What Is Happening in Washington? (Cong. Rec., Nov. 18, 2020)

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated November 18, 2020, at page H5875. A prayer is followed by an announcement from the Speaker on social distancing, requiring Members and staff to wear masks in the Hall of the House and describing voting in small groups of Members. In one-minute speeches, Mr. Williams urges passage of the Save Our Stages Act to help independent live music venues survive the pandemic, and Mr. Harder of California, under the heading What Is Happening in Washington, calls for expanded unemployment benefits as cases are exploding and says it is time to do the job. Mr. Byrne congratulates Donna Givens on her retirement.

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“What Is Happening in Washington? (Cong. Rec., Nov. 18, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-11-18-crec-2020-11-18-pt1-pgh5875-5-9404904576/, SHA-256 60975840e601a2647020a97591c6d1c0747ad2414fa2d92f24023bdebcf75a06.

Full text

November 18, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5875
God of mercy, we give You thanks for next group a safe and sufficient oppor- PASS SOS ACT TO HELP LIVE
giving us another day. tunity to vote. MUSIC VENUES SURVIVE PAN-
Bless the Members of the people’s It is essential for the health and safe- DEMIC SHUTDOWNS
House with focus and purpose as they ty of Members, staff, and the U.S. Cap- (Mr. WILLIAMS asked and was given
gather these few days before Thanks- itol Police to consistently practice so- permission to address the House for 1
giving. May their efforts give true cial distancing and to ensure that a minute.)
cause for Americans to gather to give safe capacity be maintained in the Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise
thanks. Chamber at all times. The Sergeant at today to urge passage of the Save Our
In our world, there are many places Arms is directed to enforce this policy. Cities and Stages Act, better known as
where peace is lacking and cause for Second, the Chair wishes to remind the Save Our Stages Act, as a stand-
thanksgiving rare. Send Your spirit of Members that the announcement of alone bill so that independent live
peace upon our world. Help us all see in July 29, 2020, regarding the wearing of music venues can survive and recover
those we view as enemies our brothers masks in the Hall of the House remains from COVID–19.
and sisters. in effect. Members and staff will not be During this pandemic, these venues
As infections continue to spread, and permitted to enter the Hall of the have been hardest hit, as they were the
hospitals nationwide are pressed to House without wearing a mask. Masks first to close and will be among the
their limits, inspire all leaders to step will be available at the entry points for last to reopen due to safety restric-
forward in a unified response, protect any Member who forgets to bring one. tions and government mandates.
and empower those who care for the To reiterate, the Chair views the fail- They generate billions of dollars in
sick, and bring healing to all who suf- ure to wear masks as a serious breach our national economy and create thou-
fer during this plague. of decorum. sands of jobs every year. They are a
May all that is done this day be for I repeat, Members and staff will not cultural staple in central Texas and
Your greater honor and glory. be permitted to enter the Hall of the the 25th District, unlike any other
Amen. House without wearing a mask. place in our Nation.
f The Chair appreciates the attention Over the last several months, I have
of all Members and staff to these prin- had the privilege of working with own-
THE JOURNAL ciples. ers and managers of dozens of venues
The SPEAKER. Pursuant to section like Hudson’s On Mercer Street in
4(a) of House Resolution 967, the Jour- f
Dripping Springs, Songbird Live in
nal of the last day’s proceedings is ap- Cleburne, and The Broken Spoke in
proved. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Austin to highlight the urgency of
f The SPEAKER. The Chair will enter- passing this legislation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE tain up to 15 requests for 1-minute It is crucial we deliver, not only for
speeches on each side of the aisle. their livelihoods, but for the artists
The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman
who start out on their stages and the
from California (Mr. HARDER) come for- f future generations inspired by their
ward and lead the House in the Pledge
work. Every day we waste is detri-
of Allegiance. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN mental to this industry.
Mr. HARDER of California led the WASHINGTON? Mr. Speaker, I call on Speaker
Pledge of Allegiance as follows:
(Mr. HARDER of California asked PELOSI to bring the Save Our Stages
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Act to the House floor for a vote.
United States of America, and to the Repub- and was given permission to address
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, the House for 1 minute and to revise In God we trust.
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. and extend his remarks.) f
f Mr. HARDER of California. Madam
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AT WORK
Speaker, I rise today to ask: What the
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER hell is happening in Washington? (Mr. BERA asked and was given per-
The SPEAKER. The Chair will now I am not one to spend my time mission to address the House for 1
take this opportunity to make an an- throwing bombs on this floor, but dur- minute.)
nouncement concerning floor practice ing this single minute, another Amer- Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, today I am
during the coronavirus pandemic. ican will die from COVID, and even proud of American democracy, and I
First, the Chair wishes to underscore more people are slipping into poverty want to talk about American democ-
the importance of safe practices during because this town can’t get its act to- racy.
votes. As the Chair stated on July 29, gether. In this election, record numbers of
2020, under clause 2 of rule I, the Chair I have had enough. voters turned out to cast their ballots,
is required to preserve order and deco- Millions of people can’t get to work. with very few voting irregularities.
rum in the Chamber. This includes the They can’t put food on the table. They A record number of young people
responsibility to ensure the protection are missing rent or mortgage pay- turned out to cast their ballots and ex-
of Member and staff health and safety ments. press their voice by voting.
during proceedings. Since we passed the CARES Act, We saw civil servants and folks tab-
To that end, based upon health and which was a strong step forward, the ulating those ballots. We saw American
safety guidance from the attending best this town can do is finger-point- democracy at work, and we ought to be
physician and the Sergeant at Arms, ing. proud of that.
the Chair would advise that all Mem- It is disgusting. On January 20, we will welcome
bers should leave the Chamber prompt- Everyone believes we are incapable of President Biden and Vice President
ly after casting their votes. Further- doing our jobs, and right now, we are KAMALA HARRIS in a peaceful transfer
more, Members should avoid congre- proving them right. of power.
gating in the rooms leading to the The reality is, there is plenty of God bless the United States, and God
Chamber, including the Speaker’s blame to go around, but Americans bless our democracy.
lobby. need another stimulus check. They f
As a reminder, the Chair will con- needed it months ago.
tinue the recent practice of providing We need expanded unemployment CONGRATULATING DONNA GIVENS
UPON HER RETIREMENT

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
small groups of Members with a min- back, especially now that cases are ex-
imum of 5 minutes within which to ploding at a higher rate than at any (Mr. BYRNE asked and was given
cast their votes. Members are encour- other point during this pandemic. permission to address the House for 1
aged to vote with their previously as- It is time to grow up. It is time to do minute.)
signed group. After voting, Members what we are paid for. It is time to do Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise
must clear the Chamber to allow the our jobs. today to congratulate Donna Givens

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