Mary Scanlon

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I would again inquire whether my colleague has any further testimony.

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

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, tonight's vote should be an easy one. The Respect for Marriage Act passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support, and the bill is supported by over 70 percent of Americans. It provides critical safeguards for a right that many Americans have already exercised and rely upon for the protection and prosperity of their families. The Respect for Marriage Act is historic legislation to protect the marriages of same-sex and interracial couples. I don't think history will look kindly on those who, when given the ability to protect the rights and freedoms of their constituents, chose to say no. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the LGBTQ community, my cousins, my dearest friends and neighbors, religious communities across the country, and, of course, the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, which I am so proud to represent, I stand in strong support of the Respect for Marriage Act, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this rule and the bill. Mr. 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, this week I proudly joined Senator Durbin and Senator Blumenthal in introducing the Corporate Crime Database Act, bicameral legislation that requires the Department of Justice to collect, aggregate, analyze, and publish comprehensive data on Federal corporate criminal enforcement actions. While the Department of Justice regularly collects data on nearly every type of street-level crime, there is currently very little reporting of corporate and white-collar crimes. A Federal corporate crime database is critical to bolstering corporate crime law enforcement and holding wrongdoers accountable. But the last thorough DOJ report on corporate crime was in 1979. Without data or transparency, lawmakers, journalists, and the public are left in the dark about the size and scope of corporate crime in America and the effectiveness of the Federal Government's response. By requiring the DOJ to collect and analyze information regarding enforcement actions, publish a database of the enforcement actions, and submit an annual report to Congress, the Corporate Crime Database Act will deter future crimes and protect victims. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation to curtail corporate crime.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I come today before the House first in strong support of Congresswoman Bass' bill, the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people are released from custody after serving their time, and reentry services are a crucial tool to help these individuals find success when they return home. However, in many cases, returning individuals are not given adequate support to succeed as they reintegrate in our communities. Too often they struggle to access safe and affordable housing, educational opportunities, and steady employment. This bill will provide critical, accessible, and comprehensive resources to these individuals including job training and help to obtain IDs, housing, mental health services, and more. Importantly, this bill would also expand services that I have direct experience to know are critical to increasing the success of reentering citizens. Prior to coming to Congress, I had the opportunity to work with returning citizens in the cutting-edge Federal reentry court started in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by U.S. Magistrate Judge Tim Rice and now Third Circuit Judge Felipe Restrepo. We saw in that courtroom how mentoring and legal assistance often were the key to successful reentry by returning citizens. The additional services provided by the reentry court and related nonprofits resulted in a two-thirds reduction in recidivism by participants in that program. So in addition to supporting the underlying bill, I am proud to offer my colleague, Ms. Pressley's, amendment to the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act. This amendment will ensure that the grant program is evaluated for its effectiveness. We know that it is not enough to create a grant program, we must also ensure effective implementation of that program and that the critical government resources we make available are meeting the needs of the intended recipients and are a productive use of taxpayer resources. This additional provision will require evaluation of the grant program and allow recommendations to improve the program and reduce any barriers to access. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would simply encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of Representative Pressley's amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today during National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month, a time when the pain and grief of loss should be honored with action, to read the words and the plea of a heartbroken mother and a Pennsylvania 5 constituent, Molly Collington, who lost her son, Sam, to gun violence a year ago on November 28, 2021. By all accounts, Sam Collington was a remarkable young man who left an outsized impact on our community. His mother, Molly, shared her story with me earlier this fall when I met with her and her colleagues at Delaware County's Moms Demand Action chapter. I was deeply moved by her advocacy in the face of unimaginable loss and grief, and I am sharing her words with her permission now. ``My name is Molly Collington. I am Sam Collington's brokenhearted mother. ``Sam was the best son any mother could ever ask for. He was kind, smart, reliable, and without a doubt, one of the funniest people to ever walk this Earth. ``Sam was murdered on November 28, 2021. The day began with Sam loading up his father's car with clean laundry, some leftover turkey, and supplies to carry him through the rest of the semester. ``He was returning to his apartment at Temple University after the Thanksgiving weekend. He planned to drop the items off at his apartment, then return home to watch HBO with me, sleep in his own bed, and then take the train back to school Monday morning. That did not happen. ``Because on his street, near his apartment, was a career criminal with an illegal gun waiting to steal the car of the next person that drove down the street. The