Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

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

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lenore Karlin, a resident of NewBridge on the Charles, located in Dedham, Massachusetts, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday on April 25, 2018. As the Representative of the 8th Congressional District of Massachusetts, I am honored to represent such an extraordinary woman in the United States Congress. Recently, Lenore was celebrated by numerous family and friends in a tribute to ``A Life Well Lived.'' Lenore's story and life experiences serve as an example of a person who has made a profound difference in so many lives and continues today to bring joy to those that love and admire her. I include that story in the Record. Mr. Speaker, during the celebration, surrounded by family and friends, Lenore's daughter told the story of this remarkable woman and spoke of Lenore's efforts to help others from an early age. A lifetime of volunteer work, Lenore has done it all, from traveling on the ``Plant Mobile'' to Boston's inner-city schools teaching students to how to grow plants to translating books into German in Braille. Mr. Speaker, Lenore shows her love and support to family and friends by never missing an opportunity to make someone's day brighter. It is fitting today that I ask all my colleagues to wish Lenore Karlin a very Happy Birthday and enjoy the story of ``A Life Well Lived.'' Lenore Karlin--100 Years What is a life well lived? Lenore Karlin exemplifies 100 well spent years. Lenore was the first child born to Rose Wolf Gardner and Louis Gardner on April 25, 1918. Louis, a mite senior to his darling bride, Rose, couldn't have been happier. There were days when Mr. Gardner took baby in pram (decorated with American flags), paraded them down the street and placed Lenore in pram in his Kingston street Boston storefront window for the world to see. Louis, an immigrant, was a great patriot. Two more children, Helene and Herbert followed. Louis, a shoe importer, took Rose and the children to Europe often for business and his great love, the opera. Whilst Rose and Louis enjoyed the Wagner ring in Beirut, Lenore, Helene and Herbert were tended by a nursemaid in Czechoslovakia. These were magical voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. The children had a trunk just for toys. Lenore's father took them to factories where linens and China (perhaps even the teacups today) were crafted, as he was a collector of these fineries. They would return with cases of shoes and finery. Morris Wolf, Lenore's grandfather on her mother's side was a well-respected detective for the Boston police, in fact the first Jewish one. He chased criminals around the globe. Lenore remembers as a child walking down the street with her grandfather who would don a prominent hat, and when they passed the mayor of Boston, in a gesture of respect, the mayor would tip his hat to Morris. Lenore was an excellent student at Girl's Latin School. She excelled in all subjects. Unfortunately her father became ill when she was quite young and died when she was but 15 years old. But Lenore carried the firm foundation he planted with her: his ever-present optimism and enthusiasm throughout her life. In the mid-late 1930's, German-Jewish refugees began arriving in Boston, homeless, penniless and without food. Lenore and her sister ventured house-to-house raising money for these people. Because of her efforts, the combined Jewish philanthropies asked her to speak at their annual dinner. She was seated next to the guest of honor, who held her hand and quelled her nerves. Lenore remembers this woman as the most beautiful blue-eyed woman ever--Eleanor Roosevelt helped Lenore get through her first public speaking engagement. That was just the beginning of Lenore's outward focused life. She has always generously given to several (and now hundreds) of charities of all sorts. Her pile of mail each day rivals corporations. The Gardner house on Bicknell Street, had a game room on the 3rd floor, where friends often gathered. Some of Lenore's best friends lived on her street and nearby. Many happy times were spent there. One night, Lenore was invited on a date with a guy she knew would be too busy to pay her any attention. She was envious of her sister who would be having a party at their house. She couldn't wait to get home from the formal affair and loll about with her homies. They had transferred to Jack Gottler's house across the street. When Lenore opened the door, across the room she saw Harold, the handsomest man. ``That man is my future husband'', was her thought. 