Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1934) to direct the Federal Government to provide assistance and technical expertise to enhance the representation and leadership of the United States at international standards-setting bodies that set standards for equipment, systems, software, and virtually defined networks that support 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1934, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1934, the Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act.

Let me start by thanking Ranking Member McCaul, who has been an important advocate in advancing U.S. leadership in global telecoms and 5G technology. Countering China's and Russia's malign influence in this industry is critical for protecting our national security, and I thank him for his bipartisan work in furtherance of these ends.

A big part of advancing U.S. 5G leadership is ensuring that America and allied countries are in the room, at the table, and leading the charge to set next-generation technology standards.

No organization is more critical to that process than a little-known U.N. organization called the International Telecommunication Union, or

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 59) condemning the October 25, 2021, military coup in Sudan and standing with the people of Sudan.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 59, condemning the October 25, 2021, military coup in Sudan and standing with the people of Sudan.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 59. I would first like to thank my colleague, Chairman Meeks, for drafting this important resolution.

On October 25, 2021, Sudan's military leaders launched a coup that essentially dissolved nearly 2 years of progress toward establishing a civilian-led transitional government that would be accountable to the people of Sudan.

Since then, the military junta has undertaken a campaign involving serious human rights violations, including the unlawful detention of the recognized Prime Minister, senior government officials, and members of civil society. Civilian protestors have been maimed, detained, and killed arbitrarily.

Now, the military junta has brazenly aligned itself with the Kremlin and provided Putin access to its mining sector at a time when Russia is seeking funds to wage its own brutal, illegal war in Ukraine.

For these reasons, Congress needs to send a unified message to Sudan's military junta by strongly condemning the October 25 coup and reaffirming our support for the Sudanese people.

This resolution will also signal to the world that the international community must take a stand against the antidemocratic trends sweeping Sudan and the region. We must continue championing multilateral efforts to bring peace and stability to Sudan.

While clearly imperfect, I believe the U.N.-mediated process to advance Sudan's political transition and reestablish the path to peace could be viable with the right leadership and inclusive representation.

In passing this resolution and a companion resolution recently passed by our colleagues in the Senate, I ask you to support this call to stand with the people of Sudan and urge Sudan's military junta to restore the civilian-led transition as the best hope for peace and prosperity in Sudan.

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

U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Financial Services,

Washington, DC, June 17, 2022.

Hon. Gregory Meeks,

Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Meeks: I am writing to acknowledge your

letter dated June 17, 2022, regarding the waiver by the

Committee on Financial Services of any Rule X jurisdiction

claims over the matters contained in H. Con. Res. 59, the

``Condemning the October 25, 2021, military coup in Sudan and

standing with the people of Sudan.'' The Committee on

Financial Services confirms our mutual understanding that our

Committee does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject

matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our

Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as

this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may

address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. The

Committee on Financial Services further confirms our interest

in appointment of outside conferees from the Committee should

this bill or similar language be considered in a conference

with the Senate.

We request that you ensure that this exchange of letters is

included in the Congressional Record during Floor

consideration of the bill. We look forward to continuing to

work with you as this measure moves through the legislative

process.

Sincerely,

Maxine Waters,

Chairwoman.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the October 25 military coup in Sudan represents a dark day for the people in Sudan. It put Sudan and its people on a regressive path that has eroded their human rights and their aspirations for a civilian-led transition. This transition, with historic support from the United States, augured peace, stability, and democratic governance in Sudan for the first time in decades. Instead, the military junta decided to seize power without regard for the will of Sudan's people.

This resolution will echo the voice of the international community by condemning the coup, standing up for Sudan's people, and calling for full accountability for the junta leaders who have abused their power and their people. The passage of this concurrent resolution is a step in the right direction.

I again thank Chairman Meeks for his leadership on this resolution, and I urge all my colleagues to join us by voting in the affirmative.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 720) calling for stability and the cessation of violence and condemning ISIS-affiliated terrorist activity in northern Mozambique, including the Cabo Delgado Province, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 720, calling for stability and cessation of violence and condemning ISIS-affiliated terrorist activity in northern Mozambique, including the Cabo Delgado Province, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 720 calling for stability and the cessation of violence and condemning ISIS-affiliated terrorist activity in northern Mozambique, including the Cabo Delgado Province, and for other purposes.

Let me start by thanking Representative Sara Jacobs for her work on this critical resolution.

Since 2017, terrorists operating under the ISIS banner have laid waste to a large part of the Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique, killing thousands of civilians, displacing millions, and grinding almost all economic activity in the region to a halt. The devastation these terrorists inflicted on the people spurred an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in northern Mozambique that continues to unfold.

With the support of the United States, Rwanda, the European Union, South Africa, and other Southern African Development Community members, the terrorist threat in northern Mozambique has been largely neutralized. There is more work to do, including those efforts underway to stabilize the region, return refugees and IDPs to their homes, and revitalize livelihoods and the regional economy.

To effectively address these issues, including the underlying drivers of violent extremism, the Government of the Republic of Mozambique must spearhead a strong, comprehensive plan to implement a national security strategy and establish an inclusive process for economic growth and development in the north.

The United States remains committed to supporting Mozambique's efforts to strengthen democracy, improve transparency and other good governance measures, and stimulate its economy.

This resolution condemns the violence against civilians in the Cabo Delgado Province, including the terrorist attacks carried out by ISIS- Mozambique, and calls on the Government of the Republic of Mozambique to end the conflict and increase its humanitarian support effort.

The United States stands with the people of Mozambique and will continue to counter the spread of violent extremism there and around the world.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Jacobs), the vice chair of the International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact Subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, the terrorist activity that has destabilized parts of northern Mozambique is a symptom of a larger issue at hand. The United States is working closely with the Mozambican Government to help address the drivers of terrorist recruitment by supporting governance reforms, providing humanitarian assistance, and promoting other stabilization efforts in the country.

This resolution underscores that commitment and urges the Mozambican Government to create a centralized and comprehensive strategy to counter violent extremism and restore security in its northern region.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Jacobs for her leadership on this resolution, and I urge all my colleagues to join us by voting in the affirmative.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 45) expressing the sense of Congress regarding the execution-style murders of United States citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi in the Republic of Serbia in July 1999.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 45.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 45, a resolution condemning the execution-style murders of the U.S. citizen Bytyqi brothers in the Republic of Serbia in July 1999.

Let me start by thanking Representative Lee Zeldin for his bipartisan work in bringing their murderers to justice.

These three brave brothers, whose family hails from what is now Kosovo, were simply trying to help a Romanian family find safety outside Kosovo when they were trapped at an unmarked administrative border. After 15 days of jail, the brothers were taken by a special operations unit of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, where they lost their lives at the hands of Serbian officials.

The brothers were in their early twenties. Their bodies were not found until 2 years later, buried atop a mass grave of Kosovo civilians. In the 23 years since, the United States has been promised that justice will be delivered, yet not one person has been found guilty of their murder.

This measure would call on the Serbian Government to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of their murders, and on the United States to devote the resources necessary to assist in bringing them to justice.

The 116th Congress passed this resolution, and it is my hope that this Congress does the same. These three young men deserve justice and accountability.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 45 will ensure that the United States is doing everything in our power to bring the murderers of United States citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi to justice.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Lee Zeldin for his leadership on this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join us by voting in the affirmative.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 892) calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 892, as amended, calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 892, which calls for the release of Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Chairman Castro, for drafting this important measure.

Nearly 30 years ago, Paul Rusesabagina, a Belgian citizen and permanent resident of the United States, risked his life to protect more than a thousand people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In honor of his singular and valiant actions during one of the worst human rights crises and mass murders in history, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In August 2020, Paul Rusesabagina boarded a plane in the UAE that he believed was headed to Burundi only to arrive in the capital of Rwanda and be arrested by Rwandan authorities under dubious terrorism-related charges.

In September, despite a lack of due process and fair trial, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He has been placed in solitary confinement and charged with numerous crimes of no credence.

The Rwandan Government's unlawful actions, including the extrajudicial transfer of Mr. Rusesabagina from the UAE to Rwanda and his deteriorating medical condition while detained, are of great concern.

The Department of State has now determined that he was wrongfully detained pursuant to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage- Taking Accountability Act. As such, this resolution calls for the immediate release and return of Mr. Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to raise the case of Mr. Rusesabagina in all interactions with the Rwandan Government and continue to press for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro), who is the chair of the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact.

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

Mr. Speaker, Paul Rusesabagina's history and circumstances as a war hero wrongfully detained and denied adequate medical care is one that we cannot ignore. Congress must stand with Paul Rusesabagina's family who have not wavered in championing his legacy and calling attention to his plight to call for his immediate release and return to the United States on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank Chairman Castro for his leadership on this resolution. I urge all my colleagues to join us by voting in the affirmative, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, so far this year, our country has experienced more than 250 mass shootings. And it is only June. Gun violence is now the number one cause of death of children in this country. We cannot let this continue.

The Protecting Our Kids Act is an important step toward curbing gun violence by limiting high-capacity magazines, raising the minimum age to buy assault weapons to 21, and encouraging safe storage practices.

If these measures had been in place, the 18-year-old gunman in Uvalde, Texas, would not have been able to buy the two assault weapons he used to murder 19 children and two teachers.

The Dayton, Ohio, shooter would not have been able to buy the high- capacity magazine that allowed him to shoot 26 people in 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, we can't solve this complex problem at once, but neither can we desist from taking commonsense measures to help make this country safer for our children. Let's honor our oath. Let's do our job to keep the American people safe. Vote ``yes'' on this bill. It is the least we can do for our constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. Over the weekend, we witnessed one of the deadliest racial attacks in recent memory. A man consumed by hateful conspiracy theories targeted the Black community in Buffalo, killing ten innocent people in a grocery store.

He posted a manifesto that was filled with hateful conspiracies and anti-Semitic propaganda, including the racist great replacement conspiracy theory promoted by white supremacists. White supremacy and anti-Semitism are poison to our society.

Today, with these forces on the rise, they are turbocharged by social media which spreads these dangerous ideologies to more people around the world, creating a toxic blend of misinformation and hate.

We can't afford to look the other way when individuals are inspired by hateful ideologies to attack our fellow Americans. That is why we must immediately pass the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act to empower our government to confront the threat of domestic violent extremism head-on.

I thank my friend, Representative Schneider, for his tenacity in pursuing this important bill, which I am proud to cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical legislation to combat anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all forms of hateful violence which threaten all of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Frankel, for her efforts to recognize the hard work and dedication of Benjamin Ferencz. It is quite fitting that Mr. Ferencz be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his remarkable work prosecuting Nazis during the Nuremburg trials at this particular time.

First, because at a time when immigrants are being villainized, Mr. Ferencz is an example of an immigrant who fled to this country from the persecution of Jews by the Nazis and made this country proud with his military service and with his tireless advocacy for justice at the Nuremburg trials.

Second, because at a time of rising anti-Semitism globally and in this country, it is important to honor Mr. Ferencz who fought to hold responsible those whose anti-Semitic actions resulted in an unprecedented genocide: the murder of 6 million innocent Jews.

Third, because today we are witnessing another tyrant, Vladimir Putin, who reminds us of the brutality, the unprovoked aggression, and the unbridled cruelty of Adolf Hitler and his war machine.

We can only hope that when Mr. Putin's aggression against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people is put to an end, we have honorable and highly- skilled people like Mr. Ferencz who will hold Putin and other war criminals accountable in a court of law.

Finally, during this Jewish History Month, it is a privilege to recognize a Jew who served his country and his people with distinction, honor, and success. Mr. Ferencz was the embodiment of the Biblical instruction: Justice, justice you shall pursue.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ms. Frankel, for her effort to make sure this Gold Medal is awarded to such a deserving recipient.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for yielding me this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act.

Today, too many workers face difficulty saving for retirement. Even for those who have access to retirement plans, it can be difficult to grow and protect hard-earned savings.

There are roughly 55 million Americans who lack access to a retirement savings plan at work, with many lacking any retirement savings at all. This is particularly true for women. Approximately 50 percent of women ages 55 to 66 have no personal retirement savings, compared to 47 percent of men, and only 22 percent of women have $100,000 or more in savings, compared to 30 percent of men.

Women are also more likely than men to work in part-time jobs that don't qualify for a retirement plan and are more likely than men to quit work, transfer jobs, or interrupt their careers to care for family members, resulting in lower retirement savings.

This is why I am proud to have my bill, the Improving Part-Time Workers Access to Retirement Act, included in this important legislation. This provision will make it easier for long-term part-time workers to access retirement by shortening the amount of time they are required to work for their employer in order to participate in their 401(k) plan. This will have an important impact on the ability of women and low-wage workers to be able to save for retirement.

As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and a strong supporter of college affordability, I am also pleased that this legislation will allow borrowers the option to pay down their student loans while still receiving an employer match in their retirement plan. This commonsense approach to retirement savings will help the nearly 46 million Americans facing student loan debt become more financially stable while overcoming the barriers too many in our country face upon graduating, like advancing in their career, buying a home, or starting a family.

SECURE 2.0 will help workers save more longer, improve flexibility and protections for Americans' retirement accounts, and eliminate some of the barriers small businesses face in providing comprehensive retirement options to their employees.

These are bipartisan, commonsense provisions that will better serve workers and employers across our country. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this critical legislation.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Fletcher for holding this very important session.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the healthcare providers who have dedicated their lives working to ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare.

Today I am honored to highlight the work and courage of Susan Hill of North Carolina, the former president of the National Women's Health Organization in North Carolina, and a fierce advocate for abortion access and reproductive rights.

Susan opened clinics across the country to ensure that women could access the healthcare they need, including abortion care, with dignity and safety. She focused her work on providing reproductive health services in the Southeast, despite onerous restrictions, so that pregnant women could make the best healthcare decisions for themselves and their families no matter where they lived.

In fact, Susan Hill founded Jackson Women's Health Organization, which is now the last remaining health center providing abortions in Mississippi. This very clinic is at the center of the case directly challenging Roe v. Wade that is currently before the Supreme Court.

If the Court decides to uphold Mississippi's abortion ban and gut Roe, it will be overturning nearly 50 years of judicial precedent and undermining women's fundamental right to make their own personal decisions about their bodies, their families, their futures.

Susan Hill never wavered in her commitment to protecting patients' autonomy and safety, even as anti-abortion protestors used arson, fire bombing, and countless acts of vandalism to intimidate her into closing down her clinics.

Today, the stakes for reproductive freedom are more dire than ever before. Extreme abortion bans and medically unnecessary restrictions are sweeping our country and posing an enormous threat to women's health and constitutional rights. Decimating abortion access diminishes our equality under the law.

The consequences of these egregious attacks most acutely impact communities of color and underserved communities which already face barriers to healthcare.

Healthcare cannot just be for the few, as the legacy of Susan Hill reminds us. All people deserve access to the reproductive care they need, free from political interference, discrimination, and harassment.

Years ago, I spoke on a panel about abortion rights with a physician who had done his residency in Philadelphia before the passage of Roe v. Wade. He told us about his experience working in the emergency room, trying to save desperate women who were near death from botched back- alley abortions, women who suffered irreparable damage, women who didn't make it.

And he told us that history has shown there will always be abortions. The only question is whether abortions will be safe and whether they will be available to those who are faced with terribly difficult choices.

We must ensure that all people have the right to control their own reproductive decisions, and have the right to the reproductive healthcare they need.

I am proud to recognize a fellow North Carolinian, Susan Hill, and to share her commitment to ensuring that abortion rights are protected, and comprehensive reproductive healthcare is accessible to all who need it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Global Respect Act, including my amendment to ensure accountability for torture.

As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am proud to work with my colleagues, Chairman Meeks and Congressman Cicilline, to protect and defend human rights and uphold our values around the world.

Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill would require the President to identify and impose visa sanctions on foreign individuals responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQ-plus people.

My amendment would direct sanctions against those responsible for one of the most horrific acts of violence: torture. No one should face violence because of who they are or who they love.

We must hold those responsible for gross violations of human rights accountable no matter what. This important legislation ensures that the United States continues to protect the human rights of all people, including LGBTQ people targeted by some of the world's worst and most oppressive regimes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Global Respect Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the late Commissioner Carolyn Coleman, a loving mother, grandmother, and a remarkable trailblazer for civil rights.

She had a lifelong commitment to activism, from her first heroic actions at the Savannah sit-in, to her years of advising Governor Hunt on legislation to benefit minorities. She made history as Guilford County's first African-American chairwoman in 2005, where she continued to serve her community for the next two decades.

Commissioner Coleman recently earned the North Carolina Association of Black County Officials Frederick Douglass award for her work feeding the community during the pandemic, a testament to her unwavering commitment to service.

She was never the center of attention, but when she spoke, all eyes immediately went to her. Her thoughtful words had the power to change minds and encourage others to join her calls to action. Her influence made a consistent and admirable impact on the community.

Carolyn Coleman paved the way for progress, with a kind heart and a relentless spirit. She will be deeply missed by the Triad community, but she leaves behind an incredible legacy and a loving family. May her memory be a blessing for all who knew her.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the America COMPETES Act, which includes two of my amendments.

This bill includes important provisions that enhance our ability to attract the best talent from around the world, such as scientists and engineers

with doctoral degrees. My amendment would extend this program to STEM graduates with master's degrees who work in fields that are critical to our national and economic security.

The bill also includes funding for scholarships for low-income Americans to study in the STEM fields.

The bill also includes my amendment to ensure our Nation's HBCUs, Tribal colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions or active members of Manufacturing USA institutes.

These and other provisions in the America COMPETES Act will help us create more jobs, sharpen our technological edge, and make critical investments in our future.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 1960, four young Black North Carolina A&T State University students began a revolution with the simple but fiercely significant act of sitting down.

David Richmond, Jibreel Khazan, Joe McNeil, and Franklin McCain, ``The Greensboro Four,'' took their seats at the White-only lunch counter of the Woolworth Department Store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Despite being met with hostility and a store manager who refused them service, the Greensboro Four stayed seated at that counter, refusing to stand until the store closed.

The next day they returned to the Woolworth Store with 25 more students, including Bennett Belles from the neighboring Bennett College, an all-female HBCU. Their movement spread to 55 cities in 13 States. Protest signs read: Support North Carolina Students, in demonstrations outside the South. By the end of 1960, 400 demonstrations had taken place across the country.

By staying seated at that counter, those students inspired the Nation to stand up against the blatantly racist Jim Crow laws of that time.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize the Greensboro Four and the courageous students who joined their protest, sparking a national

movement for civil rights. Those students exhibited great bravery in the face of violence from counter protesters. All the while, they remained peaceful and undeterred.

Their peaceful protest left a legacy that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. That sit-in, and hundreds that followed, led to the 1960s Civil Rights Act, a crucial step toward dismantling segregation.

Today, that very Woolworth Building is the location of Greensboro's amazing International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which still contains that lunch counter and enshrines this movement in history, commemorating the actions of the Greensboro Four and all who joined them. That museum was recently denied a shuttered operator grant.

Last year, I joined my fellow North Carolina Representatives, Alma Adams and G.K. Butterfield, in leading a congressional resolution to honor the Greensboro Four. The resolution encourages all States to teach the history of the Greensboro Four sit-in in their educational curriculum.

I was proud to reintroduce that resolution with Representatives Adams and Butterfield again this year on the 62nd anniversary of the sit-in.

This Black History Month, and all year long, it is vital that we recognize the countless contributions of Black Americans and the work that remains to end racism and ensure equality and justice for all.

I am proud to be the representative of the city of Greensboro and all of North Carolina's Triad Sixth District. I will do everything I can to preserve this history, honor our civil rights heroes, and combat racism and discrimination in all forms.

As we reflect on this event, it is important to recognize that even with the odds stacked against these students, they never lost hope. They saw our Nation broken and segregated. They faced hatred every day, but they persevered and successfully led a movement that changed the Nation.

Today, we draw inspiration and hope from the Greensboro Four.

Mr. Speaker, as Congress reconvenes for the Second Session of the 117th Congress, I want to take a moment to reflect on the important achievements that the Democrats have made this past year.

The pandemic continues to be a challenge, but thanks to the funding provided by the Democrats' American Rescue Plan Act, the vast majority of Americans have been vaccinated and are protected from severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

We must also acknowledge that the Democrats' commitment to building back stronger and more equitably than before has resulted in unprecedented economic recovery from the initial impact of the pandemic.

Last month, the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, the largest calendar-year decrease in the unemployment rate in history. We reached this rate 5 years before experts anticipated. That is the result of adding 6.4 million jobs to the economy since President Biden took office, regaining 84 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic.

This economic boom was brought to you by President Biden and the Democrats in Congress who voted for the American Rescue Plan.

The American Rescue Plan supercharged our economic recovery by providing critical support to small businesses as they navigated the pandemic. It expanded the child tax credit, which helped families put food on the table and pay for childcare. It provided rent assistance so families could keep their housing.

Now, the bipartisan infrastructure law is creating millions of good- paying jobs while rebuilding our Nation's crumbling infrastructure and combating the climate crisis.

Through the American Rescue Plan and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Democrats have delivered for the American people and created historic economic growth.

We have more important work to do. We must encourage the Senate to pass the voting rights protections that we in the House passed months ago that are critical to ensure that all citizens can exercise their most precious right to vote.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue our important work, building back stronger and more equitably than ever before.