Congressional Record, September 20, 2021, from Page H4546 — United States House of Representatives
Summary
Page H4546 of the House section of the Congressional Record for September 20, 2021, in interleaved columns. Ms. Kaptur supports the Biden administration's new guidance regarding the Packers and Stockyards Act, saying the administration took swift and decisive action to protect small farmers and local producers. Another speaker says hydroelectric dams should be used rather than torn out, as in the Klamath Basin, and a tribute honors a longtime coach and teacher at Lely High School. A further remark asks what is being done about people showing up at the southern border.
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“Congressional Record, September 20, 2021, from Page H4546 — United States House of Representatives.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-09-20-crec-2021-09-20-pt1-pgh4546-5-694822c50b/
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H4546 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 20, 2021
Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise funnier is that you have shut them off community as a coach and teacher for
tonight in support of the Biden admin- from 3 to 9 p.m. on charging your elec- 38 years, and for 15 years served as the
istration’s new guidance regarding the tric car. cross country and track coach at Lely
Packers and Stockyards Act, and So we should utilize our hydro- High School.
heartened that the administration electric dams and all the multiple posi- I am proud that the State of Florida
took swift and decisive action to pro- tive uses they have, and not tear them has access to such esteemed and be-
tect small farmers and local producers. out, like on the Klamath Basin. loved educators that allow our youth
Too often, local farmers suffer eco- f to flourish, both in the classroom and
nomically at the expense of large inte- on the field.
HUMANITARIAN HAITIAN As the Representative for Florida’s
grators that practice oppressive tactics
IMMIGRANT RELIEF 19th Congressional District, it is my
in the marketplace and thwart the
ability of small producers to flourish. (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was honor to stand here today celebrating
The COVID–19 pandemic exposed given permission to address the House the lives of two Americans who dedi-
great frailties in our food supply for 1 minute.) cated themselves to bettering our
chains. And while Americans are pay- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, youth and serving as role models to the
ing higher prices, 14 percent on beef, 12 I want the Haitian community in Southwest Florida community.
percent on pork, and 6.6 percent on America and in the United States to f
poultry, the country’s top four largest know that we have not forgotten them.
Haiti has been a strong ally of the HONORING THOSE WHO LOST
meat processors have increasingly THEIR LIVES IN AFGHANISTAN
gained the lion’s share of the market United States that, unfortunately, has
since the 1970s. They control the entire been caught in the quagmire of de- (Mr. GOHMERT asked and was given
market, the largest producers. structive poverty and, of course, gov- permission to address the House for 1
Meanwhile, poultry giants Tysons ernments that sometimes have not minute and to revise and extend his re-
and Purdue recently settled a $35 mil- worked. Recently, they experienced a marks.)
lion lawsuit in which local contract horrific earthquake; 800,000 people Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, to-
growers cited the combination of low homeless. night we paid tribute to the 13 fallen
wages and the financial demands of So now that we see Haitians by the American military who died as Afghan-
compliance with the companies’ barn thousands coming to our border, we istan was being abandoned by this ad-
standards that unjustly pushed them have an obligation not to deport them. ministration to the Taliban, who are
into a debtor’s prison. We have an obligation to provide the now more powerful than they have ever
The action taken by the administra- potential review that comes about by been, have more equipment than they
tion will help smaller farmers stand having the number of immigration per- ever had.
strong, achieve fair contracts, and sonnel to determine their status. We What we didn’t pay tribute to to-
come forward to speak their truth, have an obligation for humanitarian night—it somehow got lost in the shuf-
without the fear and threat of retalia- relief. fle—is over 2,400 of our precious mili-
tion. I know our borders are closed; I rec- tary lives that were lost fighting for
Congratulations to the Biden admin- ognize that. But I also know that there their country in Afghanistan. They
istration for doing something that is is opportunity for asylum through kept us safe, relatively safe for 20
fair and just. credible fear, and there is also an op- years. But they should not be forgot-
portunity to deal with whether or not ten.
f
these individuals have family mem- There are over 1,800 civilian contrac-
HIGHLIGHTING THE BENEFITS OF bers. tors that were killed. There were 600
HYDROPOWER Let me simply say, Madam Speaker, military killed in Afghanistan under
(Mr. LAMALFA asked and was given the question we have now is sending Commander in Chief Bush; 1,800 under
permission to address the House for 1 these Haitians to a country that is so Commander in Chief Obama. They
minute and to revise and extend his re- impoverished and violent is not the should not be forgotten. They served
marks.) right way to go. Let’s work together to their country.
