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Congressional Daily Record
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July 14, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextPROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF (H.R. 139) SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT OF
2025; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF (H.R. 8595) NATIONAL SECURITY,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2027;
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF (H.R. 9237) TAKE CARE OF AMERICA'S
VETERANS ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF (H.R. 1181) PROTECTING
PRIVACY IN PURCHASES ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1423 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 1423
Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be
in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 139) to make
daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes. All
points of order against consideration of the bill are waived.
The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order
against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on
any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening
motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective
designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 2. At any time after adoption of this resolution the
Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare
the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on
the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R.
8595) making appropriations for national security, Department
of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2027, and for other purposes. The first reading
of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order
against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate
shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their
respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be
considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The bill
shall be considered as read. Points of order against
provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 or
clause 5(a) of rule XXI are waived.
Sec. 3. (a) No amendment to H.R. 8595 shall be in order
except those printed in part A of the report of the Committee
on Rules accompanying this resolution, amendments en bloc
described in section 4 of this resolution, and pro forma
amendments described in section 5 of this resolution.
(b) Each amendment printed in part A of the report of the
Committee on Rules shall be considered only in the order
printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member
designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent,
shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by
section 5 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a
demand for division of the question in the House or in the
Committee of the Whole.
(c) All points of order against amendments printed in part
A of the report of the Committee on Rules or against
amendments en bloc described in section 4 of this resolution
are waived.
Sec. 4. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of
the Committee on Appropriations or his designee to offer
amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in part A
of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this
resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc
offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read,
shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees,
shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by
section 5 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a
demand for division of the question in the House or in the
Committee of the Whole.
Sec. 5. During consideration of H.R. 8595 for amendment,
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Appropriations or their respective designees may offer up to
10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of
debate.
Sec. 6. At the conclusion of consideration of H.R. 8595
for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to
the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill
and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening
motion except one motion to recommit.
Sec. 7. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in
order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 9237) to amend
titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws,
to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of
the Department of Veterans Affairs. All points of order
against consideration of the bill are waived. The amendment
printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules
accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted.
The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points
of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are
waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered
on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment
thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except:
(1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the
chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs or their respective designees; and (2) one
motion to recommit.
Sec. 8. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in
order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 1181) to
prohibit payment card networks and covered entities from
requiring the use of or assigning merchant category codes
that distinguish a firearms retailer from general-merchandise
retailer or sporting-goods retailer, and for other purposes.
All points of order against consideration of the bill are
waived. The amendment in the nature of a substitute
recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now
printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. The bill,
as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order
against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill,
as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final
passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and
ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial
Services or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to
recommit.
Sec. 9. In the engrossment of H.R. 8595, the Clerk shall—
(a) add the text of S. 1383, as passed by the House, as new
matter at the end of H.R. 8595;
(b) assign appropriate designations to provisions within
the engrossment;
(c) conform cross-references and provisions for short
titles within the engrossment; and
(d) be authorized to make technical corrections, to include
corrections in spelling, punctuation, page and line
numbering, section numbering, and insertion of appropriate
headings within the engrossment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized for 1 hour.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
{time} 1220
General Leave
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the underlying legislation.
Resolution 1423, providing for the House's consideration of four measures: H.R. 139, H.R. 8595, H.R. 9237, and H.R. 1181.
First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.
The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, under a structured rule.
controlled
their respective designees, provides one motion to recommit, and makes in order 29 amendments.
Additionally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.
The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Financial Services, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.
passed, the Clerk shall add the text of S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, to the bill and transmit it to the Senate as a single item.
Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of business to attend to in the people's House this week, and part of that business is passing this rule and the underlying legislation.
will not be focused on the task at hand for even a mere second in this debate. It would be a miracle if they did, Mr. Speaker. You and I both understand that.
themselves into a tizzy, and spending their time blabbering on about things that are unrelated to the business at hand. It is very typical behavior.
Let me say that again, Mr. Speaker.
