Ann Kuster

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Cummings for yielding me time to speak about this important legislation to protect whistleblowers. Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns that were brought up yesterday in the Rules Committee and today on the floor about the procedure for bringing this bill to the floor without full House committee process. However, I will support the bill because it is so important. The Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act will provide protection for employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs who blow the whistle on wrongdoing in the agency. As the ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I know full well that whistleblowers are vital to the VA to protect the health and well-being of the men and women who have so bravely served our country. Although we have numerous protections currently in place for whistleblowers, those who are committed to silencing them still manage to find ways to retaliate, which we saw with tragic consequences at the Phoenix VA Health Care System and in Dr. Kirkpatrick's case. In addition to serving on the House Veterans Affairs' Committee, my role as the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force makes VA's retaliation against another VA doctor, Dr. Kirkpatrick, an especially troublesome tragedy. When he tried to raise the alarm over concerns that another VA doctor was overprescribing opioids that may have led to patient deaths, he was aware that doing so could be harmful to his own position at the Tomah VA Medical Center. Dr. Kirkpatrick's action was laudable. Veterans have been acutely impacted by the opioid epidemic, and his efforts to reduce prescription rates for veterans is not only a good example for VA physicians, but for all physicians in the U.S. today. Title II of this bill puts in place a number of requirements for the VA to protect VA employees from several retaliatory measures. It requires the Secretary to put in place a plan to prevent unauthorized access to medical records of VA employees, along with outreach to ensure that VA employees are aware of mental health services available to them. These and other improvements in title II will not only help prevent the type of retaliation that Dr. Kirkpatrick suffered, they will improve care for veterans to also help make the VA a better place to work. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman McEachin for yielding this time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 965, the Saint- Gaudens National Historical Park Redesignation Act. Named after the great American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this historic site, located in Cornish, New Hampshire, has preserved his home and working studios since it was established in 1965. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated to America with his parents when he was just 6 months old. It was at a young age when Augustus developed a strong interest in sculpting, which set him on a path to Paris and Rome, where he studied art and architecture and worked on his very first commission. In 1876, Saint-Gaudens was tapped for his first of several prominent Civil War-related commissions, which include the Standing Lincoln statue of our 16th President. At over 12 feet tall, this historic landmark stands prominently in Chicago's Lincoln Park. After working on the statue for close to a decade, the towering piece was unveiled in 1887 to a crowd of over 10,000 people, including President Lincoln's only living grandson. His most famous work was commissioned soon after: the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, a bronze bas-relief which took Saint-Gaudens 14 years to complete. Located in Boston Common, this iconic sculpture depicts Colonel Shaw and the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was the first African-American regiment organized by the Union in the Civil War. As one of the foremost American sculptors of the 19th century, Saint- Gaudens left a lasting legacy on our country's artistic heritage, which continues to be cherished at our historic site in Cornish. Since its authorization by Congress in 1964 and establishment a year later, the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site has blossomed into a popular tourist attraction and location for local artists and musicians to share their talents. However, the present name, which designates this location as a historic site, is no longer the most appropriate or useful to accurately portray the complexity of this site. Whereas, National Historic Sites are typically designated for single buildings or sites that only encompass a few acres in size, the Saint- Gaudens National Historic Site is 190 acres in size and includes multiple buildings, a vast collection of American art, and a small trail network that allows visitors to explore the grounds. My legislation would simply redesignate Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, which would more accurately illustrate all that the park has to offer. In partnership with the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, a private nonprofit that operated the site until it donated the land to the National Park Service in 1965, this historic site offers rotating contemporary and historical exhibitions, concerts, hands-on workshops, lectures, and many other educational opportunities for our visitors. The array of recreational activities offered to visitors makes this park much more than a historic site. It is a living remembrance to the great American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the artistic legacy that he has left behind. It is my hope that this proposed name change will help attract more interest in the park, boost annual visitation, and help drive our local economy. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass this legislation.