next person was my Eagle Scout son, Sam. Sam was shot four times and died less than 30 minutes later at Temple Hospital. ``Sam was so knowledgeable about our country and all its history. He knew every single President and could talk for hours about politics. So it was no surprise when he told his father and I that he wanted to study political science at Temple University after high school. His fervor for politics and government started very young. He proudly served as his high school's president for his junior and senior year. ``During his time at Temple, he served as the president of the Political Science Society, never missing an opportunity to make each day count. ``He planned to attend law school and study constitutional law. He was an activist. ``He campaigned for local politicians and interned at city hall where he worked with elections. He was responsible for getting hundreds of people registered to vote, on and off campus. He was a poll watcher. ``He even went on a `Bernie Journey' where he rode with fellow Temple students on a schoolbus to North and South Carolina to campaign for his favorite politician, Bernie Sanders. ``Sam truly believed in the `not me, us' mantra, which is why he was so outspoken in his love of politics and striving for a better world. ``Sam had a larger-than-life personality. As one of his professors pointed out: `It is impossible to be involved in the Political Science Department and not know Sam Collington.' ``He became known on campus as `Poly-Sci Sam.' ``To lose a child is the greatest pain any parent can ever experience. Every day, my heart breaks all over again. To lose a child like Sam, knowing that he was destined for something big, is absolutely soul-crushing. How his father, sister, and I are still standing seems impossible to believe. He made us better people just by knowing him. We are destroyed without him, his cheerfulness, his wit, and his intelligence. ``One of the hardest parts is knowing my son's murder was preventable. Our children should be able to go to school safely. We should not have to worry about making sure they know where the closest exits are at the movie theaters, supermarkets, concerts, and churches. ``I implore our elected officials to do more to keep guns out of the wrong hands. ``We must do better. We have to do better. We are failing our children. ``They say time heals all wounds, but I can tell you without any doubt whatsoever, not this one.''

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1464 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 Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach), 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 legislation days to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, yesterday the Committee on Rules met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1464, providing for consideration of S. 4524, the Speak Out Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary as well as one motion to commit. The rule further provides the majority leader or his designee the ability this week to en bloc requested roll call votes on suspensions. The rule also provides roll call votes on suspension bills considered on November 14 or 15 may be postponed through November 18. Lastly, the rule provides standard recess instructions for the district work period from November 21 through November 28 and deems passage of House Resolution 1463. Madam Speaker, today's rule provides for consideration of the Speak Out Act, a straightforward, bipartisan bill, that passed the Senate unanimously, to prevent nondisclosure agreements from silencing victims of sexual assault and harassment. Over the past 5 years, we have seen numerous cases of women and men disclosing their experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace. As more people came forward, others felt empowered to share their experiences, and offenders who had long gotten away with such reprehensible conduct increasingly faced consequences to their actions. While many high-profile cases focused on movie executives, actors, TV personalities, professional athletes, and elected officials, sexual assault and harassment has been endemic in American workplaces for a very long time. The silencing of survivors with nondisclosure agreements has played a significant role in allowing such misconduct to continue. Over the span of multiple congressional hearings, we have heard firsthand accounts of how harassment affects workers in all industries, from farms to offices to restaurants to colleges. Sexual harassment is pervasive in U.S. workplaces. It is not a problem unique to athletes and celebrities that we see on TV. However, the one thing that many of the stories have in common is that the perpetrators are often people in positions of power, CEOs, bosses, managers, and executives, and these people have access to expensive lawyers and PR teams to exploit flaws in our legal system to protect themselves and silence those they have abused. Now, thanks to the courage of survivors and the increasing power of women and other historically underrepresented groups in the workplace, there is a newfound recognition of the social and economic consequences of a status quo that enables or excuses such misconduct, and there is new momentum to ensure that the American workplace environment is safe and fair for all. I am so encouraged that this Congress has been able to come together and pass legislation to address this problem. Earlier this year, Congress passed bipartisan legislation that now prevents companies from using forced arbitration agreements to resolve cases of sexual assault or harassment. Forced arbitration clauses are widespread in employment contracts and generally prevent workers from suing their employer in court. Arbitration proceedings overwhelmingly benefit the employer because the employer decides the venue, terms of mediation, and even the arbitrators themselves. Forced arbitration, combined with nondisclosure agreements, meant that victims were kept silent and forced into settlements over which they had little control and kept predators from facing accountability for their actions. Even more concerning, the silencing of survivors of abuse through forced arbitration and nondisclosure agreements thwarts an important tool for preventing future misconduct. Abusers who are not held responsible are free and, in a sense, encouraged to offend again. Given the stigma that victims of such