Raul Ruiz

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3440, the DREAM Act, to protect DREAMers like Mithi, who attends the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and dreams of saving thousands of lives.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Jarrod Dougherty, a young constituent who unexpectedly passed away in an accident on May 8, 2017. His charisma, energy, and talent will be enormously missed. I had the pleasure of meeting Jarrod when he visited my office in Washington, D.C. earlier this year as part of St. Theresa Catholic School's tour. I will never forget our conversation. Jarrod was a bright and talented student from my Congressional District. He was born on June 29, 2003, in Indio, CA and spent his childhood in Palm Springs and Cathedral City. He attended Cielo Vista Charter School and St. Theresa School where he was beloved by his peers and teachers. Outside of school, Jarrod was involved in our local community. He was an active member of the Victory Christian Center and the Palm Springs Youth League Baseball Organization. He was passionate about sports, and. his favorite teams were the LA Dodgers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Stars, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Jarrod enjoyed spending time with his family and his dogs. With a smile and a great sense of humor, he brought joy to those who knew him. He was a blessing to his parents, Jarrod and Cassandra, who often referred to him as Jr., Bub, Bubba, or Bubbas. Another one of his nicknames was Country, given his love for country music. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the memory of Jarrod Dougherty. I am grateful for the opportunity to have met such a charming young man, and on behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Erika Fein, a Holocaust survivor who turns 88 years old on August 11, 2017. Her powerful story is an example of resilience, perseverance, and strength in character. Erika was born in 1929 in Yugoslavia, where she lived in a small village with her family. They were torn apart when Yugoslavia was invaded by Germany, Italy, and Hungary in 1941. Erika, her mother, and aunt were taken by the Nazis, and she never again saw her other family members. Over the next four years, she was kept as a prisoner in three different concentration camps. She was first taken to a German labor camp Guben, then shuttled to Auschwitz II-Birkenau in Poland, and finally brought to Bergen-Belsen in Germany. During the last years of World War II, when she was just a teenager, Erika was forced to participate in a death march, where she ultimately lost her mother and aunt. The Nazi military organized large scale marches to move prisoners to different camps to evade suspicion of mass killings, and to erase any trace of evidence. Nazi soldiers subjected prisoners to starvation, dehydration, and humiliation during inclement weather. Not only did Erika survive these marches as a teenager, but she endured, despite being ripped apart from her family. While at Bergen-Belsen in Germany, Erika and the other prisoners were finally liberated by the British Armed Forces in April 1945. A few years later, Erika moved to the United States seeking a new beginning in pursuit of the American dream. She married her current husband, and they adopted a son. They later moved to Palm Desert, in my Congressional District, where they live today. Today, I am elated to honor her courage and dedication, as we celebrate her 88th birthday. Her story is a reminder that we must always be steadfast in the fight against intolerance, hate, and injustice. The hardships she overcame are unthinkable, but her strength is admirable. She is truly an inspiration. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the life of Erika Fein. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, it is with deep respect that I extend my best wishes on her 88th birthday. I wish her and her family all my best in the years to come. Happy Birthday Erika.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an outstanding individual from my Congressional District Sergeant Don Simpson of Hemet, California. Because of his commitment to protecting our nation and his fellow service members, Don received a Silver Star Medal. His story is truly an inspiration and today, I want to recognize his exceptional achievements and courage. Don graduated from Hemet High School in 1964 and entered the U.S. Army a few years later. During his service, Don was sent to Vietnam where he served as a rifleman, Radio Telephone Operator (RTO), and squad leader. In February of 1967, Don was a Specialist 4 (SPC) and the RTO for a reconnaissance team that was conducting a sweep of the forward battle area. After disembarking the helicopters, his unit came under intense heavy enemy automatic weapons fire. Seeking cover behind a small hedge, SPC Simpson returned fire against the enemy. Over the next hour of intense fighting, SPC Simpson established radio communication with Captain Conlon, Alpha Company Commander, requesting support from helicopter gunships and artillery. Despite continued intense enemy fire, and at great risk to himself, SPC Simpson maneuvered to a position allowing him a better view of the enemy. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, SPC Simpson established direct contact with the Air Force Pilot on station, directing an air strike on the enemy. When the first two air strikes did not fully eliminate the opposing forces, SPC Simpson directed the strike that was dangerously close to himself and his own troops, resulting in elimination of the enemy. During the entire combat event, SPC Simpson maintained communication with higher command, calling additional air support. The engagement resulted in 4 personnel killed in action and 8 wounded in action. His courageous initiative and exemplary professionalism significantly contributed to the successful outcome of the engagement and directly led to the saving of his fellow soldiers' lives. Specialist 4 Simpson's unquestionable valor while engaged in military operation involving conflict with insurgent force is in keeping with the finest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army. Five years ago, Don discussed his service and this incident with his doctor when getting a VA C&P Exam. The doctor, Mr. Ronnie Immel, contacted Don's squad leader Sgt. Carl Lawrence and his 1st Sgt. Ralph Cranitz. Both recommended Don for a Silver Star. My office was pleased to partner with them to ensure Don's service was properly recognized. Together, we worked to find the rest of Don's chain of command and submit the Silver Star Medal to the Department of the Army. After a few months, Don's Silver Star Medal was finally received and I was honored to present it to him. Among the many awards he has received for his honorable service are the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with ``60'' Device. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize and honor Don Simpson. He is indeed a hero whose actions embody the true meaning of valor. I am very proud to have met him. His years of committed service to our nation are an example of excellence and dedication that all should seek to emulate.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Jarrod Daugherty, a young constituent who unexpectedly passed away in an accident on May 8, 2017. His charisma, energy, and talent will be enormously missed. I had the pleasure of meeting Jarrod when he visited my office in Washington, D.C. earlier this year as part of St. Theresa Catholic School's tour. I will never forget our conversation. Jarrod was a bright and talented student from my Congressional District. He was born on June 29, 2003, in Indio, CA and spent his childhood in Palm Springs and Cathedral City. He attended Cielo Vista Charter High School and St. Theresa School where he was beloved by his peers and teachers. Outside of school, Jarrod was involved in our local community. He was an active member of the Victory Christian Center and the Palm Springs Youth League Baseball Organization. He was passionate about sports, and his favorite teams were the LA Dodgers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Stars, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Jarred enjoyed spending time with his family and his dogs. With a smile and a great sense of humor, he brought joy to those who knew him. He was a blessing to his parents, Jarrod and Cassandra, who often referred to him as Jr., Bub, Bubba, or Bubbas. Another one of his nicknames was Country, given his love for country music. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the memory of Jarrod Daugherty. I am grateful for the opportunity to have met such a charming young man and on behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, with all the political rhetoric, the finger- pointing, and the many versions of TrumpCare, hyperpartisan politicians often forget what this debate is all about. It is about people, about relieving a person's pain and suffering, about giving a person a chance to live a healthy and happy life. It is about Max Page. Maybe you will remember him. Max was the mini Darth Vader from a Super Bowl commercial in 2011 who captured our hearts. Max was born with tetralogy of Fallot, a rare and deadly congenital heart defect. Throughout his 12 years, Max has had more than 10 heart surgeries under the loving care at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. He lives every day with a pacemaker and an artificial pulmonary valve. Open heart surgeries are complex and very serious surgeries. They are tough on patients, with often a long recovery, and grueling for the family. Max stopped by my office a few days ago to talk about his experience, and he told me: ``I am going to have my condition all my life. I am going to have surgery as a constant commotion on my life. I just want to be covered. I don't want to have to worry about insurance and how I am going to pay these bills. I just want to focus on keeping myself healthy and not having to sacrifice everything for a surgery.'' Max wants to play baseball. He loves Harry Potter, and he dreams of being an actor. Earlier this year, Max was in the hospital for treatments for an entire month. His mom, Jennifer, described how they were feeling bummed one day after such a long and arduous hospital stay. They decided to take a walk, and on their walk they met a boy Max's age named Will. Will is still in the hospital today. He has been there 9 months waiting desperately for a heart transplant. Max told me how Will has spent every holiday and even his birthday in the hospital this year. Max wanted to do something for Will, so they had these bracelets made. He named them ``Will Power.'' They have Max's favorite verse on them. Max and Will connected. They developed a bond bound by compassion. Their hope for a normal life gave them strength and friendship, and Max promised Will he would bring