis has distinguished itself as a valuable institution for its students and a major contributor to Joliet and the greater Illinois area. Founded in 1920, the Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate established the Sisters' Normal Institute of Higher Leaming, now known as the University of St. Francis, to educate its own members. By 1930, the institution reorganized its education to provide a full college curriculum and grant bachelor's degrees. As the college expanded its educational opportunities, it was eventually renamed the University of St. Francis in 1998. The University of St. Francis has been an institution committed to providing opportunity for its students and educating a community of learners who are engaged in the continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice. Their academic excellence makes the institution a valuable part of the community. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the University of St. Francis' 100 years of excellence and congratulating the institution on achieving this milestone.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mike Barbour, who is retiring from his position as the Service Officer for Veterans for Foreign Wars and the American Legion Post 43. With a long and illustrious career serving our country in Vietnam and advocating for veterans in Naperville and Aurora, Mike has distinguished himself as a valuable and dedicated member of the community. Mike served with the U.S. Army Special Forces in Vietnam. Since 1994, he has devoted his time to educating veterans and their families about benefits and health care they can receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As an honorary board member for Naperville Responds for Veterans, Mike has served as an important resource for veterans by helping to share their stories to the younger generation. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mike Barbour's exemplary service to the veterans of Naperville and Aurora and congratulating him on a prominent career.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mark Guethle of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). With a long and illustrious career working for the citizens of North Aurora and Kane County, Mark has distinguished himself as a valuable and dedicated member of the community. Mark has served as the Director of Government Affairs of the Painters Union since the early 2000s. Throughout his career, Mark has been dedicated to advocating for working people and their families. I have been lucky to work closely with him on a variety of labor issues to benefit working families in Illinois, and I am proud to call him my friend. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mark Guethle's exemplary service to the people of Aurora and congratulating him on a prominent career.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. This act includes provisions from the bipartisan H.R. 2986, the Better Energy Storage Act, or BEST Act, led by me, Mr. Casten, Ms. Herrera Beutler, and Mr. Gonzalez. These provisions set forth a crosscutting program at the Department of Energy to advance a suite of energy storage technologies. It directs DOE to establish a research and development program for cost-effective, sustainable energy storage systems, including testing and validation activities. It directs the Department to develop a 5-year strategic plan to continue to identify and refine research goals for the program, and it would establish an energy storage demonstration program to help put more energy storage systems on the electric grid. Energy storage technologies take many forms, including batteries, pumped hydropower, thermal energy storage, or chemical energy stored as hydrogen. The development of cost-effective storage systems will help reduce the intermittency issues of renewable generation sources like solar and wind energy and will also help provide grid services, such as frequency regulation to ensure the stability of the electrical supply that consumers depend on. And they will begin to address the seasonal variation, which is the final frontier of energy storage technology. In my home district of Illinois, researchers at Argonne National Lab are leading a national collaboration to accelerate the development of advanced batteries, including novel cathode, anode, and electrolyte designs, as well as new materials synthesis and characterization tools. And that is why I am so pleased to see provisions of the BEST Act in the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the hard work of my colleague on the Science Committee, Mr. Casten, who introduced the Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019. His bill contained many important provisions that have helped strengthen the version of the BEST Act that we are considering within this package. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4447.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), my colleague, for cosponsoring this bipartisan amendment so that we can move our healthcare system into the 21st century, save money, and, most importantly, save lives. Madam Speaker, this amendment is supported by over 50 health groups, including the American Heart Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, the Opioid Safety Alliance, and many others. Madam Speaker, last year, the House resoundingly passed this amendment to strike this ban. I urge my colleagues to once again pass this amendment. I urge the Senate to take proper action when we do, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, this bipartisan amendment offered by Mr. Kelly and me and supported, also, by Mr. Schweikert and Dr. Bera, would strike section 510, which bans HHS from adopting standards for a unique patient identifier that would allow patients to be identified uniquely across electronic health record systems. In the 21 years that this misguided policy has been