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Steve Norton as he leaves the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies after 12 years of remarkable service to begin a new chapter in his life. As Executive Director of the Center, Steve helped raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues that are shaping New Hampshire's future. In his previous role as director of Medicaid Services for the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services, Steve worked to ensure vulnerable Granite Staters had access to quality, affordable health coverage. Through his commitment to public service, Steve has helped improve the lives of countless families and communities in need, and his vision has aided in creating a better future for the Granite State and its residents. On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefitted from Steve's work, I thank him for all he has done for our state. I look forward to our continued work together to make New Hampshire be an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere gratitude for Debbie Watrous and her 24 remarkable years of service to New Hampshire Humanities. Debbie's time and dedication to serve our state through this organization has been an invaluable contribution, and I congratulate and thank her on her tremendous achievements. Through her role as the Development Director, Director of Special Projects, Associate Director, and most recently as Executive Director, Debbie helped make public programming more accessible. Her work allowed more Granite Staters to discover culture, history, and new ideas. Now, Debbie will continue her career in service to others with a new position at FoodCorps, where she will work to ensure that children in every school have access to nutritious food so they can live healthier lives and reach their full potential. On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefitted from Debbie's work, I thank her for her many years of service to the Granite State, and wish her the best of luck in her new role.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Steve Norton as he moves on after twelve years from his role as Executive Director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. As Executive Director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, and previously as director of Medicaid Service for the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services, Steve made invaluable contributions to our community and our state. Through his commitment and compassion, he helped improve the lives of countless families and communities in need, and his vision has helped to create a better future for the Granite State and its residents. On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefitted from Steve's work, I thank him for all he has done for our state, and I wish him the best of luck in his next step. I look forward to our continued work together to make New Hampshire be an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere gratitude for Debbie Watrous and her 24 remarkable years of service to New Hampshire Humanities. Debbie's time and dedication to serve our state through this organization has been an invaluable contribution, and I congratulate and thank her on her tremendous work. During her time as Executive Director over the last 13 years, Debbie helped make public programming more accessible. Her work allowed more Granite Staters to discover culture, history, and new ideas. On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefitted from Debbie's work, I thank her for her many years of service to the Granite State. I wish her great joy and success at FoodCorps.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Tom Wagner as he retires after 15 years supervising the White Mountain National Forest and nearly four decades with the United States Forest Service. We are grateful for his dedication to protecting one of New Hampshire's most prized assets: the White Mountains. Through his excellent stewardship of over three-quarters of a million acres that comprise the forest, he has ensured that all will continue to be able to enjoy this national treasure. In so doing, he also improved the lives of thousands in the Granite State who rely on the White Mountains for both their livelihoods and recreation. I want to applaud Tom for his leadership and advocacy. Dunng his tenure, Tom oversaw the acquisition of 15,000 acres to the White Mountain National Forest and brought numerous stakeholders together to update the long-term strategic plan for the forest. He has been an invaluable resource, and his continuous commitment to New Hampshire's iconic and precious environment is truly inspiring. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Tom for his many years of dedicated service to the Granite State. His achievements will continue to benefit our state and its incredible natural landscape. I am honored to recognize and congratulate Tom on his retirement and wish him the best of luck in the years ahead.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 27, on Roll Call vote 414, I did not vote. Had I been present, it was my intention to vote NO

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleague, General Bergman, in support of our bill, H.R. 3262, the Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act of 2017. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the entire Nation are experiencing a shortage of quality physicians and healthcare providers. For doctors alone, the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that, by 2030, the country could face a doctor shortage of over 100,000 physicians. Access to care will only become a harder problem to solve the longer it takes to be addressed. Nonphysician providers, like physician assistants, are an important part of the solution to this shortage. Physician assistants are highly trained providers that often focus their training on specialties like psychiatry, orthopedics, and internal medicine. It is fitting that my bill would help get more PAs into the VA to serve veterans. After all, the profession started when a small group of four Navy corpsmen completed the first PA program started at Duke University. That first program was based on the fast-tracked training of doctors during World War II. Veterans and the military have always