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Congressional Record, House - September 23, 2020, H4725

Summary

This is the Congressional Record, House, September 23, 2020, covering pages H4725 and H4726, a long extract with a sampled middle section and interleaved columns. After one-minute speeches, including Mr. Johnson of South Dakota congratulating Mike Tobin on his retirement and Mr. Curtis on Clean Energy Week, Mr. McGovern calls up House Resolution 1129 from the Committee on Rules. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4447, the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019, H.R. 6270, the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020, and H.R. 8319, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021. The debate describes H.R. 8319 as a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through December 11, and a speaker says as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs have been detained.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Cite this document

“Congressional Record, House - September 23, 2020, H4725.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-09-23-crec-2020-09-23-pt1-pgh4725-4-33474f84f2/, SHA-256 001cf5d9bbf7d3d6dc41a20cfd93aba3ec7962b829fe010d3bdefadcc7c172e9.

Full text

                                            September 23, 2020                                CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                     H4725
                                                CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE                             the climate is changing, what are we                   to section 3 of this resolution shall be con-
                                                             TOBIN                                  doing about it?                                        sidered only in the order printed in the re-
                                                                                                      We can argue over whether it is man-                 port, may be offered only by a Member des-
                                              (Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota                                                                                 ignated in the report, shall be considered as
                                            asked and was given permission to ad-                   made climate change or nature caused,                  read, shall be debatable for the time speci-
                                            dress the House for 1 minute and to re-                 we are still allowing our forests, our                 fied in the report equally divided and con-
                                            vise and extend his remarks.)                           grasslands, our wildlands to be over-                  trolled by the proponent and an opponent,
                                              Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr.                      loaded with fuel, and that puts our                    may be withdrawn by the proponent at any
                                                                                                    towns, people’s livelihoods in great                   time before the question is put thereon, shall
                                            Speaker, my friend, Mike Tobin, is re-
                                                                                                    danger and great peril.                                not be subject to amendment, and shall not
                                            tiring. Mike and I met through                                                                                 be subject to a demand for division of the
                                            LifeQuest, which serves people with de-                   I could list time after time the trage-
                                                                                                                                                           question.
                                            velopmental disabilities. Mike has been                 dies that we have seen in northern                       SEC. 3. It shall be in order at any time
                                            on the board and he receives support                    California with people losing their                    after debate pursuant to the first section of
                                            from LifeQuest.                                         homes, portions of small towns, their                  this resolution for the chair of the Com-
                                              Now, he is a Minnesota Twins and a                    livelihoods because we are not doing                   mittee on Energy and Commerce or his des-
                                                                                                    the job on our Federal lands, and we                   ignee to offer amendments en bloc consisting
                                            Kansas Jayhawks fan, just like I am,                                                                           of further amendments printed in part B of
                                            but he serves as a role model to me.                    are not telling the environment groups
                                                                                                    to back off with their lawsuits that                   the report of the Committee on Rules accom-
                                              Mike has always been a hard worker,                                                                          panying this resolution not earlier disposed
                                            whether at Pizza Ranch or Elixir or                     prevent the work from being done that                  of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to
                                            anywhere else. He is a good person, al-                 so desperately needs to be done.                       this section shall be considered as read, shall
                                            ways with a smile on his face, treating                   We have to get cracking on this and                  be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided
                                            people warmly and with respect.                         get our job done here as Federal rep-                  and controlled by the chair and ranking mi-
                                                                                                    resentatives to help save our rural                    nority member of the Committee on Energy
                                              He is honest. A few years ago, Mike                                                                          and Commerce or their respective designees,
                                            found $300 in cash in an envelope on the                areas.
                                                                                                                                                           shall not be subject to amendment, and shall
                                            street, and of course, he would turn it                                   f                                    not be subject to a demand for division of the
                                            over to the police.                                                           b 1115                           question.
                                              So congratulations, Mike, on your                                                                              SEC. 4. All points of order against the fur-
                                            65th birthday and on your retirement.                   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION                            ther amendments printed in part B of the re-
                                              Thank you for showing me and every-                     OF H.R. 4447, EXPANDING ACCESS                       port of the Committee on Rules or amend-
                                                                                                      TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACT                            ments en bloc described in section 3 of this
                                            one else how to properly live life.                                                                            resolution are waived.
                                                                                                      OF 2019; PROVIDING FOR CONSID-
                                                             f                                        ERATION OF H.R. 6270, UYGHUR
                                                                                                                                                             SEC. 5. Upon adoption of this resolution it
                                                                                                                                                           shall be in order to consider in the House the
                                               RECOGNIZING CLEAN ENERGY                               FORCED      LABOR      DISCLOSURE                    bill (H.R. 6270) to amend the Securities Ex-
                                                             WEEK                                     ACT OF 2020; AND PROVIDING                           change Act of 1934 to require issuers to make
                                                                                                      FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R.                            certain disclosures relating to the Xinjiang
                                              (Mr. CURTIS asked and was given
                                                                                                      8319,   CONTINUING     APPROPRIA-                    Uyghur Autonomous Region, and for other
                                            permission to address the House for 1                                                                          purposes. All points of order against consid-
                                                                                                      TIONS ACT, 2021 AND OTHER EX-
                                            minute.)                                                                                                       eration of the bill are waived. An amend-
                                                                                                      TENSIONS ACT
                                              Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise                                                                              ment in the nature of a substitute consisting
                                            today in support of Clean Energy                          Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, by di-                    of the text of Rules Committee Print 116-64
                                            Week, an opportunity to celebrate bi-                   rection of the Committee on Rules, I                   shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as
                                            partisan support for the wide variety of                call up House Resolution 1129 and ask                  amended, shall be considered as read. All
                                                                                                    for its immediate consideration.                       points of order against provisions in the bill,
                                            clean energy sources strengthening
                                                                                                                                                           as amended, are waived. The previous ques-
                                            America’s national security while also                    The Clerk read the resolution, as fol-
                                                                                                                                                           tion shall be considered as ordered on the
                                            preserving our environment for future                   lows:                                                  bill, as amended, and on any further amend-
                                            generations.                                                              H. RES. 1129                         ment thereto, to final passage without inter-
                                              The environment is, and should be, a                    Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso-           vening motion except: (1) one hour of debate
                                            bipartisan issue. That is why I am                      lution it shall be in order to consider in the         equally divided and controlled by the chair
                                            proud to lead, with my friend Congress-                 House the bill (H.R. 4447) to establish an en-         and ranking minority member of the Com-
                                            man LOWENTHAL of California, a bipar-                   ergy storage and microgrid grant and tech-             mittee on Financial Services; and (2) one
                                                                                                    nical assistance program. All points of order          motion to recommit with or without instruc-
                                            tisan resolution in support of Clean En-                                                                       tions.
                                                                                                    against consideration of the bill are waived.
                                            ergy Week.                                                                                                       SEC. 6. Upon adoption of this resolution it
                                                                                                    In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a
                                              In fact, my legislation was intro-                    substitute recommended by the Committee                shall be in order to consider in the House
                                            duced by 71 original cosponsors, divided                on Energy and Commerce now printed in the              without intervention of any question of con-
                                            almost evenly between Republicans                       bill, an amendment in the nature of a sub-             sideration the bill (H.R. 8319) making con-
                                            and Democrats. This goes to show that                   stitute consisting of the text of Rules Com-           tinuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021,
                                                                                                    mittee Print 116–63, modified by the amend-            and for other purposes. All points of order
                                            we can and must work across the aisle                                                                          against consideration of the bill are waived.
                                            to be better caretakers of our planet,                  ment printed in part A of the report of the
                                                                                                    Committee on Rules accompanying this res-              The bill shall be considered as read. All
                                            and I plan to continue the pursuit of                                                                          points of order against provisions in the bill
                                                                                                    olution, shall be considered as adopted. The
                                            these positive bipartisan policies while                                                                       are waived. Clause 2(e) of rule XXI shall not
                                                                                                    bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
                                            in Congress.                                            All points of order against provisions in the          apply during consideration of the bill. The
                                                                                                                                                           previous question shall be considered as or-
                                                             f                                      bill, as amended, are waived. The previous
                                                                                                    question shall be considered as ordered on             dered on the bill and on any amendment
                                                   WILDFIRES BURNING IN                             the bill, as amended, and on any further               thereto to final passage without intervening
                                                          CALIFORNIA                                amendment thereto, to final passage without            motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally
                                                                                                    intervening motion except: (1) 90 minutes of           divided and controlled by the chair and rank-
                                              (Mr. LAMALFA asked and was given                                                                             ing minority member of the Committee on
                                                                                                    debate equally divided among and controlled
                                            permission to address the House for 1                                                                          Appropriations; and (2) one motion to recom-
                                                                                                    by the chair and ranking minority member
                                            minute and to revise and extend his re-                 of the Committee on Energy and Commerce                mit.
                                            marks.)                                                 and the chair and ranking minority member                The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen-
                                              Mr. LAMALFA. Mr. Speaker, fire sea-                   of the Committee on Science, Space, and                tleman from Massachusetts is recog-
                                            son continues to rage on in California                  Technology; (2) the further amendments de-             nized for 1 hour.
                                            and in the West, and it continues to                    scribed in section 2 of this resolution; (3) the         Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, for
                                            underline the need for us to have active                amendments en bloc described in section 3 of           the purpose of debate only, I yield the




