Kim Schrier

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about fair physician reimbursement to urge my colleagues to immediately address the physician fee schedule cuts that went into effect on January 1, and in a broader sense, address chronically lagging Medicare physician care reimbursement. Fundamentally, fair reimbursement respects the work that physicians do, and it keeps those physicians' practices open and available to patients so that seniors and others can get the care they need. Over the past 22 years, adjusting for inflation, physicians have essentially taken a 26 percent pay cut from Medicare. This is in the context of everything else increasing, with expenses up about 47 percent. I cannot think of another profession whose compensation has dropped by 26 percent over two decades. If we continue down this path, we will soon find ourselves with loved ones or ourselves unable to find a physician because physician offices will close. Because of CMS rules, on January 1, physicians just took a 3.4 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement. The least we can do is reverse that. Last month, I co-led a letter with my colleagues encouraging a fix to this. Here is a way to do it: I co-led a bill that passed out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce that would level physician reimbursement from Medicare and keep it essentially unchanged this year. Physicians are nervous, and, fundamentally, we need a longer term solution, and that means we need Medicare reimbursement to keep pace with inflation. That is how we will keep these practices open. We are already seeing practices in rural communities and small towns closing their doors or being consolidated. Without adequate reimbursement, we are going to see more of this, offices closing, and that will result in patients, seniors, and others who require or depend on Medicare not being able to access the high- quality care they need.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, as a pediatrician, I understand that sometimes competing concerns about making sure that children who are food insecure get enough good-quality food to eat at school, and at the same time making sure those meals do not contribute to our epidemic of childhood obesity and its accompanying diseases. It was trying to balance those priorities that led to 2012 guidelines that prohibited schools from offering 2 percent and whole milk. Interestingly, data compiled and analyzed from multiple studies since then does not show a correlation between whole milk and increased obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease when compared with other milks. In fact, some studies show the opposite. In addition, milk is packed with nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. As a consequence of the drop in milk consumption since these restrictions, many children lack sufficient vitamin D and calcium intake. Vitamin D deficiency is known to adversely affect bone growth and bone density. It may also play a role in increasing the risk for autoimmune diseases. Many of my patients had very low vitamin D levels. While some children will choose water instead of the lowest fat milks, many others will choose juice or other sugary drinks which carry zero nutritional value and pose known health risks. I am proud to have introduced the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act, and I encourage my colleagues to vote with me in passing this bill.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the public service and accomplishments of Mayor Frank Kuntz, who for the past 12 years has served as the Mayor of Wenatchee, Washington. Upon entering office, Mayor Kuntz inherited an incredibly difficult situation, as the city faced dire financial challenges. Thankfully, Mayor Kuntz, an accountant by trade, put his professional expertise to good use and worked with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to restore Wenatchee's financial standing. Moreover, Mayor Kuntz's effective, thoughtful leadership has allowed the city to expand and invest in several development projects that have helped the local infrastructure and economy. It has been a true pleasure to work with Mayor Kuntz over the past 5 years. His North Star has always been how best to serve the people of Wenatchee. We have shared this goal and worked together in a bipartisan manner to finally make the Apple Capital Loop a reality. Mayor Kuntz and I have also worked together to address crime and the fentanyl epidemic, prevent catastrophic wildfires, and support agriculture, rural economies, and local healthcare. I will miss serving alongside Mayor Frank Kuntz but will continue to cherish our friendship. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to speak about the epidemic of gun violence that continues to plague our country. In fact, gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children. As a pediatrician, I understand that we have to look at this as a public health crisis and work on multiple levels to keep our children and communities safe from gun violence. I am focused on pragmatic solutions and proud that both parties came together last Congress to take some commonsense steps to keep guns away from people who are likely to pose a danger and to address the mental health crisis in this country that has led to higher rates of firearm suicide. There is more to do, and I invite my Republican colleagues to join us to enhance background checks and close loopholes that allow some people to buy guns without a background check, to increase funding for research so that we can make evidence-based decisions in our legislation, and to incentivize safe storage because children should not have access to their parents' weapons. There are areas where we worked together last Congress, and we can do more. Not a single Republican Member of Congress lost their race last year because they voted for commonsense safe gun ownership laws. We can do more to protect children and communities, and we should do it together.