Kim Schrier

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank my colleagues, Representative Lofgren and Representative Newhouse, for their very hard work on this bipartisan bill. The critical needs of our farmers and farmworkers have gone too long without being addressed by Congress. As the sole Member in the entire Northwest on the House Agriculture Committee, I am proud to represent the apple capital of the world, Wenatchee, as well as farmers and growers on both sides of the Cascades, and I can say that they are hurting. What I hear from the farmers and orchardists across my State is that a stable workforce is critical to their ability to put food on our tables. As the domestic workforce is dwindling, more and more growers have been forced to turn to the burdensome and bureaucratic H-2A program for the workers they need to grow and harvest their crops. Farmworkers are critical. If the cherries ripen and there is no one to pick them, our farms and our farmers will fail. Crops don't wait, and millions of dollars and futures are at stake. This important bill will provide a stable workforce for our farmers and a path to legal status for farmworkers and their families. This is the kind of winning bipartisan legislation that is exactly what our country needs. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chair, I thank everyone who worked so hard on the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. As so many of my colleagues have said already, this is a groundbreaking bill. Medicare is the biggest purchaser of medications in the world, and it should absolutely have the power to negotiate costs, and we should not continue to pay three to four times more than the rest of the world for our medications. With negotiation, this bill saves hundreds of billions of dollars, and we are going to use that money well. Part is for research, but one of the ways is my bill, included in H.R. 3, that requires Medicare to cover vision care. Medicare part B covers cataract surgery and yearly glaucoma tests, but it does not cover routine eye exams, glasses, or contact lenses, and this is a tremendous gap in coverage for our seniors. We want to make sure seniors can live independently for as long as possible, and part of this is making sure they can see well enough to drive to appointments, walk safely around the house, and carefully read their prescription bottles. Also, poor vision can limit physical activity and increase isolation, leading then to deteriorating health. As a doctor, I am concerned about the number of older Americans who have not had an eye exam in well over a year and might have undiagnosed eye conditions. By expanding Medicare part B to cover vision care, we will ensure that older Americans will be able to access affordable care.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, today is National Recycling Day. As a Nation and world, we are accumulating single-use plastics at an alarming rate. By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans. This is why recycling is critical, and we need more education for all of us about how best to recycle. We also need help from industry to either avoid plastic altogether or package their goods with the most desirable and recyclable types of plastic. As consumers, though, our standard should be ``Made from 100 percent recycled materials'' and not ``Made from recyclable materials.'' There is a vast difference. We all know the three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. But we can't just recycle. That is the third choice. Our top priorities should be reducing and reusing. So what can we do? We can start by making good personal choices, and here is an easy one: Don't use plastic utensils. More than 100 million plastic utensils are used and thrown away into landfills every day across the country. They can't be recycled. We can think twice about whether we really need our water to come in plastic bottles. There are far better choices. And for Democrats, the party that commits to careful environmental stewardship, we absolutely, positively must lead by example. Madam Speaker, in the coming months I will be reaching out to my colleagues to take action on this issue. Happy recycling day.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Medical Women's International Association (MWIA), one of the oldest international professional organizations, representing women doctors worldwide. In 1919 New York City, American physician, Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy, along with international colleagues from 16 nations, founded MWIA and became its first President. Over the century, MWIA has grown to encompass over 80 countries as either national associations, like the American Medical Women's Association, or as individual members. One hundred years ago, there were very few women in the medical field. Organizations like MWIA provided support for women in medicine and more importantly provided a community for them to share medical knowledge as well as promote collegiality around the world. At the time of MWIA's founding, a major challenge for women was the accessibility of medical education. Fortunately, this obstacle has been overcome in many nations. The sacrifice of these earlier trailblazing doctors helped pave the way for future ones like me. Yet the number of women in senior leadership positions shows that the work of MWIA is far from over. By investing in women physicians, MWIA provides the network and support system to mentor and advocate for future leaders in the medical field. In addition, MWIA works to improve the health of women worldwide, advocating for gender specific healthcare, promoting equity, and addressing social determinants of health. Congratulations again to the MWIA for their 100 years of important work. Their tireless work to open doors for women in medicine has improved the health of generations of women, men and children around the world, and for that, we all are grateful.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Representative Horn for allowing me to speak on these issues. Mr. Chairman, my amendment supports small businesses by directing the Secretary of the Navy to adhere to competitive procedures whenever possible. This will not only make it easier for smaller contractors to compete on an even playing field with billion-dollar corporations, but it is also good governance. Approximately 2,000 businesses provide support to the military and defense sectors in Washington State. In the last 3 years, businesses were awarded nearly $15 billion in related contracts. Our small businesses, many of which are owned by veterans, are a driving force in our economy, especially in Washington State. By ensuring contracts are awarded on a competitive basis, we can save the Federal Government millions of dollars in acquisition and sustainment costs. Also, for NDAA, I partnered with my friend and colleague, Representative Rick Larsen, to ensure communities facing the greatest risk of fire have equitable access to firefighting and emergency equipment. Two Federal programs, the Firefighter Property Program and the Federal Excess Personal Property Program, transfer excess Department of Defense property to the U.S. Forest Service, which then provides it to States for use in firefighting. This property includes trucks, tools, hoses, vehicles, and aircraft parts, as well as protective clothing. However, these programs do not currently distribute equipment based on need or risk, but rather on a first-come, first-served basis. This bill will allow for need to be taken into consideration when this equipment is available so that we can improve firefighting and emergency service capabilities where they are needed most. Lastly, I thank my colleague, Representative Stivers, for partnering with me to ensure that the Secretary of Defense is conducting research on the reproductive health of female servicemembers and making that research public. With our military forces diversifying, it is important that we address issues identified for improvement in that research.

