Mary Scanlon

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a January 8 letter from over 20 environmental groups, including Earthjustice, the Center for Environmental Health, the Sierra Club, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, all in favor of this legislation. January 8, 2020. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader, Washington, DC. Hon. Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader, Washington, DC. Hon. Steve Scalise, Minority Whip, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Minority Leader McCarthy, Minority Whip Scalise and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: On behalf of our millions of members and supporters, the undersigned non-governmental organizations write today to urge you to vote YES on H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act. Toxic PFAS chemicals have now been confirmed in the water of more than 1,400 communities, including nearly 300 military installations, and studies have linked PFAS to serious health problems, including cancer. H.R. 535 will build on the progress made in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020 by restricting industrial releases of PFAS into our air and water, setting a drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS in tap water, and by kick-starting the process of cleaning up legacy PFAS contamination by designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law. The science is clear: PFAS have been linked to serious health problems through decades of animal, worker, and human studies. Unfortunately, EPA has failed to take steps to restrict air and water releases, reduce PFAS in our tap water, or clean up the nation's most contaminated sites. H.R. 535 will set clear deadlines requiring EPA to do just that. Designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, as proposed by H.R. 535, will not ban PFAS--but will instead ensure that the most contaminated sites are finally cleaned up. We urge you to vote YES on H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act. Sincerely, Christine Santillana, Earthjustice; Patrick MacRoy, Environmental Health Strategy Center; Shaina Kasper, Toxics Action Center Campaigns; Andrea Braswell, Center for Environmental Health; Michael Green, Center for Environmental Health; Laurene Allen, Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water; Paul and Diane Cotter, Your Turnout Gear and PFOA; Pamela Kay Miller, Alaska Community Action on Toxics; Tara Thorntom, Endangered Species Coalition; Dalal Aboulhosn, Sierra Club; Meghan Boian, Southern Environmental Law Center; Stel Bailey, Fight For Zero; Lynn Thorp, Clean Water Action; Colin O'Neil, Environmental Working Group; John Rumpler, Environment America; Pamitha Weerasinghe, Union of Concerned Scientists; Loreen Hackett, #PfoaProjectNY; Sabina Perez, Office of Senator Perez, 35th Guam Legislature; Joanne Stanton, Buxmont Coalition for Safer Water; Glenn Watkins, National Wildlife Federation; Hope Grosse, Buxmont Coalition for Safer Water.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 779 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I reiterate again that this is, in fact, a bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, ensuring the health and safety of our constituents is one of the chief responsibilities we have as Members of Congress. The PFAS Action Act will keep Americans safe by stopping the flow of harmful chemicals into our environment, our drinking water, and the products we use every day. The fight to protect our constituents is ongoing. Science has come a long way in the last 60 years, and we must use those developments to better inform and address the concerns of all Americans. One of the lessons we must take from having this debate today is that we are all better off by having a strong, responsive, and people- focused EPA. We need an EPA that doesn't treat the American populace like crash-test dummies for the chemical industry to test their products on. Asking for forgiveness instead of permission is not an acceptable tactic when it comes to the health and well-being of our constituents. We need an EPA that enforces environmental protections, not one that lets industry off the hook whenever it isn't in compliance. We need an EPA that respects hard, indisputable science, not one that willfully buries its head in the sand to avoid the inevitable. That is what our constituents want from us, to know that they are not being put at risk by the decisions we make. I am proud that this bill will pass the House today. The PFAS Action Act is a commitment to the American people that this majority will take a long-overdue step to protect their health and safety. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.

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

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. 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

