Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I don't need a sheet of paper to express my words here today.

I rise in objection to this bill, because this bill is being passed on the backs of 500,000 plus of our fellow American citizens' deaths, under the guise that you are passing a bill on a partisan basis, on their souls, in order to do COVID relief. This isn't relief. This is because you guys won the majority.

I am speaking to the American people, to speak truth.

You won the majority, you took the opportunity to put forth an agenda, and you didn't include bipartisan support.

I had one simple amendment on this bill. $1,400 is going to go to convicted child molesters in State prisons. What is that doing to stimulate the economy? Why does a child molester, who is sitting in State prison, need $1,400 to buy cigarettes or play video games in State prison? That is your priority. That is what you put in this bill. You didn't even debate our bipartisan amendment to try and have that included.

Let's be honest with the American people. You are playing politics. You are carrying forward an agenda. I get it. You won the election. But this is an emergency. This is a virus that is killing our fellow American citizens.

We put together $4 trillion worth of relief to the American people on a bipartisan basis. We should have done it again, and you didn't. It is wrong. That is why I say no to this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on an issue that is so important to so many of the people from my district, and that is election integrity.

I am confident in the integrity of our democracy, but the fact remains that over 59 percent of Americans do not have confidence in the integrity of our election process.

Time and time again, I have worked across the aisle with my Democratic colleagues to try to come together on commonsense reforms to address the issue of election integrity, and the issue that I am passionate about today is the question of voter ID.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop) and I had an amendment that we asked to be considered and debated on this floor to say that funds under this bill would not go to States that did not have a voter ID law in place. A simple reform to make sure that we have voter ID cards issued across America is a simple, commonsense integrity measure for our election systems to make sure that our votes count and the people casting the votes are those individuals who are registered to make that vote.

We have IDs in America for simple things like buying alcohol, renting a car, and going into your grocery stores to get food stamps. We issue government IDs for EBT cards. There are simple ways to make sure that people have access to identification so that they could perform one of the most fundamental civic duties and fundamental rights that we have, and that is to vote.

To ask an individual to have an ID is a simple measure, and my Democratic colleagues did not allow us to have that debate and have an open, honest conversation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on these amendments and continue to work with us to ensure that the election integrity of our country is safe and secure.

Madam Speaker, as a proud Republican, I rise in opposition to the objection to the electorate.

Madam Speaker, I come to this side of the aisle as a proud Republican but, most importantly, as a proud American.

Today, we saw an assault on our democracy. I love this institution. I love the United States Congress, and I love

the United States of America. And what I saw today was mob rule that spat upon the blood of my father that is in the soil of Europe and in the soil of Korea, and who gave us through that blood this sacred Constitution and the sacred ability to lead this world as a power that says we settle our differences not with mob rule; we settle our difference through elections. And when those elections are over, we have a peaceful transition of power.

Now, make no mistake to my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle, I will be passionate in my disagreement with you. I will be passionate in my ideas for the future of this country, and I will fight for my Republican ideas that I hold near and dear. But I will stand with you tonight and send a message to the Nation and all Americans that what we saw today was not American, and what we see tonight in this body shall be what we do in America, and that is to transfer power in a peaceful way.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to always search their conscience and their souls. I respect my Republican colleagues and my Democratic colleagues, but today, let us pause and remember what happened here today. Let us pause that our tenure in this Congress will far surpass the time that we stay here. And let us pause and cast our votes today recognizing that what we do here today will set the course of this institution for years to come.

This institution, Madam Speaker, shall not fail because the United States of America shall forever be the beacon of hope, the inspiration to all.

May God bless our great country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Town of North Harmony.

The original town of Harmony was the largest town in Chautauqua County, comprised of approximately eighty-six square miles. In order to ensure the efficient administration of the town's affairs, the County saw fit to create a new town. On December 19, 1918, the Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors passed an act to establish the Town of North Harmony. The Town became official on January 1, 2019, dividing the original town of Harmony in two.

