Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to address an urgent tax policy matter.

At the start of this year, a key bipartisan tax policy ended. It had been around for nearly 70 years. For nearly 7 decades American taxpayers had been able to immediately deduct R&D expenses.

What has changed since the beginning of 2022, Madam Speaker? Taxpayers are now required to deduct R&D expenses over a period of years. This spread-out deduction is what is known as amortization.

What does it mean, Madam Speaker? Expenses would be recovered more slowly. To those innovative businesses cash flow will be reduced. Reduced cash flow means less dollars for R&D. Smaller R&D budgets will harm

R&D activity in the United States. That's the effect of increasing the tax burden borne by those innovating businesses.

Will there be a loss of jobs, Madam Speaker? The answer is yes. One study concludes the job losses would total over 20,000 jobs in the first five years. As bad as that is, the same study concludes job losses would be three times as much in the second five years. We're talking about 60,000 jobs lost.

How will this change affect U.S. global competitiveness, Madam Speaker? The answer is it will hurt U.S. competitiveness abroad. If allowed to remain in effect, the U.S. policy of amortization would treat innovation-related expenses worse than any other developed country. Prior to amortization going into effect, the U.S. was already ranked 27th of 37 OECD countries with respect to R&D incentives. If amortization remains, things get worse. In effect, the U.S. will fall further behind our competitors when it comes to incentivizing R&D.

If Congress fails to delay amortization before March 31st, the first quarter of 2022, businesses will be forced to act. Estimated cash tax payments will increase by more than $8 billion in just the first quarter alone. The effect will be an immediate reduction in capital that can support R&D. Of prime concern to Congress should be the loss of more than 20,000 direct R&D jobs this year without our action.

A four-year delay of amortization is included in the House-passed Build Back Better legislation and the initial Senate substitute. I would have hoped we would already have addressed this issue, but while progress on that legislation awaits final disposition in the Senate, Congress must begin to consider whatever is the fastest path to enactment because time is of the essence.

One option would be the two pieces of legislation designed to address China competition. The House is considering the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Stability (``America COMPETES'') Act of 2022. Our Senate colleagues have passed their own version of China competition legislation. Speaker Pelosi has said she plans to reach a bipartisan agreement to bring these two bills together.

Madam Speaker, what does restoring deductibility of R&D have to do with the China competition bills? The short answer is plenty. In terms of competitiveness, China and America are moving in different directions on tax incentives for R&D. The Chinese have enacted a super deduction for R&D expenses. For manufacturing companies in China, that deduction yields an extra 100 percent of eligible R&D expenses. This deduction is in addition to actual R&D expenses incurred. That's why they call it a super deduction.

Let's discuss an example. A manufacturing company that undertakes $100 of R&D in China would deduct $200. By contrast, a company that undertakes $100 of R&D in the United States would deduct only $10 in 2022. R&D conducted in China would thus receive 20 times the tax benefit of R&D conducted in the U.S. When all R&D incentives are considered, China would have incentives more than 11 times as generous as those of the United States. Eleven times as generous, Madam Speaker. How are American companies going to win the race with Chinese companies who have that kind of head start?

We should look at including the four-year delay of amortization of R&D in the final America COMPETES legislation. Inclusion becomes more important if it appears lo be moving more quickly than the Build Back Better legislation.

Madam Speaker, there is another legislative vehicle Congress should consider for this urgent matter. Congress is in the process of addressing defense and non-defense appropriations spending because the continuing resolution expires on February 18, 2022. Congressional negotiators should be aware that a reversal of the decades-old R&D tax incentives brings adverse national security consequences.

Where's the linkage to national security? Look no further than the National Science and Technology Council. They concluded that ``ensuring national security and resilience is critical for the United States, especially as other nations dramatically increase their R&D expenditures'' and sustained R&D investments ``are essential to ensure that the United States remains able to secure and protect the American people in the face of this increased competition.'' Ignoring R&D amortization would have implications for our national security interests and should be resolved by the time these issues are settled.

Madam Speaker, strong tax incentives for R&D have long had bipartisan support. The initial R&D credit was passed by a Democratic House. Republican Senate, and signed by President Reagan. Last year a bipartisan group of 96 House members and 26 Senators introduced legislation permanently reversing amortization of R&D expenditures. With amortization of R&D now in effect, the bipartisan goal of restoring this bipartisan tax incentive becomes even more compelling.

Congress must act immediately, certainly before the end of this quarter, to maintain the immediate deductibility of R&D expenditures. As each month passes, failure to act yields proportionately more harm to US innovation and competitiveness. All available legislative vehicles should be considered.

Madam Speaker, America's innovators cannot wait further.

Madam Speaker, Ray Dunaway has been the voice of Connecticut for nearly three decades. Ray was hired by WTIC-AM to replace another Connecticut legend, Bob Steele in 1992. Since then, he's been the voice of talk radio in Connecticut each and every morning. Over his tenure, he's helped raise millions of dollars for the Greater Hartford Salvation Army through his annual holiday store. I have had the pleasure of joining Ray over the years and I'm honored to call him a friend. Both the following articles from the Hartford Courant and the Journal Inquirer capture what Ray has meant to the citizens of the state of Connecticut. I look forward to tuning in to his last show tomorrow morning on Christmas Eve. We wish him well in retirement and know his voice will always be missed.

[From the Hartford Courant, Nov. 19, 2021]

``Veteran Radio Voice Dunaway To Sign Off''

(By Kenneth R. Gosselin)

Ray Dunaway, the morning radio personality who followed the

legendary Bob Steele on WTIC-AM and won over listeners with a

relaxed but informed conversational style, will retire from

the radio station next month after 29 years.

``You just get tired of waking up,'' Dunaway said. ``You

just do. I love the morning. I do. I wouldn't do any other

shift, but the thing is, after a period of time, it's kind of

like you've been there, done that. And I think it's time for

somebody fresh to take a look at it.''

Dunaway, 72, said the decision to retire from the morning

show, which airs weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., was

entirely his own. His last show will be on Dec. 24.

His co-host, Brian Shactman, will continue to host the

morning show, the station's parent company, Audacy, said.

Dunaway was hired to replace Steele in 1992, bringing with

him more than two decades of radio experience elsewhere in

the country. Steele had a storied local broadcasting career

spanning more than five decades, and Dunaway would be

Steele's second replacement. Steele's immediate successor

lasted just a year.

``The fact of the matter is, it was nerve-wracking because

I had gone to Trinity [College] and my roommate used to

listen to Bob religiously,'' Dunaway said. ``He was really

good. It was a great responsibility taking over that job.''

Quick acceptance wasn't a sure thing for Dunaway with the

memory of Steele still fresh and dissatisfaction among some

viewers about a move by WTIC to talk radio.

``Connecticut-ites weren't necessarily going to make that

easy,'' recalled Gary Zenobi, then general manager of WTIC,

who hired Dunaway. ``But he filled Bob Steele's shoes in a

different way. Formats were changing. Ray was just perfect

for that because he could hold a conversation not just

about anything but with anyone.''

Dunaway's arrival also coincided with rapid changes in AM

radio. WTIC's daytime music listeners were moving to FM

radio, leaving AM stations like WTIC to carve out a different

niche, which turned out to be talk radio.

Dunaway's popularity with listeners survived four ownership

changes at WTIC and a relocation from One Financial Plaza,

the ``Gold Building'' in downtown Hartford, to Farmington in

the early 2000s. The tone of talk radio has turned more

contentious and far less civil since Dunaway joined WTIC.

