Kurt Schrader

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7217, the IMPROVE Act. I appreciate all the work that has been done on this bill over the years. From improving care for kids with complex medical conditions to strengthening community-based, long-term care services for the disabled community, there is a lot to support in this bill. I want to highlight one portion of the bill that my colleague and good friend Peter Welch alluded to a few moments ago. A few years ago, families were shocked when the drug company Mylan raised the price on EpiPen, a common generic drug used to treat allergies in emergency situations, by more than 400 percent. While patients were facing this sticker shock for a drug necessary to keep them alive, investigators in the Department of Health and Human Services and in our own House and Senate committees were doing some digging of our own. In the course of their investigation, they found that not only was the manufacturer of EpiPen ripping off patients and their families, they were ripping off the American taxpayer, too. By misclassifying their drug as a generic when it was actually a brand drug, Medicaid was being overcharged for years. Further investigations by HHS found that hundreds of other drugs were also misclassified, and Medicaid was overcharged by more than $1 billion in the 4 years between 2012 and 2016. By passing this bill today, we can put an end to this waste and abuse in our Medicaid system. Under this bill, if a drug company knowingly misclassifies their brand drug as a generic, CMS will have the power to fine that drug company double the normal rebate they would have had to pay the government. The bill strengthens CMS and congressional oversight of the program to prevent this from ever happening again. I thank Mr. Welch, and Senators Wyden and Grassley, for their active work on this one, as well as Mr. Barton, Mr. Green, Chairman Walden, and Mr. Pallone for including it in this great reform package. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5554 is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the animal drug and animal generic drug user fee programs, and I am proud to lead it with my colleague, Mr. Mullin. ADUFA and AGDUFA are crucial to FDA's work to review and approve applications for animal drugs. Over the past several years, animal drug user fee programs have streamlined the approval process for pharmaceuticals and eliminated the FDA's application backlog, reduced review times, and created a more predictable process. As a veterinarian from Oregon, I am particularly grateful to see this bill come to the floor. I am acutely aware of the great innovations that are occurring in the human health sphere, and I want to ensure our four-footed friends also have access to the latest and greatest medical innovations. That is why I am particularly pleased with this bill and its language to expand conditional approval for animal drugs with major uses in major species. Conditional approval is a careful, deliberative process based on similar pathways for drugs for minor uses and minor species that was already established in 2004. Conditional approval is critical for veterinary medicine since it is not cost-effective for drug companies to pursue large, complete clinical trials, given the small population of intended beneficiaries, without some initial interest and success under the conditional approval program. Before being conditionally approved, drugs must demonstrate a reasonable expectation of effectiveness and meet every other FDA standard for approval, including safety. They still need to get complete FDA approval within 5 years and must apply for annual renewal. I thank Chairman Walden; Ranking Member Pallone; Mr. Green; my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson), who worked very hard on the bill; and certainly Mr. Mullin for his partnership in leading this way. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chair, this is what our cuddly sea lions do to our iconic salmon in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Salmon are an important part of the culture, the identity, and the economy of the people and Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. It is one of the reasons why we, as a region, have put so much time, energy, and resources into protecting and recovering these iconic fish. Along with my good friend and colleague from the other side of the Columbia River, Representative Herrera Beutler, we have worked very hard with the three States in our region, our Tribes, our wildlife agencies, and our colleagues here in Congress to find common ground and to craft a bill that meets our needs to protect endangered salmon, but also addresses concerns about what happens to the sea lions. Today's consideration of H.R. 2083 marks nearly 9 years that I have been working on this legislation with my colleague from Washington. During that time, sea lion predation on endangered salmon and steelhead runs has increased exponentially, and the results have been dramatic. Much like the Ballard Locks in Seattle that my colleague referred to earlier, we are facing our own imminent extinction threat with the Willamette winter steelhead run if we don't act immediately. That is just a fact. In the case of the Ballard Locks, we didn't act soon enough. The pinniped predation drove that steelhead run to extinction. We cannot repeat the same mistake. It is important to note that nothing in this bill will harm sea lion populations. They are thriving--thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act--with a population that now hovers in the 300,000 range. NOAA has concluded that the California sea lions have reached their maximum carrying capacity. It is a remarkable success story. We want that to continue. But with this success, we also need to recognize that these sea lions no longer need the same level of protections that they did when they first passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the