Raul Ruiz

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of Americans in my district and across the country who are anxious that the events of this past week are sending us down a path to war with Iran. Over the past week, I have been thinking most about our servicemembers and their families, the people whose lives will be immediately and irreversibly affected by the decision to go to war: sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, siblings, our neighbors and our friends, who will put at risk their lives; families worried about their loved ones put in harm's way; servicemembers who have seen multiple deployments and are now faced with the prospect of being sent overseas yet again. Our veterans and their families have dealt with the human toll of war for nearly 20 years. It is time for a new approach. Americans don't want another endless war in the Middle East. After 19 years of conflict, America doesn't need another war. We do not want reckless, high-risk provocations of war that make Americans less safe for years to come. That is why I urge President Trump to deescalate the situation and pursue a diplomatic path forward. In the meantime, I hope everyone will join me in continuing to pray for the servicemembers overseas defending our Nation and for a strategic, peaceful solution to avoid another costly war in the Middle East.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Laura Quattlebaum for her years of service with the California Highway Patrol. Every day, our first responders and public safety officers put their lives on the line to keep us safe. In our local communities, a shining example of that very selflessness and courage is California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Laura Quattlebaum. Assistant Chief Quattlebaum is an amazing woman, full of character and integrity. I am humbled to have worked alongside her in our community, and I am honored to call her my friend. For more than 30 years, Assistant Chief Quattlebaum has served as a dedicated public officer for my constituents as well as countless other Californians. After graduating from the California Highway Patrol Academy, she went on to act as Public Information Officer for the City of Indio. From this critical position to her current role as California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief, she has answered the call many times to defend our public safety. Throughout her career, Assistant Chief Quattlebaum has been recognized on numerous occasions for her outstanding work. As Lieutenant in the Indio Area, she received the Commissioner's Commendation for her leadership in Cultural Awareness and Racial Profiling training. Six years later, Assemblyman Brian Nestande awarded Assistant Chief Quattlebaum the 2013 Women of Distinction Award. Again in 2014, Assemblyman Manuel Perez presented her with the Woman of Year award in recognition of her service to the people of California. Chief Quattlebaum is known to her colleagues as a hardworking and selfless leader. Her tireless commitment to bettering the lives of others is reflected in her incredible advocacy for those she serves alongside and for peace officers throughout the country. I have witnessed this dedication firsthand on multiple occasions, most notably, when we worked together to successfully double our nation's funding for mental health services for our local law enforcement agencies. Assistant Chief Quattlebaum's career in public service is a true testament to her devotion to community, country, and public safety. Her unwavering dedication to the people of California is admirable. After she retires from her position as California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief this year, I have no doubt that she will continue to positively impact our community as she mentors and prepares students at College of the Desert for a future in law enforcement. I want to thank Assistant Chief Quattlebaum for her years of service and for all that she has done to keep our communities safe. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I wish her a long, happy retirement.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, as a citizen of the United States of America, the greatest experiment in democracy that our world has ever known, as the duly elected U.S. House Representative of my home communities of the Coachella Valley, San Gorgonio Pass, and the San Jacinto Pass in California's 36th Congressional District, and as the father to two young daughters growing up in this great nation, I rise today in support of impeaching the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. By conditioning $391 million in military aid to a foreign ally on an investigation into his political rival, Donald Trump abused the power of the presidency for personal political gain. He then obstructed Congress in its constitutionally mandated oversight role. In doing so, President Trump violated our Constitution, compromised our national security, and undermined the integrity of our democratic process. This was a principled decision made with great reverence for the Constitution, in the best interest of our nation, and without partisan consideration. I was compelled by the overwhelming evidence and the sacred oath I took to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution-- and by nature, our very democracy. When Benjamin Franklin was leaving Independence Hall at the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he was asked whether America would be a republic or a monarchy, and his response was, ``A republic, if you can keep it.'' By voting in favor of impeachment today, I am voting to keep it. Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers envisioned the tragic scenario we are witnessing at this moment in history: The President of the United States abusing the power of the office with a foreign country for personal political gain. They gave us a constitutional remedy. They gave us this remedy because the Constitution is not a self- preserving document. It needs people who will protect and defend it. History must reflect that there are people taking that oath of office seriously and fighting to keep our Republic intact; that there are people who are defending the Constitution and fighting for the integrity of our Democratic process; that there are people who say that any President--regardless of political party--who abuses the power of their high office for personal gain will be held accountable. It is important for me, for my daughters, Sky and Sage, for my grandchildren, my great grandchildren, and future generations; it is important for future leaders, future Congresses, and for the historical record; it is important for the ideals of the Constitution and the core of our Republic that I solemnly cast my vote today in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. We already have hundreds of drugs in the market that millions of Americans do not have access to and cannot get because they are not affordable. Seniors in my district are walking out of the pharmacy without their medication after seeing the out-of-pocket costs and saying to themselves they can't afford it. Many seniors are choosing between eating and buying their groceries versus taking their medications. They are not taking the medicine that they need, which puts their health and their lives at risk. I have heard from seniors in my district who face up to $6,000 a month in out-of-pocket costs for their medicine. To quote one constituent of mine: ``Prescription and healthcare costs are an astronomical burden.'' To quote another: ``Necessary medication should not be treated as a luxury.'' We must bring down the outrageous out-of-pocket costs plaguing our seniors and families. H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lowering Drug Costs Now Act, finally answers the call to bring down out-of-control costs. It does so by empowering Medicare, for the first time ever, to negotiate lower drug prices with Big Pharma, which will lower costs for not only seniors, but also American families with private health insurance. It does so by limiting out-of-pocket costs to no more than $2,000 a year for seniors--very important to seniors needing expensive medication. It does so by strengthening Medicare, delivering vision, dental, and hearing benefits for seniors across this country. Every Member of the House should do the right thing for seniors and American families: pass H.R. 3. Senate Majority Leader McConnell should do his job and bring this legislation up for a vote immediately so that we can strengthen Medicare for seniors and lower the cost of medicine for American families.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, many servicemembers and veterans across the country who have been exposed to military burn pits are becoming ill. Many are dying due to cancers and suffering from severe pulmonary and autoimmune diseases. We have the chance to end the use of harmful burn pits this week with my two amendments in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. Our military uses burn pits to eliminate dangerous waste, including chemicals, jet fuels, and batteries, which can emit toxic smoke containing carcinogens and particulate matter. In my district, we tragically lost to pancreatic cancer Jennifer Kepner, a 39-year-old Air Force veteran exposed to burn pits who left behind her husband and two young children. We must act now for veterans like Jennifer, for their families, and for everyone affected by burn pit exposure. My provisions in the NDAA require the Department of Defense to submit to Congress an implementation plan to end the use of burn pits and to inform Congress on all locations where burn pits were used. These amendments are an important step in the comprehensive plan to end the use of burn pits. We must do it now.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I am offering my bill, the Increasing American Jobs and Exports Act, as an amendment to H.R. 4863. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is simple. It will allow the Export-Import Bank to use up to 3 percent of its surplus profits per year for 5 years to open new regional offices. These additional offices will grow small businesses by assisting with their capital needs to increase their exporting capacity and job growth ability. This bill will grow American jobs, increase exports of American goods, and strengthen our local and regional economies around the country. The Export-Import Bank is important for our Nation. Over the last 10 years, it has supported more than 1.5 million jobs at absolutely no cost to the American taxpayer. The Bank has helped grow American jobs at no cost. It has even returned more than $3.4 billion to the United States Treasury. The Export-Import Bank helps grow American jobs, grow small businesses, and grow our economy. Trade and exports are important to my district and, specifically, to the Coachella Valley in the Inland Empire. The Inland Empire is one of the fastest growing economic regions in the United States and is a hub for international trade. The Riverside-San Bernardino region is 38th nationally in total export value and sixth in California in total export value. Let me remind everybody, California has the fifth-largest economy in the world. The Riverside-San Bernardino Counties region is home to 6,200 exporters, as well as $10 billion worth of exported products. More specifically, exports are important to my district; and within Coachella Valley agriculture, there are $500 million worth of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and melons, and all are top California exports. They are exported to more than 50 countries. I want this success repeated across my district and the entire Nation. The problem, however, is that the closest Export-Import regional finance office is more than a 2-hour drive away, in San Diego. That office serves businesses in four California counties and even three States: Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona. Small business owners who have the product, the vision, and the ability to expand their businesses deserve to have local and regional access to export financing services. The potential for more American jobs and more American exports is there. We just have to unlock it. Regional finance offices help small businesses and small farms succeed where private capital cannot. Most of the farm businesses in my district are small. Seventy-five percent are fewer than 50 acres in size. Last year, the Export-Import Bank financed $1.1 billion worth of agricultural products, and 81 percent of those were small businesses. With more regional offices, we can continue to grow American exports and jobs and help small businesses compete. I urge support of my amendment and the Increasing American Jobs and Exports Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify something, that the $3.4 billion surplus goes to the U.S. Treasury. My bill will not take one-third of that, only up to the 3 percent that would be available for regions that would like to have a regional finance office near them. For example, in North Carolina, which my esteemed colleague is from, his constituents have to drive all the way to south Florida, to Miami, to get services from the Export-Import Bank. So it is in my constituents' interest, and it is the interest of my colleague's that a regional office is financed closer to his State so that his businesses can acquire the capital necessary to increase jobs and increase exports. In fact, there is data to show that the cluster of businesses that benefit, by far, are those that are near the surrounding regional offices. So it is common sense to assume that, if you open an office near the region, more businesses will benefit and you will have created more jobs with more exports. I want to thank Chairwoman Waters for her work on this important legislation and for her support for my amendment. The Export-Import Bank has been a success story and can continue to grow. Today's legislation will further that success. The Bank supports American jobs, while also returning money to taxpayers year after year. My amendment would not cost the taxpayer a single dime. My amendment would grow jobs and businesses by exporting American goods. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, the Increasing American Jobs and Exports Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the thousands of Dreamers in my district and the 800,000 Dreamers across the country threatened with deportation due to the administration's decision to rescind DACA. It is unconscionable that our Dreamers are now at risk of being separated from their families and removed from the only country they know as home. In addition to the sound economic, educational, and moral arguments we are hearing today, there is another argument for DACA, one that, as a doctor, I know needs our attention. That is the public health argument. Doing away with DACA would mean the U.S. could lose over 27,000 healthcare workers and support staff around the country. At a time when we can least afford it, we would lose nurses, physicians, EMTs, and hospital workers, people who have spent their careers making our Nation healthier and whose absence would bring our public health great harm. That is why I cosponsored, and the House passed, H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, so that 800,000 Dreamers who work, are in school, have joined the military, or are working to improve our public health on a daily basis can live without fear of deportation. I urge Senate Majority Leader McConnell to stop playing games and have a vote. Let's get H.R. 6 passed.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and legacy of my constituent, Jane Dundas Smith--a dedicated educator who uplifted and inspired her students. Jane was an extraordinary leader both inside and outside the classroom who sought to better the lives of students in our communities and across the country. After graduating from the University of California Davis, Jane began her career as a ninth-grade English teacher at Vallejo Unified School District. From there, she launched a more than 30-year career in education--eventually supporting educational programs for the largest county in the nation in the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools office. Jane's passion for improving the lives of others through education extended beyond the classroom. As a consultant and education specialist, she worked with school districts across the country, designing programs to support underserved schools and communities. Even after her retirement, Jane continued to shape the lives of students in our communities, serving on the Board of Education in the Yucaipa-Calimesa School District and on the Nominating Committee for the California School Boards Education Association. Jane's devotion to her students and education was unshakable. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, we join together with her loved ones to grieve her loss. Jane's valuable contributions will be felt for generations to come, and her memory will live on in the hearts of the countless lives she touched.