Brenda Lawrence

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to recognize the incredible achievements of Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer Lou Langlais as well as the ultimate sacrifice he made for this country. I urge the passage of H.R. 3218. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 4425, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service in Collegeville, Minnesota, as the Eugene J. McCarthy Post Office. Mr. McCarthy had many successes. He served as a politician. He served in the military. He taught and was an educator. He was one of our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives and later in the Senate. Ultimately, he entered the Presidential race to become President of the United States. Although he did not win that nomination, I feel strongly in urging the passage of H.R. 4425. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today we have named post offices after some great individuals--public servants, members of our military, politicians, community leaders--and we have done it in the name of respecting their legacies and in honoring them so that their families are honored as well. I just want to go through the names again: Ross McGinnis, Adam Brown, Roger Fussell, Gregory Barney, Garrett Gamble, Caleb Nelson, William Lacey, Louis Van Iersel, Louis Langlais, and Eugene McCarthy. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 4425 and say, as it has been said earlier, that post offices are gathering places in our communities. I gave 30 years of service to the United States Postal Service at various levels of service. I know that the Postal Service is a place at which people trust their mail will be handled, for the commerce of our country rests in those post offices, and in small rural communities, it is the community center. Today we have done a great thing, and we have done it bipartisanly. I hear that word, and I sigh a breath of relief in knowing that this body--the Members of Congress--can come together. We have come together to recognize people not because of their parties, but because they are Americans and they have served this great country. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of H.R. 4063, the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act. As those who defend our liberty return home from service, their fight for freedom internalizes. The homecoming of our nation's veterans often marks their entrance into a new war--a constant battle against a visceral and intangible enemy: substance abuse. As we pass this important legislation, we afford our veterans the adequate support to fight this uphill battle, thus allowing our nation's fallen soldiers to rise as they repeatedly repel attacks from addiction. We must pass the PROMISE Act, because if we do not look out for the protectors of our freedom, who will look out for us? Through my experiences as an EOE investigator at the USPS, I saw firsthand the divisive consequences of substance abuse on addicts, their loved ones, and communities as a whole. The PROMISE Act will bring nationwide uniformity to opioid addiction prevention efforts by implementing opioid treatment and therapy guidelines, expanding VA safety initiatives, and establishing research-based committees to measure the quality of treatment methods. While some may question why we are voting today to help those who have broken our nation's laws, just consider: who were the citizens that protected our freedom and nurtured our liberty when they were called upon? Now that our soldiers are the ones in need, who are we to deny them? Just as veterans took on the duty of defending our communities, we must come together to halt the increasing opioid addiction rate for the sake of veterans and the good of America as a whole. The PROMISE Act will serve to acknowledge veterans' selfless sacrifice by establishing a forgotten American ideal: that we as a nation will always care for those who protect and defend our freedom. While no amount of money could ever buy back that which was sacrificed in the name of liberty, the passage of this legislation will alleviate some of the hardships faced by opioid-dependent veterans. As we look to find the most effective methods for treating opioid addiction, the PROMISE Act will serve as a strong step toward reversing our nation's substance abuse epidemic.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5048 the Good Samaritan Assessment Act of 2016. Addiction to opioids and other prescription pain relievers have become an epidemic in the United States. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 2.1 million Americans have an addiction to opioid drugs. While the use or prescription can assist individual pain, the risk for addiction is becoming a major problem. This has resulted in people being put into situations to try to save someone's life a drug overdose. According to current law, any emergency personnel who administers drugs to combat an overdose can be prosecuted. If individuals are worried that they will be punished for saving someone's life, many lives could be lost to drug overdoses. According to estimates between 2002-2014 the number of deaths from heroin have quadrupled and prescription opioids have killed more Americans than all other drugs combined. In my district, I have seen many people affected by drug abuse issues and the Good Samaritan Assessment Act will not only help save the lives of people in our district, but American's nationwide. This bill will start the process to allow individuals to not be criminally charged for people administering drugs to save someone's life. The Good Samaritan Assessment Act of 2016 will require the Comptroller General of the United States to study Good Samaritan laws that pertain to opioid overdoses and other purposes. By passing this legislation to do research there would be more efforts to encourage Good Samaritan laws to be put into place in the United States. I would like to close by saying that I am proud of our chamber for taking this important step to make sure that Americans would not face the possibility of being criminally prosecuted for trying to save someone's life. I also want to thank my colleagues for recognizing the importance of being a good samaritan, and actively helping those in need.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall Vote No. 163 on H.R. 3724, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no.''

