Ben Luján

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding, because one of the resolutions from the two chapters was raised, and think it was raised by the gentleman as well, so I just wanted to make sure we had a chance to review that. So if that resolution is reviewed, if the gentleman would look at paragraph 4, which is where the concern that was brought up by the allottees to the very distinguished and honorable chapter leaders was raised, what it says is this: ``Navajo allotment landowners expressed their concerns that the `Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2018:' might infringe on their royalty payments they are presently benefitting from oil and gas development on their allotment lands. Navajo communities, including the Navajo Reservation, has always been in a very depressed economic state for many years and such development of natural resources gives Navajo families benefits to their daily lives.'' The Bureau of Land Management did provide assurance that there would be no impact to those royalty payments. So to answer the question of might infringe, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management have said absolutely not would there be any infringement. So I appreciate the gentleman's time, and I appreciate the clarification.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, I am optimistic that this amendment may even pass on a voice vote because I have been listening closely to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle about the importance of providing clarifying language to ensure that we are able to make sure that we are meeting the goals that we have laid out. So I am hopeful, Mr. Chairman, that this may be a short debate, but one that will definitely pass and make sure that we are embracing both sides of the aisle. Mr. Chairman, this simple amendment would further clarify that this proposal only withdraws Federal resources. The withdrawal in H.R. 2181 would not impact nor remove valid existing rights. This includes any lands and minerals owned by a Tribe or a member of a Tribe, including allotment land, and it will include any valid rights to lands or minerals held by the State of New Mexico. I introduced this bill to prevent further encroachment of Federal oil and gas development on the sacred sites of the greater Chaco Canyon region. These sites have withstood the test of time, 800 A.D. They have stood for thousands of years and give us a window into the past. Yet, every year, oil and gas development on Federal lands inch closer and closer, threatening these sites and thousands of ancient artifacts within the region. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park has significant religious, cultural, and archaeological value to the original peoples of the Southwest. Under this administration, Chaco does continue to face greater threats. Under the Trump administration, the BLM has proposed to sell leases near Chaco Canyon three times since March 2018. But I will also give some credit to the administration. Each time, under the Trump administration, the sales were withdrawn by the BLM under the Department of the Interior after pushback from the Native American communities. And each time, the administration promised meaningful consultation, which is living up to our trust responsibility, something that I shared with my colleague on the other side of the aisle. Sadly, the meaningful consultation never took place, yet the leases were up again for sale only months later. It is time for Congress to heed the interest of the communities across New Mexico that want to see the site protected and withdraw the Federal lands and minerals across Chaco Canyon. As you have seen and heard, 90 percent of the San Juan Basin is already open to drilling. Oil and gas rights are not under threat here. I understand that concerns have been raised by allottees who worry this bill will impact their ability to develop their rights. But as I said earlier, the bill clearly protects them. If my colleagues have any concerns, this amendment provides further clarifying language to ensure that those protections are very clear. This proposal will not impact anyone's ability to develop their valid rights, including Navajo allottees. This amendment makes it clear that the legislation only affects Federal Government land and minerals owned. Let's be clear: My legislation supports the interests of Tribes and their sovereignty. H.R. 2181 is well-supported by Native American communities. The proposal has received the support of the All Pueblo Council of Governors representing 20 Pueblos and the Navajo Nation. Leaders were at the table for every step of this process, helping to decide how these resources should be protected. I will forever remember the conversations I had with Navajo elders and children who continue to share their concerns associated with protecting the sacred site. I will just close, Mr. Chairman, by reminding us once again that when we lay our loved ones to rest, we will do everything we can to protect those sacred sites. This weekend, I found myself next to the Nambe Church in the community where I live, half a mile away from where I rest my head, remembering those who have fallen, cleaning those sites, pulling up the weeds, raking the ground, paying my respects. I can't imagine how my mom or I would feel if those places would be desecrated. That is all that we are asking. Let's come together. Let's protect these sacred sites. Let's do it together. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, just to close, I very much appreciate the attention that was brought to section 6 of the amendment, which very clearly states that nothing in this act, number one, affects the mineral rights of an Indian Tribe or member of an Indian Tribe to trust land or allotment land; or, number two, precludes improvements to or rights-of-way for water, power, or road development under Federal lands to assist communities adjacent to or in the vicinity of the Federal land. I very much respect my colleague and the former chair of the committee, Mr. Bishop, and Mr. Gosar, and I look forward to continuing to work with them. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, there is a little bit of irony on this amendment that, again, I can't overlook, and we raised it a little bit earlier. The previous debate, which was around protecting the Grand Canyon, included an argument from my colleague that there should be some support for the Member whose district that we were debating. Earlier, the gentleman from Arizona offered an amendment to an Arizona public lands bill that would have removed the lands in his district from the bill. Yet here we have a bill in New Mexico, in the Third Congressional District that I so proudly represent, which is supported by the Governor of the State of New Mexico and by the entire New Mexico delegation, and the gentleman from Arizona is still trying to make those changes--changes, I would offer, that don't make a bit of difference when it comes to the substantive side of the bill. This amendment would not improve the bill. In fact, it would make it harder for Tribal communities to protect the lands this bill was intended to preserve. The gentleman claims that he wants to ensure the State has access to the lands in the withdrawal zone so that they can potentially earn revenue on these lands. Well, there is something that has happened in the State of New Mexico over the last many years. In New Mexico, the State Land Office, which has jurisdiction over these lands, has placed a moratorium on these lands within the buffer zone because the State recognizes the importance of protecting Chaco Canyon. It is important that Congress do the same. We need to recognize that the importance of these sacred homelands does not end at the boundaries of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a claim that was falsely made by my colleagues earlier today. The entire greater Chaco region contains discovered and undiscovered cultural resources important to Pueblo communities, to Tribal communities, to our brothers and sisters who have a connection to this region. We need to create this protection zone to ensure that these resources are not disturbed or destroyed by future oil and gas exploration on Federal lands. As my colleagues have noted, even Secretary Bernhardt agrees with this sentiment. That is the Secretary of the Interior under the Trump administration. That is why he and the administration worked with U.S. Senator of New Mexico Martin Heinrich to agree to a 1-year withdrawal around the Chaco region to allow Congress to act on these protections for these sites. So I want to thank my colleagues for taking the initiative to act within the allotted time that was given to us by the Secretary of the Interior. This amendment ignores the importance of these resources, ignores the desires of the State, and would make it harder for Native communities to protect their lands. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues for the time today. I encourage my colleagues to oppose this amendment, but I hope to continue to work with my colleagues in the Congress so we can get to adoption of this important legislation with as strong a bipartisan vote as possible. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, I listened closely to the words of my colleague on the other side of the aisle and, Mr. Chairman, he said something that matters very much to me as well: That New Mexico knows best. New Mexico knows best. The governor of the State of New Mexico, the State land commissioner, the entire delegation supports this legislation. So I am hoping we will earn the vote of my colleague from the other side of the aisle on final adoption, so he can join with the good people of New Mexico and support the bill.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I am here to speak on the importance of Title X Family Planning programs and to condemn the Trump administration's misguided efforts to prevent patients from making fully informed health decisions. This week, the House will begin to reverse years of deep funding cuts to this vital program, a slash-and-burn approach that has had drastic impacts on the health of women and families. Consider this: 7 years of Republican cuts left 1.2 million without access to proper care. This is shameful. I am proud to have led, with the support of more than 190 of my colleagues, the effort to urge the Appropriations Committee to include $400 million for the Title X Family Planning program in fiscal year 2020. Nearly 4 million people struggling to make ends meet, including people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, and people in underserved rural communities, receive care at Title X centers. We must support the health of millions of Americans by supporting Title X and preventing States from discriminating against potential Title X providers.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Equality Act because equality and fairness are core American values. Right now, fairness is not codified in our justice system, and it is long past time to end discrimination. When half of Americans live in a State without legal protections for LGBTQ individuals, that is not equality. When LGBTQ Americans can be fired, evicted, and discriminated against because of who they are, who they love, or how they identify, that is not justice. The opportunity before us is a historic one. I want to thank my colleagues who have led the effort to bring this bill to the floor. My colleagues who vote ``no'' on this will be judged. Mr. Speaker, this is something that we should be working on together. We will pass the Equality Act for the dignity of all Americans.