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, earlier this month, James Madison Elementary School in Indio, California, closed after rust, mold, and corrosion were found in the columns and the walls supporting the building, compromising the school's infrastructure and putting students, teachers, and staff at risk. This is symptomatic of outdated and weak infrastructure in schools throughout our Nation. Thankfully, the Desert Sands Unified School District board closed the school and transferred students to another facility. The cost of our schools' outdated infrastructure is adding up. We need big and bold investments in school infrastructure to keep our students safe, prevent school closures, and help our students compete. That is why I cosponsored and urge a vote on the Rebuilding America's Schools Act of 2019, to invest $100 billion in schools' much-needed physical and digital infrastructure. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 865, the Rebuilding America's Schools Act of 2019, and prioritize students' well-being, safety, and education.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today because seniors in my district are walking out of the pharmacy without their medications after they look at the out-of-pocket price and say to themselves, ``I can't afford this.'' They are not taking the medications they need, which jeopardizes their lives, and this is unacceptable. It is their health--their very lives--that are on the line. That is why, when we are talking about prescription drugs, we must focus on lowering the out-of-pocket costs for seniors. That is why I support H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, because it requires Medicare to negotiate drug prices so that my constituents can get a fair and affordable price for their medication. It also caps the annual out-of-pocket costs for those seniors who require many medications or expensive medication. No one should have to choose between buying groceries to eat or getting medications they need, and H.R. 3 will lower costs so seniors don't have to make that decision.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize George Forman, who has been a champion for tribes and tribal sovereignty for more than 50 years. I am honored to represent eleven federally recognized tribes in my district. Each of the eleven tribes has had to fight for their rights and their sovereignty at every turn. Standing with tribes in that fight and leading with them are the attorneys who represent them in the court of law. George was instrumental in securing victory for tribes in the Cabazon case that set the groundwork for tribes to transform their on- reservation economies and conduct gaming operations, which has empowered tribes' self-sufficiency to provide adequate housing, schools, and other needed social services for tribal members. He has successfully helped several tribes fight their unjust termination and achieve re-recognition as federally recognized tribes. And over the decades, George has served my constituents, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, providing advice and counsel with the highest of integrity. I want to thank George for his work and wish him a long, happy retirement filled with well-earned family time.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of renown psychiatrist, a former associate dean of student affairs at Harvard Medical School, a lifelong public servant, and my mentor and friend, Dr. Alvin Poussaint. Dr. Poussaint's career has been one of passion and service. During the civil rights movement, Dr. Poussaint marched from Selma to Montgomery with Martin Luther King, Jr., organizing Freedom Clinics with the Freedom Riders. Over his accomplished career, Dr. Poussaint and his experience, insight, and intellect have been requested by the FBI, the White House, and the Department of Health and Human Services. One of the biggest blessings of my life is that our paths crossed when I was a student at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Poussaint believed in me and supported me in my studies and my student advocacies. Dr. Poussaint embraced me and my approach to learning. He encouraged me and guided my passion and energy, and he defended me from those who wanted me to think that I didn't belong there. Dr. Alvin Poussaint is one of the reasons I am standing up here today as a physician and Congressman standing up for health and social justice. I wish him well in his retirement and celebrate his decades of professional accomplishments and contributions to our society.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize George Forma, who has been a champion for tribes and tribal sovereignty for more than 50 years. I am honored to represent eleven federally recognized tribes in my district. Each of the eleven tribes has had to fight for their rights and their sovereignty at every turn. Standing with tribes in that fight and leading with them are the attorneys who represent them in the court of law. George was instrumental in securing victory for tribes in the Cabazon case that set the groundwork for tribes to transform their on- reservation economies and conduct gaming operations, which has empowered tribes' self-sufficiency to provide adequate housing, schools, and other needed social services for tribal members. He has successfully helped several tribes fight their unjust termination and achieve re-recognition as federally recognized tribes. And over the decades, George has served my constituents, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, providing advice and counsel with the highest of integrity. I want to thank George for his work and wish him a long, happy retirement filled with well-earned family time.