Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 10, the ``Wrong'' CHOICE Act. This bill will take us back to the regulatory stone age and would be a disaster for the entire financial system. Let us remember why we passed Dodd-Frank: we confronted the worst financial crisis, caused by mismanagement from the financial industry, that cost this country $18 trillion in household wealth, millions lost their homes, millions lost their jobs, and the suffering was deep and strong. First, this bill, the ``Wrong'' CHOICE Act, would repeal the orderly liquidation authority, which is the only tool that would allow large financial institutions like Lehman Brothers or AIG to be wound down safely, without requiring a taxpayer bailout or causing a financial panic, like Lehman. We had two choices in the crisis: either bail them out--a bad choice--or let them fail--another bad choice. The liquidation authority is helpful, yet the majority claims that the liquidation authority codifies taxpayer bailouts. Nothing could be further from the truth. Under the liquidation authority, the FDIC wipes out the firm's shareholders, imposes losses on the firm's creditors, fires the firm's management, and completely liquidates the entire firm. The only people who are guaranteed not to suffer losses are the taxpayers. So if we wipe out this protection to the taxpayers, we are putting the taxpayers in harm's way yet again. This bill would also devastate investors by rolling back decades of investor protections and trampling on the property rights of shareholders by making it virtually impossible for them to influence the management of the companies that they own.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Finally, the bill would completely gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has been an incredible, effective watchdog for consumers and has protected the consumers who were often not thought about first of all or second of all--or not thought about at all. This agency protects them. If we would have had it, we would not have had the financial crisis we suffered. This would just make it easier for banks like Wells Fargo to rip off consumers and would protect them from being punished if they are caught. So I want to point out that the Republican ``Wrong'' CHOICE Act puts Wall Street ahead of Main Street, leads to taxpayer bailouts for big banks, guts consumer protections for seniors and their families, and brings back risky practices that caused the 2008 financial crisis. It is the wrong direction, it is a wrong vote, and I caution my friends on the other side of the aisle the voters are going to remember this vote. Don't turn us back to the Stone Age of regulation. I urge a very strong ``no'' vote on this wrongly directed ``Bad'' CHOICE Act.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, there are an estimated 8 million constituents scattered across the world who promote our culture and values while strengthening our nation's global influence as they live and work abroad. For years, I have worked to ensure that overseas Americans can fully exercise their rights as U.S. citizens by having their voices heard loud and clear by Congress. Eight years ago, I formed the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus because I wanted to bring awareness and focus to the concerns of those residing abroad. U.S. citizens remain just that, citizens, regardless of where they choose to live and should not be ignored by virtue of residence. Our constituents living and working abroad have consistently voiced concerns about the impact federal policies have on them like voting, immigration, access to financial institutions, and taxation. The time has come to comprehensively study and address the effects of federal policies on Americans living overseas. That is why today I am reintroducing the Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act, which creates an Executive Commission with the main purpose of examining those concerns. The Commission creates a 10 member panel to examine the impact of federal policymaking on U.S. citizens abroad. The resulting study would then be used by Congress and the Executive Branch when considering the best steps we can take to engage the abroad community and ensure their voices are heard. This process will bring clearer awareness of the federal issues impacting Americans abroad and will open a path for coordination with those communities towards more robust representation. Each of our constituents has a right to have their interests represented and to have a role in the political process. The Commission on Americans Living Abroad would establish a foundation from which we can work to better serve the needs of our global constituents. I welcome and urge my colleagues to lend their support to this bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should give its advice and consent to the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW is a landmark international agreement that calls on governments to take appropriate measures to end discrimination against women in all areas of life. The Convention seeks to develop women's equality in legal status, human rights, political participation, employment, education and healthcare, while committing countries to change or eradicate discriminatory laws, customs, and practices. Despite 189 countries ratifying CEDAW, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that has not ratified the treaty, even though its fundamental principles of equality and nondiscrimination are paramount to the ideals of our nation. Other nations that have not ratified CEDAW include Somalia and Iran. CEDAW is not self-executing, but would be a powerful statement uniting the U.S. with most of the world in its commitment to women's rights and equality. Any legislation the United States might adopt to comply with the treaty would have to go through the normal Congressional process. Ratification of CEDAW would continue our nation's proud bipartisan tradition of promoting and protecting human rights. Senate action in favor of ratification of CEDAW would strengthen our standing as a global leader for the rights of women and girls. I hope my colleagues will cosponsor this important resolution that will benefit women in the U.S. and around the world.