Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and celebrate Vincent Augostini, who lost his life due to complications from neurofibromatosis on January 27, 2022.

Vince, as his friends and family called him, was born in Johnson City, New York, on September 7, 1979. He was the seventh child of his mother, Dolores, and father, Louis.

Vince was a quintessential upstate New Yorker. He loved New York and especially the southern tier, where he spent his entire life in his cherished hometown of Johnson City, New York.

Vincent enjoyed all things New York, from our terrific sports teams to our delicious and unique regional food choices. He loved rooting for the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. He savored hearty chicken spiedies, a Binghamton specialty, and enjoyed extra-crispy Buffalo chicken wings.

When he was not watching the Yankees or the Giants, Vince was also a huge fan of professional wrestling. However, few things brought him as much joy as following the New York Yankees, and God loves Yankees fans.

Decked out in Yankees gear, with a large Yankees logo displayed proudly on the back window of his van, Vince made several sacred trips from Johnson City to the Bronx to watch his beloved Bronx Bombers play.

For his 34th birthday, Vince trekked to the Bronx to watch the Yankees take on their biggest rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Before the game, Vince had the special honor of being escorted onto the field at Yankee Stadium, a high pride for him. He continued to attend every Saturday home game at Yankee Stadium until his declining health made it impossible for him to travel.

But the one thing Vince cherished most in the world was his devoted and loving family. As the youngest of seven siblings, the Augostini siblings were a source of mutual love, support, and inspiration to each other.

From family reunions to holidays and birthdays, Vince spent countless hours with his family, especially his mother, Dolores, with whom he shared a special bond.

As Vince's health inevitably declined, Dolores devoted her life to providing him with loving care. The relationship Vince and his mother shared was the epitome of unconditional love.

Even when his health began to deteriorate rapidly, Vince was more worried about his own mother than even about himself. In his final moments on Earth, and as his family tearfully expressed emotional and final good-byes, Vince mouthed the words to all of his brothers: ``Please help Mom.''

Vince was selfless. His courage in the face of a difficult battle to fight a lifelong and terribly debilitating disease is beyond inspiring. Most importantly, despite all the pain he endured throughout his life, Vince was unwavering in his compassion and care for all of those whom he encountered.

Vince was forever grateful for the kindness of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Vince was the 500th kid chosen from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central New York. In November 1997, Vince had the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring his brothers and father to Chicago to meet Bulls superstar, Michael Jordan, the greatest of all time.

Vincent was truly generous at heart and wanted to make sure other children got the same opportunity, which

is why he was a frequent donor to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central New York as well as the Neurofibromatosis Foundation.

Vince spent most of his last 2 years at the Willow Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. However, this did not stop him from doing what he loved: watching sports, eating spiedies and chicken wings, and, of course, loving his family and friends.

The Augostini family wishes to express their immense appreciation to the staff at Willow Point for the loving care that was provided to Vince through his final days on Earth. When the pandemic restrictions prohibited visitors, the staff at Willow Point made extraordinary efforts to ensure that Vince was treated as a family member and had constant virtual access to his own family at home.

Sadly, Vince passed away on January 27, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.

Although neurofibromatosis created many challenges for Vince, he refused to let his disability affect his spirits or his passion for life. He never let the disease define him.

Vince will always be remembered for his infectious smile, his charming sense of humor, and his zest for life.

As President Abraham Lincoln said, in the end, it is not the years in life that count; it is the life in your years. In the short 42 years of his life, Vince made every single day count.

He lived every day with kindness and gratitude. Vince's perseverance and tenaciousness were an inspiration to his family, friends, and all of those who were lucky enough to know him.

I ask today that all of my colleagues join me in observing a moment of silence to remember the incredible life of Vincent Augostini.

To the Augostini family, please know that we send our deepest condolences and prayers. May Vincent rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, on International Women's Day it is fitting that I rise today to honor and remember Mrs. Betty Griffo of Rome, New York, who served our community with distinction.

Mrs. Griffo passed away this January at the age of 94 surrounded by her loving family.

Betty was a hardworking seamstress for 15 years and a woman of great faith, having been a long-time member of the Church of Saint John the Baptist, where she impacted so many lives through her intentions and rosaries.

Betty's personal struggle to fight and defeat cancer is a stirring example of her courage and tenacity. Betty's compassion for others is revealed by her commitment to help so many others through her involvement in the Relay for Life organization.

Betty's legacy of community service has been passed down to her son and my longtime colleague and friend, New York State Senator Joseph Griffo. Betty instilled her wisdom, tenacity, and compassion in Joe, who employs those key qualities each day that he serves us in government.

We are so grateful to Betty, her late husband Joe, and their son, Senator Joe Griffo, for their kindness and generous service to our community.

My deepest condolences to the Griffo family on the loss of Betty Griffo, a beautiful mother, aunt, sister, and deeply devoted community volunteer.

Recognizing Logan Henyan

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Logan Henyan, the Congressional App Challenge winner for New York's 22nd Congressional District.

Logan is not your typical App Challenge participant. I say that, not because he isn't well versed in coding, he certainly is. I say that because Logan is only an eighth grader at Chenango Valley Middle School.

Logan's ``Study Buddy'' app is a student-to-student application. It provides students with much-needed assistance, and it does so while building lasting friendships.

New York's 22nd District has a rich history in the technology sector. It is the birthplace of industry giants like IBM and Singer-Link. The tradition continues now at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, the Marcy Nanocenter, and perhaps most importantly, in the minds of the next generation of inventors and innovators like Logan.

And so I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Logan Henyan and all the competitors in this year's Congressional App Challenge. Thanks to these young people, our future is a bright one.

Recognizing National TRIO Day

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National TRIO Day, which recently took place on February 26.

National TRIO Day recognizes the vital support and assistance that students around the country receive through federally funded TRIO programs. TRIO identifies students from disadvantaged backgrounds and provides them with the skills, training, and support to excel academically and personally.

This National TRIO Day, my team attended a TRIO Day celebration at the newly named Utica University, a great institution in the heart of my district. Students who benefited from TRIO-funded programs shared their experiences alongside faculty mentors and community members.

We are honored that in our community, Utica University operates a Student Support Services program that guides 140 low-income and first- generation students through their academic development. The program ensures students meet basic college requirements and successfully complete their post-secondary education. All of this is made possible by TRIO grants.

It is a privilege to see firsthand the positive impacts of the TRIO program in our community. Thank you to Utica University President Laura Casamento, a friend, for her vision and leadership.

I strongly support TRIO's mission, and I applaud my colleagues in this Chamber for their continued bipartisan support of this proven program.

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

Mr. Speaker, we all believe that all people have inherent dignity and possess equal human rights. We all reject violence directed at individuals on the basis of their race, religion, biological sex, or sexual orientation. The problem with this bill, however, is that it borrows language from two existing laws: the Global Magnitsky Act and the so-called Section 7031(c) sanctions, and then creates a new reporting mechanism that is not focused on the human rights of all, but rather the human rights of particular groups.

I don't see why we should focus on some human rights violations more than any others. Every person's human rights are of equal value and certain violations of those rights should not be subordinate to others.

Furthermore, the bill's broad language has the potential to sweep in nonviolent conduct and impose visa restrictions on individuals engaged in that conduct.

For example, it speaks about ``complicity'' and ``cruel treatment,'' vague terms. Is a parent overseas who rejects her minor child's wish for a sex change operation complicit in cruelty? Is the Pope engaged in ``degrading treatment'' when he expresses opposition to same-sex marriage based on the tenets of his religious faith?

Mr. Speaker, there are no safeguards in the bill that address these situations. When free speech, religious freedom, and parental rights' protections were proposed to be added to the bill, the Democrats balked and voted against it. They preach tolerance until they are asked to vote on it.

Regardless of the author's intent, which I think is good, there are people that will use the bill to target their political and ideological opponents in the culture wars. The bill's author will say that there should be no problem since it just uses the very same language as other human rights statutes, but those existing provisions already address and punish the conduct this bill targets.

So, the real question is, why is this bill so necessary? In the committee report, Democrats acknowledge the bill is redundant. But in search of some--any, perhaps--rationale, they claim that not enough sanctions have been rolled out that cover crimes committed against LGBT-identifying individuals. That is simply not true.

We know, for example, under the Trump administration, groups and individuals from Chechnya were sanctioned under Global Magnitsky for human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and the torture of LGBT-identifying individuals.

The former Gambian President was also sanctioned after having rounded up people based on sexual orientation and after making shocking statements against LGBT-identifying individuals. These sanctions, as I said, were imposed under the Trump administration, but even more have been imposed, using the Global Magnitsky Act, under President Biden.

We know, based on a recent Global Magnitsky report to Congress that came out a few weeks ago, individuals last year in places like Cuba, Uganda, and even Bangladesh have been sanctioned, and all are associated with groups or conduct targeting LGBT-identifying individuals.

So, this bill is clearly unnecessary. It reflects and represents the administration's aggressive attempts to push the envelope regarding culture war issues at every possible juncture, not only domestically but abroad.

That is distracting and requires diplomats to devote time and resources to culture war issues at the expense of attention paid to China, Russia, Iran, the quagmire in Afghanistan, and the crisis at our southern border.

It is disappointing that as Ukraine is on the verge of being invaded by Russia, as North Korea continues to conduct ballistic missile tests, as illegal aliens stream through our southern border--some on our terror watch list--the majority has decided now is the time to bring this bill forward.

The State Department agrees. It has reviewed the Global Respect Act and recommended extensive changes, signaling it, too, sees this bill as superfluous, potentially misguided, and definitely duplicative. Other groups have said much the same, including The Heritage Foundation, the Center for Family and Human Rights, Concerned Women for America, and the Family Research Council.

Although I agree with the sentiment that human rights violations of any kind are deplorable and despicable, the devil is really in the details on this bill. We oppose this bill for the reasons I have stated.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's passion, and I support his support of condemning and sanctioning these terrible acts against the LGBT community.

I just wanted to let the Speaker know, in the newest Global Magnitsky Act report, which was just released a few weeks ago and covers 2021, sanctions were imposed on Cuban police; in Uganda, the Chief of the Military Intelligence; also in Bangladesh, the Rapid Action Battalion.

All of these were associated with LGBT causes, which means this act is being used to sanction those who commit acts of violence of any kind against people of the LGBT community. I just wanted to make sure that the gentleman is aware of that. The State Department is already reporting and already doing this, and it is being done.

Though I support everything that he is stating here, it is already being done. In the interest of good legislation, we don't want to overburden our bureaucrats and people that are working on these issues. Also, reporting, they have indicated that additional reporting requirements only take more time out of the organization.

I do appreciate the messaging from the gentleman from Rhode Island. It is very important that we signal to the world that we condemn acts against the LGBT community. The problem is, we already have this, and we already have the ability and two tools that are very effective and used internationally to condemn these acts.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I support the underlying idea behind the bill, and I really appreciate the passion of the sponsor and those speaking out on behalf of it and protecting the human rights of all individuals living abroad and holding violators accountable. But as I have said, we have a strong difference of opinion about whether a bill that is duplicative of current law is necessary.

I think the Global Respect Act, at the moment, the way it is drafted is counterproductive insofar as it would create a separate regime aimed at protecting human rights of some rather than human rights of all. And I fear it could be used to target the left's political opponents in the culture wars.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, just to respond a little bit to the sponsor, and, again, I can't say enough that we support and echo the sentiments of protecting the rights of the LGBT community around the world and at home.

But this bill actually mirrors the Global Magnitsky Act, and the language is the same. So it is kind of hard to argue we should just have another set of standards and require even more reporting from a State Department that is overwhelmed by issues around the world when we already have this.

Mr. Speaker, if you look at these instances, the State Department doesn't disclose necessarily what the nature of it is because of the confidentiality, but if you actually go into a Google search and look at the reporting in each of these countries, they are all based on conduct against people with LGBT leanings, and that is why the act was used. The State Department preserves confidentiality.

So in the end, yes, we are using this act right now, today, to condemn and to sanction this activity against the LGBTQ communities around the world. So I oppose the en bloc of amendments. While some of the amendments are well-intentioned, they are ultimately duplicative and unnecessary, again, just like the underlying act. They require the Department of State to do what it is already doing in practice.

For example, the Gottheimer amendment No. 2 requires a study examining risks to LGBTQI individuals. The State Department publishes its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices each year, including this data, and they just provided another report recently.

Human rights officers who are stationed at our embassies and consulates around the world meet routinely with local activists and local officials to gain this information. They talk to individuals on the ground to compile these reports, which are detailed and comprehensive. Each regional bureau in the Department is involved in this process. This amendment, therefore, calls for the Department to do what it is already doing, and is burdensome on the Foreign Service officers and career officials.

Other amendments, like the Harder amendment No. 7, also very well- intentioned and also messaging in a very positive way, show that the Democrats know they have overreached on the bill. The Harder amendment prevents sanctions against any individual based solely upon religious belief.

I agree with this sentiment, but at markup, Democrats rejected a very similar religious freedom and free speech amendment offered by Representative Scott Perry. The rationale was: Well, this bill just isn't about that. Well, it seems one of their colleagues disagrees.

While I appreciate the Democrats are willing to acknowledge some of the flaws in the bill, the Harder amendment is also insufficient. The amendment speaks only of religious belief. It does not speak to situations in which religious adherents manifest or express their beliefs in daily life.

So under Representative Harder's amendment, a person who expresses belief in the traditional family, or in conventional human biology, could still be sanctioned because sanctions would not be based on beliefs but, rather, on actions.

This amendment is not as robust as the measure that Representative Perry put forward at markup, and we have no choice but to oppose it.

This en bloc does not contain amendments that would enhance the legislation, in our opinion. Instead, these amendments seek to add safeguards to a bill that, as I have explained, is duplicative, unnecessary, and even dangerous insofar as it can be used by the left to target political opponents in the international culture wars.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for yielding. It is just an honor to serve with you and also to serve with our great colleague, Byron Donalds from Florida. I thank the gentleman for hosting this very important Special Order to celebrate and recognize Black History Month.

Upstate New York has a strong abolitionist history, and I am honored to highlight the stories of our region's abolitionist heroes today. These individuals played a pivotal role in bringing our Nation's founding ideals to fruition following the brutal failure of slavery in our early days.

Not many people outside New York realize just how rich our history is within the abolitionist movement. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to visit a few of these sites with Congressman Owens back in October which we later recalled and memorialized on the House floor in January in another Special Order. Many of these sites, such as the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, are located in the heart of my district in Peterboro, Madison County, New York.

The Gerrit Smith Estate is named for Gerrit Smith, a wealthy New York landowner and one-term Member of the House of Representatives, who, coincidentally, represented the 26th District, as I do now. Smith put his wealth to good use by fervently supporting the abolitionist movement. He truly put his wealth behind his beliefs and promoted the rights of individuals to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

For nearly 40 years, Smith dedicated his whole heart to the abolitionist cause. Other notable abolitionist heroes such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, all made their way to the Smith Estate at one point or another to participate in Smith's good work.

Peterboro, New York, became a haven for fugitive slaves because of Gerrit Smith's courage and undying vision for a better, more equal America. Gerrit donated much of his farmland to escaped slaves so they could become self-sufficient and avoid slave hunters. Gerrit Smith also supported Frederick Douglass' newspaper, The North Star, and gave him what would be the equivalent of about $7,000 a month in today's dollars, and kept that newspaper going to inform the public about what was happening in the abolitionist movement.

His home became a stop along the famous underground railroad where people would come for shelter, food, and support. Hundreds of enslaved people found their way to freedom because of Gerrit Smith's valor and generosity. Down the road in Peterboro you will find the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum. This fixture of the community is located in the same building where the first-ever meeting of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society was held in 1835.

Because of their importance to the movement, both the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum now are listed as 2 of the 22 sites on the New York State Underground Railroad Heritage Trail.

The abolitionist Reverend Henry Highland Garnet once told an old friend by the name of Frederick Douglass: There are two places where slaveholders cannot come. There is Heaven, and there is Peterboro. We are so proud to have Peterboro in our district.

I am so honored that I got to stand there below that sign with my great colleague, Burgess Owens from Utah. Gerrit Smith and the New York State Anti-Slavery Society surely are to thank for that. We also want to celebrate Black History Month and recognize the many accomplishments of so many Black Americans.

Another one of them just outside my district is Harriet Tubman, where she spent a lot of her later years, a woman who lived to be 92; and you have heard Congressman Owens talk about her and me as well in Special Orders, but truly a remarkable person. We stood in awe of Harriet Tubman's accomplishments, her tenacity. She was strong, she was compassionate, she was courageous, she was kind. And not only did she serve as a conductor of the underground railroad, among so many accomplishments, she also freed countless slaves. She worked as a scout, a spy, and a nurse in the Union Army. At her core, Harriet Tubman was a woman of such deep compassion and care for everyone around her.

In her later years, she helped so many who came through her home in Auburn, New York, providing them shelter, medical attention, and just undying love. Despite the obstacles she faced, Harriet Tubman never gave up nor was she ever consumed by anger or cynicism. She led with integrity and was incredibly resilient. She is a tremendous role model for all of us today.

As I have said before, the way to improve our Nation is not to cynically tear down our institutions or erase and rewrite our history, but rather to take inspiration from the ideals of our Founding, and those who persevered with great courage to fight for a better future against so much that was against them.

People like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman are just great Americans, tremendous Americans and part of our history, and so many contributed to their ability to achieve the goals to finally eradicating slavery and bringing us where we are today in celebrating Black History Month for such a long period of time in our country, as Congressman Clyburn mentioned earlier.

I just want to thank Congressman Donalds and also Congressman Owens for their great leadership on behalf of our side of the aisle, and also just on representing and protecting our institutions of freedom, human rights, individual rights, and all that they do as great Americans. I am honored to be able to be here with them today. I thank you so much again for your great generosity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3076, the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act.

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to establish post offices and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for executing that task. Yes, the U.S. Postal Service, like the Department of Defense, is a constitutionally created entity.

As a lawyer and longtime small business owner and publisher of a direct mailed newspaper, the importance of access to our unique system of universal mail via the United States Postal Service is a game changer.

Affordable and reliable mail service has given small businesses and entrepreneurs a level playing field that would be eliminated if the Postal Service were to be replaced by other more expensive private options.

Seniors and vulnerable citizens rely on the Postal Service for access to prescriptions. Small businesses and farmers rely on the post office to provide reliable and affordable daily delivery. Families across America, and especially rural America, need the Postal Service to stay connected here and around the world.

This bill ensures the U.S. Postal Service can continue delivering universal mail services for years to come by alleviating financial burdens and increasing transparency and accountability.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as a cosponsor of

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Mrs. Shirley Waters of Rome, New York, for her outstanding leadership and service.

Sadly, Mrs. Waters passed away this December at the age of 100, leaving a legacy of service whose impact is felt throughout our entire area.

Shirley and her late husband, George Waters, have been devoted pillars of our community. The Waters family has owned and published the Rome Daily Sentinel newspaper since 1928. Shirley served as the vice president until her retirement in 2012.

Our family also published a newspaper in central New York, and I have always been inspired by Shirley's endless energy, good humor, and, yes, strong opinions on many subjects--a woman after my own heart.

I have also always been inspired by Shirley's tenacity and commitment to informing our community with depth and integrity, something that the Rome Daily Sentinel has always done throughout its history.

In addition to being a publisher, Shirley was a beloved mother of five who was active in her church and a member of our local artist community. Shirley's paintings hang in galleries in our region and live on to evoke wonder and inspire serenity to so many.

Shirley was also an honored member of the Order of Saint Barbara, as well as an honorary member of the Northeast Air Defense Sector. Shirley even helped secure the B-52 bomber displayed in Rome at the entrance to the former Griffiss Air Force Base, which she obtained from the national B-52 museum committee.

On behalf of our community and those in the news business who are committed to serving the public as true members of the fourth estate, we are grateful to Shirley Waters for being our standard-bearer. We are also grateful to her for her distinguished service to our community beyond her role as a newspaper publisher.

Her legacy will continue to live on in so many important ways, from the great newspaper she leaves, the Rome Daily Sentinel, to her work which she also loved, to her works of art that are exhibited throughout our region, and her strong belief in our region's greatness and history.

My deepest condolences to the Waters family on the loss of this wonderful, venerable wife, mother, grandmother, and tenacious community leader with a wonderful sense of humor.

Recognition of Trooper Kevin Beach

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rome Police Chief Kevin Beach who will retire at the end of January after an incredible career and true devotion to public service.

Kevin first joined the Rome Police Department in September of 1994, following in his father's footsteps. Kevin's father, Bruce, also served the department for many years. Kevin showed leadership early on the job and was promoted quickly to the rank of detective after only 6 years.

In 2005, Kevin was appointed detective commander and then deputy chief in 2007. In 2008, he was appointed as the youngest police chief in the history of the city of Rome.

At just 36, Kevin had served the department for only 14 years but was picked for the top spot because of his exemplary track record and strong leadership skills. Kevin's hard work, dedication, and love for the city was evident every day he was on the job.

During his tenure as chief, the department introduced community programs such as Shop with a Cop, Law Enforcement Day, and the creation of a Community Impact Unit. Kevin has also successfully navigated the department through difficult times through the COVID-19 pandemic and the national defund the police movement.

Kevin, thank you for your lifetime of service and commitment to the city of Rome. We are grateful for your devotion to service on behalf of your community. I also want to thank you for your friendship and sage counsel to me and so many others during your important work as our chief. May you enjoy a productive and healthy retirement.

Recognition of Trooper David Draudt

Madam Speaker, it is often said that law enforcement officers work for a cause, not applause. This is certainly true and today I would like to recognize a trooper from the southern tier of New York's 22nd district who deserves our applause.

Trooper David Draudt went to work on the morning of November 29 with the intent to protect and serve. Yet, on that day Trooper Draudt not only protected and served his community, but he also called on his extensive training to courageously save the life of an unresponsive 2- year-old boy who had choked himself into unconsciousness. Trooper Draudt didn't lace up his boots that morning intent on saving a life. But that is exactly what he did.

Law enforcement officers do not have the opportunity of choosing who or what they encounter each day. They rely on their training and their knowledge and their experiences to respond with honor, courage, and integrity and, of course, compassion to whatever situation may arise. On November 29, that is exactly what Trooper Draudt did.

Today, our cause is applause; applause not just for Trooper Draudt who saved the life of a child, but to all who answer the call to serve.

Mr. Speaker, it is Groundhog Day again on the House floor. Yet again, our Democratic colleagues continue to gaslight the American people by claiming that despite record turnout in recent elections, Republicans are scheming to steal the sacred right to vote from our fellow citizens.

What is their solution to the problem, which they assure you is very real? It just so happens to be a partisan Federal takeover of elections that empowers unelected bureaucrats in Washington to oversee local elections and overturn popular voting protection laws. That is not democracy; that is a violation of our Constitution.

The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which was deceitfully added to a NASA leasing authorities bill in the dead of night, is a transparent attempt to diminish the voting power of law-abiding American citizens.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are right about one thing. Democracy and the principle of ``one citizen, one vote'' are indeed being threatened. The Democrats are, in fact, cynically championing this effort in spite of the fact that the Democratic voters in New York State, a highly blue Democratic State, rejected the very provisions in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act by a substantial margin in a referendum vote just this past election.

With every attempt to allow noncitizens to vote and with each push to ban commonsense voter identification laws, Democrats in Congress and in places like New York City attack and erode election integrity.

By the way, Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states and protects the rights of our States to determine voting laws and practices. However, the legislation before us today would force upon the Nation a laundry list of damaging Federal policies, creating chaos and insecurity in our elections, making it easier to cheat, and overriding basic election integrity measures.

This assault must be stopped. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this misguided legislation.

Madam Speaker, once again, we find ourselves on the floor of the House of Representatives debating legislation to enact the great takeover of elections by partisan Federal bureaucrats and their friends across the aisle and prohibit the most basic voting rights and security measures entrusted to the States and the American people.

The so-called Freedom to Vote Act: John R. Lewis Act, which Democrats hope to attach as a rider to nongermane legislation, will undermine the very integrity of our elections, not improve and increase access to voting, a mission we all share.

The right to vote is sacred and represents the most important expression of self-governance as American citizens. This legislation will further erode the confidence of the voters who have already lost faith in our ability to ensure free and fair elections.

President Biden and his allies in Congress are yet again pushing unconstitutional legislation to ban popular voter ID laws and mandate ballot harvesting. This includes States that have already passed these commonsense laws to bolster election integrity and guarantee that each citizen is guaranteed one vote in each election, not more than one.

This legislation also burdens the American taxpayer with the obligation to fund political campaigns, even for those whom they don't support. Worse, this pair of bills will open the door for noncitizens to vote, thus undermining and diluting the power of sworn citizens to control their government.

In my home State, Democrats--one-party rule in New York City; one- party rule in Albany--are already enacting these radical policies that drive a dagger into the heart of self-governance. This deliberate act to erode our democracy and to weaken the voting power of American citizens is not only wrong; it is unconstitutional.

Article II of the New York State Constitution explicitly states that: ``Every citizen shall be entitled to vote at every election . . .'' Section 5-102 of New York Election Law states: ``No person shall be qualified to register for and vote at any election unless he'' or she ``is a citizen of the United States . . .'' Finally, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution also protects the right of all eligible citizens to vote.

Subversive legislation, such as the law allowing noncitizens to vote signed recently into law in New York City, and most of the provisions that we are debating today, will, if passed, undermine the core principles of freedom and individual rights that are enshrined and protected by our constitutional Republic.

In fact, a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that a mere 20 percent of the public was very confident in the integrity of our election system.

Our democratic principles and the belief in the idea of ``one person, one

vote'' are under attack. When our citizens lose faith in the integrity of our elections, this is what happens.

We are at a crossroads.

Too many precious American souls have sacrificed life and limb to protect our sacred right to vote. Now is the time to choose self-governance by, of, and for the people, not a takeover and surrender to partisan bureaucrats.

Mr. Speaker, in life there are names that once spoken give rise to great emotion. The name ``Randy Potter'' is one of those names in our community.

Today, I recognize the life of one of Upstate New York's most colorful and original characters, Randy Potter. Simply mentioning Randy's name puts smiles on the faces of all who knew him. Seeing his crazy hair and fun attire always covered in campaign slogans and buttons put a smile on the faces of people who didn't know him.

Randy was a music aficionado and a diehard Grateful Dead fan who attended hundreds of concerts, and he will always be fondly remembered for his love of music. He also enjoyed sports, and it didn't matter which team was playing; as long as it was a New York team, Randy was always their biggest fan.

Perhaps most importantly to Randy, he was someone who cared a lot about our community and about politics and the importance of government, and our community depended on him to get the message out.

Sadly, Mr. Potter passed away quietly on the evening of December 23. A treasure trove of stories, jokes, and the smiles of many, many residents across

Upstate and Central New York will be remembered by our loss of Randy Potter. Today, we remember his life and the many moments of joy he shared throughout our community. May we all learn a lesson from his life and zest for sparking joy and laughter in those around him.

Recognizing the Life of Joe Fusco, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tragic passing of one of my district's great public servants, the Honorable Joseph Fusco, Jr., the former mayor of Rome, New York.

Mayor Fusco was a dedicated public servant, who led an incredible life. He first served as Rome City councilman and then as the 42nd mayor of Rome from 2011 to 2015, a job he performed with integrity, passion, and determination.

Joe led by example. He was always a smiling face and a helping hand. He oversaw the completion of the Mohawk River Trail, and in what little spare time he had, would participate in volunteer work across the community. He also hosted a terrific charity motorcycle ride across our beautiful region, an event I always looked forward to participating in each year. His dedication to public service carries on through his son, Joseph, III, who became a Rome firefighter in 2007.

I have no doubt that Rome, New York, is a better place because of the legacy of Mayor Fusco and the legacy that he leaves behind. I also extend my deepest condolences to Mayor Fusco's family, as they are grieving deeply at this time. This includes his beloved wife and dear friend, Laurie, his son, Joe, and many grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by many. Again, his legacy will not be forgotten.

Recognizing Priscilla ``Peep'' Williams for her Athletic and Academic

Achievements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Priscilla, also known as Peep, Williams, a standout athlete and student from New York's 22nd District.

As an 8th grader in 2017, Peep was named to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Lacrosse Girls National Middle School Team. From there, the honors just keep pouring in.

As a freshman in the spring of 2019, Peep stormed into the Seton Academy lacrosse scene, breaking the school's individual scoring record that was previously held by Seton's first Naval Academy appointee, who also happened to be her big sister, Maddie, who I had the distinguished honor of recommending an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Peep is a 2021 USA Lacrosse Academic All-American and a member of the U-18 National Team. In this year's off season, Peep also won the New York State Sectional Tennis Championship. Ms. Williams recently signed her letter of intent to travel nearly 3,000 miles from home where she will play for an institution with a standard of excellence in both athletics and academics, the Stanford Cardinals.

Please join me in congratulating Peep and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors and know she will continue to represent our community with grace and determination. I wish the best to her parents, wonderful members of our community as well.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials.

Madam Speaker, today is a very special day. I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Congressman Burgess Owens. Burgess Owens and I are leading the charge here in Congress to tell the courageous stories of America's abolitionist heroes, particularly those from upstate New York.

It was an honor for me to welcome Burgess recently, in October, to upstate New York to tour our region's sacred abolitionist sites, including the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and the National Abolition Hall of Fame in Peterboro, as well as the home of abolitionist, suffragette, and true American heroine Harriet Tubman.

Opposite me, there is a photo here of Gerrit Smith. This is a picture of Gerrit Smith from Peterboro. Peterboro is named after his father, a guy named Peter Smith, and I just wanted to tell a little bit about how this all happened in Peterboro, New York. I am sure a lot of people don't know the history.

It all kind of started with an abolitionist named Reverend Henry Highland, who told his good friend Frederick Douglass, when describing Peterboro, New York--which, by the way, I am honored to represent here in Congress. Many people don't even realize this little hamlet of Peterboro, up in bucolic Madison County, which happens to be my mother's home county, played a vitally important role during the abolitionist movement.

This was in large part due to one of its most famous residents, Gerrit Smith. As I said, the little hamlet of Peterboro was named in honor of his father.

Mr. Smith was a successful businessman and a committed philanthropist. He previously served this body, actually, as a Representative from New York's 22nd Congressional District, the same district that I currently represent. He was also a three-time Presidential candidate.

Gerrit Smith always opposed slavery, but he firmly joined the political cause of abolitionism in 1835. He was at a meeting of about 600 abolitionists in a church in the nearby city of Utica, which is in Oneida County. Upon learning of the meeting, a violent mob stormed the church and disrupted the proceedings, forcing the abolitionists to flee.

Smith realized then that he could put his wealth and property to use. He invited the abolitionists to his home in Peterboro. A year later, he was elected president of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society. The rest, as they say, is history. We are going to tell you a little bit about that today with Congressman Owens.

In Smith's view, slavery was completely incompatible not only with our founding documents but also with the natural laws of God. We were born free, and no law or institution could take away another man or woman's innate right to freedom.

From 1835 until his death in 1874, Gerrit Smith dedicated his whole heart to the abolitionist cause, and Peterboro was his base of operation. Giants like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Elizabeth Cady--eventually Stanton, whose husband, Henry Stanton, was actually a cousin of Smith's--spent considerable time there, strategizing and mobilizing support.

Gerrit Smith played a key role in funding abolitionist causes across our country. Smith maintained a lifelong friendship with Frederick Douglass and provided funding and other support to The North Star, which was Douglass' abolitionist newspaper. In today's terms, Gerrit Smith would be considered a billionaire, and he gave what then was $100 a month to Frederick Douglass' cause to pay for his newspaper, which in today's dollars, with inflation, would be about $7,000 per month to make sure that this newspaper was able to continue to thrive and flourish and inform people.

In a letter from Douglass following Smith's death in 1874, Douglas credited Smith's generous support as the financial engine that kept his abolitionist movement going.

Smith's estate in Peterboro was also a stop along the Underground Railroad. As enslaved people made their way north to Canada, Smith would offer them shelter, food, and support. Exact numbers are hard to come by, but it is safe to say Smith bought and helped secure the freedom of hundreds of enslaved people from around the country.

This is why Reverend Henry Highland said: ``There are yet two places where slaveholders cannot come, Heaven and Peterboro.'' Peterboro was synonymous with freedom.

Just a short drive from Gerrit Smith's estate in upstate New York is the home of another titan of the abolitionist movement, the great Harriet Tubman. Like Congressman Owens, this was my first visit to Harriet Tubman's home in Auburn. I want to show you a little picture of mighty Harriet Tubman, who is an amazing figure. I may have to go back to some of these. This is a great photo of Congressman Owens and me at Harriet Tubman's

home in Auburn, New York, where we were able to tour and see where she lived and where she operated her Underground Railroad, right in our own communities.

This was an amazing experience. I was in awe of Harriet Tubman, her accomplishments, and her tenacity. She had every reason to be in despair. She was strong; she was compassionate; she was generous; and she was only 4'11``, which is amazing.

The home we visited was where Harriet spent her later years, after she escaped slavery in Maryland, served as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, and then a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War.

Harriet lived for almost a century. She was 91, almost 92 years old. She was an indomitable force. She was the first Black woman to lead a combat assault, organizing about 150 Black Union troops on a raid in South Carolina. She later freed 750 enslaved people as part of that operation.

She suffered from narcolepsy her adult life after being hit by a metal weight when she was a teenager. Despite this, she persevered. She brought at least 70 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad and never lost a single passenger.

At her core, Harriet was a woman of compassion. In her later years she helped so many who came through her home in Auburn providing them shelter, medical attention, and love.

Despite the obstacles she faced, Harriet Tubman never gave up, nor was she ever consumed by anger or cynicism. She led with integrity and was incredibly resilient, and she is certainly an amazing role model for all of us.

It was important to tell Gerrit Smith's story and Harriet Tubman's stories, and now more than ever we must understand our shared history and learn from those who came before us.

Our great Nation was founded on the promise that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No other republic before ours guaranteed such rights to its citizens. In fact, before America, there were no citizens at all, only subjects.

Yet in the earliest days of our Nation's founding, it is clear we failed to live up to our ideals. We failed to end the slave trade or to free those who were tied down in bondage. While this grave mistake will forever be part of our history, so, too, will be the courageous stories of Gerrit Smith, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and so many more Americans of different races, creeds, and religions who fought for a better America.

Gerrit Smith and Harriet Tubman personify the spirit of America, and their stories should be a lesson to all of us. Their tenacity, their relentlessness, and their pursuit of ideals are everything that we strive to be as Americans.

As Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently said, While we as Americans have failed to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence time and again, there is no time in our history when those ideals themselves have actually failed us. The Declaration and its principles endure because they articulate a fundamental truth that all people are born free and equal.

Like Gerrit and Harriet did as citizens of this country we must commit ourselves to the great American project of making sure we live up to our ideals. These ideals are sacred, and the abolitionists who gathered in Peterboro changed the world and they were the authors of our future, and we must thank God that we have the freedom to fight every day to strengthen our institutions and make this a much more perfect Union.

Madam Speaker, I want to end by thanking those who made our recent visit possible and welcomed Congressman Owens and I on that cold day in October before I yield to him, but I just want to recognize these great people who spend and devote their life to this history.

First is Norman Dann. He was one of our tour guides at Peterboro and the author of ``Practical Dreamer, Gerrit Smith and the Crusade for Social Reform.''

Alden Max Smith, another one of our guides, as well as the cabinet member of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, which is also in Peterboro.

Dorothy Willsey, another fantastic tour guide and president of the National Abolition Hall of Fame.

John Becker, chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors for meeting us there and also for making this all possible.

Cliff Moses, vice-chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors.

Mary Cavanaugh, city of Oneida, wards 1, 2, 3 supervisor, who also greeted us there and toured with us.

Yvonne Nirelli, the former supervisor of the Town of Lincoln, who also greeted us and toured with us.

Matt Roberts, city of Oneida supervisor for wards 1, 2, and 3, another person who came to tour with us and was fascinated again by this amazing little hamlet in upstate New York.

Matthew Urtz, our Madison County historian, who was completely intrigued and so excited to welcome the great Burgess Owens, who is going to be talking a little more on this today.

Karol Kucinski, trustee at the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.

And Nell Ziegler, the President of the Smithfield Community Association and owner and manager of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark.

For more information about the Gerrit Smith Estate and the beautiful hamlet of Peterboro, I encourage you to visit www.gerritsmith.org. I also want to thank Karen V. Hill, president and CEO of the Harriet Tubman Home, as well as our fantastic tour guides who shared their knowledge and passion with us again on this beautiful cold day.

There it is again, this photo of our tour of Peterboro. It was wonderful to have Burgess Owens there, a really special moment for all of us.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), who I think this was a great experience for him. I think he never realized what existed up in upstate New York. And that is why we want everyone in the world to know just how important it is that we learn our history and we celebrate everyone who had a path and who had courage and who had the tenacity and the boldness to stand up for what was right against the grain at a very difficult time in our country. I have one little thing for you, too. I have a special Harriet Tubman pad for you I grabbed.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those great words and for bringing up so many people. And, again, our community was so honored to have you there.

To have you at Peterboro and to have more people discover and have this audience around our country and the world watching know that there are great people out there that did care about the cause of freedom. You brought up Martin Luther King, and I always remember studying him when I was a college student, and just discovering his great relationship with Gandhi and talking about peace and peaceful protests and how important it was. And how that is a founding principle of our country.

Just to have you there in Peterboro meant so much. Everyone in Peterboro was so excited to have you there. People are recognizing that there are people that are not on everyone's radar, on the national radar, but there are people that have done great things, that are doing it quietly but they are doing it for a great cause.

And those little acts, like you just mentioned, the administrator that let your dad into Ohio State, you will never know who it was, but that person enabled us to have the great Burgess Owens here today.

I agree. I think we have to focus on the people who are helping us, not the people who aren't. And I think that this is what we wanted to do today, and we are grateful to you to be able to focus on people who actually help, not the people tearing us down, the people trying to bring our country to its knees, but people trying to make us rise up and be better, and be a better America than we are today. And that is our striving for our future. That is what we want our children to be. We want America to be better for our children and our grandchildren.

And I think by recognizing that there were great people in our past who have done amazing things who never got the recognition, but often those people go unnoticed. And I think that is why it meant so much for us to have you there.

Madam Speaker, I urge anyone if you want to come up on a beautiful fall day, or you can come in the warm summer days, it is a little warmer--it is a little snowy right now--to come to visit Peterboro and meet with some our great docents, who I mentioned in my remarks, who are studying and uncovering documents and trying to show the true history so we understand it and so we can learn from it.

Even though I had been to Peterboro when I was younger--I knew about it when I was a kid because it was my mom's home county--I never knew the depth of it, or I learned so much more just by that experience. And I am sure if I go again to the Abolitionist Hall of Fame, I think I would learn even more there. But just learning about Harriet Tubman and going to her house and being in the same room where you know that she was providing so much aid and comfort and love to people she didn't know but people she believed in and knew needed to understand and feel that taste of freedom, just standing there with you and the people that worked there and how much it meant to them, they conveyed that sort of, you know, that wonderful feeling to us as well.

So I feel like I just would love to have everyone come and have that experience. And anywhere else in the country, we would love to encourage our colleagues to come out and tell us about great experiences and great Americans that are out there that might not get the recognition. They might not be getting the clicks on twitter or Facebook or social media, but there are people out there doing great works and uncovering great heroism.

We can't wait to have you back.

And also, I just think about that last moment when we were in Gerrit Smith Estate, in the barn. We went back in the barn and we saw these conditions where horses and mules were put, and that they actually had to hide people in there.

We came out of the barn, and there was this gleaming sunlight on us on that cold day. And I looked above, and there was a sign that said ``Heaven in Peterboro,'' the two places where the slaves were safe and symbolized freedom.

So it was just an honor for me to represent the community. And then to have you standing there with that gleaming sunlight on us and knowing that so many people in our past, that was their gateway to freedom and gateway to finding a new life, I think it was a tremendous experience. We hope maybe you can come again and we can invite our colleagues and others to come and experience Peterboro.

And Harriet Tubman's home, of course.

Yes, thank you. And what a great discovery it was, just sitting on the floor of the House Chamber, Burgess and I. And I said, you have never been to Peterboro? How about this?

Who would think that I would be hosting a famous person like Burgess Owens, a hero in our communities, in my own little community, and that we would have that common bond with Harriet Tubman.

But we are grateful. We are just grateful for you and your service and everyone here. And I just hope that my colleagues and anyone who wants to join Peterboro--again, I hate to do too much of a pitch--but go to www.gerritsmith.org. It is an amazing place. It is humble, but it is just majestic and the accomplishments that were made in that wonderful place.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Burgess, for joining us, and thank him for everything he has done, for standing courageously and boldly for our communities and for our country, and standing up for our Constitution and freedom. Because that is really what is going to unite us.

Let's talk about what unites us, not what divides us. We have a lot of great history that can really bring us together in the future. And so I thank you.

Thank you so much. The honor is all mine.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Estes for holding this Special Order. We really appreciate his remembrances and so many Members remembering Senator Robert Dole as his body lies in state at our Nation's Capitol. This is an honor we reserve for only the most deserving Americans who have rendered such great service to our country. Senator Dole has rightfully earned this honor.

Bob Dole's life displayed courage of the highest order. As a young man, he fought in World War II and was wounded in northern Italy. He carried his wounds for the rest of his life with grace, dignity, and great compassion. Bob Dole became a champion for veterans and those living with disabilities.

The shadow of Senator Dole's political career looms large. His tremendous influence on American political life over the last half century does not need to be restated. For now, I will say this: That from Presidential campaigns to the Senate floor, Bob Dole was an unyielding opponent, a steadfast ally, a fearless leader, and also a person with a tremendous sense of humor.

Even in that generation we call the Greatest Generation, Bob Dole stood above the rest. He was a paragon of courage, class, and patriotism. As a stalwart conservative, he was able to work with both Democrats and Republicans to enact positive legislation that improved life for all Americans.

Senator Dole's compass was never swayed by popular opinion or political expedience. He stayed the course and kept his focus on the eternal principles our Founders set forth, principles of liberty, integrity, and dignity. His unwavering commitment to these principles propelled him to great heights on the national and world stages, but this humble Kansan never allowed himself to grow haughty or self- absorbed. If anything, his historic career only made him even more modest.

This week, we lost Senator Dole at the age of 98. His body lies in the Capitol rotunda, and it is fitting for us to honor him in this way. His death is a reminder that each of us in this body must do what we can to carry on his work of protecting and defending the United States with integrity, compassion, courage, and honor.

Bob Dole was a patriot, a public servant, and a gentleman, and this Nation will always be grateful for the incredible life he led.

World War II veterans are also special in my heart, particularly in my community where I had the privilege of being involved with bringing veterans to the World War II Memorial in many trips that we had in the 2000s when President Bush was in office.

We took them to the World War II Memorial, where I know that Bob Dole greeted them. We also took them on a nice dinner cruise on the Potomac, which they enjoyed, and also visits to the White House. Like all of these wonderful World War II veterans, they were much like Senator Dole, really, truly of the Greatest Generation.

I just want to say to Senator Dole: We salute you. May God rest your soul. May God bless your family and this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize three New York State Section Four high school teams. This past weekend, for the first time since 2019, hundreds of players, coaches, parents, and fans from across the great State of New York returned to Syracuse University's Carrier Dome to compete for a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Football Championship.

This past Friday, the Class D, 12-win, undefeated Tioga Tigers, led by Head Coach Nick Aiello, roared to victory with a 27-0 victory over the Moriah Vikings, winning their second State championship in school history.

Saturday's games would bring more fun to New York State's 22nd District. First, the fourth-seeded Class C, 12-and-1 Blue Devils of Chenango Forks, led by Head Coach David Hogan, played a rematch of their 2019 championship game, and again beat the Schuylerville Horses, this time with a convincing 21-0 shutout victory.

And last, but certainly not least, the 13-and-1, Class B, Maine- Endwell Spartans, led by Head Coach Matt Gallagher, came back from a 12-7 halftime deficit, to outscore the Pleasantville Panthers 14-0 in the second half, winning their first State championship since 2014.

One State, 27 congressional representatives, five championship divisions, and New York State's 22nd district took home the trophies in three of four divisions we competed in.

Congratulations to all teams from the 22nd District.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I rise to call for immediate action on H.R. 3733, the Essential Caregivers Act. It is our sacred duty to protect and serve the American people, and this bill is an opportunity for this body to fulfill that duty.

Over the course of this pandemic, thousands of our fellow Americans were left isolated in long-term care facilities. They were denied access to their friends and families.

Alone and often confused, many suffered from depression and didn't receive the medical care they so desperately needed. Family members were forced to watch from behind plexiglass and webcams as their loved one's physical and mental health declined. Some even died frightened and alone because of the lack of care.

In one California facility, Nancy Klein's son, who had suffered from a massive brain hemorrhage 6 years ago and has been bedridden ever since, contracted pneumonia three times while in isolation. Later, he contracted COVID.

His mother asked: After all he has been through, don't you think he has done his time?

Yes. I think he has done his time.

Nancy's story and many others like hers are documented in the book ``Protecting Them to Death,'' which was written by one of my great constituents, Karla Abraham-Conley, who lost her mother in a long-term nursing facility. I have shared some of the gut-wrenching stories from this book before, and I will continue to do so until the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act is passed.

It is imperative that we, the elected Representatives of the American people, stick up for the American people. The Essential Caregivers Act would ensure the senseless, counterproductive policies that were put in place during the pandemic are never repeated.

The fearmongering led to situations where, as Veronica Myers put it, ``fear of COVID-19 has put staff safety ahead of resident health, well- being, and safety.''

Veronica's 70-year-old father lives in a nursing home in Arkansas but was not allowed to see his family because of the antiscientific procedures of the facility. Veronica added that lack of continuity and communication play a major role in the isolation of residents because basic care and best practices are less important now than COVID-19 mitigation.

Mr. Speaker, this is not how Americans care for their fellow citizens.

All across the country, from my home State of New York all the way to

California, families were cut off from their loved ones living in long- term care facilities. These decisions to isolate long-term care facility residents were fatal and will have long-lasting impacts.

Think of the damage that has been caused to people like Melody Stark of California, whose husband had been living in a nursing home for 5 years prior to the pandemic. In March 2020, Melody was on her way to the nursing home for their usual Friday night dinner date when she got a phone call informing her that nonessential visitors were no longer allowed due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

Who could be more essential than one's lifelong partner and spouse?

Melody recounted that ``what we thought would be a couple of weeks turned into months and months. There were no virtual or window visits facilitated, and it felt as if everyone except families were wholly unaware of the impact of isolation, depression, and lack of psychosocial support.''

Melody continued by saying: ``My usually optimistic husband sounded increasingly sad and said things like: `This is no way to live,' and he would cry. Over time, this led to drastic decline that affected his physical health as well as his mental health. By November 22, 2020, his health had declined to the point that he was hospitalized and passed away. He did not die from COVID but from failure to thrive due to isolation in long-term care. The last time I hugged my husband was when I carried his ashes from the car to the church.''

Mr. Speaker, Melody Stark's husband might still be with us today if he had been allowed access to an essential caregiver. That is why we must take action on H.R. 3733.

I am urging all of my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to join me because this is not a partisan issue. It is an issue of compassion and doing the right thing for our fellow Americans who so desperately need our help.

Again, I am grateful to my cosponsor, Representative Larson, who has so graciously come on board, and so many other Members, in a bipartisan way.

Mr. Speaker, you have heard me share these stories before, and I will continue to share them until the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act is passed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the colead of H.R. 3733, the Essential Caregivers Act, to tell the stories of Americans across the country who are desperately calling on Congress to immediately act on this bill.

I also thank Representative Larson, who is my colead, for helping me sponsor this bill. I am grateful to him for his leadership and his compassion.

I have shared many heartbreaking and tragic stories before in this Chamber, and I will continue to do so until there is action on my bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act. Just as so many families who were forced to helplessly watch as their loved ones rapidly declined physically and mentally in long-term care facilities, I am not going to give up this fight. I am just getting started.

First and foremost, the Essential Caregivers Act is a critically important bill that would ensure the policies that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic never happen again. In my home State of New York, and many States across the Nation, families were literally shut out from their loved ones living in long-term care facilities, neglecting the basic needs of their loved ones at these facilities. These decisions to isolate long-term care facility residents were fatal and will have long-lasting impacts.

Today, I am here to share stories that go beyond my home State of New York. I will begin by sharing a story from Alaska. This is an excerpt from the book entitled ``Protecting Them to Death.'' This is a book that was compiled and written by my great constituent, Karla Abraham- Conley, who lost her mother in a long-term care facility.

This is an excerpt from the book compiled using COVID-19 isolation stories. The first one is a story from Denise Brown:

``Ohana'' means ``family'' in Hawaiian and that no one is

left behind. This word means a lot to us. My mother's skilled

nursing facility was an hour away from her home and ours, so

they became her pseudo ohana.

She was moved there by the State of Alaska when an employee

brought COVID-19 into her extended care facility. She was

able to see us through a window once or twice a week because

she was on the ground floor at that time. We talked every day

on the phone, except for those days when she was too weak to

answer my call. Last year on her birthday, when she was in

the final skilled nursing facility that the State had moved

her to, we cooked her dinner outside her window, we sent it

in to her via a CNA. My boys built her rock towers, and we

sang ``Happy Birthday'' through the window. But the moment

they moved my mother to the second floor, I think she gave up

hope of getting stronger, of seeing the faces she loved

through the window. It was her one connection to us that

still seemed real and wasn't through a virtual visit. We lost

her on January 12, 2021.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Brown could still be here with us today if she had had access to an essential caregiver.

The next two stories come to us from Arizona. The first story is from Linda Thompson, also featured in the book ``Protecting Them to Death'':

My husband is in a memory care facility. He no longer

speaks as a direct result of the isolation during the

pandemic. He uses a walker. Because he was confined to his

room, he was unable to exercise his legs. All his physical

abilities have declined significantly. Change of any kind

takes a toll on dementia residents. Knowing that he spent 17

days in a sterile room in the COVID-19 ward of his facility

is heartbreaking. He had very few symptoms but lost 20

pounds. I am still praying this never happens again.

If he had access to his loved ones, Mrs. Thompson's husband might still be speaking today. But the moment he was shut off from his essential caregivers, his health took a devastating toll.

Also from Arizona, here is the story from Anne Martinez, who lost her mother in the pandemic, also from the book ``Protecting Them to Death'':

Every time I visited my mother, she looked like a zoo

animal behind the patio door. She would mouth that she was

hungry or motion for what I had brought to drink. The

blueberries I left got moldy, the almond milk grew stale, and

the canned organic soups gathered dust. Nobody was giving

them to her. My dad gestured at the closed patio window how

much he missed her, and she avoided eye contact so as not to

cry. Some days I was allowed to bring home-cooked meals and

other days I was not allowed to feed her.

On the day she was transferred to a hospice care facility,

I was with her to say goodbye and could see the particles in

her dentures that had not been cleaned in weeks and blackened

food underneath her fingernails from trying to eat with her

bare hands.

I was actually relieved when they told me she had

contracted COVID shortly after being vaccinated. Nobody

deserves to spend their last years, months, weeks, or even

days, alone in a facility without their loved ones at their

side.

Anne's story is just one of thousands that are occurring across this Nation.

I will continue sharing these stories and urging immediate passage of the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act. Denise, Linda, Anne, and their families, friends, and loved ones are depending on it.