Jaime Herrera Beutler

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, I am not recorded on three votes because I was unavoidably detained due to my commercial flight experiencing mechanical issues. Had I been present, I would have voted: Yes on Roll Call 130; Yes on Roll Call 131; and Yes on Roll Call 132.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, since the first time I heard about Oregon's scheme to impose tolls on the I-205 and I-5 bridges at the State line with Washington without providing any benefit to my constituents, I have fought to protect southwest Washington commuters. This is nothing but a money grab by Oregon to improve its infrastructure projects that would rarely, if ever, be used by the vast majority of the folks paying the tolls, those from southwest Washington. This was certainly a creative and politically expedient funding source dreamed up by Oregon, but it is a raw deal for hardworking Washingtonians whose jobs happen to be located across the river. This does nothing to fix the I-5 bridge. In fact, it actually makes that task harder. That is why I secured an amendment in this Chamber to prohibit these tolls until Oregon goes back to the drawing board and comes up with a plan that doesn't use Washingtonians as a piggy bank. However, through the negotiations of the omnibus spending package, my amendment lacked support from the United States Senate. Without that support, my amendment to protect southwest Washington commuters did not move forward. It is a disappointment, but I am not going to give up on this issue. In fact, it is critical that Oregon come to a solution with Washington that benefits both sides of the river without unfairly targeting just one side. Until we get that result, Mr. Speaker, I am not done fighting on this issue.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

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

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Marvin ``Cy'' Meyers and recognize his lifelong service to the United States Military and to his community of Winlock and across Lewis County. Born during the Great Depression and from a military family, Cy grew up poor, but he had an abundant love of family. In the summer of 1943, Cy joined the Marines and served in World War II, where he fought at Iwo Jima. After his service in the military, Cy came home to the Pacific Northwest and met the love of his life, Bonita. A friend of Cy's started an egg farm in Winlock and asked him to work delivering eggs, a job Cy maintained for 20 years. Cy and Bonita bought a home in Winlock, where they settled for the remainder of their lives and raised their four children. Cy was a cornerstone community member. Everyone in Lewis County knew him. He served on the city council, Educational Service District 113 Board, Civil Service Commission, Board of Adjustment, and the Washington State Republicans Executive Board. Cy also served as mayor of Winlock for 6 years. Please join me in honoring the selfless and passionate dedication of Marvin ``Cy'' Meyers and his legacy that will remain with us all, as this was the week that he left this world for the next. We love him. We are grateful to him and his family for his service, and we will remember him. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I was detained in a traffic security line trying to get in to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 44.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I am so glad we are now back here with the government open. I have been here these last few days over the weekend with my staff working hard to make sure that we get our government open and working for its people, for its military families. Today, I was over on the Senate floor when the Senate closed its vote in support of reopening our government. Now we can complete the work at hand. This is incredibly important. I just wanted to mention this. I, too, actually, as a previous speaker talked about being detained in the security lines, was unavoidably detained in those same security lines, but I wanted to come here onto the House floor and make sure that folks know we are here hard at work, we are going to make sure that we move forward from this. I am looking forward to addressing the issues at hand, making sure that we get a long-term solution. I am pleased with the CHIP funding that we were able to put through. This is something we have been working on now for several months. The House has voted in support of this. I have supported it many times now. As an appropriator, we had gotten these bills funded months ago. I am looking forward to a permanent solution here so we can get about doing the people's work.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, on November 28th and 29th, I am not recorded on four votes because I was absent due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted: Yes on Roll Call 638, the Fowler and Boskoff Peaks Designation Act; Yes on Roll Call 639, the Superior National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2017; Yes on Roll Call 640, ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 631; and Yes on Roll Call 641, the combined rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 3017 and H.R. 3905.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work and the achievement of Steve Hildreth, an exemplary employee and member of our community. Steve celebrated his retirement last month after working for 30 years at the Georgia Pacific Paper Mill in Camas, Washington. Steve started at the mill in 1987, as sleeter helper in the print department. By the time he retired, he held the position of the shift team leader for the shift instrumentation technicians. He was well respected by the operators and crews of the machines, and he knew the job was to make their job easier. He was also a member of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers union throughout his career and held office in Local 5 for several years. Fortunately, Steve has options in retirement. According to his wife, Shari, he is a true Renaissance man, in that he can build, troubleshoot, and fix just about anything. He is spending his time remodeling their Washougal home, setting up his new shop, and making his way through Shari's extensive honey-do list. Mr. Speaker, southwest Washington has been fortunate to have someone like Steve Hildreth as an employee, father, husband, grandfather, and resident for the past 30 years. I would like to congratulate Steve on his retirement and wish him all the best in the years to come.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, September is the time when students return back to school, and it also marks Attendance Awareness Month. Chronic absenteeism is a concerning trend in my district in southwest Washington State and across America. In the 2013-2014 school year, more than 6.8 million students missed enough class to be considered chronically absent. My State of Washington has the second highest chronic absenteeism rate in the country, with 25 percent of students being chronically absent. We can do better. To understand the challenges locally, I recently met with several superintendents in southwest Washington, and there are a myriad of issues that these students are facing. We are trying to address some of these with H.R. 1864, the Chronic Absenteeism Reduction Act, which I have introduced with my Democratic colleague, Tim Ryan from Ohio. This bill would empower schools to solve attendance problems locally, using such tactics as partnering with local health, transportation, and social service providers, and implementing school-based mentoring programs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this bill.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, recently, the State of Oregon passed a transportation package that included a provision to establish tolls on the State line between Washington and Oregon. Since that time, there has been a lot of concern in my district that tolls could be established on the bridges on the Washington border, I-205 and I-5 on the Washington side. So far, that is not an unreasonable idea if those tolls are going to be used on that stretch of roadway. But here is the kicker, Mr. Chairman: my constituents do use those bridges overwhelmingly. Upwards of 50,000 people a day commute into Portland to work. The problem is that the proposal, this scheme, would be used to pay for projects well south of Portland and a structure of roadways my constituents don't overwhelmingly use. So they would be paying a toll, and that money would be used elsewhere in the State for improvements. That is fundamentally unjust, Mr. Chairman. I am not opposing the concept of tolls, but that creates a real problem in terms of how the money is used and I think would break faith with really the American people. So I am opposing that. That is what my amendment would do, is stop this practice in this area. It is not that I oppose the concepts of a fee paid by the users of a resource. Let me be clear about that. The issue is that that fee then needs to be allocated towards the construction or the maintenance or upkeep of that resource. There needs to be that nexus there. Honestly, we have issues on those two bridges that need to be addressed, and if those tolls were then diverted for use elsewhere, then we are going to have some major problems. So I am opposing this. My amendment would oppose this. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, to the speaker's point, I do understand, but Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 are highways with significant Federal interests. They are Federal highways. These are not backwoods roads. These are not even State routes. These are Federal highways. The I-5 corridor is over 13,050 miles with an average daily traffic of 71,000 and a maximum of 300,000 vehicles. So it is a pretty major Federal investment. Here is the thing: levying tolls is one thing. That is something this body does. I think user fees are fundamentally a fair concept, but we need to apply them fairly. Any attempt to levy tolls on I-205 or I-5 at the Washington State line, the lion's share would be paid by Washington commuters to pay for infrastructure improvements that these commuters then wouldn't benefit from. This is where I feel like this is unfair in the extreme. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to inquire as to the time remaining.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chair, I will make this brief. I think a lot of the points the gentleman from Oregon made are valid, and I don't reject them at all. I think we need to come up with solutions to pay for these things. We need to fix the congestion issue. We are one region, and we need to work together. I completely agree with all of that, which is why the scheme that was put together to tax one portion, essentially charge a toll on Washington commuters who are paying into the Portland and Oregon economy through their income taxes already and using that money collected from those tolls not on the bridge, not on the Columbia River crossing, the area where we all agree we need to find a solution, but using it elsewhere in the State is fundamentally unfair. He made my point. That is the problem. It is not that I oppose the idea of tolls. We are going to have to bring something to the table. I am not afraid to advocate for that. That is not the issue here. Even within this commission, they are going to be looking at other ways to fund their projects throughout the State. That is great. It is fundamentally unfair to pick the pocket of working people who don't even have a right to redress Oregon's government. They don't get to vote. So to take their money because you can smacks of really being a bully. That is what I am against; that is what is unfair; that is what I won't stand for; and that is why I am offering this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, the day of July 27, 2017, I am wrongly recorded on the Cartwright Amendment No. 43 to H.R. 3219. I intended to oppose this amendment.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of John Deeder, a valued member of the community in southwest Washington. John spent 48 years in education and announced his retirement earlier this year. Throughout his life, John has been a coach, counselor, teacher, principal, superintendent, and more. More recently, he served as superintendent of the Evergreen Public Schools, the fifth largest in Washington State, for 11 years. His career in teaching exhibits how much he values educating students and setting them up to succeed. Those who have worked with John know that he has been dedicated to improving the learning experiences for kids in southwest Washington for just shy of 5 decades. Under his innovative leadership, an incredible bioscience high school called the Henrietta Lacks Health and Bioscience High School was built. HeLa High School places an emphasis on workforce development in health sciences and biotechnology that is an investment in our future leaders. It took a decade to research, plan, and build this transformational school, but John remained committed to the vision of this school. Though John's formal career has ended, the legacy of his persistent leadership can be seen throughout HeLa High School and its students. While John has extensive involvement in education, his community engagement also spans well beyond his career as superintendent. He has taken every opportunity to serve, and is a shining example of what makes this expansive and populated region feel like a tight-knit and caring community. He is an inspiration to all in southwest Washington, and I am confident he will continue working to improve education here and beyond. I congratulate John on his retirement and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of William ``Bill'' Morehouse. So many of us in the greater Vancouver community knew, or knew of, Bill. He was a member of the United States Army and the National Guard early in his life, and his lifelong service to not only his country but his local community are what helped defined him. Bill's military service spanned World War II, and then as a POW guard at the Fort Vancouver barracks in Washington state. Bill was a true patriot who cared about the safety of all Americans. Later in his life, Bill became involved in countless volunteer organizations to continue serving those around him. He was a member of the global community service organization, the Lion's Club, as well as the American Legion. But it was his many years spent as a member and even president of the Moses Williams Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers by which most of us knew him. In that position, he led toy and food drives for underprivileged kids, and provided Honor Guard at various military ceremonies and parades. In his free time, Bill enjoyed being with his child, grandchild, and great grandchildren and on behalf of Southwest Washington, I express to them my sincere condolences. He will be missed and always remembered.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Darlene Johnson of Woodland, Washington, on being nominated for two Women in Transport Awards of 2017 by Transport News International. She was given these well-deserved awards for Best Woman-Owned Land Logistics Company in the Pacific Northwest, and Most Inspirational Woman in Land Transport in the Northwestern U.S. Throughout her distinguished career, Darlene has done everything in her power to serve her community. She currently sits on the Woodland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors where she advocates for stronger environment for businesses in southwest Washington. Darlene's tenacity and dedication motivate and inspire those around her, me included. Not only does she advocate for local businesses, but she is a local businessowner herself. Darlene, along with her husband, Jim, operate Woodland Truck Line, Inc. It is fitting that she is receiving this award for successfully running a business in an industry that is commonly thought to be male dominated. Those who know Darlene, like I do, know that if Darlene were to start a business in any other industry, she would go over, under, or right through any obstacles in her way. Darlene's service to our community does not go unnoticed. There is not an issue affecting the Woodland community with which she is not actively involved. She currently is deserving of this prestigious award on behalf of southwest Washington. I congratulate her and wish her the best in her future endeavors and continued success in transportation.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to introduce my pastor and dear friend, Bob MacGregor, as our guest chaplain this morning. Pastor Bob is the lead pastor of City Harvest Church in Vancouver, Washington, my home church. City Harvest is a thriving church that greatly impacts our community by caring for the needy and supporting mission work. Pastor Bob and his wife, Sue, have four daughters and eight grandchildren. They have been married for 38 years and share a burden to help build marriages and families of ministers who face the demands of ministry life. It is my great pleasure to welcome Pastor Bob and thank him as he has blessed us this morning with his prayer.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Foxx and the Committee on Education and the Workforce for their work on this important bill that will benefit small businesses and the families who work for them. My amendment to the Small Business Health Fairness Act provides a straightforward clarification to ensure that existing association health plans can continue to operate and provide high-quality, affordable care to as many people as possible. This amendment safeguards association health plans that have been successfully operating under State and Federal law--many of them for decades. We will be making certain that they would not inadvertently be disadvantaged by new Federal legislation or regulation or vulnerable to efforts to restrict access and limit choices. Why do we need this amendment? Because I fear what happened in my State will happen in others, where the insurance commissioner attempted to reject 42 out of about 60 association health plans. His office interpreted ObamaCare as giving him a mandate as justification for attempting to eliminate virtually all of these popular plans. By adopting my amendment, it will make crystal clear in the underlying bill that this won't be tolerated, and it will support both existing and future association health plans. Talk to one of the nearly 400,000 individuals in my home State of Washington who get their care from an association plan, and you will find out why so many Washington businesses renew their plans every year. Our State has been fortunate to have a robust AHP market that has become essential to providing cost-effective choices to small-business employers, thanks to bipartisan legislation enacted in the mid-1990s. In the case of one association plan operating in my State, roughly 40 percent of participating small-business employers did not previously offer health coverage. My amendment is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In its letter to me, which I include in the Record, the U.S. Chamber indicated that it shares my interest in making sure that State-based association health plans that currently exist are able to continue operating in accordance with existing State and Federal law. My amendment is also supported by the Association of Washington Business. Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, Washington, DC, March 20, 2017. Hon. Jaime Herrera Beutler, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congresswoman Herrera Beutler: Thank you for your attention to the concerns raised by the Association of Washington Businesses regarding H.R. 1101, the ``Small Business Health Fairness Act.'' The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has several state chambers of commerce members that provide state-based quality health care coverage to their member companies. The Chamber shares your interest in making sure that the state-based Association Health Plans that currently exist are able to continue to operate in accordance with existing state and federal law without being disadvantaged by this new federal legislation. The Chamber appreciates your commitment to small businesses and to ensuring that current affordable coverage options continue to be available alongside new options in a nondiscriminatory and fair environment. Thank you for your dedication and efforts, and we look forward to continuing to work with you to advance the priorities and interest of business. Sincerely, Randel K. Johnson.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the underlying legislation before us today will improve the ability of small businesses to access affordable, high-quality health coverage in every State across the country. However, first, this body should, as clearly as possible, ensure that those States that already have successfully operating association health plans are not disrupted, which is what my amendment would do. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I thank the chairwoman for her work on this. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that part of the reason this underlying bill is so critical is because we just don't believe one size fits all. When it comes to health coverage, we need to make sure that there are many different options for families, individuals, and businesses. We are clarifying basically a technical change here that allows continued existing plans to operate. Who can be opposed to existing plans operating and offering more options and more plans? This is exactly what Republicans are doing right now. We are fighting to make sure that the families and the people we represent have those options and their choices, that they can keep their doctor, that their health premiums will come down, that they can maybe get a plan through their work, or maybe they will be able to get into the individual market and self-insure--options--because one size does not fit all, which is why this bill is crucial and why my amendment to this bill makes it better. That is why we are going to move forward and make sure that more Americans have access to care--not just on paper--but care that gets them to in to the doctor, that gets them the care that they need, whether it is a specialist or a primary care doctor. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.