abuse often encounter, they are less likely to come forward if they think the abuse they endured was an isolated incident. With the passage of the Speak Out Act, both of these legal gimmicks will be banned in cases of sexual assault in the workplace, freeing workers and making corporations take responsibility for actually creating a safe work environment. These laws won't end sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace overnight, but it will now make it easier for victims to seek justice and deter bad behavior. As a woman, and the mother of a daughter, like at least a third of women in the American workplace, both of us have experienced or witnessed such workplace behavior, so I wholly support this legislation. In my view, passing the Speak Out Act should be an easy task for the House of Representatives. It is a simple, sensible bill, and it passed unanimously in the Senate, an institution not always known for finding consensus. Here in the House, the Speak Out Act should receive similar treatment, passage with an overwhelming, if not unanimous, majority. But we have been forced by the obstruction of a number of our more extreme Republican colleagues to expend the time needed to pass a rule, engage in hours of debate, and take four votes to pass the bill in the House, when we have numerous pressing items demanding Congress' attention before year's end. The fact that the bill passed with all 100 Senators in support, in an evenly divided Senate, should tell you that if there were serious problems with the bill, they have already been resolved. Anyone who has actually read the legislation knows that. NDAs are meant to protect trade secrets and business dealings. Why would anyone try to enable their use in covering up sexual assault? I am here to get results for my constituents, and that includes measures to ensure that our workplaces are free from sexual assault and abuse. Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage all my colleagues to support today's rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I am looking forward to the fact that by the end of the week, the Speak Out Act will be signed into law. While these reforms to the nondisclosure agreements and forced arbitration agreements will only go so far, they will create a more even playing field for survivors of sexual assault and harassment. Thousands of people will be freed from the unfair burdens of NDAs, and I sincerely hope this brings justice and closure to those who need it. I also recognize that there is a lot more this Congress should do to support both workers and victims of sexual assault. We can't ignore the disproportionate power that most employers hold over their employees, which can often lead to unfair outcomes for workers. Whether it is NDA agreements that silence victims, contracts that undercut workers' pay or rights, forced arbitration clauses, or egregious noncompete agreements, there is much more work to do to guarantee an even playing field for all workers in this economy. I am proud of the work House Democrats have accomplished for workers this Congress. Although the Senate filibuster has greatly curtailed the scope of what we should do, Democrats and President Biden have secured multiple wins for workers over the past 2 years, and the Speak Out Act is another victory in that column. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support today's rule.

Ms. SCANLON. 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 would reiterate Mr. Raskin's point that certainly the voters in Pennsylvania that I have heard from care deeply about whether or not their votes are counted. Madam Speaker, the Presidential Election Reform Act will reinforce one of the defining American characteristics of our American experiment in democracy: the peaceful transition of Presidential power. It is critical to that experiment that Americans have faith that our leaders will honor the will of the people when they vote. The process of counting and transmitting votes is a question of procedure and should not be treated as an opportunity to manipulate the outcome of a free and fair election as it was in the wake of the 2020 election. I am heartened that the legislation under consideration today is a bipartisan bill. I don't care if you are a Democrat, a Republican, a conservative, a liberal, an Independent. If you love this country and believe in a government by the people, for the people, and of the people, we all have an obligation to confront the dangers posed by antidemocratic agents who try to undermine our elections, abandoning the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power for their own personal or political gain. I regret that we must bring this bill to strengthen the guardrails of our democracy after the subversive actions of the disgraced former President and his supporters threatened to derail our government entirely. But we must confront those continuing threats to our electoral system, in Pennsylvania and across the Nation, where bad actors continue to promote lies about election security. To be clear, there was never justification for the efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But bad actors lied about the election results and willfully misinterpreted the law, and Members of the former President's party, whether explicitly or by their silence, continue to support these lies and baseless legal challenges. These tactics demand the bipartisan set of reforms we are considering today to insulate our democracy from demagoguery. I look forward to working with my colleagues of all political stripes to strengthen the guardrails of our democracy and to support and defend the Constitution.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, every September, we observe Recovery Month to celebrate the millions of Americans in recovery from substance use disorders, and we reaffirm our commitment to passing policies to combat the impact of addiction in our communities. The impact of addiction is tragically far reaching, extending far beyond the individual suffering, impacting entire families, especially children. The opioid epidemic has forced increasing numbers of kinship caregivers, most of whom are grandparents, to take over the role of primary caregivers for children impacted by the crisis. Grandparents like Susan, a grandmother I spoke with recently at an opioid awareness vigil, who had stepped up to be her grandchildren's primary caregiver but is struggling to make ends meet, unable to access services that would be available if her grandchildren were instead placed in foster care. I introduced the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act to help ensure that grandfamilies like Susan's have access to the critical services and support needed to keep kids safe and keep them with their own families. Combating addiction will take all of us working together to support our loved ones and community members. We can't let our families fight this fight alone. Supporting and Defending the Constitution

