Congressional Record, House — September 30, 2021, H5556
Summary
This is H5556 of the Congressional Record, House, September 30, 2021, with interleaved columns of floor remarks. One Member from central New York urges the Speaker to bring the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to the floor as a standalone vote, saying the Senate passed it with the support of 19 Senators. Another Member from Connecticut describes the State's COVID-19 response under Governor Lamont, saying that vaccination rates are about 99 percent at the Coast Guard Academy and nearly 90 percent at the submarine base in Groton. The views are attributed to the speakers, whose names are not printed in the section read.
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“Congressional Record, House — September 30, 2021, H5556.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-09-30-crec-2021-09-30-pt1-pgh5556-0beecfffd1/
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H5556 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 30, 2021
Last month, the Senate passed the forward on infrastructure and present benefit, in terms of our hospital system
bipartisan Infrastructure Investment real policy solutions for the challenges in the State of Connecticut, again, we
and Jobs Act with the support of 19 Re- we face. have 9 per 100,000 COVID patients,
publican Senators, including Minority In presenting our work to a bipar- which ranks number three in the coun-
Leader MITCH MCCONNELL. Since then, tisan group of Governors, Senators, try, right behind Vermont and the
I have heard the loudest voices in the and Members of the House in Annap- State of Massachusetts, which are 7 per
room say a lot about this bill, except olis, Maryland, earlier this year, we 100,000 and 8 per 100,000.
for calling it what it is, a once-in-a- helped lay the framework for the bipar- What does that mean? It means there
generation investment in our Nation’s tisan infrastructure bill the House is is no pressure on your ICU units. There
physical infrastructure. now considering. is allowance for normal elective sur-
For myself and so many others, a bill I am grateful to all of my colleagues geries and the processes of hospitals to
like this is the reason we came to Con- who worked on this, and I sincerely continue, which is the endgame of what
gress. hope that this work will not have been we all should be focused on like a laser,
We have heard from the mom or dad done in vain. I hope that we can see which is to get beyond this pandemic.
who hit a pothole and had to pay out of through the cloud of misinformation It didn’t happen by itself.
pocket to fix the family car. and partisan efforts to hold this bill Anecdotally, in my district, I was
We have seen our children struggle hostage. I hope my colleagues will look over at the Coast Guard Academy the
and fall behind in school without reli- at this bill objectively, on its own mer- other day: a 99 percent vaccination
able internet access. its, and consider the benefits that it rate with the student body at the Coast
Our communities are the ones where holds for the communities they rep- Guard Academy. These are the future
basic access to clean drinking water resent. leaders of our coastal sea service, and
has been jeopardized by aging pipes. I would also remind my colleagues they get it. They understand the bene-
Our workers and businesses are the who are unsure of where they will fall fits, that they can attend class and
ones calling for investments that will this one simple thing: The world is have a normal campus life.
help them compete on the world stage. watching. Across the river, the submarine base
So, the question is: What will we, as Our Nation’s adversaries, like the in Groton, again, just shy of a 90 per-
Members of Congress, do about it? Chinese Communist Party, would like cent vaccination rate. That is 10,000
Will we allow blatant partisanship on nothing more than to see this body sailors and officers. These are people
both sides of the aisle to stand in the yield to partisan interests and refuse with families. These are folks who have
way of legislation that is objectively to invest in its own people. These ad- pregnant spouses. But they get it. I
good for the American people? versaries would cheer our decision to mean, there is no way you can socially
Will we ignore the very real crisis ignore the crises of the past year and distance in a submarine. They are now
that is facing infrastructure systems in decide not to invest in cybersecurity the number one naval installation in
communities like the one I represent for our infrastructure assets. They America in terms of vaccination rates.
in central New York? would be relieved if we continue a sta- Again, it did not happen by itself.
Will we simply disregard the pleas tus quo that erases our economy’s com- Governor Lamont, back in the spring
from the most significant labor and petitive edge and allows malign actors of 2020, basically tuned out all the
business advocates in the country? to gain the upper hand. noise. He brought together experts
I, for one, will not. I strongly support Simply put, with this bill, Congress from the Yale School of Public Health.
the bipartisan Infrastructure Invest- is taking a critical step in deciding He brought together experts from the
ment and Jobs Act, and I urge the who will build the future. I will back a Hartford HealthCare hospital system,
Speaker to bring the bill to the floor as future built by American workers, en- which is the largest hospital system.
a standalone vote today. suring opportunities for American fam- They brought together the community
This long-overdue legislation delivers ilies and American businesses. health centers. They brought together
comprehensive investment in our roads I sincerely hope my colleagues will community groups. They stayed fo-
and bridges, ports and waterways, put down their swords just this once— cused in terms of getting testing,
clean water systems, broadband net- just this once—and join me. masking, and vaccinations out there to
works, electrical grids, and airports. f the public at large.
