Katie Porter

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak up for California's children, our communities, and our environment. The vast majority of American schoolbuses run on diesel, a major source of pollution that contributes to the climate crisis. As a result, bus emissions worsen our air quality with significant harm around schools, in residential areas, and within the passenger cabin. This is a serious problem for our environment and our children's health. The bipartisan infrastructure law that I supported invests in a solution. The Clean School Bus program funds $5 billion for the purchase of electric schoolbuses, improving the air for our kids and our communities. Electric buses also improve discipline, reduce noise pollution, and give schools budget certainty. They can save school districts up to 80 percent on the cost of fuel, maintenance, and repairs. However, the Clean School Bus program unfairly targets California. Even though our State has nearly 13 percent of schoolchildren and the second lowest busing rate in the country, ahead only of Mississippi, the law unfairly imposes a 10 percent State cap on the funds. Even worse, to date, California has only gotten 7.33 percent of the Clean School Bus program funds. Our State leads the Nation in transitioning to electric vehicles and reducing emissions. We need our Federal Government to be a partner in these efforts. California wants to invest in clean buses to take children to school to learn and to grow, but we cannot do it alone. If America is to be the global leader in transitioning to a clean energy economy, we need to give every State, including California, their fair share of financial support. The $69.5 million already invested in the Clean School Bus program in California provides some necessary help, but it is not nearly enough to support our densely populated working-class communities, some of which have the worst air quality in the Nation. I have seen firsthand the tremendous interest in the Clean School Bus program when my office hosted grant workshops with school districts and Tribal communities to share information about these Federal resources for acquiring low- and zero-emission schoolbuses. To meet this moment, we need a coordinated effort from Federal, State, and local entities to make the change. California needs a leader who will fight to remove unfair roadblocks, such as arbitrary State caps that limit investment in clean technology. I will continue to push for a level playing field for California that invests our Federal tax dollars where the need is greatest and where they can do the most good.

Ms. PORTER. In Iran, a dangerous regime is harming its people, stripping them of their rights, and spreading lies to cover it up. The world must know where we stand. The Biden administration is leading the way, and I strongly support their newly announced sanctions on some of the world's worst human rights abusers. These offenders are top-ranking officials in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the regime's right hand in repression. Sanctions also target the IRGC's business enterprise, which has been funding the regime's brutality for decades. The U.S.' leadership was mimicked by the United Kingdom and European Union. I applaud this unified response from our allies. It is a clear rejection of Iran's violence and a demand for the Iranian people to be heard. The struggles continue, and we must all remember that ``Woman, Life, Freedom'' is not just a chant. It is a call to action. Clean School Bus Program

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, replenishing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is in our national security interest, but handing out 10 percent of our federally protected lands is not the answer. Big Oil sits on more than 9,000 unused permits for drilling on public lands. That is 9.9 million acres; 7.5 million football fields; more land than Maryland and Delaware combined. Congress should find the political courage to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable. As long as Big Oil holds on to thousands of unused permits, it shouldn't get a single acre more of our land. We can strengthen our energy independence without another sweetheart deal for the fossil fuel industry, which also receives billions in subsidies, and without selling out the hunters, fishers, and hikers who rely on public lands and contribute 1.9 percent of our GDP. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 21.

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer amendment No. 45.