H.R. 8595 will make America stronger, safer, and more resilient through the championing of America First foreign policy so that our Nation and allies are supported while our adversaries are deterred.
H.R. 9237 is a comprehensive package of more than 60 bipartisan bills which will enhance and reform the delivery of healthcare and benefit services at the Department of Veterans Affairs for the entire veteran community, including military and veteran families.
H.R. 1181 would prevent intrusive monitoring by the Federal Government of Americans who exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms.
H.R. 139 establishes daylight saving time as the permanent, year- round standard time for the United States and would dispense with the semi-yearly practice of resetting our clocks. For far too long, the American public has spoken out against this disruptive practice. This Congress and this President will bring the stability to American households that our constituents have been endlessly seeking.
us today, Mr. Speaker. The American people demand our doing so, and we must act without hesitation or delay.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding me the customary time, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, to all my friends on the other side who have held this floor hostage for weeks on end, let me save them the suspense: Nothing changes with this rule.
awful SAVE America Act. Nothing. The majority is simply attaching the SAVE America Act on to an unrelated State Department funding bill and sending it across the Capitol. The Senate can and will strip it right back out. Everybody here knows that.
law because even Republicans know it is a disaster that will make it more difficult, if not impossible, for American citizens to vote.
{time} 1230
master strategy. It is merely political theater, designed to settle another Republican family feud. If that is enough to flip Members who have held up business for weeks, boy, they are cheap dates.
What this rule does is bring to the floor four bills.
The first would make daylight saving time permanent. Look, everybody has an opinion about changing the clocks. I actually support this bill, but for folks getting crushed by rent, groceries, utility bills, and healthcare costs, is this really the best the majority can do? Is this really the most pressing issue before the American people at this moment?
Then, there is the so-called Take Care of America's Veterans Act. That title is doing a lot of work. That bill expands some benefits by putting the disability compensation of future veterans on the chopping block, particularly veterans suffering from tinnitus and sleep apnea.
up the tab for other veterans' benefits. That is just plain wrong. How hard is it to understand that we shouldn't rob Private Peter to pay Sergeant Paul?
The Veterans of Foreign Wars agrees. They were in the Committee on Rules last night. The VFW strongly opposes this bill on behalf of the veterans it represents, and it published a political cartoon to protest the cuts. What did the Republican chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs do? He and other Republican Members sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs, asking the agency to review the VFW's accreditation. That accreditation is what allows the VFW to represent veterans before the VA and help them navigate the benefits system.
Government to threaten the VFW's ability to help hundreds of thousands of vets. That sure as hell looks like retaliation to me.
Veterans fought for the right to speak their minds. They should not be threatened by their own government for exercising it, but this is what happens when a majority becomes completely consumed by its own dysfunction.
Meanwhile, Americans are working hard. They are doing everything they have been told that they are supposed to do. Yet, somehow, they can't get ahead. What is this Republican majority doing about any of it? Next to nothing.
down housing costs, Donald Trump refused to sign it. He let it become law without his signature because he was angry that the Senate had not passed his voter suppression bill.
I mean, imagine that. Think about how screwed up all of that is. Families cannot afford to buy a home, rents keep climbing, and the President of the United States used a bipartisan housing bill as leverage in his fight over election lies.
priorities. They will move heaven and Earth to protect Donald Trump's political power, but when it comes to making life more affordable for regular people, suddenly, they can't find the time. They can't be bothered.
Republicans control the House. They control the Senate. They control the White House. They control the Supreme Court. They still can barely keep the House floor open long enough to do the people's work.
Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve a hell of a lot better than this chaos, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Haridopolos).
Mr. HARIDOPOLOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for yielding, and I am
I first have to say this: One of the things that makes America great is that anything is possible, and I am very optimistic that we will be able to pass legislation to make us all proud.
the idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In my mind, when you talk about the pursuit of happiness, it means improved by care. That is exactly what we are looking to do when we change for the better our VA system.
we make very simple pledges: that if you choose to serve your country, we will provide for you after your service. This bill will make sure that surely not only will you get the pension you deserve, but also benefits if injured in service. It is common sense, and it has, unfortunately, taken this long to get it all together.
