On the recordAugust 1, 2013
I thank the gentlelady for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this rule and the underlying bills. I am especially disappointed that my amendment to H.R. 367, the REINS Act, wasn't made in order. My amendment would have protected women and children from the delay and obstructionism in this bill by exempting the Family Medical Leave Act, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act from the bill's intrusive provisions. These four laws safeguard the economic, social, and physical well- being of women and children in Nevada and across the country. They give mothers the chance to care for a new child, ensure that our students have access to nutritious food, protect the rights of students with disabilities, and help women fight for equal pay for equal work. My amendment would have offered the Republicans a chance to be reasonable and to dial back their war on the most vulnerable in our country. H.R. 367, like the other bills being considered under this rule, would hinder our government's ability to serve the people, and it is simply a waste of valuable time. I urge my colleagues to reject it.