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, there are people whose empathy and compassion glow like a beacon, and others whose shine like the sun. That was Barbara Keller: A blazing star of kindness and an inspiring local leader who lived to serve others, championed causes that uplifted the sick, the poor, and fought for the rights of the LGBTQ community. For 3 decades, Barbara called California's Coachella Valley home. Barbara and her husband, Jerry, brought award-winning restaurants to the Coachella Valley. But it was Barbara's generosity and commitment to serving others that made her so remarkable. Barbara was a champion for combating HIV/AIDS through her leadership as the first female president of the Desert AIDS Project. Barbara was moved by the deaths and suffering of many HIV-infected friends living on the margins, facing injustice and discrimination in their struggle to live. She brought hope and healthcare to so many individuals living with, affected by, or at risk for HIV or AIDS. As a doctor, I had the honor of working with Barbara on the Desert AIDS Project in our shared advocacy for the health of local and medically underserved communities. Barbara's annual Steve Chase Awards fundraisers were a fixture of the Coachella Valley, as was her incredible gala dress fashion, second only to her beauty and class. Barbara also lent her compassion to defending the health of patients while working with the AIDS Assistance Project and the Loma Linda Children's Hospital. During her years of service to our communities, Barbara also helped grow our desert's art scene through organizations like the Palm Springs Art Museum and the McCallum Theatre. Barbara's generosity in her public life was complemented by her extraordinary kindness in her private life. My wife, Monica, and I knew Barbara as a dear, dear, friend and a wonderful role model to our daughters, Sky and Sage. I was constantly personally touched by her loving nature, her unwavering support and encouragement, and her dedication to her higher purpose. Barbara most treasured her family, and her greatest pleasure was being a loving wife, a mother, a daughter, and grandmother. Barbara devotedly cared for her aging father, Marvin Cohn, until he passed away in March at 106 years old, never once telling him she was undergoing intense chemotherapy for breast cancer. Barbara's death soon followed the following month on April 15, 2019. Barbara and her husband Jerry's marriage was a love story few can claim and a touching example of the power of true love. Barbara leaves behind her devoted husband, Jerry, her son, Brad, her daughters, Lindsay, Lisa, and Kelly, and her seven grandchildren, Taylor, Rebekah, Graham, Ridley, Greta, Eva, and Levon, and her sister, Carole. While Barbara's passing deeply saddens me, her memory will live on in my heart and in the hearts of the countless individuals whose lives she touched. In an era of ``me first,'' ego-driven, selfish ambition, Barbara reminds us that love, kindness, and genuine service to others is possible. She is the embodiment of good, humility, strength, and outer and inner beauty. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she improved and inspired. And she was a giant, a social architect, designing a healthier, kinder, more just community. Knowing Barbara, and calling her my friend, was an incredible, unique, and beautiful blessing in my life. And her story must be told and recorded in our national records, so that generations to come can learn the vast potential of our national spirit. She will be missed.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Larry N. Olinger, Vice Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a dedicated, inspiring leader who passed away July 15, 2019, at the age of 80. Vice Chairman Olinger grew up in Palm Springs and, later, in Orange County, where he spent many years breeding and racing horses. From a young age, Vice Chairman Olinger was drawn to enacting positive change in his community through public service. Vice Chairman Olinger was first elected to Tribal Council in 1961, where he began his 60-year career. He went on to serve in every position on Tribal Council, including secretary, treasurer, chairman, and eventually vice chairman in 2012. As the first chairman of the Agua Caliente Development Authority, Olinger championed gaming as a Tribal business enterprise, stimulating economic growth and strengthening Tribal sovereignty. His leadership also spanned from the Native American Rights Fund to the State of California and the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, where he advocated for the protection of our communities' natural and cultural resources. Our communities have lost a great man and generational leader in Vice Chairman Olinger's passing. His passion, class, and concern for the well-being of others, including his Tribe and our surrounding communities, was admirable. I have always admired Chairman Olinger's strong character and lifelong commitment to learning; and I will deeply miss his caring nature and dry sense of humor. Vice Chairman Olinger often called his ``proudest achievement'' his marriage to his wife, Susan. Susan, my heart goes out to you and the entire Olinger family. I also send my heartfelt condolences to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. We will miss Vice Chairman Olinger deeply; but we can honor his legacy by loving our neighbors, caring for the Earth, and protecting and respecting the rich culture and sovereignty of Tribal communities. Honoring Jesus Rivera Osuna