Whether they are lifelong residents or new in town, the citizens of North Harmony love their town. When asked for their favorite memories of the town, they provided a variety of answers. Some recalled fun times spent on Lake Chautauqua, while others recounted community celebrations like Asheville Days. For some, growing up in North Harmony brought back fond memories spent with family and tractor rides with a grandparent.

One hundred years as a community and a town is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate the Town of North Harmony for withstanding the tests of time and look forward to many more years of North Harmony providing a community for our friends and neighbors.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate the Town of North Harmony's one hundredth anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the service of Dr. Edward J. Lukomski to Pathways, Inc. and congratulate him on his retirement.

For the last sixteen years, Dr. Ed Lukomski has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pathways, Inc. which provides services to two thousand people in fifteen counties. Pathways, Inc. is a not-for-profit human service organization offering in-home, community, and foster care services to youth with serious emotional disturbances, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and chronic medical conditions. Under Ed's leadership, Pathways has grown exponentially, not only in services and programs offered, but also geographically in their area of service coverage. Ed's dedication and hard work has ensured the expansion of opportunities for youths in need of aid, and for that we must commend him.

To recognize his outstanding service, Pathways will be dedicating their Broad Street facility in Horseheads, New York, in his honor. The newly renamed ``Lukomski Center'' will stand as a fitting tribute to Ed's legacy as Pathways continues his work to expand services to youths in need.

As Ed moves forward with the next chapter of his life, we applaud his tireless efforts to help youth in our communities and we wish him all the best in his retirement.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate Ed Lukomski and his extraordinary career.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the service of Martin Teller to the Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency and congratulate him on his retirement.

For the last thirty-three years, Marty Teller has served as the Executive Director of Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency (FLACRA). His dedicated service and wealth of experience has ensured the highest of quality service, that FLACRA is known for, to people struggling with substance abuse. FLACRA offers a unique Continuum of Care for their clients, providing services such as addictions crisis counseling, outpatient services, community residences, supportive living, housing, and care management.

In addition to his thirty-three years as the Executive Director of FLACRA, Marty had previously worked for fifteen years in chemical dependency agency management. His extensive experience in aiding those struggling with substance abuse has made him a leader on the issue in the community and statewide. Matty serves on the Boards of the New York Association of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers, Common Ground Health, and the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System. He has also served in leadership roles in the Finger Lakes Housing Consortium, the Region II Consortium of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, and Recovery Net.

As Matty moves forward with the next chapter of his life, we applaud his tireless efforts to help those struggling with substance abuse in our communities and we wish him all the best in his retirement.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate Marty Teller and his extraordinary career.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Happiness House in Geneva, New York.

Fifty years ago, a collection of parents of children with Cerebral Palsy united to found Happiness House in Geneva, NY. Using funds raised by the New York State Elks Club and the Women's Club of Geneva, Happiness House opened their first childcare program, serving five children with disabilities. From these humble beginnings, Happiness House has grown throughout the years to provide a comprehensive array of programs and services to more than 1,150 children, adults and their families in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates Counties.

We care about ensuring people have a fair chance to reach their full potential and Happiness House gives folks this exact opportunity. The vision of Happiness House is that every community be ready to welcome and utilize the talents and abilities of all individuals. Every day they work to make that vision a reality by providing the highest quality, innovative and cost-effective services to children and adults with and without disabilities. Happiness House cooperates with families and partners throughout the Finger Lakes community to achieve this goal.

Fifty years of serving the community is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate the Happiness House on this impressive milestone and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Happiness House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the service of Jeannette Frank to The Arc of Schuyler and congratulate her on her retirement.

Jeannette Frank has dedicated her career to The Arc of Schuyler, beginning nearly forty years ago as an Outreach Worker. Jeannette joined The Arc shortly after its formation in 1978, and has dedicated her career to aid families and their loved ones with disabilities. Her commitment to those supported by The Arc of Schuyler and their families has been an inspiration, both to her team at The Arc and the community as a whole.