been a part of the physician assistant profession. The PA workforce offers unique value to rural and underserved areas. In places like northern New Hampshire, in my district, PAs help resolve shortages for family physicians and primary care physicians, shortages that have existed for decades. My bill would leverage the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve access to quality care for veterans and rural locations alike. It would create a pilot scholarship program that awards no less than 250 scholarships over 5 years to PAs. Currently, the VA has approximately 2,000 PAs. My bill would increase the PA workforce at the VA by over 10 percent. In exchange for these scholarships, PAs would be required to work at the VA, and their placement would be focused on sending providers to rural and underserved areas. We know that if a provider is placed in New Hampshire, they tend to stay there. This bill would also help get veterans with medical training in the workforce and with good-paying jobs. It is crucial that we help our veterans find excellent career paths that utilize the skills they learned while in the military service, and it is an added bonus that these veterans get to take care of their brothers and sisters in arms. The final provision in my bill was included in the Choice funding bill we debated just moments ago. This provision would provide PAs in the VA with competitive pay based on the community they serve. This provision is crucial because it helps recruit and retain these critical providers. The GAO recently reported that PAs experience the highest loss rate of any critical occupation, higher than doctors and nurse practitioners. I would like to applaud my colleagues for coming together in a bipartisan way to craft the Choice funding bill. Not only will the bill fund the Choice Program for another 6 months, but it includes a number of important reforms that will improve service for all of our veterans. These provisions include improved authority for hiring in job shortage areas, measures to increase accountability within the VA, and my provision to boost the pay of PAs. I would like to thank my esteemed colleague on the House Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Chairman Bergman. His support for this legislation was crucial to its passage today. I thank our chairman, Dr. Roe, and our ranking member. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to immediately pass this bill.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because it is long past time that the American people got a better deal. All Americans want the same thing: a fair chance to get ahead and a better deal than the raw deal that many have right now. Granite Staters in my district want to have the skills to get ahead in the 21st century economy. We want better pay and better jobs. Many women, and increasingly more men, are what we know as the ``sandwich'' generation, caring for young children and aging parents and relatives, often at the same time. That is why we need paid family leave and sick leave. We need to expand our educational system and skills training for all types of opportunities. Just this week, the Girl Scouts of America announced 23 new merit badges in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This is symbolic of what we need to do as a nation. Encourage young people, boys and girls, to pursue their interests in the fields that will be the cornerstone of the 21st century economy. America deserves a better deal, and that is what we are offering.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 414.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the bills we are considering today which would short- circuit the approval process of fossil fuel projects at the expense of our environment and private property owners. In my home State of New Hampshire, Granite Staters are all too familiar with the problems of siting natural gas projects and the disruption this can cause for small rural towns. In 2015, energy giant Kinder Morgan proposed a large natural gas pipeline project that would have cut through 17 New Hampshire towns in my district which are home to numerous environmentally sensitive areas that would have been negatively impacted by this project. Throughout the review process, I heard from thousands of my constituents whose concerns were not being heard by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Thanks to the commitment and tireless efforts of these advocates, Kinder Morgan eventually pulled the plug on the project, but there is so much more that needs to be done to give average citizens a seat at the table during FERC's review process. The bills we are considering today would do nothing to elevate the concerns of impacted communities during the FERC proceedings, and these bills aim to jam through risky pipeline projects while constraining other agencies from concluding important environmental reviews. We all know that FERC acts as a rubber stamp for fossil fuel projects, and the bills we are considering today further narrow the opportunities for private landowners to push back against projects and try to protect their land from eminent domain. At a time when pipeline expansion has increased dramatically, we should be working on bipartisan solutions that increase public participation during FERC proceedings. That is why I have cosponsored legislation to create an Office of Public Participation within FERC that would level the playing field for average citizens and give them a seat at the table. H.R. 2910, which we just debated, does nothing to achieve this goal and will only lead to more communities being left in the dark during FERC proceedings. H.R. 2883 would eliminate the need for a Presidential permit for cross-border energy projects and dramatically narrow the environmental review to the narrow portion of the project that crosses the border. These cross-border projects are oftentimes hundreds of miles long. It simply makes no sense to conduct an environmental review on the small portion that crosses the border. That is just common sense. For the good of our environment, for the good of our communities and public lands, I urge my colleagues to oppose these harmful pieces of legislation.