Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the executive summary of a report by the Department of Justice (DOJ) titled ``The Compelling

Interest to Remedy the Effects of Discrimination in Federal Contracting: A Survey of Recent Evidence.'' The DOJ summary and associated report illustrate how systemic discrimination continues to create barriers for women- and minority-owned businesses to fairly compete for federal contracts and how federal contracting programs can respond to, address, and remedy the harmful effects of discrimination.

[From the U.S. Department of Justice, May 16, 2022]

The Compelling Interest To Remedy the Effects of Discrimination in

Federal Contracting: A Survey of Recent Evidence--Executive Summary

On January 27, 2022, the Department of Justice posted a

notice in the Federal Register announcing the publication of

a Department of Justice report surveying the evidence

supporting the use of race- and sex-conscious contracting

programs by the federal government in order to remedy the

effects of discrimination.

This report is third in a series created by the Department

of Justice since the Supreme Court determined that federal

race-conscious contracting programs must meet the strict

scrutiny standard of review to survive a constitutional

challenge based on the Equal Protection Clause in Adarand

Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U.S. 200, 227 (1995). Each

report has compiled and summarized the evidence of

discriminatory barriers that businesses owned by women and

people of color face that impede participation in government

contracting. Both previous reports have been cited in federal

court as evidence that there is a compelling governmental

interest in programs that support the ability of businesses

owned by people of color to compete on an equal basis. Strict

scrutiny is the most exacting standard of review, and it

requires, among other things, evidence supporting the

conclusion that such measures are necessary to further the

compelling governmental interest in remedying the effects of

past and present racial discrimination. If a program contains

affirmative measures based on sex, those measures are subject

to the somewhat lower standard of intermediate scrutiny. That

standard demands that any gender-based preference be

substantially related to an important governmental objective.

In assessing whether race- and sex-conscious government

contracting programs could continue to survive heightened

levels of judicial review, the Department of Justice reviewed

hundreds of state and local disparity studies, dozens of

congressional hearings and related testimony, government

reports on public contracting, academic and expert reports on

public and federal contracting, academic and government

reports on financial data related to small businesses, and

recent case law related to Equal Protection challenges to

government contracting and grant programs. The disparity

studies, congressional hearings, and academic reports contain

both quantitative and qualitative evidence of the persistence

of discrimination and its lingering effects in the public and

private sector.

The Department of Justice report determines that there is a

strong basis in evidence, both quantitative and qualitative,

of the continued pervasiveness of discriminatory barriers

that impede the full and fair participation of businesses

owned by women or people of color in government contracting.

The evidence discussed in this report supports the compelling

interest in the continued use of federal programs that

contain remedial measures to eliminate discriminatory

barriers to contracting opportunities for businesses owned by

minorities and an important state interest in the continued

use of federal programs that contain remedial measures to

eliminate discriminatory barriers to contracting

opportunities for businesses owned for women.

Both the qualitative and quantitative evidence shows the

various ways discrimination hinders the ability of minority-

and women-owned businesses to compete equitably for

government contracts. While this discrimination can take many

forms, primary obstacles include: (1) discrimination limiting

access to capital; (2) discrimination by procurement agencies

and prime contractors, (3) exclusion from business networks,

and (4) discrimination in lending and by bonding companies

and suppliers.

In assessing the current public contracting environment

faced by minority- and women-owned businesses, the Department

of Justice reviewed over 200 disparity studies from state and

local jurisdictions in 34 different states and the District

of Columbia. Disparity studies are quantitative demographic

analysis of public procurement contracting utilization as

compared to local business availability categorized by the

race or sex of the owner. The review of these studies shows

that there continues to be substantial disparities between

the availability of minority- and women-owned businesses and

the utilization of such businesses in state and local

government procurement in all areas of the country and at all

levels of procurement. The overwhelming majority of these

studies showed significant under-utilization of minority- and

women-owned businesses in almost every sector of public

procurement. The report cited to an overview of these

disparity studies conducted by the Minority Business

Development Agency in 2016, which found that the studies

indicated significant contracting disparities for minority

business enterprises that were pervasive across different

ethnic and racial groups, industries, and geographies.

Shockingly, the median value for the observed disparities was

just 19%, indicating that minority businesses were being

utilized at less than one-fifth of their availability in a

given marketplace.

The report also reviewed federal government small business

contracting. In 2017, just 9.8% of federal spending on

contracts went to minority-owned businesses. The same year,

woman-owned businesses received only 5% of federal prime

contract awards. Even when comparing businesses and

controlling for the industry in which the firm did business,

business age, business size (both in terms of average number

of employees and annual receipts), business form, and

security clearance, the likelihood of minority-owned

businesses receiving a federal contract versus similar

businesses is still lower than non-minority-owned businesses.

Overwhelmingly, the disparity studies and reports also

present evidence linking disparities in contracting to

discriminatory factors. In the private financial sector,

historic barriers and private discrimination has limited the

ability of minority business owners to accumulate assets and

wealth. Minority-owned businesses are two to three times more

likely to be denied credit, more likely to avoid applying for

loans based on the belief they will be turned down, and more

likely to receive smaller loans and pay higher interest rates

on the loans they do receive. Minority- and women-owned firms

not only receive smaller loans at higher interest rates than

firms owned by White males, but they also get smaller equity

investments.

In the bonding arena, both quantitative and qualitative

evidence shows that bonding requirements disproportionately

affect businesses owned by women or people of color. 83% of

minority- and women-owned businesses identified bonding

requirements as a specific barrier to the ability to obtain

contracts. A number of recent studies show that minority-

owned firms are significantly more likely to face

difficulties in obtaining required bonds compared with

majority-owned firms.

The evidence presented in the report indicates that the

barriers that have impeded the growth and success of

minority- and women-owned businesses continue to exist and

that government contracting preference programs ameliorate

the effects of public and private discrimination. For

example, a 2017 disparity study prepared for the Los Angeles

County Metropolitan Transportation Authority compared the

participation of minority- and women-owned businesses on

contracts that contained goals to encourage utilization of

minority- and women-owned businesses as opposed to contracts

that did not contain such goals. The results showed that on

contracts without goals, minority- and women-owned firms

earned only 53 cents on the dollar, but on contracts with

goals, such firms earned 96 cents on the dollar--almost what

would be expected given the availability of such firms in the

marketplace.

The federal government currently operates two main

contracting programs with race and/or sex-conscious elements:

the SBA Section 8(a) business development program and the

Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business

Enterprise program. All federal departments and major

independent agencies participate in the SSA's Section 8(a)

business development program, which offers a variety of

assistance, including set-aside federal government contracts

to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. In

Fiscal Year 2019, the federal government awarded $30.4

billion to 8(a) firms.

Appendices of 219 state and local disparity studies, 45

relevant academic and government studies, and 28

Congressional hearings are included with the report. The

Federal Register notice announcing the report may be found at

87 FR 4955, and the report itself is publicly available at

the Department of Justice.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Protecting Our Kids Act.

Today, the victims' families and community members from the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde appeared before the Oversight Committee demanding action. These communities have faced unspeakable tragedy.

It is our duty as lawmakers to listen to them and work to build a world where they will never have to see these horrific events repeated. This legislation will save countless lives from the violence these families have had to endure.

We must support every title in this bill, especially title II, cracking down on interstate gun trafficking. I have spent over a decade fighting for gun trafficking and straw purchases to be made a Federal offense. The illegal interstate movement of firearms into New York, known as the ``Iron Pipeline'' has caused countless firearms to enter our State unlawfully. Preventing gun trafficking across State lines should be a bipartisan goal.

As a mother and teacher, I am horrified by these attacks on our schools, grocery stores, and our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Barry Schneider, on the occasion of his retirement as longtime board member and former Chair of Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB8) after 30 years of dedicated leadership and service.

Mr. Schneider first began his history of community engagement after learning of plans to convert a vacant lot on 63rd Street to a parking facility. Mr. Schneider joined with fellow residents to oppose the plan and express the negative impacts it would have on the area especially on the congestion at what was already a busy intersection. This group became the East Sixties Neighborhood Association, Inc. (ESNA). ESNA was successful in its efforts, and the lot was instead converted into a community garden.

Seeking to have a larger impact on more community issues after the success of ESNA, Mr. Schneider was appointed to CB8 in 1992. Throughout his time on CB8, Mr. Schneider was an advocate for community accessibility. Mr. Schneider instituted CB8's attendance at District Street Fairs in order to promote familiarity and open communication between CB8 and members of the public.

Mr. Schneider carried his dedication into the work he performed on many of CB8's Committees and Task Forces. Mr. Schneider co-chaired both the Transportation Committee and the Parks and Waterfront Committee, as well as serving as co-chair of a joint committee between CB8 and Manhattan Community Board 6 to address issues affecting both communities. Mr. Schneider presided as chair of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Task Force, the Park Avenue Armory Task Force, and the Second Avenue Subway Task Force.

During the construction of the Second Avenue Subway, Mr. Schneider acted as a voice for the community. After attending meetings with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and seeing concerns go unaddressed, Mr. Schneider advocated for a new meeting format that would focus on communities being heard, listened to, and respected. The new format created meetings where the MTA would be present at individual tables for the proposed neighborhood sites, allowing for direct, local communication with those neighborhoods. The format was effective, with community members being able to express the unique needs of their neighborhood and the MTA responding accordingly directly aiding the successful completion of the Second Avenue Subway and its opening in 2017.

Mr. Schneider served as Chair of CB8 from 1998 to 2000 and focused a lot of energy on ensuring that all interactions at the Board were respectful especially when issues heightened passions. He supported frequent interaction between members of CB8 and the public,

while maintaining that discussion should be carried out with polite conduct and consideration of others. He is known for his Civility sign, which he frequently hung on lecterns to facilitate respectful and productive discussion. He sought to encourage individuals to speak who normally would not, increase engagement, and promote kindness.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Barry Schneider. His dedication and leadership have helped shape a vibrant community for Roosevelt Island and Manhattan's Upper East Side. His presence on Community Board 8 will be missed, and he leaves a lasting impact with his devoted service to his community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Katerina Nafplioti Panagopoulos for her outstanding career and accomplishments. Through her many endeavors and initiatives, Ms. Panagopoulos has shown unwavering dedication to the Greek community.

Ms. Panagopoulos was born in Athens, Greece and studied at both the Evangelical School of Nea Smyrni and the Foreign Literature Department of the Paul Valery University, in Montpellier, France. She holds an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Amity University. Ms. Panagopoulos founded the successful business Studio Alta Moda in Athens and has since made great accomplishments in the sectors of tourism and commerce.

Outside of her work as an accomplished businesswoman, Ms. Panagopoulos has served the world of sports extensively. Since 1998, she has acted as the National Ambassador of Greece in the Council of Europe for Sports, Tolerance and Fair Play and has presided as president of the Panhellenic Women's Sports Association ``KALLIPATIRA'' since 2005. In 2013, Ms. Panagopoulos signed the Memorandum of Cooperation with the Association of Greek Olympians (SEO) and the Hellenic Paralympic Committee as the President of KALLIPATIRA. Since that time, her work has involved supporting Olympic and Paralympic Champions and Winners, the construction of more than 25 athletic venues throughout Greece, and providing athletic and medical equipment as well as financial support to athletic associations. The International Olympic Committee honored Ms. Panagopoulos in 2012, when she became the first Greek recipient of the Woman and Sports Award.

Ms. Panagopoulos has served as Ambassador of the Greek State regarding matters of promotion of the international role of Greece globally, the creation of new investments and the Hellenic Diaspora since 2019. She is the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Greece for Hellenic Diaspora since 2018, and President of the International Center for Science and Hellenic Values.

In collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Panagopoulos founded an initiative to organize a series of lectures in the most important centers of the Greek Diaspora in the United States. She frequently participates in conferences and working groups, and lectures in schools and foundations nationwide.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Katerina Nafplioti Panagopoulos for her outstanding accomplishments and commitment to representing Hellenic culture in the United States and around the world.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Edith ``Edie'' Windsor for her invaluable contributions to the LGBTQ+ rights movement and in recognition of a new installation at the New York Historical Society--Edith Windsor: Champion

of Marriage Equality. This past September, the New York Historical Society held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the American LGBTQ+ Museum, New York's first museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and culture, which is set to open in 2024. This new installation honoring Ms. Windsor was made possible through the contribution of artifacts from her archive by her widow, Judith Kasen-Windsor.

Edie Windsor first became involved in the fight for equality after the 1969 Stonewall Riots and quickly emerged as a leader. Her historic challenge to the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) compelled the federal government to recognize valid marriages between same sex couples and paved the way for marriage equality in the United States.

Ms. Windsor grew up during the Great Depression, the youngest of three children in a Russian Jewish immigrant family. She received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and a master's degree in mathematics from New York University. The following year she began to work at IBM and was steadily promoted to the top technical position during her 16 years at the company.

In 1963, Edie Windsor met her first wife, Thea Spyer. Two years later the couple began dating. They became engaged in 1967 despite the lack of legal recognition of same sex couples anywhere in the United States. After the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, Ms. Windsor and Ms. Spyer became more involved in supporting and advocating for rights for the City's LGBTQ+ community. Ms. Windsor volunteered with the LGBTQ+ Community Center, the East End Gay Organization, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, and the 1994 Gay Games in New York. She also served on the board of Services & Advocacy for the LGBT GLBT Elders (SAGE) and help found Old Queers Acting Up, a social justice skit comedy and improvisation group.

In 2009, Thea Spyer passed away, leaving the entirety of her estate to her wife, Edie. Due to DOMA, Edie Windsor was prohibited from claiming the estate tax exemption for surviving spouses and was faced with a nearly half million-dollar tax liability. In 2010, Ms. Windsor sued the federal government for a full tax refund in a series of court cases that made it all the way to the Supreme Court in 2013. In 2013, Edie Windsor's suit was upheld by the Supreme Court ruling finding DOMA unconstitutional. This validation of her decades long partnership with Ms. Spyer was not only a vindication for Ms. Windsor but for countless LGBTQ+ couples around the Nation. Two years later, the Supreme Court made marriage a constitutional right guaranteed to all Americans. In 2016, Ms. Windsor found love again, marrying Judith Kasen-Windsor. Ms. Windsor's passing in the fall of 2017 marked the end of a truly heroic life spent championing equality.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary gumption and the incomparable advocacy of Ms. Windsor on behalf of the entire LGBTQ+ community throughout her long and accomplished life.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his extraordinary leadership on this issue and so many other areas.

I thank our Speaker for speaking out so beautifully for the children, for our support for their health, for baby formula, for their support in general, and Rosa DeLauro for her appropriations bill that will supply $28 million for the baby formula crisis. For the author of this very important bill before us, Representative Jahana Hayes, I thank her for her leadership, too.

I rise in support of H.R. 7791, the Access to Baby Formula Act, vital legislation to improve access to infant formula for families with less income who use the WIC family benefit program. That is the Women, Infants, and Children program.

The Abbott recall and formula shortages have devastated families across our country, particularly those who rely on the WIC program.

I have been contacted by constituents who are traveling far and wide to find the formula. They are going on the internet to find it. They are printing their grandmothers' formulas. They are coming up with other ways to try to get formula to infants.

This is absolutely unacceptable. We cannot sit by while families struggle to feed their babies.

That is why I have sent letters to the CEOs of the four largest baby formula manufacturers, pressing them on their plans to boost supply. What happened? Why did this happen in the first place? How soon are they going to get formula back on the shelves of our stores for our families? How will they prevent future shortages?

We must pass this bill to provide the additional WIC program with the flexibility that President Biden called for so that families across the country can access affordable formula.

Under the WIC program now, they are only allowed to contract with Abbott, the company that had the recalls, so this would allow them to contract with other companies to provide this vital service.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her extraordinary leadership in responding to this crisis so comprehensively and quickly and also for her leadership as the chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the emergency spending that builds on the Biden administration's progress in addressing the nationwide infant formula shortage by providing the FDA with resources to increase supply and prevent future shortages.

The national formula shortage threatens the health and economic security of America's infants and families, especially those who experience health inequities, including food insecurity.

In recent weeks, parents across the country have been forced to ration food or travel for hours to obtain formula. For parents of infants with special health needs, the nationwide formula shortage has been especially dire. Some parents have considered going to the emergency room just so that they can feed their babies. This is unacceptable.

We cannot sit by while families struggle to feed their babies. That is why the Committee on Oversight and Reform has started an investigation to support the work of the legislative committees--the Energy and Commerce and Appropriations Committees--that are putting forward legislation to address this.

We sent letters to the CEOs of the four largest baby formula manufacturers, pressing them on their plans to boost supply. When are they going to have the formula back on the shelves in the stores? What caused this? What are they doing to prevent future shortages?

I am proud to support, with my Democratic and, hopefully, Republican colleagues, today's bill, which will appropriate $28 million for FDA to safely increase our supply of infant formula and prevent future shortages so that this will never happen again.

I thank Chair DeLauro for her leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Biden administration for invoking the Defense Production Act to act on this. They are also moving to import safe products from other countries. I applaud the President's leadership, but I especially applaud the leadership in this Congress, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Chair DeLauro, Chair Pallone, all the people who have been involved in helping America's infants.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important bill. We should be unified for our children in this country.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) on the occasion of its annual gala, entitled ``A Love Letter to New York.'' For nearly 150 years, 92NY has promoted learning and culture while providing a broad range of services and opportunities to the New York City community and beyond.

Founded in 1974 by a group of German Jewish professionals, 92NY has stood as a tremendous cultural institution in Manhattan's Upper East Side. As part of the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association, 92NY is testament to the contributions of the Jewish community to our city and nation. Since its founding, 92NY has expanded beyond New York's borders and has patrons in all 50 states and 200 countries around the world.

92NY is committed to enriching the lives of its patrons with world- class programming and embraces people of all backgrounds and persuasions. 92NY serves the Upper East Side as a community center, while simultaneously acting as a massive learning institution for a broader community. 92NY offers programs under five main tenants: Arts, Community, Jewish Life, Children & Family, and Innovation & Social Impact.

92NY displayed its dedication to its patrons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electing to stay open, 92NY was faced with the task of adjusting its programming while continuing to serve its community. 92NY decided to embrace new digital technologies and moved its programming online, enabling it to reach a wider audience. Over the course of two years, 92NY created 5,000 original programs and attracted six million views, not only across America but from a larger international community.

As a result, 92NY has become a global institution. In order to successfully meet the

needs of its new patrons, 92NY created Roundtable, a new online learning platform. Roundtable offers high-level courses in the Arts, Food, History, Literature, Current Events, Economy and Politics taught by world-renowned educators. 92NY hopes this new program will create access for their international audience and help to form partnerships with other major cultural institutions worldwide.

Formerly referred to colloquially as 92Y, 92NY has made the decision to change its name in order to reintroduce themselves to its new global audience while cementing its unique relationship with New York City. 92NY endeavors to be ``Where New York Meets The World.''

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating 92NY's annual gala, which marks the beginning of a new global era for this incredible institution. For nearly 150 years, 92NY has made a significant contribution to New York City's cultural landscape. I wish them the very best of luck in continuing to add to the City's vibrancy and diversity, while working to expand their programming to audiences across the Country and around the World.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.

Madam Speaker, it has been nearly 2 weeks since the world saw the Supreme Court's draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

We all had suspected it was coming. I rise today to oppose that decision and to oppose what has become the tyranny of the Republican minority, a minority that has worked for decades to restrict the rights of women and minorities. The extremist Republican minority has worked systematically over the years to politicize the Supreme Court by packing it with activist ideologues who hold views in line with the demands of these extremists.

Now this Republican minority, after successfully packing the Court with ideologues, they now seek to use this decision to return women to a dark time, a time when a woman had no right to decide for herself, to a time when abortions were illegal.

But let's be clear from the start. This whole argument is not really about whether or not there will be abortions in this country, for there have always been, and there will always be abortions in this country and around the world. The only question is: Will those abortions be safe and legal?

In 1973, the year of the decision, I marched with many women and fought for Roe v. Wade. On the day in 1992 when the decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey was announced, I announced that I was running for Congress because I objected to the restrictions they were putting on women. I wanted equal rights for women and more pro-choice legislators fighting for women in Washington. So I ran for office and won.

Yesterday, I marched with my Democratic colleagues to the Senate in support of maintaining Roe v. Wade.

Madam Speaker, I join the majority of women in this country in strongly opposing this decision, the injustice, this march back to a darker time, and I will join them in marching, fighting, and legislating until our rights to control decisions about our lives and our bodies are secure because I believe there is no democracy if women cannot make their own choices about their healthcare and their bodies, including reproductive healthcare.

If this draft Supreme Court decision takes effect, hundreds of millions of people in 26 States would be deprived of their right to choose, of their right to abortion. People of color, the LGBTQ-plus community, young people, people with disabilities, low-income Americans, those who are the most marginalized will suffer the most.

If Roe falls, State so-called trigger laws, in quotes, already passed in 13 States, will immediately ban abortion in those States entirely.

Also deeply troubling, this decision lays the groundwork for the Court to tear down other fundamental rights, like the right to use contraception, marriage equality, and so many other rights. All of this from the Republican Party that proclaims itself to be the party of smaller government except when it comes to making decisions over a woman's life.

Yesterday I marched again. I marched to the Senate with my Democratic colleagues and urged my Senate colleagues to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, like we passed here in this House earlier. This bill would establish a statutory right to abortion care across our country.

But as they did earlier this year, the Senate came up short because there are not enough pro-choice Senators to protect abortion rights for women. This is unacceptable, and every Senator who voted against the Women's Health Protection Act must be held accountable by the American people, by their constituents.

Madam Speaker, yesterday's vote has made one thing clear. The Senate is so far out of step with what most Americans believe. Eighty percent of Americans agree that the decision to have an abortion should be left to a woman and her doctor compared to just nine percent who agree it should be left to politicians and the government.

The Senate should reflect the will of the people and protect the right to control our own bodies, which is why we need to fight for a pro-choice Senate, to protect our rights.

We can and we must do everything we can to ensure that reproductive rights are the law of our land. Our lives, the lives of our children, and future generations depend on it.

Madam Speaker, I yield now to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), the head of the Progressive Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Jayapal for her leadership of the Progressive Caucus and for her strength in sharing her very personal and painful story. It has given me more strength to fight this battle, and I hope it will inspire many, many more as we fight for our basic rights.

Madam Speaker, I yield now to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jones), a leader in the Progressive Caucus.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Jones for sharing that story. It was very moving.

To others that are watching, if you want to share your story, send them to us so we can read them into the Congressional Record and share with other Americans about the need to save a woman's right to choose.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), one of the leading voices in Congress for women's rights and consumer rights.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Newman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), and I thank her for her leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and courage.

Mr. Speaker, I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Chu, the founder and chair of the ASPIRE Caucus, for her leadership on this issue. She is the author of the Women's Health Protection Act, which we supported and passed in this House, and which we hope to pass in the Senate, and we will fight with all of our strength to pass eventually.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues for sharing their stories and the stories of their constituents. I ask the public to send us their stories so we can read them into the Record as we talk about the need to protect the freedom of women to make choices about their own healthcare.

I firmly believe that there is no democracy if the women in this country--half the population in this country--cannot make basic decisions about their own bodies, their own healthcare, their own choices, including reproductive healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues that have reached out and said they wanted to be here tonight, but they couldn't for other reasons. We hope to have future speak-outs and future Special Orders.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 224) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building''.

Mr. 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 this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of time, I wish to be associated with the words of my colleagues in honor of Vanessa Guillen. I thank my colleague, Sylvia Garcia, for putting this important legislation forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 224, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building.''

Ms. Vanessa Guillen was born to the parents of immigrants and grew up in Houston, Texas. In high school, she was a stand-out athlete and graduated in the top 15 percent of her class.

At a young age, Ms. Guillen knew that she wanted to serve her country in the United States Army. In June 2018, she joined the Army and trained as a 91F, Small Arms and Artillery Repairer. Tragically at the age of 20, Private First Class Guillen was killed while serving at Fort Hood leaving a hole in the hearts of her family and the community. Private First Class Guillen was posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist on July 1, 2020.

I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of this young woman by naming the Post Office at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 224.

Mr. Speaker, if there are no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 224, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 700) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 303 East Mississippi Avenue in Elwood, Illinois, as the ``Lawrence M. `Larry' Walsh Sr. Post Office''.

Mr. 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 this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, in the interests of time, I submit my statement in support of Mr. Foster's very important bill. I strongly support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 700, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 303 East Mississippi Avenue in Elwood, Illinois, as the ``Lawrence M. `Larry' Walsh Sr. Post Office.''

Mr. Larry Walsh Sr. was an American farmer, public servant, and dedicated member of the Will County community. In 1970, he began his career in public service as a member of the Elwood School Board. He was then elected as Jackson Township Supervisor in 1973, where he served until December 2004. Mr. Walsh also served on the Will County Board in 1974 and 1992.

From April 1997 until January 2005, Mr. Walsh was an Illinois State Senator, representing the 43rd District. As a public servant, his mission was always to better the lives of people who lived and worked in his community.

He brought a voice to disability issues, senior citizens' services, preservation, and agriculture concerns.

I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in commemorating Mr. Walsh's dedication to public service by naming the Post Office at 303 East Mississippi Avenue in Elwood, Illinois, as the ``Lawrence M. `Larry' Walsh Post Office.''

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 700, an important bill. I thank Mr. Foster for authoring it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5900) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2016 East 1st Street in Los Angeles, California, as the ``Marine Corps Reserve PVT Jacob Cruz Post Office''.

Mr. 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 this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5900, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 2016 East 1st Street in Los Angeles, California, as the Marine Corps Reserve PVT Jacob Cruz Post Office.

Private Jacob Cruz grew up in Boyle Heights and was the second born of five children. At the age of 17, Private Cruz enlisted in the Marine Corps.

As part of the 2nd Marine Division, his mission was to secure the island of Betio in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll. Tragically, during the battle of Tarawa, Private Cruz was killed. Private Cruz was declared unrecoverable for 77 years before his remains were identified and returned home to his family in Los Angeles.

On March 25, 2021, he was then laid to rest with full military honors. He was the recipient of numerous awards and citations, including the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific

Theatre Campaign Medal, Marine Corps Medal, and the Gold Star Lapel Button.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in paying respect to this World War II hero by naming the post office at 2016 East 1st Street in Los Angeles, California, as the Marine Corps Reserve PVT Jacob Cruz Post Office.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this important bill, H.R. 5900, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6386) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 450 West Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg, Illinois, as the ``Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial Post Office Building''.

Mr. 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.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi), who is the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of time, I associate myself with the comments of my two colleagues.

Chair MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6386, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 450 West Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg, Illinois, as the ``Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial Post Office Building.''

Our nation's veterans do not sign up for a normal job. They enlist knowing full well that they may be injured or killed in service to our country.

Over the last 20 years of conflict, more than 2.3 million Americans served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of these service members, more than 6,800 were killed and tens of thousands more have suffered the scars and trauma--both seen and unseen--of serving in combat.

It is our responsibly to remember and honor all of their sacrifices.

This bill will ensure that their service is never forgotten.

I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the brave men and women who sacrificed so much over the last two decades serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 6386.

I congratulate Mr. Krishnamoorthi on his excellent bill. I am prepared to close. I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 6386, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6614) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4744 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the ``Rosa Louise McCauley Parks Post Office Building''.

Mr. 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 this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6614 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4744 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the Rosa Louise McCauley Parks Post Office Building.

Mrs. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. She attended elementary school in Pine Level, Alabama, and eventually went on to attend the Alabama State Teacher's College High School. Unfortunately, she was not able to graduate with her class due to the passing of her grandmother. Mrs. Parks further delayed her education to take care of her family when her mother fell ill. She eventually received her high school diploma in 1934 after marrying Raymond Parks on December 18, 1932.

In the 1930s, Mrs. Parks was an early activist in the effort to free the Scottsboro Boys. With her husband, Raymond, she worked as the secretary and later the youth leader of the local branch of the NAACP.

Mrs. Parks' refusal to surrender her seat to a White male passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus on December 1, 1955, triggered a wave of protests that reverberated throughout the United States. Her courageous act changed America's view of Black people and redirected the course of history.

After her arrest, Black people in Montgomery organized and promoted a boycott of the city bus line that lasted 381 days. Inspired by the Montgomery protests, other actions took shape in the form of sit-ins and eat-ins to demand equal rights for all people.

From 1965 to 1988, Mrs. Parks worked for Congressman John Conyers' staff as he represented what was then the First Congressional District of Michigan.

In February 1987, she co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development with Ms. Elaine Eason Steele in honor of her late husband Raymond. The goal of the institute was to motivate and empower youth not targeted by other programs to achieve their highest potential. Mrs. Parks saw the energy of young people as a real force for change.

Mrs. Parks received more than 43 honorary doctorate degrees, hundreds of plaques, certificates, citations, awards, and keys to many cities, such as the NAACP Spingarn Medal, the UAW's Social Justice Award, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Non-Violent Peace Prize, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999.

In September of 1996, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton. In the State of Michigan, the first Monday after February 4 has been designated as Mrs. Rosa Parks Day.

On October 24, 2005, Mrs. Parks peacefully passed away.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of this great civil rights activist by naming the Post Office at 4744 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the Rosa Louise McCauley Parks Post Office Building.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 6614, and I yield back the balance of my time.