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1567, the Global Food Security Act of 2015. As the world's population has increased the demand for food has grown with it. Amidst a volatile oil market and impacts from extreme weather on major food-exporting industries due to climate change, food prices have risen with the burden falling heavily on underdeveloped nations and their citizens. The pressure is on our chamber to ensure that we live in a world where food availability, regardless of droughts and transportation costs, is not an option but a right. Feed the Future, a U.S. Government Initiative, works hand-in-hand with partner countries to develop agriculture sectors that help domestic economies as well as the individuals in these places suffering from food shortages. The advanced approach by Feed the Future works to solve the issue by addressing many of the concerns that face these countries. Empowering women, embracing innovation between private sector and civil society, supporting food security, and creating cost- effective results that lead to sustainability for these partner countries are just some of the goals of the Feed the Future program. The Global Food Security Act of 2015 builds off this initiative by making it permanent and committing the United States to a solution regarding the growing food shortage epidemic. The Act improves upon existing practices to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are effectively apportioned while not adding to the debt. It also requires the Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat food insecurity, malnutrition, and hunger and report it to Congress on a yearly basis. I would like to close by saying that I am proud of our chamber for coming together to ensure that the United States plays a key role in combatting one of the largest developmental issues in the 21st century. I also want to thank my colleagues for understanding the importance of a comprehensive approach that recognizes and promotes the involvement of women in agriculture while also promoting a sustainable future for our partner countries.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4742, the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act. Now more than ever STEM fields are dictating the way business in the United States is conducted. The successful commercialization of technology has expanded opportunities for those with STEM degrees. It is imperative that we promote women as part of this crucial expansion in order to promote equality in the advancing technological age. A Harvard Business Review article released last March described the top biases pushing women out of STEM fields. To women in any workplace this comes as no surprise. The constant need to prove ourselves more times over than our male counterparts, the tightrope of navigating a masculine workspace while holding true to our feminine identity and, the general isolation of being a woman in a male-dominated field are all too common in today's workplaces. In my District, Wayne State University has a program called GO-GIRL, Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life. The mission of this program is to increase the competence and confidence of adolescent girls by engaging them in experiences that promote an interest in STEM education while building their capacity to pursue STEM-related careers. While programs like this are currently helping girls nationwide, we must continue the progress that has been made and expand upon our success. The Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act amends Section 33 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act by including a key phrase that ``encourage[s] its entrepreneurial programs to recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world.'' The commercialization of STEM fields has created a vast new sector of jobs and careers, a sector that must include women professionals. This Act does just that, ensuring the inclusion of women in one of America's most important and fast developing industries. I would like to close by saying that I am proud of our chamber for coming together to ensure that women continue to achieve success in STEM fields. I also want to thank my colleagues for considering two bills today that highlight the importance of reaching out to young women who otherwise may not be inspired to pursue a career in a STEM- related field.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mrs. LAWRENCE. I am opposed in its current form.