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleagues for passage of my three amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act last night. Two of my amendments would address our Nation's opioid crisis as it impacts or Nation's servicemembers and veterans. They would direct the Defense Department to study the effectiveness of their opioid prescriber education policies and require Department providers to counsel or give referrals to the VA for transitioning veterans that suffer from addiction or chronic pain. My third amendment would direct the Department of Defense to analyze sexual coercion in the military as part of its annual report on sexual assault. While I commend the Department for their progress in reducing the occurrence of sexual assault in the military, more work needs to be done. Understanding sexual coercion is important to the safety of our brave men and women, and important for our national security.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

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

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. I am opposed to the bill in its current form.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. 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. Like so many communities and States across this country, New Hampshire has been devastated by the heroin and opioid epidemic. Last year alone, my State lost 500 people to substance use disorder. Helping families, first responders, treatment providers, law enforcement officials, and family advocates in the Granite State confront this crisis has been my number one priority in Congress. In 2015, Mr. Guinta and I founded the Bipartisan Congressional Heroin Task Force to raise awareness of this crisis and to advocate in a collaborative way for solutions at the Federal level. I am proud to report that our bipartisan task force is now 90 members strong, and we have made important progress in passing legislation and securing critical funding. But the causes of this crisis are complex, requiring a multifaceted approach addressing every angle of the epidemic, from treatment to recovery, from education and prevention to law enforcement and interdiction. A primary cause of opioid misuse resulting in heroin dependence is the overprescribing of opioid pain medication. The data is astonishing. A December 2016 study found that opioids were prescribed to 91 percent of patients after they had experienced an overdose, and, in fact, 63 percent of patients on high-dose opioids were still prescribed high-dose opioids after overdosing. We have all heard the stories: teens who had their wisdom teeth removed receiving 30-day supplies of opioids, or a person with back pain receiving prescriptions for extended release opioids even though Tylenol would keep them comfortable. America consumes 80 percent of the global supply of opioid medication, and 650,000 opioid prescriptions are written every single day. Earlier this year, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the following extraordinary fact: if 100 people take opioid medication for 1 day, 6 percent will still be using 30 days later; and if 100 people take opioid medication for 30 days, 35 percent of those patients will still be using opioids a year later. Our task force is working closely with the medical community to strengthen prescribing practices so that patients can manage their pain in an effective and responsible way. Through my role on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am working with my colleagues to improve pain management practices at the VA and to better understand alternative methods for pain management. The White River Junction VA facility in Vermont serving New Hampshire veterans is a great example where they have cut opioid prescriptions nearly in half by incorporating alternative treatments. While there is much work that we can do to understand this issue, there remain bad actors across this country who are exploiting those who suffer from substance use disorder for their own financial gain. In rural communities and elsewhere, pill mills churn out opioid prescriptions with no regard for the well-being of their patients. And just last month, a doctor in New England pled guilty to healthcare fraud for overprescribing opioids, including writing more than 1,100 Oxycodone prescriptions in a single month. Victims of exploitative prescribing practices must have the unencumbered capacity of our legal system to recoup their damages and to deter negative industry practices. I am concerned that arbitrary limitations in this legislation on legal damages could limit their ability to effectively respond to the opioid epidemic, and that is why my amendment would simply exempt from the legislation any claim or action that pertains to grossly negligent prescription of opioids. Should this bill become law, this provision will help protect those who have been exploited by predatory physicians operating pill mills. There is so much we should do to roll back this crisis, and I look forward to our continued bipartisan work. But today I urge my colleagues to approve this motion. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Bill Athanas, who retires today after serving New Hampshire communities for 51 years, 21 years at Inter Lakes High school and 30 years at Franklin High School. His commitment to students and the community goes beyond simply being a Vice Principal. Bill could be found every morning, rain, snow, or shine, outside Inter Lakes High School with a cup of coffee in hand greeting and welcoming students, as well as catching up with parents. Along with lifting spirits, through his genuine and sunny disposition, Bill attended every event in which his students participated in, always encouraging and cheering them on. Bill's legacy will read that he tirelessly worked to give every single student the guidance and support needed to succeed, and a warm sincere smile when they most needed it. His plans for retirement include his passion for community service, he will be returning to Franklin High School as a volunteer. We thank Bill for his service to our students and to the community.