Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, last month, one of the most impactful and consistent forces in urban education policy retired. Jeff Simering stepped down as the Director of Legislative Services for the Council of the Great City Schools, ending his fifth decade of working to improve schools in urban school districts. His impact on education, and especially those who have taught and learned in our urban schools, has been immeasurable.

Jeff had been with the Council since 1994, where he directed the federal legislative activities of the Council, worked with federal agencies, and advised member school districts on the implementation of national legislation. Prior to joining the Council, Jeff operated a consulting firm that aided school districts and worked directly for Chicago Public Schools. Jeff received his law degree from the University of Baltimore.

Jeff fought for urban schools to get the resources they needed for decades. While at Chicago Public Schools, Jeff worked with some of the legislative titans of the time--Sid Yates and Dan Rostenkowski--to ensure Chicago Public Schools had the resources to support its students and teachers and foster diversity. Throughout the 90s and beyond Jeff was one of the preeminent experts helping guide Congress on how best to target federal education funding to the school districts which needed it the most.

Jeff provided counsel to Members of the Education and Labor Committee for decades. His advice helped inform us on how to target resources and pursue reforms to strengthen schools. Most importantly his advice assisted us in producing more effective legislation. For instance, Jeff was instrumental in helping the Committee construct funding formulas that ensured school districts with concentrations of low-income children in rural, urban and suburban America received their fair share of resources.

Jeff fiercely represented his clients--urban schools and the children who attend them. And above all, Jeff knew how to help the Committee come to a bipartisan consensus on issues. For example, Jeff's assistance led to bipartisan agreement on multiple Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorizations, including the Improving America's Schools Act in 1994, the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, and the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015. His work also influenced the reauthorizations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997 and 2004, and the Career and Technical Education Act in 1998 and 2006.

Best wishes to Jeff on his retirement. His knowledge and approach will be missed. I hope in the coming months and years, he will be able to spend more time with his family, play tennis, and ride his Harley.

I thank him for all he has done to support our Nation's schools.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2954, the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022, which incorporates the bipartisan Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement Act, or RISE Act, that the Committee on Education and Labor approved by voice vote last fall.

I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) for his hard work in incorporating this legislation into SECURE 2.0. Our committee was able to reach a bipartisan agreement on the RISE Act, thanks in large part to the leadership of the chairman and ranking member of our Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen). I want to recognize them and thank them for their important contributions to this bill.

American workers deserve a decent wage and the ability to retire with dignity and security. Unfortunately, far too many Americans are working later in their lives and still relying on the next paycheck to cover monthly expenses. This legislation makes meaningful improvements to our retirement system, helping Americans prepare for and achieve the secure retirement that they deserve.

I am particularly pleased that this bill incorporates several key priorities authorized by Committee on Education and Labor members.

For example, it includes legislation sponsored by the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), the chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, which creates an online retirement lost-and- found database at the Department of Labor to help workers locate their hard-earned retirement savings as they move from job to job. According to the Government Accountability Office, more than 25 million people who changed jobs between 2004 and 2014 left behind one or more retirement accounts. Establishing this kind of database at the Department of Labor is necessary and long overdue.

The bill includes legislation sponsored by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning) that reduces barriers preventing part-time workers from participating in their employer's retirement savings plans. This simple change will benefit many part-time workers, particularly women.

It also includes legislation sponsored by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan) requiring the Department of Labor to review and update guidance from the mid-1990s regarding pension risk transfers.

Importantly, Madam Speaker, this bill offers an opportunity to send a message to workers and retirees across the country that their retirement security is a critical priority for every Member of this House.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a distinguished member of the Committee on Ways and Means and chair of its Subcommittee on Trade.

I would be happy to enter into a colloquy with my colleague.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding to me and for her comments.

It is my understanding that our staffs will continue their efforts, along with their Senate counterparts, to try to find a path forward on this issue that balances the interests of plan sponsors and the retirement plan participants.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), the chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights of the Education and Labor Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time.

Madam Speaker, as my colleagues have said, the bill makes meaningful and sensible improvements to America's retirement system. It will help workers, retirees, and employers.

I again congratulate my Education and Labor Committee colleagues who have authored provisions in this bill, and I want to recognize and thank the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Labor, Dr. Foxx, and her staff for their partnership and work on this important bill with my staff which includes Kevin McDermott, Richard Miller, Daniel Foster, and Eli Hovland who have worked hard on this bill from start to finish.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I wish to recognize and congratulate the Zeta Omicron Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. on its 75th anniversary.

