Raul Ruiz

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, Donald Trump is an immediate threat to our Constitution and to our Democracy. He must be removed. It has now been a week since rampaging criminals incited by Mr. Trump invaded and vandalized the Capitol--the heart of American Democracy and government. The attack resulted in six deaths--including that of two police officers--and left an indelible stain on our nation. With each passing day, we learn more about the extent to which this attack was planned and orchestrated. This was a violent insurrection--not a peaceful protest. The criminals who perpetrated this attack were inspired, directed, and encouraged by Donald Trump and his lies and incited by several members of Congress, all of whom have refused to acknowledge--let alone take responsibility for--their roles in this shameful episode. No action we take today can undo the desecration caused by Donald Trump, the members of Congress who aided and abetted him, and those dangerous insurrectionists. This was not merely a criminal conspiracy; it was an attack on our nation's Capitol to deliberately and violently overthrow the duly elected Government of the United States. Regardless of our actions today, Donald Trump will be removed from office in just over a week. But that does not mean we shouldn't act. If we let an insurgence against our government go without consequence, what will we be saying to future generations? We must send the permanent message that in January of 2021, Congress refused to condone, pardon, or ignore this crime against the Constitution and the American people, and further, that Congress refused the possibility that Donald Trump could ever hold office again. Some have said that this should be a time for unity, not for divisiveness. I agree. We must be united and unequivocal in our declaration: The desecration of our Democracy will not be tolerated. The divisiveness over this issue is not being caused by those of us who insist on upholding the Constitution and rule of law; the responsibility for discord belongs solely at the feet of those who refuse to do so. Therefore, I must call out those in this body who continue to perpetuate the lies that led to this deadly chain of events. American Democracy was and remains threatened by their actions and words. Over the last four years, we have learned that the guardrails constructed by our Founders to protect the Constitution are only as strong as the leaders who take the oath to defend them. When our elected officials take steps to undermine democracy--as far too many here today have done--the fabric and future of our great nation is endangered. All of us have sworn an oath to protect America from its enemies, both foreign and domestic. Today, that oath requires each and every one of us to support the immediate impeachment of Donald Trump. History will judge us all for our decision today.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize California State University (CSU) Chancellor Timothy P. White and congratulate him on his retirement. Dr. White has left a lasting mark on California public education. His story is an inspiration to all, and I am grateful for the doors he has opened for students in my district and throughout the State of California. Born in Argentina, Dr. White immigrated as a child with his parents to Canada and later to California. The first in his family to seek higher education, he earned his bachelor's degree from California State University, Fresno. Dr. White continued his pursuit of learning--earning his master's at California State University, East Bay, and a doctorate in exercise physiology at the University of California, Berkeley. He then went on to serve as campus president of Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of California, Riverside (UCR). While at UCR, I worked under Dr. White as a founding Senior Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Partnerships for UCR School of Medicine. Under his leadership and tenure, we successfully launched the UCR School of Medicine. Thanks to his commitment, the school has an impressive mission to improve health disparities, better the population's health in the region, and address the physician shortage crisis by recruiting underrepresented students from medically underserved communities. Over his decades-long career, Dr. White carried with him his belief ``in the profound possibility of potential.'' As CSU Chancellor, he worked to close the equality gap between underserved students and their peers by launching the Graduation Initiative 2025. While he led the nation's largest and most diverse four-year public education system, he also worked to ensure that students could see themselves represented in university leadership. With his commitment, the CSU system achieved more than 50 percent representation for women for campus presidents. Dr. White is a man of great integrity and character. He is a leader who cares deeply for the people he serves and believes in the cause of education and health equity. I am honored to have worked with him at UCR and am thankful for his commitment to improving the lives of others through higher education. The State of California owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to Dr. White for his service to our state. On behalf of the great people of California's 36th Congressional District, I thank Dr. White. I am thrilled to join his family and loved ones in celebrating his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize my constituent, John Paul Curran and congratulate him on his 105th birthday. A veteran, family man, Beatles fan, and so much more, ``Uncle John''--as his family lovingly calls him--has led a remarkable life. John's story begins on November 11, 1915, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He spent his childhood there, enjoying time with his family, attending church, and playing baseball. In 1933, he graduated from Honesdale Catholic High School before he was drafted into the Army nine years later. On May 18, 1942, John began his service to our nation. It was then that he formed his fondest memories--serving alongside his fellow Americans to serve and protect our country in World War II. He spent three months in basic training in Gadsden, Alabama, before working as a Postal Clerk, Grade T/4 in the Judge Advocates office, and a Rifleman, Grade T/4. As a Postal Clerk, John handled and dispatched classified information and inspected critical Victory Mail. He served in the Rhineland Offensive in Central Europe and went on to receive the Good Conduct Medal and the American Theater Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars. After he was honorably discharged on January 10, 1946, John returned home to Honesdale, where he worked for General Electric. John's entrepreneurial spirit led him to San Francisco in the 1950s where he was a partner in a small business and managed apartment buildings. After falling ill and receiving lifesaving care at a VA hospital, he moved to Palm Desert in 2003, where he now enjoys spending time with his grandnephews, family, and friends; playing bingo at the Joslyn Center; reading and doing crossword puzzles; and playing the occasional penny slot machine. It is fitting that John shares his birthday with Veterans Day, a day devoted to recognizing and honoring all those who have sacrificed for our nation. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, Happy Birthday, John. And we thank him for his years of service to our nation. As he celebrates this momentous occasion, his story is now recorded in our nation's history and will live on for generations to come.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize my constituent, Palm Springs City Manager Dr. David Ready and congratulate him on his retirement after 35 years of work in local government. For the last 20 years, Dr. Ready has worked tirelessly to rebuild Palm Springs' reputation as a world-renowned tourism destination, leading the city into an unprecedented economic renaissance. During his tenure as city manager, Palm Springs' sales tax revenues have increased five times, the city has developed 50 neighborhood organizations, and the downtown area has been completely revitalized. Beyond managing a city budget of $291 million, Dr. Ready has also ensured that Palm Springs can provide higher-quality services for its residents. Streets and parks are continually improving, historic sites are being preserved, and Palm Springs continues to house its own police department and animal shelter. Further, Dr. Ready's crucial role in developing air service has brought in tremendous revenue from the Palm Springs Airport. Dr. Ready's leadership has guided Palm Springs through some of its toughest times, including this year's pandemic. When facing a forecasted decrease in tax revenue this year, Dr. Ready worked diligently with the city council to turn a projected deficit of $15.5 million into a much smaller $1.2 million. The city is adapting to COVID-19, and we have Dr. Ready's guidance to thank. Dr. Ready is the longest-serving city manager in the Coachella Valley, and the only city manager in the United States with both a law and doctorate degree. His education has served him well and will continue to guide him as he pursues public administration academic research post-retirement. Dr. Ready's work has truly been tireless, and he leaves behind a booming Palm Springs that has become revitalized in his hands. He says of his work, ``We never lost our focus on how to provide the best services to our community, how to build our economy, how to provide what our community needs.'' This focus has paid off, and Dr. Ready's legacy will last for generations to come. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I thank Dr. Ready for his incredible service. I am thrilled to join the City of Palm Springs in celebrating his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I recently received a letter from a constituent named Jeffrey. Jeffrey was laid off in March and hasn't been able to find work during the pandemic. He wrote to me and said: ``I have been scraping by on my savings and borrowing, and I am now finally broke with a disabled brother, a 13- year-old kid to feed, and a house.'' Another constituent wrote about his 83-year-old mother, who survives on a small pension and Social Security. The pandemic has required her to have a caregiver for much longer hours. Her and sons' bank accounts are running dry. The American people need relief now, which is why the House passed the updated Heroes Act this week with another round of stimulus checks; extended unemployment benefits; small business support; and money for local, State, and Tribal governments to pay for essential services like first responders, police, firefighters, and teachers. The House is doing their job. The Senate must do theirs and bring this bill for a vote for the people.