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 2372, the VETERAN Act. However, before I speak about this bill, I would like to take a moment to thank my colleagues, General Bergman and Dr. Wenstrup, both colleagues of ours on the very bipartisan Veterans' Affairs Committee, for their bravery on the ball field yesterday. Yesterday was a harrowing day for my colleagues, and their courage under fire made this Congress and America proud. While Majority Whip Scalise is still in critical condition, our colleagues, who both served our country in uniform, gave Mr. Scalise a fighting chance. Please keep Mr. Scalise, Matt Mika, Zack Barth, and U.S. Capitol Police Officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey in your thoughts and prayers. I rise before you today on the VETERAN Act to voice my concerns on the underlying bill it seeks to fix: the American Health Care Act. My colleagues and I criticized the AHCA a few weeks ago because it did not give veterans access to, and choice for, affordable healthcare. I am very glad to be here today now that my Republican colleagues have realized this error and are seeking to help veterans gain access to tax credits. I renew my commitment to work in a bipartisan way to improve the healthcare system in America. Our goal should be a system that provides access to affordable healthcare to all Americans, including those who have served in uniform. But no one should be under the illusion that the AHCA, with or without the VETERAN Act, will achieve these goals. The AHCA includes significant negative changes to Medicaid. This Congress and the American people should know that more than 2 million veterans rely upon Medicaid for their healthcare, and millions more spouses and children of veterans also rely on Medicaid. The AHCA would slash $834 billion in Medicaid coverage. When 40 percent of working-age veterans have no other coverage, passing the AHCA will mean that these veterans and their families have no access to lifesaving healthcare. As co-chair of the bipartisan task force combating the opioid epidemic, I urge my colleagues to consider that Medicaid provides vital mental health and substance abuse treatment for many of these veterans and their families that they will not receive otherwise. For our veterans seeking treatment for combat wounds, PTSD, MST, and other conditions, under the AHCA, military service to our country could be considered a preexisting condition resulting in a denial of care.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to President Trump's proposed budget. This budget proposal confirms our worst fears about the priorities of his administration. The budget is cruel, it is shortsighted, and would be a disaster for efforts to strengthen the middle class in my district and across this country. It will hurt hardworking families and communities throughout New Hampshire. It guts public education, afterschool programs, and student loan support. It jeopardizes clean air, clean water, and our response to the opioid epidemic that is reaching crisis proportions. It eliminates critical programs for the most vulnerable, like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which keeps low-income seniors and families warm in the cold winter months and SNAP which helps families feed their children, and decimates successful economic development programs like the Northern Border Regional Commission and community development block grants. The last thing we should be doing is eliminating effective programs that create jobs and boost our economic competitiveness. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose these misguided cuts.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) for their support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak on my bill, H.R. 1545, the VA Prescription Accountability Act. This bill demonstrates the power of bipartisanship in this Congress, especially on the House VA Committee. I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup) for his willingness to co-lead this bill with me, and also the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley) for cosponsoring this commonsense legislation. This bill is common sense because it improves upon the Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, also known as PDMPs across this country. PDMPs are proven resources in combating our Nation's opioid epidemic. PDMPs improve the public health and our general well-being. In 2012, the VA was finally authorized to connect its patient population to State PDMPs. But, unfortunately, an issue with the VA's antiquated computer systems meant that literally hundreds of thousands of nonveteran patients at the VA were left excluded from the data reported to PDMPs by the VA. As the ranking member of the House Veterans' Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I am all too familiar with the continued issues with computer systems across the entirety of the VA. This issue underscores the need for the VA and this Congress to ensure effective and rapid reform to the VA's computer systems. When those systemic shortcomings potentially exacerbate the Nation's opioid epidemic, I saw the importance to take action. Through my Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, we in Congress have learned the importance of ensuring prescription opioids are not misused. The consequences are truly dire. Over 30,000 Americans die in opioid- related overdoses every year. That number just continues to rise. This bill represents a small but practical step forward in addressing this crisis. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this low-cost bill. It will help ensure these important programs work as intended by closing the gap in prescription information. I urge my Senate colleagues to quickly take up the bill and pass it in the Senate as well.