Lucy McBath

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the FAIR Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by my friend and fellow Georgian, Congressman Johnson. I am proud to cosponsor this bill which will help small businesses by ending the use of forced arbitration. These tiny clauses hidden in the fine print are used to trick rising entrepreneurs in their dealings with sophisticated conglomerates. Small businesses need to sign contracts for phone plans, credit cards, and rental cars, but too often, lurking in the fine print, a few words can cost them their constitutional right to their day in court. With this bill, our entrepreneurs can focus on growing their businesses and investing in our communities. Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to bring the HAVEN Act to a vote on the House floor today; and I thank Chairman Nadler, our subcommittee chair; Mr. Cicilline, my Republican cosponsor; Mr. Steube, and all the cosponsors who supported the expeditious passage of this bill. I want to thank the veterans and the advocates for putting their support behind this legislation as well. I introduced the HAVEN Act to support veterans facing significant financial hardship. No one wants to turn to bankruptcy. It is a path toward debt relief that carries serious financial consequences. But it is an important option for those with the most serious financial circumstances, and we must make sure our bankruptcy system is serving our veterans. These servicemembers deserve an opportunity to get back on their feet with dignity.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent and Ridgeview Charter Middle School Principal Opie Blackwell. A good principal knows that his or her students need a robust support system along with a strong education to guarantee success in the classroom and in life. This philosophy is the basis upon which Mr. Blackwell has structured his school. Principal Blackwell demonstrates exceptional dedication to ensuring that the students at Ridgeview Charter Middle School receive the quality education that they deserve. He is actively involved in the daily life at Ridgeview, takes time to chaperone school trips, and is committed to the wellbeing of the faculty. Principal Blackwell also takes pride in recognizing outstanding members of the school's staff. A few weeks before the last day of the school year, Mr. Blackwell took to social media to document an impromptu jump rope competition that took place during a 6th grade Chinese class. The class had ventured outside to practice their Chinese when the students and teachers began to see who could jump rope the longest. The students won, as Mr. Blackwell proudly noted, but he also gave the teachers their due credit. This friendly competition is one of many examples of how hard Mr. Blackwell and his colleagues work to give their students a positive and engaging learning environment. This year, that hard work was recognized by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform as a Georgia Lighthouse School to Watch. The National Forum is a prestigious organization of educators, researchers, and officers committed to promoting academic excellence for young students. In 1999, the National Forum selected four middle schools from across the country as the first Schools to Watch. Since then, the program has expanded to 18 states and honored 465 schools. Ridgeview Charter Middle is one of nine schools in Georgia recognized as a School to Watch. The National Forum strives to make every middle-grade school one that is academically excellent, socially equitable, and responsive to the developmental needs and interests of middle schoolers. It has developed tools to help schools meet their criteria to expand their program across the country. Ridgeview Charter Middle School's policies for the classroom and overall school culture soar above and beyond the Forum's standards. When the National Forum staff spent time at Ridgeview, they saw that almost every student was actively engaged in the classroom and teachers were using a wide variety of learning strategies to assist their students. As National Forum staff spoke to students, it was evident that Ridgeview students feel that they can be heard by their teachers and administrators when an issue arises. As a result, students are encouraged to give their input and help make changes to improve the school. The student-first culture is evident at Ridgeview Charter Middle School. Student work is clearly displayed in the hallways, and the faculty and staff are familiar faces at music concerts and the annual musical. Mr. Blackwell recorded the finale of this year's musical, Alice in Wonderland, and posted it to social media with encouraging words about the performance and the work done by students, faculty, and parents. In addition to the environment created by teachers and staff, school administrators have worked to ensure that the school is one that is clean and comfortable. Music is played in the hallways during class change to create a calming and pleasant atmosphere. Inspirational messages painted on the walls add a culture of positivity, and those messages convey the high expectations the school has for students. Ridgeview Charter Middle School stands out as a success story in public education. In his principal's message on the school's website, Principal Blackwell made his formal title ``Proud Principal''. With such an exceptional review by the National Forum, he and the entire Ridgeview Charter Middle School family certainly should feel proud of the school, its faculty and staff, and most of all, the outstanding student body.