Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I like the fact that we are speaking the same language. It is wonderful to have that opportunity. I look forward to working with the gentleman on the other side of the aisle on the legislation that I am about to introduce. We might see some bipartisan work here. This is about green jobs. That is what this amendment is all about. We have to secure the jobs for the rest of this century in the auto industry, and we are not going to do it unless we move into electric vehicles. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for giving me this opportunity to speak on this very important bill. Rosie the Riveters who are left in this country deserve a Congressional Gold Medal. In one of the most challenging periods of our American history, women stepped up to serve this country. Six million women entered the workforce for the first time during World War II, offering to build weapons, vehicles, and ammunition that helped us win the war. The critical contributions of Rosie the Riveters changed the course of world history and blazed a trail for today's working women. The Rosies proved that they could work and succeed in jobs and industries that had long been male-dominated. African American women challenged stereotypes and policies of discrimination to contribute to the war effort. Because of the Rosies, the U.S. Government worked with businesses to develop support for working moms, like childcare programs. The famous image of Rosie the Riveter, sleeves rolled up, muscles flexed, and a bandanna in place, has inspired generations of women and girls to embody the strength, patriotism, and ``We Can Do It'' spirit that radiates from the poster. But even the iconic image can't do justice to the real-life Rosies who took on the mantle of the war effort at home, defied expectations, eradicated barriers to women's participation in the workforce, and made victory possible. It has been one of the great honors of my career to work closely with several of these women during my time in Congress. Phyllis Gould went to welding school from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. every day for weeks to get a job working at a shipyard in California. She was one of the first women accepted into the boilermakers union. At 97 years old, Phyllis still works tirelessly to make sure we never forget the sacrifices and the hard work that American women provided during World War II. Phyllis' sister, Marian Sousa, went to work at 17 years of age as a draftsman in the shipyards in Richmond, California. Marian's volunteer work at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park preserves the Rosie legacy for future generations. Mae Krier went to work at Boeing Aircraft right out of high school, helping to build B-17s and B-29 bombers. Today, she is one of the foremost Rosie advocates in the country, fighting for recognition of the tremendous wartime contributions of American women. Betty Reid Soskin, park ranger at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, worked as a file clerk in the boilermakers' union hall. Today, she is the oldest national park ranger in the country, dedicated to bringing the Rosies' trailblazing legacy to life for visitors. These Rosies are true American sheroes. It is long past time that they and all the women who served on the home front during World War II receive recognition from the country for which they sacrificed so much. I urge my colleagues to stand with us in honoring our Rosie the Riveters with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Joe Pierucci upon his retirement as Chief of Police for Foster City. Chief Pierucci will be leaving after 33 years in law enforcement, including the last 11 years in Foster City. Chief Pierucci grew up in Foster City and began his career in nearby San Mateo in 1986. In San Mateo, he worked as a detective, field training officer, and school resource officer before moving up to Patrol Sergeant. He then assumed responsibility for several of San Mateo's important community policing activities including the highly successful San Mateo Police Athletics League, neighborhood watch and crime prevention programs. In 2009, Joe Pierucci returned to his hometown of Foster City when he became a lieutenant and began supervising patrol teams. He's a warm, amiable person and his personality fit well with a community in which residents embrace their law enforcement officers and enjoy an outdoor quality of life that is organized around community events, community sports leagues, the water and parks. Into this mix came Joe Pierucci with gusto and a smile as wide as a city lagoon. He quickly rose to the rank of Captain and eventually managed field operations and administrative functions. He served as President of the San Mateo County Law Enforcement Commanders Association and continued his training in law enforcement management. In 2016, thanks in part he noted to great mentoring in both San Mateo and Foster City, he was elevated to become Chief of Police. Chief Pierucci is a member of the Foster City Lions Club and volunteered with the city's Little League and Youth Softball Association. His son Mike continued his father's career of service as a Blackhawk Helicopter