Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, nearly 40 percent of Americans before COVID couldn't cover an unexpected $400 expense without selling belongings or going into debt. And no one pays a greater price for poverty than our kids.

I am proud of our work to pass the American Rescue Plan and deliver a lifeline for millions of struggling Americans. Starting July 15, that lifeline gets stronger.

In a few weeks, and again every month throughout 2021, hardworking families will get a check of up to $400

per child. That check will help millions of parents buy healthy food, new clothes, shoes, and books for their kids, pay rent and utilities, and even afford childcare so they can get back to work.

In my own home district in New York's capital region, these checks will reach more than 37,000 households and help lift more than 5,000 of our kids out of poverty. These are not just lasting investments in America's recovery; they are the downpayment on our brightest future.

I urge every parent and family that has struggled to make ends meet during this pandemic to visit childtaxcredit.gov and make certain that you are signed up.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot unravel infrastructure from climate. As we consider bold new investments in America's infrastructure, our choices will shape our climate future for better or worse.

Failing to address climate pollution and clean energy in our infrastructure work will force future generations of Americans to cover a blank check. And we are already passing on grave and growing costs for our past failures to act.

But let me put this another way: seizing opportunities to tackle climate change in our infrastructure work will help us build legislation that makes America cleaner, safer, and more competitive as a Nation. It will save countless lives and create millions of good American jobs.

If we make climate a priority, our workers will miss fewer days on the job, and our kids will miss fewer days at school. Our local budgets will suffer less strain. Our infrastructure dollars will go farther. The things we build will last longer.

Climate is a growing threat that demands urgent, bold action. And doing nothing about it is doing something, it is condemning the United States to become a weaker, sicker, and poorer Nation. This is our path to choose. Do we allow America to further decline or choose a more sustainable, prosperous, and just future? To me, the decision is clear: Let's move forward.

Mr. Speaker, we must act swiftly and with boldness to renew America's failing water systems.

We know the heartache of failing water systems all too well: lead, PFAS, disruptive water main breaks, and unaffordable bills.

Yesterday, I introduced bold national drinking water legislation, written with my friend, the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Frank Pallone, to restore America's most critical infrastructure, and one of our most basic responsibilities of government, our drinking water systems.

The AQUA Act delivers on President Joe Biden's promise to remove every lead service line in the country, including removing lead from the drinking water systems of some 400,000 schools and childcare centers.

Our bill invests heavily in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, to put resources in the hands of folks on the ground who know what their communities need.

It delivers a financial lifeline to local water systems in return for a multi-year commitment that they will not shut off anyone's water because of financial hardship during this devastating and prolonged pandemic.

Let's rise to meet the moment. Let's do our jobs. Let's build back the right way so every American can use and trust the water coming out of our taps.

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 128.

members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress

Allred (Wexton)

Barragan (Beyer)

Cardenas (Gallego)

Costa (Correa)

Crenshaw (Fallon)

Donalds (Cammack)

Gonzalez (OH) (Timmons)

Gosar (Greene (GA))

Grijalva (Garcia (IL))

Khanna (Gomez)

Kirkpatrick (Stanton)

Langevin (Lynch)

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Leger Fernandez (Jacobs (CA))

Lieu (Beyer)

Lowenthal (Beyer)

Meng (Clark (MA))

Mfume (Connolly)

Moulton (Perlmutter)

Napolitano (Correa)

Omar (Bush)

Payne (Pallone)

Porter (Wexton)

Rush (Underwood)

Sewell (DelBene)

Speier (Scanlon)

Stefanik (Katko)

Trahan (Lynch)

Watson Coleman (Pallone)

Welch (McGovern)

Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Wilson (SC) (Timmons)

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 404.

Madam Speaker, our neighbors and low-income households pay three times more as a share of their income on energy bills than those in higher income strata.

The fiscal year 2020 Energy and Water appropriations bill marks an important step to reduce that energy burden for America's most vulnerable people by increasing investments in the Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program.

