House Session of December 21, 2020, Page H7290 — Congressional Record
Summary
Page H7290 of the House section of the Congressional Record for December 21, 2020, with House proceedings in interleaved columns. The House is called to order at 4:04 p.m. by Ms. Jackson Lee as Speaker pro tempore, and communications from the Clerk and the Sergeant at Arms are laid before the House, including a Senate message agreeing to a House measure. Mrs. Lowey sends a concurrent resolution to the desk to correct the enrollment of H.R. 1520. A speaker says the pandemic has pushed eight million people into poverty and that one in four adults suffer from hunger, welcoming the agreement, and biologics text is printed.
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 December 21, 2020, Page H7290 — Congressional Record.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-21-crec-2020-12-21-pt1-pgh7290-9-96bf6c615b/
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H7290 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 21, 2020
The COVID–19 pandemic is dev- nication from the Clerk of the House of tempore (Ms. JACKSON LEE) at 4 o’clock
astating our communities, especially, Representatives: and 4 minutes p.m.
disproportionately, African-American, OFFICE OF THE CLERK, f
Latinx, Asian-American, and Indige- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
nous people, who are suffering the Washington, DC, December 20, 2020. COMMUNICATION FROM THE
worst of this pandemic. Eight million Hon. NANCY PELOSI, SERGEANT AT ARMS
people have slipped into poverty since The Speaker, House of Representatives, The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be-
Washington, DC. fore the House the following commu-
the start of this pandemic, and one in
DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to the
four adults are suffering from hunger permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II
nication from the Sergeant at Arms of
during COVID–19. of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa- the House of Representatives:
I am pleased that we were able to tives, the Clerk received the following mes- OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS,
come to this agreement. sage from the Secretary of the Senate on De- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
I want to thank our Speaker, NANCY cember 20, 2020, at 2:30 p.m.: Washington, DC, December 21, 2020.
PELOSI, who has worked day and night That the Senate agrees to the House Hon. NANCY PELOSI,
for what some of us are calling a sur- amendments to the bill S. 1694. The Speaker, House of Representatives,
vival package. It is a lifeline payment That the Senate agrees to the House Washington, DC.
amendment to the bill S. 2683. DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: This is to notify
until we can do something and do jus-
That the Senate agrees to the House you formally, pursuant to Rule VIII of the
tice by the American people. amendment to the bill S. 3989. Rules of the House of Representatives, that
I also want to just thank Chairman That the Senate passed S. 2204. I, Paul D. Irving, have been served with a
PALLONE, Congresswoman DELAURO, That the Senate passed without amend- subpoena for testimony issued by the Queen
Chairwoman NITA LOWEY, and all of ment H.R. 5459. Anne’s County Circuit Court.
our staffs for the amazing work that That the Senate passed without amend- After consultation with the Office of Gen-
they have done to put in so many of ment H.R. 7898. eral Counsel, I have determined that compli-
our priorities on a wide range of issues. With best wishes, I am, ance with the subpoena is not consistent
This bill sets aside $2.8 billion to en- Sincerely, with the privileges and rights of the House.
sure that minority communities hit CHERYL L. JOHNSON, Sincerely,
Clerk. PAUL D. IRVING,
hardest by COVID get the testing and Sergeant at Arms.
vaccine support they need. f
I look forward to working with my f
COMMUNICATION FROM THE
Tri-Caucus and Native American col- CLERK OF THE HOUSE REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO-
leagues to see that this funding is used VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
to engage local community organiza- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R.
tions and trusted messengers in the fore the House the following commu- 133, UNITED STATES-MEXICO
community so people can get the infor- nication from the Clerk of the House of ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACT;
mation that they need to keep them- Representatives: PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION OF
selves and their families safe. OFFICE OF THE CLERK, SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
f 1520, PURPLE BOOK CONTINUITY
Washington, DC, December 20, 2020.
Hon. NANCY PELOSI, ACT OF 2019; AND FOR OTHER
COMMUNICATION FROM THE
The Speaker, House of Representatives, PURPOSES
CLERK OF THE HOUSE
Washington, DC. Ms. SHALALA, from the Committee
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to the
JACKSON LEE) laid before the House the on Rules, submitted a privileged report
permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II
following communication from the (Rept. No. 116–679) on the resolution (H.
of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa-
Clerk of the House of Representatives: tives, the Clerk received the following mes- Res. 1271) providing for consideration
sage from the Secretary of the Senate on De- of the Senate amendment to the bill
OFFICE OF THE CLERK,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, cember 20, 2020, at 9:55 p.m.: (H.R. 133) to promote economic part-
Washington, DC, December 20, 2020. That the Senate agreed to without amend- nership and cooperation between the
Hon. NANCY PELOSI, ment H.J. Res. 110. United States and Mexico; providing
The Speaker, House of Representatives, With best wishes, I am, for disposition of the Senate amend-
Washington, DC. Sincerely, ment to the bill (H.R. 1520) to amend
DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to the GLORIA J. LETT,
the Public Health Service Act to pro-
permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II Deputy Clerk.
vide for the publication of a list of li-
of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa- f censed biological products, and for
tives, the Clerk received the following mes-
sage from the Secretary of the Senate on De- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER other purposes; and for other purposes,
cember 20, 2020, at 12:54 p.m.: PRO TEMPORE which was referred to the House Cal-
That the Senate agrees to the House The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- endar and ordered to be printed.
amendment to the concurrent resolution S. f
Con. Res. 52.
ant to clause 4 of rule I, the following
That the Senate agrees to the House enrolled joint resolution was signed by PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION
amendments to the bill S. 2174. the Speaker on Sunday, December 20, OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R.
That the Senate passed S. 2353. 2020: 133, UNITED STATES-MEXICO
That the Senate passed S. 2800. H.J. Res. 110, making further con-
That the Senate passed S. 4079. ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACT;
That the Senate passed S. 4222. tinuing appropriations for fiscal year PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION OF
That the Senate passed without amend- 2021, and for other purposes. SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R.
ment H.R. 1966. f 1520, PURPLE BOOK CONTINUITY
That the Senate passed without amend-
RECESS ACT OF 2019; AND FOR OTHER
ment H.R. 5023.
That the Senate passed without amend- PURPOSES
ment H.R. 6237.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, by
That the Senate passed without amend- direction of the Committee on Rules, I
ment H.R. 8906. declares the House in recess subject to
With best wishes, I am, the call of the Chair. call up House Resolution 1271 and ask
Sincerely, Accordingly (at 9 o’clock and 35 min- for its immediate consideration.
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, utes a.m.), the House stood in recess. The Clerk read the resolution, as fol-
Clerk. lows:
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f
f H. RES. 1271
b 1604 Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso-
COMMUNICATION FROM THE
AFTER RECESS lution it shall be in order to take from the
CLERK OF THE HOUSE
Speaker’s table the bill (H.R. 133) to promote
The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- The recess having expired, the House economic partnership and cooperation be-
fore the House the following commu- was called to order by the Speaker pro tween the United States and Mexico, with
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7291
the Senate amendment thereto, and to con- providing for a motion to concur with protect patients by ending surprise
sider in the House, without intervention of the Senate amendment to H.R. 133 with billing; multiple-year funding for com-
any point of order, a motion offered by the a House amendment. munity health centers, the backbone of
chair of the Committee on Appropriations or
The rule provides 1 hour of debate our Nation’s primary care system for
her designee that the House concur in the
Senate amendment with an amendment con- equally divided and controlled by the the most vulnerable; and an added
sisting of the text of Rules Committee Print chair and ranking minority member of boost in weekly unemployment bene-
116-68. The Senate amendment and the mo- the Committee on Appropriations. It fits and relief checks for people who
tion shall be considered as read. The motion provides that the question on adoption have been waiting for months for help.
shall be debatable for one hour equally di- of the motion shall be divided for a sep- There will be more than $300 billion
vided and controlled by the chair and rank- arate vote on the matter proposed to for small businesses and money to help
ing minority member of the Committee on be inserted as divisions B, C, E, and F. schools, for hospitals, and for vaccine
Appropriations. The previous question shall The rule provides that upon adoption distribution. It will also provide food
be considered as ordered on the motion to its
adoption without intervening motion. The
of this resolution, the House shall be assistance to hungry children and their
question of adoption of the motion shall be considered to have concurred in the families.
divided for a separate vote on the matter Senate amendment to H.R. 1520 with a This package will be bigger than the
proposed to be inserted as divisions B, C, E, House amendment. The rule also pro- American Recovery and Reinvestment
and F, and the Chair shall first put the ques- vides that the chairs of the Committee Act. It is the biggest package we have
tion on such portion of the divided question. on Appropriations and the Permanent passed since the CARES Act in March.
If either portion of the divided question fails Select Committee on Intelligence may
of adoption, then the motion shall imme- b 1615
insert explanatory materials in the
diately be considered to have failed of adop- But there is still more to do. I hope
tion.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD not later than
December 28 and authorizes the Clerk when the 117th Congress convenes in
SEC. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution,
the House shall be considered to have taken to make technical corrections to the January, that they will not forget the
from the Speaker’s table the bill (H.R. 1520) bill. American people who will still be suf-
to amend the Public Health Service Act to Finally, the rule allows for consider- fering and will need more. I hope that
provide for the publication of a list of li- ation of a possible veto message on the they will remember the people in my
censed biological products, and for other pur- conference report to H.R. 6395 on De- district, a district heavily dependent
poses, with the Senate amendment thereto, cember 28, 2020. on travel, on tourism, and the service
and to have concurred in the Senate amend- economy.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong sup-
ment with an amendment consisting of the Madam Speaker, I hope that the fam-
text of Rules Committee Print 116-69. port of the bill in this rule. This COVID
SEC. 3. The Clerk shall be authorized to bill has taken far too long. We started ilies in my community in Miami,
make necessary technical and conforming these negotiations before the first day which have been devastated by the last
changes in the engrossment of the House of summer in June, the longest day of 9 months—and so much more must be
amendments specified in the first two sec- the year, and here we are now headed done to help them.
tions of this resolution, to include correc- into the darkest day of the year, the But, today, we must pass this bill. It
tions in spelling, punctuation, section num- first day of winter. is time to be done with this, and we
bering, and cross-references. I also want to acknowledge the hard can wait not a moment longer.