the bracelets to Congress when they came. Philippians 4:13: ``I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'' Max and Will, that is my favorite verse, too. Max is fighting to protect other kids like him and Will, people with a preexisting illness, from losing coverage and having to pay more from facing a lifetime path on coverage. He came to tell the stories of so many other children he knows from his many hospital visits. His message is simple: ``Children's healthcare needs a bipartisan solution.'' Max and Will and all the friends they have made in the hospital aren't rooting for Democrats or Republicans. They are fighting for their life and rooting for each other. They are children who want to get healthy, who want to stay healthy and care for one another. We can all learn from Max's and Will's selfless courage to help others. Stop the hyperpartisan fight to score political points and start fostering a bond through compassion. Let's find a way to protect healthcare for Max and Will. In the midst of this healthcare fight, we should take a moment to pause and remember that goal. Let's be like Max and think of others as we come together to find a bipartisan solution to address what isn't working, and remember Max's message: Children's healthcare, all healthcare, must and should be a bipartisan issue.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, our constituents sent us here to discuss our differences honestly and openly and come together to pass bipartisan legislation addressing our Nation's most pressing issues. Every year I have been in Congress, I have voted in favor of bipartisan, clean funding bills to give our troops a pay raise and fund our military in the VA. I took those votes proudly, working with Democrats and Republicans. Today, I am outraged Republican leadership played politics with this critical funding. To include a poison pill rider that wastes $1.6 billion in taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall is just shameful. We all know this wall will not make us any safer. Even law enforcement officials oppose this funding. I am very disappointed GOP leaders would link President Trump's divisive campaign rhetoric with what should unite all Americans: supporting our troops and veterans. Because of procedural trickery, debate was not allowed. That would have allowed a bipartisan agreement on a clean bill supporting our troops and our veterans. Shameful.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, many health insurance executives say they are raising premiums and leaving exchanges because of uncertainty and the threat of not paying the cost-sharing reductions and not funding them. Brad Wilson, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina told The Washington Post in May: ``The failure of the administration and the House to bring certainty and clarity by funding CSRs has caused our company to file a 22.9 percent premium increase, rather than one that is materially lower.'' We need a bipartisan solution to stabilize exchanges. We need to stop threatening not to pay the CSRs. I introduced the Marketplace Certainty Act, which provides stability by permanently funding and expanding eligibility for these subsidies. This is pragmatic, commonsense legislation to stop premiums from skyrocketing, keep insurers in exchanges, and help people struggling to afford healthcare. I urge Republicans and Democrats to put people over partisanship and solutions above ideology by working together, by sponsoring my bill, and helping American families afford healthcare.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, how many of us here have had an aging parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle who could no longer stay in their home alone? Seniors with Alzheimer's, dementia, and other special needs, someone to watch over them at home so they don't get lost or injure themselves or leave the stove on and injure others? Seniors with Parkinson's who need help to walk, to move, to get out of their chair, seniors too frail to care for themselves, or need long-term rehabilitation after a fall and an injured hip or an injured femur? How many of us have worried about where they would live and how they would get the care that they need? And oftentimes, the real question is: How are they going to pay for that care? Most people work their entire lives, save for retirement, pay into the system, yet still find themselves struggling to afford the care that they need. Both parents in middle class families have to work to barely make ends meet; no money and nobody home to care for their parents or grandparents. I understand the tough decision. You want to keep your loved one close, you want to care for them yourself, but you have to work and make ends meet to barely keep going. That is why most of the 1.4 million people across the country living in nursing homes rely on Medicaid. For Americans in nursing homes, Medicaid is a lifeline. That is why TrumpCare's Medicaid cuts would devastate our Nation's seniors, leaving the 64 percent of nursing home residents who depend on Medicaid out in the cold. In fact, nursing homes account for 42 percent of Medicaid spending. Under TrumpCare, many seniors will lose their nursing home care, grandmothers with disabilities would find it harder to be cared for, harder to walk, harder to eat, harder to bathe. Nursing homes give patients a safe and caring place to recuperate when they are weakened by disabilities but don't need to be in a hospital, and they provide families peace of mind knowing that their loved one has a safe and caring place to get around-the-clock care. That is why we must stop TrumpCare. We cannot allow these deep cuts to Medicaid threaten the health of our seniors. We cannot rip these services away from the most vulnerable among us. We must put seniors first. We must give voice to vulnerable seniors. Let's put people above partisanship, and solutions above ideology. I oppose TrumpCare, and I will continue to fight to protect care for seniors and for all Americans.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained today for rollcall vote No. 317. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' personal explanation

