Mary Scanlon

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor).

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Rules, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 172 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Chairman, my first amendment is amendment No. 6. This straightforward amendment would establish a committee of election security experts to review grant requests to ensure that funds for election security infrastructure are best spent. This committee would be established under the Election Assistance Commission, the EAC, and act alongside the three existing Federal advisory committees that were created under the Help America Vote Act. Currently, the three existing boards have advisory and oversight responsibilities to assist the EAC in carrying out its mission under the law and reviewing voluntary voter system guidelines. There is not, however, enough expertise within these three committees to properly determine how funds related to election security grants are best spent. Election security is one of the critical pillars of H.R. 1, and my amendment would help ensure that the EAC has everything it needs to properly vet grants to help improve and secure voting systems across the United States. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Chairman, the intent of the amendment is to establish a committee that parallels the three existing committees and, therefore, would use the same properties as those committees for appointment, et cetera. The gentleman who argued against the last amendment was suggesting that it would be too intrusive to interject too much specificity in the amendment, so I guess we have a flip situation here. But the idea is to parallel the three existing commissions and have the 15-person committee appointed using the same processes. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Chair, just 2 weeks ago in my district, six lives and six families were forever changed by gun violence in a 6-day period. Four people were killed and two were injured in six different shootings. One person was 28. The other five were 16, 17, and 18. They were teenagers. My heart goes out to all of those victims' families. Thoughts and prayers are no longer enough. It is long past time that our actions speak louder than our words. No matter which State we are from, with over 40,000 gun violence deaths last year, every State has been severely impacted by gun violence. The public health crisis has been politicized and weaponized as a means to divide us, despite the fact that it is a crisis that should bind us together, and we must come together. Background checks are the foundation of commonsense gun policy, and they are supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans. Our current system fails us in two ways, but the bills we are looking at this week are designed to address that. Under current law, firearm sales can proceed regardless if a good background check comes back within a 3-day period, and it doesn't capture all the sales. So this puts an incredible burden on law enforcement and an incredible burden on ATF agents who have to go and reclaim guns that are sold, despite the owner of the gun not being able to pass the background check. So for too long those in a position to act have failed to do so. But that ends now. I strongly support the commonsense gun legislation in H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, my vote did not record. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 80.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the good people of the Fifth District of Pennsylvania, who are helping their neighbors, the Federal workers, contractors, and families who have been so grievously impacted by the government shutdown. As the human and financial toll of this senseless shutdown has spread, we have seen locals step up and help those who are struggling without pay. What a contrast with this administration where Cabinet members said today that they didn't understand why an unpaid worker might have to resort to a food bank to feed his family. Unlike this administration and the Senate majority leader, our neighbors have recognized the true impact of the shutdown and are doing something about it. We have seen youth groups, and fire departments, and local organizations organize food drives. Nonprofits are collecting donations and organizing food pantries so Federal workers can feed their families. I urge the President and the Senate majority leader to put people before politics. People are not bargaining chips. The shutdown needs to end now.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 52, providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 28, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2019 to fund the government until February 28. The rule provides for consideration of the legislation under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations. Additionally, the rule provides suspension authority through the legislative day of January 25, 2019. Madam Speaker, we are in day 27 of this government shutdown, the longest government shutdown in our Nation's history. Nearly 800,000 Federal employees have now missed a paycheck since the shutdown began. Some estimates say those employees have lost an average of $5,000 each so far. These hardworking Americans are law enforcement officers and National Park Service, EPA, FDA, and IRS employees, and so many others in dedicated Federal service whose families are needlessly suffering. These employees are either furloughed or being forced to work without pay. This is not an acceptable way to govern. I may not have been a Member of this body as long as some people here, but I don't think there is a single Member, Democrat or Republican, who doesn't care about securing our border, but it is foolish to think that keeping our government shut down will in any way help secure the border. You know what Border Patrol and Coast Guard members want more than a wall? They want their paychecks to come on time. Democrats have made it clear, we are more than willing to come to the table to talk about sensible border security, but the first step has to be to reopen the government and get our government back to functioning. This majority has already voted to open the government seven times, with support from across the aisle. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to act on any of these bipartisan pieces of legislation, the same legislation, I might add, that has already passed the Senate. There are more than 100 freshmen Members of this body, comprising over 20 percent of the House, who have never worked in a functioning Federal Government due to the Senate's inaction. All of our constituents, both Republican and Democrat, are suffering because of that failure to act. Let me share with you the traumatic impact of the shutdown on my constituents and Americans across the country. Jennifer, the wife of a Coast Guard gunner's mate, wrote to my office to detail the hardships her family is facing. Her husband has served in the Coast Guard for 19 years. They are used to stressful deployments, and her children are proud of their father's service. But now Jennifer has new hardships to face: how to feed her family on only her income, how she could make the holidays special while not knowing when her husband's next paycheck would come, and how to shield her kids from her constant worry over the absence of that income. This is an embarrassment. Too many Federal workers were already living paycheck to paycheck before those paychecks stopped. Having to put a mortgage payment on a credit card, deal with an eviction notice, or plead with a bank to delay a student loan payment should not be the reality forced upon hardworking Federal employees. The debts these workers incur during the shutdown will follow them long after the government is reopened. The hits to their savings accounts and marks on their credit scores will serve as painful reminders that they are represented by a government that will put them in harm's way over a policy dispute. Fran, a newlywed with a premature baby who spent more than 3 weeks in the NICU, has been without an income since her husband's paychecks stopped coming. Their child requires an expensive special formula due to his premature birth, and her husband is now being asked to work overtime without pay. The fear and anguish in these messages from our neighbors is palpable. It should resonate with every Member of this body. These stories should keep all of us up at night. If we didn't come to Washington to serve these dedicated and hardworking Americans, then just who are we here to serve? When the government does eventually reopen, fortunately, many of these Federal employees will receive backpay, but the plight of Federal contractors is worse. The term ``Federal contractors'' can conjure up an image of highly paid executives or CEOs of private detention facilities, but they are not the real ones harmed by the shutdown. Federal contractors are generally small businesses, cleaners, builders, food service workers, and tech support workers. They are our neighbors who rely on these contracts to make their rent or pay their employees or contribute to our local economies. The callousness with which these Federal contractors are being treated is repulsive. They and their families deserve so much better. The American people deserve so much better. The longer the Senate Republicans keep our government shut down, the worse things will get. The Small Business Administration has already stopped approving loan assistance and guarantee applications from commercial banks and small businesses, programs that are critical to the health of local economies. Security lines at the airports are long, and they will get longer. TSA has already been forced to close security lanes at major airports across the country. This is not because the hardworking men and women of the TSA do not want to keep our skies and our passengers safe, but because they have been forced to take second jobs to pay the rent or look after their children at home because they cannot afford childcare. Without a paycheck, some cannot afford gas or carfare to get to work at all. Just a few days ago, I met with the air traffic controllers from my district. They shared that not only is the shutdown impacting their current workforce, but it is drastically impacting their recruiting efforts to hire and train new employees for this workforce. Can we blame people for being fearful of taking a job that hinges on the Federal Government's functionality, given what we have seen during this shutdown? A National Air Traffic Controllers Association official warned recently that if the shutdown continues to drag on, there may not be any air traffic controllers left working. Let me pause to make those statements abundantly clear. This shutdown is making us less safe. If it continues much longer, there will not be enough employees on duty to make sure passengers are safe to board a plane, not enough employees left to make sure planes are safe to land, and not enough employees to direct air traffic in our skies. If you think you are insulated from the effects of a government shutdown because you are not a Federal employee, you are wrong. What I fear this administration and Republican leadership in the Senate have forgotten is that this is the people's House. We have an obligation to work for them. Refusing to uphold that commitment, that promise, is a slap in the face to the American people. Before I conclude, let me share with you one final story of how the shutdown is harming American families. Jessica from my district is a mother of six with a special needs child. Her husband is Active Duty Coast Guard. She has been forced to tell her children they can't have seconds at dinner, because she doesn't know if she will have enough food to last the week. Her daughter has an ultrasound coming up, and she is unsure if she can afford the specialist copay. She writes that she and her husband supported President Trump, but that after this, she does not see ``how we could support someone so out of touch and willing to damage so many people in order to save his own face.'' Jessica ended her message by saying that they are prepared to stand strong, but she is also prepared to stand at the corner of an intersection with a cardboard sign if that is what she has to do to feed her children. This is not the America I was raised in. Let's end the shutdown today and get our country back on track. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 52 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I understand the frustration of the gentlewoman from Arizona with the lack of progress in ending this shutdown, but I would suggest that her frustration is misdirected. The House has sent seven bills to end the shutdown to the Senate, and the Senate leadership has refused to entertain any of them or bring them to a vote: #whereismitch. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Golden).

