House Session of November 16, 2020, Page H5750 — Congressional Record
Summary
This is page H5750 of the Congressional Record, House, November 16, 2020, continuing onto H5751, with interleaved columns. It opens with a recorded vote list and a list of members recorded pursuant to House Resolution 965. Mr. Burchett, in a one-minute speech under Recognizing the Retirement of Larsen Jay, says community organizations in east Tennessee stepped up during the coronavirus pandemic and highlights Random Acts of Flowers, which recently marked a milestone bouquet delivery. Mr. Keller speaks under Honoring Korean War Veterans, naming veterans from his district. Under Coronavirus' Impact on Minority Communities, Ms. Lee of California takes a one-hour special order, thanks Chairwoman Bass and says a bill supported by the Tri-Caucus would ensure testing and tracing efforts engage communities of color. The views are attributed to the members.
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
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“House Session of November 16, 2020, Page H5750 — Congressional Record.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-11-16-crec-2020-11-16-pt1-pgh5750-3-e23d239914/
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H5750 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 16, 2020
Joyce (PA) Mucarsel-Powell Sherman MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE minute and to revise and extend his re-
Kaptur Mullin Sherrill RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS
Katko Murphy (FL) Sires
marks.)
Keating Murphy (NC) Slotkin Barragán (Beyer) Hastings Napolitano Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, during
Blumenauer (Wasserman (Correa)
Keller Nadler Smith (MO) the coronavirus pandemic, community
Kelly (IL) Napolitano Smith (NE) (Beyer) Schultz) Payne
Bonamici (Clark Higgins (NY) (Wasserman organizations in east Tennessee
Kelly (MS) Neal Smith (NJ)
Kelly (PA) Neguse Smucker (MA)) (Sánchez) Schultz) stepped up to help our neighbors in
Kennedy Newhouse Soto Boyle, Brendan Jayapal (Raskin) Peterson need. I rise today to highlight the ef-
Khanna Norcross Spanberger F. (Jeffries) Johnson (TX) (McCollum)
Brownley (CA) Pingree (Kuster
forts of Random Acts of Flowers, which
Kildee Norman Spano (Jeffries)
Kilmer Nunes Speier (Clark (MA)) Keating (Kuster (NH)) recently delivered its 500,000th bou-
Kim O’Halleran Stanton Bustos (Kuster (NH)) Pocan (Raskin) quet; and to recognize the retirement
Kind Ocasio-Cortez Stauber (NH)) Khanna (Gomez) Porter (Wexton) of its founder, my good friend, Larsen
King (NY) Omar Stefanik Carson (IN) Kind (Beyer) Price (NC)
(Cleaver) (Butterfield) Jay.
Kinzinger Palazzo Steil Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick Pallone Steube Castro (TX) (Stanton) Rose (NY) In 2007, Larsen Jay was in the hos-
Krishnamoorthi Palmer Stevens (Garcia (TX)) (Golden) pital recovering from an accident, and
Langevin
Kuster (NH) Panetta Stewart Clay (Cleaver) Roybal-Allard
Cohen (Beyer)
(Courtney)
(Bass)
he noticed many patients weren’t re-
Kustoff (TN) Pappas Stivers Lawrence
LaHood Pascrell Suozzi Costa (Cooper) Ruiz (Dingell) ceiving visitors or flowers. He reflected
(Kildee)
LaMalfa Payne Swalwell (CA) DeGette (Blunt
Lawson (FL)
Rush on the amount of support he received
Lamb Pence Takano Rochester) (Underwood) and wanted others to have that encour-
DeSaulnier (Demings)
Langevin Perlmutter Taylor Ryan (Kildee)
(Matsui) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Schrier (Kilmer) agement, too. Larsen founded Random
Larsen (WA) Perry Thompson (CA) Lipinski (Cooper)
Larson (CT) Peters Thompson (MS) Doggett (Raskin) Serrano Acts of Flowers in 2008 to deliver
Escobar (Garcia Lofgren (Jeffries) (Jeffries)
Latta Peterson Thompson (PA)
Lowenthal
repurposed flowers to local hospital pa-
Lawrence Phillips Tiffany (TX)) Speier (Scanlon)
Evans (Brown (Beyer) Takano (Chu,
tients and seniors in nursing homes.
Lawson (FL) Pingree Timmons
Lee (CA) Pocan Tipton (MD)) Lowey Tonko) Judy) The nonprofit recycles arrangements
Frankel (Clark Lynch Titus (Connolly) donated from events like weddings and
Lee (NV) Porter Titus
(MA)) (McGovern) Vargas (Correa)
Levin (CA) Posey Tlaib
McEachin
makes them into beautiful floral bou-
Levin (MI) Pressley Tonko Garamendi Watson Coleman
(Sherman) (Wexton) (Pallone) quets. Since opening its doors in Knox-
Lieu, Ted Price (NC) Torres (CA)
Lipinski Quigley Torres Small Gonzalez (TX) Meng (Kuster Welch ville, the nonprofit has grown to serve
Loebsack Raskin (NM) (Gomez) (NH)) (McGovern) folks in Indianapolis and Tampa Bay,
Lofgren Reed Trahan Grijalva (Garcı́a Moore (Beyer) Wilson (FL)
(IL)) Nadler (Jeffries) (Hayes)
Florida.
Long Reschenthaler Trone
Loudermilk Rice (NY) Turner
Random Acts of Flowers has safely
f
Lowenthal Rice (SC) Underwood resumed operations after a pause dur-
Lowey Riggleman Upton HONORING KOREAN WAR ing the coronavirus pandemic. Isola-
Lucas Rodgers (WA) Van Drew tion continues to be a serious problem
Luján Roe, David P. Vargas
VETERANS
Luria Rogers (AL) Veasey (Mr. KELLER asked and was given for seniors and those in poor health
Lynch Rose (NY) Vela
permission to address the House for 1 during this crisis, but outstanding or-
Malinowski Rose, John W. Velázquez ganizations like Random Acts of Flow-
Maloney, Rouda Visclosky minute.)
Carolyn B. Rouzer Wagner Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, last week ers are here to let our neighbors know
Maloney, Sean Roy Walden I had the honor of presenting Korean they are loved and supported.
Marshall Roybal-Allard Walker
Ambassador of Peace Medals to Korean Mr. Speaker, after reaching the mile-
Mast Ruiz Walorski stone of delivering half a million bou-
Matsui Ruppersberger Wasserman war veterans and their families in
McAdams Rush Schultz Towanda, Pennsylvania. The Korean quets, Larsen Jay announced his re-
McBath Rutherford Waters
Ambassador of Peace Medal is an honor tirement from Random Acts of Flow-
McCarthy Ryan Watkins ers. He has long been active in commu-
McCaul Sánchez Watson Coleman from the Embassy of the Republic of
McClintock Sarbanes Weber (TX) Korea for American veterans who nity service, currently serving as
McCollum Scalise Webster (FL) served in the Korean war. chairman of the Knox County Commis-
McEachin Scanlon Welch
One of the greatest parts of rep- sion.
McGovern Schakowsky Wenstrup I know he will continue to find ways
McKinley Schiff Westerman resenting Pennsylvania’s 12th Congres-
McNerney Schneider Wexton sional District is hearing our veterans’ to make an impact in our community.
Meeks Schrader Wild
stories of service and sacrifice for our I thank him for his efforts to make
Meng Schrier Williams Random Acts of Flowers a successful
Meuser Schweikert Wilson (FL) Nation. As the names of these heroes
Mfume Scott (VA) Wilson (SC) are read on the House floor, it is my and meaningful organization in east
Miller Scott, Austin Wittman hope that their legacies echo through Tennessee and I congratulate the non-
Moolenaar Scott, David Womack
these Halls and across America for gen- profit on its 500,000th delivery.
Mooney (WV) Sensenbrenner Woodall
Moore Serrano Yarmuth erations to come: f
Morelle Sewell (AL) Yoho Glen Ellis, United States Navy;
Moulton Shalala Zeldin
Silas Mills, United States Army; b 2015
NOT VOTING—35 Charles Miller, United States Army;
Kent Edsell, United States Marine CORONAVIRUS’ IMPACT ON
Abraham Holding Roby MINORITY COMMUNITIES
Aderholt Huizenga Rogers (KY) Corps;
Amodei King (IA) Rooney (FL) Nicholas Williams, United States The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.
Bishop (NC) Lamborn Shimkus CASTEN of Illinois). Under the Speak-
Blunt Rochester Lesko
Navy;
Simpson
Brooks (IN) Luetkemeyer Edward Moritz, United States Army; er’s announced policy of January 3,
Smith (WA)
Buchanan Marchant Thornberry Earl Mayo, United States Army; 2019, the gentlewoman from California
Calvert Massie Walberg Carlton Repsher, Jr., United States (Ms. LEE) is recognized for 60 minutes
Cleaver McHenry
Collins (GA) Mitchell
Waltz Army; and as the designee of the majority leader.
Wright
Gallego Olson Keith Haight, Sr., United States Ma- GENERAL LEAVE
Gianforte Young
Richmond rine Corps. Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I
It is incumbent upon us to honor ask unanimous consent that all Mem-
b 2007 these individuals and reflect on their bers may have 5 legislative days in
heroism in the name of liberty and our which to revise and extend their re-
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So (two-thirds being in the affirma- American way of life. marks and include extraneous material
tive) the rules were suspended and the
f on the subject of our Special Order to-
bill was passed.
night.
The result of the vote was announced RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
as above recorded. OF LARSEN JAY objection to the request of the gentle-
A motion to reconsider was laid on (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given woman from California?
the table. permission to address the House for 1 There was no objection.
