Jerry McNerney

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2668, the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act, and I am going to urge quick passage of this legislation. H.R. 2668 would restore the Federal Trade Commission's authority under section 13(b) to go after those who have stolen money from consumers and enable the agency to get this money back to the consumers. Restoring this authority is in line with bipartisan FTC leadership requests, congressional intent, and over 40 years of practice. And restoring this authority is especially important for congressional districts like mine where many are struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table. Prior to the Supreme Court decision, the FTC had used this essential authority to return more than $11 billion to consumers who had fallen victim to unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practices; and that is just since 2016. The FTC currently has pending before it investigations that could result in returning $2 billion to consumers if this is restored. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the need for this legislation even more urgent. During the pandemic, we have seen a rise in scams that prey on consumers' fears and financial insecurities. Consumers who have been defrauded deserve to get their money back. We owe it to them to move quickly and pass H.R. 2668. I thank Representative Cardenas for his hard work and leadership on this legislation and Chairwoman Schakowsky and Chairman Pallone for moving this piece of legislation today. I also thank the Democratic staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for all their hard work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnership Act. The prior bill, this bill, and the next bill are good examples of working together on a bipartisan basis to accomplish things that are very critical to this country, and I thank my colleagues for being a very important part of this partnership. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering this bill today, because we simply can't afford to wait any longer to secure our Nation's critical infrastructure, including the grid. The Colonial Pipeline attack coming on the heels of the SolarWinds attack was a bright warning sign that we need to act quickly to pass this legislation. Since the Colonial Pipeline attack, ransomware attacks have continued to skyrocket, and the need to enact H.R. 2931 has become even more pressing. H.R. 2931 would create a program to enhance the physical and cybersecurity of electric utilities. This program would develop methods for assessing security vulnerabilities. It would also provide cybersecurity training to electric utilities, advance cybersecurity of utility third-party vendors, and promote sharing of best practices and data collection in the electric sector. Under this legislation, the Secretary of Energy would work in consultation with States, Federal agencies, and industry stakeholders to create this program. By encouraging these partnerships, we will better position ourselves to keep the Nation's lights on and to protect our grid from the growing cyber threats. Additionally, H.R. 2931 would require the Interruption Cost Estimate Calculator, which is used to calculate the ROI on utility investments, to be updated at least every 2 years to ensure accurate calculations. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and partner in this legislation, Representative Latta from Ohio, for working with me on this important bill. I also thank Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member Rodgers, and the staff of the committee for helping us move this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2928, the Cyber Sense Act of 2021. The Cyber Sense Act is another piece of bipartisan legislation that takes steps to improve the security of our Nation's electric grid infrastructure. It would establish a program to identify cyber secure products for the bulk-power grid through a testing and verification program. The bulk-power system is essential for providing reliable electric power to the American people. We must ensure that this system is as secure as possible. Any vulnerable component in our grid is a threat to our security, and this bill will take important steps to strengthen the system. It would also require the Department of Energy to provide technical assistance to electric utilities, manufacturers, and other relevant stakeholders related to cybersecurity vulnerabilities in products under the Cyber Sense program. In today's world, there are literally billions of connected devices in use and the number is rapidly increasing. Most of these devices have no standards. There is no way for electric utilities to verify the security of the products, and we are seeing cyber threats continue to increase. This legislation is badly needed. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Latta, again for his partnership on this bill. We have been working together on a number of issues, and this is a sign of our partnership. I also thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Rodgers for working with us to move this legislation quickly, and I don't want to forget the staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee, who have been so helpful. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 678, the PHONE Act. As we stand here today, wildfires are raging across the West, including in my home of northern California. Last year, California witnessed a devastating and terrible fire season. We saw some of the largest fires in the State's history and a record-breaking 4.4 million acres burned. Nearly every part of the State was blanketed by fire and smoke, and we really haven't gotten much of a break. The number of wildfires and the amount of land burned in our State so far this year greatly exceeds the totals for the same period last year. Climate change is resulting in longer and more extreme wildfire seasons, and this is expected to continue. Worrying about deadly fires spreading quickly is the new norm that my constituents are now living in. And worrying about whether they will have to evacuate their homes is also part of this new norm. Because of this legislation that we are considering today, the PHONE