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Judiciary Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for organizing the trip to Irwin County Detention Center. I was one of those who went to witness firsthand what was going on. I want to thank Representative Jayapal for this resolution and her leadership in this matter. As a medical and public health expert, I have found three gross categories of violations in Irwin County Detention Center. One is there were not sufficient precautions to prevent COVID-19 from causing an outbreak in the facilities. There was only one mask issued upon arrival, and the second mask was not issued until the day before we arrived, knowing we were going to arrive. Some women were there for 6, 7 months. The second is that there was a COVID-19 positive patient in the facility, yet at the medical quarters, nobody was wearing an N95 mask, which could put the staff and other people in jeopardy. The COVID-19 patient was reported to be in isolation during the time that we were there. Furthermore, the second problem in public health is the lack of hygiene maintenance in the facility. There were reports that the curtains were infested with mold. There was mold in the showers. Clothing hadn't been washed. They were issued sweatpants and sweatshirts; they were visibly dirty and torn. When I inspected the showers myself, I saw that, in fact, there was mold in the showers. The curtains were replaced the day before or 2 days before we had arrived. So that is a problem in the face of human dignity and also in requiring personal hygiene to stay safe from COVID- 19. Furthermore, going back to the first category, I forgot to mention that the bunk beds were very small, and they were only 3 feet apart in their sleeping quarters, so that was also not following CDC recommendations.

Mr. RUIZ. In terms of the third violation, which is the most outstanding and outrageous violation, it was that procedures were done without the women's informed consent. There were gynecological procedures, as was mentioned: total hysterectomy; partial hysterectomy; most of them were oophorectomies; most of them were cystectomies. But the point here is that whenever you have any gynecological procedure, that can result in scarring, future pain, possible chronic pain, and also infertility. Therefore, you need informed consent. It is medical practice to have informed consent, which requires an explanation of your disease, of the illness, of the procedure, including risks and any alternative options, including the option of doing nothing, in the language that the patient understands. Not doing so, not documenting it, is a violation of that informed consent. Violating informed consent and putting a blade to a woman's body, without her understanding or her informed consent, is an assault. That is why we need fully to condemn this practice. That is why we need to fully investigate through the inspector general, through the FBI, through the Georgia medical and surgeon license board to ensure that this doesn't happen, that it is not happening in other private detention facilities throughout the country, in rural areas where perhaps they think they might get away with it because, after all, these are very disempowered women without very strong advocacy in those locations. I am very thankful for the lawyers, for those that brought this to light, that have empowered the voices, including a 22-year-old woman who now will never be able to have children. I support this resolution to send a very strong message to all facilities and all doctors that every woman requires fully informed consent before any procedure.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, environmental injustices disproportionately impact underserved communities and communities of color around the country. We have experienced this firsthand in the Eastern Coachella Valley in my district--environmental hazards that worsen quality of life and harm the public's health; children struggling to breathe on their way to school; residents with undrinkable water from high levels of arsenic. Let me be clear. Having clean water to drink and clean air to breathe is not a privilege just for the affluent few. It is a right and a common good for everyone. That is why I am glad my bill, H.R. 3923, the Environmental Justice Act of 2019, is passing the House this week as part of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. My bill will strengthen protections for vulnerable populations, give impacted communities the ability to hold big corporations and government accountable, and provide needed funds to mitigate and prevent future instances of environmental injustice. I would like to thank Chairman Pallone and Subcommittee Chairman Tonko for working with me on this important legislation.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, nearly 200,000 Americans have tragically died from COVID-19 in the United States. In Riverside County, California, 1,136 have died and 56,201 people have been infected. We have record-breaking unemployment in our Nation, with 13.7 percent unemployment in Riverside County. They are our family, our neighbors, our friends. My constituents are struggling, and they urgently need relief. The Senate must get their act together. Their delay in stalling is a shame, and to make matters worse, their skinny-aid excuse of a proposal is much worse than a day late and a dollar short. In fact, it has been 125 days since the House passed the HEROES Act. They must meet the HEROES Act at least halfway to provide another round of stimulus checks, extend unemployment benefits, small business support, and money for local and State governments to pay for essential services, like for police, firefighters, and teachers. The Senate must act. The Senate must step up and bring this legislation for a vote. Meet us halfway to slow the spread and save lives as quickly and safely as possible. We need the HEROES Act for the people.