early 1970s, when their numbers were only in the 70,000 range. Now they are threatening, in non-historic areas, to move up the rivers, where they have no history, and eliminate our salmon. There is a 20 to 25 percent predation on these salmon. Our bill would allow the selective removal of problematic sea lions that are congregating at the Bonneville Dam, Willamette Falls, and some of the tributaries of key estuaries. Research has shown that removing these sea lions before they habituate to these areas prevents additional animals recruiting to these areas and would result in having to remove fewer sea lions over time. We have heard some arguments that we shouldn't focus on sea lions, that we should take a comprehensive approach. My good colleague from Arizona said there is no silver bullet here. I agree. I agree. We have been doing nonlethal hazing for more than 15 years that has been totally ineffective. Transport these sea lions to the coast from the middle of Oregon, and they are back in 5 days at the Willamette Falls. Every entity involved in salmon management, from Tribes to fishermen to dam operators, has altered their behavior to protect salmon. Pacific Northwest ratepayers, through their electric bills, contribute nearly $1 billion a year, the biggest fish recovery program in America, a third of their electric bill, to help fund the largest fish mitigation program. This money goes toward the habitat restoration that was alluded to; improvements to fish ladders, fish screens, turbines; improving hatcheries. It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to safeguard the public investment in improving these salmon runs. This is not a radical bill. This is a thoughtful, narrow approach that is based on sound science, brought to us by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife of the three States in question and supported by Jay Inslee of Washington and Kate Brown of Oregon, Democratic Governors; Butch Otter of Idaho, a Republican Governor; Tribes; wildlife agencies; and biologists. Senators Cantwell and Risch have introduced a companion bill in the Senate. Most importantly, the process will require the following: NOAA still will review the permit application and issue a request for public comment. NOAA will form a task force to review the application and make recommendations. NOAA will conduct a NEPA review. We have a great many people doing incredible work.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chair, I just want to thank everyone for their strong effort in this area: the Tribes; Liz Hamilton, Bob Rees, and our conservation community; Curt Melcher and his team at ODF&W, Shaun Clements and Ed Bowles; and our friends on the other side of the river at WDFW also. All these folks have been tremendous partners. I can't thank them enough. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from across the river, Jaime Herrera Beutler. It has been a great partnership. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support our region and our efforts to protect and support our salmon. I ask for your help and to support this legislation today.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, like so many others, I have been dismayed about the administration's actions, ripping thousands of children from their parents' arms at our border. Let's make one thing clear: Yesterday the President didn't fix the immigration problem, and this House is not going to fix the problem here today. People are coming to our border, fleeing oppression and violence, turning themselves in, and asking for our help. This administration's response is to try to deter these immigrants by matching the cruelty they are fleeing. We have to acknowledge the truth of what is happening. Children are being caged. Families are suffering long-lasting emotional and mental trauma, being used as pawns in the President's political games. Every day for months, our neighbors living here under DACA have continued to face uncertainty. This is nothing short of inhumane, barbaric, and, frankly, immoral. Moving kids from DHS cages to DOD cages doesn't solve the problem. Building a wall doesn't solve the problem. Let's get our priorities in line. End the President's disastrous policy and pass the Dream Act.

Mr. SCHRADER

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

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chairman, I first want to thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, Subcommittee Chairman Graves, and Ranking Member Napolitano, and their staffs for working with us on this amendment. The amendment simply provides communities with the certainty that the Army Corps has the authority to help them mitigate any detrimental impacts to municipal water supplies that may happen due to a Corps construction project. It is a commonsense amendment, and I am glad to offer it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, Subcommittee Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Napolitano, and their staffs for working with us on drafting this amendment. My amendment requires the Corps to include any project or facility for which there is a final report for disposition from the Director of Civil Works to be in their future work plans, to the maximum extent possible. Mr. Chair, it is a straightforward amendment. I am proud to offer it. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, the Pacific Northwest is facing an unprecedented and growing problem of sea lions who are decimating our endangered salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Right now, in front of my district office in Oregon City, there are 24 sea lions sitting at the base of Willamette Falls gorging themselves on the spring salmon run. This is 127 miles from the Pacific Ocean, their natural habitat. This salmon buffet of endangered fish costs Northwest ratepayers nearly $1 billion a year: a third of our electric bill. We need to pass H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act, now. I introduced this bill, along with my Northwest colleague, Jaime Herrera Beutler. It will provide Oregon and Washington wildlife managers with the tools they need, that they requested, to quickly act to remove problem sea lions to protect these endangered fish. If we don't act now, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says that there is a 90 percent chance the Willamette winter steelhead run will go extinct in the next few years. Mr. Speaker, it would be unconscionable to let this happen. We know the problem, and it is identified. Let's take action.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Chair, as a veterinarian, I agree with my good friend and colleague, a large animal practitioner from the great State of Florida, Ted Yoho, that pasteurization is essential to preventing the reemergence of some of the most basic foodborne diseases that, unfortunately, we now take for granted in the United States of America. Prior to the advent of pasteurization, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and all the diseases my good friend and colleague alluded to were commonplace. Commonplace, and this is only over a little over 100 years ago. Milk, which is high in protein, starch, and fat, is an ideal medium for bacterial growth. Within days, if not from original contamination at the dairy, these deadly bacterial diseases develop. Pasteurization is the modest heat treating of milk that keeps these deadly bacteria from growing, thereby improving shelf life and allowing widespread distribution of safe, clean, healthy, uncontaminated milk that makes us the envy of the world. It does not denature or impair the nutritional value of this super nutritional food source. Indeed, do we all not remember just a few years ago the melamine contamination in China, their milk source? Chinese mothers now feed their babies American milk. One of our most basic duties in the Federal Government is to protect the health of the American people. It would be an unconscionable dereliction of our duty to not allow this amendment to go forward. Let's support the Constitution to protect the health and welfare of the American people.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, United Power Trades Organization, and the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, it is time to put science back in the decisionmaking process for Oregon and Pacific Northwest salmon recovery strategy. Rather than having the courts dictate the best way to balance Northwest fish recovery and the region's power needs, we should let the experts in U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Bonneville Power, NOAA, and NMFS lead the way. H.R. 3144 allows that to occur. Rather than having fish policy decided by lawsuit, it simply lets the experts do their job. Quite simply, it will allow the Federal Columbia River Power System to be managed according to the 2014 Obama administration-approved biological opinion until a new BiOp can be completed in 2020. U.S. Fish and Wildlife, BPA, NOAA, and NMFS have spent years developing recovery plans to restore habitat, encourage fish passage, and manage this fishery. Their hard work was summarily thrown out by the court in favor of continued litigation. In fact, a third--yes, a third--of our power bills in the Northwest is dedicated to fish recovery. We have been diligent. Bonneville ratepayers have stepped up time and again. We have made strides, despite battling the effects of climate change, ocean acidification, and overfishing by foreign nations. Some things we can control, some things we cannot--like sea lion depredation, we can. Despite the scientific evidence and warnings from Washington and Oregon Fish and Wildlife biologists that say sea lions likely account for at least 20 percent or more of adult salmon loss in the Columbia River system, we are not doing anything about it. Even our Governors agree we need to address this, and these are Democratic Governors. Let's deal with that instead of one injunction after another demanding more spill over the tops of the dams, which, as we have heard, is not based in good science. This latest order will cost $40 million to $50 million, with the jury out on its effectiveness as to juvenile survival and subsequent adult return. Let's at least get some scientific data to see if this is a good idea. H.R. 3144 would allow that to happen. BPA is at a crossroads. Natural gas is abundant, very inexpensive, the primary reason a lot of our coal plants are being phased out. But its low cost, coupled with more and more demands for fish mitigation, now threaten to eliminate our clean, renewable hydropower system that accounts for 50 percent of the electricity in the Northwest. BPA simply cannot absorb more spill requirements with subsequent loss of power generation and revenue without having to curtail the very fish mitigation recovery programs the litigants want that have been helping to recover our endangered salmon. BPA is becoming quickly uncompetitive due to these escalating costs. If they go away, what happens? It means more natural gas, more fossil fuels. It makes no sense, if your goal is balancing smart, scientific- based fish recovery with clean renewable energy, to put BPA out of business and eliminate local control that the Pacific Northwest has had on determining its own future. The entire Northwest delegation, Republican and Democrat, worked together on this. We would like to continue to do so. We need to stop this constant litigation. Let the scientific experts steeped in fish recovery do their job. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3144.