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize the extraordinary contributions Dr. Alice Chen has made to the health and well-being of all Americans as Executive Director of Doctors for America. Throughout her career, she has been an exemplary physician, taking on her medical vocation with a sense of duty and strength of character that is needed to accomplish such a noble calling. As a medical student at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, Dr. Chen volunteered for the American Red Cross and provided assistance to the director of the largest service center after September 11, 2001. Dr. Chen also shared her passion for medicine as the co-director of Big Buddies, a mentorship program that connected Cornell medical students with underserved youth. Dr. Chen earned her M.D. in 2005 and completed her internal medicine residency at UCLA in 2008. She then joined the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA as an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor, and became the co-director of the Resident Elective in Malawi, Africa for the UCLA Department of Medicine and Program in Global Health. In 2009, she joined Doctors for America, a coalition of physicians and medical students who have joined together to advocate for the improvement of our health care system. Her dedication and advocacy efforts for health reform led her to become the Executive Director from 2011 to 2017. Since then, Dr. Chen has strived to address gun violence prevention as a public health issue, advocate for affordable health coverage and prescription drugs, protect women's reproductive rights, and battle against racial disparities in access to health care. Today, I am elated to honor her stellar achievements, and I am honored to call her my friend. She is truly an inspiration. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize and honor Dr. Alice Chen. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, it is with deepest respect that I commend her for a remarkable career dedicated to health advocacy. I wish her and her husband Vivek all my best in the years to come.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding service and accomplishments of Dr. Vivek Murthy, who served as Surgeon General from 2014 to 2017. His dedication to protecting the public health of our nation is an inspiration for us all. The lives of millions of Americans across the country are better because of his public service. Throughout his career, Dr. Murthy has served with humility and passion, and I want to recognize his lifelong advocacy for all Americans. Dr. Vivek Murthy's social entrepreneurship started as a freshman at Harvard University, when he co-founded the non-profit VISIONS Worldwide to educate people on HIV/AIDS issues in the U.S. and India. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in 1997, he formed Swasthya Community Health Partnership with the mission to train women to provide health care in rural areas in India. In 2003, Dr. Murthy graduated from Yale University receiving both an M.D. and an M.B.A. in Health Care Management. He completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School in 2006, where he continued to work as an attending physician and an instructor of medicine. In 2009, he co-founded Doctors for America (DFA), a coalition of physicians and medical students who have joined together to advocate for the improvement of our health care system. He served as president of DFA until his confirmation as U.S. Surgeon General in 2014. Becoming the first Surgeon General of Indian descent is truly a historic achievement. His department released the first Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health; promoted prevention and treatment of opioid epidemic; started a national conversation on healthy eating habits and food insecurity; and emphasized the importance of vaccines. Under his leadership, his department assisted Americans during the Flint water crisis, hurricanes, and the Ebola and Zika outbreaks. I am proud to honor his extraordinary accomplishments as Surgeon General. His distinguished career is an example of what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and service. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Dr. Vivek Murthy and honored to call him my friend. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I congratulate him for his exceptional commitment to public service and look forward to the significant contributions he will continue to make in service of others. I wish him and his wife Alice all my best in the years to come.