Ms. PORTER. Taxpayers should not be a piggy bank for Big Oil to line its pockets. As a taxpayer advocate, I am introducing an amendment to protect our money from Big Oil's greed. Under current law, oil and gas companies get a tax break when they tap into their reserves as part of doing business. This amounts to about a $2 to $3 billion handout each year. Now, as we look to spend taxpayer dollars to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, corporations are poised to double dip, to profit off the American people. Without a change in policy, polluters get tax dollars once in the form of a government contract and again in the form of a special tax break. As a champion for capitalism, I strongly oppose this corporate abuse. When the Federal Government negotiates a contract with oil companies to buy their product with tax dollars, they do it at a fair price. That is capitalism. But to turn around and then give them a tax break, that is corruption, bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry, which spends $100 million each year on lobbying. As a consumer protection attorney, I have never met any American-- Democrat, Republican, Independent--who likes to be cheated. Consumers should get what we pay for. Big Oil should not get to double charge taxpayers for the same oil. Many of my Republican colleagues talk about safeguarding capitalism. They stress the importance of protecting tax dollars. A handout to Big Oil is antithetical to these goals. Big Oil shouldn't get a bonus helping of tax dollars after they have received government contracts. I urge all my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to stand up for our capitalist principles, to protect taxpayers, and to adopt this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to Big Pharma cheating taxpayers. As pharmaceutical companies prepare to sell vaccines on the private market, they are jacking up the price tag on our public health. After tens of billions of dollars of sales, vaccine manufacturers have floated commercial prices over four times higher than the price currently paid by the government. Taxpayers contributed to every aspect of these vaccines, from the underlining science, to the clinical trials, to purchasing agreements, but only the manufacturers will profit. Just two vaccine manufacturers control 97 percent of the market. They will not compete because they do not have to. I have worked on legislation to prevent anticompetitive pricing in consolidated markets, like vaccines. This is especially important for products that our tax dollars paid for. We cannot continue to ask taxpayers to help cover the risk, while letting Big Pharma collude to reap the profits.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, getting Congress to enact widespread campaign finance reform feels as likely as getting snow in Orange County this Christmas. However, it shouldn't take a once-in-a-century holiday miracle to get Washington to stop political fundraising scams. Con artists are exploiting loopholes in our election laws by fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as collecting donations meant for causes and candidates. These scam PACs actually use the money to line their own pockets. Worse, they target older Americans and veterans. As a consumer protection attorney, I will always work to hold fraudsters accountable. With a Republican colleague, I have introduced legislation to help the Federal Election Commission punish these bad actors. Americans of all political ideologies who participate in our democracy by donating shouldn't have to fear being cheated. I urge passage of my bipartisan bill to stop scam PACs.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, Iran's youth have emerged as leaders of the anti-regime protests--but also as a political target. On November 16, 9-year-old Kian Pirfalak was fatally shot, becoming the youngest killed by Iranian authorities' response to that demonstration. Two months after Mahsa Amini's death, over 60 children have died under Iran's brutal crackdown--children no older than my own. These aren't accidents. Security forces are raiding grade schools looking for student protestors. Mass arrests and violent beatdowns are commonplace. Authorities are even holding hostage the remains of protestors, a heartless practice meant to silence grieving relatives. These children belong in safe schools and loving families, not in body bags. I strongly condemn Iran's killing of children and stand with the protestors demanding change and accountability. Iran should not be allowed to rob children of their lives or their freedoms.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy for receiving the 2022 California Fire Chief of the Year award. As California continues to see worsening fire seasons, Orange County families are fortunate to have a leader like Chief Fennessy, who is dedicated to making our communities safer. Since joining the Orange County Fire Authority in 2018, Chief Fennessy has placed a strong focus on community outreach, fire mitigation, and disaster preparedness. He has also equipped his firefighters with the tools and training that they need to be safe and to keep us safe. I was honored to have Chief Fennessy join me for a townhall where we discussed disaster preparedness measures and ways to stay safe from wildfires. I congratulate Chief Fennessy on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to continuing to work with him and the wonderful Orange County Fire Authority team.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support getting Americans the help that they need. More than one in five 911 calls involve mental health or substance use crises. That amounts to millions of calls per year. To keep these Americans safe, we need to connect them to healthcare. It is wasteful, hurtful, and a travesty of justice to criminalize people in mental health crises rather than deliver care. One in four fatal law enforcement encounters ends the life of someone with mental illness. We cannot improve public safety without giving our communities a better response system for mental health crises. My bill, the Mental Health Justice Act, funds local communities to create specialized mental health response units. Made up of trained health professionals, these units can be dispatched to respond to emergency calls for mental health. That way, people in crisis can get the care they need; police officers can focus on crime, including stopping violent crime and other core law enforcement duties; and our communities get another tool to address our mental health crisis. The Mental Health Justice Act has widespread support from advocacy organizations fighting for mental health and civil rights because this approach works. In cities that already have these programs across the country, we see incredible, positive results and support from local law enforcement. In Orange County, our law enforcement officials support this bill because their job is already difficult enough. They know their sworn duty is to prevent and solve crime and hold criminals accountable. Sending police to mental health situations diverts their attention from crime fighting. I have heard firsthand from officers who want specialized mental health response units. This bill empowers police to stay where they are needed, fighting crime. At the same time, entangling people in mental health crises in the criminal justice system or holding them in jail wastes taxpayer dollars and doesn't deliver on public safety. When we send police to people in crisis, we fail to get those people desperately needed healthcare, and we take law enforcement away from tackling the violent crime that they are trained to take on. This hurts everyone in our community. The Mental Health Justice Act is supported by a broad bipartisan coalition, co-led by my colleague from Orange County, Republican Michelle Steel, and my colleagues Ayanna Pressley, Tony Cardenas, and Mary Gay Scanlon. Keeping Americans safe and healthy is not a partisan issue. I am proud to champion the Mental Health Justice Act, a tested, effective solution to promote public safety and well-being for every American.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, this month, Californians have faced one of the hottest and longest heat waves on record. From Sacramento to San Diego, families have suffered triple-digit temperatures. These extreme temperatures put an enormous strain on our electrical grid. It is urgent that Americans increase the energy efficiency of our homes. Fortunately, the Inflation Reduction Act makes this transition easier and cheaper. Thanks to this new law, which I helped pass, families can get new tax credits and rebates for installing energy-efficient products in their homes, including windows, water heaters, and heating and cooling systems. I recently welcomed Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to visit an Orange County family saving money on utilities with efficient appliances. As the climate crisis continues to harm communities, the Inflation Reduction Act delivers relief. We can conserve energy and save families money at the same time. Nursing Homes Aren't Commodities

