Congressional Record, November 17, 2021, from Page H6356 — House
Summary
This is H6356 and H6357 of the Congressional Record, House, November 17, 2021, with interleaved columns. The page ends a Republican Special Order on inflation led by Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, with Mr. Lamalfa citing a 22 percent rise in turkey prices and Mr. Clyde honoring Jackson County Deputy Lena Marshall, with the views attributed to the speakers. The Chair then recognizes Ms. Leger Fernandez of New Mexico for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader for the Progressive Caucus Special Order. In it, a speaker says the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law on Monday and urges passage of the Build Back Better Act.
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H6356 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 17, 2021
are doing things that will encourage ference but, more importantly, for Congress cannot spend its way out of
them when we give them free edu- making sure that the American people a problem, as some in the administra-
cation, free healthcare and to pay for hear the other side of the story. tion have suggested. It would only
them to do those things. Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam make the issue worse.
b 1745 Speaker, that was so well said, and the We must stop passing massive spend-
American people are going to speak ing bills and, instead, work on the bur-
So, Madam Speaker, tonight we want again next fall; we know that for cer- densome regulations and get out of
to speak specifically about this thing tain. businesses way so they can thrive, ex-
that is called inflation. Inflation is re- Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield pand their businesses, and hire employ-
lated to Federal monetary and fiscal to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. ees.
policy. Inflation is that thing that oc- CLYDE). Indeed, we need to work on the im-
curs in the economy when the price of Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise portant supply chain issues that are
goods and services rise and rise expo- today to honor the life and service of still clogging our ports, keeping our
nentially. Jackson County Deputy Lena Mar- products from being exported, from ag-
Normally, an administration would
shall, whose picture is displayed beside riculture, all those things that need to
look at about a 2 percent growth, a 2
me right here. be shipped out. Instead, we aren’t cut-
percent inflation rate, which would be,
Last week, Jackson County lost a ting very good deals with China when
generally speaking, an acceptable
mother and a heroic law enforcement they can just send their stuff over to
growth for a GDP model as well as in-
officer. After responding to a domestic us.
flation rate.
This administration, however, began call that spiraled into a violent shoot- So that would insulate our economy
with President Biden going down and out, Deputy Marshall tragically lost from inflation by having a real econ-
visiting the king of inflation, former her life while serving to keep Geor- omy at home that is not dependent
President Jimmy Carter, talking to gians in our community safe. upon borrowed dollars for big spending.
this Nation about how great Jimmy While I never had the privilege of Indeed, I keep asking, Biden adminis-
Carter’s service was. Well what he real- meeting Deputy Marshall personally, I tration, whose side are you on?
ly meant to say was I admired his poli- am deeply moved by her immeasurable Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam
cies, progressive liberal policies that sacrifice and willingness to put Geor- Speaker, how much time is remaining?
took this country to have 16 and 18 per- gians’ safety above her own. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen-
cent interest rates, interest rates that As a resident of Jackson County my- tleman has 5 seconds remaining.
raised prices an excessive amount of self, I believe I can speak for all of us Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam
money for families for a generation in the county in saying that we are for- Speaker, I thank my friends for par-
that could not buy homes. ever thankful for Deputy Marshall’s ticipating tonight, and I yield back the
Madam Speaker, the Republican dedication, her service, and her brav- balance of my time.
Party is here speaking, just as the ery. f
American people are, and we recognize My wife, Jennifer, and I continue to
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS
that this administration has made dear pray for Lena’s family and for her fel-
low Jackson County officers during The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under
and great friends with the conditions
this difficult time. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan-
that create inflationary spiral.
This administration knows exactly— May God bless our men and women in uary 4, 2021, the gentlewoman from
they have smart people there, but it is blue who selflessly put their lives on New Mexico (Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ) is
their policies that they demand to the line every day to keep us safe. recognized for 60 minutes as the des-
have, and those policies bring about re- Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam ignee of the majority leader.
sults that end up making friends with Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from GENERAL LEAVE
inflation: Higher prices for goods and California (Mr. LAMALFA). Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam
services; more government spending. Mr. LAMALFA. Madam Speaker, I Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
This is big expensive government rise tonight as we talk about this issue all Members have 5 legislative days to
spending across the board. with our upcoming Thanksgiving holi- revise and extend their remarks and in-
And so the American people will have day, expected, of course, to be the most clude extraneous material on the sub-
the most expensive Thanksgiving in expensive meal in the history of that ject of my Special Order.
years; the highest inflation rate in 30 holiday. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
years. Oh, that would be back to This is more proof that the Demo- objection to the request of the gentle-
Jimmy Carter. No wonder President crats are driving up inflation with woman from New Mexico?