``It is polarizing, no doubt, but the good ones try to make

it as fair as they possibly can,'' Dunaway said. ``You can

have your point of view. There's nothing wrong with that, and

you are able to share it.'' Dunaway said he worked earlier in

his career with conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, who

died in February. Dunaway said he considered Limbaugh someone

who thought things through before expressing his opinions.

Limbaugh would also become part of the weekday lineup on

Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon to use this hour to discuss ``Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust,'' or, as Martin Luther King would remind us, the fierce urgency of now and Congress' need to act on Social Security.

Let me start with the fact that Social Security is the Nation's number one insurance program, the number one insurance program that some on the other side call an entitlement. There is nothing further from the truth, and this is easily verifiable. All you have to do is look at your pay stub. It says FICA. FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. Whose contribution? Every citizen in the United States who pays into the program.

It is an earned benefit, and one that has never missed a payment. It is a guarantee, and that is why it is so vitally important to every American citizen.

Congress has been negligent. It has been 50 years since there has been an enhancement to the program. It has been more than 38 years since there was an attempt at solvency. Yet, 38 years ago, Congress enacted a cut that will take place this January.

The time to act is now. No more procrastination. For all of our C- SPAN listeners, make sure that you contact your Member of Congress in both Houses.

We are pleased that 200-plus people are original cosponsors of the bill. You will hear from some of them today.

We have taken the liberty of pointing out to every Member of Congress how many people in their district receive Social Security benefits and what that brings into their district on a monthly basis. I assure you, there is no more greater economic development plan for Members' districts than what happens on a monthly basis to those who need it most.

Let me reiterate again: Social Security is the number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for children as well.

I have here, Madam Speaker, something we have done for every Member of Congress. In this case, we are illustrating our great leader, Representative Jim Clyburn, who is a proud cosponsor of this bill.

In his district, in South Carolina's Sixth, there are 149,433 Social Security recipients who receive $189 million in monthly benefits. That is monthly benefits. There are 1.2 million Social Security recipients in South Carolina who receive $1.7 billion in monthly benefits as well.

For about half of senior beneficiaries, Social Security provides a majority of their income. Now imagine that, for half the seniors in the country, Social Security provides a majority of their benefits, yet there hasn't been an enhancement or an increase in over 50 years in a COLA. That doesn't even come remotely close to what people need.

For more than a quarter of our seniors, it provides 90 percent or more of their income, 90 percent for a quarter of our seniors. At a time when the wealth disparity is the greatest it has ever been in our country, the wealthiest nation in the world, there are 5 million of our fellow Americans, mostly women, who receive a below-poverty level check from their government.

Why? Because Congress hasn't acted. This isn't something the President can do through executive order, nor is this something that the Supreme Court is going to adjudicate. This is the responsibility of the United States Congress.

I am proud that we had a hearing the other day in the Ways and Means Committee that we are going to bring to a markup and ultimately to the floor of this House: Social Security 2100. I am proud of the fact that we have a President of the United States who refers to Social Security as a sacred trust, a sacred trust between the government and their people. And Social Security has never failed. It has never missed a payment.

It used to be--and Mr. Cartwright from Pennsylvania knows this--that we could go back to 1935 to explain why Roosevelt back then, in the midst of the Great Depression, put forward Social Security because of the devastation that had taken place in 1929 during the great crash.

But Members on this floor, Members in this Congress understand all too well that we only have to go back to 2008, 2009 during the Great Recession when people saw their 401(k) become a 101(k) where people lost their benefits. And that coupled with the great pandemic, this roller coaster of a pandemic that we are living through now has only further underscored the need for us to enhance the Nation's number one insurance program.

And during that same time, during that recession that they witnessed their funds depleted and devastated or lost altogether or during layoffs that have occurred through no fault of their own, Social Security has never missed a payment. Not a pension payment, not a spousal payment, not dependent coverage, nor disability.

Madam Speaker, it might surprise some of our viewers and listeners that more veterans depend on Social Security disability than they do on the VA. And it is because Social Security provides these benefits and especially for our veterans. People in this Chamber and in the Senate take great pride in talking about our veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and rightfully so, and saluting them and saying what a grateful Nation we are.

Well, if we are truly a grateful Nation, then it is time we end the more than 50 years of neglect and make sure that our veterans are able to get the benefits that they richly deserve without 5-month delays, in making sure that they have disability that they know they can rely on, that works for the times that we are living through currently.

Children continue to rely on Social Security, and it is the number one antipoverty program for children. And you know what, 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, and millennials will need the benefit more than baby boomers. Millennials have been put in the position where they have less money to be able to afford private pensions, where they have been burdened with college loan debt, where they are unable to get the kind of mortgages their parents enjoyed, and, in fact, have incomes that are below that level, and so, Social Security becomes their salvation. But it can't be their salvation if they are locked at the bottom, and we are not making the benefit increases that will provide that opportunity for all generations to enjoy.

Madam Speaker, we are pleased also that Social Security 2100 will not only lift benefits across the board, but it will make sure that no one can work all their lives, pay into a system and retire into poverty. More than 5 million Americans get a below-poverty-level check from the government after having paid in all their lives. That is unfair. That is unjust. That is flat out wrong. We are a body that can pass out trillions of dollars of tax cuts to the Nation's wealthiest 1 percent and yet we can't take care of people who have paid into the system because Congress has not fulfilled its obligation and responsibility.

Now is the time to act, and under Democratic leadership, that will take place. People say to me often, ``Well, what is different?''

What is different is: we have a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate, and most importantly, a President who believes that this is a sacred trust. A President, as Matt Cartwright also

knows, who has said we are going to end WEP and GPO.

And for you listeners, for you viewers, that means for all you schoolteachers, for you firefighters, for you police officers, for you municipal employees that were penalized under a system who have worked hard and played by the rules, the President has called for its repeal, and that means benefits flowing to people who rightfully deserve them and should rightfully get them.

I would add that that has had bipartisan support in the Congress, and we do have bipartisan support for this bill across the Nation. No one yet on the other side has signed up, but yet, all across the Nation in large numbers more than 80 percent of Democrats, more than 68 percent of Republicans and more than 74 percent of Independents all favor increasing benefits because they know of the security and the promise and the necessity of Social Security.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright) who is an original cosponsor, Madam Speaker, of this Social Security 2100, as are you, who understands how critical this is to Pennsylvanians and everyone across the Nation.

During that time, our current Speaker led the fight when George Bush said he was going to use his political capital that they had just gained and were in control of the House, the Senate, and the Presidency, they were going to privatize Social Security. And it was Nancy Pelosi and people like Marcy Kaptur that led the charge in the fight that prevented the privatization of Social Security.

To your point, had that gone into effect, people's total savings and everything that is a guarantee under Social Security would have been lost in 2008.

We are beyond 2008 now, but we are still dealing with all of those things that people can't necessarily prepare for, whether it is a pandemic or whether it is the Great Recession or whether it is the vicissitudes of the stock market, as Roosevelt would have said. These are the things that people who work hard and play by the rules are subject to, and that is why this is a sacred trust. Because in the United States we will not let that happen to our citizens because nobody deserves to work all their lives and retire into poverty.

I thank the gentleman for his leadership in this area.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for joining us this afternoon.

Madam Speaker, I would point out a couple of things, something the gentleman knows--and we have been joined by the gentlewoman from Illinois, who will address us shortly--but the number of groups that are endorsing Social Security 2100:

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Social Security Works, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the NAACP, the National Organization for Women, Latinos for Secure Retirement, the National Education Association, AFGE, the American Federation of Teachers, The Arc of the United States, National Retiree Legislative Network, the Gray Panthers, American Family Voices, The Senior Citizens League. And the list goes on and on and on, because everybody understands the importance and significance of this.