This program helps families make their home healthier and safer. It promotes energy efficiency and reduces utility bills, which means more money in the pockets of these families for healthcare, groceries, and other basic expenses.

For each dollar the American people invest in the weatherization program, we see an estimated $4.50 in energy and nonenergy benefits. This additional funding will ensure that even more families are able to experience the benefits of the program.

The Energy and Water bill also recognizes America's need for clean energy innovation by significantly increasing funding for essential DOE research programs, including the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the State Energy Program and ARPA-E.

The work done by DOE and State energy offices is absolutely critical to accelerate our Nation's transition to a clean energy economy. This bill recognizes the need for the United States to continue to be the global leader in clean energy innovation, technology development, and deployment.

I thank and express my gratitude to Chairwomen Lowey and Kaptur for their leadership on these issues.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Chris Martell, President of Druthers Brewing Company of Saratoga Springs, on being named this year's Small Business Person of the Year by the Syracuse regional office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Founded in 2009, Druthers is a craft beer success story in New York's 20th Congressional District. This thriving company has opened three brew pubs in our region in less than ten years, serving award-winning beer and inspiring all who take smart chances and invest their energy and passion into their work.

On behalf of their many patrons and fans across New York's Capital Region, including those of us who enjoy their beer cheese and hamburgers, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Chris and the entire team who make Druthers Brewing Company so special. I am honored to share the accomplishments of Druthers during National Small Business Week, and I hope that Chris's passion and vision ignite in us a renewed appreciation for supporting our local small business community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate National Nurse Appreciation Week.

Since 1993, this week from May 6 through May 12, ending on Florence Nightingale's birthday, has allowed us to express our deepest gratitude and admiration toward our nurses, the beating heart and a major driving force of America's healthcare community.

Despite its critical importance to our healthcare system, nursing continues to face critical staffing shortages from rapid job growth and a significant number of nurses approaching retirement--in fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing projects that we will need more than 200,000 additional Registered Nurses by 2026.

Having enough nurses to do the job results in lower mortality rates, safer conditions for patients and a decrease in the average stay at hospitals. The fact is, nurses save lives, make healthcare safer and more efficient, and provide us with comfort and compassion during some of our most painful times.

America's nurses are also on the front lines of our nation's growing opioid epidemic. In 2016, my team and I worked to grant buprenorphine prescribing privileges to Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, allowing them to provide needed medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Since that expansion, more than 5,000 nurse practitioners and physician assistants have become waivered providers of medication-assisted treatment, greatly expanding our treatment capacity, particularly in rural areas where doctors can be few and far between. If we invest in and empower our nursing workforce to their full potential, they can be powerful agents of change to help us turn the tide in this epidemic.

We must champion and empower our nursing professionals. This week we celebrate America's nurses, whose endless dedication uplifts our families, heals our neighbors, and betters our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1328) to establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, and for other purposes, 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.R. 1328, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 1328, the Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act, or the ACCESS BROADBAND Act.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank my good friend, Representative Brooks, for partnering with me on this legislation. I also thank the bipartisan group of Members who have cosponsored and supported this legislation, including the many members of the Energy and Commerce Committee who agree that these simple steps can make a big difference for the local communities that our Federal broadband programs are meant for.

Let me be clear: This bill is about serving the people. While a number of valuable Federal broadband initiatives exist, they are siloed in different agencies and are not often coordinated with one another. As a result, the process for local community and business leaders can be confusing.

H.R. 1328, the ACCESS BROADBAND Act, would establish a coordinating office for Federal broadband resources by creating an Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce.

Helping these constituents gain access to broadband internet in the capital region is one of the reasons I sought to join the Energy and Commerce Committee and why I have worked to advance this legislation.

Access to high-speed broadband internet service is increasingly essential. Today, people rely on baseline internet access for banking, to find a job, to do their homework, to communicate with their doctor or other healthcare provider, to communicate with their loved ones, to petition their government, and so much more. Yet, many Americans still do not have reliable high-speed internet service at home.

While a number of valuable Federal broadband initiatives exist, they are siloed in different agencies and are not often coordinated with one another. As a result, the process for local community and business leaders can be confusing.

H.R. 1328, the Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act, or ACCESS BROADBAND Act, would establish a coordinating office.

This new office would hold regional workshops to share best practices and strategies for supporting local business and community leaders interested in expanding broadband access and its adoption.

Our bill would also direct the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth to consult with any agency offering Federal broadband support to streamline the application process and, to the greatest extent practicable, to create one universal application regardless of which Federal agency or office is involved.

Most importantly, this new office, Mr. Speaker, will be charged with coordinating broadband support provided by all of our Federal agencies that are working to solve this problem, including support offered at the Federal Communications Commission and the Rural

Utility Service at the Department of Agriculture.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that nothing in this act would alter or amend any provision of the section of law that authorizes the FCC's Universal Service Fund.

H.R. 1328 is an important bill that would indeed help speed up broadband deployment to unserved and underserved areas and promote broadband adoption.

There is still much more work to be done on this issue, and I do hope that this can serve as a starting place for us to open doors of opportunity and access to millions of Americans by investing in broadband expansion.

Mr. Speaker, I thank all the Members and staff working together on ACCESS BROADBAND to help ensure that our communities can access the broadband resources that they need to grow and prosper.

The ACCESS BROADBAND Act is a bipartisan, commonsense bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1328. It underscores the very relevance and importance of broadband in today's society. It speaks to fairness for all communities, certainly for all households, businesses, and the like. It is a way for us to offer a greater partnership with government, more effective governance, with this given phenomenon of technology. I encourage my colleagues to support that.

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

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise to mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of the University at Albany on the principles ``wisdom both for its own sake and for the sake of teaching'' sapientia et sua et docendi causa.

The University at Albany was founded by the New York State Legislature on May 7, 1844 as the New York State Normal School, dedicated to ensuring that New York's next generation of teachers would be highly trained. Through the 19th century, the New York State Normal School educated teachers and school administrators and provided opportunities for social and economic mobility.

Between 1890 and 1905, the school was transformed from a two-year teacher training school into a four-year liberal arts college, granting its first bachelor's degree in 1893. In 1914, the school was renamed the New York State College for Teachers, and by the 1950s started offering a Ph.D. program in education.

In the early 1960s, the college broadened from its focus on teaching to a university with a more comprehensive scope. In 1962, a major expansion of the broader SUNY system heralded the University at Albany's first class of undergraduate students in liberal arts programs without required study in teacher education. The University at Albany continued its evolution into a leading research university in the decades that followed.

Today, the University at Albany is a nationally respected Research 1 university and a major employer and economic driver of the surrounding economy with a $1 billion annual impact on New York's Capital Region. The school maintains 18 NCAA Division I athletic teams that share in the school's legacy of excellence; in 2018, the University at Albany Men's Lacrosse team became the first State University of New York Division I team to be ranked No. 1 in the nation. And with an enrollment level of nearly 18,000 students today, the University at Albany has earned national recognition for supporting students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds on college campuses.

The University at Albany continues to build on its strong tradition as one of our nation's leading and most diverse research institutions. I am incredibly proud of the students, faculty, staff and alumni who have made the University at Albany what it is today. May they carry their success forward for another 175 years and beyond.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Certainly, as chair of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, I understand the prioritization that we need to make as a House with climate change. We are doing it with this caucus, with the Democratic Caucus. We have languished without a policy or hearings in the committee for quite some time and, finally, the Democrats are showing their forcefulness.

Global problems require global cooperation, and we accept this as a given when it comes to countless security, health, and economic challenges. And climate change will impact all of these areas, and more.

But global climate action will not succeed without America at the table, leading by example. Other nations understand this, as do thousands of United States cities, businesses, universities, and nonprofit organizations.

That is why the ``We Are Still In'' campaign was formed, and why its many members support this bill. The contributions of subnational actors can achieve two-thirds of our 2025 national commitment, but we need Federal action to fill the gap.

President Trump has made it clear that he does not appreciate the previous administration's policies to achieve America's Paris target. Therefore, Mr. President, we have a very fair question of you. What is your plan?

Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have taken the opposite approach, throwing up their hands and saying this bill is a waste of time because the President would veto it.

I could not disagree more. This vote will show the American people and the international community who in Washington understands and acknowledges the threat of climate change; who recognizes the importance of building global cooperation to address it; and who will work to enact the policies that will result in a safer, healthier planet, a planet that will be safer for future generations.

Based on the President's statements, the answer is clearly, not him. And the clock is ticking.

I hope next time we are on the floor, we will be debating concrete solutions that will lead to meaningful emissions reductions and accelerate the clean energy transition. We can start that process today by stating in clear and resounding fashion: We Are Still in. Support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of beloved community leader, veteran and educator Ernest D. Steck who passed away in February.

Mr. Steck was a symbol of virtue and discipline to many in our Capital Region Our community owes him a debt of gratitude for his commitment to educating and shaping the minds of the young men under his tutelage, both in his history classroom and on the football field.

Ernest was born in Rock Island, Illinois and grew up in Chicago and Brooklyn during the Great Depression He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II and fought in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he went back to school to earn his undergraduate and advanced degrees in physical education at the University of Iowa.

After brief stints teaching in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island, Ernest moved to Albany and brought his love of teaching to the Albany Academy, where he taught from 1953 to 1991. He also coached football, basketball, track, and tennis Each discipline provided a welcome opportunity for Ernest to share the principles that guided his life: the importance of hard work, discipline, and integrity. These earned him the respect of his colleagues and students. Classrooms were known to fall silent before he arrived while students waited eagerly for him to speak.

Ernest's legacy of service earned him a promotion to athletic director and a spot in the Capital Region Hall of Fame in August of 2014. If not reminding his teams that ``cool heads win games,'' he could be found virtually silent on the sidelines He believed in allowing the students to call their own plays, giving them a chance to develop team unity and trust. His creative approaches worked time and time again. In 1970, the Albany Academy football team won the State Championship for small high schools. He led a record-achieving championship streak until 1982. Students he coached referred to themselves as ``Ernie's Boys,'' a moniker that denoted their respect and appreciation Even to people who never stepped foot on a court or entered an arena, Ernest was legendary.

Above all, Ernest was a proud family man His legacy lives on in his sons David and Phillip and grandchildren Kaylee, James, Alexandra, and Aaron He was laid to rest in late February alongside his wife Roselyn. To those who knew him, loved him, and were made better by his presence, I offer my sincere condolences.

May we all take inspiration from the incredible service and courage of Ernest Steck and honor his legacy for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bid a fond farewell to Lombardo's, a historic Albany, New York restaurant that was a beloved community staple for nearly a century until its close earlier this year.

Charley Salvatore Lombardo opened what would become this legendary family restaurant in 1919 after making the journey to the United States from Southern Italy. For decades, Lombardo's weathered the changing landscape of the Albany area, generation after generation, never wavering in its service to neighbors and cherished ability to bring people together.

Whether looking for a bite to eat or a brief respite from the demands of daily life, Lombardo's provided a hub of connection and familiarity for the surrounding area. Many Albany residents chose this establishment as the setting to celebrate their milestones, from birthdays to anniversaries to reunions. Artists and authors found inspiration behind its doors. Local entrepreneurs cite Lombardo's as a model that guided their ventures.

Lombardo's memorable Art Deco design and tiled floors saw their last public visitors in December of 2018, but the spirit of the establishment lives on in the stories and memories of its owners, its many servers and staffs, patrons and friends. Thank you to everyone who made Lombardo's such a special place for our community.