Brad Schneider

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise to implore the President to stop holding Federal workers hostage and immediately end this shutdown. I think every day of the TSA agent I recently spoke with at the airport. She is now working without pay, a young single mother raising her 15-year-old daughter. She told me she is really struggling to make ends meet without her paycheck. Her story is not unique. A constituent from Mundelein shared that she doesn't know how she will pay her bills, including her mortgage, and has had to borrow money from her family. Another constituent, a Federal employee in Round Lake, has been working without pay. He wrote: ``Why are we a bargaining tool for something beyond our control?'' Why indeed, Mr. President? We may disagree on the best way to secure our border, but we can all agree that the good women and men working on our Nation's behalf should be paid for their work--the TSA and FAA workers keeping our skies safe, the FDA workers keeping our food safe, and the Coast Guard protecting our borders. Do the responsible thing: reopen our government, and then let's have a robust, honest debate about how to secure our borders.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 190, the Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2019. I am proud to again introduce this bill with my friend from Kansas (Mr. Marshall). As they did in the last Congress, I encourage my colleagues to join us in passing this important bipartisan legislation. Women-owned businesses, companies owned by service-disabled veterans, and other types of small firms have unique opportunities to work with the Federal Government through sole source contracting. Unfortunately, regulations governing these types of contracts, specifically the maximum value amount of the contract, have not kept pace with inflation, and many small business owners often won't pursue these opportunities due to their diminished return. Furthermore, the law includes option years towards the cap, reducing the projected returns and lowering the appeal of sole source contracts. For these reasons, many eligible small businesses overlook sole source contracts as a quality opportunity to do business with the Federal Government. Our bill would bring the sole source contracting requirements in line with inflation and only apply base years, not the option years, to a contract's cap. Additionally, programs such as sole source contracting currently depend on small businesses certifying their own eligibility. It is important that we better ensure the integrity of these programs. H.R. 190 protects these programs through a process whereby the Small Business Administration would confirm eligibility of a participating company. Sole source contractors should present a real opportunity for eligible small businesses. Our legislation would make these contracts more competitive, while enhancing how we ensure they are awarded to eligible companies. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have introduced this bipartisan legislation with Dr. Marshall to help small businesses, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of, the bipartisan Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act, H.R. 221. I thank Representative Chris Smith for introducing this bill and Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for their leadership in bringing it to the floor today. I am sad to say that we live in a time when anti-Semitism is again on the rise across our globe. Last fall, the entire world was shocked by the shooting in Pittsburgh of 11 Jews at prayer in the Tree of Life synagogue, the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in our country's history. Here in the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents increased 57 percent in the U.S. alone in 2017 compared to the previous year. In the European Union, a survey found that European Jewish communities fear attacks and rated anti-Semitism on the Internet and social media as the biggest social and political problem. A Kantor study on contemporary Jewry recently stated that Europe's largest Jewish communities are experiencing normalization and mainstreaming of anti-Semitism not seen since the Second World War. The United States has an important leadership role to play in tamping out hate both here and around the world. That is why I am concerned that the State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti- Semitism remains unfilled, as it has since the start of the Trump administration. Our bill would elevate this role to a position of proper importance at the ambassadorial rank and sets requirements to ensure the role is filled within 90 days. We need to do all we can to support our allies and combat anti- Semitism wherever and whenever it manifests itself. Hate is truly a cancer that eats away at our foundations. What may first begin as words can fester and manifest into discrimination, violence, or worse. I am proud this House passed our bill overwhelmingly in the last Congress but disappointed that the Senate did not take action. I am pleased that this is a priority at the start of this new Congress, and I hope the Senate will follow our lead and take up this important legislation. I hope the President will take note and pass this legislation and fill this long-overdue vacancy.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's irresponsible shutdown is in its 19th day. America's working families are bearing the brunt. In Illinois alone, more than 7,000 Federal workers are going without pay. Without a solution, more Americans, and our Nation's economy, will suffer. Tax refunds that families depend on could be frozen or delayed. Nutrition assistance programs could be reduced. The Northern Illinois Food Bank is now dipping in to reserves to operate without USDA funding. Air travelers, already experiencing longer lines as TSA struggles to staff checkpoints with workers who aren't being paid, will incur even longer delays. None of this is necessary. Last week, this new Congress passed bipartisan bills to fully reopen our government. This week we will pass them again, department by department. The President needs to stop holding our Federal agencies and the livelihoods of thousands of families hostage. The Senate needs to take ``yes'' for an answer and vote to open the government now. Then we can continue the debate on how best to secure our border.