Rick Allen

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act, to get our kids out from behind screens and back in the classroom.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, my Democrat colleagues have, apparently, decided committee work doesn't matter for the 117th Congress because they, once again, brought legislation to the House floor without first holding a single committee hearing or markup. As the Republican leader of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, I would have welcomed the opportunity to debate and amend this flawed legislation in committee. H.R. 842, also known as the PRO Act, is a radical proposal aimed at appeasing big union bosses who fund the far left's political agenda. From 2010 to 2018, unions sent more than $1.6 billion in member dues to hundreds of left-wing groups like Planned Parenthood, the Clinton Foundation, and the Progressive Democrats of America, instead of spending that money on worker representation. That is right. Union leaders are lining their pockets and their friends' pockets with the dues workers are forced to pay. No worker should be forced to participate in union activity or pay for representation they do not agree with. That is un-American. But the pro-union bosses act would overturn right-to-work laws in 27 States, including my home State of Georgia. That would be devastating for Georgia's post-COVID economy. That is why I will offer an amendment protecting the right-to-work laws. In fact, I introduced a total of five amendments to this bill that would put workers first; but, unfortunately, Democrats only allowed one to be considered on the House floor for debate even though last Congress they allowed more than one to be voted on this House floor. But the American people deserve to know the other amendments that the Democrats blocked. First is protecting employees' right to secret-ballot elections. An amendment requiring all unions to win a secret-ballot election in order to be certified because no worker should face retribution because of how they cast their ballot. Codifying a sensible joint-employer standard. An amendment that strikes the section of the bill which defines joint employment using the indirect control and replaces this provision with the direct and immediate control to protect franchisees and treat them as any other small business owner. Employee privacy protection. An amendment requiring employers to receive express consent from employees before sharing their personal information with a union because the bill currently does not require that consent. And worker retirement protection. This amends the bill to state that mandatory arbitration agreements cannot force the members of a bargaining unit into a multiemployer pension plan. All of my amendments would bring much-needed accountability and transparency, and I am disappointed a majority of them were not even allowed to be offered on the House floor. Furthermore, the PRO Act would further disrupt our economy, which is in desperate need of full reopening. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand with small business owners and our workforce, and I oppose this bill.