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the rule because, for the past 2 years, the Trump administration has relentlessly sabotaged the Affordable Care Act and attacked my constituents' access to care. My Republican colleagues use a lot of smoke and mirrors to talk about these plans, so today I want to read straight from the Texas Department of Insurance website, texas.gov. This page is titled: ``What You Need to Know About Short-Term Health Insurance.'' Right there, the Texas Department of Insurance says: ``Know what the plan covers. It is important to ask what's covered and what's not. For example, short-term plans might not cover emergency care, maternity care, prescriptions, or certain other services. They might not cover care for accidents or health issues.'' Listen closely to this: ``These plans also do not have to cover preexisting conditions. If a company sells you a plan, it may deny a claim if it determines you had a related condition in the past.'' There it is in black and white on the Texas Department of Insurance website. These Trump junk plans discriminate against people with preexisting conditions. Let me continue, because it gets better, to the third point, ``Other costs.'' Here the State of Texas specifies that ``short-term health plans often have lower premiums, but other costs may be higher.'' Let me translate. These Trump junk plans might be cheaper for us up front, but you will pay more money for less coverage on the back end. That is why, today, I stand proudly with my Democratic colleagues for standing up to the Trump administration's harmful policies and for acting to protect healthcare for the 50 percent of Americans who have a preexisting health condition. The Trump administration's destructive policies will force the American people to pay more money for less coverage. If you don't believe me, just go to the website yourself. This is unacceptable. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on Ann Kuster's bill, H.R. 986.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chair, I want to share a story of one of my constituents, Rayen. Her story is hard to hear, but we cannot tune it out. When Rayen first reached out for protection, her partner, Daniel, had struck her with a wrench, raped her, and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness. But Tribal police had little jurisdiction over Daniel, who is not Native American. They were forced to turn the case over to Federal prosecutors. Next, Rayen went missing. Her body was found several weeks later, beaten and strangled. Rayen's story is representative of the violence women, especially Native women, face every day. This violence is an epidemic in our country. Native women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than any other ethnicity. We need to act. The Violence Against Women Act is a pillar of our Federal response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Passage of H.R. 1585 will ensure that every survivor of domestic violence is given the protection they need to rebuild their lives after experiencing violence. Mr. Chair, please join me in voting for this legislation in memory of Rayen and in memory of all the women who have faced domestic violence and assault.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before you today in strong support of H.R. 1. Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking Congressman Sarbanes, Speaker Pelosi, Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, and my colleagues for their work on this issue. H.R. 1 is historic legislation. It will restore transparency in our government and put the power back in the hands of the people. It will reduce the role of dark money in politics and make it easier to vote. Perhaps most importantly, it will reaffirm that this is the people's House and our work here is for them. There could be nothing more fundamentally important than that. Too many have lost faith in the process; too many have lost faith in their government. They look around and wonder who is on their side, who is fighting for them. They see rules rigged against them, and every day it gets harder and harder for their neighbor to buy insulin or for their daughter to shake off the incredible burdens of student loan debt. This legislation, H.R. 1, is an important step in how we stand up for our communities and for the people. It is a tool that allows us to act on the many issues impacting working men and women, the family that I was raised in. It will also give Americans a greater voice in their government. This legislation will allow automatic voter registration and create a national holiday for election day. I am also proud to submit an amendment to H.R. 1 that will expand election infrastructure grants to promote voter participation, secure our elections, and increase funding for these efforts to engage all parts of our society in our democracy. Looking ahead to next week, I am looking forward to reintroducing with my colleagues the Native American Voting Rights Act. This legislation will make sure that communities are not left behind as we strengthen our democracy. House Democrats committed to the American people that we would fundamentally change Washington if elected to the majority; we committed that our work would be for the people. This week, we are living up to that commitment.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Chair, our democracy is at its best when all voices are heard. Unfortunately, whether due to an antiquated voting system or restrictive voter laws, too many Americans face too many obstacles to participating in our elections. There is also an immediate need to protect election security. Russia attacked our democracy in 2016 and could do so again. That is why, last Congress, I introduced a Voting Innovation Prize Act, to tap into America's innovative spirit to strengthen our democracy. These are competitive grants. Today, I am proud to offer an amendment based on that legislation. My amendment will expand the election infrastructure grants to promote voter participation, secure our elections, and increase funding. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Bennie Thompson for working with me on this amendment, and I urge adoption of this amendment and the For the People Act. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Chair, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren), the chair of the Committee on House Administration.

