Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the other side of the aisle is peddling a false narrative. This bill is not loaded with pork. It is not a blue State bailout.

It is a comprehensive plan to help people crushed by the virus beat the pandemic into the ground and ensure a rapid economic recovery.

Yet my friends across the aisle and their cable news and social media enablers continue to promote fake news.

Let's set the record straight. It is true that 9 percent--their favorite talking point--9 percent, or $171 billion is for vaccines, testing, and other healthcare infrastructure.

Well, what about the other 90 percent? $424 billion for $1,400 stimulus checks, $350 billion for struggling State and local governments, $246 billion for unemployment insurance, $219 billion for children and childcare so parents can return to work, $178 billion to help reopen schools, $109 billion for farmers and small businesses, $28 billion for restaurants and live venues, $40 billion for renters and homeowners who need assistance.

Let's pass this bill. Stop the phony-baloney talking points and get the American people the relief they need.

Madam Speaker, this pandemic has been cruelly uneven. Some people remain unscathed. Wall Street is booming, online retailers are surging, some work remotely with their incomes intact, and some families remain healthy. Yet 17 percent of Americans go to food banks every week. One in six people can't pay their rent. Some people are enduring a long winter in sub-zero temperatures, unable to pay their heating bill. Twenty-five percent of the people who make under $40,000 a year are now unemployed. State and local governments crippled, businesses and restaurants closed. Worst of all, we all know people who have gotten sick and died.

This legislation is not a blue State bailout or liberal handout, it is how we address the suffering that has crippled our country, it is how we move forward and beat this pandemic.

We have this great and awesome responsibility, this great and awesome honor to try to help people facing some of the most desperate times they have ever faced. Let's pass this comprehensive plan. Let's move our country forward, and let's do it together.

Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Labor Caucus, I rise in support of the National Apprenticeship Act. The Labor Caucus advocates for America's working men and women, and this legislation helps America's working men and women.

You see, America continues to create enormous wealth, and that is a good thing. The problem, however, is that wealth has not been shared with the people who go to work every day.

Since the 1980s, the Dow Jones has gone up 1,500 percent, 15 times, and the GDP has gone up 800 percent, 8 times, but workers' wages have increased by less than 20 percent.

Everybody in America believes, or should believe, that if you are willing to go to work every day, you should make enough money so that you can buy a home, have health insurance, and retire one day without being scared. Unfortunately, that is no longer a reality in America.

We know the more you learn, the more you earn. Sixty percent of Americans, however, do not graduate from college. Working with President Biden, the Apprenticeship Act will make the skills necessary to be a welder, a plumber, a computer machinist, a carpenter, or a skilled laborer available so American working men and women, whether they go to college or not, can live the American Dream again.

Mr. Speaker, I support invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office.

Former Congressman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor, would often say the veneer of civilization is paper-thin. We are its guardians, and we cannot rest.

I was sitting right there on Wednesday when they told us to take out our gas masks because the rioters had breached the Capitol.

I was standing right over there as the Capitol Police locked and barricaded the Chamber doors. I heard what I thought were gunshots as the rioters broke the windows in the main Chamber door with a metal pipe.

I was standing right over there when the woman was shot outside the Speaker's lobby, and the police radios rang out: ``Shots fired in the Capitol. Shots fired in the Capitol. Everyone down.''

The veneer of civilization is paper-thin.

Thousands of people, criminals, desecrated our Capitol, breaking windows and doors, attacking our brave officers, and vandalizing offices. Rioters, wearing Army fatigues with Confederate and Trump flags, donned Nazi swastikas. That and I saw one man who wore a shirt saying: ``Camp Auschwitz Staff.''

Our President instigated this. The President's duty is to protect our Republic and its people. He built a mob, filled it with lies, and encouraged its fight to stop the steal. Now, we hear intelligence reports that thousands of armed militias and white supremacists are planning to come again on or before January 20.

My colleagues, my friends on the other side of the aisle, we must together call upon the President to denounce this violence, to tell his supporters to stay home.

Mr. President, you must please put America first. You must call off this attack. And if not, you must be removed.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler for yielding.