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Patrick Keplinger, a member of my staff who has contributed over 20 years of exceptional service to our Country. Patrick was commissioned as an officer in 2001 and served two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom before achieving the rank of Major in the United States Marine Corps. In 2015, Patrick made his way to the House of Representatives, where he joined my team as a Wounded Warrior fellow. In this role, Patrick helped fellow veterans navigate the Department of Veterans' Affairs and access the benefits they have earned and deserve. Later that year, he became a permanent staff member in my Hemet office, where he has since served as a field representative. For the past five years, Patrick has worked diligently to address the military's use of toxic burn pits and advocate for veterans in our community. One of Patrick's most significant accomplishments in my office was the case of Jennifer Kepner, a 39-year-old veteran from Cathedral City. Jennifer served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in 2016 was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. Her doctors determined that her exposure to burn pits during her deployment was the cause of her cancer. The VA denied her claim for compensation, but Patrick helped her obtain 100 percent service-connected compensation. Additionally, Patrick helped bring the burn pit issue to the forefront, resulting in my burn pit bill, H.R. 4137, the Jennifer Kepner HOPE Act. Together, we continue to work to bring national attention to this issue. Patrick's passion for serving our Country is not ending but starting a new chapter. He will be working at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego, where he will help active duty service members transition back to civilian life. I believe Patrick is perfect for this because wherever Patrick is, there is a purpose. On behalf of our entire community, I thank Patrick, for his exceptional continued service and wish Big Marine good luck with his future endeavors.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in memory of Chauncey Lee Veatch III. Chauncey was a natural leader with an incredible passion for life, education, and helping others. He was a tremendous educator, a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, National Teacher of the Year, and a mentor to so many in the Coachella Valley. It was a high privilege to call him my friend. Chauncey personally inspired me, encouraged me, and guided me as well as my friend and current assembly member, Eduardo Garcia, and Riverside County Supervisor Manny Perez and many students and teachers from the Coachella Valley. Chauncey was exceptionally brilliant. His brother, Gregory, said, even in middle school, his teachers knew he was smarter than they were. He paired his unique intelligence and gifts with an extraordinary work ethic. He studied history at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where he was inspired by the civil rights work of Cesar Chavez, and helped register voters as a United Farm Workers volunteer. After college, he went on to the University of Notre Dame, where he obtained his juris doctor degree. Chauncey then served in the U.S. Army Infantry and the Medical Service Corps for over 20 years, retiring in 1995 as a lieutenant colonel. After retiring from the Army, Chauncey began his service as an educator at John Kelley Elementary School in Thermal, California, later becoming a teacher at my alma mater, Coachella Valley High School. Coachella Valley Unified School District was fortunate to have such a devoted and fine man. As a teacher, he was renowned for his ability to present complex material to his students in simple, understandable ways and to mentor each of them on an individual basis, helping them to achieve their fullest potential. Later in life, Chauncey served on The Desert Sun newspaper's editorial board for more than 7 years. In 2010, he co-led the Coachella Valley Healthcare Initiative with me, bringing together the community to address the healthcare access crisis in our disadvantaged and underserved communities. In each of his endeavors, he gave everything he had. In a word, Chauncey's life was full: full of joy, full of generosity, and full of love. He saw the best in people. Not only that, he drew out the best in people. He saw in others what they did not see in themselves, and he would not rest until he helped them achieve what he knew they were capable of. In fact, a lot of people are where they are today because their paths crossed with Chauncey's. He helped many of his students achieve their dreams of becoming a teacher. Serving disadvantaged students, he also helped many become the first in their generation to go to college, even helping them get into good schools and elite schools like Notre Dame and Harvard. His leadership was in his acts, his words, and his presence. He showed people the way. His brother called him a builder of dreams. I call him an architect of goodness whose deep commitment and mentorship to his students turned barriers into opportunities, disadvantages into strengths, and transformed our communities for generations to come. Our world has lost a light, our community has lost a leader, and I have lost a mentor and a close friend. Today I mourn with his family and celebrate his full life, knowing that he was a good man, an outstanding citizen, and a veteran whose impact will live on in our communities. My wife, Monica, and I will miss him very much.