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, my amendment will ensure that our public water systems and waterways which are used for public recreation will be protected from an estimated 4,000 tons of lead that are contaminating our ponds and streams from lost fishing tackle. My amendment will ensure that all manufacturers of products that contain any type of substance with the potential to contaminate our water systems provide to Federal and State agencies the research so we may understand the risks to human health and the environment. Members of Congress, the manmade water crisis in Flint has shown us the devastating effects of having contaminated water sources. The 100,000 residents of Flint lost a basic human right: access to clean water. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, our drinking water infrastructure has a D grade. That is A, B, C, D. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, $126 billion will be needed to restore water and wastewater infrastructure over the next 4 years, which leaves a funding gap of $84 billion. It is significant to note that the American public overwhelmingly supports investment in our Nation's water infrastructure, as drinking water is not a luxury. It is a basic need for life. A poll released just a week ago by the Value of Water Coalition showed that 95 percent of Americans--and that means on both sides of the aisle--believe it is important to invest in water infrastructure. I regret to say that we in Congress have kicked the can down the road year after year when it comes to investing in our infrastructure. I know that mayors and Governors and Members of this Congress have sounded the warning sign over and over again about the possibility of a disaster, but we never imagined that it would come in the form of the mass poisoning of an entire American city. The children of Flint, the parents, other citizens of Flint, and the citizens of these United States need Congress, not one side of the aisle or the other, to act so that we don't see another generation of children potentially suffer from the negative effects of lead poisoning. I urge all Members of this 114th Session of the United States Congress to support this motion to recommit on H.R. 2406. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I want to say that the crisis in Flint demands action. I ran for Congress after serving as a mayor because I felt strongly that our government has a responsibility. When you ask for a vote, you are asking for the trust in our government. We betrayed the trust of our citizens when we did not provide a human need, and that is clean water. I stand here today encouraged. I ran on the premise that we need to work together as a government. I can tell you that this crisis in Flint is not a political issue. It is a moral issue. It is why each of us in Congress sit here today on the vote of the people's trust, and that is to take care of this great country. It is a moral issue, and it calls for all of us in Congress to act. Today I am standing here with a sense of hope being fulfilled that we have eliminated the aisle, and we are standing here together. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4470, the Safe Drinking Water Act Improved Compliance Awareness Act. This bill will ensure that EPA notifies communities of lead contamination if State or local agencies fail to do so. That clearly is what happened in Flint. Local water authorities will have to provide notification to the public when lead contamination is a result of lead from pipes and other infrastructure leaching into the water supply. This notice will have to be provided to affected residents, regardless of whether any drinking water standards were violated. If the operator does not notify the public--in this case, it was Michigan Environmental Quality--if they do not notify the public, then the EPA must do so. This is precisely what happened in Flint. State officials repeatedly ignored the pleas of the residents and those we are calling civic heroes from outside and experts about the lead levels. Passing this bill today will ensure that the situation in Flint--and I am joining with my Republican colleagues and Democratic--never happens again in our United States. The decision to share that type of critical information should not be based on political judgment. H.R. 4470 will ensure that residents acquire the information they need about their drinking water systems and give EPA the ability and responsibility to step in and notify residents if a State or water system fails to act. H.R. 4470 is just the first step, as we heard, in addressing our country's drinking water infrastructure issue. I hope that we can continue to work together in a bipartisan manner to ensure that Flint never happens again. This is the first step in fixing our infrastructure in America because other Members of Congress have talked about lead water crises in their communities. So this is a first step. For me, this is a fulfilling day to stand here and support my colleagues, regardless of our political affiliation, and take care of the people of America.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today a true Michigan girl, born and raised in the city of Detroit, having traveled and been in public service for over 25 years in multiple capacities. Today I had the opportunity, after calling for a hearing to Chairman Chaffetz, to call a hearing about this Flint water situation. I want to tell you, being in Congress and knowing that there are two aisles, two philosophies, two groups--the Republicans and the Democrats--that I was so impressed that the chairman responded and granted my request for a hearing. He understood how important and how volatile the situation is. We struggled a little bit with who would be able to be witnesses, but we had the hearing. I wanted to tell you that this is something that is not a partisan issue. The message I want to get out today is that this issue where children and families are affected because of the lack of government doing their job is unacceptable. It is unacceptable in these United States of America. I can tell you, Americans ask for three basic things whoever you are, wherever you live, and that is that we have safe food to consume, clean air to breathe, and clean water to drink because we need all those things to merely live. We trust our government to protect those things and to ensure that our consumption will not harm us. Clearly, we failed. We failed as a government. This isn't about wearing your R or D. This is about the government of these United States restoring the trust. I want you to imagine a mother holding her child and, doing what a mother does with an infant, is feeding that child. She may mix formula and use water to mix the formula. Then she gives the baby the bottle. She holds that baby, and that is just such a special bonding moment. Or she may breastfeed. When you are breastfeeding, they tell you to drink a lot of water. In each of those scenarios, she was poisoning her child, poisoning her child for over 7 months before someone stood up and said: Stop using the water. There are mothers all over this country who are holding their babies closer and praying, I hope this never happens to me. I feel it is the role of government, Democrats and Republicans, coming together to say never again in these United States of America. We need to find out why this happened, when it happened, and when you knew about it, what did you do about it at all levels of government-- Federal and State--and there is enough blame to go around. It doesn't do those families in Flint any good if we just point fingers. We have to find out and have a full investigation so that we can find out what we need to fix, so that we can stand before the citizens of this great country and say: As your government, we are starting to rebuild the trust, and we are going to fix this. I want to be on the record that I feel those who made the decisions, from the emergency manager and the Governor, and those who were in a position to make decisions should be providing statements and should be a witness to tell us what happened, why it happened, when did they know, what responsibility lies where. We have already identified so many areas that legislation will be coming forward. I hope they will be bipartisan. First of all, we need legislation to find out when we find lead in water on a State level, who has the primary role of protecting the water in that State? Where is the power of EPA? We must make it very clear, the notification of the public once lead is identified in water. We are hearing statements that are all over about why that didn't happen. What we need to do is legislate that so it doesn't happen again, make it very clear and enforce it. We need to increase the enforcement and testing of our water so that we will not have excuses in the future. The last thing I want to say is: This is an election year, and as those of us who serve in Congress go around and ask people to trust us, to give us their vote, we should also be able to say, in these United States of America we have a history where we didn't always get it right in America. In America our history will teach us, there are times where one side or the other didn't quite get it right, but our democracy and the voice of the people rose to a level that demanded action happen. Today, with this hearing and with us having this opportunity to put this on the record, we are demanding that action be taken, that our government stand up and do what it is supposed to do. We need to fund the correctional actions that we need to do for the children who have been affected. We need to ensure that we are going to fix the pipes, and this is a bigger discussion, and that is infrastructure. This Congress cannot continue to kick the can down the road when it comes to infrastructure. This issue is about, yes, we did not treat the water, but these lead pipes in older communities are an issue across this country. We are going to have to stand up as a government, address it, fund it, and get about the work of fixing our infrastructure.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the President's executive actions to curb gun violence and urge my colleagues to take the action needed to address this deadly plague. I rise today in honor of more than 300 lives lost to gun violence in Detroit, a city I represent, just in 2015. That is nearly as many lives as we have days in the year. We have failed to take meaningful action. We must pass legislation to support the President's executive actions. We have heard a lot of dialogue this week. If you don't like the executive actions, then Congress must rise and let's take the action needed. We can no longer sit on the sideline and allow this plague and this horrific violence in our country to continue. We must take action now before another day passes and another innocent life is destroyed.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, we have barely started 2016 and here we are, about to take our 62nd vote to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and facing the 11th attack on women's health care in the 114th Congress. Defunding Planned Parenthood and dismantling the ACA will rob hardworking Americans of affordable family planning, and it will strip life-saving cancer screenings away from millions of women across the country. As Congress, we haven't taken 62 votes to improve women's health and access to healthcare programs for women and seniors. The 114th Congress hasn't declared war on the appalling lack of healthcare, nutrition, and mental health programs. But here we are again, wasting valuable tax dollars in order to rehash the ideology of a loud few, one that hurts women and our most vulnerable of constituents. This is just a sad and shameful day. Congress, this must stop.