Congressional Record, House, July 24, 2020 — John Lewis Resolutions and Legislative Program
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated July 24, 2020, beginning at page H3849, with John Lewis resolutions and the legislative program. The House agrees to H. Con. Res. 105, which permits the remains of John Lewis to lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol from July 27, 2020, through July 29, 2020, and acts on directing the Architect to transfer the catafalque. Mr. Langevin marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the schedule for the coming week says the House will not be in session on Tuesday as it pays respect to Mr. Lewis. The page ends with Mr. Gohmert taking 60 minutes and remarks on proxy voting.
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“Congressional Record, House, July 24, 2020 — John Lewis Resolutions and Legislative Program.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-24-crec-2020-07-24-pt1-pgh3849-4-55fa8cfe4b/
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July 24, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3849
There was no objection. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Madam Speaker, I will say that on
The text of the concurrent resolution objection to the request of the gentle- Monday, the House will meet at 9 a.m.
is as follows: woman from Ohio? for morning-hour debate and 10 a.m. for
H. CON. RES. 105 There was no objection. legislative business, with votes ex-
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the f pected to occur, Madam Speaker, ap-
Senate concurring), That in recognition of the proximately 12 p.m.
long and distinguished service rendered to 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERI- On Tuesday, the House will not be in
the Nation by the Honorable John Lewis, CANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT session as we pay respect to Congress-
late a Representative from the State of (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given man John Lewis while he lies in state.
Georgia, his remains shall be permitted to permission to address the House for 1 On Wednesday, the House will meet
lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol at 9 a.m. for morning-hour debate and
from July 27, 2020, through July 29, 2020, and
minute and to revise and extend his re-
the Architect of the Capitol, under the direc- marks.) 10 a.m. for legislative business.
tion of the President pro tempore of the Sen- Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, 30 On Thursday, the House will meet at
ate and the Speaker of the House of Rep- years ago this Sunday, President 9 a.m. for morning-hour debate and 10
resentatives, shall take all necessary steps George H.W. Bush signed the Ameri- a.m. for legislative business. Members
for the accomplishment of that purpose. cans with Disabilities Act into law and are advised that votes on Thursday will
The concurrent resolution was agreed ushered in a new era of equality and be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
to. justice for people with disabilities. I know that all Members would like
A motion to reconsider was laid on This law was ushered through Con- to attend the funeral on Thursday of
the table. gress with the great leadership of peo- our brother and great Member and
ple like Senator Tom Harkin; Con- great American John Lewis, however,
f
gressman Tony Coelho; our current COVID–19 makes a small-group-only
DIRECTING THE ARCHITECT OF majority leader, STENY HOYER; Con- possible. And we will be returning,
THE CAPITOL TO TRANSFER THE gressman JIM SENSENBRENNER; and which is why votes will be delayed
CATAFALQUE SITUATED IN THE countless others who rallied behind until the 6:30 hour.
EXHIBITION HALL OF THE CAP- this cause, including from the private On Friday, the House will meet at 9
ITOL VISITOR CENTER TO THE sector, people like Justin Dart. This a.m. for legislative business. Members
ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL FOR was an extraordinary grassroots effort are advised that last votes could occur
USE IN CONNECTION WITH SERV- from around the country. later than 3 p.m.
ICES CONDUCTED FOR THE HON- The ADA guaranteed that the one in We got out earlier today, and I want
ORABLE JOHN LEWIS, LATE A four Americans living with a disability to congratulate our floor director,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE have the right to learn, work, and live Shuwanza Goff, who got us a schedule
STATE OF GEORGIA in their communities, free from dis- that is working very, very well.
crimination. The suspension bills will be an-
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I
As someone who has lived with a dis- nounced by the close of business today.
send to the desk a concurrent resolu-
ability since the age of 16, I have wit- The House will consider two
tion and ask unanimous consent for its
nessed the transformation we have childcare bills. H.R. 7027 would create a
immediate consideration.
made into a more accessible and inclu- $50 billion Child Care Stabilization
The Clerk read the title of the con-
sive society. In fact, without the ADA, Fund within the existing Child Care
current resolution.
I quite possibly wouldn’t have the and Development Block Grant. This
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
privilege of representing Rhode Island’s would immediately address the prob-
objection to the request of the gen-
Second Congressional District in the lems childcare providers are having in
tleman from North Carolina?
United States Congress. staying open and covering their in-
There was no objection.