Biden visited his favorite—or second their spending policies. Spending piles There was no objection.
favorite President, Jimmy Carter, be- of dollars does not create an economy, Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam
cause he wants to make friends with it actually hurts the value of the dol- Speaker, Monday was such an exciting
the conditions that create inflation: lars. day for our country. President Biden
Big government spending, prices rising, USDA’s Turkey Market News Report signed the Infrastructure Investment
government control of the goods and showed the price of turkey itself is and Jobs Act into law, and we came
services. going to be up 22 percent from last one step closer toward making the nec-
And just like Jimmy Carter, he had a year. Pumpkin pie, potatoes, cran- essary investments to help our commu-
Senate, a House, and a Presidency to berries, all up in price. nities thrive; to help them thrive, not
be very successful. Inflation, of course, is the most re- just survive.
Madam Speaker, the American peo- gressive of actual taxes on the people And I want to point out that, al-
ple spoke again last night in local elec- because it hits those on a fixed income though it is called the bipartisan infra-
tions down in South Carolina. They the hardest. Low and middle-income structure act, we had very few Repub-
spoke a week ago in State elections. have tough decisions to make on licans in this House vote for that bill.
Madam Speaker, the American peo- whether it is going to be—how they are In my State, the Republican Congress-
ple deserve better. Better comes from going to handle their food costs and up- woman did not vote for the infrastruc-
policy, and better comes from adults coming heating oil and gas to stay ture act; so she voted against the clean
who will recognize that it is not just warm this winter. water. She voted against the
politics, it is about the American peo- Democrats have been touting that broadband. She voted against the infra-
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ple who want and need to have more they will tax billionaires and the rich structure that we need to keep our
take-home pay and more ability to and corporations but, instead, we have roads safe and our bridges strong
take care of themselves; not big, expen- seen them advocating for policies that enough so that kids can cross them in
sive socialist government that even lead to inflation, directly harming their school buses to get to school.
breaks the laws of this country. those low and middle-income Ameri- But the Democrats delivered that
Madam Speaker, I thank the gen- cans, as well as making tax breaks for bill, and the Democrats are going to
tleman for his service to this con- the rich while they are touting them. deliver the Build Back Better agenda.
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November 17, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6357
And the reason why we need to pass the for herself. She found that dream hard. trols gas prices? Oil and gas companies
Build Back Better Act, it is para la She found herself living on the streets do. Who protects oil and gas compa-
gente. It is for the people. It is for our of Santa Fe, but she turned her life nies? Republicans protect oil and gas
communities. around. She got her GED. She got her companies.
Just a few weeks ago, my Progressive residency, her green card. She took They protect those corporations.
Caucus colleagues and I held a Special classes at the Santa Fe Community They do not let us attack their cor-
Order hour dedicated to the many College in community health, and she porations or tax those corporations. So
great things in the Build Back Better found Homewise, and she found her Democrats have to do it themselves.
Act. But, there is so much in there that first home with our help. We need to remember that it is
is good that we are back here tonight She says that being a homeowner greedy corporations that are raising
to continue to highlight the benefits lifts her spirits and gives her con- the prices and profiting off of working
for our communities. fidence in her own future. She knows families.