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler for his leadership as we navigate this challenging time, not just for our committee and Congress, but for our country. It is with profound sadness that I stand here today in support of these Articles of Impeachment. President Trump's behavior is exactly what our Founders feared most. They knew that with the awesome power of the Presidency came the risk of a President abusing that power for personal gain. They were particularly concerned about an executive who became entangled with foreign governments, corrupted our elections, or sought to avoid consequences for his own misconduct in office. That is why they included impeachment in the Constitution: to protect our Republic. Our colleagues across the aisle have claimed that we are impeaching the President because we don't like him, but this moment is about more than disagreement with the President's policies or personality. Those issues belong in the voting booth. Our task here is not to judge the President himself. Instead, we must judge his conduct and whether his actions have undermined our Constitution. The President has committed the highest of high crimes under our Constitution. He used the highest office in our government and taxpayer dollars to pressure a foreign country to interfere in our elections. He undermined our national security. When he got caught, he tried to cover it up, obstructing our investigation and refusing to produce subpoenaed documents and witnesses. A government where the President abuses his power is not ``of the people.'' A government where the President pressures a foreign country to undermine our elections is not ``by the people.'' A government where the President puts his own interests before the country is not ``for the people.'' This isn't complicated. You know it. I know it. The American people know it. President Trump's wrongdoing and the urgent threat that his actions present to our next election and our democracy leaves us no principled alternative but to support these Articles of Impeachment. Our Constitution, our country, and our children depend upon it.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I am honored to take part in this Special Order hour tonight in which we honor the Nation's HBCUs and highlight our support for the FUTURE Act. My district, Pennsylvania's fifth, is home to the oldest HBCU in the United States, Cheyney University. Founded in 1837, Cheyney is also a charter member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cheyney is a historical, cultural, and academic beacon in our community, where it has long provided academic and professional opportunities for students in Pennsylvania and beyond. The university boasts tens of thousands of loyal and accomplished alumni who share their diverse talents with the Nation. Unfortunately, in recent years, Cheyney has faced financial instability, and 3 years ago nearly lost its accreditation. But last week there was good news. Based on strong leadership from Cheyney's new president, Aaron Walton, increased community and alumni engagement and strong enrollment numbers, Cheyney learned that its accreditation had been renewed. Moving forward, Cheyney is increasing academic offerings and developing innovative public-private partnerships that will help students to graduate and be ready to compete in the 21st century. I am extremely proud to represent Cheyney and to testify to the importance of HBCUs across the United States. Lastly, I am also proud to be a new member of the Congressional HBCU Caucus led by my colleague, a fierce supporter of these institutions, Representative Alma Adams.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, every day I hear from constituents who are going broke trying to pay for their prescriptions, and more often than not they are seniors--seniors like Cheryl, who often has to decide whether to forgo one of her monthly medications or to pay a $600 pharmacy bill. Stories like Cheryl's are becoming both all too common and unacceptable. We are committed to lowering the cost of prescription drugs so that Americans can afford their lifesaving medications. That is why I have introduced legislation to eliminate some of the barriers that seniors and people with disabilities have to getting the medications they need. The Better Tools to Lower Costs Act, which has been included in H.R. 3, would eliminate the asset requirement for CMS's Extra Help program. As a result, low-income Medicare recipients with modest retirement savings or a small rainy-day fund would get help to pay for deductibles, premiums, and copays. Families should not have to drain their life savings or sell their homes to afford lifesaving medication. Commonsense solutions like this and others in H.R. 3 will address the prescription drug crisis, and I look forward to voting for it.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my colleague from the Rules Committee, Ranking Member Cole from Oklahoma, be permitted to insert the text of the amendment he would have offered had the House rejected the previous question on H. Res. 660, along with extraneous material, into the Record immediately prior to the vote on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 660.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I take no joy in contemplating the impeachment of a President because, in contemplating it, we must acknowledge a threat to our Constitution and the values that bind us not only as Members of Congress but as Americans. We have tried to work within traditional means to get to the bottom of serious allegations of misconduct so that we can deliver the truth to the American people. Committees have called witnesses and requested evidence, only to be stonewalled. The President's defenders have tried to distract the American people by falsely claiming to have been excluded from the investigation while their stunts and smears have hindered the constitutional process. This resolution outlines ground rules for the House as we move forward, granting the same or greater due process rights to the President and the minority as they themselves drafted when they were in the majority. We will have open hearings. They can question witnesses. They can propose subpoenas. They can present evidence. I am proud to sponsor this resolution. Our Constitution requires it, and our democracy depends on it.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, last week, we celebrated the life of service of our colleague Elijah Cummings. He always said our children are the living messengers we send to a future we will never see. Nothing could be truer. In addition, students and young advocates inspire me every single day, so I want to share with all of you an initiative that students in my district launched this month. Students at the Interboro School District are wrapping up their celebration of Kindness Month, a program inspired by Sandy Hook Promise in an effort to reduce bullying and reduce school violence. Since the beginning of October, Interboro students have been encouraged to say a simple ``hello'' to students they might see every day but not usually speak to or to hold the door for someone they don't know. In honor of Kindness Month, I, too, have committed to reaching across the aisle to say hello and strike up conversations with colleagues I may not know that well. We all have something to learn from the Interboro students as we work together to create a world that is more respectful, fair, and kind for this generation and the next.

Ms. SCANLON

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the amendment and on the resolution.

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, I urge support for the resolution, as amended.

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

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the whistleblower resolution we will vote on later this week is critical to the constitutional oversight responsibilities given to us by the Constitution. Congress has a right to view this whistleblower complaint, and it is important that we join our Senate colleagues in a bipartisan statement to this administration that Congress will not abdicate its responsibilities. Again, I urge my Republican colleagues in the House to join House Democrats and a unanimous Senate to support the final resolution affirming to this administration that we will perform our duty and to reassure whistleblowers that their courageous acts will be valued and welcomed by Congress. Mr. Speaker, the two strong bills to protect children and families from appalling conditions and treatment at our southwest border have been sent to us by the Committee on Homeland Security and are representative of the types of constructive and measured legislation that comes from going through regular order. These bills seek to address emergent conditions at our southern border in a way that is thoughtful and practical and, if enacted, will have a tangible impact on the day-to-day working lives of the men and women who work at the border and the migrants and children who come into U.S. custody. Conditions at the border are unacceptable. I think both sides of the aisle should agree on that. But what we would also likely agree upon is that simply throwing money at this situation will not help. We talk about the need for meaningful solutions a lot around here, and today we present two of them. The situation at the border is complicated and requires ongoing attention, but we cannot let conditions at the border continue to deteriorate. These two bills will provide meaningful and much-needed reforms to our border detention system and help pave the way for larger scale immigration legislation. Amendment Offered by Ms. Scanlon

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

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, but I believe my colleagues have one more speaker, so I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I would ask if the Representative from Arizona has more speakers.

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