However, our work is not yet fin- creased operating costs with limited
The text of the concurrent resolution
ished. We must strengthen the promise revenue during this pandemic.
is as follows:
of the ADA to ensure that all people The House will also consider H.R.
H. CON. RES. 106 7327, Child Care for Economic Recovery
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the
with disabilities can pursue the life
that they choose. Accessible transpor- Act. This bill would expand the avail-
Senate concurring), That the Architect of the ability of childcare by providing tax re-
Capitol is authorized and directed to transfer tation, comprehensive home and com-
the catafalque which is situated in the Exhi- munity-based services, inclusive work- lief to families, providers, and employ-
bition Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center to places, and universally designed tech- ees, significantly increasing funds for
the rotunda of the Capitol so that such cata- nology are only a few of the challenges the Child Care Entitlement to States
falque may be used in connection with serv- that we must tackle moving forward. programs, providing funds to improve
ices to be conducted there for the Honorable Madam Speaker, inclusivity benefits childcare safety and infrastructure and
John Lewis, late a Representative from the ensure dependent care for essential
State of Georgia.
us all, and we must continue fighting
for a world where accessibility is the workers during the pandemic and rec-
The concurrent resolution was agreed ognizing all childcare workers are es-
to. default, not an afterthought.
Happy 30th anniversary to all those sential.
A motion to reconsider was laid on These two bills are obviously a re-
the table. who have been a part of this effort to
include all those with disabilities in sponse to the extraordinary challenge
f achieving a more active and inclusive to childcare providers and those who
life in our country. need childcare services.
AUTHORIZING THE CLERK TO In addition, Madam Speaker, the
MAKE CORRECTIONS IN EN- f House will consider H.R. 7617, the De-
GROSSMENT OF H.R. 7608, DE-
b 1330 fense, Commerce, Justice, Science, En-
PARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN ergy and Water Development, Finan-
OPERATIONS, AND RELATED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM cial Services and General Government,
PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS (Mr. SCALISE asked and was given Homeland Security, Labor, Health and
ACT, 2021 permission to address the House for 1 Human Services, Education, Transpor-
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I ask minute.) tation, Housing and Urban Develop-
unanimous consent that, in the en- Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I in- ment Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year
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grossment of H.R. 7608, the Clerk be au- quire of the majority leader the sched- 2021 appropriations bill.
thorized to correct section numbers, ule for the coming week. With that, we will have passed
punctuation, spelling, and cross-ref- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- most—almost 97 percent, maybe 98 per-
erences and to make such other tech- tleman from Maryland (Mr. HOYER). cent, of the spending requirements of
nical and conforming changes as may Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I the Nation for the year to come.
be necessary to accurately reflect the thank the gentleman from Louisiana Members are advised that additional
actions of the House. for yielding. legislative items are possible, which we
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H3850 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 24, 2020
will be discussing with the minority as John and about his extraordinary chief funds. It might be possible that we
well. of staff, Michael Collins, who was such would look at making those existing
Lastly, Members are further advised a positive part of his life and who ex- funds more flexible before we look at
that conversations are ongoing regard- hibits so many of the traits that made spending new dollars, if we can get
ing additional coronavirus relief legis- John Lewis a wonderful, good, decent agreement on that.
lation. person who loved all of his brothers I would also like to suggest, as we en-
Members should keep their schedules and sisters, whoever they were, what- courage the opening of schools, where
flexible for the week of August 3. Let ever color they had, whatever religion kids can go back to the classroom,
me remind Members that are listening, they pursued. John Lewis was the best there is a healthy debate going on
and on the floor, the week of August 3 of us, and we will honor him appro- around the country. Many school sys-
was scheduled to be a week where we priately. tems have already made the respon-
would begin the August work period. He will be one of the few Americans sible decision to safely provide an envi-
However, the Senate is not beginning who is laid in state in the rotunda, in ronment where kids can come back in
its August work period until August 8. the center of our democracy, in the school and they can have that oppor-
It is very likely, therefore, that we symbol of a free people. John Lewis de- tunity.
may not reach an agreement on serves that honor. He enhances that There is a lot of data out there. The
COVID–19 until that week. honor by being so honored. American Academy of Pediatrics has
I want to tell all Members that it is And I thank the gentleman for his laid out strong guidelines for how you
the intention of the Speaker and my- comments. can reopen schools safely. And safety
self not to go on a work period until Mr. SCALISE. I thank the gentleman clearly has to be the top issue. But
such time as we have passed legisla- and thank the leader and the Speaker they also talk about the danger and
tion, hopefully, in a bipartisan way, for providing that privilege to John, to the damage to the children, the over 50
and sent it to the President and the his family, and to all of us, to be able million children in this country who do
President signs it, which will help the to send him off to a much better place, go to in-school settings, the damage
American people, American businesses, where I know he already is. that is done by not having that oppor-
and our country meet the ever-grow- As it relates to the schedule, as the tunity.
ing, quickly metastasizing crisis that gentleman talked about for potentially They were denied it, of course, in the
we are confronting. coming back in August, the negotia- middle of a pandemic. Millions of par-
Further information regarding the tions that are going on between the ents became home-schoolers. Myself
timing of a coronavirus relief bill will House and the Senate and the White and my wife were part of that. It was
be announced as soon as possible. House on a potential next relief pack-
I would simply add that I will make quite an experience. We would be more
age, clearly we are not in agreement than happy to allow our children to go
a determination, along with discus-
yet. back into the classroom. And in New
sions with others, including the minor-
I know there was a House-passed bill. Orleans, they are scheduled to do that.
ity, next week at some point in time as
There is going to be a Senate bill They are going to be reopening schools
to exactly how we should schedule. I
brought forward that is probably a there, as so many other systems.
think it will depend upon where we are
very different direction than the House But we also know there are some sys-
in the negotiations and how quickly we
bill. The White House has been talking tems that are contemplating not allow-
can reach an agreement on COVID–19
legislation. about some items that the President ing the children to come back in the
Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I liked. I know the President talked classroom. I would just hope that we
thank the gentleman for laying out the today about the payroll tax cut, which would urge all school systems to find a
course of next week, as well as what is something that I surely would advo- way to get it done safely. Others are
could come beyond. We will surely go cate for, as a way to help get people doing it safely. It can be done safely. It
through some of those items. back to work and to help families have doesn’t mean it is easy to do it, but we
I will start with the gentleman’s more money in their pockets during know it can be done. We owe it to those
schedule conversations about Monday these tough times and also an incen- children, the millions of children that
and Tuesday, the ability for us to pay tive to have businesses bring more would be harmed by not having that in-
true tribute to our dear colleague that workers back. classroom experience.
we lost, John Lewis. This week, of He acknowledged that is probably You look at the billions of dollars
course, we mourn him. We look at the not something that we will reach that are still unspent, including money
spot where John used to sit and think agreement on, but he also laid out the we sent to the States. We sent $150 bil-
about the giant that he was. olive branch to try to find other ways lion directly to States for COVID–19 re-
There were some wonderful tributes we can get agreement, if we do get lief. This money, without any change
here on this House floor earlier this agreement. in law, would be eligible for those
week, and it is very fitting that he will I would offer that. And as the gen- States to send to their local school sys-
be lying in the rotunda, which is a rare tleman talked about, whatever we do tems to buy sanitizer, to buy masks,
tribute that we pay to special, unique would need to be a bipartisan bill. And whatever else they need to safely re-
people. He clearly fits that bill as a I agree, if there is one, it is going to open the schools.
colleague, but also someone who was a have to be one where we come to- And I would encourage, if there are
legend, a giant. gether, if it is going to be signed by the any limitations that States identify, I
We got to serve with someone who we President. would hope they share it with us be-
will tell our kids and our grandkids I would offer that up, as we have cause I think we can find agreement
about. For that, we are all better for it. looked at the trillions of dollars we even there.
This body is better for John’s service, have already appropriated—and we But I think we should also look at an
and this country is better for what came together, Republicans and Demo- opportunity that if school systems are
John Lewis gave, both his blood, his crats in both Chambers, with the White not going to provide that safe environ-
sweat, his passion, his ideas, and his House to send a number of relief pack- ment for kids to come back in the
voice. ages that have provided dramatic help classroom and those parents still want
And if the gentleman wanted to add to millions of families, to millions of their children back in the classroom,
to that—I know we share those same small businesses, and they are still we should look, at least during this
sympathies for the family, but also the struggling. pandemic, to allow the dollars to be
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same reverence that we did get to serve But as we look at what we spent, we able to go somewhere else where they
with someone who truly was larger have identified over $500 billion of that are willing to safely educate those chil-
than life. money that still hasn’t been spent that dren.
