Bobby Rush

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. 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. 1420.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends and colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ms. Eshoo from the great State of California and Mr. Kinzinger from my home State of Illinois, for working in a bipartisan manner to bring H.R. 1420, the Energy Efficient Government Technology Act, to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government is the largest single consumer of energy in our Nation. As we continue to combat the climate crisis, Mr. Speaker, we must use every tool at our disposal. This bill will help modernize the Federal Government's IT and data centers by requiring Federal agencies to employ the latest technologies and energy management strategies. In doing so, Mr. Speaker, the bill will reduce the government's energy use, thus saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Mr. Speaker, technological advances have allowed us to generate more data today than many thought possible just several years ago. This data, which often includes highly sensitive information, is stored in Federal data centers that consume a significant amount of our Nation's energy. The bipartisan legislation offered by my colleagues will reduce the energy consumed by Federal data centers by requiring the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to collaborate with stakeholders on efficiency programs at data centers all across our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues, Ms. Eshoo and Mr. Kinzinger, for their work on this bill, and I encourage all my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1768) to reauthorize subtitle G of title VII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, relating to diesel emissions reduction, and for other purposes.

Mr. RUSH. 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 this bill, H.R. 1768.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui).

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2019. This legislation, introduced by my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), will reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality in our Nation's communities by incentivizing upgrades or replacements of millions of diesel engines currently in use across our Nation. Mr. Speaker, diesel engines play an important role in the American economy, helping bring children to school and transport goods all across our country, while supporting jobs across the Nation. Retrofitting older diesel engines that emit significant amounts of exhaust with cleaner, American-made technology is an easy initiative to support. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, also known as DERA, has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support, and every State has received funding through the program since it was created by Congress nearly 15 years ago. Since its inception, Mr. Speaker, DERA has been one of the most cost- effective Federal environmental programs, with up to $30 in return in health and economic benefits for every $1 put into the program. The program has also been responsible for the creation and retention of local U.S. jobs that involve manufacturing, installation, and servicing of emissions-related technologies. At a time, Mr. Speaker, when our Nation is looking for ways to create jobs, protect the health of our communities--especially those who are most vulnerable--address climate change and protect the environment, supporting this bill, DERA, stands out as a prime example of what really works. I thank the gentlewoman for her tireless work and for being such a tireless advocate for the DERA program, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Michigan, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2114) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide Federal financial assistance to States to implement, review, and revise State energy security plans, and for other purposes.

Mr. RUSH. 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. 2114.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2114, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2019, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2114 was introduced by myself and my good friend and colleague from Michigan, the ranking member of the Energy Subcommittee, Mr. Upton, and I want to thank my colleague for working with me to bring this bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, this legislation would simply amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act by adding a new section authorizing States to utilize Federal funding received through the State Energy Program to implement, revise, and review a State energy security plan. H.R. 2114 lays out eligibility requirements for the contents of a State energy security plan to receive assistance and requires the Governor of a State to submit a new plan, revisions to a plan, or to certify that no revisions to the plan are necessary to the Secretary of Energy every year. These emergency plans have been vital to the States as they continue to improve their ability to identify potential energy disruptions, quantify the effects of disruptions, establish response plans, and limit the risk of further disturbances, whether they be natural or man- made. Mr. Speaker, now more than ever, it is critical that we provide the resources for States to take even more of a prominent role in advancing smart and sustainable energy policy. Since their inception in the 1970s, State energy programs, bolstered by Federal aid, have assisted States in developing much-needed energy efficiency and energy conservation measures. Some of these federally assisted initiatives that have been implemented by the States include, but are not limited to, establishing new partnerships to finance retrofit programs, managing loan programs, offering energy savings performance contracts, expanding the use of alternative fuels, and promoting distributed renewable energy. Mr. Speaker, Federal funding and leadership have always been critical in helping States and local stakeholders identify the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies in times of emergencies, while also supporting training and response exercises. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a product of a thoughtful and bipartisan negotiation process between Ranking Member Upton and myself to provide Federal guidance and resources to the States that are most vulnerable to critical energy infrastructure threats. Members on both sides of the aisle support the State Energy Program, and this legislation will help allocate additional resources to further develop and enhance State energy security plans. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1760) to require the Secretary of Energy to establish and carry out a program to support the availability of HA-LEU for domestic commercial use, and for other purposes.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill, H.R. 1760.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1760, the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act introduced by my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Flores from Texas and Mr. McNerney from California. This legislation, Mr. Speaker, will help facilitate the availability of high-assay low-enriched uranium, the fuel required for most advanced nuclear reactor design. Mr. Speaker, there is no existing commercial market for this fuel. In order to ensure that this fuel is available for advanced reactors in the United States when they are fully licensed and ready to provide consumers with electricity, the Federal Government will need to coordinate efforts among agencies and within the commercial nuclear sector to ensure that high-assay low-enriched uranium can be licensed and transported safely. Mr. Speaker, we must develop a domestic market for the fuel needed to power these advanced nuclear reactor projects that are coming into the market in the near future. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, both Mr. Flores and Mr. McNerney, for developing this thoughtful and much-needed proposal. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1760, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I, again, associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Michigan, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the crisis that is the growing racial wealth gap in the United States. A recent report from the Institute for Policy Studies noted that the median wealth for Black families, adjusted for inflation, declined from $7,323 to $3,557 between the years 1983 and 2013. Mr. Speaker, if these alarming trends continue, the average Black household is on track to own $0 in wealth by the year 2053. This stands in sharp contrast to the average wealth of White households, which increased by nearly $14,000 during the same period, to an average of $137,000 by the year 2053. Zero dollars for the Black families, $137,000 for the White families by the year 2053. The wealth disparity between Black and White families persists across nearly all levels of income and education. White middle-class households have almost eight times more wealth than a Black household in the same income bracket. Mr. Speaker, even a 4-year degree cannot remedy these disparities. A 2014 census survey found that a Black family whose head of household has obtained a master's degree owns an average $37,600 of wealth, compared to an average of $181,220 in a comparable White household, a difference of nearly $150,000. Mr. Speaker, the racial gap in our Nation must be addressed, as it is a critical concern for all of our Nation. The barriers between Black families and White families must be addressed. The barriers preventing Black families from accumulating wealth drive up poverty rates and stifle America's economy. This is not just a Black issue; this is an American issue. The inability to secure your future no matter how hard you work runs contrary to our basic American principles. We must do more in this House of Representatives to alleviate this critical issue, this crisis, and we must continue to make our Nation, these United States of America, the land of opportunity for all of its citizens.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend, Mrs. Jada Russell, who passed away on July 2, 2019, after her battle with breast cancer. Jada was a beloved and admired woman whose light lit up any room she was in. She was a brilliant professional known for her gift of marketing and public relations work. More importantly, Madam Speaker, Jada was a woman full of compassion known for her drive to give back to our hometown of Chicago, Illinois and who used her talents to amplify the voices of those who have too- often been left out of the conversation. A ballet dancer in her youth, Jada was known in her community as a strong leader who was consistently willing to provide guidance and support to her many friends and colleagues. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Jada began her career at Guess Jeans, going on to work for Conde Nast, and as a publicist for Johnson Publishing Company. As the founder of High Style Marketing, Jada's talents attracted the attention of such prominent figures as Dwayne Wade, Common, Rhymefest, and Reverend Jesse Jackson. Madam Speaker, I also had the distinct privilege of working with Jada and benefitted immensely from her passion and expertise. Though the world lost Jada too soon, we take comfort in knowing that her memory lives on in those who continue to love her: her devoted husband, Julius Russell, her sister, Sybil Goodlett Smith, her father, Bill Goodlett, and the countless lives she touched through her good works. Madam Speaker, on behalf of my wife, Paulette, my staff, and all those I serve in the 1st Congressional District of Illinois, I extend my heartfelt sympathies and prayers to Jada's friends and family as I mourn this deep loss with them.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the full committee chairman for giving me this time. Mr. Chairman, I am proud, on behalf of the people of the First District of Illinois, to rise today in support of H.R. 987, which includes my legislation, the Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act. My legislation included in today's package prohibits the practice of pay-for-delay where brand-name companies compensate generics to prevent the entry of cheaper drugs into the market. I have long stood against these anticompetitive deals that limit competition and force consumers to pay more for their medications. This disgraceful and deceptive practice ends now. I stand with my colleagues to stop drug companies from continuing to rig the system in an attempt to take advantage of hardworking Americans. My legislation will take a meaningful step toward bringing this behavior to a screeching halt and holding drug companies accountable once and for all. With today's package of prescription drug bills, we are making progress toward addressing the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs and are making good on our promise that no American should be forced to make the choice between paying their bills and buying their pills.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I wish to acknowledge Mark K. Colip, OD on his appointment as the sixth president of the Illinois College of Optometry, the oldest and largest college of optometry in the country and the largest provider of eye and vision care in Illinois. Dr. Colip has dedicated his career to improving optometric education and the profession of optometry and has served in increasing positions of responsibility at the Illinois College of Optometry for the past twenty years. He has led multiple projects and campaigns that have garnered unprecedented alumni and community support and devoted his life's work to studying, understanding, and influencing the national optometry applicant pool. Because of his leadership, Madam Speaker, the Illinois College of Optometry had a 250 percent increase in fundraising revenues over the past nine years, demonstrating significant successes compared to any prior period in the college's history. Dr. Colip is dedicated to the sound financial management of the College, utilizing his business acumen and service prioritization to enhance essential fiscal strategies, and has served in volunteer positions within the American Optometric Association, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education throughout his stellar career. He has earned the recognition of Distinguished Scholar and Fellow by the National Academies of Practice for his extensive involvement and dedication to furthering practice, scholarship, and policy in support of inter-professional care and his dedication to helping the underserved, participating in six international medical mission trips. Needless to say, Dr. Colip has a deep-seated passion and commitment to the success of the College and its students, alumni, patients, employees, and community. So, Madam Speaker, I applaud Dr. Colip for his years of hard work and congratulate him on his appointment as president of the Illinois College of Optometry and wish him nothing but continued success.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the staggering cost of insulin. A study published last September estimated that manufacturers could charge between $7 and $11 for insulin and still make a profit. In reality, Madam Speaker, the list price today is $275 a vial. This is an unconscionable markup on a critical, lifesaving drug, as diabetes is the primary cause of death for 85,000 Americans each and every year. While insurance covers some of the costs, insulin is, all too often, unaffordable for the 17,000 Medicare beneficiaries in my district who depend on it to survive. That is because it can cost a senior on Medicare living in my hometown over $1,400 a year to pay for their diabetes medication. To combat this issue, I introduced the Insulin Access for All Act. My legislation ensures that Medicare and Medicaid recipients pay nothing out of pocket for their insulin. I urge my colleagues to join with me in reducing the cost of insulin for all Americans.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Chair, during Roll Call Vote number 81 on H.J. Res. 37, the Buck Amendment, I mistakenly recorded my vote as Yes when I should have voted No.