Jaime Herrera Beutler

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, it has been the honor of my life to serve in this distinguished body on behalf of the people of southwest Washington. As I look around this Chamber, I am flooded with memories, thinking about everything that has happened in this room, both good and bad, in the 12 years since I first took my oath. I can remember driving my 1990s vintage Ford Explorer across the country, with my husband of 3 months, in late December 2010 to get here in time for swearing in. I was ready to do my very best for my home region and Congress. Some things haven't changed. I still have that Ford Explorer; my husband is every bit the rock now that he was then; and I have never compromised what I came here to do, which is to serve my region and defend the Constitution. Some things have changed. We have added a minivan to our fleet to transport our three beautiful children, and I have gotten a chance to work with some amazing people. I will share a few observations but, first, some thanks. I thank my colleagues. In this body, I have gotten to work with some of the most accomplished, smartest people in the world, and I treasure your friendship. My husband, Dan, deserves the lion's share of my gratitude. The sacrifices that he has made, his wisdom and his love for me and our three children--Abigail, who is 9; Ethan, who is 6; and Isana, who is 3--have been an immeasurable blessing to our family. I had all three of my kids during my congressional tenure, if that gives you a little glimpse into the amazing man that my husband is. My parents and Dan's parents have done more than I can possibly recount to support us. To southwest Washington, thank you for entrusting me six times with this awesome responsibility. To my team, many of whom have been with me all 12 years--Afton, Casey, Pam, Jordan, and the rest--with your help, we did things that nobody else could have done. When I was first elected, healthcare reform was our Nation's challenge. But if you know me, you know that ``no'' or ``never'' are like a starter's gun to me. We took the challenge on, and in 12 years: We helped launch the first of its kind Maternity Care Caucus; we successfully championed the ACE Kids Act, which broke the barrier for low-income and high-needs kids; we helped drive maternal mortality review committees; we helped grandfather association health plans for Washington residents; and we also worked our tails off for every single corner of our region. We found out that veterans had to drive for hours to get a blood draw or a flu shot, so we pushed, pulled, and prodded the VA until we got a regular mobile clinic out to serve those military heroes. For those who make their living fishing in our rivers, few achievements have given me more joy than passing landmark salmon preservation legislation. I still get stopped in the grocery store over that one. I took to this floor to successfully block some ideas and projects that were just plain bad for our region. Sometimes the region demands that you stand up and say stop, even if the momentum is going against you. On that note, as I depart, I would like to offer just a little bit of unsolicited advice to my friends here in this Chamber. One way or another, every single one of us, or you, are going to leave office, as I am preparing to do now. When that happens, so many people are going to ask you what you are most proud of. You are going to think back with pride about all the times that you helped someone that you represent out of a really tough situation, or you will be proud that you stood strong for what you thought was right, or you will be proud of the laws that you passed to help make lives better for Americans. But let me tell you what you won't think of: That time you tweeted something that got 10,000 likes; or that time that you thought of a really mean, clever thing to say about the other party or the other team; or those times you told part of the truth or maybe not all the truth and hoped that no one was going to ask you what you really meant. The people who elect us put their faith in us to represent them, and we owe them the truth. At times, especially in the heat of the moment, the truth is somewhat the last thing that people want to hear, especially if it doesn't fit their narrative, but that doesn't make it any less true. We don't do Americans any favors if we deceive them or if we stand by quietly as they deceive themselves. Hard-core partisans on both sides will tell you that their party is blameless and that the other party is the only one that engages in deception. But the truth is, there are people in both parties who have made an industry of it. I have faith in the American people to eventually put a stop to this, but we here in this body also have a responsibility to truth. After all, it is the only thing that truly sets us free.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to who honor and recognize Southwest Washingtonian and State Representative Brandon Vick, who is retiring at the end of this term. Brandon is a lifelong resident of Southwest Washington and a rock- solid member of our community. In addition to serving in the State House of Representatives, he also gives his time to the Boy Scouts and to the Boys and Girls Club. In Olympia, Brandon has been a champion for his home county, my home county, Clark County, for the last decade. Under his leadership on the Consumer Protection and Small Business Committee, 14 bills that he wrote and led have been signed into law, including recent legislation to help small businesses obtain work permits for rehabilitated individuals. Brandon's work in the State Legislature has earned him many awards, including Vancouver Business Journal's ``Accomplished and Under 40`` list. Thank you, Brandon, for your many years of service. I am hopeful that you are going to have more time to spend with your wonderful wife, Darci, and daughter, Makena. You have made Southwest Washington proud.