Kurt Schrader

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This compromise bill represents the kind of legislation this body can put together and pass with broad bipartisan support when Members put aside ideological differences and choose to work together to solve a very serious and difficult issue. With this legislation, we will finally begin to address the labor crisis that has been plaguing American agriculture by providing a stable and legal workforce so they can continue to grow the best food and fiber in the world. In my home State of Oregon, we are a specialty crop State. We rely on manual labor for nearly every crop we grow. The labor shortage is the number one issue my farmers face. In many of our ag industries, like nursery crops or the dairy industry we just heard referenced, the labor is needed year-round. H.R. 5038 is a critical step forward in not only providing workforce stability for our farmers but also in providing a path to lawful permanent residency for hardworking farmworkers and their family members. I am also very proud of the work that PCUN in Oregon has done to help make this legislation a reality. I hope our colleagues in the Senate are paying close attention and move this bill in short order. I urge all Members to support this bill today.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today to speak on behalf of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. The bill before us today will finally allow Medicare to negotiate the price for prescription drugs to get a better deal for our seniors, a task that has long been successful by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Medicaid, the Department of Defense, and, frankly, in commercial insurance plans. Why not allow our seniors to negotiate the best price for their costly drugs? It can save the taxpayers a lot of money. Americans support negotiation. I will point out that while I appreciate the efforts to expand service, the Medicare trustees report has shown that the Medicare hospital insurance trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2026, a mere 6 years from now. At the same time, Medicare per capita spending is supposed to grow at a rate of over 5 percent a year. The savings from the drug negotiation portion of this bill, at least a big portion of it, should be put toward ensuring that our seniors will continue to have access to Medicare. We cannot keep spending money we do not have. As we continue to have conversations around expanding access to healthcare and lowering costs of prescription drugs, I urge my colleagues to be mindful that they need to address the solvency of our healthcare safety net systems. This is a good bill. I urge support.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize Native American Heritage Month. Oregon currently has nine federally recognized Tribes, three of which I am proud to represent here in Congress: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. I work closely with these Tribal governments and with Tribal members, and I am proud to partner with them and support their work. Oregon's Tribes do incredible work to protect precious natural resources, to save our salmon, to lift up Native youth, to keep our communities safe, and so much more. I want to specifically thank Siletz Chairwoman Dee Pigsley, Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy, and Warm Springs Chairman Raymond Tsumpti for their leadership. I also want to acknowledge that Grand Ronde, Siletz, and Warm Springs are confederations of Tribes that were terminated in 1954 in an insidious act that ended the government's recognition of Tribal sovereignty and dismissed the government's trust responsibility in western Oregon and across the country. Their restoration is only beginning. Because of this, Congress must do more to ensure that we are honoring our commitments to Tribes and taking seriously our trust responsibility.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2115, the ``Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act'' introduced from my friend and colleague, Ms. Spanberger. While I believe something must be done to bring down the cost of drugs, I also know that unless we have a better view into the process of how a patient's cost is calculated, we will continue to struggle to address the problem. That's why I support this important piece of legislation that requires PBMs to report on all the price concessions and factors that contribute to determining the net cost of a drug. PBMs play an important role in our healthcare system as the intermediary negotiating drug prices in the current marketplace. But only if we understand the actual cost of the drug can we ensure that consumers are getting a fair shake. The bill before you today is comprehensive, as it requires PBMs to report the amount of rebates, discounts, direct and indirect remuneration fees, administrative fees, and any other price concessions. The Secretary will make this information available publicly in a way that aggregates the information by class of a drug to protect the negotiation process but also provide insight into any discrepancy between the negotiated drug's net cost and the price a patient pays for that drug. Addressing any healthcare problem requires a comprehensive approach. There is no one entity that is solely responsible for the high cost of drugs. We need transparency in our healthcare system. This bill had bipartisan support throughout the Committee process and similar measures have had support in the Senate. I am proud that we continue to work on measures that will help address one of the most concerning issues of our time, the exorbitant price of prescription drugs, and I thank leadership for bringing this measure to the floor today.