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share Miriam's DACA story and continue to demand that House Republicans allow a vote on the Dream Act. Miriam was brought to Oregon by her parents when she was a little girl. She is grown and has not allowed her immigration status to deter her from working hard or pursuing her dreams. When DACA was established in 2012, it opened a path that was unknown to her and has allowed her passion to flourish. Miriam is currently a sophomore in college, and her future is full of hope. She dreams of one day holding public office here at home and hopes to work towards a career in either public schools or as a computer engineer in the healthcare sector. This is a young lady who is working hard, doing the right things to better herself, and who maintains goals that give back to her community and this amazing country that raised her. The sad reality is this Republican-controlled Congress and administration are holding Miriam's dreams hostage by not allowing a vote on the Dream Act. It is inhumane to continue to entangle the lives of these young folks in partisan games. Let's do the right thing. Let's get a Dream Act passed so that our country can move forward and protect the 800,000 DACA recipients.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to share the story of Miguel from Salem, Oregon, and to once again urge Republican leadership to put aside partisan politics and include a clean Dream Act in this week's short-term budget extension. Miguel was brought to the United States when he was 7 years old by his parents. For years, he lived in the shadows, not knowing whether college would ever be an option for him. In 2012, Miguel, along with nearly 800,000 young folks in this country, was able to apply for DACA; and thanks to DACA, he was able to earn not one, but two bachelor's degrees. He now works as a human resource manager for a business in Salem. Miguel pays taxes and he contributes to our community. Miguel's future is uncertain due to the congressional Republican leadership's unwillingness to allow a vote on the Dream Act. Every day, another 122 DACA recipients like Miguel lose their legal protections that allow them to go to school and to work. It is inhumane that Congress continues to hold these young folks hostage for partisan political purposes. Let's do the right thing. Let's get a clean Dream Act passed so this country can move forward.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share Fabiola's story and continue to demand a vote on the Dream Act. Fabiola and her family moved to Oregon when she was just 6 years old. When DACA was announced, it gave her the strength to come out of the shadows and pursue her goals. She earned a driver's license, took out a loan for a car, got a job, and started working towards an associate's degree in early childhood education. Fabiola currently works as a bilingual preschool teacher for Early Head Start and will soon earn her bachelor's degree in early childhood education, focused on special education, from Western Oregon University. DACA has given Fabiola the opportunity to make her dream of becoming a special needs teacher a reality. Because leadership in Congress refuses to act on DACA, however, she will lose her status, and Fabiola will not be allowed to maintain her teaching license. Every day, 122 DACA recipients lose their ability to have a job and go to school. We don't have until March 15. It is happening now. Stop delaying. It is time to get it done. Let's include a clean Dream Act in next week's funding package.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, how do you make a bad, partisan tax bill better? For my Republican colleagues, apparently that means cutting tax rates for the wealthy even more than the original bill, as we have heard over the last couple days. Where is the fairness for average, hardworking Americans? Medical expenses are no longer deductible. Student loans and tuition waivers are no longer deductible. Interest is not deductible for families, but it is for business. The mortgage interest deduction is reduced. State and local taxes are not fully deductible. Small businesses don't get the same tax cuts that big businesses do. No help for capital gains. No help for dividends, advertising, or entertaining. Other business expense is no longer deductible. Renewable energy tax credits go away. Private activity bonds that help veterans and many others are also gone. Worst of all, individual tax cuts flip back and are rescinded in a few years, while corporations go on forever. Where is the fairness for seniors, for our youth, for our families, and for small businesses? Not in this partisan tax bill.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge House Republicans to put aside partisan politics and pass the Dream Act. This fall, I have shared story after story from the House floor of young Oregonians who have benefited from DACA. Sitting at this desk behind me is a discharge petition which will bring a vote on the Dream Act now. Unfortunately, this will require 24 of my Republican colleagues to join us in support. As of today, we only have two. This is despite the fact, if leadership put that bill on the floor, it would have overwhelming bipartisan support. We must act on this. It is clear that the administration is, at best, problematic. When asked about the status of DACA, this President said: They shouldn't be very worried; I have got a big heart. But it was only a few short months later that he announced an end to the DACA program. The Dream Act must be passed by Christmas. We should do it today. Continuing to delay a vote on the Dream Act basically puts 800,000 recipients at risk, is irresponsible, and puts those lives in limbo. These young folks are doctors and teachers. The path forward is foggy, at best, right now. They deserve a better future. Let's vote now.