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor and recognize my friend and fellow Southwest Washingtonian and State Representative Larry Hoff, who is retiring at the end of this term. Larry has been just an upstanding member of Southwest Washington's community for over 40 years. After serving in the Navy and graduating from college, Larry moved to Vancouver, where he was an executive in the financial services industry before successfully running to serve Clark County in the 18th Legislative District. In Olympia, Larry fought hard to get things done for Southwest Washington's small businesses, for our farmers, families, and our communities. But it is really Larry's heart for serving our community that is what stands out to all of us who know him. Whether it is his role on the board of the Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation, or the Clark County Department of Community Services, or the countless other stories of coming alongside his neighbors, Larry's infectious optimism and selflessness are apparent to all who meet him. Thank you, Larry, for your many years of service and hard work to make our Evergreen State a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Recognizing the Service of Brandon Vick

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Wind River Administrative Site Conveyance Act which, if we get it passed today by the House and signed into law, will provide enormous benefits to the folks I serve in Skamania County, Washington. This bill exemplifies a groundbreaking win-win agreement in a rural county where so often locals' needs get completely trampled by the Federal Government. With this carefully negotiated solution, the Forest Service unloads land that it no longer wants to manage, and the local community gains a very valuable economic asset and resource. In Skamania County, where 80 percent of the land is locked up by the Federal Government, even more if you count the State-owned land, only 1.8 percent of the land in the county is taxed at full market value. What does that mean? It means that this has severely hindered the county's ability to fund basic services that citizens rely upon, like roads and schools, and police and fire protection. The bill that I have introduced and that we are considering today is simple. It would convey ownership of approximately 23 acres in the former Wind River Nursery from the U.S. Forest Service to Skamania County. It is important to note here that this proposal is supported by Skamania County and by the Forest Service. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which covers a majority of the county, is currently facing tens of millions of dollars in deferred maintenance. By conveying the land to the county, the Forest Service will shed that financial responsibility for these pieces associated with the maintenance of buildings and facilities on the Wind River Nursery, and by taking ownership of the land, Skamania County will develop recreational, historical, and business opportunities that will draw in tourism and critical revenue. This is a win-win solution, and it will result in substantial benefits to the folks who call Skamania County home. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to approve this important legislation.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 on H.R. 6538, the legislation to require a designated officer of the Department of Justice to act as the national coordinator of an Active Shooter Alert Communications Network regarding an emergency involving an active shooter that was voted on, I was incorrectly recorded on final passage during a long 22 vote series. I intended to support the final passage of H.R. 6538. On June 22, 2022, I voted ``aye'' on H.R. 6538 when the legislation was brought to the floor under suspension.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Ron and Terry Prill for being recognized as the 2022 Philanthropists of the Year. For two decades, Ron and Terry have dedicated their lives to worthy causes, positively impacting residents across southwest Washington. After retiring and moving to Camas, Ron served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington, helping make a difference in the lives of countless kids in our communities. This venture inspired the Prills to continue giving back through other organizations. Among their numerous acts of charity, Ron and Terry have been highly supportive of several healthcare-related nonprofits and were critical in expanding PeaceHealth Southwest Washington's operations. This includes a remodeled cardiology unit with state-of-the-art equipment and a cardiac education center, which provides care to countless patients and their families. Ron and Terry, thank you for your unwavering support of our communities, and congratulations again on this well-deserved recognition.