[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 165 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN SUPPORT OF THE VETERAN HIGH ALTITUDE AND SUICIDE RESEARCH ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. McAdams) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the VA High 
Altitude and Suicide Research Act. I introduced this bipartisan bill to 
combat a very serious threat to our veteran population.
  After serving and protecting our country, our veterans return home 
only to face new threats. Studies show that veteran suicide is one-and-
a-half times higher than nonveteran suicides.
  We must do everything we can to understand why our Nation's heroes 
are taking their own lives, and we must do more to prevent more tragic 
deaths.
  In talking with suicide prevention experts in my home State of Utah, 
I am told that we need to better understand the possible connection 
between high altitude and suicide. That is what my bill does.
  The VA High Altitude and Suicide Research Act compels the VA to study 
the link between veteran suicide and high altitude. It also requires 
the VA to establish effective treatment plans that respond to the 
threats and to save lives.
  As a nation, we have a responsibility to prevent future tragedies and 
provide these servicemembers with the care that they so desperately 
deserve.
  I thank the House for taking up this important legislation, and I 
urge adoption.


            Support for a Sustainable, Clean Energy Economy

  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of two of 
my bills included in the Clean Economy and Jobs Innovation Act. This 
legislative package takes bold and important steps toward a 
sustainable, clean energy economy. It is not only good for our health 
and for our environment, but it is good for our economy.
  I am particularly pleased to see my legislation included in the 
package, the Solar Energy Research and Development Act. This bill 
authorizes solar energy research, development, and deployment within 
the Department of Energy.
  Utah is a national leader in solar technology and is projected to 
produce over 1,000 megawatts of solar power in the next 5 years. My 
bill addresses the very serious threat of climate change, while 
supporting clean energy jobs.
  I am also pleased to see my air quality bill included. The Background 
Ozone Research Study Act directs the EPA and the National Academies of 
Science to study the sources of background ozone pollution and to 
provide actionable steps for cleaning our air.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill supports our clean energy economy and 
addresses our very serious need to address the climate crisis.


                In Support of the FAITH in Congress Act

  Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the FAITH in Congress 
Act. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by my colleague Stephanie 
Murphy, seeks to restore trust and faith in Congress as an institution.
  As I travel throughout my district and talk with Utahns, there is a 
common theme that I hear from people of all political walks. That is 
that our political system is broken, and we need to change the way 
Washington does business. So this bill takes commonsense, concrete 
steps to restore that faith through five central pillars:
  No automatic pay increases for Members of Congress, which I have 
fought against since I was first sworn in;
  No budget, no pay;
  No first-class Member travel at taxpayer expense;
  A lifetime ban on lobbying by former Members of Congress; and
  Prioritizing bipartisan bills over partisan bills.
  That is it. Five simple steps that we should all be able to rally 
behind.
  Mr. Speaker, this is common sense, and I urge the House to take up 
and pass this legislation without delay.

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