I yield to the gentleman from Mary- is in various accounts. You look at the If the parents want to make that
land. Paycheck Protection Program, over choice, if one school system is going to
Mr. HOYER. I have spoken a lot $120 billion still unspent. Of course, deny the children that opportunity,
about John. I spoke this morning about there are limitations on each of these and there are other school systems
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July 24, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3851
that are willing to safely educate those ment reached at this point either. So, Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, let me
children, we should give them that op- we will wait. Hopefully, there will be respond to my friend.
portunity to be able to let those dollars an alternative, and hopefully, we can Obviously, if there is money that we
follow the children so that they are not move forward quickly. have already appropriated that is not
denied those opportunities as the Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I needed and not disbursed, I think the
American Academy of Pediatrics dis- agree. We worked very closely over a gentleman is right that we can reallo-
cussed. I hope we can have all of these period of weeks to come up with the cate that and repurpose that money.
conversations in the mix of the nego- CARES Act, which I have heard from So, that can be part of it. But we sort
tiations that are ongoing. so many families and small businesses of need to get to some parameters that
Mr. HOYER. Will the gentleman throughout my district, as well as the other side, meaning the Senate,
yield? through my colleagues and their dis- can put forward.
Mr. SCALISE. I yield to the gen- tricts, how much of a lifeline that was, Secondly, let me say, I did, in fact,
tleman. truly saving millions of jobs, saving say when we were out for some period
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman millions of small businesses so that of time that I would give 72 hours’ no-
for his comments. they can still work to reopen safely, tice. I can’t promise that today. The
As the gentleman knows, we passed a hopefully get back to the successes reason I can’t promise it today is be-
bill on May 15th that included within they were having before. cause we are going to have literally
that bill $100 billion for specific assist- We know we are not there yet, but millions of people who are without help
ance—not from the State’s excess with the encouraging signs we are see- after the 31st of this month.
funds, but specifically for educational ing on the medical front, with both As you know, the unemployment in-
institutions to accommodate the ex- therapies as well as vaccines, showing surance goes out. In the HEROES bill,
penditures necessary to provide for safe incredible promise in the testing stages of course, we extended that unemploy-
schooling. through Operation Warp Speed, where ment insurance until January 31 of
I will tell you, I represent five coun- we are able to test on thousands of peo- next year, as you know.
ties. We only have 23 counties in Mary- ple. Nobody is cutting any corners, but What I can say and what I have told
land. We have relatively few political we have a wider array of people to test my Members is that if in fact we can’t
jurisdictions in our State, unlike some, now because the disease is so wide- get an agreement, and it doesn’t appear
who have many, many and are smaller. spread, not only in America but that we can come to the floor Monday
All five of the counties that I rep- throughout the world. or Tuesday, I think that is the 3rd or
So, that testing that is being done in the 4th of August—I think the 1st and
resent, including one of the largest
a very aggressive fashion is showing in- 2nd of August are Saturday and Sun-
school districts in the country, Prince
credible promise. Hopefully, that gets day. So, the 3rd and 4th or 5th, if we
George’s County, have decided through
us to a point where we have a vaccine. can’t get an agreement before then,
their elected school boards to open up
But as we know, today, we are not there is no point in having Members
virtually. And they are following the
there yet. sitting in their offices, twiddling their
medical advice and the advice of sci- So, hopefully, we can continue work-
entists as to how that can be done. thumbs. I agree with that.
ing to help those businesses get back
I think all of us hope that our chil- I will have discussions with you and
open or stay open and help families
dren can go back to school as quickly with Leader MCCARTHY. We will cer-
through the tough time. That is just
as possible. I will tell the gentleman, I tainly not want to keep your Members
why I would suggest that, as we
have three great-grandchildren, all of here just waiting while negotiations
haven’t gotten an agreement, whether
them in school. My granddaughter is are going on.
the Senate hasn’t even gotten an
extraordinarily happy with how the I certainly will assure every Member
agreement amongst themselves, as the
teachers of those three students—one that they will have 24 hours’ notice.
gentleman pointed out. The bill that
is in pre-K, one is in third grade, and But the need for action is so great and
came out of the House recently was not
one is in seventh grade—how well the the consequences of inaction so harm-
bipartisan, but we were able earlier,
teachers have responded to the parents ful, that I think we need to act as soon
through the CARES Act, to have a bi-
and to the children. But everybody as we possibly can. And that 48 hours
partisan agreement. So, the ability is
wants to go back to school. still there. difference may make a difference to a
I will tell you, I received a text from But, in the meantime, while those lot of people. So, I will give an assur-
my granddaughter shortly after the negotiations aren’t resulting in an ance that there will be 24 hours’ notice,
President spoke about, well, you have agreement, I would just offer up that but I cannot give a 72-hour notice as-
to go back to school, and she said: ‘‘He- there are hundreds of billions, well surance.