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November 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5751
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, tion to ensure that any effort to fight and Latino people are being hospital-
first, I thank the chair of our Congres- the pandemic engages local commu- ized and dying at higher rates than
sional Black Caucus. I thank Chair- nities as partners in crushing the virus. White people, they are also the ones
woman BASS, who has helped us orga- This bill, supported by our Tri-Cau- most likely to be working jobs that put
nize this tonight, for her leadership of cus colleagues, ensures that any test- them more at risk.
the Congressional Black Caucus. ing and tracing efforts engage commu- They have always been essential
I join with my colleagues to speak on nities of color where they live with workers. Now more than ever, this is
the impact of COVID–19, the pandemic trusted messengers who speak their sadly more true. They are meatpacking
which has had an especially disparate language and know their unique chal- workers, farmworkers, sanitation
impact on communities of color. lenges. workers, custodians, restaurant work-
First, again, let me thank Chair- Speaker PELOSI and Chairman PAL- ers, grocery clerks, postal workers, po-
woman BASS, Chairwoman CHU, and LONE worked with us to add language lice officers, firefighters, longshore-
Congressman CASTRO of the Tri-Cau- to Chairman PALLONE’s $75 billion men. These aren’t jobs you can do from
cus, as well as Representatives KELLY, CONTACT plan. This is included in the home. If you don’t show up, you just
HAALAND, and DAVIDS, for working to- revised version of the Heroes Act don’t get paid.
gether to ensure that we address the passed October 1, which will further Black and Latino families have had
disproportionate effects of the COVID– strengthen efforts to engage commu- to go into work even when it meant
19 pandemic on communities of color— nities of color. they may get sick. And many of them
also, Congresswoman SYLVIA GARCIA. The strengthened CONTACT plan have gotten sick. Even worse, many in-
It is really very imperative that our mandates that community-based orga- fected a loved one with the virus.
strategy to crush COVID intentionally nizations and nonprofits in medically America depends on these workers to
includes provisions to support the spe- underserved communities play an im- put food on our tables and keep us safe.
cific needs of our communities. portant role to reach those commu- Because our leaders didn’t take any
I also want to take a moment to nities that public health agencies have steps to prepare us for this pandemic,
thank Speaker PELOSI and Chairman difficulty engaging. It ensures the peo- we can’t even offer the protective gear
PALLONE for negotiating some of the ple hired to conduct the outreach have needed to keep essential frontline
provisions of our COVID Community experience and relationships with peo- workers safe.
Care Act, that is H.R. 8192, in our He- ple living in the communities that they So while we are asking these commu-
roes bill, which further strengthens ef- serve. nities to go to work every day without
forts to engage medically underserved Turning a blind eye to the American the proper protections, we also know
communities in the latest version, people’s desperate need for culturally that Latino and Black Americans are
again, of the Heroes bill. rooted contact tracing and testing will more likely to have health conditions,
I thank Chairman SCOTT and, of result in increased deaths and illnesses like asthma and diabetes, that make
course, our subcommittee chair, ROSA that we could have prevented. the virus even more dangerous.
DELAURO, for their support, their We must build a relief package that Nationwide, Latinos make up 55 per-
input, and their assistance in getting addresses the needs of millions, espe- cent of the COVID cases and 24 percent
this bill, the COVID Community Care cially Black and Brown people, who are of the overall deaths. Yet, we are only
Act, really very targeted, very focused, suffering disproportionately from this 18.5 percent of the total U.S. popu-
and something that all of us could sup- virus. lation. In Texas, Latinos are about 40
port as a Tri-Caucus, also—and, of Mr. Speaker, we thank our Speaker percent of the population, but we are
course, Speaker PELOSI, again, for her for her persistence, leadership, and nearly 55 percent of the deaths—more
steadfast understanding and support fighting spirit to ensure that law- than half, Mr. Speaker. In Houston,
for this issue. makers acknowledge and respond to sadly, Latinos account for 54 percent of
Now, millions of people have suffered the racial and ethnic disparities that the deaths caused by this virus—again,
incomprehensible grief and hardship have plagued our Nation for centuries. more than half.
due to the COVID pandemic. Just in Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- My district, which is nearly 80 per-
the United States, we now have over woman from Texas (Ms. GARCIA), who cent Latino, was one of the hardest hit
10.3 million cases of COVID–19 and over played an important role in making areas in the Houston region. But de-
240,000 deaths. That is mind-boggling. sure that the Latinx community and spite these numbers, many of my con-
We are here today to insist that any all the Hispanic issues, as it relates to stituents are still scared of getting
coronavirus response addresses the COVID, were included as a part of this tested or even seeing the doctor. Many
needs of people of color. This is because bill. don’t have health insurance. Others
the impacts of the pandemic and the Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I don’t trust our healthcare system.
economic fallout have had a dispropor- thank Representative LEE and the cau- Many more are undocumented and fear
tionate impact on African Americans, cuses involved for putting this Special deportation.
Latinx, Indigenous, Asian Pacific Is- Order together. Mr. Speaker, now, I am optimistic
lander, and immigrant communities. Today in America, there is not one about the future, given some of the
We have witnessed the horrific result State that has the pandemic under con- news about vaccine trials. However, we
of how longstanding inequities stem- trol. My own State of Texas became must make sure, once we have a safe
ming from structural racism has exac- the first State to surpass 1 million and effective vaccine, that it is distrib-
erbated COVID’s threats to people of cases. uted fairly and equitably and that no
color. Let me repeat that: 1 million cases. one is left behind.
Black people are dying at more than These cases represent many of our We do not need to repeat the dis-
twice the rate of White people in the neighbors, our friends, and our own parate mistakes of the past. As elected
United States. Indigenous and Latinx family. I personally have self-quar- officials, we must work together to
people are both 50 percent more likely antined once and have already been keep all of our constituents safe.
to die from COVID than White Ameri- tested four times for different times I Right now, with the virus rapidly
cans. Between January and July, the have been exposed to someone with the spreading, we are losing precious time
AAPI death rate rose 35 percent com- virus. if we don’t act. People will get sick,
pared to an increase of 9 percent for Thank God all tests have come back and even more people will die, if we
White Americans. positive—I am sorry, negative. I meant wait any longer.
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The Federal Government must ad- to say, ‘‘not come back positive.’’ Lit- Legislation like the Heroes Act pro-
dress the vicious cycle of disparities tle misspeaking there. vides protections that working families
that drive these unequal impacts on Mr. Speaker, this pandemic is affect- and frontline workers need now. It
communities of color, especially during ing everyone, but it is not affecting ev- would provide rent relief for families
the COVID–19 crisis. That is why we in- eryone in the same way. Black and who are afraid of losing their homes. It
troduced, together, H.R. 8192, the Latino communities are bearing the would help our schools keep kids
COVID Community Care Act, legisla- weight of this pandemic. While Black healthy and safe for in-person learning.
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H5752 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 16, 2020
It would give local and State govern- testing strategy seriously—is focused to save people’s lives and those in com-
ments much-needed relief to retain on those communities and that they munities of color, which are affected
frontline workers on payroll. It would get the resources they need going for- the most.
give hardworking families another ward. Ms. LEE of California. Thank you,
stimulus check. It would also reinstate My colleague from California, Con- Chairwoman DELAURO, for your state-
the supplemental weekly $600 in unem- gresswoman LEE, has been indefati- ment and for reminding us that we
ployment benefits, a lifeline that gable in questioning the issue of the have to address the health and eco-
helped many families stay afloat. data that we have on communities of nomic impacts at the same time. One
Lastly, we need to earn the trust of color, and she did this long before we does not supersede the other. Thank
these communities and let them know probably could spell ‘‘coronavirus.’’ To you for helping us move our COVID
that, yes, they are a part of us. People be frank, it is frustrating that we even Community Care Act forward with
of color know and must know that we had to put this requirement into law. your leadership on the subcommittee.
are working for them. We cannot save The CDC is complying with the re- Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle-
the economy if we don’t save people porting, but we keep a vigilant eye on woman from California (Ms. JUDY CHU),
first. that information. We have more work the chair of the Congressional Asian
Saving many lives must be our top to do to ensure that we have complete Pacific American Caucus, someone who
priority. It will take all of us to crush data. contributed to crafting our COVID
this virus, but I know that we will get Through November 12, 47 percent of Community Care Act but also whom I
together to make sure that we are all cases had unknown race and ethnicity have had the pleasure to serve with as
working together to get past this pan- in the CDC’s surveillance system. That co-chair of the Healthcare Task Force
demic, and if we do, it will be for all of is just not good enough. This moment for CAPAC, a true leader on so many
us. Todos juntos. demands the boldest possible efforts to issues.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentle- secure affordable healthcare, to ad- Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr.
woman for this Special Order. dress the deep racial disparities ex- Speaker, as chair of the Congressional
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I posed by this virus, to help families. Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am
thank Congresswoman GARCIA very I am proud to chair this sub- here to say that we have reached an-
much for her input in helping to write committee, which has been central to other terrible milestone. Just yester-
the COVID Community Care Act. our response to this pandemic and the day, the number of COVID–19 cases in
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- disparities that it has exposed. To- our country surpassed 11 million. One
woman from Connecticut (Ms. gether, my colleagues on the com- million of those cases came in just the
DELAURO), my good friend, the chair of mittee and on this subcommittee, we last week alone.
the Subcommittee on Labor, Health have appropriated $280 billion in emer- The coronavirus is spreading at a
and Human Services, Education, and gency funding for education, for rapid rate, and while hospitals and
Related Agencies of the House Appro- health, for working people throughout healthcare providers in all 50 States
priations Committee. the pandemic. Through the good offices are overwhelmed, there is still no plan
Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank of my colleagues, Congresswoman LEE to contain it. The failure to contain
my colleague for yielding to me this and Congresswoman BASS, we inserted the coronavirus has let it spread within
evening and being here with other col- language that would focus on the issue every State and community.
leagues because we know, and we have of disparities and how we address them. Almost one-third of Americans know
said over and over again, that we face We could add $400 million in the latest someone who has died from COVID–19,
public health and economic crises un- iteration of The Heroes Act. and yet we are still hearing false
like any that our country has seen in a claims, including from some of my col-
generation. b 2030
leagues on the other side of this Cham-
More than 245,000 Americans have Yet the United States Senate has re- ber, that masks don’t work and that
died of COVID–19. Tens of millions are fused to do anything to help struggling gathering in large groups indoors is
out of work. And we know how commu- Americans and get us to a place where safe.
nities of color have suffered acutely we can test everyone, that we can do The message that we can or should
and disproportionately. contact tracing, and that we can pro- live with this virus is a denial of the
While we have known about some of vide treatment. hundreds of thousands of Americans
these issues in the past, about the in- We know more is needed. So, as I who are sick or who have died from
equities in our healthcare system, in mentioned, the House has passed two this virus already, and it is con-
our economy, this virus has exposed additional relief packages, and we demning thousands more to die as well.
and shone a light on the depths of the looked at boosting SNAP benefits by 15 But not everyone is impacted equal-
injustices and inequities that exist for percent; expanding access to paid leave ly. While all of us are susceptible to
communities of color. While we need to and paid sick days; and expanding and the virus, communities of color have
fight the virus, we need to fight the improving the child tax credit for one- been disproportionately impacted by
virus of injustice. third of our children, which includes the Trump administration’s inaction.
In my home State of Connecticut, as half of Black and Hispanic children, Now that we know more about this
of last Thursday, Black people ac- who are currently left behind because virus, we can see who is paying more
counted for more than 14.5 percent of their families earn too little. If we do for it.
Connecticut’s COVID-related deaths not address the virus, we will not be Native Hawaiians and Pacific Island-
when they are just 12 percent of the able to do anything about turning our ers have seen cases surge in their com-
population. economy around. munities and continue to face some of
Mr. Speaker, 18 percent of COVID Let me say a thank-you to Congress- the highest COVID–19 infection and
cases are Hispanic, outpacing the 17 woman BARBARA LEE, who has been a mortality rates out of any of the racial
percent they make up of our State’s tireless champion for communities of groups in several States, including in
population. color, for organizing this Special Order. my own State of California.
Yet, this data is not perfect, which is She and I, along with others, are com- And new data shows that Asian
why I have been so proud to work with mitted to bringing to bear the full Americans are also dying from COVID–
my friend and my colleague, Congress- weight of the Federal Government for 19 at a disproportionate rate, with
woman BARBARA LEE, to require the the communities of color, not only in deaths in the Asian-American commu-
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Health and Human Services agency and my district, but around the country, nity nationwide increasing by 35 per-
the Centers for Disease Control and because together we can and we must cent this year compared with the aver-
Prevention to provide Congress with do better. People’s lives are depending age over the last 5 years. This is com-
the data on which communities are on it. pared to a 9 percent increase in deaths
bearing the worst impacts so that we We know what we need to do to save for White Americans.
can make sure that testing—once we lives. It is incomprehensible that we For other communities of color,
have an administration that takes can’t get to a protocol which allows us there are equally high rates: for
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November 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5753
Blacks, a 31 percent increase compared To date, nearly 250,000 Americans have Despite 70 years passing and amazing
to 5 years ago; 44 percent for Hispanics; lost their lives to COVID–19 and more technological and societal advance-
and a 22 percent increase for Native than 10 million have been infected. And ment since he spoke these words, injus-
Americans. these numbers are still rising. tice in healthcare, of all of the forms of
Downplaying this virus is also Shocking, but not surprisingly, a dis- inequality, still remains the most
downplaying the reality of healthcare proportionate number, as you have shocking and inhumane.
inequality and minority health dispari- heard, of those who fought and those Right now, we are seeing parallel
ties in this country. That is why we who fought and lost battles with COVID–19 pandemics: one in wealthier,
crafted an urgently needed COVID–19 COVID–19 have been people of color. whiter communities, and a much
response bill: to make us sure we can Once again, another public health cri- harsher one in vulnerable communities
combat the disproportionate effects of sis has taken an oversized toll on Black of color.
coronavirus on communities of color. Americans, Latinx Americans, Asian But this is America. There shouldn’t
That is precisely what the House did and Pacific Americans, and Native be a two-tiered system, because when
in May, with the passage of The Heroes Americans. it comes to public health, we are all in
Act, and again in October, with the up- COVID–19 is simply the latest in a this together.
dated Heroes Act, which ensured that long list of diseases, including cancer, The only solution is to root out
we collect disaggregated race and eth- addiction, HIV/AIDS, maternal mor- health disparities at their source. We
nicity data related to COVID–19 and tality, diabetes, cardiovascular condi- must end systemic racism and a lack of
that we restore Medicaid coverage for tions, and on and on and on, with a dis- opportunities for low-income and mi-
citizens of the Freely Associated proportionate impact on communities nority communities.
States of the Pacific islands and in- of color. To address these issues in healthcare,
clude provisions like Congressmember Why does this continue to be the case my colleague and mentor, Congress-
BARBARA LEE’s COVID–19 Community in America, the greatest, richest, most woman BARBARA LEE, has introduced
Care Act. powerful country in the history of our the COVID Community Care Act, H.R.
It is so important because it would world? 8192. This legislation, which I am proud
provide targeted COVID–19 testing, The answer is simple: health dispari- to support and my office helped de-
treatment, and contact tracing for ties. velop, will provide grants for commu-
communities of color that have been In America, despite all of our tech- nity-based organizations and non-
devastated by the pandemic. What is so nology and pledges to equity, the ZIP profits to conduct testing, tracing, and
crucial is that it would include cul- Code in which you are born is nearly outreach activities in communities.
turally and linguistically competent inescapable as a determinant of your Given the number and rates of
outreach for contact tracing that is so life, your health, and, yes, even your COVID–19, we know that these re-
critical to the AAPI community. death. sources are most urgently needed in
Communities of color cannot wait In Chicago, part of my district, life communities of color. I believe this
any longer. Americans cannot wait any expectancy varies up to 30 years by legislation is central to making health
longer. We need the outgoing President neighborhood. The pattern is the same equity a cornerstone of our Nation’s
and Republicans in Congress to stop across most American communities. immediate pandemic response. I am
playing games with American lives. We But what are the social determinants proud to be an original cosponsor of
can’t ignore the fact that Americans of health, or, as I like to say, the social this important and immediate-acting
are dying and the economy is strug- determinants of life? legislation.
gling because of a refusal to take this In short, they are all of the nonmed- Additionally, I have introduced the
virus seriously. It is time to face facts ical factors that impact your health, Ending Health Disparities During
and work together to pass a the things you don’t necessarily see a COVID–19 Act, H.R. 8200, which pro-
coronavirus relief package now. doctor for, such as not having ample vides a sweeping approach to address-
Ms. LEE of California. Thank you fresh food and vegetables in your diet ing the widening health disparities
very much, Chairwoman CHU, and because there aren’t any grocery stores from COVID–19. It tackles the imme-
thank you for being with us tonight, in your community; missing routine diate-term needs of testing, tracing,
but also for your consistently sounding preventive care, such as cancer and public awareness from COVID–19.
the alarm to all of us about the neces- screenings, because seeing the doctor But just as crucially, the bill makes
sity for culturally and linguistically means getting up at 4 a.m., taking two long-term investments to build a
appropriate services, testing, contact buses, and missing a day of work or stronger system to reduce and elimi-
tracing, as well as the importance of school. nate health inequities in the future via
disaggregating the data based on race It means worrying about manganese investments in the social determinants
and ethnicity. Thank you for input or lead poisoning in the air you of health, technology, research, work-
into helping to write this bill. breathe, the water you drink, or the force diversity, and community health
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- playground where your child plays. centers and workers.
woman from Illinois (Ms. KELLY), who It means dealing with stress, anxiety, Lastly, H.R. 8200 makes our govern-
is the chair of the Congressional Black and depression from housing insta- ment accountable for progress on
Caucus’ Health Braintrust, someone bility on top of a recession and pan- health equity by creating a Federal
who is a member of the House Energy demic. task force with oversight over health
and Commerce Committee and also a All of these factors decide our lives, disparities during COVID–19 and be-
member of the Oversight and Reform our health, and, tragically, again, our yond and protects the Office of Minor-
Subcommittee on National Security death. So many of these factors are out ity Health. That is a long list to do,
and Subcommittee on Civil Rights and of one’s individual control, including but it is all desperately needed.
Civil Liberties. environmental factors, the location of I truly feel that this long-term ap-
Congresswoman ROBIN KELLY has medical facilities, discriminatory hous- proach, combined with strict account-
helped put together this bill and helped ing policy, and discrimination and so ability for health disparities, is exactly
make sure that we put provisions in for forth. what this moment calls for. For the
data collection and all of the informa- We all know these factors have been first time, many Americans are waking
tion that we know we need to be able with us for a long time. They have been up to the reality faced by communities
to target these resources. undermining our health and the health of color, a reality that the Tri-Caucus
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So thank you, Congresswoman ROBIN of generations of Americans for cen- and our fellow Members of Congress,
KELLY, for being here tonight and for turies. such as champions like Representative
helping us. As we work on these issues, I am con- BARBARA LEE, are working to address.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I tinuously reminded of a quote from Dr. We need to harness this rightful out-
rise today to challenge this Congress to King: ‘‘Of all of the forms of inequality, rage and catalyze it into action. We
act to end the shocking health dispari- injustice in healthcare is the most need to make this the last pandemic to
ties that COVID–19 has put on display. shocking and inhumane.’’ have a disproportionate impact on any
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H5754 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 16, 2020
American community, because the fact who won neither the absolute majority this coming Saturday. The question in
is Americans deserve a public health popular vote nor the necessary elec- disparities is very, very real. The
system that works for all Americans. toral votes, but it was resolved by the pandemics dealing with racial dispari-
We deserve to live in one America, not infamous Hayes-Tilden Compromise. ties indicates that there are 74 Black
an unequal America with worse health The third instance involved the 2000 or African-American persons out of
outcomes for Black and Brown people. election, which sought the Supreme 100,000 impacted by COVID; Alaska Na-
We all deserve healthcare because Court effectively deciding the Presi- tive and American Indian, 40; Hispanic
healthcare is a human right, yet it is dency. But in each of those moments or Latino, 40; Asian, 31; White, 30; Na-
not easily won. It must be fought for. there was an end. In each of those mo- tive Hawaiian, 29; others, 29.
As Frederick Douglass taught us: ments there was a transfer of power. We can see that there are large num-
‘‘Power concedes nothing without a de- We find ourselves now in a quandary. bers of African Americans, Hispanic,
mand. It never did and it never will.’’ Believe it or not, there are people who and American Indian. We just heard
The only path forward is for us to de- are on ventilators. There are people in that the Navajo community will be
mand it. El Paso and Dallas who are in hos- shutting down for a period of time.
b 2045 pitals, who are being negatively im- That is how devastating COVID–19 is.
pacted by the idea of the lack of peace- That is how much the disparities in
We demand action to end health dis- ful engagement, specifically because healthcare are evident.
parities once and for all. We must do the President-elect and Vice President- Let me share with you this question
this by passing the COVID Community elect definitively need to be able to se- of disparities and underlying condi-
Care Act, H.R. 8192; and Ending Health cure information to have their COVID– tions. Those are numbers of the num-
Disparities during the COVID–19 Act, 19 task force speak with the White ber of deaths. So the number of deaths
H.R. 8200. House task force to understand pro- is much higher among African Ameri-
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I spectively how vaccines will be trans- cans and Hispanics.
thank Congresswoman KELLY for lay- ferred or implemented throughout the Why?
ing out actually what the social deter- Nation. Thirty percent more likely to die of
minants of healthcare are. Oftentimes, So as people are languishing on hos- CVD—that is cardiovascular disease—
we see that as separate from pital beds, as loved ones are saying that is Black Americans. Latin Ameri-
healthcare, but you laid it out per- goodbye over telephones, we have this cans, 40 percent more likely to die from
fectly, so thank you for educating us inability to transfer power. Our history stroke. And then it goes on. Two times
tonight. has shown the transfer of power in the as likely to die as an infant, two times
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- Nation. It was designed as a benefit. It more likely to die of asthma, three
woman from Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE), can be harmed when the transition is times more likely to develop ESRD,
who is a member of the Judiciary Com- not smooth and transparent, which can two times more likely to die from pros-
mittee, but also is a member of the be invariably attributed to one or more tate cancer, two times on cervical can-
Congressional Black Caucus and the of the following reasons. cer, three times in pregnancy. There is
Congressional Native American Cau- The outgoing President is still en- still a high level of maternal mortality
cus. I know Congresswoman JACKSON gaged in the building of his or her leg- among African Americans.
LEE’s district in Texas is ravaged by acy in the final months of the adminis- As it relates to Latin Americans and
this COVID pandemic, so I want to tration; two, there are sharp dif- Hispanics, two times more likely to die
thank her for helping us with our ferences in philosophy or style between of liver cancer, two times more likely
COVID Community Care Act and for the outgoing and incoming administra- to die of asthma, 1.7 more times to
being here tonight. tion; or the current or future President have diabetes, and two times more
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I actively makes trouble for his or her likely to die of HIV-AIDS. Which is
thank very much the distinguished successor. why we see this increasing number of
manager, the honorable BARBARA LEE. In this timeframe, I hope my col- those on that ethnic backgrounds, Afri-
I am most grateful for her yielding to leagues, Republicans and Democrats, can Americans, Hispanics and, of
me. Also, let me acknowledge the very will find a way, as we come back to course, Native Americans and Alas-
important work that she has done over Washington, to be able to look to the kans, because of the underlying condi-
the years in disparities and racial eq- transition of Dwight D. Eisenhower tions and the lack of access to
uity. I thank her for being my partner and John F. Kennedy, for example, and healthcare.
in H.R. 40, and me her partner in H. speak to the idea of how this should go; We are on this floor today because, as
Res. 100, that really also speaks to the or maybe even from Lyndon Baines members of the Tri-Caucus, we have
pain and the issues of disparities. Johnson and Richard Nixon, opposite made it our constructive business,
We look forward to reconciliation parties, but yet they found a way to starting from the Affordable Care Act,
and we look forward to repair with come together in the wake of the im- to deal with the question of health dis-
those two initiatives. Let me also ac- portance of the Constitution and de- parities. As a Member of Congress
knowledge the chair of the Congres- mocracy. many years back, I authored legisla-
sional Black Caucus for gathering us Why would I start a health dispari- tion to create an Office of Health Dis-
all together, and my colleagues that ties discussion on the transfer of parities in the Health and Human Serv-
are here, and my colleague that has power? ices Department, knowing that there
just joined us, Congresswoman ADAMS. As I indicated, it is very important was a lack of recognition of different
Let me try to address where we are for the work that is going to be part of clinicals that African Americans were
nationwide and how disparities weaves containing COVID–19 to really start not participating in, men and women.
its way into this phenomenon of the now, to really start now with a new at- Hispanic men and women were not par-
transfer of power—the peaceful trans- titude about wearing masks, socially ticipating in those as well.
fer of power—and how the President’s distance, washing your hands, and yes, In the course of the work that we are
status of the President-elect and Vice testing, testing, testing. doing right now, we are seeing a high
President-elect is interwoven in how to That is what I have found as a chair number of deaths. Texas hit 1 million
best respond to one of the disparities in of the bipartisan Congressional COVID cases on November 6. We were the first
healthcare, and that is COVID–19. Task Force where we have been work- State to hit 1 million cases. Now, in
Mr. Speaker, first to take note of the ing on doing the work of implementing Dallas and El Paso, my sister cities,
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fact that the stability of the United and talking about the diagnostic test- my colleagues who are there working
States electoral system is remarkable, ing and all its gradations over the past very hard, our hospitals are being over-
it first involved the election of 1800, couple of months. saturated. The same thing that hap-
which marked the first time in United Our first testing site in Houston was pened to Houston, Texas, in July of
States history that power was trans- opened on March 19. We have opened 41 2020.
ferred. The second was the 1876 elec- test sites. The most recent was this And so it is crucial to do three
tion, which the President was chosen, past Saturday. We open the 42nd on things: One, we must pass the Heroes
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November 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5755
Act. We are desperate for that money tance. Get tested if you have symptoms A peaceful transfer of power implies also a
in testing, desperate for PPPs, des- or might have been exposed. I would smooth and seamless transition from outgoing
perate for PPEs. We are now running add to that, get tested because you administration to the incoming one, which has
out of PPEs in some of these saturated may be asymptomatic. That simple usually but not always been the case.
towns. We are desperate, as I said, for note to the text of people in that State Our history has shown how the transfer of
testing. We are desperate for economic allowed thousands of individuals to see power, and the nation it was designed to ben-
dollars that are needed. the importance of getting tested, and efit, can be harmed when the transition is not
Every testing site that I have had— they went to the testing sites. That is smooth and transparent, which can invariably
most of them, let me clarify that, we going to help contain and stop the be attributed to one or more of the following
have had full distribution by our Hous- community spread. reasons: (1) the outgoing president is still en-
ton Food Bank, because people need So my message is, as you get into gaged in the business of building his or her
food. And as evidenced with lines in my Thanksgiving, please do your events legacy in the final months of the administra-
sister State, just a day or two ago in outside. If you are inside, doing them tion; (2) there are sharp differences in philos-
Los Angeles, we saw cars and cars and 10 or less. Please ask all of your rel- ophy or style between the outgoing and in-
cars of individuals recognizing that atives and loved ones to get tested, coming administrations; or (3) the current or
testing was crucial. tested, tested, so that we can contain future president actively makes trouble for his
I believe that we cannot ignore any- this preceding the vaccine, which we successor or predecessor.
more. There must be cooperation with know is coming, but is not coming as The transition between President Dwight D.
our Republican friends, I will call soon as we would like. Eisenhower and the newly elected John F.
them, to deal with providing this finan- We also know that we will be ad- Kennedy is an example of the dangers of
cial relief to our cities and to all of our dressing the question of implementa- presidential legacy building post-election be-
constituents who are desperately in tion and distribution as it relates to cause Eisenhower authorized covert programs
need. We must acknowledge the health people of color and those who suffer for regime change in what is today the Demo-
disparities. It is important both in the disparities, along with the elderly and cratic Republic of the Congo, in the Dominican
White House task force, we know that those underlying conditions. Republic, and, most famously, against Fidel
it is happening in the COVID task force You will not get a vaccine tomorrow. Castro’s Cuba but none of these programs
under the President-elect and Vice While we are waiting for that process, were completed by the time Kennedy took the
President-elect, that health disparities we need to do what is right. And that oath of office.
can kill. is to continue to social distance, wear- The second form of trouble can come from
And we can see that the lack of a ing the mask and getting tested. the soon-to-be-powerful people on the receiv-
transition of power right at this time, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentle- ing end of a transition, as when incoming
woman for her kindness and her leader- President George W. Bush failed to pay due
the continued denial of who has been
ship. heed to the warnings received from then
the victor, so that the General Services
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to join my col- President Bill Clinton about the dangers of
Administration can stop violating the leagues during this Special Order to shed light
administrative procedure code in not Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
on the impact of COVID–19 on communities of But far the most serious harm to be avoided
allowing the resources necessary for color. stems from the failure of the outgoing adminis-
the team that is now in place looking I want to recognize and thank Congress- tration to prioritize and expedite the sharing of
to transition to power with the exist- woman KAREN BASS and the Congressional vital information and resources with the incom-
ing Presidency being stopped, not by Black Caucus for hosting this hour, so that we ing administration.
law, not by any determination that you may not only speak about the disproportionate This is the danger we currently face in the
did not meet the standard of victory in impact of the coronavirus on communities of aftermath of President-elect Biden’s resound-
terms of the Electoral College, but by color but also call upon the federal govern- ing victory in the Electoral College and the
an individual administrator who indi- ment to address these devastating inequities. popular vote.
cates that they refuse to certify and to Mr. Speaker, before addressing the dev- Mr. Speaker, the federal government is per-
allow that transfer of funds for them to astating impact of the COVID–19 crisis on haps the most complex organization in the
work on. communities of color, I wish to speak briefly world because it involves a $5 trillion-plus
So I thank the gentlewoman for al- on the important subject of presidential transi- budget, four million person workforce, includ-
lowing me to present today, to speak tions and the peaceful transfer of power for ing the military and reservists, who are sta-
both on the disparities and the needs which the United States is justly celebrated tioned all over the globe, and two million ca-
for response, but also on the dev- around the world. reer civil servants in hundreds of operating
astating impact of COVID–19 impacting The stability of the United States electoral units of the Executive Branch, not to mention
now several States. system is remarkable, but this does not mean the 4,000 political appointments made by the
Mr. Speaker, I want to close on this. it has never been tested; it has—three times— President.