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, as I did my very first speech in 2013, and again in 2017, I rise today to sound a clarion call for the urgent action by this new Congress to address the senseless gun violence that continues to claim too many innocent lives across our country. Sadly, since my first speech 6 years ago, Americans continue to be gunned down in schools, workplaces, houses of worship, community gatherings, and even while sitting comfortably in their own homes. Time and again, Congress pauses for the standard moment of silence and yet, so far, has failed to take real action. Newtown, Parkland, Las Vegas, Mother Emanuel AME, Tree of Life synagogue, the Capital Gazette--these names are but a few of the grotesquely long list of mass shootings and lives cut violently short. And for every mass shooting that captures the headlines, countless other victims are killed or maimed in shootings across our country each and every day. But as we turn the page on this new Congress, I have hope, hope that this year we will finally take action to make our community safer: actions such as passing universal background checks, banning high capacity magazines, and making trafficking of weapons across State lines a Federal crime. We have the power to save lives. Let us now find the courage to act and build a safer future for our children.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the creative accomplishments of our local municipalities who have gone above and beyond to serve our communities. Innovation is alive and well in the cities, towns and villages of Illinois's Tenth Congressional District. Some of these local achievements were recently recognized by the Lake County Municipal League highlighting the commitment, vision and ingenuity of our civic leaders. The City of North Chicago, Illinois won top honors for their work creating a Summer Youth Employment program titled ``Learn, Earn and Return.'' The program has employed over 100 local low-income youth in summer internships through public and private partnerships in its first four years. Working alongside city staff, these summer interns develop valuable leadership and career skills that are crucial in an increasingly competitive job market. According to the City, since ``Learn, Earn and Return'' started, youth crime in North Chicago has decreased by 80 percent. The Village of Mundelein was also honored for the successful launch of their revitalized 1-2-3 building permit program that will allow for greater efficiency. The improvement earned an Honorable Mention at the awards dinner. Other Lake County municipalities made significant strides in the past year to bolster their local small businesses, improve public safety and beautify their communities. In an effort led by Mayor Terry Weppler, the Village of Libertyville highlighted over 100 of their local businesses with personal visits and were featured on the Village website. The Village of Beach Park partnered with the City of Waukegan to design, install and implement an early warning outdoor notification system. Finally, the Village of Buffalo Grove, the Buffalo Grove Park District, and the Living Lands Conservation Company collaborated to construct a nursery to grow native aquatic plants. We all strive to live in vibrant, healthy and dynamic communities. The work of these, and other, municipalities are helping to realize that dream. I applaud these municipalities and the dedicated civil servants for their commendable efforts to serve our communities. I look forward to learning more about these innovative efforts, and to continuing to work closely together in the months ahead.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I recently asked my constituents about their priorities, and we received more than 2,400 responses. Their top issues? Healthcare, gun safety, and the environment. It is worth noting that on each of these issues this Congress has not only not made progress, we have moved backwards. On healthcare, this Congress spent months fighting a failed fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and now the administration continues to cynically sabotage the law to weaken protections for pre-existing conditions and increase premiums. On gun safety, this Congress sits idly by as senseless gun violence and mass shootings claim lives across the country. In fact, the only gun legislation we passed this year, concealed carry reciprocity, actually weakened our gun laws. On climate, this Congress has not only not listened to the science that tells us to reduce emissions, and instead the administration, President Trump, recklessly withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord. It is time Congress put the interests of the American people first. In the coming new Congress, we have a new opportunity for progress. Let's listen and prioritize the issues that matter most to our constituents and our country: affordable healthcare, the safety of their children, and a sustainable planet.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Garamendi from California, for organizing this evening's conversation, but more importantly, for drawing attention to this critically important issue. It is more than a little bit shameful that the administration chose to release the Fourth National Climate Assessment on Black Friday, a day, as the gentleman noted, when most families, most people, are focused on the Thanksgiving holiday. Some are shopping, and some are hanging out with their family and friends. But it was clear that this was an apparent effort by the administration to introduce this report at a time when people weren't paying attention. Fortunately, people are paying attention to this issue. We are seeing it with the concerns people have watching the fires in California; the floods and hurricanes this summer or fall in Florida; last year, with the hurricanes and flooding in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The report that was released on Friday was a rigorous report, assembled by 13 Federal agencies and covering more than 1,000 pages of detailed analysis and data, highlighting the impacts we can expect over the next decades into the next century if action isn't taken. Impacts include increased storms, flooding, devastation, mudslides from the size of these storms; loss of physical property; incalculable human cost from loss of life and other damages; droughts that are leading to fires, crop failures, loss of arable land, not just in our country, but, literally, around the world. The facts are clear. But, again, the Trump administration tried to bury this report, and the President himself says he does not believe the report. Well, to put it simply, this is not about beliefs. This is about science. The facts could not be clearer. Climate change is a serious threat to our Nation. It is a threat to our