Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the Chamber for 5 minutes and to talk about what political scientists are calling a polycrisis.

A polycrisis is multiple events that have happened globally that have an enormous impact not only on the world but here. I am going to focus on just three of them right now: the pandemic that we are currently going through, Mr. Speaker, which has been extraordinary, as well as the supply chain issues that have happened; a global pandemic creating global supply chain issues, which led to ensuing global inflation; and in the midst of that, the Ukraine war, which has become a global war, again, impacting supply chain and other issues.

Who in the United States of America has this impacted the most? In our country, this pandemic has impacted the elderly. Of the 1.2 million people who have passed away, over 850,000 were over the age of 65. With regard to inflation, the group that is hurt most by inflation are people on fixed incomes, and that would be close to 70 million Social Security recipients here in this Nation.

We have a crisis in this country: a pension crisis and a crisis that Congress has neglected for more than 52 years.

1971 was the last time that Congress did anything to enhance Social Security benefits. A gallon of milk was 72 cents at that time. A lot has changed since 1971, but what hasn't changed is Congress' recalcitrance to address the needs of our seniors.

Social Security is the number one antipoverty program for seniors and the number one antipoverty program for children, yet there are 5 million Americans currently who get below-poverty-level checks from the Federal Government after having paid all of their lives into the system.

The only reason that is so is because Congress hasn't acted. It is long overdue for Congress to act. We have legislation that we will be introducing in the Ways and Means Committee that will enhance Social Security with across-the-board increases for everyone to lift people out of poverty and provide every single district with economic recovery.

Why? It is because, on average, there are 145,000 people per congressional district who are on Social Security, and that money is spent right back in that congressional district. People are not buying back stock options with their Social Security checks. They are spending it at the grocery store. They are spending it on rent. They are spending it on prescription drugs. That is what is needed.

It is long overdue for Congress to act. It is not simply a question of protecting or saving Social Security. It is doing something to end this crisis in the midst of the worst pandemic, in the midst of inflation, and in the midst of a supply chain issue to make sure that our elderly and our people are being protected.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the polycrisis, the new term of art that people are using to describe what has happened globally in terms of a global pandemic, followed by global supply chain issues, followed by global inflation, and is underscored by the war in Ukraine, that has created incredible havoc here in this country.

Of course, the group that is impacted the most are people over the age of 65 here in the United States. With slightly over 1 million people who have succumbed to the pandemic, 850,000-plus have been over the age of 65.

The same group, Mr. Speaker, is impacted by inflation. Inflation hurts people on fixed incomes the most. Those are people on Social Security, people who are Social Security recipients.

Here in this Chamber, we play games. We are in the midst of signing a discharge petition to make sure that we lift the debt limit.

Mr. Speaker, we did that three times under the Trump administration without angst or fanfare. Yet here, for the group that is most impacted by this polycrisis, this global crisis, this is all while China and Russia are looking on and cheering this side of the aisle for their efforts to default on the full faith and credit of the United States, who will that hurt the most again?

That will hurt people over the age of 65, the people who are on Social Security and Medicare, and veterans who won't be able to get their checks.

Why? To make a political point?

This is the United States of America. We need to stand up and do the right thing for the American people, and that starts with taking care of our own. It has been more than 52 years since Congress has enhanced Social Security, and this pandemic and this ensuing inflation have hurt this group the most.

There are more than 5 million of our fellow Americans who get below- poverty-level checks from their government for Social Security. It is something they have paid into all of their lives. Contrary to the belief on the other side, this is not an entitlement. This is an earned benefit. This is what people have paid for.

Mr. Speaker, 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, and Congress twiddles and diddles here. We need to pass an enhanced Social Security bill now.

As Martin Luther King, Jr., said, it is the fierce urgency of now.

These people need this relief today. This is not the time for political gamesmanship. Now is the time to act.

I implore my colleagues on the other side: Don't be frozen in the ice of your own indifference toward the people of this Nation who need this help and relief and need it now. Let's come together as a body and do what President Reagan did, do what President Eisenhower did, and do what President Nixon did, and come together and enhance Social Security on behalf of the citizens of this country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the body on what has become a new term of art in politics called a polycrisis.

A polycrisis is when extraordinary events are taking place around the world, of which we are all too familiar with, including a global pandemic that has set off global supply chain issues and that have set off global inflation that impacts everybody around the globe. All of which have been compounded by the war in Ukraine and all the disruption that that has caused.

In the midst of this polycrisis, who has been impacted the most in this country by both the pandemic and inflation?

People impacted the most by the pandemic are people over the age of 65. Of roughly the more than 1.2 million Americans who have succumbed to the pandemic, over 850,000, Madam Speaker, are over the age of 65.

The people who are most impacted by inflation are people on a fixed income, and they tend to be people over the age of 65 because they are the people on Social Security, which means that some 66-plus million Americans are impacted by both the pandemic and inflation, and Congress needs to act.

What we need to do most of all is put the debt ceiling issue behind us. To play chicken with people's lives with Social Security checks on the line, to default on the American dollar, is criminal. These are probably unintended by the other side of the aisle, but nonetheless, the direct result of a gamble that makes no sense.

Who is looking in during this polycrisis but our competitors around the world, most notably, China and Russia, who would love to see the value of the dollar and the standing of the United States shaken.

Oddly and ironically enough, this is not happening by any of these events abroad but happening right here in this Chamber by the failure of Congress to lift the debt ceiling, something that was done three times during the Trump administration. Yet, in the face of this pending crisis, with our seniors, the most vulnerable amongst us, facing excruciating circumstances, we continue to dither here.

Put the debt ceiling on the floor, vote on it, and lift it so we can get on with sending relief to the American people.

Congress should be embarrassed by its negligence. It has been more than 52 years since Congress has enhanced benefits for Social Security.

How can people go home and look at their friends, their neighbors, their parents, their brothers and sisters in the eye and tell them that we have done nothing for 52 years?

Do you think that things have changed since 1971, that prices might have gone up?

Certainly, they have.

It is long overdue for Congress not simply to protect Social Security, but to enhance it during this polycrisis, during this epidemic, during this time of inflation, for the most vulnerable among us.

Social Security is the number one antipoverty program for the elderly. It is also the number one antipoverty program for children, and it also happens to be the best economic development program for every single congressional district.

An average of 145,000 people per congressional district depend on Social Security and receive those checks. Where do they spend that money? Right back in the district.

The time to act is now.

Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed the vote on H. Con. Res. 21. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 136.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to one of Connecticut's First District's foremost public servants, State Senator Steve Cassano.

At the beginning of this year, Senator Cassano retired after a prolific four-decade career--serving as Mayor of Manchester for 14 years and in the Connecticut State Senate for more than a decade.

He was a fierce advocate for regional cooperation--helming the influential Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) and the Capitol Region Council of Governments at various times.

Steve understood that our communities are stronger when we work together, and that our region needs a forward-looking plan for the future that serves all residents.

I had the pleasure of working closely with Senator Cassano in each of his roles over the years.

As Mayor, Steve led the Town of Manchester as it transitioned from a mill town to a local hub for business and a retail destination of the Capital Region.

In the State Senate, he led efforts for Connecticut to recover from Hurricane Sandy, the costliest hurricane to ever hit New England.

He capped off a storied career in government with what Steve called his proudest accomplishment--passing historic legislation to ensure adopted children could access their birth records.

I extend my congratulations to Steve Cassano on a career that served our state and region for the better and I commend and thank him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, due to family medical leave, I was not in Washington, D.C. on February 6 through February 9.

Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: YEA on Roll Call No. 107; NAY on Roll Call No. 108; NAY on Roll Call No. 109; YEA on Roll Call No. 110; YEA on Roll Call No. 111; YEA on Roll Call No. 112; YEA on Roll Call No. 113; YEA on Roll Call No. 114; YEA on Roll Call No. 115; NAY on Roll Call No. 116; YEA on Roll Call No. 117; NAY on Roll Call No. 118; and NAY on Roll Call No. 119.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding.

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, today should be a day of celebration.

Madam Speaker, 83 years ago today, Ida Mae Fuller received the first Social Security check. It is the Nation's number one insurance program. It is the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly. It is also the Nation's number one program to help children out of poverty, as well as the number one disability program, especially for veterans and those who utilize Social Security, even more so than the

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I appreciate the passion on this other side. I think this passion and engagement has to be brought forward to the Nation's number one insurance program. It is not an entitlement. It is an earned benefit, and the citizens of this country know it.

Madam Speaker, Ronald Reagan was prescient in his description of Congress, especially as Congress addresses issues, most specifically, the debt ceiling.

Here is what Ronald Reagan had to say about Congress:

Congress consistently brings government to the edge of

default before facing its responsibility. This brinkmanship

threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely

on Social Security and veterans benefits.

Let me repeat that: those who rely on Social Security, you could add Medicare and veterans benefits.

That is what is at stake here.

Reagan went on to say:

Interest rates would skyrocket, instability would occur in

the financial markets, and the Federal deficit would soar.

Why, then, would our colleagues on the other side of the aisle hold the American economy hostage?

In their own words: so they can cut Social Security and Medicare.

They call these programs entitlements.

For all of those listening to this, make sure you call your Member of Congress, and let them know that Social Security is not an entitlement. It is an earned benefit. It is something that people pay for weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

How do they know?

How do we trust and verify this?

All you have to do, Madam Speaker, is go to your pay stub. It says: FICA. That stands for Federal Insurance Contribution. That is Federal Insurance Contribution.

Whose?

Yours--the more than 66 million Americans who contribute to this program. It is an earned benefit. It is not an entitlement.

They clearly are entitled to their Social Security.

But here we have the ruse of the year. We are going to hold the American economy hostage so that we can make cuts to a program that Congress hasn't enhanced in more than 52 years on our watch--ours being every Member of Congress. We cannot let this persist.

Fortunately, because of hard work in the past, seniors are receiving a COLA this year because of COVID. But it has not been reformed, it is not permanent, and there hasn't been a benefit enhancement in 52 years.

In 1971, a loaf of bread cost 72 cents. I don't have to go through the litany of how costs have risen.

With 10,000 baby boomers a day becoming eligible for Social Security, this is not the time to cut the program. This is a time to enhance the program so that all of our seniors--especially those who were hit hardest by the epidemic.

How do we know this?

Of the more than 1 million people who passed away from the pandemic, over 750,000 are over the age of 65.

And who is impacted most by inflation?

Those people who are on a fixed income, and by definition, those on Social Security are on a fixed income and need our help the most during this time of inflation. It impacts every single district in this country.

On average, there are 147,000 Social Security recipients in every congressional district, and to deny them the enhancements that they need during this inflationary time and during a time period when Congress has not enhanced the program in more than 52 years is long overdue.

Offered By: Mr. Larson of Connecticut

Amendment No. 136: Page 3, line 9, strike the closed

quotation mark and the final period.

Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:

``(4) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the

Secretary may execute a drawdown of petroleum products in the

Reserve without developing the plan under paragraph (1) if

the Energy Information Administration determines that

executing such drawdown of petroleum products would lower gas

prices or increase energy stability.''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the remarks of the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts.

I think he used the right words when he talked about theater.

Isn't it long overdue that we are honest with the American people about what this is about?

Come on, Mr. Speaker, you can't really believe that what you are proposing here isn't shielding the wealthiest people in this Nation and corporations.

People at Augie & Ray's in East Hartford are not fooled by this, and they understand what the agenda is. You place us further in debt and leave us with little else to do to help the people who need it the most.

What is this a guise for?

Cutting what you call entitlements.

What people at Augie & Ray's know are earned benefits that they pay for every single week out of their paycheck where they pay their taxes as well.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record the following review of Claire Nader's book, ``You Are Your Own Best Teacher'', written by Dorothea V. Dicecco for the Republican- American.

Claire Nader Celebrates, Encourages Tweens Stepping Forward

(By Dorothea V. Dicecco)

As I began to read Claire Nader's new book, ``You Are Your

Own Best Teacher,'' I found it so engaging that I was unable

to put it down.

This surprised me, as the introduction stressed that it was

a book aimed at ``tweens''--children between 9 and 12. Indeed

she does focus on young people but as I became involved with

its subject matter, it became clear that she also meant to

appeal to readers of all ages.

There is no doubt that she succeeded.

Praise for the book is provided in its opening pages from

13 prominent Americans, each of whom expresses the reasons

for their enthusiasm. Among them are Jonathan Kozol, author

of ``Death at An Early Age'' and ``Savage Inequalities:

Children in American Schools''; Amy Goodman, host of the

``Democracy Now!'' TV and radio news program; and Katrina

Vanden Heuval, publisher and former editor of The Nation.

Nader was fortunate to live with parents who knew how to

stimulate their children's curiosity, imagination and

intellect--the three characteristics she features on the

cover of her book. She was aware that her peers had minds of

their own, and like her, were influenced by their family as

well as their experiences with friends and classmates. Her

book acknowledges that differences in income, family

situation, safe neighborhoods and health influence young

lives; but they do not diminish tweens' innate curiosity,

imagination and intellect.

A graduate of Smith College, Nader holds a Ph.D. from

Columbia University in public law and government. As an

author and political scientist, she has filled her life with

interactions with adults and young people, and she has

observed the similarities and differences between the age

groups.

In this book, she points out that in schools, the

curriculum has become less connected to the reality of life.

As budgets are

cut, many offerings such as sports, art, music, literature,

health, science, history and politics are reduced or

eliminated.

The growing impact of media has reached tweens who now,

like adults, are a focus of the corporate world. Through

their cell phones and computers, tweens are treated as a

product, bombarded with tempting ads on how to improve their

looks. Junk-foods and sugar-laden drinks are promoted as a

dominant source of nutrition; at the same time causing

childhood obesity, diabetes and heart disease--all while

raising corporate profits.

In this book, Claire Nader raises us above this dark side

of reality and concludes that tweens have not succumbed to it

as we might have believed. On the contrary, she provides the

reader with positive news and optimism derived from her

experience as an advocate for numerous causes at the local,

national and international level. Tweens are never afraid to

ask questions.

Written simply, and often with humor, the book reveals why

she admires tweens. She presents a large range of subjects

that inspire them to become active, and through self-

education, bring about change. Among them are how they

pressed their parents to stop smoking, or wear seatbelts,

once they learned that such actions saved lives. Others

attended town meetings and vigorously expressed their

opinions on social topics that negatively affected their

lives locally and nationally.

One group of fifth-graders influenced their town to clean

up a dump that was near their school. Others who were

attending a run-down school in a poor neighborhood

successfully agitated for a new school building. Planting a

community garden was a meaningful experience. To add impact

to a specific presentation, Nader often colors her point with

thoughts like this one, from an ancient Chinese proverb: ``To

know and not to act is not to know.''

Rarely discussed in the media are the effects some tweens

suffer as the result of their IQ and other standardized tests

given in schools. Many accept the fact that a poor

performance suggests less success in future educational

opportunities and jobs. Nader writes, ``It has been found

that standardized multiple-choice questions do not measure

the most important talents for success in life. They cannot

test your judgement, experience, wisdom, imagination,

idealism, diligence, stamina, and resilience.'' This frank

discussion provides tweens and their parents with a new look

at themselves.

She clarifies myths about famous people in history and

gives us a surprising and entertaining look at the dictionary

as a door to meaning, understanding and enchantment. With the

use of facts, she promotes natural foods for healthy bodies

and provides an understanding of economic security. She

believes that tweens are never too young to be active

citizens. Nader's facts back her writings that if given the

opportunity, tweens would be more than happy to join in the

conversations.

One parent who read the book wished it were available when

his children were young so they could read it and learn

together. Others say that this book should be in every

library and school, so teachers can use it as a reference and

read it to kids. And, of course, kids should read it.

Using a unique approach, Nader has moved beyond stimulating

the curiosity, imagination and intellect of tweens. Her book

is a testament to her ability to reach the minds of all

readers who will benefit from her insight and understanding.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues Earl Blumenauer, Adrian Smith, Dan Kildee, and Drew Ferguson for their work on this bill. I especially thank Congresswoman DelBene for her tireless leadership in advocating for this issue and bringing Members together in a bipartisan manner.

For our listeners out there, that isn't as rare a thing as one might think. But when you have exceptional leadership, and when you have the grandmother-to-be of an infant on the way, you have a sense of urgency that this Congress and this Nation desperately needs.

I can't thank her enough for her leadership on this, as well as my colleagues across the aisle, because we all know that increasing access and lowering costs for importing base powder is especially important, as Congresswoman DelBene described, for WIC families because we know that means lower costs for working families.

This is a prime example of what can happen when we all work together for the common good. Nothing could be more important than making sure that Suzan DelBene's future grandchild has appropriate baby formula.

Madam Speaker, I rise to compliment Speaker pro tempore Bourdeaux on her service to this great Nation of ours. I have very much enjoyed the privilege and honor of serving with the gentlewoman.