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I first thank Chair Rogers, Ranking Member Pallone, Representative Bilirakis, and, of course, Representative Pence, who sponsored this bill together with me, for their leadership and hard work on this bipartisan bill. I am a proud sponsor. The Animal Drug User Fee Agreement is important for the safety of both animal and human health. This bill will accelerate the development of new medications for animals with a predictable and streamlined review process. It will hold the FDA accountable for performance goals that will improve wait times for inspections and provide regulatory certainty for innovators and pet and animal owners alike. It will ensure that our Nation's food supply is safe by making sure the medicines that are administered to food-producing animals are safe. I want to underscore that this bill is a win for everyone, but it is especially good for farmers. In my district, farmers, ranchers, and dairymen rely on these FDA- approved medications to keep their livestock healthy. For them, keeping animals healthy is not just about their affection and responsibility for these animals. It is critical for food production, food safety, and their very economic survival. Having timely access to affordable, effective medications is a key part of our domestic food chain, and that is really the heart of our rural economies. I am happy to go to bat for our rural areas and our agricultural communities with this legislation. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill, Mr. Speaker, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I thank Mr. Bilirakis and Members on the other side of the aisle for working together on this bipartisan bill. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to make sure we can speed novel medications to animals in this country. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 813, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act. As this legislation's name would suggest, we should work to encourage foreign direct investment that supports high-quality jobs here in the United States. Foreign direct support and investment from nonadversarial nations can be used to grow critical sectors important for our economic success and national security, including by creating new jobs in our Nation's manufacturing sector. Once the envy of the world, our manufacturing base has faced steady headwinds for the past several decades. Our Nation's share of global manufacturing activity declined from 28 percent in 2002 to just over 17 percent in 2020. Investment in America's small and medium manufacturers, the bedrock of our industrial might, has also declined over the past 20 years by more than $200 billion. In that same two- decade period, our domestic manufacturing base has shed more than 4 million jobs. It is time to reverse these trends by revitalizing our Nation's manufacturing industry and bringing jobs back home. The work we did last Congress passing the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act is already helping to turn the tide. The United States added nearly 700,000 manufacturing jobs during President Biden's first 20 months in office. Total construction spending on manufacturing in the United States has skyrocketed to nearly $200 billion per month, more than doubling prepandemic levels. Foreign direct investment can be another part of the solution to revitalize American manufacturing and job creation. Over a third of all foreign direct investments are in domestic manufacturing, exceeding a total of $120 billion a year. This bill would ensure we keep that flow of investments strong and that such investments support quality, good- paying jobs right here at home. I commend Representatives Pence and Eshoo for their leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I would summarize by saying that this is an excellent bill. There are so many ways to build up our manufacturing sector and to invest in our workforce. Many of those we have already done through the infrastructure law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act. This is another way to shore up jobs and manufacturing here at home by encouraging foreign investments from friendly nations. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to my chief of staff, Erin O'Quinn. Erin and I met just a week after I was elected to Congress. This was in November 2018. It was an overwhelming time. There was a lot to organize, and job number one was to find a chief of staff. Dr. Ami Bera suggested that I meet his deputy chief, Erin. We sat down to coffee and hit it off. I never looked back. I knew right away I could trust Erin to guide me through this whole new world of Washington, D.C., which was quite a contrast from the life of a community pediatrician. I still remember that first meeting when she asked me what I wanted The Seattle Times editorial board to say about me in 2020. It was a way to figure out my values and goals. Wouldn't you know it? Two years later, the comments made by The Seattle Times endorsement board were remarkably similar to what we set out to achieve. Erin understands the value of a strong team, remarkable constituent services, outreach, and townhalls. She made sure I was everywhere in the district and that we hired the best team members with hearts of gold and a dedication to service. With a background in social work, she kept our team in sync and collaborative, and several of our staff are still here today. I couldn't have done it without Erin. We could not have done it without Erin. I thank Erin and wish her all the best in the next chapter in her life. We will miss her.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chairman, just last year, we made the largest investment in clean energy technology and climate science ever. The intention is to spur research and innovation in cutting-edge technologies and then accelerate development and construction of a modernized electric grid, solar and wind farms, modular nuclear reactors, and improved hydropower. However, none of that funding will actually affect climate change if we can't streamline the permitting process. Frankly, it is pretty exciting to me to think about permitting reform as an area where Democrats and Republicans can work together, but let's be clear that speeding up the permitting process does not mean throwing all environmental protections out the window. That is essentially what today's bill, H.R. 1, their top priority, does today. It doesn't streamline permitting. It undermines environmental protections and is a huge handout to fossil fuel companies, in some cases allowing them to avoid environmental regulations altogether. It pushes our energy system in the wrong direction. There is urgency to shift to energy sources that don't emit greenhouse gases. Some of the glaciers on Mount Rainier in my district have already disappeared. That is why we do need to improve the permitting process. However, the bill we are addressing today decimates that process, putting natural resources at risk and fast-tracking more drilling for oil and gas and mining for minerals on our public lands. By the way, there are already 9,000 permits out there for oil and gas extraction that aren't even being used, and oil and gas companies are making record-shattering profits right now, quarter over quarter. They don't need another gift from Congress. It is time to prioritize clean energy projects, and it is those permits that require the most expediency. This bill isn't permitting reform, and it won't cut costs for American families. When they are ready, I look forward to working with my colleagues on real, serious, pragmatic permitting reform that will allow for the quickest possible transition to cleaner sources. We owe it to generations we will never know.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the Oso landslide. On that tragic day, 43 people lost their lives when an entire hillside collapsed, smothering the town and burying it in mud. Washington State was forever changed. Among the victims were a nurse, veterans, even elementary school students. There were parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and children--all beloved members of their community. We remember them today. On this anniversary, I would extend my condolences to the friends and family members of those victims. While we cannot change the past, we can honor those who passed away by working toward a safer future. As a Representative of this resilient community, I have worked to increase funding for emergency communications and services and supported the National Landslide Preparedness Act, all of which help ensure that we are ready if such a disaster strikes again. People of Oso, my heart is with you today.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to be present today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 143.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to be present today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 140, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 141, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 142.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chair, due to illness, I was unable to be present today. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``nay'' on rollcall No. 134, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 135, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 136, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 137, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 138, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 139.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to be present today. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 132 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 133.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Chair, our healthcare workforce is stretched to capacity after having spent now 3 years on the front lines of the pandemic, and add to that recent spikes in RSV and flu. Our hospitals have been overpacked, with a shortage of available beds and a real worry and sometimes a reality that there won't be room in a hospital if we get sick or injured. Due to stress and burnout, hospitals across the country are experiencing staff shortages. What healthcare workers and hospital workers really don't need right now is more stress on an already stressed system, and that is exactly what this bill will do. As we all know, and as I can tell you, as a pediatrician, people who are not vaccinated have a significantly higher risk of being hospitalized if they contract COVID. Why in the world would we invite people from around the world to come to visit the United States without that protection and then put our hospital systems at further risk of overcrowding and collapse? Not to mention the higher risk of getting and spreading the disease around our country or even potentially bringing new variants to our shores. Vaccination is safe. I speak as a doctor. It is effective in keeping people out of hospitals and curbing transmission. We should rightly expect that those traveling to the United States get immunized because we should not risk further stressing an already strained healthcare system. It was only a few months ago when hospitals in my State, in Washington State, were full. Patients with life-threatening illnesses, bleeds, life-threatening injuries had to be flown to distant cities to get care. Whatever we can do to prevent that from happening again, we should do. Making sure we get vaccinated and insisting that those visiting our country get vaccinated help do just that. Public health decisions should be made by doctors and public health professionals based on data, not by Members of Congress for political expediency. This bill is a political stunt. It has no basis in science. It fails to recognize the reality that our hospitals are facing right now and that any one of us might face if a loved one needs a hospital bed and that bed is not available. Please leave public health decisions to public health professionals. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of my amendment. Ms. Schrier moves to recommit the bill H.R. 185 to the Committee on Energy and Commerce with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith, with the following amendment: Add at the end the following new section:

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Bellevue Police Officer Jordan Jackson, who tragically died while on duty on November 21st. Officer Jackson was born in Spokane, Washington and attended Issaquah High School, then later attended Central Washington University. Even before his life as a police officer, Officer Jackson devoted his life to public service as a first responder. He was an EMT, volunteer firefighter, and a member of the King County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue Volunteer K-9 Unit. Officer Jackson was commended by the department for his leadership and enthusiasm to take on more responsibility and was recently awarded Employee of the Quarter for his excellent quality of work and service to the community. Officer Jackson resided in Cle Elum and was known as a family man who volunteered often for community events and was always proud to show off his motorcycle to all the kids. He was an avid cyclist and previously worked at the ReCycle Bicycle Shop in Ellensburg. He is survived by his wife Kelsey and his two young children. Our community will miss him dearly, and I am so grateful for his lifelong service and dedication.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the lives of two outstanding Eighth District residents. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the legacy of Carmen Louise Bossenbrock who passed away on July 31, 2022, at the age of 94. Carmen was a pioneering figure in the fight against polio, a tireless community advocate, and a beloved lifelong Wenatchee Valley resident. As the polio epidemic rampaged across Washington State, Carmen became a medical leader in the Wenatchee Valley. Working at Deaconess Hospital and later Central Washington Hospital as a physical therapist, Carmen was often the only thing standing between polio patients and debilitating paralysis. For 2 years, in the thick of the epidemic, she was the only licensed physical therapist practicing in north central Washington. As patients flooded through her doors, Carmen devoted herself to the recovery of hundreds of patients. As a reflection of her tireless leadership, Carmen became the head of physical therapy at Central Washington Hospital until her retirement. Carmen remained a tireless advocate against polio in her later career. She was an active member of the Wenatchee Rotary Club--one of the first women to join. There she passionately led fundraising for global vaccine programs to ensure no family would have to experience the devastation of polio. Friends remember Carmen as a pillar of the community, splitting her time between her beloved pear orchard in Dryden and her mission to eradicate polio. We are deeply grateful for Carmen's service. Her legacy will forever be a part of the Wenatchee Valley and Washington State. I join Carmen's family and friends in mourning their loss of an extraordinary woman. Honoring the Life of Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Branson Summers

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share the story of Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Branson Summers, a U.S. marine killed in action in World War II. After 76 years, his body has returned home to his family members and has been laid to rest in East Wenatchee, Washington. Gunnery Sergeant Summers of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was killed in the winter of 1943 in the Betio Island battle with Japanese forces. Sadly, Summers was 1 of 1,000 servicemembers who died that day and 1 of almost 500 whose remains were never found. Tragically for his family, friends, and loved ones, they were deemed nonrecoverable in 1949. But this changed in 2009 thanks to the tireless work of the nonprofit organization History Flight. After a small piece of military rain poncho was found near the site, History Flight began excavations in 2009 and discovered the body of Gunnery Sergeant Summers along with several other lost servicemembers. His remains were brought home to his family, nephews David and Donald McCannel. He received an honorable burial in East Wenatchee, Washington. Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Branson Summers answered our Nation's call at a time of great need, and for his service, valor, and sacrifice, we are forever thankful. I would like to recognize History Flight for their work to return Summers to his home and to thank David and Donald McCannel and their families for providing Gunnery Sergeant Summers an honorable burial on American soil. On behalf of a grateful Nation and the entire Eighth District, we are proud to have Gunnery Sergeant Summers in his final resting place in East Wenatchee, Washington. Honoring the Issaquah All-Stars and the Bonney Lake/Sumner Little League Teams