in place, tens of thousands of Americans have died due to getting the wrong drug to the wrong patient or due to incorrect or incomplete electronic medical records, all arising from the inability to simply and correctly merge health records from different systems. Matching records properly requires a unique identifier for each patient. A Federal ban on doing this properly makes our healthcare system more expensive and less safe for patients. A Johns Hopkins study recently calculated that more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to medical errors, and patient misidentification is a significant contributor to this. This ban is also handcuffing us in our fight against opioids. A 2018 roundtable on the opioid crisis, cohosted by HHS and the nonprofit Center for Open Data Enterprise, recommended the generation of a unique identifier for each patient. This would not only guard against so-called ``doctor shopping'' for opioids by those struggling with substance use disorder, but could also prevent those in recovery from accidentally being given prescription opioids after an injury, surgery, or childbirth, thereby triggering a relapse. Finally, the ability to identify patients across the care continuum is also critical in our efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Accurate identification of patients is one of the most difficult and crucial operational issues during a public health emergency. Field hospitals and temporary testing sites in parks, convention centers, and parking lots only intensify these challenges. Laboratories that are testing patient specimens for COVID-19 are reporting that patient misidentification is causing COVID-19 test results to be returned to the wrong patient with potentially deadly consequences. Madam Speaker, repealing this ban tackles a known and fixable problem in our healthcare system. I urge support for this bipartisan amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), chairwoman of the Appropriations, Labor-HHS and Education Subcommittee.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. My amendment directs the State Department to use $10 million from the NADR account to fund a major science facility in Jordan called SESAME, or the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Application in the Middle East. SESAME is a cooperative venture by scientists and governments throughout the region, including Israel, Iran, and everyone in between. Science is a universal language that can cross barriers, and SESAME has the potential to be that bridge in an area where very few exist. The U.S. support would strengthen collaboration and provide encouragement for all of the countries in the region. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes'' on this en bloc package.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday of last week, I was proud to join my colleagues to vote for the historic George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This legislation represents the first of many steps we need to take to achieve structural change in our criminal justice system, our police, and our society. The American people are demanding action, and they are not interested in more studies or talking points or half measures. I have been inspired by what I have seen in the Illinois communities that I represent, in places like Naperville, Aurora, and Joliet, where people of all backgrounds have come together to say enough is enough. I have been proud to stand with those in my district and across the country who are calling for change, and I am proud to help amplify their voices. We are all frustrated that prior action was not taken to prevent the horror that we have witnessed far too often of Black Americans being unjustly killed at the hands of law enforcement. For a lot of people, the video of George Floyd being killed when a Minnesota police officer knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes was shocking and put this problem front and center, as did the senseless and brutal killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville. But for Black Americans, this is not a new problem. It is just more of the same, more senseless, unjust killings of Black Americans by abusive police officers, who often seem to be protected by law enforcement systems plagued by structural racism. Black Americans shouldn't have had to wait this long for Congress to take action. They deserve a Congress that is responsive to this longstanding crisis, and they deserve a President who wants to lead our Nation to a more just place for people of color instead of the opposite. No, Mr. President, white power is nothing to celebrate. So I am proud that the House took action and a step in the right direction with the Justice in Policing Act, which includes key reforms like banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, mandating the use of body cameras, ending racial and religious profiling by the police, demilitarizing the local police departments, and strengthening accountability measures to hold abusive police officers accountable for their actions. Most Members of this House can share stories of similar incidents in their own districts, often leading to the deaths of their constituents that should have been prevented. And I know that my colleagues join me in honoring the memory of Black lives that have been unjustly lost to police brutality. As I cast my vote, I carried with me with one of Naperville's very own, Sandra Bland. Sandra grew up in Naperville before moving to Texas to pursue her education and earn a degree in agriculture. She then returned to Illinois, where she was a brave activist who worked for social justice and community engagement. A few days after celebrating the Fourth of July with her family back in Naperville, Sandra went back to Texas to begin a job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M, a historically Black State university. On