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, as I walked up the Capitol steps this morning, I was stopped by a reporter who wanted to know if it was a priority of the Democratic Party to pass the Presidential Election Reform Act, which we will consider in the House this week. I was stunned by the assumption in that question that protecting the peaceful transfer of power in the United States of America could ever be a partisan issue. In fact, the legislation under consideration is a bipartisan bill. I don't care if you are a Democrat, a Republican, a conservative, a liberal, an Independent, if you love this country and believe in a government by the people, for the people, of the people, we all have an obligation to confront the dangers posed by radical extremists who would undermine our elections, abandon the peaceful transfer of power and the rule of law for their own personal or political gain. I look forward to working with my colleagues of all political stripes to strengthen the guardrails of our democracy and to support and defend our Constitution.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, for far too long, families in my district and across the country have struggled with rising healthcare and prescription drug costs. So, I am pleased to report that relief is on the way, thanks to Democrats' passage of the Inflation Reduction Act this summer. This act reins in out-of-control healthcare costs and will make a real difference in family budgets by extending tax credits for health insurance, capping prescription drug costs for seniors at $2,000 a year, capping insulin costs for seniors at $35 a month, and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices with drug companies. A family of four in Ridley Park could save more than $2,800 in annual health insurance premiums. A senior couple in Media could save more than $13,000 in yearly healthcare costs. If the Inflation Reduction Act's $35 insulin copay had been in effect in 2020, a Springfield resident who uses NovoLog could have saved $1,300 a year. Importantly, all these benefits are fully paid for by making the biggest corporations and billionaires pay their fair share.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, the American people asked, and Democrats are delivering. I am proud to join my colleagues in moving this historic effort to fight climate change, lower prescription drug prices, and reduce the deficit. Every district in our country has felt the pain of inaction on the growing climate crisis, from forest fires in the West to unprecedented flooding in the Midwest and Northeast. My district is no exception. Just this week, I visited the Brandywine River Museum of Art, home of Andrew Wyatt's masterpieces, which, 1 year ago, experienced devastating damage when extreme weather caused the nearby river to rise over 18 feet. Yesterday, I toured the wetlands at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to discuss measures to address the ever-more-frequent flooding being experienced in the nearby Eastwick neighborhood. From one end of my district to another, my constituents are seeing the devastating impact of climate change every single day. Congress must deliver results for these people: legislation that makes a difference for hardworking Americans. When my Republican colleagues were in the majority, they used their control over this body to pass tax cuts for the wealthy and deny healthcare to millions of Americans. But Democrats have proven over and over they take seriously their job to deliver results for all of their constituents, and that is why we are here today. Through tax incentives, grants, and loans, the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030. This legislation will invest in our energy sector to promote innovation and renewable energy, and it will do this while supporting workers' unions and creating more than 9 million new jobs over the next decade. The bill will also ensure that vulnerable communities like Eastwick, most likely to feel the impact of a climate crisis, will receive the tools and attention they deserve. Beyond addressing climate, the bill will radically lower the cost of expensive prescription drugs, help 13 million Americans keep their health insurance, and empower the IRS to go after wealthy corporations and tax cheats. Notably, it will do all this while reducing the budget deficit. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to share the direct investments in Pennsylvania's Fifth District for workers and businesses provided by this year's National Defense Authorization Act. We worked hard to secure its continued funding for the CH-47F Block II Chinook and V-22 Osprey programs, which provide good-paying local jobs to over 4,000 skilled men and women who build those aircraft in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. In addition to supporting thousands of good-paying local jobs, the programs benefit dozens of small businesses and suppliers across Pennsylvania. I am also pleased that this year's NDAA includes my bill to support Federal firefighters in PA-05 and across the country. Federal firefighters, like those at Philadelphia's Navy Yard, have some of the toughest jobs in our communities, but budget cuts have forced them to operate without full crews, making their jobs more dangerous. My bill requires the Department of Defense to adhere to national fire protection staffing standards at the Navy Yard and elsewhere. I am proud that this year's defense bill recognizes the invaluable contributions of PA-05 workers and businesses to our national security, and I will continue to advocate for PA-05 priorities as the legislation makes its way to the President's desk.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1232 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler), 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