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a community I serve, Woodland, Washington, and the greater Clark and Cowlitz Counties, as we celebrate the centennial of Planters Days. This festival, which began 100 years ago, has withstood the test of time and has been a bedrock event in this community. Originally, the festival was created to celebrate the construction of dikes along the Columbia and Lewis rivers to prevent flooding and allow farmers to safely plant crops. The first Planters Day was a single-day event, which included tours of the recently completed dikes, a barbecue lunch, a viewing of a silent movie, and a community dance. Since that time, Planters Days has expanded and has become the longest- running celebration within my great state of Washington, attracting thousands of people to Woodland to join the festivities. Once again, I'd like to honor my community of Woodland and the greater Clark and Cowlitz Counties as we mark the centennial of Planters Days.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge defeat of the previous question so we can protect and support local police departments to help them hire and retain more officers. It is that simple. Over the past year we have seen a dramatic rise in crime in communities across our Nation. And the district I serve, my home in southwest Washington, hasn't been spared. Not a day goes by without a local paper depicting another carjacking, killing, burglary, or assault. These are on the rise. When you meet with our local law enforcement, as I have, they have been sounding the alarm for well more than a year. Then consider the phrase that we have all heard repeated by politicians across this country and in this town: Defund the police. In States like mine, Washington, so-called police reform laws have made it harder for police to catch criminals and do their jobs. Place yourself in the shoes of a law enforcement officer who puts her life on the line every single day. It is no wonder that honorable individuals have left the profession in droves. One county sheriff's department in my region announced that deputies would no longer be able to respond to certain crimes like theft of property, stolen vehicles, and more, due to the laws that are trying to defund police. This is deeply concerning. We must act now to help shore up our police forces to keep our cities and streets safe. The Communities Deserve Cops Act will help reverse staffing shortages by providing and signing retention bonuses for police officers. It is time to stop chasing individuals away from the profession of policing, which is exactly what we have been doing, and the Communities Deserve Cops Act will help bring folks back into law enforcement. Mr. Speaker, I urge defeat of the previous question so the House can bring up this legislation to improve it, to help hire and retain police officers, to shore up our police departments, and help keep our communities safe.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Pfluger for his leadership on not just this legislation but the issue as a whole because securing our border is so important for Americans and really for security in the rest of the world. It is not an extreme view to make sure that we have control for the safety and security of our people over our borders. So I thank the gentleman for his leadership here, and I am very proud to lend my support to this legislation. I recently met with a Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team in Lewis County, southwest Washington which I represent, and it is a community bisected by the West Coast's largest freeway, I-5, that runs from Mexico to Canada. These officers reported confiscating hundreds of thousands of pills laced with fentanyl, not to mention record amounts of other illicit drugs. They told me, about 95 percent of the drugs that they have confiscated come via Mexico and the amount that they confiscate is just a tiny fraction of the flood of drugs that are never seized by law enforcement. That means what is happening on our borders has a direct and devastating impact on the lives of those in southwest Washington and across our Nation. A big factor in the success of these drug cartels is underground, illegal tunnels along the southern border. Last year, U.S. officials found a 183-foot-long subterranean tunnel near the border used by drug traffickers to conduct illegal activities completely undetected by border patrol. The bill I helped advance for House consideration today would help the Border Patrol shut down these illegal underground tunnels used by cartels to smuggle drugs and conduct human trafficking underneath our southern border. This is a commonsense and very necessary step to slow the trafficking of drugs and human beings which is being felt not just along the border States but in southwest Washington State and across this country. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to get to be here sharing this Special Hour with my colleagues. I wish it was about something else, quite frankly. I am very, very honored to get to stand here and share the names of some of these officers to whom we owe an unimaginable debt of gratitude. So it is a privilege to join the gentleman as we honor the officers who have laid down their lives for our safety, for our security, for our families, for our homes, for our businesses, for our communities. And to the families and the colleagues of our fallen heroes, I know words will never be enough. But please, please know that we stand alongside you in your grief, and we pledge to always remember their names and to honor their service and their sacrifice. In just the past couple of weeks, we have tragically lost two brave Washington State police officers: Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Dominic ``Dom'' Calata, and Everett Police Department Officer Dan Rocha. My heart breaks for the families and the colleagues of these brave officers