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to honor some tremendous young athletes. The Eighth District had not one but two teams representing our State at the Little League World Series. The Issaquah All-Stars represented the northwest region at the Little League Softball World Series, and the Bonney Lake/Sumner Little League team, at the baseball Little League World Series. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of these young athletes who represented our district and State so well on the national stage. Congratulations to them and their families on their success.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I am so excited to vote today for this climate and healthcare bill, and here is why: This bill is the answer to the questions that my constituents have been asking since day one. Here is what I am hearing: Dr. Schrier, you have diabetes, too. I can't afford my insulin. I am having to ration at the end of the month. Won't you do something about it? Well, here is the answer: $35-a-month insulin. Dr. Schrier, I am a senior. I have a fixed income. I can't afford these high drug prices. Why can't Medicare negotiate them? Well, here is your answer: Medicare getting the power to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs. Also: Dr. Schrier, I am a senior. There are too many out-of-pocket costs for me. This caps them at $2,000. And finally, right now, we have fires burning in Washington State. And I have farmers who have seen reduced crop yields because of extreme heat. They say: Dr. Schrier, can't you do something about climate? And here is the answer: The biggest investment in climate solutions that we have ever had. This bill brings relief. It brings financial relief to families who are feeling the high inflation in gas prices. And you know how it does it? By finally making sure that the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share of taxes, and it does it without raising tax on middle-class families. Madam Speaker, I am so excited about this bill because it answers the requests of the people I represent, and that is why I am so excited to vote for it today.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, we are seeing increasingly catastrophic wildfires in the West, including in my home State of Washington. Last year, more than 50,000 acres burned in just one of the counties in the Eighth District that I represent. This was a record-breaking wildfire season with abnormally dry conditions. But this type of wildfire season is expected to become more and more the norm. We need to ensure that we have more resources at our disposal to confront them. The earlier we detect wildfire, the more quickly our firefighters can respond, and my amendment does just that. A lot of our effort in fighting wildfires has correctly been focused on suppression and prevention. But as our climate continues to change and catastrophic wildfires burn hotter and seasons last longer, we need a whole-of-government approach to address wildfires. My amendment would further enhance the contributions of Federal science agencies as part of the National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program. The amendment would also require an annual post fire-season weather survey and assessment. These activities will help to identify data gaps, enhance efficiency and reliability of data, and evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of our fire weather forecasting. My amendment will also formalize NOAA's role in wildfire detection and response. In Chelan County, in my district, there is a radar gap which makes it much more difficult to predict and track extreme weather. This gap also impacts our ability to track fires--something that is particularly critical to wildfire prone central Washington. The language in my amendment builds off legislation I recently introduced with my colleague, Congressman Bera, H.R. 8449, the Fire Ready Nation Act, which is the House companion to Senator Cantwell's bipartisan bill. This bill would codify and support NOAA's ability to help detect and respond to wildfires. My amendment will strengthen contributions of our weather science agencies like NOAA to improve coordination and response efforts when it comes to fighting fires. This will be particularly impactful in areas like my district which lack robust radar coverage. As part of the needed whole-of-government response to wildfires, I am glad that the underlying bill includes language from two of my other bills. One, from my National Prescribed Fire Act, would direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish at least one prescribed fire training center in a Western State. Prescribed burns during the offseason for fire allow for fuel reduction and prevent catastrophic forest fires. More training means more widespread use of prescribed fire. A recent report from the Washington Department of Natural Resources identified 3 million acres of forest land in need of restoration in my home State. Much of that area is rural central Washington where hot, dry weather and wind make wildfire especially probable and dangerous. The second bill would allow the Forest Service to collect and keep the interest earned on settlement funds, much like other Federal agencies can, in order to supplement restoration efforts. This makes common sense and is a wise and fair use of the interest earned. Wildfires are becoming more extreme and catastrophic every year in western States. They are even beginning to affect areas in my State that for a long time were thought to be too green and too wet for wildfires to happen, even the Olympic National Forest. Sadly, as our climate changes, this will become an increasing threat. I am thrilled to have an amendment to this legislation to allow for more science and evidence-based decisionmaking. We need every tool in our toolbox to prevent these fires. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.