SEC. 4. If a veto message is laid before the Simply put, with this bill, we are at-
House on H.R. 6395, then after the message is work of our Appropriations chair, NITA
read and the objections of the President are LOWEY, and Ranking Member GRANGER. tempting to right our moral compass
spread at large upon the Journal, further But this didn’t have to happen. The and fulfill our obligation to those suf-
consideration of the veto message and the pain that has been inflicted on the fering across our country and to help
bill shall be postponed until the legislative American people did not come just guide us out of this dark winter.
day of Monday, December 28, 2020; and on from the novel virus that has spread Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal-
that legislative day, the House shall proceed like wildfire across this Nation, but ance of my time.
to the constitutional question of reconsider- also from the elected leaders sent to Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield
ation and dispose of such question without myself such time as I may consume.
intervening motion.
Washington to help people and to help
SEC. 5. The chair of the Committee on Ap- this great Nation. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentle-
propriations and the chair of the Permanent Our failure to reach an agreement woman from Florida (Ms. SHALALA),
Select Committee on Intelligence may insert until today only added fuel to this my good friend, for yielding me the
in the Congressional Record not later than wildfire. It meant that not only did customary 30 minutes.
December 28, 2020, such material as they may people get the coronavirus, but when Madam Speaker, we are here today to
deem explanatory of the Senate amendment they did, their families often went hun- consider a rule that provides for con-
and the motion specified in the first section gry, their bills went unpaid, and they sideration of a package of items that
of this resolution. are of great importance to the country.
faced possible eviction or foreclosure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Madam Speaker, for 8 years, I worked The House amendment to the Senate
tlewoman from Florida (Ms. SHALALA) in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building amendment to H.R. 133 includes not
is recognized for 1 hour. not very far from here. Inscribed in the only a bipartisan omnibus appropria-
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, for lobby of that building is a quote from tions bill covering the remainder of fis-
the purpose of debate only, I yield the Hubert Humphrey: ‘‘The moral test of cal year 2021, but also a $900 billion bi-
customary 30 minutes to the distin- government is how the government partisan pandemic relief package to
guished gentleman from Oklahoma treats those who are in the dawn of provide help to millions of Americans
(Mr. COLE), pending which I yield my- life, the children; those who are in the who have suffered as a result of the
self such time as I may consume. Dur- twilight of life, the elderly; and those pandemic.
ing consideration of this resolution, all who are in the shadows of life, the sick, It also includes a bipartisan com-
time yielded is for the purpose of de- the needy, and the handicapped.’’ promise addressing surprise medical
bate only. Madam Speaker, we have failed that bills, something that has been a pri-
GENERAL LEAVE moral test. We have no right to make ority for both parties.
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I children go hungry in this country. Finally, it includes a number of end-
ask unanimous consent that all Mem- While this bill will certainly bring us of-the-year tax and healthcare-related
bers be given 5 legislative days to re- closer to passing that moral test, it is extenders that are critical to those
vise and extend their remarks. too late for too many people, and it they serve, especially during a pan-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there will be too little for others. Nonethe- demic.
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objection to the request of the gentle- less, we should pass this bill imme- While I know that we are all thrilled
woman from Florida? diately. to be here today to bring these items
There was no objection. There are a number of things that I to the floor, I am frustrated that it has
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, am pleased to see included in this bill: taken this long to reach this deal, and
today the Rules Committee met and re- a long-fought and negotiated bipar- I know the American people share that
ported a rule, House Resolution 1271, tisan and bicameral compromise to frustration.
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H7292 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 21, 2020
The reality is that we could have had Senate met together to conference the sure that they are not subjected to
this deal months ago on a pandemic re- bills into a final product. This dem- massive, surprise bills, ones that pa-
lief package, and we could have had onstrates how powerful and effective tients frequently have not planned for.
this deal. Individual components could regular order can be. Madam Speaker, I applaud my
have been passed across the floor in Madam Speaker, the second piece of friends on the Committee on Ways and
July of this year. Instead, Americans this bill is the $900 billion pandemic re- Means, the Committee on Energy and
were left to suffer. All the while, jobs lief package. For all of 2020, Ameri- Commerce, and the Committee on Edu-
were being lost and businesses being cans—and indeed the world—have lived cation and Labor for coming to this
closed; all the while, small businesses under the specter of this pandemic. It important compromise, and I look for-
across the country were forced to make has touched every American’s life in ward to supporting its passage in law.
difficult decisions about which employ- some way or another, but many Ameri- Madam Speaker, finally, I take a mo-
ees to keep and which staff to let go; cans have been hit harder than others. ment to acknowledge my very dear
all the while, a deal was available here Millions have caught this disease, friend, Representative DONNA SHALALA,
in Congress that could have extended and hundreds of thousands have died. who is managing her final rule on the
Millions more have lost their jobs, and floor today. I have always enjoyed my
unemployment insurance and extended
millions have seen their wages or earn- interactions with my friend and it has
the Paycheck Protection Program, a
ings cut. This has been a crisis that always been a pleasure serving with
program which Democrats in the House
touches us on so many levels. A health her on the Committee on Rules. She
rejected extending 41 times.
crisis is bad enough, but adding an eco- has been a helpful ally when we have
These two key backstops could have
nomic crisis on top of it makes this agreed and a worthy opponent when we
helped millions of Americans. Instead,
year the toughest that many of us can have not.
Democrats chose to play politics and Much more importantly, she has al-
chose not to take yes for an answer. remember.
The coronavirus relief package before ways been, first and foremost, a public
But now that the election is over and servant. She was a public servant be-
the end of the year is at hand, suddenly us will do several things to ease the
burden on all Americans. It will extend fore she arrived in Congress. I have no
there is room for a deal, a very bipar- doubt she will continue to be a public
tisan deal that was on the table all the Paycheck Protection Program and
will ensure that many small businesses servant when she leaves. We have all
along and that could have been passed benefitted from her leadership at the
will be able to keep their employees on
into law months ago. Department of Health and Human
Madam Speaker, for today, we will the payroll. It will extend expanded un-
employment insurance, thus providing Services during the Clinton years, from
look past that. Though this overall bill her many years as a leader in edu-
is massive, I think it is easiest to di- more funds to unemployed workers to
help make them closer to whole. And it cational institutions, from her tireless
gest if you consider it in three separate participations on countless boards and
sections: will provide economic impact pay-
ments of $600 to almost every Amer- commissions and committees, all of
Section 1 is the bipartisan, bicameral which were rendering important serv-
omnibus appropriations bill, which will ican, except those with high incomes.
Though I expect this may not be the ice to our country.
include our appropriations work for fis- Madam Speaker, I am going to miss
cal year 2021. The appropriations proc- last time Congress responds to the
COVID pandemic, I hope that in the fu- my friend on the Committee on Rules.
ess works best when it is bipartisan, This Congress is going to miss her, but
ture the Speaker will embark on a dif-
and with today’s bill, we have accom- I know the country is going to con-
ferent path of resolution. A relief pack-
plished that end. tinue to have the benefit of her splen-
Once we step past the partisanship, age like this one may not have been ev-
did service and insight.
we are able to work together and reach erything that both parties wanted, but
Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal-
a deal that will fully fund the govern- a compromise deal that provides real ance of my time.
ment for the fiscal year. Our constitu- help to American workers is better Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I
than no deal at all. And that com- thank my distinguished colleague for
ents deserve no less.
Madam Speaker, the deal before us promise could have and should have his very kind words. I will say that I
covers all 12 spending bills and it en- been reached months ago. I hope the have enjoyed working with him. I have
sures that taxpayer dollars will go majority will remember that going for- deep respect for his leadership in this
where they are needed most. In par- ward. Congress.
Madam Speaker, the third section of Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
ticular, I am pleased that this bill in-
today’s package is a number of mis- the gentleman from Massachusetts
cludes key provisions supporting our
cellaneous bipartisan items, including (Mr. MCGOVERN), the distinguished
response to the pandemic, like $20 bil-
a bill intended to address the problems chairman of the Committee on Rules.
lion for coronavirus vaccines, an in- of surprise medical billing. This is a
crease in funding for the National In- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
problem that is known far too well by thank the gentlewoman for yielding to
stitutes of Health, and a further $3 bil- many Americans.
lion to rebuild the Strategic National me.
