J. Hill

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I thank my good friend from Texas for yielding me this time. Madam Chairwoman, my amendment in this en bloc package is very simple. It transfers $1.5 million from the general administration account to the homeless assistance programs and suicide prevention outreach. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 40,000 veterans are homeless in any given night in this great country. In Arkansas, we have coordinated robust efforts in Little Rock to combat homelessness, but still 250 veterans can experience homelessness on any given day. I have got three veterans on my constituent team. They spend time in our shelters every month helping vets. Our vets deserve that extra touch. One of those safe places is St. Francis House, a nonprofit in Little Rock that has done exceptional work to help our veterans experiencing homelessness. For over 30 years, they have been providing transitional housing for homeless veterans. Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and safety, and in return, we need to do everything we can to ensure they get the proper attention and care that they deserve. We must all work together to continue to move forward, addressing this issue that plagues too many of our veterans across the country and help those suffering from the plague of homelessness. Madam Chair, I urge passage of my amendment.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, let me simply say that, simply put, at $768 per enrollee, the navigator program is a waste of taxpayer resources. With ever-shrinking budget pressure, we are better off spending this money on NIH research or doing something that will help long-term health, as my friend Dr. Roe is interested in: drug abuse, mental health attention. Those are the issues that are facing this country and a better use of this money. Madam Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to the Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations package, which strikes all guidance related to the obligation of funds for the Affordable Care Act's navigator program. By passing this amendment, we can prevent further wasteful spending on this failed and very inefficient program. For plan year 2017, navigators received a total of $62.5 million in grants and enrolled 81,000 individuals. Each of these enrollments cost taxpayers $767. Further, those 81,000 individuals accounted for less than 1 percent of all the enrollment in ACA plans for that year. Arkansas does not use the Federal marketplace, but I think it is worth noting that according to CMS, only 2.3 percent of the people in my district purchased their healthcare on the exchange in 2017. Nationwide, less than 4 percent of the population bought Affordable Care Act plans. With a little bit of math, we come to the conclusion that we are spending $62.5 million to enroll less than three-tenths of 1 percent of the population. The administration wisely decided that this money could be better spent elsewhere and cut funding for the program to a more reasonable level of $10 million. Yet for some reason, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would like to force the administration to spend $100 million on this, in my view, wasteful and ineffective program. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, well, we are all interested in having affordable healthcare, and that is why we have more market-based healthcare. If we open up this market and reduce constraints, then we will get more affordable policies. I would submit to the Chair tonight that the reason people don't accept these policies is not due to a lack of advertising, Madam Chair, but due to the expense, complexity, and unaffordability of these plans. In this regard, Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. Roe). My good friend is the ranking member on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote to offer flexibility for contract apprenticeships across this country, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, let me say that I appreciate the in-demand job work that the committee has put in place in the bill. That is wonderful. And I appreciate my friend from Connecticut's passion for this topic. I share it. I support DOL-supported apprenticeships. That has nothing to do with it. This simply says that we strike the word ``only'' and that, if there is a gap somewhere in a local economy in this country, we have the flexibility to have an industry apprenticeship receive a grant. This is supported by the Associated Builders and Contractors, the general contractors, the equipment manufacturers, the electrical contractors, the home builders, the roofing contractors, so this bill has full support. Madam Chair, I include in the Record their letters. Associated General Contractors of America, June 12, 2019. AGC KEY VOTE: Vote ``Yes'' on Hill Amdt. No. 38 to H.R. 2740. Hon. French Hill, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Hill: On behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), I write to urge you to support Rep. French Hill Amendment No. 38 to H.R. 2740, which would allow federal grant funds to be used for apprenticeship programs registered with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) as well as industry-recognized apprenticeship programs. Because workforce development is a critical issue for the construction industry, AGC reserves the right to record your vote on this amendment as a ``key vote'' for the education of its membership. All forms of apprenticeship, whether registered or industry-recognized, are clear and direct pathways to quality middle-class jobs. While the construction industry is currently the largest utilizer of apprenticeship trained workers, the industry continues to experience a severe worker shortage. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey identified 404,000 job openings in construction at the end of April, the highest total for any month since the series began. To help alleviate these challenges, grow job opportunities and meet economic demand, AGC believes it is vital to build upon the past successes construction apprenticeship programs have achieved and allow them every opportunity to recruit and train new talent into the industry, including access to valuable federal grants. Ensuring workers are properly educated and trained is essential to the future of the construction industry as well as the nation's infrastructure and economic growth. While certain segments of the construction industry utilize DOL's registered apprenticeship program, not all do. Consequently, all segments of the construction industry should ultimately be able to benefit from any DOL grants programs. Many contractors have developed their own apprenticeship programs in the private industry-recognized market. Industry-led apprenticeships in construction have strict standards of accountability and methods to ensure quality, with penalties for noncompliance. All these programs should have access to the same federal grant programs regardless. AGC supports creating quality jobs and training the skilled workers to fill them. As such, federal grants should be available to all quality programs. Again, AGC reserves the right to record your vote as a ``key vote'' for the education of its membership. Sincerely, Jimmy Christianson, Vice President, Government Relations.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I would like to return to the topic today of apprenticeships that are so important to our workforce across this country. My amendment would strip a portion of the bill that would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to only support Department of Labor- registered apprenticeship programs, a stipulation that has not been in place in previous bills regarding apprenticeship grant funding. So, let me be clear. I support Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs. I am not here to speak ill of those programs because they do a good job of equipping workers across this country with the skills they need to be successful. But I am here because I have a problem with the Congress telling the American public that the only way to fill the skills gap and create opportunities is through government-defined apprenticeship programs. Right now, our economy is facing an enormous skilled workforce shortage. According to the Department of Labor, there are 7.4 million job vacancies, and, with our continued economic prosperity, that number will only grow. I speak with businesses in my district on a regular basis, in all sectors. Many would like to expand, create new jobs; but a consistent message, Madam Chair, is they are not able to because they cannot find workers with the necessary skills. It is an unfortunate fact that the registered apprenticeship programs come up short of adequately skilling our entire workforce. For example, in the construction industry, which uses more registered apprenticeship programs than any other industry, only 26,000 people graduated from a registered apprenticeship program in 2018. Currently, the construction industry employs nearly 7.5 million people, which means that less than 1 percent of the workers in that industry went through a registered apprenticeship program. Economic estimates have the number of current job openings in construction at 444,000 in total. So, if we were to rely only on registered apprenticeship programs, it would take 17 years to fill those openings, Madam Chair. That is why this amendment is so important: to offer flexibility and to let other industry-related apprenticeship programs also get grant funding. We are not denying registered apprenticeship grant funding. We are just simply saying that nonindustry- registered grant funding should be effective. They are safe, efficient, and result in stackable and portable credentials. Madam Chair, I would like to call on my friend from Kentucky, Andy Barr, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, a man who chairs the Republican Study Committee's American Worker Task Force, and ask him for his views. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, it is sad that I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6. It brings me no pleasure, for I support an equitable solution for our Nation's Dreamer population, but this bill goes well beyond that kind of a balanced, equitable solution and, in fact, puts illegal immigration ahead of legal immigration. While we are a nation of immigrants, it is true, we are a nation of laws as well. Once again, the majority has failed to find common ground on this topic in this House. Last year at this time we worked mightily, when in the majority, to try to find common ground, with Bob Goodlatte's effort of last summer, our former chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He, too, could not find full bipartisan common ground, and barely common ground among Republicans, but common ground we must find, and this bill, Mr. Speaker, is not that. One example of why: legal Dreamers. These are kids of work permit holders in America from countries like India and China who can't get green cards due to arbitrary country caps in our immigration laws. Their kids have to self-deport when they turn 18 years old. Why aren't these kids being dealt with and protected? Their parents followed the rules, came to the United States the right way with a legal work permit, and yet with this bill, we are going to reward those who came illegally, through no fault of their own for the kids, and not protect those who are here legally. Mr. Speaker, that is not right. Last year, House Republicans and the President offered equitable solutions for Dreamers in exchange for much-needed asylum reforms, family unification at the border, and border security funds, but, sadly, as noted, the floundering majority in this House can't find that compromise, can't find that common ground. In my view, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6 is an insincere bill with no chance of being signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I call on you to stop the messaging bills and negotiate with Republicans in the minority to fix our broken immigration system.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to both acknowledge the hardships many foster youths have had to endure, and to celebrate their persistence and determination as they navigate a complex system and transition into adulthood. In Arkansas, we have almost 5,000 children currently in the state's foster care system. As a Member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I am proud to join them as an original cosponsor of H. Res. 340, which recognizes the month of May as National Foster Care Month. For the past four years, I have had the pleasure of a former foster youth personally shadowing me for a day. This year, I am honored to host Michaella Halbert, a former foster youth from my district. The proud mom of two boys, Michaella is a passionate advocate for children within the foster care system. Many foster youths do not have access to a community to help support them in finding a career and a home after they grow out of the foster care system. I applaud Michaella in her efforts to create a better environment and future for children within the system. I am proud to stand with the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth in celebration of the Eighth Annual Foster Youth Shadow Day, which gives youth an opportunity to experience firsthand the foundations and principle of the United States Congress, instilling the characteristics of leadership that they can continue to use throughout their lives.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a security officer who continues to have an indelible impact on my State of Arkansas, Mr. Jimmy Howington, who this year was the Court Security Officer of the Year. Jimmy is one of 33 court security officers in Arkansas and serves under the jurisdiction of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He was chosen for the award from roughly 600 court security officers working in 30 courthouses in the seven States within the Eighth Circuit's jurisdiction. Jimmy was recommended for this honor for noticing and investigating two suspicious situations on courthouse property during a period of several bomb threats at Little Rock's Richard Sheppard Arnold U.S. Courthouse, where he has worked since 2016. A former state trooper and sergeant major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Jimmy's life of service makes him well deserving of this award. I would like to extend a hand of gratitude and congratulations to him for his selfless service to Arkansas and our Nation. Brigadier General Paul Rowlett

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the 60th anniversary of the Association of Military Banks of America. Just as they did back in 1959, military banks today consider themselves privileged to provide financial services, support, and education to the military and veteran communities across this country. I am particularly proud that First Arkansas Bank and Trust, which serves our airmen and -women at Little Rock Air Force Base, is one of these military banks. On base, financial institutions have proven to be the single best sources of financial education and support available to our troops. They ease financial burdens and stress faced by our troops and their families so that they can focus on their mission of protecting our great Nation. Congratulations on 60 years of serving the financial needs of our Nation's heroes. Court Security Officer of the Year, Jimmy Howington

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the daily atrocities in Syria. Few would have predicted that 8 years ago peaceful protests would turn into violent conflict that has left more than half a million men, women, and children dead, millions more displaced, and the entire region feeling like a lit fuse ready to explode into further conflict. Shortly after coming to Congress, I met Mouaz Moustafa, a young Syrian American from Arkansas who has been leading a Syrian pro- democracy group here in Washington called the Syrian Emergency Task Force. After meeting Mouaz, I studied his efforts and learned more and more about the horrific events happening in Syria over the past few years. Mouaz led me through the Caesar file photos in a special exhibit at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Earlier this year, he introduced me to Omar Alshogre, who was arrested as a teenager and survived the torture, starvation, and other brutalities in Assad's prisons for more than 3 years. Seeing those photos and hearing Omar's personal testimony were powerful experiences. I believe what is happening in Syria today is a modern-day holocaust, and our obligation to end Assad's reign of terror is something that all Americans must confront. I am grateful for The New York Times and its recent extensive front- page story, in last Sunday's newspaper, going inside Assad's torture prisons. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a link to this article: www.nytimes.com/2019/05/11/world/middleeast/syria-torture-prisons.html Madam Speaker, it is the experiences shared by former prisoners like Omar that remind us of the likes of Hitler, Mao, and Stalin. Bashar al- Assad can add his name to this list of barbarous thugs who rule with evil, torture, and mass murder. We have known about these atrocities for years but have only expressed outrage while we twiddled our thumbs as these modern-day Hitlers annihilate the civilian population in Syria. I commend Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for passing S. 1, the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act. Last week, many of us, including myself, signed the discharge petition for the companion legislation to S. 1 here in the House, H.R. 336 sponsored by Mike McCaul from Texas. This legislation includes the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which has critical provisions to hold Assad accountable for his atrocities. As Speaker Pelosi well knows, this House, under Republican leadership, has passed the Caesar bill three times over the last three Congresses, only to have it bogged down in the Senate. Now Leader McConnell has acted, and we, in the House, must now act with expedition and pass H.R. 336 to end this step back into darkness, to stop the torture and the murder of thousands, and to move to convict Assad and his henchmen for war crimes. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eric Johnson of the Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex for being named the National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year by the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Eric is an administrative forester that is in charge of restoring and managing some 90,000 acres of forested habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds in the lower Mississippi Valley. While protecting this extensive acreage, he developed the Nation's first Spatial Habitat Management Plan. This plan will serve as a new national standard for refuge systems and protect all of Arkansas' five refuges, including Bald Knob's Wildlife Refuge in my district. His service to the State of Arkansas and to wildlife conservation will not be forgotten, and I join all Arkansans in congratulating Eric on this recognition and wish him much continued success. U.S. Policy in Syria

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments and to congratulate Brigadier General Paul Rowlett, who recently was promoted to brigadier general of the Arkansas Air National Guard. Rowlett is a native of Salem, Arkansas, and as a brigadier general will serve as the chief of staff for the Arkansas Air National Guard. He joined the military in 1988 and is currently an intelligence officer with the National Guard and works with remote-piloted aircraft. His duties include strategic planning on current and future missions. Rowlett has been assigned to Active-Duty positions throughout his career, including locations such as Guantanamo Bay, and recently he has been assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base for the majority of the time since 2001. He has become one of only three general officers in Arkansas. My congratulations and best wishes for Brigadier General Rowlett and his bright future defending our beloved Nation. National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the historic vote taken exactly 100 years ago when this body passed the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. The most powerful tool we have is to share our voice, cast our ballot, and exercise our right to vote. This momentous vote finally allowed women to use that tool and forever have a voice in the future of our beloved Nation. Adolphine Fletcher Terry, a civic-minded woman from a prominent Little Rock family in the late 1800s and early 20th century, served her State and her country tirelessly to promote the education of women and women's rights. Terry marched for voting rights for women during the ratification process in 1920, saying: ``To me, the vote represents more than just saying how a person feels about an issue or a candidate. It represents human dignity and the fact that a citizen can express his or her opinion on any subject without fear of reprisal. That, I think, is what real human dignity consists of.'' In advance of the final State's ratification vote in Tennessee, both suffragists and antisuffragists began wearing roses to identify their respective sides. Those favoring women's voting rights wore yellow roses; those against wore red roses. I proudly, today, have worn a yellow rose on my lapel throughout today's activities to show my support of women's right to vote. What a thrill it is and a proud thing to say, thank you, Madam Speaker, for your service. Fentanyl Sanctions

