Gene Green

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 64--Disapproving of the agreement transmitted to Congress by the President on July 19, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran. First, I would like to commend all the individuals from the Obama Administration and their counterparts across the globe for the tireless work they put into this agreement. Since the Iranian revolution in 1979, this is the closest our country and the international community have come to signing a peace agreement. That progress did not come without significant sacrifice of personal and professional time. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I am unable to support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. While I commend all those involved and recognize the importance of a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran, I do not believe that is what we are getting. For the past 30 years, the international community has been subjected to Iranian threats and bully behavior. The international community has had to tolerate Iran's constant threats to destroy the State of Israel, our staunch ally. For too long, the community of nations has dealt with Iran's funding of terrorism throughout the Middle East and the world. I am unable to support a deal that would allow the Iranian regime to continue to perpetrate these actions without any repercussions. It is important to mention that these are not just my beliefs. Since the announcement in July, my office has received hundreds of contacts from constituents opposing the Iran agreement. In the month of August, I held townhalls, hosted meetings and conducted constituent visits. The majority of those interactions affirmed the people in our district do not trust Iran. The State of Israel should not have to worry about more threats and potentially expanded attacks funded by Iranian petro-dollars. The United States shouldn't have to provide relief to a regime that continues to call for our destruction and that of our allies. I believe the delay and dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program is a laudable goal, perhaps one of the most important in the world. I also believe that we should work to alleviate the pressures and foster the goals of the Iranian people. The young people in Iran are being held accountable for the actions of an autocratic, religiously motivated panel of leaders. However, we cannot ignore 30 years of unrelenting threats and condemnable behavior for a decade or less of nuclear concessions. In Texas, perception is often reality and if you are perceived as a bully, then you'll be treated as one. We spent too many years bringing Iran to the table through sanctions and diplomatic pressures. We cannot easily forget the history between the two countries but we can hopefully work towards a better situation. As long as our friends and allies in the Middle East and around the world feel the threat of Iranian influence, our job as the United States is to hold the regime accountable in every way possible. It is my hope we work together to block this deal and use its framework to get a better deal. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.J. Res. 64.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 64, Disapproving of the agreement transmitted to Congress by the President on July 19, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran. First, I would like to commend all of the individuals from the Obama administration and their counterparts across the globe for their tireless work in this agreement. Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, this is as close as our country and the international community have come to signing a peace agreement. That progress did not come without significant sacrifice of personal and professional time. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I cannot support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. While I commend all those involved and recognize the importance of a comprehensive nuclear agreement, I do not believe in what we are getting. Over the past 30 years, the international community has been subjected to Iranian threats and bully behaviors. The international community has also had to tolerate Iran's constant threats to destroy our Nation and the State of Israel, our staunch ally. For too long, the community of nations has dealt with Iran's funding of terrorism throughout the Middle East and the world. I am unable to support a deal that would allow the Iranian regime to continue to perpetrate these actions without repercussions. It is important to mention that these are not just my beliefs. Since the announcement in July, my office has received hundreds of contacts from constituents opposing the Iran agreement. In the month of August, I held town halls, hosted meetings and conducted constituent visits. The majority of those interactions affirmed the people in our district do not trust Iran. The State of Israel should not have to worry about more threats and potentially expanded attacks funded by Iranian petro-dollars. The United States shouldn't have to provide relief to a regime that continues to call for our destruction and those of our allies. I believe the delay and dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program is a laudable goal, perhaps one of the most important in the world. I also believe that we should work to alleviate the pressures and foster the goals of the Iranian people. The young people in Iran are being held accountable for the actions of an autocratic, religiously-motivated panel of leaders. However, we cannot ignore 30 years of unrelenting threats and condemnable behavior for a decade or less of nuclear concessions. In Texas, perception is often reality and if you are perceived as a bully, then you'll be treated as one. We spent too many years bringing Iran to the table through sanctions and diplomatic pressures. We cannot easily forget the history between the two countries but we can hopefully work toward a better situation. As long as our friends and allies in the Middle East and around the world feel the threat of Iranian influence, our job as the United States is to hold the regime accountable in every way possible. It is my hope we work together to block this deal and use its framework to get a better deal. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.J. Res. 64 and I yield back.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2820, the Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Reauthorization Act. This important legislation is championed by Representatives Doris Matsui and Chris Smith. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 20,000 patients in the United States need a bone marrow or cord blood transplant each year. Stem cells from both cord blood and bone marrow are used to treat nearly 80 lifesaving diseases, including cancers, blood diseases, and immune disorders. H.R. 2820 provides Federal support for cord blood donation, the continuation of the national bone marrow registry, and critical medical research. This legislation reauthorizes the C. W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, which includes the National Marrow Donor Program. The program helps patients in need of lifesaving transplants find matching bone marrow donors or cord blood units. It also includes a stem cell therapeutic outcomes database, which facilitates research to better understand the matching process. This legislation will give hope of access to patients and their families in need of a curative transplant. I want to thank Representatives Matsui and Smith for their leadership on this issue. I also want to thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Pitts, and my colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Commerce for advancing this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2820. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act. This important legislation is led by Representatives Lois Capps and Brett Guthrie, both members of our committee. Beginning in 2000, Congress took steps to facilitate the development of newborn and infant screening and intervention programs. This bill reauthorizes and makes further improvements to the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, which supports detection and treatment for hearing-impaired newborns and young children. The early identification of a child's hearing loss increases the likelihood that intervention and treatment services can successfully prevent or limit developmental delays. Research shows that it can significantly improve quality of life and education outcomes for children with hearing impairments. The vast majority of deaf children are born to parents who do not have impaired hearing and who, therefore, may not be able to identify their children's conditions early on. The outreach services provided for by the program reauthorized in this bill may help ensure that children and their parents receive appropriate screenings and followup. I want to thank Representatives Capps and Guthrie for their leadership on this issue. I thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Pallone, and Chairman Pitts for their work to advance this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), my colleague and a cosponsor of the bill.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1725, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Reauthorization Act. This important legislation is sponsored by Ranking Member Pallone, Representatives Joe Kennedy and Ed Whitfield, and Congressman Larry Bucshon. The reauthorization of NASPER is urgently needed to ensure that physicians have patient-specific information through Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, PDMPs, at the point of care. As its name suggests, PDMPs help physicians and other providers make appropriate prescribing decisions while ensuring that patients with legitimate pain management needs have access to necessary care. We are in the middle of an epidemic of prescription drug opioid misuse and overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2013, more than 16,000 Americans died from an opioid-related overdose. PDMPs are an integral part of our Nation's effort to combat the ongoing opioid and prescription drug epidemic. They allow for the early identification of at-risk patients and timely intervention to prevent prescription drug abuse. States have recognized that PDMPs are a vital tool to address this public health crisis as demonstrated by their universal adoption amongst the States. H.R. 1725 reauthorizes grants to States to enhance their PDMPs, and it makes further improvements to the programs. Funding for PDMPs is needed to help States utilize this effective tool, to incentivize information sharing across State lines, and to further the implementation of best practices. I want to thank Ranking Member Pallone and Representatives Kennedy, Whitfield, and Bucshon for their leadership. I also want to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their commitment to addressing our Nation's opioid epidemic. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1725. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1462, the Protecting Our Infants Act, led by Representatives Katherine Clark and Steve Stivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found drug overdose to be the leading cause of injury death in the United States. According to a recent study by the New England Journal of Medicine, from 2004 to 2013, the incidence rate of neonatal abstinence syndrome, NAS, has quadrupled. NAS refers to medical complications in newborns associated with drug withdrawal due to exposure to opioids and other drugs during pregnancy. Babies born with NAS often require weeks of hospitalization and can suffer from seizures and other severe complications. There is an urgent need for further research to facilitate the identification and treatment of infants with NAS and determine long- term health impacts. The GAO and other experts identified specific research gaps related to best practices for treating pregnant women with opioid use disorders, the long-term effects of prenatal drug exposure, and best practices in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of NAS. The Protecting Our Infants Act takes proactive steps to help reduce the number of newborns born exposed to opioids and other drugs and to improve their care if they are exposed. It will facilitate the development of recommendations for treatment and coordinate a national strategy to close the known gaps in research and coordination. It will also help States improve data collection and surveillance activities. I want to thank Representatives Clark of Massachusetts and Stivers for their leadership. I also want to thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Pitts, and my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1462. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the cosponsor of the bill.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and in closing, I encourage our colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and dedication of the recent graduates of the Texas Job Corps Centers. The four Job Corps centers in Texas have served the people of our great state for over 50 years, providing a no-cost education and career technical training program that helps young Texans from ages 16 to 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. By graduating from the Job Corps, these young men and women have proven that they have skills and determination to succeed and be valuable contributors to communities throughout Texas and the country. On behalf of the people of the 29th Congressional District of Texas, I would like to congratulate the 2015 Job Corps graduates of all four centers in our state--David L. Carrasco Job Corps, Gary Job Corps, Laredo Job Corps, and North Texas Job Corps. I would also like to recognize the Texas Job Corps for their half century of success and say thank you for the service the Job Corps Program and its graduates have provided to Texas.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act of 2015. While no member of this body will deny that there is a need for fundamental and transparent reform at the Department of Veterans Affairs this bill does nothing to address the systematic issues that have plagued the VA. Currently, VA Management has many different routes to hold their employees accountable through existing law. H.R. 1994 would allow the VA to immediately fire employees for poor performance, violating a worker's right to due process. I'm concerned that the bill would effectively make the VA the only ``at-will'' federal agency and this would further deplete the talent and retention of the public servants who serve our veterans. I fully support Mr. Takano's amendment in nature of a substitute which would allow the VA to immediately suspend without pay any employee who's suspected misconducted threatened health or safety then allow the employee to tell their side of the story, preventing cases of political patronage and an increase in false whistleblower cases.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the 50th anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Since 1965, these landmark programs have provided affordable health insurance coverage and access to care for our Nation's seniors and most vulnerable populations. Few programs have improved the lives of Americans as significantly as Medicaid and Medicare. Fifty years ago, almost half of elderly Americans lacked health insurance. Today, Medicare provides lifesaving insurance to nearly 100 percent of adults over 65. Medicaid continues to be a lifeline for millions of children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, seniors, and low-income families. Over 70 million Americans currently rely on Medicaid for affordable health insurance. Medicaid covers more than one in three children, pays for nearly half of all births, and accounts for more than 40 percent of all long-term care. On the anniversary of this historic law, we celebrate the successes of Medicaid and Medicare. We must renew our commitment to further strengthening them so they remain available in perpetuity for generations to come.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 464, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1734, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act. The Energy and Commerce Committee has looked at the issue of coal ash for the past several Congresses. I have and continue to advocate for coal ash to be regulated under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which would ensure that the recycling of coal ash continues without disruption. The beneficial reuse of coal ash is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs around the country--helping our economy and our environment. I appreciate EPA's decision to regulate coal ash as a non-hazardous waste in its April final rule. However, I do have concerns with the other parts of EPA's new regulations. In particular, the rule is self- implementing, meaning that it does not require permits to be issued and the federal government will have no authority to enforce EPA's standards. The best way forward is to create a state-based permitting program with minimum federal standards. This legislation does just that, taking many of EPA's requirements and folding them into state permitting programs. The program created by this bill would give states the flexibility to meet their unique conditions and empower state agencies to enforce environmental and safety requirements that will protect communities and the environment. EPA will be authorized to step-in for states that do not create their own programs. This chamber passed coal ash legislation with bipartisan support in 2011 and 2013. The legislation before us today is an improvement on those bills and provides stronger protections for human health and the environment. Mr. Chair, I ask for colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and vote in support of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a great American and a great Texan, former Speaker of the House Jim Wright. Speaker Wright served our nation over five decades, first as a B-24 bombardier in the Pacific during World War II, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. Returning home to Texas, Speaker Wright was elected to the Texas State Legislature and then as Mayor of Weatherford. In 1954, Jim Wright would be elected to Congress, where he would serve for the next 34 years, 10 years as Majority Leader, and Speaker of the House from 1987 to 1989. In Congress, Jim Wright was known for his hard work on behalf of the 12th District, centered in Fort Worth, Texas. Through his work on the House Public Works Committee, then-Rep. Wright secured important improvements to the Trinity River flood control and the revival of the Fort Worth stockyards area and become an important advocate for the local defense industry. As Speaker, Jim Wright guided the passage of significant legislation, including amendments to the Clean Water Act, the 1987 highway bill and expanded education benefits for military personnel. After leaving Congress, Speaker Wright said that his biggest achievement was sponsoring the bipartisan peace accord between the Sandinista government and the contras in Nicaragua, which had been fighting for a decade. Speaker Wright passed away on May 6, 2015, in his hometown of Fort Worth, at the age of 92. The passing of Speaker Wright is the end of an era in Texas politics. He was among the last of our great state's legislative giants, who learned his trade from fellow Texans, Lyndon Johnson and Sam Rayburn. Speaker Wright was a leader dedicated to bettering our country, and he will be sorely and dearly missed by his family, friends, and this Congress.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, I thank the chair of the committee for yielding. If you like how we are doing research right now, then you need to support the Brat amendment because we are not funding research adequately. Everybody says that. That is why there are so many supporters in the private sector and also 230 cosponsors of this bill. The sponsor of the amendment called it a poison pill. I don't think there is anything more appropriate than that for this amendment, because this bill is intended to save people's lives and to make people have a better lifestyle. When you take a poison pill, you die. That is what will happen if we do not do mandatory spending in this bill. This bill is paid for. You can rail against mandatory spending, but there are cuts in other parts of the Federal budget that will pay for this. Don't let anybody delude themselves into thinking that this is increasing spending. We are cutting spending while we are trying to redirect it to the NIH and FDA to have these new therapies and also get them through the approval process.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank our ranking member on the Rules Committee for bringing up this amendment. I support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, this bill also includes some great provisions in there for the next generation of research on antibiotics. Congressman John Shimkus and I worked on it this session, and previously, over the last two sessions, Congressman Phil Gingrey and I worked on it. What this amendment addresses is it is not just a new generation, but we also need to not overuse what we have. That is a problem in our country. As I say, I have sinus infections, but those antibiotics won't help it. We need to make sure we don't overuse. Mr. Chairman, I am glad our colleague has come up with the amendment, and I support her amendment.