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, a $1.5 trillion deficit, that is what the so-called fiscally conservative Republican friends of mine want to add to our Nation's already huge debt, a debt they decried for many years, a debt that, according to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Mike Mullen, is the greatest threat to our country in the coming decades. There is really no need of that--none. We can do tax reform that better advantages the middle class and small businesses without adding $1.5 trillion to our debt. By simply making the tax benefits fairer among income groups, you can have growth-enhancing, deficit-neutral tax reform with zero--yes, zero--addition to our debt and deficit. If a 25 percent tax rate is good enough for small businesses, it should be good enough for corporations. There is no need to eliminate the AMT for wealthy Americans earning over $250,000 or completely eliminating the estate tax. Tweak it, and you can protect every small business and farm in America with a very progressive Tax Code. Why should wealthy Americans get to deduct more expenses than working men and women? A 25 percent deduction for expenses levels the playing field for everyone. Make these types of changes and you can get rid of the gimmicks in the Republican bill and benefit the middle class. There is no need to add $1.5 trillion to our debt.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of Hugo from Salem, Oregon, and I continue to urge Speaker Ryan to put forth a clean Dream Act. Hugo is an undocumented Oregonian originally from Veracruz, Mexico. His only memory of Mexico is saying good-bye to his parents as a child before leaving for Salem. In high school, Hugo played football, he was a JROTC commander, a youth police cadet, and a firefighter explorer. He quickly moved from ESL into honors classes, and graduated at the top of his class. Hugo earned the privilege of delivering the commencement speech at his graduation. All of this, along with his dedication to community service, led to the city of Salem recognizing Hugo as Youth of the Year. Because of Hugo's immigration status, however, after leaving high school, his only job was a field hand. That is until DACA. Hugo was able to enroll at the University of Oregon, working multiple jobs to pay for his tuition, and earned his bachelor's degree in economics. He now works as a banker, and volunteers as a teacher in financial literacy for families. But in 10 months, his work permit will expire. Mr. Speaker, let's protect 800,000 DACA recipients across this country, like Hugo.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, $1.5 trillion--no, I guess it is actually closer to $2.3 trillion with interest--that is the amount this partisan tax reform plan plans to add to our debt and deficit. I have had a few folks say: ``Well, we have had $10 trillion added to the debt over the last 8 years.'' With all due respect, Republicans controlled Congress during 6 of those 8 years. Where are my conservative Republican friends who railed for 8 years on the deficits? Was that just while a Democrat was in the White House? Are we such shallow, political, hypocritical people that we now ignore the greatest threat to our country, our national debt and deficit, just because a Republican is in the Oval Office? Furthermore, the idea that we will grow our way out of that $2 trillion hole is fantasy. Let's look at the growth rate after the last big tax cut at the end of 2015. Since we have passed that tax cut, the growth rate remains steady at 1.5 to 2 percent, no change, that huge tax cut financed with $650 billion in debt to our kids. The Wharton School of Business, not exactly a liberal bastion of theology, now estimates that growth factor from this tax reform bill to be less than 1 percent. Let's get real. Vote against this package. Let's do real tax reform that is deficit neutral at least--for our kids' sake.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of Marco, a DREAMer in Portland, Oregon, and to continue to urge Speaker Ryan to put forth a clean Dream Act bill. In 1995, Marco was brought to the United States when he was only 3 years old. As a teenager with dreams of going to college, Marco realized he didn't qualify for financial aid because of his immigration status, but he did not allow this to deter him. Instead, Marco worked hard in various minimum wage jobs, allowing him the ability to attend college part-time. In 2012, after applying for DACA, Marco was granted a work permit, making it possible for him to earn a job with a law firm in Portland, where he worked his way up from the mailroom to be a legal assistant. His salary from the law firm enabled him to enroll in more classes and finally complete his bachelor's degree in accounting. Marco now works as an accountant for an Oregon nonprofit that helps benefit youth. This President claims to want only the best. I have news for him: we already have the best and brightest, and it is time we stopped treating them like second class citizens. Mr. Speaker, we need to pass a clean Dream Act bill.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, today, my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle released their fiscally irresponsible tax bill. I am still reading my way through the 492-page proposal, but it doesn't take long to notice a huge flaw in the process: the majority is using the partisan budget reconciliation process, a process traditionally reserved for deficit reduction, to add over $1.5 trillion to the deficit and jam a reckless bill through the House without hearings, study, or debate. We don't have to operate that way. Let's compare where we were the last time Congress reformed the Tax Code in 1986 to where we are today. When Congress last took up this monumental task, it took over 2 years. There were 4 months of public hearings, more than 450 witnesses, 26 days of markup, and months of debate. This wasn't easy, but what did we get? We got a simplified Tax Code that did not add to the deficit and a bill that had broad bipartisan support in the House and the Senate, and the support of the American people. Mr. Speaker, let's work together on a bipartisan basis. Let's reform the Tax Code in a way that helps the middle class and does not add to our children's deficit in the future.