the chair: on this vote the yeas are 182, the nayses are 227. the amendment is not adopted. the unfinished business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 3 printed in part b of house report 115-29 by the gentleman from florida, mr. deutch, on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the noes prevailed by voice vote. the clerk: amendment number 3 printed in part b of house report 115-29 offered by mr. deutch of florida. the chair: a recorded vote has been requested. those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. a sufficient number having arisen, the recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this will be a two-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: on this vote the yeas are 14, the nays are 223. the -- 184, the nays are 223. the amendment is not adopted.

the chair: on this vote the yeas are 189, the nays are 228. he amendment is not adopted. the unfinished business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 4 printed in part b of house report 115-29 by the gentleman from florida, mr. soto, on which further proceedings were postponed and the noes prevailed by voice vote. the clerk: amendment number 4 printed in part b of house report 115-29 offered by mr. soto of florida. the chair: the resorted vote has been requested. those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. a sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered.

members will record their votes by electronic device. this will be a two-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: the yeas are 1 2 and the nays are 230. the amendment is not adopted. the unfinished business is request for recorded vote on amendment number 5 by the gentleman from georgia, mr. johnson, on which further proceedings were postponed and the nays were prevailed. the clerk: amendment number 5 printed in house report 115-29 offered by mr. johnson of georgia. the chair: those in support of a recorded vote will rise. a sufficient number having two-minute is a vote. fund [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned

coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: the amendment is not adopted. the unfinished business is request for recorded vote on amendment number 6 by the gentleman from michigan, mr. conyers, on which the noes prevailed. the clerk will redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 6 printed in house report 115-29 offered by mr. conyers of

michigan. the chair: those in support of a recorded vote will rise and be counted. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a two-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: the yeas are 191 and the nays are 20. the amendment is not adopted. unfinished business is request

for amendment on number 7 inted in house report 115-29 offered by ms. jackson lee. and the clerk wile redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 7 printed in house report 115-29 offered by ms. jackson lee. the chair: a recorded vote has been requested. those in support of a recorded vote will rise. a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this will e a two-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: the yeas are 1 the and the nays are 229. the amendment is not adopted. unfinished business is request for a vote on amendment number 8 by the gentleman from new york, .es pale yant and the nays prevailed. the clerk: amendment number 8 -29. ed in house report 115 the chair: a recorded vote has been requested. those in request for a recorded vote will rise.

a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this will e a two-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: the yeas are 19 and the nays are 28 and the amendment is not adopted. those in favor please say aye and say know. the committee rises. the speaker pro tempore: the committee has had under consideration h.r. 995 and pursuant to house resolution i report the bill back to the

house. the speaker pro tempore: the chair on the committee of the whole state of the union has had under consideration h.r. 985 and reports the bill back to the house with an amendment. under the rule, the previous question is ordered. is a separate demanded on the amendment from the committee of the whole. if not, the question is those in favor will say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it and the amendment is agreed to. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. third reading. . the clerk: multilitigation proceedings to assure a fairer, more efficient outcomes for claimants and defendants and for ther purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. he house will be in order.

members, please take conversations from the floor. members in the rear of the aisles, ember in the please -- members in the aisles, lease cease conversations. he house will be in order. the house will be in order. for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i have a motion to recommit at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: is the

gentleman opposed to the bill? >> i am opposed. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman qualifies. the clerk will report the motion. the clerk: mr. kildee of michigan moves to recommit the bill to the committee on the judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the house with the following amendments. page 13, insert after line 10 the following, and conform the table of contents accordingly. section 108, protecting safe drinking water. nothing in this title or the amendments made by this title shall apply to any civil action brought to, protect public drinking water supplies. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. kildee: thank you, mr. speaker. this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee if adopted. the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. my motion to recommit is quite simple. it exempts class action lawsuits that are brought to protect public water supplies. i know some of you have heard me speak of this.