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the issue of college affordability. Too many of our students are finding themselves saddled with student loan debt after attending predatory institutions. We cannot expect our students to repay these loans when they were not given the quality education and degree that they paid for. Students who pursue higher education degrees are sometimes faced with sudden school closures, or the institution's loss of accreditation. When this happens, students are often left with incredible debts, but no degree to show for it. This issue hits very close to home for me. In March, approximately 1,500 of my constituents became all too familiar with this situation. Argosy University, an institution ran by Dream Center Education Holdings, LLC, closed, leaving its students with large debts and class credits they could not transfer. Student veterans were told their GI benefits were depleted, and that they would be unable to continue, or even start over, at another institution. That is why I am so very proud to have introduced H.R. 3662, the Relief for Defrauded Students Act. In 2016, the Department of Education issued a ruling allowing for students to have their debts relieved when it was found their universities severely misrepresented their services. My bill would codify this rule and protect students from the impacts of predatory institutions. Currently, there are over 180,000 applications for debt relief claims sitting at the Department of Education awaiting decisions. These students deserve action from the Department, not silence. H.R. 3662 would provide them a quick and fair process for resolving these issues. I am happy to have introduced the Relief for Defrauded Students Act, along with Representatives Katie Porter, Abby Finkenauer, Cindy Axne, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Sharice Davids. Together, we are committed to protecting our students and holding these institutions accountable.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce the Relief for Defrauded Students Act. This bill would give students the opportunity for a quick and fair process for loan forgiveness against schools that defrauded them. Borrowers defense is especially important to me after the closing of Argosy University's campus in my district this past March. The 1,500 students who were affected were left with incredible debts but no degree to show for it. Students should focus on getting the quality education they were promised, not worrying about being saddled with large debts from schools that could not and did not deliver on their education promise. I am proud to lead the Relief for Defrauded Students Act with my colleagues, Representatives Abby Finkenauer, Katie Porter, Cindy Axne, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Sharice Davids. Together, we will protect our students and hold these institutions accountable.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2722. Our elections are the foundation of our democracy, but they face increasing threats. There is bipartisan agreement that we must do more to guard against these threats to our most fundamental democratic process. Our elections must allow us to truly hear the voices of every American voter. My home State of Georgia has recently taken steps to safeguard its voting processes from cybersecurity threats, and this bill would provide necessary funding to support these efforts in Georgia and across our country. This legislation will strengthen the partnership of the Election Assistance Commission, the Department of Homeland Security, and our State election officials. Together, we must modernize our election infrastructure and ensure the security of our democracy. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical measure.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge action to end the public health crisis of gun violence. Every day, nearly 100 people are killed in suicides, homicides, and accidents involving guns, but we have not invested nearly enough in preventing these deaths. Of the top 30 causes of death, 29 received more research funding than guns. But today, this body will vote to invest in gun violence research at the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. I recently visited the Centers for Disease Control Injury Center which is in my district. With this critical funding, they will learn how we can prevent gun tragedies. This investment is long overdue, and I was proud to lead my colleagues in asking for this funding. We have the responsibility to pursue life-saving research, and today we vote to end gun violence. As a survivor of gun violence, I could not be more proud of the measures that we have taken to save the countless numbers of lives that may be affected by gun violence in the future. The time has passed for my son. The time has passed for others like my son who was killed unnecessarily due to gun violence, but I am so grateful for this day. I am so grateful for the funding for the research that will save many, many lives for generations to come.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019. This commonsense legislation will empower loved ones and members of law enforcement to prevent acts of gun violence. When people are in crisis and pose a threat to themselves or others, those closest to them are often the first to know. Two-thirds of all gun deaths are suicides. Extreme risk protection laws can prevent these tragedies. These laws have the power to prevent mass shootings and intimate partner gun violence. Fifteen States and the District of Columbia currently have extreme risk laws, and these laws have received bipartisan support. It is our duty, as lawmakers, to ensure the safety of all Americans, and extreme risk laws are a powerful tool that should be available for every single community across our Nation. This is why we need the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. Nearly 100 people die every single day in America as a result of gun violence. Inaction is no longer an option. We have the power, the ability, and the responsibility to change our laws to save lives. This legislation will empower Americans to prevent gun deaths. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I am a victim of gun violence, and I have worked many long hours, days, months, and years working with and talking to the victims who suffer needlessly from unnecessary gun violence. It is a tragedy for this body to continue to not pass legislation that would save lives. That is what we are brought here to do. That is who we are. For us to continue to turn a blind eye to the number of people who continue to die every single day due to unnecessary gun violence is unconscionable. I urge my colleagues to stand on the right side of preserving democracy and making sure that everyone in this Nation has the ability to be able to live here without the fear of being gunned down. That is their right, to live in this country with the freedom from unnecessary gun violence. For every day that passes by and every tragedy that we continue to have, when we turn a blind eye, we do a great disservice to the American people. On behalf of all victims, like myself, the victims of Virginia, and the victims that we continue to see every single day, if we do not stand up to protect them, then we are not standing for democracy.