Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, my adult son, Ian Schakowsky, I will always credit for my decision last June to support the impeachment inquiry. It had never been my goal to impeach a President, but Ian made such a compelling case. He reminded me of the oath I have taken 11 times now to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. He said: Mom, this is not about politics, and this is not about party. Pushing back against my arguments, he said: This has nothing to do with the final outcome. It is about doing the right thing, even if others don't. He made me see that it was about my legacy, my modest place in history. I want to thank my son for helping me do the right thing today to vote to impeach the President of the United States, Donald Trump, because no American is above the law.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4779) to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 4779.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4779, a bill to extend the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006. This legislation, which I have cosponsored, was introduced by the ranking member of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Representatives Robin Kelly and Larry Bucshon. It advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee without objection. With our increased global and connected marketplace, American consumers and businesses are facing a growing number of complex threats from foreign wrongdoers. The United States SAFE WEB Act protects us from bad actors engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices by giving the Federal Trade Commission the authority and tools it needs to pursue enforcement actions against them. It has already been used to great effect to protect consumers in a wide range of cases, including scams that prey on older adults and connected toys that prey on our children's privacy. Reauthorizing the U.S. SAFE WEB Act is supported by all five commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission. This legislation would extend the U.S. SAFE WEB Act for another 7 years. Mr. Speaker, I call on all my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, but I do want to say that this is an example of bipartisan legislation that I am so proud of that has come out of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, and I am really grateful to my ranking Republican, her authorship of this legislation and her work to get it passed that will certainly protect us from foreign bad actors, scams, and deceptive practices. It gives the Federal Trade Commission more authority. Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that I am hoping that all of our colleagues can endorse, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2647) to adopt a certain California flammability standard as a Federal flammability standard to protect against the risk of upholstered furniture flammability, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2647.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2647, the Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act, also known as SOFFA. This bipartisan legislation, which I have cosponsored, was introduced by Representatives Doris Matsui and Morgan Griffith. It advanced out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce by voice vote. This bill adopts California's upholstered furniture flammability standard as the Federal standard. This new standard will ensure all Americans are protected from the rise of upholstered furniture fires and will eliminate unnecessary consumer exposure to flame-retardant chemicals. These toxic chemicals are associated with adverse health effects, including hormonal disruption, reduced fertility, and even cancer. For too long, upholstered furniture has been laden with flame- retardant chemicals and has been a significant source of human exposure to those toxic chemicals. Flame retardants are known to migrate out of the furniture and into household dust and persist in the indoor environment. Since the chemicals also accumulate in our bodies over time, babies and children, whose bodies and brains are still developing and who spend a lot of time on the floor, are especially vulnerable to toxic effects. Firefighters have long expressed concern that they face additional risks due to their unique exposure by the combustion of flame-retardant chemicals that occurs when they are battling fires. Flame-retardant chemicals in furniture are all risk and no reward. Testing by the Consumer Product Safety Commission has shown flame retardants added to furniture provide no meaningful fire safety benefit and make no difference in how much time you have to escape in the event of a fire. With this legislation, consumers will no longer have to second-guess whether or not the new sofa that they are purchasing meets stringent flammability standards. Manufacturers will be required to include a statement on a permanent label regarding the product's compliance with this new standard. Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to support this important legislation for public health and safety, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Think of it, that in our upholstered furniture there can be toxic chemicals that actually cause tremendous health hazards, not only to the people who own that furniture, but, now, to firefighters who are coming to put out fires. That is one. And number two, we find that these don't really have any effect on fires and make the time shorter that you can get out or actually reduce the chance of fire. So as I said, there is no gain in having these chemicals. Mr. Speaker, I have two letters that I will include in the Record, and they are: One, a letter from 17 organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Consumer Federation of America, Earthjustice, Green Science Policy Institute, Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, and Toxic- Free Future, among many others, urging strong support by Members for SOFFA; and Two, a letter from 15 national organizations representing consumers throughout the United States, including the Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, Kids in Danger, Public Citizen, and Safe Kids Worldwide, among many others, also urging strong support for this legislation. December 16, 2019. Dear Member of Congress: The undersigned groups urge you to vote YES on the SOFFA Act (H.R. 2647), led by Representatives Matsui and Griffith. This bipartisan legislation would help safeguard public health. There is currently no flammability standard for upholstered furniture at the federal level. This is a major gap that Congress should fill. Fortunately, the state of California recently conducted an extensive process to identify a furniture flammability standard that would provide protection against the vast majority of upholstered furniture fires, without the need for flame retardant chemicals, which have been linked to a variety of adverse health effects, including impaired brain development, reproductive problems, and cancers. Firefighters and children face especially high exposures and risks. The SOFFA Act would make California's flammability standard for upholstered furniture the standard across the nation. In 2013, California's Bureau of Household Goods and Services (``Bureau'') determined that the vast majority of upholstered furniture fires are started by smoldering materials on the fabric surface of the furniture. Therefore, it adopted a standard that addresses the safety threat of smoldering materials igniting the cover fabric of furniture. The result was California Technical Bulletin 117-2013 (TB 117-2013). TB 117-2013 was widely supported by firefighters, environmental and public health groups, and independent fire scientists. Since the standard was adopted, additional science has reinforced its importance and effectiveness. A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that among furniture fires, those caused by smoking products were the deadliest, and that the odds of someone dying in a furniture fire caused by smoking was three times greater than in a furniture fire caused by an open flame (such as a candle or match). It also found that standards focused on fires caused by an open flame and that relied on the addition of toxic flame retardant chemicals to furniture were ineffective in reducing the incidence of fires. The authors concluded that ``[d]ata on injury and death in residential fires support greater attention to smoking-related fires in furniture, because they are associated with a much higher risk of death than are fires ignited by open flames. Standards such as TB117-2013 are designed to address cigarette ignition of furniture without the use of toxic FR [flame retardant] chemicals. Future regulations to increase fire safety of residential furniture should continue to focus on ignition from smoking materials.'' Making California's TB 117-2013 the national flammability standard would end sporadic efforts to promulgate open flame standards that promote the use of toxic, flame retardant chemicals without providing a fire safety benefit. It would also provide a uniform standard for the furniture industry, while being health protective. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has previously relied on California flammability standards as the basis for federal health- protective standards. The SOFFA Act will create strong public health protections for people across the country and reduce the risk of harm by furniture-related fires. We urge you to safeguard public health for all Americans and vote YES on

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I urge strong support for this bipartisan legislation. I urge all Members to vote in favor, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3172) to prohibit the manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribution in commerce, or importation into the United States of any inclined sleeper for infants, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3172, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019. This legislation combines a bill that was introduced by Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Vice Chair Tony Cardenas, which bans inclined sleepers that have been associated with many infant deaths, with a bill that I introduced, the Safe Cribs Act, which bans crib bumpers that have led to suffocation deaths of infants. I introduced this legislation with my friends and colleagues from Illinois, Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Congressman Bobby Rush. For years, pediatricians have provided very clear recommendations for keeping babies safe while they sleep. Babies should only sleep on a firm, flat surface, free of any extra soft bedding. Infant inclined sleepers and crib bumpers are two products that contradict these longstanding recommendations of physicians. Infant inclined sleepers, like the Fisher-Price Rock `n Play, position babies for sleep on a dangerous incline. The inclined nature of these products goes directly against the guidance of pediatricians and medical experts. In April of this year, the public learned just how deadly they are: At least 32 babies have died in the Fisher-Price Rock `n Play since they were first introduced 10 years ago, in 2009. According to the latest figures, at least 73 babies have died in similar products like the Rock `n Play. With the ensuing outrage, the Consumer Product Safety Commission took some action, recalling over 5 million infant inclined sleepers. And thanks to