For the last eight years, Jeannette has served as the Executive Director of The Arc of Schuyler. Her dedication and hard work have ensured the high quality of services that The Arc provides to people with disabilities. She has not only advanced community-based services such the Schuyler County Transit and Transportation Link-Line, but also social enterprises operated by The Arc such as Franklin Street Gallery and Gift Shop and Glen Copack.

As Jeannette moves forward with the next chapter of her life, we applaud her tireless efforts to improve the quality of life for people in Schuyler County and we wish her all the best in her retirement.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate Jeannette Frank and her extraordinary career.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, New York.

171 Cedar Arts Center is an Associate Institutional Member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts. As a non-profit multi- arts community center, they present performances in dance and music as well as exhibitions of fine arts and crafts in the community. The Center offers educational programs for people of all ages and skill levels, providing the community opportunities to share in the joy of the arts.

171 Cedar Arts Center gets its name from 171 Cedar Street in Corning, New York, the address of the old Knights of Columbus house where the Center was founded. Community members consisting of arts advocates, artists, and business entrepreneurs came together to form an organization to provide a place for artists and community members to come together, fostering artistic growth. From this foundation the Center has grown into the award-winning cultural hub that it is today.

While 171 Cedar Arts Center is a staple of the Corning area and community, it also holds a special place in my heart. My daughter, Autumn, took dance lessons at 171 Cedar Arts Center from the time she was four years old until she graduated from high school. Her time

spent learning ballet, tap, and modern dance with her exquisite instructors, Miss Melanie, Beth Landin, and Patty Ozer, gave her lifelong memories with immeasurable value. For that I am truly grateful. At a young age my son, Will, along with my wife, Jean, participated in music classes. Both Autumn and Will learned valuable lessons and seeds were planted which have now bloomed and witnessed by their daily appreciation for the arts.

Fifty years of cultivating the arts in our community is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate 171 Cedar Arts Center on this impressive milestone and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, New York.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the fiftieth annual Freedom Fund Awards presented by the Elmira-Corning Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

On Friday, June 7, 2019, the Elmira-Corning Branch of the NAACP held their fiftieth annual Freedom Fund Awards Dinner. The Freedom Fund Awards are presented by the branch to recognize those who have contributed to the success of the organization and the community as a whole. The branch also awarded scholarships to high school students and presented community service awards.

Since its inception in 1909, the NAACP has strived to better the lives of African Americans across the country. In addition to ensuring the civil rights of African Americans, the NAACP also provides programs to address drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, illiteracy, joblessness, violent crime, and the portrayal of minorities in the media. Their role in creating a more equal and fair America is essential and important.

Fifty years of recognizing charity and supporting scholarships in the community is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate the Elmira-Corning branch of the NAACP on this impressive milestone and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to recognize the fiftieth annual Freedom Fund Awards presented by the Elmira-Corning Branch of the NAACP.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of Katherine P. Douglas at Corning Community College, and congratulate her on her retirement.

For the last eight years, Katherine Douglas has served as the President of Corning Community College. As the sixth President in the history of the college, her goal has been to support the power of learning and improve the quality of life for students, their families, and our communities. Through a number of initiatives completed by the College throughout her tenure, Katherine has certainly met that goal.

Under Katherine's leadership, Corning Community College has flourished and grown to meet the needs of changing times. In 2012, she founded the Presidential Scholars scholarship program to aid exceptional students from Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler counties and ensure they could graduate from Corning Community College free of tuition debt. Katherine helped transform the campus into a residential community with the opening of a three-story residence in 2013, dedicated to the College's first President, William Perry. As the workforce changed with an increased demand for healthcare professionals, Katherine embraced that change and was instrumental in the opening of the College's new state-of-the-art Health Education Center in 2017.

As Katherine moves forward with the next chapter of her life, we applaud her dedicated leadership of Corning Community College, and we wish her all the best in her retirement.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate Katherine Douglas and her remarkable presidency at Corning Community College.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the women's right to vote.

Madam Speaker I am the youngest of 12, raised by a single mother on a Social Security check. To say I understand the power of women would be an understatement.

