Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the United Senior Citizens Center as they celebrate 42 years of dedicated service to the Sunset Park neighborhood. Since 1974, this organization has enriched the minds, bodies and souls of seniors in our community. I'd also like to extend heartfelt congratulations to my good friend Grisel Amador, who has devoted her time and energy to running this center for over 28 years through many challenges. Grisel has truly helped shepherd this institution into a valuable anchor of the community and she should be applauded for all that she does. Grisel and all the Center's workers understand the importance of caring for our senior citizens and treating them with the utmost care and respect. During these challenging fiscal times when many federal, state and city services are being scaled back, community organizations like the United Senior Citizens Center are all the more important. Mr. Speaker, I thank the staff and all those involved with the United Senior Citizens Center for their dedication to the seniors of Brooklyn. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating them on 42 years of service.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, Stanley Almodovar, III. Amanda Alvear. Antonio Davon Brown. Darryl Roman Burt, II. Angel L. Candelario-Padro. Luis Daniel Conde. Cory James Connell. Tevin Eugene Crosby. Deonka Deidra Drayton. Leroy Valentin Fernandez. Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez. Mercedez Marisol Flores. Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz. Juan Ramon Guerrero. Paul Terrell Henry. Frank Hernandez. Miguel Angel Honorato. Javier Jorge-Reyes. Jason Benjamin Josaphat. Eddie Jamoldroy Justice. Anthony Luis Laureanodisla. Christopher Andrew Leinonen. Alejandro Barrios Martinez. Juan Chevez-Martinez. Brenda Lee Marquez McCool. Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez. Oscar A. Aracena-Montero. Kimberly Morris. Akyra Monet Murray. Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo. Geraldo A. Ortiz- Jimenez. Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera. Joel Rayon Paniagua. Jean Carlos Mendez Perez. Enrique L. Rios, Jr. Jean C. Nives Rodriguez. Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado. Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz. Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan. Edward Sotomayor, Jr. Shane Evan Tomlinson. Martin Benitez Torres. Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega. We will never forget. And while we mourn your loss, your memory will inspire us to fight for change.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to really thank Ranking Member Grijalva for the important role that he has played throughout this process. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bill. When I was elected to Congress, I understood there would be tough votes. For me, PROMESA is one of those votes. For those of us with ties to Puerto Rico, this a profoundly personal issue. There is plenty of blame to go around for this situation. San Juan has played a role, but Washington and Wall Street have equally contributed to this crisis. It is a crisis that is already harming working families that call the island home and, if left unaddressed, it will grow immeasurably worse. So today we stand at a fork in the road: one path--the bill before us--empowers Puerto Rico to restructure 100 percent of its debt; the only other route sends Puerto Rico to the courthouse, where it will be at the mercy of creditors that will inflict further suffering on the island. Now, some would suggest that if we oppose this bill, somehow a third option will magically appear before us. That is nonsense. The stark reality we now face is that, other than PROMESA, there are simply no other politically feasible options left. That does not mean that this is a perfect bill. It is not even close. It makes no sense that this bill includes an attempt to pay Puerto Rican workers less than those on the mainland. It is offensive that Puerto Rico must foot a $370 million price tag for an oversight board its residents do not want. And the bill does not address economic growth incentives and healthcare parity, issues at the core of Puerto Rico's crisis. Despite these shortcomings, I see no alternative. If we do not act, Puerto Rico will unravel further. Basic services are being cut, and these cuts will deepen. More schools will close. More police and firefighters will be terminated. And those who will pay the price are Puerto Rico's most vulnerable: its children, its seniors, and its working families. We have a profound responsibility to prevent this catastrophe from worsening. Those suffering on the island are my brothers and sisters, my fellow Puerto Ricans. But, my friends, they are also your fellow citizens. 200,000 Puerto Ricans have fought--and shed blood--in every military conflict since World War I. Now these citizens need our help. This is a responsibility we cannot ignore. You see, when the United States took Puerto Rico--and remember we seized it by force--we did not just obtain a pretty island. We also took on a responsibility to care for the people who live there. Now, let me say this: Living up to that responsibility does not end with this vote on this bill today. Decisions made by Washington over decades have corroded Puerto Rico's economy. Addressing those problems will require more work by Congress. Until we end the colonial conditions that have subjugated and exploited the island, there will be no long-term recovery. So this bill alone is not enough. We must pass additional legislation, in the next 6 months, addressing Puerto Rico's deep-seated economic challenges and ongoing healthcare crisis. If we do not, then, Washington, we have failed the people of Puerto Rico once more. Mr. Chairman, this is not the legislation I would have written, but it is the only way we can extend a lifeline to Puerto Rico right now. In many ways, the easy path for me would be to vote ``no.'' Certainly, I have heard the case made by some in the Puerto Rican community.