Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Chairman McGovern's amendment to increasing funding for the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program.

Like many, I recognize the original intent for the AIR Commission. The VA's infrastructure is aging, and we need to ensure its facilities optimize care for veterans. I know that the chairman shares my determination to ensure our vets receive the best possible care.

Unfortunately, the AIR process was flawed from the beginning. In a report issued earlier this year, the GAO found that the data AIR recommendations relied on was outdated and riddled with gaps.

The moment the AIR recommendations were released, I received calls from veterans and VSOs in my district concerned about proposals to close the CBOC in Paterson, New Jersey. Veterans in my community are already asked to travel too far and wait too long for care. Closing a central CBOC would only exacerbate this.

So while we must improve our VA facilities, the AIR's recommendations are the wrong way to go about this. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, today has been a tough day as we watch an extremist and politicized Supreme Court roll back protections Americans have relied on for decades. But there is good news coming out of Congress. We have come together to pass the most comprehensive gun safety package in almost three decades.

In New Jersey, we have already passed a large number of these proposals, including extreme risk protections, assault weapons safeguards, and high-capacity magazine prohibitions, and we have seen the results.

New Jersey has made major progress in combating gun violence. As of 2020, my State has the third lowest level of firearm mortality, according to the CDC. Think about that. The most densely populated State in the Nation has one of the lowest levels of gun violence in the Nation. As the rate of gun deaths has increased by 33 percent nationwide, in New Jersey, it actually fell by 10 percent.

Of course, as a mother, I am focused on keeping our kids safe. This law would have prevented the shooter in Uvalde from getting a firearm without an enhanced background check.

This law gives States the support they need to act when a mom worries that her child is contemplating suicide.

It is why everyone from the American Society of Pediatrics to the Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed this bipartisan bill.

It is time for my Republican colleagues to put our Nation's kids ahead of the gun lobby.

Madam Speaker, like so many parents across the Nation, when I sent my four kids off to school this past week, I worried that they wouldn't be coming home, like so many children across the country.

I got a bit hopeful when I heard that my colleagues are speaking for women across the country, and I expected to hear then that they were going to talk about passing universal background checks because we know that 88 percent of the country wants to see universal background checks passed. I am sorry, I must have missed that in their conversation.

When I heard how devastated my colleagues are for the little children that have been dying, like I am, I thought, well, great, maybe we will hear something about passing a law that restricts people 21 and under from purchasing guns, like Mitch McConnell said he is willing to consider. I must have missed that, too.

I have to tell you, we know these gun safety legislation pieces work because in New Jersey, we have passed most of them, and we have made major progress. In fact, while the rest of the country has seen gun rate deaths increase by 33 percent, in New Jersey they fell by 10 percent.

Again, I am hoping, as we speak for mothers and women and children and families across New Jersey, we start to hear about how we are going to pass this great legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Assistant Administrator Craig McLean on his retirement after forty years of distinguished service in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This son of New Jersey grew up on the Passaic River and turned a childhood passion for ocean diving and exploration into a forty-year career that started as a commissioned NOAA Corps deck officer charting the ocean floor and culminated as a preeminent champion of NOAA's mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts.

Craig started working on diving boats as a teenager. As a college student at Rutgers University, where he earned his B.A. in Zoology in 1979, he investigated barges dumping toxic sludge into waterways. While serving as a NOAA Corps officer and, later as a senior executive of NOAA, Craig was instrumental to founding NOAA's Ocean Exploration and Research Program and its mapping of U.S. waters to advance oceanographic scientific knowledge and discover deep ocean secrets including new species, historical shipwrecks, and undersea mountains. With Craig's leadership, NOAA mapped two million square kilometers of the ocean floor, collected ocean data in the waters of sixteen countries and the high seas, and contributed to key conservation decisions for vital marine habitats such as establishment of new marine national monuments and deep sea protection areas.

Craig served as Assistant Administrator for NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research for over six years. He expertly led an enterprise of ten federal laboratories across the country and six major programs. Under his tenure, NOAA Research achieved vital advancements for the benefit of the Nation, including improved forecasting of weather extremes such as hurricanes, winter storms, and excesses and deficits of precipitation, enabling society to be better prepared to reduce the severe impacts of these events on life and destruction

of property. These advancements greatly increased our understanding of the earth's climate system, improved modeling of the weather and climate seamlessly across timescales, and strengthened the scientific basis for investigating climate change.

On the international stage, Craig helped broker a consensus on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO for global biogeochemical Argo sensors that enabled a $53 million commitment to expand deployments to improve ocean health and climate forecasting. He championed a global framework under the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development initiative to ensure ocean science can support countries and achieve the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Craig boldly stepped forward as a complainant when NOAA experienced high-level, public political interference, putting himself at risk to uphold NOAA's scientific integrity and reputation. Afterward, he worked with other federal agencies on the National Science and Technology Council's effort to restore public trust in government through scientific integrity in policymaking.

On behalf of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, I thank Craig for his forty years of service. His leadership and personal commitment to scientific integrity and the public good exemplify the highest ideals of public service. I wish Craig a long and joyful retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I would like to engage in a colloquy with Chair DeLauro regarding the Strategic Long-Range Cannon.

I ask my friend from Connecticut, is it the intent of the committee that a portion of the funds provided under the Technology Maturation Initiatives line be used to invest in the development of the SLRC program, should the program supply a spend plan?

I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

I rise to recognize the Honorable Barbara Curran, a lifelong public servant from New Jersey who broke many glass ceilings.

Barbara was an accomplished scholar, even earning her law degree in the evenings as a single mom. Entering the world of politics as a woman in the 1970s, she was a force. Barbara was the first woman to serve in all three branches of the New Jersey government--as assemblywoman, as a member of the Governor's cabinet, and as a superior court judge. She was referred to as the ``blue elephant'' for her commitment to bipartisanship.

Barbara cherished time with family and never missed an opportunity to send encouraging handwritten notes. At times, she was even called off the bench to take a call from her daughter.

I am grateful for the role model Barbara was to me and to so many who saw a path forward in politics through her example, and a glimpse at how to balance being a parent with the demands of public service.

In January, Barbara Curran passed away peacefully. My heart is with her daughter, Katie; her son-in-law, Patrick; and her grandchildren, Duke, Marrin, Lilah, and Moira.

I was honored to know Barbara, and she will be dearly missed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sewa Diwali for their work supporting communities in need in NJ-11 and across the country.

Their mission is to bring people together, foster commitment to selfless giving, and embody the spirit of Diwali. They do this through organizing food collections and other donation drives.

In my district, New Jersey-11, I have joined Sewa for multiple food drives and community events. Sewa donated 1,700 pounds of food to the Morris Plains food pantry and 2,400 pounds to Parsippany food pantry in 2021 alone. The enthusiasm toward doing good and giving back to the community Sewa brings to our towns is truly heartwarming.

Nationally in 2021, they collected 590,000 pounds of food which provided an estimated 491,000 meals throughout 31 States and 200 townships.

I want to thank every volunteer who has aided Sewa in helping so many of our neighbors, friends, and families. I look forward to seeing and being a part of the good they will do in 2022.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Floyd Nesse for his lifelong service to individuals with disabilities in NJ-11 and beyond.

Mr. Nesse organized efforts throughout New Jersey to reduce barriers and broaden protections for people with disabilities. He was particularly committed to expanding access to fulfilling and accommodating employment opportunities. He brought the concerns of the disability community to the attention of the federal government, traveling down here to our nation's capital to advocate for legislation to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities.

Mr. Nesse was deeply admired by his peers and was known for working both

empathetically and effectively. He was recognized for his service in 2019 and was awarded the Unsung Hero Award from Inroads to Opportunities and the Larry Barker Spirit of State Use Award from the State Use Programs Association.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Nesse served as the Executive Director of the Edison Sheltered Workshop, the President and CEO of the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation, and most recently as the Vice President of Government Affairs for ACCSES New Jersey.

Beyond his advocacy, Mr. Nesse was a caring husband, father, and grandfather, finding great joy in spending time with his family. He was also a man of deep faith, and on Sundays, you could find him with a guitar in hand leading the worship team at his local congregation.

Floyd Nesse passed away on October 19, 2021. His legacy will live on in his family and in the lives of all he served. I am grateful for all Mr. Nesse did to ensure we live in more inclusive communities. He will be dearly missed.

Madam Speaker, regrettably, I was unable to vote on November 1st and 2nd. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 340; YEA on Roll Call No. 341; YEA on Roll Call No. 342;

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize General Raymond Thomas Odierno, former Chief of Staff for the Army and a native of Rockaway in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, General Odierno began his service to our country as a young man attending the United States Military Academy at West Point and went on to serve our nation for the majority of his life.