Mr. LAMALFA. Madam Speaker, I do it right. f
speak tonight about the advocacy and f b 1945
the positives we have of hydroelectric
dams in my home State and in our HONORING THE LIVES OF COACH BUILDING AMERICA BACK BETTER
country. They provide hydroelectric GUY THOMAS AND COACH MARK The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.
power, which is green power, which is MCGARITY NEWMAN). Under the Speaker’s an-
renewable power. Yet, that seems to be (Mr. DONALDS asked and was given nounced policy of January 4, 2021, the
forgotten these days when they are permission to address the House for 1 gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. JACKSON
more and more trying to remove hy- minute and to revise and extend his re- LEE) is recognized for 60 minutes as the
droelectric dams from our grid. marks.) designee of the majority leader.
It is clean power; it is available 24 Mr. DONALDS. Madam Speaker, I Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker,
hours a day. You don’t have to wait for rise to honor the lives of Coach Guy I am delighted to be representing the
the sun to come up or wind to blow. Thomas and Coach Mark McGarity, Congressional Black Caucus as the Spe-
Hydroelectric dams have several two beloved track and field coaches of cial Order chair.
multiple use purposes, such as storing the Southwest Florida community who I want to thank our chairwoman,
water for people or for agriculture. both passed away on July 13 of this JOYCE BEATTY, for her leadership on
That water is available for dipping out year. ensuring that the message of the Con-
of when you have aircraft that need to Coach Guy Thomas tragically passed gressional Black Caucus—Our Power,
get water supply for fighting forest away after being hospitalized in crit- Our Message—is reflected on the floor
fires like we have over a million acres ical condition after contracting of this House and to the American peo-
of in my home State, in Northern Cali- COVID–19. A track and field coach at ple, to our constituents, the millions
fornia. Dunbar High School, Mr. Thomas dedi- and millions of Americans that the 57
Water transfers can help with the cated his life to training and men- members of the Congressional Black
wildlife; with helping to have switches toring our young athletes on the field. Caucus represent.
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so that they can have water for aquatic A highly respected coach, Mr. Thomas GENERAL LEAVE
species, for swapping during the year. led his team to numerous Lee County Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker,
So why are we wanting to remove hy- Athletic Conference wins and coached I ask unanimous consent that all Mem-
droelectric dams? multiple State champions. bers may have 5 legislative days in
In California, we even have issues Retired Coach Mark McGarity also which to revise and extend their re-
with having to shut off power usage, lost his life to a battle with cancer. Mr. marks and include extraneous material
what is called flex alerts. What is even McGarity served the Collier County on the subject of this Special Order.
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September 20, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4547
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there trillion and the $1 trillion, there is no Tackling the climate crisis. We have
objection to the request of the gentle- time to isolate ourselves as one or I or seen the ravages of hurricanes. We
woman from Texas? me. This is a time when we stand with have seen Hurricane Ida—devastation
There was no objection. America as we, working to ensure that that is unspeakable, electricity that
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, this magnificent contribution to the people do not have, a million people
it is clear that we will be dealing with infrastructure—to some of the worst without electricity. The climate crisis
Build Back Better for the time of this infrastructure problems, from dams to and climate change are here. It is cru-
week and into next week, so the Con- highways to the electric grid—can also cial that we begin to invest in a plan
gressional Black Caucus will come very stand alongside childcare and the care that empowers comprehensive action
briefly this week to discuss and let our economy. to build an equitable, clean energy
constituents and Americans know that For example, in the State of Texas, economy with historic investments to
any distorted representation of the $3.5 this bill would help the local economy. transform and modernize the elec-
trillion, as not being able to afford it It would send more than $400 million in tricity sector. It is imperative that we
or that it is too extensive, is really a Texas to support the expansion of an do that.
