Congressional Record, House, February 8, 2022, Page H1024
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated February 8, 2022, at page H1024. Mr. Raskin, by direction of the Committee on Rules, calls up House Resolution 912, providing for consideration of H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021, and H.R. 6617, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2022. The page also carries one-minute speeches, including a tribute to the Boy Scouts of America and its manual, Ms. Titus on the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act and helicopter roundups, Mr. Welch on the Vermont Postal Service, and a speaker on health care access for Kansans. The remarks are the speakers' own.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“Congressional Record, House, February 8, 2022, Page H1024.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-02-08-crec-2022-02-08-pt1-pgh1024-5-a140175fbc/
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H1024 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 8, 2022
and lessons that are imparted upon affirm our commitment to protecting b 1215
young people and last a lifetime. The this program and ensuring all Kansans PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION
Boy Scouts of America has played a have access to quality and affordable OF H.R. 3076, POSTAL SERVICE
pivotal role in shaping the leaders of healthcare. REFORM ACT OF 2021; PROVIDING
tomorrow and I look forward to seeing FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
their continued contributions to our f 6617, FURTHER ADDITIONAL CON-
country. TINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT,
Mr. Speaker, after the Bible, prob-
WILD HORSE AND BURRO 2022; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
ably this manual, the Boy Scout Hand-
PROTECTION ACT Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, by direc-
book, has done more to shape my life
and made me the person that I am (Ms. TITUS asked and was given per- tion of the Committee on Rules, I call
today. mission to address the House for 1 up House Resolution 912 and ask for its
f minute.) immediate consideration.
Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, in efforts to The Clerk read the resolution, as fol-
VERMONT POSTAL SERVICE control equine populations, the BLM is lows:
(Mr. WELCH asked and was given directed to humanely capture wild, H. RES. 912
permission to address the House for 1 free-roaming horses and burros and put Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso-
minute.) them up for adoption. lution it shall be in order to consider in the
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, the Postal BLM, however, uses helicopter com- House the bill (H.R. 3076) to provide stability
Service is a mess. Today, we are about panies to round up these animals, lead- to and enhance the services of the United
to take up a reform proposal that is ing to frightening and sometimes dead- States Postal Service, and for other pur-
long overdue. poses. All points of order against consider-
ly situations. At $500 a head, since 2011,
Mail delivery in rural Vermont is ation of the bill are waived. In lieu of the
the top three helicopter contractors amendment in the nature of a substitute rec-
critical for all our rural communities. have raked in some $37 million in tax-
For our seniors who rely on getting ommended by the Committee on Oversight
payer funding. and Reform now printed in the bill, an
their checks and getting their prescrip-
Last month, during a gathering at amendment in the nature of a substitute
tions, and for Vermont businesses, consisting of the text of Rules Committee
the Pancake Complex in central Ne-
from local papers that provide news in Print 117–32 shall be considered as adopted.
vada, a young colt was chased for miles
our country stores, it is crucial. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as
by a helicopter, despite having a bro-
Mismanagement, underfunding, labor read. All points of order against provisions
ken leg, and had to be put down when
shortages have really created a crisis. in the bill, as amended, are waived. The pre-
captured. vious question shall be considered as ordered
Last January, my office received eight
complaints. This January, it was 69 My Wild Horse and Burro Protection on the bill, as amended, and on any amend-
complaints. And some Vermonters are Act would outlaw the use of helicopters ment thereto, to final passage without inter-
going over a week without getting any in wild horse roundups, employ more vening motion except: (1) one hour of debate
traditional wranglers for gathering ef- equally divided and controlled by the chair
mail delivery. Our folks are going pay- and ranking minority member of the Com-
check to paycheck and not getting forts, and require the GAO to employ
and explore humane alternatives to mittee on Oversight and Reform or their re-
their paycheck. spective designees; (2) the further amend-
Mr. Speaker, this bill will finally get protect these icons of the wild west.
ment printed in the report of the Committee
the United States Postal Service on Mr. Speaker, put simply, save a on Rules accompanying this resolution, if of-
track for our rural communities and horse, hire a cowboy. fered by the Member designated in the re-
all Americans. It is overdue, and that port, which shall be in order without inter-
is why I hope all of us will support pas- f vention of any point of order, shall be con-
sidered as read, shall be separately debatable
sage today. for the time specified in the report equally
f BIDEN’S VOW TO END NORD divided and controlled by the proponent and
STREAM 2 an opponent, and shall not be subject to a de-
RISING DRUG PRICES
(Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given mand for division of the question; and (3) one
(Mr. LATURNER asked and was given motion to recommit.
permission to address the House for 1 permission to address the House for 1
SEC. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it
minute.) minute.) shall be in order to consider in the House the
Mr. LATURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, energy bill (H.R. 6617) making further continuing
today to discuss an important issue security for the free world is an imper- appropriations for the fiscal year ending
that is deeply concerning to Kansans: ative. I rise today to strongly endorse September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.
Rising drug prices. President Biden’s vow yesterday that if All points of order against consideration of
Russia further invades Ukraine, there the bill are waived. The bill shall be consid-
So far this year, the price of hun-
will, ‘‘no longer be a Nord Stream 2 ered as read. All points of order against pro-
dreds of lifesaving pharmaceutical visions in the bill are waived. The previous
medications have already increased. pipeline across Europe. We will put an
question shall be considered as ordered on
Hardworking Kansas families are fac- end to it.’’ the bill and on any amendment thereto to
ing skyrocketing inflation and many During the Trump administration, final passage without intervening motion ex-
simply do not have the funds to keep this Russian energy pipeline was al- cept: (1) one hour of debate equally divided
up with the never-ending rise in lowed to creep ever closer into the among and controlled by the chair and rank-
healthcare costs. heart of Europe to make our closest ing minority member of the Committee on
For the past three decades, the bipar- NATO allies dependent on Russian gas. Appropriations or their respective designees;
What a strategic failure. and (2) one motion to recommit.
tisan 340B program has helped low-in-
SEC. 3. (a) House Concurrent Resolution 69
come families afford essential medica- Reliance on a tyrannical regime is
is hereby adopted.
tions by requiring pharmaceutical dangerous. To our dear allies in Eu- (b) For purposes of the joint session to re-
companies to give safety-net and rural rope, if Putin were to succeed in ceive the President of the United States on
healthcare providers discounts on pre- clawing Ukraine back under Russia’s March 1, 2022, former Members, Delegates,
scription drugs. In my home State of command, he would not stop there. and Resident Commissioners shall not be ad-
Kansas, we have over 80 hospitals that The free world must place stronger mitted to the Hall of the House or rooms
use 340B savings. Not only do 340B hos- sanctions on Nord Stream 2. It must leading thereto.
pitals provide heavily discounted pre- ratchet up diplomat engagement to The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.
scription medications, they also make this strongest test of the rule of law MRVAN). The gentleman from Maryland
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additional healthcare services, such as since World War II. As Russian troops is recognized for 1 hour.
trauma care and substance abuse treat- amass at Ukraine’s border, the free Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, for the
ment available to most of our vulner- world must deploy the defensive shield purpose of debate only, I yield the cus-
able patients. to protect her liberty and assure her tomary 30 minutes to the gentleman
As the 340B program celebrates its territorial sovereignty through a coali- from Pennsylvania (Mr.
30th anniversary, it is vital that we re- tion of the willing. RESCHENTHALER), pending which I yield
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February 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1025
myself such time as I may consume. health benefits have all contributed to the Buffalo-Courier Express, the Rich-
During consideration of this resolu- some financial instability in the Postal mond Times-Dispatch. They were
tion, all time yielded is for the purpose Service. named after the postal operation that
of debate only. H.R. 3076 puts USPS on a far more made the mass media possible in the
GENERAL LEAVE stable financial footing. Specifically, it country.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask requires future Postal Service retirees The post office has done wonders for
unanimous consent that all Members to enroll in Medicare, saving the Postal American commerce and business, and
have 5 legislative days in which to re- Service $22 billion over the next dec- continues to do that right up to today,
vise and extend their remarks. ade. While retirees have paid into so this legislation will help the post of-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Medicare their entire careers, a quarter fice grow and meet our needs in the
objection to the request of the gen- of retirees choose not to enroll, requir- new century.
tleman from Maryland? ing the Postal Service to pay for higher Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
There was no objection. premiums. my time.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, yester- Similarly, the legislation also elimi- Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speak-
day, we met in the Rules Committee nates the uniquely arduous require- er, I thank the gentleman and my
and reported a rule, House Resolution ment that USPS prefund retiree health friend from Maryland for yielding me
912, providing for consideration of two benefits for a period of 75 years. No the customary 30 minutes, and I yield
different measures; first, H.R. 3076, the other company or governmental entity myself such time as I may consume.
has this requirement, which has re- Mr. Speaker, the rule before us today
Postal Service Reform Act of 2022,
sulted in significant financial losses for makes in order H.R. 6617, a resolution
under a structured rule. The rule pro-
USPS. to fund the Federal Government
vides 1 hour of debate equally divided
The Postal Service Reform Act also through March 11, 2022, and H.R. 3076,
and controlled by the chair and rank-
strengthens transparency and requires the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022.
ing minority member of the Committee I know that Appropriations Chair-
on Oversight and Reform. It makes in 6-day integrated delivery, ensuring
woman DELAURO and Ranking Member
order a manager’s amendment and pro- high-quality mail service for at least 6
GRANGER continue to engage in bipar-
vides for one motion to recommit. days a week to all Americans. It re-
tisan discussions to find a path forward
The rule also provides for consider- quires USPS to develop an online dash-
on a fiscal year 2022 funding package,
ation of H.R. 6617, the Further Addi- board detailing weekly national and
and I want to thank them sincerely for
tional Extending Government Funding local-level performance data to pro-
those efforts.
Act, under a closed rule. The rule pro- mote compliance with on-time mail de- Mr. Speaker, I also want to commend
vides 1 hour of debate equally divided livery. Chairwoman MALONEY and Ranking
and controlled by the chair and rank- Mr. Speaker, the consideration of Member COMER for working together to
ing minority member of the Committee this measure gives us the opportunity put forth a truly bipartisan package to
on Appropriations and provides for one to celebrate the remarkable successes stabilize the financial health of the
motion to recommit. of the post office in our history. The U.S. Postal Service and to improve ef-
Finally, the resolution adopts H. Founders created the post office even ficiency and transparency for senior
Con. Res. 69, which provides for a joint before they signed the Declaration of citizens and other Americans who rely
session of Congress to receive a mes- Independence, and they named, of every day on the Postal Service.
sage from the President, and the rule course, Benjamin Franklin as the first Mr. Speaker, for the past 3 years,
restricts former Members’ access to the Postmaster General for the emerging Democratic leadership has written
House floor during the joint session. Nation. major legislation behind closed doors
Mr. Speaker, the Postal Service Re- It was the post office that unified 13 with little to zero input from House
form Act is a major update and im- divergent and quarreling Colonies into Republicans and, frankly, almost zero
provement to what is going on with our a nation as it created a great commu- to little input from even the commit-
post office. Even in this increasingly nications network that brought the tees that, of course, the Democrats
digital world, Americans rely on the news of the day and the news of public control. This has truly been a behind-
U.S. Postal Service for access to life- events to the doorstep of every fledg- closed-door process that I have seen for
saving prescription drugs and other es- ling American citizen. It was an idea the last 3 years.
sential items of living. that scandalized and horrified the Eu- So, it is finally refreshing to see the
In the ongoing pandemic, the Postal ropean powers that, of course, always House consider a bill that was the sub-
Service has been critical in helping wanted to keep the people in the dark ject of a robust bipartisan negotiation
tens of millions of Americans vote under the monarchies and aristocracies and that actually went through the
safely and securely. of Europe. normal committee process for once. I
The Postal Service is processing an The post office also created the want to say that I hope my colleagues
astounding 5,000 pieces of mail each transportation system for America, across the aisle will make this the new
second and is responsible for processing which is why so many of our towns and normal, as it has previously been the
and delivering 46 percent of the world’s cities have streets and roads called norm.
mail. Post Road or Postal Road or Old Post Mr. Speaker, I also hope the majority
It is no surprise that first class mail Road running through the center of will continue the bipartisanship that I
used to send things like letters and town. have seen here today and continue to
bills is on the decline in the digital en- The post office, of course, was an ex- work with House Republicans to ad-
vironment we live in. Still, the Postal plicit delegation of power to Congress dress the serious and pressing issues
Service remains a critical lifeline, es- in the Constitution, as well as the facing American families across this
pecially for people who live in rural power to build postal roads under Arti- Nation.
areas and Tribal communities and for cle I, Section 8. For example, thanks to President
people with disabilities. The communications and transpor- Biden’s open border policy, deadly
The Postal Service adds a million tation network created by the post of- fentanyl continues to just pour across
new delivery points each year. That fice gave rise to the democratic polit- our southern border, which is ravaging
means that the Postal Service is deliv- ical infrastructure of the Nation. This our communities, literally killing peo-
ering a little bit less mail but to a lot is how the committees of correspond- ple in the heartland of this country.
more places. ence met that created the political will For example, in 2021, drug overdose
This act addresses the financial needs for the American Revolution and devel- deaths in the U.S. topped 100,000 for the
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of the Postal Service, ensuring that we oped the political philosophy of our first time in a single year. In fact,
can continue relying on it for genera- revolutionary forebearers. fentanyl overdoses are reported to be
tions to come. The post office also gave rise to the leading cause of death for Ameri-
The decline in first class mail, in- America’s glorious free press. That is cans aged 18 to 45. It is past time that
creasing expenses, and the requirement why so many of our newspapers, again, Congress acts to stem the tide of dead-
that the Postal Service prefund retiree bear the name The Washington Post, ly fentanyl coming into our Nation
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H1026 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 8, 2022
largely through our porous southern that the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this
border. The fentanyl that comes—let’s is recognizing what we are doing here, rule.
just say it—is largely from China. It is but it is hardly unique in terms of the Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank
time we address that issue. leadership being offered. the gentlewoman for her very lucid re-
At the same time, America is in the Mr. Speaker, speaking of bipartisan marks.
midst of a crime crisis like we haven’t leadership, I yield 3 minutes to the dis- One other historic breakthrough of
seen before, largely thanks to the tinguished gentlewoman from New the post office, I am recalling now, is
Democrats’ demonization of our police York (Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY), who the fact that it was the first Federal
in what I view as one of the worst pub- is the chairwoman of the Committee on public institution to provide for the
lic policy positions I have ever seen, Oversight and Reform. hiring of women, African Americans,
their push to actually defund police. Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New and other minority groups. So I am
In 2021, at least 16 cities set new York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gen- glad, again, that we have got bipar-
records in homicides. It is no wonder tleman for yielding and for his leader- tisan support for this really critical
that 64 percent of Americans dis- ship. measure to reform the post office in
approve of how President Biden has I rise today in strong support of the different ways in order to make it via-
handled crime. Congress should be rule on my bill, H.R. 3076, the Postal ble in the new century.
working to address this crime surge Service Reform Act. The Postal Serv- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
and working to back the blue as well. ice Reform Act has been years in the my time.
Finally, Americans continue to pay making, and I am proud to say that it Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speak-
higher prices to do everything, from is bipartisan. er, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
feed their families, heat their homes, As we all know, the Postal Service is from California (Mr. ISSA).
and even fill up their gas tanks. In- one of our Nation’s most vital and re- Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the
stead of doubling down on the failed spected institutions. It provides service gentleman for yielding.
far-left radical policies and out-of-con- to every American no matter where Mr. Speaker, rise in opposition to
trol spending that actually caused this they live, binding us together in a way this postal reform bill not because it
economic crisis, we should be reclaim- no other organization does. does nothing good but because it
ing our energy independence. We What’s more, it is one of the oldest doesn’t do enough.
should be eliminating burdensome reg- institutions in the United States. In The post office is a constitutionally
ulations that hamstring our job cre- fact, the Postal Service is older than authorized yet failed organization. It
ators. And we should be working to en- the United States. It has been oper- has failed to make a profit. It has
sure American families keep more of ating in some form since 1775 when failed to properly serve the American
their hard-earned paychecks. Benjamin Franklin was appointed the people, and everyone who has a mail-
first Postmaster General by the Conti- box knows it.
b 1230 I am pleased that this body and the
nental Congress.
I want to applaud the bipartisanship Ensuring that this vital American in- ranking member are tackling postal
work that went into these bills. I want stitution has the tools that it needs to issues, but this is not sufficient reform.
to applaud the Committee on Oversight prosper and serve the American people Unfortunately, for that reason, I can-
and Reform and, of course, the Com- for years to come is of the highest pri- not support this bill.
mittee on Appropriations. But there ority. This bill does just that. This bill The problems with the post office are
are many other pressing issues that we would require postal employees to en- clear and longstanding. Congress estab-
can also be working on and should be roll in Medicare when they are eligible lished the post office to be a self-sup-
working on for the benefit of American and retire. All postal employees al- porting organization, and from the
families. ready pay into Medicare through their time it received a $100 billion-line of
I therefore urge my colleagues to op- careers, and the Postal Service has credit, it has simply used credit to
pose this rule, and I reserve the bal- paid about $35 billion into the program cover its losses.
ance of my time. since 1983, and it is the second largest I could agree that prepayment would
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield contributor to the Medicare trust fund. not be necessary if they were meeting
myself such time as I may consume. In short, Postal Service employees their responsibility on a pay-as-you-go
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the have already earned these benefits. The basis to be profitable and to make
gentleman from Pennsylvania for his bill would also eliminate the unfair re- those reforms. In fact, in 2020, under
kind words for the bipartisan leader- quirement that the Postal Service the CARES Act, Congress provided $10
ship and initiative taken in the Postal prefund its retiree health benefits for billion in emergency funding, and yet
Service Reform Act, H.R. 3076. 75 years into the future, a provision in 2020 they lost $18 billion and are on
Unfortunately, I have to take excep- that has already passed the House in course over the next 18 months to lose
tion to the suggestion that this is previous Congresses. These two reforms $22 billion. The fact is they haven’t
somehow unique on our part. The gen- would save the Postal Service nearly made a profit since 2006 as they are
tleman may remember the bipartisan $50 billion over 10 years. mandated.
infrastructure act that the Democrats I want to emphasize that these The truth is the post office isn’t
brought forward but we incorporated changes do not cost American tax- lacking liquidity. It is bankrupt, and
lots of Republicans in the process and payers one single dime. In fact, the nothing in this bill will make the post
we passed it on a bipartisan basis. That nonpartisan CBO just last week deter- office truly solvent. It simply wipes
is more than $1 trillion invested in the mined that this bill would save $1.5 bil- out and wipes away debts and shifts the
roads, the highways, the ports, the air- lion over the next 10 years. burden on to taxpayers. The bill for-
ports, broadband, and cybersecurity. In addition to these savings, the bill gives $46 billion in debts owed by the
That was something I remember was includes a provision that will allow the Postal Service forcing the taxpayers to
talked about during the last adminis- Postal Service to work with States and pay it.
tration. I never saw a bill partisan, bi- localities to provide non-postal service Years ago, when I offered real reform,
partisan, or otherwise come from that in post office locations. This provision reform that would save on a constant
side of the aisle, but within the first would allow the Postal Service to more basis real money, 6, 7, $8 billion a year,
year of the Biden administration that effectively serve communities based on those reforms, because they lowered
bipartisan infrastructure act was their individual needs and raise rev- total labor, were unacceptable to the
moved through Congress. We brought enue from currently untapped sources. post office even if they were through
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lots of Republicans in. I know a lot of It is abundantly clear that this bill is attrition.
them voted against it, some of whom good for both the Postal Service and I do support some of the changes, and
are claiming credit for it back in their the American people. I do support the Post Master’s attempt
districts now. I thank Representative COMER for to modernize the post office, but with-
But, in any event, this is not new for working diligently with me on this im- out teeth in the actual organizational
us. It takes two to tango. So I am glad portant legislation. reforms, the post office will continue
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February 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1027
to lose money, and for that reason I While the U.S. Postal Service has al- Postal Service is getting on time deliv-
cannot yet support this bill. ways been essential, in the last 2 years ery and making it happen. This new
Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speak- it has been even more so, as it has tool will allow all of us to monitor ex-
er, while I respect my good friend and helped us all to navigate a highly actly what is going on in our particular
colleague, especially for what he has transmissible virus. communities.
done in the private sector as well as Unfortunately, during that same I reserve the balance of my time, Mr.
the public sector, I do have some con- time, we have seen the Postal Service Speaker.
cerns. struggle to navigate a series of highly Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speak-
I believe the Postal Service Reform disruptive policy changes that slowed er, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
Act is a strong bipartisan act, and I service and financial constraints that from the great State of Texas (Mr.
urge its passage. This measure will have threatened its long-term health. BURGESS), who is my good friend and
bring increased transparency. It will Over the past 2 years I have heard from fellow Rules Committee member.
improve operations for senior citizens hundreds of constituents about prob- Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank
and Americans who use the Postal lems with the Postal Service, all ask- the gentleman for yielding.
Service every day. It will help this in- ing: What is Congress going to do about Mr. Speaker, as you have already
stitution that is critical, especially to it? heard, today’s rule provides for consid-
rural America. This week, I am proud to support the eration of yet another continuing reso-
Again, I have deep respect and admi- Postal Service Reform Act, a bipar- lution 5 months into the fiscal year
ration for my friend from California. I tisan bill that will improve the per- and not a single appropriations bill has
just would urge passage of this, and I formance of the U.S. Postal Service been signed into law.
reserve the balance of my time. This time, the Rules Committee had
and guarantee its long-term financial
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield less than 2 hours’ notice before consid-
health.
myself such time as I may consume. ering the continuing resolution rule in
This bill will guarantee the Postal
Mr. Speaker, a quick note on the gen- the Rules Committee yesterday leaving
Service’s 6-day delivery standard, im-
tleman from California’s points. He no time for Members who might want
prove customer support, and provide
concedes that our bipartisan legisla- to offer an amendment or might want
customers with increased transparency
tion does a lot of good things, but he to come to the committee to speak on
about their local service performance.
says that it doesn’t do everything. this CR.
He makes the point that the post of- Most notably, the Postal Service Re-
form Act will finally end the—unique b 1245
fice is not making a profit. That is
true. It is not making a profit. Of to the Postal Service—statutory re- This is no secret. This has not been
course, our offices don’t make a profit. quirement that it prefund retiree an easy year for the American people;
There are very few Federal entities health benefits, relieving the Postal crisis after crisis, and this Democratic
that make a profit. That is not what Service of this onerous and unneces- leadership in this Congress has not
government does. Government serves sary burden that has jeopardized the really led on those issues. We are still
the people. We want to be as efficient service’s finances since it was enacted facing a crisis on our southern border.
as possible in doing that, but the post 15 years ago. Mr. Speaker, 2 million migrants have
office serves people from Alaska to Ha- These reforms which have been en- crossed without documentation since
waii to Puerto Rico to Florida to dorsed by the postal unions are esti- President Biden took the oath of office.
Texas. mated to save the Postal Service near- And in response, what did he do? Well,
Everybody gets mail, and we want to ly $50 billion over the next 10 years. he halted construction on the border
do it as efficiently and as effectively as The U.S. Postal Service is one of the wall, and he tried to eliminate the re-
possible, but the point is to make sure oldest, core responsibilities of the Fed- main in Mexico program except the
that we are all connected and that ev- eral Government, and so I look forward courts wouldn’t let him do that, so now
erybody gets the benefit of being able to enthusiastically voting for this bill they are slow-walking the enforce-
to get their prescription drugs, that to ensure its continued success in the ment.
small businesses are able to send out 21st century. At the same time, Ukraine is facing
their parcels, that consumers are able In addition, Mr. Speaker, today’s rule down 130,000 Russian troops that look
to receive what it is they are ordering, also provides for consideration of an- poised to invade, and President Biden
and so on. other continuing resolution to fund the just recently used his waiver authority
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the government. The House did its job. We to ease the sanctions on the Nord
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. passed our funding bills on time, and Stream 2 pipeline, a direct link be-
SCANLON), who is a distinguished mem- Chairwoman DELAURO has pushed her tween Russia and Europe for oil and
ber of the Rules Committee. Senate counterparts to begin negotia- gas. If we had been given time to con-
Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I thank tions early so that a funding deal could sider this CR, we could have revoked
my colleague from the Rules Com- be passed on time. However, Senate Re- this waiver authority and reinstated
mittee for yielding. publicans have hemmed and hawed and sanctions on the Nord Stream 2.
Mr. Speaker, for as long as our coun- stalled to avoid negotiations because Another problem exacerbated by this
try has existed, the United States they prefer a CR to finding bipartisan administration is their continued push
Postal Service has played a critical compromise. We are nearly halfway for vaccine mandates. We see it lit-
role in the function of our country. through the current fiscal year. I re- erally every day on the news. Mandates
Whether delivering news or bills, gret the necessity of another CR, but I do nothing but drive unnecessary oppo-
medicine or ballots, income tax refunds look forward to a quick resolution and sition, and we need to let people make
or in a few days maybe Valentines, a vote on an omnibus funding bill. an informed choice for themselves with
Americans—our small businesses and Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I do want their doctor. Taxpayer dollars should
our State, national, and local govern- to add one point to Ms. SCANLON’s ex- not be spent on enforcing mandates.
ments—rely on the post office and the cellent delivery. Finally, it has been nearly impossible
essential daily services it provides. This legislation, the Postal Service to get a response back from the execu-
The famous motto of the Postal Serv- Reform Act, requires the Postal Serv- tive branch agency and the reason is,
ice is: ‘‘Neither snow nor rain nor heat ice to develop an online dashboard that we have delegated our spending author-
nor gloom of night stays these couriers will detail for all of us weekly na- ity. We have delegated our appropria-
from the swift completion of their ap- tional-and local-level performance data tions authority basically to the Speak-
pointed rounds.’’ to promote compliance at every level er’s Office, and as a consequence, no
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
How glad we have been to see them with the on-time mail delivery expec- Cabinet Secretary feels obligated to
completing those rounds during a pan- tations that we all have. answer a phone call from a Member of
demic which limited our ability to get I too have spent time in a lot of Congress from either party.
goods and services from other places neighborhoods of mine in Frederick Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6617,
and which limited our ability in some County, Carroll County, and Mont- of course, extends funding for the Fed-
cases to get to the polling places. gomery County making sure that the eral Government until March 11, 2022.
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H1028 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 8, 2022
We eagerly anticipate the success of bi- mandates allow parents to opt out on parents have to have an in-person
partisan negotiations for the full omni- behalf of their children. learning option. Schools must offer an
bus package. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con- in-person learning option. Our kids de-
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the sent to insert the text of my amend- serve normalcy. They deserve a chance
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. ment into the RECORD along with any to learn in person. They deserve a
LAWRENCE). extraneous material immediately prior chance to play with their friends at re-
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to the vote on the previous question. cess.
in support of the rule providing for The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there This is about giving parents a voice
consideration of the Postal Service Re- objection to the request of the gen- and the final say when it comes to per-
form Act. As the only Member of Con- tleman from Pennsylvania? sonal health decisions that impact
gress who has a 30-year career as a There was no objection. their family. This is about giving
Postal Service employee, I am honored Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speak- school-aged kids who have endured so
to stand here today as the House takes er, here to explain the amendment is much over the last 2 years a chance to
action to protect the Postal Service for the legislation’s author, Representa- finally just be kids, to be normal. The
generations to come. tive ASHLEY HINSON of Iowa, my good next generation is too important not to
Few know that the Constitution de- friend. fight for.
fines that America will have a post of- Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the When it comes to our children and
fice service. For more than two cen- gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. HINSON). their well-being, we will not cave, and
turies, the hardworking employees of Mrs. HINSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank that is why this legislation is so impor-
the Postal Service have lived up to the the gentleman from Pennsylvania for tant. So let’s put politics aside here.
agency’s motto: ‘‘Neither snow nor yielding time. Let’s put kids first. We should pass the
rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand for Unmask Our Kids Act today.
these couriers from the swift comple- students, to stand for parents’ ability Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield
tion of their appointed rounds.’’ to make decisions for their own kids. myself such time as I may consume.
As the agency finds itself losing bil- Across the country, children are strug- The Washington Post this morning has
lions of dollars, it is time for the Con- gling. Despite being nearly 2 years into an article about how a number of Gov-
gress to step in and ensure the Postal the pandemic now, tens of thousands of ernors—California Governor Gavin
Service can maintain its commitment students started this year off still Newsom, New Jersey Governor Phil
to providing prompt and reliable mail being forced to learn from behind a Murphy, Delaware Governor John Car-
service. This bill will provide the Post- screen, cut off from their peers. ney, and Connecticut Governor Ned La-
al Service with the critical reforms to Many school districts are mandating mont—have all announced changes to
help address this long-term financial masks for children of all ages against indoor masking requirements because
their parents’ wishes. Parents should of changes of where we are in the dis-
solvency. The Postal Service has deliv-
have the option to send their kids to ease.
ered the package. Today we have the
school in person and to decide whether I certainly hope that my colleagues
opportunity to deliver the package. are not saying that we never should
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank or not they want to have their kids
wearing a mask at school. Thanks to have worn masks, although I know
the gentlewoman for those excellent
the leadership of our great Governor of some of them have said that and some
remarks and note that I think she
Iowa, Governor Reynolds, and our of them have opposed masking guid-
speaks for millions of postal workers ance from the very beginning. Need I
across the country who are excited hardworking teachers in Iowa, parents
have had the option to send their kids remind my colleagues that we have
about this legislation and the reforms lost more than 900,000 people, including
that it is going to institute. This has to school in person in class for over a
a lot of children, to this terrible dis-
the endorsement of the American Post- year.
Governor Reynolds stood for families ease. We have faced an epidemic of
al Workers Union, the National Asso- denialism from the beginning. Of
ciation of Letter Carriers, the mail by banning school mask mandates and
course, the former President of the
handlers, and a number of other orga- allowing parents—parents—to make
United States was out hawking quack
nizations that are invested in this. So this personal health decision for their
medical cures and denying the
we are excited about this bipartisan in- own children. That is at the heart of
virulence of the disease for a long time
vestment in making the Postal Service this issue we are talking about today.
saying it would just disappear at Eas-
work for the people in this new cen- Parents should be empowered. They
tertime. Maybe everybody should just
tury. should be empowered to make choices
be injected with bleach.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of that impact their children’s physical We have come a long way from then,
my time. and mental health, their development, and President Biden has led us in an
Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speak- and their future. aggressive scientific effort, including
er, I yield myself such time as I may As a mom, I know why parents across masking where it was appropriate, in
consume. the country are standing up and speak- order to beat the disease, and we are
Across this country, Democratic ing out when they are being told that making great progress. Now the States
Governors and local officials have they can’t decide what is right for and localities are able to drop the
forced children to wear masks in their kids or their family. And it is in- masking requirements. So I see that
schools. They have done this without furiating to watch the very same peo- they want to get on top of the wave
real concern for the social develop- ple who push for kids to wear masks all and somehow claim that they are re-
mental and emotional consequences of day long, and they are bending the sponsible for that when it was the
their authoritarian actions. These are rules for a photo op or maybe a night President from their party who pre-
the actions of petty tyrants, people out on the town. Meanwhile, kids are sided over an historically reckless and
who do not care about real science. sitting at home instead of going to irresponsible approach to COVID–19,
In stark contrast, House Republicans school, and they are interacting with one that gave us a leading position in
have been consistent this whole time. their friends in settings that are not the spread of COVID–19.
We have been fighting for the rights of normal. They are interacting from be- So in any event, I haven’t seen the
America’s children, and the American hind a screen. That is why I introduced bill that they have just introduced yet.
parent. the Unmask Our Kids Act. I know that the Biden administration
That is why if we defeat the previous My bill would condition Federal edu- has used the post office to ship 500 mil-
question, I will personally offer an cation dollars to schools on those lion coronavirus test kits to people
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
amendment to the rule to immediately schools doing two very simple things: across the country, which, again, un-
consider H.R. 6619, the Unmask Our one, schools cannot receive Federal derscores the importance of the legisla-
Kids Act. This legislation would block dollars if they enact wide-reaching tion we are really here to talk about
education agencies from receiving Fed- mask mandates. They have to allow today.
eral funding unless schools are open for parents to decide whether their child Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
in-person learning and school mask will wear a mask at school; and two, my time.
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February 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1029
Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speak- how important it is that kids are back tisan basis, that will make the post of-
er, I yield myself such time as I may in the classroom and free of unneces- fice far more efficient; that will guar-
consume. sary and distracting mask mandates. antee 6-day service to our people all
Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting Parents, not politicians, should have over the country; that will end that
that my good friend from Maryland the power to make the best decisions uniquely difficult and punitive policy
would say the former President was for their children. Let me repeat that of making the Postal Service alone
‘‘reckless’’ during the pandemic. This because so many across this country have to prefund everybody’s healthcare
is a man who put together Operation and some in this body don’t understand for the next 75 years, which explains a
Warp Speed, one of the quickest vac- that fundamental truth. Parents, not lot of its financial problems. That is
cination programs and one of the most politicians, should have the power to what we are here to do today.
effective the world has ever seen. make the best decision for their chil- We are making progress for America,
If we are talking about numbers, let’s dren. And that includes whether or not and we are trying to do it on a bipar-
just talk about the numbers. More peo- they wear a mask in school. tisan basis. It seems strange to me that
ple have died in this pandemic under It has been over a year since the CDC my colleagues would try to pick a fight
Joe Biden than ever died under Presi- implemented universal mask mandates about COVID–19 in this context when
dent Trump. The numbers don’t lie. in schools with little science to back we are just trying to recover from the
During President Trump’s first year up their claim. Studies have shown wreckage left by the prior administra-
with the pandemic, there were just that students can safely return to tion.
over 390,000 deaths and, again, every prepandemic educational settings; Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal-
death is tragic. But to say that Presi- meaning in a classroom and without a ance of my time.
dent Trump was reckless, look at the mask. Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam
numbers of Joe Biden. Since Joe Biden The House has also appropriated $120 Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
has taken office, over half a million billion to reopen schools, nearly three may consume.
people, 500,000-plus people have died. times what the CDC had requested. My good friend from Maryland ref-
So if President Trump was reckless, Yet, we still have school districts erenced Dr. Birx. Let’s be honest: Dr.
what word would you use to describe across our country refusing to return Birx is an unelected career bureaucrat
President Biden? I am interested to to in-person learning or forcing kids to who has been wrong repeatedly, just
hear that. But there are two kinds of wear a mask against their will. like Dr. Fauci has been wrong repeat-
science; there is real science and there These school districts should not be edly.
is political science. The risk of severe given any more hard-earned taxpayer Although my friend on the left might
disease from COVID–19 to healthy chil- dollars from the Department of Edu- cite Dr. Birx, I can cite Johns Hopkins
dren is very low. This is real science. cation or any other Federal agency. University, which just did a study. Ac-
The CDC data shows that 863 total pe- cording to this massive study from
b 1300
diatric deaths related to COVID–19 Johns Hopkins University—not a bas-
have occurred since the beginning of To make matters worse, the same tion of conservative ideology, I might
this pandemic, which is less than—and, elected officials who are implementing add—they found that lockdowns only
again, for the party of science, this is these draconian mandates are often reduced COVID mortality by 0.2 per-
real science—that is less than 0.001 per- seen disregarding them completely. cent in the United States. In sum,
cent of all COVID deaths in the United The lengths some elected officials will lockdowns didn’t work at all.
States. Many of these children had un- go to gain a political advantage at the What is worse is that those on the
derlying medical conditions making expense of the well-being of our chil- left have failed to take into account
them more vulnerable to severe dren is truly astounding. that the lockdowns actually led to
COVID–19 than the average child, The reality is, my colleagues across more deaths than they prevented, argu-
meaning that many of these children the aisle are not following the science, ably, with drug overdose and suicide.
died with COVID not of COVID. and it is damaging an entire genera- But that is real science, not political
But again, that is real science, not tion’s educational and social develop- science.
political science. Talking about real ment. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
science versus political science, I have It is time we give parents the power the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. MIL-
got a photo of Stacey Abrams. This is to let their kids experience normal LER-MEEKS) to talk about more real
political science, and here is why. Be- once again. I urge my colleagues to op- science.
cause the kids in this photo trying to pose the previous question and support Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam
learn, all of them are masked up. Sta- H.R. 6619. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the pre-
tistically, these children are at very Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield vious question so that the House can
low risk of contracting COVID and myself such time as I may consume. immediately consider Congresswoman
even lower risk of dying from COVID. The gentleman from Pennsylvania HINSON’s H.R. 6619, the Unmask Our
Again, the stats don’t lie; 0.001 percent. doesn’t have to take it from me. He can Kids Act.
The real person in this photo who take it from President Trump’s own The Unmask Our Kids Act would re-
bears most of the risk is a governor-in- Coronavirus Response Coordinator, strict funds from going to any local
exile Stacey Abrams who is not wear- Deborah Birx. education agencies that don’t offer an
ing a mask. This photo is political Dr. Birx said the first 100,000 deaths option for in-person instruction at both
science. If the mask wearing was re- were perhaps inevitable, but the hun- elementary and secondary public
versed, that would be actual science. dreds of thousands that came after it schools. Further, the Unmask Our Kids
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the were avoidable and were the cost of the Act would allow parents to opt their
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. failure to undertake the public health child out of having to wear a mask at
LATURNER), my good friend. precautions that were required. So, I school.
Mr. LATURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise would direct him to Dr. Birx. As the mother of two children, I un-
to oppose the previous question so that Of course, when the virus was out of derstand how important it is for all
we can immediately consider H.R. 6619 control and President Biden came into kids to be in school, learning among
which will prohibit local education office, he was doing everything in his their peers. Unfortunately, throughout
agencies from receiving Department of power to try to reverse the damage the COVID–19 pandemic, there has been
Education funding unless schools are done by the lethal irresponsibility of a political theater of both masking
open for in-person learning, and allow the prior administration. policies and virtual learning, which has
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
parents to opt out of mask mandates But in any event, Madam Speaker, resulted in K–12 students paying the
on behalf of their children. we are here to try to get beyond all the price through learning loss, which is at
Over the past 2 years, our children wreckage at this point. We are here to an even higher rate among students
have suffered academically and so- fund the government through March 11. who come from disadvantaged families.
cially throughout the pandemic. As a We are here to make these substantial Several studies have found that there
father of four young children, I know reforms to the post office, on a bipar- are adverse effects on the quality of
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H1030 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 8, 2022
education due to the lack of time stu- school. I don’t think the gentleman dad of a kindergartner, I am frustrated.
dents spend with their peers, especially from Pennsylvania meant to disparage I am frustrated because all throughout
for students who struggled with school her educational credentials, certainly the pandemic, bureaucrats, mayors,
before the pandemic. Students need as a graduate of Penn State. Governors, and school administrators
and deserve to have in-person instruc- Look, we don’t need the Federal Gov- have all lectured us to follow the
tion so that they can receive the best ernment dictating to the States and science. Just follow the science.
education possible for their future. the localities what their policies are Well, I agree. Thankfully, 2 years
As a physician and former director of going to be about masking. I just read into this pandemic, we now have
public health, I recognize that children this morning about a bunch of States— science behind the mild impacts of
are at low risk of severe illness with I think they have Democratic Gov- COVID–19 on children and the impor-
COVID and low risk of transmission. A ernors; New York, California, Dela- tance of ventilation instead of masking
recent study found that grade- ware—that have pulled back on their to limit spread in classrooms. We also
schoolers are at a lower risk than vac- masking policies because the virus, have science on how important it is to
cinated adults. today, has dramatically subsided. see faces for a child’s development.
Wearing a mask at school can create Are we going to pass a Federal bill Yet, even with this data, schools con-
both behavioral and physical complica- every time the virus goes up or the tinue to impose mask mandates, in-
tions for students. A student wearing a virus goes down and tell them what cluding roughly 85 of the 115 North
pair of glasses may have to keep their rules are going to be? Come on. I Carolina school districts. And if you
defogging their lenses, or a student thought that we were all champions of break these mandates, you face severe
federalism. But instead, they want to consequences.
that has a facial tic may have to keep
dictate it from up on high. Just last Thursday, 12-year-old Lin-
correcting their fallen mask. coln Matthews, from my district, de-
As we have seen across the Nation, Remember, what this legislation is
about—and I wish we could focus more cided not to wear a mask to school,
mental health has been a big part of with the support of his father. Lincoln
this pandemic, and students are not on it—is reform of the Postal Service.
We have bipartisan support now for said he can’t breathe in his mask, espe-
immune to this impact. Not being able cially when he is forced to wear it even
this. I am delighted to learn that it is
to see other peers or your teacher’s while running in PE class. However,
not just the postal unions that I in-
face can lead to only further loneliness, Lincoln was written up and kicked out
voked before, but we have a bunch of
anxiety, and depression, and the rate of for insubordination. This is wrong.
postal associations for it. We have the
suicide in children as young as 9 has What is worse is, these rules appar-
American Postal Workers Union, the
been staggering. Many young students ently don’t apply to everyone. On Fri-
National Association of Letter Car-
are also unable to learn because facial day, just 1 day after Lincoln was
riers, the National Rural Letter Car-
expressions are absent. kicked out for not wearing his mask,
riers’ Association, the National Asso-
Just yesterday, New Jersey’s Demo- Stacey Abrams visited a classroom in
ciation of Postal Supervisors, the Na-
cratic Governor announced that, begin- Georgia without a mask while every
tional Active and Retired Federal Em-
ning in March, the State will no longer child around her, as you can see, wore
ployees, the National Postal Mail Han-
require students and school employees their masks. As my colleague, Mr.
dlers Union, the Package Shippers As-
to wear masks. The Governor was RESCHENTHALER, said, this photo is not
sociation, the Major Mailers Associa-
quoted saying that: ‘‘This is not a dec- science; this photo is political science.
tion, the National Newspaper Associa-
laration of victory as much as an ac- Sadly, this is just the latest example
tion, Coalition for a 21st Century Post-
knowledgment that we can responsibly of politicians who want to control your
al Service, Publishers Clearing House,
live with this thing.’’ Europe has had life. They tell you what to do then ig-
American Catalog Mailers Association,
that policy for almost a year. nore their own rules. For these hypo-
and the National Retail Federation.
Beginning this Friday, the Governor We have both the workers in the crites, it is rules for thee but not for
of Delaware, the President’s home Postal Service and then big businesses me.
State, will lift Delaware’s universal in- Well, I am here to say that the Amer-
and small businesses across the coun-
door mask mandate, with a lift on the ican people are fed up. I am here to
try, underscoring the fact that the
school-based mask mandate beginning say, parents have rights.
Postal Service remains the central So let’s actually follow the science.
March 31. nervous system of commerce in Amer-
Also yesterday, a medical analyst for It is time to scrap these mandates and
ica as well as our public life. That is give parents the freedom to choose
CNN said that the decision to wear a something that we should be cele-
mask should shift from a government what is best for their own children.
brating rather than picking an unnec- Today, I encourage my colleagues to
mandate to an individual choice. essary fight, which is completely irrel-
If a parent and student believe it is pass the Unmask Our Kids Act and end
evant to this legislation, about what is these mandates once and for all. If it is
in the best interests of their health and going on at the State and local level in good enough for the politicians, it is
well-being to wear a mask, so be it. Let other places. good enough for our kids.
them make that decision for them- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam
selves. We do not need elite, powerful ance of my time. Speaker, talking about more science,
people imposing their will upon our Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam here is some more science: A North
most innocent and most powerless. Speaker, look, for the record, I would Carolina study, where my good friend
Remove the mask. Let students be bet on Dr. MILLER-MEEKS any day of resides, conducted before vaccines were
back in school. And vote down the pre- the week over Dr. Birx. She believes in available, found that not a single case
vious question. the real science, not the political the- of student-to-teacher transmission oc-
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I yield ater and political science that the CDC curred when 90,000 students were in
myself such time as I may consume. and Dr. Birx speak of. A great example: school. That is the real science.
Someone just tuning in right now The CDC never even studied the effects Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal-
might be a little confused and think of school mask mandates before man- ance of my time.
that we are somehow debating COVID– dating masks in school. Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I am
19. We are here to talk about bipartisan Say what you will, but that is not prepared to close, and I reserve the bal-
legislation on the Postal Service and to how science works. ance of my time.
keep the government open until March Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam
11. the gentleman from North Carolina Speaker, I yield myself the balance of
I would just point out to my good (Mr. HUDSON), who is my good friend. my time as I am prepared to close.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
friend from Pennsylvania, who I am Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise Madam Speaker, thanks to President
afraid seemed to disparage science on today to oppose the previous question Biden and thanks to House Democrats
our side or the professional credentials so we can immediately consider H.R. and their far left, radical policies,
of Dr. Deborah Birx, who was the 6619, the Unmask Our Kids Act. Americans are currently facing a bor-
former President’s coronavirus coordi- This is critical because, as a Member der crisis, a crime crisis, and an eco-
nator; she went to Penn State medical of Congress, but more importantly as a nomic crisis.
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February 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1031
Despite a lack of scientific evidence The material previously referred to Lee (CA) Omar Slotkin
Lee (NV) Pallone Smith (WA)
to support masks in schools, Demo- by Mr. RESCHENTHALER is as follows: Leger Fernandez Panetta Soto
cratic Governors, officials, unelected AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 912 Levin (CA) Pappas Spanberger
bureaucrats, petty tyrants, have man- At the end of the resolution, add the fol-
Levin (MI) Pascrell Speier
dated the use of masks in schools, dam- Lieu Payne Stansbury
lowing: Lofgren Perlmutter
aging the educational and social devel- Stanton
SEC. 4. Immediately upon adoption of this Lowenthal Peters Stevens
opment of our students. It is past time resolution, the House shall proceed to the Luria Phillips Strickland
that Democrats stop prioritizing their consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. Lynch Pingree Suozzi
woke agenda and work with Repub- 6619) to prohibit the Secretary of Education Malinowski Pocan Swalwell
from providing Federal funds to a local edu- Maloney, Porter Takano
licans to address these and other press- Carolyn B. Pressley
cational agency unless in-person instruction Thompson (CA)
ing issues facing American families Maloney, Sean Price (NC) Thompson (MS)
today. is available to all students and parents may Manning Quigley
opt out of student mask mandates, and for Titus
Madam Speaker, I urge my col- Matsui Raskin
Tlaib
other purposes. All points of order against McBath Rice (NY)
leagues to vote ‘‘no’’ on the previous consideration of the bill are waived. The bill McCollum Ross
Tonko
question; I urge my colleagues to vote Torres (CA)
shall be considered as read. All points of McEachin Roybal-Allard
Torres (NY)
‘‘no’’ on the rule; and I yield back the order against provisions in the bill are McGovern Ruiz
Trahan
McNerney Ruppersberger
balance of my time. waived. The previous question shall be con- Meeks Rush Trone
sidered as ordered on the bill and on any Underwood
b 1315 Meng Ryan
Vargas
amendment thereto to final passage without Mfume Sánchez
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I yield intervening motion except: (1) one hour of Moore (WI) Sarbanes Veasey
myself such time as I may consume. debate equally divided and controlled by the Morelle Scanlon Vela
Moulton Schakowsky Velázquez
I want to say a word on behalf of chair and ranking minority member of the Wasserman
Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Mrvan Schiff
Stacey Abrams, who was the target of Murphy (FL) Schneider Schultz
some rhetorical attacks over there. one motion to recommit. Nadler Schrader Waters
There is a picture of her without her SEC. 5. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not Napolitano Schrier Watson Coleman
mask on in front of a bunch of kids apply to the consideration of H.R. 6619. Neal Scott (VA) Welch
Neguse Scott, David Wexton
who did have their masks on, and it Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I yield Newman Sewell Wild
was being denounced by the speaker back the balance of my time, and I Norcross Sherman Williams (GA)
from North Carolina momentarily and move the previous question on the res- O’Halleran Sherrill Wilson (FL)
also by the floor leader, who didn’t olution. Ocasio-Cortez Sires Yarmuth
have their masks on, standing in front The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. NAYS—205
of a whole group of people who did have LAWRENCE). The question is on ordering
Aderholt Foxx Lucas
their masks on. the previous question. Allen Franklin, C. Luetkemeyer
In other words, they were in exactly The question was taken; and the Amodei Scott Mace
the same position Stacey Abrams was, Speaker pro tempore announced that Arrington Fulcher Malliotakis
because the rule of reason we have Babin Gaetz Mann
the ayes appeared to have it. Bacon Gallagher Massie
adopted according to medical advice, I Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Baird Garbarino Mast
think across the country, is where Speaker, on that I demand the yeas Balderson Garcia (CA) McCarthy
masks are recommended and indicated, and nays. Banks Gibbs McCaul
people wear them unless they are Barr Gimenez McClain
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Bentz Gonzales, Tony McClintock
speaking. To turn that into a political ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution Bergman Gonzalez (OH) McHenry
football to denounce a fellow public 8, the yeas and nays are ordered. Bice (OK) Good (VA) McKinley
servant seems to be a little bit beneath The vote was taken by electronic de-
Biggs Gooden (TX) Meijer
Bilirakis Gosar Meuser
the dignity of this body. vice, and there were—yeas 221, nays Bishop (NC) Graves (LA) Miller (IL)
But in any event, we are very excited Boebert Graves (MO) Miller (WV)
205, not voting 7, as follows:
about our postal reform legislation Bost Green (TN) Miller-Meeks
that we are moving through to guar- [Roll No. 35] Brady Greene (GA) Moolenaar
Brooks Griffith Mooney
antee excellent 6-day service to every- YEAS—221 Buchanan Grothman Moore (AL)
body, to have an online dashboard so Adams Cleaver Gomez Buck Guest Moore (UT)
we can all keep track of where the mail Aguilar Clyburn Gonzalez, Bucshon Guthrie Mullin
is in different parts of the country, and Allred Cohen Vicente Budd Hagedorn Murphy (NC)
Auchincloss Connolly Gottheimer Burchett Harris Nehls
if there are problems, we can address Axne Cooper Green, Al (TX) Burgess Harshbarger Newhouse
them quickly. Barragán Correa Grijalva Calvert Hartzler Norman
I am glad we have bipartisan legisla- Bass Costa Harder (CA) Cammack Hern Obernolte
tion—at least I hope it is bipartisan— Beatty Courtney Hayes Carey Herrell Owens
Bera Craig Higgins (NY) Carl Herrera Beutler Palazzo
to keep the government open until Beyer Crist Himes Carter (GA) Hice (GA) Palmer
March 11. Bishop (GA) Crow Horsford Carter (TX) Higgins (LA) Pence
As for COVID–19 policies, I think we Blumenauer Cuellar Houlahan Cawthorn Hill Perry
should trust the States and the local- Blunt Rochester Davids (KS) Hoyer Chabot Hinson Pfluger
Bonamici Davis, Danny K. Huffman Cheney Hollingsworth Posey
ities to deal with the manifold ques- Bourdeaux Dean Jackson Lee Cline Hudson Reed
tions that come up as we continue to Bowman DeFazio Jacobs (CA) Cloud Huizenga Reschenthaler
address this public health crisis, which Boyle, Brendan DeGette Jayapal Clyde Issa Rice (SC)
F. DeLauro Jeffries Cole Jackson Rodgers (WA)
was, of course, set into motion by a Brown (MD) DelBene Johnson (GA) Comer Jacobs (NY) Rogers (AL)
President who denied it, avoided it, Brown (OH) Delgado Johnson (TX) Crawford Johnson (LA) Rogers (KY)
said he would refuse to wear a mask Brownley Demings Jones Crenshaw Johnson (OH) Rose
even when it was indicated, who got it, Bush DeSaulnier Kahele Curtis Johnson (SD) Rosendale
Bustos Deutch Kaptur Davidson Jordan Rouzer
who had dozens of doctors at his beck Butterfield Dingell Keating Davis, Rodney Joyce (OH) Roy
and call, who flew in a helicopter to get Carbajal Doggett Kelly (IL) DesJarlais Joyce (PA) Rutherford
himself served. Cárdenas Doyle, Michael Khanna Diaz-Balart Katko Salazar
Look, we need to get back on track Carson F. Kildee Donalds Keller Scalise
Carter (LA) Escobar Kilmer Duncan Kelly (MS) Schweikert
in America. That means the govern- Cartwright Eshoo Kim (NJ) Dunn Kelly (PA) Scott, Austin
ment has to work for everybody. We Case Espaillat Kind Emmer Kim (CA) Sessions
have got to stop fighting about public Casten Evans Kirkpatrick Estes Kustoff Simpson
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Castor (FL) Fletcher Krishnamoorthi Fallon LaMalfa Smith (MO)
health. We have got to work together Castro (TX) Foster Kuster Feenstra Lamborn Smith (NE)
for public health, just like we have got Cherfilus- Frankel, Lois Lamb Ferguson Latta Smith (NJ)
to work together for the post office, a McCormick Gallego Langevin Fischbach LaTurner Smucker
great American institution which we Chu Garamendi Larsen (WA) Fitzgerald Lesko Spartz
Cicilline Garcı́a (IL) Larson (CT) Fitzpatrick Letlow Stauber
improve and we advance today in the Clark (MA) Garcia (TX) Lawrence Fleischmann Long Steel
21st century. Clarke (NY) Golden Lawson (FL) Fortenberry Loudermilk Stefanik
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H1032 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 8, 2022
Steil Upton Wenstrup DeFazio Langevin Rice (NY) LaMalfa Nehls Spartz
Steube Valadao Westerman DeGette Larsen (WA) Ross Lamborn Newhouse Stauber
Stewart Van Drew Williams (TX) DeLauro Larson (CT) Roybal-Allard Latta Norman Steel
Taylor Van Duyne Wilson (SC) DelBene Lawrence Ruiz LaTurner Obernolte Stefanik
Tenney Wagner Wittman Delgado Lawson (FL) Ruppersberger Lesko Owens Steil
Thompson (PA) Walberg Womack Demings Lee (CA) Rush Letlow Palazzo Steube
Tiffany Walorski Young DeSaulnier Lee (NV) Ryan Long Palmer Stewart
Timmons Weber (TX) Zeldin Deutch Leger Fernandez Sánchez Loudermilk Pence Taylor
Turner Webster (FL) Dingell Levin (CA) Sarbanes Lucas Perry Tenney
Doggett Levin (MI) Scanlon Luetkemeyer Pfluger Thompson (PA)
NOT VOTING—7 Doyle, Michael Lieu Mace Posey
Schakowsky Tiffany
Armstrong Granger Waltz F. Lofgren Schiff Malliotakis Reed
Timmons
Ellzey Kinzinger Escobar Lowenthal Schneider Mann Reschenthaler
Turner
Gohmert LaHood Eshoo Luria Schrader Massie Rice (SC)
Upton
Espaillat Lynch Schrier Mast Rodgers (WA)
Valadao
Evans Malinowski McCarthy Rogers (AL)
b 1355 Fletcher Maloney,
Scott (VA)
McCaul Rogers (KY) Van Drew
Scott, David Van Duyne
Mr. GRIFFITH, Ms. VAN DUYNE, Foster Carolyn B. McClain Rose
Sewell Wagner
Frankel, Lois Maloney, Sean McClintock Rosendale
Messrs. ROUZER and BOST changed Gallego Manning
Sherman
McHenry Rouzer Walberg
their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Sherrill Walorski
Garamendi Matsui McKinley Roy
Sires Waltz
So the previous question was ordered. Garcı́a (IL) McBath
Slotkin
Meijer Rutherford
Garcia (TX) McCollum Meuser Salazar Weber (TX)
The result of the vote was announced Smith (WA) Webster (FL)
Golden McEachin Miller (IL) Scalise
as above recorded. Gomez McGovern
Soto Miller (WV) Schweikert Wenstrup
Spanberger Miller-Meeks Scott, Austin Westerman
MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE Gonzalez, McNerney
Vicente Meeks Speier Moolenaar Sessions Williams (TX)
RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS Stansbury
Gottheimer Meng Mooney Simpson Wilson (SC)
Baird (Bucshon) Gonzalez, Moore (WI) Green, Al (TX) Mfume Stanton Moore (AL) Smith (MO) Wittman
Bass (Takano) Vicente (Raskin) Grijalva Moore (WI) Stevens Moore (UT) Smith (NE) Womack
Bera (Correa) (Correa) Napolitano Harder (CA) Morelle Strickland Mullin Smith (NJ) Young
Bowman Gosar (Gaetz) (Correa) Hayes Moulton Suozzi Murphy (NC) Smucker Zeldin
(Jeffries) Grijalva (Garcı́a Payne (Pallone) Higgins (NY) Mrvan Swalwell
Boyle, Brendan (IL)) Pingree Himes Murphy (FL) Takano NOT VOTING—1
F. (Beyer) Hagedorn (Carl) (Bonamici) Horsford Nadler Thompson (CA) Kinzinger
Brooks (Moore Huffman (Gomez) Porter (Wexton) Houlahan Napolitano Thompson (MS)
(AL)) Jacobs (CA) Reed (Johnson Hoyer Neal Titus b 1421
Brownley (Meng) (Correa) (SD)) Huffman Neguse Tlaib
Clarke (NY) Kahele (Case) Roybal-Allard Jackson Lee Newman Tonko So the resolution was agreed to.
(Kelly (IL)) Keating (Correa) Jacobs (CA) Norcross Torres (CA) The result of the vote was announced
Cohen (Beyer) (Cicilline) Ruiz (Correa) Jayapal O’Halleran Torres (NY) as above recorded.
Cooper (Beyer) Kelly (PA) Jeffries Ocasio-Cortez Trahan
Crist (Balderson)
Rush (Kaptur)
Trone
A motion to reconsider was laid on
Salazar (Kim Johnson (GA) Omar
(Wasserman Khanna (Gomez) Johnson (TX) Pallone Underwood the table.
(CA))
Schultz) Kirkpatrick Jones Panetta Vargas MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE
Cuellar (Correa) (Pallone) Schneider (Rice
(NY)) Kahele Pappas Veasey RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS
DeSaulnier Kuster Kaptur Pascrell Vela
(Raskin) (Bonamici) Sewell (Cicilline) Baird (Bucshon) Gonzalez (OH) McEachin
Keating Payne Velázquez
Doggett (Raskin) Larson (CT) Sires (Pallone) Bass (Takano) (Balderson) (Wexton)
Kelly (IL) Perlmutter Wasserman
Dunn (Joyce (Cicilline) Soto (Wasserman Bera (Correa) Gonzalez, Moore (WI)
Khanna Peters Schultz
(PA)) Lawson (FL) Schultz) Bowman Vicente (Raskin)
Kildee Phillips Waters
Fallon (Ellzey) (Evans) Strickland (Jeffries) (Correa) Napolitano
Kilmer Pingree Watson Coleman
Frankel, Lois Lofgren (Jeffries) (Takano) Boyle, Brendan Gosar (Gaetz) (Correa)
Kim (NJ) Pocan Welch
(Meng) Lowenthal Suozzi (Raskin) F. (Beyer) Grijalva (Garcı́a Payne (Pallone)
Kind Porter Wexton
Garamendi (Beyer) Vargas (Correa) Brooks (Moore (IL)) Pingree
Kirkpatrick Pressley Wild
(Correa) Lucas (Burgess) Waters (Jeffries) (AL)) Hagedorn (Carl) (Bonamici)
Krishnamoorthi Price (NC) Williams (GA)
Garbarino Malinowski Watson Coleman Brownley (Meng) Huffman (Gomez) Porter (Wexton)
Kuster Quigley Wilson (FL)
(Katko) (Pallone) (Pallone) Clarke (NY) Jacobs (CA) Reed (Johnson
Lamb Raskin Yarmuth
Gonzalez (OH) McEachin Wilson (FL) (Kelly (IL)) (Correa) (SD))
(Balderson) (Wexton) (Cicilline) Kahele (Case) Roybal-Allard
NAYS—211 Cohen (Beyer)
(Correa)
Cooper (Beyer) Keating
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Aderholt Cole Granger Crist (Cicilline)
Ruiz (Correa)
question is on the resolution. Allen Comer Graves (LA) Rush (Kaptur)
(Wasserman Kelly (PA)
Amodei Crawford Graves (MO) Salazar (Kim
The question was taken; and the Armstrong Crenshaw Green (TN)
Schultz) (Balderson)
(CA))
Speaker pro tempore announced that Cuellar (Correa) Khanna (Gomez)
Arrington Curtis Greene (GA) Schneider (Rice
DeSaulnier Kirkpatrick (NY))
the ayes appeared to have it. Babin Davidson Griffith
(Raskin) (Pallone)
Bacon Davis, Rodney Grothman Sewell (Cicilline)
Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Doggett (Raskin) Kuster Sires (Pallone)
Baird DesJarlais Guest
Speaker, on that I demand the yeas Balderson Diaz-Balart Guthrie Dunn (Joyce (Bonamici) Soto (Wasserman
and nays. Banks Donalds Hagedorn (PA)) Larson (CT) Schultz)
Barr Duncan Harris Fallon (Ellzey) (Cicilline) Strickland
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Frankel, Lois Lawson (FL)
Bentz Dunn Harshbarger (Takano)
ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution Bergman Ellzey Hartzler (Meng) (Evans) Suozzi (Raskin)
8, the yeas and nays are ordered. Bice (OK) Emmer Hern Garamendi Lofgren (Jeffries) Vargas (Correa)
The vote was taken by electronic de- Biggs Estes Herrell (Correa) Lowenthal Waters (Jeffries)
Bilirakis Fallon Herrera Beutler Garbarino (Beyer) Watson Coleman
vice, and there were—yeas 221, nays (Katko) Lucas (Burgess) (Pallone)
Bishop (NC) Feenstra Hice (GA)
211, not voting 1, as follows: Boebert Ferguson Higgins (LA) Gohmert (Weber Malinowski Wilson (FL)
[Roll No. 36] Bost Fischbach Hill (TX)) (Pallone) (Cicilline)
Brady Fitzgerald Hinson f
YEAS—221 Brooks Fitzpatrick Hollingsworth
Adams Brown (MD) Cicilline Buchanan Fleischmann Hudson PROVIDING FOR A JOINT SESSION
Aguilar Brown (OH) Clark (MA) Buck Fortenberry Huizenga OF CONGRESS TO RECEIVE A
Allred Brownley Clarke (NY) Bucshon Foxx Issa
Auchincloss Bush Cleaver Budd Franklin, C. Jackson MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Axne Bustos Clyburn Burchett Scott Jacobs (NY) The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.
Barragán Butterfield Cohen Burgess Fulcher Johnson (LA)
Bass Carbajal Connolly Calvert Gaetz Johnson (OH) JACKSON LEE). Pursuant to House Reso-
Beatty Cárdenas Cooper Cammack Gallagher Johnson (SD) lution 912, H. Con. Res. 69 is hereby
Bera Carson Correa Carey Garbarino Jordan adopted.
Beyer Carter (LA) Costa Carl Garcia (CA) Joyce (OH)
The text of the concurrent resolution
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Bishop (GA) Cartwright Courtney Carter (GA) Gibbs Joyce (PA)
Blumenauer Case Craig Carter (TX) Gimenez Katko is as follows:
Blunt Rochester Casten Crist Cawthorn Gohmert Keller H. CON. RES. 69
Bonamici Castor (FL) Crow Chabot Gonzales, Tony Kelly (MS)
Bourdeaux Castro (TX) Cuellar Cheney Gonzalez (OH) Kelly (PA)
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the
Bowman Cherfilus- Davids (KS) Cline Good (VA) Kim (CA) Senate concurring), That the two Houses of
Boyle, Brendan McCormick Davis, Danny K. Cloud Gooden (TX) Kustoff Congress assemble in the Hall of the House
F. Chu Dean Clyde Gosar LaHood of Representatives on Tuesday, March 1,
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