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Howard Marguleas, a talented businessman, incredible father and friend, and blessing to those who knew him. He made a tremendous positive impact on so many lives, including my own. His list of achievements and contributions to our Nation is long. Sadly, he passed away June 1, 2017. His spirit of service and leadership will live for generations to come. As a business leader, he took the produce industry by storm as the principal founder of Sun World International. He brought many new products to American consumer markets, like the delicious new seedless watermelon, various new types of grapes, and the Hawaiian pineapple. Sun World International became a powerhouse produce company under his watch, one of the largest in the Nation. His business leadership was well recognized. He served on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture as a key adviser to Governor Pat Brown on issues important to the many farmers, ranchers, and consumers in California. He was named as one of the most influential produce leaders of the past 100 years by the industry publication, The Packer. Mr. Marguleas was a genuinely good man. His incredible heart of gold was shown through his generosity as a philanthropist. He championed healthcare access and education, issues near and dear to my own heart. He was vice chair at the University of California at Riverside, and served as a trustee at the Eisenhower Medical Center for more than 15 years. He also helped found the Coachella Valley Boys and Girls Club, which has grown to five clubhouses serving thousands of children across the valley. This is just a small part of the incredible work he did as a philanthropist and community leader throughout his life. Mr. Marguleas was very special to me and my family in a very deeply personal way. He gave my father, Gilbert, the chance in life that transformed our entire family. He gave my dad, who didn't finish high school, a good job working at Sun World packing in Thermal and a ticket to the middle class. He promoted my dad to eventually manage the plant. That allowed my family to move from our trailer and into our home in Coachella. He used to give us Angels and Dodgers baseball tickets and giant Hershey chocolate bars for Christmas. For a kid who loves chocolate, those giant bars were like a gift from God Himself. What really moves me is that he paid for a full year of my undergrad studies at UCLA, when my dad couldn't afford it. Imagine that. He helped a boy from a trailer park, son of farmworkers, achieve his dreams to be a doctor and serve the community. He did so without fanfare, headlines, or public recognition. He did it because he cared for my dad, my family, and me. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today. The amazing thing is that I am not the sole person touched and transformed by his kindness. There are so many more. His generosity and kindness are an inspiration. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Ardith, his four children, and nine grandchildren. I know that Howard's legacy will live on because his work touched so many across California and the Nation. So on behalf of the people of California's 36th Congressional District; my wife, Monica; my girls, Sky and Sage; my mother, Blanca; my brother, Robbin; and my sister, Star, thank you, Mr. Marguleas. You will forever be in our hearts.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, the new American Health Care Act CBO score released yesterday reinforces that this bill is devastating to the American people: 14 million more will be uninsured within just one year, and 23 million more will be uninsured over a decade. This analysis paints a dire picture. It confirms that TrumpCare will shift the burden of costs onto our seniors, millions of hardworking families, and patients with preexisting conditions. Those hit hardest are exactly the people who need care the most, all while giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires. What is more, this analysis debunks the gimmicks Republican leaders tried to sell us, saying the bill would do no harm to those with preexisting illnesses. In fact, patients with preexisting conditions will have less coverage, be forced to pay more, and even be priced out of the market, just as we expected. This is far too great a toll on the American people, and we must do better.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, this bill is worse than a sham. This bill is worse than a sugar pill. This bill is downright ugly. It is poison. As an emergency medicine doctor, I urge you to do no harm. I urge everybody to do no harm. Let's be clear: a vote for this bill is a vote for 24 million people to lose their insurance. A vote for this bill is to add an age tax to those 55 years old and older. A vote for this bill is raise out-of- pocket costs for everyone, with less coverage. A vote for this bill is to take away guarantees for emergency care, medicine, mental health, and maternity care. A vote for this bill is to allow private health insurance companies to drop patients who have a preexisting illness. How, you may ask? Let's say I see a patient with diabetes who doesn't have health insurance. A private health insurance company can say: No, we are not going to cover you. Why don't you go to the high-risk, high- cost State insurance pool that is way too expensive, with no guarantees that they will cover what they need. Therefore, they won't be able to afford it. They won't have coverage. They are going to go into financial ruin. All of this is in order to give $6 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest. I urge everybody to vote ``no.''