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I am surprised to hear my colleague talk about political theater. We have a reality-show President in the White House who is ignoring the real lives impacted by the shutdown, all to try to make another made-for-TV moment to please his rightwing base and radio pundits. Government isn't a game. Real lives are at stake, and we need to reopen the government. Madam Speaker, may I inquire if the gentlewoman has any remaining speakers. If not, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I don't know when this shutdown will end, but I know that Democrats and all the Republicans who are serious about getting Federal employees back to work will vote in favor of this rule and the underlying resolution. I am heartened by my colleagues from across the aisle who have already voted to reopen the government, and I am hopeful that even more will join us this time around. No serious person can claim that any Member of this House is against border security. Not only have we sworn an oath to protect and defend this country, but we have voted repeatedly to fund billions of dollars in border security appropriations. The discussion about the best methods for protecting our border is a valid policy question that should be debated thoughtfully and deliberately by both sides of the aisle, not used as a vehicle for the President to fulfill a campaign promise at the expense of American families. It cannot be overstated: this is the longest government shutdown in history. The House has done its job. We have passed bills to reopen the government on bipartisan votes and will continue to do so for as long as it takes. We have committed to working on solutions to border security once the government is opened back up. The votes are there in the Senate. They have already shown that. And given the chance, I am sure they would show it again. Why won't Senator McConnell bring to the floor any one of the House- passed bills to open the government? I will end by saying this: Senator McConnell, do the right thing for working families in your State, in my State, and across the country. Hold a vote to open the government. Let's end the pain American families and businesses are feeling from the shutdown and get to work on making this country a better place for all. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Joe Shuker, a Federal worker in my district. I met with Joe on Friday after he reached out, looking for help for his colleagues, TSA agents who have been working for 3 weeks without pay. Their jobs are stressful, and many of them live paycheck to paycheck. Now they have the added stress of struggling to pay mortgages, rent, childcare, or even to put food on the table. Many can't afford to get gas to get to their jobs. Joe has gone door to door to get people to donate food and diapers to meet the most basic needs of his coworkers and their families. He told me about a family with a 3-month-old baby. They can't afford baby formula--baby formula. This is unacceptable. Holding Federal workers hostage and shutting down our government is a failed tactic. The House has sent legislation to reopen the government to the Senate three times. We have done our job. The Senate needs to do its.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rules package before us. This package includes, among other things, a critical provision defending the affordable healthcare of Americans. I came to Congress with a resounding message from my constituents to protect and expand affordable, quality healthcare. Parents should not have to choose between paying rent or healthcare for their children. Students should not have to choose between paying for school or health insurance. Children should not have to spend sleepless nights worried about paying for aging parents' healthcare. It is unacceptable that American families are one healthcare emergency away from financial ruin. This administration is once again undermining the Affordable Care Act and ignoring a clear message from the American people. Quality healthcare is a right and should not be the privilege of the few who can afford it. I will continue using my voice in Congress to advocate for those who need us most, pushing this body to protect the healthcare of my constituents.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, it is time for this administration to choose people over politics. As we are talking about the shutdown, the stories of real people are getting lost in the mess created by this administration. I want to share the serious impact of the shutdown on my constituents and Americans around the country. These stories come from hardworking families, like newlyweds in my district who just had a premature baby. They spent 3 weeks in the NICU and are just now getting back home. They told me: ``We have so many bills and a mortgage, and the shutdown happened just as we are sending in our first mortgage payment. Our baby requires special formula because he was not able to breastfeed. My husband has been asked to work overtime and is not getting paid. We are scared about how we are going to get by.'' This is a national crisis, one our President has created, and we have a responsibility to fix it. I call on the White House, my colleagues across the aisle, and their colleagues in the Senate to stop holding our government hostage and allow the government to reopen as we debate effective and humane border security.