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing legislation with my colleague, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., which would simply allow Christian Indonesian citizens who arrived in the United States between January 1, 1997 and November 30, 2002 fleeing religious persecution, the opportunity to reopen their claims for asylum within two years of the bill's enactment. The bill would only apply to individuals who were denied asylum solely for missing filing deadline which closes one year after arrival. Beginning in 1997, when extreme violence and destruction of churches in Indonesia was at its height, many Indonesian Christians were driven from their homes. These individuals came to the United States, seeking refuge from persecution for their religious beliefs, but were either unable to file before the one-year deadline or were unaware any deadline existed. They deserve the opportunity to have their claims heard. The United States has a long history of taking in refugees fleeing persecution and providing a process to fairly consider their claims. This bill does not automatically grant asylum, but merely removes a procedural barrier to their claims being considered. These individuals seeking asylum deserve a second chance to avoid the persecution they have fled and remain united with their families. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, currently a panel of Republican Senators are deciding the fate of millions of American women's healthcare. Tragically, their starting point is the House- passed bill that would force new moms on Medicaid to return to work right after birth, reduce women's access to copays for contraception, weaken protections for preexisting conditions like pregnancy, and eliminate the guarantee of essential health benefits that provides services like mammograms and cervical cancer screenings, services that save lives. All of these measures hurt women--and only women--and will do enormous harm to the health and well-being of women from childhood to old age. It is an outrage and a gross injustice when women are treated so unequally with such gross disparity and such total disregard for their lives and well-being. It is one more powerful reason why this Congress should pass and send to the States to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, declaring in no uncertain terms that women are entitled to equal rights, equal justice, equal treatment, equal protection under the law, and that means equal treatment in healthcare. In this country, it is time, at long last, for equal to mean just that, equal.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to reintroduce the Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Healthcare Services Act to make sure that women receive honest information about family planning services. Expecting mothers should never be misled about critical health information and services. Yet that is exactly what is happening today all across the country. Commonly called crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), these centers often have an anti-choice agenda and deliberately misinform or mislead pregnant women seeking information about family planning services, including abortion. CPC's masquerade as sources of unbiased pregnancy counseling or even abortion providers, yet they often have no medical professionals on staff. CPC's use deceptive propaganda to dissuade women from considering comprehensive birth control options or legal abortion. These fake reproductive health clinics entice women with unintended pregnancies through their doors under the pretense of providing the full range of reproductive options and services. Instead, they pedal scientifically unfounded information claiming that abortion leads to adverse health outcomes or can affect chances of pregnancy in the future. CPCs should be held accountable if they deliberately mislead women who are seeking legitimate medical assistance and advice. The Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Healthcare Services Act directs the Federal Trade Commission to promulgate rules under the Federal Trade Commission Act, declaring it an unfair or deceptive act for an entity, such as a crisis pregnancy center, to advertise as a provider of abortion services if the entity does not provide abortion services. I thank my friend Rep. Suzanne Bonamici for leading this critical effort with me. During National Women's Health Week, I hope you will join us in cosponsoring this legislation that demands that crisis pregnancy centers, some of which receive federal funds, are prohibited from making false advertising claims that intimidate and harm women who are looking for help and honest medical advice.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, this is a picture of the committee our Republican colleagues in the Senate have put together and tasked with crafting a healthcare bill that will affect the healthcare of tens of millions of American women. And just a quick glance at his poster tells you that there is not one person on this committee who will ever bear a child or need maternity care. There is no one on this committee that will ever need a mammogram. No one on this committee will ever have to worry about having their access to affordable contraceptives or prenatal care taken away from them. Yet, the House bill that was delivered to the Senate callously would make healthcare services and insurance coverage either unaffordable or unavailable to millions of struggling hardworking women. So, once again, we find that our Republican colleagues are making life-altering decisions without a single woman at the table, ignoring the very real, very cruel effects of the House-passed bill on American women and families. So, once again, Mr. Speaker, we ask: Where are the women?