Madam Speaker, I recognize the gentlewoman from Illinois, who has worked tirelessly on behalf of seniors across this country, and has headed a task force for more than a decade now that was instrumental in providing us with all the detailed information with the over 17 proposals that are included in Social Security 2100, a sacred trust.

Madam Speaker, we make this point often, and I want to make it here tonight, because you are well-aware of this as well. That in legislative parlance, the bill is called H.R. 5723. But what I want our viewers, our listeners, and most importantly, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to understand, this is about your parents. This is about your brothers and sisters, your aunts and uncles. This is about your next-door neighbor, your coworker, the people that you worship with.

This is not legislative parlance, this is the reality that they are living; and the disparity that exists today, the gap that exists, can be closed if Congress does a job that it has neglected for more than 50 years in terms of enhancing a program that is a necessity for your parents, for your brothers and sisters, for your aunts and uncles. All you have to do is ask them. It confounds me that anyone can look their constituents in the eye and say that we are doing enough for you, or that you are okay.

We all know, and I have heard Jan say this many times--I know my mother said it--she says, Oh, I just care that my children are okay, and I just don't want to be a burden. Of course people feel that way. It is their humility and their kind of generation and people that we know. Nobody wants to be a burden. But I assured my mother she was no burden. She was an inspiration. And for us to stand by in the midst of this, the wealthiest Nation in the world, and not do our responsibility as a Congress and vote.

The President can't do it by executive order, nor will the Supreme Court adjudicate it. It is only Congress. And thanks to the efforts of Jan Schakowsky, we are getting there.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

No.

Correct.

Madam Speaker, this has been bipartisan. Chairman Neal, a Social Security recipient himself lost his father, lost his mother, his grandmother was then raising him, and then he lost his grandmother.

Tom Reed, the ranking member on the Social Security Subcommittee, and Tom Rice, they both lost parents and were raised on Social Security as well.

Mr. Davis has put a bill in and has sponsored a bill for a number of years to eliminate the windfall elimination provision.

Finally, President Biden said we are going to repeal this in its entirety. It shows that there is an ability, a bridge to come together in so many of these things, including caregiver opportunities, that are bipartisanly-sponsored within this bill and included as part of the bill.

We have yet to have anyone endorse and support the bill, but that is a matter, I think, of voting and getting beyond what happens in this Chamber and in discussions between here and the Senate is that there is an awful lot of talk about helping veterans, but nobody actually votes one way or the other. There is an awful lot of talk about understanding what we have to do, but then nobody votes.

The time for reckoning, this is a point President Biden makes all the time, and I know, Madam Speaker, you understand this as well. Our very democracy and our Republic is at stake here because government, in an entrepreneurial capitalistic system like ours, where there has to be, by the nature of the system, risk that is taken. Well, that is important and good, but by the same token, Roosevelt and subsequent Presidents, including Eisenhower, including Nixon, and including Reagan, recognized this. We need that safety net there for people who work hard and play by the rules.

President Biden has said, yes, this is a sacred trust. Martin Luther King came to Washington, D.C. in 1963 during the famous march, and gave us the phrase, ``the fierce urgency of now.'' He was talking at the time about segregation and about the need for voting rights.

But the fierce urgency of now applies to all of our citizens that have been addressed in the remarks, who need this and who are suffering and receiving below poverty level payments from their own government after they have paid in. This is at a time when we gave the Nation's wealthiest 1 percent an 83 percent tax cut. God bless them.

It hasn't trickled down to everybody else. That is why we have the system that we do to take care of. It is the government's responsibility. And if a democracy is going to work, if we are not listening to what, as all the polls say, and we have accompanied more than six different polls talking about where the America people are, this is not partisan. This is totally bipartisan in terms of people's understanding of what their needs, their belief in a system they know that has never failed for them.

Dr. Martin Luther King said: Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy. Now is the time to make good on the promise of the Federal Government. That is what Joe Biden has said and what he so eloquently has called a sacred trust. Now is the time for us.

This is beyond urgent, though it is the fierce urgency of now. It is shameful that this body, the world looks in on this great Nation, this great democracy that we have, it looks how we treat our people; how we treat our veterans; how we treat our children. The statistics that you rallied off about what is going on in this country and how they are depending on it, and then realizing that Congress hasn't done a thing in 50 years?

This is not anything that can be done--and I repeat this again--by executive order or by adjudication from the Supreme Court. This is the responsibility of every man and woman in this Chamber, of 535 of us overall, but it is our responsibility and the time to vote is long overdue.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois.

Madam Speaker, we can do this. I think Martin Luther King coined a phrase as well, and I am paraphrasing here: This is not the time for the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. This is not the time in the face of so much inequality and inequity. That is when problems happen in society, when the people see that their government has not lived up to its responsibility.

As noted, they pay into the system weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Our good colleague and friend, John Lewis, said: This is not only an important issue in terms of our people, this is a civil rights issue. He said and believed that with every fiber in his being because what he saw is the people that were discriminated against were the low wage earners.

Unfortunately, as you know and have spoken eloquently on, most of them are women, and specifically, women of color. So whether you had a job as a waitress or a seamstress or whether you were one of those caregivers that everybody relies on, or whether you had to go home to provide care for your family and you didn't pay into a system, or your wage level, long before pay equity, was far lower than your male counterpart, this is not a reason

you should live out your remaining days in poverty. This happens for 5 million Americans.

In a blink of an eye we can do a tax cut. In a blink of an eye we can pass a defense bill. I support both. But I fervently support the fact that we have to take care of our citizens. It is this body's responsibility, Congress' responsibility. We cannot walk away.

Every citizen in this country ought to make sure that they are holding their congressional delegations responsible for doing their job. This is nothing that should be kicked down the road again or put off to some gradual dealing with the subject matter, or yet, another study that we are going to try to look into this on.

We don't need to study this. We know what the issue is here. We have looked in the mirror, and the problem is the United States Congress, it is the body that votes and changes the policy and the direction.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for joining us.

General Leave

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of our Special Order today, Social Security 2100, a Special Trust.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank as well President Biden for having the temerity to not only on the campaign trail, but to speak directly to the American people and let them, and ensure them, that we understand that this is a sacred trust, a bond that will not be broken. Not on our watch. That we will fulfill that promise and make sure that they are receiving the kind of benefits that they have paid into a system for and are, yes, entitled to receive because there is no greater Nation in the world than the United States of America.

When this body sets its mind to it, as witnessed how bipartisan the public feels about this on the outside and a number of the great inclusions that both Democrats and Republicans feel about, now is the time for us to act on behalf of the citizens we are sworn to serve.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Neal for his outstanding leadership.

Wow. Can you feel the love in this room today? Can't you? I will tell you, I got to hand it to you, the ``vote no and take the dough'' crowd is pretty good. Everybody votes against the bill but then gets a newsletter out and takes credit for all the good work that is in the bill. No one voted for the American Rescue Plan, and yet, you took credit for that and sent letters out to people about their checks. But that is to be understood.

Mr. Speaker, what this bill does is to make sure that working families, on average, will get $430 back in their pockets each month; save more than $14,000 a year in childcare; and universal pre-K will save families about $8,600 a year as well. Seniors will now have lower prescription drug prices, an estimated savings of $900 a year; and families in Connecticut will no longer be double-taxed on State and local taxes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Rosa DeLauro and Rich Neal for their hard work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Frank Mancini, of Berlin, Connecticut, on his recent selection to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU).