Act, which I am proud to cosponsor, my constituents, Californians, and Americans all across the country who are impacted all too frequently now by natural disasters due to climate change, will have to worry about one less thing when they are forced to evacuate their homes, and that is their ability to keep their phone numbers. Under this legislation, communications providers will be prohibited from reassigning phone numbers of customers in areas covered by a major disaster declaration for the duration of the declaration, and this may be extended. The bill would also prohibit providers from assessing early termination fees to cancel services or connection fees to resubscribe to a new address for subscribers whose residence is inaccessible or uninhabitable due to major disaster. There is so much that wildfire victims already have to worry about. We must move quickly to ensure the PHONE Act is signed into law so there is one less item on their plate. It is hard enough to pick up the pieces after a disaster. Let's not add insult to injury. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, Representative Mike Thompson, for his work on this legislation.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, once again, our nation has experienced a mass shooting, this time in our own neighborhood. The deadly shooting that occurred on Wednesday May 28, 2021 at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority too the lives of nine individuals. It is with great sadness that I share one of those individuals was my constituent, Paul Delacruz Megia. Paul Delacruz Megia immigrated to the United States from the Philippines at a young age and was a resident of Mountain House, California. He was a son, brother, husband, and father who leaves behind his wife and three children. Paul joined Valley Transportation Authority in 2002 as a bus operator trainee and worked his way up to an assistant superintendent in service management. His supervisor shared that he had a calming effect on others and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Paul is remembered as full of life and love. He helped others to reach their goals of pursuing careers in transportation by serving as a mentor with the Overhead Line Worker apprenticeship program at Mission College in Santa Clara, also serving as the liaison between the College and Valley Transportation Authority. Paul cared for others and in his final moments, he risked his life to keep his coworkers safe. He is a hero, and his courage will never be forgotten. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and memory of Paul Delacruz Megia.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act, and in support of my amendment to this legislation. Water main breaks are one of the most visible signs of our deteriorating infrastructure. Some of our Nation's water pipes date back to the 19th century, and many are reaching the end of their designed lifetime. Reports have found a 27 percent increase in water main breaks between 2012 and 2018--that is 6 years--equating to a break every 2 minutes nationwide. Despite vast economic implications, most water main breaks don't even make the local news, and consistent data about them is not regularly collected. And as California faces the worst drought in decades, we do not have the luxury of remaining in the dark about our most valuable resource. Under my amendment, data on water main breaks will be compiled in a publicly accessible database that will offer great opportunities for analysis and insights into this nationwide problem. Increasing the consistent reporting of breaks will shine new light on the magnitude of this water infrastructure challenge and help us track the pace of improvements as we make needed repairs and replacements. The knowledge to be drawn from this new database will help all our drinking water utilities become more resilient in facing the challenges of climate change. Furthermore, the work done by my colleagues and me in the Energy and Commerce Committee will ensure crucial drinking and wastewater infrastructure improvements that communities across the Nation desperately need. These provisions not only improve the water we drink and help keep pollution out of our rivers and lakes, they will also create good-paying jobs and tackle the climate crisis head-on. Lastly, this legislation recognizes that working directly with our communities is the best way to identify the unique infrastructure needs of our specific districts. As a result, my district is set to receive much-needed funding for six separate infrastructure projects spanning road, rail, and public transportation infrastructure. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act. Among other things, this legislation aims to increase both the awareness of career opportunities in the transportation sector and to build a more diverse workforce in this field. My amendment would add veteran status as a factor to be considered under diversity. As of 2017, women represented 16 percent of the overall Active Duty force, with 43 percent of Active Duty military identified as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or another racial or ethnic group. Our increasingly diverse military is not only an asset to our Nation's security, but when these servicemembers return to civilian life, they are often an untapped pool of potential. We have a duty to protect and serve those who have done so for us. A key part of that is helping our veterans find gainful employment once their service has ended, which is what my amendment would seek to do. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for recognizing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 3723, the Consumer Safety Technology Act. H.R. 3723 will encourage the use of emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence and blockchains, to help keep consumers safe. It will aid our consumer protection agencies with carrying out their missions. H.R. 3723 incorporates the AI for Consumer Product Safety Act legislation that I authored with Representative Burgess. These provisions direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, to establish a pilot program for the agency to use AI in furtherance of the agency's work to protect consumers from unsafe products. For example, the CPSC could use artificial intelligence to more quickly and efficiently identify consumer product hazards, such as exploding laptops that have faulty batteries, defective USB chargers, furniture that tips over, and unsafe infant sleeping products. Being able to identify these hazards more quickly will enable the CPSC to help also recall products more quickly and, in turn, help save lives. We have heard firsthand from CPSC commissioners when they testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee that artificial intelligence can benefit the agency's work in serving the American people. I am pleased that last year my legislation, the AI in Government Act, was enacted into law. Among other things, the AI in Government Act establishes an AI Center of Excellence to facilitate adoption of AI technology in the Federal Government. This will provide a central resource within the government to aid agencies with AI adoption and help agencies share best practices. But it is also critical that agencies build up their capacity internally to adopt AI technology. H.R. 3723 will empower the CPSC to do just that. The CPSC's experience here will also serve as an example for other agencies that are looking to integrate AI in furtherance of their agency's missions. H.R. 3723 also incorporates the Blockchain Innovation Act introduced by Representative Soto and Guthrie. These provisions will help ensure that we use the benefits of blockchain technology to help stop scams and fraud. Additionally, H.R. 3723 incorporates the Digital Taxonomy Act from Representatives Soto and Davidson. These provisions will help ensure the scammers and fraudsters don't get ahead of consumers and law enforcement in the realm of blockchain and digital tokens. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Burgess, Soto, Guthrie, and Davidson for their work in H.R. 3723, and Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Rodgers for helping to move this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, behind me is a sign that has decorated the office doors of my Republican colleagues for the past few months. I agree with the sentiment and I thank the Capitol Police Officers for their heroic defense on January 6, and every day that they protect the seat of this Nation's government. My problem is that 175 of my Republican colleagues, many who still have this sign on their doors, voted against an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the causes of the January 6 insurrection. Capitol Police Officers suffered debilitating physical and mental trauma, and two lost their lives because of the events of that day. Unless we understand how this act of terror was accomplished and hold those who are responsible accountable for their actions, it could happen again. So why did so many Republicans vote against the commission? Because they are afraid of what could be found. They are afraid that it could affect their future elections. This is hypocrisy at its ugliest. While Republicans in Congress pay lip service to the Capitol Police and their heroism, they are too cowardly to back a commission that would shed light on the terrorist attack that put the brave women's and men's lives in danger on that terrible day.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. No one can be a better spokeswoman for this issue than Mrs. Demings, who proudly represents her district in Florida and served as the police leader in her hometown. Mr. Speaker, as we remember the police officers who have fallen in the line of duty, it is with great sadness that I must add another name to that list. Officer Jimmy Inn of the Stockton Police Department was killed yesterday while responding to a domestic violence call. Just 30 years old, Officer Inn joined the force in 2015 and was a member of the Honor Guard. He was a husband and a father who leaves behind a 7-month-old son, a stepson, a stepdaughter, and a wife, who also serves as a Stockton police officer. Officer Inn is remembered as a kindhearted, selfless, and positive person. His commanding officer, Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones, said that he was the epitome of what a police officer should be. Officer Inn's last act was to help a woman and child in grave danger. Officer Inn sacrificed his life in service to others, and I ask everyone to join me in honoring his life, his service, and his memory.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Dr. I.M. Singer, one of America's most influential mathematicians. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, Dr. Singer had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in physics in just 2\1/2\ years before joining the United States military during World War II. Upon returning, Dr. Singer earned a doctorate degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago. Later, he chaired committees at the United States National Academy of Sciences, was a member of the White House Science Council, and cofounded the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley. Dr. Singer's most prominent contribution was the Atiyah-Singer index theorem, which created a link between mathematical analysis and topology and, ultimately, led to a new field of mathematics. For his work, Dr. Singer received the most prestigious award in mathematics, the Abel Prize. As a fellow mathematician, I deeply admire Dr. Singer's contributions to theoretical physics and mathematics, which have revolutionized the way we understand the universe.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Michigan. I can tell you a couple minutes is enough time because I am a brief speaker, but it says a lot that I am willing to come down here and risk COVID to speak in favor of a Republican. So there you have it. I have known Greg Walden for many years now in the committee. On trips and on new legislation, he has been a gentleman, and he has been a person I could work with. We have some disagreements, don't we, Greg? But that says a lot that we can disagree and still be friends. I went to Oregon to visit and to see the eclipse, and Greg invited me to go to his place with his friends and watch it with them. I really appreciated that. So it shows you that people can get along in this institution, work together, and have respect for each other.