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 7617, which will increase funding for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act grant program by $2.5 million. In order to comprehensively address policing in our Nation, we must address the mental health needs of law enforcement officers. For example, officers are more than three times as likely to die by suicide than from shootings. Rates of depression among officers are more than four times higher and rates of PTSD are five times higher than the general population. That is why I have worked to substantially increase funding each year since these grants were created to help with law enforcement training, peer mentoring, and mental health program activities. It is important that our officers know they are not alone and that we provide the resources they need to protect our communities as well as their own mental well-being. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Rose for cosponsoring this amendment.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, the Water Resources Development Act contains important language to help prevent a public health crisis at the Salton Sea, California's largest lake, which is in my district. The Salton Sea's shoreline is rapidly receding, exposing thousands of acres of lake bed and sending dust loaded with selenium and pesticides into the air and into the lungs of residents in my district. My provision will authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to take the next steps and study the construction of a northern perimeter lake project at the sea, which is the next major project under the State of California's Salton Sea Management Program, and it will strengthen the Federal-State partnership. Later this week, we will pass the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill, which contains another one of my provisions which will prioritize the Army Corps' efforts at the Salton Sea. I would like to thank Chairman DeFazio, Congressman Vargas, and Congresswoman Napolitano for their partnership on this pressing and important issue, and I urge support for this legislation.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I am outraged that the CARES Act stimulus checks, the economic impact payments, have not arrived to many of my constituents months after being signed into law. The stimulus checks provide timely and critical relief to families and individuals across our country who are struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic, but many constituents have told me they were forced to wait months for their stimulus checks or have yet to receive them at all. To make matters worse, when my office has contacted the IRS on their behalf, the responses have been wholly inadequate, merely quoting what is on their website or failing to answer questions altogether. This is unacceptable. Families are unable to make ends meet, workers are choosing between keeping the lights on and buying groceries, and people have been laid off and are wondering where their next meal will come from. My constituents are in dire need of urgent assistance. The IRS must act immediately to expedite these stimulus checks so the American people can get through this tumultuous time.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 7608, which provides an additional $1 million for the VA to conduct educational outreach to veterans about the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. My amendment will help veterans exposed to burn pits by strengthening the burn pit registry and making patients aware of early warning signs of life-threatening illnesses as well as the existence of the registry. My amendment will also fund additional research on the health effects of burn pits, using the data from the registry. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to help our veterans exposed to burn pits by supporting my amendment.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, when I stood in John Lewis' presence, I stood in awe, in reverence, and with great respect. John Lewis was an extraordinary man of faith, perseverance, virtue, and kindness. He endured ridicule and beatings during his nonviolent fight alongside Dr. King. He spent a lifetime fighting against injustices, poverty, white supremacy, and racism, and for equality and human dignity. He was a social justice and civil rights warrior who inspired me, all of us in this Chamber and this Nation. He was a man of God on a relentless mission of peace to create the kingdom and bring to Earth life as it is in Heaven. As great a man as he was, he was always humble and gentle. He was always faithful in his fight for freedom from oppression. John was also a friend. He always asked how my daughters, Sky and Sage, were doing on the House floor and in the hallways, and even visited them during their birthday parties in my D.C. office. He will undoubtedly be greeted in Heaven by our creator with the words, ``Job well done, my humble servant,'' an honor well-deserved and greater than life itself. May John Lewis rest in God's almighty power. I love you and I miss you, brother.