i'm from flint, michigan. and we know in my community what happens when we fail to protect drinking water. in the course of the day, most americans take for granted that water that comes from the tap is safe. mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the entleman will suspend. members in the rear of the chamber, please cease conversations. ake seats. the gentleman from michigan. mr. kildee: thank you, mr. speaker. people take for granted that water is safe. but for my community of 100,000 people, that is not true. it hasn't been true for years. since the state government switched to a corrosive water source, the flint river, they have not been able to drink water out of the tap.

this terrible decision poisoned the city's water supply with corrosive water, resulting in high levels of lead, leeching into their water system. going into their pipes into their homes into their bodies. 100,000 people, 7,000 children. under the age of 6. nearly three years later, those same families are still realing from this crisis -- reeling from this crisis. it's unacceptable. it's anjustice. lead is a potent -- an injustice. lead is a potent neuro toxin. there's no -- neurotoxin. there's no safe level of lead. lead exposure can lead to serious health effects. felt for years. the impacts are not limited just to health. those high levels of lead also damaged flint's infrastructure. we now have to remove thousands and thousands of pipes in order to provide safe water.

thankfully this congress, democrats and republicans, came together to provide necessary help for my hometown to fix those pipes. but flint residents will continue to suffer. that was important but not enough. lots of health effects. just recently we learned that many cases in fact many deaths that we thought were attributable to pneumonia were in fact legionnaires disease, traceable to the bacteria caused by this terrible crisis. a dozen people have already died as a result of that legionnaires and others whose deaths make reclassified could bring that number much higher. the corrosiveness of that water not only had health impacts, but it literally destroyed people's homes from the inside out. so in addition to those service lines, people's plumming in

their homes, -- plubbing in their homes, their water heat -- plumbing in their homes, their water heaters and washing machines, their lives potentially ruined as well. where does the funding come for those losses experienced by residents of my hometown? it comes from the justice system. this bill would create more barriers for people in my hometown to access that justice system, to seek justice for what happened to them. they've suffered a terrible crisis. and they should be able to seek justice and restitution. but unfortunately this bill could prevent people from flint and other americans from seeking justice. and that is what my motion intends to correct. in order to receive justice from the harm that they have experienced from this public

water source, residents have filed class action suits. this bill severely curtails their access to the courts to seek redress. to seek that restitution. this bill would weaken their access to justice. is simple. it would allow lawsuits brought to protect public water sources -- the speaker pro tempore: members, please cease conversations. the gentleman deserves to be heard. we will not proceed until we have order in the house. members in the back of the chamber, standing in the aisle, on the majority side this particular aisle. - side, this particular aisle.

the house will be in order. mr. kildee: i thank the speaker's admonishment and specificity, both appreciated. thank you. this motion is simple. it would allow lawsuits that are brought to protect our precious public water supplies to be exempt from the additional hurdles, from the additional barriers that this underlying bill sets out. having safe drinking water is a human right. and the access to that, and the access to justice related to that basic human right ought to be completely unfettered. my motion to recommit would assure that. and i ask all of my colleagues, all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this motion. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? mr. goodlatte: to speak in opposition to the motion.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. goodlatte: mr. speaker, the base bill contains provisions that allow all claims to go forward as class actions and also maximize awards to deserving victims. why would anyone want to single out safe drinking water victims for adverse treatment and deny them the benefits of the base bill that would maximize any recovery they might receive in a class action? this motion to recommit would do that and it should be defeated. in closing, let me say, we know that only the tiniest fraction of consumer class action members ever bothered to claim the compensation awarded them in a settlement. that's clear proof that the vast majority, the vast large numbers of class numbers are satisfied with the product they purchased. they don't want compensation. they don't want to be lumped into gigantic class action lawsuits. federal judges are crying out for the congress to reform the

class action system, which currently allows trial lawyers to file classes with hundreds and thousands of unmeritorious claims. and use those artificially inflated classes to force defendants to settle the case. as i have recounted, some class action settlements have left lawyers with millions in fees while the alleged victim it's receive absolutely -- victims receive absolutely nothing. this bill prevents people from being forced into class actions with other uninjured or minimally injured members, only to have the compensation of injured parties reduced. and it requires that lawyer fees be limited to a reasonable percentage of the money injured victims actually receive. i urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this motion to recommit and supporting this bill on behalf of consumers and injured parties everywhere. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. without objection, the previous question is ordered. the question is on the motion to recommit. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no.

