Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Ms. Bonnie Brueshoff, Director for the Dakota County Public Health Department located in West St. Paul, Minnesota, who is retiring after 27 years of service and dedication to the public health efforts of Minnesota.

Throughout her career, Ms. Brueshoff exhibited a commitment to bettering our community by chairing numerous health official boards, such as the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Time and time again, she contributed her expertise on both a state and national level to molding the next generation of public health practitioners. With her leadership, in 2019, the Dakota County Public Health Department was nationally recognized for its innovative initiatives to promote health awareness in our state.

As we continue to persevere through these unprecedented times, we must never forget to recognize our heroes at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. Ms. Brueshoff, alongside so many others, exemplifies the true meaning of public service in the realm of civic wellness. Her career is a testament to the character of our district and our determination to assist those in need.

I rise on behalf of the 2nd Congressional district of Minnesota, expressing my deepest gratitude to her commitment to the health of our community. She created a legacy I know many hope to emulate. I congratulate Ms. Brueshoff for her many years of leadership and wish her the best as she embarks on her well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress, it is such an honor to have the ability to help my constituents back home by solving problems and making our government work more effectively for them.

Earlier this year, a man named Jorge Chaves Meza from Farmington, Minnesota, reached out to my office for help enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. You see, Jorge came to our community from Costa Rica in hopes of serving our country in the U.S. military, but his Permanent Resident Card was lost in the mail.

This could have prevented Jorge from serving our Nation, but, fortunately, my office was able to work with the USCIS to expedite getting Jorge a replacement card. I am so glad to announce that he received it and just took his oath of enlistment.

Stories like Jorge's are the most rewarding part of public service, and I am so proud of his commitment to serving our Nation.

Thank you, Jorge, for your service.

Madam Speaker, just over 2 months ago, a man walked into an Allina Health clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota, and opened fire, killing one employee and injuring four others.

On that tragic day, nurses, doctors, social workers, and others were reportedly targeted because of their professions.

Tragically, this senseless and horrific act of violence is representative of a broader trend in our society. Today, members of the healthcare workforce are five times as likely to suffer a workplace injury than Americans in other professions.

Madam Speaker, what in the hell are we doing in Congress if we are not going to stand up and do anything for our healthcare heroes and those workers?

My colleagues who vote against this bill are ignoring the pleas of the EMTs, the emergency workers, and all of those folks who have been on the front lines of this healthcare pandemic.

Madam Speaker, it is our responsibility to step forward and help protect our workers. It is beyond the pale to put our heads in the sand, as Members of Congress, and say there is nothing that we can do. What the hell are we doing here if we do that?

Mr. Speaker, last year, the CARES Act delivered relief checks to millions, but families were disappointed to learn that their dependent adult children weren't eligible to receive support, including the Harris family in Eagan, Minnesota.

Debbie and Victor Harris are proud parents to their wonderful son, Josh, who has complex medical needs. Expenses are constant for the Harris family. Home-care nurses and their two grown sons provide 24- hour care for Josh. Despite that, as an adult-disabled dependent, Josh didn't qualify for relief.

It was because of stories like these that I introduced the All Dependent Children Count Act and pushed to ensure that Josh and millions of other dependent adult children could receive the relief they deserve.

I am so proud we were finally able to get this in the American Rescue Plan and give families like the Harrises an additional $1,400, allowing them the freedom and support to enjoy some well-deserved time in Minnesota's great outdoors.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1502) to amend the Small Business Act to optimize the operations of the microloan program, lower costs for small business concerns and intermediary participants in the program, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 1502, the Microloan Improvement Act of 2021.

Today, we are considering four bipartisan bills that were approved by the Small Business Committee and the full House of Representatives last year. I am proud of the committee's work on behalf of small businesses and pleased that we worked together to get things done. Our small businesses deserve nothing less.

I would like to thank the chairwoman, Ms. Velazquez, for giving me the opportunity to manage time today on these four important small business bills.