He was commissioned as an officer in the Army in 1976, serving around the world to protect and defend our nation's Constitution and values. Most notably, General Odierno served three tours in Iraq, including commanding the 4th Infantry Division on his first tour in 2003, which played a major role in the capture of Saddam Hussein.

In 2011, General Odierno was selected to be the Army's Chief of Staff, the highest ranking general in the Army. In this role, he guided the Army through the final withdrawal of troops from Iraq, addressed issues facing our troops including rising rates of suicide, and handled crises such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014.

General Odierno's strength, strategic thinking, and commitment to service were unmatched and our country is safer because of him. He was a beloved community member of NJ-11. Whenever he returned to his hometown in Morris County, he gave back to the local community, including by meeting with the next generation of leaders at the local schools.

General Odierno passed away on October 8th after a valiant battle with cancer. He will be missed by his family, friends, the NJ-11 community, and fellow servicemembers and veterans.

Madam Speaker, regrettably, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted: NO on the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 3110; and YEA on final passage of H.R. 3110, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Albert Edward Pelham, a beloved community leader and student advocate from my town, Montclair, New Jersey.

Al was known for bringing people together. His work aided and inspired generations of Montclairians, and he leaves behind a beautiful legacy.

Al was raised in Montclair and graduated from Montclair High School. He served our country in the U.S. Army before returning to New Jersey and graduating from Bloomfield College.

From his leadership in the Montclair NAACP, the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation, and more, he dedicated himself to making his community a better and fairer place.

One of Al's many achievements was the creation of Project Oasis, which offers year-round educational and recreational opportunities for students. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Al adapted the program and organized a remote learning space so that all students had access to a computer to attend their virtual classes.

He also created a program for students who were suspended to provide them with academic training and counseling as an alternative to staying at home.

Al worked to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, had opportunities to excel.

Al fought tirelessly for racial justice and inclusivity, guiding both the Montclair NAACP and the Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation through especially difficult times in our country. In 2019, he was recognized for these efforts with the Essex County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award.

Al's dedication to his community was matched by his deep commitment to his family. Al took any opportunity he could to be with his wife, Audrey; his children, Dwayne and Rhonda; his grandchildren, Charles and Cameron; his sisters; and extended family.

On August 19, 2021, Al passed away after a battle with cancer. His selfless commitment to making Montclair a better place will not soon be forgotten. I was honored to have known Al and to have called him my friend. The counsel he gave me and so many others over the years will continue to impact us and the entire Montclair community for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Speier for yielding. I appreciate it.

I rise today to talk about the childcare crisis facing our Nation, and by extension, our national economy.

I rise today to share the stories from working mothers in my district, to outline the disastrous impact maintaining the status quo will have for families and communities and businesses, and to instill a sense of urgency for addressing this childcare crisis, because prior to COVID, women represented over half the working people in this Nation. Over half.

So let's be clear, when working moms are losing ground, that is the American middle class losing ground. And the current reality of the American childcare system is endless waitlists for spots that may never open up.

The current reality is unreasonable costs that eat away at 20, 30, 40 percent of a working parent's paycheck.

In fact, I have a constituent who has two children in childcare and pays over the amount of their paycheck in childcare. And in over half of the States in this Nation, center-based infant care costs more than in-State college tuition. That is what is facing families today.

And the current reality is to make it work, often for families-- including my own family--the only way you make it work is with the help of grandparents or friends. So God help you, if you don't have that safety net in place.

The current reality is that too many moms are being forced to leave their jobs because they simply can't make it work. And if we don't act, too many of those moms will not be able to re-enter our workforce.

Two weeks ago, I convened a round table to have an in-depth conversation with working women in NJ-11. The stories I heard on that call mirror the experiences of women across my district, of the women serving alongside me in this legislative body, and they mirror my own experiences over the past 16 years as a working mom raising my four children.

Anyone who has had a child in the last few decades knows that the barriers to entry for childcare in America begin before your first child is even born. You are only pregnant for 9 months, but mothers have told me about 2-year waiting lists and a dearth of available options.

That situation got worse during the pandemic, with many centers closing down or going out of business.

And that is the current reality when things go according to plan.

During that round table, we heard from too many people who had changes in their lives which upended their whole childcare plan. During that round table, I heard from a professor who told me about how her search for childcare became twice as hard when she and her wife found out they were expecting twins. It got even harder than that when they were born premature and had health concerns that required in-home care.

She and her spouse were forced to make the impossible choice to cut their income in half so one of them could stay at home or to incur the astronomically high cost of in-home care. That is the catch-22 our families are facing too many times today.

I have a working mom and a councilwoman in my district who faced a similar dilemma. When she had her son, she was lucky enough to find a great childcare center with space for him, but the price of quality care was steep. She was in the position where her salary was just above the cost of care. Like far too many women, she considered leaving the workforce simply because the costs were unjustifiable. But in her case, she couldn't afford not to work. And she is lucky she didn't stop because we know that for women who quit the workforce for even 1 year, that is a 40 percent pay cut over the next 15 years.

This issue is about the family budget, the bottom line, the ability to make ends meet. And for too many families, the exorbitant costs of childcare place them just steps away from financial ruin.

My councilwoman was lucky to find good childcare near where she lived, but what happens when you move?

Well, we heard from another working mom about that. She and her husband had great daycare for their 1-year-old that they really loved. They were one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, when they decided it was time to move, they couldn't find anywhere with space near their new home. So for months before they got off the wait list at a new center, they left their house every day at 6:30 a.m. to drop their child off at the old daycare center before starting their own long commute to work.

But even with that daycare system, she still needed help from a family member to pick up her son when the daycare center closed hours before she and her spouse finished work. And this dilemma has only gotten worse during COVID with childcare centers scaling back their hours due to workforce shortage issues.

All of these barriers come with a direct economic cost. This isn't just a woman's issue. This isn't just a children's issue. This is a critical economic issue facing our Nation.

In September alone, 26,000 women lost jobs while more than 200,000 men gained jobs. And that is not to mention the more than 300,000 women who left the workforce entirely that month.

We are leaving hundreds of billions of dollars of potential economic growth and improved GDP on the table by failing to fix this crisis and continuing to force women out of the workforce.

And we are certainly not solving the workforce crisis facing communities all across this country.

Tonight, you will hear from many of us outlining the stories that we ourselves and our constituents face, the concerns that the very real obstacles and challenges with childcare across this country are hampering too many women in the workforce. We are jumping through hoops and making tough financial decisions, calling on friends and family members just to find and maintain affordable and quality childcare. And as a result, our families are suffering.

The progress women have made in the workforce and in our society is suffering.

Our economic recovery post pandemic is suffering.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

We have the opportunity to make crucial investments in our childcare system to ensure that no family in this Nation pays more than 7 percent of their income on childcare. This budget plan represents an important start to helping working women stay in the workforce after having a child, help those who left re-enter, and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families across this country.

And we can do all this as we ignite our economic recovery and build back better.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

Madam Speaker, it truly is. And as you know, as you chair your subcommittee and hear, I'm sure, from far too many families about as the difficulties of childcare grow, the difficulties of being a fully deployable force like our United States Navy grow.

So certainly, it is a national security issue, as well.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Women's Health Protection Act.

For almost my entire life, Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land. And after continuous attacks on Roe for the past five decades, I, for the first time fear that it is truly imperiled.

The attacks on women's health in Texas and the court's refusal thus far to protect our Constitution and women lays out a roadmap really for States across the Nation. That is why this legislation is critical, so Congress can stand in the breach and protect women and our constitutional rights across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because, for too long, women in our workforce have struggled with almost insurmountable childcare issues. Due to our lack of investment, our economy has lost too many talented women as they try to juggle the demands of work and childcare.

After gaining significant ground in the seventies, eighties, and nineties, and expanding our workforce, and increasing our GDP in the process, women have not made significant gains in the workforce in the last two decades. Two decades where women faced economic penalties when they were forced to leave the workforce due to lack of quality and affordable child care. Two decades where, if we had just kept pace with some of our allies, we would have grown our GDP by another $600 billion.

I rise today because women falling behind is the American middle class falling behind. Penalizing women in the workforce penalizes families and imperils opportunities for our children. And this crisis has been made exponentially worse by COVID.

That is why I am calling on all my colleagues to support legislation to ensure all families have access to quality and affordable childcare. Congress needs to realize this is not simply a women's issue or a children's issue. This is a critical economic issue.