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 6096, the READI Act. The emergency alerting system and the wireless emergency alerting system provide safe, lifesaving tools to disseminate information during emergencies. In recent years, we have seen devastating fires in my home State of California, including the Tubbs fire; the Camp fire, which was the deadliest wildfire our Nation has faced in the last century; and the Kincade fire. This year, we have seen some of the largest and most devastating fires in the State's history, with a record of more than 4 million acres burned and more than 8,100 fires across the State. Nearly every part of the great State of California has been touched by wildfires this season. These events demonstrate that we must improve the reliability of emergency alerts. As we continue to battle COVID-19, this year's wildfire season has also presented unprecedented challenges for firefighters, emergency managers, and the public, particularly when it comes to evacuations. This makes it even more crucial that we have emergency alerting systems in place that are both robust and reliable. This legislation will improve the current wireless emergency alerting system, and emergency alerting systems more broadly, so that my constituents and Americans across the country can count on receiving these alerts when faced with emergencies, including wildfires. H.R. 6096 will ensure that more people receive critical emergency alerts on their mobile devices, televisions, and radios, and will pave the way for examining the feasibility of issuing alerts through online audio and video streaming services. Additionally, this legislation will help States improve their plans for emergency alerting, and it will establish a reporting system for false alerts. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, including Representative Bilirakis, Mr. Olson, and Ms. Gabbard, for working with me on the READI Act, as well as Senators Schatz and Thune for their leadership on this legislation in the Senate. Madam Speaker, I also thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden, and Chairman Doyle and Ranking Member Latta, for their working with me to move this legislation through the committee. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6096.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the whip for the opportunity to say some words here. Madam Speaker, my first impression of John was pretty scary. It was my first day on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and John was in the top dais, and I was down in front, a little freshman. John looked down on us and said: Your policies in the Democratic Party are going to cost you your seat. I looked back. ``Oh, geez, I hope he is not looking at me.'' He was, but we got over it. It is funny, when the climate change issue came up, John had a standard practice. He would bring out this big picture of his coal mine workers, and say: You guys, climate policy is going to cost these people their jobs. That is a hard argument to fight against. That is a hard argument because you know he is fighting for his people. I know there are other people here who are shaking their heads on that one, but I respected that. He was fighting for the people he cared about and the people he represented. But there were some things John and I had in common. We both played paddleball, and we were pretty evenly matched, so we got some good games in there. The great thing about that is that you get to know people who you wouldn't otherwise get to know, and that was important. I think that is a tradition that we need to carry on. We also both went to West Point, so we had that little bit in common, and it was fun to talk about that. Eventually, we started talking about policy. One day, I asked Henry Waxman: What about John Shimkus? Henry said: He is a nice guy, Jerry. Then he frowned, and he said: But he sure is conservative. That is coming from Henry Waxman, so I don't know if that means anything or not. John and I started talking about nuclear waste and policy. He took me to Yucca Mountain. It is pretty impressive, but it is totally shut down. Sorry to tell you, John, it ain't going to happen, as much as we would like it to. I even talked to Dean Heller about it, and Dean Heller said: Oh, John Shimkus, people in Nevada think of him as Darth Vader. Later, it was suggested that the Democrats and the Republicans sit together during the State of the Union, and that is cool. John and I sat together. I have to tell you, it is weird when the President is in the other party, and you are sitting with that party. Everyone stands up and cheers, and you are sitting on your hands. We got through that. We still play paddleball occasionally. I think as time went on, we got to be friends, and we talked a lot. I can tell you, John has made an impression on me. He stands up for what he believes in. We need more people like that, that have strong beliefs. They are willing to fight for what they believe in but are also willing to compromise and work with the other side to make progress happen. That is what we need in this institution. I respect John for that. We will miss having him here, but we will find somebody else.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, for lawmakers to encourage and enable innovative advancements that can improve the security and reliability of our Nation's energy grid, we must work on a bipartisan basis, as the bills under consideration show. Fortunately, the modernization and innovation of our Nation's energy infrastructure is already under way. What was once a one-way delivery system has evolved into a dynamic network where information and energy flow both ways. Technological advancements are also born from the need to secure the energy grid against potential physical and cyber threats. For example, the technology allowing for the rerouting of power and quick response in the event of attacks is being deployed across the grid. The cooperation among Federal, State, and local governments is essential to protecting Americans and our Nation's infrastructure. Given today's cyber environment, it is more important than ever that Congress pursue policies that continue to foster these exciting developments and support our