Jake Auchincloss

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to the INVEST in America Act to ensure the future of transportation is convenient, affordable, and sustainable. My amendment would help local governments sustainably fund innovative public transportation options, including on-demand transit. These new transit services will be required to follow FTA rules and to protect the labor force that makes public transit possible. Expanding mobility-as-a-service--like bikeshare, scooters, and rideshare--will bring in new transit ridership, meaning less traffic and pollution and more walkable, vibrant downtowns. I am grateful for Chairman DeFazio's leadership on this transformational bill and the diligent work of his staff. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the expanded child tax credit. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, working families across the country will receive a monthly child tax credit payment of up to $300 per child, covering nearly 90 percent of all children and cutting child poverty in half. In my district, the expanded child tax credit will improve the lives of families from Newton to Fall River, helping almost 60 percent of children and lifting 3,800 children out of poverty. As a father, I am committed to providing parents with the support needed to navigate the high cost of raising a child. From affording their food bills to paying for childcare, this substantial tax relief will set our parents and children up for success. The expanded child tax credit is a necessary investment in our families so that we can build an economy that works for everyone. We must make the expansion permanent.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Pride Month, I rise to recognize my constituent, my friend, Newton City Councilor Holly Ryan. Councilor Ryan is a long-serving activist in my district and my hometown. She is the first openly transgender woman to serve on a city council in Massachusetts and the first openly LGBTQ-plus person to serve on the Newton City Council. Holly is a distinguished champion of equality, serving as the founding member and former co-chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. Her advocacy led to the passage of both the 2011 trans rights law and the 2016 public accommodation law, ensuring that no one in the Commonwealth can face discrimination because of gender identity. I was fortunate to serve with Councilor Ryan on the city council before coming to Congress. Councilor Ryan is a trailblazer, paving the way for a more equal future. Massachusetts is better off thanks to her accomplishments.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of investing in our care economy. Recently, I visited Triumph Incorporated, a Head Start program in the city of Taunton in my district. Triumph provides low-cost and high- quality early education and childcare for children in our community. Senator Warren and I heard from parents about the impact Triumph made on their lives. In addition to caring for their children, the facility provided a space for community and friendship for young families. From kindergarten readiness to nurturing children with developmental differences, the educators and administrators at Triumph show up for those in need. Every family in America deserves access to high-quality, affordable, and accessible early childhood education and childcare. By investing in caregiving, we will help Americans get back to work, create good-paying jobs, and build an economy that works for everyone.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our fallen servicemembers as Memorial Day approaches. This weekend, I was proud to join in the dedication of the Fall River Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which pays homage to the nearly 60,000 Americans who died in Vietnam. They were not always honored as they should have been by their contemporaries, but we honor them now. Liberty, justice, and democracy are ultimately protected by those who are willing to lay down their lives to defend these values. This coming Memorial Day, let us enjoy time with our friends and families, a more acute joy than ever, after this past year. But let us also center ourselves on the true meaning of the day and reflect on the sacrifice and valor of those no longer with us.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of investing in our infrastructure with bold strokes and smart policy. We have a once- in-a-generation opportunity to provide mobility for all Americans. We must harness it. Making our economy more sustainable, productive, and fair means upgrading the way people from all backgrounds and ZIP Codes access jobs, goods, and services. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am working with my colleagues to expand access to reliable and convenient buses, provide grants for on-demand transit to fill transit deserts, and build complete streets that ensure pedestrian safety, encourage the use of bicycles and other micromobility with protected lanes, and improve the handling of stormwater. Transportation is about bridges, ports, and roads, yes, but it must foundationally be about connecting people to jobs and services across all modalities. I look forward to advancing these priorities in forthcoming legislation.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills. As we begin work to build back a stronger economy post-pandemic, we must ensure that consumers are protected from bad faith debt collectors. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was enacted in 1977, almost 45 years ago. Since then, much has changed, including the way we communicate, how we purchase goods, and the credit products we use. Chairman Waters' bill, the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, provides much-needed updates to the FDCPA to fit the needs of consumers today, not in 1977. This legislation includes my bill, the Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act, which closes the gap in the FDCPA so that homeowners facing non-judicial foreclosure proceedings are protected under the law. The FDCPA sets procedures for the way that debt collectors interact with consumers to protect their rights and their privacy. This includes ensuring that debtors aren't paying more than they owe, that their debt information won't be shared with their boss, and that they will not be harassed by collectors. These protections should not be limited to foreclosure proceedings that take place in a courtroom. The legislation we are considering today includes other necessary consumer protection bills, like Congresswoman Dean's Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act, which would prohibit debt collectors from threatening a servicemember's rank to collect a debt, and Congresswoman's Pressley's bill, the Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act, which would prohibit debt collectors from contacting consumers electronically without consent. We cannot rebuild an economy that works for everyone without protecting consumers. Making sure borrowers are treated with dignity and protected from unwanted and unnecessary practices is an important step to ensuring economic fairness moving forward. I am proud to support the bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I reject the amendment from the ranking member, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reject it because it undermines the premise of the chairwoman's bill. The premise of the chairwoman's bill is not prudential underwriting as a core premise of our economy which, of course, we need. It is not about payments for goods and services which is obviously a pillar of the United States system of business. It is about fairness. It is about fairness in the allocation of credit and fairness in the collection of debt. What the chairwoman has put forward and what the amendment from the ranking member would undermine is a bill that recognizes that people should not be punished for circumstances outside of their control. They should not be precluded from accessing credit for something that happened to them that they did not wish upon themselves, and that they had no volition in doing. For example, this bill would ensure that medical debts do not prohibit people's access to credit. The senior Senator from my home State of Massachusetts famously demonstrated that medical bankruptcies were plaguing the middle class and the working class in this country. Indeed, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has reported that medical debt has a significant impact on consumer credit. After Americans undergo lifesaving treatment, they should not have to worry about the impact of a necessary medical procedure that they will have to stay at home to convalesce will have on their ability to then restart their life, start a business, or care for their family. H.R. 2547 seeks to give consumers time to fully recover until they are able to pay their bills. Nobody chooses to get sick, Mr. Speaker, and being sick should not show up on your credit report as you seek to access credit in the future. This bill is also about fairness in how we collect debts. There, of course, should be payments for goods and services, but there does not need to be and there should not be harassment. As a former marine officer, it deeply concerns me that servicemembers who need to concentrate on the mission at hand might be distracted, and, indeed, might even be demoted for debts outside of their control.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the President's decision to end the war in Afghanistan. Now Congress must ensure that future Commanders in Chief can never again wage failed forever wars. This is also a critical moment to show we can defend America and protect the global commons without a $740 billion defense budget. We must repeal the Authorization for the Use of Military Force; reassert congressional oversight of war powers; and cut the Pentagon's budget by at least 10 percent as we invest instead in diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and solving global challenges like climate change and pandemic preparedness. The war in Afghanistan cost our country more than $2 trillion, the lives of 2,400 American servicemembers, and credibility at home and abroad. The generation that fought in this war must now govern in light of its mistakes. Let us resolve to learn from them.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Medfield Model as a national exemplar for returning kids to full, in-person learning. By following the latest public health guidance, drawing on the best science and technology, and building trust across students, teachers, administrators, parents, and nurses, the Medfield Public Schools are returning to full, in-person learning safely. At a recent visit, I watched nurses test and screen students with minimal disruption and felt firsthand the palpable relief among the students and teachers to be back in the classroom. For their academic and socioemotional growth, our students deserve an education off Zoom and in the classroom. Mr. Speaker, the Medfield Model shows that we can keep students physically and mentally healthy. I am pleased to see schools in my district leading the way.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to recognize Lisa Nelson on the occasion of her retirement after 15 years of dedicated service to the Massachusetts Fourth Congressional District and innumerable years of service to the community at large. Lisa was born and raised in Attleboro, Massachusetts. After graduating from Attleboro High School and Wheaton College, she inspired children by beginning her career as a fifth-grade teacher. After transitioning into a career of inspiring her own children at home, Lisa would eventually start her own business doing real estate appraisals. All throughout, Lisa's commitment to the Attleboro area has never wavered. She was the first woman to be appointed as Fire Commissioner for the City of Attleboro and recently served a term on the city Board of Assessors. She sat on the Attleboro Tricentennial committee and has held multiple positions on Boards of Directors for community organizations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, New Hope, The Sturdy Memorial Hospital Foundation and Attleboro Enterprises--working to improve the lives of some of those most vulnerable populations. Lisa is also active not only within her own church but with the Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative which is a significant resource in addressing food insecurity in the area. Lisa began her tenure with the House in 2006, serving as a District Representative for Congressman Jim McGovern when his district included the City of Attleboro. Most recently, she served as District Director for Congressman Joe Kennedy and Senior Advisor with my office. As I am sure my predecessors will agree, in a job that can have its share of difficult decisions, choosing to work with Lisa is not one of them. Lisa approaches constituent service with an extraordinary amount of empathy and kindness. She is a trusted mentor to those she works with and three Members of Congress came to rely on her knowledge of the district, its needs and navigating the challenges of the federal system. She is a true representative of the values of public service. It is difficult to truly capture the impact that Lisa has made for this office, district and countless constituents and their families but suffice it to say that her contributions will be missed. Though for those of us who know Lisa, we know those contributions will never truly end.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, the American Rescue Plan is going to help get kids back to full, in-person learning in Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District. Since even before taking office, opening the schools has been my top district priority. With the rescue plan, we are not only boosting the production of vaccines that protect teachers and staff, but we are also providing money for HVAC upgrades and for ongoing COVID surveillance testing in the schools. This testing catches outbreaks early and breaks transmission chains. It provides confidence and transparency as we reopen. I am proud that scientists and operators in my district are developing these cutting-edge, low-cost school testing technologies, including at Ginkgo Bioworks, CIC Health, and Project Beacon. Classrooms must open, and they must be safe for students and teachers alike. With vaccines and testing, they will be.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, the American Rescue Plan is going to help get kids back to full, in-person learning in the Massachusetts Fourth. Since even before taking office, opening the schools has been my top district priority. With the Rescue Plan, we are not only boosting the production of vaccines that protect teachers and staff, we are also providing money for HVAC upgrades and for ongoing COVID surveillance testing in the schools. This testing catches outbreaks early and breaks transmission chains. It provides confidence and transparency as we reopen. I'm proud that scientists & operators in my district are developing these cutting-edge, low-cost school-testing technologies, including at Ginkgo Bioworks, CIC Health and Project Beacon. Classrooms must be open, and they must be safe for students and teachers alike. With vaccines and testing, they will be.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to restore integrity and ethics in our electoral process. To strengthen the bill, I have offered two amendments to empower younger generations to work together to tackle the challenges that will define our lifetimes. Climate change, gun violence, and reproductive rights energize and galvanize younger Americans. The right to vote is how they are heard and how they make change. My amendments will expand and protect this right for young people. The For the People Act must live up to its name, and I am proud to offer these amendments that reinforce the importance of a democracy that brings all Americans, regardless of age, race, gender identity, or income, to the ballot box to cast their votes.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Equality Act, landmark legislation that provides LGBTQ people with the full protections of Federal civil rights law. Among many other critical protections that the Equality Act extends to LGBTQ people are housing protections for homeless youth who can be harassed, assaulted, or even kicked out of shelters based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. This is because 27 States across the Nation lack LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. At the same time, LGBTQ youth are 120 percent more likely to experience homelessness. Protecting young people, giving them the resources to succeed early in life and keeping them safe and secure are all values we share. The Equality Act takes a massive step forward to advance these values, reflecting the tremendous progress forged by our Nation and those who came before us.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of President Biden's American Rescue Plan, a critical tool in the race between vaccines and variants. My district is home to global leaders in the life sciences who are helping to win this race. Last week, I visited one of them in Franklin, Massachusetts. Cold Chain Technologies is at the cutting edge of materials science, producing insulated packaging to transport and store vaccines and other biologics. They package all of Moderna's vaccines on the critical path of getting shots into arms. To defeat this pandemic and prevent another, we must enact the American Rescue Plan and unlock its investment in life sciences research, development, and manufacturing here in the United States. My district is an exemplar of the innovation and jobs that are the fruits of the life sciences.

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, a mob desecrated our Capitol, killed a police officer, and attempted to overthrow our government on the orders of the President of the United States. Immediate impeachment is our duty under the Constitution that compels us to defend against enemies, foreign and domestic. As a Marine officer, I defended our democracy from foreign enemies. As a Member of Congress, I am solemnly resolved to defend it from domestic ones. With this vote, we strike a blow for moral leadership.