Steven Horsford

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman, Mr. Neal, for yielding time and for leading this important legislation. I also thank him for the opportunity to serve on this important committee. I also thank the ranking member for always showing respect in our deliberations. All the best to you in your future deliberations. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9640, the Presidential Tax Filings and Audit Transparency Act of 2022. As the chair has said, since 1977, the IRS adopted a policy of conducting mandatory audits on the President while they are in office as a check on their power. Disturbingly, our committee found that the IRS had all but given up and ceased this program under the previous administration. As our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have chipped away at the funding for the IRS, their talent pool has shrunk. They have been unable to retain the kind of tax and financial experts that are actually needed to review the complex tax returns of some of the wealthiest. Meanwhile, those on the lower income spectrum, especially those with children who claim the earned income tax credit, are more likely to be audited. In fact, in reports from our committee, five times more likely to be audited are those individuals on the low-income spectrum than the most wealthy. The evidence is clear: Congress must step in. This is why this legislation must be passed. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on this measure and to put the confidence of the American people in our tax system once again.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Today, gun violence remains the leading cause of premature death for Black men as well as the number two cause of premature death for Latino men and Black women. Mr. Speaker, I am casting my vote for my father; for my constituent, Sean'Jerrion Coleman, a youth leader in Las Vegas; and so many other Americans throughout the country. Mr. Speaker, I thank Greg Jackson at Community Justice Action Fund; Pastor Troy Martinez in Las Vegas; Erica Ford; Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence--some many other groups--Everytown for Gun Safety; Brady: United Against Gun Violence; and Moms Demand Action. Let's pass H.R. 4118 and break the cycle of violence. This is about supporting and funding the communities that need law enforcement.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, today, we have the opportunity to pass landmark legislation to make our communities across America safe, to reduce crime and save lives. I am elated that the legislation I authored, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, is receiving a floor vote today and will pass. I give special thanks to my colleagues, Representatives Robin Kelly, Lucy McBath, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Joe Neguse for working around the clock with me on this legislation, and Chairwoman Beatty for her strong leadership. Crime and violence don't happen in a vacuum. It happens when people lose hope and don't see opportunity in their lives or readily available in their communities. For decades, politicians in this Chamber have stoked fear about urban crime to divide us, while refusing to invest in real solutions. Let me be clear, my father was shot and killed when I was a teenager. So this is not about politics for me; it is personal. That is why we have to focus on preventing crime before it ever starts. That is what the Break the Cycle of Violence Act will do. It invests $5 billion in funding for anti-violence programs and $1.5 billion to provide workforce training and job opportunities for youth ages 16 to 24. This money will invest in proven, community-based violence intervention programs to build safer communities. This is about saving lives and preventing crime, and our constituents are counting on us to get it done. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today as I prepare to cast a vote in favor of the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, historic legislation that will reduce crime and save lives so that so many people in our community don't have to experience the pain that I have. Every day, 110 Americans are killed with guns and over 200 are shot and wounded.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with excitement to congratulate the Las Vegas Aces for winning the 2022 WNBA finals. The Las Vegas Aces are the first Las Vegas-based team to bring home a professional sports championship. Before winning the championship, this team was built for success, having the best regular season record this year. Forward A'ja Wilson was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player for the second time in her career, and during the semifinals, point guard Chelsea Gray became the first player in WNBA history with more than 30 points and 10 assists in a playoff game. In her first year as head coach, Becky Hammon led this championship team with determination and poise. Congratulations to the Las Vegas Aces players, coaches, and leadership for this incredible victory. I look forward to celebrating this championship and the many more to come. Go Aces.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I will cast my vote today to lower the cost of prescription drugs, tackle the climate crisis, and make big corporations pay their fair share in taxes while putting people over politics. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle love to rant about fiscal responsibility, but the facts are clear: Every time a Republican President and congressional majority collude for their corporate friends and the rich elite, our deficits soar. So, it is up to Democrats to clean up that mess. This Inflation Reduction Act is a historic downpayment on deficit reduction of approximately $300 billion to fight inflation. For years, Nevadans have seen their cost of living rise, while my Republican colleagues across the aisle have focused on giving away tax cuts for the wealthy. Well, today, we vote for seniors, in my district and across America, who want one thing from Congress right now, and that is to lower prescription drug prices. Today, we will cast our votes to pass the Inflation Reduction Act because it includes an important provision to cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 per senior and to cap insulin costs at $35 a month for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Finally, the Inflation Reduction Act includes a historic step to combat the climate crisis, including $4 billion to States like Nevada to combat the effects of the two-decades-long Western drought. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to pass this legislation for the people, putting people over politics.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Chair, it is great to see the gentlewoman in the chair. I thank Chairman Grijalva for bringing this important bill to the floor, and I applaud the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse), my friend and colleague, for leading this legislation. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act. As a native of Las Vegas, I grew up with frequent trips to Lake Mead, which is part of my district. That is why it is heartbreaking to see levels at Lake Mead at their lowest point since the reservoir was first filled in 1937. It is currently only 27 percent full. Madam Chair, Nevada and much of the U.S. West has experienced a very hot and dry summer, fueling drought and even fires in some areas. In this year's appropriation bill, we secured $6 million for the Lake Mead/Las Vegas Wash program to directly address the falling water levels, and this legislation, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, will further address some of the issues being caused by this heat and drought. This package represents 49 individual Member bills, bringing together many great ideas and solutions to the problem. Madam Chair, it establishes new hiring authorities and minimum basic pay for the brave men and women who serve as wildland firefighters. It provides $500 million to prevent key reservoirs, like Lake Mead, from declining to unsafe levels. It invests in drought-proof water infrastructure, like water recycling and desalinization projects. This legislation also secures water reliability for Indian Country, investing $1 billion in Tribal clean water access. And it will support the development of modern water management data and technology. H.R. 5118 will protect and restore important ecosystems, and I encourage this body to pass this legislation.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, today, June 24, 2022, marks 30 years to the day that my father was shot and killed by senseless gun violence. So, I stand here emotional as I prepare to cast a vote in favor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, historic legislation that will reduce crime and break the cycle of violence that so many people throughout our country have unfortunately experienced. One of the most important provisions in this bill is $2 billion in funding for antiviolence programs, including $250 million for community violence intervention from my Break the Cycle of Violence legislation. Every day, 110 Americans are killed with guns, and over 200 are shot and wounded. Amid the global pandemic, homicides by gun increased by 35 percent. Today, gun violence remains the leading cause of premature death for Black men, as well as the number two cause of premature death for Latino men and Black women.

Mr. HORSFORD. Today, I am casting my vote for my father; the 58 victims who lost their lives during the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas; Sean'Jerrion Coleman, a constituent and a Las Vegas youth leader; and so many other Americans who are victims and survivors of gun violence. I urge this body to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, later this month, 30 years to the day, my father was shot and killed by senseless gun violence. And so I rise today with a heavy heart for those who have been murdered by gun violence and the survivors who now must live with that trauma every single day. I have a heavy heart for the 58 victims and survivors in my hometown of Las Vegas who experienced the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. I have a heavy heart for the parents and families in Uvalde, Texas, whose children were murdered while at school. I have a heavy heart for the Black Americans who were murdered at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. I have a heavy heart for the doctors and nurses who were killed at a hospital in Tulsa. I have a heavy heart. But I also have the courage to protect our children, and I will continue to work to break the cycle of violence. The question is: Do my colleagues have the courage to protect our kids? Vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Today, I rise in support of my amendment to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which will ensure performance measures and accountability indicators for recognized postsecondary credentials are made publicly available. Now is the time for us to invest in our constituents and the workforce. As we do so, I cannot stress enough how important it is for Congress to mandate collecting and publicly reporting data on our job training programs. That includes publicly reporting on performance measures and economic outcomes, such as the types of jobs, wages, and long-term career progression. Having performance measures and accountability indicators publicly available will allow us to direct Federal resources in an equitable way so that we are getting support to individuals and programs that have been historically underfunded. I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment, and I look forward to voting for this critical investment in our workers for Nevada and for all Americans.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment, which will ensure we address the impacts health inequities have on creating and exacerbating poverty within our communities. As my constituents and far too many Americans know, unequal access to quality healthcare can be financially crushing. Whether an individual is too sick to work and cannot receive adequate care or the care they received was very expensive and inadequate, we know health inequity is a root cause of poverty in Nevada and across the country. We cannot combat poverty without recognizing the role that health inequities play to perpetuate the cycle of poverty. Through my work coleading the Ways and Means Committee's Racial Equity Initiative, I have seen firsthand just how valuable data can be when we are examining disparities. In our healthcare system, the data speaks for itself. In my State of Nevada, African Americans and Latinos are twice as likely as their White counterparts to develop asthma. This and other chronic illnesses exacerbate disparities due to their inherently pervasive nature. To combat this, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the CSBG Modernization Act in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Geoconda Arguello- Kline, as she retires from the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Mrs. Arguello-Kline leaves a positive impact on the lives of thousands of workers in Nevada. Mrs. Arguello-Kline's story begins in Managua, Nicaragua, where she was born and raised. In 1979, Mrs. Arguello-Kline was admitted to the United States as a political refugee. Since 1983, she calls Nevada her home. Picketing, negotiating, and asking for safe working conditions were some of the reasons Mrs. Arguello-Kline was relentless to give up the battle against the big corporations. As a guestroom attendant in 1989, Mrs. Arguello-Kline stood outside of the Fitzgerald's Hotel (now The D Hotel & Casino) picketing daily for 6 months. That was only the beginning of many more similar scenarios to help workers stand up for their rights and benefits. In 1990, Mrs. Arguello-Kline joined the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Mrs. Arguello-Kline went from being an organizer in the 1990s, then director of campaigns, trainer, and many other responsibilities, until becoming the union's Secretary-Treasurer. Over the years, Mrs. Arguello-Kline's call to action remained the same and the voices only grew. An 18,000-membership expanded to 60,000 members under her leadership. The casino industry, at that point, had to hear them out. The culinary workers were not alone. Bartenders and housekeepers also demanded dignity in the workplace, medical benefits, retirement security and more. One of the many successes Mrs. Arguello-Kline led early on was the longest walkout in the history of the U.S. labor movement: the Frontier strike in 1991, where the Culinary Workers' pension fund was in jeopardy. After more than six years of picketing, their pension fund was restored. Mrs. Arguello-Kline has been a tremendous leader and a champion for workers in Nevada. We often saw her in the red t-shirt reminding folks of the power of each worker and the right to stand up for better working conditions. She retires after 32 years devoted to the Culinary Union and close to 40 years as a member. She is a hero in the labor community. I wish Geoconda Arguello-Kline a great retirement. We honor her arduous work and contributions to the Silver State.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a great son of Nevada, Senator Harry Mason Reid. Senator Reid was raised in a home with dirt floors in Searchlight, Nevada. And even as he rose to the highest levels of power, including this Chamber, he never forgot his small-town roots. In the Senate, he fought for all of us. He championed the DREAM Act and brought young Dreamers to Capitol Hill. He fought against Yucca Mountain. And because of his work to pass the Affordable Care Act, 31 million Americans have healthcare today. Most people don't know this, but long before he was a Senator, he paid his way through law school by serving with the U.S. Capitol Police. He protected this Capitol, and he defended our democracy. Senator Reid, thank you for your lifetime of service. May you rest in peace.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 610, the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act, which will, among other things, extend additional relief to Medicare providers in 2022 to support providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. In 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made changes to how different physician services were valued relative to one another in the Medicare payment system. While physicians performing many primary care services saw an increase in payments as a result of these changes, other providers saw fairly substantial reductions which were not phased in. That is why last year, Congress provided a 3.75 percent increase in the Medicare conversion factor, as a transition to the providers that were most affected. This legislation continues that glidepath, with a 3 percent 1-year increase in the Medicare conversion factor, providing a bump in payments. With the new COVID