Crew-Chief. His daughter, Tori, is finishing her criminal justice degree and hopes to be the 3rd generation of Pierucci's serving in local law enforcement. The Chief is a newlywed and his wife, Angela, will now have much more time with Joe. It's unlikely that such an energetic guy will find a home on a couch, and we wish this couple many years of great travels and new adventures. As the Chief notes, he began his life in Foster City as a resident when the area previously known as Brewer Island was largely sand and sea shells. Today, the city is home to such powerhouse companies as Gilead Sciences, Visa International and others that, although less well known, are building tomorrow's economy every day that they open their doors. Tens of thousands of residents, public servants and thoughtful visitors have made Foster City the amazing community that it is. We wish Joe Pierucci well in the years ahead and know that his wise counsel will be missed but never forgotten by those he served and called friends throughout his many years on the streets of Foster City. Today is his birthday, and rarely before has it held so much meaning. He is not aging out, but he is moving on. We know him as the Chief of Police, the chief maker of smiles when he walks into a room, and the chief cheerleader for his community and its remarkable spirit by the bay. I thank Joe. We advised him not to emulate the children of Foster City by taking up skateboarding in the years ahead. However, if we spot him windsurfing we will all point and say, ``There goes Joe Pierucci and he's in the right place because the wind is at his back. Godspeed, Joe.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Engel, Chairman McCaul, and Mr. Smith, and have a deep sense of gratitude to Congressman Schiff for introducing H. Res. 296; and to my sister, my Armenian sister, Congresswoman Eshoo, for helping us plot this strategy to get this bill to the floor. April 24, 1915, is a day that lives in infamy in the hearts and minds of millions of Armenians worldwide. It is a day that I grew up understanding from my Armenian mother to be one of the darkest in history. It is the day that the Ottoman Government embarked on a systematic slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians, two-thirds of the Armenian population. This genocide is recognized in countries around the world, including Canada, France, and Germany. It is recognized in 49 States in our Union as the first genocide of the 20th century, yet the House of Representatives hasn't recognized both that the genocide occurred and that the Ottoman Empire perpetrated it. Elie Weisel once called denying genocide--and in particular, the Armenian genocide--a double killing, because it not only exterminates a group of people, it murders the memory of that crime. Congress must ensure that memory is not destroyed and those lives are honored. As a child, I listened to my mom speak of the atrocity with pain and fear. She is gone now, but her pain lives on in me to this very day. By righting this terrible wrong, one that has festered for far too long, we are alleviating that pain and sending a message that history can't be rewritten. We are stating, in no uncertain terms, that America will no longer abandon Armenians with feeble excuses made for a so- called ally. We are affirming that truth is truth. Thousands of documents totaling 37,000 pages in the National Archives support the truth: Armenians were exterminated by Ottoman forces and Turkish sympathizers. In 1918, former President Theodore Roosevelt sent a letter saying: Because the Armenian massacre was the greatest crime of the war, failure to act against Turkey is to condone it and means that all talk of guaranteeing future peace is nonsense. Usually, these words serve as a general warning, but today they apply to specific ongoing atrocities. We must not stand silent as Turkey attempts the ethnic cleansing of the Kurds in Syria. Even Russia's President Putin had said the Armenian people ``went through one of the greatest tragedies in human history.'' Iran's former Vice President stated: ``The Ottoman Turkey Government perpetrated genocide in 1915.'' If our rivals can talk about this, if they can take a stand, certainly we can. Armenian genocide, we must say it here: It happened, and it will never happen again. We must make that commitment.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Maureen Freschet as she retires from the San Mateo City Council after eight years of noteworthy service to the people of San Mateo. This service follows many years in other positions of public benefit throughout the county. Maureen has deep roots in San Mateo. Her grandparents immigrated from Italy in the 1920's and Maureen is justly proud of her Italian-American heritage. On one occasion in recent years, she spoke movingly from the council dais about the evolution of San Mateo through the eyes of an immigrant family. She recounted the older stores and businesses that made San Mateo, in the eyes of its residents in the 1920's, 30's, 40's and 50's, a place where neighborhoods and neighbors mixed freely as everyone raised families and watched generations grow through peacetime and wars. Many of these memories served her well as she sat on