After being chartered in 1947, at what was then known as Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), Zeta Omicron began a journey to what would be one of Hampton University's finest organizations and a bold representation for positive influence within the community.

Since its beginning, its members have continued to display excellence in their commitment to the chapter's founding principles, which are centered on confronting discrimination in education and the military. As a service and social organization, the Zeta Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. has continued to uplift youth and families through countless acts of service, including raising money for scholarships for high school students every year.

In addition to their scholarship program, members also provide meals to families each holiday season and support other organizations through charitable fundraising efforts to advance equity in education and opportunity. The Zeta Omicron chapter also provides youth mentoring programs, which include a conference dedicated to helping students understand the value of education, while pairing those students to important resources. Over two decades ago, the brothers of Zeta Omicron entered the adopt-a-street program and continues this community cleanup effort on Marcella Road throughout the year.

As a historically black university, Hampton University has a rich history of excellence and integrity, paired with incredible academic achievement. The Zeta Omicron chapter contributes to that success. What began as an idea from five founding members--Dr. Fred Inge, Dr. Don A. Davis, Herman G. Cook, Arthur Burke, and Colonel William H. Moses--has flourished as a robust organization built to successfully engage with some of the most important community priorities needed to build a better future. Members of this prestigious organization go on to succeed in careers in government, higher education, medicine, law, and more. It is no surprise that the chapter's historical mission of removing discrimination from the education system and the military continues today as a distinguished voice in the Hampton Roads community.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize and honor the Zeta Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi on the celebration of its 75th anniversary and commend its members for their service and achievements over the years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Beta Chi Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.

The Beta Chi Chapter has been the gateway for over 400 men into the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity which was founded 111 years ago by ten founders who overcame racism and other hardships at Indiana University and created an organization that has played a major role in the advancement of African-Americans and American history. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. is dedicated to achievement and the development of leaders and has over 160,000 members and chapters on five continents.

Since 1947, the men of the Beta Chi Chapter have endeavored and achieved in many occupations including the military, education, health care, business, entrepreneurship, journalism, law enforcement, and the law. The chapter has embraced community service and has had a positive impact on the Hampton and greater Hampton Roads community through volunteering at the Hampton Boys and Girls Club, organizing and leading activities for the elderly, conducting food drives, and donating turkeys and other food during Thanksgiving.

The chapter currently has two philanthropic and scholarship entities, The Ron Young Scholarship and the Kapex Foundation, both of which support and empower students in their college journeys. The chapter members have mentored hundreds of students in their chosen majors and provided valuable advice and connections once students leave Hampton University.

In closing, Madam Speaker, let us celebrate 75 years of Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.'s achievement at Hampton University. As the chapter forges onward, it carries with it a continued commitment to supporting Hampton University and the greater Hampton Roads community, while also upholding the high standards of the fraternity and its members.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Hampton University Choir on its 150th anniversary.

The Hampton University Choir was established in 1870 as the Hampton Singers just a few years after Hampton University was founded in 1868 as the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. Since then, Hampton University has continued to break new ground in academic achievement as one of Virginia's top Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The university's motto is ``The Standard of Excellence, an Education for Life'', and that is exactly what the Hampton University Choir has exemplified over the last 150 years. As the primary touring ensemble for the university, the Choir has distinguished itself by performing in numerous notable venues across the United States and abroad, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. The Hampton University Choir even performed at the second Inauguration of President William Jefferson Clinton in 1997.

I want to congratulate the President of Hampton University, Dr. William R. Harvey, the Director of University Choirs, Omar Dickenson, and the Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs, Dr. Joan Wickham for their years of service and dedication to the Hampton University community. The Hampton University Choir has and continues to be an essential piece of what makes Hampton University so special.

Congratulations to the Hampton University Choir on their 150th anniversary. I wish them many more years of success.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 70) condemning threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities ("HBCUs'') and reaffirming support for HBCUs and their students, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 70.

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

Mr. Speaker, over the last 5 months, more than 30 of our Nation's historically Black colleges and universities, including Norfolk State University and Hampton University in my district, have faced an alarming series of bomb threats.

These threats of violence against HBCU students, staff, and communities are deplorable and unacceptable. In response, schools were forced to cancel classes and lock down campuses and dormitories, disrupting students' education and depriving them of their sense of safety.