pressure by Consumer Reports and Members of Congress, including Representative Cardenas and myself, some retailers, including Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Buy Buy Baby, have recently announced plans to stop selling these products. However, too many new or used inclined sleepers remain for sale on shelves and online. This class of product needs to be banned, and many children would still be alive if they had never been sold. Crib bumpers also remain widely used by parents and caretakers, despite safe sleep recommendations that ``bare is best'' and that any kind of soft bedding in a crib creates an unnecessary suffocation danger. That is, and the reason that they are so available is, because crib bumpers are featured on displays in stores, on baby registry checklists, and bundled as part of infant bedding sets. These products, parents and caregivers are told, prevent babies from bumping their heads or getting their arms or legs caught in the crib rails. But these products are unnecessary. Worse than unnecessary, they can be deadly. More than 100 babies have died because of crib bumpers since 1990. Consumers trust that the products that they see on the store shelves are safe. They think that products wouldn't be sold if they were so dangerous. We must take these dangerous products off the shelf now. No family should have to experience the heartache and the tragedy of losing a baby in an unsafe sleep product. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019 will save babies' lives. I want to thank Congressman Cardenas for his leadership, and I call on all of my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of our subcommittee, the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee in the Energy and Commerce Committee, for really saving lives. If we pass this legislation, we will stop hazards that are known to cause deaths of children in their beds by parents who have trusted that these products, because they are on the shelf, are safe. These bumpers and these inclined sleepers are proven killers, so this legislation will make these nurseries, these places where we put our precious babies to bed, much safer. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from 20 national organizations and more than 50 State and local organizations representing pediatricians and consumers throughout the United States, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Kids in Danger, among many others, urging strong support from Members for the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. September 11, 2019. Dear Representative: As organizations dedicated to children's health and safety, we write to express our strong support for three bills as they move to the House floor. These bills would improve protections against preventable sleep-related deaths, as well as injuries and deaths from preventable furniture tip-overs. We urge you to support these bills to protect children from injuries and deaths. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019 (H.R. 3172) would ban infant inclined sleep products, such as the recently recalled Fisher- Price Rock `n Play Sleeper, which have been linked to the deaths of at least 50 infants. While there have been four recent recalls related to this product type, similar unsafe products of this type remain on the market. These products are deadly, and their design is inherently unsafe and incompatible with expert safe sleep recommendations, including from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This legislation would help prevent more families from experiencing the tragedy of losing a child by banning the products' manufacture, import, and sale. The Safe Cribs Act of 2019 (H.R. 3170) would ban crib bumper pads. Bumper pads have led to dozens of infant suffocation deaths and do not offer protection to babies. These products are also inconsistent with expert safe sleep recommendations. Maryland, Ohio, New York State, Chicago, Illinois, and Watchung, New Jersey have taken action to protect babies. If H.R. 3170 becomes law, all babies in the Unites States would be similarly protected. This legislation would help prevent more families from experiencing the tragedy of losing a child to crib bumper pads by banning their manufacture, import, and sale altogether. The STURDY Act (H.R. 2211) would direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create a mandatory clothing storage unit standard to help prevent furniture tip- overs. According to the CPSC, one child dies every ten days from a tip-over. Stronger product testing and safety requirements could prevent these fatalities. This bill is critically important because it would establish a strong mandatory standard for furniture stability. The STURDY Act would require the CPSC to create a mandatory rule that would: cover all clothing storage units, including those 30 inches in height or shorter; require testing to simulate the weights of children up to 72 months old; require testing measures to account for scenarios involving carpeting, loaded drawers, multiple open drawers, and the dynamic force of a climbing child; mandate strong warning requirements; and require the CPSC to issue the mandatory standard within one year of enactment. To protect children from furniture tip-overs, we need a strong mandatory standard and the STURDY Act includes those critically needed provisions. These bills offer a vital opportunity to protect children from preventable injuries and deaths. We urge you to support these child health and safety bills, and to vote ``yes'' on them as they move to the House floor. Sincerely, National Organizations American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Center for Justice & Democracy, Child Care Aware of America, Child Injury Prevention