Madam Speaker, this is what the American people are hungering for: Democrats and Republicans working together to solve real problems in real people's lives.

The Victim Compensation Fund is so important to so many people, real suffering that is going on in real families after people have dedicated their lives trying to serve other people and are now paying the consequences for us.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues. I want to thank Chairman Nadler, Congresswoman Maloney, Congressman King. I want to thank all the Democrats and all the Republicans who cosponsored this bill, and those who will vote for it today.

I have so many friends, personal friends who volunteered days, months at the pile who are now suffering the consequences of having done that volunteer work on the pile. This is an important day for those families.

I want to thank the advocates that helped to focu our attention. I want to thank everyone who worked together to solve a very real problem in real people's lives.

This is what the United States Congress needs to be doing, and I am so happy to be a part of it.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, there is bipartisan agreement in this House that there is no greater obligation in our Nation than to our Nation's veterans.

I have an amendment before us that increases funding from the Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Development Programs, specifically for the Veterans Business Outreach Centers.

These centers provide a wide range of services to our veterans, including training and counseling. They also provide transitioning service members with a large network of successful business advisers and veteran businessowners.

There are over 800,000 veterans in my State. These veterans bring a wealth of skills and experience that make them uniquely suited to be successful small business owners. They have sacrificed a great deal for our Nation, and it is our responsibility to support them as they transition to the next stage of their lives and careers.

Veterans Business Outreach Centers support an aspiring small business owner through every step of the process. They organize workshops that walk veterans through the key considerations of starting a small business. They also help clients set up business plans to help strategic, legal, and financial requirements.

Mr. Chairman, according to the SBA, there are over 2.5 million businesses in the United States that are majority owned by veterans. These businesses employ over 5 million people and generate annual revenues of over $1 trillion.

In the State of New York alone, there are over 137,000 businesses owned by veterans that create jobs and support our communities.

In the State of New York, we have the Arsenal Business and Technology Partnership located in upstate New York that provides support to veterans and their spouses throughout not only our State of New York, but New Jersey and Puerto Rico, that are all looking to start and expand or purchase a business. These services are offered both in person and online and are available at no cost to veterans.

The SBA's Veterans Business Outreach Centers represent an outstanding opportunity to invest in our communities while also supporting the returning service members who have sacrificed for our Nation.

Mr. Chair, I strongly urge the passage of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Staff Sgt. John Simonetti, who sacrificed his life for his country 75 years ago.

Simonetti was born in Jackson Heights, New York on May 24th, 1918. He later enlisted in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant in the 2nd Infantry Division. On D-Day plus 1, Staff Sgt. Simonetti's division crossed the Channel with the mission to capture an enemy strong point, a city called Saint-Lo, Normandy. On June 16, 1944, Simonetti was killed in action during an ambush by enemy troops outside the town of St. Germain d'Elle. Under heavy fire, his squad was forced to abandon his body and was unable to locate it when they returned to the area days later.

In the absence of a body to mourn, Staff Sgt. Simonetti's family carried with them the memory of a kind, funny, patriotic young man and passed along the story of his sacrifice to younger generations. On the 50th anniversary of D-Day, Simonetti's nephew, Fred Salerno, travelled to Normandy to learn more about his uncle and St. Germain d 'Elle. There, Salerno met with locals from the area and left with them his contact information should any remains be discovered.

15 years later, the skeletal remains of an American soldier--with dog tags still around his neck--were unearthed near the center of town and officials, remembering the family who had visited years earlier, contacted Salerno. Staff Sgt. Simonetti's remains were flown to the United States and laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

I believe the story of Staff Sgt. Simonetti's sacrifice, his family's longstanding dedication to his memory, and the people of St. Germain

d'Elle's respect for a fallen American soldier are indicative of some of the best traits of the human race. A man lost his life 75 years ago fighting for freedom and liberty, and two communities that he touched were brought together in friendship and fraternity.

As we near Memorial Day, it becomes ever more important for us to recognize and share these stories of our brave soldiers who never returned home. I hope all Americans remember the fallen soldiers who committed the greatest sacrifice of giving their lives for our country and honor them by living in gratitude each and every day for the precious gift they have selflessly given to us.