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I stand here today disappointed but not surprised that my Democratic colleagues and their union boss allies want my home State of Georgia to look just like New York and California. This is made abundantly clear in the PRO Act where the bill outright bans State right-to-work laws. I can tell my colleagues one thing: Not on my watch. Georgia has been a proud right-to-work State since 1947, and it is one of the many reasons workers have prospered. That is why I rise today to offer my straightforward amendment that strikes the ban on right-to-work States. No American should be forced to pay for representation and political activities that they do not agree with, and that is what will happen if we do not adopt my amendment. It is a no-brainer: workers should be in control of their earnings and how they spend it. Americans want choice. I urge my colleagues to support worker choice and vote ``yes'' on my amendment.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. I am disappointed to say that my Democrat colleagues refuse to negotiate on legislation to provide targeted, temporary COVID-19 relief to the American people. Let's be clear. Only 9 percent of this $1.9 trillion package being advanced goes toward pandemic-related expenses, and it is riddled with partisan priorities unrelated to the pandemic, including a $15 minimum wage requirement that will destroy 1.4 million starting jobs; $350 billion in blue State bailouts while leaving behind States like Georgia; funding for a Silicon Valley underground tunnel; and much more. Throughout this whole process, my Democrat colleagues have rejected prioritizing reopening our schools, despite the CDC stating that schools can safely reopen with proper precautions. Some of our students haven't seen the inside of a classroom in a year. But partisan priorities are apparently more important. Let's not forget that nearly $1 trillion remains unspent from previous relief packages. So let's stop calling it COVID relief when this package is clearly just a payout to Progressive priorities. It is time to end this nonsense because the American people are no longer fooled.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 447. Coming from the construction industry, I know firsthand that apprenticeships help Americans gain valuable skills that lead to good- paying jobs and long-lasting careers. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we had the greatest economy in the world. Unfortunately, we have seen the negative impact this virus has had on employment opportunities, and Congress should be working in a bipartisan manner to get this economy back on track. There is no doubt that skilled trades will play a crucial part in economic recovery in the coming months. By encouraging more apprenticeship programs, we can help American workers get back on their feet while, simultaneously, helping employers meet their workforce needs. But the last thing American workers and businesses need is additional bureaucratic red tape like those included in H.R. 447. My Democratic colleagues are pushing forward an approach that doubles down on burdensome mandates and will prevent more workers from accessing apprenticeship opportunities by imposing a one-size-fits-all Federal registered apprenticeship system, while doing nothing to support other models. I offered an amendment to today's bill that would uphold the Trump administration's rule regarding the Department of Labor's Industry- Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, which provides companies an alternative avenue to train skilled workers for their specific industry needs, while allowing Americans to earn while they learn. We should empower employers to innovate and develop their own apprenticeship programs, not constrain them. Yet, per usual, my Democratic colleagues blocked my amendment from consideration. If you truly want unity and working across the aisle, then I urge my colleagues to work with the Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committee on a bipartisan bill that would encourage innovation and flexibility into the apprenticeship model so that more Americans can get back to work.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Smith for his work on this important endeavor. I appreciate his hosting this opportunity to lift up the sanctity of life. I think there would be no debate that every life is precious and worthy of dignity and respect. Jeremiah 1:5 says: ``Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.'' I will repeat that. That is from the Holy Scriptures. ``Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.'' The right to life should not be a political debate. We should uphold the value and dignity of life, even those who are defenseless and not with us yet. This January marked the 48th anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on the case of Roe v. Wade that made abortion available throughout pregnancy for nearly any reason. Since that tragic ruling, over 62 million innocent babies have been aborted. In the year following Roe v. Wade, one in every three abortions in the U.S. were funded via taxpayer funds. Again, from the Scriptures, Daniel, one of the great prophets, would not have paid taxes in this country and probably would have gone to jail on that basis. Congress made changes so that taxpayer-funded abortions were prohibited in spending bills, but the Democrats are now placing the long bipartisan Hyde amendment on the chopping block while President Biden rescinds important pro-life protections, like the Mexico City policy, which allows taxpayer dollars to go toward promoting abortion abroad. We are not only doing it here, we are doing this to the rest of the world. As a father of four and a grandfather of 14, I feel very passionately about protecting unborn babies. Any and all measures that take steps to ensure the life of an unborn child will have my complete support, and I will adamantly oppose any that promote or defend such an immoral practice.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on December 10, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 242 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 243. personal explanation

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on H.R. 5758. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 241.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, due to Covid-19, I was unable to vote on December 7, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 237. Personal Explanation

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, due to COVID-19, I was unable to vote the week of 12/2/2020. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall N. 232, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 233, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 234.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, due to COVID-19, I was unable to vote the week of December 2, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 229, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 230, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 231.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, due to COVID-19, I was unable to vote the week of 12/2/2020. Had I been present, I would have voted, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 228.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 8294. I, too, come from the construction industry, which I learned from the ground up, and I know firsthand how apprenticeships provide our workforce with a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills that are needed to secure a good-paying job and a long-lasting career. The reason apprenticeships are so successful is because employers know exactly what skills are in demand. That is why we must encourage more employer-led innovation in the apprenticeship space. This legislation denies workers and employers autonomy to create programs that are responsive to workforce needs. This shortsighted bill would undo the Department of Labor's industry-recognized apprenticeship programs created under President Trump. This program provides companies an alternative avenue to train skilled workers and develop apprenticeship programs for their specific industry needs. This year has already been tough on our employers with COVID-19, devastating businesses across the country, and the last thing we need is to impose more bureaucratic red tape and requirements. I am disappointed that my Democrat colleagues are pushing a plan that would put these job-filling programs in jeopardy and prevent more workers from accessing these opportunities. I believe that this is a space for bipartisanship, and I urge my colleagues to oppose this flawed approach and work with us to encourage innovation and flexibility.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, here we are once again debating a partisan messaging bill that will never become law. The Heroes Act 2.0 is the Democrat's costly attempt to appease their far-left base, and it comes with a $2.2 trillion price tag. To name just a few of the progressive provisions of this bill, their social wish list includes allowing illegal immigrants to receive direct stimulus payments, defunding the police, subsidizing ObamaCare, and removing safeguards that would prevent taxpayer money from bailing out Planned Parenthood. While American families, workers, and businesses are keeping their heads down working to revitalize our economy, Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership are moving forward with a bill that largely has nothing to do in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and are ignoring moving forward legislation that could immediately support our small businesses. Thanks to the leadership of our Governor in my home State of Georgia, we are open for business and leading the Nation in economic recovery. Our biggest problem is that we do still have businesses that need help. But I hear from business leaders every day that we must stop this expanded unemployment because, as their requirements grow, they need their employees to come back to work. Our COVID cases are down 28 percent. Hospitalizations are down 60 percent. But, yes, we still have businesses that need help. That is why I signed the discharge petition, right down there, to bring legislation to the floor to extend the Paycheck Protection Program, and I urge my colleagues to sign that so that we can get meaningful help to those businesses that need it. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Speaker to stop holding hostage critical assistance for our small businesses and oppose this partisan power grab.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Michigan and former chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding me the time. I am disappointed that during National Clean Energy Week we are considering a bill that fails to prioritize affordable and reliable energy for all Americans and only furthers the radical left's socialist Green New Deal priorities. H.R. 4447 spent more than $135 billion of hardworking Americans' tax dollars while ignoring meaningful reforms of our rural communities. Specifically, they want to establish a $20 billion Federal green bank to subsidize preferred green projects at the expense of others, like nuclear energy. The bill would also exclude nuclear energy from their proposed Blue Collar to Green Collar energy workforce grant program. This is unacceptable. Nuclear energy fuels our Nation while helping to provide America with environmental, economic, and national security. I am proud that Georgia's 12th Congressional District is home to two nuclear power plants: Plant Vogtle and Plant Hatch, almost 80 percent of Georgia Power's nuclear capacity. This industry directly supports well-paying jobs, powers our national defense, and currently generates nearly 20 percent of our country's electricity without any carbon emissions.