as they grapple with this devastating loss. And I have had the privilege, in this body, of representing my hometown in Congress, Southwest Washington State, which boasts some amazing and outstanding police forces and officers, many of whom I have come to know over the last several years. Sadly, we too have had multiple officers lost in the line of duty in the last few years. And I want to take this moment to recognize and honor those officers here today. I am just going to read their names. Vancouver Police Officer--which we are going to go from here across. Vancouver Police Officer Donald Sahota. His end of watch was January 29, 2022. And then Clark County Sheriff's Sergeant Jeremy Brown. His end of watch was July 23, 2021. Washington State Patrol Trooper Justin Schaffer; end of watch, May 24, 2020. And Cowlitz County Sheriff Deputy Justin DeRosier; end of watch, April 13, 2019. And again, to the families and to the colleagues of these officers, my heart breaks for you, and we are so proud of these officers and what they have given. We pledge to you to always remember their bravery and their sacrifice and to honor their memory by standing up for and supporting the law enforcement that support our communities. I want to take a moment to say to our men and women in blue, we stand in solidarity with you; and I will always, always, always, support your efforts to keep our communities safe. I recognize it is no easy feat to get up every morning, put on your uniform, kiss your loved ones goodbye and not know the dangers that could lie ahead, just in that day. I know this because you have told me how disheartening it is when people call to abolish or to defund law enforcement, or when politicians who have no clue what it is like to walk in your shoes, pass laws that make it more difficult for you to do your job, which is to protect us, our families, and our communities. But because of your bravery and commitment to public safety, we are able to safely live our lives. It is an amazing gift that you give us and, for that, I humbly thank you. We are forever grateful for your willingness to serve and protect our communities, and I look forward to hearing the comments from some of my other colleagues tonight as we honor your sacrifice and remember your service.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Long Beach, as the community celebrates 100 years since its founding in 1922. On this historic occasion, I find it important to briefly revisit the history of Long Beach. Originally purchased as a parcel of land by Henry Harrison Tinker in 1880, the land was transformed into a small town known as Tinkerville. Only a few decades later in 1922, the coastal town of Tinkerville would be reestablished under a new name-- Long Beach. Long Beach has certainly transformed over the years. But while physical structures may have come and gone, the spirit and resiliency of the folks who call it home have not. As Southwest Washington's Member of Congress, it's an honor and privilege to serve and represent this special community. I will continue working to make sure Long Beach remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Once again, I want to honor the City of Long Beach, as it celebrates 100 years since its founding. May the city and its people flourish for 100 more.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Dennis Dawes of Chehalis who is retiring from Chehalis City Council at the end of this year. Our community owes Mayor Dawes our sincere gratitude; he has dedicated his professional life to public service. He began his distinguished career in the Chehalis Police Department, where he rose through the ranks to become police chief. Mayor Dawes also served six terms on the Chehalis School Board from 1983 to 2007, and even worked as a bus driver for the Centralia School District. Ever active in his community, Mayor Dawes has also volunteered as a referee in local basketball and football games. Most recently, he has spent the last sixteen years as a city councilor in Chehalis, with eight of those years in his current role as mayor. Mayor Dawes exemplifies what it means to be a public servant and has worked diligently for decades to improve the community he loves. It is truly my honor to work with exceptional, motivated, and dedicated leaders like him. While his official public service may be coming to an end, I am confident Mayor Dawes will continue to serve his neighbors in the Chehalis community, and I wish him the best in his retirement.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the Seton Catholic High School girls cross country team for winning the Washington state 1A championship. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to the team's 2020 and 2021 season, the team retained its competitive edge through the challenges they faced. Winning the first state championship in school history is evidence that their perseverance has paid off! Each member of the team contributed to their team's success at the state tournament. Alexis Leone, Lara Carrion, Avery Garrison, Sara Cordova, Virginia Carrion, and Addison Miller can all be proud of this tremendous accomplishment and cherish the memories they have made for the rest of their lives. Go Cougars.