Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, July 22, 2021, Page E800

Summary

Page E800 of the Extensions of Remarks in the Congressional Record for July 22, 2021, carrying several statements. Mr. Biggs honors Wendy Baldo, who began in Arizona state government in 1988 and has served as chief of staff of the Arizona State Senate for more than 12 years, on her retirement. Ms. Meng supports the SUCCESS Act to close the homework gap, saying as many as 17 million students lack internet access at home. Ms. Waters, in a speech dated July 21, says the climate emergency is tied to the housing crisis and communities of color, and a tribute remembers Mr. Rosenfeld and his enduring sense of justice.

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“Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, July 22, 2021, Page E800.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-07-22-crec-2021-07-22-pt1-pge800-3-8a57d119b2/, SHA-256 6b89c33300b363b2ee53a47eef57b24c614ec1af03796dee6ca2bd7826c1c9d3.

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E800 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 22, 2021
HONORING WENDY BALDO a generation of journalists. His passion for the SERIOUS ISSUES FACING OUR
truth and for journalism was an inspiration and COUNTRY
HON. ANDY BIGGS a model to be emulated. His was a life well
SPEECH OF
OF ARIZONA led.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f HON. MAXINE WATERS
OF CALIFORNIA
Thursday, July 22, 2021 SUCCESS ACT
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in
honor of a longtime friend, Wendy Baldo, who HON. GRACE MENG Wednesday, July 21, 2021
will soon begin her well-deserved retirement. OF NEW YORK Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I’m here to
Wendy first came to work in Arizona state IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES point out just how interconnected the climate
government in 1988, during the administration Thursday, July 22, 2021 emergency is to America’s housing crisis and
of Governor Rose Mofford. In 1993, she how it impacts communities of color.
Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, during the We are living in a climate emergency.
began her long and distinguished career with COVID–19 crisis, we have seen how crucial
the Arizona State Senate. In 2009, Wendy Wildfires are raging, sea levels are rising, and
internet access has been for learning and severe weather events are getting stronger.
was hired as chief of staff for the legislative completing assignments. The homework gap,
body, a role in which she has now served for Meanwhile homes are being destroyed, and
experienced by as many as 17 million stu- not nearly enough is being done to address
more than 12 years. dents in the U.S. who do not have internet ac-
I came to know Wendy while serving in the environmental racism and the ways in which
cess at home, is an inequity that predates the communities of color across this country suffer
Arizona state legislature from 2002 to 2016. coronavirus pandemic. disproportionately from a lack of action. We
My election to the Arizona Senate in 2010 pro- When I first began talking about this issue, cannot stand by as corporations, big oil, and
vided me the opportunity to work under I was shocked and saddened to recognize industry titans pollute the air we breathe and
Wendy’s guidance, and she continued to there were so many misconceptions about contaminate the water we drink without con-
serve as my chief of staff for the four years I who was part of the homework gap. So many sequence.
served as Arizona Senate President. Wendy of my colleagues believed the homework gap The truth is that these negative environ-
was always a trusted advisor. She staunchly is something that predominantly affects stu- mental factors compound social and economic
protected the institution of the Senate and was dents in rural America. But in fact, one in five conditions, and lead to higher levels of chronic
the fierce, loyal ally every leader needs. It is school-age children in NYC’s public school health problems such as asthma, diabetes,
a rare occurrence in the Arizona Senate for a system—the largest public school system in and hypertension in communities of color and
chief of staff to serve multiple Senate presi- the country—do not have internet access at low-income communities. It should surprise no
dents. Wendy’s service to five presidents is a home. one that on average, people of color comprise
true testament to her character and caliber. The nature of homework assignments has 56 percent of the population living in neighbor-
The knowledge and expertise Wendy has fundamentally changed. Before, all you need- hoods with facilities that release toxic sub-
accumulated in her years in the Arizona Sen- ed was a pencil and paper. But that is no stances into the air and water supply.
ate are an invaluable resource. Her retirement, longer the norm. Internet access is essential This is a fair housing issue and a direct re-
while well-deserved, will undoubtedly be a loss to completing homework assignments. It broke sult of systemic racism and historically racist
for the Senate. I thank Wendy for her many my heart to hear stories of families parked policies, including redlining and exclusionary
years of service to the people of Arizona and outside McDonalds or Starbucks trying to zoning, that segregate low-income people and
wish her well in this next phase of her life. catch a free Wi-Fi signal. people of color into areas that have suffered
f Closing the homework gap extends beyond from decades of disinvestment. These seg-
just helping our students finish their home- regated areas are often located closer to in-
REMEMBERING HARRY M. work. Internet connectivity is essential to suc- dustrial districts and are therefore more likely
ROSENFELD cess in the 21st century; much like electricity to be deprived of green spaces, healthy
was important in the 1930s, internet will be the homes, and clean drinking water. None of this
HON. STEVE COHEN same, if not more. is news. But, because of worsening residential
OF TENNESSEE That is why Congress passed the Emer- segregation, the increasingly harmful effects of
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES gency Educational Connections Act as part of climate change and extreme weather events
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a bill are exacerbating these conditions in low-in-
Thursday, July 22, 2021
that I proudly championed with Senator MAR- come communities and communities of color.
Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today KEY. This provision created the Emergency Today, formerly redlined communities suffer
to offer the thanks of a grateful nation for the Connectivity Fund, and provided a one-time from hotter temperatures, and their homes are
life and work of former Washington Post Metro $7.17 billion appropriation to connect students 25 percent more likely to experience damage
editor Harry M. Rosenfeld who guided the and library patrons learning at home. due to flooding compared to communities that
newspaper in its Pulitzer Prize-winning Water- As our Nation works to move past the pan- were not redlined. In some cases, whether
gate coverage. Mr. Rosenfeld died last week demic, we must finally close the full homework due to repeated flooding or because they are
at the age of 91. A survivor of Berlin’s gap that predates the ongoing emergency. located at higher elevations, low-income com-
Kristallnacht in 1938, he and his family immi- That is why I am proud to introduce today the munities of color, such as in Puerto Rico and
grated to New York City in March of 1939, just Securing Universal Communications Florida, are facing displacement, known as cli-
months before World War II began. After grad- Connectivity to Ensure Students Succeed or mate gentrification.
uating from Syracuse University and a stint in the SUCCESS Act. This bill would provide $8 The real-life examples are far too plenty.
the U.S. Army, Mr. Rosenfeld joined the New billion a year over five years (for a total of $40 Take for example, St. James Parish, Lou-
York Herald Tribune syndicate and rose to billion) to extend the FCC’s Emergency isiana—a community that is often referred to
managing editor before joining The Post. Edi- Connectivity Fund, without an emergency time as ‘‘Cancer Alley.’’ I traveled there in 2001 to
tor Ben Bradlee made him assistant managing frame, so that schools and libraries can con- bring international attention to corporate pollu-
editor for metropolitan news where he inher- tinue supporting distance learning after the tion and the human costs of that pollution on
ited a staff of hungry reporters covering local coronavirus pandemic is over. This extended communities of color. St. James Parish has a
beats, among them Carl Bernstein. Mr. program will then ensure that students con- long history of inequality. The parish is located
Rosenfeld later hired a very persistent Bob nected by the emergency connectivity fund do along the lower Mississippi River where
Woodward. The double-byline stories of not lose their internet access and devices enslaved Africans were forced to labor. Today,
Woodward and Bernstein, covering scandal once the original funds run dry. it serves as an industrial hub, with nearly 150
and corruption in the Nixon administration, Madam Speaker, as the mother of two oil refineries, plastics plants, and chemical fa-

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with REMARKS
eventually led to Nixon’s 1974 resignation. He young children, I know firsthand how crucial cilities. Not only have these facilities polluted
ended his career as the editor of newspapers this issue is. Each and every student must the surrounding water and air, but they have
in Albany, New York. I offer my condolences have the tools they need to succeed in school, also subjected the mostly African American
to his wife Anne and his three daughters and and the SUCCESS Act is an essential compo- residents of St. James Parish to cancer, res-
his extended family. Mr. Rosenfeld’s enduring nent to permanently closing the homework piratory diseases, and other health problems.
sense of justice and demand for accountability gap. I urge all of my colleagues in both cham- In 2005, we saw how Hurricane Katrina im-
helped change American history and inspired bers to help close this digital divide for good. pacted people of color in New Orleans. Lives

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