Madam Speaker, there is a retirement crisis in America today. Working men and women simply just don't have enough money in retirement savings.

I rise today to advocate for the bipartisan SECURE Act, which will: one, help small businesses provide retirement plans that include automatic enrollment by giving those businesses an opportunity to pool together and by offering them a tax credit to help pay for startup costs; and, two, provide 401(k)s for the rising number of part-time workers and independent contractors in the new tech economy that can be portable from their current jobs to the next ones.

Since the 1980s, the American economy has grown dramatically. Since 1983, the Dow Jones has gone up 1,200 percent and the GDP has gone up 600 percent, yet the wages of the American people have gone up less than 20 percent. No longer is hard work a guarantee of achieving the American Dream.

Every American, whether liberal or conservative, believes that if you are willing to work 40 or 50 hours a week and 50 weeks a year that you should be able to have a decent place to live, to educate your children, to have health insurance, and to retire one day without being scared. That is simply not happening.

The SECURE Act will help make retirement security a reality for millions of Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise to express my deepest sympathy and sorrow in the passing of Corporal Robert Hendriks. The son of Erik Hendriks and Felicia Biondo-Arculeo, Robert was a United States Marine who died this week while bravely serving his country in Afghanistan. This was his second deployment. Robert grew up in Locust Valley, New York, next to my hometown of Glen Cove. Almost immediately after graduating from Locust Valley High School in 2012, Robert joined the United Marine Corps Reserves, and was assigned to the Site Support 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment in Garden City, NY.

On Monday, April 8th, Robert, along with the members of his unit were driving in a convoy near Baghram Air Base when an improvised explosive device was detonated near his Humvee. Robert, along with two other members of his unit were killed in this attack.

Known for his selflessness and commitment to duty, his friends and family also knew him as a kind and gentle person. ``He was the kind of kid you just want to hug,'' said his aunt. Robert's brother, Joseph, also a Marine, arrived in Afghanistan last week to begin his tour. Joseph is now escorting his brother's remains back home to their family.

Robert Hendriks is an American hero who reflects the best of the United States of America, the United States Marine Corps, and the Third Congressional District of New York. May God bless Robert Hendriks, and grant peace and strength to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 301, which expresses the importance of our country's alliance with the Republic of Korea.

A hundred years ago, the Republic of Korea declared itself sovereign, formed a provisional government, and set the wheels in motion for it to become the vibrant, prosperous, and free society that it is today.

The United States and South Korea have developed a special bond formed in shared strategic interests and cemented by a commitment to democratic values. Our alliance is central to advancing democracy, free markets, human rights, and the rule of law in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the world.

South Korea is now home to around 30,000 American military personnel who are sworn by our mutual defense treaty to help our ally defend herself from external aggression. South Korea is also one of our largest trading partners.

Trade and security are not the only cornerstones of our relationship. Nearly 2 million Korean Americans live across our country, enriching all aspects of the fabric of our society.

Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to continue to strengthen the diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the U.S. and our vital ally, South Korea.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, before I speak about our bipartisan amendment, I would like to thank Representatives Sarbanes and Lofgren for their hard work on H.R. 1.

I would also like to commend Chairman McGovern and his staff on the Rules Committee--and the entire Rules Committee--for making our amendment in order and for working with the Problem Solvers Caucus and other pragmatic Members to foster an inclusive process.

Our bipartisan amendment No. 1 to H.R. 1, with 24 Democrats and 20 Republican cosponsors, would require the Federal Election Commission to conduct an audit after each Federal election cycle to determine any incidence of illicit foreign money in the election.

The reason we have such a bipartisan-supported amendment is because of the hard work of the Problem Solvers Caucus, chaired by my friends Chairman Reed for the Republicans and Chairman Gottheimer for the Democrats.

In January, our colleagues on the Problem Solvers Caucus worked with the leadership to negotiate the 20-20 rule as part of our Break the Gridlock proposal.

This amendment is the first amendment to receive preferential treatment under the 20-20 rule by the Rules Committee, and we are happy to see our addition to the rules package has worked its way to encourage transparency and bipartisanship in the 116th Congress.