You see a doctor or you visit an Madam Speaker, across America,
Stockpile of medical supplies and per- emergency room, and only learn after people are dealing with a loss of a job,
sonal protective equipment. It fully the fact that a medical professional a business, or even a loved one. People
funds our defense needs and ensures a 3 you saw during your treatment is out- are hurting, and they are hurting badly
percent pay raise for all military per- side your insurance network. This can not only from this pandemic, but also
sonnel. It continues to fund needed im- lead to a wildly expensive bill for the from the incompetence, the callous-
provements for border security. And, patient, who may not have had any ness, and the negligence of the current
perhaps most importantly, it main- choice in the matter. occupant of the White House.
tains all pro-life protections, as has The bipartisan bill before us today When I talk about people hurting, I
been the case in previous years. And will help solve this problem. It will en- don’t mean big corporations or Fortune
the harmful, partisan riders that ap- sure that the patients will only be re- 500 companies. I am talking about our
peared in Democratic partisan appro- sponsible for covering the portion not workers, our middle class, those on the
priations bills from earlier this year covered by their health insurance at edge of the middle class, and those
have been removed. in-network rates when they don’t have struggling in poverty. That is where
Madam Speaker, I think it is worth the ability to choose an in-network our focus should be. And thanks to the
noting that this bill came about as a doctor, like in emergency situations. bipartisan efforts of Members on both
result of regular order. The Committee The bill also will make pricing more sides of the Capitol, we are acting right
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on Appropriations produced each of the open and transparent and will require now—not next year or during the next
12 appropriations bills from a regular insurers to notify patients in advance administration, as some have sug-
committee process. Members were if they are going to receive out-of-net- gested—but right now.
given the opportunity to amend, ques- work care. This deal is not everything I want—
tion, and fully examine most of the These reforms will give patients and not by a long shot—but the choice be-
bills on the floor, and the House and consumers more choice and will make fore us is simple. It is about whether
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7293
we help families or not. It is about b 1630 er Cincinnati area. I know that my col-
whether we help small businesses and For those who are unemployed be- leagues on both sides of the aisle have
restaurants or not. It is about whether cause of the coronavirus, because the been hearing the same thing from their
we boost SNAP benefits and strengthen governments have shut down the busi- constituents.
antihunger programs or not. And it is nesses, it will give unemployment in- While I am relieved that Congress is
about whether we help those dealing surance relief. But there will be protec- finally acting on those cries for help, I
with a job loss or not. tions in there to make sure that the am dismayed that it has taken this
To me, this is not a tough call. We people are really unemployed and that long. I introduced a bill back in Sep-
need to pass this, and then we need to they will accept a reasonable offer for tember, 3 months ago, that could have
prepare to build on it in the next Con- a job. been brought to the floor and helped
gress, hopefully, in a bipartisan fashion Also good in the bill is that there is those small businesses that so des-
and with an administration that actu- not only money for vaccine procure- perately needed that help back then.
ally gives a damn about the American ment but for distribution of the vac- That bill included many of the same
people. cines. provisions that we are voting on today.
Madam Speaker, before I conclude, I On that note, I want to applaud Instead, this House, under Democratic
also join the gentleman from Okla- President Trump for his action in Oper- control, considered bills about mari-
homa in recognizing the service of Con- ation Warp Speed and for working with juana and online conspiracy theories,
gresswoman SHALALA. Over the years, the private sector to get vaccines done for example. It is an embarrassment
she has had many titles: Doctor, treas- and out the door in record time. This that it has taken this long because
urer, college president, chancellor, as- has never been done before in history. every moment of delay put more small
sistant secretary, secretary, congress- Normally, it takes years and years for businesses at risk of permanent clo-
woman—and I could go on. vaccines to be done. sure.
Often, DONNA has done it first: She Thank you, President Trump, for These small businesses, restaurants,
was among the very first Peace Corps your hard work for the American peo- shops, and manufacturers employ near-
volunteers. She was the first woman to ple. ly half of this country’s workers and
lead a Big 10 Conference college. She Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I form the backbone of communities all
was only the second woman to lead a yield myself such time as I may con- across the country. Fortunately, the
major research university. And DONNA sume. provisions in today’s relief package
was the first Lebanese American to Madam Speaker, first, let me thank will bring critical assistance to these
serve in a President’s Cabinet. Chairman MCGOVERN for his very kind workers and their families.
Madam Speaker, there is a saying in words. I have enjoyed serving under his The Paycheck Protection Program,
Arabic, which in English is: ‘‘Do good leadership. which has supported over 50 million
and throw it into the sea.’’ Let me say to my colleague, Mrs. employees, will be reopened for new
It means this: The reward is doing LESKO, years of bipartisan investments and second-time applicants. Funds will
good. Not the praise or recognition. in NIH have, in fact, led to Operation be reserved for very small businesses
Just simply an act of doing good. Warp Speed. Decades of investments in and community lenders. The list of eli-
And DONNA SHALALA does good, pe- training the world’s best scientists gible expenses will be expanded so that
riod. I know she will continue to do have led to a very fast-paced develop- small business owners can purchase
good. ment of a vaccine. So, it is not just the PPE, for example, to keep employees
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- present President; it is Presidents be- and their loved ones safe.
bers are reminded to refrain from en- fore that who believed that we should There are many more details in the
gaging in personalities toward the have world-class science in this coun- package, too many to go into here. But
President. try. the bottom line is this: These provi-
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to sions will bring meaningful help to
minutes to the gentlewoman from Ari- the gentleman from Texas (Mr. GREEN). millions of Americans.
zona (Mrs. LESKO), my good friend and Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speak- Just in my district in Cincinnati and
distinguished colleague on the Com- er, this bill will not end all the suf- the surrounding area, a PPP loan
mittee on Rules. fering. However, it will ease the pain helped keep 140 employees on the pay-
Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, I am for many who are suffering, with $25 roll at the Silver Spring House res-
glad that we finally have a bipartisan billion for eviction prevention, $13 bil- taurant. A PPP loan enabled HomeWell
deal for COVID relief, but the process lion for food in the form of SNAP, and Care Services, an assisted living facil-
has been absolutely terrible. $600 cash in pocket. It won’t end all the ity, to continue their important work
I have to tell you that we have, what, suffering, but it will ease much of the for our community’s elderly popu-
6,000 pages? And what did we get? pain. lation. And the folks at Neyer Plumb-
We got it, like, maybe 2 hours ago, For this, I thank Chairman MCGOV- ing used PPP funding to carry on as an
the text of it. We were waiting all ERN, Mr. COLE, and Ms. SHALALA. Of essential business.
night. course, I am always honored to serve in These are real people with real fami-
In fact, Speaker PELOSI had called the Congress of the United States of lies to support and bills to pay. That is
Members back last week. We thought America under the leadership of the why it is so important that we pass
we were going to be doing this last Honorable MAXINE WATERS, and I this package without additional delay.
Wednesday. Instead, we were doing all thank her for her $25 billion in rental Small businesses and their employees
these suspension bills. People had to assistance. are tough; they are resilient. Across
fly from all over the country—all the Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 the country, we hear stories about
Congress Members—in crowded air- minutes to the gentleman from Ohio small businesses giving back to their
ports, crowded planes; not really good (Mr. CHABOT), my very good friend and communities, even when they are
for mitigating COVID, if you ask me. the distinguished ranking Republican struggling themselves.
Madam Speaker, I will say, though, member of the Small Business Com- It is time for Congress to meet the
that I am glad that, finally, after mittee. moment and get further help in the
months and months of Republicans Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I hands of working Americans. As a mat-
asking for a bipartisan COVID relief thank the gentleman from Oklahoma ter of fact, it is far overdue.
bill that could actually get signed into for his leadership on this issue and so Madam Speaker, I urge my col-
law, we are actually here today, even if many other issues over the years. leagues to vote ‘‘yes’’ on this long-
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it is a couple days before Christmas. Madam Speaker, for months now, our overdue legislation.
And it is a bill that will help small Nation’s entrepreneurs and small busi- Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I
businesses and their workers, will help ness owners have been pleading for ad- yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
the airline industry, will be a solution ditional help from Congress. I have California (Mr. PANETTA).
to Americans who are struggling with been hearing this from small busi- Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I
surprise medical bills. nesses back in my district in the great- rise in support of the COVID temporary
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H7294 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 21, 2020
relief package in this rule. We did it The alternative payment model thresh- appropriations for the federal government and
before. We must do it again. old is frozen for 2 years. That is impor- urgently needed COVID–19 relief funding.
Our past COVID legislation kept the tant. Chairman MCGOVERN, and Ranking Member
economy afloat and our poverty rate Project ECHO, which allows for pri- COLE, thank you for your work to bring this
flat. However, as Democrats passed mary care doctors in remote areas to Rule before the House so that Members can
more bills, the Senate and the Presi- be able to consult with specialists, has debate and vote for urgently needed aid to
dent put a pause on those efforts. been continued. That is a big deal. communities across the nation and the funding
Now, the pandemic is raging, hos- The out-of-network billing has been needed to keep the federal government oper-
pitals are bursting, and our economy is tough, and it has been tough in a year ational through the remainder of Fiscal Year
hurting. That is why we must play our that has been tough on our Nation’s 2021.
part with Federal funding to combat frontline healthcare personnel. The As a senior member of the Committees on
this disease and carry on through the out-of-network billing language has the Judiciary, on Homeland Security, and on
locally mandated shutdowns. improved dramatically over the last 18 the Budget, and the representative of the 18th
This relief package will allow us to months. I cannot say that it is perfect, Congressional District of Texas, an epicenter
avoid calamity and aid our recovery by but some of the more recent improve- for COVID–19 infections, I recognize the ur-
providing small businesses with PPP, ments, such as the prevention of put- gency of providing assistance now, but I also
laid-off employees with unemployment ting payment data from public payers recognize that the assistance is insufficient to
insurance, families with checks, farm- in the independent dispute resolution the needs of our state and local governments,
workers with PPE, renters with direct process, are pretty big wins for our our hospitals, or the people of our great na-
relief, and the ailing with the HOS- physicians. tion.
PICE Act. I will also add that it is an unusual I support this rule that will facilitate passage
To help State and local governments, time that they should have to be facing of this interim package, while also saying that
there is funding for broadband, food, additional cuts when our doctors have more is needed.
healthcare, education, and transpor- been on the front lines of providing Before the Rules Committee also was the
tation. care for America’s patients during this omnibus appropriations bill providing funding
Look, this package should have been pandemic. Faced with out-of-network to continue the operations of the federal gov-
bigger. It should have been done payment reductions from the insurance ernment through September 30, 2021, thus
quicker. It is not entirely what we companies and with reductions through avoiding a wasteful and irresponsible shut-
want. But it is what we need to be that the evaluation and management codes, down.
bridge to a vaccine-fueled revival in the E and M codes, it is a funny way to I am relieved that at long last, agreement
2021. If we do that, we will further the go about rewarding those that we has been reached between the bicameral
faith in what we do here in Congress would refer to as our Nation’s heroes. leadership to provide needed and long over-
for the future of our democracy. Still, Mr. Speaker, the American peo- due relief to the tens of millions Americans
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 ple do need the relief that is provided whose lives and livelihoods have been dev-
minutes to the gentleman from Texas in this coronavirus package. astated by the COVID–19 pandemic.
(Mr. BURGESS), my very good friend Ms. SHALALA. I yield 1 minute to I am grateful that efficacious vaccines have
and a distinguished member of the En- the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. been discovered and are on their way to pro-
ergy and Commerce Committee and the JACKSON LEE). viding much needed protection and relief, but
Rules Committee. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this is just a down payment on the relief and
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, help is on the way. Help cannot come support needed for our country to recover
hearing some of the earlier discussion, faster. Help is desperately needed. from the pandemic and build back better.
just for a data point, this is December Seventeen million Americans are in- Over the course of the 116th Congress the
21, the longest night of the year, as fected by COVID–19. Almost 320,000 are House Rules Committee has done its job and
they say. dead, and the numbers keep growing. provided expert guidance on the progress of
On August 21, the former Vice Presi- Hospital beds are overutilized. Cities nearly 600 bills that have passed the House
dent, in accepting the Democratic across America are getting refrigerated and gone to the Senate.
Party nomination for President, in his trucks. Help is on the way. These bills included legislation to lower
acceptance speech, said: Look, let’s be People are being evicted, and this health care and prescription drug prices, raise
clear. No miracle is coming. legislation helps us stop the evictions. wages, advance economic and retirement se-
Well, here we are, 4 months later, It provides for cash disbursements, up curity, end gun violence, act on the climate cri-
with not one but two vaccines, each in to $2,400 for a family of four and $300 sis, protect Dreamers, and strengthen voting
excess of 90 percent effective; abso- extra in weekly unemployment pay- rights.
lutely phenomenal. ments. For example, in this Congress the House
As another data point, in August For hungry families, 54 million hun- has passed and sent to the Senate the fol-
2014, the Ebola crisis was raging in gry families in America, including our lowing major legislative bills:
Western Africa. A vaccine was out of young military personnel, help is on H.R. 1, For the People Act;
phase 1 trials. It took 51⁄2 years to de- the way. H.R. 2, Moving Forward Act;
H.R. 3, The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug
liver that vaccine. This one was deliv- This bill is a bill we wrote months
Costs Now Act;
ered in 10 months. It is absolutely in- ago. It is downsized, but it is the very
H.R. 4, Voting Rights Advancement Act;
credible. language that we have written. So we H.R. 5, Equality Act;
Look, in the bill before us today, know, in the new year, we will come H.R. 6, The American Dream & Promise
there are some high points, and there back again to save lives. Act;
are some low points. A couple of things Let’s get this done in unity. We know H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act;
I do want to point out. how it was blocked. We know the other H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act;
The Independence at Home Act that I House did not move forward. We know H.R. 9, Climate Action Now Act;
introduced with Congresswoman DIN- we did not get leadership on this bill. H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act;
GELL several years ago was continued But as I close, let me thank Sec- H.R. 1425, Patient Protection and Affordable
and expanded. retary Shalala, Congresswoman Care Enhancement Act;
One of the biggest deals for me is SHALALA, for what she brought to this H.R. 1585, Violence Against Women Reau-
coverage for immunosuppressive drugs Congress, what insight, what thorization Act; and
after a renal transplant. I have been specialness, and what kindness. H.R. 7120, George Floyd Justice in Policing
working on this for 10 years. Now, we We wish you the very best, and I look Act.
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have provided additional protection for forward to working with you in the fu- Also among the bills passed by the House
people who are recipients of renal ture. was H.R. 3710, the Cybersecurity Vulnerability
transplants so that they can continue Mr. Speaker, help is on the way. Remediation Act, legislation that increases the
to get their immunosuppressive drugs. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support responsibilities of the Department of Home-
Some flexibility has been provided in for the Rule that the House is debating to pro- land Security (DHS) with respect to cyberse-
the bill to allow for value-based care. vide for the consideration of the Fiscal Year curity vulnerabilities.
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7295
The National Cybersecurity and Commu- Both of these global health emergencies by voting for a rule to bring the bill to the floor
nications Integration Center of DHS under this were expertly managed and because of this today.
bill is directed to disseminate protocols to most Americans cannot recall the threat. Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2
counter cybersecurity vulnerabilities, including President Obama had to deal with an eco- minutes to the gentleman from South
in circumstances in which such vulnerabilities logical disaster in the form of the Deep Hori- Dakota (Mr. JOHNSON), my very good
exist because software or hardware is no zon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that threat- friend.
longer supported by a vendor. ened the environment and delicate hatcheries Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr.
This bill would also provide the Science and for sea turtles and the tourism industry long Speaker, I think it was Winston
Technology Directorate the flexibility to estab- the coast. Churchill who said you can always
lish a competition to develop remedies for cy- Both the turtles and tourism were saved, count on Americans to do the right
bersecurity vulnerabilities. and as with the flu pandemic and Ebola crisis thing after they have exhausted all
Today, our nation is still attempting to un- most Americans cannot recall the incident, be- other options.
derstand the scope and breath of the latest cause their lives were not overly disrupted and You know, Congress looks that way
Russia sourced attack on federal government the problems were addressed effectively. to me from time to time. This is not
cyber assets. That is the sign of a good president be- the process or the timeline or the
In this moment we must address the crisis cause he kept American safe. structure I have argued for. This
created by COVID–19, and the Cybersecurity When President Obama left office on Janu- COVID–19 package doesn’t have all the
threat that is ongoing. ary 20, 2017, unemployment was at 4. 7 per- provisions that I have asked for. It is
There are consequences for the Senate’s cent; but today, due to the mismanagement of clearly not a perfect bill.
failure to take up House bills once they are re- the COVID–19 pandemic by President Trump Yet, it is the targeted and focused re-
ceived in the Senate. and Republicans, unemployment skyrocketed lief that our country needs. It follows
In truth the Republican-controlled Senate to 8.4 percent and currently stands at 6.7 per- the framework that a bipartisan group
has been missing in action for much of the cent. of eight Senators and eight House
116th Congress. When Trump took office in January 2017, Members, including myself, unveiled a
Whether it is the urgent need to fortify our there were 241,000 initial unemployment in- few weeks ago.
election systems from confirmed foreign inter- surance (UI) claims for the week ending Janu- We knew then that it was not a per-
ference, notably from Vladimir Putin’s Russia, ary 28, 2017 and at the beginning of the 116th fect bill, but we knew it was the way
or lower prescription drugs prices and expand- Congress in January 2019, there were forward. I am proud of the role that I
ing and protecting the right of all Americans to 236,000 initial UI claims. have played and that the Problem
affordable, accessible, high quality health Today, due to the mismanagement of the Solvers Caucus has played in breaking
care, fixing our broken immigration system, or COVID–19 pandemic by President Trump and this gridlock. I am proud of the role
hold a wayward Executive to account, the Republicans, there were 885,000 initial UI that we have played in making sure
other body has failed the American people in claims for the week ending December 12, that our economy and our schools can
its basic duty to promote the general welfare 2020. stay open and that our testing and our
and provide for the common defense. Approximately 30 million Americans have vaccine deployment can be ramped up.
The consequences of its complete disregard lost the job they had earlier this year because Madam Speaker, this has been a
for the work of the House is now more appar- of this Administration’s ineptitude and cavalier messy week, but this is a good day for
ent than ever and is illustrated perfectly by the regard for the well-being of the American peo- America.
Senate’s failure to take up and vote on the ple. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker,
HEROES Act passed by the House in March During President Obama’s last full year in thank you for your kind words.
office in 2016, the national debt was $20.02 Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to
of this year to address the devastating budg-
trillion but due to the misguided economic poli- the gentleman from Colorado (Mr.
etary and fiscal impacts of the COVID–19 pan-
cies and utter mismanagement of the COVID– CROW).
demic which the President exacerbated by his
incompetent response to the crisis. 19 pandemic, the national debt has increased b 1645
The numbers are heartbreaking. by $6.7 trillion and is projected to reach an all- Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I grew
My thoughts and prayers are with the over time high of $29.6 trillion by the end of the up knowing what it felt like to strug-
315,000 families who have lost loved ones FY2021 fiscal year. gle financially, that fear and anxiety of
and the tens of thousand who are sick, and The annual deficit had been cut to $585 bil- not knowing where your next rent
the many others who will struggle with the ef- lion (3.2 percent of GDP) in the last year of check would come from, working a
fects of COVID–19 over the coming days, the Obama Administration but under the mis- shift at Arby’s or a 14-hour day on the
weeks, months, and years. management of the current Administration, we construction site and still not making
We owe a special debt to first responders have seen the deficit balloon nearly seven-fold ends meet. That is why I am voting for
who are the lifelines for those who are very ill to $3.1 trillion or 15.2 percent GDP, the larg- this bill.
or who will need medical care to overcome est since 1945 relative to the size of the econ- As imperfect as it is—and there are
this coronavirus. omy. plenty of things that are not in this
The need to begin work on the next aid Continuing this Administration’s unbroken bill that should be—it will provide im-
package is evident in the economic impact of chain of woe, in 2019, after repeated attempts mediate relief for millions of families
COVID–19. by Republicans to undermine and sabotage and small businesses that simply can’t
Congress and the Executive Branch must the Affordable Care Act, there were 33.2 mil- wait any longer, including those that
be able to manage more than one crisis at a lion uninsured Americans, 5 million more than are left out of prior rounds of relief.
time, while avoiding crisis management deci- when President Obama left office. For example, my district is one of
sion making when possible. It has been estimated by reputable experts the most diverse districts in the Nation
The Obama Administration exemplified what that from February 2020 through May 2020 and home to thousands of refugees and
a President and a Congress working in con- alone, an estimated 5.4 million Americans be- immigrants. That is why I have been
cert can accomplish. came uninsured because of unprecedented fighting hard to get payments to
The first two years of Obama’s Administra- job loss caused by the Republican mis- mixed-status ITIN families in this bill.
tion had Democrats in charge of the House management of this pandemic. We have been successful in doing that.
and Senate, which made it possible for the Given the wreckage to the economy and the Madam Speaker, I look forward to
Legislative and Executive Branches to work in damage to the lives and livelihoods of the working with the Biden administration
concert to attack and repel the economic dis- American people, it is unconscionable that this to provide more relief in the coming
aster the nation faced from the housing value Administration is pursuing a lawsuit to strike months so that we can tackle this cri-
collapse; and addressing health care dispari- down the Affordable Care Act, which would sis together.
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ties by passing the Affordable Care Act both take health care coverage away from 20 mil- Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2
of which saved millions from economic dis- lion Americans and take away protections for minutes to the gentleman from Ken-
aster and saved tens of thousands of lives. 132 million persons who have pre-existing tucky (Mr. BARR).
The Obama Administration had a flu pan- conditions. Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise
demic in 2009 and Ebola that threatened to I strongly support this legislation and urge today in support of long-delayed legis-
become endemic in 2013. members of the Rules Committee to join me lation to deliver more resources to the
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H7296 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 21, 2020
American people to defeat the COVID– men and women in my district and We addressed those who are most vul-
19 virus and provide much-needed relief across this country. nerable.
from government-imposed lockdowns Madam Speaker, this is not enough, And, the truth is, we also give Joe
of the economy. but it is a start. I urge my colleagues Biden a chance after January 20, be-
Ultimately, no amount of govern- to vote ‘‘yes.’’ cause of the duration of this legisla-
ment spending can substitute for a Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield tion, to provide what we all know is
fully functioning, open economy free of myself such time as I may consume. going to be a plan for additional assist-
government lockdowns. But I am con- Madam Speaker, I just want to ance to members of the American fam-
fident this relief package, which pro- quickly respond to my friend from ily.
vides over $284 billion to reload and California. It is just, frankly, not accu- Madam Speaker, there are 20 million
strengthen the Paycheck Protection rate to say Republicans did nothing. Americans collecting unemployment
The reality is Democrats in the Sen- insurance right now in America. For
Program, will help bridge the gap until
ate did nothing. They were offered a people at the lower end of the economic
COVID–19 vaccines are widely distrib-
bill about the size of this bill. Actually, spectrum, this has been cruel and cal-
uted. It does so in a fiscally responsible
it was a little bit larger—as I recall, it lous. We need to come to their assist-
way by rescinding and reallocating $429 was about a trillion dollars—than this
billion in Federal Reserve emergency ance.
bill, and they wouldn’t allow it to come People with white-collar jobs, they
lending authority, and it repurposes to the floor to be heard.
unused PPP funds. have held on and their unemployment
This deal has been on the table since
Importantly, this bill provides effec- rate is significantly less. But we know
July. My friends chose to hold it up,
tive, targeted relief, with a net price how stubborn this problem is, and until
for whatever reason—be it political or
tag of approximately $325 billion in we defeat the virus, it is hard to see
in hopes of getting a better deal—and
new outlays. It does not include the they prolonged the suffering of the how we get to a full economic recovery.
liberal wish list that was the center- I hope that the argument will not be,
American people, and I regret that.
piece of the Speaker’s originally $3.4 But we are here today. We have once Mr. Biden takes the oath, that we
trillion Heroes Act, a fiscally reckless worked together. We have got all the need to proceed to austerity. What we
proposal that needlessly delayed this appropriations bills done. I am proud of do in this legislation with these checks
reasonable bipartisan compromise. that. We have got a good relief package is we provide additional liquidity,
For months, I have called on Con- here. I am proud of that. We have which then provides additional demand
gress and the administration to sim- taken care of some important issues. for people at the lower end of the eco-
plify the PPP forgiveness application I see my friend, the chairman of the nomic spectrum.
for small businesses to ease their bur- Committee on Ways and Means. He had This is a very good piece of legisla-
dens and ensure lender participation. a lot to do with that, on surprise med- tion. I am very proud of what the Com-
Today, that goal becomes a reality. ical billing. That is a bipartisan ac- mittee on Ways and Means did to help
I also support the bill’s extension of complishment and achievement. get us to this day.
troubled debt restructuring relief, So let’s build on the things that we Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I reserve
which allows lenders to work with have and see what we need to do in the the balance of my time.
their borrowers to modify loans. And I next Congress. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I
strongly support its provision to en- But, again, for one side to point fin- yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
sure small businesses can deduct ex- gers at the other here is just simply, in New York (Mr. ESPAILLAT).
my view, not appropriate. Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I
penses covered by PPP loans.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- rise in support of the rule and the un-
While it has taken far too long to get
ance of my time. derlying COVID relief package:
to this point, the bill we are passing
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I Another $284 billion for PPP loans for
today will bring much-needed help to
yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from small businesses that have been hurt-
American workers, families, and small
Massachusetts (Mr. NEAL), the distin- ing for so long, particularly res-
businesses, without putting more mas-
guished chairman of the Committee on taurants that are struggling. Finally,
sive amounts of debt on the American
Ways and Means. Main Street will get some help. We
people. Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, let me bailed out Wall Street a long time ago
Madam Speaker, I urge my col- proceed with acknowledging that this and all the big guys; now we have got
leagues to vote ‘‘yes’’ on this bill. legislation had many crucial elements to bail out Main Street.
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I that were developed and constructed by $20 billion in EIDL grants for small
yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the Committee on Ways and Means on businesses; another $600 in stimulus
California (Mr. THOMPSON). a bipartisan basis. checks for individuals and children. It
Mr. THOMPSON of California. We expanded on unemployment in- should have been $1,200, but we will
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of surance. We provided an additional take the $600 now, and we will be back
this legislation. supplement of $300 a week. We ex- after January 20.
To be clear, this package is nowhere panded the retention tax credit, which $300 for unemployment benefits. It
near enough. House Democrats passed was very important. We maintained should have been a little bit more. You
three times more relief in May; our Re- and expanded the EITC and the child can’t live on $300.
publican colleagues did nothing. We credit. $13 billion for SNAP. People are
passed more than double this 2 months Madam Speaker, I want to thank starving, the lines are longer, made up
ago; our Republican colleagues did DONNA SHALALA, because perhaps one of families and children.
nothing. of the most important elements in this $14 billion for public transit, in addi-
This package is not commensurate to successful piece of legislation was ad- tion to $4 billion for the MTA. The
the magnitude of the crisis we face. We dressing surprise medical billing. She MTA has a $12 billion gap. We will be
need to do more, including vital aid to supported my position on this from day back for the rest of that money.
State and local governments and help one, and she couldn’t have been more $68 billion for purchasing vaccines,
for our restaurant industry, but this is earnest. She has been a terrific Mem- and $20 billion for distributing them.
a start. ber of this House. Broadband.
This legislation includes important We provide direct payments. We pro- And, finally, Madam Speaker, $4 bil-
funding for vaccine distribution, vide assistance in terms of tax extend- lion for Gavi, an international vaccine
schools, small businesses, and a des- ers. We add a really good job on the re- distribution alliance, because it is not
perately needed extension of unem- newable tax credits as well, and we ex- an epidemic; it is a pandemic.
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ployment insurance. pand eligibility for a round of checks The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.
I am pleased that this legislation to include people in mixed-status fami- JACKSON LEE). The time of the gen-
also extends clean energy tax credits, lies. tleman has expired.
provides disaster tax assistance, helps Many of these pieces of legislation Mr. ESPAILLAT. We will not be free
prevent tragic flame jetting accidents, people said couldn’t happen and, in- of COVID unless the rest of the world
and provides help for the hardworking deed, they did. is.
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7297
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I reserve credit for that, and so does his admin- there than the administration re-
the balance of my time. istration. quested.
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I That is something that all of us, re- I will also remind my good friend
yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman gardless of party and partisanship, that when I was chairman, we put more
from Massachusetts (Ms. CLARK). should be proud of; and, frankly, it is money in than the Obama administra-
Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. something we owe the President a tion requested; and we continued to do
Madam Speaker, House Democrats great deal of gratitude for. more money than the Trump adminis-
took the necessary action to defeat Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- tration requested, which actually re-
this virus and restore the economy in ance of my time. quested some cuts.
May, but MITCH MCCONNELL said let’s Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, let So the reality is that Congress—on a
hit the pause button. So Americans me remind my distinguished colleague bipartisan basis, I must say, because I
have waited 7 long months for the GOP from Oklahoma that we sent the He- had the support of my ranking mem-
to take action to end their suffering. roes Act in May. ber, now our distinguished chairwoman
As over 300,000 Americans lost their And while I agree that the adminis- of the Labor, Health, and Human Serv-
lives, they said more testing was not tration should get some credit for Op- ices Subcommittee, ROSA DELAURO, in
necessary. eration Warp Speed, as I have pointed those decisions—Congress, but particu-
As veterans and children waited in out, it has been decades of investment larly Republicans, have made those in-
lines at food banks, they proposed a in the science that led to Operation vestments over the years.
tax credit for business lunches. Warp Speed. And I think the country—I agree
As 8 million more Americans fell into Many of us would have appreciated, with my friend—has reaped enormous
poverty, they proposed cutting unem- and we would have saved lives, if we benefits from that. I hope we continue
ployment benefits. had made the same kind of investments down that road in the next Congress
As one out of four women have lost in testing so that we had an instant with the next administration. I am
their jobs and have left the workforce, test, and we would have ended up sav- looking forward to that possibility.
they fought to limit paid leave and ac- ing lives. But I simply wanted to let the record
cess to childcare. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to reflect what the contribution from our
As 40 million Americans teeter on the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. side of the aisle has been in that re-
the verge of homelessness, they fought GOTTHEIMER). gard.
to shield corporations from negligence Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal-
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker,
and deny workers basic safety protec- ance of my time.
they said it couldn’t be done, that Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I
tions. Democrats and Republicans could actu-
This bill is too little too late, but it don’t disagree with my colleague, but
ally come together, not only in the it was bipartisan, and I think that is
is a lifesaving bridge to a better time House, but in the Senate, too, and pass
and a new President who will focus on the important thing about those in-
a COVID–19 emergency relief package. vestments over the years.
restoring Americans’ jobs and their But, finally, after 9 months, it is about My point was it was those invest-
health. to happen. We are about to cross the
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield ments that made it possible for Oper-
finish line. This is as close to a Christ- ation Warp Speed. I never suggested
myself such time as I may consume. mas miracle as you can find in a nor-
Madam Speaker, I beg to differ with that it was one party versus another
mally polarized Washington. that made that bipartisan investment.
my good friend from Massachusetts. It
wasn’t Republicans who did nothing; it b 1700 It has been decades of bipartisan in-
was Democrats who did nothing. With the virus raging across the Na- vestments that have made a difference.
tion, the 50–Member strong bipartisan Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to
The Senate actually offered a tril-
Problem Solvers Caucus put country the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs.
lion-dollar package in July. We are
over party and helped craft a package BEATTY).
here approving a $900 billion package Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I
today. that will help put food on the table,
thank the gentlewoman from Florida
The President of the United States distribute vaccines to our commu-
for yielding.
offered a $1.8 trillion package at one nities, save our struggling small busi- I rise today to support this legisla-
point. We are approving a $900 billion nesses, put money in the pockets of tion because my constituents des-
package today. American families, and help keep fami- perately need the unemployment bene-
Now, we may do more later, but the lies in their homes. fits, the stimulus checks, the food as-
reality is my friends drug this out all This emergency relief package sistance, the eviction moratoriums, the
summer long. We could have had a wouldn’t have happened without the small business Minority Development
package very similar to what we had weeks of hard work from the Problem Institution funds and the CDFI assist-
many months ago. That would have Solvers Caucus and a bipartisan group ance funds, and other protections in
helped unemployed Americans. It of Senators who put country ahead of this bill.
would have helped Americans with party to help our families, small busi- Seven months after the House passed
small businesses. It would have reas- nesses, and communities. This was the Heroes Act, Republicans have fi-
sured the economy. My friends chose truly a model for how we should govern nally relented to allow more support to
not to do that. in Washington. the American people who are strug-
I am glad, since the election, they This marks a critical downpayment gling through the three pandemics:
have decided to bargain in good faith. in our ongoing fight against COVID. If COVID–19, economic hardships, and so-
We have bargained in good faith. We you look in New Jersey, where 1 in 500 cial injustices.
have what we think is a good product have lost their lives, and 30 percent of So let me be clear: The GOP has had
in front of us. But if we want to write small businesses are out, we clearly a knee on Americans’ necks by holding
history, we have a considerably dif- have more work to do. this bill up, and it still falls short of
ferent version of it than has been por- Madam Speaker, I urge support for what we need to get through this crisis.
trayed on the floor here today, put in this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, But I will continue to stand up for
front of the American people. which is a critical step forward. my constituents of the Third Congres-
Madam Speaker, I also just want to Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield sional District and for people across
add for the record that, while we are myself such time as I may consume. this Nation and my colleagues to work
busy bashing the President, I haven’t I want to agree with the distin- with the Biden administration to get
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heard too many people thank the guished gentlewoman from Florida, my people the support they need to build
President of the United States for Op- good friend, about the investments in back better.
eration Warp Speed, unprecedented tri- NIH. I want to remind her that it was Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield
umphs to actually deliver a vaccine in Newt Gingrich and John Porter who myself such time as I may consume.
less than a year. All the critics said, doubled the NIH during the Clinton I want to remind my friends who en-
not possible. The President deserves years, who actually put more money in gage in revisionist history, we haven’t
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H7298 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 21, 2020
held anything up. The Senate put a $1 manage and work with her on her very most importantly, to vote ‘‘yes’’ on the
trillion offer on the table back in July. last rule on the floor. underlying measure.
My friends didn’t think that was good In closing, Madam Speaker, I thank Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal-
enough. The President put a $1.8 tril- all my colleagues for their consider- ance of my time.
lion deal on the table. They didn’t ation of this bipartisan package. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I
think that was good enough. Though it has taken us a long time to yield myself the balance of my time.
We are here now with a bipartisan, get to this particular point, it is a real I thank my colleague, Mr. COLE, for
good bill. We may need to do more bipartisan compromise. And I think, at his generous remarks. I agree with
later. We will see. But the reality is the end of the day, it will pass with a him, this is a bipartisan bill that is not
our friends held unrealistic positions substantial bipartisan vote and it will perfect. I don’t think anyone in this
with a lot of policy riders on them that benefit every American. Chamber believes that it is perfect.
they knew were never going to be ac- The package today will fully fund the Madam Speaker, the time to pass
cepted, and they did that throughout government through September 30th of this bill was yesterday. It was 6 months
the election season. 2021, and will ensure that taxpayer dol- ago. We pray that most Americans will
Fine. The election is over. All of a lars are spent where they are needed be able to get a vaccine to stop this
sudden we are back and we are able to most. I think that is an important killer. But it is not just Americans. To
compromise after the election. It point because, lost in all of this, the be safe, people around the world must
would have been better for the Amer- appropriations process has actually get the vaccine.
ican people had we done that back in done what it was supposed to do. There will be a lot of darkness before
July. My friends chose a different path, I compliment my friends on the Ap- enough Americans and people around
but I am glad they have changed their propriations Committee; particularly the world have the vaccine to bring our
mind since the election. I am glad we our distinguished chair, Mrs. LOWEY, lives back to normal. Before that time,
have something in front of us that is and our distinguished ranking member, the government must help.
genuinely bipartisan. We will pass it on Ms. GRANGER. They brought all 12 bills By the way, it is not our money. It is
a bipartisan basis today. through the committee. They got a full the people in our communities who
Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- committee process. They were reported have been paying taxes for years. We
ance of my time. out of committee. Ten of those bills are taking the resources back to them.
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I came to the floor. On the floor, those We have to help the unemployed, the
yield 1 minute to the gentleman from bills got full consideration. We sat and shuttered small businesses, the
California (Mr. AGUILAR). bargained with our friends in the strained hospitals, and, most impor-
Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I United States Senate, and now I have tantly, the hungry child.
thank the gentlewoman for yielding. brought these bills back. That is the Madam Speaker, I strongly urge a
The agreement before us today recog- way Congress ought to work. I am ‘‘yes’’ vote on the rule and the previous
nizes that to get our economy moving proud the Appropriations Committee question.
again, to return to something that worked that way. Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today dur-
feels like normalcy, we must get this We also will be taking up in this par-
ing a critical time in the history of the nation.
virus under control. ticular bill a pandemic relief bill, en-
Since the beginning of the pandemic,
In this agreement, Democrats se- suring extensions for programs like un-
315,000 Americans have died, as a result of
cured billions to rapidly distribute a employment insurance and the Pay-
the Administration’s mismanagement of the
free and safe vaccine and to invest in check Protection Program, which will
federal response to COVID–19.
nationwide testing and tracing meas- protect millions of Americans who
ures that will save lives. have lost their jobs and lost income as It has especially impacted the African Amer-
It isn’t perfect, and more action is re- a result of this pandemic. ican community and other communities of
quired to address the challenges that The package is a very important color.
Americans are facing, but it is every- package. And we have some disagree- Millions of jobs have been lost, countless
thing we can do right now with this ments on it. We have had some back small businesses have closed, and many oth-
Senate and this President. and forth on it in the last several ers hospitalized.
With this bill, we have averted a sud- months, but still, at the end of the day, For the sake of controlling the virus we have
den end to unemployment benefits that we have come together, we have done all quarantined, as we eagerly await a vac-
millions would have faced and added something important, and I think we cine.
$300 per week to the benefit. have set the stage for perhaps some- It is against this backdrop that we fashion a
We funded a new round of survival thing later in the next Congress. We relief bill.
checks and emergency rental assist- will see. But this is an important relief Scripture teaches that which you do for the
ance, included an eviction moratorium, measure for the American people, and I least of these you do for Him.
and boosted SNAP and child nutrition certainly urge all my colleagues on I am proud to fight for the least of these dur-
benefits. both sides of the aisle to support it. ing these critical times and support this bipar-
And for the small businesses strug- Finally, the package also includes a tisan solution for COVID and the budget.
gling to keep the lights on, this bill bipartisan compromise on surprise I want to commend all leaders who helped
provides billions in economic assist- medical billing and a number of issues make this deal possible, especially Speaker
ance to forgivable loans. to provide targeted tax relief to people NANCY PELOSI, Leader STENY HOYER and
Across this country, people in com- who have suffered through the Democratic Caucus Chairman HAKEEM
munities like mine are hurting. Frank- coronavirus crisis and particular indus- JEFFRIES.
ly, they have been hurting for far too tries. I think that is appropriate. I This bill is critical as it helps all those im-
long. thank my colleagues on both sides of pacted by COVID, especially the black people
We are going to work with the Biden- the aisle and multiple committees that and other communities of color that have been
Harris administration to build on this have been part of that particular com- disproportionately impacted by this pandemic.
progress and deliver for the American promise. I am proud to support this bill, which pro-
people, and I am confident that bright- Madam Speaker, it is often said on vides $900 billion for COVID relief.
er days are ahead. this floor that it is not a perfect bill, This is important as the agreement outlined
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield but a $900 billion relief package that is provides another round of $600 in economic
myself the balance of my time. badly needed to the American people stimulus checks and another $300 per-week in
Madam Speaker, I begin by saying close to Christmas Eve is something unemployment benefits, and it supports small
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what a privilege it has been to serve that every Member on this floor ought businesses, which are the engines of our
with my good friend from Florida these to be proud of, and I hope every Mem- economy.
last 2 years, not only in Congress, but ber in this Chamber will see fit to sup- It also provides funds to support local
most especially on the Rules Com- port. school districts and provides much-needed
mittee. And what a particular pleasure Madam Speaker, I urge my col- funds for coronavirus testing and vaccine dis-
it is for me to have the opportunity to leagues to vote ‘‘no’’ on the rule and, tribution.
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7299
I am also proud to help secure this legisla- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Burgess Hollingsworth Reschenthaler
Byrne Hudson Rice (SC)
tion because it supports paid sick leave, pro- ant to section 3 of House Resolution Calvert Huizenga Riggleman
vides 25 billion in rent relief and an extension 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. Carter (GA) Hurd (TX) Roby
of the eviction moratorium. The vote was taken by electronic de- Chabot Jacobs Rodgers (WA)
This relief bill is going in the right direction Cline Johnson (LA) Roe, David P.
vice, and there were—yeas 227, nays Cloud Johnson (OH) Rogers (KY)
but make no mistake, this is not enough and 180, not voting 22, as follows: Cole Johnson (SD) Rose, John W.
must only be a down-payment. [Roll No. 249] Collins (GA) Jordan Rouzer
The $1,200 stimulus checks in the CARES Comer Joyce (OH) Roy
Act from earlier this year was an important YEAS—227 Conaway Joyce (PA) Rutherford
Crawford Katko Scalise
factor in controlling the economic fallout from Adams Golden Norcross
Crenshaw Keller Schweikert
Aguilar Gomez O’Halleran
the initial onset of the coronavirus, and I am Allred Gonzalez (TX)
Curtis Kelly (MS) Scott, Austin
Pallone
disappointed that tonight that this Congress Axne Gottheimer Panetta
Davidson (OH) Kelly (PA) Sensenbrenner
Davis, Rodney King (NY) Shimkus
will not now act as we did in the Spring. Barragán Green, Al (TX) Pappas
DesJarlais Kinzinger Simpson
The situation is more dire now and calls for Bass Grijalva Pascrell
Beatty Diaz-Balart Kustoff (TN) Smith (MO)
Haaland Payne
more—not less—economic stimulus. Bera Hall
Emmer LaHood Smith (NE)
Perlmutter
And, I am especially proud that the dis- Beyer Harder (CA) Peters
Estes LaMalfa Smith (NJ)
bursements from this relief bill starts on the Bishop (GA) Ferguson Lamborn Smucker
Hastings Peterson
Blumenauer Fitzpatrick Latta Stauber
first day of Kwanzaa, December 26. Hayes Phillips
Blunt Rochester Fleischmann Lesko Stefanik
Heck
And, critically, this legislation supports Com- Bonamici Higgins (NY)
Pingree Flores Long Steil
munity Development Financial Institutions and Pocan Fortenberry Lucas Steube
Boyle, Brendan Himes Porter Foxx (NC) Luetkemeyer Stewart
Minority Depository Institutions by as much as F. Horn, Kendra S. Price (NC) Fulcher Marshall Stivers
$12 billion: Brindisi Houlahan
Quigley Gabbard Massie Taylor
Brown (MD) Hoyer
The agreement includes dedicated PPP set- Brownley (CA) Huffman
Raskin Gaetz Mast Thompson (PA)
asides for very small businesses and lending Rice (NY) Gallagher McCarthy Thornberry
Bustos Jackson Lee
Richmond Garcia (CA) McCaul Tiffany
through community-based lenders like Com- Butterfield Jayapal
Rose (NY) Gibbs McClintock Timmons
munity Development Financial Institutions Carbajal Jeffries
Cárdenas Rouda Gohmert McHenry Tipton
Johnson (GA)
(CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions Carson (IN) Johnson (TX) Roybal-Allard Gonzalez (OH) McKinley Tlaib
(MDIs); $9 billion in emergency U.S. Treasury Cartwright Ruiz Gooden Meuser Turner
Kaptur
Ruppersberger Gosar Miller Upton
capital investments in CDFIs and MDIs to sup- Case Keating
Rush Granger Moolenaar Van Drew
Casten (IL) Kelly (IL)
port lending in low-income and underserved Castor (FL) Kennedy Ryan Graves (LA) Mooney (WV) Wagner
communities, including persistent poverty Castro (TX) Khanna Sánchez Graves (MO) Mullin Walberg
Sarbanes Green (TN) Newhouse Walden
counties, that may be disproportionately im- Chu, Judy Kildee
Griffith Norman Walorski
Cicilline Kilmer Scanlon
pacted by the economic effects of the COVID– Schakowsky Grothman Nunes Waltz
Cisneros Kim
19 pandemic; and $3 billion in emergency Clark (MA) Kind Schiff Guest Ocasio-Cortez Watkins
support for CDFIs through the CDFI Fund to Clarke (NY) Schneider Guthrie Olson Weber (TX)
Kirkpatrick
Schrader Hagedorn Omar Wenstrup
respond to the economic impact of the pan- Clay Krishnamoorthi
Harris Palazzo Westerman
Cleaver Kuster (NH) Schrier
demic on underserved low-income and minor- Clyburn Lamb Scott (VA) Hartzler Palmer Williams
ity communities. Cohen Langevin Scott, David
Hern, Kevin Pence Wittman
The legislation we will pass today also in- Connolly Herrera Beutler Perry Womack
Larsen (WA) Serrano
Cooper Hice (GA) Posey Woodall
cludes 4.2 billion for mental health and sub- Larson (CT) Sewell (AL)
Correa Higgins (LA) Pressley Young
Lawrence Shalala
stance abuse help and another $7 billion for Costa Lawson (FL)
Hill (AR) Reed Zeldin
Sherman
broadband. Courtney Lee (CA) Sherrill NOT VOTING—22
This bill includes SBA grants, not just loans Cox (CA) Lee (NV) Sires
Craig Levin (CA) Abraham Holding Spano
so it is critical for all applicants that they com- Slotkin
Bishop (UT) Horsford Walker
Crist Levin (MI) Smith (WA)
plete paperwork accurately so that there is no Crow Lieu, Ted Brooks (IN) King (IA) Webster (FL)
Soto
delay in submitting paperwork. Cuellar Lipinski Spanberger
Carter (TX) Loudermilk Wilson (SC)
I encourage all constituents to reach out to Cunningham Loebsack Cheney Marchant Wright
Speier Duncan Murphy (NC)
my office if they need help. Davids (KS) Lofgren Stanton Yoho
Davis (CA) Lowenthal Dunn Rogers (AL)
And the legislation we will pass today also Davis, Danny K. Lowey
Stevens Gianforte Rooney (FL)
allocates $1.4 trillion for the budget which is Suozzi
Dean Luján
why we must consider the COVID relief bill DeFazio Luria
Swalwell (CA) b 1807
Takano
today together with the budget bill. DeGette Lynch Messrs. SCHWEIKERT, KING of New
Thompson (CA)
DeLauro Malinowski
This bill also helps secure $10 billion for as- DelBene Maloney,
Thompson (MS) York, EMMER, RODNEY DAVIS of Il-
sistance in child-care to help get parents back Titus
Delgado Carolyn B. linois, BILIRAKIS, and Ms. HERRERA
Tonko
to work so we can be ready to return to some Demings Maloney, Sean
Torres (CA) BEUTLER changed their vote from
semblance of normalcy. DeSaulnier Matsui
Deutch McAdams Torres Small ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’
I am also proud to support this bill because Dingell McBath (NM) So the resolution was agreed to.
this legislation supports paid sick leave, pro- Trahan
Doggett McCollum
Trone
The result of the vote was announced
vides tens of billions in rent relief and an ex- Doyle, Michael McEachin
Underwood as above recorded.