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chair, at the end of the day, I know that if this bill does not pass, people I care about and love on the island I grew up on will suffer greatly. At least with this legislation, Puerto Rico can begin restructuring its debts and start down a new path toward a brighter future. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill. Then please join me in working to address the other long-term challenges confronting Puerto Rico. In closing, let me thank all those who worked on this legislation, especially Leader Pelosi, Speaker Ryan, and Whip Hoyer. Let me also thank Ranking Member Grijalva and Chairman Bishop for their efforts as well as my fellow Puerto Rican Members of Congress. And, of course, our thanks to the staff who dedicated countless hours crafting this compromise.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I represent New York's Seventh Congressional District. I rise in strong support of the Serrano-Velazquez amendment. Throughout the course of this entire saga, it has become increasingly clear that Puerto Rico's debt is not fully understood. The island has issued 18 different classes of debt--from general obligation to COFINA, to GDB, to utility bonds. Various local and State laws are involved, and the result is a web of confusion. To address this, the Puerto Rico Commission for the Comprehensive Audit of the Public Credit was created to examine all of the island's debt, something that is very much needed. The audit will not only inform the people of Puerto Rico, but also, in many ways, will assist the oversight board in carrying out its mission. Analyzing and assessing all of the island's $70 billion in debt is long overdue. Recently, the commission released a preliminary report finding that a small, yet significant, amount of the debt may have violated the island's constitution. Such a finding is meaningful and could have ramifications for this legislation's implementation. Our amendment ensures that the underlying bill will not prevent the commission from finishing its important work while also allowing the local government and the oversight board to consider these findings if they so chose. In summary, this amendment would allow for much-needed sunlight to be shown on the island's financial situation. I urge Members to support this amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Now, what are House Republicans doing in response? They are proposing less than one-third of the money needed to respond to Zika. They are providing no--zero--money targeted for Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, look at this face again. Shame on this House for this failure. Look at this face and then look in the mirror.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this is the face of Zika: an innocent child harmed with the disease--a disease that we could prevent. Now, this disease is harming our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico and on the eastern side of the mainland. Already, because of Washington's decades of neglect, Puerto Rico's health care system is broken. Last year, 500 doctors packed up and left the island, never to return, and physicians are leaving at the rate of one a day. While Puerto Rico's health infrastructure is vulnerable, we are seeing this terrible disease take hold. More than 570 cases of infection have already been reported in Puerto Rico, including almost 50 pregnant women, and two deaths. How dare anyone in this Chamber say that this is political. It is not political when we have people that are dying in Puerto Rico.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, last year, we saw the government achieve record high percentages of dollars awarded to small business. Unfortunately, these numbers have been called into question due to allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse at the VA. Ultimately, we do not know the total value of small business contracts at the VA, but estimates suggest that small businesses lost out between $2.8 billion and $3.7 billion of contracts as a result of personnel using their purchase cards. If this is true, it is a failure not just of the VA, but of the procurement system more broadly. Time and time again, we are presented with similar allegations in which opportunities were improperly diverted away from those that they were intended to reach. Every time this happens, a deserving small business loses out on revenue that could help create jobs in local communities. The truth is that we need more oversight, and H.R. 4326 will provide it. Before I yield back, I want to thank Ms. Adams for her efforts and the efforts of all of the members of the committee to work in a bipartisan manner to help small businesses gain access to the Federal marketplace. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Chabot for his leadership on these matters, as well as other legislation that has passed out of the committee. I am happy to be working with him again to ensure that small businesses get the help they need to grow and continue to create jobs for our communities. I also would like to add a thank you note to the staff on the majority, Emily Murphy, and on the minority, Eminence Griffin. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), the author of H.R. 4326 and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4326, the Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act of 2016. Over the years, Congress has sought to ensure that small businesses have fair opportunities to compete for Federal contracting opportunities. There are various provisions that require agencies to set aside or reserve contracts for performance by small businesses so long as they can perform at a fair and reasonable price. These tools have provided small businesses with opportunities that may have otherwise been closed to them. They have also diversified the government's available suppliers and increased competition, thereby strengthening our country's industrial base. However, last year, the Committees on Small Business and Veterans' Affairs held a hearing in which senior procurement officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs alleged that the Department was circumventing contracting regulations. Rather than using a contracting vehicle, contracting personnel used purchase cards to buy goods and services such as pharmaceuticals and prosthetics. If true, these uses of purchase cards by the VA directly violated contracting regulations. Many of these purchases were of such value, that they should have been procured using either the small business reserve or set-asides. Additionally, as a result of their use, veterans were put at risk, as the goods purchased using these cards came without the warranties and protections provided under a contract. The Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act of 2016, introduced by Ms. Adams and Mr. Hardy, seeks to ensure that the fraud alleged at the VA does not happen there or at any other agency. The bill will require the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to review agency purchases made using government purchase cards to ensure compliance with the contracting mechanisms set forth in the Small Business Act. Additionally, the bill provides OSDBU the ability to ensure that all small businesses have access to their services. We cannot allow agencies to bypass the protections afforded to small businesses. I, therefore, ask my fellow Members to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4284, the Service Provider Opportunity Clarification Act of 2015. It has long been the policy of Congress to ensure that a fair proportion of Federal contracts, prime contracts or subcontracts, be awarded to small businesses. In some areas there has been success in advancing this goal. In fiscal year 2015, small prime contractors received over $90 billion, amounting to over 25 percent of contracting dollars. As a result, the government, again, met its prime small business contracting goal. However, prime contracting is only one part of the equation. For many small businesses, subcontracts are just as vital. These opportunities serve as an entry point for firms to the Federal marketplace. Subcontracts are a way for firms to increase their capacity and prepare to eventually become prime contractors. Subcontracts also help entrepreneurs gain valuable insight into what is required when the Federal Government is your client. Recognizing the importance of subcontracts, the Small Business Act requires that prime contractors submit subcontracting plans for contracts valued at certain levels and SBA to set goals for subcontracting dollars awarded to small businesses. Yet, throughout the course of this Congress, our committee has heard testimony of countless witnesses indicating that not only are prime contractors not reporting their subcontracting dollars, but also that contracting officers are not holding these firms accountable for their subcontracting goals. Even more egregious is the fact that some primes have been awarded contracts without a subcontracting plan at all. This is simply unacceptable. The Service Provider Opportunity Clarification Act of 2015, introduced by Mr. Curbelo and Ms. Clarke, seeks to rectify this problem by making the failure to submit the required subcontracting report a material breach, thus providing remedial options to agencies. Procurement center representatives will also be allowed to review subcontracting plans and place a 30-day hold on the plan if they found that it did not adequately provide small businesses subcontracting opportunities. Additionally, the bill requires that SBA update its regulations to give contracting personnel better examples of when prime contractors have acted in good faith compliance with the subcontracting plans. These provisions will provide necessary oversight to ensure that prime contractors are adhering to subcontracting regulations and that small businesses are afforded maximum opportunity to participate in the Federal marketplace as a subcontractor. I, therefore, ask my fellow Members to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, small firms continue expressing concern that it is increasingly difficult to find subcontracting opportunities as primes take on more of the work themselves. Agencies and contracting officers must do better to ensure that small businesses have access to these opportunities. The government-wide subcontracting goal has continually been lowered, from 36 percent in the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years, to just over 34 percent in fiscal year 2014. Despite this decrease, the goal is not being met, with only 33 percent of subcontracting dollars awarded to small firms. But even these numbers are deceiving, as the percentage is based only on the subcontracting dollars reported. It is estimated that as many as 40 percent of prime contractors are not submitting subcontracting reports. The changes in H.R. 4284 will ensure that this no longer occurs and that there are real consequences to those companies that try and evade their subcontracting obligations. I once again urge my colleagues to support this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3714, the Small Agriculture Producer Size Standards Improvements Act of 2015. Small businesses play a critical role in the American economy. They make up the vast majority of employer firms and create nearly two- thirds of new jobs. Over the years, Congress has created numerous Federal program set- asides, tax preferences, and SBA loan programs to help small firms succeed. Last year small businesses were able to access over $28 billion in capital and $90 billion in contracting opportunities because they met the definition of small. Many businesses used long-term loan proceeds to keep their doors open, retain employees, and create new jobs. Since yesterday was tax day, I would also like to mention that small business-oriented tax provisions allow firms to write off expenses quickly, putting money back in their hands to create new avenues for