Madam Speaker, throughout the pan- that she will be able to pass along the We need to remember that it is
demic, New Mexicans lost their liveli- savings that are incorporated into that Grubhub that is increasing the price of
hoods. They put savings toward just home of her own to her children. deliveries by 30 percent, and none of
surviving. If it wouldn’t have been for Spirit and confidence in the future, that is going back to the mom-and-pop
the American Rescue Plan, they would that is what Democrats are about. We restaurants. It is going to those cor-
have lost their homes. The eviction are about opportunity. We are about porations that don’t want to pay taxes.
moratorium helped them. creating that belief in the future and But in the Build Back Better Act, we
Housing—I want to talk a little bit making it possible for working fami- are going to make sure that corpora-
about housing because that is some- lies. tions pay their fair share so they can
thing I have worked on for many, many I am glad to be on the floor with my stop fueling the inflation that the Re-
years in my district. We know that progressive colleagues to talk about publicans protect. They are fueling the
housing instability and the shortage of the many opportunities that Build inflation, and Republicans are pro-
affordable housing hurts our working Back Better has. tecting those corporations. Let’s call it
families. But I want to take a little moment like it is.
Many saw their dreams of home own- right now and have us walk back a But right now, I want to go back to
ership vanish with the pandemic and year. Thanksgiving. Do we remember all the amazing things that are in the
the recession. But, with Build Back what Thanksgiving was like a year Build Back Better Act. I am going to
Better, we have an opportunity to ago? call on our wonderful Representative
change that. We know that the biggest In my household, we always have a WATSON COLEMAN, my colleague, who
barrier to purchasing a home is the sit-down dinner for about 24 people. always stands ready to tell the stories
lack of savings needed for a downpay- You know, we believe in those extended of what it means on the ground in our
ment. People just don’t have $10,000 or tables. And everybody comes. Some- community, for our people, from vi-
$20,000 to put down on a downpayment. body will make the turkey, somebody sions like Build Back Better.
And current benefits like mortgage else will make the green chili and the Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
deductions don’t help low-income fami- red chili, because you can’t do without tlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. WAT-
lies looking to buy a home. They don’t red chili and green chili if you are from SON COLEMAN).
help middle-class families, because you New Mexico. And everybody brings Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Madam
need the money at the time you are what they made with such love to the Speaker, first of all, I thank Represent-
buying the house, at closing. table, and we sit around together and ative LEGER FERNANDEZ for managing
So, to successfully address the afford- share stories and share good food and this very important Special Order
able housing shortage and the growing laugh and tease. hour. I want to tell her and you,
racial gap that comes along with it, we Last year, did we do that? No. Last Madam Speaker, that I have been to-
need to make sure there is access to year, we had a Zoom Thanksgiving. tally inspired by my colleague’s com-
home ownership, especially for commu- Last year, we were living in despair. ments thus far on the benefits of the
nities like in New Mexico, or Native We were living with our former Presi- Build Back Better Act, on helping us to
American, Latino, African American, dent, who made fun of COVID. We were remember and to reimagine.
Black, Indigenous communities, we living with politicians from the other I remember Thanksgiving as well. I
need to make sure that we provide side of the aisle who called it a hoax. come from a big family, and there are
them with the homeownership assist- And we could not gather. We could not about 30 of us that get together. It
ance when it is needed, which is at celebrate. didn’t happen last year. But because of
closing. What a difference a year makes. this leadership out of this administra-
And you know what? Build Back Bet- What a difference leadership makes. tion, the Democratic Caucus in this
ter does just that. It makes one of the Under President Biden and the Amer- House and in the Senate, we were able
largest investments in housing down- ican Rescue Plan, we have made it pos- to deliver resources so that people
payment assistance in history. sible for our families to gather to- could get the things that they need to
I am proud to have been one of those gether once again because we made stay in their homes and get vaccinated.
many in our caucus who advocated for sure that they didn’t get kicked out of I, for one, am happy to say that my
the $10 billion that is in Build Back their homes; that they had a place to whole family is vaccinated, and we also
Better to help first-generation home- invite their family too with the money have the booster, so we are going to get
owners purchase their home. that we put into rental assistance. together for this Thanksgiving dinner.
In my beautiful New Mexico, we are We made sure that they could get I am grateful to the visionary Presi-
lucky to have an organization that I that vaccination; that they could have dent, Joe Biden, for this.
have worked with for 20 years. It is those shots. And anybody who wants it I am here tonight to speak about
called Homewise, an organization that in the United States can get a shot, something that I am passionate about.
helps create successful homeowners so can be vaccinated, can get their boost- I want you to know, Madam Speaker,
that families can improve their long- er, so that they protect everybody in that I am rising today because I feel
term financial wealth. We have finan- their community. And that is what we that the way our country has treated
cial fitness classes. We also help people need to celebrate, and that is what we working people has just been unaccept-
with downpayment assistance. But we need to respect because a year later, able.
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could use more of that. We never have the American Rescue Plan has done so Billionaires pay a smaller share of
enough downpayment assistance. much for our communities. their wealth in Federal taxes than the
But one of the people that we helped middle-class and the working-class
was Maria Luisa. Maria Luisa first b 1800 people who built this country.
came to the United States from Mex- But, yes, it is true. As those on the Our system is antithetical to our
ico. She had a dream to own a home of other side of the aisle state, we are see- country’s founding principles, and, yes,
her own and to create that better life ing inflation. But gas prices, who con- it is broken. Our country has failed its
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H6358 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 17, 2021
people, and we must do better. We Subcommittee. I am so lucky to have For months, we held the line to en-
can’t do better, though, without build- the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Nav- sure that we leave no family, no work-
ing back better. ajo Nation, and 16 different Puebloan er, and no community behind. I rise so
Although the current bill does not in- Tribes in my district. They tell me that we can secure the strongest poli-
clude all that we had hoped it would, it about their needs. I have walked in cies and investments for our most
is still going to transform the lives of their villages. I have sat at their feast marginalized communities, to deliver
those who need it most. days. meaningful, tangible change to im-
For example, it will give working I know the pandemic hit them hard- prove their conditions and to impact
parents the freedom to raise their new- est of all. We saw the death and despair their daily lives.
born children and make a living. That in our Tribal communities. So what we This week, the House has the oppor-
is why Build Back Better extends the did in Congress, what we did in the tunity and the obligation to legislate
already extremely successful child tax Natural Resources Committee, was to justice and begin rebuilding as a
credit expansion Democrats first make sure that their voices were stronger, more just Nation that takes
passed in the American Rescue Plan heard. We provided $14 billion in the care of its people, not because it is
earlier this year. American Rescue Plan and another $12 good politics—I will let the pundits
It also incorporates my Healthy billion for their communities. speak to that—but because as law-
MOM Act to ensure new mothers have We have been hearing lately about makers we have a decisive mandate
12 months of postpartum healthcare the incredible, sad stories that come from the people to deliver policies and
coverage so they are supported when from the fact that there was a time in budgets that value the lives and liveli-
they need it most. America’s history when we took chil- hoods of everyone in our communities.
It will also make an unprecedented dren away from their Tribes, away That means passing the President’s full
investment in putting floors beneath from their culture, and we put them in agenda, which is the people’s agenda.
our feet and roofs above our heads. The boarding schools, and many died. We I represent Massachusetts’ Seventh
Build Back Better Act includes $65 bil- were trying to erase the savage Indian, District, one of the most unequal dis-
lion for safer, more accessible public and those were the words that were tricts in the country and in the Com-
housing. It also invests an additional used. It didn’t work. The Tribes are monwealth, where in a 3-mile radius,
$25 billion to construct and rehabili- alive and with us. We must respect life expectancy drops from 92 years in
tate low-income family housing and that history. Back Bay to 59 years in Roxbury, and
another $9 billion for lead remediation I am proud that both the American the median household income drops by
to safeguard our children’s health. Rescue Plan and the Build Back Better $50,000; where childcare costs remain
This bill also puts us back on the Act have $200 million for Native Amer- some of the highest in the entire Na-
right path to prepare against the ican languages because it is through tion, $21,000 a child for center-based
threat of climate change. It makes a language that you preserve a culture care; where the rising rates of asthma,
and that you preserve an identity. extreme heat, and sea level rise dis-
historic $29 billion investment in
Add that together with the fact that proportionately impact frontline envi-
greenhouse gas reduction and $3 billion
we are going to have $470 million for ronmental justice communities like
for climate justice block grants. It will
Tribal climate resilience because we Chinatown, East Boston, and Chelsea.
also ban new offshore oil and gas leas- The hurt and harm in my community
have moved Tribes from their home-
ing along our coasts to create a clean- lands and put them in places where run deep, and I see it every day. These
er, brighter future where all of our they are at the greatest risk from the inequities and disparities are not natu-
children can thrive. climate crisis. We include money for rally occurring. They are the direct re-
Right now, the American Dream is drought relief because they are at the sult of decades of precise and inten-
just that, a dream, for far too many greatest risk of thirst because of the tional policy violence and underinvest-
people. Building back better is a cru- droughts that will be caused. ment that has been codified into our
cial step toward making that dream a We have $2.3 billion for the Indian laws and our budgets for generations.
reality. Health Service. This will help us ad- In this moment, as we do the work to
Since our Nation’s founding, working dress the backlog. 1993 is when we build back better and do so equitably,
Americans have paid more than their started setting out the list of Indian we must be just as precise and just as
fair share. It is time we finally reward Health Service buildings that needed intentional in legislating and investing
them. repair, and we still have a 1993 list that in justice, equity, and healing. That is
Today’s Build Back Better Act is not we have not met. why we can’t afford to leave any work-
the bill we had in mind when the Presi- I am very proud of what we have er, any family, or any community be-
dent first announced his agenda, but done in Build Back Better to address hind.
we are still on the verge of making the the needs of our Native Americans and Madam Speaker, the Build Back Bet-
biggest investment in working Amer- our urban Native Americans in our ter Act is our chance to chart a new
ican families in more than half a cen- Tribes. path forward and reverse the genera-
tury. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- tions of policy violence inflicted on our
I am very proud of that. We all ought tlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. most vulnerable, to finally make uni-
to be very proud of that. We ought to PRESSLEY), my colleague in the Con- versal paid leave a reality for the mil-
be proud that we can work hard. We gressional Progressive Caucus, a gen- lions of workers, disproportionately
stood together; we fought together; and tlewoman but fierce and proud. Black and Brown women, who have
together, we can make it happen. Ms. PRESSLEY. Madam Speaker, I been pushed out of the workforce, left
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam thank my dear and fierce colleague to make the impossible choice between
Speaker, New Jersey is so lucky to from New Mexico for convening us this keeping food on the table or caring for
have Representative WATSON COLEMAN evening. themselves or a sick loved one; for the
because she knows what is needed on Madam Speaker, I rise today on be- childcare worker taking care of our ba-
the ground. half of the communities in my district bies but can’t make enough to take
Yes, indeed, it is together, and that and across our Nation who for too long care of their own; to finally invest in
is what I like about our Caucus and have been asked to wait, for those who home- and community-based services
what we are doing. We are doing it to- have had their justice delayed, time for the elderly and disabled as the crit-
gether. We are not about division. We and again, by inaction, obstruction, or ical infrastructure that it is; to finally
are about unity. the status quo. make affordable childcare and uni-
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That is what we represent, right? Be- I rise today because I support the versal pre-K a reality; to combat cli-
cause we know that community work- worker and their family, caregivers mate change; to close the homeowner-
ing together, living together, and grow- and childcare workers, parents and es- ship gap; to rebuild our crumbling
ing together is how we succeed in life. sential frontline workers, our disabled housing stock; and finally to honor our
I want to raise another part of where siblings, our environmental justice promises to our immigrant neighbors.
Build Back Better is very important. I communities, and our immigrant These investments are possible; they
am chair of the Indigenous Peoples neighbors. are popular; and they are necessary.
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November 17, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6359
We can wait no more. There is no def- they can audit and go after tax cheats. Build Back Better says: You can’t
icit of resources in this country, only a Who wants to defend tax cheats? Do walk away, oil and gas companies, you
deficit of empathy and political cour- you really want to be defending tax can’t walk away from those wells and
age. cheats? I hope not because everybody leave the mess for the taxpayers to
We must pass the Build Back Better should pay their fair share. clean up.
Act this week and make the long-over- We are going to make sure that no- We asked the Interior Department to
due investments that our workers, body earning less than $400,000 a year strengthen the bonding requirements
families, and communities have been pays any more in taxes. Indeed, this is so that the bonds cover the cost of
denied for too long. one of the biggest tax cuts that we are cleaning them up. We also establish an
Our Nation is in crisis. The urgency doing for regular people. Not like the idled-well fee so that oil and gas com-
could not be more clear. How we meet tax cut they passed in 2017 which bene- panies don’t have and don’t let these
this moment will have lasting impacts, fited only the wealthy and the corpora- wells just sit unattended. If you are
and history will remember us for it. tions. This tax cut is a benefit to our not going to be pumping from the well,
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam working families, to our middle-class close it down. Don’t just let it spew
Speaker, I think this reference to how families. methane into the air.
history will judge us is important be- The child tax credit is available to I also helped secure $240 million for a
cause we are facing a historical mo- all now. Everybody who is receiving Just Transition investment fund to
ment right now. The decisions we make that $300-per-child payment every create new economic opportunities in
on the floor of this House this week month, that is going to continue be- our energy communities. New Mexico
will determine whether our future is cause of the American Rescue Plan and relies on oil and gas for jobs and tax
one that is inclusive and that includes because of Build Back Better. If any- revenues. I am acutely aware of the
every single family and community in body says it is going to add to the debt, benefits that this industry has brought
this great Union of the United States know that they are not speaking the to our State, but I am also acutely
or whether it continues to leave people truth. aware of the need to transition in a
behind. The other thing that Build Back Bet- way that honors our communities and
Right now, those who are being left ter does is it has the biggest impact on our workers who have worked in this
addressing and combating climate industry, who have fueled our econ-
behind include the vast majority of
change in American history. Anybody omy.
Americans. What we are doing with
who has lived through this summer, We now need a transition to renew-
this legislation is creating the kind of able energy and to a clean energy econ-
through last winter, the storms, the
opportunity, creating the kind of jobs omy, but in that transition we cannot
climate disasters knows that it is not a
so that everybody can come forward leave any worker behind. And so Build
hoax, as some have argued.
and thrive. Climate deniers have been proven Back Better includes money to invest
b 1815 wrong because we all witness what is in those communities so we can see
We are focusing on women. This is a happening with our climate. We all new businesses arise. It also includes
women’s agenda. The Build Back Bet- know that it will cost us billions and money to invest in the workers so that
ter Act is a women’s agenda because it trillions of dollars if we do not act. if they need to gain new skills that we
is the women who had to drop out of In my beautiful New Mexico, if we do are there for them, that our commu-
the workforce to care for their children not act to combat the climate crisis, nity colleges are there for them, that
we will become an extension of the our apprenticeships are there for them.
because there wasn’t enough childcare
Sonoran Desert. I love my mountain But many of the skills that we need,
available or it was too expensive.
streams. I love the snowfall that falls like cleaning up the orphaned wells,
In New Mexico, we just learned that
on our ski resorts and in our moun- are the same skills that you would use
almost 21 percent of the women in New
tains and trickles down to our rivers in the industry itself. So we are going
Mexico dropped out of the workforce
and provides us with the water we need to be creating good-paying jobs, and we
because they could not afford
for our farms and our fields and to are making sure in the Build Back Bet-
childcare.
quench our thirst. ter plan that those jobs are union, if
Build Back Better addresses that. It I love that snow. If we do not address they want to be. We are making sure
is going to make sure that no family the climate crisis, we will not see that that we prioritize the jobs that pay
pays more than 7 percent of their in- snow in winters to come. We might not well and that treat their workers well.
come on childcare. That is the kind of see it this winter. So I am very pleased We also are investing in a civilian
agenda that every family wants, be- at the investments that we are making climate corps. I am very proud to have
cause they want to make sure that to combat the climate crisis in the had my first job in the conservation
their children are cared for and are ei- Build Back Better Act. corps, the Youth Conservation Corps.
ther in a great childcare center or are The infrastructure bill also included It taught me that cleaning and pro-
in that pre-K that is so essential so some key provisions. It included provi- tecting our environment is hard work.
that they can succeed later in life. sions for my Orphaned Well Cleanup I went out there with my boots and my
We know that the science has shown and Jobs Act to plug orphaned wells shovel and my pickaxe, and we helped
us that if you have quality pre-K for and protect our communities from the create trails, and we helped clean up
your 3-year-olds, for your 4-year-olds, dangerous methane they spew into the those trails. It taught me about work
you are going to have a successful life, air. We know that methane is many ethic, but it also taught me about the
you are going to earn more in income, times, 35 times more dangerous to our importance of caring for the land that
you are going to graduate from high climate than carbon, and so it is im- we love.
school, you are going to earn addi- portant to plug up those orphaned The civilian climate corps will do the
tional degrees. It is going to be better. wells that oil and gas companies have same, but it will grow it. I have met
So we are taking the investments abandoned. Not all of them, but there with those who are engaged, like the
today and we will recoup the benefits are too many that have abandoned Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. I give a
12 years from now, 18 years from now. those wells, and they are called or- shout-out to the Rocky Mountain
And that is believing in our future. We phaned. They are spewing methane Youth Corps because they are there
are investing in what we believe in. into the air right now. managing our forests, working to pro-
I also want to take a moment to ad- I visited one with our Labor Sec- tect our forests, and earning their de-
dress the fact that this bill is fully paid retary. It was right next door to a grees, starting new businesses coming
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for, so when anybody ever says that it school. The methane that leaks from from that experience in the climate
is going to increase our deficit, know that abandoned and dirty well is corps, in the Rocky Mountain Youth
ye that it is not true what they say be- breathed into the lungs of our stu- Corps.
cause this bill is fully paid for. dents. The infrastructure bill will help We are going to be investing in thou-
It is paid for by making sure that tax clean it up, but the Build Back Better sands and thousands of jobs for young
cheats don’t get to cheat anymore. We bill will say we don’t want this to hap- people who will be able to go on and se-
are going to invest in the IRS so that pen over and over again. cure education, if that is what they
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H6360 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 17, 2021
want, or start a business, if that is ticularly after COVID, that the econ- This economic recovery that we are
what they want, from the skills that omy is rebuilt so that everyone has op- all craving after 2 years of a very dif-
they will have learned from the cli- portunities and that not only people at ficult time with this pandemic, that
mate corps. the top realize their full potential and economic recovery is going to reach ev-
We also are going to be strengthening reap all the benefits, but that everyone eryone in this country. It is going to
domestic manufacturing and the sup- in this country can benefit from the begin with working families and mid-
ply chains for critical goods because it economic recovery that the President dle-class families, who for the first
is only when you address the root has articulated in the Build Back Bet- time, I think, are going to be the focus
cause of the problems, which is our ter plan. of a very comprehensive strategy.
supply chains that you solve the prob- I have been in Congress now 11 years. I am excited. I feel particularly hon-
lem. I don’t know that we have ever had a ored to be in Congress at this moment,
We want to bring back manufac- better example of what leadership from and I thank the President for his lead-
turing to this continent, to this coun- the President means in terms of under- ership in developing a plan to rebuild
try. There are those who talk about it standing that the best way to grow the the middle class and address so many
the same way they talked for years economy is to invest in working fami- of the challenges that working families
about infrastructure week, but it lies, to invest in middle-class families face.
doesn’t help if all you do is talk about I thank you for giving me an oppor-
by making sure they can access all of
it. What you need to do is deliver. In tunity to speak during this Special
the opportunities that exist in this
the infrastructure plan, we are deliv- Order hour, and I look forward to the
country.
ering to bring back the jobs that are passage of Build Back Better and all it
And what are those struggles? Af-
is going to mean for families in my
needed to build those bridges. We are fordable childcare, universal pre-K, job
State and all across this country.
building that infrastructure. training, lowering prescription drug Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam
We are delivering because Democrats costs, lowering the cost of healthcare. Speaker, I do love it when this Presi-
deliver. In Build Back Better, we are When the President made his address dent always says we are going to re-
going to be delivering the jobs of the to the joint session of Congress, what build this economy from the bottom up
future. We are going to be delivering struck me in that speech was that and the middle out because that is ex-
the investments in manufacturing. We President Biden identified virtually actly who he is focused on. He is fo-
are going to be delivering the invest- every single struggle I hear about from cused on giving us the opportunities,
ments so our consumers can realize the my constituents in Rhode Island—the my constituents as well.
