Richard Neal

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of the bill, H.R. 1994, the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections and conforming changes.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I claim time in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Virginia an additional 1 minute.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria) and thank her particularly for her critical leadership in preventing an unfair and unexpected tax burden from being imposed on the children of our fallen soldiers.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis).

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski).

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. As I close, I want to take a moment to celebrate this truly bipartisan process that brought this legislation to the floor today. First, I want to thank the Democratic members and Republican members of the Committee on Ways and Means, and, in particular, I want to thank Mr. Brady for his good work along the way. I also want to acknowledge that there is more work to be done in the leadership space in terms of retirement savings, and I am hopeful that we will be able to do that as well. Let me acknowledge Mr. Roe, Mrs. Trahan, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Banks, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Budd, Mrs. Luria, and Mr. Bacon. Certainly, as I come down the home stretch in closing, I want to acknowledge much of the good work that has taken place by staff members on both sides as well. But let me cite on the Democratic side, if I could--this was a pretty big bill, and it required a team effort. The Democratic staff, including Kara Getz, Andrew Grossman, Beth Bell, Aruna Kalyanam, Mary Petrovic, and Lee Slater all did yeomen and yeowomen's work in making sure that we would get to this day. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), who was very instrumental on a provision related to benefits to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore), who was a leader on the kiddie tax issue addressing Tribal distributions.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott). Chairman Bobby Scott is responsible for a number of very important provisions in this legislation.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans).

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life and service of Robert Pear, a longtime reporter for the New York Times, and someone who has been critical to the conversation around health care for more 40 years. Robert Pear was a fixture in the Halls of Congress with his unassuming style, quiet voice and insightful questions. Robert spent countless hours in the Ways and Means Committee room reporting on health care debates of our generation--the Clinton Health Care legislation, Medicare Part D and the Affordable Care Act. Robert's knowledge and expertise were unrivaled. His ability to take complex issues and present them in a clear and concise manner was a testament to his understanding of the policy but also what the American people needed to know. Robert was born in our nation's capital on June 12, 1949 to Philip and Marion Pear. Growing up in our nation's capital, Robert was immediately fascinated with policy and politics--even leading him to produce ``The Pear Press'' while in high school. He later went on to Harvard University, where he worked on the literary magazine ``The Advocate'' and eventually graduated magna cum laude in 1971. He would then go on to earn his Master of Philosophy from Balliol College in Oxford, and a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Robert joined The New York Times in 1981. It was here that he was able to communicate the complexity of issues such as health care with remarkable clarity. It was his meticulous, exacting reporting that most recently helped keep the American public informed and engaged on the failed Republican ``repeal-and-replace'' efforts in 2017. Robert made it his life's duty to ensure the American people fully understood the intricacies of Washington. Over his 40 years with the New York Times, he helped produce or support more than 6,700 New York Times articles. Many a member or press secretary can recount stories of picking up the phone and hearing Robert's distinctive voice on the other end of the line late at night or early in the morning, working to glean one more insight or critical piece of information for his next article. His follow up questions on both the politics and substance showed he keenly understood the currents swirling well below the surface. While Robert Pear will be missed by all who had the pleasure to get to know him, he will be remembered for his critical work, his persistence, and his lifelong commitment to public service and the American people.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate Liberty Elementary School in Springfield, Massachusetts on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. This milestone is a testament to the school's faculty, staff, and students who have not only undoubtedly shaped the community of Springfield and beyond for decades, but continue to do so every day. Liberty Elementary School first opened its doors to young students in Springfield in November 1918. It has now been nearly a full century since that day, and the city has been better for it ever since. For generations, Liberty School's teachers and administrators have dedicated themselves to the education of near countless children. These young individuals have of course gone on to great things in their own right. As a former history teacher in Springfield myself, and current lecturer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I know firsthand the value of a good education. Our country's next leaders, thinkers, movers and shakers depend on it. As the great Benjamin Franklin once said, ``An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.'' Liberty Elementary School certainly exemplifies this wisdom. The school's multifaceted curriculum and passion for learning sets students up for future success in college, in their careers, and in their life. Once again, Madam Speaker, I would like to offer my sincere well- wishes to the Liberty Elementary School community as they celebrate 100 years since the school first opened. Liberty School has truly been essential to the fabric of Springfield for generations and will be for generations to come.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the students and advisors of Easthampton High School's `We The People' team for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding achievement. These individuals prevailed over a number of highly skilled competitors to earn first-place honors in the Massachusetts `We The People' academic contest for the second year in a row. They have accordingly earned the distinction of representing the Commonwealth in the 32nd `We The People' national finals this month in Washington, D.C. The annual `We The People' tournament is a wonderful opportunity that brings bright young people together to learn about and debate issues of great importance in today's world. The students of Easthampton High School's team not only displayed exceptional commitment, ability, and character in preparing for and winning the statewide competition this winter, but they have also worked even harder this spring as they have looked forward to competing in the national competition. They have been preparing to testify at mock congressional hearings, demonstrate their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, issue statements on a variety of topics related to our country's political and historical heritage, and field complex questions from a panel of expert judges. There is no doubt in my mind that they will find this whole experience uniquely valuable for years to come. This year's Easthampton High School `We The People' team have been led by their teachers Kelley Brown and Taylor Dadmun who have provided crucial guidance and instrumental mentorship. The outstanding work performed by this group is a testament to the value of quality teachers in the Massachusetts public school system. The victorious students are Kerissa Bilski, Joseph Brough, Kunden Chumego, Samuel Colenback, Benjamin Dameworth, Sophia Fiordalice, Corinne Gawle, Joseph Hwang, Madeline Kleeberg, Kassidy Marowitz, Abigail McMahon, Jaquelline Perez, Madison Rinker, Madison Rodriguez, Trevor Waldron, Hanna Wauczinski, Christopher Williams, and Mohamed Zabir. The team's student coaches include Lucas Patton, Vinnie Catalano, and Fernando Tenesaca. Madam Speaker, I would like to once again acknowledge Easthampton High School's `We The People' academic team for their superb achievements. Strong civic education is the foundation of our democracy and these inspiring students have exemplified the finest qualities of informed citizenship. I am proud of this group, and I wish them all the best in their upcoming national competition as well as all their other future endeavors.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Herbert Francis Collins, a giant in the affordable housing industry and champion for a cause that would become his enduring professional legacy. Herb passed away at the age of 89 on March 30, 2019, in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Born on March 17, 1930, Herb was raised in Medford, Massachusetts in a single-parent household with his mother and three siblings. He worked numerous jobs to help support his family, but still excelled in school. He played football and ran track at Medford High School, earning a track and field athletic scholarship to Harvard University, where he graduated in 1955. While living in Cambridge, Herb met Sheila Sellew, the love of his life and future wife of 57 years. Following graduation, Herb served in the Marine Corps, and then returned to Massachusetts with his young family to settle in Sheila's hometown of Gloucester. Early on, Herb held a variety of sales and marketing positions in the defense and electronics industry. At age 44, Herb entered into a new industry co-founding Boston Capital, Inc. in 1974. From the humble beginnings of a one-room operation, Herb and his partner Jack Manning built Boston Capital into one of the nation's top real estate firms focused on providing affordable housing. Herb strongly believed access to safe and affordable housing would provide benefits far beyond simply providing shelter, including facilitating employment opportunities and greater economic mobility for low-income residents. In 1986, Herb was a tireless advocate in passing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program--he also championed making it permanent in 1993. Above all, Herb was most proud of and derived the greatest joy from his family. He was a steadfast source of support for his children and grandchildren, and instilled in them the value of hard work, kindness, and humility. Herb was and will forever be an inspiration to his family, colleagues, and the countless number of families that, through Herb's vision and leadership, live in quality affordable housing.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate J. David Keaney on receiving career recognition by the National Electrical Contractors Association (``NECA'') and his retirement as Executive Manager of the Western Massachusetts and Central Massachusetts Chapters of NECA. Dave Keaney grew up in Western Massachusetts. He graduated from Cathedral High School and attended American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts obtaining a bachelor's degree in 1961 and master's degree in 1965. He went on to attend Western New England College Law School and was a member of the class of 1970. He was subsequently admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1972. His political relationship with Western Massachusetts began with the friendship of Mayor William Sullivan and culminated as General Counsel for Sheriff Michael Ashe of Hampden County. This relationship would serve him well, leading him to work for the Second Congressional District and the Hon. Edward Patrick Boland, Jr. beginning on December 1, 1968. Dave would serve Congressman Boland for twenty years. He would go on to serve in my Congressional office for the next twelve years offering me unwavering advice on all matters affecting the constituency of the district. His counsel in these areas was uncompromising and steadfast. Over Mr. Keaney's 46 years of service to NECA he has been essential to the harmony of labor relations between electrical contractors and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (``IBEW'') in both Western and Central Massachusetts. Dave has negotiated dozens of labor agreements and resolved labor disputes with the local IBEW unions, both in Massachusetts and in Washington, D.C., always in a professional manner aimed at furthering the industry for the benefit of all. Mr. Keaney has also chaired and served on numerous committees focused on improving the health and welfare of workers, pension funds, and the training and education of electricians. He has assisted with the implementation of joint apprenticeship and training programs in Springfield and Worcester, established to educate and train members of the IBEW to become superior electricians and leaders in the industry. Madam Speaker, through his counsel, leadership, and collegiality, Dave Keaney has assisted contractors and electricians to bring power, light, and communications technology to Western and Central Massachusetts communities; always leaving customers satisfied with the work provided. Dave's advice and counsel to generations of electrical contractors has enhanced the chapter's market share, provided impacted workplace safety and productivity, and created mutually beneficial working conditions for electrical contractors and workers alike. I wish my friend all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his public service and his contribution to the industry.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, 1988 was a good year. Mr. Speaker, today we vote on H.J. Res. 30 to disapprove the President's proposal to terminate sanctions on Russian companies, including United Company RUSAL. My colleagues and I have serious concerns about many of the questions that, to this date, remain unanswered from the Trump administration. Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska is a sanctioned individual known as a bad actor with close ties to the Putin administration. The agreement reached between the Department of the Treasury and these entities seems to allow Deripaska to maintain considerable control and influence of Russian energy holding companies. A week ago, I asked the Treasury Department to delay the lifting of these sanctions to allow for Congress to conduct meaningful oversight. My staff informs me that the Treasury Department has confirmed receipt of my letter, but to this moment, we have not received any word from Treasury on their intentions. Given an expiration date of tomorrow, it is unlikely that we will. As Members of this Congress, our duty to the American people is to exercise the oversight that ensures that the administration's actions are, indeed, legitimate. We have a duty to ensure that this administration takes a firm stand on bad behavior by the Russian Government. I think some of the more important elements of this consideration could be taken care of with just a few months of delay while we exercise our constitutional responsibilities. The Russian Government has, time and again, prevented us from doing what I have just described. We intend here to proceed, even in the aftermath of this decision today and what the Senate did yesterday, to consider and to take a look at this act that we believe today violates the intention of our congressional responsibilities. The malicious cyberinterference that has attempted to subvert Western democracies, including ours, needs to be fully examined. I urge my colleagues to vote for this joint resolution.