growth. However, the advantages conferred by this program can only occur if a business can show that they meet the industry-based definition of small business. While, generally, SBA is tasked with defining size standards for over 1,100 industries that establish eligibility for its programs, agricultural standards have been exempted from this process. Instead, Congress set a rigid gross revenue-base standard for all agriculture industries that has not been adjusted since 2000. However, since the time Congress first began setting the size standard, agricultural production has shifted dramatically. The Small Agriculture Producer Size Standards Improvements Act, introduced by Mr. Bost and cosponsored by Ms. Meng, will eliminate the outdated size standard and gives SBA the authority to tailor standards that are reflective of the changes the industry has experienced as well as the variety of agricultural businesses across our country. What is small for a cattleman is not the same for fresh produce producers or dairy farmers. The bill requires SBA to apply their current methodology, solicit feedback from industry stakeholders, and implement specific standards that can be tweaked periodically to respond to changes in the industry. I, therefore, ask my fellow Members to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, like all other industries, the agricultural industry has changed over the last 30 years. With new technologies, many agricultural businesses have been able to increase their production rates. The last Census of Agriculture found U.S. farms sold nearly $395 billion in agricultural products, a 33 percent increase from the sales of 2007. Crop sales also increased by 48 percent. The changes made in H.R. 3714 will give SBA the tools necessary to set size standards for those in agricultural production. The bill ensures these adjustments are done with careful consideration as to the effects on small farms. I once again would urge my colleagues to support this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4332, the Maximizing Small Business Competition Act of 2016. Purchasing more than $400 billion in goods and services annually, the U.S. Government remains a consistent and reliable client for all businesses. The Small Business Act requires that small businesses have a fair opportunity to compete for Federal contracts. To help facilitate awards to small firms, the act created a position of procurement center representatives, or PCRs. PCRs are placed throughout the country to monitor agencies' major buying activities, with the main goal of increasing the small business share of Federal procurement awards and ensuring that a fair portion of awards go to small businesses of all types. These representatives are tasked with various duties, including initiating and recommending small businesses set-aside contracts. If the PCR feels that a contract or a portion of a contract can be set aside, he or she can file an appeal to an agency. However, due to decisions made internally at SBA, PCRs are no longer required to review proposed solicitations that already include a small business set-aside. Thus, there would be no opportunity for them to file an appeal. As a result, an agency can get away with setting aside the bare minimum for small businesses without having a solicitation reviewed by the PCR, which deprives many small businesses of potential opportunities. This has been particularly harmful with larger contracts that have been bundled or consolidated. For example, at the General Services Administration, we have seen large contracts worth billions of dollars not receive PCR review. A review could have opened up more of the contracts to small businesses. The Maximizing Small Business Competition Act of 2016, introduced by Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, seeks to remedy the problem created by the SBA's decision to limit PCR reviews. The bill would allow PCRs to review contracts regardless of whether the contract already includes a set-aside or partial set-asides for small businesses. We cannot accept the bare minimum from agencies regarding contracting opportunities for small businesses. If PCRs see that an agency can include more small firms, they should be allowed to appeal the agency. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow Members to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, PCRs are the first line of offense and defense when ensuring small businesses get their fair share of Federal contracts. It is troubling that SBA has limited the ability of these professionals to oversee contracts. This decision could result in small firms not receiving the maximum contracting opportunities. Currently, if a contracting officer sets aside 5 percent of the contract for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses, PCRs are not reviewing these applications. A review could find that more could be set aside for these small businesses or perhaps other small-business groups. This bill ensures that PCRs are seeking out additional opportunities for small business and not relying on contracting officers to guarantee that these businesses are afforded their fair share of prime contracts. Mr. Speaker, once again I urge my colleagues to support this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4325, the Unifying Small Business Terminology Act of 2016. There are many places in which the statutes and regulations small businesses must understand are overly complex. This problem is compounded by inconsistencies in the language. For example, there are entire sections of the Small Business Act that are one long sentence with multiple commas and clauses. The act also predates many other statutes and regulations that we now use to govern how agencies purchase goods and services. As such, the act uses outdated terminology when discussing Federal contracting. Additionally, there are places in which the definitions vary between the act and the corresponding regulations. One such case is when a contract must be reserved for award to small