5 years later on August 31, 1941 in an intimate family ceremony Lenore and Harold married. World War II and children followed. For the war effort, Lenore rolled up her sleeves and participated in the Woman's Defense Corps. There was loss, great tragedy and great love. Lenore and Harold wrote each other a letter every day of Harold's 18- month deployment and true to Lenore's squirreling, every one of those letters have been saved and assembled into albums. Patty was born on base in Florida. What a blessing for those tumultuous, unknowing, scary years to come to an end in victory. Lenore was present for her nephew Lewis' birth in Boca Raton on VJ day. Now the young family could live their lives in a burgeoning victorious post-war USA. Harold began his practice in Boston and soon Bruce was born. The Karlins needed to feather a bigger nest. They did that at 20 Old Farm Road, Newton, and it remained the family homestead for 40odd years. Jill and Robin were born there. Many of you here today might recall the good times, the family times, the parties, the welcoming times that the Karlins entertained or were simply available. It seemed there wasn't a time/a night when after Lenore and Rosie poured their customary cocktail at 5:00 pm (and in the early years cigarettes) that someone wasn't showing up to join in the festivities. Lenore kept Martinis and Manhattans decanted in the fridge. Usually Uncle Leo and many others came by . . . Perhaps even one of you. Harold would arrive after a day of work and visiting patients in the hospital and at bedside (usually after 7:30) and the family always ate some of Lenore's famous freezer concoctions together. There would be phone call after phone call and visit after visit: People coming for shots, prescriptions, ear cleaning (ear piercing once) marriage counseling, or just to hang out in the warmth of the Karlin kitchen. People adored Harold and Lenore. They shared a great interest and love for people, which is why, over the years, they garnered so many friends including you. There were family vacations spent with some of you--the Jacksons, the Korsakovs, the Roberts, and the Sundells. Cape Cod, North Conway, or when Lenore and Harold would on an afternoon's notice head to Brazil. That took Hutspah and organization to pull off. Lenore had, both, and some really good friends to look after the kids. The friendships--so many people to this day call, remember and consider Lenore as a caring friend. The age range is vast--children to elderly. There was a time when there was a triumvirate: the hilarity of Shirley, Eunice, and Lenore rivaled Lucy and Ethel. The three girls managed to get in trouble like a sitcom. Taking a pee in the woods, playing golf and coming home with poison ivy in a very uncomfortable spot or trying snow skiing and laughing so hard that they were wet from more than snow. The marriages, exchange students, friends, grandchildren-- Lenore was sure to attend every meet, every match, every game even if it meant driving hours in harrowing conditions. Nothing daunted Lenore's support for her grandchildren--it was unwavering. Birthdays, anniversaries, births, graduations, special occasions, surely there are many of you who could make a book of the cards Lenore has sent. She to this day never misses an opportunity to make someone's day brighter. Lenore has had a lifetime of volunteer work. PTA, Hospital Charity, Garden Club, and known as ``The Plant Lady'' as she and a gardening club buddy went via ``The Plant Mobile'' from school to school in the Boston inner city, teaching students to plant and grow plants. In addition she went weekly to The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center to help the elderly with planting and gardening. Lenore also wrote Braille. She translated books into German in Braille. First she did this by hand, and in later years had a Braille typewriter. Lenore schlepped her children to every after-school class, whether they were interested or not. She was interested and they were going--opera, ballet, tennis matches, ice skating. That is a theme in Lenore's life--interest--great interest in everything. It can be a gray day and all Lenore will see is the little purple crocus making its way open. She is always eternally grateful and optimistic. When Harold died--true to Lenore's style, it was soon overcome (not that one ever overcomes such loss). She soldiers on stronger and doing things her way. She moved into Newbridge and seven years later closed her California residence. She has never looked back. Lenore does what she has always done--lives life on her terms. She exercises daily, she drinks (daily), and she drives (hopefully not at the same time). Firmly independent! So in honor of Lenore . . . Let's all have a shot of American vodka! Here's to you, Mom! Cheer's to you, Mom!