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to champion protecting our seniors. Wall Street shouldn't get to decide if older Americans can age with dignity. But across the country, private equity firms are spending billions to turn nursing homes into commodities. When private equity firms take over nursing homes, they cut costs and cut corners; they lay off trusted staff; and they stretch care workers too thin to provide the care and attention older Americans need. Quality of care declines, and deaths among residents rise dramatically. We cannot entrust our loved ones to these bad actors. They focus on maximizing returns for investors at the expense of delivering protected care to seniors, their patients. I have long pushed to hold private equity accountable and to end corporate abuse in healthcare. The health and well-being of our seniors are not for sale. Climate Crisis Is a Health Crisis

Ms. PORTER. The climate crisis is a health crisis. This month, high temperatures threaten the well-being of Californians. For some, it was a matter of life and death. In the past decade alone, extreme heat has killed 3,900 Californians. We know who dies from extreme heat. Older Americans die in homes they can't afford to keep cool. Workers die in the sun, doing jobs they can't afford to lose. After years of ignoring the climate crisis, our Nation has finally directed resources to fighting climate change. Green investments in the Inflation Reduction Act will help older adults live longer and avoid heat-related health emergencies. They will protect our children from wildfire smoke that causes chronic breathing conditions. And by contributing to a healthier workforce, they will keep our economy strong. Broadband Competition