The bill takes essential steps to I would note, Madam Speaker, that
streamline Federal permitting proc- COVID INFECTION AND when we passed the American Rescue
esses and undertakes the crucial work VACCINATION RATES Plan back in March, like every State,
of improving the resiliency of our hard The SPEAKER pro tempore. The we were given an allocation to our pub-
infrastructure. Chair recognizes the gentleman from lic health system for communication
Critically, this legislation includes Connecticut (Mr. COURTNEY) for 5 min- and education. Again, it has been put
responsible pay-fors in addition to its utes. to good use, obviously, as these num-
$550 billion in new spending for phys- Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, bers show this morning.
ical infrastructure. The CBO estimates this morning, I wanted to share with On Tuesday, the Biden administra-
that the Infrastructure Investment and the Chamber the latest statistics from tion announced the release of funding
Jobs Act will have a 33 percent return the Centers for Disease Control and the for community health centers, which
on investment because of the economic Department of Health and Human have been the backbone in terms of
benefits of long-term infrastructure Services regarding infection rates and reaching hard-to-get populations, to
projects. Experts from the American vaccination rates in the country. get the help that they need during this
Enterprise Institute have argued that I am proud to say, the State of Con- pandemic. In eastern Connecticut, the
spending under this legislation would necticut, which the Speaker knows two community health systems—
not contribute to inflation because the well, we ranked as the lowest infection United Children and Family Services,
spending would be spread out over a rate in the country, 1.4 percent, 14 and Generations—are getting close to
decade and focus on improving long- cases per 100,000. $1 million for new equipment and new
term productivity. Simultaneous with that report were infrastructure to carry out their mis-
To be sure, no legislation is perfect, the numbers regarding vaccination sion to make sure that we are going to
but this measure is the product of an rates. For the population 18 and over, beat this virus once and for all.
honest, good faith, and bipartisan ef- we are at an 80 percent vaccination All the issues that we talk about
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
fort to reach consensus and deliver for rate, which, again, is the highest in the here—and they are all so important—
our constituents. I know that because I country. right now, we still cannot be distracted
have spent many years working with It is blindingly obvious there is a from the need to get on the other side
my colleagues in the Problem Solvers causal connection between commu- of this pandemic. These numbers from
Caucus to reach this moment. nities that come together to boost vac- my State today show that when you
Since 2017, our group has worked on a cination rates and the benefit and the work together, when you just combat
framework that would move the ball result of reducing infection rates. The all the misinformation and bad stuff
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September 30, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5557
that is out there about vaccines and rooms. I grew up with Dean, watching support, including everyone from labor
masking—we had a hearing in Hartford him in the Lowcountry. His first job unions to local chambers of commerce
where we had people up there saying with the station was as a weekend to climate groups. They are joined by
that the authorization from the FDA sportscaster, and he would eventually national organizations like the Na-
was only for the German vaccine, not become a news anchor. tional Association of Manufacturers,
the American Pfizer vaccine, which is Dean’s presence on our televisions the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and
ridiculous. That stuff is out there, but will be greatly missed by our commu- hundreds of labor and trade associa-
we have overcome that. nity. I wish him well on his much-de- tions.
Again, the numbers speak for them- served retirement. I urge my colleagues to listen to
selves in terms of that success. RECOGNIZING PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL STUDENTS their communities who are calling for
I look forward to working with my Ms. MACE. Madam Speaker, I rise these investments and not to give in to
colleagues to make sure that we keep today to acknowledge the great work the Washington machine that so often
this priority number one, two, and done by some amazing students at Por- turns shared bipartisan goals into po-
three because that is how we recover ter-Gaud School in Charleston. litical games.
our economy, and that is how we re- Last month, as part of the school’s This bill reminds me of the last time
cover a normal life in this country. So, Senior Day for Caring, 100 Porter-Gaud that we saw this level of investment in
let’s work together. seniors packaged over 20,000 meals for America’s infrastructure, when Presi-
f the James Island Outreach Center and dent Eisenhower, who was from Kan-
One80 Place, feeding the hungry across sas, recognized an opportunity to re-
b 1015 build the economy and create jobs
the Charleston area. They also pack-
CONGRATULATING THE aged over 350 hygiene kits to take care through infrastructure. We were then,
CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS of our fleeing Afghan allies seeking ref- as we are today, in a challenging time
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The uge right here in the United States. defined by a national crisis and eco-
Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from The leaders of these nonprofits tell nomic difficulty.
me the tremendous work these stu- I believe, as Eisenhower did, that in-
South Carolina (Ms. MACE) for 5 min-
dents did saved them thousands of dol- frastructure is key to building long-
utes.
lars in manufacturing costs, not to term economic growth. At the end of
Ms. MACE. Madam Speaker, I rise
mention the good works that they are the day, infrastructure is made up of
today to congratulate the Charleston
many everyday systems that connect
RiverDogs on a defining victory in the doing for our community.
us to one another and broaden opportu-
Low-A East championship series this REMEMBERING LUCILLE WHIPPER
nities.
week. This 9–2 win is the City of Ms. MACE. Madam Speaker, I rise If we don’t invest in the health of
Charleston’s first minor league base- today in remembrance of former South those systems, whether it is the safety
ball title in 99 years and the first in Carolina State Representative Lucille of highways like U.S. 69 in the district
franchise history for the Charleston Whipper. I get to represent, or access to high-
RiverDogs. Dr. Whipper was the first African- speed internet in areas across Kansas,
The Charleston RiverDogs are a American woman elected to the South both urban and rural, we pay the price,
Lowcountry staple and are a vital part Carolina State House from Charleston and it is not just in the ways we might
of our tourism and hospitality indus- County. She served her community as think.
tries. an activist during the civil rights We feel the impact of past decades of
This team worked extremely hard movement. She was a teacher and a underinvestment in infrastructure, in
during their record-breaking season guidance counselor. She was also an our economy, in our educational sys-
and showed great determination while administrator in Charleston County tems, in the health of our kids, and in
representing our beloved Charleston. public schools. Dr. Whipper was also the health of our planet.
I am excited for the opportunity to the first African-American adminis- That is why this bill is absolutely
go back-to-back, like Jordan in 1996 trator at the College of Charleston, necessary because infrastructure
and 1997. where she developed the school’s diver- touches so many parts of our lives and
RECOGNIZING LAMBS FOR LIFE sity program all the way back as early the lives of our future generations.
Ms. MACE. Madam Speaker, I rise in as the 1970s. This bipartisan bill boosts American
recognition of Lambs for Life and its Dr. Whipper will be greatly missed, competitiveness, tackles climate
founders, Alex and Brandon Arrieta. but her influence will live on in our change, and advances equity now and
On April 25, 2016, Alex Arrieta, age 10, community. We thank her for her lead- into the future. It is projected to cre-
was told his cancer was gone and a ership, and we offer our sincerest con- ate 2 million jobs per year for the next
bone marrow transplant was scheduled dolences for her family during this decade, with fair wage requirements
for the next month. The very next day time. written into the text.
Alex passed away. f Independent studies have shown that
In honor of Alex’s favorite childhood the investments in this bill will have
toy, Lamby, his parents founded Lambs SUPPORT FOR THE INFRASTRUC- multiplier effects on the economy, im-
for Life. Lambs for Life delivers Lamby TURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS proving productivity and boosting eco-
Packs filled with toys and a stuffed ACT nomic output without increasing infla-
lamb for Child Life departments of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The tion. This infrastructure bill is large,
children’s hospitals, brightening the Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from but so is the problem.
days of thousands of pediatric cancer Kansas (Ms. DAVIDS) for 5 minutes. There are immediate infrastructure
patients. Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Madam needs, from roads and bridges to public
Lambs for Life, led by Alex’s dad, Speaker, I rise in support of the Infra- transit and rail, waterways, and air-
Brandon, has spent the last 5 years structure Investment and Jobs Act. It ports. All of these need attention. This
working with Congress and the White would bring billions of dollars to much- bill will undoubtedly bring the Federal
House to bring focus and solutions to needed infrastructure projects in my funding needed to address those issues
pediatric cancer. home State, from bridges to broadband, here in the near term, and it makes
I commend Brandon for working and it does so without raising taxes on significant progress toward longer-
through his grief at the loss of two sons people who make less than $400,000 a term goals, like replacing lead pipes so
to make our country better. year. that every child can have access to
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
RECOGNIZING DEAN STEPHENS As I have said before, this bill is not clean drinking water or promoting Buy
Ms. MACE. Madam Speaker, I rise in absolutely perfect, but it is absolutely American provisions that create good-
recognition of Dean Stephens, a local necessary. It is a product of com- paying jobs for both construction and
news anchor, who is retiring after 31 promise. That is, at the end of the day, production of materials or modernizing
years with ABC News 4. what legislating often means. our electric grid to prevent blackouts,
Generations of Lowcountry families In the district I represent, this bill like the ones we saw in Kansas and
have welcomed Dean into their living has received a remarkable amount of those we saw in Texas earlier this year.
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