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, in 2017, my constituent, Jennifer Kepner, passed away due to pancreatic cancer connected to her exposure to burn pits during her military service in Balad, Iraq. In her honor and the countless veterans who are sick, permanently disabled, or who have died from illnesses due to exposure to burn pits, I introduced an amendment to the NDAA to prohibit Federal funding for the military use of toxic burn pits. My amendment was not included, but it is imperative to acknowledge the serious health risks that open-air burn pits have on our troops, yet our military still uses them to dispose of waste on the battlefield. The EPA's website has a brochure discouraging burning household trash, because burning waste releases dioxin and other pollutants to the air and at the ground level, where they are most readily inhaled. In addition, many counties across the Nation have banned open-air trash burning because of air pollutants that pose a risk to our health. If we can't burn trash here at home because of the health effects, why do we keep exposing our servicemembers to dioxin and other toxins and carcinogens that are released by burn pits? We must address reducing the use of burn pits in our military.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, as we stand here right now, our brave men and women overseas and our returning veterans continue to suffer the horrific health effects of their exposure to toxic burn pits. Burn pits are fields where tons of waste like jet fuel, plastics, and medical waste were burned right next to military bases, exposing servicemembers to an array of toxic pollutants, particulate matter, and known carcinogens like dioxin. For too long, servicemembers have inhaled black fumes from burn pits. To make matters worse, their symptoms, like subtle shortness of breath that progresses, headaches, or dry cough, have been dismissed. As a physician, I know these symptoms can signal serious health conditions, like severe pulmonary diseases, chronic fibrosis, chronic bronchiolitis, and others. For years, the Department of Defense has been dismissing the serious health effects of burn pits, hiding behind promises about ``ongoing studies.'' Promises about studies are not enough. It is time to act. Our heroes cannot afford to wait. That is why we must pass four of my bipartisan bills included as amendments to the NDAA. First, H.R. 7596, the DOD Burn Pits Health Provider Training Act, will require DOD to implement mandatory training for all their medical providers on the potential health effects of exposure to open-air burn pits. No longer can we allow symptoms of burn pit exposure to be dismissed. Second, H.R. 7597, the DOD Burn Pits Research Status Act, will require DOD to report to Congress on the status and timeline for completion of all ongoing studies conducted or funded by DOD related to the health effects of burn pits. Third, H.R. 7598, the Post-Deployment Burn Pit Question Act, will require DOD to include a question about burn pit exposure in the post- deployment health assessment form to increase reporting of burn pit exposure. Fourth, H.R. 7600, the Burn Pit Registry Expansion Act, will require DOD and VA to expand the burn pits registry to include Egypt and Syria. In order to comprehensively address the military's use of burn pits, prevent exposure, and improve timely care for servicemembers, we must find alternatives to burn pits usage, educate military healthcare providers about the variety of illnesses due to toxic burn pit exposures, expand the burn pits registry, and understand gaps in scientific research. Toxic burn pit exposure continues to threaten the health of servicemembers. Many servicemembers and veterans continue to become severely sick, permanently disabled, or die from respiratory failure, cancers, or autoimmune or other diseases due to toxic burn pits exposure. This is an urgent problem that must be addressed right now. My 2020 burn pits bill package will help bring us closer to providing the attention that this DOD self-inflicted public health crisis requires: identify at-risk servicemembers and give them the timely care they need, and end the use of military toxic burn pits once and for all.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment, which includes my bill turned into an amendment to authorize the construction of an access road to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet, California, in my district. The Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center is the only Indian Health Service youth treatment center in the entire State of California. The only way to get to the facility, however, is by traversing a dirt road that cracks in the heat and washes out in the rain. The Indian Health Service wasn't able to secure the right-of-way to pave the access road, so my amendment would give the Indian Health Service the authority to improve and pave the access road to give Tribal youth safe and secure passage to this facility so they can receive treatment and individual counseling in a culturally appropriate way that they need to reach their full potential. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his support of my amendment to improve the infrastructure of the Indian Health Service facility in my district and for his work on H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act.

