Nick Rahall

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I'm happy to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member on our Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, as well as a valued member of our conference on transportation, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I'm happy to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), the ranking member of the Education and Workforce Committee, who has jurisdiction over the student loan section of this conference agreement. (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I'm happy to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), a distinguished member of our conference on this agreement.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I'm happy to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), another valued conferee on our side.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), who has higher jurisdiction over the flood insurance portion.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire), a valued member of our Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

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

Mr. RAHALL. Okay. I'm ready to close, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, first I want to extend my deep appreciation to all conferees on this legislation, some 47, I believe. I'd like to pay particular word of commendation to the chair of the conference committee, the gentlelady from California, Senator Barbara Boxer. She worked extremely hard on this legislation. She worked tirelessly to resist many, many, many extreme proposals that were lobbed at her by Republican House conferees. She worked to ensure that policies and investment levels of this legislation will serve America, and she did work in a bipartisan fashion. I'd also like to thank my counterpart and the chair of our House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Mica, for his leadership. He has already spoken, and has many times, of the bipartisan nature in which we started this journey in my hometown of Beckley, West Virginia, and I deeply appreciate the hearings that he started there and his continued outreach across the country. As this hard road progressed, there were some diversions along the way. There were efforts to sidetrack what we were trying to do in providing long-term funding for this Nation's infrastructure, yet we're here today to hail not the perfect bill--we've heard that many times in this body, and we're not considering the perfect bill. Yet we are, out of necessity, finding ourselves working together to extend our transportation program so that millions more American workers are not laid off the job. I also want to thank my senior Senator, Jay Rockefeller, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, for his great contribution to this pending measure. Again, efforts were fought. Efforts on his part prevented the further degradation of any safety measures that were proposed in this conference agreement. We have a strong measure in regards to safety issues thanks to Senator Rockefeller. This legislation will preserve American jobs. As I said in the opening of this conference committee, it's time that we quit taking those political jabs at one another and, rather, provide jobs for our people. That's what we're doing in this legislation. The contracting season is late, especially in many of our northern States, and our contractors need this legislation in order to have the certainty to sign those contracts that put Americans to work this summer repairing our infrastructure. We have put aside, I guess you'll say, our hard heads--I'm happy to say--in exchange for hard hats doing the work that's necessary to get our economy back on. As with any piece of legislation, we've compromised in this bill--all sides have--which is part of the legislative process. I've always said that. There are some things in this bill we don't like and some things we like. There are probably 435 different ways this bill could have been written if each of us had had his own way to write a bill, but that's not the way the process works. With the process being what it is, we are where we are today, so I am here to support the pending legislation. As I sit down, I want to also thank the staff for their hard work on both the majority's side in the House and on the minority's side, on our side, and the staff on both sides of the other body as well. I want to thank our conferees on the House side: Peter DeFazio, Jerry Costello, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jerry Nadler, Corrine Brown, Elijah Cummings, Leonard Boswell, and Tim Bishop. These individuals stuck with us every part of the way, and they truly had their hearts in improving our infrastructure and providing jobs for America. So this is a jobs bill. I'm happy to support it, and I urge my colleagues to support this conference agreement. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I support the passage of the Food and Drug Administration Reform Act, which reauthorizes vital programs that will ensure the FDA continues to study and approve life-saving drugs and medical devices and work to prevent drug shortages of much needed medications. I am concerned, however, that the Congress is not doing more to fight prescription drug abuse. Members of the House were not permitted to offer amendments to address prescription drug addiction when this measure came before us last month, even though the FDA has a vital role in regulating the addictive qualities of drugs that are manufactured and ensuring sufficient education and awareness for health care providers and the general public. This conference report is a bittersweet pill to swallow. While it includes a provision that will ban the sale of dangerous synthetic drugs, which I support and the House of Representatives passed late last year, the FDA's programs could have been strengthened significantly to address substance