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the ability to shop for the best deal is fundamental to a free market economy. Yet, for years, many people in apartments and office buildings have been stuck with only one option for internet. Service providers have unfairly locked out competitors by securing exclusivity agreements with landlords. Tenants are trapped into one choice for broadband, whether they are getting a fair deal or whether they are getting ripped off. Allowing big corporations to gatekeep the market is not healthy capitalism. I have previously pushed for the Federal Communications Commission to crack down on abusive Internet Service Providers. I am pleased that the FCC unanimously adopted new rules this year to end these predatory agreements. Strengthening competition for broadband is proven to lower costs, improve service, and promote innovation. Americans should have the freedom to choose the internet plan that is best for them.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, more than 81,000 servicemembers have been designated as prisoners of war or missing in action. On September 16, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we recognize their heroism. Some of these great Americans are honored at memorials like the Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial in my home community of Irvine. I have proudly voted to invest in the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which helps fulfill our Nation's promise to leave no servicemember behind. This key agency is responsible for returning the remains of our troops to their loved ones and to a grateful Nation. Supporting our Orange County veterans and their families is how we honor their service. We cannot and will not forget our troops' sacrifices. Mr. Speaker, I will continue working to protect their legacy.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, conflicts of interest lead to a crisis of confidence. Government officials shouldn't be able to use their Federal contracting authority to line their own pockets. Pentagon officials owning stock in big defense contractors not only invites waste and abuse, it causes Americans to doubt whether the Department of Defense always spends taxpayer dollars in the public interest. I am proud that the House passed my proposal to ban Pentagon officials from owning stock in companies that receive over $1 billion in defense contracts. This safeguard will better protect the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars we send to the Pentagon each year. It will help prevent sweetheart deals for big defense contractors, and it will reduce the self-dealing that erodes trust in our government and undermines national security. Americans deserve confidence that their government is working for them.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, disability should not keep any American from fully participating in public life. This week marks the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA provides critical protections for jobseekers powering our workforce. It helps students thrive in our schools, and it empowers citizens to participate in our democracy. But like any law, the ADA is only as good as our ability to enforce it. For too many, the ADA does not deliver accommodations that people with disabilities need. I am working to strengthen the ADA, including for individuals with mental health needs. My Student Mental Health Rights Act will help universities adhere to ADA requirements, empowering disabled students to succeed. As we celebrate the ADA, we recommit ourselves to fulfilling its promise of equal protection for all.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my Orange County colleagues Congressman J. Luis Correa, Congresswoman Young Kim, Congressman Mike Levin, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, and Congresswoman Michelle Steel to recognize City of Hope and celebrate the grand opening of their Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine, California. We are proud that City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, has chosen Orange County for this advanced comprehensive cancer center. City of Hope's innovative research and world-class care will now be available to Orange County's 3.2 million residents. This will save lives. Nearly twenty percent of people with cancer in Orange County have left the area for advanced cancer care, with many spending hours commuting to the City of Hope facility in Los Angeles. Now, City of Hope's Lennar Foundation Cancer Center will offer Orange County patients a fully integrated experience--from prevention through survivorship--in a convenient location close to home. This Center will be home to some of the nation's most acclaimed physicians and scientists with expertise in lung, breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, genitourinary, blood, and other cancers. On behalf of the residents of Orange County, we thank City of Hope for their unwavering commitment to cancer care and join in celebrating the grand opening of their Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. John Withers of Irvine, California. Mr. Withers served as Chairman of the Orange County Sanitation District Board of Directors from June 2021 to June 2022. During his tenure, Mr. Withers led the work of the Orange County Sanitation District's Board of Directors, providing high quality water treatment services for over two million Orange County residents and protecting our fragile coastal ecosystems from wastewater pollution. Under his watch, the Orange County Sanitation District has served as a model for other communities throughout the Nation that are facing climate resiliency challenges. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Withers oversaw the implementation and initiation of multiple public works projects. One of the most impressive projects was the construction of a new headworks facility, which serves as the nervous system of a well-functioning wastewater treatment process. These efforts will improve the service capabilities of the wastewater treatment plant and the resiliency of the facility's electrical system, resulting in fewer power disruptions and better safeguards. This ambitious project will provide Orange County with the necessary infrastructure to better manage the harms brought on by climate change and create good paying jobs. PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals that are harmful to human health, are a serious threat to our drinking water. I am thankful for the Orange County Sanitation District's commitment to developing solutions to address this issue and help protect families. Mr. Withers understood the need to protect public health through the development of innovative technologies that keep our water safe by treating and removing these chemicals. His work has served as a catalyst to promote accessible and cost-efficient PFAS treatment. I am proud to honor Mr. Withers and thank him for his years of service on the Orange County Sanitation District's Board of Directors and for his successful work as the board's Chairman.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, when the pandemic closed schools and left millions of children without meals they needed, our government took action. Emergency waivers eliminated income caps and gave meal providers flexibility in delivering food. Even now, with schools reopened, these waivers are getting healthy meals to children without burying families under mountains of paperwork, but these provisions are set to expire on June 30. As 97 percent of meal providers like schools struggle to pay soaring food prices, these protections should be strengthened, not stopped. This year, California became the first State to provide free meals to any student. Offering no-cost meals to everyone, regardless of income, helps resources reach the kids who need them most. This will also help California's kids in schools perform better. Free meals contribute to better attendance, fewer nurse visits, and higher test scores. California's universal meal program will benefit schools and families. The Nation should follow our example. Taking Action on Climate Change

