Ann Kuster

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, as we near its 100th anniversary, I write today to commend the cooperative owners and the employees of the Farm Credit System for their continuing service in meeting the credit and financial services needs of rural communities in New Hampshire. As a Member of the House Agriculture committee, I was pleased to cosponsor House Resolution 591, which commemorates the Farm Credit System centennial. The Farm Credit System was established by Congress through the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916, and signed into law on July 17, 1916, by President Woodrow Wilson. Congress designed the Farm Credit System as a permanent means to support the well-being and vitality of America's rural communities and farmers. My district is served by two Farm Credit associations: Farm Credit East and Yankee Farm Credit. Together, they have over $235 million in loan commitments to their customer owners in the Granite State. Several leaders of both organizations are from my district, including Paul Franklin, Chairman of the Yankee Farm Credit Board, and Steve Taylor, former New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture, both of whom are from Plainfield, and Thomas Colgan from Lyme. Farm Credit East board members Henry Huntington of Loudon and Tim Chan of Claremont are also from New Hampshire's second district. Farm Credit is involved in the agricultural community throughout New Hampshire, supporting organizations like Land for Good, which seeks to provide land access to farmers, and Annie's Project which assists women in agriculture. Farm Credit staff serve in leadership roles for the New Hampshire 4-H Foundation and supporting programs such as UNH Extension's Agriculture and Natural Resource Business Institute. Farm Credit has demonstrated its commitment to its customer owners in New Hampshire for a century, and I look forward to its continued commitment for the next one hundred years.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Clark. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos), my good friend and colleague.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Judge Poe for his eloquent words tonight. I appreciate the bipartisan sentiment. I rise tonight in solidarity with my courageous colleagues from across the country who spoke last week and, as Judge Poe joined us, we read the eloquent words of the survivor in the Stanford University case. We rise tonight to show our continuing support for the woman known to the world as Emily Doe and to join with all of our sisters at Stanford and on college campuses and in communities around the Nation with one simple message to America: We are all Emily Doe. I am going to start my remarks tonight 40 years ago on a cold winter night at a prestigious college campus--this time on the East Coast--I was an 18-year-old student. I was going to a dance. The dance was at a fraternity, and I intended to enjoy the evening with my friends. We danced. We listened to music. We enjoyed the evening and we enjoyed the party until one young man assaulted me in a crude and insulting way, and I ran alone into the cold, dark night. I have never forgotten that night. I was filled with shame, regret, humiliation while he was egged on by everyone at that party standing by. Several years later, I was working as a legislative assistant right here on Capitol Hill, and I was assaulted again, this time by a distinguished guest of the United States Congress. I was 23 years old. And as Judge Poe referenced tonight, I did not say a word to anyone. And, in fact, until I wrote these words to share with you tonight, I had never told anyone this story. My family didn't know, my husband, my children, my friends. I was 23. A few months after that evening, I was walking home from dinner at a diner right here on Capitol Hill. If I named it, you all would know it well. I was mugged. I was grabbed in the dark, and I fought free. And when I broke free, I ran, again, alone into the cold, dark night. I tell these stories tonight on the floor of the United States Congress not because they are remarkable or unique. Sadly, I tell these stories because they are all too common. You see, all of us--Members of Congress, college students, soldiers and sailors, mothers and sisters--we are all Emily Doe. And the message we hear and the message that the court sent in Stanford is that we are not safe, we are not secure, and we do not deserve to be free, free from sexual assault, free from rape, free from rude, crude, obnoxious offensive assaults on our bodies, on our beings, on ourselves. What we hear on college campuses, on military bases, in the workplace, and in the courthouse is that he has a future; he has potential; he was drunk; he didn't mean any harm; he just wanted to have fun, to get some action, and then get on with his life. What about her? What about her future? The student, the soldier, the sailor, the mother, the sister? We have been silent for too long. We also have potential. We also have a future. We are all Emily Doe, and tonight we will not be silent anymore. Tonight we stand together--Republicans and Democrats, mothers and sisters--from across the country to take a stand for liberty and justice for all. We will fight for consequences for the 3 percent of men on college campuses and in our communities who are sexual predators and a menace to women everywhere. We will fight for bystander education and sexual assault prevention. For the 97 percent of men on college campuses and in our communities who can be part of the solution, join us in taking a stand against sexual assault. We will reward college campuses that are open, transparent, and not only change their policies and programs but actually hold the perpetrators accountable and provide real and effective counseling and support for those students who have been assaulted. And we will impose sanctions on college administrators who fail to act, fail to change, fail to prevent, fail to protect. Every student deserves to be safe; every student deserves to be secure, to live her life and to live her future. So remember, tonight we are all Emily Doe. She has given us our voice, and we will not be silent any longer. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), my good friend and colleague.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Bustos and Representative Clark. There were others who planned to join us, but because of the weather, their flights were not able to land. With these stories, we hope to show that Emily Doe is not alone and, in fact, we are all Emily Doe. These types of experiences happen to every type of woman across the country--not just students, not just young women--mothers, daughters, teachers, and, yes, even Members of Congress. And that is why we must all come out of the shadows and the silence and demand action be taken to put an end to the victimization of women and other individuals by their abusers. So tonight, Mr. Speaker, we want to speak to America to say: we will be silent no longer. We hear you. We hear the stories of the survivors. And we plan to make this Congress take the action that needs to be done. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. ``The Probation Officer has stated that this case, when compared to other crimes of similar nature, may be considered less serious due to the defendant's level of intoxication. It felt serious. That's all I'm going to say. ``What has he done to demonstrate that he deserves a break? He has only apologized for drinking and has yet to define what he did to me as sexual assault, he has revictimized me continually, relentlessly. He has been found guilty of three serious felonies and it is time for him to accept the consequences of his actions. He will not be quietly excused. ``He is a lifetime sex registrant. That doesn't expire. Just like what he did to me doesn't expire, doesn't just go away after a set number of years. It stays with me, it's part of my identity, it has forever changed the way I carry myself, the way I live the rest of my life. ``To conclude, I want to say thank you. To everyone from the intern who made me oatmeal when I woke up at the hospital that morning, to the deputy who waited beside me, to the nurses who calmed me, to the detective who listened to me and never judged me, to my advocates who stood unwaveringly beside me, to my therapist who taught me to find courage in vulnerability, to my boss for being kind and understanding, to my incredible parents who teach me how to turn pain into strength, to my grandma who snuck chocolate into the courtroom throughout this to give to me, my friends who remind me how to be happy, to my boyfriend who is patient and loving, to my unconquerable sister who is the other half of my heart, to Alaleh, my idol, who fought tirelessly and never doubted me.''

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and celebrate Gene Connolly, the principal of Concord High School--my alma mater--in Concord, New Hampshire, who will be retiring from his position at the end of this school year. Over the past 14 years, Principal Connolly has served at the helm of Concord High School, helping to lead the school to multiple State championships and new academic heights. If it weren't for his diagnosis of ALS in July of 2014, there is no doubt that Principal Connolly would continue to serve the students of Concord High. I had the privilege of meeting with Principal Connolly just last week in D.C. when he came to Congress to advocate for legislation to support ALS patients. It is a testament to his unparalleled leadership and courage that, even in the face of extreme adversity, Principal Connolly is spending his time in advocating for legislation that will benefit ALS patients in the future. He has changed the lives of generations of Concord students. While we are all sad that Principal Connolly's tenure will come to a close this summer, there is no doubt that his leadership, his courage, and his spirit will continue to inspire future generations of students at Concord High and beyond.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Madam Chair, I thank Ranking Member Kaptur. I rise today to speak about the importance of the funding of the Office of Public Participation within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, known fondly to us as the FERC, an office that has never been active despite prior authorization. With the expansion of natural gas infrastructure in the Northeast and across the country, it makes sense that we finally fund the Office of Public Participation to better incorporate the voices of average citizens in FERC proceedings and provide robust outreach efforts to communities and individuals that are impacted by energy projects. Considering the broad authority that the FERC has over domestic energy markets and its control over the approval of energy infrastructure projects, average citizens simply do not have a sufficient public interest presence on the national level. With 27 States offering an existing consumer advocacy office, it is imperative that a similar national office be established within the FERC. Constituents in my home State of New Hampshire are all too familiar with feeling shut out of the FERC process. The recently withdrawn Northeast Energy Direct natural gas pipeline would have impacted 18 small towns across my district and into the neighboring district. Due in large part to the organizing efforts of citizens within these small towns, the NED pipeline's application within FERC was withdrawn this week, but this reality provides only momentary comfort because we all know that the FERC is in serious need of repair. I understand that my Republican colleagues have interest in working to bring the Office of Public Participation to fruition and in making additional structural changes to the FERC. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move this effort forward.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to discuss bipartisan efforts to improve the work our Nation does to care for our veterans. Next week we will be honoring those who gave their lives for this country on Memorial Day. We will commemorate the lives and the sacrifices of those who died while wearing the uniform of the United States of America. We will rightly recognize their courage and commitment, but we must also ensure we continue to recognize the same courage and dedication found in our veterans and Active-Duty personnel and the challenges that many of them face as they transition into civilian life. The Improving Transition Programs for All Veterans Act will allow Congress, the VA, and the Departments of Labor and Defense to better understand these challenges. The study created by this bill will allow us to understand what is working, what is not working, and how veterans can best be placed in a position to succeed once they transition to civilian life. It will allow us to better understand the challenges, the unique challenges, faced by the growing number of female veterans in our population, a group that generally has a higher unemployment rate and lower post-military salaries than their male counterparts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill so that we can more effectively allocate resources dedicated to assisting veterans in their transition out of uniform and support several other great veterans bills on the floor today that would assist veteran caregivers and ensure that the VA develops plans to hire permanent medical center directors.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Colorado for yielding, and I also thank the Representative from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for his words. In New Hampshire, right now, we have a four-times-greater chance of dying from a heroin or opiate overdose than a car accident, as you have pointed out in national statistics. This morning, I rise to say that I am proud of what the House has been able to accomplish this week in a bipartisan way by working to address this critical challenge of substance use disorder that is devastating communities in my home State of New Hampshire and all across the country. Last year, I had the honor to cofound with my colleague from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta) the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic to address the critical problems that heroin and opioid addiction are bringing to every corner of my district and most parts of the country. The membership of the task force now includes 83 members, about half Republicans and Democrats, who are dedicated to fighting this problem. Last month, we unveiled a legislative package of 15 bills to fight this epidemic, and we are pleased that many of these bills and provisions have been included in the package this week. To mark the start of opioid week, we held a Special Order on Tuesday evening, when over 20 Members from both sides of the aisle came to the floor to share personal stories of friends and family who had been affected by the heroin epidemic. As part of the Special Order, I told the story of Carl, the son of a constituent and friend of mine, Sue Messinger. Carl, at 24 years old, was working hard in college. He wanted to become a dentist. He was a recent graduate. He earned good grades, and he had his eye set on applying to dental school. But it turned out, unbeknownst to his family, Carl had been using heroin. His was another face of addiction. When he finally spoke to his parents, they began the long journey with him to recovery. They were able to secure a place in a detox program, and they then moved toward his recovery. He was passing every drug test. He remained resolutely committed to avoid drugs and alcohol, and his family was overjoyed to see him get better. But when Carl came down with an upper respiratory infection shortly thereafter, a fatal error occurred. Unaware of Carl's history of addiction and his recent completion of detox, the doctor who he saw for the upper respiratory infection prescribed a narcotic cough suppressant. Triggered by the codeine in the cough syrup, Carl's addiction to heroin was instantly reawakened, and he could not resist the craving. He injected heroin and died that day of pure fentanyl, 50 times more powerful than heroin, in his own home. There were no labels on the bottle that indicated that the cough medicine could trigger drug-seeking behavior. There was no way for Carl or his mother or his parents to know that the cough medicine could pose a fatal danger. Since his death, his mother, Sue, has spoken out about the need to reform labeling requirements. And I am pleased to be a sponsor of Representative Walberg's bipartisan bill seeking to ensure that medical professionals have full knowledge of a patient's previous opioid addiction. Sadly, that bill is not in the package of bills this week, and it is one among many that we will need to address at a later date. So I am hopeful that I can continue to work with the chair of this committee and so many others on the other side of the aisle to bring forward bills such as this that will make a difference in people's lives. Earlier this week, I introduced the Drug Abuse Crisis Act that will provide $600 million in critical funding to finally address this heroin epidemic. I want to close my remarks by talking about hope. So many of the bills that we have passed will finally bring hope for recovery, for treatment, for long-term recovery to the families, to the users, and to our communities. This legislation will build and expand upon the work that we have done this week by dramatically increasing resources for medication-assisted treatments, funding competitive programs for law enforcement and for those hardest hit by this drug crisis. I am opposing this rule before us today and the previous question so that we can move to consider my Drug Abuse Crisis Act. Let's bring hope to our families and communities, and please oppose the previous question.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Congressman Guinta for introducing this amendment. As my partner and as co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, we appreciate his tireless work on this issue. I also want to thank the authors of this important legislation, Congressman Sensenbrenner and Congressman Conyers, for bringing forward the bill that makes such important progress in authorizing $103 million annually in grants through the Department of Justice. I am proud of the work that we are accomplishing here together this week. But that being said, we have many areas in which we have an opportunity to improve upon the legislation on the floor. And one of those areas is improved assistance for prevention, treatment, and lifelong recovery programs. Substance use disorder can be a lifelong challenge, and those struggling with this illness need access to the lifelong support required, just as we assist those with diabetes or heart disease. This critical amendment makes a simple change that would allow the grants authorized by this legislation to be used for prevention and recovery programs. We must address this crisis in a holistic way that includes efforts to treat addiction and strengthen lifelong recovery. I urge my colleagues to pass this critical amendment and to pass the underlying legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to highlight the crucial importance of addressing the heroin epidemic that is sweeping across this Nation. I have been holding a series of regional briefings in my home State of New Hampshire to hear firsthand from communities working to fight this crisis. I have heard from far too many families who have lost loved ones to this epidemic because no treatment options were available. In the fall of 2014, a high school French teacher in one of my towns who was beloved by her students died of an overdose, in part, because she could not get access to the treatment she needed. And my good friend, Kriss Blevens, lost her stepdaughter, Amber, to addiction when no treatment beds were available. This is simply unacceptable. We need to take action now to fight back against this epidemic and arm our communities with the resources to help individuals struggling to overcome the devastating pull of addiction. I am a cofounder of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic. We recently announced a package of 15 bills. I urge my fellow members to pass these bills this week. Let's help American families.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for the bipartisan work that is happening this week. I am proud to be a co-chair with the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta) of the Bipartisan Taskforce to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, Members of Congress from all across the country coming together to address this crisis. I rise, however, to oppose the rule and, as Mr. McGovern has said, we intend to move the previous question. I am bringing to the House floor a Democratic substitute opioids package to include $600 million in critical funding to address this opioid epidemic. We have an emergency. People are dying, as Mr. Guinta said--in my own State, our State of New Hampshire, over 420 people in 1 year. We have a better chance in New Hampshire of dying from an opioid epidemic death from fentanyl, from heroin, from drugs off the street, than we do of dying in a car accident. This is an emergency, and it is a crisis. My substitute bill will provide vital funding for all of the bills that we are discussing, for bills that will provide the grants the Committee on the Judiciary has brought forth in H.R. 5046, introduced by Mr. Sensenbrenner, for law enforcement, for drug courts. I have just this week been to the graduation of a drug court. We can turn lives around, but we need funding for drug courts to spread all across our country, for the good work that my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy), put into the Energy and Commerce bill, H.R. 4641, to create the task force. Mr. Guinta and I had an original bill, the STOP ABUSE Act, that created a task force, and we are so pleased that that task force will move forward. We need to bring together the experts to determine why now, what is happening in our society that opioid overdoses are leading people, leading this addiction, this substance use disorder that is a disease, leading people to go from prescribed medication from their physician into heroin off the streets and, in our State, is now being laced with fentanyl, which is a lethal combination. The substitute will provide a total of $600 million in vital new resources to address this epidemic, and my understanding is that we have not included this funding in these underlying bills. We want to support the underlying bills, but it is critical to have the funding. New Hampshire has now gone from number 24 in the Nation in deaths per population to number 3, seemingly overnight. I have traveled around my district bringing together stakeholders, law enforcement, treatment providers, long-term recovery, which is a critical aspect of this, physicians, hospitals, police, everyone to the table. In Keene, in Nashua, in Concord, in the north country of our State, we now have mayors' committees. We have the Governor having a major summit this week. Here is the answer: we have solutions. I serve on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and I was so proud to bring to one of our congressional task force hearings Dr. Julie Franklin from the VA in White River Junction, Vermont, who is doing critical frontline research with people, veterans who are experiencing chronic pain. This is lifelong pain. She has worked with them with acupuncture, with mental health treatment, with physical therapy, with all different kinds of wellness and yoga, and she has decreased the use of opiate medication by 50 percent. We can do this, but we need funding. I urge you to vote ``no'' on the rule. I ask my colleagues to please support the substitute package that will include a critical $600 million in funding.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Chairman, the underlying bill before us authorizes the creation of an interagency task force to combat the opiate epidemic. I want to commend the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy) for their hard work on this issue. This important legislation will make it easier to tackle this crisis in a holistic way that addresses all angles of the crisis, including law enforcement, education and prevention, and, most importantly, treatment and lifelong recovery. I thank Congresswoman Brooks and Congressman Kennedy for their great work on this bill, as well as the leadership of the chair and the ranking member. In fact, a similar provision to this legislation was included in the STOP ABUSE Act that I introduced with my colleague, Mr. Guinta, last year. Today he has joined me in introducing this important bipartisan amendment that will further improve the scope of the task force's effort. In New Hampshire and across the country, four out of every five heroin users started out misusing prescription opioid medication. Last year more than 25,000 people died across this country from overdoses on prescription drugs. There are complex reasons for why we have seen such a dramatic rise in prescription drug misuse, but one of the causes that we must examine more closely is prescribing practices and overprescribing. I recently joined my colleague, Congressman Mooney of West Virginia, in introducing legislation that would address this problem. This amendment with Mr. Guinta would help to shine more light on prescription drug misuse by requiring the task force to research addiction trends in communities with high rates of prescription drug misuse and overdoses. This research will be invaluable in the effort to identify why this crisis is hitting certain regions of our country particularly hard and in identifying further potential corrections to prescribing practices that can be made. I thank my colleagues for taking up such important legislation this week, and I urge support for this amendment. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta).

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Chairman, I will just close by thanking Mrs. Brooks of Indiana for her leadership, Mr. Kennedy for his leadership in offering this legislation, and thank Mr. Guinta for this amendment. I urge our colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment that will allow us to understand the underlying increase in the use of opioid medication and prescription drugs that are leading people into substance use disorder and, ultimately, sadly, into the use of heroin and fentanyl that is killing so many people in our homes and communities. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. I thank Mr. Guinta for his leadership and all of the participants in this bipartisan Special Order who are putting a face on the heroin epidemic all across the country. This evening I rise, as co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have spoken to highlight the impact that this devastating impact has had in our home State of New Hampshire and all across the country. Just a few months ago our task force held a similar Special Order to focus on the human impacts of this crisis and how it is affecting families and friends and colleagues in communities all across our districts. While the crisis has continued, the good news is that we are now making important progress toward a solution here in Congress. I am appreciative of the important work that the Senate undertook in passing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, and I want to thank Democratic and Republican leadership as well of the relevant committees for their hard work in recent weeks in bringing legislation to the floor of the House this week. At the same time, I call upon my colleagues to ensure that this important work fulfills its intended purpose by providing the necessary assistance to treatment and recovery efforts that are so critical to responding to this crisis. Recently, in January, I spoke about my dear friend Kriss' stepdaughter, Amber, who tragically died from an overdose after a treatment bed was unavailable for her after leaving incarceration. This story, of course, illustrates the tragic consequences that limited treatment capacities can have for vulnerable members of our communities. Another heartbreaking story in my district involves Carl, the son of my constituent and good friend, Sue Messinger. At 24 years old, Carl had been using heroin on and off for about a year before he finally approached his parents to talk about his addiction. To put it simply, his parents were stunned. Carl was a recent college graduate who earned good grades and had his eyes set on applying to dental school. It was almost inconceivable to them that such a high-achieving young man could fall victim to opioid addiction. But as they learned that day and as we all now know too well, there is no one face of addiction. After discussing his addiction at length with his parents and asking for their help and support as he began his journey to recovery, Carl's parents were able to secure him a place at a detox program over 50 miles away from home, the only one that would take him as a cash-paying client because their insurance would not cover an opioid detox program. Six days later Carl successfully completed the detox and was discharged to return home to his parents. Over the next several weeks, Carl continued on his road to recovery. He passed every drug test and remained resolutely committed to avoiding all drugs and alcohol. His family was so pleased to see him getting better with each and every day. But when Carl came down with an upper respiratory infection shortly thereafter, a fatal error occurred in treating the infection. Unaware of Carl's history of addiction and his recent completion of detox, the doctor who saw Carl for his respiratory infection prescribed Cheratussin AC syrup, a narcotic cough suppressant. Triggered by the codeine in the cough syrup, Carl's addiction was instantly reawakened. When Carl could resist the craving no longer, he decided to inject. The substance he injected, however, was pure fentanyl, 50 times more powerful than heroin. He died of an overdose in his family's home. There were no labels on the bottle that indicated that cough medicine could trigger such drug-seeking behavior and no way for Carl or his parents to know that his cough medicine could pose such a fatal danger. Since his death, his mother Sue has spoken out about the need to reform labeling requirements to make sure that no other family has to endure what she has had to live through. Carl was an educated, kind, driven young man who came from a supportive family, and this tragedy could occur to anyone. The tragedy of Carl's story is why I was proud to help introduce Jessie's Law. Sponsored by Representative Walberg, this bill would seek to ensure that medical professionals have full knowledge of a patient's previous opioid addiction. It seeks to do this by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop standards for the prominent display of a patient's history of opioid addiction in their medical records when those patients consent to include that information and by ensuring that the information can more easily be shared among providers with consent. While this legislation was only recently introduced and is not included in the current package of bills, I am hopeful we can work on bipartisan basis to bring this important bill to the floor before the end of this session. I am very pleased with the legislation we are considering this week that will have a measurable impact to move the needle in finding this epidemic. Among the 15 bills on the floor this week, half are part of the legislative agenda developed by the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic that I started with my colleague, Congressman Guinta. Additionally, provisions of several other bills are included in legislation being considered. So this week represents truly important progress in the House. It is critical that those who have engaged in the fight against the epidemic continue to press on in our efforts to include critical financial assistance for prevention, treatment, and recovery in our final bill. As we reflect tonight on those we have lost to this epidemic and those who are still fighting it, let us continue to focus to ensure our communities have the help that they need to put this crisis behind is. Again, I thank all of our colleagues who are working to stop this epidemic.

Ms. KUSTER. I thank the gentleman, Mr. Guinta, for his leadership and to everyone who participated tonight. The idea behind a Special Order to put a face on this terrible heroin epidemic and addiction, generally, is to create compassion and empathy both among our colleagues and for those of you who may be watching at home. We need a societal change in the way we approach substance use disorder. We need to understand that this is a disease. I say at home, frequently, every time you hear the word ``addict,'' think of the word ``diabetic.'' We don't say to someone: We can't treat you because you have just eaten cake. Essentially, we say: That is a really hard disease for you to live with, and we want to help you. That is the message that we want to convey tonight to families in New Hampshire and all across this country. We want to be a part of the solution, and that is going to include prevention, education, treatment, access to treatment, expanding access to treatment, and then lifelong recovery. We know that the brain changes under the misuse of prescription drugs or opiates or heroin, and we need to have the patience to help people get through not just the treatment itself, but the recovery period. We need homes where people can live in a substance-free environment, and we need supports and mental health supports. We have learned that four out of five heroin users have a co-occurring mental health issue typically untreated and typically not getting any kind of help with that. So in a sense, what you have are people that are self-medicating. We also know that four out of five heroin users are coming to this through prescription medication, so we need to reach out and work with our healthcare providers. I am very proud that both the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association are supporting many of the bills that we have coming forward on the floor this week. So this is the beginning. Our work is not done, but the message tonight is that Congress is coming together in a bipartisan way to tackle this head-on, to help these families, to help people get treatment, and to put an end to this terrible, terrible disease. I thank the gentleman from New Hampshire.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of one of my most distinguished and active constituents, Mrs. Angeline A. ``Angie'' Kopka, on her 100th birthday; she is a beloved member of the Nashua community that I am proud to represent in Congress. We commemorate Angie's birthday inspiration as she is a true example of what has made the Granite State such a strong and vibrant place. Angie is a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, serving her state from 2002 until 2010. In 2012, she won re-election and returned to the State House as the oldest lawmaker in the United States, a true indicator of her dedication to public service. In addition, Angie is the founder of Kopka Real Estate, based in Nashua, New Hampshire. As a real estate agent, she served as the president of the National Women's Council of Realtors and the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. In 1991, she won the National Association of Realtors Distinguished Service Award. Angie not only had a successful career, but has enjoyed a rich personal life. She was married to her lifelong partner, John Kopka, Jr. Together, they raised two children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the 100th birthday of one of New Hampshire's most engaged citizens, Mrs. Angeline A. ``Angie'' Kopka. I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating this proud milestone in her remarkable life.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for acknowledging the Women Airforce Service Pilots. My father was a P-47 fighter pilot in World War II, and he was able to access the benefits that were due him in terms of his military career. It is only fitting now, during Women's History Month, that we begin to finally get the opportunity for the WASPs to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. I acknowledge my colleague Representative McSally, in her great service to this country, and my colleague Tammy Duckworth, a combat helicopter pilot. I also acknowledge the veterans who serve on our Veterans' Affairs Committee's staff. We recently had a ceremony with Brigadier General Wilma Vaught. She was the first woman to reach the brigadier general status and was the first woman to deploy within the Air Force bomber unit. She is an inspiration to us. One of the important reasons for doing this bill now is that we learned recently during a hearing in the Veterans' Affairs Committee that women are the fastest growing group of veterans but that, often, our women veterans do not access the VA benefits, including health benefits and cemetery benefits, to which they are entitled. We need to encourage women who have served the country. You have served us, and now it is our turn to serve you. We need to encourage our women veterans to come forward for the benefits they deserve. I thank my colleague from Arizona, and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for bringing this bill forward. It is an important bill, and it is a great time to do it.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of one of my distinguished and active constituents, Mr. Bill Rotch, on his 100th birthday; he is a beloved member of the Peterborough, NH community that I am proud to represent in Congress. On March 28, 2016, Bill will celebrate his 100th birthday. We commemorate Bill's birthday with awe and inspiration as he is a true example of what has made the Granite State such a strong and vibrant place. Bill Rotch was the publisher and editor of The Cabinet, an iconic New Hampshire newspaper, for many decades. Last year Mr. Rotch was recognized with the Boston Post Cane, an honor bestowed upon the oldest resident of Peterborough. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the 100th birthday of one of my most engaged constituents, Bill Rotch. I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating this milestone in his remarkable life.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary of the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race which honors the Austrian skimeister Hannes Schneider. Schneider was a vital figure in creating the modern skiing technique, ski instruction and mountain resort industry that we know today. Additionally, he was featured in several ski films and published a book, The Wonders of Skiing, in 1931. In 1938 Schneider was imprisoned by Austrian Nazis due to his rejection of their dogma, despite protests from the international skiing community. Thankfully, nine months later Schneider's freedom was obtained by international financier, North Conway native and Mount Cranmore founder Harvey Dow Gibson. On February 11th, 1939, Schneider and his family arrived in North Conway to begin their new lives in New Hampshire. Schneider immediately gave back to the country that welcomed him. During World War II, he served as a trainer for the 10th Mountain Division. He taught the soldiers skiing, a skill that served them well during mountain warfare. His son joined this unit, and served honorably during the war. The soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division would go on to be some of the essential figures in the development of US skiing after the war. Once victory was won, Schneider used the instruction skills he honed during the war at his soon to be world famous Hannes Schneider Ski School on Mount Cranmore. Schneider created the Arlberg skiing instruction technique. This widely used method teaches students to start out skiing in a wedge or pizza shape, while making a series of turns to control their speed. As students improve, they ski downhill with their skis parallel. Countless skiers, including my sons, have experienced the joy of alpine skiing because of Hannes' innovative method of instruction. Hannes dedicated his life to skiing. He continued to instruct thousands of pupils until his death in 1955. The Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race, which on March 12, 2016 is celebrating its 20th anniversary, is staged by the New England Ski Museum to honor the legacy of Hannes Schneider and the veterans of the 10th Mountain Division. I am proud to participate in this year's event, and to honor the great achievements of Hannes Schneider.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a group of men who played a crucial and unique role in the Allied victory in World War II. The Army's 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, also known as the Ghost Army, used tactical deception to divert enemy troops. Recruited from art schools and ad agencies, these men created false radio transmissions, along with decoy tanks, planes, and other vehicles, to deceive German soldiers while concealing the true movement of our Allied troops. The unit's members included celebrated artists like Bill Blass and Ellsworth Kelly, and men like the late Mickey McKane, who lived in my district. Mickey was recruited from the Pratt Institute and put his expertise in architectural design to good use on the battlefields of Europe. The Ghost Army's activities were classified until 1996, which meant that for years their heroics went largely unrecognized. Last year, my colleague Peter King and I introduced legislation to collectively award a Congressional Gold Medal to the unit. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and give the Ghost Army the recognition it deserves. I hope you will join me tomorrow night on the Hill, where I will be hosting a screening of an acclaimed 2013 PBS documentary, The Ghost Army. As the proud daughter and daughter-in-law of World War II veterans, I am honored to advocate for those who sacrificed so much for our victory. I urge my colleagues to join me in these efforts.

Ms. KUSTER

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today we honor Ms. Linda Horan, of Alstead, New Hampshire, a ``tenacious labor leader'' and an ``advocate for the people.'' I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that Ms. Horan lost her battle to cancer. My thoughts and prayers, along with those of the entire Granite State, are with Ms. Horan's family and friends during this difficult time. Through her dedicated service as a social justice activist and advocate, she made her family, her state, and her nation proud. As her IBEW 2320 colleagues so eloquently summarized, ``Sister Horan will forever be in our hearts and her memory will live on in our spirit as we continue to fight for the rights of workers and people everywhere in our attempt to channel her eternal drive for equality.'' The greatest tribute we can provide for Linda Horan is to continue to remember her passion and drive, and to celebrate her life by combatting injustices. Her contributions will not be soon forgotten, as her beloved union's scholarship fund now carries her name. Hopefully, this will inspire future generations to follow in her footsteps and continue strengthening civic life in New Hampshire. We owe our deepest gratitude to Linda Horan for helping to make the Granite State a better place for us all to live. In responding to such tragedies, our community comes together and shows its capacity for resilience and strength.