economy, to our national security, and to the planet that we pass on to our children. We need to take action now before it is too late. The report forecasts that more severe storms, droughts, coastal flooding, and other climate effects could reduce the size of the American economy by 10 percent before the end of the century, almost doubling the impact to our economy of the Great Recession of 2008. The recent fires in California were exacerbated by climate change, and more fires are forecast in the Southeast and throughout the West, if action isn't taken. The agricultural Midwest, from where I come, will be particularly hard-hit. This report forecasts the farming sector could lose so much productivity that the crisis of the 1980s could even seem tame. We need to do something. On the national security front, we will be affected. The report says that climate change variability and extreme events, in conjunction with other factors, can exacerbate conflict around the world, as we have already seen. Droughts, floods, storm surges, wildfires, and other extreme events stress nations and people through loss of life, displacement of populations, and impacts on livelihoods, the report continues. While the White House refuses to make climate a priority, I am heartened that the Pentagon continues to treat this threat with the seriousness it deserves and focuses on it as a national security crisis. This is a global challenge. It can only be met with a global response. It needs the people of the world and the nations of the world to come together. This is literally a call to action for all of the people of the world. That is the power that was behind the Paris climate accord where every nation has come together and said: We must act, and we must act with urgency. The world needs American leadership, and, sadly, this administration is turning away from that responsibility and that obligation. But thankfully, we are seeing many cities, communities, States, and even business leaders saying: We are in. We are not going to step away. The Trump administration continues to say: We are walking away. The Trump administration, in fact, continues to make matters worse. They rolled back the Clean Power Plan to slow our transition away from dirty forms of energy. They have undercut environmental regulations to limit methane pollution. Most significantly, last year, the President announced he was withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement. Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions, and American leadership must play a role. We must stay within the Paris accord. There is still time to fix this problem if we take action today. If we come together as a nation and if we come together as a world, then I hope we can do that in this body. I hope we can do this as a nation, and I hope this country can continue to lead to make sure that we pass on to our children an environment, a climate, and a world that is worthy of the legacy of our great Nation.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, time and time again, President Trump has sought to undermine the independence of the Justice Department and its investigation into the Russian election interference led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The President's recent decision to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions is just the most recent example. The President's effort to put the Mueller investigation under the supervision of an acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, with his long and vocal history of bias against this very investigation, is simply unacceptable. The Mueller team must be allowed to finish its work without interference. This is more than just knowing what happened in 2016. It is imperative that we learn from the past to protect our Nation from future threats. I urge the acting attorney general to do the right thing: recuse himself and return supervision of the investigation to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. I ask my colleagues in Congress to exercise our responsibility in upholding the rule of law and pass legislation that would protect the special counsel from a politically motivated firing. I await the findings of the special counsel and will follow the facts wherever they lead.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Janice Charlotte Christensen, a World War II veteran of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), and a former resident of Waukegan, IL. Founded in 1943, WASP was a wartime civilian women pilots organization, which graduated only 1,074 women to operate military aircraft and fly non-combat missions. Members flew more than 60 million miles throughout the course of the Second World War serving over 120 bases around the country, including missions towing aerial targets for anti-aircraft gun practice, simulating strafing missions, test flying and ferrying aircrafts, serving as instructors and transporting cargo. Thirty-eight WASPs lost their lives in the line of duty before the program was disbanded in 1944. In the spring of 1942, at her own expense, Ms. Christensen began flying lessons at the Waukegan Airport and became an original member of the Waukegan Civil Air Patrol. After achieving the required 90 hours of flying time, she joined the WASP and left for training at Avenger Army Air Field in Sweetwater, Texas. On September 11, 1943, she graduated and would be stationed at Romulus Army Air Field in Michigan. A year later, she returned to Avenger Field and completed an intensive advanced course in instrument flying. Following that, she was stationed at Cochran Army Air Field in Macon, Georgia, until the WASP program was disbanded in December 1944. Despite her service, Ms. Christensen and other WASPs were denied veteran status. After returning home, Ms. Christensen was involved with the Waukegan Civil Air Patrol and joined the Air Force Reserve. Captain Christensen was honorably discharged from all appointments in the United States Air Force Reserves in November 1963. Her services were of great value to the Army Air Forces during the war, and as a volunteer she helped establish the capacity of women as non-combat military pilots. Finally, in 1977, WASPs would be granted veteran status by President Jimmy Carter to recognize their service. And in 2009, President Obama and Congress would award the Congressional Gold Medal to WASPs while only 300 veterans remained alive. Sadly, Ms. Christensen passed away in a car accident in 1965, never having seen her military contributions sufficiently honored. It is a privilege to properly recognize Captain Janice Christensen on behalf of a grateful nation for her service to our country during World War II. I look forward to presenting her surviving family with a World War II Victory medal and a WASP medallion from the Department of Veterans Affairs to mark her gravestone on November 9, 2018.