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, I urge adoption of H.R. 1, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of New Mexico state Representative Henry ``Kiki'' Saavedra, who passed away earlier this week. Kiki was a legend in the Roundhouse. A longtime friend and colleague of my father, I grew up playing with his young sons as our dads worked together. I remember his laughter, and later, as I grew up, I saw how that infectious spirit brought people together politically. He was well liked and respected by everyone, regardless of party. And, whether it was infrastructure projects or funding issues, he got things done because of it. Kiki was truly a special person, and I know his impact will be felt in the Legislature for decades to come. My prayers are with Kiki and his loving family during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, the pain from this Trump shutdown is being felt deeply in every corner of my district in New Mexico and across America. We have farmers and ranchers that are unable to plan for their production. Tribal communities are facing disruptions in their healthcare services. People are not getting urgent questions answered by the IRS, and some families are worried that there are going to be liens put on their homes. A local health clinic in my district, the Pecos Valley Medical Center had their Federal loan halted, even though the project has been approved, which means they can't draw down on funds. This means they will have to pause their efforts to expand access to mental healthcare and it could jeopardize the project. Over 800,000 families, individuals across America are not being paid. Over 150,000 veterans that are furloughed, some of them are working without being paid. Chef Jose Andres is feeding thousands of people who are lining up just down the street between here and the White House. Madam Speaker, I say to the President, come outside and go see what Chef Andres is doing. These families are hurting. End this shutdown. It can end today.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, I was unexpectedly detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 40.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, New Mexicans are working tirelessly to provide for their families. They do not have the luxury of ignoring their bills until the President figures out what it takes to run a government. President Trump clearly does not understand the anxiety that comes from choosing between a mortgage payment and gas in the tank or not being able to pay your bills at the end of the month. I have heard from many in my district who are hurting because of the Trump shutdown, constituents like Andrea. Her family became a one- income household after her 4-year-old son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy. Her husband is a furloughed USDA employee. Because of her son's medical needs, their family has already been living paycheck to paycheck, and the shutdown immediately put them into survival mode. The shutdown must end. Democrats have put multiple bipartisan plans on the table to open the government. Madam Speaker, I implore Mitch McConnell to let the Senate vote to end this shutdown for the hundreds of thousands of families being hurt, families just like Andrea's.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 767, the SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of 2018. This bill establishes a training program for healthcare and social service providers in order to better identify potential victims of human trafficking when they come into contact with healthcare or social services professionals. The bill provides grants to appropriate entities to help train these providers on how to identify and appropriately treat potential victims of human trafficking. Nearly 21 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, forced labor, or sexual exploitation. At some point, many of these unidentified victims will come into contact with a healthcare provider or social services professional. It is critical for these providers to know how best to care for these individuals and how to ensure they can coordinate their treatment with other providers in a way that is culturally relevant, trauma informed, and patient centered. Helping healthcare professionals better recognize the signs of trafficking and improve their ability to intervene can truly be the difference between life and death. Mr. Speaker, the House passed H.R. 767 on February 26 of this year, and we are now considering the amendment to the bill that the Senate agreed to yesterday. These changes reflect bipartisan efforts to streamline the text of the legislation, while maintaining the bill's intent and scope as originally passed in the House. I want to thank Congressman Cohen for sponsoring this important piece of legislation and for his leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Mary Lynn Roper. Mary Lynn has been a force for good in our community. She has blazed a trail for so many aspiring journalists in New Mexico. Generations of young people will look to the example she set not only in her professional field, but also in the way she gave back to the community. Mary Lynn was instrumental in the launch of ``KOATS for Kids,'' a clothing drive that helps children in New Mexico stay warm in the winters, and she spearheaded the ``School Supply'' program for schools and students in our region. Her decades of service in the newsroom at KOAT have also made a tremendous impact. She ensured that the stories of the people of New Mexico were told and her legacy in the field of journalism will be lasting. I want to personally congratulate Mary Lynn Roper on her retirement and thank her for her service in New Mexico. I have no doubt that she will continue to make a difference in whatever the next adventure brings.