pop,’’ which is what she calls me—‘‘He- over $500 billion, that we have appro- Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I
pop, I am terrified about sending our priated that haven’t been spent and, in thank the gentleman for that. Maybe
kids back to school.’’ some of those categories, probably as we get toward the middle or end of
won’t be spent because of the limita- next week, we will have a better idea
b 1345 where we are, and that number could
tions.
We need to get an agreement. We Maybe we can look at providing more change. Maybe there is an agreement
passed a bill over 2 months ago through flexibility with existing dollars before by then, so we will continue this dis-
this House, and unfortunately, our we talk about another trillion, to allow cussion.
friends in the United States Senate more uses for that for the people who I appreciate the gentleman’s candor
have not passed a bill, so we don’t have need it as a bridge to maybe get to an- and willingness to work with us, to try
anything to go to conference with. other point, or a bridge to get to a to make sure that the Members are at
Unfortunately, yesterday, we learned healthier economy that takes off on its least aware of where they will be, if
that the Senate can’t agree with itself own. Hopefully, that would be one they already have plans to do other
on the Republican side of the aisle and more option we can put on the table. things, that they can adjust that in a
has not got an agreement with the ad- I would ask if we do continue these reasonable amount of time to address
ministration. So at this point in time, negotiations, I know the gentleman re- these challenges.
as the gentleman knows, we have no al- ferred to the possibility that that first Finally, I would want to ask the gen-
ternative, frankly, to discuss. But we week in August, we may come back. If tleman, I know we have had a debate a
are hopeful that that will happen soon. we are to come back, and the majority number of times about this experiment
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We are hopeful that at least the Senate decides to bring Congress back at a with proxy voting. It was going to ex-
Republicans will come to an agreement time that it is not currently scheduled, pire in July, and it was renewed until
on an alternative they want to suggest, could we at least get a 72-hour notice, August. I don’t know if the gentleman
and then we can discuss that. as normally is the case, so that Mem- knows yet if the intention is to con-
Frankly, in order for the Senate to bers can adjust their schedules and tinue going on with that, but there
pass something, it has to be bipartisan, know what is ahead of us without very have been a number of cases where you
and there has been no bipartisan agree- short notice? have had Members that were here one
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H3852 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 24, 2020
day and sent in a note the very same confirm that, which is sad for our would see an increase in the integrity
day saying they are unable to be here country. Therefore, we need to con- of that.
and then proxy-voted or were out on a tinue to take the precautions we need. I mean, for a Member to literally be
boat or other things. But having said that, let me speak to here physically on the House floor, and
I would hope this process ends, that the proxy voting. then later in that same day, sign a doc-
we get back to voting in person. It has I know your side has been very con- ument—it is not a notarized document,
been very safe. The environment here cerned about the proxy voting. A, I but you are signing a document on
is safe. Members are wearing masks don’t think the proxy voting has made your stationery to the Clerk of House
when they are in close contact with any difference in the outcomes of the saying you are physically unable to be
one another. Obviously, we are at a decisions we have made in this House. here when you were physically here
very safe social distance, and you don’t B, a relatively small number—I know that day. It reduces the integrity when
need to wear a mask in this kind of en- the last time we met, there were some we see roughly a 15 percent increase in
vironment. But when you are close, 30. I am not sure this time, I think it people that are here all week that all
you have seen the Members following is less this time. of a sudden sign a document saying
the protocols. There is a lot of safety Let me say, I agree with the gen- they physically can’t be here on the
equipment around. tleman. I have talked to some Mem- fly-out day. It reduces the integrity.
I would just hope we could get back bers. It is not for when you have an- So if it is going to continue—clearly,
to the ability to be here physically. It other thing to do. It is not for doing our side does not want to see it con-
is a much better working environment something you would rather do. I can tinue, but if your side feels it should
when you can see your other colleagues name a number of Members—I won’t— continue, I hope you would at least
and share experiences and talk about on your side and my side who have sig- look at strengthening the integrity so
best practices that we are seeing in nificant health problems and chal- if somebody signs a document, that
each of our districts, people that are lenges, either themselves or in their you have confidence that that docu-
doing things better, that we can help families, and, therefore, they are con- ment is an accurate depiction to the
other people in other districts do. It is cerned about not so much getting to- Clerk of the House.
hard to get that when you are just not gether on this floor, but we don’t live Mr. HOYER. Will the gentleman
here. on this floor. We have places that we yield?