the city's planning commission and also guided her decisions as a councilmember. During her tenure, she supported the redevelopment of Bay Meadows race track into a thriving commercial, residential and transit hub. The city straightened out a convoluted intersection at Highway 92 and El Camino Real, began a $1 billion + project to add to the sewer treatment system, saw an explosion of jobs and amenities downtown, witnessed the rebirth of its major shopping center, and undertook transformational work at 25th Avenue and the Caltrain line. As the economy recovered, she encouraged high technology companies to settle into downtown San Mateo and advocated for restaurants and in favor of a lively downtown at nighttime and on the weekends. While many contributed to these successes, few were as vocal as Maureen Freschet in making the point: Downtown San Mateo is a destination that is fun, safe and lively from morning to night. She's an active member of the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. She was the President of the Belmont Chamber of Commerce during her 23 years as a government and community relations officer for Notre Dame de Namur University, in Belmont. If there was a public event or civic engagement that needed attention in either city, Maureen Freschet was present, energetic, often a leader, and always a beneficial force for community improvement. Many of Maureen's most visible contributions will never have her name on them. Due to her service on the county's transportation authority, she was involved in major projects to improve traffic and transit. As people move through the community, and despite traffic woes created by a 2 percent unemployment rate and high technology job growth that is essentially engulfing our community, travelers have Maureen to thank in part for recent and coming improvements that will benefit them for generations to come. Maureen is an enthusiastic supporter of San Mateo's adopted Army unit, the 101st Airborne ``Screaming Eagles,'' and worked tirelessly to welcome them on the 50th anniversary of their adoption by San Mateo. She spearheaded the effort to create a memorial in Central Park to honor San Mateo's fallen military and local public safety heroes. Her dedication to law enforcement is multifaceted. She served on the county's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission and on the Executive Board of the Service League. She is also a staunch opponent of human trafficking and made numerous presentations on this important subject. Maureen raised her two daughters, Nicole and Kristen, as a single mother. She is now known as ``Nini,'' to her grandson, Carson. Out of all the titles she's earned over the years, this one is her most cherished. She also earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services Administration and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont. For decades, Maureen Freschet has been the quintessential pillar of the community. In America's democratic tradition, no leader can honestly say, ``Only I can lead us or all will perish.'' No one is irreplaceable. That being said, in San Mateo, Maureen is close. She wishes to spend more time with her husband, Andy, and her family. I commend her for keeping her priorities straight. However, exemplary citizenship is inspiring to us all. Maureen will likely roar at times with her private voice, continue to lead by personal example, and thus inspire all who know her to remain engaged in the awesome task of governing this great nation.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I was in the Rayburn room meeting with constituents and was not alerted to the vote being called. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 560.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I thank the chair of the committee for yielding. Madam Speaker, this is a powder keg. This is not as my colleagues on the other side are trying to suggest it is, but they are dealing with alternative facts. As co-chair of the Whistleblower Caucus, I can point to the fact that $54 billion has been returned to the taxpayers of this country because men and women had the courage to stand up and point out tax evasion, fraud, abuse, and waste. Now, we have a whistleblower here who was defined as not being a whistleblower by the Attorney General, and now we are all saying he is a whistleblower. He doesn't even have the protections of a whistleblower based on the analysis by the Attorney General. One thing is very clear here, Members: But for the fact that this whistleblower came forward, but for the fact that the inspector general found that it was both credible and urgent, and but for the fact, after the DNI did not deem it to be sent to the committee, it was the inspector general who had the courage to contact the chair of this committee to inform him that there was a whistleblower pending that brought this all to the fore. So let's be very clear: There was a concerted effort by the administration to shut down this whistleblower, to restrict the money that was supposed to go to Ukraine on June 18--or July 18.