abuse and its impact on our Nation's economic and security needs. If one reads any newspaper in southern West Virginia, you will undoubtedly find downright scary stories of families, children and seniors devastated by prescription drug abuse, and the crime that it engenders. As many of my colleagues know, fighting back against this unending wave of abuse will take the action of all--local, state and federal governments. I have introduced legislation, as have a number of my colleagues who serve in the Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus, which would arm our law enforcement, physicians, and local communities in this fight--making it harder for pills to get into the wrong hands and be misused, and ensuring that all prescriptions are properly monitored. Though this bill mentions the need to combat abuse of prescription drugs, it is not nearly strong enough, nor should we consider it sufficient, in addressing what has become a crisis in too many Appalachian communities. Our families and communities need more than recommendations--they need action, and they simply cannot wait any longer for help. I urge House leadership to work with members of this body who are committed to fighting back against this plague and saving our communities to consider legislation that will stop this scourge.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. I thank the gentleman from West Virginia for yielding, my good friend, and I commend him for his dogged determination on this issue and for his patience and persistence. I certainly rise in support of this motion to instruct. This gentleman from West Virginia was, after all, the Democratic floor manager of the House bill which got us into conference with the Senate. It accepted the amendment offered by Mr. McKinley, which passed by a voice vote on April 18. This amendment, known as the ``coal ash provision,'' is an important provision; and I, like many others, do not want to see it derail the entire transportation bill in its entirety. But I think if this body were to follow the instructions of the House, both in this motion and in the previous motion adopted by Mr. Walz of Minnesota, which instructed conferees to report back by June 22, then I believe we would have a transportation bill that this Nation would benefit from and our American workers would benefit. Since 1980, the EPA has struggled to figure out whether coal ash should be regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and, if so, in what fashion. As of this date, 32 years later, no EPA regulation is in place. The Agency had its shot, and now it's time to move on. The provision by the House is aimed at the States bolstering their programs governing the regulation of coal ash and includes enforcement actions if they fail to do so. Given the nexus between the use of coal ash and the manufacturing of cement and that product's use in our transportation system, it is an appropriate matter to be considered within the scope of the conference of the transportation bill. Contrary to some remarks we've heard on the floor today, these motions to instruct do not delay the work of conferees. Being a conferee myself, I know that the conference continues to meet with proposals going back and forth. We're currently playing ping-pong on a lot of these proposals, but that's good. It means that we're talking, and it means the process is going forward. I'm very optimistic and hopeful that we can reach agreement sooner rather than later so that America's economy can continue to recover and American workers can go back to work with certainty.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, like many Americans, I was taken aback by the Administration's announcement last week that it would decline to enforce the law when it comes to the deportation of illegal aliens who were brought to our Nation as young children. I believe that the president is wrong on this issue--as wrong as he can be. We are a Nation of immigrants. We take pride in our immigrant roots. Southern West Virginia has a proud history of immigrant families and workers who migrated to the coal fields to live and work. For every immigrant who came to this country legally, abiding by the process and respecting the law, this action is a slap in the face. For the immigration and border security officers, who are working and risking their lives to enforce the law, this announcement is a slap in the face. For the American workers who will be forced to compete for American jobs against immigrant aliens, this announcement is a slap in the face. I share the frustration of many Americans in the stubborn refusal of the House Republican Majority in not taking action on critical legislation--a long-term surface transportation, budget and appropriations bills, and a host of expiring laws that run the gamut from tax breaks, to Medicare payments to our hospitals and health providers, to critical government programs; all of which are undermining confidence in the Congress as an institution and acting as deadweight on job creation and growth. To some extent, one could even argue the Congress has invited this executive action by refusing to act to strengthen our Nation's borders and immigration enforcement. But, a chief executive's decision, to bypass the Congress and refuse to implement the law, is unacceptable. It may make for good politics in some quarters of our Nation, but it sets a terrible and dangerous precedent. The Constitution requires the president to enforce the law. It authorizes the president to recommend changes to the law. It does not-- does not--permit the president to selectively choose which laws to enforce. The Congress must disabuse the president and every future president of the notion that laws with which the executive branch disagrees can be ignored. More important than party, and more important than presidential politics, must be the upholding of the Constitution and seeing to it that the laws are faithfully executed.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Princeton Tigers, the 2012 Class AAA state high school baseball champions, who won the West Virginia state championship with a come from behind 7 4 victory over the Nitro Wildcats on June 3, 2012. From little league to legends, the Princeton ``Nine'' have stuck together through thick and thin. There's a lesson in that for all of us. Teamwork is as American as baseball, Chevrolet and apple pie. Every time we have succeeded, we have succeeded together. And, boy, did the Tigers ever succeed this year. We all are proud of what they have accomplished together. They have the hearts of true champions, the determination of true all stars, and the talents of true all Americans. And if you have any questions about that, well then, just ask Josh Wilburn--Coach of the Year--what this team is made of. Congratulations, Coach--way to bring it home--you deserve this honor. There's not much I can tell Mercer Countians about baseball--a county where baseball is the county's pastime--from Little League to the minor league. And we know the value especially of Little League, as only the great Yogi Berra could put it, ``Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.'' Mr. Speaker, all in the Nation's Capitol, should take notice of what nine young men with grit and gumption can do when a seasoned coach brings out the best in each of them and turns teamwork into triumph. Congress could use a few doses of Tiger spirit here in the Capitol, as well. Because when one participates in a celebratory parade with this community as I did, you know that it just wasn't nine guys on the field and their coach by the dugout by themselves in that championship game. It was the whole town rooting with them and for them. Princeton High School is a special place. The city, Mercer County, the State of West Virginia, and our nation have invested in this community. These students are blessed with many fields and resources other schools can only dream of, and they have more choices in extracurricular activities than many can even imagine. But, they have your priorities right, too. All nine student athletes graduated before they took to the championship field. Parents, boosters, coaches, teachers, staff and administrators are all fully engaged--day in and out. The good book tells us that to whom much is given, much is also expected. Everyone should celebrate their well-earned championship today. But for all the tomorrows yet to come they cannot ever forget what this one day means--that hard work, determination, community support and spirit, good leadership and teamwork can produce victories throughout life. As dependable family members, good neighbors, and fellow citizens there will be many causes to champion. Looking around Princeton High School at the Tigers celebration, I know I am looking at champions-- America's champions--on and off the field. Congratulations to everyone in Tiger Country.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I believe that changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are necessary and have cosponsored and supported several bills in this Congress to amend the health care law before it takes full effect. West Virginians--our working families, our seniors on fixed incomes, our small businesses--are looking for and deserve substantive action from the Congress to address rising health care costs and access to quality care and I regret that the only thing the House majority in this Congress has brought to the floor is a slew of bills purposely designed to generate gridlock and stall in the legislative process. While I do not support this measure, I believe that the Congress has a responsibility to address the concerns that have been raised by health care providers and medical device manufacturers, and I hope that it will do so.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a group of distinguished West Virginia Veterans--the State's first Honor Flight-- who came to Washington today to visit war memorials and our Nation's Capitol. It was my privilege to meet with them so that I could personally thank them for their outstanding service. I am humbled and honored at any opportunity to meet such remarkable American patriots and to pay tribute to those who have done so much for us. I welcomed them to their Nation's Capitol, and I do mean their Capitol, because without them and their service to our Nation, this old capitol just might not be here. On this day they will visit the World War II, Korean and Vietnam Veterans memorials. I asked them while they are at the Korean War Memorial, to read the words chiseled in the granite wall there, ``Freedom is not free.'' Truer words were never uttered. And, for their service, we, as a Nation, can never repay them, but I have to say, we darn well better never quit trying to honor them in our thoughts and prayers and deeds. The Honor Flight is a measure of what the service of Veterans has meant to those who freely contribute to keep these missions of lasting memories for you going. We salute all those who contribute and help organize them. And it's up to those of us in the public sector to stand firm in our Nation's commitment to Veterans' long term health care and other benefits. From towns born of mining, to our state born of war, to a nation under God, each of West Virginia's Veterans symbolizes the depth of human giving and the height of divine compassion. One word best describes what our Veterans did: sacrifice. What they, and those who served with them, sacrificed is reflected in the white and black granite of our war memorials. They serve as timeless reminders to all who pass their way that we must always remember and honor those who stood in harm's way so that freedom's light could continue to shine. Every time a Veteran steps foot on the grounds of one of the war memorials, they honor all who did not live to see it. And their visit adds a living testament to the memorial's