variant emerging here in the United States, this will be important support for our frontline workers. This legislation also eliminates the Medicare sequester, the 2 percent cut slated to take effect in January, and instead provides a glidepath by fully eliminating the cut in the first quarter and phasing it down to 1 percent in the second quarter. Lastly, the legislation imposes a 1-year delay on clinical laboratory reductions and a radiation oncology payment model to provide additional time to adjust to these new policies. These commonsense provisions were also included in the legislation that I am proud to have introduced earlier today, along with my colleague, Congresswoman Schrier. These provisions have strong support from the medical community, physicians, and hospitals, because those in the healthcare field recognize that we must ensure providers have the support they need to care for patients as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. A letter from 20 surgical groups notes: ``We urge Congress to pass the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Funds Act to mitigate the 2022 Medicare payment cuts.'' This legislation will also provide a procedure for the Senate to raise the debt ceiling. This deal was struck by Senate Republican Leader McConnell. As much as my colleagues across the aisle may claim, this is not about new spending. Increasing the debt ceiling will prevent us from defaulting on debt we already owe. It is about investments that Congress previously approved. In fact, 97 percent of the current debt was accumulated before President Biden assumed office. This vote is about protecting the full faith and credit of the United States of America. A default would spell disaster. Nearly 50 million seniors could stop receiving Social Security checks for a period of time. Troops could go unpaid. Millions of families who rely on the monthly child tax credit, a tax cut, could see delays. Our current economic recovery could reverse into recession, with billions of dollars of growth and millions of jobs lost. According to an analysis by Moody's Analytics chief economist, Mark Zandi, the recession could wipe out as many as 6 million jobs and erase $15 trillion in household wealth. I am proud to stand in strong support of this bipartisan agreement that will end the specter of default looming over the American economy and the American people. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this responsible measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the distinguished chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. HORSFORD. I have one additional speaker.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the great State of Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 838, I call up the bill (S. 610) to address behavioral health and well-being among health care professionals, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on S. 610.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I just remind the gentleman, when we talk about bipartisanship, this side of the aisle worked in a bipartisan way to pass a bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that only 13 Republicans voted in favor of and more than 200 Republicans voted against. Tonight, we are providing a solution to protect the healthcare providers in my home State of Nevada, in States all across the country, including in the prior speaker's home State of Missouri. If he won't vote to fix that problem, I will, because this is about solving a problem, not creating another one. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I will close by stating that, yes, Democrats are delivering. We are delivering for the American people. We are delivering in the time of a pandemic. We are delivering to restore public confidence in our public institutions and to help our economy recover. This bill is about important and responsible measures to deliver for the American people. When the Republicans had the majority in the House, the Senate, and the White House, they chose to spend their time giving tax cuts to the very wealthy, to big corporations that provided little benefit to average Americans and to small businesses. Now with Democrats in charge, we are delivering for the American people. I urge my colleagues to support this important and responsible measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight the historic investments that Ways and Means Democrats have secured in the Build Back Better Act. For years, Americans have seen their cost of living rise while my colleagues across the aisle focused on tax cuts for the wealthy and the well-connected. At long last, with Democrats in the majority, Congress is delivering the change that our constituents deserve. As we rebound from the pandemic, I am very proud that the Build Back Better Act includes my bills to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, lower healthcare premiums for working students, and improve wages, benefits, and training for workers at nursing homes and hospitals. I also want to acknowledge the major investments in our clean energy future. To tackle the climate crisis and create good union jobs, the Build Back Better Act includes my bills to invest in clean energy transmission and incentivize production of dynamic glass. The Build Back Better Act will pay for itself, create millions of good-paying jobs, and lower costs for our families. And critically, through a $5 billion investment in my bill to prevent community violence, the Build Back Better Act will keep our communities safe. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to pass this bold investment in America.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.