Ann Kuster

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I wish to clarify my position on a vote cast on December 3, 2015. The vote was on passage of H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act. H.R. 8 contains a number of provisions that would negatively impact the environment and undermine our nation's ability to move away from fossil fuels and proactively combat climate change. It would undermine previously enacted initiatives to modernize our energy infrastructure and increase our energy efficiency capacity. Furthermore, H.R. 8 includes unnecessary provisions that would expand FERC's authority to approve natural gas pipeline applications within 90 days--effectively stifling public comment opportunities, regardless of the complexity of the pipeline project. This legislation would provide unnecessary handouts to the fossil fuel industry at a time when we should be focusing on expanding our nation's clean, renewable energy portfolio. On Roll Call Vote Number 672, I voted `aye.' It was my intention to vote ``no.''

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to discuss our country's ongoing efforts in Afghanistan. Over Thanksgiving, I had the honor to join five of our other colleagues from the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for a trip to spend the holiday with our outstanding service men and women in Kabul, Kandahar, and Bagram Air Force base. Additionally, we received numerous briefings from senior military, State Department, and intelligence officials. We heard about the multitude of challenges facing the young democracy in Afghanistan, ranging from hard security challenges emanating from the Taliban, al Qaeda, and even ISIL, to societal challenges in a country with 92 percent illiteracy. This is now primarily an Afghan fight with just over 9,800 American troops remaining in the country. However, the threat of international terrorism and the need to ensure that the country never again becomes a haven for those seeking to target the United States means that we will need to have a presence in Afghanistan for some time to come. Mr. Speaker, I was encouraged by the dedication of the men and women in uniform who continue to demonstrate their commitment to our mission. I was also encouraged by the resolve demonstrated by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to reduce corruption and rebuild the economy. Make no mistake, Afghanistan faces many challenges in the years ahead. But with the help of the United States of America, the international community, the tenacity of the Afghan leaders, and some good luck, the Afghan people can hope for peace and greater prosperity in the future.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

Ms. KUSTER. I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. KUSTER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my motion that will instruct conferees to include in the conference report language to combat currency manipulation from the Senate-passed version of H.R. 644. Currency manipulation by foreign governments is one of the greatest challenges we face to creating the type of free and fair trade that will benefit all Americans from top to bottom and help us create more jobs right here at home. I, like so many others, am highly focused on helping our domestic manufacturers grow and create good, strong, middle class jobs. Since taking office, I have made supporting job creation and economic opportunity my number one priority, and our State's manufacturers play an integral role in that conversation. Unfortunately, U.S. manufacturers already face so many challenges that make it more difficult to compete with foreign companies. From the lower cost of labor to limited environmental protections, our manufacturers must compete with foreign policies that lead to an uneven playing field. Unfair currency manipulation makes that competition even more difficult. Currency manipulation is when governments use monetary policy to devalue their currency, which makes their exports cheaper and foreign imports more expensive. The good news is that we have the most talented workers and the most innovative companies in the world, and we can compete and win despite these challenges. For example, right in my district in New Hampshire, I visited dozens of new manufacturing companies that are harnessing cutting-edge technologies, like precision manufacturing and healthcare technology, to revitalize the industry and create modern, 21st century jobs for our workers. We must support these American manufacturers by cracking down on unfair advantages overseas that hinder their success. This motion will help to level the playing field for manufacturers in New Hampshire and across the country by directing the Department of Commerce to slap duties on goods that have unfairly benefited from undervalued currency. This is the only provision in either customs bill that will effectively deter currency manipulation by our trading partners. Working to address currency devaluation has long enjoyed bipartisan support. In 2010, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation restricting currency manipulation by a vote of 348-79. Earlier this year, the Senate version of this legislation passed 78-20, in large part because of the critical language restricting currency manipulation. However, the version of this legislation passed by the House does not include the bipartisan provision that so many agree is crucial for limiting the ability of U.S. workers and businesses to compete more fairly with foreign companies and workers. I strongly support fair and open trade that will spur job creation back here in the United States. When 95 percent of global consumers exist outside the United States, we have