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. This is an important step forward in the fight against the Nation's opioid epidemic. However, this Congress must acknowledge that this is not the end. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. There is much more work to do to ensure that families get the help that they deserve. I am pleased that this package includes language that I have championed to address gaps in prevention and gaps in access to treatment. In addition, this bill will create pathways to behavioral healthcare jobs in communities like New Mexico. Still, Congress must do more. As we have heard from Representative Cummings, this is going to take much more money, investment, and comprehensive legislation.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, every community in America has suffered from the opioid epidemic. These are our moms and dads, our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters. All across America, families are suffering. This is not a new problem. Earlier this year, The New York Times wrote about how one of the most distressing truths of America's opioid epidemic is that it has been with us for 150 years. For more than a century, this crisis has been breaking communities. This certainly isn't a new problem in New Mexico. Since 2000, New Mexico has had one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths in the United States. This cycle must be broken because, if there is no action, America is doomed to see these tragedies repeat for another 150 years. This week, we are working on passing a package of bipartisan bills to address this crisis, and that is good. However, if you listen to our friends on the other side of the aisle, you might think that congressional Republicans think this problem has been solved. We need to do more and be more aggressive. As The New York Times wrote, serious legislation needs to be considered, such as proposals modeled on the Ryan White CARE Act that would appropriate $100 billion over 10 years for research, treatment, and support. One of the packages we have today is a bipartisan approach around the Ryan White CARE Act. The funding is not sufficient. We can do more. Last year in Congress, we came together in a bipartisan fashion to provide a billion dollars to States to address the opioid crisis in the 21st Century Cures Act. We all knew that the billion dollars included in Cures would only be a first step. That is what people said. I am going to say today what I said last Congress when we were debating these bills: While the House is taking a step toward addressing the opioid epidemic, this is a missed opportunity. There are good policies in this package of bills, but I am deeply disappointed in the lack of investment on such an urgent crisis facing America. Congress can and must do more. On behalf of 129 people who will die today from a drug overdose, Congress must do more to address this crisis in a deeply meaningful way. And to do that, real investment must be made, large dollar investments that save lives across America. My bill extends the bipartisan block grant funding passed in Cures for an additional 5 years. These grants would continue to support States in their efforts to enhance access to treatment, bolster substance abuse prevention programs, and expand evidence-based initiatives that will help address this deadly epidemic. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an editorial written by The New York Times, titled, ``An Opioid Crisis Foretold,'' from April 21, 2018. [From the New York Times, Apr. 21, 2018] An Opioid Crisis Foretold (By The Editorial Board) One of the more distressing truths of America's opioid epidemic, which now kills tens of thousands of people every year, is that it isn't the first such crisis. Across the 19th and 20th centuries, the United States, China and other countries saw drug abuse surge as opium and morphine were used widely as recreational drugs and medicine. In the West, doctors administered morphine liberally to their patients, while families used laudanum, an opium tincture, as a cure- all, including for pacifying colicky children. In China, many millions of people were hooked on smoking opium. In the mid- 1800s, the British went into battle twice--bombing forts and killing thousands of civilians and soldiers alike--to keep the Chinese market open to drug imports in what would become known as the Opium Wars. That history has either been forgotten or willfully ignored by many in the medical and political establishments. Today's opioid crisis is already the deadliest drug epidemic in American history. Opioid overdoses killed more than 45,000 people in the 12 months that ended in September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The epidemic is now responsible for nearly as many American deaths per year as AIDS was at the peak of that crisis. Experts say that the death toll from opioids could climb for years to come. Millions of people are dependent on or addicted to these drugs, and many of them are increasingly turning to more potent, illicit supplies of heroin and fentanyl, which are cheap and readily available on the street and online. Yet only about 10 percent of Americans who suffer from substance abuse receive specialized addiction treatment, according to a report by the surgeon general.