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stop the silence and to encourage and stress that my colleagues need to take action to expand background checks and to close the loopholes. I will continue to stand here and fight, and I will not be silent. While many of my colleagues have spoken about the loophole that allows terrorist suspects to purchase guns, we have many other loopholes that present a danger to the safety of Americans and our homeland. Since the enactment of the Brady Act in 1994, the law has stopped nearly 2.5 million guns from being transferred to individuals legally disqualified. However, despite the success of this law, it does not apply to 40 percent of all gun purchases. Mr. Speaker, 92 percent of Americans favor universal background checks. It is well past time for us, as Congress, to reflect the will of the people that we represent, to pass legislation to expand background checks, and to close the loopholes. Stop the silence. We must do what the people sent us here to do, and that is to take action.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove myself as a cosponsor of H.R. 3403.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote due to the necessity of my attending to representational duties and participation in Michigan. Had I been in attendance, I would have voted: ``yes''--H.R. 308--Keep the Promise Act, ``yes''--H.R. 1338--Dignified Interment of Our Veterans' Act of 2015, ``yes''--H.R. 1384--Honor America's Guard- Reserve Retirees Act. personal explanation

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, for the sake of my constituents and the many communities with crumbling roads and bridges around this Nation, I am happy that we finally have a bipartisan transportation bill to work with. For the record, I still believe that we need a full, 6-year plan. Today, I have an amendment that will modify section 3021 of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. My amendment will examine the ability of seniors and people with disabilities to access public transportation and require the council to report to Congress on their findings with recommendations. One-half of Americans 65 and older do not have access to public transportation. Those in rural areas and small towns are particularly affected because transportation options are limited. Seniors continue to drive as long as possible because they are unaware or do not believe they have alternative means of transportation. Seniors limit their driving or stop driving altogether because of functional disabilities. I urge my colleagues to support the Lawrence amendment when it comes to the floor. Seniors and people with disabilities need to maintain their independence.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my support for H.R. 3033, the Research Excellence and Advancements for Dyslexia (READ) Act. I would like to emphasize the importance of supporting the academic development of the 8.5 million American school children struggling with dyslexia. Before they are diagnosed, children with dyslexia often struggle in school. Early detection of dyslexia can save students and parents the frustration that occurs as a result of the student's unexpected decline in academic performance. I am fighting for increased funding of the National Science Foundation's Research in Disabilities Education to support these children and their families. Research is crucial to ensure that dyslexic children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. That is why it is vitally important to expand funding for research in all of our schools and communities. In my District, I have spoken with many parents concerned about the lack of programs designed to assist with the diagnosis and development of dyslexic children. By passing this legislation, we will continue our legacy of supporting children and families. The READ Act would require that the President's annual budget request to Congress includes a line item for the Research in Disabilities Education program of the National Science Foundation and requires the National Science Foundation to conduct research on dyslexia. In addition, the National Science Foundation would encourage efforts to understand and address disability-based differences in STEM education and workforce participation, including dyslexic learners. I am grateful that our chamber has taken this important step to ensure that dyslexic children and their families receive the support they need. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting children's education and further dedicating ourselves to serving our hard-working American families and their children.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3350, the Know the CBRN Terrorism Threats to Transportation Act. The Department of Homeland Security and the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis play a critical role in the safety of American families. Their work assessing the transportation of chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological (CBRN) materials is essential for maintaining a high level of security for the country. This is why the Know the CBRN Terrorism Threats to Transportation Act must be passed. The fact that my home state shares an international border gives me insight and understanding of the issues that border communities face. Extremist groups have an array of potential agents and delivery methods to choose from for chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks. Castor beans, cyanide, sarin and other chemical agents are examples of the spectrum of terrorist CBRN threats. These materials need to be assessed in order to ensure the safety of not only our border communities, but our nation. The Know the CBRN Terrorism Threats to Transportation Act requires a three step process for improving the safety of our borders. First, to prepare for the execution of a terrorism threat assessment regarding CBNR