to find new markets for our manufacturers and other producers to grow and create more jobs here at home. But when U.S. manufacturers are already disadvantaged by foreign products that are subsidized by their home currency, it is difficult for them to compete both at home and abroad. And the impacts of this unfair manipulation are real. The Peterson Institute estimates that, over the past decade, at least 1 million and as many as 5 million jobs have been lost due to currency manipulation. Additionally, an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute estimates that by eliminating currency manipulation we can reduce our trade deficit by as much as $500 billion, leading to a substantial increase in GDP growth and helping our American economy thrive. Specifically, New Hampshire could expect to see roughly 13,000 new jobs as a result of an effective policy against currency manipulation. The status quo is simply not good enough for U.S. workers, and that is why I am offering this motion today. Our workers are already competing with foreign companies that pay their employees a fraction of what U.S. workers make. We should do whatever we can to help make it less difficult for U.S. companies to compete globally. Adding this currency manipulation language to the bill before us today will give us the best chance to do that. Please join me in supporting my motion in support of American manufacturers. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. General Leave

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to say to my colleague, the gentleman from Texas, I think that we do agree to part of this about the danger of currency manipulation and the millions of jobs that are lost here in our country. That is why I rise this evening to offer this motion to instruct the conferees to include in the conference report language to combat currency manipulation from the Senate-passed version of this bill. I also want to associate myself with the comments of my colleagues because these are bipartisan issues. I have worked with my colleagues across the aisle on human trafficking, and I know that my colleagues share my values and are appalled at the egregious efforts that have gone down in Malaysia to traffic in young girls. These are not American values that are being expressed at this historic moment, as countries across the world gather in Paris to protect our society, our whole humankind, from the ravages of climate change. So, Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to support my motion. I will be asking for a recorded vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts and Small Starts program, which provides critical grant funding for the creation or extension of existing fixed guideway transit systems. Funding for these projects has facilitated the creation of dozens of new or extended public transportation systems in rural, suburban, and urban communities all across this country. By creating good-paying construction jobs and connecting job-seeking commuters with employers, New Starts offers significant benefits to communities that are in need of rail expansion. In New Hampshire and across New England, we have been working collaboratively with our neighboring States to create a unified vision for our region's rail networks. I was pleased to host a rail summit just a few weeks ago that brought together regional stakeholders and officials from the Federal Railroad Administration, the FTA, and New England States. As we continue to work on the highway bill this week, I urge my colleagues to support Congressmen Lipinski, Nadler, and Dold's amendment, which will restore much-needed local flexibility for New Start projects.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to discuss new bipartisan steps my House New Hampshire colleague, Frank Guinta, and I are taking to combat the heroin epidemic seizing New Hampshire and many other States across this country. Last year in New Hampshire alone we experienced 321 drug-related deaths, according to the State medical examiner's office, and the rate of drug-related fatalities in 2015 is expected to increase. I continue to see the impacts of this terrible epidemic as I meet with affected communities and stakeholders across my district. From educators to police officers, to advocates and health providers, it is only when we stand united and coordinate our efforts that we will be able to halt the destruction that this dangerous substance is causing all across our communities. That is why I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me and my fellow Representative from New Hampshire in our Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic. This task force will focus on finding solutions to the growing epidemic. We believe we must do everything possible to spread awareness, increase educational efforts, and hear from affected families and individuals. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join us to end this epidemic in our communities.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the importance of the forest products industry as we celebrate National Forest Products Week. In my home State of New Hampshire, we have a rich tradition of supporting working forests and recognizing the ways in which our forests contribute to our State's economic livelihood and the vitality of our rural communities. The forest products industry employs over 7,000 Granite Staters. These men and women proudly continue our State's legacy of responsible forest stewardship. From timber production to biomass energy, our forests provide a wide range of sustainably sourced products that citizens and businesses rely on throughout our country. My district is home to both biomass power plants and wood pellet manufacturing facilities that are important job creators in the renewable energy sector, and I am proud to serve as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Biomass Caucus. As part of our efforts to underscore the economic and environmental contributions to our Nation's forests, we must rededicate ourselves to preserving these treasured lands for future generations to come.