Congressional Record, House, March 9, 2021, Page H1126

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated March 9, 2021, at page H1126, made up of one-minute speeches and a five-minute speech. A speaker marking Bloody Sunday urges Members to join in the American rescue package, the PRO Act and universal background checks. Ms. Schrier, a pediatrician, praises the American Rescue Plan for children and families and says it supports testing and nutrition programs. Mr. Green of Texas speaks on a question of life and death concerning the Governor of Texas and masks, and Mr. Levin of Michigan says the PRO Act will free workers to form unions and that union members earn about $1,150 more each week. Mrs. Greene of Georgia speaks in opposition to gun control bills.

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“Congressional Record, House, March 9, 2021, Page H1126.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-09-crec-2021-03-09-pt1-pgh1126-2-d1c6caed54/, SHA-256 2b7ee52bab7b407a4607809ca377884879308e240b75ea82eef5aa75a981f8eb.

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H1126 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 9, 2021
I rise to pay tribute to that kind of or power that we utilize. It is because His friend, who attended one of his
determination. As we proceed to debate people were willing to be beaten and to rallies and 9 days later contracted the
the American rescue package, I want be almost killed, but certainly un- virus, died. This is a matter of life and
the Members, my friends on the other bowed, as Shirley Chisholm said, for death. The virus has not dissipated. It
side of the aisle, to recognize that elec- the precious right to vote. has not gone away.
tions count, that people are looking for Bloody Sunday may be one day, So to the people of Texas, I love you,
us to stare down the devastation of March 7, but all the years that I have but I say this to you: If you don’t have
COVID–19, the devastation of poverty, gone and crossed the Edmund Pettus the resources that the Governor has, if
and the devastation of lack of jobs. Bridge, chosen to highlight a Confed- you don’t have a helicopter, if you
They are looking for diversity in erate segregationist, but we turned don’t have access to the best medical
terms of vaccinations, reaching out to that lemon into lemonade. When thou- care in the world, if you don’t have a
neighborhoods. They are looking for sands and thousands and thousands doctor that will be waiting on you
the child tax credit, the earned income every year marched across that Ed- when you get to the hospital, if you
tax credit, and that is because John mund Pettus Bridge, we weren’t have to go to the emergency room—the
Lewis stood tall for the 1965 Voting marching for segregation, we weren’t Governor won’t go to the emergency
Rights Act. marching for the violence that was per- room, he will bypass that.
In fact, after that Bloody Sunday, petrated against the foot soldiers year So if you can bypass the emergency
President Johnson rose to this podium after year. We were marching for free- room and you can have the finest med-
and said: ‘‘I speak tonight for the dig- dom and the right to vote. ical care in the world, maybe you
nity of man and the destiny of democ- So this right to vote will be exercised should consider going into public
racy. . . . At times, history and fate on the floor of the House this week. I venues without a mask. But if not, re-
meet at a single time in a single place ask and beg my colleagues to join us in member, it is a question of life and
to shape a turning point in man’s what is good. Join us in the American death, and the life you save may very
unending search for freedom. So it was rescue package. Join us in the PRO well be your own.
at Lexington and Concord. So it was a Act. Join us in the universal back- f
century ago at Appomattox. So it was ground checks. Join us in closing the
last week in Selma, Alabama.’’ Charleston loophole. Join us next week b 1015
So when we debate, I want us to be in the Violence Against Women Act. PANDEMIC HELP AND TESTING
reminded that people died for the Vot- Join us to make America the country FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAM-
ing Rights Act because elections count: of John Robert Lewis, standing for ILIES
people like Jimmie Lee Jackson, who what is good.
was shot by a State trooper in Marion, Madam Speaker, I know we will do The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
Alabama, after a peaceful rally to vote; good and get into good trouble. Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
women like Viola Liuzzo, a Detroit Washington (Ms. SCHRIER) for 5 min-
f
housewife who was driving people back utes.
and forth between Montgomery and A QUESTION OF LIFE AND DEATH Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I am
Selma. She, a mother of 5, was shot to IN TEXAS so proud of the wins in the American
death. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Rescue Plan, and in particular with
So today I rise to emphasize that Chair recognizes the gentleman from what this means for America’s chil-
Bloody Sunday is not just Bloody Sun- Texas (Mr. GREEN) for 5 minutes. dren. As a pediatrician, my life’s work
day. It is a continuation of the fight Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speak- has been the health and the wellbeing
for justice and the fight for voting er, and still I rise, a proud, liberated of children.
rights. It is what we will do tomorrow. Democrat unbought and unbossed. This pandemic has been particularly
It is the PRO Act. It is the Violence I rise today to address the question hard for children and families. The
Against Women Act. It is the vote for of life and death, the question associ- most important thing we can do to
the American rescue package that does ated with the Governor of the State of bring relief to our communities is to
not disallow the fact that all Ameri- Texas indicating that on tomorrow end the pandemic. This means getting
cans, those impoverished, those who people may go out into the public and shots into as many arms as possible as
have lost loved ones to COVID–19, to public venues without a mask. He is quickly as we can. It also means taking
those teachers who want to get in the leaving it to the public to make deci- steps now to ensure that when children
classroom and teach. All of this will be sions associated with life and death. return to the classroom, our schools
part of the American rescue package. Life and death in Texas because the 7- and our small businesses can stay safe
Thank you, John Lewis, for begin- day average for hospitalizations is and stay open.
ning to tell us what America should be 6,000. The number of people that died Testing is key to keeping our schools
and what America can be. It is because on last Sunday was 65. Life and death. and workplaces safe. And, frankly, we
of that kind of strength that we are And he leaves it in the hands of people have not used testing in a way that sig-
here today. To John Lewis, we commit who may somehow believe that he is nificantly curbs the spread of this dis-
to you to pass H.R. 1 in the Senate, to risking his life. Not so. Not to the ex- ease. Rapid home testing, in particular,
pass the Voting Rights Act enhance- tent that the public will be, those who is a critical public health tool that we
ment number four, after Shelby, Ala- haven’t been vaccinated because on De- have yet to really deploy. And there is
bama, destroyed and undermined the cember 22 of last year the Governor funding in the American rescue pack-
very strength of the Voting Rights Act. was vaccinated. age to support more strategic wide-
Because we would not be here today; The Governor has resources. If by spread testing.
we would not have the opportunity to chance he should contract the virus, Rapid tests can give results in about
have the American rescue package; we the Governor will have access to the 15 minutes, and they can be done at
would not have the opportunity to finest medical care in the world. The home. Imagine testing in the morning
have the Violence Against Women Act; Governor will get to the hospital expe- before brushing your teeth. By the
we would not have the opportunity to ditiously either by some car that will time you are done with breakfast you
have the George Floyd Justice in Polic- have some officer driving at a high rate would have a result. If positive, you
ing Act, whose family was here last of speed because the road will be would stay home and avoid spreading
week when we debated it, if we did not cleared for him or he will pursue his coronavirus to others. This is how we
have the right to vote. needs by way of helicopter. The Gov- break the chain of transmission and

