Joseph Morelle

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 294 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate the passion that Mr. Woodall brings to conversations, both here on the floor as well as in the two committees on which we are privileged to serve. I thank him for that and thank him for his concerns about how we move forward. I believe this is moving forward. Today, we are moving forward. We set the tone of how we move forward. We establish our discretionary amount. We end the sequestration caps. We begin to move forward, and I think that is what we want to do. It is fascinating. I note that Mr. Woodall, in his comments, mentioned you can't get all 435 Members to agree. I certainly understand that, and I appreciate it. We couldn't get one Member to offer the President's budget as an amendment. The truth is that there is a failure of leadership here. This is a process that is new to me, but I certainly expected that the President would provide greater leadership on how to move forward. We have seen none from the White House, which I find troubling and I find puts us at a considerable disadvantage. We need to move forward, nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, and that is what we are doing today. I do know that, for me, the amount of discretionary investments we make will say a great deal about where we are going as a country and what our priorities are. I think we need to make greater investments in education and in public health, highways and transit, veterans healthcare, agricultural research, workplace safety, K-12 education support, national parks, housing assistance and mortgage insurance, small business assistance, Head Start, food safety, scientific research and space exploration--God knows, as a percentage of GDP, we need to continue to invest dramatically in those--embassy security, Pell grants for higher education students, hazardous waste cleanup, waterway maintenance for commerce and recreation, weather forecasting, hurricane-proofing communities, forest and wildlife habitat management, conservation resources, patents and trademarks, consumer protections, and aviation safety. The list goes on and on for the kind of investments we need to make to continue to make sure that America leads in the 21st century. That is what this does today. That is what this rule will do. That is what the resolution budget process starts today. Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for their words of support for H.R. 2021, the Investing for the People Act. I especially thank Chairman Yarmuth and Ranking Member Womack for their work on our Nation's budget. I also thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden and all those who have worked on H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I do note for my friend, Mr. Burgess, whom I serve on the Rules Committee with, that we, in an effort to enhance bipartisanship, made his amendment in order. I believe it is the first amendment in order, and I certainly expect that it will get broad consideration on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from over 120 businesses and startups urging Congress to support net neutrality. This letter says: ``Passing H.R. 1644 will provide certainty for businesses and startups and would ensure critical consumer protections for all internet users.'' Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Republican Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: We are writing in support of H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act, to fully restore the strong net neutrality protections for Internet users that were adopted through the FCC's 2015 Open Internet Order but later repealed. Net neutrality is fundamental to guaranteeing that every American has unencumbered access to the Internet. This access is also essential to a competitive, free market for the technology economy to thrive as well as entrepreneurship in this country. The benefits of these protections are not confined to technology companies and startups. Main Street businesses across numerous sectors increasingly rely on unfettered Internet access to run their operations and to reach customers. Net neutrality has been critical to the Internet's explosive growth, creating an open platform on which companies large and small can grow. We urge members of Congress to stand on the side of consumers and Internet users to quickly pass a clean, unamended version of H.R. 1644. This bill would restore strong rules prohibiting blocking, throttling, and paid-prioritization while reinstating ex-ante enforcement and oversight by the FCC to prevent net neutrality-related harms from happening in the first place. Passing H.R. 1644 will provide certainty for businesses and startups and would ensure critical consumer protections for all Internet users. Sincerely, 1Huddle, Ad Hoc Labs (dba Burner), Adaptive Energy, AlleyWatch, Applemon, Attentive, Inc, BetaDefense, Binary Formations, LLC, Bitly, Bloomers Island, Blue Ocean Technology, Bluebell Advisors, Inc/Gilbane Advisor, BusBot Incorporated, CapSen Robotics, Chartbeat, CitiQuants Corporation, Cogent Communications, Cole House LLC, Concourse Markets, Contextly. Creative Action Network (CAN), CredSimple, D3FY.COM, Darling, Inc., DART Technologies, Digital4Startups Inc., DLT Education, EarnedCard, Educreations, Elucd, Etsy, Inc, Expa, Fan Guru, Filament, FinToolbox (Screener.co), FluentStream, Founder Academy, Foursquare, Friends, G. A. Hensley Company Inc. General Assembly Space, Inc., GitHub, Inc., Globig Inc., goTenna, Grey Horse Communications, Gust, Gusto, Haute Huab, High Fidelity hobbyDB, HOGARU, Hoola Hoop LLC, InnovateEDU, Inwage LLC, JOOR, JustFix.nyc, Karavan App, Karma+, Laconia Capital Group, Launch Pad. Loxo, LR, Makeo Company LLC, Mapbox, Market Mic LLC, Martech, Mavatar Technology Inc., Medium, Meta, LLC, MetaProp.vc, Minibar Delivery, Mozilla Corporation, Music to, Neighborland, Neta Collab, Netsyms Technologies, Onfido, Onfleet, Inc., Outdoor Project, Patreon, Inc. Postmates, Promogogo, Rainmakers, Reddit, Inc., Rentify, Rex Ag Labs, Routific, Sandwich.Net, LLC, Shotwell Labs, Inc., Shutterstock, Inc, Simply Made Apps, SlidesUp, Snaps Media Inc., Spoonful, SpotHero, Starsky Robotics, Stealth Communications, Stripe, Stylaquin, Svaha LLC, Tampa Bay Wave. Tenpin, textile.io, Tinybeans USA Ltd, Tostie Productions, LLC, Troops.ai, TrueAbility, Tunesync, Twitter, Uncork Capital, Venrock, Via, Vimeo, Inc., WayUp, Wellthy, White Lioness Coaching, Women 2.0, WorkHound, Yapp, You Got Listings, Inc, Zyper.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the sentiments of the gentleman. We certainly agree. The House has passed disaster relief. We await Senate conferees, so we can move that process forward. But what strikes me is how troubling it is to have this conversation. The reality is that the President of the United States has chosen which Americans to provide aid to. The island of Puerto Rico, American citizens, has suffered disasters, calamities, as a result of Hurricane Maria, yet the President shows no indication that he understands the plight of the people on Puerto Rico. That is why it is necessary for the House and Senate to come together to provide relief, because the President, frankly, has chosen not to do it. We welcome the comments by the gentleman. We look forward to the Senate establishing members of a conference committee, so we can work out differences that we may have and move this forward. We continue to hope for that day and hope that the President will gain some enlightenment about how we help and protect all American citizens. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would just reiterate what I said earlier, which is that all Americans need help in times of disaster. Despite the fact that some would try to ignore the fact that climate change exists and has created natural disasters that we could not have predicted years ago, the fact is that those disasters continue to happen. All Americans--I don't care whether you live in New York or Alabama, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands--all Americans need help. One of the first bills we passed under a structured rule in this Congress was to provide that relief, yet it sits in the Senate because they seek to choose which Americans get benefited by the Federal Government's relief efforts and which do not. We are going to stand firmly in the corner of all Americans getting the support from the Federal Government that they deserve. We are not going to pick and choose. Mr. Speaker, I certainly hope that my colleagues here across the aisle are going to march across to the other Chamber and insist to the United States Senate that it takes up that bill, that we establish a conference committee, and that we send this to the White House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also add my condolences to the Senator's family. I remember, as a young boy growing up interested in politics, that I was always struck by his thoughtfulness, the demeanor in which he held himself in an era where we were in full-contact politics all the time. Senator Hollings was an extraordinary American and a great patriot, and I join with my colleagues in offering condolences to the family and remembering his extraordinary legacy.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, more than 4 million women in the United States experience physical violence by a domestic partner every single day. This staggering statistic underscores the great importance of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. This critical legislation, which I am proud to cosponsor, provides the support and protections that victims of sexual assault and domestic violence need and deserve. In my community, we have many organizations, like the Willow Domestic Violence Center, that provide lifesaving services to women in need and rely on funding authorized by the Violence Against Women Act to operate. I am especially pleased that this reauthorization includes vital provisions to keep guns out of the hands of those accused of stalking or dating violence. I look forward to the passage of this important legislation and will continue working with my colleagues in the House to advance policies that support and empower women and ensure a safer community for all people.