misrepresentation. electric vehicle charging network, with We must take a moment to pause and
First of all, we support, as the Con- up to $2.5 billion more available to recognize that any positive steps on
gressional Black Caucus, Build Back through grants. climate will be because of us, because
Better enthusiastically. It is a $3.5 tril- Texas would also receive $3 billion to of the most powerful lawmaking body
lion package over 10 years for a coun- improve pipes and the delivery of clean in the Nation, taking a moment to
try that is nearing 350 million people, a drinking water so needed in our State, pause and realistically confronting it,
country that has not seen infrastruc- in urban and rural communities. providing the research dollars, working
ture investment, climate investment, And Texas would benefit from the with universities, such as the Univer-
investment to deal with electric cars, bill’s $3.5 billion investment in sity of Houston Energy Institute and
investment to deal with the new econ- weatherizing energy grids across the Texas Southern University, looking at
omy, the care economy—we have not country. Millions of Texans who sat ways to provide the best approach to a
seen this for decades, or at least we shivering in their dark living rooms green approach and climate response as
have not seen this as we have moved during the last winter’s freeze will un- well as providing the necessary re-
into the 21st century. doubtedly welcome that improvement. search on new kinds of energy. That is
The Build Back Better plan makes We lost over 150 people in that short what we need to do.
the transformative investments that span in February when we saw tem- Just for a moment, may I step back
we need to continue our growing econ- peratures in Texas that we had never to the point about healthcare. We
omy, lower costs for working families, imagined. People literally froze in know it all too well in Houston. We
and position the United States as a their beds. One comes to mind that is were the poster child in Texas for the
global leader in the innovation and so emotional: An 11-year-old boy froze most uninsured persons when the Af-
jobs of the future. in his bed in February 2021. fordable Care Act was implemented.
The $3.5 trillion gross investment Critically, the bill would provide at Six million people, 25 percent of the
will build on the successes of the Amer- least $100 million for broadband access State of Texas, were uninsured. We
ican Rescue Plan and set our Nation on in a State where 14 percent of house- still do not have access to healthcare
a path of fiscal responsibility and holds don’t have an internet subscrip- as we should.
broadly shared prosperity for genera- tion, and 4 percent of Texans have no Then to add this horrific burden and
tions to come. broadband infrastructure at all. insult to the women of Texas, to write
Almost 4 years ago, in 2017, the Hous- My view is that we cannot simply go the most heinous bill that would, in
ton area and most of the Southern re- for one versus the other. Let me just fact, disallow a woman’s access to
gion, all the way to Florida, including tell you about the Build Back Better healthcare, this horrible bill that
some of our Commonwealths, experi- $3.5 trillion bill. would have a bounty hunter that would
enced Hurricane Harvey. It will provide childcare to help our seek to follow you in the midst of you
This is my district, where the water workforce and contribute to the econ- getting good healthcare. I think this is
looked like an extended ocean—$155 omy where that is needed. Therefore, clearly an unfortunate set of cir-
billion worth of damage, so much dam- the plan supports families in need of cumstances that we should correct.
age that we are continuing to work childcare, providing access to safe, reli- Healthcare, your own personal deci-
with it. Why? Because we did not have able, high-quality childcare, delivered sion with your provider, your faith, and
the infrastructure. We did not have the by well-trained childcare providers. your family, choices that no one wants
bayous that were constructed in a way As it relates to education, we will be to make, yet this State law was put in
that would hold the water. So much productive and having our children place to create a vigilante community
damage, so much loss, so much pain. have high-quality education. That is to attack women and those that might
So a combination of the INVEST Act why this plan makes necessary invest- help them provide access to healthcare.
and Build Back Better is a must. They ments to increase quality education by That is what it is, access to healthcare,
must walk hand-in-hand. One without 4 years for all students at no cost to a decision that no one offers to make
the other does not answer the call of hardworking parents. The plan will lightly. But here we are, a vigilante
the American people. It does not re- provide 2 years of free pre-K and 2 being enticed by $10,000—gossip, spy-
flect the Lincolnesque attitude that we years of free community college. We ing, standing outside dorm rooms,
all are in this together. are investing in people. watching Uber cars, standing in front
Let me read a quote from President In regard to healthcare, too many of doctors’ offices, standing in front of
Lincoln, who reminds us so much Americans are forced to choose be- organizations like Planned Parenthood
whenever we speak of the idea of what tween medical care and putting food on that deal with healthcare for women,
America is. Abraham Lincoln, in 1862, the table. The plan expands access to and just plain providing a sense of in-
as he was seeing the divide coming into quality, affordable healthcare by timidation and fear.
this Nation, offered these words: ‘‘The strengthening the Medicare, Medicaid, That brings me to the legislation
dogmas of the quiet past are inad- and Affordable Care marketplace pro- that we hope that we will see passing,
equate to the stormy present. The oc- grams that millions of Americans rely H.R. 5226, Preventing Vigilante Stalk-
casion is piled high with difficulty, and on. But now more could be added, in ing that Stops Women’s Access to
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we must rise with the occasion. As our addition to providing dental, hearing, Healthcare and Abortion Rights Act of
case is new, so we must think anew and and vision benefits. That is when we go 2021. I hope my colleagues will join me
act anew. We must disenthrall our- it together. Not I’s and me’s, but we, us in a simple bill that simply says you
selves, and then we shall save our together. don’t have the right to stalk a woman
country.’’ Paid leave that can help us get on who is seeking healthcare. It may be
As we move forward with Build Back our feet when we are having issues that she is going for a mammogram.
Better and the INVEST Act, the $3.5 with family and healthcare. You don’t know. But by creating this
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H4548 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 20, 2021
atmosphere of money being given to a we give women the right to choose, rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so
whole industry of people, ne’er-do-wells that we pass H.R. 40, the commission to we must think anew and act anew. We must
and others, some with good intentions study slavery and develop reparation disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save
our country.
in their mind but seeking to make proposals. A long agenda. I know that
profit on someone else’s pain, that is we can do this in the spirit of unity. Madam Speaker, the bipartisan action we
unacceptable. I hope my colleagues Madam Speaker, on behalf of the took in February 2021 when we passed the
will join me in that legislation. Congressional Black Caucus, I yield American Rescue Plan was a giant step in the
Healthcare is a right, and we should back the balance of my time. right direction, but it was a targeted response
give that to families, to women, to Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the to the immediate and urgent public health and
men, to children, and to seniors. That Committees on the Judiciary, on Homeland economic crises; it was not a long-term solu-
is what building America back better Security, and on the Budget, and the Congres- tion to many of the pressing challenges facing
will do. sional Black Caucus, I am pleased to co-an- our nation that have built up over decades of
Affordable housing, helping homeless chor this Congressional Black Caucus Special disinvestment in our nation and its people in
persons, tax cuts for families and work- Order with my colleague, the distinguished every region and sector of the country.
ers, I am so grateful. And I want every- gentleman from New York, Congressman We simply can no longer afford the costs of
body to know how Democrats worked RITCHIE TORRES. neglect and inaction; the time to act is now.
so hard for the child tax credit—excuse I thank the Chair of the CBC, Congress- The Build Back Better Plan makes the
me, let me correct that—the child tax woman BEATTY of Ohio, for organizing this transformative investments that we need to
cut. In fact, as I hear it, my constitu- Special Order to discuss the reasons why the continue growing our economy, lower costs for
ents, your constituents, their constitu- CBC strong supports the Build Back Better working families, and position the United
ents, are receiving those child tax cuts Agenda conceived and advanced by President States as a global leader in innovation and the
right now. Many people are making Biden and House Democrats to support vision- jobs of the future.
ends meet, helping their children get ary and transformative investments in the This $3.5 trillion gross investment will build
into school. health, well-being, and financial security of on the successes of the American Rescue
That is what Democrats do, and that America’s workers and families. Plan and set our nation on a path of fiscal re-
is what this bill is going to do—re- Over the next hour, several of our col- sponsibility and broadly shared prosperity for
search, development, and innovation leagues will share their perspectives on why it generations to come.
on good, forward-thinking infrastruc- is essential that we ‘‘go big’’ in building back The Build Back Better Plan will provide re-
ture. better to our nation and all of its people have sources to improve our education, health, and
Working with HBCUs, helping them the opportunities and resources to compete child care systems, invest in clean energy and
be historically relevant but also help- and win in the changing global economy of the sustainability, address the housing crisis, and
ing them to be stronger in terms of 21st century. more; all while setting America up to compete
their infrastructure. I support that and Madam Speaker, it is often said that the and win in the decades ahead.
thank one of our colleagues, Congress- federal budget is an expression of the nation’s The Build Back Better Plan is paid for by
woman ALMA ADAMS, who has been a values and the investments made to Build ensuring that the wealthy and big corporations
leader on making sure our HBCUs are America Back Better are a clear declaration of are paying their fair share and Americans
front and center, are surviving. These congressional Democrats’ commitment to en- making less than $400,000 a year will not see
are our historic colleges founded in the suring that our government, our economy, and their taxes increase by a penny.