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                                            management of our forests, our                          this resolution; and (4) one motion to recom-          customary 30 minutes to the gentle-
                                                                                                    mit with or without instructions.
                                            wildlands, our grasslands, everything                                                                          woman from Arizona (Mrs. LESKO),
                                                                                                      SEC. 2. After debate pursuant to the first
                                            to do with fire season and the increased                section of this resolution, each further               pending which I yield myself such time
                                            fuel loads that we are seeing.                          amendment printed in part B of the report of           as I may consume. During consider-
                                              We hear a lot of talk about climate                   the Committee on Rules not earlier consid-             ation of this resolution, all time yield-
                                            change. Well, I keep coming back to, If                 ered as part of amendments en bloc pursuant            ed is for the purpose of debate only.



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                                            H4726                                             CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                   September 23, 2020
                                                             GENERAL LEAVE                          now. This is not some long-off threat                  ago, but the comparison simply just
                                              Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I ask                      that we can leave for our kids or                      doesn’t hold water.
                                            unanimous consent that all Members                      grandkids. This is happening today.                      Free enterprise, as we know it,
                                            be given 5 legislative days to revise and                  By addressing it, we won’t just pro-                doesn’t exist in the Xinjiang Uyghur
                                            extend their remarks.                                   tect our environment. We will create                   Autonomous Region. It should not be
                                              The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there                     jobs at a time when our country badly                  compared to Africa in terms of the
                                            objection to the request of the gen-                    needs      them.    Because    of    the               business climate or access.
                                            tleman from Massachusetts?                              coronavirus, our country is facing the                   The Xinjiang economy is tightly con-
                                              There was no objection.                               worst economy since the Great Depres-                  trolled and directed by the Chinese
                                              Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on                         sion. The Labor Department said last                   Government and Communist Party. It
                                            Monday, the Rules Committee met and                     week that 12.6 million Americans are                   is built on a foundation of forced labor
                                            reported a rule, House Resolution 1129,                 collecting unemployment benefits. One                  and repression. International observ-
                                            providing for consideration of three                    year ago, that number stood at just 1.7                ers, the press, and government officials
                                            measures.                                               million.                                               are restricted from even traveling
                                              First, the rule provides for consider-                   Renewable energy can and should be                  there.
                                            ation of H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy                   part of the equation in rebuilding this                  Just this week, a number of re-
                                            Jobs and Innovation Act, under a                        economy because, make no mistake,                      spected supply chain auditing firms say
                                            structured rule. The rule provides 90                   Mr. Speaker, jobs in things like solar                 they will no longer conduct inspections
                                            minutes of debate equally divided                       energy will be created. The only ques-                 in Xinjiang because of the hostile envi-
                                            among and controlled by the chairs and                  tion is whether they are created here                  ronment ruled by fear.
                                            ranking minority members of the Com-                                                                             The argument against this legisla-
                                                                                                    or in other countries like China. I want
                                            mittee on Energy and Commerce and                                                                              tion is that the DRC conflict minerals
                                                                                                    them made in America.
                                            the Committee on Science, Space, and                       Lastly, the Rules Committee consid-                 provision was bad because businesses
                                            Technology. The rule self-executes a                    ered two bills on Monday to help de-                   left that region because they didn’t
                                            manager’s amendment, makes in order                                                                            want to or could not disclose their sup-
                                                                                                    fend the human rights of Uyghurs and
                                            98 amendments, and provides en bloc                                                                            ply chains. Well, it is long past time
                                                                                                    other ethnic minorities who have suf-
                                            authority and one motion to recommit.                                                                          for U.S. and international companies
                                                                                                    fered horrific human rights abuses at
                                              The rule also provides for consider-                                                                         to reassess their supply chains and find
                                                                                                    the hands of the Chinese Government:
                                            ation of H.R. 6270, the Uyghur Forced                                                                          alternatives to production in Xinjiang
                                                                                                    H.R. 6210, the Uyghur Forced Labor
                                            Labor Disclosure Act of 2020, under a                                                                          where forced labor is widespread and
                                                                                                    Prevention Act, and H.R. 6270, the
                                            closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of                                                                       embedded in the regional economy.
                                                                                                    Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act.                      We don’t think Chinese, U.S., and
                                            debate equally divided and controlled                      I am proud to have authored H.R.                    international companies should be ex-
                                            by the chair and ranking minority                       6210, which passed the House with an                   ploiting the Uyghur and other Muslim
                                            member of the Committee on Financial                    overwhelming 406–3 vote yesterday. I                   people in allowing global supply chains
                                            Services, and it provides one motion to                 also strongly support H.R. 6270, the                   to be contaminated with forced labor.
                                            recommit.                                               Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act,                      So I hope on both sides of the aisle,
                                              Finally, the rule provides for the con-               authored by my colleague, Representa-                  but I say this to my Republican col-
                                            sideration of H.R. 8319, the Continuing                 tive JENNIFER WEXTON.                                  leagues, to those who might be consid-
                                            Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Ex-                     It is disappointing that some Repub-                ering a ‘‘no’’ vote, think long and hard
                                            tensions Act, under a closed rule. The                  lican Members may oppose the Uyghur                    before voting against the bill that
                                            rule provides for 1 hour of debate                      Forced Labor Disclosure Act that re-                   would help reveal the extent of how the
                                            equally divided and controlled by the                   quires disclosures about products made                 Chinese Government’s system of forced
                                            chair and ranking minority member of                    with forced labor from a region where                  labor has contaminated global supply
                                            the Committee on Appropriations and                     crimes against humanity and perhaps                    chains.
                                            provides one motion to recommit.                        genocide are being committed by the                      I am proud to stand in solidarity
                                              Mr. Speaker, the bills contained in                   Chinese Government.                                    with the Uyghur people and, indeed, all
                                            this rule are about meeting our respon-                    As many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and                  the people living under the rule of the
                                            sibility here at home and living up to                  other predominantly Muslim minori-                     Chinese Government in their struggle
                                            our values abroad.                                      ties have been arbitrarily detained in                 to live freely, practice their religious
                                              First is H.R. 8319, a continuing reso-                mass internment camps and subjected                    beliefs freely, and speak their own lan-
                                            lution to keep our government funded                    to forced labor, torture, political in-                guage freely.
                                            through December 11. Fortunately, we                    doctrination, and other severe human                     I urge all of my colleagues to join
                                            won’t need to call this bill up because                 rights abuses.                                         with us and give this rule and under-
                                            a compromise passed this House last                        We know forced labor is widespread                  lying bills a broad bipartisan vote so
                                            night by a vote of 359–57. That is quite                and systematic, and audits are simply                  we can fulfill our obligations here at
                                            an accomplishment because sometimes                     not possible because workers cannot                    home and around the world.
                                            we can’t even agree on what to have for                 speak freely and honestly about work-                    Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
                                            lunch here, yet we were able to come                    ing conditions given the heavy surveil-                my time.
                                            together to keep this government open.                  lance and intimidation by the Chinese                    Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank
                                            That is good news for the American                      Government.                                            Chairman MCGOVERN for yielding me
                                            people.                                                    This legislation is essential to pro-               the customary 30 minutes, and I yield
                                              Second is H.R. 4447, a sweeping en-                   tect American investors and consumers                  myself such time as I may consume.
                                            ergy package that will help our Nation                  through stronger disclosure require-                     Mr. Speaker, this rule consists of two
                                            lead the world once more in clean en-                   ments alerting them to the presence of                 bills, including H.R. 4447, the Demo-
                                            ergy. Investing in renewable energy                     Chinese and international companies                    crat’s energy package. It consists of 38
                                            like wind and solar won’t just help us                  whose operations enable the mass in-                   bills with a total cost of $135 billion.
                                            combat the threat of climate change;                    ternment and population surveillance                   The bill includes burdensome mandates
                                            they will help us create jobs here at                   of Uyghurs and other Muslim minori-                    and an incredibly high price tag.
                                            home that can never be outsourced.                      ties.                                                    Mr. Speaker, let’s be clear, Repub-
                                              It is especially important that we are                   Such involvements represent clear                   licans support reducing carbon dioxide
                                            considering this package right now.                     and material risks to shared values and                emissions in the United States by scal-
                                            There are wildfires raging in places                    the corporate reputations of these com-                ing up clean energy innovation with




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                                            like California, Oregon, and Wash-                      panies and U.S. investors and con-                     less regulation. Unfortunately, this bill
                                            ington that are leaving a heart-                        sumers.                                                adds new regulatory hurdles that make
                                            breaking path of destruction. Sci-                         It seems the only argument against                  the clean energy technology deploy-
                                            entists are unequivocal: These fires are                this bill is that it is similar to the                 ment much more difficult to build.
                                            just the latest indication that climate                 Democratic Republic of the Congo con-                  Regulations hurt innovations, espe-
                                            change is real and is happening right                   flict minerals provision from years                    cially at such a high price tag.



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                                            September 23, 2020                                CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                H4727
                                              The bill fails to put forward policies                  Mr. Speaker, this rule also contains                 pressive when someone can make ger-
                                            that will reform the permitting and li-                 H.R. 6270, the Uyghur Forced Labor                     maneness, promptly motions, and
                                            censing process required to finance,                    Disclosure Act.                                        Deschler’s Precedents funny.
                                            build, expand, and modernize energy                       The United States is an honorable                      Tom is always willing to listen to ar-
                                            infrastructure. Instead, the bill spends                and noble country that must not tol-                   gument and never too proud to change
                                            billions of dollars on unfocused re-                    erate the gross human rights abuses                    his mind or say he was wrong about
                                            search without spending money on in-                    perpetrated by Chinese leaders. While                  something in the face of new informa-
                                            vestments and infrastructure.                           the bill takes strong action to ensure                 tion.
                                              Republicans have introduced numer-                    American businesses are not complicit                    To me and my staff, Tom Wickham
                                            ous bills this Congress that will build,                in China’s forced labor programs, there                appears to know everything about the
                                            expand, and modernize our energy in-                    are outstanding concerns in the bill                   rules and history of this House. But he
                                            frastructure.                                           that may harm U.S. businesses.                         is quick to say that he knows nothing
                                                                                                      For instance, the bill requires public               about the Senate whenever we ask a
                                                              b 1130                                companies to file disclosures with the                 Senate question; although, we suspect
                                              They remove regulatory barriers to                    SEC if they imported manufactured                      he knows everything about the Senate
                                            building nuclear, natural gas, and hy-                  goods or other materials that origi-                   as well and just doesn’t want to offend
                                            dropower infrastructure. These are all                  nated in or are sourced in the Xinjiang                his friend, Elizabeth, the Senate Par-
                                            clean and reliable sources of genera-                   Uyghur Autonomous Region and dis-                      liamentarian.
                                            tion that will power America, protect                   close whether those goods originated in                  Tom has guided us through some tur-
                                            the environment, and keep our country                   forced labor camps. These entities                     bulent times. He has advised the pre-
                                            secure.                                                 would also have to disclose the nature                 siding officer during times of heated
                                              The mandates contained in the bill                    and extent of the commercial activity                  debate, even yelling at times. He has
                                            will drive up energy and transportation                 related to each good or material, the                  been on that rostrum through impeach-
                                            costs for American consumers. For ex-                   gross revenue and net profits attrib-                  ment proceedings and opening day ses-
                                            ample, one of the mandates in the bill                  utable, and whether they intend to                     sions, during late nights often followed
                                            will mandate energy efficiency build-                   continue importing the good.                           by all-too-early mornings.
                                            ing codes, which the home building in-                    China’s atrocities against Uyghurs                     He has seen it all, and we are lucky
                                            dustry says will drive up the cost of                   and other Muslim minority groups                       to have had him at our side through it
                                            housing to consumers without propor-                    must come to an end, and we voted on                   all. He will be missed, but we congratu-
                                            tional savings in energy costs.                         that bill yesterday in a bipartisan fash-              late him on a well-deserved retirement.
                                              H.R. 4447 will lead our country down                  ion. We must ensure that items made                      Mr. Speaker, I also want to congratu-
                                            the wrong path. We don’t want to Cali-                  with forced labor are not allowed to                   late Jason Smith for being named the
                                            fornia the Nation with blackouts and                    enter our markets.                                     new House Parliamentarian. Many of
                                            high utility costs. Even minority                         To do our jobs properly in Congress,
                                                                                                                                                           us already know Jason pretty well,
                                            groups are suing California utilities                   we must allow bills to run their course
                                                                                                                                                           having worked with him in his prior
                                            over their high energy costs. And be-                   through committees for proper debate,
                                                                                                                                                           role as Deputy Parliamentarian. His
                                            lieve it or not, California utilities ac-               discovery, and amending.
                                                                                                      Mr. Speaker, I urge opposition to the                know-how made an impression, since
                                            tually pay Arizona for their renewable                                                                         he was named to this new role after a
                                            energy to take it off of their hands dur-               rule, and I reserve the balance of my
                                                                                                    time.                                                  bipartisan recommendation, and I
                                            ing certain times of the year. That is                                                                         think that also is a tribute to his
                                                                                                      Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield
                                            totally insane.                                                                                                skills.
                                                                                                    myself such time as I may consume.
                                              I regularly meet with constituents                      Mr. Speaker, I want to diverge from                    Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Rank-
                                            and companies in Arizona who say they                   what we are considering today and rec-                 ing Member COLE for working with me
                                            moved from California to Arizona be-                    ognize some of the people here who                     on this. I valued his advice and coun-
                                            cause California’s incredibly burden-                   help us all navigate how legislation is                sel, as I do so often as we serve to-
                                            some regulations stifle growth. Califor-                considered.                                            gether on the Rules Committee. His
                                            nia’s current energy crisis was predict-                  There are staff here that work day in                wisdom made this process largely an
                                            able and avoidable, but they ignored                    and day out to make this Chamber                       apolitical one.
                                            the scientists and engineers who main-                  function smoothly so that we can get                     I could not ask for a better partner
                                            tain the electric grid and, instead,                    things done on behalf of the American                  at the Rules Committee than the gen-
                                            mandated their own version of the                       people. They aren’t Democratic or Re-                  tleman from Oklahoma, TOM COLE. He
                                            Green New Deal. In doing so, California                 publican staff. They serve both sides                  and I try to put this institution first,
                                            forced the retirement of stable base-                   without fear or favor. That team in-                   and I know that Jason will, too.
                                            load power generation without a reli-                   cludes the staff in the Office of the Par-               It is clear Jason has the confidence of
                                            able option in place.                                   liamentarian.                                          both sides of the aisle, and that is no
                                              The Democrats may claim that H.R.                       Tom Wickham has served in that of-                   small thing. I look forward to working
                                            4447 is a bipartisan bill. While it in-                 fice for the last 25 years. As House Par-              with him in his new role.
                                            cludes some bipartisan provisions, it is                liamentarian, he became a master of                      The truth is we are lucky to have
                                            not a bipartisan bill. It was crafted                   House procedure. And make no mis-                      such dedicated staff in the Parliamen-
                                            solely by Democrats with no input                       take, having an encyclopedic knowl-                    tarian’s Office, and that includes Anne
                                            from Republicans. Many of the provi-                    edge of how this place operates is no                  Gooch, who works with us day in and
                                            sions amount to billions of dollars of                  small thing, Mr. Speaker.                              day out, whether it is at 7 a.m. or 11
                                            new and overlapping programs that had                     Tom is now retiring after serving                    p.m. My staff and I have her on speed
                                            little to no process or regular order.                  with distinction for many years. I want                dial. Her work also makes our work
                                              I sit on the Rules Committee, where                   to recognize him, and I want to thank                  possible, and we are grateful.
                                            my colleagues reminisce regularly                       him for that service here today.                         So we have a lot of debates on this
                                            about how we used to operate through                      Now, I could say a lot about Tom. On                 floor, Mr. Speaker, all to make
                                            a committee system with regular                         a physical level, Tom is usually the                   progress on behalf of the American peo-
                                            order: a legislative hearing, a sub-                    tallest person in the room, and a lot of               ple, but it is important during mo-
                                            committee markup, a full complete                       people fit in this room. On a human                    ments like this that we also recognize
                                            markup. Apparently, those days are                      level, Tom always makes time for ev-                   people whose work behind the scenes
                                            gone. Now the Democrats legislate by                    eryone, from the most senior Members                   makes this progress possible.




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                                            posting a one-sided bill one week and                   to the most junior staff. Unless he is in                So, Mr. Speaker, I just want to pay
                                            putting it on the floor the following                   a meeting, the door to his office right                this tribute to these incredible people,
                                            week.                                                   across the hall is literally left open all             and I want to say thank you, thank
                                              Public laws do not come out of this                   the time.                                              you, thank you.
                                            process well, only partisan politics and                  He has perfected the art of dry par-                   Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
                                            messaging bills. We all know that.                      liamentary humor. It is incredibly im-                 my time.



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                                            H4728                                             CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                   September 23, 2020
                                              Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2                    your colleagues in the Parliamentar-                   businesses with 10 or fewer employees,
                                            minutes to the gentleman from Okla-                     ian’s Office have done for each and                    expand the list of eligible covered ex-
                                            homa (Mr. COLE), my good friend, the                    every Member of this institution. Even                 penses, simplify the loan forgiveness
                                            ranking member of the Rules Com-                        our own Members quite often don’t un-                  process, and extend PPP through the
                                            mittee.                                                 derstand how indispensable your deci-                  end of 2020.
                                              Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the                    sions and recommendations are to each                    I think all of us can agree that this is
                                            gentlewoman, my good friend, for                        side, to facilitate a full and open de-                very vital for our small businesses and
                                            yielding.                                               bate, to make sure that every person                   their workers in America.
                                              I want to begin by responding to                      has an opportunity to express their                      Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
                                            some of my friend’s kind remarks, the                   opinion in the appropriate way under                   my time.
                                            chairman.                                               the procedures and rules of the House.                   Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I re-
                                              We belong to different parties. We                       So I just want to personally thank                  serve the balance of my time.
                                            sometimes have our different points of                  you for the extraordinary job you have                   Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2
                                            view in the committee itself, which                     done for all of those who have the                     minutes to the gentleman from New
                                            means on occasion we are going to be                    privilege of being Members and, frank-                 York (Mr. KATKO), my good friend.
                                            taking contrasting positions with one                   ly, for our staffs as well, who work so                  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank
                                            another, but I think one of the com-                    closely with you and whom you advise                   the gentlewoman for yielding.
                                            mon traits that we have is that we                      so frequently and so professionally. We                  Mr. Speaker, there are seven legisla-
                                            both revere the institution of the                      will really, really, really miss you, but              tive days remaining on the House cal-
                                            House of Representatives and all of its                 we thank you for making sure that we                   endar before this Chamber is scheduled
                                            procedures.                                             had an adequate successor in place in                  to recess for more than a month. As
                                              I think we also really respect the                    Mr. Smith and a superb supporting                      every Member of this body knows,
                                            staff, the personal staff, the committee                staff that reflects your leadership.                   Americans are counting on us to use
                                            staff, and, most especially, the profes-                   So we thank you for your hard work                  this time to respond to the sustained
                                            sional staff of the House itself. What an               in a very bipartisan way, your profes-                 impact of the pandemic on our commu-
                                            extraordinary role they play in allow-                  sionalism, your decency, and, frankly,                 nities.
                                            ing us to do our job.                                   the honorable way in which you have                      Unfortunately, our constituents are
                                              Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Chairman                  discharged your duties for 25 years.                   left waiting as partisanship continues
                                            MCGOVERN in paying tribute to a dedi-                      Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I                        to block compromise and political in-
                                            cated public servant.                                   think the gentleman from Oklahoma                      terests continue to stand in the way of
                                              Tom Wickham, the House Parliamen-                     (Mr. COLE) would agree with me that                    efforts to deliver relief to our constitu-
                                            tarian, has served this House with                      we both learned more from the Parlia-                  ents.
                                            honor and distinction for the past 25                   mentarian’s Office than we ever knew                     For this reason, I support efforts to
                                            years and will be taking a well-de-                     was possible as we engaged in trying to                defeat the previous question and bring
                                            served retirement at the end of this                    get a replacement for Mr. Wickham.                     up commonsense legislation to support
                                            month.                                                  Our admiration for the staff there has                 America’s small businesses during this
                                              Tom has expertly advised five Speak-                  only increased.                                        unprecedented crisis.
                                            ers and countless Members and staff                        I just want to say one final thing                    The Paycheck Protection Program
                                            throughout his distinguished tenure.                    here.                                                  has been a critical, bipartisan success
                                            His exceptional knowledge and under-                       Normally,     under     normal     cir-             and an important example of what we
                                            standing of the rules, procedures, and                  cumstances, this Chamber would be                      can achieve when we work together for
                                            parliamentary precedent has been in-                    filled with Members, which I think we                  the good of the American people. In my
                                            valuable to this institution, and he will               would all have preferred in order to                   district alone, PPP loans have deliv-
                                            be sorely missed.                                       give you a proper sendoff. Obviously,                  ered critical assistance to thousands of
                                              Mr. Speaker, I am also proud to con-                  outside events have made that impos-                   local businesses and helped save nearly
                                            gratulate Jason Smith, the current                      sible, but we want you to know that ev-                200,000 jobs.
                                            Deputy Parliamentarian, on his ap-                      erybody in this Chamber appreciates                      Although these loans played a piv-
                                            pointment as the sixth Parliamen-                       your incredible work. So I ask every-                  otal role in helping small businesses
                                            tarian of the House.                                    body who is here to give you a round of                navigate the immediate impact of the
                                              The Rules Committee has the benefit                   applause and say thank you.                            pandemic, many still face a dire eco-
                                            of working with the Parliamentarian’s                      Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of               nomic outlook and uncertain road to
                                            Office, frankly, more than any other                    my time.                                               recovery.
                                            committee, and I have every con-                                                                                 Absent congressional action, entre-
                                            fidence that Jason will lead the office                                   b 1145                               preneurs and business owners across
                                            with the same standard of excellence                      Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield                     this great country will have no choice
                                            his predecessors, particularly Mr.                      myself such time as I may consume.                     but to close their doors.
                                            Wickham, have set.                                        If we defeat the previous question, I                  If the previous question is defeated,
                                              Finally, Mr. Speaker, I just want to                  will offer an amendment to the rule to                 my colleagues will bring up legislation
                                            take a moment to thank Chairman                         immediately consider Small Business                    to authorize a second round of PPP
                                            MCGOVERN for seeking my opinion dur-                    Committee Ranking Member STEVE                         loans for America’s most vulnerable
                                            ing the process to select our next Par-                 CHABOT’s H.R. 8265 to reopen the Pay-                  businesses and extend the program
                                            liamentarian. That is not something he                  check Protection Program to Amer-                      through the end of 2020.
                                            was required to do, but it speaks vol-                  ica’s 30 million small businesses.                       Critically, this bill will also set aside
                                            umes about his respect for this institu-                  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con-                    funds for our smallest businesses and
                                            tion and the role that the Parliamen-                   sent to insert the text of my amend-                   make necessary simplifications to the
                                            tarian plays for the minority, particu-                 ment in the RECORD, along with extra-                  loan forgiveness process. These provi-
                                            larly on the Rules Committee, that he                   neous material, immediately prior to                   sions are not only critical to pro-
                                            was interested in our perspective on                    the vote on the previous question.                     tecting our country’s 30 million small
                                            this important decision.                                  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there                    businesses and the jobs they create;
                                              Let me close with this. My friend,                    objection to the request of the gentle-                they represent a commitment to relief
                                            the chairman, said that Mr. Wickham                     woman from Arizona?                                    measures both parties can agree on.
                                            had seen everything.                                      There was no objection.                                Considering these changes would rep-




ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
                                              Well, we are hopeful that you don’t                     Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, this                        resent a critical first step in bringing
                                            write about everything that you have                    amendment would ensure our Nation’s                    bipartisan relief measures to the floor
                                            seen, and that you remember us as                       smallest and most vulnerable firms get                 and delivering comprehensive relief for
                                            fondly as we remember you. But the                      the support they need by allowing an                   every American.
                                            sad thing is not very many people get                   opportunity for a second PPP loan                        Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to
                                            to see your work and what you and                       with specific funds set aside for small                vote to defeat the previous question.