I would also like to thank the ranking member, Mr. Luetkemeyer, who will be handling the floor proceedings today with me.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, under the leadership of Mr. Kim, held a hearing on the microloan program, where we heard from a panel of intermediaries who reported that many of the program's rules, largely unchanged since 1991, are outdated and restrict them from meeting today's demand for start-up financing and providing more technical assistance.

In response, Mr. Kim crafted the Microloan Improvement Act of 2020, a series of proposals designed to update the program's rules and, ultimately, help microloan intermediaries extend more affordable capital to first-time entrepreneurs.

I was proud to support the Microloan Improvement Act last Congress and was pleased to see some of its provisions become law as part of the Economic Aid Act last December.

Today's bill, the Microloan Improvement Act of 2021, is virtually the same as last Congress' version without the policies we have already enacted into law.

Madam Speaker, we have heard time and again many entrepreneurs lack the experience needed to demonstrate their creditworthiness to conventional lenders. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted these gaps in financing, showing the smallest of small businesses, especially those owned by women and minorities, struggle the most to afford access to capital.

The microloan program is uniquely suited to address this problem, and today's bill strengthens the program and is long overdue.

I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Newman).

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

As the small business economy starts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurs will need as many affordable capital options as possible. That is why the Economic Aid Act included PPP updates, grants for hard-hit venues, and other enhancements to SBA's business loan programs, including the microloan program.

Today's bill takes the next step after that relief effort toward fully modernizing and optimizing SBA's microloan program. For nearly 30 years, this program has had a strong track record of success and has helped to launch many successful small businesses, especially those owned by women and minority entrepreneurs. The record is full of success stories as the program has grown from a simple pilot program to a vital lending tool with strong stakeholder and congressional support.

The legislation before us today renews our commitment to startups by easing access to the program for even more aspiring entrepreneurs and making the program nimbler for intermediaries and borrowers alike.

Passing this bill will be another step to help lead our Nation out of this pandemic and build back the economy by embracing America's entrepreneurial spirit.

I applaud the work by Mr. Kim and Mr. Garbarino for their bipartisan work on the microloan program. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1487) to amend the Small Business Act to increase transparency, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 1487, the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act, which will improve SBA's data reporting with respect to the microloan program.

Specifically, the bill would have SBA and microlenders report on the number, amount, and percentage of microloans that went into default in the previous year; the extent to which microloans are provided to small businesses in rural areas; and the average size, interest rate, and amount of fees charged for each microloan.

These metrics will help Congress and the public better evaluate the program and its impact on underserved communities and make improvements as needed.

This program is vital in helping women and minorities obtain much- needed capital. In fiscal year 2020, 47 percent of microloans were made to women-owned small businesses, and more than 51 percent of microloans were made to minority-owned small businesses.

This language was approved unanimously last Congress by both the Small Business Committee and the full House, and I look forward to a similar vote here today.

The version of the bill from last Congress also included a provision that would increase the amount of technical assistance grant funding a rural-serving microlender would receive. I am

pleased that language was included as part of the Economic Aid Act and is now law.

However, our work on the microloan program is not done. H.R. 1487 continues the work to keep strengthening the program, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.

I applaud the bipartisanship shown by the sponsors of these bills, especially the leads, Mr. Burchett and Mr. Kim.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

It is often said that information is power. H.R. 1487 will greatly increase the information publicly available about the microloan program's performance and impact.

If we intend to continue to support the smallest of small businesses, we need to make sure the programs targeting them are operating at their best. That starts with improving the data and information available about where the loans are going, how affordable they are, and where the gaps in coverage are.

With more data, the public can assess the impact these loans have in our communities, and Congress will be able to monitor the program and identify areas for improvement.

I thank the gentlemen from Tennessee and New Jersey for their hard work and collaboration in bringing this bill to the floor today.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, for over a year now, small businesses in my district and across the country have struggled to make it through this public health and economic crisis. As a result of this pandemic, prospective small business owners face a steeper climb than ever before.