Mr. Chairman, campaign finance law has loopholes, leaving the American electoral process susceptible to illicit funding from foreign nationals, corporations, and governments.

Foreign money easily influences our elections by passing funds through shell corporations, U.S. subsidiaries, investments, trade associations, and shell companies. Under our proposed amendment, within 180 days of an election, the FEC will submit to Congress a report containing audit results and recommendations to address the presence of illicit foreign money.

I urge the Members of this Congress to continue to utilize the 20-20 rule and gain some muscle memory of working in a bipartisan way to work for the American people.

Confidence in our electoral process is essential to faith in our government institutions, and I urge the passage of this bipartisan amendment to H.R. 1.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger).

Mr. Chair, I reserve the remainder of my time to close.

Mr. Chairman, I want to applaud my colead on this bill, this bipartisan bill, Congressman Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who couldn't be here today, but he worked very hard on this, as did the other colleagues who have spoken here already.

The people of America are hungering for bipartisanship. They are hungering for people to work together to try and solve the problems in this country.

We hope that the use of the 20-20 rule and this amendment, with 24 Democrats and 20 Republicans, is one small step in that process to demonstrate that people can work together to solve problems.

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

Madam Speaker, I just voted for H.R. 8, and I stand in support of H.R. 1112.

It has been 1 year since Parkland. It has been 6 years since Sandy Hook. It has been 19 years since Columbine. It has been 25 years since the Long Island Rail Road massacre, when Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy lost her husband and her son was shot in the head. It has been 37 years since President Reagan was shot.

Think of all the suffering that each of these shootings has caused. Think of the missing seats at the dinner table and other family events.

Countless families have been torn apart because of gun violence, including that of one of my constituents, Linda Beigel Schulman.

Linda's son, Scott, was one of the 17 innocent people who lost their lives in Parkland that day last year. Scott, a geography teacher and a cross-country coach, gave his life protecting his students. Scott died heroically while locking the door to his classroom, where students were hiding from the approaching gunman.

Since that date, we have been pushing more and more for commonsense gun reform, and H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112 are just that.

Last week, Linda said to me, ``If a universal background check prevents just one shooting, it has served its purpose.''

She inspires me. And I am inspired by my colleagues who are fighting for commonsense gun reform, whether they be Democrats or Republicans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Americans affected by Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders in observance of February as Marfan Awareness Month.

Marfan syndrome is a rare genetic condition. About 1 in 5,000 Americans carries a mutation in gene called fibrillin which results in an overproduction of a protein called transforming growth factor beta or TGFB. The increased TGFB impacts connective tissue and since connective tissue is found throughout the body, Marfan syndrome features can manifest throughout the body. Patients often have disproportionately long limbs, a protruding or indented chest bone, curved spine, and loose joints. However, it is not the outward signs that concern Marfan syndrome patients, but the effects the condition has on internal systems. Most notably, in Marfan patients the large artery, known as the aorta, which carries blood away from the hemi is weakened and prone to enlargement and rupture, which can be fatal. It is for this reason that increased awareness of Marfan syndrome can save lives.

I am proud to represent The Marfan Foundation, which is headquartered in Port Washington. The Marfan Foundation is the nation's foremost organization working to raise awareness of Marfan syndrome and supporting the marfan community. The Marfan Foundation has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of individuals affected by Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue conditions by advancing research, raising awareness, and providing support.

While there is currently no cure for Marfan syndrome, efforts are underway to enhance our understanding of the condition and improve patient care. I applaud the National Institutes of Health, particularly the National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases for their research efforts in this regard. I encourage NIH to expand research efforts in this area.

Early diagnosis and proper treatment are the keys to managing Marfan syndrome and living a full life. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting a Marfan education and awareness program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We can facilitate proper treatment by raising awareness leading to early diagnosis. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing February as Marfan Awareness Month.

Madam Speaker, today is former Congressman Lester Wolff's 100th birthday, the oldest living former member of Congress.

Lester was born in New York City in 1919. He served his country during World War II, achieving the rank of Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.

In 1964, Lester was elected to Congress and went on to serve the people of New York for 16 illustrious years. In 2014, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award.

