Congressional Record — House, December 15, 2022
Summary
This is H9886 of the Congressional Record, House, December 15, 2022. It begins with a message from the Senate announcing that the Senate agrees to the House amendments to S. 1687, to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and S. 3846, to reauthorize the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. A section titled Celebrating Departing Members follows, in which Mr. Levin of Michigan states that the hour is to celebrate Members who are departing this Congress, and Mr. Ryan of Ohio addresses the House for the final time as a sitting Member of Congress. Mr. Levin also describes the priorities of his office, including raising the standard of living for working people.
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, December 15, 2022.”
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H9886 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 15, 2022
under the Foreign Agents Registration Act If there is one thing I hope that all as a union organizer, a human rights
of 1938, as amended. Members and all citizens can grasp and activist, running Michigan’s workforce
The message also announced that the touch, it is gratitude. I know I feel tre- system, and creating innovative new
Senate agrees to the amendment of the mendously grateful to come from a programs under then-Governor Jen-
House to the bill (S. 1687) entitled ‘‘An working-class family in Ohio and end nifer Granholm, our Energy Secretary
Act to amend section 21 of the Sma11 up here for 20 years serving the com- today, and then starting my own state-
Business Act to require cyber certifi- munities that I grew up in, that I wide clean energy finance market as a
cation for small business development played sports in, that I raised my fam- green energy entrepreneur. But a
center counselors, and for other pur- ily in. It is an honor to be a citizen of Trump Presidency put these priorities,
poses.’’. the United States. each and every one of them, and indeed
The message also announced that the This country has fed more people, our very democracy in grave danger,
Senate agrees to the amendment of the clothed more people, cured more peo- and I was inspired to run to replace my
House to the bill (S. 3846) entitled ‘‘An ple, and liberated more people than all father after his retirement.
Act to reauthorize the Justice and the other countries in the world com- Coming into Congress with the his-
Mental Health Collaboration Program, bined. toric freshman class of House Demo-
and for other purposes.’’. I think to get out of this mess that crats in the 116th Congress, we started
f we are in, the polarization, the hate, in the middle of a record-breaking gov-
CELEBRATING DEPARTING the anger, the fear, the first step out of ernment shutdown. Our very first ac-
MEMBERS that is with gratitude. If we all start tion as an office was gathering im-
from a place of gratitude, we will have pacted workers together alongside my
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.
a much different opinion of the coun- Michigan colleagues at the Detroit air-
BUSH). Under the Speaker’s announced
try, of each other, and of what is pos- port. We had workers reflecting the full
policy of January 4, 2021, the gen-
sible for us, because this country has range of Federal duties: From trans-
tleman from Michigan (Mr. LEVIN) is
always done great things. But we do portation professionals to environ-
recognized for 60 minutes as the des-
great things when we are together, mental stewards who worked for the
ignee of the majority leader.
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Madam when we embrace normalcy, when we EPA.
embrace decency, when we embrace Gathering this coalition would serve
Speaker, this is an hour to celebrate
Members who are departing this Con- compassion. as a model for the work we would do
gress, including myself, and I have When you walk through these doors, over the next 4 years. When our staff
some remarks to share. I will also be you are a leader, and you are charged met at UAW Region One a few months
joined later by the gentlewoman from with making the tough decisions, the later for our first retreat, we would de-
New York (Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY), hard decisions, not the easy decisions, fine our priorities, and it was really
but first we are going to hear from the not the ones that are going to make three overarching priorities for our of-
chairman of the Subcommittee on the your next election a little easier. But fice: First, raising the standard of liv-
Legislative Branch of the Committee the challenge today is to be called to ing for working people; second, pro-
on Appropriations of the U.S. House of lead and lead vigorously, lead boldly, tecting our one precious Earth; and
Representatives, one of our cardinals, a because that is what the world needs us third, fighting for human rights at
great public servant from the State of to do right now. home and abroad. We have organized
Ohio, Representative TIM RYAN. This country has always been innova- our work around these priorities ever
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- tive. We need to enter an era of reform, since.
tleman from Ohio (Mr. RYAN). of reconciliation, and of innovation Let’s start with raising the standard
Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I across the board. of living for working people. Certainly,
thank the gentleman from Michigan The systems are all broken. The eco- making education affordable is a key
for putting this together. You can see nomic system is broken, the immigra- part of that. After the Speaker ap-
that Ohio and Michigan can periodi- tion system is broken, the welfare sys- pointed me to the Education and Labor
cally get along with each other. tem is broken, the education system is Committee, I was honored to be elected
I am honored to rise for a few min- broken, and we are not going to fix vice chair of the committee by my fel-
utes here, Mr. Speaker, to address this these if we are not decent to each low Democrats.
House for the final time as a sitting other, if we don’t talk to each other. And then Chairman BOBBY SCOTT
Member of Congress. I think it is ap- asked me to lead the America’s College
b 1400 Promise Act to provide 2 years of tui-
propriate to begin with the preamble to
the United States Constitution. Some of the solutions will be con- tion-and-fee-free community college
‘‘We the people of the United States, servative, some will be liberal and pro- and also 2 years of virtually free study
in order to form a more perfect Union, gressive, but it is through that con- at historically Black colleges and uni-
establish justice, ensure domestic tran- flict, those arguments and debates that versities and other minority-serving
quility, provide for the common de- this very Chamber was set up to do institutions.
fense, promote the general welfare, and that we come to the best possible solu- We introduced the bill, and we de-
secure the blessings of liberty to our- tion, and that, ultimately, is what we bated it. But can you imagine how
selves and our posterity.’’ are talking about. amazing it was when Joe Biden was
‘‘We the people.’’ This is the people’s We the people have got to come to- moving toward the nomination to be
House. There have been 12,421 Members gether. As we approach the 250th anni- the Democratic candidate for President
of Congress who have sat here in this versary of this country, let us renew and he adopted my bill, and then he
Capitol. Of almost 700 million people, our commitment to each other so that made it part of his Build Back Better
who at one point or another were citi- we can meet President Lincoln’s plan?
zens of the United States, 700 million, charge ‘‘that this Nation, under God, I had the privilege of welcoming
and a little over 12,000 were sent here shall have a new birth of freedom—and First Lady Jill Biden to a community
to govern this country, to meet the ob- that government of the people, by the college in my district once and Edu-
ligations that the Founding Fathers people, for the people, shall not perish cation Secretary Miguel Cardona to
put in the preamble of the United from the Earth.’’ two different community colleges to
States Constitution. Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, celebrate the inclusion of this bill in
I will tell you, there have been some I thank Mr. RYAN for his wonderful the President’s Build Back Better plan
great Americans, some of the best, who public service here not only for the and fight for its passage. We didn’t get
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have served in this Chamber. But there people of Ohio, but really for all the it across the finish line due to the in-
also have been scoundrels, crooks, and people of this country. transigence of one person, JOE
liars. This is the people’s House. This is What does it mean to run for Con- MANCHIN, but we are not about to give
the people’s House, so it has reflected gress, to serve in Congress? Why do it? up until we make free community col-
over, in a few years, 250 years, the Personally, I didn’t run for Congress lege and accessibility of HBCUs for ev-
world’s oldest republic. until I was 58 years old, after a career eryone a reality.
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December 15, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9887
Probably the biggest area of my ad- fulfill its function to support private transform our transportation sector
vocacy for workers and their families sector workers’ rights to organize and and end our reliance on fossil fuels.
came in labor and employment policy. bargain collectively. And I am still going, right up to my
I served as a whip to push the Raise I can tell you, I am going to continue last days in Congress. Today, this very
the Wage Act through the House, and not only my own efforts to support day, I partnered with the chair of the
we fended off efforts to water it down workers, but I am going to continue or- Speaker’s Select Committee on Cli-
with things like regional minimum ganizing Members of Congress to be in- mate Crisis, KATHY CASTOR from
wages that would consign poor areas of volved. Tampa, to introduce the CLEANER
this country to permanent, structural There is so much more we can and Buildings Act, my bill, alongside her
poverty. We had to fight hard to keep must do to lift up working families and bill, the LOWER Energy Bills Act.
the one fair wage aspect in the bill, to help them live dignified lives. We did These pieces of legislation will ensure
make sure we end subminimum wages preserve the pensions of millions of we can meet President Biden’s goal to
for tipped workers, who are mostly American workers. I am so proud we reduce economy-wide emissions and
women and disproportionately of color. got that done. transform our Nation’s buildings to be
I helped write the PRO Act and was I was proud to fight with my brothers energy efficient and climate resilient.