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi) for his eloquence and his leadership on this critically important issue. I rise to express my strong opposition to the Trump administration's efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and pull the rug out from millions of Americans who rely on the ACA for essential health coverage. Quality, affordable healthcare should be a right for every American, and we should make it easier, not harder, for individuals and families to get the insurance they deserve. The House majority made a promise to always offer protections for individuals with preexisting conditions and fight back against those who seek to dismantle their fundamental protections. That is why I am proud to cosponsor a resolution to reverse the administration's cruel attempts to sabotage care for Americans in need, and I thank Mr. Garamendi for his leadership with House Resolution 1884. We will not allow people with preexisting conditions to go back to the days where they were denied coverage when they needed it the most. And I might also say, parenthetically--and I appreciate very much the gentleman from California's leadership as the superintendent of insurance in the State of the California--I had the privilege of working on legislation in New York back in the early nineties as a new member that introduced community rating in the State of New York and offered protections for preexisting conditions. Subsequent to that, I had an opportunity to serve as the chair of the Insurance Committee in the New York State Assembly. In that role, I was responsible for helping to implement the Affordable Care Act in the State of New York. Many of the protections in the Affordable Care Act were already part of New York law. I am very, very proud of that; and continued to work on that as majority leader of the State Assembly. But the protections which we, I think, rely on in New York are not available to all Americans, and to those plans which we are not able, as a state, to regulate, self-regulated plans and other plans protected by ERISA, don't have those protections. So I think it is critically important as we continue to move forward that we work tirelessly. And I will work with my colleagues to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, to lower costs and ensure hardworking families everywhere in America have healthcare that they can rely on.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend from California. You know you understand how it is for many of us who are blessed to have either employer-offered health insurance or are in a situation where you don't think as much about the costs or the issues that involve health insurance. But what you find from talking to people, as many people are not as privileged as I might be, and really faced critical decisions about whether they could have medicine to treat chronic illnesses or had to make the decision between that and rent. Or for people who had--as I have said on this floor before, I, unfortunately, lost my daughter to cancer, breast cancer, about a year and-a-half ago. Lauren had good health insurance, but during her illness, I often thought about men and women in her circumstance, what challenges they would face, even if they are able to defeat the illness, whether or not those preexisting conditions would cause their insurance premiums to be so high and so unattainable that the idea of having quality, affordable healthcare would simply not be within their reach. This affects millions of Americans. Whether it is women who plan on beginning a family, starting a family; whether it is the elderly who have chronic conditions--you mentioned hypertension; or whether you have diabetes, there are a whole host of conditions. Most Americans have some form of preexisting condition. For us to allow the underwriting to be done with those preexisting conditions in mind would simply put healthcare out of the reach of most Americans, quality, affordable healthcare. That is why I think this is so important. I might also add that the Department of Justice is charged with defending the laws duly enacted by this Congress and by the President of the United States. That is the job of the Department of Justice. I find it reprehensible that this Department of Justice under this administration would take the view that they will join in a lawsuit against a law fully enacted that is the law of the land of the United States and seek to overturn it. It is virtually without precedent. What is so troubling about it is that this will leave millions of Americans without coverage and without health insurance at a time when we should be doing everything we can to ensure that more Americans have access to quality, affordable care.