Paul Tonko

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Fletcher).

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan), who is an active member on our Energy and Commerce Committee and a very strong supporter of this legislation.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, this is a very emotional journey, and in the words of Jennifer Wexton, this could happen to anyone, so any one of us could be touched by the impact of this legislation that will deliver efforts to search for better diagnoses, sounder treatment, and ultimately find a cure, but it is also about hope, and hope rings eternally here with this effort so that folks like Jennifer will know and folks from Gus Bilirakis' family will know that America cares, that she cares deeply. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 710 on the previous question on H. Res. 922, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yea'' when I should have voted ``nay.''

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation. I thank my colleagues and friends, Representative Guthrie and Representative Kuster, for their work on the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. As you may know, I serve as co-chair of the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus, or better known as the ATR Caucus. The ATR Caucus is a bipartisan group of over 70 members committed to advancing bipartisan solutions to the country's multifaceted addiction crisis. Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the caucus, the first in Congress to recognize that addiction, indeed, is a disease. As a longtime champion for those facing addiction, I am all too familiar with the devastating impact of the disease for individuals, their families, and their communities. This is a loss many of us know too well--the loss of a daughter, a son, a father, a mother, a sister, or brother. The loss of a neighbor dying much too young and leaving behind a grieving family and communities being ripped apart by poison seemingly beyond their control. Last year, in our Nation, there was an estimated 109,680 overdose deaths. That is 109,680 lives lost. Let's think of how many people that is every day needlessly dying and having their lives cut so short. Think of the magnitude of all those impacted by those 109,680 loved ones. For each of those individuals, there is a whole universe of friends, of family, and, of course, communities impacted. As we consider the SUPPORT Act reauthorization, let me share that clearly there are some good policies we are moving forward. I am glad that we are reauthorizing several programs that have been successful. I am pleased that we are including my Extending Access to Addiction Treatment Act that I was proud to work on with my friend, Representative Armstrong. As you may know, medication-assisted treatment for addiction significantly reduces the risk of overdose death. However, despite the effectiveness, approximately 87 percent of individuals with opioid use disorder who may benefit from lifesaving medication-assisted treatment simply do not receive it. My Extending Access to Addiction Treatment Act makes permanent the requirement that Medicaid provide coverage for addiction medication for Americans who need it. I also think we are taking a step in the right direction by requiring States to suspend rather than terminate coverage of Medicaid for justice-involved individuals making it easier to restart those benefits upon release. We also include a provision to allow pregnant incarcerated individuals who are being detained pretrial to maintain their Medicaid coverage. I fully support the legislation and remind everyone that we have a lot more work to do in order to take the necessary steps to address the deep need of this crisis. We all know the scale of the devastating disease of addiction. We also know that our justice system is a revolving door for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Over one-half of people in State prisons and two-thirds of individuals in jails have substance use disorder, or SUD. To truly address it, I urge us to take bold action and move forward as soon as possible with the Reentry Act and the Due Process Continuity of Care Act. By allowing inmates to receive addiction treatment and other services before returning home, my Reentry Act would bring targeted treatment to those at the highest risk of overdose. The Reentry Act would be a game changer for reducing overdose deaths and suicides by allowing all States to provide prerelease care to Medicaid-eligible individuals up to 30 days prior to release from incarceration. The Due Process Continuity of Care Act would make certain that pretrial detainees are not kicked off Medicaid prior to even being found guilty of a crime.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, we know the human cost of inaction. To be precise, last year it was 109,680 lives we lost. Is that a cost we are willing to bear? With that in mind, our work is not done, and I hope we can find the will to truly meet the moment. This legislation is a good step forward, but it is not the end of the road. Again, this disease of despair requires hope, and we can provide that hope to the individuals who look to us to be the agents of that hope. Mr. Speaker, again, I would urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to celebrate the life and service of Mr. Ron Byrne, a pillar of New York's Capital Region community who sadly passed away on November 8. When Ron's mother experienced a debilitating fall, he saw a group of local retirees come together to assist her with her daily needs. Inspired by that outpouring of support, Ron devised an idea: an organization that would connect handy retirees and certified contractors with elderly homeowners who need help with errands, home repairs, or landscaping. In 1995, Ron brought this idea to life and founded the Umbrella of the Capital District. Today, this organization serves more than 500 homes in Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Rensselaer Counties, enthusiastically helping seniors and people with disabilities to maintain their homes, their independence, and, yes, their dignity. His unwavering commitment to service and community was a beacon to us all, and his impact will continue to be felt by all in my district. Ron Byrne, rest in peace.