so honored to play a special role in and sisters in the Progressive Caucus Mr. Speaker, people count the
shepherding it through the Education to include affordable childcare, uni- amount of emissions, greenhouse gas
and Labor Committee and the floor of versal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, emissions, in different ways, but if you
the House. paid sick leave for all, and the child add up the energy we use to heat and
I led a small band of labor stalwarts tax credit in the House version of Build cool and light our buildings, it is 42
in opposition to Trump’s new NAFTA, Back Better. Congress needs to keep percent of all the emissions in this
which is called the USMCA. While I fighting to get these things done. country, all the electricity and natural
fervently hope the legislation succeeds, Our team was super active on our gas. So we really have to deal with
and I have worked with the Biden ad- second priority as well, protecting our that.
ministration to ensure that Mexico and one precious Earth. Let’s start with These measures are collaborations
Canada meet their obligations, I fear clean air, water, and land. I joined the between my amazing staff and many
too much of our trade policy discards bipartisan PFAS task force right away, advocacy groups fighting for environ-
the views of workers here at home and and I passed legislation twice to pre- mental justice and to save life on
also abroad in the name of furthering vent the harmful incineration of PFAS Earth as we know it in a way that ac-
the interests of multinational corpora- chemicals, especially on military tually advances racial and economic
tions. That has to end, and we have to bases. We have so much more work to justice.
put workers’ interests and the planet’s do on PFAS, that is for sure. It is truly In terms of my priorities, the third is
interests first. the DDT of our times, and we have got peace and human rights for all people
One core part of my belief about how to deal with it. everywhere, and we have been equally
to be a Congressman is that it is not Around Christmas of 2019 green ooze active in that area as well.
all about passing legislation and over- began to leak out onto I–696, the inter- First, though, let me say that while I
seeing the administration. When it state highway through my district in have worked super hard on peace, this
comes to labor issues, I believe you the town of Madison Heights. My staff is probably Congress’ and the Demo-
have got to get out there and support and I led an effort to help ensure the cratic Party’s greatest weakness. Our
workers’ organizing and bargaining cleanup of toxic waste, in coordination business is largely unfinished on these.
campaigns directly. We did this many, with the EPA and State and local gov- For example, authorizations for use of
many times. Let me give you just a few ernments, and it was really everybody military force, or AUMF.
examples. working together that got it done. The Constitution says this body, the
We organized a major solidarity ac- There were many such efforts, but of Congress, the Article I body, is respon-
tion when the UAW struck General Mo- course my biggest focus was climate sible for deciding when to send our
tors, and I walked the picket line regu- change. I supported the original Green young people into harm’s way, and
larly and welcomed many colleagues, New Deal resolution from day one. I re- then the President is the Commander
including Senator ELIZABETH WARREN. member being out on the lawn when we in Chief. We have fallen down in this
When the RWDSU helped Amazon introduced it. I am one of only 27 Sen- duty, and we are still falling down.
workers in Bessemer, Alabama, orga- ators and Representatives out of 535, We are relying on decades-old author-
nize to join the union, I organized a Mr. Speaker, to support all 12 Green izations for use of military force. We
delegation of Congresspeople to go New Deal bills. Even more impor- ought to have the guts to end every one
down there with me, and I went a sec- tantly, I helped put meat on the bones of them and work with the administra-
ond time by myself to join current personally in several ways. tion when we need a new one to put it
AFL–CIO president Liz Shuler to en- Senator ELIZABETH WARREN and I au- into place. Every time we do it, it
courage the workers to keep fighting thored the BUILD Green Act to invest should have a sunset so that we force
after they lost their first election, $500 billion over 10 years to jump-start ourselves to make the hard decisions
which was marred by many unfair the transition to all-electric public ve- about war and peace.
labor practices by the corporation. hicles, mass transit, rail, and help Secondly, nuclear nonproliferation. I
I organized almost all of my fellow modernize the Nation’s crumbling in- don’t need to talk long about this. Al-
Harvard alums in the House to support frastructure. most nothing is happening. We are
Harvard grad employees when they Senator SHERROD BROWN and I intro- down to having one agreement with
were campaigning to win a first con- duced the American Energy Worker Russia left. We are really nowhere with
tract, and that was ultimately success- Opportunity Act to support fossil fuel China. We have an increasing number
ful under pressure from us and many and coal workers and their families im- of nuclear states. We are, hopefully,
others. pacted by the transition we need to battling hard to keep Iran from joining
More recently, when Senate cafeteria make as soon as possible to clean en- them. But we need to get back to the
workers who are members of UNITE ergy. Simply stated, workers who, over business that was really bipartisan.
HERE Local 23 were fighting for a long generations, built up wonderful pay Who can forget Ronald Reagan tak-
overdue, just contract, I got arrested and benefit packages; if they work on a ing on ending the use of nuclear weap-
with many of them to push the issue. pipeline or a refinery or a coal mine, it ons? So we have really got a long way
Happily, Mr. Speaker, they won a good is not their fault that we have to to go there.
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contract soon thereafter. change, and they shouldn’t suffer, and Also, Mr. Speaker, reducing military
Just recently, I participated in cam- that bill would take care of that issue. spending. My goodness. Just the in-
paigns to support railroaders who des- I introduced the EV Freedom Act crease in the Pentagon budget that we
perately need paid sick days and the with Representative ALEXANDRIA passed through this House in the NDAA
demand for full funding for the Na- OCASIO-CORTEZ to build a nationwide recently, the other day, just the in-
tional Labor Relations Board so it can network of high-speed EV chargers to crease above what the Pentagon asked
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H9888 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 15, 2022
for that Congress stuffed in there verse perspectives and a Department of or their circumstances, is another big
would have paid for my whole Amer- Homeland Security review of its poli- part.
ica’s College Promise Act, plus some cies after the humanitarian disaster in The bottom line, being a good Mem-
other big needs of the American people. Del Rio. ber of Congress is about taking care of
I am for the U.S. absolutely being the We have pointed out that the status people, whether their problems relate
strongest military in the world, but we quo is untenable, and we have de- to immigration, Social Security, vet-
shouldn’t be spending more than the manded inclusion of the breadth of Hai- eran benefits—whatever. And rather
next 8 to 10 countries combined. tian civil society in dealing with the than get into numbers here, let me
We have got to have a diplomacy ongoing crisis there. focus on just a few stories.
first, a peace first, a human rights first Whether on our three overarching We led a bipartisan push to prevent
foreign policy and take care of the priority areas that I have just dis- the deportation of Iraqi nationals, and
needs of our people and the poor and cussed or other vital matters, like re- we secured the return of Jimmy
working people around the world. ducing the epidemic of gun violence, Aldaoud’s remains to the U.S. after he
one thing I want to emphasize is that was deported, and he died of diabetic
b 1415 shock just weeks later. That man had
working in Congress is all about team-
As a lifelong human rights advocate, work. We have got a tremendous never set foot in Iraq, he spoke no Ara-
I feel I can say that we had more suc- amount done in these last 4 years, and bic. He was obviously American. I
cess in the human rights area. Al- it is all due to an amazing team of indi- won’t go into all the upset about that,
though, the situation is certainly dire viduals who brought tremendous ideal- but his tragic story helped awaken so-
in so many parts of the world. Let me ism, passion, professionalism, hard ciety to these senseless deportations.
mention just a few highlights. work, and love to make life better for Together, we helped our residents
The House passed my bipartisan reso- working families. navigate a once-in-a-century pandemic.
lution condemning the coup in Burma, I am going to share the names of ev- We worked with State partners to help
and we have continued oversight of the eryone who has worked on Team Levin constituents obtain expanded pandemic
very troubling human rights situation these last 4 years. Let’s start with the unemployment benefits that this House
there, as well as the inspiring efforts of District Office in alphabetical order: created, and we worked with the State
the Burmese people to resist repres- Jenny Byer; Robert Charara; Will Department to help constituents stuck
sion. Cochran; Eleanor Gamalski; Jolie overseas during the early global COVID
Indeed, my first foreign trip as a Con- Habashy; Walt Herzig; Zeenath shutdown. We helped them make it
gressman was to Bangladesh to visit Hussain; Dan Klein; Kyle Pollet; home. And we helped countless small
Rohingya refugees just over the border Lauren Schandevel; Amairris Sim- businesses, of course, obtain PPE and
from Burma there. mons; Justin Walters; Sean Wolski; the EIDL loans.
I have been a vocal advocate for We fought successfully for the release
America Yahya; Stephanie Yaldo-
human rights in places like India, of a Black high school student who was
Sheena.
which is in danger of becoming a Hindu put in juvenile detention for not com-
And here in the Washington, D.C. of-
nationalist state rather than a secular pleting her homework, Mr. Speaker,
fice:
democracy; the world’s largest democ- during remote learning; put in, essen-
Abbas Alawieh; Mez Araya; Taryn
racy. tially, jail for young people.
Brown; Don Chen; Erica Fein; Ben Remember the story of Grace, as she
I am a lover of Hinduism, a lover of Gerstein; Julia Kalusniak; Courtney
Jainism, Buddhism, other religions was called? It made national news. And
Laudick; Austin Laufersweiler; the fact that it happened speaks to
that were born in India, but we need to MaryGrace Menner; Ven Neralla; Col-
protect the rights of all people there, structural racism in educational and
ton Puckett; Catherine Rowland; criminal justice systems. And the need
whether they are Muslims, Hindus, Jamari Torrence; Alex Schmitt;
Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Jains— to fight it both case-by-case, like we
Sabrina Steel; Derrick Utley; Janae did with Grace, and systemically to
whatever. Washington, who is sitting here with
I have been active about human end it as a future of our country.
me now; and Jacob Wilson. We helped a Royal Oak couple over-
rights in Egypt, where thousands of po- And what did we get done, this amaz- come incredible odds to be able to com-
litical prisoners languish in jail. Israel ing group of people? plete their fertility treatment overseas
and Palestine have been a particular In the 116th Congress, speaking of during the height of the pandemic.
focus of mine. I am proud to have writ- legislation, we introduced 59 pieces of Just last month, my wife Mary and I
ten the Two-State Solution Act, the legislation: 22 bills, 30 amendments, visited with this wonderful couple and
most forward-leaning U.S. bill in many and 7 resolutions. the son who was born as a result of
years to try to hold Israeli and Pales- We passed 40 pieces of legislation these efforts, who is today a healthy
tinian leaders alike accountable to through the House of Representatives: toddler.
take steps to advance a two-state solu- 10 bills and 30 amendments. And what to say about the case of
tion. And we got 6 pieces of legislation all Danny Fenster, a journalist who at-
Now, with a far-right government the way through the process and signed tended the same high school as me who
filled with troubling racist and into law by that previous President. was held as a political prisoner for 51⁄2
homophobic leaders taking over in In the 117th Congress, as of earlier months in the horrible, insane prison
Israel, all of us who love that country’s this week, we introduced 50 pieces of in Burma.
democratic ideals and seek justice for legislation: 32 bills, 13 amendments, His incredibly tenacious family and I
Palestinians as well will have to redou- and 5 resolutions. And we are intro- were in constant contact, and I spoke
ble our efforts. Perhaps my biggest ducing three more pieces of legislation to ambassadors across the globe work-
focus in this area has been Haiti. yet this week, one of which I men- ing to bring him home.
I founded the first House Haiti Cau- tioned. My staff and I were so honored to
cus in Congress in decades and re- We passed 21 pieces of legislation join the family to welcome him home
cruited three dynamic Congresswomen through the House so far: 6 bills, 2 reso- to the U.S. when he touched down in
who represent large Haitian-American lutions, and 13 amendments; and we New York, and to follow his continued
constituencies to co-chair with me: saw three pieces of legislation signed advocacy for press freedom in Burma
VAL DEMINGS of Florida, YVETTE into law. and everywhere. And today, he is a
CLARKE of New York, and AYANNA Mr. Speaker, we are still hoping for journalism fellow at one of our most
PRESSLEY of Massachusetts. two more: Renaming the post offices in prestigious universities.
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With the support of our great Com- Bloomfield Township and Hazel Park, One of the things I think is most im-
mittee on Foreign Affairs chairman, two Michigan communities in my dis- portant for an effective Congressional
GREG MEEKS, we greatly increased Con- trict. operation is breaking down barriers
gressional oversight of U.S. policy on Passing legislation is just one part of and creating great collaboration be-
Haiti, including two standalone hear- our work. Serving all of our constitu- tween the D.C. and district offices. It is
ings with witnesses representing di- ents, regardless of their political views not that easy.
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December 15, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9889
Let me share a few stories that illus- even as we fight for justice in our local form, and a fearless champion for New
trate why I think this is so important. communities and in far-flung areas all Yorkers and Americans from all over
In a virtual outreach event with sexual across this planet. this country.
assault survivors and advocates, we So I suppose there is no better place Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New
met Carmen Wargel of Royal Oak and to conclude than one of our signal York. Madam Speaker, to my col-
heard about significant problems for achievements: Passing a resolution to leagues on both sides of the aisle, it
survivors seeking to prosecute those allow the staff of this very House of has been a privilege to have had this
who abused them. Representatives to organize unions and extraordinary opportunity to serve
Because of that activity in the dis- bargain collectively. with you for the past 30 years in the
trict, we authored an amendment that Amazingly, Congress passed legisla- House of Representatives.
passed the House in the Violence tion in 1995 to apply Federal employ- A special thank you to our tremen-
Against Women Act to promote better ment regulations including collective dous Democratic House leadership.
outcomes and care through vertical in- bargaining to Capitol Hill. But when Thank you, Majority Leader STENY
tegration in prosecution of sexual as- they implemented the legislation in HOYER, for being a great strategist,
sault. 1996 the next year, they included the mentor, and friend; and, Majority Whip
Okay, let me put this straight. I had Capitol Police and the Library of Con- JIM CLYBURN, for what you have taught
never heard of virtual integration in gress and the Architect of the Capitol, me and all that you have done for this
prosecution. I am a lawyer. I know and so forth. But they left out the peo- great Nation.
what virtual integration is in business. ple who work with us most directly— Thank you to Speaker NANCY PELOSI,
I had never heard of it. our own staff in the district offices, in a trailblazer who was the first female
When we put together what had hap- our D.C. offices, and on our commit- Speaker of the House in history and is
pened to this person—I think she had tees. rightfully being called the most effec-
five different prosecutors on her case, That was 26 years ago, and that tive Speaker in modern times. A very
one after the other—it was because of wrong was never corrected until this special mention to the new minority
our discussions with constituents in year when House employees came to leader, HAKEEM JEFFRIES. New York is
the district that we wrote legislation introduce a resolution to extend these so proud of you.
that passed the House. basic rights of democracy to our staff, Like Speaker PELOSI, my career has
Another big deal for us was intro- and together, we passed it through this been a series of firsts. I was the first
ducing a resolution recognizing Abor- House of Representatives. woman to represent my district on the
tion Provider Appreciation Day. It was I was so moved when my own staff city council and to represent my dis-
the first time this had ever been done were the very first to organize a union trict in Congress and the first in his-
in Congressional history. But we didn’t with a Congressional Workers Union, tory to give birth while on the city
just do this in D.C. It was inspired by and now they are the very first to bar- council. Many men became fathers, but
abortion care providers at home in the gain a contract. I was the first one to become a mother
district, and we marked it with an Mr. Speaker, already 14 offices have while serving on the city council.
event at the Northland Family Plan- voted to unionize with CWU, so the I was also the first woman to serve as
ning Clinic with Renee and Lara precedent is set, and I believe more of- chair of the Joint Economic Com-
Chelian in Sterling Heights, Michigan. fices will organize and more contracts mittee, as well as the House Com-
Certainly, our Community Project will be bargained in the 118th Congress. mittee on Oversight and Reform.
Funding projects are another great ex- That is why I came to Congress, to I remember almost as if it were yes-
ample of D.C.-district collaboration. expand human rights, to expand the terday, walking toward the Capitol as
We worked with community leaders to voice and power of workers and justice a newly elected Member. I had just de-
put forward projects for Federal fund- for their families, whether they are in feated a 14-year incumbent Republican,
ing in line with our shared priorities; the halls of Congress or on farms or in who outspent me 4 to 1. No one thought
nearly $28 million when you combine factories or offices across this land and I could win. Yet, I did, and I had such
fiscal years 2022 and 2023. In March of beyond our shores. a feeling of hope and optimism for
this year, 2022, all 10 of our projects for I don’t believe in the great person what could be done to help people.
the fiscal year were signed into law by theory of history, Mr. Speaker. This I will never forget walking down the
President Joe Biden. has never been about me as a person or aisle, not to get married but to be
To give just a few examples of this, a leader. It is about building a team sworn into the United States Congress.
we are providing 3.5 million gallons of that wants to fight for justice. It is I said it then, and it is still true today,
additional storage at the Chapaton Re- about partnering with activists doing that serving in the United States Con-
tention Basin to reduce combined sew- the same. It is about learning from gress is the thrill, honor, and extraor-
age overflows, alleviate residential each other, falling down, and getting dinary opportunity of a lifetime.
basement flooding during heavy rain up to fight on another day. The first time I ever walked onto the
events, and improve the water quality I am so grateful to the people of floor of this historic Chamber was 1992.
of Lake St. Clair, which serves as a Michigan’s Ninth District for giving It was called the Year of the Woman.
source of drinking water for much of me the opportunity to serve you in this I announced my run for Congress on
Southeast Michigan. way. I have learned so much from you the day of the Planned Parenthood v.