significance, when each returns home and tells family and friends about the experience. These West Virginia Veterans defended our Nation under the banner of red, white and blue; and on behalf of a grateful Nation, I presented each of them our country's colors, Old Glory, to take home with them. I am so proud of all Veterans and will continue to fight and to work with my colleagues in the House to address their needs. As a Nation, we have a duty and responsibility to support and acknowledge the great sacrifice that our veterans so willingly made for all of us. So much of the Nation's greatness rests on the shoulders of these protectors of America--like the members of West Virginia Honor Flight-- whose commitment and duty to God, country, and family keeps strong the foundation of our republic. May God always bless our Nation with men and women such as these: Andrew Semonco--Age 88--WW II Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va.; Harold Lee Dobbins, Sr.--Age 85--WW II Vet.--Beckley, W. Va.; Robert Arthur Day--Age 85--WW II Vet.--Beaver, W. Va.; Frank Martin Johnston--Age 90--WW II Vet.--Bluefield, Va.; Howard B. Candler--Age 86--WW II Vet.--Bluefield W. Va.; Joseph Laenen--Age 84--WW II Vet.--Montcalm, W. Va.; Cecil Pennington--Age 83--WW II Vet.--Princeton, W. Va.; Buford S. Helmandollar--Age 86--WW II Vet.--Princeton, W. Va.; William D. Foley--Age 87--WW II Vet.--Crab Orchard, W. Va.; Ralph L. Kiblinger--Age 82--WW II Vet--Beaver, W. Va. Victor T. Birchfield--Age 89--WW II Vet.--Lester, W. Va.-- joined Army in 1940's in Hotchkiss, W. Va.--Sgt., served in the European Theater in combat units, infantryman; Bruce Blevins--Age 86--WW II Vet.--Princeton, W. Va.; Eugene Lusk-- Age 87--WW II Vet.--Herndon, W. Va.; Leonard (Whitey) Beckett--Age 87--WW II Vet.--Princeton, W. Va.; James A Harvey--Age 78--Korean War Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va.; Franklin Sargent--Age 77--Korean War Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va.; Conrad (Connie) Jenkins--Age 79--Korean War Vet.--Lashmeet, W. Va.; Joel W. Birchfield--Age 64--Vietnam Vet.--Lester, W. Va.; Raymond A. Desplaines--Age 60--Vietnam Vet.-- Bluefield, W. Va.; Alphonso Hancock--Age 74--Vietnam Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va. Ivan R. Freeland--Age 64--Vietnam Vet.--Fairmont, W. Va.; David A. Simmons--Age 62--Vietnam Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va.; Randall R. Lawhorn--Age 62--Vietnam Vet.; Robert B. Ashby-- Age 73--Vietnam Vet.--Princeton, W. Va.; Johnnie Williams-- Age 66--Vietnam Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va.; Justin S. Bays--Age 65--Vietnam Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va.; James L. Scott--Age 70-- Vietnam Vet.--Rock, W. Va.; Donald F. Sternoff, Jr.--Vietnam Vet.--Bluefield, W. Va.; Ernest R. Rose--Vietnam Vet.--Age 63--Raysal, W. Va.; Jackie L. Etter--Vietnam Vet.--Age 75-- Bluefield, W. Va. Richard N. Wirt--Vietnam Vet.--Age 74--Princeton, W. Va.; Gary S. Bowling--Vietnam Vet.--Age 63--Bluefield, W. Va.; Richard Sturgell--Vietnam Vet.--Age 63--Thorpe, W. Va.; Stephen O. Beckett--Vietnam Vet--Age 59--Hiwassee, Va.; Laura King and Marie Blackwell--Bluefield, W. Va. representing their father and husband, David Blackwell, Vietnam Veteran who passed away 4 months ago; Dreama Denver--Princeton, W. Va.--President, The Denver Foundation, V Pres. Always Free H. F. representing her deceased father Korean War Vet., Glen E. Peery; Charles Thomas Richardson--Princeton, W. Va.-- President, Always Free Honor Flight representing his deceased father WW II Vet., Clifford Richardson; Pamela Coulbourne-- Princeton, W. Va.--Exec. Assistant, The Denver Foundation, Coord. Always Free H.F. representing her deceased father WW II Vet.--Francis L. Fluharty; Steve Coleman--Bluefield, W. Va.--Official Photographer, The Denver Foundation & Always Free H. F. representing his deceased father WW II Vet., James M. Coleman; Burk Allen Adkins--Washington, D.C.--Board Member of Always Free H.F., Public Relations for The Denver Foundation, representing his deceased father WW II/Korea Vet., Stanley Adkins.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor one of America's newest National Elementary Chess Champions, nine-year-old Advait ``Adi'' Patel, who hails from Logan County, West Virginia. This Logan Middle School fifth grader placed first in the recent competition that drew 2,200 young people to test their skills, stamina and heart. We salute all those who helped organize the competition and who nurture our country's future generations. In Adi's case, beyond the thrill of victory and the satisfaction of success, we can find useful lessons for both today's and tomorrow's leaders. Competing with the latest video games and their striking graphics has not been the easiest time for the venerable game of chess, but one thing that can usually trump the newest technology is old fashioned love; especially the love of a grandfather in India, who took the time and patience to teach Adi how to play the game during a visit. Adi's parents have been very supportive as well, taking him to faraway tournaments and providing him lessons and online access to other players. Importantly, they are behind his pursuit as long as he still loves the game, another feather in their parental caps. Likewise, Adi is as thoughtful off the board as he is during a tough game. He recently commented in a local news story that, ``It's fun to play, and there's no brawl in it--no fighting physically,'' Advait said. ``It helps me with school, too. Math is a lot easier now. I've had straight A's ever since I started playing, because it teaches you how to focus. There is a lot of thinking in chess.'' With our national focus on today's student science and math accomplishments translating into tomorrow's innovations and entrepreneurs, Adi's example sets exactly the right tone for his fellow students, teachers and school administrators alike. Adi's chess coach, David Saville, believes a chess player's best skill is to be able to ``visualize the future.'' I think we can all visualize a brighter future with the talent, values, hard work and dedication displayed by Adi, his coach and family.