[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 53 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2023

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the vote today on 
Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 241, I would have voted 
``no.''
  Had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to H. Res. 241, I would 
have voted ``no.''
  Had I been present for the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 
406, I would have voted ``aye.''
  Had I been present for the Passage of H. Joint Res. 30, I would have 
voted ``no.'' This legislation would block the Department of Labor's 
recent rule, entitled ``Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan 
Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights,'' which clarifies that 
fiduciary planners may consider environmental, social and governance 
(ESG) risk when making investment decisions. I commend the Department 
of Labor's ESG rule, which will assure beneficiaries that their 
retirement savings will not be subjected to the pendulum swings of 
changing policy. Fiduciary planners must not have their hands tied when 
it comes to considering ESG factors that pose legitimate economic risks 
to Americans' benefit plans.
  Had I been present for the Bonamici Amendment No. 5, I would have 
voted ``aye.''
  Had I been present for the Crane Amendment No. 6, I would have voted 
``no.''
  Had I been present for the Davidson Amendment No. 7, I would have 
voted ``no.''
  Additionally, had I been present for Fitzpatrick Amendment No. 8, I 
would have voted ``aye.''