Frank currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Connex Credit Union in North Haven, Connecticut. He has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including having served as CEO of Connex since 2012, after having served as its Chief Financial Officer since 2003. Under his leadership, Connex has grown in total assets from $378M to $810M over the past eight years. Connex currently ranks as the 5th largest credit union in Connecticut in terms of asset size and 3rd in Connecticut in terms of loan balance.

Frank has served on a number of Boards, including New Haven's Financial Empowerment Commission, Credit Union Executive Society of New England (Board Chair), Connex Insurance Services, Constitution State Corporate Credit Union, the Tax Exempt Proceeds Fund, and the Association for Senior Credit Union Officers. In 2016, he was awarded the Mayor's Community Champion Award for his advocacy efforts in assisting low-income households get increased access to banking services. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Connecticut in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Frank has a wealth of financial services and leadership knowledge. His vision and decision-making skills will be a valuable addition to the NAFCU Board and credit unions for years to come.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Frank Mancini and wishing him the best of luck in his new role on the NAFCU Board of Directors. I look forward to working with him in this regard.

Madam Speaker, I was not in attendance to cast my vote on consideration of S. 272--Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2021.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 256.

Madam Speaker, on March 29, 2021, I attended the funeral service of Senator Biagio ``Billy'' Ciotto. Billy was a former Connecticut State Senator, Deputy DMV Commissioner, and served on my District office staff since 2007. One of the most unique human beings that I have ever had the honor of knowing and working with, Billy epitomized what it meant to be a true public servant. I am eternally grateful for his friendship and his leadership. I wish to include in the Record my eulogy in honor of Billy's beloved wife Jeanne, and his dear children Maria, Julie, Anthony, John and Joey.

Jeanne, Maria, Julie, Anthony, John and Joey. On behalf of

Leslie, myself, and the entire Congressional staff--our

hearts go out to you. The outpouring of people and tributes

keep coming in. Yet we know nothing or no one will ever be

able to fully convey the depth of the loss you are

experiencing.

As Billy would often say, ``no one knows the sacrifice a

family endures when they support and stand with an elected

official.'' So, let us first and foremost acknowledge your

sacrifice and devotion that made it possible for all of us to

have benefited from Billy's service. His humanity, his

humility, and congeniality. We thank you for making it all

possible.

Billy was unique, one of a kind, and something that is

constant throughout his service--whether at the Motor Vehicle

Department, the State Senate, or Congressional Office, he

greeted people and answered his call to public service. His

humility, and his humanity ever-present as he answered in

that unique and distinct cigar voice, ``how may I help you?''

``How may I help you?'' should be part of every teaching

and training course for public officials and staff. For

Billy, it came naturally. For him it was effortless and

genuine, heartfelt, and sincere. It was who he is!!

Now I'm not saying he was angelic by any stretch. He had

his faults and an evil side to him. He was an ardent devotee

and follower of an evil empire: He was a Yankee fan.

Especially in 2007, 2013, and 2018. He did celebrate in 2009

but through all of 2019 when the Sox were cellar dwellers, he

would come in the office and announce with a cigar hanging

from the corner of his mouth ``does anyone know the standings

in the American League East, and do the Red Sox still play

baseball?''

He was the envy of UCONN fans and politicians. He got more

TV time sitting right behind the bench of the Men's and

Women's basketball teams at every home game. When asked how

he got those seats, he said ``it was a blessing from St.

Paul'' . . . yeah, St. Paul Polo.

And though devoutly religious, and apostolic, and Catholic,

he could be critical of a long winded homily in church. I

remember being at St. Patrick-St. Anthony with the family and

sitting directly in front of him. The priest was going on and

on with the phrase ``and may Jesus light a fire in your

heart.'' It was rather extensive, and I looked down and all

of a sudden saw my children laughing. I immediately gave them

the hairy eyeball and scornful look. After church when we

were in the car, I said ``how many times have I told you no

fooling around in church?'' They said, ``it wasn't us, it was

Mr. Ciotto.'' To which I said, ``Don't blame Mr. Ciotto.''

They said, ``but Dad, he made fun of the priest's comments''

and I said ``Mr. Ciotto? I don't believe it.'' They said,

``well you know how the priest was saying may Jesus light a

fire under your heart?'' and I said ``yes.'' Well Mr. Ciotto

muttered, ``may Jesus light a fire under your ass.''

Well Billy was also wise and was willing to impart his

wisdom on the youthful members of our staff. Then Chief of

Staff John Rossi was thirty and Billy was a youthful seventy-

nine. Rossi was explaining how he told his wife about the

important and influential people he was meeting with day in

and day out, and the restaurants and clubs he was lunch and

dinner at. Billy who listened intently looked at him and

said, ``young man

you have an important and responsible position. And while I

am sure that it's exciting to you and maybe makes you feel

good when you are lavishing your wife with these experiences,

in my opinion you might try handling it a little different.

Having some experience in this field, I think if it were me,

you're better off when your wife asks, ``how was your day

dear?'' you say ``I was so busy I only had time for a tuna

fish sandwich.'' Or as he told Kevin Brown often ``old age,

experience, and treachery will defeat youth and ambition

every time.''

Billy's obituary was full of the pride he had for his

Italian heritage and about what America had done for him. And

with justifiable pride acknowledged the journey of his

parents as well as his own. This was apparent with his

routine drive past the Motor Vehicle building which bears his

name. It does so because his parents embedded in him those 5

simple words:

``How may I help you?''

He traveled to D.C. back in 2008 and was escorted by Linda

Christiana. His trip was highlighted by dinner at the Italian

Embassy with Ambassador Castellaneta. When I saw the

Ambassador weeks later, he remembered Billy, and how

entertaining and proud he was of his Italian heritage. He

added, ``he's even invited me to a Bocce tournament that I

believe is at your house!''

That's our guy. And we have a letter here from the Italian

Embassy:

Letter from the Italian Embassy:

We, at the Embassy of Italy were deeply saddened to learn

of the passing of Senator Biagio ``Billy'' Ciotto. In his

passing, Connecticut, and indeed the whole US, has lost a

great statesman, and a wonderful American, proud of his

Italian origins, which he never lost an opportunity to

proudly recall.

The story of Senator Ciotto's life speaks clearly to his

many talents and innate human touch. His generosity, kindness

and dedication were a source of inspiration to the community

whom he served with passion, honor, and dignity. Senator

Ciotto was an exemplary civil servant, and wholeheartedly

dedicated himself to serving this great Country and his

fellow Americans, while never forgetting his ancestral land,

Italy.

Our sincere condolences go out to Mrs. Ciotto, his family,

and the entire Italian-American and American community at

this moment of great loss. Senator Ciotto may be not with us

anymore, but his legacy lives on, and will always do so

through the many people, he touched, and inspired.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Grazie, Senator Ciotto.

The first time he met with Nancy Pelosi there was an

instant bond. She had broken a barrier and was the first

woman Speaker of the House. And when he met her, bursting

with pride he said ``Madam Speaker you have broken a barrier

and as a father with two daughters I am so grateful and

proud. But as a young man, I listened to your father Thomas

D'Alesandro Jr. He was the first Italian Mayor of Baltimore

and he had a Sunday address, he made us proud of our heritage

and I listened intently to what he had to say. And now his

daughter is not only the first woman Speaker of the House,

but as important to people of our heritage and faith, she is

the first Italian.''

The bond between them was instant and lasting. A mutual

admiration, so much so that after an eight year hiatus as

Speaker, when we recaptured the House and took back the

majority in 2018, her guest of honor at her swearing in was

Billy. And with a cigar in hand and escorted by Sarah Gianni,

he took it all in from his front row seat in the House

Balcony.

