Infrastructure (Cong. Rec., April 14, 2021)
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated April 14, 2021, at page H1743, made up of one-minute speeches and a five-minute speech. A speaker pays tribute to Matt Gruda, a member of the office team, on his next chapter. A second speaker for the New Democrat Coalition supports the American jobs plan, saying the United States ranks 13th in infrastructure quality and that the plan includes $100 billion for broadband internet. Mr. Bacon commemorates the 40th anniversary of the loss of an RC–135 Cobra Ball aircraft on Shemya, Alaska, in which six airmen died.
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“Infrastructure (Cong. Rec., April 14, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-04-14-crec-2021-04-14-pt1-pgh1743-dbebd7c42a/
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April 14, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1743
From an early age, Matt’s love of course of the pandemic and delivering mate, electrifying our highway system,
baseball was apparent. He would spend relief for working families, this is not investing heavily in transit and other
hours and hours practicing and throw- the time to build back the way things cleaner mobility options, and working
ing a ball against a wall; and once on were. This is a moment to reimagine to eliminate the digital divide.
the field, his eyes and smile reflected and rebuild a new economy. In announcing his plan, the President
his unbridled enthusiasm and deep- The American jobs plan is an invest- has taken our voices—the voices in
rooted passion for the game. On the ment in America that will create mil- Congress—and has put those words into
field, he was in complete control and lions of good jobs, rebuild our coun- action. The American jobs plan will
nothing else mattered. Simply to be try’s infrastructure, and position this not only make bold transformational
there in uniform along with his team- United States to outcompete China and investment in our Nation’s transpor-
mates was a great feeling for him. other nations. The American jobs plan tation infrastructure, it will do so with
Then, in seventh grade, he developed will invest in America in a way that we an emphasis on creating good paying
a tumor on his spine. After three ex- have not invested since we built the jobs, supporting American manufac-
tensive surgeries, Mr. Speaker, he was interstate highways and won the space turing, and investing in rural and
told he could not play the game any- race. urban communities alike.
more. For most kids, that heart- The United States of America is the Earlier this year, the New Democrat
wrenching gut punch would be a piv- wealthiest country in the world, yet we Coalition unveiled our agenda for the
otal moment in their life, one in which rank 13th when it comes to overall first 100 days of the 117th Congress. The
they would give up in defeat. But not quality of our infrastructure. Public New Dems share the Biden-Harris ad-
Matt Gruda. Faced with a challenge domestic investment as a share of the ministration’s vision to build back bet-
and the unknown, he decided to seize economy has fallen more than 40 per- ter, and we will work together to move
on the opportunity, becoming the cent since the 1960s. After decades of our country forward.
youngest assistant coach and umpire in disinvestment, our roads, bridges, and We must rebuild our communities
the history of the league. He con- water systems are crumbling. Our elec- and our economy better than before
fronted his adversity, not viewing it as tric grid is vulnerable to catastrophic with the American jobs plan. Now is
a stumbling block, but as a stepping outages. Too many lack access to af- the time to think boldly with a once-
stone to success. He has continued to fordable high-speed internet and to in-a-century investment to create mil-
build stepping stones to success with quality housing. lions of good–paying jobs.
every challenge he has faced. The past year has led to job losses f
In speaking with the people who and threatened economic security,
eroding more than 30 years of progress 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF RC–135S
know Matt best, they described him as
in women’s labor force participation. It CRASH IN ALASKA 2020
someone who does not hold a grudge;
someone who is always looking on the has unmasked the fragility of our care- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
bright side of things; someone who is givers’ infrastructure. It has never Chair recognizes the gentleman from
kind, considerate, and is always eager been more important for us to invest in Nebraska (Mr. BACON) for 5 minutes.
to make you smile; someone who is a strengthening our infrastructure and Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise
good friend, a caring brother, and a our competitiveness, and in creating today to commemorate the anniver-
wonderful son; and someone whom you good paying union jobs of the future. sary of the tragic loss of a 55th Wing
would always want on your team. This must include a 21st century in- RC–135 Cobra Ball aircraft on the re-
I know that I am grateful to have frastructure—deployment of broadband mote island of Shemya, Alaska.
had Matt on our team for the past 2 and closing the digital divide in this Forty years ago last month, Cobra
years. He will always have an honorary country—creating the modern bridge Ball tail number 2664 crashed on ap-
spot on our bench. As a mentor, Mr. that will unite and create more eco- proach to Shemya Air Force Base, a
Speaker, I stand here today very proud nomic and opportunity equity in our rugged outpost on the far western tip
of what Matt has accomplished and so country. of the Aleutian Islands. Six brave
excited for him to take this next chap- Unlike past major investments, American airmen perished in the fiery
ter by storm. He is a bright, talented, President Biden’s plan also prioritizes crash that day, an eternal reminder of
and determined young man, and I look addressing longstanding and persistent the cost of the Cold War and the price
forward to seeing all that he will ac- racial injustice. The plan targets 40 of vigilance we too often take for
complish in life. percent of the benefit of climate and granted.
On behalf of our entire team and our clean infrastructure investments to The RC–135 reconnaissance aircraft—
entire community, we thank Matt. disadvantaged communities. The in- designated Cobra Ball—is designed to
f vestment of $100 billion in broadband rapidly collect telemetry and special
internet will be the component that intelligence on ballistic missiles in
INFRASTRUCTURE will make America a leader, an inno- flight. Throughout the Cold War and to
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. vator, once again. the present day, reconnaissance crews
COSTA). The Chair recognizes the gen- Broadband internet is the new elec- from the 55th Wing are dispatched on
tlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. tricity. It is necessary for Americans short notice around the world to fly
PLASKETT) for 5 minutes. to do their jobs; to create jobs; to par- the RC–135 to gather technical intel-
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, during ticipate equally in school learning, ligence on weapons tests that cannot
times of crisis and upheaval, societies healthcare, and to stay connected. It is be obtained by any other method. This
have a unique opportunity to re- estimated, however, that 10 percent— information is used to verify treaty
imagine themselves, to fix wrongs, and over 30 million Americans—live in compliance and to support the contin-
to make themselves better than they areas where there is inadequate or no uous development of America’s stra-
were previously. The pandemic of 1917 broadband infrastructure. Americans tegic and theater missile defense capa-
created the Roaring Twenties. The living in rural areas, on Tribal lands, bilities.
aftermath of the Civil War brought and in the territories particularly lack Throughout the Cold War, the Stra-
railroads, canals, and bridges to con- adequate access. Even in our urban tegic Air Command kept the Cobra Ball
nect us. The Great Depression gave us areas, many have stark differences in on a continuous 24-hour alert status on
the New Deal. access to internet and to jobs. Shemya Island in the northern Pacific,
After the devastation of the COVID President Biden’s American jobs plan affectionately known as The Rock.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
pandemic and the truth reveal of our is visionary and exactly what people Their job was to launch at a moment’s
systemic problems of racism, economic across this country have been asking notice to keep a watchful eye on Soviet
inequality, wealth and healthcare dis- from our Nation’s leaders for years, ballistic missile tests conducted from
parities, we must use this time and even decades. Representing the Virgin the Kamchatka Peninsula.
this opportunity to not only forge for- Islands, I am especially excited about On March 15, 1981, the 24 crew-
ward, but to correct wrongs. While the his focus on building infrastructure members on board the RC–135 tail num-
American Rescue Plan is changing the that is resilient to our changing cli- ber 61–2664 were en route to Shemya
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