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
So it is my belief today that, as we ernor has resources. starve the virus. What we need now is
go into this debate, as we go into the Better example. The former Presi- to get these tests evaluated, approved,
rest of the week, as we vote for the uni- dent, who called the virus a hoax, when scaled up and priced such that every-
versal background checks and the he contracted the virus, he went to the one can use them two to three times a
Charleston, South Carolina, closing the finest medical center, received the fin- week. Frequent testing means you will
loophole, it is not a frivolous authority est medical care, and he survived. catch infections early while people are

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March 9, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1127
still asymptomatic and would other- UNIONS WILL HELP REBUILD THE cess to defined benefit pensions, real
wise unknowingly be spreading them to MIDDLE CLASS pensions, and only a small fraction of
others. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The nonunion workers do.
The technology is inexpensive and is Chair recognizes the gentleman from Finally, let’s look at wages in the
similar to that used in pregnancy tests. Michigan (Mr. LEVIN) for 5 minutes. next one. For all workers across the
In fact, these tests can be produced in Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Madam private sector, union members make
bulk for a dollar or two per test. But Speaker, later today we will debate the about $1,150 a week more.
we need investment from the Federal PRO Act, and we will pass the PRO Act We are here debating, and finally we
Government in doing head-to-head to free up American workers to form are passing, $1,400 for poor families one
comparisons to determine which tests unions and bargain collectively just be- time. Union members earn $1,150 more
are the best, and then production and cause they darn well please without in- every week through their own labor be-
procurement of those best tests on a terference from their employer. And cause they negotiated for it. That is
massive scale. when we debate the PRO Act, Madam $7,800 a year more.
This is a new virus. Variants have al- And finally, if we look at the next
Speaker, we will get into all the details
ready emerged that make it more con- slide—and Rick is doing an awesome
of the provisions of the PRO Act, which
tagious. More are sure to come. It will job here; I appreciate you—it is espe-
are really incredible, and I am very ex-
be close to a year before all of our chil- cially important for women and work-
cited about that.
dren are vaccinated. Now, frequent But right now, I want to talk about ers of color. Look at this: This shows
rapid testing is a way to identify in- what a difference the PRO Act would that across all categories of American
fected children and staff before they make, why it would be a game changer workers, White, Black, and Latinx men
get symptoms and keep them at home and women workers make more.
for the working people of this country.
so they can’t infect others. It can give First of all, let’s talk about produc- Women make $11,752 a year more if
staff and families confidence that our tivity. American workers are incred- they are union members than if they
schools are safe. It can also give an ibly productive. In the whole period are not. African-American workers
early warning of outbreaks. Now, imag- during and after World War II when make $10,088 a year more if they are
ine what this sort of testing could Americans were forming unions, union members. And Latinx workers
mean for workplaces, for restaurants, thanks to the National Labor Rela- make almost $14,000 a year more,
and for theaters. tions Act, and up to a third of private- $13,936.
The American Rescue Plan does more Madam Speaker, any way you slice
sector workers were in unions, wages
than strengthen our vaccines and test- it, when we give workers the power to
and productivity rose in lockstep. You
ing though. It provides critical relief form unions at their workplace, they
that families need right now. can’t even separate them.
But then in the late seventies when lift themselves up, they lift up their
We are in one of the worst economic
we started deregulating airlines and families, they lift up all the nonunion
downturns this country has ever seen,
and the American Rescue Plan provides deregulating trucking, and when Ron- workers around them because the non-
help where it is most needed, ald Reagan became President and bust- union employers have to raise wages to
prioritizing children and families. ed the air traffic controllers union, keep up with the unionized workers,
This plan shores up the child tax PATCO, and the union-busting business and they lift up our country.
credit and provides it up front as a came up, and union membership start- Let’s pass the PRO Act and rebuild
monthly check for up to $300 per child. ed declining, productivity kept zoom- the middle class of this country.
This is a very big deal. More than 93 ing up, but workers’ compensation was f
percent of children and families will totally flat. Since 1979, productivity
GUN CONTROL BILLS
benefit, including the poorest 10 per- has increased 70 percent, but com-
cent, who currently get no benefits be- pensation only 12 percent. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
cause their parents’ income is too low What about income inequality? We Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
to qualify. These are the families who can go to the next one. For the last 100 Georgia (Mrs. GREENE) for 5 minutes.
need the help the most. This provision years, income inequality has tracked Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Madam
alone will cut the number of children union membership almost exactly. So Speaker, I rise today in opposition of
living in poverty in half. if you take the share of income taken gun control bills.
It also shores up SNAP benefits and by the top 10 percent of the workforce, I rise today in support of our Second
incorporates my bill to expand WIC, so you can see that as union membership Amendment, the greatest freedom that
that children can get good nutrition grew, income inequality fell. we have as Americans, and a right that
and enough of it to power their brains Look at the difference the National people all over the world wish that
and their bodies. It provides cash bene- Labor Relations Act itself made. In they had.
fits and enhanced unemployment bene- 1935, union membership shot up. The The Second Amendment reads: ‘‘A
fits that will help the hardest-hit fami- wages of the top 10 percent shot down well-regulated militia, being necessary
lies the most, and it gets even more as a share of everybody. We got more to the security of a free state, the right
help to families with children. equal. We achieved the American of the people to keep and bear arms,
It expands Medicaid in States that Dream. And now with 1,000 cuts to shall not be infringed.’’
haven’t already and makes it easier for union membership, when we are down H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, both gun control
people to afford and sign up for health to 6 percent of private-sector workers bills, infringe on the people’s right to
insurance. being in unions, there has been this in- keep and bear arms. We must stand up
And finally, it provides resources to credible divergence, and the wealthy and stop the constant flow of gun con-
schools so that educators, staff, chil- have taken all of the gains, and work- trol bills that constantly come out of
dren, and their families feel confident ers aren’t in unions anymore. this House. The American people have
that they are returning to classrooms And let’s look at some specific stuff these freedoms for a very good purpose.
safely. And it expands broadband ac- as we get the next slide up here. Let’s You see, the right to defend oneself is
cess at home to narrow the digital di- start with benefits. Union members something that should never require us
vide. have more benefits and better benefits to be on a list. It should never require
The American Rescue Plan is a win almost across the board. Here are just us to pay a tax. It should never require
for the country. It meets the moment, a couple of examples: 86 percent of us to wait to be able to purchase a fire-
and it focuses relief on the people and union members have access to paid arm to defend ourselves. It should
businesses hardest hit by the economic sick leave, as opposed to 72 percent of never require rules or shame or con-

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
and social fallout from this pandemic. nonunion workers; and 94 percent of demnation from another American.
Important to this pediatrician, it helps union members have access to Right now, we are in a time where
families and children with bold policy healthcare benefits, compared to just people are being shamed just for being
changes we have always needed but two-thirds of nonunion workers. a gun owner. Our government is con-
that have become even more urgent And it is not on this slide, but more stantly pursuing legal gun owners and
during this crisis. than half of union members have ac- making them out to be the bad guy.

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