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chair and the ranking member for their willingness to hear this amendment. I also want to thank the Rules Committee, Mr. Sessions and Mr. McGovern, for ruling that this amendment is in order. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would provide an additional $10 million to the defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, formerly known as JPAC, for its newly expanded mission to bring home our missing servicemembers in North Korea. In light of the recent agreement that includes a commitment to recover and repatriate U.S. POW/MIA remains from North Korea, we must ensure that the DPAA will be able to move quickly to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity. As most Members are aware, nearly 8,000 U.S. servicemembers are still categorized as missing in action and presumed dead from World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war. According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the remains of about 5,300 of our sons and daughters in uniform are believed to be in North Korea. Many of them fell in battle near the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in November and December of 1950, the scene of one of the most heroic battles in U.S. military history, and certainly U.S. Marine Corps history. Mr. Chairman, it has been 65 years since the Korean war ceasefire was put into effect. For those brave Americans and so many American families, to be still missing after so long is a tragedy. These brave servicemembers and their families deserve better. Mr. Chairman, I have been involved with this issue for the past 8 years. I actually went out with JPAC to the South Pacific and the Philippines, to Vietnam and to Korea to observe their recovery efforts. I had a chance to visit the headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base at Pearl Harbor where a dedicated group of our forensic pathologists are working tirelessly to use modern techniques to identify each of our brave heroes and return them to their families and their hometowns to receive the dignified and respectful remembrance that they deserve. Mr. Chairman, this is a very unique opportunity. We have to act quickly. The mitochondrial DNA that allows us to identify our sons and daughters in uniform breaks down over time because of conditions in the soil. If we don't act quickly, we will lose this opportunity. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairwoman for her indulgence and also thank the ranking member. I ask Members to support this amendment to support the DPAA in its efforts to find and repatriate our missing heroes. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for their hard work, and also Mr. Larsen as well. I have to confess that mentally in my mind I have a list of Republicans I wish wouldn't run for office again, but I am proud and happy to say that, Mr. Shuster, you are not on that list. I just want to congratulate you on your good work not only on this bill, but in the past on a lot of issues that affect not only the constituents in your district, but also people across this country. Thank you for your service. I was hoping that I might come to the floor today to talk about ways that we might prevent terrorists and criminal organizations from registering aircraft in the United States. There is a Department of Transportation Inspector General report that is well known to Members here that basically lays out the case for more closely scrutinizing the registration of U.S. aircraft. They came up with a few glaring examples that I will mention here. Recently, it was discovered that Hezbollah, through a front person, also from Lebanon, registered an aircraft here in the United States with no landing permit. In addition, we had another aircraft registered through the FAA through Wells Fargo Bank, which we understand was located in Tripoli International Airport in Libya, with no landing permit, just hours before the U.N. Security Council met to approve a no-fly zone over that country. Similarly, we had an aircraft owned by the brother of Ghana's president but registered by the Bank of Utah, which mysteriously appeared in Tehran, Iran, in 2014, bearing an American flag emblem. This occurred, obviously, in the midst of U.S. and international sanctions. Prohibiting the travel of U.S. aircraft to Iran was the law at that point. The FAA could not explain who was operating the plane or who owned it, and the lack of transparency and accountability in the FAA's registration system is a serious national security threat. Now, there was a time when Democrats and Republicans could work on amendments like that and they would be accepted. I am still mystified as to where the opposition came from. Also, public health and safety demands that the FAA take immediate steps to mitigate the impact of concentrated flight paths which come in and out of major airports around the country. They have got a new system called a NextGen RNAV system that concentrates the flights over very narrow strips of neighborhoods and in the areas adjacent to those airports. And we can do a lot, Mr. Chairman, to mitigate that damage. But that is not in this bill. What I am here to talk about is retrofitting aircraft with noise mitigation devices known as vortex generators. These devices are lightweight and divert wind from the vents on the underside of an aircraft's wing to significantly reduce noise during descent. European carriers such as Lufthansa, British Airways, and Air France have already adapted their older Airbus aircraft with these devices, and new models now come equipped with them. My amendment, which is cosponsored by several of my colleagues on the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, would ensure that American air carriers are following suit. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I inadvernty missed the vote for final passage of H.R. 3312, the Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act of 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Nay'' on rollcall 694.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for yielding me this time, and I thank him for his leadership on behalf of the America workers. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong opposition to H.R. 3441. Because of the modern use of temporary staffing agencies and subcontractors, the National Labor Relations Board has properly defined the term ``joint employer'' as two or more businesses who codetermine or share control over a worker's terms of employment, such as rate of pay or work schedule. If enacted, H.R. 3441 would cripple workers' rights to collectively bargain or seek redress when workers are found to have joint employers. The opportunity to collectively bargain over wages and conditions of employment is diminished if some parties that control employment are given the option to refuse to bargain and avoid liability as employers. As a result, this bill will open the door to widespread wage theft and equal-pay violations, and it will harm workers across the United States. Some of my Republicans continue to argue that H.R. 3441 will provide stability for workers. As a former union president and as a labor attorney dealing with issues before the National Labor Relations Board, I urge my colleagues to stand with the American worker and oppose this disastrous bill.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chair, I was inadvertently delayed on rollcall numbers 585 and 586. Had I been in attendance, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 585 and ``yes'' on rollcall No. 586. Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Cartwright

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2464, legislation that I introduced back in May of this year to officially designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 25 New Chardon Street Lobby in Boston, Massachusetts, as the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Post Office. This bill reflects the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of President John F. Kennedy this year, otherwise known as the JFK Centennial. I would like to thank our former chairman, Jason Chaffetz of Utah; our current chairman, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Gowdy); the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings); the chairman of our Subcommittee on Government Operations, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows); our ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly); and all of the Subcommittee on Government Operations for their efforts to move this legislation forward. I would also like to thank the entire Massachusetts House delegation for their effort in sponsoring this measure. H.R. 2464 honors the life and enduring legacy of our Nation's 35th President, John F. Kennedy, and his impassioned commitment to public service, equality, peace and diplomacy, and ensuring a better quality of life for every American. Our special remembrance of President Kennedy this year also affords us a distinct opportunity to reflect on and appreciate his vision and wisdom in the context of the many challenges we are facing as a nation today both at home and abroad. As we grapple with difficult issues ranging from healthcare to economic reform, let us recall President Kennedy's understanding that: ``For one true measure of a nation is its success in fulfilling the promise of a better life for each of its members.'' And in contemplating issues pertaining to equality and civil rights, we would be wise to remember President Kennedy's advancement of the principle that the rights of every person are diminished when the rights of one person are threatened. As we continue to address matters of contention with adversarial nations, we must bear in mind President Kennedy's admonition and foresight that ``civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof.'' In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to also thank my colleague and friend, Congressman Joseph Kennedy from the Fourth District of Massachusetts, for his work on this legislation as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 2464.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, at the outset, I would like to thank Chairman Upton and Ms. Castor, the ranking member from Florida, for their articulate debate this afternoon on this important issue. I would also like to thank Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and all of the members of the Rules Committee for making this amendment in order. This commonsense amendment will simply ensure that the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal agency with the primary jurisdiction over pipeline security on behalf of the American people, will retain a meaningful seat at the table when it comes to determinations made by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, on whether to approve a pipeline construction permit. In particular, this amendment provides that, in considering a pipeline permit application, FERC must simply consult with TSA administrators as to whether a pipeline developer is compliant with existing TSA guidelines and best practice recommendations governing pipeline security. That includes an examination of facility security, cybersecurity, and other critical measures that are designed to safeguard the American people against the threat of terrorists and cyber attacks perpetrated on the U.S. pipeline system. While H.R. 2910 seeks to expedite the FERC review process for pipeline construction projects in the name of efficiency, we also know that recent terrorist and cyber attacks launched against pipeline facilities nationwide have more than demonstrated that we cannot place expediency above national security and public safety. In 2015, a domestic terrorist received a maximum 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to Federal charges relating to his use of a highly volatile explosive device to damage a natural pipeline in Texas. Four years earlier than that, a similar attack was perpetrated in Oklahoma by an individual armed with a homemade improvised explosive device. In addition, the 2017 series on ``Pipelines in Peril,'' published by Energy and Environment News, reported that advanced cyber threats targeting U.S. pipelines have only increased and evolved over the past 5 years, following a so-called pipeline hacking spree undertaken by members of the Chinese military. The theft of sensitive data from at least 23 separate U.S. pipeline companies in 2011 and 2012 constitute the sort of cyber breach that the Congressional Research Service has described as allowing hackers the ability to ``disrupt pipeline service and cause spills, explosions, and fires all from remote locations.'' I would also like to express my concern regarding an