I also rise to thank and compliment the Clerk's Office for all the work that they do; the long days and hours that they put in, extending well into the evening. Yet, on both sides of the aisle, the staff work so hard, but day in and day out, it is the Clerk's Office here that carries out the work in governance of this great country of ours. I thank them for their service. God bless them. God bless America.

senate enrolled bill signed

The Speaker pro tempore, Mr. Raskin, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, announced his signature to an enrolled bill of the Senate of the following title:

S. 2293.--An act to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide certain

employment rights to reservists of the Federal Emergency

Management Agency, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I start by echoing the sentiments that both the chairman and the ranking member had about Jackie Walorski and how deeply we all feel for her and her family and the staff members who were lost.

I congratulate Mr. Neal and also members of this committee, most notably Mr. Thompson and Mr. Blumenauer, as well, for their work on climate change and for their work throughout this period of putting forward consequential legislation. I say ``consequential'' in the time I am allotted because I want to talk and focus specifically on some of these claims.

I hope the American people are listening. You don't bring about change by appealing to the sum total of the fears of the American people. You bring about change aspirationally and by doing something constructive and putting forward legislation as opposed to putting forward the collective fears of a nation and hoping that you might be able to exploit those fears for political gain.

The myth that there are 87,000 IRS agents, even Trump's former person rejects that. It is nonsense, as Mr. Neal has pointed out.

What matters to people is when you help them directly, like Rod Yearwood in West Hartford, Connecticut, who is paying $1,400 a month for his insurance, but now, under this bill, is paying $20 a month. The real savings he gets from that allows him to provide for a college education for his children. Aspiration.

Madam Speaker, I rise to address the body on Social Security.

Madam Speaker, as we speak, we are at war. We are at war with a global pandemic, a global pandemic that has swept across many nations, including our own, where we have now lost more than a million people. Madam Speaker, 756,000-plus are over the age of 65.

Madam Speaker, these are also the individuals who are most dependent during these times because they are on a fixed income and are most impacted by inflation.

Madam Speaker, this war will continue because there is another wave of omicron coming our way called BA.2.75 that will land here sometime in the fall and all the more reason that we have a plan to address this. Our plan is to make sure that we assist our seniors who are most in need. So we reach out to our colleagues on the other side and ask them to join us in expanding Social Security benefits. Congress, that has the sole responsibility to do this, hasn't done it in 51 years.

Madam Speaker, when you go back home to your district in which on average 145,000 people in your district are on Social Security, they need our help now. It is what Martin Luther King called the fierce urgency of now: now because we are in the midst of COVID, now because there is another more deadly wave on its way and the groups impacted the most are our senior citizens and our veterans. As everyone knows, Social Security not only is a pension plan, it is spousal and dependent coverage, and more veterans rely on Social Security than they do on the VA, and they are in need of our help.

Congress as an institution hasn't acted in 51 years to enhance a program. Madam Speaker, as you know, a gallon of milk cost 72 cents in 1971, and Richard Nixon was President of the United States. That is how long it has been since Congress has acted. We can no longer kick the can down the road. We are at war. We are at war with a virus that is attacking our people. They need our help, and they need our response. During war, we come together as a body and we roll up our sleeves.

We have a plan that will extend those benefits. Republicans have put forward three concepts and ideas. One is the Republican Study plan that cuts Social Security across the board by 21 percent with the idea that people are living longer so we should boost the age. For every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut. The plan here says you have a new plan that says you work until you die, for God's sake. This cannot stand.

Senator Scott has proposed a plan for Social Security that ends it in 5 years, and Mr. Biggs, before our committee, testified that Social Security ought to be privatized.

We say: None of the above.

Join us in expanding benefits to people who need them the most and to people who are impacted the most. These are your brothers, your sisters, your mothers and fathers, your aunts and uncles, the people you worship with, and your coworkers. That is who Social Security impacts, more than 65 million Americans currently, and with 10,000 baby boomers a day becoming eligible for Social Security the time to act is now. We cannot kick this can down the road.

We have a markup pending in the Ways and Means Committee to get this bill to the floor, and the sooner we vote on it the better. This is something where Democrats and Republicans should join together. Social Security is the most efficient and effective government program. It is run with under 1 percent administrative cost. I come from the insurance capital of the world. Any insurance company would love to have a 99 percent loss ratio.

Madam Speaker, come together and join us to protect Social Security.