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, when Americans get behind the wheel, when they want to drive their cars, they put it in ``R'' to go reverse and then they put it in ``D'' to go forward. Just as in the House here, the Rs want to take us backward, and the Ds want to drive us forward. That is why I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4468. This bill would block the EPA from finalizing its proposed medium- and light-duty vehicle rule to strengthen tailpipe standards for future model years. As we know, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and it is also a major emitter of other harmful air pollution. It should not surprise anyone that the EPA is working to fulfill its obligation to protect Americans from harmful air pollution. This bill prejudges the outcome of that process and will stifle technological innovation, despite the fact that the proposal will save lives, save consumers money, and bolster American manufacturing. More and more Americans are choosing to go electric. They realize that EVs are not only good for the environment but also provide major consumer savings over the life of the vehicle. Thanks in large part to the incentives included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, even more of these vehicles and their components will be made here in America. The legislation before us will undermine the tens of billions of dollars of planned investments to develop and produce American-made clean vehicle technologies by injecting uncertainty into these standards. For over 100 years, America has been the greatest auto manufacturing nation in the world. If we want to continue to retain that title, we need to embrace the changes that are occurring in the sector. That means supporting the regulatory policies and incentives that would drive us forward to a cleaner and healthier future. Unfortunately, this bill will stifle America's next great industrial revolution before we even seriously get into the race with China and dozens of other foreign competitors. For the sake of promoting American innovation and to address our pollution challenges and supporting our long-term national economic competitiveness, I urge Members to oppose this bill. Put it in ``D'' to go forward.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark Transgender Awareness Week. This is an important time to celebrate, honor, and uplift trans people--their history, their stories, and their culture. It is also a time to stand up against ongoing hate and discrimination. Extremist politicians around our country and in this Chamber continue to work to strip away the rights and liberties of the trans community. In ongoing appropriations debates, House Republicans have brought forward unserious proposals with riders targeting and demonizing the trans and broader LGBTQ+ communities. These riders include limiting access to essential and safe gender-affirming healthcare; bans on art forms, including drag; and allowing broad licenses to discriminate. The trans community deserves so much better. They deserve the ability, like all of us, to live fully and authentically without facing violence, discrimination, or harassment. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the trans community and oppose these cruel and relentless attacks. As a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, I vow to continue to fight for the cause.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise to recognize October as National Spina Bifida Awareness Month and to pay tribute to my constituents with Spina Bifida and their loved ones. Additionally, I recognize October 25th, as World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day. There are currently an estimated 166,000 individuals in the United States living with Spina Bifida. According to the CDC, each year approximately 1,400 babies born in the United States have spina bifida. Those diagnosed with Spina Bifida can expect to spend most of their lives in a wheelchair, or walking with braces, and face the prospect of dozens of surgeries they turn 18. I have been honored to attend numerous events in the Capital Region, including the Spina Bifida Walk and Roll and the Spina Bifida Dare to Dream Gala, both of which are held by the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) of Northeastern New York, that have raised funds for research, brought awareness to the public, and told the stories of those in our community with this disease. I am heartened to attend events like these. which do so much to honor those with spina bifida, as well as their friends, families, and caretakers. I am so impressed with the breakthroughs in research that have helped to give those living with this disease a more fulfilling life. Thanks to the work of organizations like SBA, new medical treatments and technologies have been developed that allow most people with Spina Bifida to live a normal life span, ensuring they can have a full career, get married, and start a family--no different than those without this disease. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that organizations like the Spina Bifida Association continue to receive the funding and support they have earned. I also will continue to support federal research funding for better understanding the condition, the cause, and treatments. I hope that together we can continue to raise awareness.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 402.