grid infrastructure. This bill, the Cyber Sense Act of 2019, makes important headway in protecting our critical grid infrastructure. The Cyber Sense Act would create a voluntary program through the Department of Energy to identify cyber-secure products intended for use in the bulk-power grid through a testing and verification program. The bill also establishes a testing process for products, along with a reporting process for cyber vulnerabilities. It would require the Secretary of Energy to keep a related database on the products which will aid electric utilities that are evaluating products and their potential to cause harm to the electric grid. The bulk-power system supports American industry and provides all the benefits of reliable electric power to the American people. However, the increasing frequency of cyberattacks on industrial control systems of critical infrastructure importance continues to be a concern to the electric power sector. As the grid is modernized and the digital advantages afforded by internet connectivity are adopted, it is essential that we ensure these systems are as secure as possible. Any vulnerable component in the grid is a threat to our security, and this bill will go a long way to strengthening our system. I thank my colleague, Mr. Latta, for his partnership in our efforts as co-chairs of the Grid Innovation Caucus, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and others to ensure a more secure and resilient grid. Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow Members to support this bill.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. In today's cyber environment, it is more important than ever that Congress pursue policies that continue to support our grid infrastructure and secure it against potential physical and cyber threats. This is an issue I feel very passionate about, as the grid is the backbone of our economy and touches every aspect of our lives. Any vulnerable component is a threat to our physical and national security, as well as our clean energy future, making it imperative that we invest in grid modernization and security. That is why I am proud to co-chair the bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus along with my good friend from across the aisle, Mr. Latta from Ohio. Together, we are focused on providing a forum for discussing solutions to the many challenges facing the grid and to educate Members of Congress and staff about the importance of the electric grid with relation to the economy, energy security, and advanced technologies being utilized to enhance grid capabilities. Time is of the essence, as a recent report from the Congressional Research Service found that our Nation's bulk-power system faces new and evolving cybersecurity threats on a daily basis. These cyberattacks can take multiple forms, such as a direct attack aimed at the electric grid itself or an indirect attack aimed at other critical infrastructure, which in turn could impact the operation of the security of the grid. Recent cyber threats to the electric grid, such as the Triton and BlackEnergy attacks, have come in the form of deposits of malware on grid industrial control system networks, which possess the capability to damage or take over certain aspects of system control or functionality. In addition to this, future cyber threats to the grid are expected to result from attacks directed via the Internet of Things devices connected to networks. As the CRS report noted, an example of such an IoT-based attack on residential or commercial thermostats could result in false power demand readings, causing a utility to ramp up power production unnecessarily. Without proactive management of cyber threats facing the grid, utilities across the Nation will continue to be highly vulnerable to potentially significant attacks. My bill, which I introduced along with Mr. Latta, assists us in this effort to bolster America's electrical infrastructure by encouraging coordination between the Department of Energy and electric utilities. It accomplishes this by creating a program to enhance the physical and cybersecurity of electric utilities through assessing security vulnerabilities, increasing cybersecurity training, and data collection. My bill would also require the Interruption Cost Estimate Calculator--which is used to calculate the return on investment on utility investments--to be updated at least every 2 years to ensure accurate calculations. By encouraging partnerships among the DOE, State regulatory authorities, industry stakeholders, and other Federal agencies to promote and advance physical security and cybersecurity for electric utilities, we can best position ourselves to keep the Nation's lights on and to insulate our economy against future cyber threats. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Pallone, for moving this bill forward, and I thank the ranking member of the full committee for helping move this forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1289, the PHONE Act. As we stand here today, two new, fast-moving wildfires, the Glass and the Zogg fires, are blazing through my home State of California. Thousands of people had to evacuate their homes yesterday as a result of the fires, some of them in the middle of the night. Since the beginning of this year, there have been over 8,100 wildfires that have burned well over 3.7 million acres in California alone. Nearly every part of the State has been ravaged by wildfires this year, and we are now only starting to approach what has historically been the most deadly and destructive part of wildfire season. Worrying about deadly wildfires spreading quickly is the new norm that my constituents now live in, and worrying about whether they will have to evacuate their homes is part of this new norm. Because of this legislation that we are considering today, the PHONE Act, which I am proud to cosponsor, my constituents, Californians, and Americans across the country who are impacted all too frequently now by natural disasters due to climate change will have to worry about one less thing when they are forced to evacuate their homes, and that is the ability to keep their phone numbers. Under this legislation, communications providers will be prohibited from reassigning phone