Congressional Record, House — June 14, 2022, H5491

Summary

This is H5491 of the Congressional Record, House, June 14, 2022, with one-minute statements in interleaved columns. One speaker criticizes enhanced Federal unemployment benefits and says Tennessee's Governor stopped Federal unemployment dollars. Another speaker says school meal waiver provisions are set to expire on June 30, that 97 percent of meal providers struggle to pay soaring food prices, and that California became the first State to provide free meals to any student. A third speaker introduces the Student Mental Health Rights Act, which would direct the Department of Education to study mental health and issue guidance. Ms. Porter speaks under the heading Taking Action on Climate Change, with the views attributed to the speakers.

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“Congressional Record, House — June 14, 2022, H5491.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-06-14-crec-2022-06-14-pt1-pgh5491-2-8b25435e7d/, SHA-256 fb94dab27b4c2da4470b27d570044145dbb31cf45b73aa82089ad28ad0d306b5.

Full text

June 14, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5491
available. Folks were earning $15.75 an meals to children without burying fam- When a child experiences a traumatic
hour to stay home because of the un- ilies under mountains of paperwork, event, like emotional or sexual abuse,
necessary $2 trillion bill pushed but these provisions are set to expire it harms their emotional, social, and
through by congressional Democrats on June 30. cognitive development. These adverse
on a party line vote. As 97 percent of meal providers like childhood experiences are linked to
Employers became desperate. Many schools struggle to pay soaring food substance use disorder, chronic health
were forced to offer massive sign-on bo- prices, these protections should be issues, and PTSD.
nuses and other incentives just to find strengthened, not stopped. We cannot let trauma or related
enough workers to continue operating This year, California became the first challenges hold students back from
as normal. Unfortunately, some had to State to provide free meals to any stu- getting high quality educations. The
close their doors. dent. Offering no-cost meals to every- effect of these experiences doesn’t end
Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee, a one, regardless of income, helps re- when children leave their homes for
businessowner himself, recognized the sources reach the kids who need them college. They bleed into their daily
damage enhanced Federal unemploy- most. lives, including in the classroom.
ment benefits were causing on res- This will also help California’s kids I am proud to introduce legislation,
taurants and retail stores. He noticed in schools perform better. Free meals the Student Mental Health Rights Act,
many couldn’t compete with $300 a contribute to better attendance, fewer which would direct the Department of
week from the Federal Government on nurse visits, and higher test scores. Education to study mental health,
top of State unemployment benefits. California’s universal meal program issue guidance to help schools level the
Fortunately, he put a stop to the will benefit schools and families. The playing field, and support students in
flow of Federal unemployment dollars Nation should follow our example. overcoming their mental health chal-
in Tennessee, and he was right. At last TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE lenges so they can complete their
check, there were about 13,000 unem- Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the schooling. Our students need this help.
ployment claims in Tennessee, com- greater our delay in taking action on For Americans with PTSD of all
pared to roughly 60,000 claims this time climate change, the higher the price ages, awareness is not enough. They
last year. tag will be for families and our econ- need action.
Still, the cost of living has increased f
omy.
every month under the Biden adminis- Last week, Californians suffered
tration, and the nonpartisan Congres- RETURNING TO FISCAL SANITY
through an intense heat wave. Tem- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
sional Budget Office projects it will peratures went over 100 degrees in
continue to impact Americans at least Chair recognizes the gentleman from
parts of our State. That is bad for pub- Virginia (Mr. CLINE) for 5 minutes.
into 2023. lic health and bad for our economy.
This is what happens when you do Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to dis-
A study by the Atlantic Council esti- cuss the chilling state of the American
what is politically expedient. This is mates that the total economic loss economy. The stock market is tanking.
the direct result of runaway deficit from excessive heat is at least $100 bil- The American people know what a dis-
spending. lion annually. They also estimate that aster President Biden and the major-
The Federal Reserve is now having to
this loss could double by 2030 and quin- ity’s economic policies have been, and
be the adult in the room and raise in-
tuple by 2050 if we don’t take climate they are acting accordingly and ex-
terest rates to lower inflation. Raising
action. pressing the lowest consumer con-
interest rates is a harsh step, but one
Simply put, the fiscally responsible
made necessary by the Biden adminis- fidence in a record 50 years of data.
thing to do is for Congress to act Pumping trillions in spending
tration’s reckless handling of the econ-
quickly to prevent further losses. Tak- through this body, including the so-
omy.
It will make it harder and more ex- ing climate action will lower and sta- called American Rescue Plan, has, in
pensive to borrow money for your first bilize costs for families. large part, caused a 40-year high in in-
High temperatures aren’t just bad for
home or to buy a new car. Raising in- flation as the CPI rose to 8.6 percent in
human health. They are bad for our
terest rates will also cause our econ- May.
economy. Heat waves push prices for The Nation is $30 trillion in debt, and
omy to slow down. This means people
electricity higher, costing us billions. the CBO predicts $1.6 trillion in deficits
will lose their jobs, their savings, and
We should not leave families in Cali- over the next decade. The Federal Re-
in many cases, even their small busi-
fornia and across the country to figure serve will be forced to continue to raise
nesses.
Our economy already got 1.5 percent out their budgets while Washington interest rates, further exacerbating the
smaller in the first quarter of the year. figures out climate change. beleaguered economy.
The need for climate change is ur- Gas prices are at $5 a gallon, due to
It is why many economists are pre-
gent, not just for our planet, but also the President’s assaults on American
dicting a recession or worse in the next
for our pocketbooks. oil drilling and fracking and domestic
12 months.
PTSD AWARENESS MONTH energy exploration, and the Green New
It didn’t have to be this way. The
President and congressional Democrats Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, our Na- Deal priorities of the majority and this
didn’t have to borrow and spend so tion is failing people with post-trau- administration are exacerbating the
much money. This administration in- matic stress disorder. During June, energy crisis.
herited one of the strongest economies PTSD Awareness Month, we must com- As The Wall Street Journal recently
in my life. It took fewer than 2 years mit to doing better. asked: Has anyone, other than unsuc-
for them to completely destroy it. Mental health affects many across cessful green energy subsidy firms,
President Biden must do better. our Nation, but I rise today to shine benefited from the Biden economy?
light on the brave young people dealing What is more, the President’s $5.8
f
with PTSD. trillion tax-and-spend budget is fiscally
UNIVERSAL MEAL PROGRAM Too many Americans, including irresponsible. Biden’s budget cuts $428
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The many with PTSD, go without the men- million in Customs and Border Protec-
Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from tal healthcare they need because their tion’s budget in the midst of a border
California (Ms. PORTER) for 5 minutes. insurance won’t cover it. I wrote a bill, crisis.
Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, when the which is now Federal law, to crack It skyrockets Federal spending by a
pandemic closed schools and left mil- down on insurance companies that third, compared to prepandemic levels,