We must do more to make it easy to start, operate, and expand a small business in our communities. One of the most important ways that we can do this is by ensuring that the Small Business Administration's loan programs are operating as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Today, we have two bills that would do exactly that, including my bipartisan bill, the 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act. These crucial bipartisan pieces of legislation will not only increase the amount of capital available to manufacturers, but will actually ease the process of getting a loan because, in the midst of a severe economic crisis, our businessowners simply cannot be bogged down in red tape and legalese.

Taken together, these bills will help to promote the economic development of small manufacturers, creating good paying jobs in growing industries all across this country.

To demonstrate just how impactful these loans can be, I want to tell you about Nate Bry, a lifelong resident of Rosemount, Minnesota. Thirteen years ago, Nate founded a sports apparel company called Custom Apparel Inc. in the basement of his home. After years of hard work, Nate felt that it was finally time to reach a turning point, but he didn't have the resources he needed to take his business to the next level. When Nate received a 504 loan, he was immediately able to invest in his company, building a facility to manufacture his products right in his hometown, creating good-paying jobs in the very same community where he grew up.

Nate's story, like so many others, is proof that the 504 loan program can change the lives of small business owners in this country. This program ensures that small businesses like Nate's are able to succeed, bringing home the job growth and economic stability that our communities are striving for, especially as we emerge from this devastating economic crisis.

Because these are not simply businesses. These are livelihoods, family traditions, and priceless contributions to our communities, and we have an opportunity to support them on a bipartisan basis by taking action today.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to come together and join me in supporting these bills and businesses across our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, last week we passed the American Rescue Plan to help our Nation get through a COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. This historic legislation is already helping millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans.

When I think about this piece of legislation, it is widely, on a bipartisan basis, supported in a swing district like mine back in Minnesota. But if Congress fails to take action--and we are not going to let that happen--to prevent sequestration, countless Federal programs that our constituents rely on could be impacted.

If we fail to pass H.R. 1868, cuts to programs at USDA could devastate family farmers who are already reeling after years of trade instability and stupid trade wars. We must act because we cannot allow cuts to Medicare, risking seniors' access to care at a time when they need it the most, in the midst of a deadly global pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this crucial legislation to ensure that the Federal Government can meet the needs of Minnesotans and the American people during a public health crisis. This body that I joined just over 2 years ago; this body has come together numerous times to make sure that we do not allow sequestration to take cuts for worse ideas than helping the American people through a public health crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please support this bill today.

Madam Speaker, last weekend, I visited women-owned businesses in Shakopee, and I had the pleasure of meeting Elise Steger who owns ShakRa Yoga & Fitness.

Throughout the past year, Elise has done everything she can to comply with COVID restrictions while continuing to pay her employees and keep her business open. With the help of the Paycheck Protection Program loans she has also turned to creative solutions like virtual classes, but she has been able to keep her business going.

The Paycheck Protection Program has served as a lifeline to small businesses like Elise's, but in less than 2 weeks it is due to expire. This week we passed legislation in the House on a bipartisan basis to extend this critical program through May 31. We must ensure that that extension becomes law.

Madam Speaker, across this country, people of all political persuasions are profoundly frustrated with the conflicts of interest and divisive politics practiced in this town.

And who could blame them for their frustration?

Their votes are being suppressed by power-hungry folks at all costs. The people are tired of the revolving door of lobbyists and special interests working to diminish their trust in this institution and in us.

But maybe that is what some people want, for Americans to become so frustrated, bone tired of standing in long lines, that they just give up and go home.

It is long past time that Congress brought a little more Minnesota common sense to America in clean and fair elections. That is exactly what this bill will accomplish by expanding voting rights, ending the dominance of dark money in our politics, and finally addressing partisan gerrymandering.

We must reform if we are to hold on to this democracy. Madam Speaker, we must do it now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to participate in the HRC Foundation Welcoming Schools Jazz and Friends Day of School and Community Readings.