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. It is high time that our struggling seniors are given the right to negotiate drug costs just like we have in commercial plans, the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense, and Medicaid. Seniors should not be subject to artificially high copays and out-of- pocket expenses because of an out-of-date law that prohibits Medicare from negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies. Price negotiation is a free market principle that our country embraces in almost every other aspect of life. Why should our seniors not have the same right? H.R. 3 also limits Medicare part D out-of-pocket expenses to $2,000 a year. This aligns closely with how the private market works and a Senate companion bill. Making sure seniors can afford their medicines keeps them out of the expensive hospital system and saves patients and taxpayers, alike, lots of money. Finally, there is an effort in the bill to limit the inflationary impact on drug costs that have been on the market for a long time and improve price transparency so we can actually shed some light on what is going on. This is long overdue. It is time for bipartisan and bicameral action on one of the most pressing issues of our day for seniors and all Americans.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Rotary Club of Salem, Oregon as they celebrate their 100th year of service to the Salem community. With nearly 200 members, the Rotary Club of Salem has established itself as one of the most distinguished community service organizations in my district. The Rotary Club of Salem was organized on September 16, 1919. Over the last 100 years, the Rotary has strengthened their community through their mission of providing service to others, promoting integrity, and advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. The Rotary Club of Salem gives back to the community by sponsoring inbound and outbound exchange students, distributing dictionaries to 4th graders in the Salem/Keizer school district, giving grants to local non-profits and by participating in international projects annually. To celebrate their 100 years of service, the Rotary will be building the Gerry Frank Amphitheater, a multipurpose amphitheater at Salem's Riverfront Park to inspire culture and encourage community togetherness. I would like to extend my congratulations to the Rotary Club of Salem as they celebrate their 100th anniversary and thank them for their service to the community of Salem.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 693) to amend the Horse Protection Act to designate additional unlawful acts under the Act, strengthen penalties for violations of the Act, improve Department of Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SCHRADER. 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. 693.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to lead H.R. 693, the U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics Act, with my colleague, good friend, and fellow veterinarian, Congressman Ted Yoho. The PAST Act would finally end the incredibly abusive practice of horse soring. Soring is the act of deliberately causing pain on a horse's legs or hooves to artificially exaggerate the horse's normal gait. The gait is called the ``big lick.'' Horses can, and are, trained to do this naturally, but, unfortunately, a cottage industry has been built up around this abusive soring practice. Soring is most commonly done to Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse, and Spotted Saddle Horse breeds. Soring can be done by applying caustic chemicals to a horse's lower leg--imagine that--trimming their hooves unnaturally, applying weighted shoes to the horse's hooves, and wrapping ``action devices'' like heavy chains around a horse's hooves. The Horse Protection Act of 1970 outlawed chemical soring, supposedly, which causes burning and blistering to horses' legs, and soring caused by--actually, they used to inject nails, tacks, and chemical agents into the limb of the horse. It did not include the action devices, however, or the stacked shoes which are also common in today's soring techniques. We have a photo, I think, that shows very clearly what this is like. The photo actually shows--which we would like to get up here at some point in time, if that is remotely possible--that it is actually a package. What they do is use plastic pads and wedges stacked on one another, actually nailed together, and then attached to the bottom of the hoof. The package elevates the horse's front feet and adds weight and pressure, causing the horse's foot to strike at a very unusual and painful angle. The chains are wrapped over the horse's chemically sored and raw front pastern, increasing the