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McSally and Representative Jackie Speier for bringing us to the floor today. I speak on behalf of H.R. 2052, the PRIVATE Act. I was deeply disturbed by the Marine United photo-sharing scandal, as were many of my colleagues, both men and women, Republican and Democrat. Our Armed Forces are the greatest fighting forces the world has ever seen. It is unacceptable that members of the Marines sought out intimate photographs of their fellow soldiers and distributed them purposely online. Not only were the actions by the participants in the Marines United scandal morally repugnant, but they jeopardized our national security and endangered the security of both male and female marines. Women in the Armed Forces put their lives on the line every single day to defend our country, and they should not have their safety risked by their fellow marines. I am proud to support H.R. 2052, the PRIVATE Act, which will update the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure that the type of explicit image sharing we saw in the Marines United scandal is expressly prohibited. As the cofounder, with my colleague, Jackie Speier, of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I understand the persistent challenges that the culture of sexual violence poses on our society. The conversation around sexual violence is beginning to change, thanks in no small part to Members of this Congress on both sides of the aisle. This legislation will support broader cultural reform and improve the lives of our brave servicemembers. This is an issue that transcends politics, and I am encouraged by the bipartisan support for the PRIVATE Act. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, today I stand in recognition of Gilles P. Laramee, a Marine Corps veteran and a committed advocate for New Hampshire's veterans community, who sadly passed away unexpectedly on February 18th at the age of 85. First and foremost, Mr. Laramee of Berlin, NH, was proud to have served his country as a United States Marine during the Korean War. In his later years, he was a selfless volunteer and a mentor to many Granite State veterans over his years of service on the North Country Veterans Committee. Mr. Laramee was a member of the Good Shepard Parish, the Marine Corp League, and the White Mountain Post 2520 VFW. His volunteerism included working with veterans at Androscoggin Valley Hospital, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections in Berlin, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Corrections facility in Berlin. He was truly dedicated to serving brothers and sisters in the veterans community through some of their darkest times. More than anything, Mr. Laramee loved his work as regional director for Toys-for-Tots. He took such pride in gathering and distributing toys to children and families in need. His dedication to this charity was so profound that he became know as ``Father Christmas'' to many North Country families. Mr. Laramee is survived by his wife Lillian, his daughters Diane and Rachel, their husbands and children. He will also be missed by the many veterans whose lives he touched. While Taps has played for this hero, we are left to say ``Semper Fi'' dear and loyal friend.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to speak in opposition to the Republican healthcare bill that is once again under consideration in this House. Mr. Speaker, it feels like Groundhog Day all over again. The bill is back, and rather than coming to the table to discuss ways we can all work together to improve health care for every American, Republicans are again trying to jam through a misguided bill that would threaten the health care of thousands of Granite Staters and literally millions of Americans. Just a few weeks ago, I joined with my colleagues to highlight a particularly egregious provision of this bill that would jeopardize access to health care for 7 million veterans. Weeks later, these provisions remain in the bill, and this is unacceptable. We had the time, and the Republicans failed to fix this. It is wrong for America, and it is wrong for millions of veterans. I urge Members to oppose the bill.

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here tonight for this Special Order on the Marines photo sharing scandal. I am pleased to be with you but disturbed about the underlying incident. I don't think there is anyone in this country who is watching this evening who doesn't share our sentiment. This is shocking. It is disturbing. And most importantly, it is degrading to the women in the Marines. I have to just imagine what it would take to become a marine and to be a woman in the Marine Corps. The training, the dedication, the commitment that these people have set their lives toward serving our country. I am very pleased to join my colleagues today to express my disappointment and, indeed, outrage at the conduct of literally thousands of marines who violated the standards of the Marine Corps and displayed dishonorable conduct and terrible judgment by distributing sexually explicit photos of Active-Duty and veteran women marines online. The behavior on the Facebook page Marines United is wholly unacceptable and is not only morally repugnant but undermines the safety, the security of female marines and, indeed, our national security. Women marines were, in some cases, identified by name, rank, and location. These women who are bravely serving our Nation in uniform were put at risk of blackmail, of violence to themselves, or worse. This cannot and will not be tolerated by the United States Congress, by the leadership of the Marines, and by Americans across this country. The Marines represent the greatest fighting force in the history of the world, and actions like this cannot be allowed to undermine their effectiveness and unit cohesion. As the founder of the bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to understand the persistent challenges that the culture of sexual violence poses on school campuses, in the workplace, online, in the military, and throughout our society. We are beginning to change the conversation around sexual violence and intimidation, but there is