issue that was the subject of an amendment of mine which was not ruled in order, and that is the issuance of pipeline construction permits by FERC in areas where a project site and its surrounding community is already experiencing preexisting unsafe levels of air pollutants. In my own congressional district in Massachusetts, FERC recently approved a proposal for a natural gas compressor station in the beautiful town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, and as evidenced by the certificate of independent and quality testing conducted by Dr. Curt Nordgaard and other community stakeholders, the air quality in Weymouth is already at toxic levels of so-called criteria air pollutants such as benzene. My amendment would have suspended the certificate issued by FERC for the Weymouth compressor station and other projects that the commission approves for construction and communities that have unsafe air quality levels. In addition to my concerns around air quality, I have to highlight the public safety issues surrounding the route of a natural gas pipeline that FERC approved in West Roxbury, a local neighborhood in the heart of my district. The pipeline runs through a densely populated neighborhood. It runs right through an active blasting area in a quarry that is located next to a residential area, and I don't know how that happens if public safety and national security are considerations. Whether a pipeline is blown up because of stupidity because FERC has located it in a blasting zone or it is because of a nefarious attempt of outside actors, the bottom line is that FERC should sit down and talk with TSA when they are looking at these siting decisions. The bottom line is, what this amendment will accomplish, it will require that to happen, that consultation to happen between TSA and FERC. Mr. Chair, I ask Members to vote in support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk

Mr. LYNCH. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chair, first of all, I thank the gentleman very much for accepting the amendment. I agree, there may be some other areas that are not particularly addressed, such as the LNG situation. Obviously, we want to increase the level of safety with respect to LNG as well, but I understand those questions can be answered during our debate with the Senate as well and in conference. But the bottom line is I thank him for accepting the amendment.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I have to say that this is the single worst piece of legislation that I have seen in my time here in Congress, and I have been here awhile. So I have to congratulate the gentleman from Texas for putting this amalgamation of terrible ideas together. This bill basically destroys the work that we did to try to secure the banks after the financial crisis of 2008. It harms consumers, it lets off bad actors, it hamstrings our financial regulators, and I believe it will lead to the next financial crisis. This bill will destroy the only consumer protection agency in the United States Government by handing over the ability to defund the operation to the people who were committed to opposing its very creation. It also repeals the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule that simply requires that financial advisers put the interests of its clients first rather than its own. And finally, it is important to emphasize that the Financial CHOICE Act rolls back the accountability and reporting standards for credit rating agencies, as Gretchen Morgenson discussed in a New York Times ``Fair Game'' column on May 7. Mr. Chairman, to sum up, this is an awful bill. This is a real stinker. I hope that my colleagues here vote against it.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding, and I join him in opposition to this bill. While originally my remarks would have been much kinder to the bill, and I may have considered supporting it, I did not consider it favorably in committee. I know we had a voice vote on that. But in light of the unfortunate remarks that imply that there was illegal activity going on by Federal employees, and that is why we need this bill that is before us right now, I do have to agree with the ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia, that this bill is, indeed, a part of the vanguard of legislation to severely restrict and eliminate the use of official time. Under the bipartisan Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, a Federal employees who serves as a union steward or union representative may be granted official time to perform activities that--and this is the important standard that is in the bill--the gentleman from Georgia indicated that we need this bill because there is no standard. The standard in the Civil Service Reform Act requires a number of things: It requires both labor and management to agree on the use of official time, and that official time be ``reasonable, necessary, and in the public interest.'' That is the standard today, and every single Federal workplace-- management and labor--have to agree that the use of official time is reasonable, that it is necessary, and that it is in the public interest. That is a great standard, and that is what has been going on so far. While there are those who seek to curb or repeal the statutory right and may claim that it amounts to misuse of government resources, let me offer you another concrete example of why official time is critical to the Federal workplace and serves the interests of the American people and taxpayer. In the wake of the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Nation also endured a series of anthrax attacks perpetuated through the United States mail system against media offices in Florida, New York, and also Federal offices here in the Nation's Capital. The affected facilities included the Brentwood Mail Processing and Distribution Center here in D.C., that is now named after two dedicated postal employees, Thomas Morris and Joseph Curseen, who lost their lives to anthrax exposure at that facility. This is immediately after September 11. They were postal workers. They died of inhalation of anthrax poisoning because of the jobs they were doing on behalf of this country. The risk of further anthrax attacks threatened the safety of our postal workforce. I had two sisters with young children at the time working at the post office, and I knew of this well.

