Bryan Steil

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, there are 8 days until our military funding runs out. Instead of funding the military, the House is kicking the can down the road. Instead of bringing stability to our servicemembers, House Democratic leadership is focused on a partisan impeachment process. Our men and women in uniform deserve better than this. They deserve to have their mission, training, weapons, and equipment properly funded. However, next week, when we reach the funding deadline, we will likely vote on a continuing resolution, a CR. A CR is not a thoughtful approach to support our servicemembers. A CR maintains current spending levels for the military and continues this cycle of uncertainty for our servicemembers. While better than a shutdown, there are real-world consequences to simply passing a CR: The Air Force is short 2,100 pilots. A CR does not provide the Air Force with new funding to train new pilots to fill these positions. A CR prevents the Army from building 4,000 housing units for its members. A CR forces the Navy to cancel ship maintenance periods and undermines critical training programs. This is a dangerous funding cycle that jeopardizes our servicemembers' safety and their ability to protect our country. Once again, our Federal spending process is broken, and it has gotten us into this mess. Let's stop the partisan politics. Let's focus on supporting our military. And let's work to fix the broken spending process here in Washington. Mr. Speaker, we must never allow our servicemembers and their mission to be put at risk again. Recognizing 100 Years of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson & Son, Inc. For 133 years, SC Johnson has been a cornerstone of Racine, Wisconsin. President Trump was wise to select Fisk to serve on his Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Fisk is a visionary. Fisk, now the fifth generation Johnson family leader of SC Johnson, has continued the family-owned company's tradition of adding good into the world. Fisk's passion to support his employees, to create great products, and to make the world a better place is evident in his work. SC Johnson has partnered with multiple organizations to tackle issues facing Racine. From working with Gateway Technical College to give workers the education and technical skills they need to obtain a good paying job, to ensuring homeless veterans in Racine have a safe place to go, Fisk continues to find ways to make our community stronger. Fisk's commitment to environmental sustainability has been nationally and internationally recognized. I recently met with Fisk to hear about the company's ocean conservation efforts. Through Fisk's leadership, SC Johnson partnered with Plastic Bank to give people in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia the opportunity to run recycling centers to prevent plastic waste from entering the ocean. This not only addresses an important environmental issue, but allows residents of these countries to earn a living, move out of poverty, and support their families. These are just a few examples of Fisk's work in Racine and across the globe. On behalf of Wisconsin's First Congressional District, I thank Fisk Johnson for his continued work in our community and throughout the world. Congratulations on this appointment to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Fisk's leadership and expertise will serve this nation well.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote because I was in my district to participate in an official event with the Vice President. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 579; NAY on Roll Call No. 580; YEA on Roll Call No. 581; YEA on Roll Call No. 582; NAY on Roll Call No. 583; and YEA on Roll Call No. 584.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I look forward to welcoming Vice President Mike Pence to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. Agriculture and manufacturing are vital to Wisconsin and our Nation. However, unfair trade practices are hindering our manufacturers' ability to create jobs. USMCA is an important and improved trade deal between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. That is why passing USMCA is important. USMCA helps small family farms. USMCA supports American workers. USMCA is a win for Wisconsin. Vice President Mike Pence and I will be in Pleasant Prairie to push USMCA across the finish line. The Trump administration has done a great job negotiating this trade deal. It is now up to Congress to pass USMCA. Let's get this done. Madam Speaker, bring USMCA to a vote. Wisconsin workers and farmers are depending on it.

Mr. STEIL

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

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 3088, a bill originally introduced by Representative Duffy of Wisconsin, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 52nd wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Brady of Lake Geneva. John and Toni are visiting Washington, D.C. to celebrate this special occasion. John is a retired U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran. Toni and John's life long commitment to each other is admirable. As John and Toni celebrate their 52nd anniversary, may their commitment grow even stronger; as they continue to love and honor one another for years to come. As John's love for his wife is evident, so is his love of country. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I thank John for his service to our country. John, Toni, and their family made many sacrifices for our freedoms. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their selflessness. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating John and Toni on their anniversary and wish them nothing but the best.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I came to Washington to fight for workers. I also came to Congress to make tough choices, not easy ones. That is why we are here today: to stand up for workers throughout Wisconsin and across the country. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question so that my resolution, H. Con. Res. 54, can be voted on. My resolution, H. Con. Res. 54, will reestablish the congressional joint select committee to address the multiemployer pension crisis, bringing together a nonpartisan group to take this problem head on. Pension plans for nearly half a million Americans are in jeopardy. Roughly, 130 union-managed pension funds, covering over 1.3 million workers, are severely underfunded. This accounts for more than 23,000 workers from the Central States' plan in Wisconsin alone. In just 5\1/ 2\ years, their pension fund may become insolvent. Unfortunately, the actions of a few have resulted in uncertainty for many. We all know that Central States and other pension plans are in crisis. These underfunded plans pose a threat to workers, to retirees, and to our economy. We need to address this now. I have offered H. Con. Res. 54 as a real solution to this problem. This is a good-faith effort to protect pensions. This is an opportunity to make real change in Americans' lives. This is a path for Democrats and Republicans to protect pension benefits for thousands of Americans. The joint select committee will be required to come to a legislative solution no later than April 30, 2020. This holds Members accountable and gives the issue the urgency it requires. Like many Federal programs, we should look at the States. For example, in Wisconsin, the State's public employee pension system is designed to avoid the challenges that we see in today's multiemployer pensions. Contributions to the State's pension fund are recalculated yearly to ensure the pension fund continues to be funded. Wisconsin's retirement system is fully funded. It isn't reliant on political wins, and it has a formula that protects retirees by making proactive, not reactive changes. This is one of many possible solutions that should be on the table. H.R. 397 does not solve the actual problem. Why? Because it does not prevent this crisis from happening again in 5 years, in 10 years, or in 20 years. We owe it to workers to provide them with the certainty that they will have a retirement living in dignity. H.R. 397 does not do that. Democrats and Republicans agree: the retirees and future retirees are the victims here. We need to protect them. These are men and women who have or are currently working and supporting their families. They have planned for retirement and, through no fault of their own, their financial future is at risk. Are we capable of working together in the House? We must. However, throughout this process, the majority did not allow other voices to be heard. H.R. 397 did not even receive a public hearing. We can do better. We must do better. My resolution would require us to work together. As my resolution says, we should establish the select committee focused solely on this issue. We should support hardworking Americans who are vested in the system. Democrats and Republicans should protect workers and retirees and ensure new benefits are adequately funded. Reform the broken system to prevent this from occurring again. And use this as an opportunity to work together. Just like the pension system is broken, so is our political system. We can do better. We must do better. The clock is ticking. This is an opportunity to protect retirees and workers. They deserve it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against the previous question so that we can immediately consider my resolution and reconstitute the joint committee and fix this problem for the long term.

Mr. STEIL

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

Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support my bill today, the Expanding Investment in Small Business Act. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are vital to our economy. More than 60 percent of new jobs are created by small businesses, and almost half of our private-sector workforce is employed by firms with fewer than 500 employees. Small businesses are also an engine for innovation. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses account for an outsized percentage of patents granted in the most innovative industries. I see this ingenuity in Wisconsin in Racine, Janesville, Kenosha, and everywhere in-between. Entrepreneurs and startups create good-paying jobs for workers. It is important that we continue giving job creators the ability to invest in our communities. But in order to grow, hire, and invest in innovation, small businesses need access to capital. Unfortunately, rules and regulations have made it harder for companies to gain access to capital, made it harder for them to go public, and made it harder for them to stay public. This hurts small companies, and this hurts the broader economy. In particular, this hurts American workers and their retirement security. Just under half of all households are invested in mutual funds. Many Americans are invested in these funds through 401(k)'s and pension plans. Their retirement security depends upon the ability to invest in a diverse set of growing, innovative companies. Our rules, though, are burdensome. They shrink the number of publicly traded companies, either by deterring companies from going public or by encouraging them to stay private. In doing so, they limit the opportunities for Americans saving for retirement. Members of both parties and a wide range of stakeholders and experts have identified the existing mutual fund rules as an area for potential improvement. I thank my colleague, Congressman Gonzalez from Texas, for joining me in this across-the-aisle effort to support this bill. This isn't a new idea, but until now, it hasn't gotten done. I am glad to see bipartisan support for taking this important step forward to improving our capital markets. The Expanding Investment in Small Business Act directs the SEC to consider whether existing mutual fund rules make it harder for small and emerging companies to raise money, so they can grow and invest. Under the Investment Company Act, a diversified mutual fund may not own more than 10 percent of an issuer's outstanding securities. As mutual funds have grown both in number and in size, they become an important source of capital, in particular for small businesses. A substantial mutual fund investment in a small-cap company can easily exceed the 10 percent cap. This likely deters mutual fund investments into growing and innovative companies. My bill asks the SEC to consider four key items: one, how many mutual funds are currently affected by the 10 percent cap; two, how the investing preferences of diversified mutual funds have shifted over time with respect to smaller companies; three, the potential impact of a change in the 10 percent threshold; and, four, the ability of diversified funds to manage liquidity risk. This information is necessary so that we can continue to work in a nonpartisan manner to ensure that small businesses have access to capital, so they can grow and invest. Smart, targeted reforms can give us more vibrant capital markets; growing, innovative small businesses; better outcomes for American investors; and, ultimately, a stronger economy. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues toward this goal. I thank Chair Waters and Ranking Member McHenry for their support of this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage. This bill is an important step forward toward a stronger economy, more dynamic small businesses, and more jobs for American workers.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Mr. Chair, I will start by thanking Chairman Quigley and Ranking Member Graves for including this amendment in the en bloc. I rise today to urge support for my amendment considered en bloc. This amendment expresses congressional support for the important work of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, known as FLEC. FLEC's mission is to improve financial literacy and help Americans make good financial choices. This is an important task, especially for at-risk groups such as minority communities, rural Americans, and other historically disadvantaged groups. FLEC should continue to support efforts to improve financial literacy in our communities. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I closely follow the rapid transformation of the financial sector. Thanks to innovation and smart regulatory reforms, more people now have access to mortgages, personal and business loans, retirement products, and other financial services. If we want all Americans to succeed and thrive in today's growing economy, we must support efforts to provide education on how to make smart financial decisions. Mr. Chair, this amendment reinforces Congress' commitment to financial literacy, especially for at-risk communities, and I urge support for this en bloc amendment.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, today, our Racine community honors the life and service of Racine Police Officer John Hetland. On June 17, Officer Hetland was killed while trying to stop an armed robbery in Racine. Even when off-duty, Officer Hetland did not waver to act. Officer Hetland served the Racine community for 24 years as a police officer. Born in Racine, he attended the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee to study criminal justice. Those who knew Officer Hetland described him as a compassionate, brave man. A great baseball player. A loving father of two and devoted husband. A protector of our community. But to our Racine community, Officer Hetland will always be regarded as a hero. This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices members of law enforcement make every day to protect us. My prayers are with the Hetland family, friends, and the entire law enforcement community grieving this loss. We will never forget Officer Hetland.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, this week, my southeast Wisconsin community lost two heroes: Racine Police Officer John Hetland and Milwaukee Police Officer Kou Her. Officer Hetland, a 24-year veteran of the Racine Police Department, was shot and killed while off duty, trying to stop an armed robbery. Officer Her, a 2-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department, was killed on his way home from a shift as a speeding car crashed into him. These men are heroes. They will always be remembered for their service. This is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices members of our law enforcement make every day to protect our communities. My prayers are with the families and friends of the officers and the entire law enforcement community grieving for these heroes.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to ensure that the VA suicide prevention programs are adequately funded. This budget-neutral amendment provides $1 million to those programs. Every day, we lose 22 veterans to suicide. These are American heroes--fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters--valued members of our community. We must support our veterans and fight for them as they fought for us. They will not go through this battle alone. June is PTSD Awareness Month. We must stand together, Democrats and Republicans, to ensure that our veterans get the help that they need. This amendment is about supporting veterans and ensuring that they have access to mental healthcare resources. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from Nebraska and my colleague, Mr. Bishop, for including this amendment in the en bloc. I rise to support my amendment to support our dairy industry. I have visited farms across southeast Wisconsin, and time and time again, farmers have explained to me the challenges they have with consistently low milk prices. That is why we need this amendment, so we can continue to invest in business development within the dairy industry and encourage new markets for our farmers. This amendment provides $1.5 million to support our Nation's dairy industry in a budget neutral way. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support our dairy industry, to support our farmers, and to support this amendment.

Mr. STEIL

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Madam Speaker, the Dodd-Frank Act created the Consumer Financial Civil Penalty Fund, into which the Bureau deposits civil penalties it collects from wrongdoers. Civil penalties should be used exclusively to make victims of financial consumer crimes whole. We should track down actual victims of fraud. However, current law allows the Bureau to use this account as a slush fund. We should give the money back to the victims. This motion would put an end to the CFPB slush fund. This motion requires the CFPB to do the right thing: Give the money to the victims. The CFPB's ability to take away penalty funds and use them in unaccountable ways is unparalleled among financial regulators. Where does this money go? Both the Government Accountability Office and the Federal Reserve's Inspector General, which oversees the CFPB, found that the CFPB lacks internal procedures. The CFPB lacks accountability. The CFPB lacks transparency. Where does this money go? Let's put an end to the slush fund at the Bureau. Let's redirect where this money belongs. Let's give the money to the victims. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this motion to recommit. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, I think the most important part here is that the findings are the political rhetoric that we are looking to remove. This town has far too much political rhetoric. I am willing to work with my colleague to make this unaccountable entity accountable to Congress in the first place. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time is remaining on my side.

Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a duty to the American people. Congress established the Bureau almost a decade ago to protect consumers from abuse and empower people to make good financial choices, regardless of who the President is. That is a very important responsibility. With that in mind, Chairwoman Waters is right to call attention to the governance of the CFPB. CFPB actions and interpretations can vary significantly from one administration to another, and because the CFPB is unaccountable, there isn't much Congress can do about it. In fact, the Bureau was built to be unaccountable and unresponsive, and this has given its Directors free rein to take actions that many of us do not support. There are many ideas on both sides of the aisle on how best to reform the CFPB, and this is something Congress should consider soon. Today, I have an amendment. My amendment sets aside the politically charged findings in the bill and takes us one step closer to transparency and accountability. Some of these findings target former Acting Director Mick Mulvaney by name. One disparages Mulvaney by referencing a political article that includes a critical quote from an anonymous source. Another criticizes him for rearranging the initials of the CFPB. Let me repeat that: Another criticizes him for rearranging the initials of the CFPB. Only in Washington. My amendment strikes all of this unhelpful rhetoric and replaces it with a requirement that the Comptroller General conduct an independent study focused on three key questions: One, is the CFPB meeting its obligations efficiently and effectively? Two, how prevalent are discriminatory lending practices? Three, are the workplace rights of CFPB staff respected? The Comptroller General's findings can then help to inform our continued efforts to oversee and reform the Bureau to make it work better for all Americans. Protecting consumers, examining the prevalence of discrimination, and protecting workplace rights should not be controversial. Ensuring effectiveness and transparent governance should not be a source of partisan disagreement. I understand that the chairwoman is unhappy with the way the CFPB is governed. So am I. Anyone who has read about the past abuses at this unaccountable agency should have concerns about the structure that enables this bad behavior to exist in the first place. Today's amendment recognizes that Congress has a responsibility to ensure that the Bureau is fulfilling its mission, and that independent audit, not political rhetoric, is the best way to move toward this goal. The American people deserve an unbiased look at what the Bureau does right and what it does wrong so we can find common ground on the best way to protect consumers. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.