F. McGovern
tension of the eviction moratorium, another Engel McNerney Vargas A motion to reconsider was laid on
$14 billion in SNAP benefits and $80 billion in Escobar Meeks Veasey the table.
funding for our colleges and universities.’’ Eshoo Meng Vela
Velázquez MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE
It is often said that our budget is a blueprint Espaillat Mfume
Visclosky RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS
Evans Mitchell
of our values and with the budget we pass Finkenauer Moore Wasserman Allred (Wexton) Carson (IN) DeGette (Blunt
today, Madam Speaker, is an affirmation of Fletcher Morelle Schultz Axne (Davids (Butterfield) Rochester)
the Gospel of Matthew. Foster Moulton Waters (KS)) Case DelBene
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I Frankel Mucarsel-Powell Watson Coleman Barragán (Beyer) (Cartwright) (Cicilline)
Fudge Murphy (FL) Welch Bera (Aguilar) Castor (FL) DeSaulnier
yield back the balance of my time, and Gallego Nadler Wexton Bishop (GA) (Demings) (Matsui)
I move the previous question on the Garamendi Napolitano Wild (Butterfield) Cisneros Deutch (Rice
resolution. Garcı́a (IL) Neal Wilson (FL) Blumenauer (Carbajal) (NY))
The previous question was ordered. Garcia (TX) Neguse Yarmuth (Beyer) Clay
Doggett (Raskin)
Bonamici (Clark (Butterfield)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The NAYS—180 (MA)) Cleaver (Davids
Escobar (Garcia
question is on adoption of the resolu- Boyle, Brendan (KS))
(TX))
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
Aderholt Baird Bost Eshoo
tion. Allen Balderson Brady F. (Jeffries) Cohen (Beyer)
Brownley (CA) Costa (Correa) (Thompson
The question was taken; and the Amash Banks Brooks (AL)
(CA))
Amodei Barr Buchanan (Clark (MA)) Davis (CA)
Speaker pro tempore announced that Bustos (Kuster (Scanlon) Finkenauer
Armstrong Bergman Buck
the ayes appeared to have it. Arrington Biggs Bucshon (NH)) Dean (Scanlon) (Underwood)
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, on that I Babin Bilirakis Budd Cárdenas DeFazio (Davids Fletcher
demand the yeas and nays. Bacon Bishop (NC) Burchett (Carbajal) (KS)) (Raskin)
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H7300 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 21, 2020
Frankel (Clark Lofgren (Jeffries) Richmond (l)(3)(A), or a supplement to such list under sub- House the following communication
(MA)) Lowenthal (Butterfield) section (l)(7), has been provided by the reference
Garamendi (Beyer) Rouda (Aguilar)
from the Clerk of the House of Rep-
product sponsor to the subsection (k) applicant resentatives:
(Sherman) McEachin Roybal-Allard
Gonzalez (TX) (Garcia (TX))
respecting a biological product included on the
(Wexton) OFFICE OF THE CLERK,
(Gomez) McNerney Ruiz (Dingell) list published under this subparagraph, the ref-
erence product sponsor shall provide such list of HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Grijalva (Garcı́a (Raskin) Rush
(IL)) (Underwood) patents (or supplement thereto) and their cor- Washington, DC, December 21, 2020.
Meng (Clark
Haaland (Davids Ryan (Kildee) responding expiry dates to the Secretary, and Hon. NANCY PELOSI,
(MA))
(KS)) Mitchell Schakowsky the Secretary shall, in revisions made under The Speaker, House of Representatives,
Hastings (Spanberger) (Underwood) clause (ii), include such information for such bi- Washington, DC.
(Wasserman Moore (Beyer) Schneider
ological product. Within 30 days of providing DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to the
Schultz) Moulton (Casten (IL)) permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II
Heck (Kildee) Schrier any subsequent or supplemental list of patents
(McGovern)
to any subsequent subsection (k) applicant of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa-
Jayapal (Raskin) (Spanberger)
Johnson (TX)
Mucarsel-Powell
Serrano under subsection (l)(3)(A) or (l)(7), the reference tives, the Clerk received the following mes-
(Wasserman sage from the Secretary of the Senate on De-
(Jeffries) (Jeffries) product sponsor shall update the information
Schultz) cember 21, 2020, at 1:24 p.m.:
Kelly (IL) Sewell (AL) provided to the Secretary under this clause with
Nadler (Jeffries) That the Senate passed S. 2346.
(Clarke (NY)) (Cicilline)
Napolitano any additional patents from such subsequent or
Kennedy Shimkus That the Senate passed S. 2716.
(McGovern) (Correa)
(Pallone)
supplemental list and their corresponding expiry
That the Senate passed S. 2827.
Khanna Neal (Lynch) Sires (Pallone) dates. That the Senate passed S. 3099.
(Sherman) Neguse Smith (WA) ‘‘(iv) LISTING OF EXCLUSIVITIES.—For each bi-
(Perlmutter) That the Senate passed S. 3100.
Kilmer (Kildee) (Courtney) ological product included on the list published That the Senate passed S. 3948.
Kim (Davids Pascrell Speier (Scanlon) under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall That the Senate passed S. 3952.
(KS)) (Pallone) Thompson (MS)
Payne
specify each exclusivity period under paragraph That the Senate passed S. 4556.
Kirkpatrick (Fudge) (6) or paragraph (7) for which the Secretary has
(Stanton) (Wasserman Titus (Connolly) That the Senate passed S. 5076.
Lamb (Sherrill) Schultz) Vargas (Correa)
determined such biological product to be eligible That the Senate passed without amend-
Langevin Peters (Kildee) Veasey (Beyer) and that has not concluded. ment H.R. 1240.
(Lynch) Peterson Velázquez ‘‘(B) REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF LI- That the Senate passed without amend-
Lawrence (McCollum) (Clarke (NY)) CENSE.—If the license of a biological product is ment H.R. 4031.
(Kildee) Pingree Watson Coleman determined by the Secretary to have been re- That the Senate passed without amend-
Lawson (FL) (Cicilline) (Pallone) voked or suspended for safety, purity, or po-
Pocan (Raskin)
ment H.R. 5458.
(Demings) Welch tency reasons, it may not be published in the list
Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Porter (Wexton) (McGovern) That the Senate passed without amend-
Lipinski Price (NC) Wilson (FL)
under subparagraph (A). If such revocation or ment H.R. 5852.
(Schrader) (Butterfield) (Hayes) suspension occurred after inclusion of such bio- That the Senate passed without amend-
logical product in the list published under sub- ment H.R. 6535.
f
paragraph (A), the reference product sponsor That the Senate passed without amend-
PURPLE BOOK CONTINUITY ACT shall notify the Secretary that— ment H.R. 7460.
OF 2019 ‘‘(i) the biological product shall be imme- With best wishes, I am,
diately removed from such list for the same pe- Sincerely,
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- riod as the revocation or suspension; and CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
ant to the adoption of House Resolu- ‘‘(ii) a notice of the removal shall be published Clerk.
tion 1271, the Senate amendment to in the Federal Register.’’. f
H.R. 1520 is considered as agreed to (b) REVIEW AND REPORT ON TYPES OF INFOR-
with an amendment consisting of the MATION TO BE LISTED.—Not later than 3 years DIRECTING THE CLERK OF THE
text of the Rules Committee Print 116– after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
retary of Health and Human Services shall— TO MAKE A CORRECTION IN THE
69.
(1) solicit public comment regarding the type ENROLLMENT OF H.R. 133
Senate amendment: of information, if any, that should be added to
Strike all after the enacting clause and in- or removed from the list required by paragraph Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I send to
sert the following: (9) of section 351(k) of the Public Health Service the desk a concurrent resolution and
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Act (42 U.S.C. 262(k)), as added by subsection ask unanimous consent for its imme-
The Act may be cited as the ‘‘Purple Book (a); and diate consideration in the House.
Continuity Act of 2020’’. (2) transmit to Congress an evaluation of such The Clerk read the title of the con-
SEC. 2. BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT PATENT TRANS- comments, including any recommendations current resolution.
PARENCY. about the types of information that should be
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 351(k) of the Public added to or removed from the list.
objection to the request of the gentle-
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(k)) is amended The text of the House amendment to woman from New York?
by adding at the end the following: the Senate amendment is as follows:
‘‘(9) PUBLIC LISTING.— There was no objection.
In lieu of the matter proposed to be in- The text of the concurrent resolution
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—
serted by the Senate, insert the following: is as follows:
‘‘(i) INITIAL PUBLICATION.—Not later than 180
That the Continuing Appropriations Act,
days after the date of enactment of the Purple H. CON. RES. 127
2021 (division A of Public Law 116–159) is fur-
Book Continuity Act of 2020, the Secretary shall Resolved by the House of Representatives (the
ther amended by striking the date specified
publish and make available to the public in a Senate concurring), That, in the enrollment of
in section 106(3) and inserting ‘‘December 28,
searchable, electronic format— the bill H.R. 133 the Clerk of the House of
2020’’.
‘‘(I) a list of each biological product, by non- Representatives shall make the following
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Further Ex-
proprietary name (proper name), for which, as correction:
tension of Continuing Appropriations Act,
of such date of enactment, a biologics license Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘Making
2021’’.
under subsection (a) or this subsection is in ef- consolidated appropriations for the fiscal
fect, or that, as of such date of enactment, is f year ending September 30, 2021, providing
deemed to be licensed under this section pursu- coronavirus emergency response and relief,
ant to section 7002(e)(4) of the Biologics Price MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE and for other purposes.’’.
Competition and Innovation Act of 2009; A message from Senate by Ms. Byrd,
‘‘(II) the date of licensure of the marketing The concurrent resolution was agreed
one of its clerks, announced that the to.
application and the application number; and
‘‘(III) with respect to each biological product Senate has passed a bill of the fol- A motion to reconsider was laid on
described in subclause (I), the licensure status, lowing title in which the concurrence the table.
and, as available, the marketing status. of the House is requested: f
‘‘(ii) REVISIONS.—Every 30 days after the pub- S. 371. An act to provide regulatory relief
lication of the first list under clause (i), the Sec- to charitable organizations that provide DIRECTING THE CLERK OF THE
retary shall revise the list to include each bio- housing assistance, and for other purposes. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
logical product which has been licensed under TO MAKE A CORRECTION IN THE
f
subsection (a) or this subsection during the 30- ENROLLMENT OF H.R. 1520
day period or deemed licensed under this section COMMUNICATION FROM THE
pursuant to section 7002(e)(4) of the Biologics Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I send to
CLERK OF THE HOUSE the desk a concurrent resolution and
Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009.
‘‘(iii) PATENT INFORMATION.—Not later than The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. ask unanimous consent for its imme-
30 days after a list of patents under subsection BROWN of Maryland) laid before the diate consideration in the House.
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