Alliance, Children's Advocacy Institute, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Cribs for Kids, Inc., First Focus Campaign for Children, Keeping Babies Safe, Kids In Danger, MomsRising, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Consumers League, Parents for Window Blind Safety, Public Citizen, Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe States Alliance, The Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR). State and Local Organizations Alaska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AkPIRG), American Academy of Pediatrics--Arizona Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics--California Chapter 3, American Academy of Pediatrics--Hawaii Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics Georgia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, New York Chapter 1, American Academy of Pediatrics New York Chapter 2, American Academy of Pediatrics, New York Chapter 3, American Academy of Pediatrics, Vermont Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Colorado Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Orange County Chapter, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Arkansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 1, American Academy of Pediatrics, Chicago Consumer Coalition, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin, Consumer Assistance Council, Inc., Consumer Assistance Council, Inc., DC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Delaware Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Empire State Consumer Project. Florida Chapter--American Academy of Pediatrics, Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Action for Children, Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Island Pediatrics of Honolulu, Kentucky Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Maryland Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics, Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Nevada Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, New Mexico Pediatric Society, North Carolina Pediatric Society, Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, OHSU/Doernbecher Tom Sargent Safety Center, Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, South Dakota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Sudden Infant Death Services of Illinois, Inc., Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Wyckoff Hospital, Wyoming Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, since 2003, the pharmaceutical companies have had free rein to gouge sick people. They forced into law language that prohibited the Federal Government from negotiating with the drug companies for lower prices, which already the Veterans Administration does and has done for decades. We know that negotiating for fair prices actually is the only way that we are going to be able to lower prices, and that is what H.R. 3 is going to do. Even Donald Trump has said that, when he was a candidate: When it comes to negotiating the cost of drugs, we are going to negotiate like crazy. That was then, and this is now. The Congressional Budget Office says we are going to save about half a trillion dollars when we negotiate in the most effective way to protect seniors and families and anyone who has insurance, and we are going to be able to use that money to finally help senior citizens who need help with their eyeglasses, with their hearing aids, with their dental care. We are going to be able to make such a difference in their lives. Ninety percent of Democrats, 87 percent of Independents, and 80 percent of Republicans say they support allowing the Federal Government to negotiate for prices. The time is absolutely now for us to pass this legislation. H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019, is the solution that we have been waiting for, a historic step forward in our fight to solve the problem of the prescription drug pricing crisis that we face in this country. I look forward to seeing it pass into law and the President of the United States keeping his promise and not breaking it by signing negotiation into law.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael Carrigan on the occasion of his retirement as the president of the Illinois American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). I have appreciated Michael's leadership of the Illinois AFL- CIO and his vision and hard work towards improving the quality of life for workers in Illinois and across the region and country. Mike Carrigan served for 12 years as president and 7 years as secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO. During his 19-year tenure, he worked on many successful initiatives that have helped the Illinois workforce and families, including gradually raising Illinois' minimum wage to $15 an hour, a $45 billion infrastructure program, the legalization of cannabis and many legislative initiatives and programs that improve the lives of Illinois residents. Mike serves on the national AFL-CIO State Federation and Central Labor Council Advisory Committee and was the chairman of the 12-state AFL-CIO Midwest Labor Federation Council. In Illinois he serves on the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board and the Illinois Prevailing Wage Council. Prior to his work with the Illinois AFL-CIO, Mike was elected to the Decatur City Council in 1995 and served nearly four terms before being appointed Mayor of Decatur in 2008. He was business manager/financial secretary for IBEW Local 146 in Decatur from 1992 to 2000; he was a journeyman wireman in Decatur from 1978 to 1990 and became business manager of the local. Mike Carrigan is a fierce champion of the labor movement and a fighter for worker's rights and his leadership will be remembered and missed. On a personal note, I have appreciated his advice and counsel, his friendship and support and his steady leadership on behalf of Illinois workers and their families. Congratulations to Mike on his retirement, and I thank him for his years of service.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the compassionate and efficient service and valuable contributions of my dear personal friend, Ms. Marilyn Glazer, who is retiring from her role as Niles Township Supervisor on December 31, 2019. Marilyn has served as an effective elected official to her community for nearly 15 years, and her leadership has changed Niles Township for the better. Marilyn Glazer was first elected as a Niles Township Trustee in 2005, and she held this position until her election as Supervisor in 2014. Marilyn worked hard to make sure that Niles Township residents had access to the best services that the township could offer. Marilyn helped to increase resources allocated to the Niles Township food pantry and under her leadership, the food pantry has grown and moved into a new and larger space. The food pantry provides a lifeline for many township residents. Marilyn helped establish local grants available for qualifying students to attend Oakton Community College, and scholarships for day care and park district day camp. She also oversaw efforts to meaningfully improve and expand access to senior legal services, immigration services, and utility bill assistance. My office has worked closely with Niles Township throughout Marilyn's tenure to ensure that our shared constituents receive effective and efficient assistance. My district staff holds regular neighborhood office hours in the township offices and works closely with the township staff to solve constituents' problems. Marilyn maintained excellent working relationships with my staff and has always been a fierce advocate for Niles Township residents. Marilyn will continue her long and successful career as a realtor and real estate teacher after her retirement from the township. Marilyn Glazer's professional work speaks for itself, and I deeply admire her dedicated effort to better the lives of residents throughout Niles Township. On behalf of the constituents of the 9th Congressional District, I thank Marilyn for her service and tireless work over the last 15 years.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Chair, I thank Mr. Courtney for yielding, and I proudly rise today in support of his legislation. The frequency and scale of workplace violence are alarmingly high, but no statistic, even the startling ones that we have learned about, can fully reflect the pain, loss, and suffering that these incidents can cause. As we consider the bill before us today, I ask that you remember and honor Pamela Knight. Pamela was an AFSCME Council 31, Local 448 member. She worked for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a child protection specialist. She had been sent to take a 2-year-old child into protective custody from an abusive father. As she got out of her car, Pamela was attacked by the boy's father. Brutally beaten, Ms. Knight suffered blunt force trauma to her head. After 11 years on the job, she succumbed to her injuries, paying the ultimate price for protecting children from abuse and neglect. Pamela and her fellow DCFS employees are the front line of defense in protecting children in Illinois and around the country. In this vital work, they can encounter families in crisis stemming from poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence. For two decades, OSHA has worked with employers on voluntary guidelines to address workplace violence, yet the rate of violence has gone up. Enough is enough. Today, we can do the right thing by Pamela Knight and the unsung heroes in healthcare and social services by passing this important, critical, and necessary piece of legislation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 633.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I am grateful to Representatives Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Steve Stivers, Kenny Marchant, William Keating, Zoe Lofgren, and Lauren Underwood for their support of H.R. 2781, the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act. They wanted to cosponsor this bill but were unable to be added in time. When H.R. 2781 passes the Senate and is signed into law, we will increase the diversity of our health care workforce, improve geriatrics education and training to address gaps in caregiving and health care for older adults, and grow the critical pediatric health care workforce. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we continue our efforts to make sure health care is more equitable and accessible for our constituents.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2781) to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to the health professions workforce, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 2781.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2781, the EMPOWER for Health Act of 2019, or Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act, which I introduced with my colleague, Congressman Burgess, in May. This legislation advanced out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce by unanimous vote. By 2032, the United States may see a shortage of up to 122,000 physicians, but we already have a significant physician shortage. If healthcare access were equitable across all races, socioeconomic statuses, and geographic locations, the United States would need almost 100,000 more doctors immediately. This legislation is one solution to this real problem. The EMPOWER for Health Act will spur growth in our healthcare workforce and ensure increased funding for several title VII health, education, and training programs over the next 5 years. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, for decades title VII programs have assisted students from minority and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to enter the health professions by focusing on development, retention, matriculation, and graduation, but we still have a lot of work to do. In 1998 about 7 percent of the medical school matriculants were Black, and 5 percent were Hispanic and Latino. In 2016 those numbers only increased to 8.2 percent for African Americans and 6.2 percent for Hispanics and Latinos. I believe the extreme racial health disparities in this country are directly linked to the lack of underrepresented minorities in medicine. This legislation reflects our commitment to a diverse workforce by authorizing higher funding levels for these diversity programs. We also have a rapidly growing population of older Americans, as Mr. Burgess mentioned. This legislation will address the extreme shortage of health professionals expertly trained for care of the rapidly growing and diverse population of older Americans. As well, the pediatric workforce is at a crisis point right now. In my home State of Illinois, for example, we face severe shortages of child and adolescent psychiatrists. Children with special or complex health issues often have to wait months before a specialist can see them, and this is unacceptable. So this legislation will encourage physicians to specialize in pediatric care by authorizing funding for this critical program for the first time since 2010. Finally, this bill also creates a new program to increase diversity in the professions of physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists. This was a section that was added by my colleague from Illinois, Bobby Rush, and we appreciate that. This bill assures almost $2 billion in funding over the next 5 years for these essential programs. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will close with this: I thank all the Members who worked together to produce this great legislation, especially my colleague, Congressman Michael Burgess, who has been a champion of these issues and introduced the bill along with me and the chairman of our Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Pallone. I also would like to give a quick thank you to the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee staff on both sides of the aisle and my health policy advisor, Osaremen Okolo. Madam Speaker, I would also like to include in the Record a few letters and statements from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, the American Geriatrics Society, the National Association for Geriatric Education and the National Hispanic Medical Association all urging strong support for this legislation. association of american medical colleges ``The HRSA Title VII programs improve access to care for rural and underserved communities and create a diverse and culturally competent health workforce, which can enhance patients' health outcomes,'' said the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). ``We applaud the House of Representatives for passing bipartisan Title VII reauthorization and recognizing the need to increase federal funding in our nation's health workforce infrastructure.'' american geriatrics society ``The future we're working for at the AGS--a future when all older Americans have access to high-quality, person- centered care--begins by building the workforce to make that possible, and by ensuring that workforce can connect us to the tools and supports we need as we grow older together,'' observed Nancy E. Lundebjerg, MPA. CEO of the AGS. ``The EMPOWER for Health Act will make that possible by supporting two training programs that are as critical to our future as they are widely supported, thanks in large part to the bipartisan efforts that will make this bill law.'' Eldercare workforce alliance ``Our nation faces a severe and growing shortage of eldercare professionals with the skills and training to meet the unique healthcare needs of older adults,'' said Amy York, Executive Director of the Eldercare Workforce Alliance. ``EWA supports the EMPOWER for Health Act of 2019 because it expands the only federal geriatrics training program. That's an investment in an eldercare workforce that can support well-coordinated, high-quality care for all older Americans.'' national association for geriatric education ``NAGE is please to support the EMPOWER Act which will enable the GWEP and GACA programs to continue to train health care professionals and caregivers across the nation to care for older adults with the most effective and efficient practices. We are particularly indebted to Representative Schakowsky who is a true leader in aging and health care policy.'' american academy of pediatrics ``Across the country, there are significant shortages of pediatric subspecialists, which lead to long commutes for parents seeking care for their children and appointment wait times that can last more than three months. For a child with a complex, serious health condition, three months can seem like a lifetime. Children with complex medical conditions are among the most vulnerable; their ability to see the right doctor in a reasonable amount of time should not be determined by where they live. The EMPOWER for Health Act reauthorizes the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program, which is an important step toward addressing the shortage and geographic disparities that impact a child's ability to access subspecialty care. The American Academy of Pediatrics thanks Rep. Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Rep. Mike Burgess (R-Texas) for their leadership advancing this important legislation.''--American Academy of Pediatrics President Kyle Yasuda, MD, FAAP