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                                            September 23, 2020                                CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                 H4729
                                               Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                   lief payments to illegal immigrants                    actually lowered the request in the
                                            myself such time as I may consume.                      using taxpayer dollars.                                original HEROES Act—which I person-
                                               I just want to say for the record that                 So maybe if Speaker PELOSI and the                   ally think is not the right thing to do,
                                            if my Republican friends want to know                   Democrats would have actually talked                   but I get it—to get something done.
                                            why there is no agreement on another                    to Republicans before they pushed                        There is nothing in here that helps
                                            coronavirus relief package including                    through a bill, there would have been                  communities who are trying to deal
                                            PPP, they should call their friend                      more bipartisan support to help small                  with the school situation. In some
                                            MITCH MCCONNELL because this House                      businesses and the American people.                    places schools are opening, in some
                                            did its job.                                              With this previous question and the                  places they are not but there are all of
                                               We passed the HEROES Act more                        amendment, we are trying to do just                    these new expenses on how to make the
                                            than 125 days ago to help cash-strapped                 that.                                                  classroom safer.
                                            State and local governments, to help                      Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the                  When my friends say, Oh, we don’t
                                            businesses on the brink, and to help                    gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. BACON),                   want to give any more money to cities
                                            Americans struggling in the middle of                   my friend.                                             and towns to deal with that, I don’t
                                            this pandemic.                                            Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise                       know whether you talk to your super-
                                               A lot of people are suffering. Hunger                today and ask that we defeat the pre-                  intendents, or your teachers, or your
                                            has increased in this country. Senate                   vious question and move to pass Con-                   principals, or parents, but this is real
                                            Republicans can’t even come to an                       gressman CHABOT’s bill.                                and they are looking for some help.
                                            agreement amongst themselves. They                        We are now in our sixth month of                       I mean, we are in the middle of a pan-
                                            couldn’t even get their entire caucus                   this pandemic. In our efforts to combat                demic. We haven’t seen anything like
                                            on board, let alone Democrats.                          this virus, the backbone of our econ-                  this since 1918. It has impacted our en-
                                               The HEROES Act is bipartisan, but                    omy, our small businesses, have suf-                   tire economy and you would never
                                            even that hasn’t been enough to get                     fered greatly. Only now, after months                  know it. You would never know it
                                            MITCH MCCONNELL to take it up. Appar-                   of government-imposed restrictions, is                 based on the inaction and the indiffer-
                                            ently, he couldn’t find the time, Mr.                   our economy starting to reopen and we                  ence over in the Senate.
                                            Speaker, but he is moving with light-                   are seeing the unemployment drop, in                     I mean, it just takes my breath away
                                            ning speed to confirm a new Supreme                     part, but not throughout our economy.                  when we have leaders there, Repub-
                                            Court Justice.                                            Even in my home State of Nebraska,                   lican leaders, who won’t even come to
                                               Are you kidding me? In the middle of                 with the lowest unemployment rate in                   the negotiating table. And I just find
                                            a pandemic he can’t find the time to                    the Nation, some of our small busi-                    that appalling.
                                            provide a vote on a package to help the                 nesses are still struggling. While res-                  I will just say one other thing. I urge
                                            American people and small businesses?                   taurants and bars are getting back to                  everybody to vote for the previous
                                            Our restaurants are in deep trouble.                    work, others are still shut down. Our                  question because let me just tell you
                                            Those of us who come from States—                       live music venues, our playhouses, our                 something that some people don’t ap-
                                            like I do in Massachusetts—outdoor                      travel and tour companies are still fac-               preciate; if you defeat the previous
                                            dining is going to cease pretty soon be-                ing some very dark times and may not                   question, they get to bring up whatever
                                            cause it is getting cold, and they don’t                open for 3 months. Some may never re-                  they want to bring up.
                                            know how they are going to get                          open without Congressman CHABOT’s                        They can bring up this, they can
                                            through the winter. And we can’t even                   bill.                                                  bring up whatever. They basically take
                                            get the Senate to debate this stuff?                      Congress needs to put our partisan                   control of the House. And they may say
                                               More than 200,000 Americans are                      differences aside. Stop playing elec-                  they are going to bring up this, but
                                            dead. The President says, Oh, every-                    tion-year political games and come to-                 who knows what they will bring up.
                                            thing is going great. 200,000 people are                gether to help the American people.                    And so this is a bad procedural maneu-
                                            dead. Compare that to Canada or other                   While we may be divided on if we                       ver, but it is designed to give them
                                            countries that actually had a plan to                   should bail out cities that were strug-                power.
                                            manage this pandemic. Countless mil-                    gling financially prior to COVID, we                     And, again, what I am learning here
                                            lions have been infected.                               can all agree that certain segments of                 is that we don’t share the same values
                                               The Senate needs to act. And shame                   our economy are struggling in every                    on a lot of these things. I find that par-
                                            on them for not acting.                                 city.                                                  ticularly disconcerting during a pan-
                                               It should be more than just an assem-                  This bill will help our Nation’s small-              demic.
                                            bly line that rubber-stamps conserv-                    est, most vulnerable businesses in                       In the past, after 9/11, I was here.
                                            ative judges. There is legislating to do,               every city. It will expand eligibility                 George W. Bush was President. I didn’t
                                            and none more important than dealing                    and expand the PPP throughout the                      agree with him on a lot of stuff, but he
                                            with the impacts of this pandemic.                      end of the calendar year to help these                 helped bring this country together and
                                               I don’t know whether the Senate ma-                  businesses in every city.                              get us all reading off the same sheet of
                                            jority leader has a heart of stone or                     We can agree that this is needed from                music in terms of our response. It is
                                            what, but it is inexcusable. It is uncon-               the East Coast to the West Coast and                   very different now.
                                            scionable. It is unbelievable that he                   everywhere       in-between.    Congress                 So I would urge my colleagues again
                                            hasn’t acted, and so I urge my Repub-                   should act now.                                        to vote ‘‘yes’’ on the previous question,
                                            lican colleagues to pick up the phone                     I urge my colleagues to defeat the                   and I reserve the balance of my time.
                                            and call him and tell him to do some-                   previous question and move to pass the                   Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I can
                                            thing.                                                  low-hanging fruit of the Chabot bill.                  guarantee Chairman MCGOVERN, if we
                                               I reserve the balance of my time.                      Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                   defeat the previous question, my
                                               The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem-                        myself such time as I may consume.                     amendment is what will be brought up
                                            bers are reminded not to engage in per-                   Mr. Speaker, the good news and what                  to help small businesses and their
                                            sonalities toward the Senate or its                     is comforting to me is that the Amer-                  workers.
                                            Members.                                                ican people get this. They understand                    Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
                                               Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield                     where the problem is.                                  gentleman from New York (Mr. REED).
                                            myself such time as I may consume.                        And I would just say to my friends                     Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I thank my
                                               Mr. Speaker, wow, that was an im-                    who don’t like everything in the HE-                   friend for yielding me the time.
                                            passioned speech by the chairman, but                   ROES Act, the way this process is sup-                   Mr. Speaker, I had a speech prepared
                                            I have to remind the chairman that                      posed to work is we pass a bill in the                 to give, but I am not going to read that




ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
                                            there were a lot of Democrat liberal                    House, the Senate passes a bill, and                   speech because I think the chairman
                                            wish lists in the relief package that                   then we have a conference committee                    from Massachusetts highlighted the
                                            were passed, including releasing pris-                  and we work out the details.                           crux of the problem we face in this
                                            oners that were 50 years old and older—                   Well, the only negotiating that has                  Chamber today.
                                            didn’t matter what they were charged                    been going on is Democrats have been                     We don’t trust each other any longer
                                            with—from prison and giving $1,200 re-                  negotiating with themselves. We have                   in this institution. As he just alluded



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                                            H4730                                             CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                   September 23, 2020
                                            to, don’t give over the floor, don’t give               months ago, and there has been no ac-                  State of Ohio, as they are in Florida, in
                                            over control of this body to the other                  tion. We all know that we weren’t                      Texas, in California, and all across this
                                            side because we don’t know what the                     going to get everything. The Speaker                   country. Their workers clock in early
                                            Republicans will bring up.                              brought it down by $1 trillion, hoping                 and often retire after the sun sets.
                                               I give my word that what we would                    that that would spur a negotiation, and                Simply put, they are America’s busi-
                                            bring up is a bill that will provide im-                there is nothing yet. By the way, the                  nesses.
                                            mediate relief under the Paycheck Pro-                  Senate can’t even get its act together                   Unfortunately, COVID–19 continues
                                            tection Program of $138 billion to our                  amongst its own Republicans, never                     to challenge their very existence. Now
                                            small businesses, our families, and in-                 mind with Democrats.                                   is the time to act. We really should
                                            dividuals who are suffering in America                    So we need to do something. Hope-                    have acted 46 days ago. We have an op-
                                            today.                                                  fully, before we leave here, the Senate                tion before us today, this very day. If
                                               We need to start trusting each other                 majority leader will pick up the phone                 we defeat today’s previous question,
                                            again. We don’t trust each other in this                and work with the Speaker and with                     then we can move directly to my legis-
                                            institution and that is what is causing                 the White House, and we can get some-                  lation to reopen the Paycheck Protec-
                                            the American people to suffer.                          thing here.                                            tion Program to all those small busi-
                                               I ask my colleagues: When you vote                     Quite frankly, all of us, if it is not               nesses all over the country that are
                                            ‘‘yes’’ on this previous question, be on                done, are willing to come back here on                 clamoring to get them and that really
                                            notice. You are turning your back on                    a moment’s notice. We have all been                    need them.
                                            the American people that need the                       told by our majority leader to be pre-                   H.R. 8265 would provide targeted as-
                                            Paycheck Protection Program assist-                     pared to come back here in a nano-                     sistance to small businesses that truly
                                            ance today. And when you make that                      second if we can get a deal.                           need the Federal Government’s help.
                                            vote, you do it with your eyes wide                       But to leave schools behind, to leave                The legislation gives small businesses
                                            open. You do it on notice that you will                 hungry people behind, and to leave                     the opportunity to receive a second
                                            be turning your back on those individ-                  countless others who have been im-                     PPP if they can demonstrate a signifi-
                                            uals who cry out for help as we speak                   pacted by this virus behind, this is a                 cant revenue reduction of 25 percent.
                                            here on this floor today.                               big deal. It is a big deal. We need to                 Additionally, it adds more flexibility
                                               What we are talking about here is                    help our small businesses, and we have                 in how PPP dollars can be spent and
                                            that we need to do our job as Congress.                 to help others as well.                                still be eligible to have those loans for-
                                            Now, I have done everything in my                         Let’s hope rationality will prevail,                 given.
                                            power personally over the last 3                        common sense will prevail, and we can                    Many of our Nation’s small busi-
                                            months to work with our Senate col-                     come together similar to the way we                    nesses are still struggling signifi-
                                            leagues, to work with the White House,                  did on the continuing resolution yes-                  cantly. We need to work quickly to
                                            to work in a bipartisan fashion to do a                 terday.                                                provide a path forward for as many of
                                            bigger package than the Paycheck Pro-                     Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of                them as possible. Just as small busi-
                                            tection Program. But I will take what                   my time.                                               nesses meet and exceed the expectation
                                            I can get.                                                Mrs. LESKO. Boy, I have read some                    of their customers, let’s meet the needs
                                               There should be bipartisan support                   media reports where actually there                     of small businesses across the country.
                                            for this Paycheck Protection Program                    were members of the Democratic Party                   Let’s defeat the previous question and
                                            relief that we are talking about here                   in the U.S. House of Representatives in                restart the PPP, the Paycheck Protec-
                                            today.                                                  swing districts who pleaded with                       tion Program.
                                               I urge my colleagues to defeat the                                                                            Our economy is depending upon
                                                                                                    Speaker PELOSI to have a relief pack-
                                            previous question, vote ‘‘no,’’ and join                                                                       America’s small businesses, and Amer-
                                                                                                    age, and she is the one who said: Oh,
                                            us and trust us in standing with the                                                                           ica’s small businesses are depending
                                                                                                    no.
                                            American people.                                                                                               upon us here today. This vote really
                                                                                                      So I have to respectfully disagree
                                                                                                                                                           does matter. Usually, these things are
                                                             b 1200                                 with the gentleman’s analogy.
                                                                                                                                                           procedural, but this is an opportunity
                                              Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                      Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
                                                                                                                                                           not just to help those small businesses
                                            myself such time as I may consume.                      gentleman from Ohio (Mr. CHABOT).
                                                                                                                                                           but, most importantly, those people
                                              Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for                   Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank
                                                                                                                                                           who work for them and the families
                                            the gentleman from New York, and I                      the gentlewoman for yielding.
                                                                                                                                                           they support.
                                            appreciate his efforts at trying to find                  Mr. Speaker, it has now been over 46                   Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield
                                            common ground and trying to make                        days since the Paycheck Protection                     myself such time as I may consume.
                                            this place work better. But I do take                   Program, also known as PPP, was shut                     Mr. Speaker, let me remind all of my
                                            exception to a statement he made, that                  down. This means that small busi-                      colleagues this is a procedural vote,
                                            if you vote against this, then you are                  nesses have been prevented from apply-                 and this is a very common practice of
                                            turning your backs on small busi-                       ing for CARES Act funding through the                  my Republican colleagues on a regular
                                            nesses.                                                 PPP for over a month and a half now.                   basis to urge a defeat of the previous
                                              Well, I can make that same argument                   This also means that real people’s jobs                question so they can bring up whatever
                                            to all of my Republican friends who                     continue to be in jeopardy through no                  they want to bring up.
                                            voted against the HEROES Act. Not                       fault of their own.                                      The gentleman just said that we need
                                            only did they turn their backs on small                   This is just unacceptable, Mr. Speak-                to move quickly. My question is: Where
                                            businesses, they turned their backs on                  er. This is unacceptable because small                 have you been? Where have you been?
                                            schools and on people who right now                     businesses play an outsized role in our                  Four months ago—4 months ago—we
                                            are going hungry in this country. I can                 economy. They employ half of all                       passed a bill that would provide relief
                                            go right down the list of all the things.               workers in this country. Think about                   to our small businesses and to our
                                            They are turning their backs on cities                  that. Nearly one out of every two                      cash-strapped communities, many of
                                            and towns that are not just blue cities                 workers in this country are employed                   them forced to lay off first responders.
                                            and towns.                                              by small businesses. Not only do small                   Where have you been? Have you
                                              Mr. Speaker, this notion that we                      businesses employ millions of people,                  picked up the phone and called MITCH
                                            have to define everything in terms of                   but they are also this Nation’s job cre-               MCCONNELL? Have you lobbied any of
                                            red and blue, in terms of whether they                  ators. They create approximately two                   your Republican colleagues on the Sen-
                                            get assistance, I find very dis-                        out of every three new jobs in this                    ate side? Nothing.
                                            concerting. I never question a vote in                  country.                                                 We are about to recess. I think every-




ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
                                            favor of disaster relief if a red State                   Beyond statistics, they are the heart-               body knows that people back home are
                                            was hit by a hurricane or an earth-                     beat of Main Streets all across Amer-                  not happy with the obstructionism and
                                            quake or a fire. You try to do the right                ica. They are the corner store, the                    the Senate doing nothing. So let’s toss
                                            thing.                                                  neighborhood coffee shop, and the res-                 out a procedural vote, and we can use
                                              So spare us the indignation, because                  taurant in the town or village. They                   that as cover. Talk about being cyn-
                                            the deal is, we passed something here 4                 are the fabric of commerce in my home                  ical.



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                                            September 23, 2020                                CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                H4731
                                              We had an opportunity. We still have                  American businesses and jobs. I urge                     In my district in southwest Wash-
                                            an opportunity to come together and                     defeat of the previous question and im-                ington, almost 9,500 small businesses
                                            do something that will help all Ameri-                  mediate consideration of H.R. 8265.                    have accessed critical paycheck protec-
                                            cans. Instead, this is the best we can                    Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                   tion loans. Surgical Training Institute
                                            do, no promises to talk to the Senate,                  myself such time as I may consume.                     in Camas was able to keep its 22 em-
                                            no nothing.                                               Mr. Speaker, it is unclear to me what                ployees employed. The little Neptune
                                              It is just frustrating because people                 this President would or would not sign.                Theatre in Pacific County also took ad-
                                            are hurting, and it is not enough at the                I am looking at a headline from CBS                    vantage of this program. Altogether,
                                            last minute to come up with a proce-                    News: ‘‘Trump said coronavirus ‘affects                they have saved 92,000 jobs.
                                            dural vote that doesn’t mean anything                   virtually nobody,’ as U.S. surpasses                     That is 92,000 people—individuals,
                                            and all along having been opposed to                    200,000 deaths.’’                                      moms, dads, brothers, and sisters—who
                                            the HEROES Act.                                           Talk about clueless here. We passed                  are able to continue providing for their
                                              Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of                 the HEROES Act to help our schools                     families by putting food on the table
                                            my time.                                                and our healthcare workers. I would                    and keeping a roof over their kids’
                                              Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I can                        like to think that there is no objection               heads.
                                            guarantee that if we were in the major-                 to helping our schools and our                           This should not be a political foot-
                                            ity, we would be able to do a relief                    healthcare workers. We want to help                    ball. Across the Nation, the PPP has
                                            package that didn’t include liberal                     our first responders. They are the he-                 helped save millions of jobs, and small
                                            wish lists that could actually pass the                 roes here.                                             businesses have been able to keep their
                                            Senate and get signed into law.                           Why is that such a controversial
                                                                                                                                                           doors open and pay their employees.
                                              Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the                 thing to do?
                                                                                                      We wanted to pass the HEROES Act                       This is not a partisan issue. Let’s
                                            gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. KEVIN
                                                                                                    to provide more testing and tracing so                 stop talking about what was done in
                                            HERN).
                                              Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr.                       we can contain this virus. We are doing                the past. Let’s look forward and fix the
                                            Speaker, I urge defeat of the previous                  that while the President of the United                 problem. Join with us now and support
                                            question so that we can immediately                     States is hosting superspreader events                 extending this program.
                                            move to debate and pass H.R. 8265 and                   where people without masks are all                       To me, it is a shame that small busi-
                                            stop playing politics with American                     bunched together.                                      ness relief and relief for workers is a
                                            businesses and jobs.                                      We passed the HEROES Act to sup-                     partisan issue. It should not be treated
                                              We all can name at least one favorite                 port families who are struggling to pay                like a political football here in Con-
                                            establishment that is now an economic                   their rent, and we passed the HEROES                   gress. This is not a hostage we should
                                            casualty of coronavirus. Many small                     Act to help small businesses.                          hold on to to get anybody’s wish list
                                            businesses are hurting, and they need                     It is time for my Republican friends                 passed. We should pass this.
                                            our help.                                               to pick up the phone, call Senator                       The fact of the matter is that the
                                              We came together in an incredible bi-                 MCCONNELL, and ask him to sit down                     PPP expired on August 8, and we have
                                            partisan way this spring to create the                  and negotiate a deal that helps the en-                been in session many days between now
                                            Paycheck Protection Program, but the                    tirety of this country. I don’t see why                and then. With nearly $135 billion still
                                            fallout of these shutdowns is lasting                   that is so controversial, yet they won’t               in the program, Congress must act now
                                            longer than any of us dared believe,                    do it. They won’t do it. This is cynical               to free up these funds and get relief to
                                            and our communities are now in need                     politics, pure and simple.                             those who need it most.
                                            of swift action.                                          Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of                  Thousands of businesses across the
                                              That is exactly why we need a vote                    my time.                                               country are on the brink of collapse
                                            on H.R. 8265, which Democratic leader-                    Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, again, if                   and mass layoffs, and they are crying
                                            ship is currently preventing. There are                 the so-called HEROES Act would not                     out for help. If we do not act now to ex-
                                            over $135 billion still sitting in the                  have been chock-full of a bunch of lib-                tend the PPP, they could all go under.
                                            funds that are authorized and appro-                    eral wish lists but only concentrated                  We are talking about our neighborhood
                                            priated. This bill gives small busi-                    on things that Republicans and Demo-                   mom-and-pop shops that are the back-
                                            nesses with 25 percent revenue losses                   crats could have actually agreed to and                bone of our communities. We don’t
                                            and under 300 employees the oppor-                      would have passed the Senate and then                  have any more time to waste.
                                            tunity for a second cut at the PPP                      signed into law, we would have had re-                   Mr. Speaker, I urge defeat of the pre-
                                            loan. It sets aside $25 billion specifi-                lief to the American people by now.                    vious question so the House can ad-
                                            cally for mom-and-pop businesses with                   But I would assume that Chairman                       vance bipartisan relief to small busi-
                                            less than 10 employees, and it sim-                     MCGOVERN knows that there were cer-                    nesses.
                                            plifies the forgiveness process for loans               tain things in that bill that they knew
                                                                                                                                                                             b 1215
                                            under $150,000.                                         in advance that the Republicans
                                              Do it today. Do it today. We have                     weren’t going to go for, like releasing                  Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I un-
                                            plenty of time. To make it simple:                      prisoners into the communities.                        derstand why the gentlewoman doesn’t
                                            Passing this bill saves jobs, but doing                   Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the                want to talk about the past, because 4
                                            nothing sends those same people to the                  gentlewoman from Washington (Ms.                       months ago, she—as well as most Re-
                                            unemployment lines. The bills we are                    HERRERA BEUTLER).                                      publicans—voted ‘‘no’’ on the HEROES
                                            voting on today will never become law.                    Ms.     HERRERA       BEUTLER.     Mr.               Act. They voted to deny help to small
                                            Messaging bills can wait; extending                     Speaker, I rise today to urge Repub-                   businesses. They voted to deny help to
                                            this program cannot.                                    licans and Democrats to join us on this                our schools, to our healthcare workers,
                                              I know that many of my colleagues                     vote to extend the vital jobs-saving                   to our first responders.
                                            across the aisle are frustrated with the                program, the Paycheck Protection Pro-                    Mr. Speaker, I get it. She and others
                                            lack of action on this issue. They like                 gram, which will provide relief to small               are going to have to explain to their
                                            this bill and know it would help our                    businesses that desperately need it dur-               constituents why they did that, why
                                            communities. I know this because                        ing this public health crisis. It is not               they voted against the interests of
                                            many have told me personally. If half                   just the small businesses that will ben-               their own constituents. So I get it.
                                            of the Democrats who have privately                     efit. It is actually for the workers who                 But the bottom line is this: If my Re-
                                            told me they supported this legislation                 work in those businesses to keep their                 publican friends want to help, pick up
                                            would vote for it, it would pass over-                  jobs.                                                  the phone and call their friend, MITCH
                                            whelmingly and would be law quickly.                      With talk that the House Democrat                    MCCONNELL, and ask him to get serious




ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
                                            So I call on them today to stand up and                 leadership is looking to finish our leg-               about negotiating a compromise here
                                            do what is right. Their communities                     islative business and send us home                     so we can help small businesses and
                                            need them in this moment. America                       early, we should be doing everything                   also help our schools and our first re-
                                            needs us all in this moment.                            that we can in our power to provide                    sponders and our healthcare workers.
                                              Mr. Speaker, I ask the Democrat                       that relief to small businesses that des-                Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
                                            leaders to stop playing politics with                   perately need it.                                      my time.