That is why today, on the centennial anniversary, I rise to applaud and celebrate the passage of the 19th amendment which gave women in this country the right to vote.

Representing Seneca Falls, NY I understand all that generations of brave and intelligent women went through to bring us to the 100th anniversary of the women's right to vote.

The Seneca Falls Convention, right in New York 23, was the first women's rights convention in the United States.

Held in July 1848, the meeting launched the women's suffrage movement, which more than seven decades later ensured women the right to vote.

Despite scarce publicity, 300 people--mostly area residents--showed up. There this group of strong women demanded the right to vote sparking a 70-year push for this essential right.

But the fight is not over.

This is why I have been a strong advocate of the equal rights amendment. We are so close to ratification with just 1 more state needed to ratify.

So as I stand here with this yellow rose on my lapel signaling my support for women's right to vote, I want everyone to know this rose means much more to me.

It means my support of equal rights to women.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board.

Southern Tier Central has been serving the communities of Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties since 1969. As a regional council, Southern Tier Central promotes coordination between the neighboring counties to provide a regional approach to improving the economy, the environment, and the quality of life for citizens of the Southern Tier. Their work to provide planning for economic development, transportation, human services, and flood assistance helps the communities of the Southern Tier grow and thrive.

The Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board provides a variety of services to the region. As the designated Local Development District of the Appalachian Regional Commission and an Economic Development District of the Economic Development Administration, Southern Tier Central is able to qualify for special grant funding and project assistance to promote important local economic and community development projects. Over the last half century, Southern Tier Central has helped to provide more than eighty- seven million dollars in grant funding and technical assistance to the region.

Fifty years of serving the community is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board on this impressive milestone and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the bill before us but, as the father of a type 1 diabetic, agree with the basis of the law of the Affordable Care Act that says preexisting conditions must be protected in every health insurance plan going forward. We should be celebrating together that that reform is now the law of the land, and I would hope my colleagues would take ``yes'' for an answer.

But what is being proposed today potentially jeopardizes that protection,

because what you are proposing today is to take away the ability of the States to comply with the law of the land to protect those preexisting conditions in a way that allows the States to innovate, to drive health insurance premiums down as the law protects those with preexisting conditions.

This is not a political game. You are talking about real Americans. You are talking about kids, like my son, who is a type 1 diabetic. And if this law, as proposed, becomes the law of the land, you potentially increase insurance premiums on millions of Americans because you take away that innovation ability of the States to deliver the protections of preexisting condition reform but lower premiums at the same time.

So I stand in strong objection to this political effort from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and rather than engage in politics, I join with the silent majority of Americans who say: You know what? Enough is enough of politics. Get to the real work of the people and lower healthcare costs for everyone.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Elmira Kiwanis Club.

The Kiwanis Club of Elmira is a branch of Kiwanis International, a global volunteer organization dedicated to bettering the world through their communities and the children in them. Over their century-long history, the Elmira Kiwanis have had more than ten thousand local residents join them in serving their community, providing over one million hours of community service.

In their mission to better their community, the Elmira Kiwanians have partnered with a variety of local organizations. They have lent their support to groups such as the YMCA, the Arctic League, Food Bank of the Southern Tier, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army, providing service or financial support to help make their community a better place to live. Over the last one hundred years, the Kiwanis Club of Elmira has donated more than five hundred thousand dollars to community groups and organizations.

The Elmira Kiwanis Club has been dedicated to helping children both at home and abroad. Elmira students have felt their support as the Elmira Kiwanis Club has backed programs such as the Terrific Kids and B.U.G.S (Bringing up grades) programs. Elmira Kiwanians recognize the potential of graduating high school seniors by awarding scholarships. To support children abroad, members have joined with Kiwanis International projects to benefit UNICEF.

Most recently the Elmira Kiwanis Club established the Hometown Heroes Banner program, proudly recognizing military service of more than two hundred twenty-five local men and women who have served our country and fought for our freedoms.

One hundred years of service in the community is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate the Elmira Kiwanis Club on this impressive milestone and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.

Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the Elmira Kiwanis Club.