Mr. LYNCH. It jeopardized the safety of our postal workforce and customers, as well as the free flow of information and commerce that the constitutional responsibility of the United States Postal Service requires. But rather than refusing to go to work in a dangerous workplace, by the use of official time, the management of the United States Postal Service, and the union representatives of the United States Postal Service sat down and worked out a measure where the union agreed to send their workers in, the mail kept running to every home and business in America, but the postal workers absorbed that danger on their own because they knew that steps were being taken to keep them and their families--because the threat was that anthrax would get on their clothes and they would bring that back to their own homes. We worked that out. That agreement would not have been worked out but for the use of official time--and a lot of official time that was used in that crisis. That is the responsibility that those union representatives had to the workers. They have to guarantee a safe workplace for those workers, and that is why we should vote against this bill. This is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and we ought to vote this down.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, I have received countless visits, calls, letters and emails from constituents about this bill. I have heard from hospitals, doctors, patients, nurses, parents of children with serious illnesses, researchers and the list goes on. They have one thing in common: they are afraid of what TrumpCare could do to their patients and to their families. H.R. 1628 will not bring down health care costs or improve access. Indeed, by slashing Medicaid by $880 billion, it will force States to ration care for our most vulnerable populations. In Massachusetts, this cut will put the health of 1.9 million people at risk, including 650,000 children, 170,000 seniors and 280,000 people with disabilities. My state is also being hit hard by the opiate addiction crisis and cutting Medicaid will cripple our ability to address that problem. It is also a disgrace that the funding being cut out of Medicaid is being handed over to insurance companies and the wealthiest Americans in a $1 trillion tax break for the rich. TrumpCare slashes $175 billion from the Medicare Trust Fund, cutting its solvency by three years and hurts seniors by letting insurance companies charge older Americans five times more than they do young ones. The yearlong bar on reimbursements to Planned Parenthood for non- abortion services means that women will have to go without health screenings, pre-natal care and well-woman visits. And according to the C.B.O., 24 million Americans will no longer have health insurance coverage. All this begs the question, how does this bill provide better care for Americans? But you do not have to take my word for it when I say that this bill will hurt Americans. Groups like the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Nurses Association, just to name a few, are urging Congress to stop TrumpCare. These are the men and women who are out there on the front lines everyday treating and healing our fellow Americans. To make things worse, TrumpCare is being rushed to the floor with minimal deliberation. It was introduced less than three weeks ago and we have not held a single hearing or heard from a single expert witness on it. Now we are being asked to vote on it despite receiving the newest version of the manager's amendment late last night. This is not the regular order and transparency that the Republicans promised. Mr. Speaker, this bill pushes the cost of health care onto those who can least afford it while providing massive tax cuts for the wealthy. I urge my fellow members to defeat this misguided bill and let us begin the serious work of making real improvements in the Affordable Care Act for all Americans.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. It is wonderful to join Mr. Boyle and Mr. Veasey from Texas. I thank them for creating the Blue Collar Caucus. I think the time is perfect for the challenges that we face as a country, and I think also, as a Democrat, embracing some of our tradition. I think, in some cases, we have drifted from that. I do want to talk about the blue-collar economy and what is happening to people who work in the building trades and work as truck drivers and nurses and people who are really the backbone of this country. As Brendan mentioned, I was an ironworker for about 20 years. I know what it is when you are trying to work from paycheck to paycheck, strapping on a pair of work boots every single day. I also want to focus tonight on one part of Mr. Trump's executive orders and policies that have really hurt people in our demographic: regular working people. I want to speak specifically about veterans. As most people heard, President Trump, when he came into office, initiated what was called a Federal worker hiring freeze, stopping any workers from going to work for the Federal Government. I just want to remind people out there that about 30 percent of those workers are veterans. So 30 percent of the people who go to work for the Federal Government are veterans. By putting a freeze on Federal workers, you are blocking almost one-third of workers who are veterans who would be trying to go to work. The Federal Government is expansive. That includes workers at the VA; it includes workers at the FAA; it includes workers at the Defense Department, the State Department; on and on and on. So this is really freezing out veterans from going to work. I had a young veteran in my office the other day who had some skills in radiology. He learned that through his military service in the Navy, but also when he got out, with the GI bill, and trying to go to work at the VA. I had to explain to him that President Trump, when he came into office, put a hiring freeze on, and that we were going to have to try to figure out another way to put him to work. Well, that case is playing out over 50 States, and thousands-- probably tens of thousands right now--of veterans are being denied