numbers of customers in areas covered by major natural disasters and declared disasters for the duration of the declaration, and that period may be extended. The bill would also prohibit providers from assessing early termination fees to cancel service or connection fees to resubscribe at a new address for subscribers whose residence is inaccessible or uninhabitable due to a major disaster. There is so much that wildfire victims have to worry about. We need to move quickly to ensure that the PHONE Act is signed into law, so there is one less thing on their plate. It may not seem like a big deal, but if you lose your home, keeping the phone number will be an emotionally safe place. Losing your phone number after a disaster just adds insult to injury. I want to thank my colleague from California, Mr. Mike Thompson, for his work in creating this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 8128, the Consumer Safety Technology Act. H.R. 8128 will encourage the use of emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence and blockchain, to help keep consumers safe, and it will aid our consumer protection agencies with carrying out their mission. H.R. 8128 incorporates the AI for Consumer Product Safety Act, legislation that I authored with Representative Burgess. The provisions direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, to establish a pilot program for the agency to use AI in furtherance of the agency's work to protect consumers from unsafe products. For example, CPSC could use AI to more quickly and efficiently identify consumer product hazards, such as exploding laptops that have faulty batteries, defective USB chargers, furniture that tips over, and unsafe infant sleep products. Being able to identify these hazards more quickly will enable the CPSC to also recall the products more quickly and, in turn, save lives. We have heard firsthand from the CPSC Commissioners when they testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee that AI can benefit the agency's work in serving the American public. I am pleased that just 2 weeks ago, the House passed my bill, H.R. 2575, the AI in Government Act, which will help the Federal Government increase AI adoption in a smart and responsible way. H.R. 8128 marks another critical step in advancing this effort. H.R. 8128 also incorporates the Blockchain Innovation Act introduced by Representatives Soto, Guthrie, and Matsui. These provisions will help ensure that we can use the benefits of blockchain technology to stop scams and fraud. Additionally, H.R. 8128 incorporates the Digital Taxonomy Act from Representatives Soto and Davidson. These provisions will help ensure that scammers and fraudsters don't get ahead of consumers and law enforcement in the realm of blockchain and digital tokens. I want to thank Representatives Burgess, Soto, Guthrie, Matsui, and Davidson for their work on H.R. 8128 and Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden for moving this legislation through the committee. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Climate change is accelerating and poses a growing threat to our economy and to our world. We must address climate change with the urgency that it demands, and that means we must all take action. That is why I am proud to have introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation included in this package: the Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act, which I authored with Representative Kinzinger, which aims to create an innovative water and energy resource management pilot program with the Department of Energy. The Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act, which I co-led with Representative Flores, informed the language in this package ensuring that adequate supplies of domestically produced high-assay low-enriched uranium are available in the United States, something that is essential for some of the advanced nuclear reactor designs that are currently being developed. The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act represents the type of strong, concrete steps that we must take to prevent the catastrophic impacts of climate change. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2661.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, last Congress, the House took up the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, which directed the FCC to study and consider whether it is technically feasible to establish a three-digit number for calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. I am proud that today, during Suicide Prevention Month, the House is taking up the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act to expand our previous efforts. The legislation before us directs the FCC to designate ``988'' as the number for accessing the lifeline. The FCC, in response to our previous legislation, is already taking steps to accomplish this, but the legislation goes further. Critically, this measure paves the way to create a sustainable funding stream for our suicide prevention call-takers, something that we desperately need. These seemingly small changes will make finding help immensely easier for Americans who are experiencing suicide or mental health crises. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is accessible today by calling 1-800-273-TALK, received more than 2.2 million calls in 2018. As hard as it is to believe, that figure is expected to go up when 988 is fully implemented and becomes accessible to the public. But designating a short three-digit code that is easier to remember than a cumbersome 1-800 number is supposed to reach more people. That is the point. But that is also why it is so important that the lifeline be able to fund its operations. Because of this legislation, it is likely that the lifeline will receive more calls and save more lives than it does today. Luckily, the lifeline has a proven track record, successfully deescalating almost 98 percent of interactions with callers experiencing suicidal or mental health crises. We have no reason to expect different outcomes when the number changes to 988 because the bill ensures that the lifeline network call centers will have the resources necessary to handle the increase in volume that they are anticipating. It is