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jesus Rivera Osuna, a soft-spoken, true family man, who passed away on June 28, 2019, at the age of 74. Mr. Osuna is the father of my childhood best friend, Oscar Osuna. I spent so much time at the Osuna home that they became my second family, and Mr. Osuna always made me feel welcome and part of the family. I remember his patience, humility, and loving and calming nature. He was also a kind, stable, and secure male role model in our rough-and- tumble impoverished community. Mr. Osuna was a hardworking man and ran his own business for 50 years, toiling in the hot desert Sun to repair air-conditioning units in the Coachella Valley community. He was also a great guitar player. I would listen in amazement to Mr. Osuna play classical guitar alone in his room after a long day at work. He was always so humble. He would stop playing if he noticed anybody nearby, so I would quietly listen from Oscar's room in awe of his talent. Mr. Osuna married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou, at 24 years old, and together they raised four children, my second family brothers and sisters--Elvia, Sergio, Oscar, and Lila--three nephews, and supported Mr. Osuna's mother. Mr. and Mrs. Osuna's family has grown to include four grandchildren. Even in his final days, Mr. Osuna refused to be a burden to his family as he battled the illness that ultimately took his life. To the Osuna family, I love you, and your dad's story is engraved in my heart and now recorded in our Nation's history.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule for H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, my legislation to ensure CBP upholds basic standards to meet the humanitarian needs of children, women, and families. My bill is an American-values-based, basic public health approach to prevent the deaths of children under CBP's custody and responsibility, and to develop a professional, humane response to the humanitarian challenges at our border. Why are these humanitarian standards needed, you might ask? Because when I visited the border, I saw open toilets in crowded cells without privacy, and babies who were dirty and didn't have diapers sleeping on cold cement floors; because these inhumane and unsanitary conditions threaten the mental and physical health of CBP agents; and because six children have now died in the custody and responsibility of CBP. To address this crisis, we need to do more than send money to an administration that has urged, in court, that children in CBP custody do not need soap and toothbrushes for basic hygiene needs.

Mr. RUIZ. Passing this rule is the first step to ensure CBP facilities have basic necessities like humane sleeping conditions, private and clean bathrooms, sufficient water and nutrition, and showers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow representatives to support my bill, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, to protect the health of our agents, prevent the deaths of children, and restore humanity to our treatment of children and families seeking asylum.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chair, I thank Chair Lofgren for her leadership on addressing the humanitarian crisis at our border. I rise in support of H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act. My legislation is meant to prevent children from dying at the border, and promote a professional, humane way to treat children and families under the custody, and therefore, the responsibility of CBP. But before I explain my bill's American-values-based, humanitarian, public health approach, I want to refute a few myths. First, the myth that this bill costs too much. My bill will not raise the deficit one penny and does not require any increase in mandatory spending. Instead, it provides the blueprint for how CBP should us its current budget and the $4.6 billion in emergency funding we recently passed to address the humanitarian crisis. Second, the myth that my bill will make it more difficult for CBP to prevent human trafficking. My bill specifically allows for CBP to separate a child from an adult if `` . . . such an arrangement poses safety or security concerns . . . '', such as in instances of suspected human trafficking. Furthermore, my bill requires CBP personnel to receive training on indicators of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Third, the myth that my bill requires medical specialists onsite at all times. That is simply not true. It is simply false. My bill only requires a licensed health provider like a nurse, a physician assistant, an EMT, or paramedic to conduct health screenings, and it empowers CBP to call an emergency care provider to help with emergency triage decisions. That is it. And those emergency care providers can include those specialists, but it doesn't require them, all of them, to be on call at all times or to be onsite. Finally, the myth that my bill is too cumbersome for CBP and will distract agents from safety and security concerns. One, CBP agents want the assistance in my bill because it provides them with humanitarian and health assistance to free up their time to focus on safety and security issues; therefore, my bill will make our country safer. And, two--look, I was an early responder after the Haiti earthquake and medical director for the largest internally-displaced camp in Haiti. If nonprofits can meet the humanitarian standards in this bill in the worst circumstances in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, then we can meet them in the greatest country known to man. So here is what my bill actually does. It creates a simple health triage system and basic humanitarian public health standards. It ensures that every individual in CBP custody receives a health screening to triage for acute conditions and high-risk vulnerability, something that is easy to