The good news is that help is on the way. We respect those who serve, those soldiers who put their lives on the line every single day for us and allowed us to live in freedom for over 250 years.
whether it is at a VA hospital or a trusted provider back at home. It speeds up disability payments, expands access to mental health care, and also improves care for veterans with serious injuries. It also helps families who have sacrificed alongside them. It provides more support for caregivers, protects benefits for surviving spouses, and gives servicemembers better tools to transition from military life to civilian careers.
they know that there are some things that maybe we can improve, as always. What I think politics is is the art of the possible, and without a doubt, this bill will move forward, keeping the promise that you will get not just your pension but your benefits that you have earned should you be injured in service.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for putting this forward. It is so important that we move this type of bill forward because we are celebrating the 250th anniversary and the pursuit of happiness because of the sacrifice our veterans have made.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me just respond to the gentleman by saying that whatever good is in this veterans bill is offset by the bad. Basically, they are saying we are providing veterans' benefits by cutting other veterans' benefits. I mean, this is a shell game.
why they have told their membership to contact Members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, to oppose it.
care about an offset. If it is an illegal war in Iran, they don't care about offsets. When it comes to providing veterans' benefits, all of a sudden, we have to find offsets. Those offsets that they have found to pay for this are by cutting other veterans' benefits. That is unconscionable. That is wrong, and everybody should vote “no” on that bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).
Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for his remarks, and I could not agree with him more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule for many reasons, as expressed—the outrage about what is in here regarding veterans and their deserved, earned benefits. For my remarks, within it, I will speak to the Sunshine Protection Act.
and it lasted less than a year. The policy was popular until parents realized their children had to travel to school in darkness, armed with flashlights. After eight Florida children were killed in traffic accidents, the Governor called on Congress to end the 2-year experiment early.
{time} 1240
Over 50 years later, we are making the same mistake again. Please, let's not. We are doing it with less information.
golf courses. Members should have been able to speak and ask doctors how permanent daylight savings time would affect our health, safety, and well-being.
My home State is Pennsylvania. We did just this in April. In a hearing, Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship at UPenn, explained that our body clocks rely on bright light when we wake up in the morning and dim light in the evening before we go to bed.
months. In some parts of the State, over 100 sunrises would be after 8 a.m. Disruption in our natural sleep-wake cycle can reduce reaction time, alertness, and other measures of performance and safety.
like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, and some forms of cancer.
This topic deserves robust debate, not a closed rule. Congresswoman Scanlon proposed an amendment for a permanent standard time to do just that, but it was promptly rejected.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that we defeat the previous question. If we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to allow the House to take an up-or-down vote on an amendment to H.R. 8595, sponsored by Representative Schrier, which would reverse the cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that were imposed by the Trump administration that could have prevented the ongoing outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that has already infected thousands of Americans.
health and science agencies, firing scientists and researchers, and cutting programs that keep us healthy and safe.
Federal and State public officials monitor and prevent outbreaks for eight different foodborne illnesses, including cyclospora. Yet, after Trump and his DOGE goons got their hands on this lifesaving program, the government stopped monitoring cyclospora.
That was stupid. It was dumb. Our country is now experiencing a full- blown outbreak of, you guessed it, cyclospora.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment into the Record along with any extraneous material immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rulli). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, to discuss our proposal, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).
Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, right now, our country is facing a public health crisis that has been created by the Trump administration. From misinformation about vaccines and lifesaving medicines to devastating cuts to critical research, along with political litmus tests, this administration is putting Americans in danger.