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. 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. Mr. Speaker, we can all agree on the need to ensure that construction projects are completed in a timely and effective manner without the need for unnecessary review or red tape. No one can argue that our current permitting system is perfect. But the bill before us today is yet another misguided Republican attempt to undermine critical environmental protections that we all rely on. This legislation will splinter and unnecessarily accelerate the permitting process in a way that impairs the ability of agencies to effectively evaluate the impacts of a given project. Consequently, the bill will weaken the ability of our constituents to understand the impacts of proposed projects and effectively limit their voice in the permitting process. This is particularly true for low-income and minority communities that too often are faced with a disproportionate share of pollution and environmental contaminants. In my home State of New Hampshire, we are intimately familiar with the need for strong public input in permitting processes. As the permitting moves forward on different energy infrastructure projects, I have been working aggressively to ensure that the views of my constituents are heard. I am concerned that the permitting process under this legislation will make it more difficult for effective environmental review to move forward in New Hampshire. That is why I am offering my amendment today to help provide some additional protections to safeguard human health, the environment, and property rights. Specifically, this amendment would exempt from the requirements in the bill any project that would negatively affect the drinking water supply or air quality of nearby communities. It also ensures that construction projects covered under the legislation cannot violate the sovereignty of Native American tribes. These provisions would at least ensure that we are limiting the most dangerous consequences of this legislation. Additionally, the amendment requires that any environmental documents produced pursuant to the legislation include information about whether a project will use equipment and materials manufactured in the United States and whether it will create jobs for U.S. workers, including our veterans. Like so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I have been intently focused on what we can do to grow and expand U.S. manufacturing jobs and create good-paying middle-class jobs right here in America and, in particular, as a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, how we can serve our veterans. The reporting requirement in this amendment will help generate greater awareness for how we utilize American-made machinery and products in our construction processes. I urge support for my amendment to make sure that this bill does not harm the health of our constituents and to take an important step toward job creation and hiring of veterans. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KUSTER. I am opposed in its current form.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard ``Dick'' Cohen as he retires after more than four decades of professional service in the public interest. We are grateful for his dedication to protecting the rights of people with disabilities. By fighting to ensure equal opportunities for all, he improved countless lives across the Granite State and beyond. I want to thank Dick for his leadership and great work as Executive Director of the Disability Rights Center since 2002. He has been an invaluable resource to individuals with disabilities and their families in our state. We are forever grateful for his extraordinary work to strengthen disability rights and our community health system. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Dick for everything he has done in advocating for the most vulnerable in our state. I am honored to recognize and congratulate Dick on his retirement and wish him the best of luck on his next steps.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Garamendi, I appreciate you yielding, and I appreciate you taking the time to share with the American people our Make It In America agenda. I really want to thank you for the fantastic work that you have been doing on growing domestic manufacturing in the country. We are joined by our wonderful leader, Mr. Steny Hoyer, and his leadership on this issue is now legendary. So thank you for that. New Hampshire has had a long history of being a leader in the manufacturing industry, all the way back to the paper mills at the turn of the century, the textile mills. At one point in Manchester, New Hampshire, we made a mile of cloth a day, and we were leaders in that. So from the beginning of the time that I have served here in Congress, I have been highly focused on how we can support successful local businesses and embrace innovation to help move our manufacturing economy into the 21st century. In New Hampshire and across the country, we have some of the hardest working and most innovative companies in the world. I have had the opportunity to visit dozens of companies in my congressional district, visiting manufacturing companies, community colleges, community groups, and organizations all across the Granite State that are harnessing these new technologies to revitalize the manufacturing sector and breathe new life into our industry. In Keene, New Hampshire, in the southwest corner of my district, for example, we have a Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, bringing together leaders from the community, from the K-12 school unit there, public schools, from our community college--River Valley Community College--our State university system--Keene State University--and students and leaders from all across the region learning and teaching the trades of tomorrow. Coming up in October, New Hampshire will celebrate a full Manufacturing Week. It is a fabulous program. It started out 1 day; it has now exploded into a whole week. Hundreds, if not thousands, of students from the high schools will come into our manufacturing companies and will have a chance to see firsthand what this looks like, these CNC machines and the computerized precision manufacturing. This is not your grandfather's factory. It is not dirty. It is not noisy. In fact, it is pristine clean. The machines are run on computerized programming, and every employee in the company needs to have the latest in education and talent. People will be able to come in to the companies and see what the work is that is going on. I have had the chance to see the CNC computerized machines working with wood, working with textiles, working in glass, even counting and organizing eggs at a wonderful Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs farm. The problem is that, during the last several decades, lower wages, lack of access to education and skill training, and changes in our global economy have stacked the deck against our U.S. manufacturers. These issues are standing in the way of innovation. So that is why we have all come together with this Make It In America agenda: to make the right policy changes to help level the playing field so that our manufacturers can grow and successfully create more jobs. That is my number one priority: jobs and economic development. As part of the Make It In America agenda that I am supporting, we have developed a strong, comprehensive plan to help manufacturers thrive in the 21st century. The great thing about manufacturing, as my good colleague, Mr. Garamendi, has pointed out, is whether you are working on transportation policy, education, taxes, regulatory issues, trade, or most any other issue, we can take actions that help manufacturers. And that is exactly what our Make It In America agenda is seeking to do. One bill that I introduced--and I am working hard to include it in the agenda, and I am working hard to pass--is the Workforce Development Investment Act. What this important piece of legislation would do is create a tax break for employers who partner with community colleges to provide skill training for specific jobs in their respective industries. As I go around visiting these companies, they do have jobs available, but they don't always have people in the community with the skills that they need. And so, for example, at Nashua Community College, we got funding to create a new program that would train people in this advanced manufacturing, precision manufacturing computerized techniques, and those people will come out with a 2-year associates degree and walk directly into jobs at $55,000 with great benefits and a great quality of life right there in New Hampshire. My legislation would do all of this by encouraging greater collaboration between community colleges and employers to make sure that students not only have the right skills to succeed, but are on a path to employment when they graduate. So again, I thank Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Garamendi, and everyone else who has worked to shape this strong manufacturing agenda. I am proud to be a part of it.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor one of New Hampshire's best and brightest educators upon her retirement. Christine Rath has served as superintendent of the Concord School District for 15 years, helping to maintain the high standards of public education in Concord, New Hampshire. I am a proud product of Concord's public schools; so, they hold a special place in my heart. Chris started her teaching career right here in Washington, D.C., in the 1960s as a member of President Johnson's Teacher Corps, designed to help educate low-income students in cities all across this country. That is where she met her husband Tom Rath, another community leader who has made many positive contributions to the Granite State over the years. After they moved to New Hampshire, she taught in Goffstown, worked in Concord's Second Start alternative education program, and eventually became the principal of Rundlett Middle School in Concord. Chris has spent decades working to provide excellent education and support to students of all ages across the Granite State. Our young people are our Nation's greatest resource, and it is absolutely essential that they have the tools they need to follow their dreams and meet the challenges of the 21st century. Chris sets an extraordinary example for young educators who hope to change the lives of their students through commitment and creativity. I applaud her impressive service to the students, the city of Concord, and to the Granite State.