After some prodding, Members of Congress were briefed by the Department of Justice and learned that the FBI is investigating these threats as racially motivated and possibly hate crimes. It should not go unnoticed that these current threats underscore the very reason HBCUs were established in the first place; to eliminate barriers to higher education for Black students by creating safe, affirming, and high-quality institutions.

Mr. Speaker, we should all agree that every student in this country deserves to attend a school with a safe and supportive campus.

This resolution not only condemns the recent threats of violence but also reaffirms our shared commitment to protecting the safety of HBCU students.

I want to thank Congresswoman Adams for her leadership in crafting this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to send a unified message that these disgusting threats of violence will not be tolerated.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader of the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. Bush).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining on both sides?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), the chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and sponsor of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time from Members who are present. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, as many of our colleagues have stated, HBCUs play an invaluable role in our higher education system and in our communities.

Despite facing chronic underfunding in the past, and disproportionately suffering from the pandemic, these institutions have persevered to open the door to higher-quality higher education for generations of students over the years.

However, we cannot expect these institutions to maintain their legacy of expanding access to education when their basic safety and security continue to be threatened.

Each of us has the responsibility to condemn these recent threats of violence against HBCUs and reaffirm our support for HBCU students, staff, and communities.

Moving forward, we must also build on the historic relief funding that Congress has provided for these critical institutions and secure the resources they need to recover from the pandemic and prepare students for their success.

I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) and, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams) for their leadership with the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus--particularly Ms. Adams--for her extraordinary leadership over the years with the caucus and her leadership in sponsoring this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, as Co-Chair of the U.S.- Philippines Friendship Caucus, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Philippine statesman and friend to the United States, Ambassador Roberto ``Bobby'' R. Romulo, who passed away on January 23, 2022.

Ambassador Romulo graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor of Law. He started his professional career as an IBM marketing trainee in New York City. During his IBM career; he held marketing and management positions in New York, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh and the Philippines, where he was President and General Manager.

In 1989, he was appointed Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Commission of the European Communities. He was then elevated to the top of the Philippines's Department of Foreign Affairs in 1992. As a diplomat, he was decorated by the governments of Belgium, Thailand, Spain, Chile, France and the Philippines.

In 1995, Ambassador Romulo rejoined the private sector and was elected Chairman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), and Vice-Chair of San Miguel International. He was Chairman of Interpharma Investments Ltd. (Zuellig Pharma) from 1997 to 2007 and was a board member of MIH (a subsidiary of NASPERS, a South African Company) from 2002 to 2013. From 2003 to 2010, he served as an independent director of Singapore Land and UIC. Most recently, Ambassador Romulo was the Chairman of various organizations including AIG Philippines Insurance, Inc., MediLink Network Inc. and Nationwide Development Corporation (NADECOR). He also held board memberships at various corporations including PLDT, Equicom Savings Bank, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc., Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, and McLarty Associates.

In 1996, Ambassador Romulo was the founding Chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council and continued as Chairman of the Philippine representation of the Council until 2010. From 1999 to 2001, he was Chairman of the e-ASEAN Task Force. From January 2001 to January 2007, he served as pro-bono senior advisor on international competitiveness to Philippines President Gloria Arroyo. He was a Co-Founder and Trustee of the US-Philippines Society. He administered the Society's ``Carlos P. Romulo Awards'' in recognition of the contributions of Filipinos and Americans who have strengthened Philippines-U.S. ties, a core mission of the Society.

He was also chairman of non-profit foundations: the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development, which raises awareness of critical issues that significantly impact the peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large; the Zuellig Family Foundation, which focuses on improving health conditions in rural Filipino communities by providing training programs for local government health leaders; and the Asia-Europe Foundation of the Philippines, which brings together the peoples of Asia and Europe to address common global challenges.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to an extraordinary diplomat, statesman, and friend to the United States. Ambassador Romulo will be sorely missed by so many for his frankness, honesty, and dedication to deepening relations between our two countries.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with concern regarding our ongoing use of Continuing Resolutions.

While this Continuing Resolution (CR) is necessary to keep the federal government open in the short term, CRs are an expensive and wasteful solution that we should not continue to rely on. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that our government serves the American people effectively. Short term funding resolutions hamstring federal agencies and our national defense by freezing their ability to award grants, sign contracts, and do any long-term planning.

The House of Representatives completed consideration of a majority of our full year appropriations bills months ago. The refusal of some to come to the table and do the hard work of legislating has created the need for these short-term bills to avert a shutdown.

While I am pleased that this CR includes additional funds to keep the critically important Columbia Class Submarine program on track, we should not need to rely on small carveouts to ensure funding for important defense programs that have already been authorized by Congress. Other critical programs, such as those that ensure children are fed, the elderly can afford their heating bills, and everyone can file their tax returns, are also stymied by short-term funding.

I urge my colleagues to pass full year appropriations expeditiously and work together to ensure that we can complete the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations process on time before September 30, 2022.

Madam Speaker, I will vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4445, Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021. However, l have reservations that certain provisions in the bill lack clarity regarding key issues.

Employers have increasingly relied on forced arbitration clauses to circumvent workers' right to due process. Currently, over 60 million American workers are locked out of the courtroom due to these coercive arrangements that compel them to go through a process that is rigged against them. Forced arbitration undermines workers' recourse for a wide array of employment law violations--not just sexual harassment and sexual assault; this includes wage theft and other employment discrimination issues. With Chairman Nadler, I introduced the Restoring Justice for Workers Act, H.R. 4841, a more comprehensive approach to protect workers' access to the courts and their right to collective action no matter their workplace claim.

Although H.R. 4445 is an important step forward by ensuring that certain individuals who experience ``sexual assault'' and ``sexual harassment'' are not forced to arbitrate their cases based on a pre- dispute arbitration agreement, I have concerns that the legislation does not go far enough to offer such protections to other vulnerable individuals who need fair access to the courts to vindicate their rights. In the employment context, for example, the bill's singular focus on sexual harassment involving unwelcome sexual advances, propositions, and sexual attention, fails to account for the other, harmful, and common, forms of sex-based harassment that occurs in the workplace. This kind of harassment is not sexual in nature but is motivated by a sex-based animus or hostility. It can involve offensive and derogatory comments about women working in male-dominated industries, physically intimidating conduct directed at men who fail to conform to stereotypical gender norms, as well as posting demeaning and graphic texts and images to make women or men feel uncomfortable in the workplace. These are just a few examples of the non-sexual, sex-based harassment that have been recognized by the Supreme Court and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that enforces employment civil rights laws. Thus, given the breadth and complexity of sex-based harassment, and the negative impact it can have on individuals who experience it, I have concerns about limiting this bill to a certain type of sexual harassment.

I have similar concerns about the narrow scope of individuals who are included under the bill's definition of ``sexual harassment dispute.'' The bill states that ``the term `sexual harassment dispute' means a dispute relating to . . . conduct directed at an individual or group of individuals.'' The phrase ``directed at'' suggests that the individual or group of individuals must be the target of the harassing conduct to be included in the bill's jurisdiction. In the employment context, however, the EEOC and federal courts have recognized that a harassment victim does not have to be the target of the harassment to have a viable harassment case. A salient example of this scenario is a female employee who works in an environment where male co-workers frequently use gender-derogatory language to describe or insult women, even though the language is not ``directed at'' the female employee. In such a scenario, the female employee could assert that she experienced sexual harassment because even though she was not the direct target of her male co-workers' gender-derogatory language, she worked in a sexually offensive and hostile environment. Therefore, using language in H.R. 4445 that seems to narrow the scope of harassment victims to only those who are the direct target of harassing conduct undercuts this important principle.

I am encouraged that a group of bipartisan Members have introduced an amendment that recognizes some of the limitations of H.R. 4445's definition of ``sexual harassment dispute.'' This amendment ``[c]larifies that, for the purposes of the bill, sexual harassment dispute is defined as a dispute relating to conduct that allegedly constitutes sexual harassment under applicable Federal, Tribal, or State sexual harassment laws.'' By embracing sexual harassment jurisprudence, which encompasses a broader array of harassing conduct than is currently included in the text of the bill, the amendment would allow more sexual harassment victims to avoid forced arbitration of their cases based on a pre-dispute arbitration agreement.

Unfortunately, this bipartisan amendment does not address one of the most problematic issues with H.R. 4445--the lack of clarity regarding the coverage of intersectional and related issues that arise in sexual harassment cases. For example, in the workplace, minority women frequently experience sexual harassment concurrent with harassment based on their race or national origin. Additionally, a harassment victim may experience other negative employment actions related to the sexual harassment such as a demotion, unfavorable job transfer, reduction in pay, or other retaliatory conduct. The language in H.R. 4445 fails to specifically state whether there is coverage of these cases, i.e., whether intersectional cases and negative employment action cases related to the sexual harassment would go to court as one case or whether these cases would have to be bifurcated such that the sexual harassment case would go to court, but the intersectional and related case would be forced into arbitration. Given that bifurcation of these cases will only lead to unnecessary expense and an administrative burden for both parties, the best reading of the language in the bill that refers to ``a case . . . [that] relates to a sexual harassment dispute'' is that it was meant to encompass these scenarios. Any other reading of the text regarding these issues would lead to an impractical result, but regrettably the bill, as drafted, does not foreclose that possibility.

The final issue I want to address is the legislation's failure to include a notice requirement directing entities, such as employers, to inform the recipients of their pre-dispute agreements that they have certain protections related to forced arbitration. Typically, employers include language about an arbitration agreement in employment applications, contracts, and/or handbooks that is inconspicuous and difficult for a lay person to understand. For workers to know their rights, employers should be required to provide written, conspicuous notice of the protections in this bill, drafted in plain language the workers can understand, wherever the employer mentions a pre-dispute agreement to arbitrate, and prior to the employer's commencement of arbitration proceedings. Had these simple notice requirements been included in this legislation, it would have helped to ensure that ``sexual assault'' and ``sexual harassment'' victims received the full measure of protections under this bill.

Madam Speaker, this amendment would significantly strengthen how the America COMPETES Act will work by improving access to affordable high-quality higher education.

First, the amendment includes the JOBS Act, which expands how individuals can use the Pell grant, using the short-term programs enabling them to get good jobs quickly and retrain for better paying jobs while we recover from the pandemic.

It also includes the College Transparency Act, which has helped the Department of Education address longstanding racial and socioeconomic inequities in higher education and track the quality of programs. Importantly, the amendment ensures that we continue to protect the privacy of students' personal information.

These proposals have strong bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her hard work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the success and security of America's economy depends on the

strength of our workforce. That is why the America COMPETES Act connects students and workers with the skills they need to succeed in high-tech industries while strengthening our economy's competitiveness in the years ahead.

The investments in this bill increase equitable access to computer science education and postsecondary STEM pathways. The legislation also builds on bipartisan support for apprenticeships by creating nearly 1 million new registered apprenticeship opportunities over the next 5 years.

The America COMPETES Act also includes protection so the jobs created in this bill will pay a decent wage.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation provides investments that we need to secure a brighter future for our Nation's workers and our economy. I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2959) to provide that, due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, applications for impact aid funding for fiscal year 2023 may use certain data submitted in the fiscal year 2022 application.

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 S. 2959.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge Members to support the Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act introduced by Senator Smith from Minnesota and Senator Thune from South Dakota. The companion bill was introduced by the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) and the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson).

It is difficult to overstate the importance of Impact Aid for our Nation's children. For over 70 years, this program has been critical to ensuring that schools that serve children connected to Federal lands have the resources to help their students thrive.

Unlike most public schools in America, these schools do not receive funding from property taxes from these Federal assets. This means that without Impact Aid support, because they still have to educate the children attached to those assets, this means that without Impact Aid schools serving the children connected to military bases, affordable housing units, or Native Americans on reservations and many other institutions would be significantly shortchanged, and therefore, unable to offer high-quality education.

The need for this program is now greater than ever as our school communities grapple with a resurgence of COVID-19.

In response, Democrats and Republicans worked together in the last Congress led by, again, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) and the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) to enact the Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act. That bill ensured that during the pandemic schools continued to have access to Impact Aid funding that accurately reflected their student populations, whether or not those students could accurately be counted as physically in those schools because of the complications created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, we have the responsibility to, once again, join together in providing schools the support and flexibility they need to serve their students.

The Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act will go a long way toward ensuring that all students in this country, no matter where they go to school, will have access to high-quality education.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), the sponsor of the House version of the bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, over the last 2 years, Congress has taken historic steps to help schools recover from the pandemic because we know that every school and every student and every family has felt the tragic effects of COVID-19.

However, we cannot fully achieve that goal if we fail to address the unique challenges facing schools that serve students connected with military bases, affordable housing, Native American reservations, and other Federal properties.

Last Congress, Democrats and Republicans came together and, as a Nation, tackled the first strain of COVID-19. We came together to address these challenges and to provide urgent support for Impact Aid schools.

Now, as we confront a new COVID threat, we must provide the support that federally connected children need under the Federal Impact Aid program. By providing the support and flexibility in this legislation, we will help ensure that Impact Aid schools can keep their teachers and staff on the payroll, purchase textbooks and learning supplies, and keep the lights on in their classrooms. And this bill will help ensure that hundreds of thousands of students have access to a quality education.

Again, I thank the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) and the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Thune), as well as, in the House, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) and

the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) for sponsoring the legislation; and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens) and the committee ranking member, Ms. Foxx, as well as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), for their help in advancing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board on its 50th anniversary.

The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board was established in 1971 by the Virginia General Assembly and by resolutions passed by the city councils of Hampton and Newport News. The organization's mission was to provide services to families and communities affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders. I want to congratulate and thank Natale Ward Christian, the current Executive Director, as well as her predecessors: Joe Allen, Steven Capo, Howard Cullum, and Charles Hall for their years of service and dedication to our community.

The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board is a source of support for the Hampton-Newport News community. The tireless work of the organization has improved the quality of life for countless people on the Virginia Peninsula. For fifty years, the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board has achieved results because of continued partnership with individuals, family members, advocates and local service agencies. Since the board's creation, it has grown to become an agency with over 80 programs and now serves thousands of individuals every year.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the leadership and staff of the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board for fifty years of continued service to the citizens of Hampton and Newport News. It is through the hard work and dedication of the board and its leadership, as well as the involvement of members of our community, that make Hampton Roads such a great place to live, work and raise a family. I wish for many more years of continued success, so the board can keep up the important work of providing its critical services for those who need it most.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 155th anniversary of First Baptist Church of Franklin which has been a continuing source of inspiration for the community of Franklin, Virginia. The church was founded in 1866, a year after slavery was abolished in the United States. First Baptist Church of Franklin stands tall as the oldest organization of continuous existence in Franklin.

The beginnings of First Baptist Church of Franklin were one of hardship at the initial phase of the Reconstruction era. A young man of faith named Joseph Gregory was recommended to be a licensed preacher. Reverend Gregory was assigned a post to give the message of Christ to the African American members of this and other churches.

Through the following months, he started preaching in the little village of Franklin. He took initiative and organized the Cool Spring Baptist Church. The church started in a brush arbor near the Black Water River, which was donated by Tom Barrett, one of the church's members. Unfortunately, the brush arbor burned down but this did not stop the continuous work of the congregants. Under the leadership of the founding pastor, the members rebuilt and continued serving their community. Following the leadership of Reverend Gregory, First Baptist Church of Franklin has had a diverse succession of faithful servants, such as Reverend Guy Powell, Reverend M.E. Gerst, Dr. W.R. Ashburn, Reverend S.W. Timms, Reverend W.E. Sanderlin, Dr. M.C. Allen, Reverend Grover C. Lassiter, Reverend Samuel Franklyn Daly, Reverend Henry Blunt, Reverend Dr. Paige Chargois, Reverend Dr. D.S. Riddick, II and the church's current pastor, Reverend Marcus D. Jennings.

First Baptist Church of Franklin is still a pillar of the community. The organization's ministries bring essential services to the City of Franklin and its citizens. In these trying times, First Baptist Church of Franklin has shown resiliency and remains a source of inspiration for its congregants.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the members and leaders of First Baptist Church of Franklin for their contributions to the City of Franklin for the last 155 years. The ongoing commitment to preach the gospel, give the good news and to extend faith is reflected in the rich history of the church. I commend pastor Marcus Jennings for his vision and service to his congregation, the community of Franklin, and the members of the congregation who all make a community of faith possible. I wish the church many more years of growth and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, the Build Back Better Act addresses urgent challenges that workers, families, and businesses face every day. With provisions just within the jurisdiction of the Education and Labor Committee, the bill makes childcare affordable and secures universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds lowering the costs of working families and boosting our economy by helping parents reenter the workforce. It also allows 9 million more children to receive healthy school meals.

It lowers the cost of prescription drugs, and it lowers the cost of higher education. Through investments of

high-quality job training programs, it gives workers more opportunities and enhances the skills of our workforce.

Madam Speaker, the Build Back Better Act is a historic proposal that will lower costs for nearly every American family, creates good-paying jobs, and sets a strong foundation for the future of this country--and it is paid for.

Madam Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to support the bill.