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lions of children without meals they break the rules and refuse to cover calls for $2.5 trillion in tax hikes, and
needed, our government took action. mental health the same way they cover sets this country on a course of ex-
Emergency waivers eliminated income physical health. I am proud the House tended fiscal doom at a time when we
caps and gave meal providers flexi- is considering additional proposals I are currently on the precipice of a re-
bility in delivering food. have worked on to strengthen the en- cession.
Even now, with schools reopened, forcement of protections for mental The American economy cannot sus-
these waivers are getting healthy health coverage. tain a Federal Government that is

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H5492 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 14, 2022
vacuuming tax dollars out of the pock- Democrats are also laser focused on ahead and put up those additional
ets of the private sector at a record lowering everyday costs for families at pieces there where there are some obvi-
pace. the grocery store, and they are also im- ous gaps.
Still, today, the majority will not proving the supply chain. We are fight- I had a chance to visit Yuma, Ari-
even propose a budget, much less one ing for everyday Americans by reduc- zona a few weeks ago. It was pretty in-
that achieves balance, and instead, ing the cost of everyday goods through credible because there would be miles
funds the government and inflates the the COMPETES Act. of fence, but there would be these gaps
currency through massive omnibus This landmark legislation will lower occasionally, and that is where people
bills and continuing resolutions. costs and strengthen our supply chains would pour through illegally. Amazing.
We need to return to regular order in by making more products right here in We could rectify that by just filling a
this House and return to fiscal sanity America: Made in USA. Again, this will lot of the gaps, thereby making our
to rescue this economy from a reces- create more jobs. Customs and Border Patrol job much
sion that looms large in what is likely We also have great news on the Fed- easier by being able to focus on fewer
to be a long, hot summer for millions eral deficit. Biden is still on track to areas instead of wide-open spaces or
of American families. drop the budget deficit by $1.6 trillion gaps all along our border.
f this year alone. But, no, it seems to be about some
Mr. Speaker, another fun fact, Presi- other agenda. 15,000 people possibly
OUR ECONOMY IS BOOMING will crowd the border here soon under
dent Biden has cut the deficit more
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The this year than any President in his- the idea that we are going to possibly
Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from tory. I repeat, more than any President let title 42 go. Thankfully, two dif-
Texas (Ms. GARCIA) for 5 minutes. in history. In contrast, Mr. Speaker, ferent courts have stopped that.
Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I the Trump administration increased So what are we doing? The terrorists
rise today to celebrate the record- the Federal budget deficit every single come across our border really almost
breaking number of jobs created under year they were in office. unchecked. They capture a handful of
President Biden’s watch, his plan to All things considered, President them, but how many are getting by
lower costs for hard-working American Biden and House Democrats are not that get away? We don’t know that.
families, and our plan to continue only working together to continue Are they starting cells right here in
building a better America. building a better America for all Amer- our country? Why not?
Since President Biden took office, icans, but we are delivering on that As we know, in April, there were over
the economy has added 8.7 million new promise, and we will continue to do 230,000 encounters, they call them, at
jobs—8.7 million new jobs. That is stag- just that—delivering on our promise. the southern border. That is the high-
gering. Fun fact, Mr. Speaker, this is est in U.S. history for one month. Why
f
the most jobs added in any President’s is this? Because we have a giant mag-
first 16 months. I repeat: The most jobs b 1030 net, again, turned on by this adminis-
added in any President’s first 16 tration saying, come on across. You
PUTTING AMERICANS LAST
months. This is historic. only need to have a sliver of an excuse
The fact that the economy is boom- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The for asylum.
ing is no accident. You see, President Chair recognizes the gentleman from The asylum law needs to be changed
Biden laid the foundation for an amaz- California (Mr. LAMALFA) for 5 min- if that is how they are going to enforce
ing recovery through his American utes. it because it has to be for a true threat.
Rescue Plan and vaccination program. Mr. LAMALFA. Mr. Speaker, as the You also have to seek asylum in the
This plan got people back to work, kids 4-day tour occurs inside the Capitol on country closest to you, if you are an
back in schools, and helped the Amer- January 6, where a loaded, biased com- asylum seeker and that is what you are
ican economy bounce back. mittee attempts to parse the words of really after, but one closest to you, not
Together, with President Biden, the President on the day, we have pick and choose what country you are
House Democrats are not only bringing many other crises to deal with in this going to move up to, basically the
back jobs, but we are growing pay- country that are directly affecting and United States with all the benefits it
checks for households across the coun- harming the American people, their hands out.
try. Because of this, unemployment is ability to do their basic day-to-day op- According to polling, when you ask
near historic lows, and even better, the eration of their homes, get to their the American people, who are worried
number of Americans relying on unem- jobs, get their kids to school. about gas and groceries or whether an-
ployment benefits has dropped by more So what are we doing? What are we other load of formula is going to come
than 90 percent. This is huge. doing? Chasing January 6. Look at our in from Europe on a military transport
In short, our Nation has recovered 96 border right now, where under the cur- in time for their small children to be
percent of the jobs lost during the pan- rent Biden policies, we are attracting able to have the type of food that they
demic and is on track to return to the largest caravan ever of illegal are accustomed to, the majority of
prepandemic employment levels before aliens heading toward our border. The Americans disapprove of the Biden ad-
the end of the year. idea that we are going to get rid of ministration’s operation of our bor-
Mr. Speaker, this is a direct result of title 42 or just the general porosity of ders, especially the elimination of title
President Biden’s leadership, Congress’ the border anyway. It has been a giant 42, which is a health risk issue.
partnership, and the backing of the magnet ever since January 20, 2021, When you talk about the issue of for-
American people. when this President came in and start- mula, we are putting Americans last,
While many Americans are back at ed shredding our border policy. when the Biden administration
work, we have heard calls from hard- We had success under President prioritized shipments of pallets of baby
working families struggling with the Trump, where we had the best control formula to the border holding stations
cost of inflation. Sadly, Putin’s war of the border we had in quite a while, instead of across the fruited plain. It is
against Ukraine is now the biggest sin- with approximately 450 additional pretty pathetic. Indeed, it was this ad-
gle driver of inflation, but we have a miles of rebuilt or new fence that was ministration whose FDA stepped in on
plan for this too. very effective in those zones. the major producer of formula and
I am proud to report that House So what do we have now? We have said: We are going to shut you down be-
Democrats and President Biden are warehouses and stacks and pallets of cause we had a couple of incidents that

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acting to lower gas prices by fighting fence material, millions of dollars’ have been reported.
Putin’s price hike. The United States worth of it, lying about on our south- So what happens? The FDA didn’t
is on track to produce a record amount ern border being stored instead of in- call back when the company that is the
of oil next year, and coming from stalled. major producer of formula asks, What
Texas, that is music to our ears, and We heard some chatter here a couple is it we need to do to be in compliance
the President is working with the in- months ago from the Biden administra- in your eyes? The administration knew
dustry to accelerate this output. tion, well, maybe we should just go about this, yet they prioritized what

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