Janice Hahn: “I thank my colleague, Representative Hastings, for yielding, and I thank the gentleman earlier for recognizing my work…”

“I thank my colleague, Representative Hastings, for yielding, and I thank the gentleman earlier for recognizing my work on this issue since I have come to Congress. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule for this bill. My colleagues and I, first of all, have been fighting for much-needed funding for the children who have been poisoned in Flint, Michigan. This bill should have included help for them. These families have waited too long, and it is inexcusable that we have not passed legislation on their behalf. I am also opposing this bill because an important provision that would take the harbor maintenance trust fund off budget was stripped from this bill after we passed it out of committee unanimously--with true bipartisan support. When I first came to Congress 5 years ago, I didn't think we were talking about our Nation's ports enough, and I started the bipartisan Congressional Ports Caucus, which now has over 100 members, both Democrats and Republicans. Some are in the caucus who don't even have a port that they represent; but, together, we have brought new attention to the problems that are facing our Nation's ports and the impact that they have on our economy. One of our caucus' priorities has been taking the harbor maintenance trust fund off budget so that Congress cannot use these funds for any other reason or keep them in a surplus that is not going to the purpose for which they were intended.…”