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Quigley for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 264. This bill appropriates desperately needed funds for the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service. As the shutdown persists, the financial and emotional drain on employees and taxpayers continues. There are tens of thousands of furloughed Treasury employees who want to work and proudly would do so, but they cannot. They also cannot pay bills, cannot afford medical care, and, like us, cannot understand any of this. Every day that passes and every minute the shutdown continues it is too long and too costly. Reopen the government and begin to negotiate. I spoke to the Treasury Secretary yesterday, along with the IRS Commissioner as well, regarding the impact of the partial shutdown on the IRS and the tax-filing season. I was informed that the IRS will release its contingency plan for the tax-filing season in the next few hours, or, certainly, within the next day and issuing refunds in coming days, apparently, an effort will be made to reach that goal, but it will also require a significant number of IRS employees to return to work without pay. These developments are no substitute for fully funding the government and reopening the agency. Reminder: The average refund is just under $3,000. That helps out a lot of middle-class individuals who will use it to pay down Christmas debt, perhaps. They depend upon that as part of regular cash flow. Mr. Speaker, we do not know the full damage and cost of the shutdown, but we knew going into it that somebody was going to get hurt. So we should end it today before any more damage is done. If a taxpayer calls the IRS right now for assistance, they will hear the following: ``Live telephone assistance is not available at this time. Normal operations will resume as soon as possible.'' But they are expected to go into work as well to help process those tax forms. The time is now to reopen the government, and as I noted, negotiate. The time has come for our colleagues on both sides to stand up and vote ``yes'' and fully reopen these agencies.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I thank Secretary Shalala for yielding. Madam Speaker, I feel like I have a preexisting condition. It is arguing about the Affordable Care Act. For 10 years we have argued about the Affordable Care Act. A campaign is part of forming a government, and no issue resonated with the American people in the last election like the issue of preexisting conditions. My friend, the gentleman from California, previously said he didn't understand why people had to buy something that they didn't want. Well, we require people to buy automobile insurance. And, by the way, you don't buy automobile insurance the day after you have been in an automobile accident. And we probably don't want to buy homeowners insurance, but, guess what; we don't buy it the day after our house is burned down. We buy it because the genius of insurance is the spreading of risk. So I ask the following rhetorical question, and that is, why should the rest of us annually put $1,000 into our premiums for health insurance to take care of those who don't want to buy health insurance? So what this discussion and argument is really about, for the moment, is the following: The child who is born with diabetes is then told, under the old system, that they can never buy health insurance, or, if they do, it has to be rated--back to the old actuarial argument about how do we spread risk. The protections that were built into the Affordable Care Act, which I helped to write, were based upon the idea of using the best principles of the marketplace while simultaneously using the ability of the Federal Government to prod certain behaviors, and those behaviors included a ban on preexisting conditions as an option for people who didn't want to buy health insurance. So what did the other side do? They filed the lawsuit. Now, they generally lecture us on activist judges. They decided that they would challenge what has become okay with the American people, the Affordable Care Act. They would challenge it in the Federal courts and really didn't want to bring down the entire Affordable Care Act. Instead, they wanted to disassemble piece by piece parts of the Affordable Care Act that really, in a lot of ways, have made for its success. There is no argument with the following statistic that, today, between 17 and 20 million Americans have health insurance that didn't have it before the Affordable Care Act. And back to those people who, by the way, their system of healthcare was the emergency room. So, in the emergency room, we all know, it is a pretty poor way to get health insurance because it really doesn't emphasize preventive care. So all of these options that we built into the Affordable Care Act, including making sure that people that had preexisting conditions couldn't be exploited in the marketplace with undue costs, this argument that we continue to have, Madam Speaker, here about the Affordable Care Act could be rectified in short order by both sides just working together to improve the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate Harry Grodsky & Co., Inc. on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Established in 1918, Harry Grodsky & Co., Inc. is one of the largest and most experienced mechanical contractors in America. For four generations, the family-owned firm has remained focused on solving complex problems, and has built a robust reputation based on exemplary professionalism and customer care. For 100 years, Grodsky has prioritized family and safety in every aspect of its work. The group has continued to build strong relationships with repeat customers, suppliers, and subcontractors on the way to becoming an integral part of the economy of western Massachusetts and beyond. Across the board, Grodsky has proven its commitment to quality and integrity with every project. The firm has played an active role throughout New England over the years and the communities of the region have undoubtedly benefitted from major projects carried out by Grodsky, including those at top hospitals, universities, and large financial and manufacturing facilities. Once again Madam Speaker, over the course of its history, Harry Grodsky & Co., Inc. has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication, and integrity. Those traits are hallmarks of the group's long and admirable tradition of service in western Massachusetts and beyond, and are certainly worthy of recognition. On the occasion of Harry Grodsky & Co., Inc.'s 100th anniversary, I wish the Grodsky family and the dedicated individuals who work with them, all the best and much continued prosperity.

Mr. NEAL

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

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Judy Chu), well-known for her financial acumen.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, we don't object to the three brackets being lowered for the American people in the middle class. We object to the idea that there were no hearings on this and the top brackets were reduced, doubling the estate tax exemption, cutting the top rate from 39.6 percent to 37 percent. If you want to do that for people at the very end of the economic scale, we are in. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).