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 1435. Make no mistake, we are at a critical moment in history. The climate crisis is here, and over 100 million Americans live in counties with unhealthy levels of traditional air pollution. Thanks to vehicle standards, incentives, and R&D policies, the U.S. auto industry is poised to lead the world in clean transportation innovation. We should focus on supporting these policies, not weakening them. Sadly, H.R. 1435 would toss aside decades of legal precedent, upending the California waiver process and threatening the innovation already underway. Rather than restate what my Californian colleagues have said and will say about the history of the Clean Air Act and the importance of the waiver process to protecting public health, I want to look forward. For over 100 years, America has been the greatest auto manufacturing nation in the world. This is largely because we have embraced innovation and we have embraced our skilled unionized workforce. If we want to continue to retain this title, we need to embrace the changes that are occurring in that sector. The transportation revolution is here. It is already creating jobs and reducing pollution, in large part thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. When we hear concerns about inadequate charging options, we need to remember that charging infrastructure is going to become much more widespread and better performing in the near future thanks to the $7.5 billion enacted in the infrastructure law. When we hear about stresses on the grid, let's remember that there are tens of billions of dollars in the infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act to make our electric system smarter, more resilient, and, yes, more capable of meeting these new demands. When we hear that clean vehicles will support China, let's acknowledge that this will only be true if we fail to develop our own domestic supply chains. Just 2 weeks ago, DOE announced $15.5 billion in grants and loans to support retooling existing factories for the transition to EVs. This will be complementary to so many public and private investments that are enabling critical mineral processing and battery manufacturing here in the U.S. We can continue to be the world's leader in automotive innovation for the next century, but only if we embrace the regulatory policies and the incentives that will drive us forward to a cleaner and healthier future, which is why I urge Members to oppose this bill.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the epidemic of gun violence our country is experiencing. On average each year gun violence in America kills some 43,000 people and injures around 76,000 more. Over and over, our communities are left reeling from senseless tragedy, stuck in a devastating cycle of violence. We can no longer allow this level of pain to be our normal. Change must happen and happen now. I am proud to have signed the discharge petitions to bring essential gun violence prevention legislation to the House floor, including the Assault Weapons Ban, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and the Enhanced Background Checks Act. These are rational and commonsense bills. They are not about taking away rights. They are about protecting our children, families, and communities. They are about taking the fear out of the every day. Going to school, the grocery store, or even making a wrong turn should not be a death sentence. Our communities deserve better, and I vow to continue to fight for long overdue action to address gun violence in our beloved country.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Patricia Cerro- Reehil on the occasion of her retirement from the New York Water Environment Association. Since 1929, NYWEA has played a leading role in promoting water quality across our State. Patricia's NYWEA career began in 1987, and 14 years later, she rose to become the first woman to serve as executive director. Her work over the past 35 years has supported training, education, and advocacy for countless utilities, local governments, system operators, and water-sector businesses. This work has been foundational to protecting and improving water quality throughout New York State. During her time as executive director, Patricia has also embraced NYWEA's educational mission, helping to distribute over $700,000 in scholarships to some 240 students pursuing environmental degrees. I sincerely thank Patricia for her decades of service, which have helped provide so many New Yorkers with more reliable, more affordable, and certainly cleaner water. I congratulate Patricia on her well- deserved retirement.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call upon my Republican colleagues to stop playing politics with the full faith and credit of our Nation. Through the threat of a default on our debt in pursuit of draconian cuts, they are prompting a crisis of their own making--one that will have lasting, devastating impacts to our global economy and to the livelihoods of millions of Americans. We are on the brink of catastrophe, yet Republicans sent Congress home for the Memorial Day weekend. At a time when we should be united in honoring our brave service members, extreme Republicans are willing to trigger a recession so they can cut veterans benefits. Democrats are ready to pay America's bills without gambling with working people's livelihoods by imposing cruel cuts. The clock is ticking. Moderate Republicans must join us now to sign the discharge petition, end this crisis, and save our economy.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution. It is said that two certainties in life are death and taxes. Someone suing over an EPA standard must be a close third. Yet, when this rule was proposed, no one from industry or the environmental community challenged it based on EPA's legal authority, the Agency's analysis, or the administrative process. That is because it was carefully developed. It was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. It is achievable, and it provides flexibility for manufacturers. Most importantly, it will result in significant health and economic benefits for all Americans--far more than the costs of compliance. Those benefits include fewer premature deaths, fewer hospital visits, fewer missed days of school and work, and yes, fewer cases of childhood asthma. Despite being a relatively small number of vehicles on the road, heavy-duty vehicles covered by this rule, including semitrucks and buses, are significant sources of NOX pollution. This standard will especially help protect the tens of millions of Americans that live, work, or go to school near highways, ports, and other high-traffic, high-pollution areas along our Nation's freight network. It is hard to believe that the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 were enacted by a vote of 401-25. Protecting public health from air pollution was a commonsense, bipartisan issue. Nearly everyone understood we had to balance industry interests with Americans' right to breathe and breathe safely. We have reached a point where it is difficult to imagine a potential EPA air rule that would not immediately be CRA'd by our colleagues in the majority. This opposition is not based on rigorous analysis, but an ideological belief that anything done to reduce air pollution simply cannot possibly be worth the tradeoffs, even when the benefits would be undeniably huge. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to allow EPA to move forward with flexible and achievable public health protections, like this heavy-duty rule. I ask all of my colleagues to oppose this resolution.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of the capital region of New York that I represent, the 135th anniversary of the YWCA of Northeastern New York. From humble beginnings in 1888, this organization has grown into a force in our community: transforming countless lives and promoting empowerment, racial equality, and social justice in Schenectady and well beyond. For many years, the YWCA has stepped up to provide vital services and resources for women and families in need, from affordable housing and childcare to job training and counseling services. Beyond that, the YWCA has long been a platform for the voices of women, nurturing future leaders, and empowering individuals to stand up for their own rights and the rights of others. Through its commitment to eliminating racism, it has fostered understanding and built bridges of solidarity across our diverse community. As we celebrate this momentous occasion, let us reflect on the tremendous legacy of the YWCA of Northeastern New York. Let us honor its accomplishments, and most importantly, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of justice, equity, and empowerment embodied by the YWCA. Congratulations on this milestone, and here is to another 135 years of transforming lives, strengthening communities, and building a brighter future for each and every one.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aldelmo Camacho on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Aldelmo, commonly referred to as Al, was born in Puerto Rico on May 14, 1923, the youngest of 10 children. In 1942, at age 19, he joined the Army where he became a surgical technician. After he was discharged in 1945, Al finished school and later married his wife, Tina. The couple welcomed two daughters, Ida and Lillian. Shortly after the birth of his younger child in 1950, Al moved to Amsterdam, New York, and was shortly joined by his wife and two daughters. Over these last 53 years, he has remained in Amsterdam where he has helped establish and lead the Spanish American Club where he can often be found playing dominoes, one of his favorite pastimes. I thank Al for his friendship, liveliness, and character which have had such a great and positive impact on the city of Amsterdam. Feliz cumpleanos. Happy birthday, Al.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eda DiCaprio in honor of her 90th birthday. Eda and her twin sister, Eleanor, were born on May 10, 1933, in Amsterdam, New York. She worked for New York Telephone then General Electric after graduating from Wilbur H. Lynch High School. In 1956, she gave birth to her daughter, Roberta. An exceptionally hardworking and loving mother, Eda worked a number of jobs over the years while Roberta was in school, including those at Mohasco, Miles Catering, and Lorenzo's on Union Street before working alongside her twin sister at Travelers Insurance. She joined St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary in 2006 and around the same time began volunteering in human resources, where she secured employment and continues to work to this day. Congratulations to Eda on many decades of committed service to the community and a happy 90th birthday.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Green Building Council, which was founded in April of 1993. This member-led, nonprofit organization has helped countless schools, businesses, cities, and even countries build and operate better buildings that truly transform lives. Their LEED certification program has grown to become the world's most acclaimed and widely used green building system with 105,000 projects in 187 countries. In my home State of New York, over 2,600 projects and over 15,000 homes have achieved LEED certification. At a time when homeowners and businesses are dealing with rising costs, research has repeatedly found that energy-efficient, lower-waste buildings result in major savings. Plus, they boost staff recruitment, retention, and productivity. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago there was no agreement on what constituted green buildings, let alone any kind of accepted mechanism to certify them. Because of the efforts of the U.S. Green Building Council, our country is moving toward better performing buildings that lower costs and waste, mitigate climate impacts and improve health. Mr. Speaker, I thank the council's staff for all their great efforts and offer my congratulations to this incredible organization. Here is to another impactful 30 years.