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Albert N. Bullock ``Al'' who passed away at the age of 96 on August 16, 2019 in Daly City after a remarkable life. Al was an unflappable photographer who filmed the attack on Pearl Harbor and covered many events that shaped the Bay Area, including the Patti Hearst kidnapping, the assassinations of Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk and the Jonestown mass murder where I met him. He will always have a special place in my heart. Al was born in Utica, New York on March 5, 1923. He joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 which changed his life. His first job was washing airplanes and working in a photo lab where he discovered his talent and love for taking pictures. When a place in the Navy photography school opened, he was picked and received what he called the best education possible in photography, motion pictures and navigation. He graduated as a second class photographer's mate and was immediately hired by the government. He was shipped to Pearl Harbor and as fate would have it, the year was 1941. On December 7th, Al was on Ford Island and as the Japanese were dropping bombs right on top of him, he filmed the carnage with a hand-cranked 16mm camera. Ford Island was the strategic center of operations for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, the location of Battleship Row. Assigned as a flag cameraman on the USS Santa Fe, he spent the entire war moving from one campaign to the next. In March 1945, he shot historic photos and footage of the burning and listing USS Franklin 50 miles off the coast of Japan. The USS Santa Fe rescued many sailors and helped put out the fires on the Franklin. Al was 22. In 1950, Al moved to San Mateo in my Congressional District and held a variety of jobs selling China and silverware, taking photos and filming car races. One day in the 60s, he was filming a race that ended in a fiery crash. Roger Grimsby, an anchor and the news director at KGO-TV, watched him as he kept filming. He approached Al asking, ``You have any blood in your veins?'' He bought the footage for $25 and used it on the air that day. Thus began Al's pursuit to become a cameraman for KGO. In 1962, Grimsby, known as ``Grim Grimsby'' for his gruff no- nonsense delivery of the news, finally relented and hired him. Al stayed at KGO for 30 years covering the John F. Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War, the birth of the free speech movement, the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, and the Loma Prieta earthquake. He also covered a story that shaped my life and cemented my commitment to public service. Al flew to Guyana with my mentor and boss Congressman Ryan who took a delegation there to investigate the commune Jim Jones had built in Jonestown. Relatives and friends of Jones' followers suspected that he was holding them against their will. They were right and some 40 followers were ready to defect with our delegation. What unfolded was one of the deadliest mass murders in history. Congressman Ryan was assassinated on the airstrip in Port Kaituma, shot 45 times. Three journalists and one defector were shot dead. I was shot five times, left for dead but survived. In the commune, more than 900 followers were murdered with cyanide-laced Kool- Aid. Al was on a plane back to the Bay Area. Upon hearing the news he immediately returned to Guyana to cover the aftermath. Just nine days later, back in San Francisco, Al was sent to cover the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. He witnessed and captured one of the most tumultuous and trying periods in Bay Area history. Al's superb work was recognized with many awards including the California Press Photographer of the Year and the prestigious Silver Circle of the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences in 2003. Al Bullock is preceded in death by his ex-wife Edythe and survived by their three children, Candace, Bob and Georgette, their six grandchildren, Stephanie, Lindsey, Sean, Erin, Matthew, and four great- grandchildren, Kelly, Katie, Tyler and Adam. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Albert N. Bullock who served our country and led by example. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, a mentor to many, Mr. KGO to his colleagues, and one of a kind. He will be deeply missed.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island for that generous introduction. Madam Chair, I can't believe that we are having this discussion today because it is like there is a parallel universe. I am going to talk about the 70,000 women of Sterling Jewelers. This is Kay Jewelers, and this is Jared Jewelers. They have been subjected to rampant sexism. And when they complained about it they were denied justice by mandatory arbitration. Sterling's forced arbitration clause has prevented them from seeking justice. It is more like, first you are groped, then you are gagged. That is what forced arbitration is all about. Diana Acampora was pulled onto the lap of a manager who held her tightly as he fondled her. Tammy Zenner was nicknamed ``Texas Tammy'' by colleagues because of the size of her breasts and told she should be flattered by an executive rubbing himself on her. Dawn Souto-Coons was passed over for promotions in favor of lewd and less qualified men. Diana, Tammy, Dawn, and countless others deserve justice.

Ms. SPEIER. Instead, Sterling has made a mockery of our laws and has used forced arbitration to make 70,000 women in this country subject to a 14-year process. That is not justice. That is enslavement.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant First Class Richard Stayskal and to tell Rich how much I admire his bravery and his service to our country. Rich has been in D.C. since yesterday, talking to Members of the Senate about the critical need to address the injustice of the Feres doctrine. Today, he has joined us in the gallery. This will likely be his last trip to Washington, D.C. That is because this father, this husband, this marine and Army Green Beret has end- stage lung cancer, a cancer that Army medical staff failed to alert him to despite finding the tumor on scans. The cancer grew at a deadly pace, untreated and undiagnosed, until he went to a private practice doctor in 2017. By then, it was stage IV, and his prognosis was terminal. Despite this devastating development, Rich continued his service overseas and at home in good times and bad until not long ago and just shy of his 20-year milestone for full retirement. He also fought this tragedy as a true soldier and tackled the very thing that has left him and his family most vulnerable: The Feres doctrine. The Feres doctrine is an outdated judicial ruling that bars active duty servicemembers from suing the government for medical malpractice. These are not in combat situations. These are cases that happen here at home at medical facilities on Army bases and other services. There has never been a bill, there has never been a hearing, a vote in Congress, but that is the Feres doctrine, and that has been what has been the law of the land for 70 years. Servicemembers' spouses and families, civilian Federal employees, and even convicted prisoners have the right to sue for negligence, but not our servicemembers. Only Rich and our brave military servicemembers are denied this right by the Feres doctrine. That means that Rich, his family, and other servicemembers and their families have been denied justice in their greatest hour of need. It also means there are no consequences for botched procedures and few incentives for the military's medical providers to improve care. In this fight to achieve justice for his family and spare others what they have endured, Rich has met with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate. He testified before the Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, which I chair. The media has taken notice. The House has taken notice. The NDAA has addressed it in the House. The question is: Will the Senate? At a time when Rich should be able to spend his remaining days with those he loves, he has answered the call to fight. Rich, as I promised you when you testified before the committee, we will never forget your commitment, your honor, and sacrifice, and I will keep fighting to fix Feres as long as it takes. Congress is responsible for allowing Feres to stand for 70 years, but we can correct this failure, and we can do it now. The House-passed NDAA contains the Sergeant First Class Richard Stayskal Act of 2019. It would create an exemption that would finally give servicemembers and their families the right to sue the government for medical malpractice in noncombat settings. The ball is now in the Senate's court where it seems Senator McConnell would rather help corporations than our brave servicemembers. I hope he will make an exception for doing the right thing and for Rich, because Rich deserves to know that after all his years of coming through for this country when it really counted this country will come through for him. Rich deserves to know that his efforts, his life, his sacrifice matter because he made life better for those who will come after him. And Rich deserves to know that when his time comes his wife Megan and their two young daughters will not be left alone. They, like so many military families, have sacrificed so much so that we may sleep at night. They have forfeited unknown years of happiness with a father and husband that they would move heaven and earth to keep with them. In honor of Rich and his family and all those who serve, I implore the Senate to join the House and pass the Sergeant First Class Richard Stayskal Act of 2019.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in the Democratic Women's Caucus in hosting this Special Order hour to raise awareness of the damage done by mandatory arbitration and of our support for H.R. 1423, the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act, or as we refer to it, the FAIR Act. We are pleased that the Judiciary Committee is holding a markup on this bill as we speak. Madam Speaker, what is stunning about this issue is that a recent study found that one is more likely to be struck by lightning than to win an arbitration case. In fact, the 5-year study found that, of 6,000 claims that were made on arbitration clauses, money awards were provided in only 137 cases. Today, my colleagues will read accounts from just some of the women who have experienced this miscarriage of justice firsthand. Over 60 million workers are subject to forced arbitration, but even those staggering numbers fail to fully illustrate the suffering and human plight caused by mandatory arbitration. Today, we share the experiences of women fighting back against the silence and shame, and we join them in demanding systemic change so that all workers are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Sterling Jewelers, known to many of us as Jared Jewelers or Kay Jewelers--Diane Acampora. Perhaps no company better exemplifies the harm caused by mandatory arbitration than Sterling Jewelers. In April 2019, The New York Times Magazine published a story on the ongoing, decade-long pay-and-promotion lawsuit against Sterling Jewelers, which at one point included nearly 70,000 women. These stories should outrage each of us. Diane of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said that, after 5 years at Kay Jewelers and 6 years of experience at another store, she made $2 to $4 less per hour than her more recently hired, lesser experienced male colleagues. According to the investigation, ``When she was promoted to manager, she attended the company's annual managers' meeting in Florida. On a shuttle bus back to the resort, she was pulled onto the lap of a manager, who held her tightly as he fondled her. At the same meeting, a district manager tried to kiss her. At a later meeting, she had to leave a hot tub because discussion turned uncomfortably sexual. She was later told that the hot-tub scene turned into an orgy.'' And that is just the tip of the iceberg. ``There was Amanda Barger, a sales associate who made her way up to assistant manager, who after 5 years of employment complained that she was still making her starting salary but was brushed off by her manager; who watched the new guy who previously worked at a cell phone- cover kiosk be promoted ahead of her; who dared to complain to HR after her district manager invited her to a Chili's with a few other managers and, while they were eating, texted her from across the table, `I want to come on your tits.''' Marie Wolf's manager didn't seem to like her, despite the fact that she was a top salesperson at Jared. She didn't have ``the Jared look,'' the manager told a colleague. ``Marie was tall and wore pants and blouses, not short skirt-suits, and she wore little makeup. One day, Marie asked for a raise, and the manager told her she was already making more than any other salesperson in the store.'' Not surprisingly, that was far from the truth. Or, ``Tammy Zenner, who was called `Texas Tammy' by her colleagues because of the size of her breasts and who complained to her store manager that an executive visiting the store had rubbed himself against her from behind but was told when she complained that she should be flattered.'' The culture of rampant gender discrimination, pay inequity, and sexual harassment at Sterling is the stuff of living nightmares suffered by so many working women, many of whom are the primary, if not only, breadwinner for their families. Diane, Amanda, Marie, and Tammy are just 4 of nearly 70,000 women who have at some point joined the lawsuit against Sterling. And Sterling was able to hide the details of these allegations from its shareholders and from the public because all of their employees are forced to sign a forced arbitration agreement upon being hired. That means all work-related disputes had to go through Sterling's in- house dispute resolution system, effectively gagging employees and destroying any chance of positive change. It also, undoubtedly, resulted in countless other women facing similar types of abuse and discrimination. That is why the experiences of these women are so important for us to hear, so that Congress will pass the FAIR Act. It is unacceptable that millions of employees are subjected to a system that forces them to settle disputes through mandatory arbitration, where the company can control the process and shroud the outcome in secrecy. I urge my colleagues to support the FAIR Act and strike a blow in the fight for fairness and transparency. No one should have to suffer harassment, assault, and degradation in silence in order to support themselves and their families and pursue their career dreams. ``Every kiss begins with Kay Jewelers'' should be a jingle, not a job requirement. When couples are shopping for wedding rings, I hope they stay away from retail jewelers that treat women like sex toys or second-class citizens. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), one of the architects of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos), my good friend and colleague who also has spent a great deal of time working on this issue of forced arbitration as it relates to sexual harassment.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), my good friend and colleague from the East Bay and a great advocate for equal rights.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California again for her outstanding leadership. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hill), one of our new colleagues, but not new to fighting on behalf of women.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel), the co-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus.

Ms. SPEIER. Of course I am up to it.

Ms. SPEIER. Actually, no, I don't. It sounds like someone talking about repairing one's car, but, you know . . .

Ms. SPEIER. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. SPEIER. So this is a consumer who went to get a package of three massages at Massage Envy?

Ms. SPEIER. She signed up for it and then decided she didn't want to do it and didn't read the fine print that said she had to go to arbitration?

Ms. SPEIER. Well, because there is no justice. Oftentimes, as we have pointed out, these arbitration claims end up benefiting the company as opposed to the individual. So few of them actually result in claims being paid out to the consumer or the employee who was impacted by it. So, once again, it is a, you know, buyer beware, employee beware, because it is set up, not for fairness, but to protect the employer or the retailer in the case that you pointed out.

Ms. SPEIER. Well, again, the lack of fairness, because that particular arbitrator is chosen each time. That arbitrator is probably chosen because he or she finds in favor of the company, and the result is that fairness is thrown out the window.

Ms. SPEIER. A doctor's office. I am about to tell a story about a nursing home. Here is a patient in a nursing home who gets violated, and then there is this arbitration clause that prevents any kind of relief for that particular person who was a client at the nursing home. So it really does impact virtually every aspect or every contract you sign. Every app that you sign up for probably has an arbitration clause.

Ms. SPEIER. That is correct. Without being harsh here, it is rigged. You are not necessarily, in all likelihood, going to get a fair hearing. You are not going to have someone who is independent. Oftentimes they are employed by, selected by the corporation, and the result is, as you pointed out, that they want to be rehired again, so they find reasons to be supportive of the corporation and not the individual.