Letter from Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Every now and then, a person comes along whose heart is so

full of love and whose life is so full of kindness that he

radiates joy: Such a blessed person is Billy Ciotta. Perhaps

he had such generosity of spirit because of how his parents

raised Biagio and because of his happy marriage to Jeanne.

Everyone loved Billy, because they knew that Billy cared.

In his work, whether at the DMV or in the State Senate, where

he served with John Larson, whom he loved, he made everyone

feel important. In taking pride in his Italian American

heritage, he respected others' pride in theirs. In his faith

in God, he gave hope and charity to all. Anyone who was

blessed and shaped by Billy's friendship wanted to live up to

his loyalty.

Billy was in the arms of his loving family on March 19, the

Feast of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of a happy death,

very special to Italian Americans, and made his passage on

the 20th. I hope it is a comfort to Jeanne and his children

Joseph, Anthony, Julia, John, and Maria, and their

grandchildren that so many people mourn their loss and are

praying for them at this sad time. Billy will be sadly missed

by all of us who loved him. In his life, Billy brought joy to

the world and now he has brought his humor to Heaven.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, United States House of

Representatives.

We know heaven will never be the same and he's up there

with some pretty good company. To be acknowledged and loved

by the entire community he served and yes to have the Italian

Ambassador and the Speaker of the House eulogize you is

pretty impressive. So many words of condolence for Jeanne and

the family. So many stories--therefore our staff will be

keeping the website open to post on what everyone sends to us

of your memories with Billy. And among the first of those

that we have is someone who knows something about the loss of

a beloved one. Jeanne, we have here a letter from the

President of the United States:

Letter from President Joe Biden

Dear Mrs. Ciotta and Family, Please accept Jill's and my

heartfelt condolences on the passing of your beloved Billy.

Your entire family is in our thoughts and prayers.

I know that this time must be difficult beyond words, and

you feel like there is a hole in your heart. In the hardest

of times like these, I always turn to family. It is so

important to be able to share the feeling of enveloping grief

and to have people you love nearby to absorb some of the

worst pain.

Billy was a devoted husband and father who loved you all

immensely. He spent his life building and strengthening the

Ciotto family bonds, which are meant for you to lean on

during hard times like this. Your family shared Billy with

Connecticut and with the Nation--and thanks to your

sacrifices, he was able to help our country's most

vulnerable. Billy was a true public servant.

Though the grieving process never quite ends, it is my hope

that you will find comfort knowing that Billy will forever be

in our hearts and memories and those of so many whose lives

he touched. From experience, I promise you the day will come

when his memory will bring a smile to your lips before it

brings a tear to your eye. My prayer for you and your family

is that day comes sooner rather than later.

Sincerely, Joe Biden.

Billy will always be with us. Provided we continue to post

and tell those stories we fondly remember. The most important

way he'll stay with us is if we follow his example by saying

when we have the opportunity: How may I help you?

Madam Speaker, on Monday June 21, 2021, I attended the funeral service for Wallace ``Wally'' Barnes. I wish to include in the Record my eulogy for Wally's wife, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Barbara Franklin, who served our Nation with distinction. I will always treasure Wally's friendship and am grateful for his leadership in Connecticut and across the Nation.

Barbara, Tom and Melanie, Jarre and Whit, the entire Barnes

family--what an honor to be part of this tribute to Wally.

COVID has certainly turned our lives upside down, and while

time doesn't ease his passing, it has provided us time to

reflect on the man. Even at 94, he was still an immense

resource, whose advice was widely sought by business and

civic leaders.

In this state--the land of steady habits; a state of sturdy

Oaks--he was a Giant Sequoia. I guess when you 're a direct

descendent of Ebenezer Barnes, the first settler of Bristol,

one could argue that Wally was the embodiment of the concept

of ``Noblesse Oblige.''

And that obligation started with love of family and carried

over to his beloved community of Bristol, the State of

Connecticut, and our great Nation. Any examination of his

life in general--both in and out of public office--quickly

demonstrates that public service was not some avocation, or

hobby for Wally, it was a way of life.

A value he cherished, practiced, and nurtured in his

family, his community, his state, and nation. And was

reflected in his business, civic, and charitable endeavors. I

was fortunate to first meet Wally when I was in the

Connecticut Senate. We shared that common experience of being

a part of ``The Circle.''

As many know, the State Senate is called the Circle because

of its geometric shape, but also because unlike the House of

Representatives, we sit in a circle of peers, neither

distinguished by rank or political affiliation . . . as

equals.

We chuckled over his famous ``Nikita Khrushchev moment.''

This Republican scion of the Prescott Bush era was hardly a

Nikita--but his actions worked. He got the public's and

press' attention and made us all remember that it's important

not to abuse the rights of the minority.

He first ran for Congress in 1954 against Thomas J. Dodd,

and I would like to read a letter to you Barbara from someone

familiar with that race:

Letter from Senator Chris Dodd

Dear Barbara, I sincerely regret that I cannot be with you

in person today to celebrate Wally's life. He was a good

friend.

Wally and I enjoyed a warm relationship spanning many

decades. Like so many others, I admired Wally, I appreciated

his counsel, advice, and support. I was also thankful for his

willingness to clearly share his views--when we agreed and

when we disagreed.

Barbara, as you and your family know, our families go back

many years. It was 67 years ago in 1954 when Wally and my

father competed for the same congressional seat, the very

seat that John Larson now holds.

Wally, of course, went on to have a very successful and

productive life. The Barnes Group, as all of us in

Connecticut are aware, was extremely successful under Wally's

leadership. Further, Wally loved his hometown of Bristol and

was a treasured, contributing member of the community and our

state for many, many years.

Let me add that Wally Barnes was a great example of what

might be called an American original. If I were asked to

describe my image of a great American, I could not give a

better description than Wally Barnes--patriotic, creative,

imaginative, thoughtful, a person who was always willing to

help others, with healthy doses of confidence and humility.

And so, Barbara, we were fortunate that Wally was a part of

our lives and we thank you for sharing him with us.

Christopher J. Dodd.

Wally and I both served in the Senate for 12 years. He was

the Republican Leader and I, as a Democrat- in different

times but with a similar result. We were both candidates for

Governor for our respective parties--he in 1970, and I in

1994.

In what was a to be a heartbreaking loss for the citizens

of the State-he lost to Tom Meskill, and I to Bill Curry. We

had both served on various commissions and I can remember a

call I received from him after my defeat. But mostly I

remember that laugh, when he asked how I felt and I said,

``Hey, Peacock one day, feather duster the next.'' And he

laughed that hearty Barnes laugh of disarming approval. Here

this giant of industry, presiding over chambers of commerce,

the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, this

highly respected Republican, was calling to soften the blow

that only people who have been through it can grasp. I can't

tell you how important that was and what it meant to me

personally.

Wally's sense of humor, his ability to relate to the

everyday concerns of ordinary people, was remarkable and

endeared him to me and those around him. He was genuine and

sincere, believable and had our trust. And his focus was

always on getting things done. Quite a contrast to politics

today. Barbara I would like to read a letter to you:

Letter from President Joe Biden

Dear Madam Secretary, Jill and I send our deepest

sympathies on the passing of your beloved husband, Wally. We

are thinking of you and praying for your peace.

There are few words that I can share to ease the pain of

losing a partner--it leaves a hole in our hearts. Wally

dedicated himself to the people of Connecticut and the state

he loved. He was a leader, a good man, and a great husband,

father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. As you reflect on

your time together, may the love that you shared be a shining

light in the years to come.

There is an Irish headstone I often quote. It reads,

``Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a

memory no one can steal.'' Though the grieving process never

quite ends, I promise you that the day will come when Wally's

memory will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a

tear to your eye. My prayer for you is that this day comes

sooner rather than later.

Sincerely, Joe Biden.

Time does heal as the President has indicated and has

brought a few tears but an equal number of smiles for a man

who put service above self.

A master pilot, he applied to politics what he applied to

aviation. And just like George H.W. Bush, he believed in the

pilot's team C.A.V.U., which stands for Ceiling And

Visibility Unlimited. He inspired others to believe that you

could go as far and as high as their vision, imagination, and

courage will take you.

Thank you, Wally Barnes. God bless you, God bless America.

Madam Speaker, on Saturday July 17, 2021, I had the honor of attending the funeral service for a dear friend and remarkable woman, Ann O'Connell Long. Below are the eulogies made by her three loving children Deirdre, Maura, and Michael, as well as her great friend Suzanna Nolan. I was touched by these remarks and wish to include them in the Record for her beloved husband Michael Long and their family.

Remarks by Deirdre Long Absolonne

When I think of our mom, I think of faith, family, work,

quiet strength, beauty, and good humor. Mom's faith was

strong, but quiet. She didn't talk about it a lot--she simply

lived it.

She grew up in Parkville with two pairs of shoes, and the

support of a community that populated the rest of her life.

She had happy memories of her childhood, including vacations

at Indian Neck, during which, ever the planner, she would lay

out her bathing suit and towel before going to bed each

night. When the other children would ask what she was doing,

she would explain that she was getting things ready for the

morning.

She chose to stay close to her mom and attend Saint Francis

School of Nursing, one step in her lifelong relationship with

Saint Francis. While there, she met our dad, who became her

best friend and partner of 52 years. She loved to joke that

he married her for her money and she claimed at least some

credit for making Mike Long a Democrat.

She stayed home with us when we were babies and, on my

fifth day of first grade, she resumed work full time. Nursing

was her vocation. Off she went at 7 am each day to help her

family and the sick. She came home every night and put a

balanced dinner on the table (a feat that now, as a working

mom, I see as nothing short of miraculous). Every week for

all those years, with the help of only her family, she

cleaned our home top to bottom (usually while singing). She

earned degrees and promotions along the way, while always

making her family feel that she had plenty of time for us.

I am so fortunate that my relationship with Mom was

uncomplicated. It was comfortable, joyful, and good. She was

steadfast, understanding, occasionally mischievous, and

always just plain fun to be with. She really listened. And

she was always open to new experiences, perspectives, and

people.

She enjoyed gathering with family and friends, and I know

she treasured her time with each of you. She liked design

magazines, good books, cute dogs, babies, massages, making

lists on index cards, and simple pleasures like sitting by

the fire, in the yard, or on the beach. As everyone who has

ever set foot in her home (or the home of someone she helped)

knows, she made everything beautiful. True to form, she spent

her final months helping all of us to be ready for this

morning.

Perhaps most importantly, over all the years and through

all of life's ups and downs, she joked and laughed, early

often and easily.

Remarks by Maura Long Sheehan

When I think of my mom, I see her smiling face with that

twinkle in her eye and it makes me smile too. She was warm

and loving, often laughing, and had a no-nonsense way of

making things happen.

When I think back to my childhood, I remember Mom singing

along to John Denver when she was cleaning the house, baking

chocolate chip cookies for our Cape Cod vacations, and

highlighting textbooks while studying in bed at night. It

wasn't until I was much older that I realized how impressive

it was that she earned her bachelor's degree while raising

three young children and earned her master's degree while

working and raising three teenagers.

As a child, I had no idea who I was dealing with. As an

adult, I realize how special she was. When I think about

Mom's life and accomplishments, it amazes me that she did it

all with such generosity, gratitude, and grace.

I know many of you here felt her generosity first-hand,

whether it was kind words at just the right time, a homemade

loaf of Irish bread, or a helping hand with your home

improvements. At some point a few years ago I realized that

whenever Mom showed up for a visit, after she breezed in with

a smile, always bearing gifts of some sort, she would look me

in the eye and ask ``what can I do to help you?'' Having a

mother like that was a true gift.

As for gratitude, Mom found the beauty in everything around

her and she knew how to have fun. She was full of joy and

always seemed to have time to relax and make new friends. She

made everyone feel special and she made it look easy.

Sometimes when I would call her and ask what she was doing,

she would laugh, tell me she had her feet curled up on the

sheepskin and that she was busy, ``cultivating gratitude''.

She laughed, but it worked.

Mom's grace, and her genuine kindness, were evident her

entire life. She was a gracious hostess, and she truly

enjoyed entertaining small groups of friends for lunch or

dinner, having all her children and grandchildren under one

roof every summer on Martha's Vineyard, and hosting extended

family for tenderloin dinner (with those incredible

mushrooms) each Christmas season.

Her grace, dignity, and strength were on full display this

past year as she continued to warmly welcome friends and

family for laughter-filled visits while quietly, through her

example, preparing all of us for what was to come.

Remarks by Michael B. Long

When I think of Mom the first thing that comes to mind is

laughter and the second is the things she taught me. I recall

in particular a couple of sayings she would use and tell me

that Grammy O had taught her. One is, ``A place for

everything and everything in its place,'' the other, ``If ye

can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.''

One thing I learned at an early age was to look again. A

fly on the wall at 4 Maple Court in the mid 70's might have

heard something like this:

``Mom! There's no more bologna!'' ``Look in the meat

drawer.''

``I already did!''

``Look again.''

``Okay.''

(pause)

``I found it!''

I also learned that if I wasn't throwing up or didn't have

a fever, I wasn't sick. ``Get up. You're going to school.''

If I ever complained about someone else doing a substandard

job, she'd chime in with, ``if you want something done right,

do it yourself.''

She had a great sense of humor, and all we needed to get

each other in hysterics was a word or two, or just an eyebrow

raise.

And when I commented on some accolade she'd received or

something clever she'd done, she'd graciously accept the

compliment. And then, a second or two later she'd say, ``They

don't pay me for my looks, you know!''

Her kind spirit was always evident, and the aura of

positivity she radiated was irrepressible. Two instances in

particular come to mind:

When we visited Grammy O at Saint Mary Home and walked in

the front door, Mom was all smiles. She greeted all the

residents in the lobby as well as each person we encountered

on the way to Gram's room, and their faces would just light

up. Those small acts of kindness make people's days, and for

her it was a matter of course, like eating or breathing.

Another was when she visited California in 2003 to meet her

newest grandchild. A couple of friends met me at the house

before we went to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. We hung

out for an hour or so and had a nice little visit. On the way

to the show, both of my friends remarked about her aura of

positivity and kindness, and how much they'd enjoyed spending

time with her.

Finally, she remarked on many occasions when we were on

vacation, that she always tried to leave the place she was

staying nicer than when she arrived.

Mom left this place nicer than when she arrived.

Remarks by Suzanne Nolan

Ann and I met in 2005 when I began work at St. Francis

Hospital as Director of Spiritual Care. As a new

administrator, I was so very fortunate that she took me under

her wing; I know so many of you also received from her an

embrace of sincere interest and genuine care for your well-

being.

Ann asked me to speak today about her time at St. Francis.

The factual parts of that are well known. Her personal impact

on her colleagues and staff was also remarkable. To try to

honor her legacy there, I talked to many people who worked

with her.