I want to say it to America. We are and weathered each crisis. So, a presidential transition of this enter-
coming on our holidays, and many dif- The first involved the election of 1800, prise is a massive operation that requires a lot
ferent faiths celebrate their holidays which marked the first time in United States of work, time, and cooperation in three impor-
during this time, from Thanksgiving history that power had transferred peacefully tant areas.
to, in the Christian faith, Christmas, between political parties. The first is access to the agencies them-
but many different faiths. I am not The second involved the 1876 election, in selves—there are over 100 operating in the
here to judge how and which faith will which a president was chosen who won nei- government—and the incoming team needs to
be celebrating this very special time of ther the absolute majority popular vote nor the understand what’s happening inside them be-
the year. We beg of you, on the basis of necessary number of electoral votes and was cause each and every one of them have dif-
science, to realize that because some- resolved by the infamous ‘Hayes-Tilden Com- ferent urgent issues that they are addressing
one is your family member does not promise,’ which effectively ended Reconstruc- and deciding, including for example, the ap-
mean that they are immune or that tion. proval and distribution of any vaccine for
they cannot transfer COVID to you, or The third instance involved the 2000 elec- COVID–19 and dealing with the economic
they are not asymptomatic. My mes- tion which saw the Supreme Court effectively damage caused by the pandemic.
sage is that we must test, test, test. decide the presidency by ordering the ces- The second area is the processing of per-
Today, I had a press conference in sation of ballot counting in the state of Florida. sonnel, 1,200 of whom require Senate con-
Houston, and I want to read these Mr. Speaker, what enabled the country to firmation and who will need security clear-
words as I close. I would encourage all weather these crises is that all parties, includ- ances and financial agreements with the Of-
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cities and States to follow what was ing the victor and the vanquished, understood fice of Government Ethics to make sure there
utilized in Los Angeles. It was effec- and accepted the primacy of the rule of law are no conflicts.
tive. And that is a public safety alert. and the bedrock democratic value that power Third, the incoming President must have ac-
A public safety alert that is simple, is only legitimately conveyed by the people cess to the President’s Daily Brief, to ensure
that goes out to the text of all citizens. through their votes and is held in trust and to it has awareness and understanding of the
COVID–19 cases are increasing. be used exclusively to protect and advance most current threats and challenges facing our
Please wear a mask and social dis- the national interest. nation.
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H5756 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 16, 2020
The final area is providing funding needed With these underlying health conditions, I want to take this time to speak
to pay the salaries and expenses of the in- many African Americans suffer from an im- briefly about the impact of COVID–19
coming administration’s transition personnel. paired immune system, thereby dramatically on the Black community, communities
I call upon the current President to honor increasing the risk of being infected with and of color, and pregnant women.
his oath of office to defend, protect, and pre- the fatality of the coronavirus. For the past 8 months, our country
serve the Constitution and America’s sacred Limited employment opportunities also play has been battling this incredibly dead-
tradition of peaceful transfers of power and a role in understanding why people of color ly virus. It is a national public health
begin the full and seamless transition to the are most affected by this disease. crisis unlike any we have experienced.
Biden Administration. According to the Center for Economic and And it has highlighted the existing ra-
Turning to the immediate subject at hand, Policy Research, Black workers make up cial health disparities that our commu-
we must recognize the impact of COVID–19 about one in nine workers overall, but they nities were already facing.
on people of color and its devastating con- represent about one in six front-line-industry The data does not lie. We know that
sequences on the communities we represent. workers, further increasing the dispropor- people of color are experiencing signifi-
As a Founding Member of the Bipartisan tionate likelihood of being exposed to and con- cantly higher rates of infections and
Congressional Coronavirus Task Force, I call tracting the virus. deaths compared to White individuals.
upon my fellow Members of Congress to not These disparities cannot be separated from Black people are more than twice as
only recognize the disproportionate impact of the history of enslavement of Black people likely to die from COVID–19 as White
this virus on communities of color but also to and subsequent periods of segregation, people, and the mortality rate for Na-
come together to redress this reality. racialized violence, pervasive racial discrimina- tive Americans is nearly two times
I first saw news reports on the rapid spread tion and their ongoing impacts. that of White persons.
of the coronavirus in early January. With that in mind, I urge my colleagues to Researchers have also found that
As the numbers of infected increased, I support my bill, H.R. 40, the Commission to Black and Hispanic people are nearly
knew this was not something to be taken light- Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for three times as likely to contract
ly, so I began to monitor the situation more African-Americans Act, as it is the most com- COVID–19 and nearly two times as like-
closely. prehensive legislative solution to begin repair- ly to die from COVID–19.
On February 10, 2020, I held the first press ing the legacy of systemic racism and ac- This month, a CDC morbidity and
conference on the issue of the novel counting for the harms of past and present. mortality weekly report found that
coronavirus at Houston Intercontinental Air- Mr. Speaker, it is abundantly clear that peo- pregnant women are at increased risk
port, where I was joined by public health offi- ple across the United States are struggling in for severe illness from COVID–19.
cials, local unions, and advocates to raise the face of this epidemic. Since January 22, more than 38,000
awareness regarding the virus, the implica- As Members of Congress, we have a duty pregnant women have been diagnosed
tions it might have for travel to the United to our constituents to address this vicious with COVID–19 in the United States, of
States from China, and the need to combat cycle of socioeconomic disparities that further which 51 have died.
early signs of discrimination targeting Asian the inequities facing communities of color, es- The study found that pregnant
businesses in the United States. pecially during the COVID–19 crisis. women are more likely to be admitted
From the onset of this pandemic, I have ac- We must come together to ensure that to the intensive care unit, receive
tively worked to address the negative and un- COVID–19 relief extends to all members of invasive ventilation, and are at in-
equal affects of this disease on people of our communities. creased risk of death compared to
color. Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I White, nonpregnant women.
I have facilitated the opening of 41 COVID– thank the gentlewoman from Texas for But much remains unknown.
19 testing sites, which have collectively pro- using this opportunity to deliver a very But what we do know is that before
vided over 200,000 tests to residents in Harris powerful public health message also. I the pandemic Black and Brown moth-
County, one of the most diverse counties in also would just note a personal privi- ers were already dying at alarming and
the state of Texas. lege. I was born and raised in El Paso, unacceptable rates.
Across the United States, Black individuals Texas, and my heart goes out to all of In particular, Black women from all
comprise thirteen percent of the population. those who are suffering from this ter- walks of life were three and four times
Yet, we experience a higher rate of incar- rible deadly pandemic. more likely to die from pregnancy-re-
ceration and health disparities, are more vul- Mr. Speaker, I want to salute our col- lated complications than White
nerable to economic slowdowns, and are even league, Congresswoman VERONICA women.
more likely to get COVID–19 and face signifi- ESCOBAR, for being such a tremendous According to the CDC data, Latina
cantly worse health outcomes from the dis- leader in El Paso in trying to help on women account for nearly 50 percent of
ease. the ground with taking care of people COVID–19 cases among pregnant
Disparities tell the story of living while Black and preventing the transition of the women.
in America, and there are disparities in every virus. And these numbers indicate the dev-
aspect of African American life and death. I thank Congresswoman JACKSON LEE astating effects of the pandemic on the
Right now, Black people are dying at 2.2 again. minority community.
times the rate and Latinx people at two times Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gen- A recent study also showed that
the rate of white people. tlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Black and Latina women in Philadel-
Whereas American Indian and Alaska Na- ADAMS), a member of the Committee phia who are pregnant were five times
tive people are 5.3 times more likely than on Education and Labor, whose mission more likely to be exposed to the new
white people to be hospitalized due to in life, I think, is to make sure that coronavirus than White pregnant
COVID–19. our young people are educated and re- women.
My district of Harris County has reported ceive the best quality education Physicians in Washington, DC, said
over 175,000 total cases of coronavirus, of through the Historically Black Col- that anecdotally they were also seeing
which over 17,300 identify as Black and over leges and Universities, and at the same similar patterns, according to an Au-
37,700 identify as Hispanic or Latinx. time make sure that their health and gust report in the Washington Post.
From a high prevalence of preexisting con- safety is a top priority issue for their As Congresswoman LEE and I have
ditions to limited employment opportunities to health and their safety. continued to say since the start of the
additional structural inequities that are the re- pandemic, we are facing a crisis within
sult of implicit bias and racial discrimination, b 2100 a crisis. And that is why I have been
there are several factors at play for why com- Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank working closely with healthcare pro-
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munities of color are disproportionately af- the gentlewoman for yielding and for viders, stakeholders, to provide a com-
fected by the coronavirus, her leadership. I thank, as well, the prehensive plan for eliminating these
For example, the African American commu- Chair of the Congressional Black Cau- racial health disparities, especially
nity is known to be highly affected by pre- cus for getting us together tonight. during the pandemic.
existing conditions, such as diabetes, heart Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the We must improve access to screening
disease, hypertension, lung disease, and obe- founder and co-chair of the Black Ma- and treatment for women at risk for
sity. ternal Health Caucus. preterm birth;
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November 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5757
Ensure that all women have access to Black individuals are almost three as we have seen in increased hate violence
high quality maternity care, no matter times as likely to become infected with and in far worse health outcomes for people
where they live; COVID–19 as White individuals and of color, this pandemic is no different.
And provide access to midwives or This pandemic calls for the enactment of
twice as likely to die of the virus. So policies and sufficient funding to protect
doulas that can advocate for families’ over the past 9 months my district has low- and moderate-income people from eco-
needs throughout pregnancy, labor, seen families and neighborhoods dev- nomic disaster and to meet the urgent needs
and delivery. astated by this virus. of the most vulnerable people in our nation.
This summer I introduced the My district is also home to our Na- Communities that have already been
COVID–19 Bias and Anti-Racism Train- tion’s poorest and hungriest major marginalized by structural barriers to equal
ing Act to provide grants for hospitals city. When you live paycheck to pay- opportunities and who have low levels of
and healthcare providers for implicit check, one missed shift or even missing wealth are particularly vulnerable during
bias training, particularly in light of this current emergency. While many work-
an hour’s worth of work forces families
COVID–19. ing people have been sidelined, many others
to make impossible decisions between are still providing essential services during
We all have our unconscious bias, and putting food on the table or keeping a the crisis—working at our grocery stores, de-
it is important for our healthcare pro- roof overhead, and it makes quaran- livering mail and packages, and providing
viders to be more aware of those issues tining impossible. care to vulnerable people—putting their
as they are providing care to patients For the most part these are not new lives at risk, often at reduced hours and
during the pandemic. challenges caused by COVID–19, these wages, to keep our country running. The on-
We need to invest in programs that are challenges that have been plaguing going crisis has laid bare the structural rac-
help families meet their basic needs, our most marginalized communities ism and barriers to opportunity that are en-
including nutrition assistance, housing and communities of color for decades. trenched in our society, and our collective
assistance, and other social supports. actions now must not worsen them.
But the pandemic has exacerbated and
Last, but certainly not least, we STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD: NATIONAL
laid bare these inequities for all who INDIAN HEALTH BOARD
must improve the quality of the data
care enough to see. It is why we must
being collected and ensure diversity On behalf of the National Indian Health
provide relief to help our communities Board (NIHB) and the 574 sovereign Tribal
among stakeholders that serve on mor-
survive the pandemic and commit to Nations we serve, I submit this testimony
tality review committees.
If we don’t stand together to address closing the gaps preexisting the pan- for the record.
these inequities, Black and Brown demic that have been holding families American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/
back for far too long. AN) Tribal communities have been dis-
mothers, our families, our friends, and proportionately impacted by the COVID–19
Our families are in crisis. They need
our communities will continue to suf- pandemic. No sector of Tribal economies or
stimulus checks to pay their rent and
fer. health systems have been spared from the
I hope this Congress will stand to- mortgages. They need access to free
devastation this crisis has unleashed. We are
gether to ensure that our communities, testing to protect themselves and their
now, as of this writing, seven months in the
our mothers, our babies have the re- families. They also need food and throes of an unparalleled pandemic. While
sources they need—not only to survive childcare and access to equitable edu- we may not have been able to prevent the
this pandemic, but to thrive and truly cation, housing, healthcare, and wages. outbreak of COVID–19, we absolutely could
This pandemic has shown us there is have mitigated the worst of its impacts—es-
build back stronger.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentle- a roadmap to improving the lives of pecially in Indian Country. But unfortu-
millions of Americans, especially our nately, our Tribes are, once again, battling a
woman from California for her leader- catastrophic, unprecedented, once-in-a-life-
ship. communities of color, but we must
have the courage to follow it. time disease without the necessary federal
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I relief funds and resources to protect and pre-
thank Congresswoman ALMA ADAMS for Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I
serve life.
that very clear statement and I thank thank Congresswoman SCANLON for Since June of this year alone, NIHB has
her for outlining the interconnection joining us tonight with our Tri-Caucus submitted seventeen letters to Congress urg-
and the intersection between systemic and Congressional Black Caucus, be- ing immediate action and passage of emer-
racism and the social determinants of cause so many of the issues that you gency stimulus funds for the Indian health
healthcare and how they impact the are talking about in your district as it system to better respond to COVID–19. We
relates to COVID and health disparities solemnly await congressional action. We
underlying conditions and exacerbate have consistently urged long-term reauthor-
it now as seen in COVID–19. I thank and the social determinants we all are
ization of the Special Diabetes Program for
Congresswoman ADAMS again for her dealing with in our districts, and so
Indians (SDPI), vital to Tribal efforts to
leadership. thank you for your leadership and for mitigate the spread of COVID–19 by pre-
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- continuing to help us get this Heroes venting, treating, and managing one of the
woman from Pennsylvania (Ms. SCAN- Act passed so that we can do some of strongest risk factors for a more serious
LON), who certainly knows the serious the things that you laid out that our COVID–19 illness: type II diabetes. We sol-
and devastating impact of this COVID communities deserve. emnly await congressional action. We have
Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD demanded that Congress work to fulfill Trea-
pandemic in her district. I visited her ty obligations to Tribal Nations and Native
district and understand how close she the following statements from the
Leadership Conference on Civil and people by ensuring congressional COVID–19
is to her nonprofits and her commu- relief funds are on par with the recommenda-
nity-based organizations who are doing Human Rights, the National Indian
tions outlined by Tribal leaders and health
phenomenal work. Health Board, the Asian Health Serv- experts. We solemnly await congressional ac-
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman ices, and UnidosUS. tion. We have urged that burdensome admin-
SCANLON very much for being here. STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD: LEADERSHIP istrative requirements for accessing federal
Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I thank CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS grants and programs be eliminated to ensure
the gentlewoman for arranging this On behalf of the Leadership Conference on expeditious delivery of relief resources. We
Civil and Human Rights, I submit this testi- solemnly await congressional action. We
Special Order hour. have urged that Congress not subject the In-
mony for the record.
I stand before you today frustrated No matter what we look like, where we dian health system to a destabilizing con-
by the lack of Federal relief as COVID– live, or what is in our wallets, getting sick tinuing resolution (CR) as it continues to
19 surges across the country. With each reminds us that at our core we are all the combat against an unparalleled pandemic; or
day that we don’t have relief for fami- same. But we cannot ignore the pandemic’s to, at the least, attach emergency COVID–19
lies, businesses, our frontline workers, disproportionate and devastating impact on appropriations for IHS to the CR to mitigate
and the State and local governments Black and Brown people, Native Americans, the pain and disruption. Again, we solemnly
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that have borne the brunt of the pan- low-income people, people with disabilities, await congressional action.
the elderly, women, and immigrant commu- To be clear, we continue to appreciate the
demic response, its impact grows that
nities. Through health and education dis- commitment and leadership of members of
much more disastrous—and dispropor- parities, income inequality, discrimination Congress in working to advance Tribal
tionately so for our communities of in voting and housing, unequal treatment health priorities in response to COVID–19.
color. within the legal system, and the digital di- But the Tribes require action from all of
More than a quarter of my constitu- vide, communities of color have been rou- Congress on those commitments. On Sep-
ents are Black, and we now know that tinely locked out and left behind—and sadly, tember 10, NIHB was joined by the National
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H5758 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 16, 2020
Congress of American Indians and the Na- light significant disparities between AI/ANs million AI/ANs to operate during a pandemic
tional Council of Urban Indian Health in a and the general population; shockingly, true without an enacted budget or even adjust-
letter to congressional leadership urging im- estimates of disease burden and death result- ments for rising medical and non-medical in-
mediate action on the priorities listed below. ing from COVID–19 in Indian Country are flation. In short, that is a recipe for even
These priorities have remained intact since likely much higher. In CDC’s own August more disaster, death, and despair.
early summer, as Indian Country continues 2020 report on COVID–19 in Indian Country, We patiently remind you that federal Trea-
to bear the brunt of this extraordinary cri- the authors noted the following: ty obligations for healthcare to Tribal Na-
sis. In short, these priorities have not This analysis represents an underestimate tions and AI/AN Peoples exist in perpetuity
changed because the situation in Indian of the actual COVID–19 incidence among AI/ and must be fully honored, especially in
Country remains just as dire. Once again, we AN persons for several reasons. Reporting of light of the current pandemic and its unpar-
solemnly await congressional action. detailed case data to CDC by states is known alleled toll in Indian Country. While we ap-
TRIBAL COVID–19 PRIORITIES
to be incomplete; therefore, this analysis preciate the roughly $1 billion to IHS under
was restricted to 23 states with more com- the CARES Act and the $750 million testing
Minimum $2 billion in emergency funds to plete reporting of race and ethnicity. As a set-aside under the Paycheck Protection
IHS for immediate distribution to I/T/U sys- result, the analysis included only one half of Program and Health Care Enhancement Act;
tem. reported laboratory-confirmed COVID–19
$1.7 billion to replenish lost 3rd party reim- these investments have been necessary but
cases among AI/AN persons nationwide, and woefully insufficient to stem the tide of the
bursements across the I/T/U system. the examined states represent approximately
Prioritize equitable distribution of a safe pandemic in Tribal communities.
one third of the national AI/AN population. We thank you for your continued commit-
and effective COVID–19 vaccine across Indian In addition, AI/AN persons are commonly
Country, including a minimum 5 percent set- ment to Indian Country, and as always,
misclassified as non-AI/AN races and stand ready to work with you in a bipartisan
aside in vaccine funds for the I/T/U system. ethnicities in epidemiologic and administra-
Minimum $1 billion for water and sanita- fashion to advance the health of all AI/AN
tive data sets, leading to an underestimation people.
tion systems across IHS and Tribal commu- of AI/AN morbidity and mortality.
nities. Sincerely,
Indeed, there are multiple states that still
Long-term reauthorization (5 years), high- have a significant percentage of COVID–19 NATIONAL INDIAN HEALTH BOARD.
er funding, and expansion of self-determina- cases missing critical demographic data. In STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD: ASIAN HEALTH
tion and self-governance for the Special Dia- California for instance, a whopping 31 per- SERVICES
betes Program for Indians. cent of cases are still missing race and eth- On behalf of the One Nation Commission,
COVID–19 UPDATES nicity. The State of New York has failed to Co-Chairs Sherry Hirota, CEO of Asian
The last time NIHB appeared before this report AI/AN data altogether—listing only Health Services, and former Congressman
Subcommittee was June 10, 2020. Since that Hispanic, Black, White, Asian, or Other on Mike Honda, I submit this testimony for the
time, the number of AI/AN COVID–19 case in- their COVID–19 data dashboards. record.
fections reported by IHS have nearly quad- Meanwhile, the Special Diabetes Program The information shared, is documented in
rupled. Similarly, the Centers for Disease for Indians (SDPI)—instrumental for COVID– the One Nation Commission 2020 Report: One
Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 19 response efforts in Indian Country because Nation AAPIs Rising to Fight Dual
roughly 22 percent increase in COVID–19 hos- it is focused on prevention, treatment, and Pandemics COVID–19 and Racism, which was
pitalization rates among AI/ANs—increasing management of diabetes, one of the most sig- delivered to every member of Congress and
from a rate of 272 per 100,000 in mid-July to nificant risk factors for a more serious the Senate in October 2020.