pain felt by the horse and further exaggerating that big lick, pain-induced gait, which again, as I said before, is not necessary. Horses will move with that action under their own volition when properly trained by an actual trainer. Our bill will make it illegal to use these and other similar devices in the show ring, and horses would only be allowed to show with a normal horseshoe. There is the photo I was alluding to earlier. Some people may argue that these action devices are not harmful for horses, but the experts at the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the United States Equine Federation all say that pressure from these items contained in this package produce pain in the hoof and in the leg, that the horse lifts its feet higher and faster in an exaggerated gait beyond what they are naturally able to do. All of these organizations support a ban on action devices and packages to protect the health and welfare of the horse. As a veterinarian with over 30 years' experience, I agree with them. I agree with the AVMA that it is indisputable that soring causes horses an unnecessary and unacceptable level of pain. These horses--it is horrible when you see them, you see what is going on in the legs of these horses. They used to actually use soldering irons sometimes to blister the horses' legs so that they would react to these chains in an exaggerated manner. I saw that. In addition to outlawing action devices and stacked shoes, the PAST Act will also end the unsuccessful system of industry self-policing that we tried for almost 40 years. The USDA has let it run, and, unfortunately, it has been completely ineffective. Our bill will require the USDA to create a process to train, license, assign, and oversee impartial inspectors--hopefully veterinarians, among others--who can detect and diagnose horses that have been sored. It will also require the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to publicly publish information on sorers so that the folks managing the horse shows, competitions, and sales know who has broken the law and abused their horses. Soring has been illegal since 1970, yet here we are 50 years later, and soring is still taking place. Self-policing has not worked. There is a clear and demonstrable need for this bill. To oppose this action is a disservice to the people who really work hard and train and show horses the right way, without abusing them. That is who we should be focused on right now--not the abusers but the animals, these equine athletes that we love and revere so much. Our bill is supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association; the American Horse Council; American Association of Equine Practitioners; National Sheriffs' Association; Kentucky-based United States Equestrian Federation; the All American Walking Horse Alliance; Animal Wellness Action; Humane Society; veterinary medical associations from all 50 States; and many, many more. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the American Horse Council American Horse Council, Washington, DC, July 24, 2019. Hon. Kurt Schrader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Ted Yoho, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representatives Schrader and Yoho: The American Horse Council (AHC) congratulates you for your leadership and hard work to position the Sen. Joseph Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 693) for a vote on the House floor prior to adjourning for the August recess. With more than 300 cosponsors on your bill, we look forward to a resounding and long-awaited legislative victory for equine welfare. As you know, the PAST Act outlines a commonsense solution to prevent the continued practice of taking action on a horse's limb to produce an accentuated gait during competition. The scope of the bill is limited. It lays out a specific framework that focuses enforcement efforts on three horse breeds--the Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, and Racking Horses--that continue to be the target of soring practices. The treatment of these select breeds stands in stark contrast to the dramatic decline in the overall mistreatment of horses that has occurred since enactment of the HPA during the 1970s. AHC, along with most major national horse show organizations and state and local organizations, supports the PAST Act. Also, AHC members have sent hundreds ofletters to your House colleagues this year supporting H.R. 693. Thank you very much for all the efforts you're making to push this important bill across the finish line. If you'd like more information related to the PAST Act, feel free to contact me. Regards, Julie M. Broadway, CAE, President, AHC.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, the PAST Act will strengthen existing law to ensure that horse soring becomes a thing of the past. It is a commonsense bill and widely supported. I am proud to have 307 of my colleagues as cosponsors on this bill, especially the original cosponsors, the long-time champions of this bill: Dr. Ted Yoho, Congressman Cohen of Tennessee, Congresswoman Schakowsky, Congressman Estes, and Congressman Collins. I urge all of my colleagues to support the PAST Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the best committee in the House.