Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, when you think about Israel, it is a very young country. It is just over 70 years old. It is very impressive from a defense perspective, from a technology perspective, and from an agriculture perspective leading the world in so many different fields. I also believe it is always important to highlight they are the only democracy in the Middle East. They are our best friend. Its history and its culture are the center of our civilization. Israel faces threats every single day against its survival and against the universal values of peace, security, opportunity, and, of course, freedom. Those values unite us in America and in Israel on both sides of the Green Line. I am excited that my colleagues are here to share with everyone our experience. We returned home with a strong conviction that this story needs to be told and that more of our colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, need to see it for themselves. That was the biggest takeaway we heard after listening to the people whom we met. They asked us to go home and share their reality and their desires to promote peace and economic security in Israel. That is our mission today.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. I remember that, too.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. It was so encouraging to see that during our time there.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. It was a beautiful day when we were there. It was just great to be able to spend some time with him. He really has led the way within the administration with integrated business. Also he sees the vision, and he sees the potential of what that means as far as helping really forge peace from a bottom-up approach. So it was great to be with him. I appreciated Dr. Roe talking about the national training center which is leading with training, leadership, and teamwork that we all can benefit from. They have contracted with the IDF. They have contracts now with the Department of Education. We saw the young people--the Israelis and the Arabs--going through this training together--thousands.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, we should also recognize the extraordinary leadership of Ambassador David Friedman. We had the opportunity to have lunch with him. We had the opportunity to visit the United States Embassy in Jerusalem.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Jabari had courage and bravery.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I completely agree. That is a good point. A big thank-you to Heather Johnston, who led, and General Krulak, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is helping encourage this economic, integrated business approach. We also got to, as the gentlewoman said, see Arrow 3. Also traveling with us was Ari Sacher, who led the whole Iron Dome. I always take pleasure in noting that, under his leadership, Israel was able to develop Iron Dome in less than 3 years, under budget. That is something we could take note of. And it is working, and they are using it today and every day.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri. I thought she said it so well. It really is an untold story. It is a story of opportunity, and it is a story of hope that, unfortunately, isn't being told right now. This needs to be part of the peace plan. We need to have and encourage that economic cooperation between the Israelis and the Palestinian business leaders. We saw it, the Judea and Samaria Chamber of Commerce coming together and, in the last 2 years, creating jobs, creating opportunities, and giving people hope. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. Roe).

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone for joining me tonight on this Special Order. In August, my colleagues and I traveled to Israel with the United States-Israel Education Association, and tonight we wanted to share with you about our trip. I am joined by Bradley Byrne from Alabama, Ann Wagner from Missouri, and Dr. Phil Roe from Tennessee. Through the years, the USIEA has led Members of Congress behind the Green Line, so into the West Bank, in Judea and Samaria. Tonight we wanted to share with you some of what we saw, what we learned, witnessing the economic cooperation and integrated businesses between Palestinian and Israeli business leaders. It is really an untold story. It is an untold story, one that includes the story of hope and opportunity. For me, it was my first trip to Israel since being named the United States Representative to the U.N., and it renewed my strong commitment to ensure that America remains a bipartisan, steadfast, and staunch supporter of Israel. Tonight we are going to get started with my friend and colleague from Alabama, Bradley Byrne, to share about the trip. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne).

