Markwayne Mullin

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall).

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to allow the minority to reclaim the balance of her time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I was under the impression the other side had yielded back the balance of her time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, I actually have a couple of more speakers.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, this spring in my district in Oklahoma, the McAlpin family of Tahlequah lost their 2-year-old son, Kai, to pediatric cancer. Kai's parents refer to Kai as Warrior Kai because he fought cancer every day with courage and dedication like a true warrior. Included in H.R. 2430 today is the RACE for Children Act, which aims to create new and better pediatric treatment options for warriors like Kai. Currently, there are over 900 drugs in development to treat cancer in adults, while only a handful of drugs are being developed to fight cancer in children. Clearly, those statistics show that the law has not kept up with scientific innovation. RACE can help deliver lifesaving treatments for pediatric cancer patients by updating the Pediatric Research Act. This bill requires all drug manufacturers to test a new drug in a pediatric population before applying it to children during cancer treatment. RACE for Children puts safety first and ensures that researchers use scientific evidence when declaring effectiveness of a drug before providing it to patients. I am glad to see the RACE for Children Act included today, and I thank Chairman McCaul and Congressman Butterfield for their work on the bill. The fight of Warrior Kai continues with us.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I was at the White House for a signing ceremony. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman-elect Roe for yielding and for his work on the committee. I have no doubt that he will perform admirably in his new role, and I want to extend my appreciation to him and to Chairman Miller for their leadership in getting this bill to the floor for consideration. This bill is simple, so I will keep it short. All the bill does is authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with appropriate civilian healthcare accrediting or evaluating groups to investigate the VA medical centers. Our veterans deserve care equal to the finest civilian hospitals, so let's allow the VA to invite the people who evaluate and accredit those private hospitals to take a look at our VA medical centers when they have problems. This is a commonsense bill that will help improve the care of our veterans who need us the most. I urge passage of this bill.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for also being extremely passionate about moving in the right direction with mental health. It is something that we continue to look over. As I stated when we first started tonight, we had an overwhelming amount of bipartisan support on passing the 21st Century Cures Act. We could see that the hard work that the staff over in the Energy and Commerce Committee, on both sides, the Republican staff and the Democratic staff, worked together to come up with a bipartisan bill to make sure that we are putting our families first, that we are putting our constituents first. We are setting aside the partisanship that often finds its way inside our conversations. We set it aside and actually were very proactive on a very important piece of legislation. I would like to thank Chairman Murphy, with his passion on mental health, and our outgoing chairman, Mr. Fred Upton, who has dedicated his years of service to the betterment of our constituents and his passion for fighting this and seeing this through. I would like to thank him for his dedication. The gentleman will be missed as our chairman. Mr. Speaker, I see no other speakers at this time. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. I thank the gentleman for his service. My good friend from Illinois is going to be missed. His service has been something we can all hold in great respect. I am going to miss seeing him in the morning at our workout, but he has influenced us in a better way. If we can always leave where we have been better than we found it, that is a legacy we can all walk with. I thank the gentleman for his service, and I hope our friendship will continue. Mr. Speaker, as my friend from Illinois was saying about the opioid addiction, I want to point out a sad statistic. Oklahoma is ranked 28th in population throughout the country, and yet we had the 10th highest-- 10th highest--accidental opioid overdose deaths. We have more accidental drug overdose deaths caused by painkiller addictions than vehicle accidents in the State of Oklahoma. And these aren't from the young who may be going through a time of experimenting. This isn't from the elderly who may not understand the prescription which they are taking. This is coming from our mothers. Our number one--number one--individual that is losing their life to opioid overdose is our middle-aged mothers. There is a problem. The 21st Century Cures does address this, but just the same as mental health, it is a first step in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry), another good friend of mine, a true patriot to this country, one who has years and years of service. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, it is always an honor to have people that are willing to come down and share their time and their passion with us, so I would like to thank my colleague from Indiana for laying it out in such an eloquent form like she always does. Also, congratulations on the committee assignment. I don't know if I wish the gentlewoman good luck or not. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold).

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, as you can see, the gentleman from Pennsylvania is extremely passionate about this. He has been the leader and a voice for mental illness for my entire time that I have been up here, which hasn't been that long--only 4 years--but we appreciate his passion and his dedication to this. Unfortunately, mental illness isn't going away. It is becoming more of a problem. And we, as Members of Congress, are going to have to address this. I look forward to continuing to work with the chairman on this. Yesterday was a step in the right direction, but we have a long way to go. We are in this fight, and we are in this fight together. I couldn't imagine being with anyone better than the gentleman from Pennsylvania. So I thank him for his dedication. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks).