Ms. SCHRIER

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

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak on my amendment prohibiting funds from being used to undermine the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, or MATS. These regulations have been implemented by the power sector and have protected children and communities from mercury, lead, arsenic, and other air toxics from power plants for the past 7 years. Furthermore, the administration's proposal to jeopardize mercury standards isn't even supported by the power industry. They have already spent billions to comply, and major power sectors and labor groups have asked that the standards be left in place and that the EPA does not move forward with its proposal to undermine them. Finalized in 2012, the EPA recognized the significant public health benefits of MATS. Then, the EPA estimated that MATS would yield up to $90 billion in public health benefits each year. Now, MATS is fully implemented and has shown to be lifesaving, preventing more than 11,000 premature deaths every year and 130,000 asthma attacks each year. As a pediatrician, I have seen firsthand the impact of air pollution on our children. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable when they are exposed to heavy metals, which impact the central nervous system with potentially devastating effects on neural development. What we are talking about here is a known public health risk to millions of people. We cannot abandon a policy that has already been proven to work and save lives. MATS has already been shown to prevent premature deaths, adverse effects on pregnant women and children, and health problems like asthma. It is critical that we protect our children and families from the well-documented health risks posed by mercury and heavy metals and prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to roll back these safeguards. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chairman, I would simply request that my opposition, my colleague, double check his facts. This is well-documented. This is effective. It is cost saving, and the costs have already been paid by the energy sector. This is something that they do not even want to see rolled back. Mr. Chairman, it protects public health. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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, my amendment would ensure that early childhood developmental screenings are considered a medical service and, therefore, can be provided to children at the border who are in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. These screenings would be performed by volunteer medical professionals at no cost to the taxpayer or to the child. There are already, thankfully, provisions for pediatric-focused medical care. That is critical given that six children have died while in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. This amendment goes further, though, and makes sure that the developmental, social, and emotional health of the children is also evaluated. Developmental screening is a standard part of pediatric care and will diagnose things like hearing loss, autism, language delays, and even developmental regression that is associated with toxic stress. Given the conditions under which these children are living right now, often without their parents and without age-appropriate activities to bolster their cognitive development, this type of screening with appropriate follow-up and care is critical. Early intervention is paramount. Allowing medical professionals to volunteer their time and expertise to screen babies and young children for physical problems and developmental delays is a way to make sure that children do not fall behind during these critical formative years and that they are set up for success in their school years and beyond. This amendment simply clarifies that if Americans are willing to donate medical services to children at the border, those may include developmental and behavioral assessments. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Chair, I am prepared to close, if my colleague has no further comments.

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Chair, for somebody who agrees with my amendment, that was a lot of commentary about our situation at the border. I am not here to discuss our situation at the border or how we treat refugees. I am not here to discuss the fact that families can be with sponsors in the United States and not in detention centers. I am merely here to discuss my amendment, which is that I would like children to have appropriate medical care and developmental screenings. Madam Chair, I am so glad to have the agreement from my colleague. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2480) to reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am excited that the House of Representatives is considering this bill, Stronger CAPTA, today, a bipartisan bill I urge my colleagues to support. Stronger CAPTA is a reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, CAPTA, that will revamp already existing Federal supports for preventing child abuse and neglect. It has been 9 years since Congress comprehensively reauthorized CAPTA. This Congress, I partnered with several of my Democratic and Republican colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Stronger CAPTA, which would help States and communities address the recent rise in cases of child neglect, abuse, and death, many of which can be linked to an increasing number of parents affected by substance abuse and the opioid crisis. Stronger CAPTA will overhaul a prevention system that has always been overworked and underresourced. In Washington State, only 11 of about 125 programs that apply receive funding. The support my State gets from the Federal Government is about 50 cents per child per year. Stronger CAPTA will increase funding so that more programs can ensure families in need receive their services. It will also create a local system in which families who are seeking services but have not yet been identified as needing those services can receive the help they need. Currently, a family who knows they need help can't get it unless something bad happens to the child. Parents are the most informed regarding the needs of their children, and we should not punish families who are proactively seeking assistance. Stronger CAPTA will help these families before harm occurs. I am hopeful that, because of this legislation, Washington State will build on their efforts to support new mothers with parenting, help families teach social-emotional and early literacy skills, expand programs for Tribal families, counsel families and children exposed to violence and homelessness, and expand the countless other programs in place to help families seeking support. I am also excited that the bill I introduced with my Republican colleague Steve Stivers, the Early Detection to Stop Infant Abuse and Prevent Fatalities Act, is included in this legislation. With passage of Stronger CAPTA, States will be able to help medical professionals, early childhood educators, and others better identify early signs of infant abuse and neglect that might look harmless to the untrained eye. As a pediatrician, I take care of the children and families we are talking about today. I want every parent to have the support they need to parent well. My bill will go a long way to making sure every family gets the support they need. I thank my colleagues, Representatives Trahan, Johnson, Stefanik, Bonamici, and Comer; Chairman Scott, and Ranking Member Foxx, for coleading this legislation with me. The well-being of children and their opportunity to grow up in stable, loving environments will be improved with the passage of Stronger CAPTA. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Oregon an additional 15 seconds.

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal).

Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath).