Alma Adams

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to ensure transparency in our elections. The American people have a right to know whether a candidate for President or Vice President has unethical foreign entanglements or compromising debts that can be leveraged against their administration-- or worse. My amendment requires the Federal Election Commission, FEC, to make an income tax return publicly available within 48 hours after receipt of return. In cases where a return requires extensive redactions, the Federal Election Commission may make the return available after 48 hours but no later than 30 days after receipt of return. Only a full release of tax returns can ensure that our President and Vice President are working for us, the American people, not anybody else. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment and ``yes'' on H.R. 5314.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of the bipartisan legislation, Protecting Moms Who Served Act. But before I do, I want to thank Congresswoman Lauren Underwood for her leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank Senator Duckworth and Representatives Julia Brownley, Gus Bilirakis, and Brian Fitzpatrick for their co-leadership. Together, Congresswoman Underwood and I are the co-founders and co- chairs of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, as well as lead sponsors of the Momnibus--comprehensive legislation that addresses every dimension of the maternal health crisis in the United States. And it gives me great joy to say that the Protecting Moms Who Served Act will be the first bill of the Momnibus to pass in Congress. The United States continues to have the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world. Women and birthing people of color die during or after pregnancy at 3 to 4 times the rates of their White counterparts. For the nearly 2 million women Veterans, maternal health outcomes are not any better. Pregnant and postpartum women who served face unique maternal health risks that deserve our attention. For example, the risk of pregnancy complications may be higher for women Veterans receiving maternity care through Veterans Affairs, since these women frequently have multiple medical conditions that can increase pregnancy complications. Furthermore, it is suggested that military deployment may increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. A post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis can increase the risk of spontaneous pre-term birth, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes. Women Veterans with more symptoms of PTSD or moral injury like shame, guilt, or demoralization, are also at greater risk for postpartum depression in the three years following the end of their military service. More specifically a study on the impacts of PTSD or moral injury, found that one in two women Veterans who became pregnant during the study, had a negative pregnancy outcome. These outcomes include postpartum depression or anxiety, miscarriage, obstetrical medical conditions, emergency c-sections, the baby's need for intensive care post-delivery, preterm birth, stillbirth, and ectopic or tubal pregnancy. Our women Veterans have upheld their duty to serve and protect and, we as Members of Congress must do the same. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act bill will codify and strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs maternity care coordination programs to ensure Veterans receive the high-quality maternal health care and support they have earned. This is a noteworthy advancement since maternity care coordination programs are associated with improved maternal and birth outcomes, increased use of beneficial health services, and decreased costs, especially among women with chronic or pregnancy-related physical or mental health conditions, or social vulnerabilities. Additionally, this bill will commission the first-ever comprehensive study of America's maternal health crisis among women Veterans, with a particular emphasis on racial and ethnic disparities. This study is needed to provide further understanding of the maternal health challenges experienced among women who served. On May 12th, this legislation passed the house with unanimous bipartisan support. Today, we are here to vote once more and finally send this bill to the President's desk, changing the lives of millions of women Veterans and their children. Let's remember that strong and supportive healthcare for birthing people supports the future of our Nation by investing in the well-being of children and families. And today's vote ensures a healthcare system for women Veterans that will offer the best maternal care available. I am proud to see our progress towards ending maternal mortality and disparities among our moms who served. I look forward to continuing to address these issues in Congress as we examine and discuss the maternal mortality and morbidity issues that threaten our Nation. To all my colleagues--lets pass the Protecting Moms Who Served Act for our women Veterans, their children, and their families. What we do here today will live beyond our time in Congress and impact generations of women who serve. It is time we make sure that Veterans, who have done so much for our country, receive the support and resources they need.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 340. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Axne (Spanberger) Barragan (Gallego) Beatty (Jeffries) Bilirakis (Fleischmann) Bowman (Tlaib) Boyle, Brendan F. (Jeffries) Brown (Mfume) Cardenas (Gomez) Carter (TX) (Calvert) Cohen (Beyer) Crist (Castor (FL)) Davis, Danny K. (Underwood) DeFazio (Davids (KS)) DesJarlais (Fleischmann) Deutch (Rice (NY)) Doggett (Raskin) Fletcher (Escobar) Gaetz (Greene (GA)) Gonzalez, Vicente (Gomez) Granger (Cole) Hagedorn (Carl) Houlahan (Wild) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Keating (Clark (MA)) Kelly (IL) (Blunt Rochester) Kind (Connolly) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Langevin (Lynch) Larsen (WA) (Connolly) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Mann (LaTurner) McEachin (Wexton) Meeks (Perlmutter) Meng (Jeffries) Morelle (Rice (NY)) Moulton (Kahele) Mullin (Cole) Norcross (Pallone) Nunes (Garcia (CA)) Ocasio-Cortez (Garcia (IL)) Palazzo (Fleischmann) Payne (Pallone) Pingree (Kuster) Rush (Underwood) Salazar (Gimenez) Schiff (Thompson (CA)) Sewell (Cicilline) Sires (Pallone) Smucker (Keller) Speier (Scanlon) Steube (Franklin, C. Scott) Strickland (Jeffries) Thompson (MS) (Butterfield) Titus (Connolly) Torres (NY) (Auchincloss) Trone (Beyer) Wagner (Walorski) Wasserman Schultz (Soto) Welch (McGovern) Williams (GA) (McBath) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her stellar leadership, for coanchoring tonight, and for all the support that she has continued to give, and the leadership of the CBC. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to speak about the importance of passing the Build Back Better Act, legislation nothing short of transformational for Black America. It extends the child care tax credit for a year, cutting child poverty in half. In North Carolina, that is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of children who go to bed hungry every night. It puts $150 billion toward affordable housing, which has been described as the single largest and most comprehensive investment in affordable housing in history. In Charlotte and so many other communities across the country, that is real progress on our affordable housing crisis and real relief for over half a million Americans who don't have a roof over their heads. As the chair of the CBC HBCU Caucus and cofounder of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, I am proud to say that this package provides approximately $10 billion specifically for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, including $3 billion for research and development grants at these institutions and $6 billion for increased Pell grants and institutional support to lower the cost of college. Universal childcare and pre-K will prepare children to receive the education that they need to succeed in school and be admitted to college. As the cofounder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Representative Underwood, I am also proud to say that the Build Back Better Act includes all eligible provisions of our Momnibus legislation and permanently expands yearlong postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage in every State. The maternal health and morbidity crisis in this country is unacceptable, but the Build Back Better Act gets us closer to the day when every parent who enters the maternity ward and every child born in America makes it home safe. Finally, I would like to take a point of personal privilege to recognize the hard work of our Congressional Black Caucus chair, Joyce Beatty, and all the members and committee chairs on this legislation. I believe that promises made must be promised kept, and this package keeps our promise to all Americans. I implore my colleagues to pass the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan infrastructure framework together. This is Our Power, Our Message.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of reauthorizing the Family Violence Protection and Services Improvement Act. As a survivor of intimate partner violence, I can tell you that this piece of legislation is so very important. For 37 years the bipartisan Family Violence Prevention and Services Act has supported survivors of domestic violence and their children. FVPSA helps local governments and service providers prevent violence. It protects families and victims in their most vulnerable moments. This time around, FVPSA has strong components of culturally specific programs, underscoring the sad truth: that victims from all communities need support. This reauthorization comes at a critical time for State and local organizations in this space. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only led to an increase in domestic violence, it has also led to budget cuts for many organizations which work to combat violence. Whether it is in the House of Representatives or the house next door or my house, we must always speak out against the harmful effects of violence, especially against women. Madam Speaker, let's pass this bill. We will keep working for a future free from domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I rise today as chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protection; co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus; as one of the original cosponsors of the bipartisan PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act; and as the mother of Jeanelle and Billy. The issue before us today is one of equity and fairness. In our country, mothers often have to choose between providing for their families or nursing their babies. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act ensures that millions of working mothers have the access and protections they need to nurse for as long as they choose to do so. So, why is this Bill so important? As the co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I know how important it is to break down the barriers that hold nursing mothers and their children back from the best possible health outcomes. Every major medical authority strongly encourages nursing for at least the first year of life, as it provides significant health and nutritional benefits to both the mother and infant. By closing an unintended loophole, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act provides protection and support to an additional 9 million working mothers who have been forced to choose between nursing and earning a paycheck. Fundamentally, this bill says that nursing mothers should not be punished for making the best choices for their health, and the health of their children. Especially during this pandemic and America's maternal health crisis, I urge each of my colleagues to cast a vote for this critical legislation, and I urge the Senate to send it to President Biden's desk.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, a woman who does not own or control her own body cannot call herself free. I want you to close your eyes and imagine being forced to give birth during a global pandemic: fewer in-person visits, more telehealth visits; new parents having children alone without their families, worrying if the baby will catch the virus; something goes wrong, there may not be space in the ICU. Now open your eyes to the truth. A woman should not have to yield control over her own choices and her own body. So let's pass this bill, the Women's Health Protection Act. That is what we need to do.

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to amplify the voice of Calla Hales, a woman in my district who is both an abortion care provider, and a mother. ``Last year, I made the choice to have a child with my husband. What I didn't choose was prenatal checkups with COVID precautions. I didn't choose the complications I had during my pregnancy. I didn't choose delivering my amazing baby girl without my family because the pandemic limited the visitors in the maternity ward. I didn't choose worrying every day if she would be safe from the coronavirus, despite her pulmonary issues. I am proud of the choice that I made, in spite of everything that's gone wrong over the past two years. But no one should ever be forced to make that choice. No person should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term, during a global pandemic, or any other time.''

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, today, I introduced a Resolution to recognize National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Conference Week. HBCUs are an integral part of our society--academically, socially, and economically. Recognizing the value of HBCUs is vital as we continue to look forward to a more equitable society for all. To that end, this Resolution provides a brief historical overview of HBCUs and how they came to be, and reaffirms our collective commitment to support the students of these colleges and universities.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, today, I introduced a resolution commemorating August 30, 2021, as the 131st anniversary of the 1890 Institutions. This resolution celebrates the collaborative work the 19 historically Black 1890 Institutions, established under the Second Morrill Act on August 30, 1890, have undertaken to address the agricultural research and extension needs of the country. Currently, the 1890 Institutions collectively serve over 88,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and like all Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have given so much to our community and our country. As a proud 1890s graduate, I am honored to introduce this resolution, which recognizes the 131 years of significant and meaningful contributions the 1890 Institutions have made. These institutions are more than schools: they represent pathways to the middle class; they're cornerstones of our communities; and have unlocked so much potential that our country has too often ignored.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, Congressman John Lewis earned his reputation as the conscience of this body because of his leadership during the long march for equal rights at the ballot box. John and so many people of conscience and courage were arrested, beaten, bruised, and even murdered. The memory of being denied the right to vote still dwells in the minds of countless Americans. Many of those minds, like John's, survived crushing blows to the skull to earn that right. John fought and bled for voting rights. He led the charge for voting rights. He should be honored by passing this bill drafted in his name. We have had the promise of one man, one vote since the birth of this country, and we can't backslide on this progress. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will help us get to the promised land where every person has the right to vote.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I introduced a resolution to recognize today, August 3, 2021, as Black Women's Equal Pay Day. Two-hundred and fourteen days--that's how long into 2021 that Black women have to work to earn the same wage paid to white, non-Hispanic men. Black women are being paid 63 cents for every dollar white, non- Hispanic men are being paid. The crossroads at which black women stand, between two walls of prejudice, one for race and one for gender, are unique and deserve singular attention. The toil and struggle of Black women stretches over centuries, and the acknowledgement of this has been too little, too late. That is why I am introducing this Resolution to recognize August 3, 2021 as Black Women's Equal Pay Day. Because the value of those thirty- seven cents is so much more than thirty-seven cents. It is equality, dignity, and independence. America was founded upon imperfect equality, inequality, as we all recognize. But as America's history has shown us thus far, its arc of history bends towards equality. I fervently urge my colleagues to examine the pressing issue of pay disparity that Black women face. When Black women are not paid equal wages, the negative impacts of lower pay are profound: lower pay impacts the lifelong ability of a Black women to pay for her education, her health, and food for her family. Let this Resolution be the penny that brings forth great ripples of change.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, today I introduced the Emergency Child & Adult Nutrition Assistance Act of 2021. This legislation will extend COVID-19 relief for both the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the school food authorities through the end of the 2021 school year to help cover their operational costs. This bill will also extend the availability of funds through September 2022. Additionally, each state that carries out a reimbursement program, will be required to submit a report on the use of such funds no later than March 2023. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, many school districts and school food authorities are still facing major challenges to the fiscal sustainability of their school meal programs due to decreases in meals served and supplemental sales, and many adult and child care centers and after school programs continue to need support to feed children and adults in need during the public health crisis. The increased cost of food and supplies and the loss of revenue have dealt critical blows to funding for these essential programs. The supplemental funding provided by the Emergency Child & Adult Nutrition Assistance Act will ensure that school meal programs and child and adult care programs have sufficient support to continue feeding the most vulnerable in our communities as we grapple with the continued impacts of this pandemic.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the coanchor, Sheila Jackson Lee. I thank her for her stellar leadership and all of her diligent work and labor in this vineyard. To the dynamic coanchor, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres), I thank him so very much. To our illustrious chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am so very proud of her work and very proud of her leadership, and I thank her so much. Power is what makes the difference in lives and communities. The first thing you have to understand about power and how to get it: You don't ask somebody how to get it, where it is, if you can have it. You take it. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to talk about our most fundamental right in a democracy, the power of the vote, the right to vote. While we have made amazing strides over the past century--votes for women, voting rights for Native Americans and indigenous people, the end of racist Jim Crow laws that completely suppressed the Black votes in certain States, and lowering the voting age to 18--we are still marching because the promise of one person, one vote continues to be abridged by State legislatures across the country. Marches, sit-ins, and protests are part of our rights as Americans, but we shouldn't have to March 245 years after the Declaration of Independence. We shouldn't have to march 151 years after the 15th Amendment guaranteed Black Americans the right to vote. We shouldn't have to march a full century after women's suffrage. But we will continue to march, and we will continue to make our voices heard until every adult citizen can freely, fairly, and easily access the ballot. To cast a vote is at the core of what it means to be American. It is how we build a more perfect Union. Here in the House, we have passed voting rights bills that bring us closer to a more perfect Union. As we await the support of our Senate colleagues on this urgent matter, the issue of voting rights, I want to leave you with this because I have to tell you that, in my State of North Carolina, there is a lot of mischief going on, and there has been for a number of years. As the gentlewoman knows, my district was considered to be the district that they described as ``surgical precision.'' It continues to be a problem. I have been a State legislator for 20 years. I have witnessed legislation that targets African Americans with almost surgical precision and imposes cures for problems that did not exist--that is, unless you think African Americans voting is a problem. Congress cannot tolerate State-level attempts to curb our most fundamental right. Now is the time to make sure that every American who can vote has the opportunity to do so. This is our power, our message.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I am honored today to stand on the floor of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to and to honor the life of a trusted friend of 4 decades, a cherished mentor, and an extraordinary woman of faith, Mrs. Leona Jane Brown Fernander Samuda. Rosie, as I knew her and she was fondly referred to by her family and friends, passed away on June 14, 2021. I extend my sympathy and condolences and prayers along with the more than 700,000 citizens of North Carolina's Twelfth Congressional District to the Brown, Fernander, Samuda families during this difficult time. Born in Alice Town, Eleuthera, Bahamas, Rosie was a woman who spoke her mind, never mincing words, always genuinely wise in thought and deeds. A mother, grandmother, great-grandmother who raised six children, five boys and one girl, she was the rock and fortress of her family. A matriarch to family and community, Rosie shared her many talents, including cooking her favorite mac and cheese to the love she and I both had for wearing hats. Rosie's glowing smile, the infectious personality that she had, and always a few jokes, made her a lover of people who loved her back. A global citizen, she never met a stranger and was genuinely interested in the politics of every community where she lived, from the Parliament in her native Bahamas to the Black community politics in Charlotte, North Carolina. Always engaging, interacting with political leaders, advocating for human and civil rights, Rosie never ceased to make her opinions known. Rosie's contributions were extensive and her lessons invaluable. Rosie loved children and she became an entrepreneur and a businesswoman who owned and operated Aunt Jane's Edu Care for preschoolers. Widely traveled, living in places such as Switzerland, Chippingham, and as a resident in my district in Charlotte, she studied and earned her degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Small in stature, Rosie was a mighty little giant who made an indelible impact on so many people for more than eight decades, and I was blessed to have known her and have her as a friend. Mrs. Leona Jane Brown Fernander Samuda, dedicated woman of faith, gained the respect of men, women, and little children, and she made this world much better than she found it. She served to fulfill the scripture in Psalm 84:10, which says: ``Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.'' Rest in peace, Rosie. We love you. We miss you.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I am honored today to stand on the floor of the House to honor the life of a cherished friend and extraordinary North Carolinian, Andrea L. Harris, a resident of Henderson, North Carolina, who passed away on May 20, 2020. Her death leaves a tremendous void throughout our State, but her life's work is a lasting reminder of her courageous fight for civil and human rights, social justice, and building Black wealth. A bold voice of reason for the underrepresented, her work helped improve the quality of life for so many. A proud alumna of Bennett College, an advocate for HBCUs, a shero for Black businesses, this ``mother of minority enterprise'' was always about making good trouble. She cofounded the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development, serving as president for more than two decades. Andrea L. Harris made our State, our community, and our world much better than she found it and fulfilled the Scripture in Psalms 84:10, which says: ``Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.'' Rest in peace, my friend. Andrea, we love and miss you.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Beatty for yielding. I thank Representative Torres for his leadership and thank Chairwoman Beatty for being such a phenomenal leader and a role model for all of us. I am pleased to be here tonight to support the Congressional Black Caucus members, known as the conscious of the Congress, not only because of what we believe, but because we show up on days like this. I rise tonight to talk about an essential infrastructure investment, an investment in our historically Black colleges and universities. Earlier this year, the bipartisan leadership of the HBCU Caucus, Representative French Hill from Arkansas, Senator Chris Coons from Delaware, and Tim Scott from South Carolina, as well as our vice chairs, Representative Terri Sewell and Mike Turner, came together to introduce the bipartisan IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. We introduced this legislation to help light a fire for our schools. The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act represents a historic investment in both the physical and the digital infrastructure of our historically Black colleges. Our Nation's HBCUs deserve a level of investment and engagement reflective of their multibillion dollar impact on our Nation's economy and their collective impact on the minds of millions of our Nation's future leaders. We have bipartisan agreement on that. Don't just take it from me. In the words of Senator Tim Scott, ``HBCUs have educated and produced top- notch graduates in every field--all while operating on minimal budgets. I can only imagine what more they will accomplish with proper funding.'' Our Nation's low-income, first-generation college students deserve that opportunity, and to ensure that that happens, the schools that they attend must be made whole. There are more than 102 across this Nation. I had the privilege of serving for 40 years on the campus of Bennett College in Greensboro, and I am a graduate twice of North Carolina A&T State University, and Johnson C. Smith University is in my district. Finally, as we have a national debate about infrastructure in Congress and across the country, I want to make one thing clear, that the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act is not only an infrastructure bill, it is also a jobs bill. And this bill creates jobs and enables HBCUs to continue to be a critical source of diversity in the workforce. This bill has the potential to create over half a million jobs while investing in critical HBCU infrastructure. Historically Black colleges and universities are essential infrastructure for the next generation of students, workers, innovators, athletes, creators, thinkers, and leaders, and that is why we need to pass the most transformative legislation for historically Black colleges and universities in history. You have got to rectify over 150 years of neglect, broken promises, and institutional racism. Any infrastructure package that leaves this House must include a historic investment in our HBCUs. I am not going to rest until we remove all of the barriers to their success and the success of our HBCU students. So I ask my colleagues to please join me in our bipartisan list of over 70 cosponsors in the House and Senate in supporting the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. Our power. Our message.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his work on this bill. Although House Democrats continue to work for an end to the pandemic, COVID-19 has changed the American workforce. People from all walks of life have suffered. Older Americans in the workforce continue to feel the fallout from the coronavirus. The perception that older workers are not as valuable as their younger counterparts persists. The myth that older workers are unproductive and costly persists. The idea that older Americans do not value their careers, their job, or their work persists. Because of these challenges, older workers are more likely to remain out of the workforce when they lose a job. Age discrimination is a real threat to our workforce, but it doesn't have to be that way. That is why the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act is so very important. Older workers need specific protections under the law. As we look ahead to a stronger economy and upcoming legislation, I urge Members to remember the importance of older workers to our economy, to our workforce, and to our families. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the group Paralyzed Veterans of America. Paralyzed Veterans of America, Washington, DC, May 24, 2021. Hon. Robert Scott, Chairman, Education and Labor Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is pleased to support reintroduction of the Protecting Older Workers against Discrimination Act (POWADA). PVA is the nation's only Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization solely dedicated to representing veterans with spinal cord injuries and/or disorders. POWADA is important to our members as people with disabilities because it will restore well-established legal standards on workplace discrimination that were undermined by a 2009 Supreme Court decision. In 2009, in the case of Gross v. FBL Financial Services, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to impose a much higher burden of proof on workers who allege age discrimination than on those who allege discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, or religion. By changing the legal standards in age discrimination cases--from having to prove that age played a role in the worker's treatment to having to show that age played the decisive role in the worker's treatment--the Court set aside decades of legal precedent and signaled to employers that some amount of age discrimination is permissible. Moreover, the decision made it exponentially more difficult for workers who have experienced age discrimination to seek redress in court and prove their case. Many courts began applying the Gross decision to weaken other civil rights laws, including disability discrimination cases. In 2019, in the case of Natofsky v. City of N.Y., the Second Circuit joined the Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Circuits in ruling that disability discrimination under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 must be established under the higher, ``butfor'' standard. Federal courts have consistently, but in our view erroneously, applied Gross to claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA retaliation, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Some courts have questioned the applicability of Gross to disability claims without deciding the issue, but no court has declined to apply Gross to the ADA/Rehabilitation Act. Some courts have even begun to apply Gross to disability discrimination in public accommodations. The unemployment rate for workers with disabilities is almost double the rate for workers without disabilities. For all the workers affected by the Gross decision, POWADA is a jobs bill. By clarifying that discrimination may play no role in employment decisions under the ADA and certain other laws, this legislation would simply restore the law prior to the Gross decision. PVA appreciates your continued pursuit of this important legislation and urges Congress to act swiftly on its passage. Sincerely, Heather Ansley, MSW, Esq., Associate Executive Director.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his extraordinary work in this area. And I am a proud cosponsor of the Equality Act. Madam Speaker, I am Alma Adams, and my pronouns are she, her, and hers. Tonight, I rise during Pride Month to honor some of the many LGBTQ elected officials who are working to make North Carolina a more equal and inclusive State. Last week was Charlotte Black Pride Week, so I am happy to say that North Carolina's 12th Congressional District, which I represent, is home to LaWana Mayfield, who made history in 2011 as Charlotte's first openly gay elected official. Since then, Al Austin and Billy Maddalon joined her as LGBT members of the Charlotte City Council. In Davidson, Jane Campbell, a retired captain in the United States Navy, serves on the Davidson Town Commission. And Charlotte's John Arrowood made history as the first openly LGBT judge on North Carolina's Court of Appeals. All of these individuals put themselves forward for public service because they know that we can't sleep on fairness and equal rights. And I am working hard as an ally in Congress, alongside members of my congressional office, supporting the LGBTQ community, and I promise to continue to fight for their rights. I wish everyone across our country happy Pride. Now go forth and continue to fight because we can't wait for equality; we have to win it.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, as one of the original sponsors of Juneteenth legislation in the House, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in voting to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, of our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Of emancipation instead of dehumanization. Of a message that made its way from Washington to Texas, freeing women and men upon its sight. It is our history, a reminder of deeds darker than death or night, and a debt unpaid that must still be made right. On this Juneteenth, I encourage all Americans to reflect on the long walk to freedom, that took Union soldiers from sea to shining sea. Though we've travelled a long way, that walk continues today. And while I am overjoyed to send this legislation to the President's desk and make it the law of the land, the work continues. When Congress made MLK Day a federal holiday in the 1980s, it didn't end the economic injustice that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought against his entire life. In fact, the gap between rich and poor has only widened since then. So as we celebrate this victory for our history, we must remember that while Juneteenth marked a victory over slavery, it was only the start of our fight for voting rights and equal justice under the law. That fight, that long march to justice and equality and equity will not be over until we have fully protected the right to vote for all Americans, guaranteed equal justice under law, and achieved equitable treatment that repays the debts of past wrongs. Madam Speaker, thank you for joining me in celebrating Juneteenth, thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it a federal holiday . . . and never giving up the faith. God bless.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor our friend and colleague, Alcee Hastings--a pillar of our Congressional Black Caucus. Congressman Hastings was a compassionate leader who always spoke his mind and served his constituents with purpose. For nearly thirty years, he used his position in Congress to speak truth to power and advocate for our country's most vulnerable. I admired both his courage and his unique ability to bring reason and deep thought to the many conversations we had together. He was a friend and mentor we all respected. One thing I'll never forget about Congressman Hastings is his wonderful sense of style, his fun, colorful socks, and--I have to say-- his great taste in hats. And, while he will be deeply missed here in Congress and within our Caucus, we will carry on in his memory by advocating for the causes he dedicated his life to--supporting working families, communities of color, children, immigrants and all those in need. His legacy as a civil rights activist, judge, and powerful, passionate leader in Congress will live on, and be a model for us all.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for all his great work on this bill. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1195. As chair of the Committee on Education and Labor's Workforce Protections Subcommittee, I work every day to ensure that all workers are treated with dignity and respect because workers deserve nothing less. Our labor laws must be held to that same principle. Unfortunately, our healthcare and social service workers face disproportionately high rates of violence on the job. We must do something to address that, and the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act does just that. This critical piece of legislation requires that OSHA issue a workplace violence protection standard for employers in these sectors in order to actively prevent, address, and track workplace violence incidents. We have always relied heavily on the selflessness of healthcare and social service workers, and that truth has been even clearer during the COVID pandemic. We must ensure their well-being just as they work tirelessly every day to ensure ours. Madam Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 1195.

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters from the American Society of Safety Professionals, who actively support this bill. American Society of Safety Professionals, March 25, 2021. To: Contacts, Stakeholders and Participants Workplace Prevention Legislation [HR 1195] From: Joseph Weiss, ASSP External Affairs Comments of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)--The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (HR 1309 & S 851)-- Confirming ASSP's Position on HR 1195. Greetings: The attached statement and comments were originally submitted by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) in support of The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (HR 1309 & S 851) in April 2019. We understand this legislation has been reintroduced as HR 1195. Our comments in the April 2019 statement remain current and reflect our position on HR 1195. ASSP stands ready to assist with initiatives and endeavors to help move occupational safety and health forward. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding our support of

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the fourth annual Black Maternal Health Week. As the founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I want to take this time to speak briefly about the Black maternal health crisis in America, where Black mamas are disproportionately and needlessly dying. Across the country, Black women from all walks of life are dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications at three and four times the rate of non-Hispanic, White women. However, 60 percent of Black maternal deaths are preventable. Research suggests that the cumulative stress of racism and sexism undermines Black women's health, making them more vulnerable to complications that endanger their lives and the lives of their infants. Unfortunately, current healthcare practices are inadequate in addressing the health consequences of living with stress. The Black Maternal Omnibus Act of 2021, a package of 12 bills, will comprehensively address every dimension of the maternal health crisis in America to save lives and end racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. This crisis demands urgent attention and serious action to save the lives of Black mothers, women of color, and other marginalized women across the country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and this Congress to stand together with me to ensure that our mothers and babies have the resources they need not only to survive but to thrive. Black mamas can't wait, and neither will we.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and for his support, and for his leadership on the committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as I have done for my entire career, from the North Carolina House to the U.S. House, in support of equal pay for equal work. It is 2021, and women are still subject to unequal, unfair compensation in the workplace. This truth, this wage gap is at its worst for women of color. Black women, for example, earn an average of 63 cents on the dollar compared to men. This issue persists in nearly every line of work, regardless of education, experience, occupation, industry, or job title. And if you don't believe that data, take it from me. I have lived it. The Paycheck Fairness Act is an opportunity for Congress to strengthen the Equal Pay Act, to bolster the rights of working women, and to put an end to the gender-based wage disparity once and for all. We cannot continue to rob nearly half of our Nation's workforce of the wages they deserve, nor can we continue to force women to work far more just to be paid fairly. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Partnership for Women and Families in support of H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act. National Partnership for Women & Families, April 13, 2021. Dear Member of Congress: The National Partnership for Women & Families is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization committed to improving the lives of women and families by achieving equity for all women. Since our creation as the Women's Legal Defense Fund in 1971, we have fought for every significant federal advance for equal opportunity in the workplace, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. We write in strong support of H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, and urge you to vote for passage while opposing any harmful amendments. This critical bill will help our nation build back an economy that works for everyone by ensuring that all women can work with equality and dignity. As the Paycheck Fairness Act recognizes, women and workers from communities of color continue to face significant pay disparities in the United States. On average, women working full time and year-round are paid only 82 cents for every dollar paid to men, and the wage gap is widest for women of color. Among women who hold full-time, year-round jobs in the United States, Black women are typically paid 63 cents, Native American women 60 cents and Latinas just 55 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. White, non- Hispanic women are paid 79 cents. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women who work full time, year-round are paid as little as 52 cents for every dollar paid to white, non- Hispanic men, as Burmese women are. Asian American women overall are paid just 87 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. The wage gap persists across different industries, occupations and education levels and exists in nearly every congressional district. These troubling statistics underscore the need to update our nation's equal pay laws. The Paycheck Fairness Act would make it safe for workers to discuss their wages with each other. Employers can currently mask compensation discrimination with pay secrecy policies that forbid employees from discussing pay and benefits. Secrecy and the threat of retaliation leave workers unable to learn about and challenge pay disparities. In a survey of private-sector workers, over 62 percent of women and 60 percent of men reported that their employers discourage or prohibit discussing wage and salary information. The Paycheck Fairness Act would make pay secrecy policies illegal. The Paycheck Fairness Act would also prohibit employers from screening job applicants based on their salary history or requiring salary history during the interview process. Women are typically paid lower wages than men even in their first jobs. Salary disparities that begin early in a woman's career can follow her from job to job when employers are permitted to base a new hire's salary on her prior earnings. People should be paid fairly for the job they are being hired to do. The bill would also make it more difficult for employers to justify pay discrimination. Workers in the same company who do the same job and have the same amount of experience, education and training should be paid the same. Currently, however, employers are able to explain away differences in pay too easily by relying on a catch-all defense in the Equal Pay Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act would close that loophole and require employers to prove that any differences in pay are not sex-based, are job-related concerning the position in question, and are consistent with business necessity and account for the entire difference in compensation. Employees claiming pay discrimination would also have new opportunities to prove that the employer's defense is the pretext. In addition to these critical provisions, the Paycheck Fairness Act would also allow workers alleging pay discrimination within the same company to file class-action suits; would change the remedies of the Equal Pay Act to treat gender-based pay discrimination claims the same as other civil rights violations that result in unfair pay; would recognize companies that want to do better; and would improve fair pay enforcement, data collection and disclosure. Closing the gender and racial wage gap is a crucial measure to take in response to COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, women and people of color have disproportionately experienced the adverse effects of the public health and economic crisis. Women and people of color have been on the front lines working in our most essential occupations, but forces like wage inequality have kept them underpaid and undervalued. The Paycheck Fairness Act would ensure that workers are given the support needed to ensure pay equity during this time of crisis. Updating our nation's equal pay laws is also crucial to reducing negative impacts resulting from the mass exodus of women from the labor force during the pandemic. Women's labor force participation is at a 33-year record low, with nearly a million moms having left the workforce, largely due to the difficulties of balancing full-time work and care responsibilities. Increases in women's labor force participation rates drove the significant narrowing of the gender wage gap during the 1970s and 1980s, a narrowing which stagnated in the late 1990s, around the time women's labor force participation peaked. Without the Paycheck Fairness Act, progress on closing the gender wage gap could be set back decades, especially since women face financial penalties for taking time out of the workforce, with one study finding that women who took just one year out of the workforce had annual earnings 39 percent lower than women who did not. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen existing federal protections, ensure more equitable workplaces and allow women to remain in the workforce and maintain their economic stability at all phases of life. At the current rate of progress, projections are that the gender wage gap will close in 2041 for Asian women, 2069 for white women, 2369 for Black women, and 2451 for Latina women. Women cannot--and should not--wait that long for pay equity. It is time to clarify and strengthen existing federal protections for women in the workforce by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. We urge you to vote in support and opposed harmful amendments.