We are creating a community space in our union halls, our veterans’ Casey Supreme Court decision, which
to serve as a heating and cooling cen- lodges, our school buildings, and our placed restrictions on Roe to a wom-
ter for residents of Hazel Park and workplaces. an’s right to choose.
neighboring Ferndale, a gallery for As I leave Congress, I believe just as Along with great New York leaders
local artists, and a location for job strongly as I did when I started helping like Bella Abzug, Geraldine Ferraro,
fairs and educational seminars. workers organize unions with SEIU in and Elizabeth Holtzman, they ex-
We are establishing an Individual De- 1983, that it is for the working people pressed their outrage, and I announced
velopment Account program at to set the direction of this country. my run for Congress to fight to reverse
Macomb Community College for work- That is our hope to tackle climate this situation and to bring other
force development and certification change. That is our hope to create a changes.
courses, offering direct services to indi- world of racial and economic justice. It is really hard to believe that, years
viduals to enhance employment oppor- Onward we go. later, in 2022, the Supreme Court didn’t
tunities and regional prosperity. just chip away at abortion. They bull-
b 1430
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We have done a lot, and I am so dozed our rights into the ground, de-
proud of all that this team has accom- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- priving 33 million American women of
plished, and especially the way we have tlewoman from New York (Mrs. CARO- access to abortion.
done it, not just working hard but sup- LYN B. MALONEY), one of my amazing When I first entered Congress, about
porting each other. Building the be- colleagues, the chairwoman of the 10 percent of Congress were women.
loved community from the inside out, House Committee on Oversight and Re- Back then, the entire Women’s Caucus
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H9890 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 15, 2022
could meet in an elevator. Our numbers cluding my district office staff, my Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New
have now moved to 149, or nearly 28 D.C. staff, and the staff of the Over- York. It has been a privilege to be in-
percent. sight Committee and the Joint Eco- spired and to work with you, and thank
As the great New Yorker Shirley nomic Committee. you for being arrested with me—
Chisholm once said: ‘‘You don’t make Our work truly would not have been Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. That was
progress by standing on the sidelines, possible without your hours of dedica- quite an honor.
whimpering and complaining. You tion, your intelligence, and your self- Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New
make progress by implementing less dedication to public service. York.—as we protested for the rights of
ideas.’’ To each and every one of my friends women to make decisions about their
There is no better place in the world and constituents, thank you for your own bodies. I would say there is no de-
to implement new ideas than the continued support and inspiration. It mocracy if you cannot make your own
United States Congress, and that is has been the honor of my life to rep- healthcare decisions.
just what I did. resent the people of New York’s 12th Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. That sounds
In the last 30 years, I have authored Congressional District. right to me.
and passed more than 80 bills and had I also thank my wonderful family, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New
12 Presidential bill signings with five my two amazing daughters, Christina York. It was an honor to work with
of our Presidents, which are usually re- and Virginia; my son-in-law, Peter; and you. I will miss all of my colleagues.
served for transformational legislation. baby Leland. You are the joy and Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. It was a big
President Clinton signed my Nazi meaning of my life. honor to be arrested with you.
War Crimes Disclosure Act and the Thank you to the love of my life, Mr. Speaker, I thank my wife, Mary
Standby Guardianship Act for children. Cliff Maloney, who is with me in spirit Freeman, and my kids, Koby, Saul,
President Bush signed my Debbie and whose support always meant the Ben, and Molly.
Smith Act, which has been called the world to me. It has been a real honor to serve in
most important antirape legislation As I speak today, I am thinking of this body, and I promise to keep the
ever passed, as well as many sex traf- the important work that lies ahead. fire under your feet to do the work of
ficking prevention laws, and CFIUS, Rest assured, I will continue to keep justice.
the Committee on Foreign Investment fighting for the issues that are near Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
in the United States, to protect our in- and dear to my heart, including the of my time.
frastructure and country. Equal Rights Amendment. Let’s get it
f
In 2009, President Obama signed my ratified and in our Constitution.
