Valerie Hoyle

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill. This legislation includes the bipartisan AIR PUMP Act, which I introduced earlier this year alongside Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. Our legislation would require the FAA to issue guidance to air carriers on providing protections for flight crews to pump breast milk during noncritical phases of flights. All workers deserve the right to pump breast milk in the workplace, including flight attendants and pilots. Currently, they are the only workers who do not have this protection. Flight crew workers should be able to have reasonable break times to pump. They should also have a designated place that is shielded from view and free from interference. This bill also ensures that the FAA's pumping guidance will not incur significant costs for air carriers. It helps increase the diversity of the workforce and ensures working mothers have needed flexibility. Mr. Chairman, I thank T&I Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen for their support of the AIR PUMP Act and their bipartisan approach to the FAA reauthorization bill.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Chair, today I will vote in support of H.R. 467, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. This legislation permanently classifies all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, and it allows for expedited research into these substances. While H.R. 467 is not perfect, it takes needed steps to help save lives and reduce the supply and availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl-related substances. As President Biden has stated, placing fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I will provide law enforcement with the resources they need to tackle the manufacturing and trafficking of fentanyl-related substances. It will also close loopholes that allow drug traffickers to evade the law by altering the chemical makeup of fentanyl. In addition, H.R. 467's provisions to expand research into fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances will improve our understanding of these substances, including increasing the potential of finding more effective treatments for overdose victims. But let me be clear: H.R. 467 is a blunt instrument--it does not do enough to comprehensively address the fentanyl crisis. Instead of working with congressional Democrats to put together a bipartisan bill to comprehensively tackle this crisis, the House Republican majority chose to write this bill in a partisan fashion. As a result, H.R. 467 leaves out important solutions for addressing the fentanyl crisis, including expanding access to treatment, testing, and education. That's why I'm a cosponsor of H.R. 3375, the STOP Fentanyl Overdoses Act, a bipartisan bill to expand access to overdose reversal medications, like Narcan, and offer medication treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) to incarcerated individuals to prevent relapses. Most people who die from a fentanyl overdose don't know that what they're consuming could be life-threatening. That's why I'm a cosponsor of the bipartisan H.R. 3563, the Secure Testing Resources Instead of Prosecuting (STRIP) Act, which would allow for wider access to fentanyl test strips to help avoid preventable overdoses and deaths. Tragically, fentanyl-related overdose deaths have impacted far too many families in my congressional district and across the country. Youth drug overdose deaths have more than doubled nationwide since 2019, and they have more than tripled in Oregon during that same time period. This is mainly due to the rapid spread of illicitly manufactured fentanyl. One death by overdose is one too many. We must be proactive in educating youth in our communities about the dangers of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. That's why I was proud to join Oregon's Congressional delegation in sending a letter urging the Department of Education to increase fentanyl awareness and drug-prevention education in schools. If the Senate takes up H.R. 467, I encourage Senators to work in a bipartisan fashion to improve this bill and add more comprehensive solutions to address the fentanyl crisis. Fentanyl overdoses do not fall on party lines. Neither should legislation to stop it. We must pass a bill into law as soon as possible in order to prevent more deaths from fentanyl overdose.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Madam Speaker, we are at the brink of defaulting on the U.S. debt, bringing economic devastation to the world economy and downgrading our credit rating, which increases our debt. My Republican colleagues have decided to leave for the weekend, dodging their responsibility to this Nation. All they have offered us is political theater, with a piece of legislation that would bring devastating cuts to 15 percent of the Federal budget and no willingness to reverse the Trump tax cuts that benefited their millionaire and billionaire donors. Last week, my GOP colleagues used every breath to honor the brave men and women of law enforcement, yet their bill would cut up to $10 billion from Federal law enforcement funding and result in a 22 percent cut to border security. Their bill would cut 27,000 wildland firefighters as fire season is starting in the West, putting more lives at risk. So I ask my colleagues: Stop the political theater and sign our discharge petition. Let's get to work passing a reasonable budget that invests in working families.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, the United States Postal Service is the only agency specifically mentioned in the Constitution. It is essential for delivering everything from medicine, tax documents, and in Oregon, where we proudly vote by mail, ballots. USPS is a pillar for rural communities and communities without high-speed internet. Under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's leadership, workplace and revenue challenges at the Postal Service have caused a drastic decline in public trust. One of the most significant issues facing the USPS is staff shortages. Issues like branch closures are forcing seniors and families in rural communities to travel further for postal services. DeJoy's 10-year plan will only make things at the U.S. Postal Service worse. His plan includes downgrading service standards, reducing person-to-person interactions, cutting air delivery, and slowing mail. Unfortunately, efficiency and quality are being sacrificed. The U.S. Postal Service must change course. Slashing services and raising prices harms their mission and diminishes the United States Postal Service popularity.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Teachers Appreciation Week. The best way that we can show appreciation in Congress for our teachers is to fight for good wages, hours, and working conditions in the classroom. In Oregon, the average starting teacher salary is a little over $39,000. That is lower than the national average. Educators also make 81 cents on the dollar compared to other professionals with similar experience, credentials, and degrees. Mr. Speaker, 94 percent of U.S. teachers spend their own money on their students to ensure classrooms have the resources they need, like books, supplies, music, and art. Put this all together and it is no wonder teachers can't pay off their student loans or buy homes in the communities where they teach. We need workers to be able to afford to buy homes in their communities, and we also need to raise teacher pay. Their current salaries aren't keeping up with the rising cost of living. The pay gap is only growing and creating a teacher shortage crisis. That is why, on National Teachers Appreciation Week, I am proud to cosponsor the American Teachers Act, which would help States raise the minimum teacher salaries to $60,000 for public K-12 schools. Mr. Speaker, I thank our teachers. It is far past time we back them up.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, my Democratic colleagues and I are here to defend Social Security and Medicare and to support our Nation's seniors. My district has the lowest median household income in Oregon. We have over 160,000 seniors who rely on Social Security for their retirement. My colleagues across the aisle are approaching Social Security as if it is an unearned handout. That is beyond offensive. That is not what it is meant to do. That is not what it is meant to be. People have paid into this system their whole lives. They should be able to get their contributions back, and that is the promise of our Social Security program. Right now, we only tax income up to $160,000 a year to fund Social Security. Millionaires and billionaires who get their income from investments instead of earning their money by the hour, like most of my constituents and like most working Americans, aren't paying their fair share into Social Security at all. We must change the system. By finally requiring the wealthiest Americans to pay into Social Security at the same rate as all the hardworking nurses and firefighters across this country, we can expand benefits, not cut them. I am not in Congress to protect billionaires. I am here to make sure those who have paid into the system their whole lives and who have worked hard, including our fishermen, electricians, and schoolteachers, can retire with dignity and welcome a new generation to the workforce. It is our responsibility to make sure that Social Security can be successful in the future. It is time for the House majority to stop playing games with people's lives with bills that don't do anything and support Social Security and Medicare.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, due to my current infection of COVID-19, I was unable to attend votes on March 29 and 30, 2023. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 167; NAY on Roll Call No. 168; NAY on Roll Call No. 169; YEA on Roll Call No. 170; NAY on Roll Call No. 171; NAY on Roll Call No. 172; NAY on Roll Call No. 173; YEA on Roll Call No. 174; YEA on Roll Call No. 175; YEA on Roll Call No. 176; YEA on Roll Call No. 177; NAY on Roll Call No. 178; YEA on Roll Call No. 179; YEA on Roll Call No. 180; YEA on Roll Call No. 181; and NAY on Roll Call No. 182.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, although I am not able to come in to vote because I have COVID-19, I want to make clear my position on Roll Call No. 167, Boebert amendment No. 2 to H.R. 1. This amendment would add a Sense of Congress expressing disapproval of the State of Oregon's denial of permits for the now defunct Jordan Cove Natural Gas facility in Coos Bay. Had I been present, I would have voted against this amendment. The Jordan Cove Energy Project would have built a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal and pipeline in Oregon's 4th Congressional District. Initially I supported this project as it provided an opportunity to bring good-paying union jobs back to Oregon's south coast and support a region still working to economically recover from the collapse of the timber industry. The federal government and the state of Oregon have environmental laws and robust standards in place to ensure that significant projects are in the public's interest. As Oregonians, we demand accountability and will stand in defense against