1800s. our systems work For The People. Let me repeat that: No American making
Madam Speaker, these long-overdue invest- less than $400,000 a year will not see their
b 2000 taxes increase by a penny.
ments in America’s future will be felt in every
Immigration, of course, is a very im- corner of the country and across every sector In sum, Madam Speaker, the investments
portant issue, and I might say, another of American life, building on the success of made by the Build Back Better Plan will ex-
issue that we worked on in the Judici- the American Rescue Plan, accommodating pand opportunity for all and build an economy
ary Committee with our allotment of historic infrastructure investments in the legis- powered by shared prosperity and inclusive
$107 billion, and that is, of course, com- lative pipeline, and addressing longstanding growth.
munity violence intervention. We put deficits in our communities by ending an era No one is better prepared or more experi-
in $2.5 billion on community violence of chronic underinvestment so we can emerge enced to lead the American renaissance that
intervention. And that of course was from our current crises a stronger, more equi- will be produced by the investments made by
$107 billion, $107.5 billion in Judiciary. table nation. the Build Back Better Plan than President
Part of that, of course, was to deal Should our friends across the aisle join us Biden, the architect of the American Rescue
with the issue of community violence in this endeavor, it would send a powerful sig- Plan and who as Vice-President during the
intervention. nal to the American people if our colleagues Obama Administration oversaw the implemen-
So you can see there is no time to across the aisle would join us in this effort be- tation of the Recovery Act, which saved mil-
waste. There is no time to delay. There cause nothing would better show them that lions of jobs and rescued our economy from
is only time to work hard on getting their elected representatives can set partisan- the Great Recession the nation inherited from
this legislation passed. We must do it ship aside and put America first. a previous Republican administration.
as an INVEST Act, we must do it as a And that bipartisan achievement would por- And let us not forget that President Obama
budget reconciliation, or the Build tend success for similar initiatives in the area also placed his confidence in his vice-presi-
Back Better Act of 2021, the better of strengthening the infrastructure of democ- dent to oversee the rescue of the automotive
name. We must do it together. racy in which every American has a vital inter- industry, which he did so well that the Amer-
The Congressional Black Caucus est, national and homeland security, and crimi- ican car industry fully recovered its status as
stands to be able to say, ‘‘No more Hur- nal justice and immigration reform. the world leader.
ricane Harveys,’’ but more, work with I would urge my Republican colleagues to Madam Speaker, let me briefly highlight
communities, rebuilding streets, his- heed the words of Republican Governor Jim some of the key investments made by the
toric preservation, and making a dif- Justice of West Virginia who said colorfully Build Back Better Plan:
ference. That is what historic infra- several months ago: EDUCATION
structure investment can do, and that At this point in time in this nation, we The Plan will provide two years of free pre-
is what we in the Congressional Black need to go big. We need to quit counting the K and two years of free community college to
Caucus stand for. egg-sucking legs on the cows and count the ensure every student has the tools, resources,
I look forward to us continuing our cows and just move. And move forward and and opportunity to succeed in life.
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discussion. Madam Speaker, I take the move right now. It will also invest in our teachers and institu-
opportunity at this point in the name The same sentiment was expressed more tions that serve minority students and provide
of unity, reconciliation, a new pathway eloquently by Abraham Lincoln in 1862 when funding to give school buildings long-overdue
for transformational government, pass- he memorably wrote: infrastructure updates.
ing of the INVEST Act, passing of the The dogmas of the quiet past are inad- Children lead happier, healthier, and more
Build Back Better Act, and making equate to the stormy present. The occasion productive lives when they have had access to
sure that we have voting rights, that is piled high with difficulty, and we must high-quality education and that is why the
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September 20, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4549
Build Back Better Plan makes necessary in- icans, improve air quality and public health, TAX CUTS FOR FAMILIES AND WORKERS
vestments to increase quality education by create good-paying jobs, and strengthen U.S. The expansion of the Child Tax Credit
four years for all students at no cost to hard- competitiveness—all while putting our country (CTC) enacted in the American Rescue Plan
working families. on the pathway to 100 percent carbon-free has already benefitted nearly 66 million chil-
HEALTH CARE electricity by 2035. dren, put money in the pockets of millions of
The Build Back Better Plan expands access The Build Back Better Plan extends and ex- hard-working parents and guardians, and is
to quality, affordable health care by strength- pands clean energy tax credits and supports expected to help cut child poverty by more
ening the Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable clean electricity performance payments so util- than half.
Care Act (ACA) Marketplace programs that ities can accelerate progress toward a clean The Build Back Better Plan not only extends
millions of Americans already rely on. electric grid at no added cost to consumers. this meaningful tax cut, but it also extends the
It includes a major new expansion of Medi- The Build Back Better Plan invests in clean expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
care benefits, adding a dental, hearing, and vi- energy, efficiency, electrification, and climate and the expanded Child and Dependent Care
sion benefit to the program for the very first justice through grants, consumer rebates, and Tax Credit, which help families make ends
time. federal procurement of clean power and sus- meet and put food on the table, reduce child
It strengthens the ACA by extending the en- tainable materials, and by incentivizing private poverty, and lessen the burden on hard-work-
hanced Marketplace subsidies that were in- sector development and investment. ing Americans so they can provide a better fu-
Another exciting aspect of the Build Back ture for America’s children.
cluded in the American Rescue Plan.
Better Plan, Madam Speaker, is that it will
It also provides an affordable coverage op- REINING IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
drive economic opportunities, environmental The Build Back Better Plan also achieves
tion for the more than two million Americans
conservation, and climate resilience—espe- savings from following through on President
living in states that have not expanded Med-
cially in underserved and disadvantaged com- Biden’s call to give Medicare the power to ne-
icaid under the ACA and do not earn enough
munities—including through a new Civilian Cli- gotiate lower prescription drug prices, saving
to qualify for Marketplace subsidies.
mate Corps. money for patients as well as the federal gov-
The Build Back Better Plan’s investment in
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION
home- and community-based services will in- ernment.
INFRASTRUCTURE
crease access to critical services and create Madam Speaker, we have before us a once
Madam Speaker, advances in science, tech- in a century opportunity to make gigantic
new and better-paying jobs for care providers. nology, and manufacturing are creating the in-
When the Build Back Better Plan is fully im- progress in making ours a more perfect union,
dustries and jobs of the future, and we must
plemented soon gone will be the terrible old and to do it in a single bound with enactment
ensure that they are created here.
days when too many Americans are forced to That is why the Build Back Better Plan in- of the Build Back Better Plan, the most trans-
choose between medical care and putting food vests in America’s ingenuity and competitive- formative legislation passed by this Congress
on the table or affording other necessities. ness by revitalizing state-of-the-art laboratory since the Great Society and the New Deal.
CHILD CARE Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker,
facilities and research across the nation, in-
The Build Back Better Plan supports fami- I’d like to thank Chairwoman BEATTY and the
cluding at historically black colleges and uni-
lies in need of child care by providing access Congressional Black Caucus for hosting this
versities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving
to safe, reliable, and high-quality care deliv- institutions (MSIs), through new regional inno- Special Order Hour on our priorities in the
ered by a well-trained child care workforce. vation hubs, and through federal science budget reconciliation and infrastructure nego-
This is important because our nation is agencies. tiation processes, and thank Congresswoman
strongest when everyone can join the work- The Build Back Better Plan will reinvigorate JACKSON LEE and Congressman TORRES for
force and contribute to the economy. U.S. manufacturing by supporting supply chain facilitating it.
That is why this investment is vital to so resilience and modernization, Manufacturing First, let me be very clear: I am certainly no
many millions of—especially women—who are USA institutes, the Manufacturing Extension fan of the partisanship and complexity associ-
often forced to choose between working to Partnership, and facilities and research at the ated with the reconciliation process. In an
support their family or caring for their family. National Institute of Standards and Tech- ideal world, in a perfect situation, this process
PAID LEAVE nology, all of which will strengthen America’s would be defined by bipartisan agreements
competitiveness in the global economy. and give-and-take, and would be negotiated in
Madam Speaker, the United States is the
a gradual, more transparent manner. But we
richest nation in the world but one of the few IMMIGRATION
Madam Speaker, as virtually every re- do not live in an ideal world, nor is this a per-
modern democracies that lacks a paid leave
spected study has concluded, providing a fect situation. Right now, as we stand here
program.
pathway to lawful permanent resident (LPR) today, millions of Americans are suffering, our
The Build Back Better Plan remedies this
status for Dreamers, recipients of Temporary infrastructure is crumbling, and our planet is
shameful failing by creating a national, com-
Protected Status (TPS), farmworkers, and es- quite literally on fire.
prehensive paid family and medical leave pro-
Now, Madam Speaker, I have served in this
gram, providing direct support to workers and sential workers will be a boon for our econ-
body for nearly 30 years—but I find myself
families. omy.
This Plan allows for investments to provide struggling to recall a time when the cost of in-
This crucial investment will allow workers to
a pathway to LPR status for these immigrant action was as high and as dangerous as it is
take the time they need to bond with a new
communities. in this moment. That’s why the Black Caucus,
child, care for their own serious illness, or care
Madam Speaker, immigrants eligible for under the leadership of Chairwoman BEATTY,
for a seriously ill loved one without risking
such protection are an integral part of Texas’s has fought to include vital provisions in the
needed income or employment.
social fabric. Build Back Better Act that would transform our
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Texas is home to 386,300 immigrants who economy and infrastructure, provide relief from
In the area of housing, the Build Back Better Americans still reeling from the effects of
are eligible for protection, 112,000 of whom
Plan makes investments to ensure that Ameri- COVID–19, and form a blueprint for a more
reside in Harris County.
cans have access to safe and affordable These individuals live with 845,300 family equitable, just society.
housing by providing resources to increase members and among those family members, It’s why I, as a Senior Member of the House
housing vouchers and funding for tribal hous- 178,700 are U.S.-born citizen children. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
ing. These persons in Texas who are eligible for voted to pass the portion of the Build Back
It also supports investments in programs protection under the bill arrived in the United Better Act dealing with investments in our na-
that will help address our nation’s housing cri- States at the average age of 8 and on aver- tion’s transportation and infrastructure sys-
sis by increasing the supply of affordable age have lived in the United States since tems. The most salient, underlying themes
homes for those in need and investing in his- 1996. contained in the bill include investments in a
torically underserved communities and those They own 43,500 homes in Texas and pay race equitable transportation system, climate
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that have been previously left behind. $340,500,000 in annual mortgage payments resiliency, transit programs targeted to resi-
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE and contribute $2,234,800,000 in federal taxes dents in disadvantaged communities, re-
The Build Back Better Plan will spur and and $1,265,200,000 in state and local taxes sources for railroads, port infrastructure and
empower comprehensive action to build an each year. supply chain resilience, and our water infra-
equitable clean energy economy with historic Annually, these households generate structure, to name a few.
investments to transform and modernize the $10,519,000,000 in spending power in Texas It’s why I, as Chair of the House Science,
electricity sector, lower energy costs for Amer- and help power the national economy. Space, and Technology Committee, presided
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H4550 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 20, 2021
over a markup of the portion of the Build Back got-aways, people aren’t even being gree, unguarded? Are they at all con-
Better Act dealing with the issues and agen- processed crossing the border, but we cerned about the 90,000 people who died
cies under our jurisdiction. We targeted giving also have a situation in which more in the last year of illegal drug use, pri-
our nation’s scientists and engineers 21st cen- drugs are coming off the border. The marily fentanyl flowing across the
tury facilities to conduct research by investing American public still hasn’t been told southern border? What is being done
billions of dollars into research infrastructure at enough that in the last year we have about all the people coming from the
the National Science Foundation, the Depart- had over 90,000 people die of drug other countries?
ment of Energy, the National Aeronautics and overdoses, largely from fentanyl com- Remember, you did not see all these
Space Administration, the National Institute of ing across the Mexican border, and people under the bridge 2 or 3 months
Standards and Technology, and the National that is what happens when you have 224 ago. Why? Again, it is not just a ran-
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. miles barely monitored. dom thing. It is because of a change in
These vital investments will also lead to good, The Haitians are being brought here the Temporary Protected Status ex-
high-paying jobs. We also invested billions of or encouraged to come here by the drug tended by President Biden, which re-
dollars into our innovation pipeline at our pre- gangs. Why are they able to do this? It sults in the huge mess that we have.
mier research agencies to power our research didn’t happen by coincidence that you But that is not the only thing that
and development and our advanced manufac- saw all these people under the bridge hasn’t been covered anywhere near
turing programs. This includes significant in- last week and they weren’t over there enough. There is an issue that the press
vestments in minority-serving institutions and a month ago. should be focusing on more with regard
diversity programs at NSF and DOE. Finally, The Biden administration has ex- to the COVID situation. I know a lot of
we funded billions of dollars to better under- tended the Temporary Protected Sta- the focus is on the vaccine, but we have
stand and respond to the climate crisis. In- tus for people coming here from Haiti. to realize that many people have got-
cluded in this is vital funding to improve our When they changed this process, it was ten the vaccine over the last 6 months.
understanding of climate-associated natural a recruiting tool for the gangs who We also have a situation in which
disasters like hurricanes, flooding, and want more people to come here. people have been working on cures for
wildfires. I am going to emphasize, Haiti is not the disease. Right now, most days over
Madam Speaker, I would urge all of my col- a very nice country, but these people 1,000—kind of averaging about 1,500—
leagues—Republican and Democrat, progres- are not coming from Haiti. They are people die every day from COVID. So is
sive and conservative, and everyone in be- coming here from Chile, they are com- there any cure for COVID that the CDC
tween—to support these critical, much-needed ing here from Brazil, they are coming is letting sit on the table?