Each year, this day is meant to inspire caring community members to join together to affirm the rights of trans and non-binary youth and show support for LGBTQ children and youth to have safe, affirming, and welcoming schools and communities.

To take part in this year's readings, I am proud to stand on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to read from ``When Aidan Became a Brother,'' by author Kyle Lukoff:

When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His

parents gave him a pretty name. His room looked like a girl's

room. And he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing.

But as Aidan got bigger, he hated the sound of his name. He

felt like his room belonged to someone else. And he always

ripped or stained his clothes accidentally-on-purpose.

Everyone thought he was just a different kind of girl.

Some girls had rooms full of science experiments and bug

collections.

Lots of girls didn't wear dresses.

But Aidan didn't feel like any kind of girl. He was really

another kind of boy.

It was hard to tell his parents what he knew about himself,

but it was even harder not to.

It took everyone some time to adjust, and they learned a

lot from other families with transgender kids like him.

Aidan explored different ways of being a boy. He tried out

lots of names until one stuck. They changed his bedroom into

a place where he belonged. He also took much better care of

his new clothes.

Then one day, Mom and Dad had something to tell him.

``I'm going to have a baby,'' Mom announced.

``A baby,'' Aidan said? ``Does that mean I get to be the

big brother?''

``Of course,'' said Dad, ruffling his hair.

Aidan thought that being a big brother was an important job

for a boy like him. He wanted to make sure this baby would

feel understood right away.

The baby needed clothes, so Aidan and his mom went

shopping. There were so many choices! Would the baby like

seahorses or penguins better?

``Are you having a boy or girl?'' asked a lady.

Aidan didn't like it when people asked if he was a boy or a

girl, and he hoped the baby couldn't hear yet. He was glad

when Mom just smiled and said, ``I'm having a baby.''

The baby's room needed to be painted, so Aidan and his dad

went to the hardware store. Dad chose a gallon of sky-blue

paint, and Aidan added a puffy-cloud white.

``Are you excited for your new brother or sister?'' asked

the paint guy?

``I'm excited to be a big brother,'' Aidan said.

The paint guy looked confused. Aidan could tell that he

wanted to ask a different question, and he was glad to have

his dad there.

The big rollers were fun to paint with. ``This room feels

just like being outside,'' Aidan exclaimed. He had always

felt trapped in his bedroom before they fixed it, but his new

sibling wouldn't have to feel that way.

``You're right,'' said Dad. ``Let's make some shapes in the

clouds.''

Every baby needs a name. Aidan loved getting to choose his

own, but he remembered that it had been hard for his parents

to let go of the name they gave him. He looked for names that

could fit this new person no matter who they grew up to be.

Babies needed someone to read to them, so Aidan practiced

and practiced and practiced.

Dad wanted to teach Aidan how to change diapers. ``Um,

maybe later,'' said Aidan. He decided that picking flowers

for his mom was more important.

Two weeks before the baby's due date, Aidan started to

worry. Maybe he should have picked different clothes. The

blue walls might be too bright. He wished he could ask the

baby which name they liked best.

Mom came to tuck him in. ``Are you feeling okay, sweetie?''

she asked.

Aidan put his hands over where he thought the baby's ears

would be. ``Do you think the baby will be happy with

everything?'' he whispered. ``I don't want them to feel like

I did when I was little, but what if I get everything wrong?

What if I don't how to be a good big brother?''

Mom hugged him tight. ``When you were born, we didn't know

you were going to be our son. We made some mistakes, but you

helped us fix them. And you taught us how important it is to

love someone for exactly who they are. This baby is so lucky

to have you, and so are we.''

The next morning, Aidan found the boxes of his old baby

pictures. He looked so different back then! It hadn't been

easy, but he liked the boy he was growing into.

Maybe everything wouldn't be perfect for this baby. Maybe

he would have to fix mistakes he didn't even know he was

making. And maybe that was okay.