There can be no time limit on equal MATH REALITY
Credit Card Bill of Rights, which, ac-
rights, and the ERA is needed now The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.
cording to the CFPB, the Consumer Fi-
more than ever to stop any more bull- BOWMAN). Under the Speaker’s an-
nancial Protection Bureau, has saved
dozing over women’s rights. nounced policy of January 4, 2021, the
consumers over $16 billion each year We need Senator SCHUMER, and over
since 2009. gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
150 of my colleagues have joined me in SCHWEIKERT) is recognized for 60 min-
Even President Trump signed my
writing to him and requesting him to utes as the designee of the minority
Never Again Education Act to support
put the time limit bill on the floor for leader.
Holocaust education, as well as the 9/11
a vote so that the American people can Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. Speaker, we
Health and Compensation Act, which is
see who is for equal rights and who is are going to continue sort of a theme
part of the reason why my coat is
against it. that we have been working on, and it is
hanging here. Infrastructure is in my DNA, espe-
I wore this coat for well over a year, fairly simple, yet the solutions are
cially in these times when moderniza-
every single day, until we approved the really complex.
tion and new systems for transpor-
necessary funding for this vital pro- First is trying to get a reality on
tation are so vital to our future.
gram to help our heroes and heroines. what is going on with the math. I am a
I am proud that the two largest fed-
They were there for us. We need to be broken record. I absolutely am, but we
erally funded construction projects—
there for them, and they still need are going to walk through this again.
not in New York City, not in New York
more help. More legislation needs to be Doing this a week ago, we actually
State, but in the entire country—are in
passed this year to help them. did a whole bunch of technology dis-
the district I am privileged to rep-
Just this past April, President Biden ruptions that would crash the price of
resent, the Second Avenue Subway and
signed my bipartisan Postal Service healthcare, that would clean the envi-
the East Side Connector.
Reform Act. Thanks to Oversight Com- I am proud to have brought more ronment, that would make bureauc-
mittee Ranking Member JAMES COMER, than $10 billion in infrastructure fund- racy much smaller, make us much
we proved that bipartisanship can pre- ing to my district alone, and as I part, more productive and wealthy as a soci-
vail over partisan bickering in the best I will continue to work toward building ety, help the poor, help the working
interests of America. high-speed rail between New York and poor, help the working middle class.
All of these achievements would not Boston. Nothing would build our econ- It is fascinating. Sometimes we all
have been possible without my fellow omy stronger or better. make the mistake of reading the re-
Members of Congress, who have proven My dear colleagues, together we have sponses, trying to understand, saying
to me that if you work hard enough, bent the moral arc of this Nation in are we getting the message through. A
our government can provide for the the direction of justice and fairness, number of our brothers and sisters out
people. but we mustn’t rest until equal means there are kind enough to comment,
I truly believe that the best legisla- just that—equal. kind enough to help us, but also kind
tion is always bipartisan, and I hope Finally, I have always regarded pub- enough to say: ‘‘Hey, I didn’t under-
our Congress can come together more lic service as a loan, one that I must stand this. I don’t understand what
for more meaningful legislation as we repay each and every day I am in of- this number really means.’’
did after 9/11, as we did after natural fice. Thanks to your tireless efforts, We are going to delve into a couple of
and financial disasters, as we came to- wisdom, and support, I feel like I leave those because the crisis is here, and it
gether during the COVID–19 pandemic, office debt-free. is not Democrat or Republican. I am
and as we came together in our bipar- The best is yet to come. going to argue it is much more dif-
tisan infrastructure bill and so much It has been an honor to work and ficult. It is demographics.
more. serve with all of my colleagues. There is a whole bunch of mess that
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Believe me, there is no Nation that is Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Representa- I believe our Republican majority next
better, stronger, or more innovative tive MALONEY, your account is over- year is going to have to clean up, and
than the United States when we work flowing with the work of justice that God willing, we will have the fortitude
together. you did for the people of New York and, to do it. But the fact of the matter is,
I also recognize those who have indeed, the American people. We all over the next 30 years, there are some
worked in my office over the years, in- know it, so thank you so much. really ugly numbers, and it has to do
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