Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, in closing, I, once again, want to say that this is an important piece of legislation, and I thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan) for sponsoring it. Madam Speaker, I urge both sides of the aisle to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan), the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2846, legislation that would extend expanded leave benefits to members of the U.S. Public Health Service Corps. The U.S. Public Health Service Corps is one of eight uniformed services in the United States. There are more than 6,000 officers who serve as physicians, nurses, and scientists across agencies to advance public health. Right now, these officers are not guaranteed the same 12-week leave benefit as members of the military are entitled to under Federal law nor are they eligible for the 12 weeks of leave that all Federal Government employees are entitled to under the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act. This bill fixes this by extending leave benefits to Public Health Service officers, and this leave includes expanded parental leave, emergency leave of absence, and leave for rest and recuperation. I thank Representative Houlahan for her leadership on this legislation and my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for working with us to bring this bill to the floor. I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Before I reserve the balance of my time, I do want to take an opportunity to thank Una Lee, who is right here, for her more than 11 years here at the Energy and Commerce Committee, most of those years serving as chief counsel for the Health Subcommittee. Una has played a critical role in every major healthcare bill that has been signed into law during that time. Una has been a trusted adviser, and she will be missed. I don't want her to leave, but what can I do. I wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors and congratulate her for her tremendous work, truly tremendous work of making healthcare more affordable and accessible for every American. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I do believe that this legislation is a first step, and therefore, I support it and would ask my colleagues to vote for it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. I have no additional speakers.

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

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor), who is the ranking member of our Subcommittee on Energy.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act. Everyone knows that data centers are helping drive electricity prices to record highs this year. Just in the mid-Atlantic over the past few years, data centers have increased electric bills by over $30 billion. By and large, it has not been the data centers that have been footing the bill. It has been our constituents. This problem is happening across the Nation, from Texas to California, from Florida to Washington State. It doesn't matter if you are in a red State or a blue State. Your prices have gone up. Americans, Mr. Speaker, are concerned about what data centers and Big Tech's push for more AI means for their communities, jobs, property values, and the future. Electricity prices are skyrocketing. The electric grid is strained. Our clean air and water are being polluted. Noise is wearing on our communities' health and patience. People, frankly, are sick and tired of corporate special interests and Big Tech billionaires taking over their neighborhoods and threatening their utility bills, air, water, and property. Unfortunately, these very real concerns are repeatedly swept to the sidelines, minimized, or ridiculed by President Trump and Republican congressional leaders. Last month, Trump posted on social media that communities that opposed data centers must want to end up being backward and poor. The President, in my opinion, is out of touch on this issue, and the American people are demanding action. That is the reality we are living in right now, where President Trump wants to continue to give Big Tech free rein to build data centers, with no Federal guardrails. This bill is a start in addressing the impact that data centers have on our power bills, but this particular bill does not go far enough to ensure that Big Tech and other data center owners fully pay for the energy use and demand that they create. The bill requires State utility regulators to consider--and I say ``consider''--mandating that the electricity prices that data centers pay fully account for all their costs that they impose on the grid. This includes new and upgraded power plants, high-voltage transmission lines, and local power lines. We can all agree that data centers must pay their fair share and that the data centers themselves allegedly agree, but this bill, I do believe, is one small step in that direction. The bill, as I said, isn't perfect. It also only addresses one small part of the puzzle. It does not change how wholesale generation or transmission costs are allocated at the Federal level. It doesn't push for the transparency and data-transfer mechanisms that State regulators need to ensure that data centers actually are paying their fair share. Data centers must bring their own clean electricity generation capacity onto the grid and be willing to get curtailed first when there are grid reliability issues. Now, Representative Landsman from Ohio has a bill that would kick FERC into gear to start studying some of those issues. It passed the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously nearly 2 months ago, but unfortunately, House Republican leadership did not include that bill on the floor this week. Regardless of what happens with this bill in the Senate, I will make a commitment to the American people, Mr. Speaker. Americans across the country are furious about the unchecked development of data centers and artificial intelligence. They are furious about what it means for their communities, for their jobs, or even for their lives. I promise that this bill is not the end of our focus on these issues. It is only the beginning. I have repeatedly said that we need strong guardrails on data centers and the impact they have on our communities, our environment, and our bills. If we can't establish those strong guardrails, then it is my belief that we will need to establish a moratorium on constructing new data centers. This bill by itself, or even in combination with a number of other bills we are considering this week, is simply not enough, but it is a start. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank Congresswoman Norma Torres for leading this important Special Order here tonight. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn a dangerous and unaccountable immigration enforcement system that is harming the very communities our government is supposed to protect. I want to focus particularly on the problems that we have and the failure of these facilities to provide basic medical services. I have seen the consequences firsthand during my visit to Delaney Hall, or my several visits, I should say, to Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. The facility has inadequate medical facilities. The medical clinic is too small and lacks adequate staff. The times I visited, there were maybe 600 or 700 people. The capacity is 1,200. There was no way that clinic could take care of and do the proper thing for the people who were detained. Detainees there told me that often they waited 1 week or more to access the medical clinic. They were unable to get necessary care and medications. Some required surgery that was long delayed. In my opinion, detention should never be a death sentence, but that is what we are seeing at Delaney Hall and the other detention facilities around the country. Three people connected to Delaney Hall have now died in less than 1 year: Jean Wilson Brutus, Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, and Jose Chajon-Raxon. We have to remember their names. Their deaths demand answers about the conditions at Delaney Hall and whether ICE and its contractors protected people in their custody. Delaney Hall is a privately run detention facility. The operator profits from the denial of medical care. I led 87 House Democrats in demanding answers from DHS and ICE about these deaths and failures of medical care throughout the detention system in the United States. Mr. Speaker, these detention facilities are required by Federal law to provide certain medical services, and I assure you they are not doing so. DHS, ICE, and CBP must be subject to meaningful oversight and held accountable when people suffer or die under their care. The Trump administration in June canceled a rule that required reporting of deaths even after a detainee was released from a detention facility and an investigation within 30 days. There are probably a lot more deaths than those we have been talking about tonight that are not reported by ICE since this rule was eliminated. Enforcing our immigration laws is no excuse for violating constitutional rights, putting human lives at risk, or essentially killing people. Those who have died in government custody deserve more than silence. Their lives matter, and their families deserve answers and accountability.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Teresa Stranieri Scicchitano as she celebrates her 100th birthday this year. It is my pleasure to join her friends and family in marking this incredible milestone and honoring the wonderful life she has led. On August 29, 1926, Teresa Stranieri was born to Elizabeth and Rocco Stranieri. Teresa was one of three children, growing up alongside her sister, Catherine and brother, Thomas. On November 10, 1946, Teresa married her beloved husband, Salvatore Scicchitano at St. Rocco Church in Girifalco, Italy. The pair had their first son, Frank Scicchitano, in 1947. The couple then had their second child, Vincent Scicchitano, in 1956. Since 1949, Teresa has lived in Long Branch, New Jersey. For over seventy years, the Scicchitano family has been a beloved part of the Long Branch community. In addition to raising a beautiful family, Teresa worked as a seamstress for decades. Following her retirement in the 1980s, Teresa continues this practice as a passion. Today, Teresa is highly regarded for making her own clothing and being a prolific cook. Teresa is the grandmother of two beloved grandchildren, Stephanie Scicchitano Pizzo and Lauren Scicchitano Mounayer. She's also celebrating this occasion with her two great-grandchildren, Christian James Pizzo, II and Vincenzo Salvatore Pizzo. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in wishing Teresa Stranieri Scicchitano another year of good health and happiness as she celebrates the milestone of her 100th birthday.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Recardina Boccippio, also known as Dina, as she celebrates her 100th birthday this year. It is my pleasure to join Dina's family and friends in honoring the wonderful life she has led. On September 16, 1925, Recardina DePalma was born to Dominick and Michelina DePalma in Port Reading, New Jersey where Dina resided for 21 years. On October 27, 1946, she married the love of her life Angelo Boccippio and in 1953, they purchased their forever home in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Her loved ones refer to her as a pleasure to be around and a true inspiration. For 10 years, Dina worked at Flagstaff Foods and Liquors. For the next 35 years, Dina worked as a private secretary and head bookkeeper for the Mauro Family at Mauro Motors. Now retired, it is clear she is living her best life as she is happiest spending time with family and friends. In her free time, Dina enjoys watching game shows and soap operas and is always ready for her next hair and nail appointments. After many incredible years, Dina Boccippio's contagious positivity and kindness is truly deserving of this body's recognition. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in wishing Dina Boccippio another year of good health and happiness as she celebrates the milestone of her 100th Birthday.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill on a bipartisan basis, in part because of how important it is but in part also because it honors my friend Congressman Bill Pascrell. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1493, my bill to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes through fiscal year 2030 the critical Federal programs dedicated to the prevention, detection, treatment, and surveillance of traumatic brain injuries. It also renames the national TBI surveillance program to honor the legacy of my dear friend, the late Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr., of New Jersey, who founded and led the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force for more than two decades after meeting his constituent Dennis Benigno of Clifton, New Jersey, whose son suffered a life-changing traumatic brain injury in a car crash. The Traumatic Brain Injury Act was signed into law in 1996. At that time, our understanding of these injuries was so limited that public health experts called TBI the silent epidemic, and we did not know how many Americans were affected each year, who was most at risk, or how many people were left with a permanent, life-altering disability. That first law authorized Federal support and programs to research TBI research and conduct surveillance, both directly and through grants to public and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Speaker, this initial Federal investment has transformed what we know now and identified what we still need to do. Because Congress chose to invest, we now know that traumatic brain injury sends more than 214,000 Americans to the hospital in a single year and that it takes roughly 69,000 lives annually, nearly 190 deaths every single day. We know that more than 5.3 million Americans are living today with a lifelong disability caused by a brain injury, and we know who is most at risk: older adults who fall, servicemembers and veterans, athletes on playing fields across the country, victims of domestic violence, and far, far too many children. There is also the economic toll of treating, rehabilitating, and caring for these individuals throughout their lives. Mr. Speaker, Congress' investment gave us the tools to act on what the data revealed, from concussion guidelines to protect young athletes to targeted prevention for the older Americans who are most likely to be hospitalized. None of that existed before the Federal partnership and Representative Pascrell's leadership. All of that is at risk if we continue to allow this work to lapse. Since the program's inception in 1996, Congress has reauthorized this act on a bipartisan basis time and again. However, despite bipartisan efforts by our committee to continue reauthorizing these programs, the Federal authorization lapsed in 2024. Without reauthorization, research slows, surveillance weakens, and the support services that patients and families depend on are put in jeopardy. We cannot afford to lose momentum on an issue that touches veterans, athletes, survivors of violence, older adults, and countless other Americans in every one of our districts. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1493 renews three proven programs. First, it reauthorizes the CDC's TBI program, which drives our national research, surveillance, and prevention efforts. Second, it reauthorizes the Administration for Community Living's State partnership grant programs, which helps States, Tribal organizations, and their partners connect survivors to rehabilitation and community-based services. Third, it reauthorizes the State Protection and Advocacy program, which safeguards the rights of Americans living with brain injury. This is a modest Federal investment with an extraordinary reach. Since 1997, 48 States, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia have used these partnership grants to build the very systems that their residents now rely on. This bill does not simply extend those programs but strengthens them. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study and report to Congress on traumatic brain injury, and it directs the CDC to publish information on the populations at highest risk and on the strategies to protect them so that Congress and our public health officials can respond to the growing needs of these communities with better data and clear priorities. Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that benefits all Americans. It advanced out of committee without a single dissenting vote. This bill supports research. It strengthens care, and it helps ensure that Americans living with traumatic brain injuries are not left behind. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan bill. Obviously, dental care is so important. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly), a member of our committee, who has for a long time championed the healthcare concerns of low-income and underserved people.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2001, the Action for Dental Health Act, led by Representative Kelly. Access to oral healthcare is critical to ensuring a person's health and well-being. Too often, however, oral health is overlooked. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in both children and adults in the United States. In fact, more than one in four adults have untreated cavities, and nearly half of American adults show signs of gum disease. We need to expand access to oral healthcare, including strengthening the oral healthcare workforce. The Action for Dental Health Act reauthorizes State oral health workforce improvement programs. These programs seek to enhance dental workforce planning and development through the support of innovative programs that meet the individual needs of each funded State. I hope my colleagues will join me in this effort to strengthen and expand access to oral healthcare. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2001, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which is bipartisan. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), who is the ranking member of our Environment Subcommittee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3747, the AADAPT Act. This bill reauthorizes Project ECHO, or the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes grant program at the Health Resources and Services Administration. This program uses videoconferencing technology to train, advise, and support clinicians to improve access to specialty treatment in rural and underserved areas. By connecting primary care providers in rural areas with specialists in academic medical centers or other specialized settings, these providers receive the support they need to manage complex patient conditions, and rural patients are more likely to receive the care that they need closer to home. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3747, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill. It is not only bipartisan, it is very important. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.