347.7 per 100,000 as of September 12, 2020. COVID–19 illness—has endured four short- The COVID–19 pandemic has hit commu-
Rates of death from COVID–19 among AI/ANs term extensions since last September, plac- nities of color, including AAPIs, the hardest.
have more than doubled since the last time ing immense and undue strain on program In the 13th Congressional District, Alameda
NIHB testified before the Subcommittee— operations. Under the House-passed CR for County in California, AAPIs are the largest
from a rate of 36 per 100,000 on June 9 to 81.9 FY 2021 H.R. 8337, SDPI is extended for a population subgroup, comprising a diverse
per 100,000 as of September 15. mere eleven days—its shortest reauthoriza- and varied population, spanning every eco-
In August, the Centers for Disease Control tion on record. A national survey of SDPI nomic stratum; essential workers and cor-
and Prevention (CDC) reported that across 23 grantees conducted by NIHB found that porate CEOs, Nobel Laureates and students
states, cumulative incidence rates of lab- nearly 1 in 5 Tribal SDPI grantees reported on the broken side of the digital divide, re-
confirmed COVID–19 cases among AI/ANs are employee furloughs, including for healthcare searchers and doctors, janitors and food serv-
3.5 times higher than for non-Hispanic providers, with 81 percent of SDPI furloughs ers, and new immigrants all contributing to
Whites. Also, according to CDC, age-adjusted directly linked to the economic impacts of society in this time of crisis.
rates of COVID–19 hospitalization among AI/ COVID–19 in Tribal communities. Roughly 1 By the time COVID–19 was declared a glob-
ANs from March 1, 2020, through August 22, in 4 programs have reported delaying essen- al pandemic and national emergency, the
2020, were 4.7 times higher than for non-His- tial purchases of medical equipment to treat Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
panic Whites. Without sufficient additional and monitor diabetes due to funding uncer- Community had already gone underground.
congressional relief sent directly to I/T/U tainty, and nearly half of all programs are Fear of the virus was compounded by a sud-
systems, these shocking upward trends will experiencing or anticipating cutbacks in the den and virulent rise in hate and violence
more than likely continue as COVID–19 re- availability of diabetes program services—all against Asians. Racist taunting by our coun-
strictions are eased, schools and businesses under the backdrop of a pandemic that con- try’s top leader calling Covid–19 ‘‘Kung Flu,’’
reopen, and the potential threat of a more tinues to overwhelm the Indian health sys- and ‘‘China Virus,’’ used the pandemic and
severe flu season coincides with this pan- tem. its economic destruction to scapegoat Asian
demic. State-specific data further dem- Now, with the inevitability of a continuing Americans across the country. Congress-
onstrate the vast inequities in COVID–19 resolution (CR) through at least December woman Lee’s own staffer was called,
deaths between AI/ANs and the general popu- 11, 2020—and the possibility of another CR ‘‘COVID’’ and pelted with rocks while riding
lation. Below are a few examples of these thereafter—it is even more imperative that his bike through Rock Creek Park in D.C.
state-specific disparities based on NIHB’s Congress provide emergency appropriations Despite calls from every sector of the AAPI
analysis of state-specific data. to better stabilize the Indian health system. Community for the president to retract his
In Arizona, AI/ANs account for 5.5 percent This Subcommittee knows full well that IHS dangerous words, the hate speak continued.
of the population, but 13.4 percent of COVID– is the only federal healthcare system that is The result was a tsunami of attacks on Asian
19 deaths. subject to government shutdowns and CRs. Americans.
In New Mexico, AI/ANs account for 10.7 This Subcommittee is also acutely aware of As COVID–19 cases spiked around the coun-
percent of the population, but nearly 57 per- the devastating impacts that endless CRs try, AAPIs were not only blamed but ap-
cent of COVID–19 deaths. have had, and will continue to have, on the peared missing from the news coverage, data,
In Montana, AI/ANs account for 8.2 percent Indian health system. We commend Chair and charts. The twenty-five-year-old health
of the population, but 27 percent of COVID– McCollum’s leadership in introducing H.R. advocacy battle to ‘‘disaggregate data’’
19 deaths. 1128 and Ranking Member Joyce’s strong reared its ugly head again and was now a
In South Dakota, AI/ANs account for 10.4 support for H.R. 1135—both of which would matter of life and death. Lumping together
percent of the population, but nearly 23 per- authorize advance appropriations for IHS information about ethnic and language
cent of COVID–19 deaths. and permanently insulate it from the vola- groups obstructs effective epidemiology and
In North Dakota, AI/ANs account for 6.5 tility of the annual appropriations process. care. In the big picture, the absence of data
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percent of the population, but 13.3 percent of But in the interim, Congress must ensure a ensures invisibility for AAPIs as a whole,
COVID–19 deaths. funding fix that protects and preserves life in and each subpopulation within that designa-
In Mississippi, AI/ANs account for less Indian Country and delivers critical pan- tion. Missing are the number of AAPIs who
than 1 percent of the population, but 3 per- demic relief in recognition of federal Treaty have been tested, how many tested positive,
cent of COVID–19 deaths. obligations. If Congress fails to provide suffi- how many are sick, or hospitalized, or have
Even more alarming is the lack of com- cient emergency appropriations for the In- died. We must expand the frame—to ask,
plete data on COVID–19 outcomes among AI/ dian health system, a stopgap measure will what is the impact of COVID–19 on AAPI
ANs. Available COVID–19 data already high- force a healthcare system serving roughly 2.6 communities? To fill the gap a self-organized
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November 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5759
work group of nationally renowned AAPI re- impacted by the dire health and economic Our Nation’s workforce is dispropor-
searchers pulled data from multiple cities repercussions of this pandemic. tionately composed of communities of
and states revealing higher death rates These unprecedented and devastating
color and some of the most
among Asian Americans who were Covid times continue to expose the appalling and
deeply unjust fault lines in our nation’s marginalized communities and groups.
positive.
Nine months into the dual pandemic of health care system and labor force. Despite Many are essential workers. These
COVID–19 and racism, the AAPI community the fact that Latinos are overrepresented in workers and their families are being
is fighting back against being both blamed ‘‘essential’’ occupations where they are most put at greater risk during the
and ignored. The One Nation Commission is at risk of exposure to the coronavirus infec- coronavirus pandemic due to the condi-
honored to join forces with Congresswoman tion and are also bearing the brunt of the tions of their jobs and their socio-
Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Karen Bass, economic fallout from the pandemic, they economic realities and, mind you, the
and the Congressional Black Caucus, Con- have been consistently excluded from much
lack of Federal response. We must pass
gressional Asian Pacific Islander American needed COVID–19 relief legislation.
Caucus, and individuals and organizations to Any further delay in COVID–19 relief legis- a COVID relief bill.
defeat COVID–19, bring back our commu- lation will be particularly devastating to the I am proud to stand before you joined
nities stronger and healthier, combat hate health and well-being of our nation’s 58 mil- by my colleagues because I know that
crimes against AAPIs, and work in solidarity lion Latinos, far too many of whom have this change is on the horizon. From the
with the Black, Latinx and Indigenous Peo- been left out of the four coronavirus relief
sidewalks to the ballot boxes, people
ple to fight systemic racism. packages enacted so far. Failure to respond
urgently to the human suffering we are wit- are fully engaged and are courageously
Hidden disparities undermine effective and
just health policy and outcomes. COVID vac- nessing is deeply objectionable and, from a advocating to be heard. It is our job
cine allocation, for example, based public health and economic perspective, that every community is ensured
prioritization in part on inaccurate informa- wholly indefensible. coronavirus relief and that we nego-
tion of disparities and vulnerabilities. Re- Latinos have long suffered from health dis- tiate what is needed, including funding
cently the National Academy of Sciences re- parities—being more likely to develop chron- to provide relief for every community
leased recommendations on vaccine alloca- ic health conditions such as diabetes, heart and with community stakeholders.
tion but did not name Asian Americans as a disease, and obesity. Another disparity is
vulnerable group. This must be immediately emerging, Latinos are contracting and dying Our bill, H.R. 8192, the COVID Com-
rectified. from COVID–19 disproportionately and are munity Care Act, does just that. We
Critical to health, justice, equity, and the nearly three times more likely to die com- cannot afford to leave anyone behind.
opportunity for our communities to emerge pared to non-Hispanic Whites.
These disparities are a result of multiple Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank our
stronger than before from these dual
pandemics: preexisting structural and societal factors, Speaker; Chairwoman BASS, for shar-
(1) Mandate disaggregated data collection including a health care system that leaves ing this CBC Special Order hour; and I
and reporting; coverage out of reach of millions of Latinos. thank our Tri-Caucus chairs, Congress-
(2) Require linguistically and culturally Before the pandemic, more than 10 million woman CHU and Representative CAS-
competent outreach and care; Latinos (including 1.6 million Latino chil- TRO, Representatives HAALAND, DAVIDS,
(3) Strengthen and resource the commu- dren) were uninsured, and preliminary data of course, Representative GARCÍA. And
nity health center and nonprofit safety net; now show that the Latino uninsured rate in-
creased over the course of 2020. Latinos have
I thank all of our colleagues for being
and here tonight to really sound the alarm.
(4) Reverse unfair and un-American anti- also long struggled with food insecurity and
immigrant policies that endanger the public increased stressors and mental health issues, This is an emergency in the entire
health and public good, including Public and the pandemic has only exacerbated these country. It is a deep and broad emer-
Charge. challenges. gency pandemic as it relates to COVID–
Immediate next steps: Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, 19, and we need relief right away.
(1) Protecting and further investing in let me take a moment to thank all of
trusted community-based organizations to our colleagues who joined us this Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
implement new programs and preserve prov- evening laying out the pandemic upon of my time.
en programs, pandemic upon pandemic in commu- Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise
COVID community testing, today to speak on the impact of the
COVID contact tracing,
nities of color.
Cultural and linguistic competency, In all past public health crises one coronavirus (COVID–19) pandemic on our
Addressing misinformation that creates recurring lesson stands out: That is, communities of color across this nation. This
fear and chilling effects (e.g., public charge success depends on the willingness of virus has deeply impacted every segment of
rule change). people to trust the health information our society, but the harms that have befallen
(2) Expanding beyond COVID–19 outcomes that they are getting. We learned this certain populations have been disproportionate
(cases and deaths) to understand full impacts from the HIV and AIDS pandemic, and devastating.
Anti-Asian hate crimes à physical and Ebola, H1N1, and now we are learning
mental health, For our Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian,
Mental health,
it again during COVID. So this is espe- and immigrant families, COVID–19 has exac-
Immigration status affecting access and cially true for communities of color. erbated longstanding inequities in our health
utilization of services (e.g., public charge This year millions of Americans have care and economic systems, and our commu-
rule change), taken to the streets to demand racial nities of color have been burdened with higher
Other social determinants of health (occu- justice. This is because the system that rates of comorbidities, more barriers in ac-
pation/essential workers, living conditions, exists today has failed them. We must cessing medical care, and worse health out-
language barriers). acknowledge the centuries old racial
(3) Data disaggregation is paramount to comes due to this virus. This has been dev-
and ethnic disparities, and inten- astating to observe, as many of these same
identifying and addressing hidden dispari-
tionally build culturally and commu- communities have also been dealing with sig-
ties. Encourage immediate disaggregated
data collection at the local levels—testing, nity-minded policies to move forward nificant economic turmoil in these recent
cases, comorbidities, deaths, for a stronger and unified country. months.
Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the We must act swiftly. The longer com-
good: Reinforce disaggregated data reporting munities suffer from COVID–19, the Never has our society faced a challenge
in public communications to create this par- greater the long-term impact and dis- such as this. These are truly unprecedented
adigm shift, even with small numbers, parities. States project that their times, and it merits our relentless efforts to
An example of hidden disparities: Filipinos shortfall for 2021-fiscal year will be lessen the damages of this pandemic, which is
having even more striking death rates. In much deeper than the shortfalls faced expected to worsen during this upcoming win-
the U.S., Filipino nurses make up 4 percent ter season. It is our responsibility as members
of workforce but nearly 31.5 percent of
in any year of the Great Recession.
Federal Reserve economists project of this chamber to prevent the imminent dis-
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deaths among registered nurses. parate harms of COVID–19 on communities of
that unemployment will be at 6.5 per-
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD: UNIDOSUS color. We must also address the systematic
cent at the end of 2021. Of course, it is
On behalf of UnidosUS, I submit this testi- issues of structural racism in our society,
higher in communities of color. The
mony for the record. which affects the health and economic
Communities of color are putting life and Congressional Budget Office projects
an even higher rate at 6.7 percent; wellbeing of our families.
limb on the line every day to help our nation
through the COVID–19 crisis yet continue to again, for communities of color more Everyday, our nation sees the need for fur-
be overwhelmingly and disproportionately than likely it is double that. ther action to combat this public
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H5760 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 16, 2020
health crisis. I urge my colleagues to join me respond. With this data, we can better target both Houses are in session following receipt
in supporting additional federal assistance to our COVID–19 relief funds and support to en- of this transmittal. In compliance with Sec-
fight this pandemic and protecting our commu- sure that communities of color get all the help tion 304(b)(2) of the CAA, a comment period
nities of color. we need to weather the storm of this pan- of 30 days after the publication of this notice
Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise demic and combat the underlying inequities in of proposed rulemaking is being provided be-
today in support of the Tri-Caucus’ Special our health care system that this pandemic has fore adoption of the rules.
Order to highlight the disproportionate impact exacerbated. Any inquiries regarding this notice should
of COVID–19 on communities of color. Our I am committed to work with my colleagues be addressed to Susan Tsui Grundmann, Ex-
nation is currently overwhelmed by unprece- on both sides of the aisle to act now and to ecutive Director of the Office of Congres-
dented numbers of COVID–19 cases, hos- act boldly to implement a national plan that sional Workplace Rights, Room LA–200, 110
pitalizations and deaths. After more than eight will save lives from this terrible disease. Second Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540–
months of suffering, the COVID–19 pandemic 1999; 202–724–9250.
f Sincerely,
continues to ravage our communities, creating
incalculable pain, massive economic disrup- LEAVE OF ABSENCE BARBARA CHILDS WALLACE,
Chair of the Board of Directors,
tion, and immense strain on our public health
By unanimous consent, leave of ab- Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.
system. As of this moment, more than
sence was granted to:
246,000 Americans have lost their lives from Attachment.
Mr. ADERHOLT (at the request of Mr.
this deadly disease. More than eleven million NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
MCCARTHY) for today and the balance FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
have been infected, and nearly 70,000 are
of the week on account of quarantining THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL
currently hospitalized with severe cases of WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND REQUEST
as precautionary measure as rec-
COVID–19. While all Americans are suffering FOR COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED
ommended by the Office of Attending
from this pandemic, communities of color are PARTIES.
Physician.
experiencing acute and disproportionate pain. MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS AND PROTEC-
From the beginning of this pandemic, it was f TIONS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL
clear that the phrase ‘‘when white America LEAVE ACT OF 1993 (FMLA), NOTICE OF PRO-
catches a cold, Black America gets pneu- CERTIFICATION SUBMITTED PUR- POSED RULEMAKING, AS REQUIRED BY 2 U.S.C.
SUANT TO SECTION 5(a) OF 1312, CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF
monia’’ would be particularly true with COVID– 1995, AS AMENDED (CAA).
HOUSE RESOLUTION 965, 116TH
19’s devastating consequences. In fact, the Background:
CONGRESS
COVID–19 pandemic disproportionately harms The purpose of this Notice is to propose
Black and Brown communities with dramati- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, modifications to the existing legislative
cally unequal infection rates, hospitalizations, COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION, branch FMLA substantive regulations under
Washington, DC, November 10, 2020. section 202 of the CAA (2 U.S.C. 1302 et seq.),
and deaths. Specifically, Black people are Hon. NANCY PELOSI, which applies the rights and protections of
three times more likely to become infected Speaker, of the House of Representatives, sections 101 through 105 of the FMLA to cov-
with COVID–19 than whites. Moreover, Black Washington, DC. ered employees. On December 20, 2019, Con-
people die from COVID–19 at around twice DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to section gress enacted the Federal Employee Paid
Leave Act (subtitle A of title LXXVI of divi-
the rate of white people. These aren’t just sta- 5(a) of House Resolution 965, following con- sion F of the National Defense Authorization
tistics. They represent our friends, neighbors, sultation with the Ranking Minority Mem- Act for Fiscal Year 2020, Public Law 116–92,
and loved ones. They are people like my ber, I write to notify you that that operable December 20, 2019) (FEPLA). FEPLA amend-
cousin who died from COVID–19 earlier this and secure technology exists to conduct re- ed the FMLA to allow most civilian Federal
mote voting in the House of Representatives. employees, including eligible employees in
year, and so many others who are no longer Sincerely, the legislative branch, to substitute up to 12
with us. ZOE LOFGREN, weeks of paid parental leave (PPL) for un-
Like past disease outbreaks and natural dis- paid FMLA leave granted in connection with
Chairperson. the birth of an employee’s son or daughter or
asters, the COVID–19 pandemic lays bare the for the placement of a son or daughter with
f
consequences of systemic injustices suffered an employee for adoption or foster care.
by communities of color. Institutional racism, NOTICE OF PROPOSED These modifications are necessary in order
to bring existing legislative branch FMLA
compounded by environmental and economic RULEMAKING regulations (issued April 19, 1996) in line with
injustices, have resulted in severe health dis- these recent statutory changes.
U.S. CONGRESS,
parities for communities of color which make OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL What is the authority under the CAA for
the COVID–19 pandemic so uniquely dev- WORKPLACE RIGHTS, these proposed substantive regulations?
astating. Despite the disproportionate harm Washington, DC, November 16, 2020. Section 202(a) of the CAA provides that the
the COVID–19 pandemic has caused among Hon. NANCY PELOSI, rights and protections established by sec-
Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, tions 101 through 105 of the FMLA (29 U.S.C.
communities of color, many states still do not 2611–2615) shall apply to covered employees
Washington, DC.
provide transparency regarding racial and eth- in the legislative branch. Section 202(d)(1)
DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Section 202(d) of and (2) of the CAA require that the Office of
nic demographic data for COVID–19 cases
the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA), Congressional Workplace Rights Board of Di-
and deaths. For example, in my state of Indi- 2 U.S.C. 1312(d), requires the Board of Direc- rectors (the Board), pursuant to section 304
ana, the State only provides an aggregate tors of the Office of Congressional Workplace of the CAA, issue regulations implementing
breakdown of the racial and ethnic demo- Rights (‘‘the Board’’) to issue regulations the rights and protections of the FMLA and
graphics for cases and deaths during the en- implementing Section 202 of the CAA relat- that those regulations shall be ‘‘the same as
substantive regulations promulgated by the
tire pandemic. This results in a profoundly in- ing to sections 101 through 105 of the Family Secretary of Labor to implement the statu-
complete picture of the disproportionate sick- and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (‘‘FMLA’’), 29 tory provisions referred to in the subsection
ness, death, fear and tragedy this virus is in- U.S.C. 2611 through 2615, made applicable to (a) [of section 202 of the CAA] except insofar
the legislative branch by the CAA. 2 U.S.C. as the Board may determine, for good cause
flicting on communities of color. shown . . . that a modification of such regu-
1312(a)(1).
As Congress considers much-needed, addi- lations would be more effective for the im-
Section 304(b)(1) of the CAA, 2 U.S.C.
tional measures to combat COVID–19 and plementation of the rights and protections
1384(b)(1), requires that the Board issue a under this section.’’ The modifications to the
provide relief for businesses, hospitals and general notice of proposed rulemaking by regulations proposed by the Board herein are
workers, one thing is clear: Communities of transmitting ‘‘such notice to the Speaker of on all matters for which section 202 of the
color must receive substantial relief and sup- the House of Representatives and the Presi- CAA requires regulations to be issued.
port that matches the devastation they’ve suf- dent Pro Tempore of the Senate for publica- Are there currently FMLA regulations in ef-
fered from this pandemic. In addition, states tion in the Congressional Record on the first fect?
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
and public health departments must provide day of which both Houses are in session fol- Yes. On January 22, 1996, the OCWR Board
lowing such transmittal.’’ adopted and submitted for publication in the
updated and daily demographic information, Congressional Record the original FMLA
On behalf of the Board, I am hereby trans-
including a racial and ethnic breakdown, for mitting the attached notice of proposed rule- final regulations implementing section 202 of
the daily numbers of COVID–19 cases and the CAA, which applies certain rights and
making to the Speaker of the House of Rep- protections of the FMLA. On April 15, 1996,
deaths. This data transparency is essential to resentatives. I request that this notice be pursuant to section 304(c) of the CAA, the
fully understand how the pandemic is affecting published in the House section of the Con- House and the Senate passed resolutions ap-
different communities and how we can best gressional Record on the first day on which proving the final regulations. Specifically,
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