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the National Technical Institute for the Deaf on celebrating 50 years of providing an outstanding education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, or NTID, is one of the nine colleges at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. With almost 9,000 alumni and a 94 percent average employment rate over the past five years for its deaf and hard-of-hearing graduates, NTID continues to open doors and break down barriers for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. For decades, the deaf community advocated for a technical university, and in 1965, that dream became a reality. After legislation was introduced in April that year, the National Technical Institute of the Deaf was established by Congress via Public Law 89-36 and signed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson on June 8, 1965. Three years later, in September 1968, 70 deaf young men and women arrived at the Rochester Institute of Technology, or RIT, campus to become the charter class of NTID students. And here we are, 50 years after that charter class was facing the completion of its first year of academic instruction, and NTID is still excelling at its primary mission. ``. . . to provide deaf and hard-of- hearing students with outstanding state-of-the-art technical and professional education programs, complemented by a strong arts and sciences curriculum, to prepare them to live and work in the mainstream of a rapidly changing global community and enhance their lifelong learning.'' We know NTID has succeeded because NTID students persist and graduate at rates favorable to national rates for two- and four-year colleges and because they are, on average, employed at higher rates and earn more over their lifetimes than deaf peers who do not attend NTID. Over the past 50 years, NTID has also surpassed expectations for its secondary mission, by establishing one of the country's oldest and most prestigious American Sign Language interpreter training programs, improving the education of deaf children and youth by preparing future educators, and conducting research and outreach that benefit deaf people worldwide. Serving as the U.S. Representative for Monroe County is a source of great pride for me, a pride that comes from knowing the role that Rochester has played and continues to play in changing the world for the better. NTID has helped make Rochester the diverse, innovative and determined community it is today. We are so fortunate to have this national treasure as part of RIT and part of Rochester. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating NTID on 50 years of excellence

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, in honor of the final week of Women's History Month, I am proud to join a group of bipartisan colleagues in introducing the National Women's Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act. As the National Women's Hall of Fame celebrates its 50th anniversary, this will help ensure the financial viability and longevity of this iconic historical landmark for years to come. I am especially pleased that our very own Louise Slaughter will be inducted into the hall of fame this year: a fitting tribute for one of the most inspiring women I have had the privilege of knowing. Louise will take her place alongside some of our Nation's trailblazers in the city that forever altered the course of women's rights in our Nation. I am delighted that this legislation will help ensure that Louise, and so many other remarkable women in the hall of fame, will continue to inspire generations to come. Madam Speaker, I look forward to diligently working toward its passage, and I encourage my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in paying tribute to my dear friend and predecessor, Louise Slaughter. As evidenced by the many laudatory statements being made today, Louise's contributions to this institution were immeasurable. Louise left a remarkable legacy: The only woman to chair the Rules Committee; A stalwart for women and children; A leader who was instrumental in passing landmark healthcare legislation. But what I remember most about Louise and what was at the heart of all her accomplishments is how much she cared for her friends and for her community. Louise was my dear friend not only on the best of days, like when she encouraged me to run for my first elective office or celebrated with me when I was chosen to be the majority leader of the New York State Assembly, but also on the most difficult of days. When my daughter Lauren passed away, Louise was there that afternoon spending hours at my house with our family. That is just who she was. She had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. I am better for having known her, and I know that our entire country is better for her many years of dedicated service. May you rest in peace, Louise Slaughter.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which took place earlier this week on March 3. My daughter, Lauren, battled triple negative breast cancer for 2 years, with incredible strength, courage, humor, and tenacity. She shared her story publicly with tens of thousands of people on a Facebook page called Lauren vs. Cancer, underscoring the importance of this serious health issue and encouraging everyone to get tested. Sadly, Lauren died at the age of 31 from this horrible disease in August of 2017. In Lauren's memory, I have dedicated myself to efforts to eradicate the scourge of breast cancer. As we recognize Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day, I want to extend my support to the thousands of women and men affected by this devastating and, at times, deadly disease. We must take this opportunity to highlight the need for continued education, research, and action to finally find a cure for breast cancer.