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the Columbia River High School's volleyball team for winning the Washington state 2A championship. After a dominant season, Columbia River defeated rival Ridgefield in four sets to claim their first state title in the sport in over 20 years. The COVID-19 pandemic limited many of our prep athletes from competing during the 2020 season, yet high school athletes like the girls on the Columbia River volleyball team have demonstrated the ability to adapt and persevere in these competitions. For the Rapids, that perseverance has paid off in a big way. Competing in prep sports is a wonderful opportunity to learn lessons in discipline, focus, team play, work ethic, and comradery. Winning a state title is a momentous achievement this team can be proud of for the rest of their lives, and I have confidence they will find success using the lessons they learned while competing in volleyball. Go Rapids.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the Kalama High School football team for winning the Washington state 2B championship. After trailing for most of the game, the Chinooks managed to take the lead over rival Napavine in the closing minutes for an exciting win to complete their undefeated season. The COVID-19 pandemic limited many of our high school athletes from competing during the 2020 season, yet these individuals persevered and demonstrated adaptability and competitiveness. For the Chinooks, that perseverance paid off in a big way. Competing in prep sports is a wonderful opportunity to learn lessons in discipline, focus, team play, work ethic, and comradery. Winning a state title is a momentous achievement these boys can be proud of for the rest of their lives, and I have confidence they will find success using the lessons they learned while competing in football. Go Chinooks.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the Camas High School's girls soccer team for winning the Washington state 4A championship, the program's third state title and second in five years. The COVID-19 pandemic limited many of our prep athletes from competing during the 2020 season, yet high school athletes like the girls on the Camas soccer team have demonstrated the ability to adapt and persevere in these competitions. For the undefeated Papermakers, that perseverance has paid off in a big way. Competing in prep sports is a wonderful opportunity to learn lessons in discipline, focus, team play, work ethic, and comradery. Winning a state title is a momentous achievement this team can be proud of for the rest of their lives, and I have confidence they will find success using the lessons they learned while competing in soccer. Go Papermakers.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Daniel Quintana of Ilwaco High School for winning the Washington state 1B/2B boys cross country championship. In his senior year, Daniel achieved the rare feat of winning a second consecutive state cross country title. The COVID-19 pandemic limited many of our prep athletes from competing during the 2020 season, yet high school athletes like Daniel have demonstrated the ability to adapt and persevere in these competitions. For Daniel, that perseverance has paid off in a big way. Competing in prep sports is a wonderful opportunity to learn lessons in discipline, focus, work ethic, and comradery, Winning a state title is a momentous achievement Daniel can be proud of for the rest of his life, and I have confidence he will find success using the lessons he learned while competing in cross country. Go Fishermen.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Alexis Leone of Seton Catholic High School for winning the Washington state 1A girls cross country championship. The COVID-19 pandemic limited many of our prep athletes from competing during the 2020 season, yet high school athletes like Alexis have demonstrated the ability to adapt and persevere in these competitions. For Alexis, that perseverance has paid off in a big way. Competing in prep sports is a wonderful opportunity to learn lessons in discipline, focus, team play, work ethic and comradery. Winning a state title is a momentous achievement Alexis can be proud of for the rest of her life, and I have confidence she will find success using the lessons she learned while competing in cross country. Go Cougars.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the Kalama High School's girls soccer team for winning the Washington state 1B/2B championship. Kalama, the second seed in the tournament, defeated eighth-seeded Adna on penalty kicks after their title match remained scoreless through 90 minutes. This dramatic finish helped Kalama earn its first state championship in school history. The COVID-19 pandemic limited many of our high school athletes from competing during the 2020 season, yet these individuals persevered and demonstrated adaptability and competitiveness. For the Chinooks, those attributes paid off in a big way. Competing in prep sports is a wonderful opportunity to learn lessons in discipline, focus, team play, work ethic, and comradery. Winning a state title is a momentous achievement this team can be proud of for the rest of their lives, and I have confidence they will find success using the lessons they learned while competing in soccer. Go Chinooks.