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, with TrumpCare 2.0, Republican leaders took a bad bill and made it worse. On top of causing at least 24 million more Americans to be uninsured, raising costs for middle class families, imposing an age tax on older Americans, and making everyone pay more for less coverage, this bill now guts protections for patients with preexisting illnesses and removes the essential health benefits: guaranteed coverage for things like prescription drugs, emergency care, maternity care, and mental health. All this while still giving billions in tax breaks to millionaires. Stop being ideologically driven. Put people above partisanship. Put patients first, and let's work for a bipartisan plan to reduce out-of- pocket costs for care and medicine for all Americans.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an outstanding member of my district Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Shirley Powell of Cathedral City, California. She passed away in March 2017. Her dedication and service to our nation are an inspiration. CMSgt Powell was a member of my congressional office's Veterans' Advisory Board and Military Academy Nominations Selection Committee. She was a remarkable leader, and I am honored to have called her my constituent and my friend. Today, I want to recognize her life achievements. CMSgt Powell worked for 45 years in the field of Aerospace. In 1962, she joined the U.S. Air Force (USAF), where she served for 38 years. She was a founding member of the 68th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES) in the Military Airlift Command KC-97 Globemaster Program, where she served multiple tours in support of Vietnam and other international and domestic efforts. In 1981, she transferred to the California Air National Guard TAC C-130 Program. She was honored with numerous, well-deserved distinctions. In the Air National Guard 146th Wing, Shirley was the first female to achieve the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and the first female to be selected for the special duty of First Sergeant. Among her numerous awards are the Meritorious Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Readiness Medal, the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. After her retirement in 2000, she was highly active in various associations in the community. She became an active member of the Palm Springs Air Force Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the Noncommissioned Officer Association, and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard, where she held numerous Board positions. She was selected to serve on the Riverside County Veterans Advisory Committee, and she maintained her status as Chief Exam Proctor for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society for Quality. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize and honor Shirley Powell. I am proud of the opportunity to have worked together with her to improve the lives of veterans in our community. Her distinguished career and her years of committed service to the community are an example of excellence, dedication, and service to our Nation that all should seek to emulate.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit who passed away on December 26, 2016 after a life of public service to the people of California and the residents of Riverside County. Throughout his career, Mr. Benoit served with duty, honor, and integrity and was an example to many across the region. Mr. Benoit began his life in public service with the Corona Police Department and then with the California Highway Patrol. Over the next 30 years, Supervisor Benoit rose through the ranks to become commander of the Indio CHP Station. Because of his dedication and tireless efforts, California's highways and communities are safer. Supervisor Benoit retired from his distinguished career in law enforcement in 2001 to pursue elected office. Supervisor Benoit served as a board member for the Desert Sands Unified School District in 1999. He also served as a State Senator and while serving as a California Assemblyman, Mr. Benoit drew from his dedication to bettering the lives of children as well as his respect for law and order to write, introduce, and advance Aryanna's Law, Assembly Bill 617, which instituted tougher daycare safety measures. As a resident of California and a father of twin girls, I personally thank him for his work in protecting our children. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with him while he was a Riverside County Supervisor. His dedication, respect, and love for his constituents is as an example for all who want to serve their community. I give my deepest sympathies to his wife, Sheryl, and to their two children, Ben and Sarah.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Shirley Powell of Cathedral City exemplified our Nation's highest values of dedication to public service. She passed away last month, March 2017. Her legacy of leadership is a constant source of inspiration. I am humbled to have called her my constituent and my friend. Chief Master Sergeant Powell joined the U.S. Air Force in 1962, where she served for 38 years. She opened important doors for women in our military. She was the first woman to have achieved the rank of chief master sergeant in the Air National Guard 146th Airlift Wing and to be selected for the special duty of first sergeant. She continued to serve the Coachella Valley after her retirement in numerous veterans' organizations. She became a life member of the Palm Springs Air Force Association, and was also selected to serve on the Riverside County Veterans' Advisory Committee. She served on my Congressional Veterans' Advisory Board and Military Academy Nominations Committee. Her advice and counsel were invaluable to me. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to recognize Chief Master Sergeant Powell and add her story and contributions to our Nation's record. Her distinguished career is an example of excellence, dedication, and service to our Nation.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, Riverside County supervisor John J. Benoit served his community with duty, honor, and integrity. Last year, Supervisor Benoit passed away in December 2016 after battling pancreatic cancer. His legacy of service to his constituents lives on throughout my district. Supervisor Benoit dedicated his life to the safety of our community as a police officer for the Corona Police Department, and then as a commander in the California Highway Patrol. He served as a board member for the Desert Sands Unified School District, as a California assemblyman and State senator, and most recently as supervisor of Riverside County. I was honored to work with Supervisor Benoit. His dedication, respect, and devotion to his constituents is exemplary and admirable. My thoughts and prayers remain with his wife, Sheryl, and to their two children, Ben and Sarah. On behalf of the people of California's 36th Congressional District, my wife, Monica, and my family, thank you sincerely for your service.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, the majority of my patients in the emergency department are age 50 and older. This bill's age tax will devastate Americans ages 50 to 64 who have worked their whole lives, planned for retirement, and now are wondering how they will make ends meet. The age tax will force older Americans to pay premiums up to five times higher than others, no matter how healthy they are, no matter how responsibly they have lived, making coverage too expensive, and forcing them to be uninsured. For example, Rex, from my district, wrote me that he was worried about choosing between affordable insurance or saving for his retirement. Insurance for older Americans like Rex will be too expensive, leaving them uninsured when they need coverage the most. Under this bill, a 64-year-old like Rex, with an income of $26,500, in the individual market, will pay up to $14,000 for health insurance. That is more than half of their income on premiums alone, leaving little for food, for medicine, rent, and other basic necessities. I stand with our older Americans, and I urge everyone, Democrats and Republicans, to stand with older Americans. Put ideology, partisanship, and politics aside and do the right thing.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I celebrate the birth of my twin daughters, Sky and Sage as they turn 2 years old. Happy birthday, Sky; happy birthday, Sage. You both have made your mom, Monica, and me very, very happy. Because of you both, I am the happiest man on Earth. We love you very much, and I miss you very much when I am here in the people's House and you are in California in our family's house. The best feelings in the world are when I get home after a long week here and you two girls run up to me with open arms and you run into my arms screaming: Daddy, daddy, daddy. I will never forget those moments ever, and I thank you for them. Mr. Speaker, my daughters mean the world to me, and my daughters' future and their health mean the world to me. And now, more than ever, I want to protect health care for Sky and Sage and for the millions of Americans across our great Nation. I am an emergency physician, and I have spent my career caring for patients across the Nation from Boston to Pittsburgh and to the Coachella Valley where I grew up and which I now represent. Many of my patients, far too many, didn't have health insurance. And I have seen firsthand what it means for people when they don't have health coverage and can't afford care. I know what uninsured patients look like. They are the senior who comes in with emphysema and having to be intubated and put on a respiratory machine because they didn't have health insurance to see their doctor. It is the diabetic who comes in in a diabetic coma and spends 2 months in the ICU because they couldn't afford their insulin, or they couldn't see their doctor. Or that 60-year-old farmworker who had urinary problems and lower back pains, which scares me that he might have prostate cancer metastasized to the lumbar spine, and when asked when was the last time he saw a doctor, he said 6 years ago because that is when he lost his health insurance. This Republican plan should be called the pain and suffering act or the pay more for less act, because that is what it will do. This bill will add 14 million more uninsured people within 1 year and 24 million more over the next decade. We need to move beyond the Republican hyperpartisan ideology and listen to patients and their concerns. My patients in the emergency department ask me two of the most common questions, which are: Am I going to be okay? How much is this going to cost me? I have never cared for an uninsured patient who chose to be uninsured. They didn't have health insurance because they couldn't afford it. And that includes the young, healthy patient who was in an unfortunate car accident and was left paralyzed. I never met a doctor who preferred their patients to be uninsured. Yet, we know that the Republican bill's age tax--huge cuts to Medicaid--will reduce coverage and make millions more uninsured, increase costs of uncompensated care, while giving tax breaks to millionaires, raising out-of-pocket costs, and raising premiums and deductibles. The age tax is astronomical. The CBO said that a senior at the age of 60, making about $26,000, would have to pay about $14,000 in premiums. That is nearly half of their income, leaving very little for food and housing and their other needs. This bill also will make it harder for doctors and hospitals to care for patients, due to the Medicaid block granting and the cuts. That is why the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the AARP, and many major provider organizations oppose this bill, because they also know firsthand the harm it would cause to patients. That is why AARP opposes this bill, because they know the harm it is going to cause to the elderly in our Nation. Now, do Paul Ryan and President Trump really know more about patient care and providing care than doctors, nurses, and hospitals? Do they know more about taking care of seniors than the AARP? No. We need to end this hyperpartisan, ideological charade that puts the cost of health care on the shoulders of working families in order to give tax breaks to multimillionaires. We need to come together as one body to provide true health care, reduce the healthcare costs for millions of Americans, and provide the care that is needed.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, the American Health Care Act, known as TrumpCare, will cause 24 million more people to go without health insurance over the next decade. As an emergency physician, I know that everyone, even healthy young people, are vulnerable to car accidents or diseases that require critical care. Whether they have insurance or not, people get sick and get injured. I have never treated a patient who said they were uninsured because they preferred to be uninsured. They simply couldn't afford it. So what does 24 million more uninsured people mean? It means more pain, suffering, and shorter life spans for people who go without care. It means more ER visits and a longer wait to see a doctor in the emergency rooms for everyone. It means financial ruin for young families or those ready to retire. It means that hospitals and providers might lay off workers or even go out of business due to rising uncompensated care. It means they will charge more to make ends meet, which will raise premiums and out-of- pocket costs for everyone. Everyone will have to pay more. I urge everyone to vote ``no.''

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an outstanding leader in my district, Sara Thomas of Indio, California. Sara was a remarkable leader, firefighter, wife, mother, and daughter. She had a deep passion for serving others and giving voice to the voiceless. Sara spent her career serving residents in the Coachella Valley with dedication and passion, and was widely respected by her community. As a firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Sara was a source of strength and an anchor of hope to those around her. For sixteen years, Sara protected countless individuals in moments of tragedy. She began her career in 2000 as a seasonal Firefighter 1 in El Cajon, California, and then in the San Benito-Monterey Unit. In 2004, she transferred to the Riverside Unit as a limited term Firefighter II. Four years later, Sara became a permanent firefighter with the Riverside Unit. She last served with Fire Station 80 Unit in Indio, California. Sara was not only an impressive firefighter, but also a dedicated mentor to emerging young leaders. Her work inspires me. In December of 2015, Sara was diagnosed with cancer. Her family and loved ones stood with Sara throughout her battle until the end. Sara will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on through the legacy of her work. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize and honor Sara Thomas. She is an example to all of us to serve our community with courage and passion.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 724, which would rescind President Trump's refugee ban and help unify the family of Muktar and his wife, who spent 20 years in a refugee camp after fleeing Somalia, and will continue to be separated from their children who still live in the camp.