in the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. mr. kildee: mr. speaker, i request a recorded vote. the speaker pro tempore: a recorded vote is requested. those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. a sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, the chair will reduce to five minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote on the question of passage. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: the yeas are 188 and the nays are 234. the question is on passage of the bill. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the opinion of the chair the ayes have it. the gentleman from michigan. mr. conyers: i request a recorded vote. the chair: those in favor of a recorded vote will rise. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: the yeas are 20 and one member answering present. and the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. house will be in order. he house will be in order. he house will be in order. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. sessions: i ask unanimous

consent to speak out of order. this morning, the rules committee issued outlined the amendment processes for two measures likely to be on the floor next week, amendment deadline for monday, march 13 h.r. 13 of 67 nd to improve the veteran secretary of affairs to hire and retain provisions and employers. and feel free to contact me or my staff. and i yield back. the chair: the chair declares the committee of the whole house for the further consideration of h.r. 725. will mr. byrne kindly take the chair.

the speaker pro tempore: the for further consideration of h.r. 725 which the clerk will report by title. the clerk: bill toll amend to event fraud did you lent joinder. the chair: on amendment number 2 n rouse house report 115-2 offered by mr. cartwright had been postponed. pursuant to clause of rule 18, proceedings will resume on those amendments on rule 115-27 on which proceedings were postponed. amendment number one, amendment number 2. the chair will reduce to two minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote. the request is om amendment number one by the gentleman from florida on which further proceedings were postponed.

the clerk will redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 1 printed in house report 115-27 offered by mr. soto of florida. the chair: those in favor of the vote will rise. a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a two life minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of epresentatives.]

the chair: on this vote, the yeas are 189, the nays are 233, the amendment is not adopted. the unfinished business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number two offered by the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. cartwright, on which the noes prevailed by voice vote. the clerk will redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 2 printed in house report 115-27, offered by mr. cartwright of pennsylvania. the chair: a recorded vote has been requested. those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. a sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this will be a two-minute vote.

[captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 187, the nays are 229. the amendment is not adopted. there being no further amendments, under the rule, the committee rises. the speaker pro tempore: mr. chairman. the chair: mr. speaker, the committee of the whole house on the state of the union having had under consideration h.r. 725, pursuant to house resolution 175, i report the bill back to the house. the speaker pro tempore: the chair of the committee of the whole house on the state of the union reports that the committee has had under consideration the bill h.r. 725. pursuant to house resolution 175, reports the bill back to the house. under the rule, the previous question is ordered. the question is on engrossment

and third reading of the bill. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. third reading. the clerk: a bill to amend title 28 united states code to prevent raudulent joinder. the speaker pro tempore: the ouse will be in order. members take your conversations from the floor. for what purpose does the gentlelady from new hampshire seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i have a motion to recommit at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: is the gentlewoman opposed to the bill? >> i'm opposed in its current form. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman qualifyle. the clerk will report the motion. the clerk: ms. kuster of new hampshire moves to recommit the bill back to the committee on judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the house forthwith with the

following amendment. add at the end of the bill, section 3, protecting americans' rights to hold government officials to ethical standards. nothing in the act or amendments made to this act may be construed to pertain to an act pertaining to ethics in overnment. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for five minutes. ms. kuster: mr. speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. if it -- if adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. today our country is in an era where appropriate ethics and conduct by elected officials is of the utmost importance. i think we can agree that many representatives and others in government have failed to live up to the expectations of the american people. we all have immense

responsibility to advocate for our constituents and it's so important that our world and -- that our work and the work of those in this administration reflect our genuine desire to do well on the part of those we represent. now, i've heard from literally thousands of my constituents in new hampshire who are concerned about the president's reluctance to fully give up control of his businesses. his refusal to publicly disclose his tax returns, and the connections between russia and those in his campaign in the administration. this pattern of nondisclosure and hidden interests in the administration could put our public welfare and indeed our national security at stake. citizens must have all the legal tools at their disposal to push back against improper ethics and