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the en bloc amendment and urge support for my two amendments that are included. My first amendment would take land in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains into trust for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to fulfill an agreement between the Agua Caliente and the Bureau of Land Management. This bill would help consolidate the checkerboard pattern of land ownership and allow the Tribe to better manage their ancestral lands which contain numerous significant cultural sites, trails, and other elements of their history. My second amendment, the Tribal Internet Advancement Act, would expand broadband access in Indian Country by adding Tribal lands as a priority for broadband expansion under the FCC's Universal Service Fund. Last year, the FCC issued a report in response to my bill, the Tribal Broadband Deployment Act, which showed that Tribal nations lag far behind the rest of the population in broadband access. This lack of access to broadband is a significant barrier to economic advancement, education, and, as now evident, telemedicine during the pandemic, and well-being. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge support for my amendment and H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, in order to close the digital divide in Indian Country.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment and encourage support for my amendment to require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study and issue a report on the safety effects of ensuring school buses are equipped with air-conditioning. I represent rural desert cities like Palm Springs and Coachella in California's 36th Congressional District, where, for much of the year, the temperatures are really hot and well into the triple digits, sometimes reaching 125, 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Yet many school busses do not have air-conditioning, causing children to arrive at school in sweat-soaked T-shirts, dehydrated, and with heat exhaustion. Last fall, I wrote the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to take action. This amendment would provide them needed data to help protect students' health and safety while riding on school buses without AC in extreme heat. The Moving Forward Act contains robust improvements for school bus safety in rural and urban areas, and my amendment would strengthen that. I urge support for this en bloc amendment and for H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. I thank the chair.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. We are in the middle of a global pandemic that has infected millions of Americans, left millions more unemployed and struggling to pay their bills, and underscored the American people's need for quality, affordable healthcare. It is precisely during this time; it is precisely in our moment of history, during American families' hardships and agony; it is precisely now that we must act for the people and fight to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. As an emergency physician, I have seen the faces of failed healthcare policies, the anguish from severe illness and death that could have been prevented if only the patient had routine care and health insurance. That is why today, for the patients who need to see a doctor and get treatment, for the recently laid-off workers who just lost their health insurance, for the families struggling economically, I ask you to join me in voting for H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. This bill would lower healthcare premiums for middle-class families; encourage States to expand Medicaid; lower the cost of prescription drugs; and strengthen protections for preexisting conditions, the same ones that render a person more likely to die from COVID-19. The American people need our help in this moment, and they need this bill.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks by police officers have highlighted the anguish and injustices that Black communities have experienced for generations; have shook our Nation to its core; and made evident, starkly, the racial injustice in our Nation. As we watch the unrest, as we hear the pain, it is imperative we ask ourselves: What are we doing about it? It is more important than ever that we have the difficult but necessary conversations to address racially targeted excessive use of force and racial profiling by police who do not follow their own professional code of conduct. There must be dialogue. There must be a humble willingness to listen, reflect, and come together to make change. In the last few weeks, that is exactly what we have done in my district, in California's 36th. Over the past few weeks, I held listening sessions and roundtables to elevate the voices and experiences of leaders in the Black community. They shared their stories, perspectives, and recommendations for change. I also convened an important dialogue between African-American leaders and our local police chiefs. Our local police chiefs have come to the table with open ears and a willingness to be part of that change that we seek. These conversations were impactful and productive. We outlined next steps, steps like banning choke holds, expanding the use of body cameras, increasing transparency and accountability, increasing community engagement, and annual mental health wellness checks for police officers. I am encouraged by the progress, and I look forward to the hard work that will lead to real change in our community, change that will move our community and Nation from internalizing despair to externalizing hope and action for change. Supporting ACA Enhancement