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the greater our delay in taking action on climate change, the higher the price tag will be for families and our economy. Last week, Californians suffered through an intense heat wave. Temperatures went over 100 degrees in parts of our State. That is bad for public health and bad for our economy. A study by the Atlantic Council estimates that the total economic loss from excessive heat is at least $100 billion annually. They also estimate that this loss could double by 2030 and quintuple by 2050 if we don't take climate action. Simply put, the fiscally responsible thing to do is for Congress to act quickly to prevent further losses. Taking climate action will lower and stabilize costs for families. High temperatures aren't just bad for human health. They are bad for our economy. Heat waves push prices for electricity higher, costing us billions. We should not leave families in California and across the country to figure out their budgets while Washington figures out climate change. The need for climate change is urgent, not just for our planet, but also for our pocketbooks. PTSD Awareness Month

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is failing people with post- traumatic stress disorder. During June, PTSD Awareness Month, we must commit to doing better. Mental health affects many across our Nation, but I rise today to shine light on the brave young people dealing with PTSD. Too many Americans, including many with PTSD, go without the mental healthcare they need because their insurance won't cover it. I wrote a bill, which is now Federal law, to crack down on insurance companies that break the rules and refuse to cover mental health the same way they cover physical health. I am proud the House is considering additional proposals I have worked on to strengthen the enforcement of protections for mental health coverage. When a child experiences a traumatic event, like emotional or sexual abuse, it harms their emotional, social, and cognitive development. These adverse childhood experiences are linked to substance use disorder, chronic health issues, and PTSD. We cannot let trauma or related challenges hold students back from getting high quality educations. The effect of these experiences doesn't end when children leave their homes for college. They bleed into their daily lives, including in the classroom. I am proud to introduce legislation, the Student Mental Health Rights Act, which would direct the Department of Education to study mental health, issue guidance to help schools level the playing field, and support students in overcoming their mental health challenges so they can complete their schooling. Our students need this help. For Americans with PTSD of all ages, awareness is not enough. They need action.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's populations of fish and wildlife are dwindling. To save threatened and endangered species, we need the bipartisan Recovering America's Wildlife Act which will boost science-based conservation efforts. The United Nations has warned the world that human actions will continue to drive plant and animal species to extinction if we do not act. In my home State of California, native species have declined by 20 percent, and over 600 species risk extinction. As a member of the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, I have learned from scientists and advocacy groups that we need dedicated funding to recover and sustain healthy populations of threatened and endangered species. Importantly, protecting these species is good for our economy. Wildlife-focused recreation generates $140 billion annually. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act will sustain biodiversity, create jobs, and protect our planet.

Ms. PORTER

Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, over 300,000 mail carriers serve our communities, delivering for us 7 days a week. Unfortunately, these dedicated public servants have increasingly become targets for criminals. Criminals will steal a carrier's mailbox key and then use that stolen key to steal mail and packages. Between 2018 and 2021, robberies of mail carriers more than tripled, and robberies involving a gun quadrupled. Until 2020, postal police officers patrolled our neighborhoods to protect letter carriers and deter mail theft, but in August 2020, right before the Presidential election, the Trump administration ordered the postal police to stop patrols and limited them to guarding post offices. This policy needs to change immediately. Our mail carriers are at risk, and they deserve the protection of the law enforcement officers employed by the post office.