Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 2372, the VA MISSION Act because the bill falls short in fulfilling our commitment to veterans. Though this legislation contains many positive provisions to support our veterans and their caregivers, on balance it is a short-sighted approach that does not adequately provide for the long-term needs of those who have honorably served our country. The bill subjects funding for VA programming to the nondefense discretionary caps, which leaves it vulnerable to being underfunded or being funded at the expense of other critical programs in the future.

Thank you Chairman Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman Johanson, Commissioner Williamson, and Commissioner Broadbent. I represent the First Congressional District of Oregon in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today.

I am here today to express my support for a thoughtful and strong remedy that will recognize that our domestic manufacturers need to be able to compete on a level playing field, and also recognize the potential for growth in the renewable energy industry in Oregon and the United States.

M. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 244, the FY2017 omnibus spending bill. This is not a perfect bill, but many priorities that are important to my constituents in Oregon and people around the country are funded and protected, and it prevents a government shutdown.

Unfortunately, too many workers in Oregon and across the country are still facing a great deal of economic anxiety. They worry about rent payments, increasing health care costs, saving for retirement, balancing family responsibilities and work, and making ends meet.

I rise today to honor the life of Claire Lovell, an accomplished columnist and devoted resident of Seaside, Oregon. North Coast residents are richer for Claire’s presence, and I join them in celebrating her life and her legacy.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Last week I joined massive protests at the Portland international airport against President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order. With this order, America turned its back on refugees and betrayed religious freedoms.

Caught in the middle of this harmful executive order is four-month-old Fatemah. She was scheduled to have life-saving open heart surgery at the world-class Oregon Health and Science University next week.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this budget resolution. The Affordable Care Act saves lives.

Today I want to talk about Mark Rouska from Tualatin, Oregon. Mark was diagnosed with stage IV renal cancer, and doctors told him the cancer had metastasized to his lungs. He had to resign from a job he loved as a special education teacher. Without chemotherapy, he would probably not be alive. That treatment costs about $20,000 a month, but because he has insurance through the Affordable Care Act, Mark pays about $175 a month.