the opportunity to go to work for the Federal Government. Many of them have skills that are necessary. We have people retiring and leaving Federal employment on a daily basis. We have nurses that are retiring at the VA and folks that work for the EPA are leaving at the end of their working lives. They are retiring. Yet, we are blocking these veterans from filling those positions because of the President's hiring freeze. Seeing that, I actually drafted a bill that I am happy to share. It is H.R. 1001. It will basically create an exception. It will keep the President's freeze in place, except for veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans who have served in previous conflicts. Anyone who has put on this country's uniform as a veteran would be exempt from the hiring freeze so that we can do the right thing. Each and every one of these young men and women--and there are a lot of women--I have been to Iraq 17 times now; Afghanistan, about 9 times; and I am amazed at the number of young women who serve our country in uniform. I already have, including my colleagues here, 23 Democrats who have signed on. I would love to get some of my Republican friends on this bill. This should not be a partisan issue, trying to put veterans to work. I am sure we have got some good Democrats and Republicans out there that agree on this, and this should be a bipartisan issue. We can stop the--let's be hopeful it was unintended consequences of the hiring freeze. We can stop this by coming together. Sign onto H.R. 1001. Again, I thank my colleagues for their advocacy on behalf of workers. I notice today that the President's nominee for Labor Secretary, Mr. Puzder, who had a very bad record with workers, withdrew his nomination. He has withdrawn from consideration. I think it is because of the hard work that Mr. Veasey and Mr. Boyle have done in speaking out on behalf of American workers and pointing out the bad decisions and the wage and garnishment issues that Mr. Puzder had. I just think that their advocacy helped enormously in having him withdraw that nomination. I thank my colleagues again for the great work that they do on behalf of all American workers, and I appreciate their service to the country.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of Beacon Hill Village in Boston. It's an anniversary with significance for the whole Nation and they are to be congratulated on reaching this special milestone. Mr. Speaker, Beacon Hill Village was created by, and for, neighbors determined, as they aged, to continue to thrive and grow in the neighborhood they loved. There was no ready model. A core goal of Beacon Hill Village members was keeping independent. There isn't much choice about growing old, but there are choices about where and how to do so. A little help with the ordinary business of living is always welcome, yet Beacon Hill Village's philosophy was from the start all about choice: its members are quite capable of figuring out what they need and when. But the revolution in aging our nation is experiencing also presented an extraordinary opportunity beyond better managing daily life. Most of our nation's elders will live many years after retirement: Their goals for those years are to be productive, engaged and open to new people, new experiences, and new ideas. Its members quickly and clearly understood how Beacon Hill Village could advance those goals. Almost from the start, word of Beacon Hill Village's success serving its own members spread. More and more communities, from near and far, were soon flooding Beacon Hill Village with requests for help in creating villages of their own. In response, just a few years after it opened in 2002, Beacon Hill Village was the chief force behind the creation of the Village to Village Network, dedicated to helping communities everywhere design their own villages reflecting local needs and using local resources. Today that Network has more than 350 open and developing villages serving members numbering over 40,000. These villages are all across the nation, in 45 states and the District of Columbia, and in six countries abroad. Mr. Speaker, I am convinced, that the best days of Beacon Hill Village, the Village to Village Network and the villages of the nation, are still ahead of them. Their message is simple, forceful and optimistic: aging should be to each individual's own design. No one, as they age, should be told where to go or how to live. Villages can help their members take responsibility for their own aging and make choices resulting in vibrant, purposeful lives lived on their own terms, in their own homes and communities. With this message the village movement is changing how elders experience aging and how our society perceives aging. Every American benefits from these changes. On February 13th in Boston, Dr. Atul Gawande, whose celebrated 2014 book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End continues to sustain a lively national conversation about living well and ending well in old age, will speak at a public forum to salute and conclude Beacon Hill Village's fifteenth-year celebrations. Being Mortal has generous things to say about how Beacon Hill Village and villages inspired by it provide a valuable model for such living and ending well. Dr. Gawande's remarks will be simulcast nationally to more than 150 villages where more than 5000 will participate remotely in the celebration. One of the great issues worldwide today is how to support and care for aging populations. By 2030, twenty percent of our nation's population will be over 65, an estimated 83 million people. The numbers are even larger in many countries around the world. The Village concept and Dr. Gawande's profound understanding of the importance of community and choice offer valuable insights and solutions for this challenging phenomenon. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the positive impact that the village movement has had on the experience of aging, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting Beacon Hill Village and villages throughout the nation by designating Monday, February 13, 2017 as National Villages Day.