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Concord, New Hampshire in celebration of the city's 250th anniversary. With each passing year, Concord continues to grow and prosper as the capital city of the Granite State. Having grown up and attended school in Concord, I know this historic city has so much to share with us all. Concord, New Hampshire has a proud and storied history. Prior to its incorporation, the land that today makes up the city's limits was presided over by the Pennacook, a tribe of Abenaki Native Americans. Situated in the Merrimack River valley, the fertile soil proved ideal for growing a wide variety of crops along the river's banks. Following Concord's incorporation and naming in 1765, the city continued as a popular area to visit and also to establish roots and start a family. The beautiful Merrimack River that winds its way from the rural northern border and through to the southern limits of the city continues to provide an idyllic backdrop and playground for all generations. Concord's location at the geographic center of the state has enabled the city to serve as a meeting place for lawmakers, dignitaries, and citizens. Our beloved State House is distinguished as the oldest capitol in the country in which both houses of the legislature continue to meet in their original chambers. One cannot discuss Concord without also mentioning its proud history of craftsmanship, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The fourteenth President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, chose to raise his family in Concord during his time as an elected official, leaving the city with his beautiful historic homestead that continues to bring history to life today for school groups and visitors. The Capital City also became the namesake for the most famous of the prestigious Abbot-Downing Coaches, with the Concord Coach smoothly transporting passengers for decades before the advent of the automobile. Concord has been called home by numerous notable figures over the years, including Crista McAuliffe, who has inspired generations of students both in the classroom as a teacher and through her legacy as a member of the Challenger Space Shuttle crew. Basketball player Matt Bonner honed his athletic skills at Concord High School before launching his professional career in the NBA. And we cannot forget Tara Mounsey, who helped lead the United States Women's Hockey Team to a gold medal in the 1998 Winter Olympics. The successes and achievements of Concord's citizens are a testament to the wonderful community that so many are lucky to call home. Concord is now in the midst of a 21st century transformation made possible in part through the competitive TIGER grants, as its Main Street is revitalized to improve safety and increase greenspace along this vital economic corridor. As a native of Concord and a lifelong resident of the Granite State, I am immensely proud of all that Concord, New Hampshire has accomplished over the past 250 years, and I am confident that the city will continue to thrive in the centuries ahead.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Rolanda Duchesne on the occasion of her retirement from Granite United Way of New Hampshire. Rolanda is embarking on a well-earned retirement after 33 years as a dedicated public servant, working to help her neighbors in need of assistance in New Hampshire's North Country. Be it flood or fire, hunger or shelter, dislocation or disaster, Rolanda's efforts at the United Way have brought relief and hope to hundreds of people in distress. Rolanda served for almost 30 years as the Executive Director of United Way of Northern New Hampshire, until it merged with the other regional United Way organizations throughout the state to become Granite United Way. Since then, she has served as Director of Community Impact for the Northern Region. Rolanda's commitment to service does not stop with her day job. She is the town welfare officer in her community of Milan, a Justice of the Peace, and a Notary Public. She is on the Advisory Board of Health and Human Services at White Mountain Community College, a Fellow at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute, and a Member of the New Hampshire Charitable Trust's North Country Board. During her tenure in the North Country, Rolanda has witnessed a rash of mill closings, high unemployment, natural disasters, and an economy in freefall. Yet even when it affected her own family, she did everything in her power to meet the needs of the communities around her. People were warm during the cold winters, food banks were well- stocked for the hungry, and children had clothes for school. Her life in service is one that is rarely matched. Thus, it is my honor to recognize and thank Rolanda for her outstanding citizenship and service to her neighbors, the Granite State, and the United States. I wish her a happy retirement and wish her the best of luck on the adventures to come.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to underscore the importance of increasing access to higher education, including crucial workforce development programs that help our students gain the high-tech skills they need to succeed in our 21st century economy. In New Hampshire, we are blessed to have some of the very best community colleges in the country, and I am proud to have visited every single community college in my district. Today I would like to recognize one institution, the New Hampshire Technical Institute, the community college in our capital of Concord, which was just ranked number one in the country for value added by the Brookings Institution. That means that NHTI students are meeting and surpassing expected outcomes after graduation, and many of them are going on to extremely successful careers. Every student should have access to this type of opportunity, and I am pushing for a number of initiatives that will help business partners join with community colleges to provide specific job training. Let's all join together to make sure that students across the country can access the kind of value-added programs offered at NHTI. And together, we can move forward so that every American can realize the American Dream.