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, as an emergency physician, I have seen the faces of failed healthcare policies. I have looked into the eyes of the suffering when they couldn't afford care. I have cried with families who have lost a loved one, knowing it could have been prevented with routine care if only they had health insurance. Even now, I have gone into hard-to-reach and high-risk communities and personally conducted COVID-19 testing, watching the health inequities and disparities play out in real time, seeing disproportionately higher rates of transmission and deaths in low- income, uninsured, Latino, farmworker, and the homeless communities. As a physician and humanitarian, I find it unconscionable, repulsive, that during a global pandemic, while millions are infected by COVID-19 and millions more are unemployed and struggling economically, that the Trump administration is actively working to repeal the Affordable Care Act through the Supreme Court. Repealing the ACA would be a disaster, leading to millions of families facing financial hardships and many, many more deaths from COVID-19. Repealing the ACA would eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions, the very same conditions that render a person more likely to die from COVID-19. Repealing the ACA would take away health insurance from millions of Americans who, for the first time, have health insurance because of the Medicaid expansion. It is precisely during this time that we must work to expand healthcare access and make it affordable, which is what H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, would do. It is precisely now that we need to lower healthcare premiums for middle-class families, encourage States to expand Medicaid, strengthen protections for preexisting conditions, and lower the cost of prescription drugs. I support this bill for the people, and I will continue fighting for the people to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for the people.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Heroes Act and to address the critical need for emergency funding for tribal nations. Native Americans have been hit disproportionately hard by the COVID- 19 pandemic. The Navajo Nation has experienced nearly 5,000 positive cases and the loss of more than 100 lives. In addition, the Colorado River Indians Tribes on the border of my district and Arizona have seen a sudden rise in cases over the past weeks. Native Americans remain at particular risk because they face greater health disparities and have higher rates of underlying health conditions than the general population. In addition, those living on rural reservations have reduced access to health services and preventative care. The toll on tribal nations isn't just affecting those who are sick. Many Native Americans work in service jobs that have disproportionately been lost, and many tribal governments rely on income from business enterprises that have closed their doors to comply with stay-at-home orders. The Heroes Act was written with these communities in mind. This bill represents the House of Representatives' commitment to fulfilling the trust and treaty responsibility of the United States government to tribal nations across the United States. The Heroes Act provides an additional $20 billion to tribal governments in the form of grants to help address the catastrophic impact of this virus and the economic toll it has taken on Indian Country and their surrounding communities. The Heroes Act expands the use of the funds provided by the CARES Act to account for lost revenue, which is critical to providing effective relief for tribal governments. It is important to note that unlike the portion of the Coronavirus Relief Fund provided to states and local governments, the fund for tribal governments explicitly does not prescribe a population-based formula for distribution to tribes. Such a formula would be inappropriate given that population is not a proper measure of economic impact that a tribal government and tribally-run businesses have experienced. This bill also does not codify the current Indian Housing Block Grant formula that the Department of Treasury is using, because such a formula is not representative of the intent of the program. It is the intent of Congress that the Department of Treasury works with the Department of Interior and tribal governments to develop a new formula that accounts for the tribes' aggregate expenditures and the total economic hit they have taken as a result of this pandemic. This is an issue that is critical for Indian Country. I am proud to have voted for the Heroes Act and look forward to seeing the program implemented as Congress intended to support tribal governments.