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the other gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Tennessee coming down and talking on this, and obviously he is from Tennessee and has an interest, maybe a slightly special interest in talking about the industry from his perspective. And if, indeed, most of the industry is complying, then he shouldn't object to this bill. This bill just makes sure that the bad actors that the gentleman from Georgia referenced in his opening remarks are, frankly, taken care of and they can, therefore, not compete unfairly against the other 90 percent that are doing the right thing. I will show you a picture here. I don't know if it shows up, but look at all the nails in here. Look at all this stuff. Congressman Yoho and I in our previous lives treated a lot of horses, would see a lot of limb problems, would see a lot of coffin bone problems in their feet. This sort of thing almost guarantees a horse is going to prematurely get arthritic, end its athletic career, and have serious problems. It is completely unnecessary and unfair. The Veterinary Medical Association states unequivocally, along with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, who are the medical experts--not the Farm Bureau from Kentucky or Tennessee; these are the medical experts--say that pads and chains cause harm to the horses. I believe the veterinary experts. There is no doubt. I would certainly hope that folks here would go with the body of evidence, the folks who care about the horses passionately, deeply, have worked on them for their entire professional career. Let's be fair about this, and let's make sure there is no unfair competition. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I would just point out for those who are listening that the bill referenced by the gentleman from Tennessee is another self-policing bill where you have, frankly, the industry and the horse people from those States selecting and designating these people for inspection. And contrary to some of the remarks, the PAST Act has science behind it, licensed, trained professionals--again, probably veterinarians, for the most part--who are going to be the ones who are going to be looking at this. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), my good friend and colleague.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I appreciate the discussion here tonight. I wish we didn't have to have this discussion. Unfortunately, soring is still with us, and it is crystal clear we need the PAST Act, a commonsense bill to give USDA and the industry itself the ability to clean out these bad actors who are, frankly, a stain on the Tennessee Walking industry that we all love and respect. Those horses are majestic. Anyone that has been around an equine athlete just can't be but in awe of what they are able to do. Soring is completely unnecessary. Good trainers, good veterinary help, these horses are going to perform in a way that make Americans proud. I thank my colleagues for the work on the bill and urge all my colleagues to support the PAST Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to echo Mr. Newhouse's comments et large. The Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers are a critical aspect of rural America's ability to fight fires and do good work in rural America. I want to applaud Secretary Perdue for reversing his decision. It is one thing to be here in Washington, DC, and think you are counting the taxpayers' money very carefully and doing the right thing; it is another thing to be out in the real world and live the life that we have out there in timber country and know what valuable lessons they provide these at-risk youth who, frankly, would have no other options going forward and, at this point, fight our devastating wildfires. They are adjunct to the professional people that we have out there. I thank Representatives Newhouse, DeFazio, Gianforte, and even Senator Merkley on the Senate side. This is one area where you have nice bipartisan, bicameral support, and it is an area where it is good to see Congress come together and the executive branch understand the realities of the world. Mr. Chair, I really appreciate everyone's efforts. It has been fun to work on that.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to urge support for this important bipartisan amendment. The Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers program provides valuable services to get at-risk young adults the skills they need to succeed. I would repeat that: This is a very successful program with phenomenal results. To turn our back on these kids is unconscionable. It is an extremely successful program, training thousands in a variety of tasks, like working on rural infrastructure projects, maintaining our national forests, and being a frontline member for our natural disaster relief teams. Wildfire season has already started out West. We need these services to enhance our brave first-responder teams. As pointed out by the chairman, these folks were invaluable during the 2017 fire season, providing the equivalent of 450,000 hours of service, leveraging our tax dollars in a great way. I have heard from a number of constituents and groups in my district that are worried about the future of these young people, like the Angell CCC on our Oregon coast. This is a callous approach by the administration. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and push back against this ill-thought-out plan.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Phyllis Watt Wustenberg a constituent of mine from Bay City, Oregon who recently passed away at the age of 92. Phyllis was a remarkable woman and beloved member of the community who leaves behind an incredible legacy of a life that was dedicated to service. The Tillamook County area won't be the same without her. Today I would like to include in the Record Phyllis' obituary and extend my sincere condolences to Phyllis' family and the people of Tillamook County. Obituary for Phyllis Watt Wustenberg Phyllis Wustenberg, age 92, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2019 while seated at the desk of her home in Bay City, OR. There were messages on the answering machine, minutes and notes from recent nonprofit board and public commission meetings, and treasured memories from five generations of her Oregon family within arm's reach. Phyllis Watt Wustenberg-- pioneer, matriarch, scholar, mink rancher, gardener, civic leader, philanthropist, sorority sister, and great grandmother--was busy living right to the last moment. It was a life well lived, dedicated to the betterment of her family, community, and state she loved so dearly. She was born July 25, 1927 in Vancouver, WA to Robert, son of settler, farmer, logger and lumber mill owner Robert Watt, and Jean Morris Watt, who he met in Haines, AK. The Watt family journey from Scotland and contributions as pioneers in the coastal region are documented in the 1974 book, Five Watt Brothers. Phyllis attended Bay City school with siblings Barbara, Joan and Robert. She graduated in 1945 in a class of nine, received her B.S. from Oregon State University in 1949 and was one of the first women to achieve a Master's in Fisheries Management in 1951. Phyllis was on faculty at OSU from 1951 to 1953, where her work was described in Fur Animal Research where, in 200, editor J.E. Oldfield remembers: ``I moved from U.B.C. to Oregon State University in 1949 and found a mink research program in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (then ``Fish and Game'') which was ably directed by Phyllis Watt (now Wustenberg). If I needed any encouragement to continue my interest with mink, Phyllis certainly supplied it. Raised on a mink ranch at Bay City, Oregon, she combined her knowledge of the industry and its needs with her research abilities to form an effective program which she operated with great good humor.'' She met and married Donald Wustenberg of Chico, CA in 1953 while at OSU, and in 1955, after he graduated with a Master's in Fisheries Biology. They relocated to the farm in Bay City to create a life closer to their shared ideal for raising a family. Mark was born in 1954 and William (Bill) in 1957. Don and Phyllis combined their unique research skills in animal science and genetics to create innovative data management practices that produced among the finest natural black mink in the world for over 45 years. During that time they were active leaders in the Ninth American mink industry: Phyllis served as chair of the National Mink Farmer's Research Foundation and was in demand as a renowned speaker; Don was on the board of the Great Lakes Mink Association during years of the famous ``What Becomes A Legend Most'' Richard Avalon ad campaign. Phyllis served her community and state with a gifted ability to see possibilities and respect history. She believed that people's lives can be improved, young and old, with a free book, a trip to a museum, a walk in a nature center, or a scholarship for higher education. Near to her heart was the Watt Brothers Scholarship Trust, where she served as chair for over 30 years, that annually gifts about $100,000 to Tillamook County graduates. She was a dedicated founder of the Bay City Planning Commission, Tillamook County Pioneer Museum and Kilchis Point Reserve boards, serving until her last day. She sat on the Tillamook County Extension Committee and Tillamook County Library Board. In 1994 Phyllis was appointed to the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and served until it was disbanded in 2004. She was the Board's representative to the Center for Applied Agricultural Research Board during that period and was a tireless advocate for Oregon State University Cascades to ensure four-year university education was available to the eastern half of the state. Former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Shirley Clark reflected with great admiration that, ``Phyllis changed the world and made friends along the way.'' Phyllis did indeed bestow her deepest love upon family and close friends. She nutured her sons through Willamette University and Oregon State Veterinary College and was deeply proud that they each accomplished distinguished careers and raised close-knit families with core values that mirrored her own. Her home was a destination for large gatherings of family, annual OSU Delta Delta Delta Sorority picnics, international guests, drop-by visitors, and the occasional