materials, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis will consult with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the heads of other federal departments and agencies. This is critical in ensuring that the assessment is conducted with the highest level of expertise. Next, the terrorism threat assessment of the transportation of CBNR materials can be conducted. Finally, the assessment must be distributed to federal, state, and local partners so that everyone protecting our borders is informed and updated. At a time when this information should be readily available, we are still waiting to find the best process to address this critical issue. I would like to close by saying that I am proud of our chamber for taking this important step to ensure that the data on the transportation of hazardous materials is readily available and accessible. I also want to thank my colleagues for understanding the importance of information regarding CBRN threats and the role of this information in strengthening our security.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage the passage of H. Res. 348, supporting the right of Ukrainian citizens to freely elect their officials and determine their future. I would like to emphasize the importance of protecting democracy around the world. In 2015, it is essential that we ensure people at home and abroad are able to elect their government representatives by exercising this basic right. This issue is of particular importance to me as the Congressional Representative for the 14th District of Michigan, which is home to a large population of women and minorities who fought hard to gain the right to vote. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which is of critical importance in protecting every citizen's right to participate in free and fair elections. However, fair elections are also vital to democracies across the globe. Therefore, we must act appropriately when those rights are infringed upon. This resolution demonstrates the federal government's commitment to protect Ukraine's critical elections. Ukraine's next local elections are scheduled to take place on October 25, 2015 and are essential for the continuation of legislative and constitutional reform. We cannot allow Russia or other outside forces to interfere with Ukraine's elections, especially through intimidation, violence, or coercion. By supporting the right of the people of Ukraine to freely elect their government and have a say in their future, we are working toward ensuring all people around the world benefit from these basic yet profoundly critical rights. I am grateful that our chamber is continuing with our legacy of safeguarding democracy. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting America's commitment to defending these important freedoms around the world.

Mrs. LAWRENCE

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that would direct the Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Department of Energy and other departments, as needed, to conduct a study. This study would measure the impact of exporting millions of barrels of domestically produced crude oil on Americans and our economy. Let's be clear. Lifting the crude oil export ban benefits very few. Let's also be clear about who does not benefit: American consumers and the American economy. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle will make the case for lifting the ban on crude oil exports. They will cite reports by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office, and various other organizations to support their claims. Some of the benefits they will list include claims of an increase in crude oil production, additional investment in crude oil production, and an increase in employment along the energy supply chain. But there is a problem with these claims, that the U.S. crude oil is already at peak production. According to a report by the EIA, production reached 9.7 million barrels 1 day in April of 2015, the highest levels since 1971. In 2015, production is expected to average 9.2 million barrels a day. We still import 7 million barrels of oil a day. Let's find a way to keep domestically produced crude oil within our borders, which benefits our consumers and the economy in the U.S. For example, the domestic gas prices are at record low levels due to the surplus of crude oil. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Americans drove nearly 2 trillion miles during the first 7 months of 2015, contributing to the high gas consumption and setting a record level. Lifting the ban now on U.S. crude oil benefits will undoubtedly raise prices. For consumers, these increases will result in higher gas prices at the pump and higher heating costs for families in the winter. As all of you know, the manufacturing industry is the backbone of Michigan's economy. While the U.S. manufacturing industry has struggled in the past, it has been one of the bright spots in our economy since the recession and remains a vital part of America's economy, as well as our Nation's economy. Since 2010, over 700,000 manufacturing jobs that were lost during the recession have been recovered. One major reason for this resurgence of the manufacturing sector is low energy prices. Up to one-third of all energy used in the United States goes into the manufacturing sector. Rushing to lift the ban on crude oil now would only hurt the manufacturing industry and dent its growth. Let us find a way to keep domestically produced crude oil within our own boundaries and allow the consumers and the economy to reap the benefits of lower energy prices. Let us put together a comprehensive study of the impact of lifting the U.S. crude oil export ban on the consumers and our economy first, before we rush to export millions of barrels of domestically produced crude oil. For the benefit of all Americans, for the benefit of our economy, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.