Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1754.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1754. Horseracing in the United States is more than just a sport; it is a tradition. But far too often, the joy of the races is marred by accidents that endanger both the horses and the riders. Last year, nearly 450 thoroughbred racehorses in the United States suffered fatal injuries. The fatality rate in the U.S. is between 2\1/ 2\ to 5 times greater per race start than the fatality rates in Europe and Asia. Some of the key reasons for these higher fatality rates are our drug policies, training and race protocols, and racetrack standards. In the United States, racehorses are commonly administered pain medications to ease discomfort and reduce inflammation. These medications may mask relatively minor injuries, making prerace detection of injuries more difficult. The stress and pressure generated by a 1,100-pound racehorse sprinting at speeds up to 40 miles per hour can cause minor injuries to become catastrophic breaks that ultimately lead to a horse's death. That is why only a limited number of pain suppressors are permitted to be administered to racehorses internationally and in the U.S. While many permitted pain suppressors are banned from being administered several days or even weeks before an international horserace, many of those same medications are permitted to be administered to racehorses a day or two before most races start in the United States. Racehorses need appropriate time to recover after intense physical activity and should not train or race if suffering from soreness, swelling, or pain indicative of a more severe ailment. And racehorses should not race or train on unsuitable, treacherous tracks. Mr. Speaker, horseracing currently has no national governing body and is, instead, regulated independently by each of the 38 States in which the sport is legal. Therefore, implementing change to address these issues is difficult. The bill, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, addresses these challenges head-on. The bill establishes uniform standards for antidoping and medication control and racetrack safety for thoroughbred horseracing. This will help ensure that we can maintain a safe, thriving horseracing industry. It also applies stronger safeguards and enforcement against performance-enhancing drugs, or PEDs. For a sport in which fans place billions of dollars of bets, trust in the authenticity of competition is crucial. The very legitimacy of the sport is undermined if the competitors and public cannot trust that all racehorses are competing on a level playing field. I am pleased that the Humane Society, the Jockey Club, the Breeders' Cup, Animal Welfare Action, several racetracks, and many horsemen support this bill. I want to thank Representative Tonko and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Schakowsky for their tireless leadership on this issue. The bill is the first step toward a safer, fairer horseracing industry, and that is a bill I am proud to support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko). Mr. Speaker, let me say how proud we are, both he, for representing Saratoga, and I, for representing Monmouth Park, two very historic race tracks that we are very proud of.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, who has been a tireless leader on this issue, and, in particular, for the protection of animals.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I thank everyone who spoke. I know that Ms. Schakowsky is such a champion for animals--horses and other animals. And, of course, Mr. Tonko has worked so hard and aggressively--I guess is the best way to put it--on this legislation. But also, when I listen to Mr. Barr, my colleague from Kentucky, talk about Kentucky and racetracks, I could just as easily have substituted Monmouth Park, which is my thoroughbred track, for almost everything he said. Monmouth Park is less than a mile from my district office in my hometown. My father, my uncle--so many people in my family--either worked there or bet there or enjoyed the horses there. But particularly when you talked about the industry, in my home county, which is Monmouth County, it is not only a question of jobs, which there are so many that depend on the track, but also open space. As you know, New Jersey is the most densely populated State. And we are in part of the State that still has a lot of farms, but most of them are horse farms. And without those horse farms, the very character of Monmouth County would not be the same. Whether it is the economics, whether it is open space, or it is just a tradition, this bill makes it possible, in my opinion, for that to continue. And, hopefully, as Mr. Barr said, open up to new fans as well. Madam Speaker, this is a very important piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 8134, the Consumer Product Safety Inspection Enhancement Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this bipartisan legislation was introduced by Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee chair Jan Schakowsky and Representative Jeff Duncan and advanced out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 9 by a voice vote. This important legislation will empower the Consumer Product Safety Commission with the data it needs to protect Americans from the flood of unsafe products entering our Nation from overseas, especially e- commerce shipments entering under the de minimis value exemption. It will also help ensure the Commission has adequate staffing to support these efforts. Madam Speaker, e-commerce spending has risen steeply during the COVID-19 pandemic as Americans turn to online shopping to safely get needed goods or to find scarce supplies. Even before the pandemic, however, the CPSC was projecting that the number of e-commerce shipments to the United States would soon reach 60 million per year and represent well over 50 percent of the total volume of imports under the agency's jurisdiction. Despite the rapid growth in e-commerce, these shipments entering the U.S. from overseas continue to face little scrutiny at our ports and often contain fake or dangerous products. Currently, CPSC inspectors are present at only 6 percent of U.S. ports and concentrated only at seaports that receive large, high-value shipping containers. The agency virtually has no presence at the kinds of ports where millions of e-commerce shipments enter the United States, such as express courier facilities, international mail facilities, and airports. We need CPSC inspectors stationed in all these types of places to prevent unsafe products from entering the U.S. and harming Americans. CPSC will also need more data and more advanced IT infrastructure in order to properly assess risk and target potentially unsafe e-commerce shipments. Madam Speaker, H.R. 8134 addresses all these issues. It expands CPSC's presence at ports, to include the type of ports where e-commerce shipments enter. It also empowers the CPSC to collect the data it needs to identify and block e-commerce shipments that disregard our consumer product safety laws and standards. This bill would protect American consumers from unsafe consumer products, at the same time an expanded and enhanced import surveillance program will also protect manufacturers and retailers from having to carry out costly recalls. Madam Speaker, I, again, commend Chairwoman Schakowsky and Representative Duncan for introducing this bill. I also thank Ranking Member Walden and subcommittee Ranking Member Rodgers for working with us to move this bill through the Committee on Energy and Commerce on a bipartisan basis. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8134) to support the Consumer Product Safety Commission's capability to protect consumers from unsafe consumer products, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8134.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I would urge support for the bill, and I also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the chairwoman of the subcommittee.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, let me just thank my colleagues and urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8132.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 8132. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by the ranking member of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, Cathy Rodgers, and Representative Bobby Rush. I thank them for drafting this measure to help the U.S. thrive and stay competitive in this global economy. It advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on September 9 by a voice vote. This bill calls on relevant Federal agencies to examine the state of various industries in the U.S., helping protect America's leadership with respect to emerging technology. For small business, this legislation will help them take advantage of different kinds of emerging technologies, like quantum computing and 3D printing. The bill will also protect Americans, ensuring that we have a full understanding of the effect unmanned delivery services will have on road safety, traffic congestion, and labor, including how any negative effects can be mitigated. I am also pleased that this bill requires the Federal Trade Commission to examine how artificial intelligence can be used to combat online harms. With disinformation proliferating on the internet and foreign meddling in our elections picking up once again, we need to be using all the tools at our disposal to put a stop to wrongful online abuses that endanger Americans and undermine our democracy. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, September 25, 2020. Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Pallone: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 8132, the ``American Competitiveness of a More Productive Emerging Tech Economy Act'' or the ``American COMPETE Act.'' This legislation involves various aspects of technology development. However, in an effort to expedite consideration of this measure, I agree to not seek a sequential referral so that the bill may be considered expeditiously. I take this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 8132 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. I ask to be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the bill report filed by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as inserted in the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Sincerely, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the chairwoman of the subcommittee.

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

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the C.W. Bill Young Transplantation Program was first established through a partnership with the Navy in 1986, transferred to the National Institutes of Health for oversight in 1987, and then authorized by the Energy and Commerce Committee in 1990. The program has since been reauthorized four times, and every time it has been accomplished with strong bipartisan support. I believe that bipartisan support will continue today with H.R. 4764, the TRANSPLANT Act of 2019, which will reauthorize the C.W. Bill Young Transplantation Program for the fifth time. Year after year, this program provides lifesaving bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplants to help patients suffering from over 70 diseases. The program assists transplant patients by providing additional information about bone marrow and cord blood transplants, maintaining an efficient process for identifying donor matches, increasing the number of unrelated donors available for transplant, and collecting data and expanding research to improve patient outcomes. I thank my committee colleagues, Representatives Matsui and Bilirakis, for their leadership on this bill. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4764.

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

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I also ask for bipartisan support for this legislation. I mention that I do intend to seek a recorded vote. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4078.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4078) to reauthorize the Young Women's Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5373) to reauthorize the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5373, the United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act of 2020. For two decades, Madam Speaker, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, or USADA, has worked to ensure integrity in our American Olympic and Paralympic sporting activities. In the 1990s, countries around the world viewed American athletes as dirty and only winning because they were doping. In an effort to bring credibility back to the United States, an Olympic committee task force recommended that an independent organization be created to conduct a comprehensive antidoping program. In 2000, Congress acted on this recommendation and gave USADA the authority to manage this comprehensive antidoping program. Since then, USADA has performed hundreds of thousands of tests and contributed to the advancement of clean sports through scientific research, antidoping education, and outreach programs. In order to enable USADA to continue this work, H.R. 5373 would extend and increase the authorization level and empower the organization to encourage a positive sporting environment for youth by way of promoting educational materials on sportsmanship, character building, and healthy performance. By advancing this bill, we will send a strong message to young athletes about the importance of integrity, respect, and responsibility in sports. The bill also improves antidoping efforts in the U.S. by encouraging Federal agencies to coordinate and share information with the USADA to prevent the use of performance-enhancing drugs and methods. Taken together, these actions will make positive improvements to the good work USADA is already doing. And passage takes on additional importance as USADA gears up for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Before I conclude, Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representatives Mike Thompson, Bill Johnson, and Diana DeGette, for leading this important legislation. I also thank our Ranking Member Walden and all the members and staff of our committees for their efforts to move this legislation forward in a bipartisan manner. So, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I urge support for the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.