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a Concurrent Resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the Parthenon Marbles, currently held in the British Museum, should be returned to Greece. Approximately 200 years ago, while Greece was under Ottoman rule, the British nobleman Thomas Bruce, seventh Earl of Elgin, removed over 100 pieces of sculptures known as the Parthenon Marbles and transported them to the United Kingdom. The Marbles were part of a frieze that adorned the Temple of Athena. In 1816, the British Parliament voted to purchase the Marbles from Lord Elgin and they now reside in the British Museum. The other half of the Marbles that comprise the frieze are in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens alongside plaster replicas of the Marbles that were taken. Despite years of good faith efforts by the Greek Government to retain the Marbles, it has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its British counterparts to return the Marbles to Greece. I am pleased that several Members of the British Parliament have recently expressed support for transferring ownership of the Marbles back to Greece and return these cherished artifacts to their rightful home. The Parthenon marbles are some of Greece's greatest examples of artistic expression and beauty, and should be on display in their country of origin. They are vital pieces of Greek history that belong to the Greek people. This resolution calls upon the two countries to come to an agreement to finally return these treasures to their rightful home. I want to thank Rep. Gus Bilirakis, with whom I co-chair the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, and Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. for joining me as co-sponsors on this important resolution. Rep. Payne's father and our former colleague, the late Rep. Donald Payne Sr., was a great champion in this effort to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. I am proud to continue to call for an agreement that will put an end to this centuries-old dispute, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, nearly ten years ago Senator Ted Kennedy and I introduced a bill called the Working Families Flexibility Act. The bill before us today has the same name and its supporters may try to claim it fixes the same problems we were trying to fix, but, Mr. Speaker this is not Senator Kennedy's bill and in fact it bears little resemblance to the bill he and I worked on and that Sen. Bob Casey and I have reintroduced this week. Let me be clear, the bill before us today creates zero new rights for workers. Zero. In fact, under this bill working families would have even less flexibility than they do now to care for a child or sick family member. This GOP bill allows employers to withhold desperately needed overtime pay for months at a time. It lets bosses hold back overtime earnings, and only pay them out when employees request the money they have earned. And even if employees do ask, which is ridiculous since it is money that they earned and should not have to ask their bosses if they can get paid for work they already did--bosses are given a month to write that overtime check. And if it wasn't clear enough that this bill is not about helping working families, this bill puts all decisions about when employees can use flex time in the hands of their bosses. Want to take an extra week off in the summer when kids are out of school? Too bad, that doesn't fit with your boss' plans. Even if you work hard for six months to build up that extra comp time, your employer can still deny that request. We should be ashamed that the U.S. stands out in the world as a country that requires the least family-friendly benefits for workers. How can we call ourselves a country dedicated to family values when we don't support working families? The real value of the minimum wage has severely eroded, and the new administration has blocked a badly needed update to our overtime protections. We have no mandated paid parental leave. No paid sick days. No fair, predictable scheduling. No flexible work arrangements. And American families are paying dearly for our inaction. So let's not call this bill the Working Families Flexibility Act. That's an insult to millions of working families across the country and it's an insult to the late-Senator Ted Kennedy who did so much for the working families of this Nation. I urge my colleagues to oppose.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Overseas Americans Financial Access Act on behalf of the estimated 6-8 million American citizens living and working abroad. This bill would amend the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to address the unintended consequences it imposes on American citizens overseas that make it more difficult to access basic banking products and services in their country of residence. As co-chair of the Americans Abroad Caucus, for years I have heard reports from constituents overseas detailing how FATCA's expensive and duplicative reporting requirements have led foreign financial institutions to deny basic banking services to American citizens. Some Foreign Financial Institutions have simply closed accounts or refused to open new ones for U.S. citizens in order to minimize their exposure to FATCA reporting requirements, withholding fees and potential penalties. This practice leaves law-abiding American citizens without access to everyday financial tools such as mortgages, bank accounts, insurance policies and pension funds--all of which are critical services regardless of place of residence. While I recognize the difficult job of the Treasury Department to make sure American money around the world remains compliant with the U.S. tax code, the current FATCA reporting procedures subject ordinary Americans to the same scrutiny as criminal tax evaders and money launderers. Revision of these reporting policies is necessary to ensure that Americans remain competitive in international