crony capitalism at all levels of government. including the highest levels of the federal government. this also includes instances in which a business could face unfair competition because conflict of interest in government provides unfair support to their competitors. unfortunately, the bill before us today makes it harder for those who may have been wronged by established and well-funded interests to get a fair shot in court. my amendment simply states that nothing in this legislation shall be construed to a ply to any civil action related to eth exs in government. private citizens trying to hold government officials to high ethical standards should not have barriers like this legislation thrown in their way. going forward, i hope that as republicans an democrats we can work together to promote

legislation and efforts that increase transparency in government rather than making it more difficult for citizens to hold government accountable. i ask that my colleagues support this important motion to recommit and i yield back the alance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> i seek to claim time in opposition. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. farenthold: thank you very much. i'm not sure how this bill applies to government ethics at all this bill is a simple bill that tells trial lawyers not to sue innocent local people and businesses just so they can forum shop. it tells them all they got to do is show plausible case before they can proceed and they've got to proceed in good faith.

has nothing to do with what the amendment proposes. this is to protect innocent folks from being sucked into lawsuits by trial lawyers. i urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, support the underlying legislation and i yield back the remainder of my time. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. the question is on the motion to recommit. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the noes visit. the gentlelady from new hampshire. ms. kuster: i ask for a recorded vote. the chair: a recorded vote is requested. a sufficient number having risen a recorded vote is ordered. to clause 9 of rule 20, the chair will reduce to five minutes the time for any vote on passage. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 187, the nays

are 233. the motion is not adopt the question is on passage of the bill. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. ayes have it. the gentleman from michigan. >> can we have a recorded vote on this. the speaker pro tempore: a recorded vote is requested. those favoring a recorded vote will rise. a sufficient number having risen a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the chair: and the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid n the table.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. olson: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that i be emoved as a co-sponsor of h.r. 610. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> i be removed as a co-sponsor of h.r. 637. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> the chair lays wf its house an nold resolution. the clerk: house joint resolution 57, providing for congresses ool disapproval of the rules submitted by the department of education relating to accountability and state plans under the elementary and secondary act of 19 . the speaker pro tempore: the air announces the examiner's

appointment of the migratory conservation act of the following member on the part of he house to the migratory bird conservation commission. the clerk: mr. thompson of alifornia. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house the following personal requests. forclerk: leaves of absence mr. jeverries of new york. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the request is grnted. the chair will entertain requests for one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition?

without objection the the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. many americans including my constituents fightal terminal illness and they can't access drugs. and last month congressman fitzpatrick provided a bill to receive drugs that have passed the f.d.a.'s testing but working through the. and in 2014, our home state passed with 80% of the vote with and successfully and state level en as she was was battling cancer. i sponsored this bill and many who have. and passed in 3 states and needs to be enacted.

i'm grateful for congressman fit patrick's bill and i call on my colleagues to pass this. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does gentlelady from new jersey seek recognition? without objection the gentlelady s recognized for one minute. mrs. watson coleman: i wish i could say the republicans are helping the poor and vulnerable, but unfortunately in my home state, republicans have laid out the framework. governor creast tie dealt another blow by seeking to take money from the state's largest health insurer serving over 900,000 medicaid members.

they are to protect health care consumers. but, mr. speaker, new jersey is facing uncertainty due tom proposals by congress to roll back medicaid. the threads are clear. and it would raise consumer they stabbed no, ma'am louis their coverage. his budget and republican proposals are prescriptions for disasters. these plans are lazy and ineless and will only result

chaos across new jersey and this country. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? >> permission to address the ouse for one minute. mr. thompson: i rise today to celebrate one of penn state's events a 46-hour dance marathon run was the largest student philanthropy and fights pediatric cancer. dance series stood for 46 hours. it is a fundraising and campaign against childhood cancer and going to fort diamonds to benefit the children's hospital in hershey. and they are not faced with any cost and fully focus on the

needs of their child. fawn raced $200-million and raised $146 million. this is a event like no other and what penn state students can do to cover the costs as well as support of cancer research and thanks to the students. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? without objection the gentleman s recognized for one minute. >> i rise today in strong support of strengthening the affordable care act. last saturday, we held a town ll meeting in st. petersburg florida. residents showed up and the

message was overwhelming, work together, fix health care, don't destroy it and put people above politics. the republican bill unveiled this week will drive up health care costs and have millions without coverage. it's wrong for senior citizens and wrong for women and wrong for the poor and the disabled. we are judged how we treat the least amongst us. the speaker pro tempore: for the gentleman es from georgia seek recognition? mr. carter: permission to address the house for one minute and revise. mr. miller. mr. miller.

he celebrated his milestone on february 14, 2017 and attended the university of georgia and harris college and compared factory. is to a shoe and fittingly it is where he met his wife of 0 years shirley and where i met my wife of 38 years. mr. miller has dedicated his life of starting out as a myor in norte georgia and led him service.very his dedication to his home state in the united states continues to have lasting effects that having effects today. and his greats was to fund opportunities for thousands of georgias and qualified students. his legacy is well noun and

earned him the respec once been, i want to wish a zell 85th birthday to miller rment we can all learn to his dedication to the public. thank you, mr. speaker. nd i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman rise? the gentleman is recognized for ne minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to congratulate the rutgers men's basketball team on a tremendous accomplishment. with their win last night over the ohio state university, the scarlet knights celebrated their first big ten tournament victory since joining the conference in 014. mr. payne: their hard work this season has paid off and they now advance to play northwestern

tonight. i'd like to congratulate the first-year head coach steve keuchel, and the entire rutgers program. following their win, the coach said that the team learned how to compete this year. last night it certainly showed and i look forward to watching the scarlet knights play tonight and wish them continued success in the tournament. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, it's no surprise, pakistan is not the friend they portray themselves to be. mr. poe: they are devious, deceptive and disloyal ally. for years, they have supported the taliban by providing them cover, cash, and weapons. however, this benedict arnold ally is among the leading recipients of u.s. foreign assistance for the last 14 years. mr. speaker, we don't need to

pay pakistan to betray us. they will do it for free. the taliban's headquarters is, you guess guessed it, in pakistan. when a u.s. drone attack took the taliban's lead for the 2016 he was in pakistan. this should be the last rodeo for pakistan. this is why i have introduced the pakistan state sponsor of terrorism designation act. the bill requires the administration to issue a pro report containing either a determination that pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism or a justification as to why it is not. it's time to determine whose side pakistan is on. mr. speaker, they're not on our side. that's just the way it is. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition in -- recognition? without objection, the gentleman is recognized. >> mr. speaker, the republican health care plan would not only

fail to improve upon the affordable care act, it would undo the benefits millions of americans depend on and devastate our economy in the process. this plan would strip millions of working families of their health care, cut benefits for millions more, and increase premiums for older americans by 25%. it would ravage our economy by pushing state and local governments to the brink of bankruptcy. four republican senators have even rejected this bill because of its economically devastating medicaid cuts. the republican plan would force the counties i represent to pay hundreds of millions of dollars more for health care. 24 bill would force local governments to raise property taxes or deny health care. we need health care solutions that improve care and strengthen our economy at the same time. we must not settle for this plan which accomplishes neither.