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of our bipartisan bill, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. Honestly, the whole goal of this legislation is to protect a nursing mother's ability to provide for her infant by pumping at work. And let me be clear, this is a business-friendly bill. This is current law. For those who are thinking we are shaking the Earth and doing something brand-new, it actually is current law. There were problems with the way the current law was written; it was actually put in the wrong place in code, and we are fixing that. So the way it is currently, you could be a mom who gets into working and you have worked your way up into a career where you are salaried and you make a decent amount of money, but you were excluded from this legislation. You didn't have the right to expect this, even though other workers did. We are simply making some of those changes to make sure that folks who were not eligible for overtime, like that working mom, would be covered under current law. This bill gives businesses clarity and predictability and allows small businesses to claim undue hardship exemptions in recognition of the unique challenges that they face. Making sure our economy works is a huge priority to me, but we have to also recognize that working moms make up a significant portion--and should--of the workforce, and it is going to grow. I thank my colleagues for improving this bill to reflect its original intent with regard to businesses, namely, differentiating between large corporations and mom-and-pop operations. As a mom of three young kids myself, I understand finding the balance of raising kids, going to work, and just simply finding a place to pump while working. My first child was a 28-week preemie. It was imperative for her to have breast milk; we were told this by her doctors. She could not handle formula, and they said it is imperative that you do what you can to breastfeed her. And I joke I am going to write a book called, Oh, the places I have pumped. I have pumped in trains, on planes, in automobiles, in some poor low-ranking officer's office at the Pentagon, at a kibbutz in Israel on a codel; I mean, everywhere. And I can tell you, there are places that are clean and helpful, and it doesn't have to be like the Taj Mahal; you just need something that is not crammed in a public toilet where people are flushing over you. So on a really serious note, this is a critical piece of legislation that is going to empower women in the workforce to continue to provide for their families. Imagine a single mother not having that choice, she has to work, and maybe she wants to provide breast milk for her child or maybe she has to in a circumstance like mine. Making sure that mothers of infants and toddlers can continue to do this in the workforce and continue to join the workforce is absolutely vital. With women making up over half of our Nation's workforce, it is crucial that moms aren't forced to choose between going to their job or breastfeeding their child. With the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's endorsement of this legislation, this bill seeks to help, not hinder, an employer's ability to provide a safe space for moms to pump. I am proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation with my colleague, Congresswoman Maloney, so moms in southwest Washington and across this country can feel secure.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from the United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Retail Federation. Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, Washington, DC, September 28, 2021. To the Members of the U.S. House of Representative: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 3110, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, as reported from the Education and Labor Committee and as anticipated to be be improved via manager's amendment. We hope this legislation will be further refined as the legislative process continues to address the unique issues related to the air travel sector. This legislation would update the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Act, which became law in 2010. This law amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to require employers with more than 50 employees to provide a space for mothers to either nurse or, more likely, to express breast milk. It also requires employers to provide reasonable breaks for workers to nurse. Because the legislation amended the FLSA's overtime provision, it did not cover workers exempt from overtime. It also lacks an enforcement mechanism. The PUMP Act would expand coverage to those workers currently exempt and would provide workers with a remedy if employers fail to provide accommodation or reasonable breaks. The bill as passed by the Education and Labor Committee and the manager's amendment would improve upon the introduced version of H.R. 3110 in several key areas: Employers would be allowed 10 days to improve space allocated for nursing mothers before employees could proceed with seeking relief from the courts. This provision would assure that more employees can get the accommodations they need in a timely manner rather than triggering a drawn out, costly, and uncertain litigation process. Department of Labor would be required to issue guidance that is consistent with the existing information from the Office on Women's Health of the Department of Health and Human Services' website in order to assist employers with compliance. The number of employees necessary for employers to be eligible for the hardship exemption would be made consistent with other provisions of law. This legislation should be improved to provide a reasonable exemption for the air travel sector. The limitations on space on airplanes would make compliance with this legislation impractical and in some cases impossible. We hope this issue is addressed as the bill makes its way through the legislative process. The PUMP Act is a win-win for nursing mothers and the companies that employ them. Employers would get clarity and a way to avoid litigation, and nursing mothers would be able to remain in the workforce. The bill as reported by the Education and Labor Committee and augmented by the manager's amendment is the product of collaborative negotiations between employers and advocates for this bill. The Chamber is pleased to strongly support this legislation. Sincerely, Neil L. Bradley.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Southwest Washington resident and Lewis County Commissioner, Gary Stamper. Gary sadly passed away last week at the age of 67 after fighting a battle with COVID-19. Gary went to school and graduated from Mossyrock High School, and eventually earned a Master's in School Administration from Heritage University. For years, Gary devoted his life to public education--working as a principal, teacher, and coach in East Lewis county. He truly cared about his students succeeding in all aspects of life. One of his most memorable achievements was leading the Mossyrock Girls Basketball team to a state championship. Since his passing, there has been an outpouring of support from former students talking about Gary; not only as a principal, teacher, coach, but as a mentor, a role model and supporter at times in their lives when they most needed it. It was his strong commitment to the rural communities in Lewis County for which so many people know him. Following his retirement from public education in 2014, Gary continued to serve his community as a Lewis County Commissioner. If it was an issue that mattered to small businesses, to schools, to families or to the surrounding forests, Gary knew about it and he was a most effective advocate for it. I cherish deeply my work alongside Gary. We lost a great leader. I'm extending my thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies to Gary's family and friends during this difficult time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Senator Dan Swecker. I had the distinct privilege of serving with Dan in the Washington State Legislature and I remain incredibly grateful for his commitment to his country, his family and the communities of Southwest Washington. While many individuals in our region came to know Dan as a long-time elected official, his service to our nation began much earlier in life. A proud Army veteran, Dan celebrated his 21st birthday while on a combat tour in Vietnam, where he sustained injuries and for his sacrifice earned the distinguished Purple Heart. It would be incomplete to talk about Dan's public service without mentioning that which provided him consistent strength throughout his life, his Christian faith. Dan's faith led him to become a founding member of the Centralia Christian School Foundation. It was this faith that led to a reputation as a man who would stand by his morals, even when that was not the easy thing to do. In so many ways, Dan personified a model community member. He was a kind, and humble leader, fueled by a desire to serve his neighbors and support his community. Southwest Washington was lucky to have a leader like Dan as a part of our community. Dan will be dearly missed by his family and many friends, and my thoughts and prayers remain with his loved ones during this difficult time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to speak on the motion to recommit that the gentleman from Arkansas offered. I know it sounds like, with the majority, we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this. I think that there are a lot of good things in this bill that I support. But the biggest challenge for me, having spent this year, like the rest of us, trying to help our families, our constituents move on through COVID, help our small businesses survive, and then starting off this year in the manner that we did and recognizing the impact on not just the Capitol campus, but the men and women who protect us, the Capitol Police, I really feel like in this bill, the Legislative Branch appropriations, there needed to be some significant reforms to some of the failures in response that we experienced. Now, I know that there are other efforts, not related to this bill, that are looking at other actors, other players. I am setting all of that aside because I don't have control over that. But I do have a say here, with my voting card, on the Legislative Branch appropriations bill. What is frustrating to me--and I heard, you know, my good friend from Ohio and the Speaker mention: Well, we did this supplemental and put all of this other stuff in here for the Capitol Police. Well, there are things that were left out of that supplemental that are so crucially significant to reforms that will help prevent another January 6, and they are in the motion to recommit. Let me explain a couple of those. One of those that we have in the Republican motion to recommit is a reform to the Capitol Police Board. We know that there was a major failure and breakdown in communication on the Capitol Police Board, which inhibited the response, the coordinated, collective response of the law enforcement here. Talk to any police officer who bravely defended us, and they will tell you that they weren't getting clear directives in their headpieces. They will tell you that the coordination effort from the leadership broke down, and they were doing everything they could on the front lines themselves. So a rational response to that would be: Why did that break down and what can we do to fix it? One of those things is to provide oversight, congressional oversight, over that Capitol Police Board by requiring that board, who made those decisions, who left a lot of our police officers on their own, to meet together in front of congressional committees, the committees of oversight. As it stands now, we can't get the entire police board together in one room for a hearing. The gentleman and I--on Legislative Branch appropriations--we got to meet with different members of the police board in different hearings at different times. It was helpful. But to really correct the problem--and when you ask each of them: Where was your failing on January 6? They all do this--or they did this. There are now new actors in there. But I look at the function of that board, and I think, okay, common sense would be to put the Architect of the Capitol, the two Sergeants at Arms, and the Capitol Police chief all on a witness panel in front of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee or the House Administration Committee or the Senate Rules Committee. That wasn't in your supplemental, that is not in this Legislative Branch appropriations bill, or in any of President Biden's rescue plans. We do throw a lot of money at it, but we are not fixing a structural, fundamental problem that helped complicate our response. Our motion to recommit fixes that. It simply changes the language, and it requires them to come before the committees of jurisdiction together and answer questions of oversight capacity from Members of Congress. That is a simple fix. It shouldn't be partisan. It is not in the underlying bill, and it should be. Our motion to recommit does that. Another thing that we do in our motion to recommit to improve the underlying bill is, we require an improved and streamlined response, and we give that authority to the Capitol Police chief to call in the National Guard on a quick, developing emergency. One of the things that we heard in the aftermath of January 6 was he said, she said. I called them in, they said they couldn't come. This person said they couldn't come. I mean, we just got very convoluted responses into why the National Guard wasn't here quickly. Again, I recognize there are other efforts looking into other actors on that front. I am not getting into that. What I am talking about is what we have control over right here. The underlying Legislative Branch bill does not improve that streamline process. In fact, it leaves in place the process whereby the chief of police has to go through this bureaucratic, arcane process to get permission from every member of that board before they can respond to an immediate emergency and request the National Guard. Well, that was part of the problem on January 6. Our motion to recommit fixes that. It says that the Capitol Police chief, in an emergency, a quick, developing emergency, can call in the National Guard and have the authority to request them to come. It also has a failsafe in there that says, if the Capitol Police Board gets their act together and meets quickly and sees the issue differently, they can rescind that authority. But what it does, it is an opt-in. Automatically, the police chief has authority to call in the reserves when there is an emergency. Just like you see where a chief in a major metropolitan area has the authority to call in things, and then they are accountable to the mayor or to the city council, but they have that authority. Right now the Capitol Police chief doesn't have that authority, that was a problem on January 6. Unfortunately, if this bill passes as it is, it will still be a problem today, 7 months later. Again, there are things in the underlying bill that I like and support, but it is like having the salt for your steak, but you don't actually have the beef. You have got to have that sizzling steak and you add the salt to it and it is a wonderful meal. That is how I look at this. We do want to put the money forward to make sure that we are adding to the force and we are putting in training programs and that is in this underlying bill. Those are good things. But we have to change the fundamental flaws with how the Capitol Police Board operates. This is the Legislative Branch appropriations bill. This is the appropriate place. I would have yielded if the House Administration Committee wanted to do that. Had they done it, you wouldn't hear me piping up about it, but they haven't. It needs to be done so that we are taking responsibility for failures here on our campus that we can correct. So I urge adoption of the motion to recommit. One more thing that I think is really significant, and this is where I differ from the gentleman from Maryland, who I also have great respect for, is the underlying bill talks about pay and making sure that we are adding more police officers to the force. I am there every day of the week and twice on Sunday. The problem is, they are going to hit a cap. So when a police officer, which we saw in January, February, March, they would work their regular hours, and then because they were short- staffed and there weren't enough officers on the force, they would be called to work overtime. They are accruing that overtime, and at some point, they will have earned too much money to get paid all of it because there is a cap in law that says they can only make so much. The underlying bill does not fix that cap. However, our motion to recommit does. Our motion to recommit removes that cap so that those officers who are owed that overtime, because they worked their tails off weeks on end, will be able to get that pay and not risk being furloughed as we get to the end of the year. Again, there are good things in the underlying bill, but it is not quite good enough. We can make it better. We can make it better by adopting the motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.