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I rise on this first legislative day of June to commemorate Gun Violence Awareness Month and to remember the 12 lives that were tragically cut short in Friday's mass shooting in Virginia Beach. This month, we will be taking action and bringing attention to commonsense solutions to save the nearly 100 lives taken every day by tragic acts of gun violence. At this time, I ask my colleagues to please join me in this moment of silence for all those who have been lost.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need, or HAVEN, Act, with my colleague Greg Steube of Florida. Under current law, when a veteran files for bankruptcy, his or her disability benefits from the VA or DOD count as income that is subject to the reach of creditors; however, Social Security disability benefits are exempt. The HAVEN Act would amend bankruptcy law to exclude disability benefit payments paid from the VA or DOD from that monthly income calculation, treating it the same as Social Security disability. Our disabled veterans earned their benefits by serving our great Nation, and we must protect them and their families, especially during financial hardship. I encourage my colleagues to support our Nation's veterans and cosponsor this bipartisan legislation.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise today in support of the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. Children are our future teachers, doctors, police officers, and Members of Congress. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to live, learn, and grow in a safe environment. My home State of Georgia ranked fifth in the Nation for the highest number of child abuse-related deaths in 2017 and third for calls to hotlines to report abuse. I was proud to introduce an amendment in the Education and Labor Committee with my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik), that would establish a national child abuse hotline. Stronger CAPTA is bipartisan legislation that will provide critical protections and resources to families and children across our Nation to prevent and end child abuse. Together, we can and we should ensure the safety of our Nation's children. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications, and this disparity persists across socioeconomic and educational levels. I recently heard the story of a constituent in my district. Her name is Phiffer. After a failed emergency surgery, she was confined to bedrest 20 weeks into her pregnancy, but her doctor failed to address her mental health. At 30 weeks, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. But for a year after, she struggled with mental health. She said: ``I know my story is unremarkable.'' Unremarkable. Unremarkable because mothers are suffering in silence. Black mothers are suffering in silence daily. I am proud to be a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus because we need to address this crisis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that women like Phiffer receive the proper care that they need and deserve.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I am so proud to be voting today to stabilize healthcare for millions of Americans and to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. I came to Congress, like many of my fellow colleagues, to protect healthcare for my constituents with preexisting conditions and to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. I myself have a preexisting condition, having suffered breast cancer twice. My amendment today is focused on ensuring that our future pharmacists and those in the workforce are provided with materials regarding generic drugs and biosimilar biological products. Specifically, it would have the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education make every effort necessary to ensure appropriate outreach to institutions of higher education to ensure that students and faculty at schools of pharmacy are provided with appropriate materials. This will allow for students and faculty to have material on how generic drugs and biosimilar biological products are equivalent or like brand-name drugs, the impact of these products on consumer costs, requirements for substituting these types of drugs with corresponding drug products, the impacts of these products on consumer costs, and more. Pharmacists spend a great deal of time with individuals when they come to the counter to fill an order. They provide guidance and educate patients on the prescriptions that they are taking. I have even met with my own local pharmacists many, many times to discuss my own prescriptions. They are very intelligent individuals who are relied on by their community daily. By instilling them with the information that they need to know to best help those whom they serve, we will all be better off. Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying package. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Chair, I yield myself as much time as I might consume. Mr. Chair, I would like to say that, as a two-time breast cancer survivor myself, I have relied many, many times on the specific information and guidance that has been given to me by my own pharmacist. Our pharmacists should be allowed to be able to give resource information to help the patients that they serve. By tying their hands and not being able to give them the information that they need to really best serve their patients, we do them a great disservice. I truly believe that this information is very relevant. Giving pharmacists the ability they need to do their jobs is of great importance. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, healthcare is an issue that is deeply personal to me. I, myself, like millions of Americans, live with a preexisting condition. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, I understand what it is like to have your life turned upside down by a diagnosis. Treatment was exhausting, both physically and emotionally. I did it all while raising my family and working full-time. I was terrified. Despite being lucky in having health insurance through my job, I was still worried about my financial security. I was concerned about making it to my radiation treatments every single day, sometimes for weeks, and then back to work and then back home to raise my son, Jordan. I had to do it, just like millions of Americans out there who share a similar story like mine. I truly don't know what I would have done or what would have happened if I had lost that healthcare insurance. Over 300,000 Georgians in my State, in my district have a preexisting condition. Over 45,000 of those people are children under the age of 17. My colleagues here are worried about the health and well-being of their constituents, and we have heard countless heart-wrenching stories from Americans across the Nation--our neighbors, our friends, and our loved ones. Americans are simply worried about their healthcare. I am worried about their healthcare. They are tired of these games. Let's stop playing politics with the health and well-being of the American people. It just needs to stop. Last year, the Trump administration allowed the expanded sale of junk insurance plans, many of which do not cover maternity care, mental and behavioral health, or coverage to treat preexisting conditions. Under these plans, women can be charged more than men; insurance companies can cancel coverage as soon as an enrollee gets sick. People enrolled in these plans might seek care for themselves or for a family member only to be left out in the cold without coverage. No matter what the White House or my colleagues on the other side of the aisle cook it up to, the American people have said time and time again that they oppose plans that rip healthcare coverage away from those with preexisting conditions. While the motion does attempt to fund vital public health services and programs that have long garnered bipartisan support, the funding levels fail to provide greater investments to these programs. I know that we can work together to fund these programs, but keeping the administration's junk plan rule on the books would harm public health and not help it. We don't have to make these false choices. This underlying bill combines key pieces of legislation that lower drug costs, strengthen healthcare, reverse the sabotage, and rescind the administration's junk plan rule. We are making it easier for American families to assess and sign up for affordable healthcare. We are making sure that plans cover essential health benefits, like maternity care and treatment for substance use disorder. We are making sure that patients do not face annual or lifetime caps. We are making sure that patients are not discriminated against based on their preexisting conditions, like myself. This is what we are elected to do for the American people. Republicans plan to support protections for preexisting conditions, but they have failed to condemn the administration's decision asking the courts to invalidate the entire ACA. They have failed to call on the President to reverse course. They have refused to join us in condemning the administration's refusal to defend the law of the land. If our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are serious about protecting preexisting conditions, they will support the underlying bill and defeat this MTR. Action, not words, is what the American people demand, and it is what they deserve. Democrats are committed to putting consumers first. We will fight relentlessly to protect individuals with preexisting conditions and expand coverage to more Americans. We will make sure no one--absolutely no one--has to choose between a prescription drug or their mortgage. That is unconscionable. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in standing for ensuring Americans have access to affordable healthcare and prescription drugs. I stand in opposition to this MTR. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the political ploy that would hurt American families, those with preexisting conditions, and those who are trying to afford their healthcare and prescription drugs. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Chairman, I will be short and to the point. The number one way that women in America are being killed by their intimate partners is with a gun. We cannot address the epidemic of gender-based violence without addressing gun violence. The NRA sees it differently. They don't want us to close the boyfriend loophole. They don't want to keep firearms out of the hands of those whose actions show that they are a threat. Their solution to gun violence is by arming women, selling more guns, even though we know that this would make women less safe. Nearly 1 million American women alive today have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner. They deserve better. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act for those we have lost, for those who have survived, and for the safety of all Americans.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Nadler for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019. After losing my son Jordan to gun violence in 2012, I began reaching out to other families who recently lost a loved one to gun violence. I would send them letters. That is how I came to know Reverend Sharon Risher of Charlotte, North Carolina. On June 17, 2017, Reverend Risher lost her mother, two cousins, and a childhood friend when a young man shot and killed nine people during a prayer service at the Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Today, with H.R. 1112, we can close the loophole in background checks for the gun purchase that led to their terrible loss. I support this legislation for Reverend Sharon Risher and the memory of her family and her loved ones. Tragically, this was not the last time our country witnessed horrific violence in a place of worship. A few months