business and continue to contribute to economies here in the U.S. and around the world. Unfortunately, some have resorted to renouncing their American citizenship in response. It is now time to act and provide relief. The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) has recognized this problem and on April 13, 2015, issued a recommendation that the IRS exclude from FATCA reporting financial accounts maintained by a financial institution in the country in which the U.S. citizen is a bona fide resident. To date, no action has been taken to institute such a policy to alleviate the burden on overseas Americans as a result of FATCA. That is why I am proud to introduce the Overseas Americans Financial Access Act which would implement TAS's recommendation and exempt Americans from FATCA reporting if their accounts are held in the same country where they are a bona fide resident. As Members of Congress, it is our duty to represent our constituents' best interests whether they live in the United States or overseas. I urge my colleagues to support this bill so that we may fulfill this duty and grant our overseas constituents the relief they need.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80 million Americans are at risk of serious vision loss--a number expected to increase as the baby boomer generation ages. Along with my colleague Rep. Gus Bilirakis, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to support Americans with limited or impaired vision. For some, reading a book or crossing the street is difficult even with glasses or contact lenses due to blurriness or distortion. Doctors can prescribe magnifiers and other special devices, but their current exclusion from Medicare coverage greatly restricts access to these devices. While there are a wide variety of options to help people with low vision, currently, there is an exclusion from Medicare coverage for devices that include a lens to aid vision or provide magnification of images for impaired vision. Coverage of these devices will greatly enhance the ability of older Americans to age independently and enjoy everyday activities. To understand the impact of covering these devices for America's seniors, we are reintroducing the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2017. This legislation would create a five-year national demonstration project administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate the economic impact of allowing reimbursement for certain low vision devices under the Social Security Act. Coverage of such devices could help Medicare beneficiaries with low vision lead healthy, safe, and independent lives. I urge my colleagues to join us by supporting this legislation that will make a significant change to improve the quality of life for the visually impaired.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for her leadership on this bill and in so many other areas. I also thank Chairmen Hensarling and Huizenga; and, of course, my good friend and colleague from the great State of New York, Nydia Velazquez, the champion for small businesses; and Mr. McHenry, who has spent a great deal of his time focusing on job creation and access to capital for small businesses. This bill passed in the last Congress under suspension with overwhelming bipartisan support. This bill is intended to make it easier for startup companies to raise money from sophisticated investors by allowing sophisticated angel investors to pool their money into a single venture capital fund, which allows them to leverage their resources and make investments more effectively. The bill does this by increasing the number of investors who can invest in venture capital funds that are exempt from SEC oversight. Under current law, a fund can be exempt from SEC oversight if it has fewer than 100 investors and its securities are not offered publicly. This is the exemption that the majority of venture capital funds currently rely on. Venture capital funds are long-term investors that provide much- needed equity capital to startups and other small companies. The fact that venture capital funds are subject to the same limitation on the number of investors they can have as other private funds, like hedge funds and private equity funds, has limited the growth of venture capital funds. Specifically, it has limited the ability of angel investors--all of whom are sophisticated, accredited investors--to coordinate their investments by grouping together into a single venture capital fund in order to invest in a promising startup company. This bill will accommodate these types of angel investors who want to coordinate their investments by increasing the number of accredited investors they can have before they are required to register with the SEC--from 100 investors to 250 investors. The bill is also narrowly tailored to avoid raising investor protection concerns. It only raises the investor threshold to 250 for venture capital funds that meet the SEC's rigorous five-part definition of a venture capital fund. Finally, the bill is limited to funds that have less than $10 million in capital invested. So we are only providing relief to relatively small venture capital funds that do not pose a huge risk to the capital markets. This bill is the product of genuine hard work and bipartisan compromise. Again, I thank Mr. McHenry for his leadership, along with Ms. Velazquez, Ranking Member Waters, and Chairman Hensarling for their hard work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to join me--and I believe the majority in this body--in supporting this important bill to provide easier and better access to capital for small businesses.