undeniably one of the most effective tools at our disposal to address the crisis of suicide in America. An analysis of 1,500 calls from just over 1,400 individuals showed that callers who utilized the lifeline's assistance were significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful by the end of the call. It is clear that people who can access help when they need it have better outcomes than those who can't. That is why our immediate goal with this legislation is to reach the people who need help but aren't getting it, and there are far too many folks who fit that description. More than 47,000 Americans died by suicide, and more than 1.4 million Americans attempted suicide in 2017. In 2018, 48,000 Americans died by suicide. Sadly, the numbers are even worse for certain at-risk populations. More than 6,000 veterans died by suicide each year from 2008 to 2017. Young LGBTQ adults are four times more likely to contemplate suicide than their heterosexual peers, and 39 percent of LGBTQ youths reported seriously considering suicide in the past 12 months. Mr. Speaker, that is why this bill ensures that the lifeline and the good people on the other end of the call have the tools and resources they need to reach people who need it the most. Mr. Speaker, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act is a necessary step to reducing suicide in the United States and will ultimately save lives. I thank Representatives Moulton and Stewart for drafting this measure and the Senate for introducing a companion bill. Mr. Speaker, I also thank the chairs and ranking members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee and the full Committee on Energy and Commerce for their bipartisan work to bring this measure to the floor. I look forward to the legislation passing the House today and its signature by the President. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5918) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting, as amended.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5918.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 5918. In times of crisis, Americans rely on communications systems to stay informed, check on loved ones, and access emergency assistance. As the agency in charge of overseeing our Nation's communications systems, it is the responsibility of the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission, to ensure that Americans stay connected when it matters most and that the communications providers are prepared for whatever disasters may come their way. Keeping networks online through the course of a hurricane or a wildfire is a difficult task, but the fact of the matter is network outages occur far too frequently. That reality is due in large part to climate change. According to the National Climate Assessment, the recent trends of increasingly severe storms and disasters are only expected to continue. While we are not here asking the FCC or even the communications providers to solve the problem of climate change, we do expect them, as stewards of our communications systems and networks, to adapt with the times. To make progress in this regard we need to start with data. The Disaster Information Reporting System, or DIRS, was launched by the FCC in 2007 so that communications providers could report the status of communications systems during disasters. In some cases, DIRS is activated in advance of a potential storm or as a precautionary measure. In more extreme cases, DIRS is activated in the lead-up to a disaster and stays active for days on end. That is because a network can go on and offline even after a storm's end. It is usually a sign that the event is so severe that it knocks out commercial power, takes down lines and poles, or some combination of the two. Those are the storms that are expected to continue and grow with each year, and that is why this bill comes at a crucial time. Under this bill, the FCC would be required to conduct a deep and thorough analysis of any disaster or event for which DIRS is activated by the FCC and stays active for a minimum of 7 days. First, the FCC would be required to issue a preliminary report within 6 weeks after the date DIRS is deactivated. This report would include detailed information about the number of outages, whether communications infrastructure was affected, and how many 911 centers were affected by service outages. This bill would then require the FCC to hold a field hearing no later than 8 months after the Commission deactivates DIRS. By requiring the FCC to get out of Washington and see and hear real stories on the ground, the FCC will get an opportunity to examine these events, the outages they cause, and how we can prevent them from happening in the future. Last week, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a productive and informative FCC oversight hearing. At the hearing, Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel stressed to the committee that we need to update our playbook for communications in disasters. She is right, and this bill is how we move forward to get that goal. We rely on our devices, and we count on having a signal or connection in our time of need. In fact, right now in California, folks are using their devices to track fast-moving wildfires, ready to drop everything and evacuate if there is an unexpected shift in the fire's path. In our world today, connectivity is not a luxury; it is essential to ensuring our collective safety. Often it can make a difference between life and death. I commend Representative Doris Matsui for her leadership on this bill, especially as her constituents and mine all across California continue to grapple with these fires. I also want to thank Ranking Member Walden and subcommittee Ranking Member Latta for working with us to move this bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee on a bipartisan basis. And, of course, I would like to thank Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle and full committee Chairman Frank Pallone for their leadership in getting us all there. This is a good bill that will help us make our communications systems more resilient in the future. I look forward to its consideration by the Senate and the President. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5567.