Haley Stevens

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in response to the violent insurrection we bore witness to at the helm of our Republic on January 6, 2021. We will never forget the destruction, desecration, and loss of human life that now haunts these revered halls. I am heartbroken that some of those occupying the highest offices of our land have engaged in seditious speech and conduct that has threatened the safety and honor of our most vital democratic institutions. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in demanding accountability for all those who stood against the American way on that dreadful day, and those who failed in their duty to protect and preserve this sacred democracy. May this body return to our critical work unafraid of the challenges that lie before us, grounded in the principles of truth, respect, and justice that our role requires. I love our country, and I vow to safeguard our Republic so long as I have the privilege of holding this office. I wish to thank the brave Capitol Police officers and other law enforcement on the scene who put themselves in harm's way to protect Members of Congress, congressional staff, and members of the Capitol Hill press corps. I also want to extend my profound condolences to the families of those that we lost amid the chaos. We will not be deterred in our mission to deliver for the American people.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, insurrection. A violent mob. A week ago today, five people were killed, many injured, and everyone in this building forced to hide for their very life. The President was called for help, but he did not answer our call while our government was being taken over. He failed to lead and, therefore, proved himself incapable of doing so. Some may say impeachment is political. Some may cry it is divisive. Madam Speaker, our obligation to our Constitution is to protect this Nation.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in acknowledgement of the harrowing trials faced by our nation in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This Christmas holiday, I am holding the countless Americans who have experienced excruciating pain, uncertainty, and loss due to this crisis in my heart and in my thoughts. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to all the brave men and women who have advanced our efforts to overcome this pandemic, and to honor all of those who have tragically lost their battles with this terrible disease. May this new year bring with it a renewed hope, strength, and commitment from Congress to deliver for the American people.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and the ray of light that was Vicki Wagner Mansfield, a resident of Troy, Michigan, who passed away last month after a 2-year battle with brain cancer. Vicki, simply put, was a pillar of our community, known and beloved by many. She was raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and she moved to Troy with her husband, Bruce, in 1985 to raise their family. Her memory is carried forward by her beloved Bruce; her two amazing daughters, Abbey and Rachel; and her delightful grandson, Hank. Vicki was known as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and aunt. She is celebrated in our community for her artistic creativity, that forthrightness, her fierce loyalty, and the contributions that she made as an active volunteer in our community. Vicki was a mother's mother. She was active in PTA, school events, and political activities, always with the goal of: How do I make this world a better place? So many former students through the Birmingham school system have stood up to say how much Vicki meant to them, how involved she was as a parent with the Girl Scouts or in a play that she did. It was always because she cared about the outcomes of their lives. Vicki took the time in some of the remaining days that she had to message me to say--not with a complaint or with a question--how much she cared about the work that we do in the Congress, to pass along to those who are in elected office a note of gratitude and thanks to say keep going, keep giving it all you can. That is certainly something that Vicki did every day of her life. Her passing is also a stark reminder of our work ahead to improve the research and treatment of cancer in this country. Glioblastoma is a common and aggressive brain cancer with an unfortunately high mortality rate. A strong Federal investment is essential to improve our understanding and care of this tragic disease and for the providers like those at the Henry Ford Medical Center and what they rely on for good research. I carry Vicki's light like a torch in the fight for increased funding for cancer research. As we inch toward this deadline to fund our government, I continue to urge and work with my colleagues to join me in supporting robust brain cancer research funding at the NIH and DOD to continue this lifesaving work. We cannot let those suffering from brain cancer and their families fail.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1153) to explicitly make unauthorized access to Department of Education information technology systems and the misuse of identification devices issued by the Department of Education a criminal act.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on S. 1153, the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1153, the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act, today. I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Smucker, for cointroducing this bill with me and for his efforts to end these debt relief scams. We all know that our country faces a mounting student debt crisis, with Americans now holding more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. Predatory scammers are increasingly taking advantage of student loan borrowers, who face a complicated loan repayment process. These unscrupulous scams defraud student borrowers by providing deceptive information to mislead them into paying thousands of dollars for services that the Federal Government already provides for free. These scams come by way of robocalls. They are harassing and menacing, and the victims of these schemes are not only defrauded but, unknowingly, become delinquent on their payments and default on their loans, falling even deeper into debt. We hear this time and time again because these phone calls come to your personal cell phone even if you don't have a student loan. In 2007, I took out $9,000 of student loans to finish my last semester of graduate school. I was able to repay that loan within 6 years. Years later, I still receive these very types of menacing phone calls, to my personal cell phone, of scams asking me to go through these programs. These are individuals who receive information through the Department of Education. This is what we are trying to stop. They are accessing your personal information to scam you. This is what we are here today to stop. This problem, unfortunately, during COVID-19 has only exacerbated. During this pandemic, the relief that was provided to help Federal student loan borrowers under the CARES Act has created additional opportunities for scammers to target desperate Americans. This bill will ensure that the Department of Education and law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to crack down on these predatory fraudsters. It will also empower student borrowers by providing counseling and resources to make sure that all borrowers are aware of these potential scams and receive accurate information about the repayment options. Knowledge is power here. It is time to stop these scammers from jeopardizing the financial future of student borrowers, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. He is called the gentleman from Pennsylvania, but some of us also call him the gentleman from Lancaster. I truly want to thank my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Smucker, for his leadership on this critical piece of bipartisan legislation to stand up for hardworking Americans, to stand up for our students, and to put into place a clarified law declaring that it is a Federal crime to access U.S. Department of Education information technology systems for purposes of fraud, commercial advantage, or private financial gain, and that fines these scammers up to $20,000, or up to 5 years of imprisonment, as my colleague so nicely articulated. This is an attempt today to shut down predatory scammers who are targeting our student borrowers, for the financial health of the American people. Again, I strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us here today in passing this critical piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1982, Save Our Seas 2.0, and to commend my colleagues for their work to resolve the serious issues our country and our world have with marine debris. For over 70 years, plastic has evolved to be invaluable in many applications. It's used as a high-performance material for medical devices and in safety components for automobiles. Plastic is also convenient. It's a mainstay in American households from our toothbrushes to food storage to shampoo and detergent bottles. Global plastic production increased from 2 million tons per year in 1950 to 400 million tons annually in recent years. What happens to all of this discarded plastic is why I am speaking out in support of this legislation today. We can no longer deny that we face a plastic waste crisis. There are plenty of reasons for why and how we got here; however, a major factor is because we failed as a nation to invest in domestic recycling infrastructure and policies to account for the growing demand for plastic. As a result, today, the U.S. recycles just 9 percent of its plastic waste. At least 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans and Great Lakes every year and make up 80 percent of all marine debris from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. This marine debris ends up being ingested or entangled by marine life, from whales to sea birds, causing severe injuries and death. In addition to the harm it causes our marine ecosystem, plastic debris also endangers our human health, coastal tourism, and threatens our food safety. This important bill works to improve the domestic response to marine debris, incentivize international engagement on marine debris, and strengthen domestic waste management infrastructure to prevent the creation of new marine debris. This crisis will not be solved by only one bill or another. We need to work together as a Congress on bicameral, bipartisan solutions that have the potential to create jobs, develop supply chains, and meet environmental needs. This summer, I was proud to introduce the bipartisan Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act which directs the establishment of a plastic waste reduction and recycling research and development program to develop a world-leading U.S. industry in advanced plastics recycling technologies, and unleash the innovative potential of our nation to address our plastic waste crisis and generate greater value from the plastics we do produce. I would like to congratulate my colleagues, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Congressman Don Young, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, on the passage of this historic bill, and I look forward to working with them and our colleagues on powerful solutions to solve our plastic waste crisis.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support my amendment to increase vehicle technology R&D as we consider this significant investment in a clean energy future for battery technology, cybersecurity, the connected car, our sustainability future, and countless jobs. Michigan has been a global leader in vehicle technology since we created the industry over a century ago. Our autoworkers are the best in the world. Our manufacturers are the best in the world. But we need to make sure that we continue to have a level playing field to compete. The U.S. must continue to lead by making the investments just as other nations are doing. Now is not the time to cede our leadership. Now is the time to claim it. Advances in electrification and connectivity will make vehicles safer, more efficient, and more affordable for consumers and their families. We owe it to our American workers to make sure that this next generation of vehicles is made right here in the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, surely, when we pass this legislation, we will be sending a host of new directives over to the Secretary of Energy to continue to win and advance our future. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamb).

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I am prepared to close.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the bipartisan nature of the original bill that passed through the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee with the leadership of our great chairwoman, Eddie Bernice Johnson, and our ranking member, Mr. Lucas. I also recognize today that we are taking a vote for our future. We are taking a vote for our innovation agenda. We are talking about the research and development efforts of this Nation. We are talking about a clean economy. Today, as we engaged in debate, we got a glimpse of where this vote might come down. Mr. Speaker, let it be reminded to all that this House majority is the majority that is working for the people and their future and their jobs, for a clean economy. We are taking the necessary steps to get it done. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to remember and to be reminded about where it will come down today with this vote. I urge them to vote ``yes.'' I urge them to vote for our future. I urge them to vote for our innovation capabilities from the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, as the designee of Mr. Pallone, pursuant to House Resolution 1129, I offer amendments en bloc.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I remain somewhat baffled and surprised by the remarks of my colleague, particularly as, just in the last decade, China has spent nearly $60 billion to create a thriving electric vehicle industry, and that is, in part, what we are committing to do here today. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan).

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

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

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3659) to establish an Anti-Bullying Roundtable to study bullying in elementary and secondary schools in the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild).

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I urge my colleagues today to support H.R. 3659. Once again, I want to thank and commend my colleague, Congressman Max Rose, for his incredible leadership. He has taken tragedy and turned it into action. Our colleagues are absolutely right that this deserves the full attention of our government, and it is why we are taking this to the highest level of our government, to combat bullying. This bill honors the life of Danny Fitzpatrick, and it recognizes what so many families are working to prevent, what so many families and communities across this country never want to see happen. It will help end bullying. It will protect students across this country, and I look forward to seeing this bill become law. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I was proud to co-introduce this important legislation with my colleague, Congressman Max Rose, and I would like to start by thanking him for his work and leadership on this bill and on behalf of Danny and his family. In 2016, 13-year-old Daniel Fitzpatrick took his life as a direct result of bullying at school. To honor Danny and to help save countless other young lives, his family committed to advocacy and established the Danny's Angel Network Nurturing Youth, DANNY, foundation to raise awareness and end bullying in schools. One out of every five kids in this country experiences bullying. The problem has grown and moved from beyond the playground to the internet as students spend more and more time online. Bullying contributes to emotional and mental health problems for children across this country and, in far too many cases, has driven kids to suicide. In fact, a recently released CDC report stated that suicide of youth ages 10 to 24 has increased by nearly 60 percent in the last 10 years. This is an issue that deserves our consideration, deserves research, and deserves action. We simply must do more to prevent bullying and its devastating consequences. Danny's Law would establish an antibullying roundtable, a commission tasked with studying bullying in elementary and secondary schools and producing a report with best practices to address it. While we cannot bring back those we have lost to bullying and suicide, this commission will give schools and educators the tools to end bullying--something I hear from my constituents far too often, from my schools, from my educators--and it will ensure that every student can grow and learn in a safe and welcoming environment. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.