Aidan knew how to love someone, and that was the most

important part of being a brother.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support to the Equality Act, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will grant equal protection under the law to our LGBTQ friends, family, neighbors, as well as to me and my family.

As the first openly lesbian wife and mother in Congress and the first LGBTQ Member of Congress from the great State of Minnesota, I know this legislation is the culmination of a lifetime of work for so many.

My wife, Cheryl, and I have built a beautiful life together raising four sons who we dearly love. We are fortunate to live in Minnesota, in a State where many of the Equality Act's protections have already been enshrined into law.

Right now, there are States across this country where it would be entirely legal for Cheryl and I to be discriminated against--based on our love and commitment to one another--in housing, employment, access to credit, or any other number of areas essential to just living our lives.

Now, some of my colleagues seem to believe this legislation somehow could harm our non-LGBTQ women and girls, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

The Equality Act does not undermine the achievements or aspirations of non-LGBTQ. In fact, by amending the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in a broad area of life, we are fighting to ensure that all women are treated equally in all aspects of their lives.

The Equality Act is critical because when LGBTQ people have equality under the law, we all benefit and all of our communities are stronger.

Mr. Speaker, as a teenage girl growing up in rural America, I never could have imagined I would finally see this legislation come to the House floor, much less as a Member of this body to see it passed. This legislation is necessary, it is long overdue, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Specialist Derrick Ameli, a member of the Minnesota National Guard from Savage, Minnesota.

Derrick was a husband, a brother, a friend and Guardsman whose service honored our community. Tragically, Derrick died by suicide last month, falling victim to the sometimes fatal disease of depression.

Like any ailment, no one is immune. Depression can and does take the very best of us. Addressing this epidemic is one of the Nation's most urgent challenges. But in order to combat this disease, we must first destigmatize mental health treatment.

In order to give our neighbors and our families the help they deserve, they need to feel safe and supported asking for treatment. We must begin treating mental health as the chronic illnesses they can be, for Derrick and for so many others who we have lost.

Madam Speaker, last week, the United States Capitol was attacked and defiled by insurrectionists. These criminals killed a Capitol Police officer and wounded many more in a brazen attack not only on this building, but on American Democracy itself.

I am sad, shocked and angry about last Wednesday's events, but I am determined to ensure that those responsible are held to account, including the President of the United States.

The President invited this mob to Washington. He fueled their rage with false information and lies. And then he directed them to the U.S. Capitol himself--where they desecrated the home of our democracy and put elected leaders and law enforcement in danger. None of this would have happened without the words and deeds of Donald Trump. None of it.

He threatened our democracy, interfered with the transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of government. There simply must be consequences for his indefensible behavior.

Some of my colleagues are now calling for unity. I agree. We must unify around the truth. That America just completed one of the most secure elections in our nation's history--an election that Joe Biden won. The lies stoking the flames of insurrection must stop. And those perpetuating them must be held accountable.

I am committed to holding those who stormed this building accountable for their actions. I am committed to defending our democracy. And I am committed to upholding the oath to the Constitution that I took just over a week ago.

The President should not serve another day in office. And for that reason, I will vote in favor of the article of impeachment before me today, for my district and for this Nation's history. We must never find ourselves here again.

Madam Speaker, our work to lower healthcare costs for working families could not be more urgent. Yesterday, we heard the first arguments in the Texas v. United States case that will determine whether we maintain critical protections for patients with preexisting conditions.

We must work to improve the healthcare system that has now been in place for almost a decade, not dismantle the progress that we have achieved. If this lawsuit is successful, an additional 35,000 folks in my district could become uninsured.

We cannot allow this to happen. To be sure, we need to fix and improve the healthcare system today. What we should be here talking about is how we can do that together.

We should be talking about ideas, such as the Medicare-X Choice Act of 2019, which would add competition in the health insurance market. We should be talking about how we reduce the high price of prescription drugs. Medicare-X would create an affordable public option. The PRICED Act would shorten market exclusivity.

It is time for solutions. Americans don't have time for anything less.