ago, the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, took the lives of 11 human beings. Our places of worship, whether they are churches, synagogues, mosques, or something else, should be safe places of love, support, and community. H.R. 1112 would allow law enforcement the time that they need to make sure all these community centers are places of peace and safety. Yesterday, we voted to expand background checks. Today, we vote to make sure those background checks are thorough, even if a few of them take a few more days to process. Those few extra days will save lives. In the days after the Emanuel shooting, I was there in the community praying with the community and dealing with their pain and loss. America deserves better than this. Why not make sure that we are doing everything that we can to protect them? A few more days in making sure that the FBI has the ability to really soundly make a conscious and critical decision, America deserves that. Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Nadler for yielding. Mr. Chairman, today marks a very pivotal moment in our fight to prevent gun violence and to ensure the safety of every community across our Nation. I thank the more than 230 of my colleagues who have cosponsored H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. I thank Chairman Nadler, Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Thompson, and Congressman King for making gun violence prevention a priority in this Congress. I am so proud to be an original cosponsor of this historic legislation. As many of you may know, gun violence is an issue that is deeply personal for me. Gun violence prevention and a desire to make meaningful change is the very reason I am here today, in this legislative body, speaking to every one of you. In 2012, my son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed by a man who opened fire on a car of unarmed teenagers at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida. My son was only 17 years of age. Jordan would have turned 24 this month. After my son's death, I dedicated my entire life to advocating for commonsense gun safety solutions, but it was the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, last year, that finally motivated me to join this legislative body. The overwhelming bipartisan support for universal background checks symbolizes the power of advocacy and the incredible power of the survivors, family members, and students who have shared their stories as they advocate for commonsense gun safety solutions and demand that we act to address gun violence. Today, we are truly taking this action. H.R. 8 will ensure that mothers and fathers have one less reason to worry. It will give students one less thing to fear when they walk into a school. Most importantly, it will make our communities and our Nation a safer place to live, and every human being in America deserves such. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. It is time.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to gun violence, we talk about Parkland, we talk about Trayvon Martin, and we talk about Jordan Davis. But I want to take a moment today for the victims whom we don't always talk about. I want to talk about the nearly 100 Americans who lose their lives to gun violence in this country every single day. I want to talk about the mothers and the fathers who have suffered tragic loss--the voices that we don't always hear. Just last week, four lost their lives in a shooting just a few miles outside of my district in Georgia. Those four families are torn apart forever. Each day, nearly 100 families are torn apart forever. For those loved ones, thoughts and prayers are simply not enough. We need policy and we need change. It is on us here in Congress to do something. Mr. Speaker, I pray that my colleagues here and in the Senate will support me in acting to pass meaningful gun safety legislation

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, at its most basic level, the government should keep us safe. On the 34th day of the longest government shutdown in our Nation's history, hundreds of thousands of Federal workers tasked with keeping us safe are working without pay. As the men and women of TSA, air traffic control, the FBI, the United States Coast Guard, and many other government agencies continue to perform their duties, many live with the uncertainty and fear of not knowing how they are going to pay their mortgage or feed their families. In less than 2 weeks, millions will come to Atlanta, Georgia, the district I represent, and they will be flooding in for the Super Bowl. Having been a flight attendant for 30 years, I am very afraid. I am deeply concerned for the Atlanta airport's TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and for the Federal agencies tasked with ensuring the public safety during this event. President Trump said he would shut down the government for a wall that he claims will make us safer, but, in fact, his shutdown has made us less safe. I will continue, along with my Democratic colleagues, to support bipartisan funding packages to reopen the government.

Mrs. McBATH

Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, 7 years ago, my son was violently torn from my life, a victim of gun violence, a victim of a person who had a gun who should never have received one. Today, I join my colleagues and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords to prevent more families from facing the horror and heartbreak wrought by gun violence. Later today, Congressman King and Congressman Thompson will introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure that no one is able to get a gun from an unlicensed sale without a background check. Background checks empower law enforcement to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and domestic abusers. Quite simply, they save lives. I am honored to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation for my son, Jordan, and for the safety of every family in this country. I ask my fellow parents, my fellow Members, and my fellow Americans to stand with me today, in support of universal background checks. Together, we will make our communities safer. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore