Congressional Record, House, December 8, 2021, Page H7527

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated December 8, 2021, at page H7527. On the motion offered by Mr. Pallone to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4555, the Chair announces that two-thirds being in the affirmative the ayes have it, Mr. Weber of Texas demands the yeas and nays, and further proceedings are postponed under clause 8 of rule XX. In the debate that follows, speakers including Mr. Young of Alaska support the bill, saying the CARES Act of March 27, 2020 included aid for Tribes but that Treasury lacked an allocation process for the $8 billion set aside, which a GAO review found caused delays and legal challenges. The remarks are the speakers' own.

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“Congressional Record, House, December 8, 2021, Page H7527.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-12-08-crec-2021-12-08-pt1-pgh7527-7d90395140/, SHA-256 062c3d7184a1c6ab8d8f24542cf1b7668baebd3204a9362642091717dfb4984c.

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December 8, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7527
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The The historic CARES Act was signed I thank my colleagues, Representa-
question is on the motion offered by into law on March 27, 2020, and in- tive YOUNG of Alaska and Representa-
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. cluded critical aid for States, terri- tive COLE of Oklahoma, for their ef-
PALLONE) that the House suspend the tories, Tribes, and large localities to forts in working on this matter.
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4555. combat the coronavirus pandemic. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as
The question was taken. However, the Treasury Department did he may consume to the gentleman
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the not have a preexisting allocation proc- from Alaska (Mr. YOUNG), who is the
opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being ess for disbursing the $8 billion set dean of the House.
in the affirmative, the ayes have it. aside for Tribes. Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speak- According to a GAO review, it took thank the gentleman for yielding.
er, on that I demand the yeas and nays. extra time to set up these processes. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong sup-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Treasury also established some alloca- port of this legislation. It is badly
ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution tion methodologies without consulting needed.
8, the yeas and nays are ordered. First, I want to thank Chairwoman
with Tribes first, which led to legal
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- CAROLYN MALONEY and Ranking Mem-
challenges and even further delays of ber JAMES COMER for their quick work.
ther proceedings on this motion are emergency relief.
postponed. I have been trying for a long time to
Taken together, these delays have re- try to get this bill passed. I have asked
f sulted in a compressed timeframe for everybody to put it in the CR and into
EXTENSION OF COVERAGE OF Tribal Governments to put their the National Defense Authorization
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND CARES Act funds to work, which is un- Act, but we didn’t get it there. But the
PAYMENTS TO TRIBAL GOVERN- acceptable in light of the dispropor- gentleman has brought it to the floor,
MENTS tionate impact the pandemic has had so I thank both Representatives for
on the Tribal community. doing that. Of course, I thank Speaker
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New According to a report by the Centers
York. Madam Speaker, I move to sus- PELOSI, Chairwoman DELAURO, and
for Disease Control and Prevention, Leader MCCARTHY.
pend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. COVID–19 infections were 3.5 times This is badly needed, as was men-
5119) to amend title VI of the Social Se- higher for American Indians and Alas- tioned by the previous speakers. We are
curity Act to extend the coverage of ka Natives compared to White Ameri- now 23 days away, and a tremendous
Coronavirus Relief Fund payments to cans during the first 7 months of the amount of money is on the table.
Tribal Governments, as amended. pandemic. Other reports revealed that It wasn’t their fault. A lot of litiga-
The Clerk read the title of the bill. 1 in 475 Native Americans in the U.S. tion was occurring so the money
The text of the bill is as follows: died from COVID–19 compared to 1 in couldn’t be spent. Consequently, if
H.R. 5119 825 White Americans. they don’t spend it, they lose it, and
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- The ravages of the pandemic have they can’t take care of the health prob-
resentatives of the United States of America in been compounded for our Tribal neigh- lems caused by COVID. So this is a
Congress assembled, bors due to longstanding health dis- good piece of bipartisan legislation.
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF COVERAGE OF But we are not done because we do
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND PAY-
parities and social inequities. The
MENTS TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS. deaths of Tribal elders from COVID–19 have to continue this as it goes to the
Section 601(d)(3) of the Social Security Act caused an incalculable and irreplace- Senate. I am urging my leaders to ask
(42 U.S.C. 801(d)(3)) is amended by inserting able loss of cultural knowledge and the Senate to really get this bill done.
‘‘(or, in the case of costs incurred by a Tribal language. It is needed, it is right, and it is justi-
government, during the period that begins Tribes must be given a fair oppor- fied. Let’s take care of those first
on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 31, tunity to put Federal aid dollars to Americans in this legislation because
2022)’’ after ‘‘December 31, 2021’’. work tackling these serious issues. of COVID. It can be done.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- H.R. 5119 is a commonsense step to en- Again, I thank both Members for the
ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from sure that Tribes have parity with re- work they have done and the body of
New York (Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY) cipients who have not faced similar the House for voting ‘‘yes’’ on the leg-
and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. delays in gaining access to CARES Act islation.
LATURNER) each will control 20 min- Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New
funding.
utes. York. Madam Speaker, I thank the
Finally, I want to assure my col-
The Chair recognizes the gentle- dean of the House, the outstanding
leagues that CBO has confirmed that
woman from New York. leader from the great State of Alaska,
this bill does not increase Federal
for his insightful comments and for
GENERAL LEAVE spending.
fighting so hard for the residents of
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New Madam Speaker, I urge my col-
Alaska, the Alaska Native residents,
York. Madam Speaker, I ask unani- leagues to support this bill, and I re-
and the American Indians. This bill
mous consent that all Members may serve the balance of my time.
will take care of the Tribes in many of
have 5 legislative days in which to re- Mr. LATURNER. Madam Speaker, I
our States across the country.
vise and extend their remarks and in- yield myself such time as I may con- I also want to thank my colleague,
clude extraneous material on this sume. Mr. O’HALLERAN, who could not be with
measure. Madam Speaker, last year, Congress us. He has a conflict with another com-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there set aside $8 billion in the CARES Act mittee meeting.
objection to the request of the gentle- for Tribal Governments to spend on I want to thank the Democratic lead-
woman? pandemic-related expenses. However, ership here in the House, Speaker
There was no objection. much of this $8 billion was held up in PELOSI and the Democratic team, for
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New litigation and distributed to Tribes bringing this to the floor and also Mr.
York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself only 4 short months ago, more than a COMER, Mr. LATURNER, and others for
such time as I may consume. year after the funds were originally ap- being part of this bipartisan effort.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong sup- propriated. This is truly a bipartisan effort.
port of H.R. 5119, a bill to extend the This money is supposed to be used by Madam Speaker, I have no further
availability of Coronavirus Relief Fund December 31, 2021, about 3 weeks from speakers, and if the gentleman from
payments allocated to Tribal Govern- today. But it is irresponsible to expect Kansas is ready, then I am prepared to
ments under the CARES Act of 2020 for Tribal Governments to spend all this close.

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1 additional year. money within a few months of receiv- Mr. LATURNER. Madam Speaker, I
This bipartisan bill was introduced ing it. yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
by Mr. O’HALLERAN of Arizona and Mr. This bill would extend the deadline South Dakota (Mr. JOHNSON).
YOUNG of Alaska with companion legis- an additional year, giving Tribes more Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota.
lation sponsored by Mr. SULLIVAN and time to responsibly allocate these Madam Speaker, I thank Mr.
Ms. MURKOWSKI in the Senate. funds and best serve their people. LATURNER for yielding.

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H7528 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 8, 2021
It has been said before, but it bears Mr. LATURNER. Madam Speaker, I H.R. 5677;
repeating: 24 days. That is how long have no further speakers, and I am pre- H.R. 5679;
Tribal Governments have to utilize pared to close. H.R. 5695;
their CARES Act funding before the Madam Speaker, because I believe H.R. 5705;
December 31 deadline. this is sensible legislation and good for H.R. 5961; and
I talked to a number of Tribes that, tribal governments, I will vote in sup- H.R. 5982.
rather than rushed to spend this money port of this bill. I urge my colleagues The first electronic vote will be con-
in recent months, tried to be thought- to support this needed and bipartisan ducted as a 15-minute vote. Pursuant
ful and deliberate about how to make legislation. to clause 9 of rule XX, remaining elec-
these critically important invest- I yield back the balance of my time. tronic votes will be conducted as 5-
ments. As a result, a number of them Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New minute votes.
have millions of dollars left unspent. York. Madam Speaker, I thank the
f
In that kind of environment, it is gentleman for his leadership on this
proper and prudent for us to extend the important bill, and also the dean of the OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT OF
deadline, and we should do so. That is House, Mr. YOUNG, for his passionate 2021
why I wholeheartedly support this bill. support, who expressed so clearly the
But I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t need of this important bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
point out that there is a better way, I thank Mr. COMER. It was good to ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfin-
and it is, indeed, right before us, work together in a bipartisan way. ished business is the vote on the mo-
Madam Speaker. The solution is S. And I want to also thank the Demo- tion to suspend the rules and pass the
3011, the State, Local, Tribal, and Ter- cratic leadership for bringing this bill bill (H.R. 4996) to amend title 46,
ritorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastruc- to the floor. United States Code, with respect to
ture, and Disaster Relief Flexibility I urge passage of H.R. 5119, as amend- prohibited acts by ocean common car-
Act. ed, and I yield back the balance of my riers or marine terminal operators, and
Now, the House companion to that time. for other purposes, as amended, on
Senate bill has been led by Democratic The SPEAKER pro tempore. The which the yeas and nays were ordered.
Representative CAROLYN BOURDEAUX question is on the motion offered by The Clerk read the title of the bill.
and myself. It has overwhelming sup- the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
port—125 bipartisan cosponsors. CAROLYN B. MALONEY) that the House question is on the motion offered by
Our bill would do the exact same suspend the rules and pass the bill, the gentleman from California (Mr.
thing as the one before us tonight. H.R. 5119, as amended. GARAMENDI) that the House suspend
Well, that is not quite right. I think The question was taken. the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
our bill is superior in a few ways. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the The vote was taken by electronic de-
First off, it doesn’t just provide flexi- opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being vice, and there were—yeas 364, nays 60,
bility to Tribal Governments as this in the affirmative, the ayes have it. not voting 9, as follows:
bill would rightfully do. It also pro- Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speak- [Roll No. 406]
vides that kind of flexibility to States er, on that I demand the yeas and nays. YEAS—364
and localities that also desperately The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Adams Case Fischbach
need it. ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution Aderholt Casten Fitzpatrick
Aguilar Castor (FL) Fleischmann
That is not the only way in which the 8, the yeas and nays are ordered. Allen Castro (TX) Fletcher
Bourdeaux-Johnson bill is superior, Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- Allred Cawthorn Fortenberry
and the dean of the House alluded to it ther proceedings on this motion are Amodei Chabot Foster
postponed. Armstrong Cheney Foxx
earlier when he was talking. Our bill Axne Chu Frankel, Lois
has already passed the Senate. This bill f Bacon Cicilline Fulcher
has not. In fact, the bill that I am talk- Balderson Clark (MA) Gallego
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Banks Clarke (NY) Garamendi
ing about passed the Senate unani-
PRO TEMPORE Barr Cleaver Garbarino
mously, and it has been sitting on the Barragán Cloud Garcia (CA)
Speaker’s desk since October 20. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pro- Bass Clyburn Garcı́a (IL)
Yes, it is true we find ourselves with ceedings will resume on questions pre- Beatty Cohen Garcia (TX)
viously postponed. Bentz Cole Gibbs
only 24 days for Tribal Governments to Bera Connolly Gohmert
act, but it didn’t have to be that way, Votes will be taken in the following Bergman Cooper Golden
and it doesn’t have to be that way. order: Beyer Correa Gomez
My question for the Speaker would Motions to suspend the rules and Bice (OK) Costa Gonzales, Tony
pass: Bilirakis Courtney Gonzalez (OH)
be: If our bill was good enough for 100 Bishop (GA) Craig Gonzalez,
Senators, why is it not good enough for H.R. 4996; Bishop (NC) Crawford Vicente
the House? H.R. 4616; Blumenauer Crist Gooden (TX)
H.R. 5290; Blunt Rochester Crow Gottheimer
b 1715 H.R. 5609; Bonamici Cuellar Granger
Bost Davids (KS) Graves (LA)
And this legislative approach just H.R. 4489; Bourdeaux Davis, Danny K. Graves (MO)
means that we are going to go a few H.R. 5608; Bowman Davis, Rodney Green, Al (TX)
more days until tribes have the cer- H.R. 1155; Boyle, Brendan Dean Grijalva
F. DeFazio Grothman
tainty they need. H. Res. 837; Brady DeGette Guest
So Madam Speaker, I would close H. Res. 317; Brown (MD) DeLauro Hagedorn
with this. If we brought S. 3011 up to- H.R. 3537; Brown (OH) DelBene Harder (CA)
night and passed it, it could be law be- H.R. 5487; Brownley Delgado Harris
Buchanan Demings Hartzler
fore midnight and tribes would not H.R. 5561; Buck DeSaulnier Hayes
have the uncertainty that they con- H.R. 5551; Bucshon DesJarlais Herrell
tinue to face. H.R. 1667; Budd Diaz-Balart Herrera Beutler
H.R. 4555; Bush Dingell Hice (GA)
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New Bustos Doggett Higgins (NY)
York. Madam Speaker, the gentleman H.R. 5119; Butterfield Duncan Hill
raised some important points, and it is H.R. 2355; Calvert Dunn Himes
under consideration. But this bill is be- H.R. 2364; Cammack Ellzey Hinson

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Carbajal Emmer Horsford
fore us right now, and it is an impor- H.R. 3743; Cárdenas Escobar Houlahan
tant bill. H.R. 3894; Carey Eshoo Hoyer
Madam Speaker, if the gentleman H.R. 897; Carson Espaillat Hudson
H.R. 2074; Carter (GA) Evans Huizenga
from Kansas has no further speakers, Carter (LA) Fallon Issa
then I am prepared to close. H.R. 3531; Carter (TX) Feenstra Jackson Lee
I reserve the balance of my time. H.R. 4706; Cartwright Ferguson Jacobs (CA)

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