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, across Arkansas, heartbroken families have told me of their stories about the opioid crisis and how it has claimed the lives of their loved ones. We can't allow more families to be destroyed by this truly national nightmare that is killing more than 130 Americans every day. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control reported that fentanyl is now considered the number one U.S. opioid killer in 2018. Targeting the source of the world's largest producers and distributors of fentanyl will begin to stop the flow of these drugs coming across our borders and onto our streets. Madam Speaker, in just one Sweet'N Low packet, about a gram, an equal amount of this as fentanyl has the power to kill 500 of our citizens. That is why I am pleased to support the bipartisan legislation that I recently helped introduce, H.R. 2483, the Fentanyl Sanctions Act. This takes the necessary steps to target the bad actors responsible for illegally trafficking fentanyl into the United States. I applaud my colleagues Max Rose of New York, Anthony Brindisi of New York, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania for their support in introducing H.R. 2483. This legislation is the first ever fentanyl sanctions effort by the House of Representatives. It will apply pressure on the Chinese Government to honor their commitment to make all fentanyl illegal in China. This bill will also provide the United States with more tools and resources to go after illicit traffickers in China, Mexico, and other countries. H.R. 2483 has support from both parties and both Chambers, and we need to act now in order to get this done. We cannot wait any longer. Association of Military Banks of America 60th Anniversary

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record this article regarding H. Res. 327 Encouraging Greater Public-Private Sector Collaboration to Promote Financial Literacy for Students and Young Adults. [From the Democrat-Gazette, April 8, 2019] No Money Tree (By Robert Hopkins) At an age when children are busy playing with their new Legos or asking for Happy Meals, they're also forming early and foundational ideas about earning, saving and spending that they may carry with them throughout their lives. April is Financial Literacy Month, so it's a good time to discuss why it is important that we teach personal finance and economics to young children. Children often develop their financial behaviors as early as 7 years of age, according to research by David Whitebread and Sue Bingham of the University of Cambridge in England. So waiting until students are in high school to teach personal finance and economics can mean missing valuable opportunities to help them learn and shape their habits. And it leaves children, during very impressionable years, more apt to construct their understanding of the economy and personal finance from what they observe around them. This frequently results in misunderstandings. For example, children who see their parents get money from an ATM may not have the context to understand that a bank account is directly connected to the use of the ATM. Without that context, a child hearing, ``We can't afford that this month,'' is likely to think, ``Just go get money out of the machine!'' Similarly, children may witness an adult paying for most items with a credit card or a mobile phone payment service without recognizing this as money being spent. And often children don't connect your work with income; they may not realize that adults work and are paid for that work. At the St. Louis Fed, we have a team of educators, researchers and specialists who are making economic education more accessible and creating fun and memorable lessons and resources for teachers, parents and consumers around the country. In the spirit of Financial Literacy Month, that team has compiled six pertinent things we must teach children: 1. People work to earn income. Be explicit when explaining to children that you work to earn money to support your family. Give them opportunities to earn as well. 2. People spend some income, save some income, and donate some income. Give the children in your life opportunities to do this--spend, save, donate. 3. Saving is a good habit. Provide incentives for your children to save, such as offering to match a percentage of what they put in their piggy banks. Encourage them to save a set amount before considering purchasing a new toy. 4. Adults can't have everything they want--children can't, either. Teach them to prioritize and make careful choices. 5. Spending and saving decisions have consequences. Allow your children to live with--and talk to them about--those consequences. 6. Banks and credit unions are safe places to save your money. Tell children about them, including that those institutions pay interest on savings. When they were younger, I tried to share such personal tips with my children, and still do today. We believe, based on research, that children who are taught valuable lessons about spending, saving and other personal finance topics at a young age are more likely to become adults who are more financially responsible. Share the personal finance tips in this article with your children, grandchildren, students and the other young people in your life. Research shows it may help them grow into teenagers and adults with a better grasp on their personal finances. Robert Hopkins is senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Indiana's comments. He has been an excellent author. Again, Madam Speaker, you hear the testimony from both sides of the aisle, from constituents in both these districts, and the importance of this. Madam Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues, we urge adoption of H.R. 1876, and I yield back the balance of my time.