Specifically, the cuts to the CDC have been disastrous. Our public health workforce has been attacked, and our ability to assess and respond to outbreaks has been decimated.
number of
and because of inadequate surveillance, that may just be the tip of the iceberg.
surveillance program, narrowing the number of pathogens under active surveillance, including cyclospora. The health and lives of thousands of Americans are on the line as they contract diseases that the CDC has helped us prevent for years and has screened for, for years, all because of the actions of this administration.
you. As cyclospora spreads, the CDC is not meeting expectations. Communication has been sparse. Misinformation is rampant, and real information is lacking. HHS Secretary Kennedy, as a leader, has been completely absent in helping with any of it.
concerned. We need the CDC to be restored to its previous capacity, because you don't really know how critical our public health service is and our CDC is until there is an outbreak and we can't manage it.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the American people need to take note of the amount of rhetorical smog emanating from the other side of the Chamber, because it is obscene. Our Democratic colleagues continue to weave together an entirely disingenuous and deceptive narrative that Democrats are the ones standing at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to supporting our Nation's veterans. That has never been the case and will never be the case.
their time supporting Chairman Bost's bill and not coming up with hack job, so-called solutions that do nothing to reform the VA and deliver high-quality care and service to those who have served this Nation.
Mr. Speaker, it is sad that our colleagues across the aisle have chosen this position. It is sad that they can gin up misleading narratives and hawk them around like someone delivering newspapers on a bike.
were medically retired through no fault of their own receive the benefits they earned while maintaining equity across retiree populations.
gamesmanship subvert actual legislating, like what Chairman Bost and Republicans have been doing the entire time. The former doesn't deliver for veterans. It treats them like second-class citizens. Their solution is spending more money while delivering fewer outcomes.
Wow, color us shocked. It is a story as old as time.
approximately $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. In an era of growing deficits and debt, H.R. 9237 demonstrates that Congress can advance significant veterans' priorities while remaining fiscally responsible and reducing overall Federal spending.
Republicans are focused on targeted relief. This is targeted relief that focuses on combat-disabled veterans, includes additional fairness safeguards, and does not throw money at a problem with the meager hope of things fixing themselves by osmosis.
together, so-called solutions that Democrats are throwing their weight behind.
outdated construction and leasing processes that delay the opening of clinics and facilities across the country. In Chairman Bost's bill, Republicans are doing just that.
continue to access the mental health care support services in the communities where they live nationwide. In Chairman Bost's bill, it is there.
Mr. Speaker, that is the difference here. All Democrats see is another government program to funnel money into without any commitment whatsoever to improving the lives of those the program serves. They will contort the language they use and the policy gimmicks they cook up to mislead people and organizations into believing mistruths.
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advocating for veterans, have been led to believe that Republicans somehow want to rob veterans of their benefits, but that is entirely untrue.
Secretary Collins at the VA, and the veteran-driven legislation here in Congress, Republicans see veterans and meet them where they are.
day and want to ensure that the VA is nimble, responsive, and rightsized so that veterans are not left in the dark and to fend for themselves.
Here is a final little nugget that I will leave you with, Mr. Speaker: The majority of our Republican members on the Veterans' Affairs Committee are indeed veterans. There is only one Democrat on that committee who is a veteran.
deserve. People are actually attuned to issues veterans face as opposed to those who simply haven't the slightest clue.
Republicans are the ones with actual solutions here. We are not bloviating like so many have chosen to do. We are fighting for veterans, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Republican friends, they may conclude that they sound a little defensive because they are, and they should be, especially on these veterans issues.
strongly opposes the disability benefit cuts that are included in the proposed Take Care of America's Veterans Act.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the entire statement of the VFW and their strong, strong opposition to these cuts.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
From VFW, June 11, 2026
VFW Strongly Opposes Disability Benefit Cuts Included in Proposed Take
Care of America's Veterans Act
Washington—The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stands
defiant in its opposition against provisions contained within
the proposed Take Care of America's Veterans Act, H.R. 9237
and S. 4744, which would offset the cost of expanding
benefits for combat-injured veterans by cutting disability
compensation and health care access for future generations of
disabled veterans.
“The VFW strongly opposes the Take Care of America's
Veterans Act as currently drafted because it asks future
disabled veterans to bear the cost of expanding benefits
through changing the VA rating schedule for tinnitus and
obstructive sleep apnea which are common conditions
associated with combat poly trauma,” said VFW National
Commander Carol Whitmore. “We have long maintained that
veterans' benefits are an earned obligation of the nation, a
promise made through the military service contract and should
not be financed through offsets, fee increases or reductions
that place additional burdens on veterans, military families
and 99 survivors.”
According to VA estimates, these changes could reduce
disability compensation payments by approximately $57 billion
over ten years and affect up to 1.5 million veterans. The VFW
vehemently rejects these provisions not only because they
would unfairly penalize disabled veterans, but also because
they set a dangerous precedent by allowing Congress to alter
disability ratings for budgetary purposes rather than relying
on medical evidence and the established principles of the VA
rating schedule.
“Congress should Honor the Contract and strengthen
veterans' programs without creating new costs for those who
sacrifice in service to our country,” said Whitmore. “A
grateful nation pays its debts to veterans; it does not send
them the invoice.”
The VFW is urging Congress to remove the disability
compensation offset provisions from the legislation and
identify alternative funding mechanisms that do not come at
the
expense of disabled veterans and their families.
Veterans, service members, family members and supporters
are encouraged to contact their elected officials and urge
them to oppose the disability compensation offset provisions
contained in the bill.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I trust the VFW more than I trust the Republican millionaires' club that basically populate the United States Congress on their side in this Chamber. The VFW is saying we can do these benefits without punishing other veterans.
offsets. Well, she voted basically to increase the debt by $4.7 trillion in the big, ugly bill, adding $4.7 trillion to the debt.
Included in that, by the way, is $70 billion, again, unpaid for, for ICE and CBP. Again, they have no problem with doing that. They have no problem with tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and now America's trillionaire, and no problem with tax cuts for them that are not paid for, but when it comes to providing veterans' benefits, all of a sudden they have a problem?
has been filed to basically bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor without cutting other benefits for veterans. Every Democrat is on that, every Democrat. We can bring this to the floor. We can have this debate. We can vote on providing veterans additional benefits without cutting other veterans' benefits. That is the choice.
can, and we are on the side of veterans, again, the VFW opposes this strongly. They showed up in the Rules Committee, filled up the Rules Committee hearing room yesterday to show their protest, their outrage, over what Republicans were doing.
Republicans don't have to do this. Republicans could provide veterans with the benefits they need without robbing other benefits that veterans need. It is that simple.
This is outrageous. This is outrageous what is going on, and people should not be fooled.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.
Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, as I think we can all tell from the ensuing debate here, there are serious issues that this body needs to be wrestling with, but the Speaker has chosen to put on the floor this week H.R. 139, a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent.
I think there is one thing everyone in this Chamber can agree on: Americans do not like changing their clocks twice a year.
The big question isn't whether we should ditch the switch; it is how. Unfortunately, the bill that the Speaker has chosen chooses the wrong solution by making daylight saving time permanent nationwide while denying States the right to enact permanent standard time if they so choose—not if, but when they discover that Congress made the wrong choice.
summer, but permanent daylight saving time comes with serious health and safety concerns with even darker winter mornings.
going to look very different. Millions of Americans will wake up during the winter months in complete darkness, with the Sun not rising until long after people get up and travel to school or work or have to go about their days.
the Sun rise until well after 8:30 a.m. In Michigan, it will be close to 9 before the Sun comes up. In parts of the Pacific Northwest, sunrise will be pushed even later than 9 a.m.
schoolbuses in darkness. Parents will be driving to work before sunrise. Morning commuters, students, and pedestrians will be starting their day in the dark, not because of the seasons, but because Congress decided to move the clock instead of following the Sun.
daylight saving time. We already tried it. During the 1974 energy crisis, Congress made daylight saving time permanent in a failed attempt to save energy. It lasted less than a year.
and there was a rash of fatal crashes involving schoolchildren. Communities raised serious safety concerns, and public support, which initially was quite strong, quickly collapsed. Congress repealed the policy within months.
The science has only become clearer since then. Medical and scientific experts have endorsed the move to permanent standard time because permanent daylight saving time disrupts our natural circadian rhythms, the internal clocks that regulate when we sleep and wake. That disruption has been linked to higher rates of heart disease, stroke, chronic sleep deprivation, and other adverse health concerns. These bad outcomes are even more serious and long-lasting than the sleep deprivation, traffic accidents, and heart attacks that follow the twice-yearly changes that we currently have.
I have also heard directly from my constituents. Like most Americans, they are ready to ditch the switch, but when I ask which permanent system they would prefer if they had to choose, the clear preference was for standard time. A Gallup poll last year found that Americans preferred permanent standard time to permanent daylight saving time by 2-to-1.
Act with Representative Pat Harrigan. Our bill would end the clock changes and make standard time the national default.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania.
Ms. SCANLON. Importantly, it would also allow for States to adopt permanent daylight saving time through State law if they choose.
American, we should follow the science, learn from history, and prioritize Americans' health, particularly that of our children. That is why I urge a “no” vote on the rule and on H.R. 139.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining on both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 16\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentleman from Massachusetts has 10\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I have great affection and respect for VFW members. In fact, I have great respect and admiration for every organization that represents veterans. It is because of veterans that we speak English here today and that we are the greatest country in the world.
organizations are supporting this legislation. We have The American Legion, and I am not going to read the entire quote, but there is a quote here from Daniel Wiley, American Legion national commander, who said: “For over a century, The American Legion has been the leading veterans service organization advocating for passage of nearly all major expansions or reforms to healthcare and benefits that benefit veterans and their families.”
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“After thorough consideration of the legislative and regulatory environment, which included conversations with legislators who both agree and disagree with the bill, we believe TCAVA is the best path forward to get these crucial bills enacted into law.”
“The Take Care of America's Veterans Act represents our Nation's sacred promise to those who serve and those they leave behind,” said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS.
legislation. The Wounded Warrior Project and 16 other groups support the legislation before us today.
Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, is quoted here: “This legislation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand with the veterans, caregivers, and survivors who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
Mr. Speaker, I have page after page after page of quotes from these various
organizations that support this legislation. I believe they are correct in supporting the veterans legislation which is a part of this rule.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
is not only the Veterans of Foreign Wars that oppose this, but the Disabled American Veterans, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance, the Black Veterans Project, Reserve Organization of America, Veterans Education Success, Student Veterans of America, Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Reserve Association, Minority Veterans of America, Common Defense, Vet Voice Foundation, National Security Leaders for America, Swords to Plowshares, The Chamberlain Network, Unite for Veterans Coalition, Veterans for Common Sense, Veterans for Responsible Leadership. I could go on and on and on.
The gentlewoman began by mentioning The American Legion. She may not know this, but as we speak, The American Legion in Texas, representing one of the largest memberships of The American Legion, has come out against this bill and is urging The American Legion nationally to now follow its lead and come out against this bill.
are getting screwed, the more and more they are coming out against this bill. They are in favor of the Major Richard Star bill, which would provide and expand veterans' benefits without taking away other veterans' benefits. It is that simple.
is in this bill, the more they realize the cuts in this bill that will adversely affect the veterans' community, the more and more people will come out against this.
Mr. LANDSMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1181, which is in this Rules package. I want to talk about the bill because it is going to make it harder for us to fight gun violence in America.
credit card companies from coding the sale of firearms, meaning that if you buy a firearm from a gun manufacturer, from a gun seller, this Congress is saying we don't want to track that, we don't want to code it. We code everything, but we are not going to code this.
It makes it even harder for us to fight gun violence in America.
Some headlines from home:
“18-year-old dies after shooting near Westwood store.”
“Cincinnati Police Department investigating after shooting in Avondale.”
“1 shot in East Price Hill, search underway for suspect.”
“No arrests made after 3 weekend shootings in Greater Cincinnati.”
These are all headlines from this weekend.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ciscomani). The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. LANDSMAN. Mr. Speaker, the question then becomes: Why are they siding with gun manufacturers and not law enforcement? Why are they siding with the gun sellers and not our kids?
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, we don't side with killers. We side with the Constitution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Massachusetts has 8\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, this debate has made one thing very clear. Republicans are not the victims of this chaos. They are the perpetrators of this chaos. There is only one party that controls this floor and all three branches of government. Republicans set the agenda. Republicans write these awful rules. Republicans control the schedule, and Republicans have chosen to spend week after week fighting with one another while regular working people are getting squeezed.
News flash to my Republican colleagues: The American people know the difference between working and pretending to work. They know that passing the same voter suppression bill again and again will not lower their rent. They know that stapling the SAVE Act onto yet another piece of legislation will not bring down the price of groceries. They know that threatening the VFW will not improve veterans' care. They know that changing or not changing the clocks will not change what is in their bank account.
Mr. Speaker, if Democrats were in the majority, we would begin every day with one simple question: How do we make life more affordable for working people in this country?
We would work to build more housing. We would work to lower rents and stop giant Wall Street firms from bidding families out of the market.
instead of ripping coverage away to pay for more billionaire tax breaks.
We would make childcare more affordable. We would lower utility bills and end these stupid tariff taxes that show up in the price of nearly everything that people buy.
but we would put real solutions on this floor. We would allow debate. I mean, we don't debate anything anymore. Most of the bills that come to this floor are completely closed, where nobody can offer an amendment, take it or leave it.
trying. We would keep trying until we got it right, until we helped people in this country. I mean, that is our job. That's what we are supposed to do.
these veterans earned. We would not pit one generation of disabled veterans against another, and that is what my Republican colleagues are doing.
It is really not only frustrating; it is unconscionable. That should not be a partisan statement, by the way, in terms of helping our veterans. That is basic decency.
affordability, not on Donald Trump's long list of petty grievances and attempts to rehash old conspiracy theories from 6 years ago. They deserve a majority that understands that power is not about controlling the floor. It is about using the floor to help people, to improve the quality of life for the people that we represent.
Republicans have had their chance. They blew it. They have wasted it.
I urge my colleagues, vote “no” on the previous question. Vote “no” on this rule. Let us end the chaos and get back to work for the American people.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
As I said at the outset of this debate, Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of business to attend to this week. Our work in service to the American people continues.
We are not in chaos, Mr. Speaker. The four underlying measures of this rule meet the priorities of President Trump, the administration, and the American people. We are focused on commonsense measures.
Democratic Party is being taken over by communists, and we know that communists have never made the world a better place to live.
deny the priorities of all three of the entities I have mentioned and to deny positive progress. We would all do well to remember that.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote “yes” on the previous question and “yes” on the rule.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to state my intention to vote against H. Res. 1423, the rule for consideration of H.R. 8595, National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. I oppose the resolution as written so that the House of Representatives can advance my amendment to Massie Amendment No. 8, printed therein.
the Massie Amendment that would read, “After page 1 1ine 6 insert the following: (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority, or the broader region, nor shall it be construed to prevent support of Palestinian Security Forces in the West Bank, and nor shall it be construed to prevent the delivery of defensive weapons for the protection of Palestinians and Israelis.”
the delivery of humanitarian aid and items critical for defense. However, without the opportunity to advance my amendment, I will oppose H. Res. 1423.
The material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows:
An amendment to H. Res. 1423 offered by Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts
At the end of the resolution, add the following:
Sec. 10. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
resolution, the amendment specified in section 11 shall be in
order as though printed as the last amendment in part A of
the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this
resolution if offered by Representative Schrier of Washington
or a designee. That amendment shall be debatable for 10
minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and
an opponent.
Sec. 11. the amendment referred to in section 10 is as
follows:
Add at the end the following:
SEC. __. RESTORATION OF CERTAIN FUNDING RELATED TO PUBLIC
HEALTH
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall restore to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all unexpended
but obligated funding appropriated by Congress to assist
State and local health departments, nongovernmental
organizations, and international programs for public health
related initiatives, including testing, data reporting,
community health workers, initiatives to address health
disparities among high-risk and underserved populations,
health department staffing, immunization clinics, and
prevention programming.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous question.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.