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I want to first just say how much I admire and appreciate the leadership of Mr. James Langevin from Rhode Island on this important legislation. I am proud to have joined with him partnering to lead the legislation this year, the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2019. This is important legislation. I think he laid it out really well. It is supported with bipartisan support. It would authorize $200 million in funding over the next 5 years for improved respite care services for families caring for loved ones battling chronic, debilitating conditions. Today more than 43 million people are providing long-term care for family members in America. The role these caregivers play cannot be understated. They ensure that their loved ones receive the care that they desperately need in their homes and often at a lower cost. Respite care providers relieve their family caregivers, and it is an essential part of our comprehensive healthcare approach. This legislation will support respite care agencies so that they can support family caregivers in communities across the country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it. It expands services and access to care, and it will improve healthcare outcomes.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act. We all agree that robocalls are annoying, and they are a nuisance. What is worse is that these calls are often scams, scams that are becoming more and more sophisticated each day. When our phone rings, we are just one answer away from being a victim of identity theft. That needs to change. This legislation will restore trust that Americans can again answer their phones. Madam Speaker, I have a constituent who calls my office nearly every time he receives a robocall. He has begged us to do something. After today, I look forward to sharing with him that we listened and took action to solve this problem. Madam Speaker, on his behalf and on behalf of all those whom I have the privilege of representing in eastern Washington, I urge support of the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, on Monday, June 24, 2019 I unfortunately missed evening votes due to a flight delay. I also missed a vote on June 25th. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 399; YEA on Roll Call No. 400; YEA on Roll Call No. 401; YEA on Roll Call No. 402; and YEA on Roll Call No. 411.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a story of power, people power. This story doesn't take place in the Halls of Congress, in the department of such and such, or in D.C., which is too often called ``the most powerful city in the world.'' This story takes place at Hope House, a women's homeless shelter in Spokane, Washington. Hope House, which is expanding because of a grant made possible because of tax reform, helps women find a second chance. Heather Thomas-Taylor is the director. As The Spokesman-Review reported, she knows everyone staying at the house by name. She feeds them from donations from restaurants and churches. Once, a bride and groom, still in their dress and tux, donated 2 weeks' worth of food left over from their reception. Around the holidays, Hope House fridges are so full they can't even ``fit a slice of bologna'' in them. Mr. Speaker, this is what an empowered community looks like, and it has provided more than mandates and centralized bureaucratic power can ever provide. Why is that? Because people like the employees at Hope House, the director leading its expansion, the bride and groom, and our church congregations have the power to improve the world around them. I have another story to share, but it isn't one of hope. It is one of people losing their ability to serve their community. Nearly 14,000 people live in Pend Oreille County in my district. Many work in timber, mining, the hospital, or elsewhere. However, in the entire county, we are down to one childcare center, just one, which is run by the local Tribe, and they have a long waiting list. Statewide regulations are making it too difficult for local providers to comply with licensing requirements. As one provider said in Washington, ``There's a rule for a rule for a rule.'' Even the public hospital in Pend Oreille County, with its resources and lawyers, couldn't comply to open a daycare center. Just imagine if these one-size-fits-all rules were coming from the Federal Government for every single neighborhood in America. It is not that far from reality. I hear every day from local officials, schools, farmers, and people who are overwhelmed by costly mandates forced on them by the Federal Government. This is not what a government of the people, by the people, and for the people should look like. I rise to share these stories so that we will protect the people's voices and, ultimately, their power to create those solutions that will work in their lives and their communities. By design and common sense, the institutions closest to the people yield the best results as well as build trust. If you were suddenly in need, who would you trust, Hope House, which you can look in the eye and know by name, or a phone number that directs you to someone sitting in a cubicle in Washington, D.C.? Losing that trust in community solutions is what we risk when we start embracing socialism. Socialism will diminish our individual liberties, isolating us from the institutions that empower us to make a difference in the world around us. It will concentrate power, where the people's voices don't stand a chance against corruption. That is why power doesn't belong behind an unelected bureaucrat's desk, where scandals like we have seen at the IRS, the VA, and the FBI can run rampant. The promise of America is where people, not the government, is trusted with the potential to achieve our dreams. We have a voice. We have that power in our community. The promise that socialism can provide these things is a false one. It never happens. Mr. Speaker, I will say it again: We are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. For those words to be true, the people's House must recognize where the people have the most power and freedom to make the best decisions for ourselves and our families. It isn't in the Federal Government. Like in Pend Oreille County, it is in the community. It is our community, our neighborhoods, our homes, our schools, PTA meetings, churches, local governments, and, yes, at Hope House and daycare centers, too. It is neighbor helping neighbor. We all need each other at different times in our lives. Mr. Speaker, it is community that we must stand for, for the American Dream to flourish.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the leadership of my colleague from Washington State (Mr. Newhouse), as well as the leader from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), on this bipartisan amendment in support of the Job Corps. I, too, want to stand in support of the important work that the Job Corps is doing, specifically in Ferry County. In addition to closing other centers, the administration recently announced its plans to terminate the agreement between our Job Corps in Curlew and the USDA. In rural Ferry County, which is largely publicly owned, it is right in the midst of a million-acre national forest. The Job Corps is very important. It is very important in that it is one of the largest employers in the county. It is also where young people, at-risk youth, are gaining critical skills necessary to fight fires and to better steward our Federal forests in eastern Washington. We are facing larger and larger catastrophic fires. This Job Corps program is so important, as well as the other programs that it is offering. This amendment will stop funds from being used to close the Curlew Job Corps, as well as others. Whether for jobs, a healthier environment, or those on the front lines fighting forest fires in Washington State and throughout rural America, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and support this amendment.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the bold trailblazers like Susan B. Anthony, a pro-life woman and Republican, and others like Emma Smith DeVoe and May Arkwright Hutton, who both led the suffrage movement in Washington State. It was exactly 100 years ago today that this body passed a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote. Its leaders like Susan B. Anthony and others have inspired generations of women to live their dreams, to be courageous, and to be risk-takers. They fought in search of a more perfect union to make sure the promise of America was available to women of all walks of life so that we, the people, are able to make our voices heard. Madam Speaker, I am grateful for them. I am honored to stand here today, 100 years later. Their legacy reminds us all why we are empowered to do our part and write the next chapter of America's history.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reflect on moral character, which is essential to the promise of America in order for us to flourish. I am reminded that we stand on the shoulders of so many who have gone before us and impacted our lives in many ways--members of our greatest generation--who bravely fought tyranny and oppression during World War II. They were driven by honor, duty, and country. They were selfless, not drawing attention to themselves or seeking to be a celebrity or a hero. They are the models for character that we must always celebrate and remember. They would never admit it, but they are heroes, heroes for bravely and humbly doing their part to protect our freedom. Madam Speaker, why is character so important? Why does it matter? It is because our character--who we are and the decisions that we make when we are tested--is foundational to the rule of law. In this body, we talk a lot about the Constitution, our God-given rights, bills and laws, checks and balances, the rules and the procedures that govern debate, the branches that make up this government, and so on. All of these pieces of our government are significant, but they are lifeless and have no meaning without the spirit of good faith. If we, representatives of the people, don't lead with moral character, America doesn't stand a chance against corruption and the breakdown of trust with the people we serve. It is on us, each one of us, doing our part for what is righteous, what is just, and for what will keep America free. President Reagan once said: Freedom isn't passed down to us in the bloodstream; it has to be fought for. In other words, freedom involves choices, and that is precisely why character matters. Every single day, every single moment, our character is tested. In politics, it is tested by the temptations of power, palace intrigue, ambition, and personalities. I won't blame either side of the aisle, Madam Speaker, but these are the smoldering fires that burn around us that threaten our institutions and our laws. Did you know that only 3 percent of Americans trust the government will do the right thing--3 percent. Forty-six percent of Americans say that they have very little confidence in Congress. That is a crisis of confidence, and it is a call for reformation of character, so that people will trust and can trust that their representatives will always act in good faith on their behalf. Again, it starts with us being better examples, not for the glory or the recognition, but because it is the right thing to do. We must be countercultural to the divisiveness that has taken hold of modern politics today. That means stopping the blame game, honoring another's argument, even when we disagree, and acknowledging, and even celebrating, our differences without attacking the other side's character. That is the way that we will come together to find out how we can make tough decisions without kicking the can down the road. I fear what may come if things do not change. As Abraham Lincoln famously said, ``A House divided against itself cannot stand.'' The strength of our Nation, our Constitution, our laws, and our institutions have no greater guardians than us. It is this government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We must take this responsibility seriously or, again, we won't have a fighting chance to rebuild the trust of ``we, the people'' and keep the promise of America alive. I have said it before in the well of this House: this is the promise that will keep us free and empower the next generation to shine. For their sake, our character, the spirit that leads us to do what is right and just, must be our guide so our House will forever stand.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I thank our Republican lead on the Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding. I appreciate the gentleman's leadership on this important issue. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my support for true bipartisan efforts to reduce prescription drug costs. Seniors, patients, and families in my district and all across America are counting on us so that they can afford their medication and have the certainty that they need. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have led. Republicans and Democrats on our committee have been working together on provisions to bring generic drugs to the market faster by incentivizing more competition among generic manufacturers. We recently passed three drug-pricing bills with overwhelming, bipartisan support. These are three solutions that President Trump stands ready to sign, and we should send them to his desk. This is an opportunity to build on the bipartisan work from the last Congress to lower drug costs and keep our promises to the American people. Remember, just last fall, President Trump signed our bipartisan bill to ban the gag clauses so patients can save on prescriptions and trust they are getting the best price. Again, we should build on that work. That is what the people elected us to do; that is what they expect; and that is what they deserve. So, what has changed, and where are we today? The new majority--at the expense of patients, seniors, and families-- is playing politics with lowering the costs of prescription drugs. H.R. 987 includes our bipartisan bills, but my colleagues across the aisle have packaged them with very partisan bills to bail out ObamaCare. These partisan proposals would restrict access to healthcare coverage and stop the administration's work to reduce wasteful spending on programs that aren't working. The Washington Post called these poison bills a political pothole. We don't need any more political potholes. We need real reforms that the President will sign. This is a ploy, and it is just the latest. The Energy and Commerce Committee has historically been the most bipartisan committee in the House, putting more bipartisan legislation on the President's desk than any other. I am disappointed that we have found ourselves here.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer III. On May 2, 2019, he will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for inventing the world's first practical microprocessor digital relay for the power grid. Before his breakthrough invention, utilities relied on bulky relays made of springs, magnets, and coils. Dr. Schweitzer turned these cumbersome and old systems into precise and reliable ones with a digital relay that is one-eighth the size, one-tenth the weight, and best yet, one-third the price! His multifunctional digital relay not only protects power systems, it also records data and identifies faults. As a result, he's inspired even more inventions that have become the standard features for protective data relays around the globe. In short, Dr. Schweitzer revolutionized our power grid with computer- based protection and control equipment. Of course, what I'm most proud of is that Pullman, Washington, is home to his great success story. It's where he earned his doctorate at Washington State University in 1977. It's also in Pullman where Dr. Schweitzer built his company, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), which has created thousands and thousands of jobs in rural Eastern Washington since 1982 and is now a 100 percent employee-owned ESOP. Madam Speaker, Dr. Schweitzer's professional work is electrical engineering, but his greatest invention is truly in human resources. He's led to create a culture of innovation, opportunity, and respect that has empowered people in my district to have an opportunity for a better life. Right now, SEL employs 5,200 people who develop and manufacture a suite of products that make electric power safer, more reliable, and more affordable for utility companies, mines, factories, hospitals, universities and data centers in 164 countries around the world. I'm proud to call Dr. Schweitzer a friend and a mentor. It's not an exaggeration to say that his work is the fulfillment of the American Dream. He's a living example of the wonderful accomplishments that are made possible when the seeds of invention are able to grow freely without federal regulations holding them back. This week, Dr. Schweitzer will have the amazing honor of joining Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, Nikola Tesla, and Hedy Lamarr in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. On behalf of the 116th United States Congress and Washington's Fifth Congressional District, I'm proud to congratulate him and thank him for his ingenuity that will inspire many Americans for decades to come.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Chair, I appreciate the gentleman yielding. Madam Chair, I join my colleagues in rising in opposition to H.R. 1644. What is most disappointing to me is that it seems like this is another example of the Democratic majority, during this Congress, being more interested in scoring political points than actually solving a problem. In order for this legislation to become law, it is going to require bipartisan support, yet the Democrats have chosen today to move forward in a partisan way. The rhetoric around net neutrality has been driven to a fever pitch. Dire predictions on the end of the internet led to death threats against the chairman of the FCC and his family, as well as against some of our own colleagues. Democrats say they want to save the internet; however, in the time since the title II regulations were repealed under the Trump administration, network speeds are up drastically. Investment and coverage in rural areas has increased. This debate isn't about the merits of an open internet. I support an open, free internet, and I always have. This is truly about how we shape the future of our economy: Do we want to regulate the internet as a 1930s-style utility where regulations stifle innovation and leave behind rural and poor Americans? Do we want an internet economy that lifts people out of poverty and provides them with more economic opportunities? As we work to close the digital divide, we need to decrease the barriers to deployment, not increase them. Imposing unnecessary regulations on small companies providing rural broadband will only further this divide. We must protect people in a way that does not leave underserved areas of our country behind. Republicans, for years, have offered to work across the aisle. I have introduced legislation modeled after a bill that passed in Washington State, enjoying bipartisan support overwhelmingly. In fact, it was lauded by Senator Cantwell. She said: ``In our State, Republicans and Democrats came together. . . . Why can't we see this same bipartisanship in the U.S. House?'' I ask my Democratic colleagues today that same question.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Elaine Eigeman. In Congress, every day we have people who come to the Nation's Capitol to advocate for important issues facing people in every community across our country. However, few do this as tirelessly and with as much passion and grace as Elaine. As the board chair of the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, Elaine has given a strong voice to lymphedema patients all across the country. She was the driving force behind the Lymphedema Treatment Act, which we will introduce in the House this week, to require Medicare to cover an essential part of lymphedema treatment. Elaine developed lymphedema in 1999. Throughout her journey, she has made it her mission to support others and to be a voice for all suffering from this disease. Thank you, Elaine, for your leadership and for creating a vibrant community for patients in the Northwest and beyond. I am proud to be your friend.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the promise of America. What is the promise of America? What has it meant for us? And what does it mean for us today? America has been around for a few hundred years. That is really not that long. In that short time, our dreams have informed the imaginations of people around the globe. It all started when our Founding Fathers drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. It set us on a path for our Nation to be the greatest experiment in self-governance that the world has ever known. Our Founders were our first innovators who risked it all for America to be free. I am sure there are times when we have fallen short, but our experiment has been overwhelmingly for the good. It is here in America that we have led and cultivated history's greatest breakthroughs. We fought a war to end slavery. We liberated Europe from the Nazis. We invented flight; put men on the Moon; split the atom; and invented the microchip, the internet, and more. At great expense, all this was accomplished by maintaining fleets and armies for America to be a beacon of hope for freedom-loving people around the world. We have done more to lift people out of poverty and raise the standard of living than any nation in the history of the world. Madam Speaker, I am sure our Founders never dreamed that any of this would be possible, but it was because they made their vision for America a reality rooted in the promise that our rights are self- evident, sacred, and undeniable. America was born with purpose. It says it right here in the Declaration of Independence. We all know the words, or at least we should know the words: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'' These are more than just words. It is a faith statement, a distinctive national credo. The moment we fail to believe it, the experiment is over and this Nation will fade away like all nation- states that have lost belief in themselves and forgotten their identity. If we forget our purpose and let the promise of America be broken, then we are lost. The future is lost. It is our job and our highest responsibility to transmit the promise of America to our children and to all who are a part of this great experiment. It is not enough that we merely assert these as ideas. We must live them as truths and show the world that they work. America is where freedom has made its greatest mark. It is where creativity is unmatched by any time in history. It is where justice flowers more generously than anyplace on Earth. The torch must be passed to the next generation. That is what President John F. Kennedy said, and, Madam Speaker, we must do just that. I will keep coming back to this floor, to the people's House, to make this case that the promise of America is for every person in our country. There is a battle going on right now for the heart and soul of America, so it is worth repeating that we must never forget our purpose. That is what unites us as Americans, and it is where I find hope that we can come together around shared values that built our great Nation. I am committed more than ever to restore trust and confidence in the promise of America. It is a promise that will keep us free, empower our children in the next generation to shine, and strengthen the moral fabric where our identity rests.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mike Poulson's career and service to Washington's Fifth Congressional District as Senior Policy Advisor focusing on Agriculture and Natural Resources. Mike's experience with farming extends back to his family settling in the Columbia Basin of Washington State after his father went through the very detailed process of eligibility to purchase land in the Connell area. After graduating from Connell High School, Mike enlisted in the Army National Guard because, in his words, ``he just assumed that everybody pulled a stint in the military.'' In 1965, Mike bought some farmland of his own in a unit close to his family unit and started to build his own home. In the mid 1980s, Mike was elected Vice President of the Washington State Farm Bureau, a position he took on even while farming full time. Mike ventured outside of farming in the 1990s when he began consulting on public policy and environmental issues. Mike had a way of being able to communicate complex, and often controversial, environmental issues to the public. I had the fortune of meeting him during my time in the Washington State House and came to have a deep respect for his understanding of these issues which affected many in my district. A few short months after I was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike leased out his farmland and joined my staff-- becoming the longest serving member on my team until his retirement on February 28, 2019. Mike has many significant accomplishments in his career including: developing solutions for Columbia Basin water shortages; speaking out against the harmful impacts of the Waters of the United States regulation; combatting the recent falling numbers of our wheat and coordinating an effort to find long-term solutions with the Washington Grain Commission and Washington State University; and bringing the A to Z project to fruition on the Colville National Forest--which is a national model for restoring the health of our forests. In the words of Derek Sandison, Director for the Washington State Department of Agriculture ``Mike has the ability to sort through rhetoric around complex issues to get to the core facts and quickly get to the right side of the issues.'' I am grateful for his friendship, advice, and most importantly, service to Eastern Washington over the past 15 years. I wish Mike well in his retirement.