elected official seeking advice. She is survived by: son, Dr. Mark Wustenberg (Judy), Bay City, OR; Dr. William Wustenberg (Wendy), Farmington, MN; four grandchildren--Dr. Ben Wustenberg (Dr. Leticia), Carlton, OR and their children Tristan and Emma; Liam Wustenberg (Jennifer), Forest Grove, OR and their son Everett; Russell Wustenberg, living in Toronto, CA; and Lauren Wustenberg, South Royalton, VT; her sisters Barbara and Joan; beloved nephews and nieces and extended family by birth and marriage here in the United States and abroad. She is preceded in death by her husband, Don, both parents and her brother Robert. Mark recalls that his mother said, ``Heaven is our memories carried forward in the lives of those we love and hold dear.'' The public is invited to join the family at Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, 2106 2nd St. Tillamook, OR 97141, Sunday June 9, 2019 from 2-5 p.m. Memorials are requested in lieu of flowers to honor Phyllis' lifelong dedication to the good works of the Watt Brothers Scholarship Trust, c/o Simpson & Roesener, LLP, 2216 4th St. Tillamook, OR 97141 and the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, c/o Gary Albright, 2106 2nd St. Tillamook, OR 97141. When she accepted the 2016 Bay City Pearl Festival Honoree Award Phyllis said, ``If you love the place you live, you are extremely blessed.'' A more complete story about Phyllis Watt Wustenberg's lifelong love of Oregon and the blessings that will continue due to her dedicated efforts will be available online at http://www.tcpm.org later this week. The public is invited to celebrate the life of Phyllis Watt Wustenberg on Sunday June 9 from 2-5 p.m. at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, 2106 2nd St., Tillamook, OR 97141.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in favor of the package of bills before us that includes efforts to stabilize the marketplace and address drug prices, a win-win for America. I am particularly proud to rise in support of one bill in the package, my bill, cosponsored with my good friend from Georgia, Buddy Carter, H.R. 938, the BLOCKING Act. As we are all too well aware, the rising cost of drug prices is deeply impacting every American. At the same time, addressing this issue does not have one big silver bullet solution. The BLOCKING Act is one of many that will address this larger problem. It takes action to ensure that generic drugs reach the market as quickly as possible. Generic drugs save patients tens of billions of dollars every year. The more competition we have in the generic space, the more savings we see. It is with that knowledge that we provide generic manufacturers that incentive of 180 days of exclusivity. Unfortunately, in the current system, some generic manufacturers delay bringing their drugs to market by parking their applications, once being awarded the exclusivity, and not actually bringing their drug to market. Doing so does not allow others to come to the market and extends their hold, to the disadvantage of the American consumer. That being said, a solution is quite simple. We need to prevent loopholes that decrease competition and inadvertently keep drug prices high. I remain committed to working to lower drug prices and urge others to support passage of this package of bills that will assist in addressing this critical issue for America.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to recognize and remember a dear friend and devoted, lifelong public servant, my former executive assistant Anne Marie Feeney. Anne Marie began her more than four decades in Congress in the 1970s with Senator Robert Byrd and retired her career in my office in 2014. Across the Capitol, Anne Marie was a force to be reckoned with, having served through eight Presidencies and more than 20 Congresses. She knew her stuff. Beginning her career at a time when few women were hired as congressional staff, she spearheaded the charge to bring full-time childcare to Congress for both Members and staff. When I was first elected to Congress in 2008, it was Anne Marie who helped me set up my office and guided me through the ins and outs of Congress. I credit her with building the close-knit family culture my office is fortunate to have. My thoughts this past 2 weeks have been with her daughter, Marybeth; son-in-law, Jamie; grandson, Kyle; sister, Mollie; and brother-in-law, John, as we mourn a great loss and remember the incredibly strong and caring woman that was Anne Marie Feeney.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. I am a proud cosponsor of the bill and a longtime supporter of the Paris climate accord. With the Northwest on catastrophic fire alert every year, everyone out west knows full well that climate change is a real and serious threat that needs addressing. To that end, we cannot abdicate the United States' very serious responsibility to lead the world in curbing the effects of climate change. That is why I have strongly opposed the President's reckless decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which has seriously damaged U.S. credibility on the world stage. The Paris Agreement stresses the dire importance of international cooperation in combating the climate crisis. We must work together with countries around the world if we are to achieve any sort of meaningful dent in greenhouse gas emissions. I am proud that my State of Oregon remains committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement, but one State's efforts cannot combat climate change alone. We need the Climate Action Now Act to keep the entire country committed to the Paris Agreement. I urge support for the bill.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Natural Resources Management Act, a bipartisan package that includes my bill, the Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This legislation would designate over 21 miles of the Molalla River as wild and scenic, a Federal designation that will permanently ensure its protection and preservation as one of Oregon's many national State treasures. The idea to designate the Molalla River as a wild and scenic recreational river was initiated over 12 years ago by Molalla residents who were looking to preserve and protect their river. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge and thank these community partners, chief among them the Molalla River Alliance, American Rivers, Molalla River Watch, Northwest Steelheaders, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the city of Molalla. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the efforts of a few key individuals: Mike Moody, John Atkins, Jack Hammond, Mike Clarke, Kay Patterson, Craig Roberts, Bill Taylor, David Moryc, Bob Rees, and, frankly, so many others who have worked tirelessly on this project. It is because of their hard work that the cultural, historical, and recreational benefits of the Molalla River will be protected for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the Natural Resources Management Act.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with some very, very sad news. On Tuesday night, the Mary B II, a crab boat out of Newport, Oregon, capsized while crossing the Yaquina Bay bar. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard responded heroically to assist the boat, battling seas that were 12 to 14 feet in height. Unfortunately, the crew of three died. It was actually to be Josh Porter's last trip on that boat. He had a different job. Mr. Speaker, I want to convey my deepest condolences to the crews, the family, the friends, and, frankly, the community for their immense loss. The tragedy illustrates the courageous and perilous work that our Coast Guard members perform daily and how vital their services are for these communities. I am proud to lend my support to legislative efforts that make sure these men and women actually receive their pay for this dangerous work that they perform on our behalf. As we enter almost 3 weeks under a partial shutdown of the government, I know, for many of our valuable public servants, their resources are stretched thin. They will start missing paychecks because of the failures of the Federal Government. They continue to admirably serve throughout this shutdown, and we must ensure they don't suffer because of our failures. Mr. Speaker, I implore the President and Congress to take up the bills the Senate and House have passed and reopen the United States Government.

Mr. SCHRADER

Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the State Offices of Rural Health Reauthorization Act. Since 1979, as alluded to before, Oregon's Office of Rural Health has provided services critical to the folks in the rural portion of my State. Thirty-six percent of Oregonians live in rural communities, and as we know, these communities often face challenges not experienced in urban or suburban settings. People in rural areas might have long distances to travel over mountainous terrain just to see their doctor, or they might have issues even finding a primary care provider or specialist who can help them where and when they need it. That is why we need the Offices of Rural Health and why the House should pass this bill today. Oregonians have come to rely on the services and expertise of the Oregon Office of Rural Health to help build up the healthcare in rural areas so folks in these communities know they will be able to see a doctor, nurse practitioner, or other healthcare professional. The Office of Rural Health has worked with small hospitals and EMS providers to ensure that patients are safe, the ethics are up to code, and they can work through the often challenging patchwork of programs and regulation. My State's Office of Rural Health has also been instrumental in providing the data and policy expertise we have needed to ensure that all Oregonians receive the care that the Affordable Care Act and Oregon's healthcare transformation projects have promised. Everyone, including folks in our rural areas, should have access to quality healthcare. This bill provides the Federal support and resources necessary to ensure that all 50 States' Offices of Rural Health can be there for the patients who need them. I am proud to have led on this bill in the House with my good friend, Markwayne Mullin. I am grateful to Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone for getting this to the floor before the end of a very interesting session. I thank them for their leadership on this issue and urge support for this bill.