investments in our constituents, in our dis- from Venezuela. Why are they coming Over a year ago scientists in Israel
tricts, and in our country as a whole. from these other countries? It is not announced hope for a generic drug
f because they are in danger in Chile and called fenofibrate, or Tricor, which has
THREE IMPORTANT ISSUES Brazil. They are coming here because been used safely to treat people for
they can make more money here, and high cholesterol for years. Recently,
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under these Israeli scientists have revealed
the drug cartel gangs are explaining
the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- that they took 15 people, all of which
that to them.
uary 4, 2021, the gentleman from Wis- These gangs are charging these Hai- had severe COVID, all of which needed
consin (Mr. GROTHMAN) is recognized oxygen, and in 4 days, 4 to 6 days, 14 of
tians at least $50,000 a person to come
for 60 minutes as the designee of the the 15 were out of the hospital after
here, which is the reason why they are
minority leader. they were given fenofibrate, which cost
Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, so involved in this.
Meanwhile, where is the President? a grand total of $1.50 a day. The other
we are back from our August break,
Where is our moderate Joe Biden? patient got out of the hospital within 2
and there are three issues of tremen-
Where is Kamala Harris, the expert on weeks.
dous importance that Congress ought
the border, as we have this disaster You would think this is good news for
to deal with and the press corps ought
going on at the southern border, out of the CDC, particularly given the billions
to be dealing with.
I can understand, by the way, why control, people going from the United of dollars that we have given them. Un-
President Biden wants to change his States to Mexico, back Mexico to the fortunately, they are not getting
view over a few months ago and go for United States? enough assistance to do further trials
mandates on the vaccine, because these Wake up, press corps, and find out in this country. Think if this 15-patient
other issues are issues that I am sure how much money the gangs are making outfit were typical of the population as
would be uncomfortable for him to ad- on this. Why are we processing over a whole. 15 for 15 cured. And not only
dress, but they are important for the 200,000 people at the southern border cured. A lot of people today with
press corps and important for the for 2 months in a row? Things we COVID, even when they are cured, have
American people to address. haven’t seen for over 20 years. permanent or almost permanent side
The first issue is: the Del Rio sector No wonder some of the press corps, effects. But here the side effects are a
of the Mexican border is out of control. the irresponsible press corps—and no fraction of what they were on people
We all see the 15,000 people under the wonder Joe Biden wants to focus on who didn’t take fenofibrate.
bridge, but what is the consequence of vaccine mandates. Because focusing on So I beg the CDC or anybody in the
that? vaccine mandates takes our eyes off administration who is listening, we
What is the consequence of having 2 the border that is out of control. brought this to their attention before,
months in a row of over 200,000 people It is up to Congress to step forward, see what you can do to have the vast
show up at the border? The Border Pa- have some more committee hearings sum of money and the U.S. Govern-
trol has to get off the border, they have on this, do something, bring some bills ment weigh in to see if we can have
to shuffle people around from the Del to the floor. I know there is going to be stronger trials with more people on the
Rio section to the El Paso section or to a CR coming through, there is going to fenofibrate, and we can get ourselves in
the Laredo section. They have to take be a bill to break the debt ceiling com- a position in which soon if someone
care of all of the unaccompanied mi- ing through. does wind up going to the hospital, if
nors coming in here, and when they do I would ask the President, the Speak- someone does wind up needing oxygen,
that, they cannot guard the border. er, give us some more Border Patrol they are given the fenofibrate, and
Things are out of control. agents to deal with our empty border. they can wind up like the 15 patients
Not only are the agents in that area That is the first thing all Americans they have already tried this on, all of
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not able to focus on the area, but should be concerned about. They which are apparently doing very well
things are such a disaster, we are hav- should be asking their Congressmen, and are even getting rid of the symp-
ing to bring agents off the northern they should be asking their Senators, toms that people who have had COVID
border to make up for the huge prob- what is being done to prevent 200,000 sometimes hang onto for months and
lems on the southern border. people from showing up at the border? months and months.
What happens? We wind up in a situa- What is being done when over 200 miles If we have anybody out there listen-
tion which not only are there more of the Mexican border is left, to a de- ing from the CDC, listening from the
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