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 27, the Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval targeting the clean water restoration rule. Our waterways, like the mighty Hudson and Mohawk Rivers that flow through my district in New York's capital region, are key economic engines as drivers of heritage tourism and outdoor recreation, as well as cherished gathering spaces for our communities, if we indeed care for them. The Biden administration's clean water restoration rule restores protections for the rivers, the streams, and the wetlands that constituents in all of our district areas rely upon. I will reinstate key safeguards to stop big polluters from recklessly dumping waste into our water systems and damaging the fragile wetlands that are so crucial for the resilience of our coasts. Importantly, the rule is grounded in science. An important fact. It restores the same science-based approach that Presidential administrations have utilized for decades to assess the conditions of upstream waters to protect the health of downstream ecosystems and communities. Our water systems are fragile and interconnected. As an engineer, I know the importance of using a science and data-driven approach to achieve the very best results for our communities. The dangerous legislation before us today is an attempt to overturn these finalized regulations. This is an attack on the clean water that is critical to the health of our communities, our Nation's economy, and particularly our agricultural and energy sectors. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to oppose it.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chair, I rise in deep opposition to H.R. 1, or as we have heard, the polluters over people act. When House Democrats had an opportunity to bring an H.R. 1 to the floor, it was to protect Americans' sacred right to vote and curb the influence of dark money and politics. Compare that to this H.R. 1, which is nothing short of a bonanza for corporate polluters. It creates loopholes in our Nation's most important environmental laws, laws that exist to ensure Americans have clean air, that they have clean water, and do not need to live in fear of industrial accidents in their backyards. It does this so that the richest oil and gas companies in the world can indeed continue to achieve a record-breaking bit of profits at the expense of everyday Americans. We know the best way for us to avoid volatile fossil fuel price shocks is to become less reliant on fossil energy by transitioning to a strong, clean energy future, one that will also protect our air and our water and create millions of well-paying American jobs. This is exactly what the Inflation Reduction Act is doing. New clean energy projects are underway across our country. There have been tens of billions of dollars in domestic manufacturing announcements, which will ensure that solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, EVs, and the other technologies we will need will be made here in America. This bill seeks to stop that progress. It would repeal critical sections of the IRA. The greenhouse gas reduction fund will leverage private funding to make clean energy investments across the country, including in disadvantaged communities. The methane emissions reduction program is going to drive down highly potent climate pollution from the oil and gas sector. New rebates will enable low- and moderate-income Americans to save significant money by upgrading their appliances. These programs will be wiped out by this bill. Mr. Chair, I am not opposed to examining how we can improve permitting processes, but it must be done with the intention of accelerating the clean energy transition--building out our transmission infrastructure to enable our electricity system to be cleaner, more reliable, and, yes, more affordable. Unfortunately, this bill is only interested in giveaways to outdated, outmoded, and polluting industries, not in bringing our energy system into this 21st century. Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to oppose it.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chair, the gentleman appears to be fixated on undermining key EPA safeguards put in place over the last 15 years under the guise of being too costly, while the history of environmental protection, especially under the Clean Air Act, shows this is simply untrue. The United States can have both a clean environment and a strong economy. It is a false choice to assume otherwise. Republicans who claim that ambitious climate action and economic prosperity are at odds are simply ignoring the facts. This is the same argument that industry has used every time the Clean Air Act has been strengthened, and it has been debunked each and every time. When Congress debated the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, the oil industry said, ``The technology to meet these standards simply does not exist today,'' and predicted major supply disruptions, while chemical companies said the law would cause severe economic and social disruption. None of these gloom-and-doom predictions has ever come true. Instead, our air got cleaner, and our economy flourished. The history of the Clean Air Act shows that the United States can reduce carbon pollution while creating jobs and strengthening our economy. Since its adoption in 1970, the Clean Air Act has reduced key air pollutants by roughly 78 percent, while the economy has almost quadrupled in size. By EPA's own estimates, the benefits derived from the Clean Air Act exceed costs by a factor of more than 30-1. Let that sink in for a minute. Republicans like to claim that protecting Americans from pollution and tackling the climate crisis will sink the United States economy, but time and time again, we have seen that economic prosperity and environmental protection do go hand in hand. The Clean Air Act has also made the United States the world leader in pollution control technology, generating hundreds of billions of dollars for U.S. companies and creating millions of jobs. The standards targeted by this amendment are also widely popular: Clean car standards that help Americans drive cleaner and more fuel- efficient vehicles; mercury and air toxics standards that clean up deadly mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from power plants; and methane standards for the oil and gas sector that are supported by industry. The polluters over people act is the latest in a long line of sad attempts to undermine critical environmental and public health protections. These tired arguments continue to ring false and hollow. This amendment is more of the same. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose it and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed.