Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month. The focus of this campaign is to break down the stigma surrounding mental health.

Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. By breaking the stigma and talking about depression, anxiety, and other conditions, we can help those affected to seek the quality care that they deserve.

After spending the past year locked down and secluded from society, it is more important than ever to check in on your loved ones. If you are suffering or feel alone, please reach out for help. It is important to remember that you are not alone.

Mr. Speaker, by bringing attention to mental health, we can elevate the conversations surrounding mental health. We are focusing on prioritizing mental health and acknowledging it is okay to not be okay.

This month, reach out to your loved ones and check in. By starting the conversation, we are one step closer to ending the stigma surrounding mental health.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Nurses Appreciation Week and to celebrate America's hardworking and professional caregivers, our nurses.

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6 to May 12, during which time was the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

Now, more than ever, nurses deserve our collective gratitude. Our country has faced unprecedented challenges in the wake of COVID-19, and nurses across the country selflessly stood ready to assist their communities and neighbors in need. They spend countless hours away from their families and loved ones while placing themselves on the front line of our national response to the pandemic.

Nursing is a science and an art, reserved for those among us who are the most giving, caring, and passionate about helping others. Nurses are there for major milestones in patient's lives, from birth of a child to the challenges of an aging patient. Patients and family members can count on their compassion, guidance, and care.

Mr. Speaker, I thank each and every nurse for the hard work they do. Their contributions have not gone unrecognized, especially during some our most trying times.

Madam Speaker, due to a death in the family, I was unable to cast my vote on May 11, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 134.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and I appreciate his leadership on this Special Order of standing with those who stand for us each and every night.

These are folks, members of our law enforcement, who, because of what they do, because of their courage, because of their commitment, we can sleep without concern and fear and we can make our way throughout the day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during this National Police Week to honor these men and women in blue. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week plays a special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and the protection of others.

National Police Week is sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and supported by a variety of organizations to honor the law enforcement community. The mission of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is to tell the story of American law enforcement, honor the fallen, and make it safer for those who serve.

Over the past year, our law enforcement officers have been in the spotlight. Bad actors must be held accountable, but it is dangerous to villainize all police officers, and it is even more dangerous to seek to defund the police.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the National Police Week resolution, which honors by name the 384 officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2020.

This resolution underscores the steadfast support and appreciation for law enforcement. As we honor National Police Week, it is important to take a moment to remember the sacrifices many officers, as well as their families, have made.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Earth Day and recognize Mrs. Sweeney's sixth grade class at Ferndale Area Elementary School in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

In March, Mrs. Sweeney's class wrote an article called ``Stewards of the Environment.'' Her students were inspired to start the ``Every Bottle Back'' schoolwide recycling program. The class set a goal of recycling 1,000 bottles, and, as of today, they have collected 1,486 bottles.

Mrs. Sweeney's class decorated receptacles and spread the word throughout the school. The students kept track of their progress with a tally sheet, and every 2 or 3 days educators took the plastics to the Roxbury or Geistown recycling center.

The actions of these sixth graders continue to inspire others in the community. In fact, these sixth graders have inspired the local high school to start a similar program. They have set a great example proving that the littlest of actions can make a big difference.

Thank you, Ferndale Area Elementary School, for your hard work and dedication to recycling.

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Earth Day, let us use Ferndale Area Elementary School as an inspiration to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Gold Star Spouses Day. Earlier this month, we honored the spouses who lost a loved one in service and remember their sacrifices.

As the son of a Navy veteran and the proud father of an Army soldier, I recognize the challenges our military families face. It is important to remember that our freedom is not free. Gold Star Spouses Day reminds us of the cost of war. Each year on April 5, it is important to take the time to remember, respect, and honor the spouses and their families of our fallen servicemembers.

Madam Speaker, Gold Star spouses and their families deserve our gratitude today and every day. God bless the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us and God bless their families.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Democrat's infrastructure bill.

We have seen a lot in the news over the last few weeks about President Biden's not-so-much infrastructure plan. There is so much unrelated pork in this bill that even Washington reporters are hesitant to call it an infrastructure plan.

When we think of the word ``infrastructure,'' we think roads, bridges, highways. We can expand further and think of ports, waterways, and airports. Democrats so-called infrastructure plan is not really about infrastructure--6 percent is allocated to roads, bridges, and highways, and a mere 2 percent for airways, waterways, and ports. Together, we are just barely getting to 8 percent of the $2.3 trillion plan to focus on infrastructure.

But what is the rest focused on? Well, it is a wish list of Progressive policies and it is an excuse for Democrats to give $600 billion--over half a trillion dollars--to the Green New Deal.

While I believe there is an opportunity for bipartisanship--a successful infrastructure bill must be bipartisan--the majority must be willing to make reasonable concessions to address our reasonable concerns. If we do this right, it should look like a bill that we wrote together.

This bill has the chance to fix our infrastructure, provide jobs, and jump-start our economy following COVID-19, but it will only succeed if Democrats choose to include Republicans and bring us to the table.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Johnstown, Pennsylvania, local, James Blachly, on his 2021 Grammy win.

In April 2018, Blachly and the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra performed the U.S. world premiere of Dame Ethel Smyth's ``The Prison.'' It was this performance that won the 2021 Grammy.

Serving as the music director of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and as music director of the Experiential Orchestra, Mr. Blachly is known for his innovative programming which aims to increase audience engagement.

James is an incredibly talented conductor and composer. In 2016, he was the only conductor from the United States invited to participate in the first annual Young Conductors Showcase as part of El Sistema's 40th anniversary celebration, and he was the only U.S. conductor to be invited as Conducting Fellow in Maestra Marin Alsop's final year at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.

Congratulations to James and the Johnstown Symphony. Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support of the Eliminate Barriers to Innovation Act offered by my friend from North Carolina and the ranking member of the Committee on Financial Services, Mr. McHenry.

The CFTC and the SEC have a long history of collaboration in financial market regulation. The working group created through this legislation will continue to build on this good work.

Digital assets present unique new questions for regulators: How and where do these assets fit into the existing regulatory regime? What new standards are needed to continue to meet our bedrock principle of customer protection? Where do the CFTC and the SEC need to adjust their regulations to address the novel features and purposes of digital assets?

While both the CFTC and the SEC are hard at work applying their statutory responsibilities and regulations to these digital assets, the disruptive, novel nature of these new type of assets demand a more holistic examination. This working group, with its mix of CFTC, SEC, and nongovernmental members, will be well placed to examine these important questions.

The Eliminate Barriers to Innovation Act is a step forward in providing clear rules of the road for the creation, exchange, custody, and use of the full sweep of these new assets.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. McHenry, and his staff for working with us at the House Committee on Agriculture on refinements to improve this legislation.

I cannot close, though, without singing the praises of the CFTC. The Commission has been focused on this explosion in new technology from the very beginning. The Commission created LabCFTC almost 4 years ago, and it remains the premier Federal fintech office.

They have proven themselves to be an agile regulator and adept at understanding new technologies and their implications. The Committee on Agriculture has welcomed these developments and sought to strengthen the CFTC's authorities and resources to meet the challenges in regulating these new financial products. The bill before us today complements these efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with Mr. McHenry and Chairwoman Waters on this and other legislation and oversight to build upon this work. I urge my colleagues to support financial innovation and vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Week of the Young Child. Sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Week of the Young Child focuses on celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities.

This year's celebration took place from April 10th to the 16th. The National Association for the Education of Young Children first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing the early childhood years lay the foundation for children's success in school and later in life.

Children's earliest years are the most important when it comes to shaping their learning and development. High-quality early care and educational services directly correlate to the health and well-being of our communities.

Madam Speaker, with more than 400 childcare facilities in my district, and as a senior member of the Education and Labor Committee, I understand the importance of quality early care and education experiences as well as access to high-quality care.

Madam Speaker, let's take a moment to recognize the vital work performed by early childcare and education professionals and express our gratitude.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the American and global Sikh community as they celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of their ninth Sikh Master Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Master Guru Tegh Bahadur lived a very meaningful life. He was one of the 10 gurus who founded Sikhism.

Islam was imposed during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Hindu temples were destroyed and turned into mosques, and the emperor persecuted those who would not convert to Islamic law.

Guru Tegh Bahadur spoke out amid the persecution. He refused to convert to Islam and, in 1675, he was beheaded in Delhi. He is celebrated in the Sikh community because of his heroic efforts in defending religious freedoms. Because of his efforts to protect human rights, he is often referred to as Srishti Chadar, protector of humanity.

Madam Speaker, Master Guru Tegh Bahadur's memory inspires us to work even harder to support religious freedoms for everyone everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of U.S. Capitol Police Officer William Evans.

This week, we pay our respects to Officer Evans' life of service as he was remembered with a congressional tribute and lying in honor in the United States Capitol rotunda.

Officer Evans was a beloved father, husband, brother, son, and friend.

He was a dedicated officer, joining the U.S. Capitol Police on March 7, 2003, and servicing for 18 years. In addition to patrolling the north barricade, Officer Evans was a member of the Capitol Division's First Responder's Unit.

Officer Evans was a member of our Capitol family, and I want to send my heartfelt condolences to the Evans family for their loss.

Mr. Speaker, let's take this time to remember Officer Evans and to thank each and every member of U.S. Capitol Police and National Guard members here on the Capitol Grounds for their continued service to keep us safe.

Mr. Speaker, last month, the House Agriculture Committee hosted its first, or at least more fulsome, attempt at publicly reviewing the pandemic and Congress' response.

This pandemic has infiltrated our lives in every sense possible. Unfortunately, the brunt of it was borne by our communities and, in particular, families already living paycheck to paycheck. In too many instances, arrogant career politicians issued statewide, indiscriminate edicts, forcing businesses and schools to shut their doors, plummeting our communities into a deep recession.

As the end of the pandemic nears, I hope we can use what we learned in that hearing to provide these families with more holistic services, particularly as they engage in a postpandemic economy that will look wildly different.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, currently provides nutrition assistance to 43 million individuals, with an average individual benefit of $183. Total SNAP-related spending in fiscal year 2020 was $78.9 billion, which includes benefits, administration, nutrition education, employment and training, and program integrity. Of that $78.9 billion, $74.2 billion was solely for benefits.

By way of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, more than $37.8 billion has been appropriated to respond to the supplemental nutrition assistance needs of our communities.

This monumental response is in addition to the more than $7.7 billion per month in standard SNAP benefits. Beyond direct funding from Congress, the former and current administrations have issued more than 4,000 administrative waivers to States. These waivers impact operations related to program eligibility, distribution of benefits, employment and training, and more.

These facts are startling. Combined with myriad social service policies, including those found in the shortsighted, outrageously naive American Rescue Plan, we are in the midst of our Nation's second- largest expansion of entitlements.

Unsurprisingly, leading economists and Wall Street analysts have said key parts of that bill are poorly targeted to the specific needs of the crisis. As a friend in southwest Missouri recently said, unnecessary rescue diminishes a person's dignity and, if repeated enough, gives way to debilitating dependency.

The witnesses who joined us for the hearing are our everyday heroes. They are the folks who responded without hesitation to the needs of their communities infested by a pandemic that took the lives of hundreds of thousands of our friends, neighbors, and family members. Whether it be the farmer who chose to donate their crop or the food bank that opened additional sites to be more accommodating, the witnesses who testified deserve our thanks.

I must also applaud the Department, particularly the former administration. Like it or lump it, the bulk of the

response originated in the last Congress under President Trump. Quick- thinking folks implemented Pandemic-EBT and the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, two projects that remain remarkably beneficial to families in need.

The latter, apparently terminating this morning, as I found out through the press, fell victim to inconceivable criticism. There is always room for more solutions to the needs of our Nation.

The Farmers to Families Food Box Program had open eligibility, making certain anyone and everyone in need, regardless of status, income, or household size, has supplementary access to meat, dairy, and produce in an unprecedented time of crisis. This program provided more than 156 million boxes to households across the United States. With this program, farmers were able to redirect their products, and American workers were able to sustain their employment or join new ventures, all to ensure fresh foods found their way into the homes of millions in need.

Regardless of the cherry-picked hiccups this committee and USDA's listening sessions were made aware of, the program worked exactly as intended. Shamefully, and because this was the brainchild of President Trump, the Biden administration has decided again to ignore rural America and continue to fund programs that favor billion-dollar organizations in the cities that they serve.

Mr. Speaker, last week, I introduced the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act with Mr. Antonio Delgado. This bill addresses the importance of providing whole milk in school cafeterias.

It is proven that milk is the number one provider of nine essential nutrients, as well as a great deal of long-term health benefits, including better bone health, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. These benefits are crucial for the healthy development of our Nation's youth.

Over the years, milk has been unfairly demonized, leading to the loss of nearly an entire generation of milk drinkers. The goal of this bill is to give children a wide variety of milk options and bolster milk consumption, a win-win for growing healthy children and America's dairy farm families.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to follow the signs and allow whole milk back into the school cafeterias. With bipartisan support, it is my hope that we can bring this bill to the floor and pass this critical legislation to encourage the healthy development of our Nation's youth and support our dairy farm families across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize March as National Red Cross Month.

While Red Cross Month has been celebrated since 1943, the Red Cross itself has been making an impact on community health since 1881.

In 1889, Clara Barton led one of the first mobilizations to a national disaster following the Johnstown Flood. This site is in the process of being preserved today and is known as the Clara Barton House.

Perhaps the organization's best-known program, the American Red Cross, established the first nationwide civilian blood donation program in the 1940s.

According to the organization, someone in the United States needs blood every 2 seconds. Less than 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, and only 3 percent of those individuals donate annually. The critical need for blood and the lifesaving potential that comes with a donation cannot be overstated.

The American Red Cross has always been a leader in this effort, and, today, they still provide more than 40 percent of the blood products in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage all healthy Americans to donate blood and plasma. In the wake of the pandemic, it is needed now more than ever.