Ann Kirkpatrick

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Peggy Turk Boyer, Executive Director of the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO), a bi-national, non-profit organization whose mission is the protection of the marine life in the Northern Gulf of California region. She is retiring from her position in 2019 after 40 years of service. Peggy has devoted her life to preserving the marine environment of the northern Gulf of California and the livelihoods of the people who live there. Her work started in 1980 in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico, when Peggy began managing a marine research field station with her husband. That field station grew into the headquarters of CEDO. Peggy recognized early on that the Gulf of California region is impacted by the social dynamics and conservation efforts on both sides of the border. This insight produced a governance structure for CEDO composed of two independent boards--one Mexican and one American--to share responsibility for finding resources, developing strategies and insuring the financial stability of the organization. Peggy has raised millions of dollars in Mexico and the United States from international foundations, government agencies, research contracts, individual donors, and events to support CEDO's work. CEDO has established trust with local fishing communities and the Mexican government. From developing fishing gear that reduces harmful by-catch to providing training on monitoring populations and regulations, CEDO has been in a partnership with fishermen and women, supporting local communities while also giving these communities the tools to make their livelihoods sustainable and environmentally responsible. CEDO's ongoing educational programs for children and adults, including natural history talks, ecotours, environmental contests, beach clean-ups, and a binational marine biology camp for youth, have helped develop a culture of environmental stewardship. Peggy's vision also included environmental protection. She served on the management planning committees for both the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve and the Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve. She was one of four individuals who were recognized by both the Mexican and U.S. Government for her invaluable contributions to the creation of these two Biosphere Reserves. Peggy and CEDO have received numerous awards on both sides of the border for their work in conservation, education, and tourism. Most recently, CEDO received first place among recipients of the first National Award for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture. The award was for CEDO's work in developing cooperative, grass-roots stewardship of the fishing communities of the Sonoran Corridor. Peggy Turk Boyer and CEDO have been agents for meaningful change, working tirelessly towards goals of conservation and protection for vulnerable communities both human and marine. We honor her life's work and her dedication. Her visionary ideas and many accomplishments have inspired us all.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I was in my district over the weekend. We had a couple of marches. We had a Women's March. We had a march for MLK Day. A man approached me, and he said: Representative Kirkpatrick, I work for the National Park Service. I am furloughed. I have no income. I have missed two paychecks. He said: My 9-year-old son gave me his Christmas gift card to help our family get by. He had tears in his eyes, and I am tearing right now just telling that story, because this shutdown is affecting families, children. The instability that these children are feeling--and we don't talk about that enough--is going to affect them for the rest of their lives. We have got to open the government, and we have got to do it now.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I stand here today on behalf of southern Arizonans and all our Federal employees. I stand here as their public servant because I work for them. They have called, sent letters, and shown up in our offices, pleading for action. They are scared, and not because of immigration. They are scared they can't pay rent, and they are scared they might not be able to feed their children. To our constituents at home, I am sorry, but be outraged. It is outrageous that John from southern Arizona, a Customs and Border Patrol agent, is furloughed and worried about how he is going to keep the lights on. It is outrageous that Cochise County Community College students, many of whom are veterans, are worried they may not receive their financial aid. It is outrageous that over 900,000 Arizona participants in SNAP, 72 percent of them with children, are in jeopardy of losing their nutrition assistance. Madam Speaker, the majority in this House has publicly stated our willingness to work with the President. We must reopen government. Be outraged, because I sure am.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, 8 years ago today, at 10:10 a.m., 19 members of the Tucson community were shot in a despicable act of violence that shocked the Nation. They were attending a Congress on Your Corner event, where Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was meeting with her constituents, when they were gunned down in a senseless tragedy that killed 6 and wounded 13. The shooter fired his weapon 33 times in less than 20 seconds and was attempting to reload his handgun when the courageous actions of three people stopped him. Had they not done so, many others would have been wounded or killed. The six people who died were: Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy ``Dot'' Morris, Federal Judge John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Gabriel ``Gabe'' Zimmerman. People who were wounded by the gunmen were: Bill Badger; Congressman Ron Barber, who is now my district director; Ken Dorushka; James Fuller; Randy Gardner; Congresswoman Gabby Giffords; Suzi Hileman; George Morris; Mary Reed; Pam Simon; Mavy Stoddard; Jim Tucker; and Kenneth Veeder. The members of my community had never seen such a devastating tragedy before, and yet they responded with compassion and kindness toward the survivors and the families of those who were murdered. They did not let this horrific tragedy define who we were. Three memorials sprang up spontaneously: at the site of the shooting, at Congresswoman Gifford's office, and at the university hospital where the most seriously wounded were taken. Thanks to the quick actions of members of the public and first responders who rushed to treat the wounded, lives were saved that morning. The mental health of everyone in attendance was adversely affected, and many of the survivors still endure the physical and mental impact the shooting had on their lives. The families of the six people who were killed grieve the loss of their loved ones to this day. I am so honored that our colleague Gabby Giffords is with us tonight. Gabby served with great distinction in this House and, despite her nearly fatal injuries, has gone on to encourage and inspire us to take action to reduce gun violence in our country. Today, a bipartisan group of our colleagues responded to Gabby's call by introducing and cosponsoring H.R. 8. This bill, which I support, will keep guns out of the hands of people who are currently prohibited by law from purchasing guns. It will eliminate loopholes in the current background check system. The bill will not prevent responsible gun owners from buying guns, but it will make sure that their gun purchases are made in compliance with our existing laws. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the debate that we will have regarding H.R. 8, and hope that we will soon pass this bill out of our Chamber. Gun violence in our Nation is a major public health problem, and it must be addressed. The American people who sent us here are waiting for us to step up and act responsibly on their behalf. We must do so. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House observe a moment of silence in remembrance of those whom we lost.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today, the House is taking up H. Res. 639, authorizing the Speaker to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of the House of Representatives in the matter of United States v. Texas concerning the creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. I adamantly oppose H. Res. 639. Congress needs to prioritize and pass comprehensive immigration reform instead of wasting precious time with partisan, backwards legislation like H. Res. 639. For over a decade, Democrats and Republicans in both houses have been trying to pass immigration reform. My colleagues and I have voted repeatedly against Republican attempts to defund DACA and have signed a discharge petition requesting a vote on comprehensive immigration reform. Because Arizona is a border state, we have suffered from years of federal inaction to fix our broken system. It's time for leadership to stop trying to obstruct programs like DAPA and DACA, which are keeping Arizona families together, and pass comprehensive immigration reform to address border security in our state, offer a fair but tough pathway to citizenship and provide an effective system to meet Arizona's and the country's labor needs.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, Subcommittee Chair Graves, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Holmes Norton for accepting my amendment on distracted driving. Madam Chair, texting is an extremely dangerous activity as it requires drivers to take their eyes, hands, and minds off the task of driving. Drivers aged 16 to 24 have the highest propensity to text while driving. Cell phone conversations with handheld or hands-free devices are dangerous as well, especially for young, novice drivers. A Carnegie Mellon University study of MRIs shows that the area of the brain responsible for processing moving visual information, a vital part of driving, has 37 percent less capacity when talking on the phone. A driver texting may miss seeing up to 50 percent of his or her driving environment, even when looking through the windshield. This includes stop signs, pedestrians, and red lights, according to the University of Utah Applied Cognition Laboratory. This simple, commonsense amendment ensures that States that have enacted texting and teen cell phone bans qualify for incentive grant funding. This amendment will also allow additional States to qualify for distracted driving incentive grant funding while maintaining the core safety requirement of the grant. The amendment has the support of AAA, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Governors Highway Safety Association, MADD, the National Safety Council, and Safe Kids Worldwide. We want to ensure that States that make necessary improvements to their distracted driving laws qualify for incentive grant funding. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. I am opposed.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. As we witnessed last year during the VA's patient access crisis, the VA does not have the resources it needs to care for our Nation's veterans. Last year, I worked tirelessly with my colleagues to pass the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, which established the VA Choice Program, allowing our veterans to seek care outside the VA when they live too far from a VA medical facility or cannot receive timely care. While some improvements in the VA patient access have been made, I know from listening to the veterans in my district and from veterans service organizations that veterans are still struggling to access care. This bill, in its current form, underfunds the VA by over a billion dollars--a billion dollars. The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services and the Arizona VFW and veterans groups all over Arizona and this country are opposed to these cuts. This motion to recommit will provide an additional $15 million for vital medical services, long-term care, mental health treatment, assistance to homeless veterans, substance abuse treatment, and caregiver support. $15 million toward these essential services for our veterans is tiny in comparison to the drastic cuts to the VA's budget in this bill. This $15 million is paid for by a reduction in administrative expenses, so this money will go directly to providing care for veterans. Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind my colleagues that the VA Choice Program will end next year. Whether or not veterans are given a choice where they may receive their care, the VA will still need adequate funding and resources to care for our veterans. I would also like to remind my colleagues that just 2 months ago we learned from another whistleblower that the Phoenix VA's mental health facility is significantly underresourced. Due to significant understaffing and mismanagement, veterans contemplating suicide and veterans seeking treatment for substance abuse will be unable to receive the immediate care they need. This is horrible and unacceptable. While it is necessary that we continue to hold the VA accountable, address the VA's management issues, and prevent waste, we will not solve the VA's patient access problem without ensuring the VA has the resources it needs to provide timely and quality care. Veterans will continue to wait if the resources are not there. If we do not address the lack of VA resources now, we will continue to hear heartbreaking stories from veterans who are unable to receive timely treatment. If the VA Choice Program ends without reauthorization and funding, those veterans will return to the VA, and veterans new to the VA will also need treatment. We will then face another patient access crisis, and this time it will be our fault. Caring for veterans is a cost of war. Cuts to government spending should not be shouldered by the men and women we have chosen to place in harm's way. We have a moral obligation to ensure these brave Americans who have fought and sacrificed for us receive the health care and the benefits they have earned. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me a couple of minutes to talk about the importance of protecting our veterans from cyber attack. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1128, the Department of Veterans Affairs Cyber Security Protection Act. My bill will protect veterans' personal and sensitive information from cyber attacks without compromising the VA's ability to provide the health care, benefits, and services our veterans have earned. This legislation will do primarily three things. First, it will require the VA to develop an information security strategic plan that protects current veterans' information and anticipates future cybersecurity threats. Second, it mandates a report on VA actions to hold employees accountable for data breaches. Third, it requires the VA to propose a reorganization of the VA's information-security infrastructure to protect veterans and provide greater levels of accountability and responsibility in the VA. My bill will also require the VA to report employee violations of its policy and report any incidents involving the compromise of veterans' personal information by the VA or from outside cyber attacks. Mr. Speaker, this bill is one commonsense way that we can hold the VA accountable and protect veterans' private and personal information from cyber threats, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1128.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, there were 1,725 reports of rape or attempted rape in 2012, which is five sexual assaults per day. And in 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice gave an alarming estimate that as many as 1 in 3 Native American women would be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, a rate 2.5 times higher than for any other group. Unfortunately, only 40 percent of sexual assaults are reported, and if the victim is in college that number is cut in half, according to the Justice Department. Research and information from Pennsylvania State University and a 2010 U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing found that the top reason sexual assault victims do not report the crime is their fear of not being believed and being blamed for the attack. To address this issue, End Violence Against Women International has developed a program titled ``Start By Believing,'' a message that confronts the reality that many victims do not get the support they need when they report the crime. Local governments, private businesses, universities and colleges across the country are participating in the Start By Believing campaign. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I encourage people everywhere to share this simple message of support for survivors of sexual assault.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Speaker, we are here today to honor Kayla Mueller, her courage, and her undying spirit and determination; and we are here to offer our hearts and prayers in comfort to her grieving family and friends. In Arizona, in Flagstaff and in Prescott, we are all neighbors, and we are all friends. Kayla went to Northern Arizona University, which is in my hometown, Flagstaff. In talking to her friends and her professors, everyone talked about her dedication to serving others. Even if it meant going to faraway places that were dangerous, she was driven by a compassion to help the suffering. We know that her short life is proof that one dedicated soul can touch a thousand others. Let us all keep Kayla's family in our prayers and her legacy in our hearts.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. ``. . . to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more States,-- between citizens of different States,--between citizens of the same State claiming lands under grants of different States, and between a State, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.''

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for all of the hard work and dedication that went into H.R. 5404, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014. This bill would extend a number of important programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. We must ensure that the VA has the resources and authority to provide high-quality health care services and benefits that veterans have earned and deserve, no matter where they choose to live. H.R. 5404 extends the Department's authority to deliver nursing home care to our veterans, give child care assistance for veterans so they can make their medical appointments, and provide counseling retreats for our women veterans. For veterans who live in highly rural areas like my district, this bill extends VA's authority to give grants to veterans' service organizations to transport our rural veterans to their medical appointments, which is critical for increasing access to VA health care. This bill also extends critical homeless programs that the VA needs to end veteran homelessness by 2015. Programs such as housing assistance, financial assistance, counseling, and reintegration services will continue so that veterans who experience homelessness or are at risk of being homeless have a safety net of services to help themselves in their time of need. Finally, H.R. 5404 contains several extensions that will assist the Department in its efforts to provide specially adapted housing to veterans who have difficulty getting around their own homes, permit the VA to recruit and retain needed medical specialists, improve education benefit programs, and allow the VA to maintain an effective, functioning home loan guaranty program. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5404, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5404 and send this important, must-pass measure to the Senate to ensure that these important programs and services continue. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. At this time, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown).

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues support H.R. 3593 and work with our partners in the executive branch to improve the delivery of facilities for our veterans. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown).

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4276, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, last week the Senate passed S. 2258, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2014, which provides that veterans receive a cost-of-living adjustment beginning in December. Today, the House can also act to ensure veterans continue to receive the support they deserve. This is a bill that we must pass every year in order to ensure that the benefits we pay our veterans do not lose purchasing power because of inflation. Today we have the opportunity to pass this measure and send it to the President's desk. This bill directs the VA to increase the rates of veterans' disability compensation, provide additional compensation for disabled veterans with dependents, ensure certain disabled veterans receive a clothing allowance, and increase dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. These adjustments would be made effective December 1, 2014, and match the increase in Social Security benefits. S. 2258 will assist the estimated 4.5 million veterans and survivors who receive these monthly benefits and often depend upon these payments to make ends meet. For some, it is their only source of income. Without this annual COLA increase, veterans, their families and survivors, would see the value of their hard-earned benefits slowly erode. Providing for this cost-of-living increase is another important thing Congress can do to help veterans and their families that have already sacrificed so much for us. I urge my colleagues to support S. 2258, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).