As a Congressman, he is remembered for playing an active role in foreign affairs, but on Long Island he is also remembered for standing up to powerful interests to protect the environment.

In 1967, the New York State Legislature--at the insistence of then Governor Nelson Rockefeller and master planner Robert Moses--authorized a bridge across the Long Island Sound.

Lester immediately saw that this bridge would despoil the pristine and precious resource of the Long Island Sound and soon found himself at the center of an enormous political fight.

Lester eventually won this fight and the Oyster Bay Wildlife Refuge was born. Lester's efforts in 1968 are an important part of our nation's environmental history.

In recognition of his monumental contributions to the preservation and protection of our environment, especially on Long Island's beautiful North Shore, I am proposing the renaming of the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge to the Congressman Lester Wolff National Wildlife Refuge.

These precious wetlands--at Congressman Lester Wolff's urging--were protected in 1968.

Last Congress, the House passed H.R. 6064 with 385 votes in favor. In this new Congress, I ask for my colleagues continued support to rename to the Lester Wolff National Wildlife Refuge.

On behalf of the institution he served, and all his colleagues, past and present, I wish Lester a happy 100th year and many more.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and remember Barbara Jeanne Hoover who passed away October 14, of this year. Unwaveringly altruistic, Barbara learned early the importance of family, dedication, and community.

Barbara was born on September 4, 1953 in Jamaica, Queens, New York. After graduating from St. John's College, she was employed in Human Resources for Citibank, in New York City.

It was at Citibank where Barbara met the man of her dreams and future husband, James Hoover. They were quickly married and it wasn't long before Barbara gave birth to their first son, Bradley. Barbara chose to leave Citibank, eager to build a loving home for her family. She would later give birth to two more boys, Courtney and Logan.

It is without question that Barbara's number one passion day in and day out was her three sons. Her unconditional love, devotion, patience, attentiveness, and personal sacrifice were unwavering.

Her ability to see beauty in the world fueled her passion for the environment and gardening. She was a member of the North Country Garden Club and her tenure was defined by impeccable leadership. Over the course of twenty years, she served as President, Chair of the Communications Committee, and most recently as Co-Chair of the Projects Committee. She pioneered a new era in the Club's communications, bringing a fresh, engaging design to the quarterly Gazette and even creating a new website.

Her leadership never went unnoticed and was often celebrated. She was given the Mentor Award for her many contributions to the NCGC for her bravery and ability to handle roadblocks with grace and dignity. Never boastful, Barbara was eager to share her expertise and wisdom to NCGC newcomers. Always happy to hold meetings in her house, her three English Springer Spaniels, her other passion, were always at her side.

Barbara's commitment to the environment did not stop there. From 2007 to 2011, she worked on the staff of the North Shore Land Alliance, a non-profit devoted to the conservation of land on Long Island. She tirelessly planned and executed fundraisers, advocacy campaigns, meetings with elected officials, and countless other events to protect the place she called home.

Barbara felt strongly about having a first-rate community hospital and tirelessly worked to provide her support for the Glen Cove Hospital, where she was a founding member of the Advisory Council and served as its Chairman since 2011. Her family witnessed the appreciation for her by the numerous interactions with the hospital staff during her frequent visits as a patient. She, in turn, was always thankful to anyone who helped her, no matter how small the gesture.

Always wanting to ease the burden for others and take on more responsibility, Barbara deliberately and thoughtfully gave her family a short eulogy a few days before her death:

``I did not live an extraordinary life, but I lived the

life I chose. I chose the man I adored to marry, and I loved

the man I chose. And we raised the three most beautiful and

joyous boys. I was born into a beautiful family with two

sisters and a brother. I was blessed with the best life

raising my joyous boys, and they kept me laughing all the

way. I had meaningful work, through which I developed some of

my best friends.

I enjoyed being on the staff of the Land Alliance, and I

loved my service to the Glen Cove Hospital and the North

Country Garden Club.

I lived my life well and I lived in peace. My many friends

have been caring and generous to me; and I will miss them all

greatly.''

Barbara's devotion to her family and our community will be sorely missed. While she leaves behind large shoes to fill, she also leaves behind a life to aspire to.