03-03-19
The House of Representatives was back in Session on Monday following last week’s in-district work period. We voted on historic legislation to extend background checks for gun purchases, a Public Lands bill that expands and protects our open spaces, and a joint resolution that would end the President’s constitutionally-challenged and dangerous Emergency Declaration.
Highlights of What Congress Did This Week
Voted YES on H.R. 539, Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2019
The Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act passed the House with broad bipartisan support this week. This legislation would provide additional training for innovators to learn how to turn their research into new products and businesses by requiring the development of an I-Corps course to support commercialization-ready participants.
I-Corps connects scientists and engineers with the technological, entrepreneurial, and business stakeholders they need to move their discoveries from the lab to the market. The bill expands the eligibility pool of applicants for the I-Corps program and allows the participation of entrepreneurs who have been awarded the Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer grants.
Voted YES on H.R. 276, Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act
My colleagues and I approved a bipartisan bill that highlights the contributions of school employees such as counselors, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers by establishing the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award.
This legislation would direct the Secretary of Education to honor the contributions of PreK-12 employees from the categories of: paraprofessionals, clerical services, custodial and maintenance services, transportation services, food services, skilled trades, health and student services, security services, and technical services. The award will highlight and honor dedicated school employees who play a critical role in the lives of our students, but often go unrecognized.
Voted YES on H.J. Res. 46, A Joint Resolution to Terminate the President’s National Emergency
The House passed a privileged resolution that would terminate President Trump’s fake emergency declaration in a vote of 245-182 with 13 of our Republican colleagues joining and rising above party politics to defend the Constitution.
The President’s emergency declaration threatens our nation’s security by robbing critical Department of Defense funding from military projects, including close to $113 million in construction funds from the Naval Air Station in Lemoore. It’s unacceptable to have military families suffer from this unlawful and dangerous action. Our colleagues in the Senate now have 18 calendar days from February 26 to take the measure up.
Voted YES on S.47, the Natural Resources Management Act
This week the House voted to pass the historic Natural Resources ManagementAct. The bipartisan conservation and public lands package includes permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and designates approximately 1.3 million acres of wilderness, 693,000 acres of recreation and conservation areas, and two mineral withdrawal areas totaling 370,000 acres, protecting nearly 2.4 million acres of public lands from future mining operations.
Our public lands are one of America’s greatest gifts to our citizens. The legislation’s conservation measures are expected to generate significant economic activity and among other features, will expand two national parks and protect others from new mining activity. LWCF has funded 42,000 projects across the country and brought tremendous economic benefits and returns on investment since it was established in 1965, however it has expired twice in recent years. The Natural Resources Management Act removes LWCF from future political consideration and prevents any future expirations.
Voted YES on H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019
This week my colleagues and I voted to pass the first major pieces of legislation addressing gun safety in more than 10 years.
The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 seeks to reduce the sale of guns to dangerous people by requiring licensed dealers and unlicensed sellers to require background checks. The bill aims to close the loophole in gun sales, which previously did not require unlicensed gun sales – such as buying a gun at a gun show, online, or person-to-person to require a background check. The bill passed with support of both Democrats and Republicans with a vote of 240-190.
The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019 fixes the “Charleston Loophole” that currently allows the sale of firearms to proceed if a background check is not completed within three days by requiring a more thorough vetting process to prevent guns from being sold to dangerous individuals. The bill extends the initial background check review period from three to ten days. The current loophole in the background check system allowed the gunman responsible for the murder of nine people at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina to purchase a weapon.
Legislation I Cosponsored this Week
Child Care for Working Families Act – The bill creates universal access to quality early learning programs by ensuring that no family living under the 150 percent state median income pays more than seven percent of their income on quality child care.
Medicare Part B Penalties Modernization Act of 2019 – The bill significantly scales down the late enrollment surcharge, equal to 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for every year of delay – a penalty that continues indefinitely, to last only twice the number of years someone fails to enroll. The bill also creates exemption from late enrollment penalties for certain groups, including those who delay their Medicare enrollment because they are on a COBRA or VA plan, or because their union or employer offers retiree coverage.
Higher Education Dream Act of 2019 – The bill responds to discriminatory practices that bar Dreamers from accessing higher education and prevents colleges and universities that receive Federal funds from refusing to admit, enroll, or grant in-state tuition to qualified students based on their immigration status. This bill also extends Federal Aid eligibility to Dreamers.
The Dream and Promise Act – The Dream and Promise Act provides a pathway to citizenship for eligible Dreamers who entered the U.S. under the age of 18 and secures permanent residence for people with Temporary Protected and Deferred Enforced Departure status.
EMPOWER Act – The Empower Act enables survivors to speak out by prohibiting employers from forcing employees to sign non-disclosure agreements for harassment and establishing a confidential tip line at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
PUPPERS Act – Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from conducting medical research causing significant pain or distress to dogs and from using funds to purchase, breed, transport, house, feed, maintain, dispose of, or experiment on dogs as part of any study assigned to certain pain categories.
Policy Letters I Cosigned
Letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma – I joined Reps. Barbara Lee and Will Hurd in sending a bipartisan letter to Administrator Verma to maintain a key patient safeguard in Medicare Part D’s six protected classes of drugs. Medicare’s six protected class policy ensures patients with the most complex conditions have access to a broad range of potential treatment options.
Letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar – I joined Reps. Eliot Engel and Doug LaMalfa in sending a bipartisan letter to Secretary Azar urging the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure the new liver allocation policy, recently passed by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network is implemented without delay.
Weekly Highlights
This week I met with the Central California Food Bank in my Washington, D.C. office. The food bank is dedicated to ending hunger in the Central Valley and provides food to more than 220 agencies in 5 counties serving over 280,000 people each month. Communities in our district have some of the highest food hardship rates in the country and we discussed the important work they’re doing in CA-21 and how to work together to ensure every family has access to fresh, healthly, affordable food.
I had the opportunity to speak with the Association of California Water Agencies about the water challenges we are facing in the Central Valley. Access to clean reliable water for our communities is one of my top priorities in Congress. I’m committed to working across the aisle with my colleagues to find innovative solutions to address our water needs in the Valley.
I had a wonderful time celebrating Read Across America in Kern County! Thank you to Browning Road STEAM Academy, Horizon Elementary, and Fairview Elementary for hosting me and letting me join in on this very special day. Our kids are our future and we must continue to invest in them!
Thank you to the Kern Medical and Bakersfield Memorial Hospitals for giving my wife Dr. Kathy Murphy and I a tour of your facilities. You have us as your partners and we’re excited to work with your hospitals to bring access to healthcare for all the people of CA-21 and the Central Valley!
I met some old friends and had a great breakfast Saturday morning with the Sanger Veterans of Foreign Wars at the Sanger American Legion Hall. We discussed local veteran’s needs and what we can be doing to ensure every veteran has a home and the necessary health and mental care they deserve.
Congratulations to the McFarland High School girls’ basketball team! My family and I cheered on the team and celebrated their 75 – 50 quarterfinal victory over a tough San Diego Serra in the State Championship tournament. Undefeated in regular season D-IV league play, our girls were moved up to D-III for State. Undaunted, the team shows what can be accomplished through hard work, practice and teamwork – attributes they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. The team’s motto is “Relentless” and they are. Go Cougars!
TJ’s Recommended Reading
Frequently, I read articles or see videos that I think my constituents would appreciate.
American Public Health Association (2/21/19) – Healthy Air, Healthy Brains: Advancing Air Pollution Policy to Protect Children’s Health
It’s no secret that the Central Valley faces some of the worst air pollution in the State of California. Throughout the years we’ve seen the impact that bad air quality has had on our children and their health. The American Public Health Association’s article does a great job identifying solutions and policy recommendations that would help improve our overall air quality and protect the healthy brain development of our children.
Armen Press (2/6/19) – War kills childhood – spotlighting a Baku Pogroms survivor’s story
This week marked the 31st Anniversary of the ethnic attacks against Armenians in Soviet, Azerbaijan. During the horrific pogroms, hundreds of Armenians were wounded and murdered and to date, the government of Azerbaijan has never been held accountable for the atrocities. The Armen Press’ article highlights the story of Armenian Liyah Babayan a survivor of the pogroms, who witnessed the xenophobia and massacres of Armenians in Azerbaijan 31 years ago. Liyah’s story is one that is important to highlight so that this history never repeats itself. Now more than ever these acts of murder must be condemned.
Staying Informed
You can find more press releases, commentary and information on issues I’m working on at cox.house.gov. I also encourage you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
If you’re ever in DC, please call ahead so we can arrange tours for you and update you on upcoming events you may be interested in attending. Be sure to visit us at our office, 1728 Longworth and take the “TJ Challenge” – you get a special prize if you can tell me how many steps there are from the basement up to the 7th floor (and you’ll have to walk them to know!)
All the best,
TJ Cox
Member of Congress