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 21st Century Cures Act that passed yesterday. It is not too often that we get to be proactive in such important legislative business in this House. However, yesterday we saw a great victory for the families that so many of us have heard from. We have heard from mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles about loved ones who are dealing with mental illness or dealing with drug addiction or dealing with a disease that we haven't been able to accurately address because we have had roadblocks because of legislation and rules that have been put in place by the FDA. But yesterday we got to pass a piece of legislation by overwhelming bipartisan support to say: Yes, we are listening; yes, we hear you; and yes, we are going to make changes. I am going to let my other colleagues speak. At this time I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy), my chairman.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials in the Record.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would prohibit funds for the voluntary recall proposed rule at the Consumer Product Safety Commission and prevent them from moving forward with a rule that would cripple the highly successful voluntary recall program currently in place. Congress has expressed significant concerns over this proposed rule. Two years ago, the House approved this amendment, and Congress has repeatedly made it clear to the CPSC that it would cease in its quest to make unnecessary changes to a recall system that has worked well over the past 40 years. This system--one based on a successful partnership between businesses and the Commission--has helped ensure that consumer products sold in the U.S. are the safest in the world. Congressional intent has been expressed in House-passed legislation, report language, letters from lawmakers, and oversight hearings. However, the Commission has failed to withdraw the proposed rule and has continued to indicate in its operating plan that it will move forward. The CPSC does not even have the statutory authority to issue the rule. The CPSC has presented absolutely no evidence supporting its proposal, and all but one comment submitted expressed serious concerns over how the proposed rule would actually delay recalls and harm the effectiveness of our recall program. The Commission unilaterally seeks to transform the voluntary recall process into a legal negotiation equivalent to a settlement agreement. The proposed changes would require companies seeking to implement a recall to hire an attorney, dragging out the process and creating a financial burden for small businesses. The CPSC's proposed rule on voluntary recalls would slow down a process meant to be conducted with speed and without red tape. Consumers would ultimately be more at risk as recalls are delayed. This proposed rule would make it more difficult to remove defective products from the marketplace. Mr. Chairman, passage of this amendment would remind the Commission that its mission is to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products in an efficient and reasonable manner. The proposed rule to significantly alter the voluntary recall process is contrary to that mission. I urge Members to adopt this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Pompeo), I offer amendment No. 43.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of The University of Maryland Midfielder Frank Urso, who received the prestigious Teewaarton Legend Award on June 2nd at the Native American Museum in Washington, DC. Frank was a four-year 1st Team All American, leading The Terps to two National Championships, and two National Championship finals in his four years at Maryland. He joins the likes of Jim Brown, Gary Gate, and Eamon McEnneny. I would like to submit this poem in honor of him and the Native Americans who created the magnificent game of lacrosse, penned by fellow teammate Albert Carey Caswell. Long before Basket and Baseball or Football ever came to be All out across this great land this sweet Country tis a thee Came on the wind, came running on the breeze All out there upon those fields of green as so to be But came The Native Americans so all at speed. All in this their game of such intensity Of such power and might, grace and speed As the fastest game on foot you'll ever see Ah' poetry in motion as is this sport of beauty and combat all interweaved. As is Lacrosse their great gift to you and me. A gift to Mankind which one day would intercede Capturing little boys and girls hearts all at speed With stick in hand as they become one to compete While, into the night against a wall chasing their dreams. To Be The Best on fields of green. Bagattaway, as it all began with the magnificent Native Americans you see Who are The Very Heart of what it all so means to be an America indeed. A people of such character and courage, strength and speed Who to Nature so respect and heed. A race of people who were the antifascist of living free. Running on the wind, the breeze. Training mighty warriors for the rigors of combat, as they would bleed Turning boys to men, giving them the strength, training, and confidence they would need. Running on the wind, the breeze, as all across this Nation their great game came to be As why to this day with such high regard the world envies As they'd pass this game down through the generations to their families, from dream time of their great ancestors in history This gift we now know as LACROSSE, so much achieves. Building character and strength, and such teamwork to cement all who intervene Now, growing far and wide all throughout our country sides For no greater game has yet to be devised As it reaches deep down into ones very soul As does their fine gift to America to behold. Running on the wind. To them so much we owe. Ode to The Native American, who've given us this great game we all love and know Of stamina and courage, and of grace, which put smiles upon our face Of skill and such grit, and the teamwork so all in it With such might and speed she gives us all we need. Ah' running on the wind, the breeze, Lacrosse All in this Native American's Game of Speed.