Mr. MORELLE

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

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment intended to make it easier to register to vote by ensuring the deadline does not fall on a public holiday. Millions of registration applications are handled through the mail and through local Departments of Motor Vehicles. Current Federal law requires States to accept registration forms postmarked or submitted 30 days before election. However, Mr. Chair, it just so happens, in some years, 30 days before election day falls exactly on Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, or another public holiday. This results in a shorter window for preelection registration, and many Americans may not even realize the holiday could disrupt their plans to register. Without Postal Service or DMV hours on the holidays, some voters have been unable to get their registrations in on time. My amendment makes a simple change. The deadline to postmark your ballots, register online or visit a government office to submit your registration will be changed from 30 days to 28 days prior to election day. This provides voters simply more time to submit their registration without burdening local election officials with rapid turnaround time and ensures that the deadline never falls on a holiday. Every day leading up to election day is an opportunity for thousands of Americans across the country to update their registration or register for the first time. By ensuring the cutoff for advanced registration is only 28 days before an election and ensuring that date doesn't fall on a public holiday, we can give more Americans the chance to prepare to cast their ballots. Now, H.R. 1 already allows for same-day voter registration in every State--a policy I strongly support--as it will make it easier for every citizen to exercise their franchise. But H.R. 1 still provides for voters the option to register in advance if they so choose; and when they choose that option, this amendment will give them enough time to do so, making certain that their paperwork is not rejected for being postmarked or submitted on a public holiday. This is a simple change, but it is one that can make voting a little easier for Americans across the Nation, and I hope we can all agree that is a change worth making. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I thank the ranking member for his extraordinary work, as well as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes), the sponsor of the bill. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of the 25th district, Lee Arthur Howe, III. Mr. Howe passed away on January 8, just 2 months shy of his 87th birthday. Mr. Howe graduated with his master's in education from Fredonia State Teacher's College before spending two years in the army during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge, he moved to Rochester in 1955 to begin his devotion to public education. He began teaching 6th grade at Lincoln Avenue School, known today as Sutherland High School. His promotion to principal came in 1962, and he would serve in that role at three other elementary schools until his retirement in 1988. The oldest son of a Baptist preacher, he moved to different towns around Western New York along with his mother and three brothers. While he was young, he developed two lifelong loves: jazz, especially big band jazz, and making those around him howl with laughter. He learned the trumpet and played it at every opportunity. He served as a first chair trumpet for the Perinton Concert Band for many years, entertaining countless big band concert fans all around the Rochester region. Mr. Howe was beloved by his family, and whenever he went, music and laughter followed him. He was a gentle man, who took more pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren than he did in his own accomplishments. Patient beyond words, a trait that is vital to being as avid of a golfer as he was in his retirement, he was able to enjoy his life to the fullest. While I am saddened by Mr. Howe's passing, I am proud to have represented a man who brought so much joy to so many people for so many years. My heart is with his entire extended family.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on an historic piece of legislation that will make its way to the floor tomorrow, H.R. 8, which will require background checks on all gun sales in the United States. In 2017, almost 40,000 Americans died from gun violence--the highest total on record since the Centers for Disease Control began tracking the statistics 50 years ago. This is an epidemic that for far too long has gone unaddressed at the Federal level. But that stops now. Thoughts and prayers cannot stop the never-ending string of gun violence that terrorizes communities across the Nation, but commonsense legislation can. That is why I am so proud to cosponsor H.R. 8, which marks a significant step forward in our efforts to keep guns out of the wrong hands. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation tomorrow and to continue our work to ensure safer neighborhoods across America.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather in New York and missed votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 88 regarding the ``Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2019 (H.R. 539)'' and YEA on Roll Call No. 89 regarding the ``Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act (H.R. 276).''

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues for their steadfast commitment to pursuing and achieving a bipartisan agreement that prevents another government shutdown, upholds our shared values, and provides stability for American families. I am encouraged that we have returned to a productive dialogue and set a constructive tone that seeks to unite and not further divide us. The American people expect and deserve nothing less. Now, it is my hope that we continue that same spirit of bipartisanship as we return our focus to governing and addressing the important issues facing our Nation. That means working together to ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare for every person, to protect the promise of Social Security and Medicare, to expand economic opportunity, and to stop the devastating cycle of gun violence. Progress can only be achieved through cooperation and partnership, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver results that uplift the lives of all Americans.