Tom O’Halleran

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. I am opposed.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, hardworking families across Arizona and across our country are sick and tired of Congress putting partisan politics ahead of creating jobs at home. As I travel across rural Arizona and speak to workers, miners, farmers, and families, I am asked the same questions: ``When is Congress going to get serious about helping rural America? ``When are you guys going to work together and create good-paying jobs? ``When are we going to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and roads? ``When are we finally going to get reliable broadband?'' In my 7 months in Congress, I have seen firsthand the failure to address these problems in a truly bipartisan manner. American workers are counting on all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to focus on bringing back jobs to our country. The underlying bill before us does not go far enough to ensure pipelines, which involve major investments and can span hundreds of miles across sensitive areas, are made with quality, reliable, American-made materials. My commonsense amendment simply requires Federal agencies to certify that all of the iron and steel products used in any cross-border pipelines are produced in the United States before they can be approved. Mr. Speaker, foreign steelmakers now supply half the oil and gas drilling and extraction pipes used in the United States, and it is only getting worse. The American Iron and Steel Institute estimates that imports of steel pipes for the oil and gas industry are up 237 percent in the first half of 2017 from a year earlier. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order instructing the Secretary of Commerce to develop a plan that would require any company building a pipeline within U.S. borders to use American-made materials and equipment. My amendment mirrors the spirit of that executive order by applying the same rules to any proposed cross-border pipelines. Mr. Speaker, we need to rebuild America. We need to rebuild America's infrastructure. We need to rebuild America's energy infrastructure, but we need to rebuild America by creating American jobs. Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better message to send during President Trump's ``Made in America Week'' than by standing up for American workers and supporting this commonsense amendment. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, Arizonans I have spoken with are stressed and anxious as they watch politicians in Washington threaten to take away their health coverage. While the Senate's misguided repeal and replace proposal has been defeated, we cannot rest. The newest repeal plan is irresponsible and will endanger the health and well-being of my constituents. It will send premiums and coverage costs skyrocketing and slash funding for rural and Tribal health clinics, forcing them to close. There are 1.9 million Arizonans who rely on Medicaid and could be at risk of losing their coverage. Of those, more than 45,000 are Arizona veterans. More than 1 million Arizonans with preexisting conditions would lose vital protections that ensure they have access to affordable coverage. Mr. Speaker, these are our children, our loved ones, our families, and our friends. We cannot stand here and play politics with their health. We must work together to stabilize the insurance markets and develop a long-term solution that improves our healthcare system. We need to include the public in this discussion. We owe them a better plan. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fix it, not nix it.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with respect and admiration that we honor Judge Ryan Reinhold for his outstanding legacy and service to the State of Arizona. This week, Ryan retires after 41 years as Navajo County justice of the peace, municipal court judge, White Mountain Apache tribal judge, and Navajo County constable. Throughout his career, he has been known for his tireless efforts to benefit his community in every aspect. I want to take a moment to share some of the highlights of his career. Ryan was first selected as justice of the peace in 1978. In 1984, he received the Kenneth L. MacEachern Award for Outstanding Non-Lawyer Judge in the United States. He was reelected five times and honorably led the court for 22 years before retiring in 2000. He was appointed Navajo County constable for precinct six in 2003 and elected in 2006. He has led hundreds of volunteers as the district chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, and he serves as the president of the Blue Ridge High School Scholarship Fund and Lions Club. In retirement, I hear that he plans to be making regular scuba diving trips, traveling the world, and spending quality time with his beloved family and friends--all well deserved. Mr. Speaker, Ryan Reinhold is a pillar of his community and has done so much for Arizona. I extend my best wishes as Ryan begins the next chapter of his life.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with respect and admiration that I rise today to honor Judge Ryan Reinhold for his outstanding legacy and service to the State of Arizona. On June 30, 2017, Ryan retires after 41 years as a Navajo County Justice of the Peace, municipal court judge, White Mountain Apache tribal judge, and Navajo County Constable. Ryan was born in Phoenix, served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, and graduated from San Jose State University in 1972. He moved to Pinetop and married Lorinda ``Rindy'' Skousen in 1976. Rindy recently retired after 30 years as a kindergarten teacher. They have two children, Kent and Britni; Kent is a helicopter pilot and Congressional Liaison in the U.S. Coast Guard and Britni is a second-grade teacher in Lakeside, Arizona. Ryan and Rindy were blessed with their first grandchild, Lucas Robert, in October 2016. Ryan was elected as Justice of the Peace in 1978. In 1984, he received the Kenneth L. MacEachern Award for the Most Outstanding