polluting our water or destroying our ecosystems. The amendment on its face is ridiculous. The failure to move forward and build the Jordan Cove Energy Project is not the fault of the State of Oregon. Multiple state agencies conducted a thorough and fair review of the project. While some permits were denied, the project sponsor ultimately withdrew their application. In fact, the Oregon Department of State Lands granted the project sponsor multiple extensions to share the necessary information to process the permit. Blame for the withdrawal does not lie with the State of Oregon, nor the federal government. Bringing high-quality jobs back to Southwest Oregon has been and continues to be a top priority of mine. We can do that while also protecting our environment and without building new fossil fuel infrastructure. We are working to rebuild our middle class by bringing in good paying jobs and supporting our rural economies. That's why I am joining a broad coalition of people to support the Port of Coos Bay's container terminal project which would bring the West Coast's first ship-to-rail container port to Oregon. This container project has the potential to bring up to 9,000 new jobs to my congressional district and relieve supply chain congestion, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I'll continue to focus my energy on real solutions for everyday Oregonians and Americans as opposed to dwelling on the past.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, the American people are fed up with the United States being involved in endless military conflicts around the world. For far too long, Presidents of both parties have overstepped their constitutional authority by engaging in dubious legal gymnastics to continue involving U.S. troops in endless wars and conflicts without congressional authorization. Article I of the Constitution is clear. Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvements in overseas conflict. Once authorized by Congress, Article II of the Constitution allows the President to direct the military as Commander in Chief. Congress must reassert its sole authority and not allow the executive branch to sidestep us. As the largest and most diverse group in the Federal Government responsible for representing the American people and their interests, Congress should engage in debate before the executive branch can involve U.S. troops in wars overseas. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have been put in harm's way and trillions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on overseas military ventures around the world without proper debate or oversight from Congress. Enough is enough. That is why I support the Syria War Powers Resolution that the House voted on earlier this week.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Madam Speaker, in my district, the average per capita income is $32,000 a year. That is six counties from Lincoln County, down the coast of Oregon, to Curry County and the California border. Over 160,000 seniors in my district rely on Social Security for retirement. My colleagues across the aisle are approaching Social Security as if it is an unearned handout, and that is beyond offensive. This is not what it was meant to do. This is not what it was meant to be. People have paid into this system for their whole lives. They should be able to get their contributions back. That is the promise of our Social Security program. Right now, we only tax income up to $160,000 a year to fund Social Security. Millionaires and billionaires who get their income from investments instead of earning a paycheck through hard work are not paying their fair share into Social Security at all, and we must change that system. By finally requiring that the wealthiest Americans pay into Social Security at the same rate as hardworking nurses and firefighters across this country, we can expand benefits and not cut them. My bill, the Social Security Expansion Act, which I introduced with Representative Jan Schakowsky and Senator Bernie Sanders, would allow us to increase the Social Security benefits for everyone by $200 a month and help account for the inflation that has impacted many seniors in my district and across this country. This bill would also extend the solvency of this critical program for the next 75 years. I am not in Congress to protect billionaires. I am here to make sure those people who have paid into this system for their whole lives, who have worked so hard, including our fishermen, electricians, and schoolteachers can retire with dignity. We can welcome a new generation of the workforce as they retire. It is our responsibility to make sure that Social Security can be successful into the future, and I am proud to have a bill that helps protect that.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Chair, my district includes 250 miles of entirely public beaches on a coastline renowned for its pristine and rugged beauty. Our fishing community relies on clean oceans. It is our responsibility to protect these waters that are vital for our coastal economies and ocean ecosystems. It is my duty to protect our oceans, the livelihood of the fishing industry on the Oregon coast, and the way of life for the next generation of coastal Oregonians. The fossil fuel industry has 2,000 leases covering 12 million acres for offshore drilling that are currently not being used. This is just bait and switch by the oil companies who are making record profits while they are price gouging Americans at the gas pump. Mr. Chair, I strongly support Representative DelBene's amendment to protect Oregon and Washington's coast for future generations.