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment so we can hold this administration accountable. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, with respect to my colleague, I do want to point out that the Clean Water Act had absolutely nothing to do with pumping sewage into someone's house. It had to do with the direct discharge into navigable waters, like in Mississippi. It has nothing to do with what we are talking about or with what the gentlewoman brought up. Second of all, when the gentlewoman starts talking about its being costly, the last time I checked, the cost of living has skyrocketed due to the regulations, due to the amount of inflation that has been brought on by regulations and from the costs of doing business. As a businessowner, I well understand the costs. Through rulemaking, the legislators lose the ability to legislate, which is what our Founding Fathers had decided to do when they set up the legislative branch. We surrender that when we allow the executive branch to go crazy towards the end of the year to clean the slate of their last year in office. Let me give you some numbers. Under the Carter administration--this is how far I am going to go back, and don't think that this is a Republican thing or a Democrat thing. During the midnight hours of regulations, which is considered to be November 8 to January 20, the Carter administration issued 24,531 pages of midnight regulations. The Reagan administration issued 14,584 pages of midnight regulations. The Bush administration issued 20,148 pages of midnight regulations. The Clinton administration issued 26,542 pages of midnight regulations. Mind you, this is between the election in November until he leaves office in January. Bush: 21,251 pages. All I am saying is let's be the legislators our Founding Fathers set up, and let's not allow the executive branch to allow rulemaking to go on and bypass the legislative branch. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I offer an amendment to protect Americans from the costly regulations this administration or future administrations may try to issue before the President leaves office. My amendment would prohibit funds from being used to propose or to finalize any major regulation from November 8 to January 20 of next year. In the past, we have seen administrations issue politically motivated regulations between the day of the election and the day the new President takes office. In 2000 and in 2008, the number of midnight regulations issued was nearly double the average of non-midnight regulations. We expect this administration to maintain this practice, and with the nature of the regulations we have seen from the Federal agencies over the past 8 years, this amendment is more important than ever. I would like to briefly thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) for leading on this issue in the House. Let's hold the executive branch in check in its remaining days so that families and businesses across the country don't fall victim to unnecessary, burdensome regulations. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my colleague's amendment to this important bill. This amendment would make sure that rural and tribal areas receive the funding they need to combat the growing drug use epidemic. My district is very rural. My district also has two of the five counties in the entire State that have the highest rates of unintentional painkiller overdoses. In 2014, Oklahoma had the 10th highest drug overdose rate in the Nation and more people died from unintentional overdoses than in car crashes. Rural areas have some of the highest overdose death rates in the entire country, and this is a growing epidemic. We must ensure that these rural areas are getting the tools they need. This is why I am offering this amendment with my colleagues, Mr. Israel and Mr. McKinley, to ensure that rural and tribal areas receive the proper Federal drug abuse prevention efforts they deserve. I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the Constitution is under attack by a President who has never respected the Second Amendment. Gun ownership is a fundamental right of law-abiding Americans. The Supreme Court affirmed this right in 2010, and yet this week the President issued new executive actions that are unconstitutional and a clear abuse of power. There is no question that we must stop senseless acts of violence, but violating the Constitution is not the answer. Criminals are criminals because they break the law. More laws won't keep guns out of criminals' hands. Let's let law enforcement do their job and enforce the laws that we already have. Let's let law enforcement address the root cause of the violence. Let's look at what is causing it, like radicalism and mental illness. I have no doubt that the President's latest actions will be challenged in court. I will do everything in my power to protect Oklahoma's rights and the rights of all Americans.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage Members to support these resolutions. In 1996, Congress passed and the President signed into law an important tool for ensuring our three branches of government stay true to the vision of our Founding Fathers that was set over 200 years ago. Today, we are here to use this tool to rein in a President who has forgotten that the legislative branch makes the laws and that the executive branch enforces them. The final rules regarding emissions from new and existing power plants are a clear executive overreach. In issuing these rules, the EPA has acted outside the authority it was granted by Congress in the Clean Air Act. Electricity generation has always been the responsibility of States, but with these rules the President is threatening communities, businesses, and families by attempting to put the Federal Government in charge. These rules are unworkable, and they put the reliability of our electric grid at risk. I ask my colleagues to seriously consider the consequences of allowing such clear executive overreach to stand, and I urge them to support this resolution of disapproval.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Madam Chair, as the designee of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), I have an amendment at the desk.