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                                            H4732                                             CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                    September 23, 2020
                                              Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield                          AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1129                 his wounds. He then returned home to North-
                                            myself such time as I may consume.                        At the end of the resolution, add the fol-           eastern Ohio where he enrolled in Case West-
                                              Mr. Speaker, in closing, at a time                    lowing:                                                ern University Law School earning a degree
                                            when many Americans are struggling                        SEC. 7. Immediately upon adoption of this            in 1971. Following retirement from active
                                                                                                    resolution, the House shall proceed to the             duty, Major Nunziato continuously cham-
                                            with the economic fallout from the on-
                                                                                                    consideration in the House of the bill (H.R.           pioned the rights of veterans and the dis-
                                            going pandemic, it is unfortunate that                                                                         abled, while establishing a distinguished ca-
                                                                                                    8265) to amend the Small Business Act and
                                            the Democratic majority is not coming                   the CARES Act to establish a program for               reer in banking and finance.
                                            up with solutions that can actually be                  second draw loans and make other modifica-               (5) Due to Major Nunziato’s tireless efforts,
                                            signed into law. We need to negotiate                   tions to the paycheck protection program,              a Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient
                                            with the Republicans in the Senate and                  and for other purposes. All points of order            clinic was established in Youngstown. Addi-
                                            the President and the Democrats to-                     against consideration of the bill are waived.          tionally, his exhaustive work throughout
                                            gether. That is what America wants.                     The bill shall be considered as read. All              Mahoning County has brought curb cuts,
                                              Instead, in this rule, we are focusing                points of order against provisions in the bill         wheel chair ramps and other accessibility
                                            on a Green New Deal-type of energy                      are waived. The previous question shall be             measures to county public buildings, univer-
                                                                                                    considered as ordered on the bill and on any           sities and courthouses, affording more inde-
                                            package—one that didn’t work so well                                                                           pendence to local disabled population. These
                                                                                                    amendment thereto to final passage without
                                            in California, as can be attested to by                                                                        efforts were borne from witnessing fellow
                                                                                                    intervening motion except: (1) one hour of
                                            their rolling blackouts and other en-                   debate equally divided and controlled by the           disabled veterans denied justice and equal-
                                            ergy crises.                                            chair and ranking minority member of the               ity, after having fought and sacrificed for
                                              Mr. Speaker, I would call on us to de-                Committee on Small Business; and (2) one               those same principles.
                                            feat the previous question so that we                   motion to recommit.                                    SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
                                            can add the amendment to, at least,                       SEC. 8. Clause l(c) of rule XIX shall not                        FAIRS   COMMUNITY-BASED  OUT-
                                                                                                                                                                       PATIENT   CLINIC, YOUNGSTOWN,
                                            help the small businesses and their                     apply to the consideration of H.R. 8265.
                                                                                                                                                                       OHIO.
                                            workers. This is something we can do                      Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield
                                                                                                                                                             The Department of Veterans Affairs com-
                                            together.                                               back the balance of my time, and I                     munity-based outpatient clinic in Youngs-
                                              Mr. Speaker, I urge a ‘‘no’’ on the                   move the previous question on the res-                 town, Ohio, shall, after the date of the enact-
                                            previous question, ‘‘no’’ on the under-                 olution.                                               ment of this Act, be known and designated
                                            lying measure, and I yield back the                       The SPEAKER pro tempore. The                         as the ‘‘Carl Nunziato VA Clinic’’. Any ref-
                                            balance of my time.                                     question is on ordering the previous                   erence to such clinic in any law, regulation,
                                              Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                    question.                                              map, document, record, or other paper of the
                                            myself such time as I may consume.                        The question was taken; and the                      United States shall be considered to be a ref-
                                              Mr. Speaker, my friend just men-                      Speaker pro tempore announced that                     erence to the Carl Nunziato VA Clinic.
                                            tioned ‘‘the least’’ we can do. Well, this              the ayes appeared to have it.                            The bill was ordered to be engrossed
                                            is not the time to do the least of any-                   Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, on that I                   and read a third time, was read the
                                            thing. We are faced with a pandemic,                    demand the yeas and nays.                              third time, and passed, and a motion to
                                            haven’t seen the likes of this since 1918.                The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-                      reconsider was laid on the table.
                                            This is a big deal. It impacts every part               ant to section 3 of House Resolution                                     f
                                            of our economy. And they are talking                    965, the yeas and nays are ordered.
                                            about ‘‘the least.’’                                                                                           MARGARET         COCHRAN          CORBIN
                                                                                                      Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur-                  CAMPUS OF THE NEW YORK
                                              Well, you know what? We have to                       ther proceedings on this question are
                                            help our small businesses; we have to                                                                            HARBOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
                                                                                                    postponed.
                                            help our schools. We have to protect                                                                             Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask
                                                                                                                      f
                                            our first responders and our healthcare                                                                        unanimous consent that the Com-
                                            workers. This impacts everybody. And                          CARL NUNZIATO VA CLINIC                          mittee on Veterans’ Affairs be dis-
                                            the notion that they can’t muster the                     Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask                     charged from further consideration of
                                            political will to pick up the phone and                 unanimous consent that the Com-                        the bill (H.R. 1925) to designate the
                                            ask the Senate to negotiate with us is                  mittee on Veterans’ Affairs be dis-                    Manhattan Campus of the New York
                                            really, really sad, and it is a disservice              charged from further consideration of                  Harbor Health Care System of the De-
                                            to the people of this country.                          the bill (H.R. 5023) to name the Depart-               partment of Veterans Affairs as the
                                              Mr. Speaker, I get it. Like every-                    ment of Veterans Affairs community-                    ‘‘Margaret Cochran Corbin Campus of
                                            thing in the HEROES Act—well, that is                   based outpatient clinic in Youngstown,                 the New York Harbor Health Care Sys-
                                            what a negotiation is for, you go back                  Ohio, as the ‘‘Carl Nunziato VA Clin-                  tem’’, and ask for its immediate con-
                                            and forth, and you trade things off. I                  ic’’, and ask for its immediate consid-                sideration in the House.
                                            would argue everything in the HE-                       eration in the House.                                    The Clerk read the title of the bill.
                                            ROES Act is necessary and important.                      The Clerk read the title of the bill.                  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
                                              Mr. Speaker, I would urge my col-                       The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.                         objection to the request of the gen-
                                            leagues to support the rule. It includes                BROWNLEY of California.) Is there ob-                  tleman from California?
                                            an important energy bill that will help                 jection to the request of the gentleman                  There was no objection.
                                            us deal with the climate crisis, which                  from California?                                         The text of the bill is as follows:
                                            is real—no matter what the President                      There was no objection.                                                  H.R. 1925
                                            says, we have a climate crisis—and                        The text of the bill is as follows:                    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
                                            some human rights legislation as well,                                      H.R. 5023                          resentatives of the United States of America in
                                            to stand up for the human rights of the                                                                        Congress assembled,
                                                                                                      Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
                                            Uyghurs, and make sure that no U.S.                     resentatives of the United States of America in        SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF MANHATTAN CAM-
                                            or international businesses are uti-                    Congress assembled,
                                                                                                                                                                      PUS OF THE NEW YORK HARBOR
                                                                                                                                                                      HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OF THE DE-
                                            lizing forced labor by the Chinese Gov-                 SECTION 1. FINDINGS.                                              PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,
                                            ernment against the Uyghurs.                              Congress makes the following findings:                          NEW YORK.
                                              Mr. Speaker, again, we have a job to                    (1) Carl Nunziato graduated from Youngs-               (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the fol-
                                            do here, and that is to provide relief                  town State University ROTC as the Distin-              lowing findings:
                                            during this pandemic. And it really is                  guished Military Graduate in 1961 and com-               (1) Margaret Cochran was born in Franklin
                                            frustrating that my Republican friends                  missioned into the U.S. Army.                          County, Pennsylvania, on November 12, 1751,
                                            have done nothing—done nothing—to                         (2) While serving, Major (ret.) Nunziato             and married John Corbin in 1772.
                                            help get us to a solution.                              was stationed in Thailand during the Lao-                (2) Three years after the marriage, when
                                              Mr. Speaker, I would urge all my col-                 tian Crisis. Major Nunziato later served two           John Corbin left to fight in the Revolu-




ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
                                                                                                    voluntary tours of combat duty in Vietnam.             tionary War as an artilleryman, Margaret
                                            leagues to join with us in support of
                                                                                                      (3) On his second tour, then-Captain                 Corbin accompanied him to war to support
                                            the rule and the underlying measure.                    Nunziato was severely injured, losing both             the Revolutionary Army.
                                            Please vote ‘‘yes’’ on the previous ques-               legs from a mortar attack while protecting a             (3) Margaret Corbin supported the Revolu-
                                            tion.                                                   small Vietnamese village in Soui Da.                   tionary Army by caring for injured and sick
                                              The material previously referred to                     (4) Major Nunziato spent two years at Wal-           soldiers as well as by cooking and cleaning.
                                            by Mrs. LESKO is as follows:                            ter Reed Military Hospital recovering from             During battle, she also helped her husband




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