Harley Rouda

Mr. ROUDA

Mr. ROUDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the City of Santa Ana, California on October 27, 2019. The City or Santa Ana was founded on October 27, 1869 by William H. Spurgeon. Santa Ana rapidly became a hub for commercial, financial, and manufacturing businesses. To this day, the city remains a key pillar to Orange County and its culture. The City of Santa Ana, commonly regarded by locals as ``Downtown Orange County'' or as the Golden City for its impressive culture and lively history, is the second most-populous city in Orange County with more than 300,000 residents. Located just a few miles away from the Pacific Ocean, Santa Ana is home to an array of attractions, including the Santa Ana Zoo, Grand Central Art Center, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, and Discovery Museum of Orange County. Today I ask that all Members join me in recognizing the 150th anniversary of the vibrant and wonderful City of Santa Ana, California.

Mr. ROUDA

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3889) to amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 to make technical corrections, as amended.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation that will make technical changes to the reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy included in last year's SUPPORT Act. As we all know, we are in the midst of a substance use disorder epidemic fueled by the proliferation of opioids, exacerbated by synthetic opioids like fentanyl, and increased use of methamphetamines, among other threats. This year, Americans will lose close to 70,000 friends and family and loved ones due to drug overdoses. More Americans are now dying annually due to overdose than at the height of the AIDS crisis or during the entire Vietnam war. No community is unaffected by the crisis. In my home of Orange County, California, drug and alcohol overdose deaths have increased by 82 percent since 2000. Across our country, our constituents are asking us to advance solutions to address this epidemic. Last year, Congress passed and President Trump signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, a wide-ranging, bipartisan bill aimed at addressing treatment, prevention, recovery, and enforcement. The SUPPORT Act represents an important step in the right direction to reverse the tide of overdose deaths. The SUPPORT Act included provisions to reauthorize and reform the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a component of the Executive Office of the President. ONDCP plays a critical role in overseeing the Federal Government's drug control efforts. However, there were several technical issues in the SUPPORT Act that must be corrected to ensure that the office can properly carry out its duties as Congress intended and improve the Federal Government's response to this crisis. The ONDCP Technical Corrections Act of 2019 would ensure the integrity of the performance measurement system, help ONDCP hire the best people to address the addiction crisis, and improve the effectiveness of grant programs. These corrections would help ONDCP's efficient and effective execution of its mission: preventing, combating, and treating the effects of drug proliferation throughout our Nation. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), my fellow Member, for joining me in introducing this bill and the committee staff on both sides of the aisle for working diligently to develop and advance it. I look forward to the House of Representatives passing this bill today. There is much more to be done to address the addiction crisis, and I look forward to continued work with all of my colleagues on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC, October 15, 2019. Hon. Elijah E. Cummings, Chair, Committee on Oversight and Reform, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Cummings: I write concerning H.R. 3889, the ``ONDCP Technical Corrections Act of 2019,'' which was additionally referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 3889, the Committee on Energy and Commerce agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the Rule Xjurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. I also request that you support my request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. Finally, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter into the Congressional Record during floor consideration of

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

Mr. ROUDA

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1496) to amend the Act of August 25, 1958, commonly known as the ``Former Presidents Act of 1958'', with respect to the monetary allowance payable to a former President, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on this measure.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1496 would amend the former President's Act of 1958 to cap a former President's annual pension at $200,000, indexed to inflation. The bill also would provide an additional annual allowance for expenses that would start at $200,000. Under this bill, the annual allowance would be reduced dollar for dollar in instances in which a former President's adjusted gross income in a taxable year exceeds $400,000. Taxpayers should not have to pay for a former President's allowance if the former President is making a comfortable living earning millions of dollars a year, as many former Presidents do. This legislation would not affect any funding for the security and protection of former Presidents and their spouses. This legislation would update the pension amount for surviving spouses of former Presidents, which has been unchanged since 1958, by increasing it from $20,000 to $100,000. Mr. Speaker, I believe this bill makes fiscal sense and urge Members to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ROUDA

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1253) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13507 Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima, California, as the ``Ritchie Valens Post Office Building''.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on this measure.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardenas), my fellow Member.

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

Mr. ROUDA

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1252) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6531 Van Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys, California, as the ``Marilyn Monroe Post Office''.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardenas), my fellow Representative.

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

Mr. ROUDA

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1833) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 35 Tulip Avenue in Floral Park, New York, as the ``Lieutenant Michael R. Davidson Post Office Building''.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on this measure.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).

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

Mr. ROUDA

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2451) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 575 Dexter Street in Central Falls, Rhode Island, as the ``Elizabeth Buffum Chace Post Office''.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

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