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chair, today, I voted in favor of Representatives Barbara Lee's and Barney Frank's Amendment that would limit Defense spending in the coming fiscal year to the amount authorized in the Budget Control Act of 2011. I am opposed to House Republican efforts to rewrite last summer's budget agreement, unfairly shifting the burden for deficit reduction to domestic programs while threatening yet another calamitous downgrade in the our Nation's credit rating. A balanced approach is essential to achieving deficit reduction. I remain optimistic that the Congress can find savings in both domestic and defense programs. Certainly, I will continue fighting to ensure that cuts are not imposed that would harm our active-duty troops, military retirees, and veterans who have already sacrificed so much for our Nation.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My motion is simple. It instructs the conferees to seize the opportunity to create more American jobs and to revive American manufacturing by closing loopholes in Buy American laws. The House-Senate conference committee is seeking to resolve differences on the surface transportation reauthorization bill. But one thing we should be able to agree on right now is that every taxpayer dollar spent constructing highway, transit, and rail projects should help create jobs in America and not overseas. American workers are still struggling to find work as our economy slowly recovers from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. The construction and manufacturing sectors have been particularly hard hit. More than 56,000 U.S. factories have closed or moved overseas in the last 10 years, and 90,000 more manufacturing firms, most of which are small businesses, are at risk of going out of business. Today, more than 2.2 million construction and manufacturing workers remain out of work. I have pleaded again and again that we must enact a well-funded, long-term surface transportation bill immediately and not let another construction season dwindle while Congress dawdles. We must find common ground, and we must find it fast. As part of that effort, one area where I hope we can all agree is ensuring that the investments we make with this bill will be spent on projects that are stamped ``Made in America.'' We have the capability, the capacity, and the workers ready to get the job done here at home. Unfortunately, we are currently giving these contracts and these high-skilled jobs away to foreign manufacturers and workers. This motion to instruct directs House conferees to adopt several bipartisan Senate provisions to strengthen the Buy American provisions. The other body adopted these noncontroversial, commonsense Buy American provisions by voice vote and without a word of opposition. First and foremost, the Senate Buy American provisions close existing loopholes that allow highway, transit, and rail projects to be subdivided into separate contracts, meaning Buy American rules no longer apply to most of the work. The most glaring recent example--and we've all heard about it--of project segmentation is California's Bay Bridge project, connecting Oakland to San Francisco. Even though more than $320 million of Federal aid highway funds were spent on the Bay Bridge project, the project was divided into 20 separate construction projects. As a result, 343,000 tons of steel for the project were manufactured in China by a Chinese State-owned company that had no prior bridge-building experience--no prior bridge-building experience, employed 3,000 workers on the project, including welders, polishers, and engineers. These workers could be American workers, with our engineers designing the bridge and our workers welding the girders on our steel manufactured here at home and guaranteed to be much safer. The Senate Buy American provisions also ensure, through robust notice and comment requirements, that U.S. companies will know of potential waivers to the Buy American law before the U.S. Department of Transportation grants the waivers. This process will enable these companies to assess whether they have an American-made product that can be used in the project. And that is what this motion is all about, ensuring that American workers and companies get a fair shot. Last year I introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3533, the Invest in American Jobs Act of 2011, to strengthen Buy American. The bipartisan Senate Buy American provisions incorporate many major provisions from this legislation. Although I believe that we can do even more to strengthen Buy American, particularly in the area of public transportation, the bipartisan Senate Buy American provisions represent a good start. We will hear from some of our friends across the aisle that we should let the conference committee work its will. But let's be honest with ourselves: a vote against this motion is a vote to continue to send jobs overseas, to continue to weaken our economy, to continue to allow our foreign competitors to reap the benefits of rebuilding our Nation with American taxpayer dollars. Mr. Speaker, we have a responsibility to U.S. taxpayers to ensure that the investments we make in our Nation's transportation and infrastructure truly help rebuild America--our infrastructure, our companies, and our people. I urge adoption of this motion, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop), a very valued member of our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Sutton), who's been a real stalwart and real fighter for Buy American provisions and American jobs.

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

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Chris Murphy.