July 10, 2015, she was pulled over on an empty suburban street for failing to signal a lane change. She was arrested and 3 days later found hanged to death in her jail cell. Sandra Bland should never have been arrested. She should be alive today and looking forward to celebrating another Fourth of July with her family this weekend, just like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the countless Black Americans who have been the victims of discrimination and brutality throughout the history of our country. Two months before her death, Sandra Bland posted a video raising awareness about this important and deadly issue. ``Black lives matter,'' she said. ``They matter. In the news that we've seen as of late,'' Sandra said, ``you could stand there, surrender to the cops, and still be killed.'' That is what Sandra said 2 months before it happened to her. Well, I am here on the floor of the House to say that Sandra Bland's life mattered, George Floyd's life mattered, Breonna Taylor's life mattered, and Black lives matter, and it is past time that the laws of our Nation reflect it.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am a scientist, and if a scientist stands up and says something that they know is not true, it is a career-ending action. The reason for this is that science always operates at the edge of what is known, so we cannot tolerate liars. The world is now facing scientific uncertainty in the spread and the severity of the coronavirus. And when the leadership of China confronted the reality of the pandemic, they chose to suppress scientific truth and lie to their people. That cost China and the world the opportunity to slow down and perhaps contain this outbreak. In the U.S., we were recently exposed to the spectacle of our country's leader making self-serving pronouncements about the coronavirus outbreak that had no basis in scientific fact and that were immediately contradicted by his scientific experts. As our Nation faces the serious threat of coronavirus, the American people deserve to know that they can trust the information coming from their government, and that the public officials that they elected are putting science ahead of politics or deranged conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, after 3 years of consistently undermining scientific research and scientific fact, this administration is dangerously deficient in credibility, and that is directly putting the health and well-being of millions of Americans at risk with an opaque and chaotic response to this outbreak. Just a few weeks ago, the Trump administration presented a budget that would slash almost $700 million from the Centers for Disease Control, cutting a vital resource that is at the front lines of this public health emergency. This administration has left critical positions vacant at Homeland Security and the National Security Council, including positions responsible for managing pandemics. Americans need their elected leaders to spend less time tweeting and more time making sure that government resources are coordinated and fully funded and ready to combat this outbreak. Soon, the House will move forward to provide emergency funding that matches the scale and the threat of the coronavirus. We must make sure that the President and the administration uses these funds for what they are intended, a comprehensive and aggressive response to managing the coronavirus outbreak and making sure that any future vaccines or treatments are affordable and available to all who need them. We also must hold the President and his administration accountable for the information they share with the American people. Three years of keeping science and facts at arm's length have rightly made people suspicious of what comes out of the White House. And now, as Americans worry for the health of themselves and their loved ones, they unfortunately must also worry about whether the information coming from the people that they expect to manage this crisis will be distorted for the President's political purposes. When a leader lies to the public about important scientific facts, it is not acceptable. It is not cute. It is not just Trump being Trump. It is a dangerous act that puts our public health and our democracy at risk.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Argonne National Laboratory's Paul K. Kearns on being named the 2020 Director of the Year by the Federal Laboratory Consortium. The Federal Laboratory Consortium Awards are prestigious honors awarded by a panel of experts from laboratories, industry, government, and academia. Since becoming Argonne's lab director in November of 2017, Paul Kearns has maintained the laboratory's core values. Among the many accomplishments made during his tenure, the nickel-manganese-cobalt cathode has seen extraordinary success and is now used in many of today's electric vehicles. Argonne has also increased its partnerships with the entrepreneurial community and is aggressively expanding its collaboration initiatives. Throughout his tenure, Paul's passion for community outreach and building the next generation of STEM professionals has been clear. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Paul Kearns for his outstanding contributions to the science and technology industry and inspire the future generation of STEM professionals.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Staff Sergeant Daniel Acosta on being named the Homes for Heroes--Hero of the Month. A citizen of Joliet, Staff Sergeant Acosta served as an explosive ordinance disposal technician in the United States Air Force from 2002 to 2009. While serving in Iraq in 2006, he sustained serious injuries from an improvised explosive device. He was later awarded the Purple Heart by Brigadier General Frank Gorenc. Today, Staff Sergeant Acosta is a veteran service officer working as a senior caseworker with the Will County Veterans Assistance Program and is on advisory boards for other non-profit organizations such as the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes and Tee it Up for the Troops. He is also a board member for Adaptive Adventures, an organization dedicated to providing outdoor sports opportunities to people with physical disabilities and their families. I commend him for his service to our great nation. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the service and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Daniel Acosta. His service and sacrifice for this country are truly honorable.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Centennial Celebration of the Kiwanis Club of Joliet and Zonta International. Since its formation in 1920, The Kiwanis Club of Joliet has had a strong commitment to our community. They have supported cherished programs like Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Center for Disability Services, the Guardian Angel Community Services, and many more. Currently, they sponsor several high school and middle school community clubs, inspiring our youth to give back as well. The Zonta Club of Joliet is a service-based organization committed to promoting women both locally and globally. Through fundraisers, they finance scholarships, grants, international projects, and charities. They are also the sponsors of the Joliet Central High School Fearless Females, a club dedicated to empowering young women. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Kiwanis Club of Joliet and Joliet International for 100 years of dedication to our community, and I wish them the best in the years to come.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, due to a personal emergency, I was not present for votes Wednesday, February 5 and Thursday, February 6, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted: Rollcall No. 35 yea, rollcall No. 36 yea, rollcall No. 37 yea, rollcall No. 38 yea, rollcall No. 39 yea, and rollcall No. 40 yea.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10th anniversary of Naperville Fire Station 10. Opened in 2010, Fire Station 10 has allowed the Naperville Fire Department (NFD) to provide greater service to the citizens of Southwestern Naperville. It is also the first fire station in Naperville to receive a leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, reflecting the NFD's commitment to sustainable decision-making. The NFD provides fire protection for more than 146,000 people and employs 200 full-time personnel. I would like to thank the Naperville Fire Department and all Naperville emergency service workers for the lifesaving work they do for our community.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jonas Salk Elementary School of Bolingbrook, Illinois as a 2019 ESEA Distinguished School. Since its formation, Jonas Salk Elementary has prided itself on providing academically rigorous instruction in a welcoming and safe environment. As one of only two Illinois schools granted this distinction, Jonas Salk Elementary has been recognized for exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years. I want to congratulate the students, teachers, and parents of Jonas Salk Elementary School on this truly impressive achievement. This recognition reflects no small amount of time and effort, and I look forward to the continued success of this distinguished institution.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank Chairman Takano, Ranking Member Roe, and members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for their steadfast commitment to the men and women of our armed services and for their work on H.R. 4625, the Protect the GI Bill Act. Included in this bill is legislation of mine that I have been working on with Representative McMorris Rodgers for some years now to remedy the bureaucratic oversight affecting military families across the country. Under current law, the Department of Defense includes wards and foster children in their definition of an ``eligible child'' who is authorized to receive their parents' unused GI education benefits. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not. Unfortunately, this misalignment has led to a nightmare for some members of the armed services and their families. This issue first came to my attention when a constituent, Sergeant First Class Angela Dees, and her son, Christopher, reached out to my office to share their story. Regrettably, their story is not unique, and they are not alone. To date, nearly 100 wards and foster children were initially approved by the Department of Defense for the transfer of GI education benefits, and money was paid out to their schools. Then, midsemester, the Department of Veterans Affairs revoked their benefits. The students and their families were notified that they would have to repay tuition expenses. These families now face unexpected and crippling debts. They aren't just stuck with bigger loan payments but with outstanding bills. In many cases, the students even had to drop out of school. Children of the men and women who serve honorably should not be denied the benefits that they were promised because of bureaucratic oversight. These servicemen and -women have honored the promise that they made to serve our country, and we need to honor the promises we make to them. This legislation would correct this discrepancy and prevent this situation from happening in the future. Doing so would allow foster children and wards like Christopher, who were approved for GI education benefits only to have them revoked, to receive the education funding that they were promised. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes'' on this critical piece of legislation.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I was not present for a vote on Tuesday, October 23, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted on rollcall No. 573, ``aye.''