I would hope that we would work to- live and eat, and we go to the cleaners. Mr. SCALISE. I yield to the gen-
ward getting back to as normal of a So, it is not just on this floor where tleman from Maryland.
process as possible, recognizing where we have wipes and sanitizer and a way
we are, but where we are doing that to keep us healthy, and we do wear b 1400
work here in the Capitol in the same masks, most people wear masks. Unfor-
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, what I
place together at a safe distance, but tunately, all of us don’t wear masks,
said to him was I agree with him on
at least here physically. and I think that is not good judgment.
I would hope we could continue to But the proxy voting has really not that point. But if Mr. SCALISE wants to
have this conversation. Clearly, there made any difference in whether this make it again, he can make it.
are a few more weeks and no decision House has been able to act. But I made it to my Members. I
has to be made yet. I don’t know if the How long will it go on? Right now, we agree. It is for illness. It is for the
gentleman has already made a deci- are seeing an explosion of cases, an ex- threat of illness. It is not for conven-
sion. plosion of infections. Certainly, during ience.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I that explosion, it is no time to say to Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I re-
thank the gentleman for his question people—and, again, I almost want to spect that, and I appreciate the gen-
and his comments. Let me say this. I mention names because you will know tleman discussing that. I know we have
think we have a different perspective the folks. They are not feigning it. additional negotiations that will go on,
on where we are in this country. In Most of them are somewhere around hopefully, next week. And we will have
point of fact, I think there is reason for my age who are very concerned about a clearer picture if those will result in
great, great, grave concern about what their health, the health of their fami- actual legislation we can come to-
we see as an explosion, not just of test- lies, and the health of those to whom gether on and get a clearer picture of
ing. If it were just testing—but it is of they will go home from here if they the timeline.
hospitalizations and of deaths. come here. But at least until then, I know I ap-
We have seen a geometric increase in I think the gentleman is absolutely preciate the opportunity to not only be
the number of sick people, not just be- right. Speaker PELOSI, myself, Leader able to pay tribute to our dear friend
cause they were tested, but because of MCCARTHY, Leader MCCONNELL, and I John Lewis here in this Chamber where
a very heightened number of sick peo- think Senator SCHUMER, have all said, we served together but then to go in
ple. There are some areas of the coun- as you have just said, it is better for us the rotunda, as the gentleman ac-
try which, frankly, leadership was very to be here together, to interchange knowledged, in a rare moment when a
vigorous in imposing what some felt with one another, discuss with one an- nonformer President of the United
were draconian requirements, but other, to make suggestions to one an- States gets to lie in that beautiful ro-
which did, in fact, apparently make a other, to have that personal engage- tunda. No one is more fitting of that
significant difference in the trans- ment that I think makes for a honor than the great John Lewis.
mittal of the disease one to another. healthier legislative environment. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
So we see the situation as more dire. But until we can do that with safety tleman if he has anything else.
We certainly agree with you that we and ensure Members that if they come Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman.
are hopeful to accelerate—we have here that they will not be a danger for Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I
made big investments in not only a themselves or for others—and the doc- yield back the balance of my time.
vaccine but therapeutics. There are tors advise us that the pandemic is
f
some therapeutics that seem to be still a danger to us—then we will con-
working in some respects. The sooner tinue to follow this rule.
we can get there, the more confidence But I want to assure you that I make ISSUES OF THE DAY
there will be in the American people it very clear to Members: The rule con- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.
that they can reengage, that we can re- templates a danger to health to indi- OCASIO-CORTEZ). Under the Speaker’s
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
start and not only see one another, but viduals or others, and that is why the announced policy of January 3, 2019,
do business with one another, and com- proxy is available to them. the gentleman from Texas (Mr. GOH-
merce can be pursued vigorously. Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, look, MERT) is recognized for 60 minutes as
We are not heartened by the figures. obviously, we can have a disagreement the designee of the minority leader.
I know our President talks about over whether or not there should be a Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I
things getting better, but we don’t see proxy voting system. But if there is yield to the gentleman from California
it that way. We don’t think the figures going to be, I would just hope that we (Mr. LAMALFA).
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