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken before about how businesses in my district, large and small, are suffering under the President's tariffs that are raising costs and increasing uncertainty. But the damage of the Trump administration's trade policy goes beyond the business community. Here is one example. This week, I learned a public middle school in my district has to dip into its contingency funds to cover the $2 million in unbudgeted cost increases for its new addition and remodeling project, caused by President Trump's tariffs. Let me repeat that. This school or, more precisely, local taxpayers now face $2 million in additional costs, not for new classrooms, but rather to cover the extra costs of the President's trade war. I have also heard from seniors in my district worried about tariffs accelerating the cost of prescription drugs, including insulin, antidepressants, MRI machines, artificial joints, and pacemakers, to name just a few. Put simply, President Trump's tariffs are not working for the American people. It is time to instead end the misguided trade war and enact sensible, enforceable trade policies that support American workers, American businesses, American intellectual property, and our environment.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, President Trump campaigned to drain the swamp, but his administration has only accelerated the revolving door between the executive branch and industry lobbyists. Last week, I introduced a bill to restore the rules surrounding executive appointee lobbying to the higher standards of the previous administration. The Ethics in Public Service Act would make commonsense changes to make government more transparent and accountable. For example, it would close loopholes in the Trump administration's ethics pledge allowing former appointees to communicate with the agency where they worked and permitting former lobbyists to join an executive agency that they lobbied within the previous 2 years. Government officials should not be shamelessly trading on their service for personal gain or to help out the special interests that previously employed them. Our democracy will function more effectively, and the American people will be better served, by a stronger separation between public service and corporate lobbying. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation to clean up the system in Washington.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's erratic trade policies, including abrupt tweets on new tariffs or exemptions, are hurting American workers and making it harder for American businesses to compete. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit eight businesses in my district to better understand the impact of these tariffs. While each business was distinct, all shared a common message: Tariffs are creating uncertainty, raising the cost of doing business, and making it harder to hire and expand. These concerns were true across the businesses I visited, from a large manufacturer in Wheeling that saw a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in the price of domestic steel, to an educational toy and game company in Vernon Hills that had to redesign upcoming products. We certainly must hold bad actors who take advantage of trade rules to account, but President Trump's tariffs on our allies are not working for the American people. It is time, instead, to strategically engage with our trade partners; end the misguided trade wars; and, instead, enact sensible, enforceable trade agreements that support American workers, American businesses, American intellectual property, and our environment.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Howard Pollari, a World War II veteran of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and a resident of Illinois's Tenth District. The OSS was a wartime intelligence agency, and precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), that played an integral part in our military and intelligence operations during World War II. Members of the service trained, supplied, and fought alongside resistance organizations throughout Europe and Asia as they battled against the Axis Powers. For two and a half years, Mr. Pollari committed his life to the service of our country. Beginning in 1944, he participated in five ``Carpetbagger'' operations as part of the 857th Bomb Squadron of the OSS delivering much-needed supplies to resistance fighters and allies in Nazi-occupied Norway. These dangerous stealth missions were typically flown on moonlit nights and at low level to avoid enemy detection. Mr. Pollari's role as a flight engineer was vital to the success and survival of these missions, as he was responsible for making in-flight repairs to the B-24 aircrafts during the airdrop missions. Mr. Pollari was one of more than 13,000 individuals employed by the OSS at the war's peak. Today, fewer than 100 former OSS members remain alive, and for too long their service and sacrifice was not properly recognized. Earlier this year, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, to those who served in the OSS in recognition of their heroic and pioneering service to our country. It is my great honor and privilege to recognize Howard Pollari on behalf of a grateful nation for his service to our country and allies during World War II. I look forward to presenting him and his family with a copy of the Congressional Gold Medal in person this August.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted 12 Russian intelligence operatives for their activities hacking Democratic email and computer networks during the 2016 election. In Illinois, our State Board of Elections was also targeted and its voter registration database breached. Data on tens of thousands of Illinois voters was taken. This breach and the taking of voter data is an unacceptable, malicious attack on our Nation and its people. We must not only hold the attackers accountable; we need to ensure that attacks on our next election are defended against. Personally, I have met with county clerks for the district I represent, and I know they are taking action, treating this threat seriously. We need to ensure that our Federal Government is responding with the same level of urgency. That is why, today, I led my Illinois colleagues in a letter requesting a briefing from the Department of Justice on their election security efforts in our State. Protecting the integrity of our election is fundamental to our democracy. I urge the Department of Justice to work with Illinois to secure our election infrastructure and prepare for this serious national threat.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's trade war is spiraling out of control and American workers and businesses are paying the price. Back home in Illinois, already more than $3.8 billion in exports have been targeted for retaliation. I have heard from numerous working companies hurting from this misguided approach. They are struggling with new, high costs and are now less able or less likely to hire or expand. Today, I am introducing legislation to help American businesses affected by the Trump tariffs. Trade Adjustment Assistance was created in 1962 to help U.S. workers and U.S. firms adapt to competition caused by changing trade policies. My bill would expand the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms to add reduced exports resulting from retaliatory tariffs as a qualifying factor for the TAA program. I also enthusiastically support similar legislation by my Democratic colleagues being introduced this week to provide similar assistance to impacted workers and farmers. President Trump needs to end this damaging trade war. Until he does, we need to provide relief to the businesses and workers who are adversely stuck with the consequences. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

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

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chairman, we are still uncovering more troubling evidence on the extent of Russia's interference in our most recent election. These Russian actions were an attack on our democracy, and we need to respond both to hold them to account for past actions and to protect against future aggressions. With our next national election less than 4 months away, we must act now. So I am pleased this bill takes steps to require a publicly available advisory report on foreign counterintelligence and cybersecurity threats facing our Federal elections. This joint report from the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI will help campaigns identify and counter these threats. My amendment strengthens the reporting requirements to ensure we are publicly identifying the foreign state or nonstate actors that our intelligence officials identify as responsible for these threats. The American people deserve to know who is trying to interfere in our democratic process, and they deserve a government that will hold these countries and these groups to account. Protecting the integrity of our elections from outside influence by malign foreign actors is of paramount importance. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to help ensure that we treat the threat of foreign election interference with the seriousness it demands. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), who is the ranking member.

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

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

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my bipartisan amendment to require the Director of National Intelligence to report on Iran's support for proxy forces in Syria and Lebanon. I thank my colleague from North Carolina, Mark Meadows, for his partnership in this endeavor, as well as Kyrsten Sinema and Norma Torres for cosponsoring this amendment. Mr. Chair, Iran's destabilizing activities in the Middle East are no secret, and, of late, their malign influence has grown dramatically across the region, including in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. Specifically with respect to Syria, Iran is menacingly working to develop a permanent foothold in the country, increasing the threat to our key allies Jordan and, in particular, Israel. They are also assisting terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in supporting Assad. Battle-tested Hezbollah fighters are subsequently returning to Lebanon more capable and more dangerous than ever before. Additionally, with assistance from Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah has been able to amass nearly 150,000 rockets and missiles on the border with Israel. This figure is a staggering increase from the, roughly, 15,000 rockets they had in 2006. Iran has exploited several means of transferring weapons to Hezbollah, including by land and by air. Israel has often targeted these transfers to stop the weapons from reaching Lebanon. To eliminate the susceptibility of these transfers to interdiction, Iran is reportedly building missile production facilities in Lebanon to enable indigenous rocket-producing capability for Hezbollah. A domestic missile production capability in Lebanon would enable Hezbollah to more easily continue to build its rocket arsenal not only with more weapons, but more sophisticated, more deadly weapons, and with less reliance on risky transits. That is why I am offering my amendment today, to focus our intelligence community on this urgent threat. A DNI report would help us better understand the extent of Iran's support for terrorist proxies such as Hezbollah and the threat this support poses to Israel and other U.S. regional allies. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the ranking member.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, another week, another two blatant attempts by this administration to sabotage the Affordable Care Act. On Saturday, the Trump administration announced it is ending payments that help insurers meet the requirement to cover individuals with preexisting conditions. These risk adjustment payments pool risk for insurers so all Americans can be covered, not just the healthiest few. Just yesterday, the Trump administration announced it is slashing funds for healthcare navigators by 70 percent. These navigators are the individuals trained to help Americans compare and enroll in plans. Without navigator assistance, more Americans will struggle to enroll, and more people will go uninsured. These changes and other actions previously announced by this administration will result in higher premiums for millions of individuals and small businesses. Remember this: the 130 million Americans, those of us with preexisting conditions, will pay the heaviest price. This cynical effort to diminish access to quality, affordable care has to stop. The Trump administration needs to abandon its effort to undermine the ACA and instead start working with those of us who want to improve, rather than tear down, our healthcare system.