Non- Lawyer Judge in the United States. He was re-elected five times and honorably led the court for 22 years before retiring in 2000. During his tenure, he adjudicated civil and criminal cases in 19 Arizona courts and four tribal courts. Ryan was appointed Navajo County Constable for Precinct Six in 2003 and elected in 2006. He was subsequently re-elected two times and served the citizens of the White Mountains with distinction. Ryan is known for his tireless efforts to benefit all aspects of the community. He regularly donates his time to help area young people overcome societal challenges and establish proper footing towards purposeful lives. He has led hundreds of volunteers as District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, President of the Blue Ridge High School Scholarship Fund, and President of the local Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Club. In 2007, Ryan was elected as Assistant District Governor of the Rotary Club and was instrumental in orchestrating a robust international exchange student program for dozens of teenagers. On behalf of the State of Arizona, I would like to congratulate and thank Ryan Reinhold for his selfless and dedicated public service. In retirement, I hear he plans on making regular scuba diving trips, traveling the world, and spending quality time with his beloved family and friends. We extend our best wishes as Ryan begins the next chapter of his life. Cheers to a truly wonderful career.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep misgivings about the recent healthcare proposals put forth by the Senate. This bill, like the American Health Care Act, proposes drastic cuts to Medicaid and would saddle my constituents and Americans with skyrocketing premiums and deductibles. We are placing our hardworking families and young children, our elderly, veterans, and Native Americans in harm's way by making coverage unaffordable and unattainable. The cost of this legislation will be paid by those who can least afford it. Recent reports show that the cost of Medicaid cuts in this bill would cost Arizonans more than $7 billion. This means hundreds of thousands of people, including nursing home patients who rely on affordable, lifesaving coverage, will be kicked off their Medicaid coverage. From the beginning, these pieces of legislation have been crafted behind closed doors without input from doctors, nurses, and healthcare leaders. While we play partisan games, the health and well-being of our families, friends, and neighbors are at risk. If we want to get serious about fixing our healthcare system and bringing down costs, we must work together on bipartisan legislation.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue impacting communities throughout Arizona's First Congressional District and the country. We must take action on a comprehensive infrastructure bill. Our crumbling roads and bridges pose a greater threat to safety with every car, truck, and school bus that crosses them. Our pilots land on runways long overdue for repairs, and rural and travel communities, without access to modern technology, lose their competitive advantage in business and education. In Arizona, flood control projects in Winslow, essential broadband access in Tuba City, and transportation infrastructure in rural Gila County are all in need of attention. This is something that impacts every State, every district in this country, and I believe we can find broad bipartisan support on this issue in Congress. Ensuring that our communities have adequate resources to repair their roads, invest in technology, and protect their residents is of paramount importance. I call on my colleagues to continue working on this. We cannot push this issue aside any longer. We must come together and pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill that invests in our rural communities.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chair, as a former law enforcement officer, I know all too well what happens when our institutions fail to protect our most valued and treasured among us: our children. The recent reports of young athletes experiencing sexual assault and abuse at the hands of trusted adults are not just abhorrent, they are unacceptable. Last year, tragically, one of our own young gymnasts in Mesa, Arizona, came forward after years of abuse by a coach at his gym. We must do better. No child anywhere should face the risk of abuse. That is why I am proud to support the bill before us today, which will go a long way in protecting our young athletes. My bipartisan amendment, which is cosponsored by Congresswoman Sinema and Congressman Biggs, simply builds on the underlying bill's spirit by requiring national governing bodies to clearly list information and resources, which may include sexual assault hotlines and victim support resources, on their official websites. As a former cop who has dealt with vulnerable victims, I know from my experience that resources like sexual assault hotlines are a critical tool between victims, families, local health providers, and law enforcement. Requiring governing bodies, like USA Gymnastics, to clearly list this type of information on their websites is an important step forward in ensuring support for victims and their families. As adults and parents, we place our children in the trusted hands of coaches, trainers, and others when we support and encourage their involvement in sports. We all know sports play such a critical role in so many of our communities. It is where we learn about teamwork, resilience, hard work, and perseverance. These spaces should be safe for children to learn, grow, and develop as healthy athletes and adults. We have a moral obligation to ensure our kids have protection and access to the information they deserve. My commonsense amendment helps do just that. I thank Representative Sinema and Representative Biggs for their support on this amendment, as well as the sponsors of H.R. 1973 for their good work on this important bill. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. Sinema).

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to Yodell Billah, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 97. Mr. Billah was a Navajo code talker and World War II Army veteran, fighting against the Germans in Italy until their surrender in 1945. His heroic actions and the work of our code talkers saved the lives of innumerable soldiers and civilians. For his service, he was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the European African Middle East Campaign Medal. We can never repay the debts that we owe Mr. Billah, code talkers from all our Tribal Nations, and our veterans, but I am proud and humbled to stand before you today to bring attention to his service and honor his legacy. Mr. Billah will forever be remembered as an active member of his community, a loving father, a grandfather, and, above all, a hero.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Washington and the sheriff. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our communities. In 2016, two brave Arizona officers died as they responded to calls: David Van Glasser, Phoenix Police Department; and Darrin Reed, Show Low Police Department, which is in my district. Both of those men left behind family and loved ones. As a former police officer and homicide investigator, National Police Week has a special meaning to me. I have lost friends, partners, brothers, and sisters in the line of duty. I have grieved with their families during the most difficult times, and I have experienced firsthand the real sacrifices they make. Each of the 135 officers from across the country who died in the line of duty in 2016 worked to keep our neighborhoods safe. While we can never repay the debts we owe them and their families, we will forever remember their service. As we look to the future, it is important to highlight the work being done in cities and towns across the country to not only better protect our families, but also the lives of our law enforcement officers. In Arizona, successful community policing programs in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and countless other cities and towns have improved relationships. I am proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the House Law Enforcement Caucus. I look forward to continuing the bipartisan work we are doing to identify and solve the challenges facing our law enforcement community.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so- called American Health Care Act. I am alarmed at the real consequences this bill will have on rural Arizona and rural America. These communities will be disproportionately harmed by this bill. In Coconino County, a 40-year-old making $30,000 a year will go from a $2,400 payment to a $6,000 payment. Getting away from my script for a second, I spent many years on the west side of Chicago looking at what the core side of poverty looks like night after night, family after family, in our cities and our towns in this wonderful America. I know a little bit about math, and I know that 20 million people insured is better than 24 million people uninsured. Please vote ``no.''

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of a young boy who lives in my district named Cameron. Cameron was born with a congenital heart defect, but a successful surgery at 5 weeks of age has given him a shot at a vibrant life. He is like most 8-year-olds, fearless, curious, and full of life, but Cameron will live with this for the rest of his life. His parents shared this story with me recently and expressed their concerns, not just about Cameron, but about the children of America who are under this type of a process. They have affordable coverage under the Affordable Care Act, despite Cameron's preexisting conditions. But, Mr. Speaker, they are concerned that future coverage will be unaffordable and unattainable as he grows up under the American Health Care Act, also known as TrumpCare. I share these concerns. I cannot support legislation that will drastically raise premiums for families like Cameron's and disproportionately impact rural communities in my district. It is my hope that, moving forward, Congress can work on a bipartisan solution to improve the health and well-being of Americans and their children and protect those who need it most. We cannot continue to play partisan politics with the lives of our constituents, our children, our small businesses, and the people of America.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member with whom I look forward to serving on the Agriculture Committee on behalf of the people of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my deep opposition to H.R. 238. I am troubled by the way this legislation, the Commodity End-User Relief Act, has been brought to the floor. This bill was only introduced last week. It is being rushed to a vote. I am especially bothered by the attempt to bring this bill to the floor outside the rules of regular order. There were no committee hearings. There were no markups held by the committee, and the Members of the Agriculture Committee have been denied the opportunity to discuss the merits of this legislation. As a freshman member of the 115th Congress, I am especially bothered that this bill has been brought to the floor before the Agriculture Committee has even been fully organized. As a new member of the Ag Committee, I am troubled that my colleagues think they can bypass the important feedback provided during the committee process. I represent over 80 communities in my district with a wide range of opinions and interests. Hearing from my constituents and getting feedback is critical to my duties as their Representative in Congress. We should include their voices in the policymaking process, not just special interests that have the resources to keep lobbyists here in Washington. The committee process allows members to gather critical information, have a positive discussion, and make necessary changes to the legislation. As everyone on this floor knows, the committee process is essential to ensuring that the interests of the American people are truly represented in the legislation and brought to the floor. I understand that this bill was brought up in the 114th Congress where it was reviewed by the committee. It is only right that we maintain our democratic principles and ensure that H.R. 238 fully undergoes committee review in this Congress. Mr. Chairman, this is not a partisan concept. These are the values I held as a Republican State legislator, as a police officer working in the community, and as a community leader. Mr. Chairman, I ask: If this legislation was sent through the committee in the last Congress, is it not going to the committee again? This process subverts the rules of this Congress, which, I might add, were established only last week. Bypassing the normal rules of order marginalizes the voice of the American people in the legislative process and forces a vote on legislation that is not complete. I encourage my colleagues to make sure that the voice of the American people is heard and this legislation is brought up under the rules of regular order. For this reason, I ask my colleagues to join me in opposing this legislation before us.