i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? without objection, the gentleman s recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to share with you one of the countless stories my office has received that highlight the hardships faced under the affordable care act primarily by middle income families. mr. lamalfa: this one came in on january 17. joe writes, i was penalized $850 for the transgression of not having been enrolled in the affordable care act. i simply cannot afford the now $895 per month premium, doubled, to ensure my family of three. i've been forced to what's called self-pay for our doctors visits. etc. screenings; zpacs, all come out of my pocket he feel ended the message saying,

obamacare needs to be repealed or replaced with free market policies that can be purchased across state lines. this highlights one of the primary issues with the a.c.a. fewer choices, increasingly expensive premiums, deductibles that are out of sight that are forcing citizens into paying out of pocket for services they need. another of my constituents told us they were forced to choose between paying their mortgage and paying their monthly premium. that's not a choice at all and one that should not have to be made. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman rom new york rise? without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise in opposition to the republican health care plan and its devastating impact. when it comes to the affordable care act i've always said, amend it, don't end it. i came to congress wanting to work together on a bipartisan plan to build on and ausm --

improve the affordable care kt act. unfortunately the ones republicans have offered was written in secret, now being rush through the marathon committee sessions so americans don't have a chance to see what's in the bill. mr. suozzi: republicans refuse to wait for the c.b.o. to tell us how much this will cost. maybe it's because the plan offers tax breaks to the wealthy while the rest of us are stuck paying the bill. it will result in over $1 billion in cuts this year. the american association of retired people, the american medical association, the american hospital association and a growing list of republican and democratic governors throughout the nation oppose this plan. instead of pushing thru a bill we know will result in rising premiums, throw people off their health care, just come together and find a solution that makes sense for all americans. thank you and i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman rom illinois seek recognition?

without objection, the gentleman s recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise today in strong opposition to repeal and replace bill offered by my republican colleagues. i've never believed obamacare was perfect but it was a step in the right direction. mr. schneider: we will only move our health care policy forward by working together to build on very real successes of a.c.a. and fix the actual problems with the law. but this legislation as proposed does none of that and in fact takes us in the opposite direction. under the proposed legislation, 10 million americans would lose their health insurance, according to an analysis from standard&poor's. seniors would be charged much more than what others pay for health care. and the 3.2 million illinoisans who depend on medicaid will face cuts to their coverage.

mr. speaker, this house is recklessly and unnecessarily rushing to a vote before we have basic answers. most importantly, we need to know from the congressional budget office how many people this bill will and will not cover and how much it will cost. we need to set aside the politics and work in a bipartisan way to give all americans quality, affordable health care. i strongly urge my colleagues to oppose the bill and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia -- from the virgin islands seek recognition? without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for ne minute. >> mr. speaker, this is a special day for many of us caribbean americans as we pay tribute to the life of christopher wallace, otherwise known as bigie small.

ms. plaskett: living life without fear, putting five carats in my baby ear, considered a fool because i dropped out of high school, stereotypes of a black male misunderstood and it's still all good and if you don't know, now you know. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition? weather, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute -- without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. clarke: i rise today in memory of brooklyn's own notorious b.i.g., christopher wallace. in celebration of his life and living legacy i share these words. thinking back on my one-room shack, now my mom with a mink on her back, loves to show me off, smiles every time my face is up

in the store, we used to fuss when the landlord dissed us, no heat, wonder why christmas missed us, birthday was the worst days now we ship champagne i like the life i live i went from negative to positive and if it's all good. if you don't know, now you know. thank you and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition? without objection the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. kaptur: i rise today to speak on behalf of an important bipartisan supported vital environmental protection agency program, the great lakes initiative, spanning the largest body of watt thorne face of the earth. many media outlets suggest the president intends to cut the program by 90%. 90%. i'd like to clarify that this proposal is not yet official but

it is more than a rumor. so i'd like to believe that this president, who achieved the white house by carrying the great lakes states of michigan, indiana, pennsylvania, wisconsin, and my own ohio, would not take this awful step backward. candidate trump traveled to flint, michigan, and plomsed the water situation would never happen if we were president. is he going to reverse his firm promise of clean watt her the economy of the great lakes depends on clean water a $7 billion maritime industry in lake erie alone, jobs related to technology ve and sector, and preserves clean drinking water for the millions an millions of people who depend on that today and in the future. supporting the great lakes restoration initiative is not partisan. it's common sense. thank you and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: are there further requests for one-minute speeches?

under the speaker's announced spoifl january 3, 2017, the gentleman from maryland, mr. raskin is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. mr. raskin: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i'm delighted to have the time on behalf of the minority and the progressive caucus. we have a number of very distinguished representatives who want to talk about what is going on with people's health care in america and the attacks leveled against it this week in congress. before we do, i've agreed to yield just one minute to my distinguished colleague from new to who has something else do but i would like to turn it over to him.

mr. jeffries: i thank the distinguished gentleman from maryland for yielding. it was all a dream. i used to read "word up" gazine, salt&pepa in the limousine saturday -- every saturday rap attack. those were the words of the late, great, notorious b.i.g. bigie smalls. frank white. the king of new york. he died 20 years ago today. in a tragedy that occurred in los angeles. but his words live on forever. i've got the privilege of representing the district where bigie smalls was raised. we know he went from negative to positive. and emerged as one of the

world's most important hip-hop stars. his rags to riches life story is the classic embodyment of the american dream. biggie smalls is gone but he will never be forgotten. est in peace, notorious b.i.g. mr. raskin: thank you very much to the distinguished gentleman from new york. we're going to go from the notorious b.i.g.'s music to the notorious g.o.p. health care proposal being considered in congress this week. mr. speaker, i'm going to ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this special order.

thank you very much. i'm just going to say a few words at the beginning about the procedure that's taking place, then i'm going to turn it over to my colleague from minnesota, mr. ellison. but it was seven years ago in march of 2010 that president obama signed the affordable care act into law, extending access to affordable health insurance coverage to more than 20 million previously uninsured americans. insurance companies under the -- nder the new law could and surely, that makes sense, the fact that you have a pre-existing medical he condition is you get health insurance and not denied and young people up to age 26 could stay on their family plan, i ave a 22-year-old, a

20-year-old and 25-year-old and wouldn't have health insurance if not for the affordable care act. the a.c.a. is in mortal danger. their se g.o.p. unveiled plan for replacing which i call the unaffordable care act. and will increase everybody's premiums and reduce everybody's coverage and bring chaos into the system. mr. speaker, i'm going to turn it over to mr. ellison to talk about what is going on with this legislation, but i want to talk about the process by which we arrived here, because when the affordable care act was being debated and i wasn't in congress

then, there were multiple complaints from the g.o.p. members about how fast things were going hourks the legislation was being rammed through. our now-speaker ryan said, congress is moving fast to rush the fall tom lacks participation of the american people. eg walden, on a bill of this significance, we would allow people to come in who are effected and have a chance to let us know how it affects them. and the ways and means chairman said the white house isn't listening. the they are ram, inc. it through. how long it took to get the democrats to get it passed and

how much debate there really was. they were in congress. there were 79 hargs, i repeat, 79 hearings on the affordable care act. 181r witnesses, both expert witnesses and members of the public, citizens coming to testify about the need for expanded health insurance coverage because of the high expenses of health insurance and the relationship offs and there were multiwill scores and there was constant attention to the fiscal implications of the affordable care act. fast forward to today. we took a year and a and-a-half to get to the affordable care act. how about them? let's see. the republicans introduced their bill on monday and passed their bill in the dead of night, 4:30

in the night. no hearings and no witnesses, no expert witnesses, no witnesses from the public. here is no analysis from the nonpartisan congressional budget office how much the bill will cost americans or how many americans will pluse their health care at all. the party that complained about how fast the affordable care act came into being with dozzins of hearings and dozens and dozens and more than a hundred of itnesses and debate, where there was orchestrated opposition but we stood there and gidged in the dialogue. the people who said that was too fast, are now ram, inc. through at unprecedented breakneck

lightning speed, a bill that will wreak devastation. that is what is taking place if you have a contaminated secret closed process, it will produce an unhealthy result and i'm delighted to turn it over to my colleague from minnesota, mr. ellison. mr. ellsworth: thank you for that -- mr. ellison: thank you for your introduction. but i think it's important to focus on you keep on things what is happening in congress, what is happening that people stand to lose their health care coverage. majority is ican majority

set to snatch it from their hands. that is really sad. but as a young person, which was had a disease and she doesn't mind me talking about. if she was here, it was tough deproge up, she had a lot of attention deproge up. she was a good student and braved all of the medical care had amily was therea and numerous coverage. one thing she says and anybody ho is willing to listen, oirkork saved her life. she has a pre-existing condition. and she had, and insurance companies that vm lifetime

limits, she without the affordable care act and with the provisions that preceded the affordable care act in the insurance industry, she was uninsureable and not in a position to get the care. he made it to adulthood with the status quo before the affordable care act. but the affordable care act made the difference between her being with us and not. and i was talking to a physician who operates an institution in my district call the hen opinion if you brunty and say to stack up the diseases, you would have to put up their car accidents and heart disease and

pulmonary illnesses. and if you stack those illnesses, he would say the third one would be uninsured, people dying because they don't have insurance. and our republican majority is here to tell us they're ok with that. -- feas hard for me to believe, but it's true, right in ront of us, this repeal will relieve wealthy individuals of paying taxes if they are able to repeal the affordable care act, people who have money are going to have more. and people who don't have it will have less of it. people who need help dealing with the doughnut hole with the money with won't have that

anymore and they will go back to he status quo and go back to part d and get help and filled in the doughnut hole and seniors will have even more trouble. seniors who need it, which was a medication that cost 13 bucks ntil the guy jacked it up to $1,700 and people who need medications are now going to be staring at that doughnut hole. we can get up here and talk about the tragedy of the pain annual suffering but none of it seems to penetrate the minds of our colleagues. seems to be death to abby and so

many other people. i was here when my colleagues on the other side brought forth as many as 0 attempts to repeal. nd we would say people are getting life saving treatments. people are getting their lives in tabblingt and people have something more than the emergency room toll turn to. and our colleagues say, well, we don't -- we are going to get rid of it any way. i remember, many speaker, when the republicans shut down the government for 16 taste because that. sed to ted cruz demanded we would

epeal it and not turn abby and they said we will shut down the entire government unless you do it. and we said no. and here we are. it's true we never thought we were going to lose this election, but we now have gotten in a position where we have a president of a president emrepealing the affordable care act and two houses committed to doing it. and ast line of defense is the last line of defense is the american people standing on the most fundamental of rights, the first amendment, which guarantees them the right to redegrees grief evenses and petition their government and

the freedom of faith and guarantees them the right to receive information from a free press. we are relying on that amendment to stop these republican amendments tore snatch the rights. we are relying on americans to stand up and say we will not tolerate this going out the treet toll express their right toville health care. this is what the moment cails for. governors and some republican governors are saying, this medicaid expansion, you know, we used it. not so bad. helping us. their pleas are being ignored as well. we are at a critical moment. will theally can people continue to make the same advances that

people all over the developed world with regard to health care. european answer think from is something wrong with us and they are saying, health care is not a right. you get it if you can pay. f you can't pay and answer someone's bottom line, you are out. we pay the most in health care. we pay the most. the most. and yet, we don't have the best outcomes. we don't have the best indicators of health. and yet, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to return us to a day when the number one reason that will people woman declare bankruptcy was medical debt. that's the world we are looking at and it's something. many people have said and

democrats have said, you know, there are things we would change. we are not saying it is from tablets in the sky and i'm here to say to you that the republican caucus has never said we will talk about how we are going to make reasonable amendments to make it better. they have said repeal, repeal, repeal and everyone knows you cannot repeal and replace the affordable care act, if you repeal it, you repeal the taxes, you are going to tell me that they ever are are going to levy a tax. if somebody with a loft money has to pay it. and they do that every day, all

the time. if someone has to pony up, you could never see a republican do that. and i'm going to say a few more things and mr. raskin would allow me and i want to say this, the a.c.a. has provided coverage to 20 million and they have better health care and not turned away. the republican proposal puts the progress on the progress we have made and people would lose overage and it literally funds program to keep people healthy. . they get huge tax breaks. the republican bill doesn't stop there. it is an outright attack on medicaid. seniors out there should know