businesses. While the act indicates that contracts valued over $2,000 and below $100,000 are to be reserved for small businesses, other statutes and even SBA's own regulations point to different values or use the terms the values are supposed to represent. This causes confusion not only among small businesses, but also to contracting officers as they are left to determine which values to use. That is why I introduced H.R. 4325, the Unifying Small Business Terminology Act of 2016. The bill amends the Small Business Act so that it has the same terms that are used in titles 10 and 41 of the United States Code and in SBA's own regulation when referring to procurement rules. This will ensure that there is no confusion among contracting personnel as to which opportunities should be set aside for small businesses. Mr. Speaker, our committee hears from small businesses almost daily about how difficult it is to navigate the Federal marketplace. With businesses having to be familiar with small-business regulations, the Federal Acquisition Regulations, and each agency's own FAR supplement, as well as other statutes, the very least we can do is to make sure that all the terminology is consistent. The changes made in H.R. 4325 will unify the terminology, providing much-needed certainty to both contracting officers and small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a special group of my neighbors who are an incredible part of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn community--Holocaust survivors. I am privileged to represent approximately one thousand Holocaust survivors in New York's 7th Congressional District. These individuals arrived from across Eastern Europe fleeing unspeakable horrors. Many of them had lost their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters during one of the darkest periods in our history. They survived concentration camps and came to the U.S. as refugees looking to launch a fresh start, rebuild anew and escape the horrific crimes they had suffered in their pasts. From a small group of survivors that arrived after World War II in Williamsburg, this community has grown and flourished by tens of thousands. From meager beginnings, they rebuilt their families, religion and traditions, and established a wonderful part of our City that, to this day, contributes to New York's diverse cultural mosaic. Their accomplishments are a testament to the perseverance and persistence of the Holocaust survivors. In 1966, Holocaust survivors created the United Jewish Organizations (UJO) of Williamsburg which is celebrating its 50th year of service to the community. The UJO was conceived as a vehicle to help the Yiddish- Speaking population adapt to life in the United States, participate in the civic sphere and ensure access to public benefits. Throughout their jubilee of activity the UJO has put the needs of Holocaust survivors at the forefront. They work closely with the Claims Conference and the NYC Department for the Aging to help survivors age gracefully and independently with a wide array of social services and in-home care. They have truly evolved into a community anchor for all of Brooklyn and New York. I salute their many achievements. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in acknowledging all that our nation's Holocaust Survivors have not only endured, but also accomplished. We must never forget the horrors they underwent, but, likewise, we must also honor the achievements they secured in the face of enormous adversity. Their spirit and strength are a credit to the Williamsburg community, to our City and, indeed, to our entire nation.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hershel Solomon Graubard on the advent of his Bar Mitzvah. This is an important milestone in this young man's life and his family is immensely proud, as am I, to see him cross this threshold. The term Bar Mitzvah originates from the ``son of the commandment,'' signifying a young person's coming of age and assumption of full responsibility for performing commandments. It is also at this age that a youngster is first called to bless and recite from the Torah Scroll. For all these reasons, this is a momentous event in Hershel's journey to adulthood. Mr. Speaker, Hershel Solomon Graubard is growing into a wonderful young man and we are all deeply proud of him. He is someone who cares a great deal about his community and civic engagement--something we would all like to see among more young people. I fully expect that Hershel will do great things in coming years. I am proud to count him and his entire family among my friends. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing Hershel and his family all of the best for a wonderful day and a joyous celebration. May he continue exhibiting wisdom and maturity beyond his years.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the gentlewoman from California's amendment. Mr. Chairman, in New York City access to safe and affordable housing is a critical issue. Just in Brooklyn, the city's housing shortage has driven rents to over $2,500 a month for a 1-bedroom apartment. As a result, a majority of households spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, making these individuals and families rent burdened. For this reason, the New York City Housing Authority, the Nation's largest public housing authority, provides a home to more than 4,000 New Yorkers. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of families remain on waiting lists for units. Congress cannot dictate market rents, but we can change Federal programs empowering public housing authorities to address budgetary shortfalls, adapt to changing conditions, and better assist current and prospective tenants. That is why we provided the Secretary the ability to adjust the over-income threshold for public housing tenancy, to assist those tenants and families living in public housing where rents and incomes are well above average, like New York. While this bill makes several reforms like these to public housing and Section 8 rental assistance, many of which are bipartisan and have been discussed for years, I am concerned about the bill's impact on families with children. According to a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H.R. 3700's changes to the childcare deduction could cost 52,000 families with children to face a rent increase of $25 or more. More than half the families affected are extremely low income and would be hard pressed to afford such an increase. Mr. Chair, $25, $50, or $75 might not sound like a lot of money for us, but for low-income families that have to struggle every day, this is a lot of money. While updating and improving our Nation's rental assistance and public housing programs are important goals--one I will continue fighting for--they cannot be accomplished on the backs of the Nation's children. I, therefore, urge adoption of the gentlewoman's amendment, which will strike the burdensome childcare deduction language. I am very impressed with the chairman today. I hope that from now on we can work in a bipartisan, humane way to address the issues of the shortage of housing in our Nation. I congratulate the ranking member.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 44 on January 13, 2016, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Personal Explanation

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a leader who has worked tirelessly to improve healthcare for residents of Brooklyn and all of New York City. At the beginning of this month, Pam Brier retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Maimonides Medical Center. Throughout her illustrious career, Pam has shepherded Maimonides from a community hospital to a state-of-the-art medical hub, a pioneer of integrating technology into medical care. Pam's achievements are too many to recount. She helped introduce information technology to better care for the chronically ill. She launched a cancer center in Brooklyn, making treatments more accessible in our borough. She worked on securing clothing for homeless patients, and made countless other contributions to New York's health system. Pam founded the Brooklyn Health Information Exchange, bringing together healthcare providers and social service providers. With support from the state and from a Federal Innovation Award, she encouraged the development of a collaborative model program to coordinate the care of individuals living with serious mental illness and other chronic diseases. Pam accomplished all of this because of her outstanding personal abilities. I've known her for decades and can tell you she has that rare combination of traits that make for an exceptional leader. She has the perseverance to stay the course during trying times, to evolve her thinking as new challenges arise and a special quality that inspires others to succeed. During her tenure, Pam made sure every staff member was working together to build Maimonides into the premier healthcare institution it is today. She did all of this, while never losing sight of the fact that healthcare is not just about medicine--it is about caring for people. Pam has an unwavering commitment to helping cure the sick and provide for those of meager means. I can tell you there was never a moment when Pam did not take the opportunity to advocate for better healthcare. Whether it was a meeting at the hospital in New York or any other occasion--like my birthday--or even hers--she always found a way to work healthcare issues into the conversation. That tireless advocacy comes from a good place. It is because Pam Brier knows that when it comes to healthcare we are talking about people's lives and she never stopped fighting to improve our healthcare system. Pam Brier has done much for our community and City. We all owe her a debt of gratitude. Later this month the Maimonides community will come together to salute Pam and wish her well. For now, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Pam Brier on her many achievements and her well-deserved retirement.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that the legislation we are considering does nothing to address Puerto Rico's mounting debt crisis. Puerto Rico's crisis is decades in the making, and it stems from years of neglect from this very same body, the United States Congress. The United States Congress brought us where we are today. Now it has a moral responsibility to act. Yet, my Republican colleagues are standing in the way. Giving Puerto Rico authority to restructure its debts will not cost taxpayers a dime, but it would help solve their fiscal crisis. To those who say Puerto Rico needs to cut spending, I ask you: How much more? The island spends $2,000 less per student than the average spent on the mainland. The government has already closed nearly 100 schools this year in addition to 60 closures last year. Sales taxes are the highest in the United States and would increase from 7 percent to 11.5 percent. The government has laid off 21 percent of its employees since 2008, and the 2016 budget makes further cuts. Puerto Rico is doing its part to raise revenue and cut expenses. Stop playing Russian roulette with the well-being of the Puerto Rican people, American citizens. Despite all the reforms that have been taken, Wall Street hedge funds want more. They bought this debt at cheap prices, and now they want it all. They are willing to inflate big suffering on 3.5 million American citizens in order to reap massive profits. Sadly, congressional Republicans decide.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, the Governor of Puerto Rico is here--he is sitting in the gallery--asking you to help those Americans who call the island home. While we are all going home for the holidays, for the 56 percent of American children who live in poverty in Puerto Rico, this omnibus is their Christmas present. Shame on us. It is wrong. It is morally wrong. It will not cost one dime to taxpayers. All we are asking is give Puerto Rico the ability to restructure its public debt like any other municipality in this country.