do. And, no, you don't need a full physical exam. You are just triaging. You need vital signs and a cursory physical exam. In fact, for most people, it would take less than 5 minutes to perform. It ensures that every individual in CBP custody receives a health screening to triage for acute conditions and high-risk vulnerabilities so people don't die under the responsibility of CBP. It ensures that an emergency care provider is on call to pick up the phone and help make triage decisions for life-threatening medical emergencies. That is it. That is all we are asking for. My bill also prioritizes high-risk populations, the most vulnerable to severe illnesses and dying, to receive a health screening within 6 hours, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly. My bill requires very basic and necessary things like toothbrushes and diapers. It includes nutrition standards to make sure that infants have formula and babies have baby food. How hard is that? In terms of shelter, my bill will ensure that people are no longer packed and piled on top of each other; that the temperature is not too cold, weakening a child's immune system; and that toddlers don't have to sleep on a cold concrete floor. Finally, my bill addresses the challenges of surge capacity, adds training, and requires reporting. The straightforward reforms in my bill are essential to protecting the health and safety of agents and the children and families in their custody. Let me repeat myself. Let me reiterate. This is not just for asylum- seeking children and families. This bill will help CBP agents.

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chair, it will empower CBP to meet the basic provisions for human dignity. Mr. Chair, I sincerely urge my fellow representatives to listen to their better angels, do the right thing, and vote for H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, to prevent another child from dying in the custody of CBP and to promote a professional, humane approach to addressing the humanitarian challenges at our border and create the basic conditions for human dignity.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the MTR.

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, my bill, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, honors CBP agents by giving them the assistance they have requested and so desperately need. This bill gives them the tools to help protect kids and families. You see, Mr. Speaker, this bill isn't about political trickery. It is not about partisan gotcha politics. This bill is about the goodness of the American people. This bill is a call to our better angels. This bill, and I say this wholeheartedly, is inspired through prayer and by God's loving grace. You see, it asks us to remember and heed the words of Jesus in the good news book of Matthew: ``For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me in'', and, ``Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'' This bill asks us to fulfill the Golden Rule: ``Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'' These principles, you see, are fundamental to our American values. They are shared by the CBP agents and doctors I spoke with at the border. This bill protects children, women, and families by setting humanitarian standards that require basic health screenings and triage, formula for infants, diapers for toddlers, and simple necessities like toothbrushes and soap. This bill also protects the health of our agents, proud Americans who work tirelessly in dangerous and inhumane conditions, who are also parents and suffer lifelong trauma when someone else's child dies under their responsibilities. Today, I stand before you not only as a public health professional and an emergency medicine physician trained in humanitarian aid, I stand before you as a parent of two young daughters. I stand before you as a patriot, whose faith in our American values, in the power of basic human decency, has never been stronger. Tonight's vote isn't about politics, it isn't about party, it isn't even about immigration policy. This vote is about the beauty and power of grace. This vote is about loving and protecting children, because in the United States of America, we recognize the inherent dignity of every human being, because in the United States of America, every child is worth saving, because in the United States of America, when children die on our watch, we take action. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the MTR, then vote ``yes'' for Humanitarian Standards for Individuals Under CBP Custody. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate an important milestone in the fight to protect patients from unfair and expensive surprise medical bills. For too many middle-class families, receiving an unexpected and very expensive bill from an out-of-network provider is devastating and can lead to severe anxiety, depression, and financial ruin. That is why, yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 3630, the No Surprises Act, a bill that will protect millions of hardworking Americans from receiving a surprise medical bill through no fault of their own. I am fighting to end surprise medical bills once and for all. The No Surprises Act includes my bipartisan amendment to create an independent arbitration process that keeps patients out of the middle and off the hook for surprise medical bills. As an emergency medicine physician, my life's work has been about putting patients first, and I am still fighting to put their health above all else. I thank Chairman Pallone for leading an open, inclusive, and collaborative process that has brought us one step closer to a bipartisan solution that protects patients and ends surprise medical bills.