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Speaker-designate Pelosi, Whip Hoyer, and Representative Sarbanes for honoring the will of the American people and pledging to make democracy reform a top priority for the 116th Congress. One of the greatest promises of our democracy is that our government is of, by, and for the people. Our democracy has always been a messy experiment. It is not perfect. It is not a spectator sport. But it is our greatest hope. At this point in time, unfortunately, many of our democratic structures are under attack. In my home, Pennsylvania, over the past decade, we have seen the impact of antidemocratic policies. The cards have been stacked against the voices of Pennsylvanians through unconstitutional gerrymandering, repressive voter ID laws, and restrictive absentee ballot deadlines. These tactics have been used to muzzle the voices of our constituents, as well as voters in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, and other citizens across the country. The H.R. 1 package being advanced by Representative Sarbanes and the Democracy Reform Task Force is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore the American people's faith in our institutions. History has shown us that our American experiment is at its best when we face complex challenges head-on and we are better for taking them up. H.R. 1 is our path forward to a more perfect democracy. Our elections are the bedrock of this Nation, and the sanctity of those elections must be protected from threats, both foreign and domestic. We can make it easier, not harder, for eligible Americans to vote. We can end the dominance of Big Money in our politics. We can ensure that public officials, from the White House to Members of Congress, put the interests of the American people first. We can do all of those things, and we must. Public opinion polls show that the American people's distrust of our governmental institutions is at staggering levels. We must work together, Democrats and Republicans, to change course and restore the people's faith. We have real work to do, and Members of the incoming class are ready to roll up our sleeves. The voters have charged us to restore the balance of our political institutions and make sure that everyday Americans have a seat at the table. When we listen to people instead of special interests, we can raise the minimum wage and create good-paying jobs; we can lower prescription drug prices and give people better access to healthcare; we can make real investments in our infrastructure; we can reduce gun violence; and we can increase funding for job training programs and public education. Mr. Speaker, we owe it to the generations before us who worked to establish this democracy and we owe it to the generations that follow to ensure that we have a Government that is truly by and for the people. We can work on this together. It is up to us to get it done, and this work starts now.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, Members of the 115th Congress, I am honored to have this opportunity to serve our country. Mr. Speaker, I chose tonight to be sworn in on our Constitution, a document that begins with our uniquely American creed, ``We the people,'' a charge and a challenge to faithfully represent the people of my district and the entire country, a charge I promise to honor every day with all of my might. I am particularly honored to serve as the advance guard not just for Madeleine Dean, Chrissy Houlahan, and Susan Wild, who will soon join me and our brethren in the Pennsylvania delegation, but also as an advance guard for the army of new Members who will join us for the 116th Congress, a Congress that may look substantially different than the one we see today. I am eager to continue doing the work that we, the people, entrust to the equal branches of this government: To ensure that fairness, civility, and opportunity are available to all and to right the wrongs that hold far too many back; To make sure that the people get a fair shake, whether in their jobs, in our classrooms, in the courts, or in the voting booth; To treat others with civility, particularly here in our Nation's capital, as we work in service to the people of this great country; To ensure opportunity and safeguard the world we pass on to the next generation. I promise to continue fighting for the underserved, for children and families, for seniors and veterans--to bend the arc of justice for those in need; for students like those on my mock trial team from Constitution High School in Philadelphia, who are the next generation of civic leaders; for veterans like Bob in Media or Pixie in Philadelphia, who want assurance that their benefits will not be treated as simply a line item in our budgets; for families like Malcolm's in Chester, whose lives have been forever changed by gun violence; and for my friend Hawa Salah, a human rights activist from Darfur who was forced to flee her homeland after her advocacy for oppressed people led to her kidnapping and torture by her own government. I am eager to continue this work right here with all of you. Finally, I am grateful to the voters, to my friends and family, and particularly my husband, Mark, for believing in me, and I hope that I make him proud.