So now I ask you to imagine a shimmering Waterford vase

filled with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, each flower a

phrase describing Ann as a nurse and nurse leader:

--Incredibly strong woman

--Could see the gift in someone, help that person to see

it, and help them to nurture it

--Wonderful and supportive, especially in challenging

moments (this person told of a night years ago when she had

to transfer a heart transplant patient to Yale; Ann was the

night supervisor and helped every step of the way)

--Consummate professional

--Incredibly dedicated

--Capable, competent

--Respected nurse leader

--One person described her approach through a Maya Angelou

quote: ``if you don't like something, change it. If you can't

change it, change your attitude.''

--Honest when you messed up, and then helped you to create

the plan to go forward

--Helped her staff feel secure in their important roles

even as the corporate model was increasing in the hospital

--Special in so many ways

--Persistent and tough; did the very challenging work of

bringing Continuing Care and Utilization and Social Services

together into the Case Management Department then became the

Director of that Department

--Over the top in her generosity

--She and Mike opened their home to provide a place for a

staff member's wedding

--A wise mentor

--Gentle sense of humor

--Poked fun at herself

--Ultimate hostess

--A kind person, just so very kind

And Ann, of course, throughout her working life, relished

being a loving wife, a beloved mother and grandmother.

I believe God gave Ann extraordinary gifts in her ability

to love and to care deeply for others. Her trust in God, her

deep faith, enabled her to embrace these gifts and enrich so

many lives thus giving glory to God. We in this church, and

so many others, have been privileged to know Ann and to be

blessed by her presence. We miss her so much, and we are so

grateful to her.

May you find comfort in these words of safe passages:

``Rest assured that in her dying, in her flight through

darkness toward a new light, Ann held you in her arms and

carried your closeness with her. And when she arrived at God,

your image was imprinted on her joy-filled soul.''

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, I was unfortunately not present for roll call vote 149 on agreeing to H. Res. 275, Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the House of Representative's commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian- American and Pacific Islander community. I fully condemn the shootings in Atlanta on March 16, 2021, and stand fully committed to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted AYE on roll call vote 149.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank President Biden for his science-based efforts in defeating this virus and his unrelenting focus on putting American families back on their feet.

The American Rescue Plan meets the moment and fulfills that old adage that help is on the way.

This bill gets shots into arms, money into people's pockets, and provides their communities, and especially our schools, with the relief that they need.

In Connecticut, 1.5 million working families will receive $4 billion. This relief is felt by those families--I say to my colleagues--as those families sit at the kitchen table and look across at each other and talk about their day-to-day needs and what needs to be met, Mr. Speaker.

And so this bipartisan relief package that we have put forward--and I say bipartisan, because when you talk to the general public and when you talk to the people that need this relief directly, you see that more than 70 percent of Democrats, Republicans, and the unaffiliated support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I was not in attendance to cast my vote on consideration of the En Bloc 1 amendment to the For the People Act (H.R. 1). Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 52.

Madam Speaker, we recently witnessed an unprecedented attack on the Capitol as a joint session of Congress convened to count and certify the Electoral College votes. This was an attack on not only the hallowed halls of the Capitol, but on the very heart and soul of our democracy: it was an attack on the peaceful transition of power.

There can be no doubt who instigated the insurrectionists and incited them to domestic terrorism. The President of the United States called on his supporters to march on the Capitol. He told them: ``We're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.''

In 2017, Dr. Harold Schwartz wrote this op-ed, published in the Hartford Courant. In it, he describes several mental disorders that may be applicable to the President. It has proven to be remarkably prescient and foreshadowed the events of January 6, 2021. I include it in the Record here so that Members and the public may draw their own conclusions about the President's fitness to serve out the remainder of his term. I, for one, believe that the President is a malignant narcissist lacking the capacity to discharge the duties of his office and call on the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment.

I'm Not Diagnosing Trump: Just Saying . . .

(By Harold I. Schwartz)

Psychiatrists are prohibited by the so-called Goldwater

Rule from diagnosing public figures they have not personally

assessed. This prohibition followed the 1964 election, when

Barry Goldwater was the Republican candidate for president

and felt by many to have extreme views. He was castigated in

a survey of American psychiatrists and unfairly labeled with

virtually every diagnosis in the book.

Fearful of the implications of diagnosing from afar, the

American Psychiatric Association prohibited this activity to

protect the credibility of American psychiatry and the

privacy, dignity and confidentiality of public figures. On

the one hand, the prohibition makes sense. On the other, it's

a gag rule preventing psychiatrists from contributing to the

conversation.

It may not be necessary, however, for a psychiatrist to

offer a diagnosis to join the discussion of just what is (or

is not) wrong with Donald Trump. Mere information may

suffice. In this spirit I bring you, straight from the

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth

Edition (the DSM-V, psychiatry's diagnostic bible), the

descriptions of several mental disorders. Far be it

from me to say they apply to Mr. Trump. You may decide.

Let's start in the Personality Disorders section. There are

many disorders within this category and their features often

mix and match. Here are the characteristics, right out of the

DSM-V of someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (You

only need five to qualify):

1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g.,

exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be

recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success,

power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love.

3. Believes that he or she is ``special'' and unique and

can only be understood by, or should associate with, other

special or high-status people (or institutions).

4. Requires excessive admiration

5. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable

expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic

compliance with his or her expectations

6. Is interpersonally exploitative

7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify

with the feelings and needs of others.

8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are

envious of him or her.

9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.

Another interesting personality diagnosis is Antisocial

Personality Disorder, the technical term for the more

commonly used psychopathy. I have selected criteria that you

may find most salient (you only need three to qualify):

Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of

aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.

Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.

Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated

physical fights or assaults.

Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated

failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor

financial obligations.

Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or

rationalizing having hurt, mistreated or stolen from another

While it's not a formal diagnosis, people who combine very

severe narcissism with severe psychopathy are said to have

Malignant Narcissism syndrome--it is the very worst forms of

narcissism and psychopathy combined. You really don't want to

have a malignant narcissist in your life.

And because I've already suggested that elements of the

various personality disorders often combine, here are a few

of the features of Paranoid Personality Disorder that may be

of interest: suspicion that others are harming or deceiving

him or her, reading hidden demeaning or threatening meanings

into benign remarks or events, persistently bearing grudges

(unforgiving of perceived injuries), quick to counterattack

to perceived attacks on his or her character. To qualify for

any of the personality disorder diagnoses, the individual

must either be distressed by these characteristics or, in

some way, dysfunctional. Very successful people can be

dysfunctional in many aspects of their lives.

Still another diagnosis is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity

Disorder. Just a few of the criteria for this include: the

failure to give close attention to details, difficulty

sustaining attention to tasks, an avoidance of tasks that

require sustained mental effort and easy distractability.

The definition of delusional thinking might be of interest.

Delusions are defined as fixed false beliefs. But a fixed

belief is not a delusion, as odd as that may seem to many, if

it is accepted and shared by the social cultural group the

believer finds himself in. In a severe personality disorder

it may be difficult to distinguish a fantastical wish from a

delusion. But we are splitting definitional hairs here.

I must reiterate, lest I find myself at odds with my

professional organization: I have never interviewed Donald

Trump and I am not diagnosing him. I am merely directing your

attention to information that anyone can find in the

diagnostic manual. It would be improper of me, as a

psychiatrist, to do more. On the other hand, you don't need a

psychiatrist . . . er, a weatherman, to know which way the

wind blows.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following Op-Ed in tribute to the late John Mitchell of South Windsor, Connecticut.

[From the Hartford Courant]

Want To Make a Difference? Run for Office. Yes, You.

(By Kevin Rennie)

Local political parties will nominate their slates of

candidates for November's municipal elections this month. In

a few communities, there will be ferocious contests for some

positions. Democratic races for mayor in some of the state's

largest cities, Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven, look

competitive as the September primaries grow nearer.

Those are the exceptions.

In most towns, politics is mercifully a civic good more

than it is a secular religion. Some communities continue to

enjoy our New England tradition of electing members

to a wide range of local boards and commissions. That

requires a lot of candidates. Another tradition, minority

representation, guarantees no political party gets to elect

every member of a town council, board of selectmen or board

of education. Our law seeks to encourage a variety of voices

in local government.

Political parties in many towns struggle to find enough

candidates to fill their slates. The hyperpartisanship that

mars our national politics recedes in many communities

seeking citizen volunteers to manage local affairs. Plenty of

parties will welcome unaffiliated voters onto their tickets

for municipal elections.

If you get your news from cable television, you may

properly think that much of contemporary politics is an

endless series of screaming matches. Town politics does not

often descend into the bear pit. Go to a meeting of your

local planning and zoning commission and you will not be able

to tell the Democrats from the Republicans. It's a collection

of citizens trying to manage or attract development to their

community. If you can spot the nuances of a traffic study or

possess some ideas on how a town can manage a decline in the

number of school-age children it will educate in the next

decade, welcome.

As a candidate for local office, you'll be more a part of a

team than a member of a fire-breathing partisan tribe. The

desire to serve will be your platform. In most instances, a

campaign for a town office comes with few complications.

Almost everyone wins. In some towns with a nine-member board

of education, for example, there are only ten candidates.

Minority representation rules have been adopted to give no

party more than five members. Only one of the ten candidates,

assuming a full slate by each party and no third party

candidates, will lose. And there are plenty of other places

for that person to serve in community government.

I've saved the best reason for last. You will meet

wonderful people whose friendship will endure after your

service concludes. I was reminded of this gift on Monday when

John Mitchell, South Windsor's beloved former mayor, died.

Mitchell, 84, may have been our community's longest performer

of good deeds.

Born in Manchester, he lived and worked in South Windsor

for most of his adult life. He started a fuel oil business as

a young man, and it thrived through the unfailing melding of

enterprise, knowledge and a buoyant personality. He served on

the town council for more than a decade and enjoyed two terms

as mayor in the 1980s, a time of historic growth in town.

Mitchell's service to others was not limited to elective

office. He remained active in the local chamber of commerce

and was a stalwart in the Rotary Club for decades. He loved

community events. Almost 40 years ago, he thought that since

so many strawberries grew on the shrinking numbers of South

Windsor farms, there ought to be a June festival, and local

Republicans ought to create it. I can attest to the amount of

work a strawberry festival requires. Mitchell's enthusiasm

made it impossible to do anything but enjoy the challenge.

The strawberry festival has long been what he envisioned: an

annual June Saturday that thousands have enjoyed.

Mitchell was active in providing college scholarships to

local students as recently as last month. We'll never know

the vast number of people he lifted and encouraged with his

private generosity. We helped with a few local campaigns in

the past decade, and I was reminded of his joy in the battle.

His sense of humor grew sharper, and he displayed a rare

wonderment at growing older.

So think about running for something. You will help your

town. If you are very lucky, you will get to know someone

like John Mitchell.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record the following article, written by Max Richtman, the president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, for my colleagues. As Chairman of the House Ways and means Subcommittee on Social Security, I urge my colleagues to fight to protect Social Security for all working Americans, especially millennials who will rely on Social Security significantly more than their parents' or grandparents' generation. Mr. Richtman's article makes a persuasive case to rebut efforts to divide the generations by claiming that today's millennials bear the burden of supporting today's retirees. The Social Security 2100 Act will ensure that Social Security is there for generations to come for all, including millennials.

We Must Fight to Preserve Social Security for Millennials

(By Max Richtman)

If you 're a millennial, you have may been led to believe

that you have a better chance of seeing a UFO or Bigfoot than

receiving a Social Security check. In a recent survey, some

80 percent of millennials are concerned that they won't be

able to receive any Social Security benefits upon retirement.

With the steady drumbeat of dystopian disinformation

flowing from Social Security's opponents and many in the

media, who could blame them? No wonder the young adults I

talk to at town hall meetings across the country tell me the

same thing: ``Social Security will not be there for me when I

need it.'' Let me assure the U.S.'s young people that Social

Security will be there for you in the future, if you fight

for it now.

Don't listen to so-called ``entitlement reformers'' who try

to divide the generations by telling you it's unfair that

millennials ``support'' today's retirees through Social

Security payroll contributions. This ignores the fact that

the program has always been a compact between the

generations--and has provided Americans with basic income in

retirement for more than 80 years. Social Security is the

bedrock of the U.S.'s working and middle classes. We can't

allow conservative ideologues to erode it.

These ``reformers'' count on people forgetting that Social

Security is much more than a retirement income program. It

also provides disability, spousal and survivor's benefits to

Americans of all ages. The average worker with a spouse and

two children would have to purchase more than $600,000 in

life and disability insurance to replace the protections

Social Security provides. In fact, some 1.2 million

millennials already receive Social Security benefits.

Social Security is as much a millennials' program as anyone

else's. Current trends indicate that millennials will rely on

Social Security retirement benefits significantly more than

their parents' or grandparents' generations. Increasing

income inequality, wage stagnation, student loan debt,

declining home ownership, the gig economy and the scarcity of

employer-provided pensions have put young peoples' retirement

security at risk.

The National Institute on Retirement Security reports that

two-thirds of millennials haven't saved any money for

retirement. At the same time, future seniors face rapidly

escalating living costs. Basic expenses--from housing to

health care to groceries--will become even pricier in decades

to come. What's more, millennials will live longer on average

than today's retirees, meaning they'll have to spread out

their financial resources over a greater number of years.

That's why Social Security will be even more crucial in

keeping today's young people out of poverty in old age.

According to a recent Urban Institute study, the average

millennial will receive $1,000,000 in Social Security

retirement benefits. That's about twice the average amount

that today's retirees collect. But this will happen only if

we are able to prevent ``reformers'' from cutting benefits,

including raising the retirement age and adopting a more

miserly formula for calculating yearly cost-of-living

adjustments. Don't let them fool you into believing that

slashing benefits is the only way to keep the system solvent

for the future--or that we should gamble with the Social

Security trust fund by investing it on Wall Street.

In fact, there is another path forward, championed by Rep.

John Larson (D-Connecticut) and Democratic presidential

candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), among others in

Congress. Both have introduced legislation that would put

Social Security on a solid financial footing for the future,

while Rep. Larson's bill provides a modest, but much-needed

boost in benefits. Each bill would adjust the Social Security

payroll wage cap (currently set at $132,900) so that the

wealthy would begin paying their fair share into the program.

Representative Larson's bill also includes a 1.2 percent

increase in employee payroll contributions spread out over 24

years. The average worker would contribute an extra 50 cents

per week toward future Social Security benefits--the

equivalent of one Starbucks coffee drink every two months. As

Larson points out, that's a pretty good deal in exchange for

the peace of mind of knowing Social Security will remain

fully solvent through the end of the century, with more

generous benefits and cost-of-living adjustments. If you're

an average income earner, you will surely need both to pay

your bills in old age.

Millennials, here's a chance to harness the power of your

generation to exert influence on the future course of Social

Security. Instead of accepting the false narrative that

Social Security is doomed, join your parents and grandparents

in protecting Social Security as if your future financial

well-being depends on it--because it does.