benefits so that they are paid more and high cost of prescription drugs, the You know, there could not be two
can really have the respect that comes high cost of healthcare, the high cost States that are more different than
along with a job that has the kind of of childcare, the inability to access Rhode Island and New Mexico, but
benefits you need. pre-K, difficulty retraining because of these are the same things we hear in
We are going to be delivering pre- the absence of job training programs. New Mexico. We are addressing those
scription drug price negotiation. We It is as if the President put together in Build Back Better, and I can’t be
are going to be delivering the lowering everything I have heard that folks more excited as a freshman to be able
of healthcare costs because for too long struggle with every day in this coun- to be here on the floor of the House and
we have had those who would stand for try, and he drafted and included all to vote for the American Rescue Plan
Big Pharma instead of for those who those in the Build Back Better provi- because that really was the first step.
need insulin, those who need Humira, sions. The American Rescue Plan saved our
those who need the kinds of drugs that When you take the bipartisan infra- economy. It saved families from home-
make their life bearable, those who structure bill along with the Build lessness. It lowered hunger. It ad-
need the kinds of drugs that allow Back Better legislation which we are dressed the pandemic by giving us the
them to survive. about to pass, we are going to create vaccine.
What we are doing in Build Back Bet- 11⁄2 million jobs a year for a decade, and The second step was the infrastruc-
ter is making sure that we can nego- that is extraordinary. These are good- ture bill. We talked earlier about how,
tiate to reduce those drug prices. That paying, union jobs. last Thanksgiving, we were apart. This
is something that we know Americans We are going to, for the first time, Thanksgiving, we are together because
want. And so when we do not get a sin- take on in a serious way the climate of the American Rescue Plan.
gle Republican vote for lowering drug But the infrastructure bill, that is
crisis. We are going to drive down costs
prices, remember that, that Repub- about repairing our infrastructure,
of everything from prescription drugs
licans were unwilling to vote to lower which has been too long ignored.
to childcare to healthcare, and the best Then this last one, Build Back Bet-
drug prices because that is what this part about it is it is paid for by making ter, I am just overjoyed that I get to
bill does. sure the wealthiest people in this coun-
Remember that Republicans were un- serve in Congress in this historic mo-
try and the most profitable corpora- ment to work on these things that will
willing to vote for infrastructure, be- tions pay their fair share. My constitu- be benefiting my grandchildren and
cause that is what the infrastructure ents pay their fair share. They expect their grandchildren. I want to leave
plan did. everyone to do the same. them with this beautiful place we call
I am asking, however, that we re- And so we have this extraordinary in- home intact.
ceive those votes, that we receive bi- vestment in working families that is Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal-
partisan support for the kinds of in- going to give people an opportunity, ance of my time.
vestments that we are going to be move so many of the obstacles that f
doing for our people. allow folks to return to the workforce,
I yield now to the gentleman from particularly women. Women were dev- VACCINE MANDATES NEED TO
Rhode Island (Mr. CICILLINE), an amaz- astated by the pandemic, particularly STOP
ing colleague in the Congressional Pro- devastated. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under
gressive Caucus, an amazing colleague the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan-
from the Equality Caucus who has b 1830
uary 4, 2021, the Chair recognizes the
fought for the rights of all Americans. If we did the bipartisan infrastruc- gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
He has fought for the Equality Act. He ture bill alone, a lot of that economic KELLER) for 30 minutes.
is one of the drafters of the Equality recovery would escape women in this
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GENERAL LEAVE
Act. country. The Build Back Better provi- Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I ask
Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I sions are going to ensure many of those unanimous consent that each Member
thank the gentlewoman for yielding, obstacles that prevent women from re- have 5 legislative days to revise and ex-
and I appreciate the opportunity to entering the workforce are addressed tend their remarks.
speak about the President’s vision for so that our economy can realize the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
really investing in working families in full benefit of the extraordinary talent objection to the request of the gen-
this country and doing it in a way, par- of women in the workforce. tleman from Pennsylvania?
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