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a sincere suggestion to our Republican colleagues who are working hard to come up with a replacement for the replacement plan on health care that didn't fly. Let's fix the Affordable Care Act and work together in a bipartisan way. I have always said: the best legislation is always bipartisan. Drop your plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Stop undermining this law, and work with Democrats to make the law work better. That is what the majority of Americans want us to do. Millions of people now have health insurance, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Insurance companies can no longer refuse to insure people with preexisting conditions, and essential health benefits like maternity care and mental health care are now provided. We know that no law is perfect. We acknowledge that. So let's do our job and do what the American public want us to do: join together in a bipartisan way to make the Affordable Care Act work better.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, think all the way back to New Year's Day--94 days ago--and contemplate for just a moment the fact that if a full-time working woman were to take all of the money she made between way back then and today, and she added that to what she had made working all of last year, well, she just now would have an amount equal to what a typical man made just last year. Well, welcome to Equal Pay Day. The exact size of the gender pay gap can vary. It tends to be smaller when you are younger, worse when you are older, and worse still if you are a woman of color. Even where you choose to live can make a difference. My thanks to the Democratic staff of the Joint Economic Committee, where I sit as the ranking member, for producing a new report that updates all these numbers, as well as State-by-State numbers on the gender wage gap. I encourage all my colleagues to take a look at this report to see just how your State is doing. The best news I read all day was that New York State is number one. That was good news.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the consensus for this Friday's Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report is that it will show the economy added about 178,000 new private sector jobs in March. That is a good number, though not as good as the March numbers in recent years. As The New York Times put it: ``Growth in the first 3 months of the Trump administration is looking much the way it did'' in the growth under President Obama. But because of the current administration's inaction on vital economic issues, like infrastructure spending, right now about one in three market experts now think that a near-term stock market correction may be in the cards. Instead of doing the things we need to do to rev up the economy, this body has been spending time trying to make it harder for women to access contraceptives, gutting our right to privacy on the internet, and trying to take health care away from millions of Americans. That is no way, Mr. Speaker, to create jobs. How about we do what the President said he wanted to do? Let's make the investments that we need now that will stimulate the creation of good jobs--good-paying jobs for Americans. That should be job number one for this Congress.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as we conclude Women's History Month, I am pleased to introduce the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act along with Rep. Ed Royce and 128 bipartisan cosponsors. In November 2016, a bipartisan commission that was created through a bill I authored submitted its recommendations to Congress about establishing a women's history museum in our nation's capital. The Commission unanimously said in its report that the U.S. needs and deserves such a museum to properly tell our whole history. In fact, in the entire country, there is no comprehensive museum solely devoted to women's history. Women make up half the population, but are only depicted in about 10 percent of history book material, about 5 percent of national monuments and a fraction of the hundreds of statues on Capitol grounds. By not telling or preserving the stories of women who shaped our country, we are in danger of losing them completely. And that would be a great loss to us all. This bill has been decades in the making and it is based on the excellent American Museum of Women's History Congressional Commission final report, which was the result of 18 months of thorough study. The bill would establish a Smithsonian museum dedicated to women's history prominently located on the National Mall. It calls for the Smithsonian Board of Regents to designate a site for the museum within six months of enactment, and the cost of construction would be raised privately. The museum will be governed by a 25-member Advisory Council appointed by the Board of Regents. I am honored that so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have joined me in this historic effort because honoring women's history should not be a partisan issue. All Americans--men and women of all ages--deserve to learn and be inspired by the stories of the women who contributed to our country's history. I am always struck by the story of Sybil Ludington. Everyone has heard of Paul Revere's ride, but few know that Ludington, the daughter of a colonel in the Continental Army, was just a 16 year old girl when she rode through the night an even greater distance than Revere to warn her father's troops about the approaching British forces. I have worked on this issue for many years and believe that establishing a women's history museum on the National Mall is long overdue. I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in this important effort to create an enduring tribute to women's history for generations to come.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to reintroduce legislation to authorize the use of federal funds for long overdue research on firearm safety and gun violence. For too long, Congress has failed to address the public health crisis caused by gun violence. On average, there are 32,000 deaths and 76,000 injuries from gun violence each year in the United States. Gun deaths now outpace traffic fatalities in our country. It is time to address the epidemic of gun violence and prevent future incidents. Public health research will help identify effective solutions we can implement in order to save lives. The bill I introduce today, with companion legislation introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, would authorize $10 million in annual funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through Fiscal Year 2023. This funding will allow the CDC to implement the research agenda outlined in a 2013 report issued by the Institutes of Medicine that identified areas in need of study to better understand the underlying causes of gun violence and develop strategies for prevention. We have more gun-related deaths than any other developed country, yet we have put prohibitions in place that prevent us from obtaining comprehensive, scientific information about the causes and characteristics of gun violence. This public health crisis cannot be ignored any longer. This legislation addresses the epidemic of gun violence and identifies the best strategies to prevent future incidents. I'm proud this bill has gained the support of leading groups on gun violence prevention, like Everytown for Gun Safety, and the public health community--including the American Medical Association (AMA). The AMA said ``gun violence in the United States is a public health crisis requiring a comprehensive public health response and solution.'' I could not agree more. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important legislation that can save lives.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Small Business Week, a time each year for our nation to recognize and celebrate the critical contributions of America's entrepreneurs and small business owners. I am pleased to support our nation's small businesses by introducing the Investing in America's Small Businesses Act of 2017. This important legislation allows Community Development Financial Institutions, known as CDFIs, to extend affordable credit to more small businesses in underserved communities through microloans. These small loans, under $50,000, give businesses working capital, help them invest in new equipment or supplies, and have no pre-payment penalties. I'm proud that the Investing in America's Small Businesses Act has gained the endorsements of the CDFI Coalition, the Opportunity Finance Network and the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, the national voices for these community-based institutions. The bill provides grants for CDFIs to establish loan-loss reserve funds for microloans, which will help CDFIs leverage private investment to expand small business lending in underserved communities. Small businesses are critical engines of economic development and job creation. In underserved communities, however, small businesses with low-income and minority owners often have limited access to affordable credit they need to meet everyday demands or expand their operations. According to a study commissioned by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2013, ``the major constraint limiting the growth, expansion, and wealth creation of small firms--especially women- and minority-owned businesses--is inadequate capital.'' Community Development Financial Institutions serve exactly these communities--with great success and economic benefit. In fact, a 2014 report by the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia found that despite serving predominately low-income markets, CDFI banks and credit unions had virtually the same level of performance as mainstream financial institutions. Despite this demonstrated success, CDFIs often lack the capital to meet the needs of many promising small businesses. In FY 2016 the total funding from applications to the CDFI Fund was four times greater than the resources available. Private sector investments are not enough to address the significant need for small business credit in underserved communities. CDFIs need access to capital now more than ever. Research shows that minority and low income-owned businesses typically encounter higher borrowing costs, receive smaller loans and see their loan applications rejected more often. The CDFI Fund is well-placed to provide struggling small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities access to affordable credit through microloans. Let's give small businesses in underserved areas the tools they need to create jobs and develop their communities. I am pleased to introduce this bill, and urge my colleagues to join in support.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Firearm Risk Protection Act, innovative legislation to promote safe gun ownership I first introduced in 2013. Too often, our communities are left looking for answers after horrific tragedies inflicted with dangerous firearms. Every day, 48 children and teens die from gun violence, and too often because of preventable accidents. A requirement to carry liability insurance is a market-based solution that would hold gun owners responsible for the risk their firearms present, and create incentives for responsible gun safety practices. The Firearm Risk Protection Act would harness the power of insurance markets to allow professional actuaries to determine the risk presented by each gun and gun owner. Just as with car insurance, higher-risk owners or firearms would face higher premiums, while responsible owners could qualify for reduced rates. As gun violence continues to claim lives across the country, Congress should look for new ways to promote gun safety and prevent future tragedies. I hope my colleagues will join me to support this forward- thinking legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, this merciless bill, ironically called a healthcare bill, would be disastrous for this country's health, and especially harmful to the people in my home State of New York. It will not expand access to health care, as promised. It will, instead, rip away healthcare insurance from 24 million people, including 2.7 million in New York City, people who already have health care. And it will not make premiums more affordable, as promised. It will, instead, raise premiums across this Nation. Premiums in New York would go up an estimated $1,000 next year alone. It cuts all Federal funding for a year for Planned Parenthood clinics, which serve women in need across this country. And to make an already bad bill even worse, this bill cuts nearly $5 billion in funding for New York's hospitals that serve some of our most vulnerable people. Voting for this bill is voting to cause sure and certain harm to millions of Americans. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the GOP's awful, irresponsible healthcare bill will impose an age tax on older Americans, it will raise your premiums, and it will be absolutely disastrous to our Nation's hospitals. In my district in New York, our hospitals serve millions of people every day, and their budgets are already stretched. The GOP healthcare bill will rip away health insurance for over 24 million Americans, forcing more people to get care in high-cost emergency rooms while, at the same time, cutting billions in Federal funding hospitals need to survive. New York's hospitals will lose over $1 billion in 2018 alone. With uncompensated care already skyrocketing, the 27 New York hospitals that are already on a financial distress watch list tell me they may not even be able to survive. That is why the Greater New York Hospital Association, the Healthcare Association of New York State, and other New York health groups are urging all of us to vote ``no'' on this terrible GOP bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I join with millions around the globe to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The United States of America would not be the country we are today without the enormous contributions of millions of Irish immigrants and their descendants. From serving in every war our country has ever faced and leading our country at every level of government, Irish Americans have done it all. Today, more than 33 million Irish Americans claim Irish ancestry. Tragically, our country didn't always welcome the Irish. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, Irish arriving on our shores were met with contempt, disdain, and with signs that read, ``Irish need not apply.'' But they persisted, and our country is all the better for it. So, today, St. Patrick's Day, I thank you and say thank you to all the Irish men and women who helped shape the great country we are today. Thank you, and happy St. Patrick's Day.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today the House Budget Committee passed the Republican healthcare plan. We all know by now that the recent CBO analysis has some very bad news for millions of Americans, but it has some especially bad news for women. The GOP plan makes Planned Parenthood ineligible for any reimbursement from Medicaid or Medicare for one entire year. More than half of Planned Parenthood facilities are in rural or medically underserved areas. Even in my district in New York, women are lined up outside the building and down the block, often waiting for Planned Parenthood services. Yet, the CBO says that if the GOP plan becomes law, more than 15 percent of low-income women in our country will be without any access to health care--no cancer screenings and no tests and treatments for STDs. Women's lives and well-being should have greater value than this, but they just don't seem to count in the cruel math of this merciless law.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa Jigme Pema Wangchen on the occasion of his birthday. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa is the head of the 1,000 year-old Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism, which originates from the Indian Scholar- Saint Naropa, an unbroken ancient lineage that continues to thrive. The Drukpa Lineage has over 30 million followers worldwide and has a profound cultural influence throughout the Himalayan region. Inspired by a strong belief that all individuals can work for the benefit of their communities, His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa is a world-renowned humanitarian, environmentalist, and champion of gender equality. His good works have been recognized by the United Nations and the Indian Government. The international non-profit Waterkeepers Alliance named His Holiness the Guardian of the Himalayas. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa and his followers provided relief services to tens of thousands in the Himalayas following the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal and continues to rebuild the community. Additionally, he supports and organizes clinics which provide access to medical services in remote communities. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa works tirelessly to empower, educate, protect and inspire girls and women in the Himalayas and around the world and has led efforts to ensure that the rights of peoples of all faiths and nationalities are equally respected and protected. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa personally trekked and bicycled thousands of miles across the Himalayas to further the goals of gender equality and of environmental stewardship. His Holiness supports myriad educational initiatives which seek to improve people's lives through education while simultaneously fostering respect for and knowledge of indigenous cultures. In furtherance of this aim, His Holiness has led efforts to preserve local art and to disseminate globally knowledge about the local cultural heritage. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa has led multiple initiatives to protect the environment in the Himalayas. As part of the One Million Trees project, His Holiness organized in 2012 the largest simultaneous tree planting initiative to support clean air and protect against soil erosion. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the spiritual and humanitarian leadership of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa Jigme Pema Wangchen on the occasion of his birthday.