much more work to be done. I strongly support the bipartisan legislative action to back up the cultural change that we know is starting to take place. The PRIVATE Act, led by Representative Martha McSally, would amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure that the type of explicit sharing that was seen in the Marines United scandal is expressly prohibited. Mr. Speaker, I want to particularly thank Representative McSally and our Democratic colleague Representative Jackie Speier for their leadership on the Armed Services Committee in protecting the interests of women in our military. I know that leadership within the Marines and the Armed Forces is taking the issue of sexual harassment and sexual violence very seriously, and I appreciate their commitment to improving safety for all our servicemembers, regardless of gender. This is an issue that transcends politics. I have been encouraged by the bipartisan support that this issue has received. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to end sexual violence and intimidation in the military and, indeed, throughout our society. Mr. Speaker, I want to just take a moment to share with you the testimony of Lance Corporal Marisa Woytek, as indicated by our leader today, Representative Lois Frankel. She quoted some of the testimony, and I wanted to share a few other parts with you. These are two marines who came and spoke to our bipartisan Women's Caucus, and they described what had happened to them; that these personal explicit pictures had been shared on the internet, that their names, their rank, their duty station, had all been shared without their consent. I want to talk to you about the backlash since they had the courage to speak out, because as we investigate further in the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence--whether it is in high schools, whether it is on college campuses, whether it is in the military--when someone has the courage to identify the harassment, sexual assault, intimidation, there is an incredible backlash on social media. She writes: ``Within the past 24 hours alone, I have had former Marines harass me online, and say and state that they actively look for sexually explicit pictures of me. One of the former Marines who has been harassing me has also been a predator to many women online denigrating women in Marines United, and has even gone as far as saying he would throw an Active Duty female Marine `into a barrel of acid.' '' These are our best and brightest. These are the people that we rely upon to keep our country safe, to uphold the dignity of our values overseas. She continues: ``Another Marine stated to me directly that he was `passing my info around to Marines, so far the rough estimate is 3,000. Good luck ever being able to show your face again.' '' This is a woman who has trained, who has dedicated her life, and whose family is proud to call her a marine. And I, as a Member of Congress, am proud to call her a marine. She does not deserve this in the workplace. One last quote: ``Another former Marine asked `Who has this bitch's pictures, I want to blast them all over.' '' I have to ask my colleagues for a bit of personal privilege to even use that word on the floor of the House of Representatives. That is not a word that should ever be used for a marine in the United States Marine Corps. So I think you can tell this is deeply troubling to us as Members of Congress, deeply troubling--it should be--to the leadership of the Marine Corps, all the way up to and including our Commander in Chief. This is simply unacceptable. As members of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, as members of the bipartisan Women's Caucus, as Members of the United States House of Representatives, we will not let it stand. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record testimony of a female marine. Testimony of Lance Corporal Marisa Woytek My name is Marisa Woytek. I am a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. I enlisted, like many of my brothers and sisters because I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. I joined to follow in my fathers' foot steps who served honorably in the Marine Corps. Over the past few years of being active duty, I've experienced the amazing things the Marine Corps has to offer. I experienced, brotherhood and sisterhood, I experienced comradery, and I have many fond memories that I will carry with me until the day I die. But with the good, comes the bad. Since my first few weeks in the Marine Corps outside of boot camp, I have seen on numerous occasions the denigration of Marines, especially female Marines by fellow Marines. Some active duty and some former Marines have been posting picture women for the so called game of ``Smash or Pass'', and some have included personal and explicit pictures including these women's names, ranks, and duty station without their consent. Since speaking out, I've received backlash on social media. Within the past 24 hours alone, I have had former Marines harass me online, and say and state that they actively look for sexually explicit pictures of me. One of the former Marines who has been harassing me has also been a predator to many women online denigrating women in Marines United, and has even gone as far as saying he would throw an active duty female Marine ``into a barrel of acid''. Another Marine stated to me directly that he was ``passing my info around to Marines, so far the rough estimate is 3,000. Good luck ever being able to show your face again''. Another former Marine asked ``Who has this bitch's pictures, I want to blast them all over''. My brothers and sisters are why I am here today. The majority of Marines are intelligent, well rounded, and respectful people. Those Marines are who the world should be praising. The disgusting actions of a few do not define an entire branch. We must remember that the Marine Corps is an institution that prides itself in honor, courage, and commitment. Most Marines practice these values everyday, and those who do not bring dishonor to themselves and to the United States Marine Corps.