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, if my colleagues want to have a real policy discussion about clean energy and focus on solutions, they should oppose this partisan power grab and support nuclear energy. Georgia has some of the most competitive electricity rates in the country thanks to our energy policy.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, committee Democrats rejected my amendment and chose to push forward a partisan bill that would only result in another broken promise from the Federal Government. Instead of working in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion to implement a commonsense solution, Democrats are once again choosing partisan political messaging over sound policy. It has been a tough year, especially on families who have had to adapt to learning in the age of coronavirus. So, let's have a real conversation on how we can best serve our students and families by working to expand choice. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this partisan bill before it is too late.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Foxx for yielding. I appreciate the opportunity to address this issue today. I rise in opposition to H.R. 2639, and I oppose it because I believe every child should have access to a good education. I have long advocated for the need to expand choice to each student so that they have the opportunity to live out the American Dream regardless of their ZIP Code or family resources. In fact, we talked about this very thing on the steps of the Capitol this morning. H.R. 2639 is a partisan proposal that would impose a top-down, Big Government solution--that is the problem--allowing the Federal Government to decide how best to address the issues of racial and socioeconomic isolation in America's schools. Unfortunately, this debate is not about equality for all children. If it were, we would have ensured no State had the ability to trap students in low-performing schools. Rather than bring a bill to the House floor that would expand the availability of charter schools or offer families educational freedom, Democrats have decided the teachers unions are more important to them than real families who are desperate for access to a better education for their children. Additionally, this partisan proposal would create another Federal program while ignoring existing priorities. During committee markup, I offered a substitute amendment to the bill that would have expanded the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, or SSAEG, in the Every Student Succeeds Act to allow school districts to use funds to reduce or eliminate racial or socioeconomic isolation in schools. The SSAEG were authorized on a bipartisan basis to give school districts flexible funding to address local needs and receive $1.21 billion in fiscal year 2020 appropriated funds.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I have got to be frank for a minute. I find it a shame that this amendment is even necessary. When we replaced the No Child Left Behind Act with the Every Student Succeeds Act, we created the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program on a bipartisan, bicameral basis. We did this to provide school districts the flexibility they need to use Federal funds as they see fit to meet local needs. It is disappointing that my Democratic colleagues didn't invite Republicans to the table to negotiate in good faith to build on that consensus. Instead, Democrats once again ignored commonsense approaches and impose a top-down, Big Government solution that will have the Federal Government decide how best to address the issues of racial and socioeconomic isolation in American schools. You know, we have heard story after story of the history of our schools and how we got to this point. The question is, will we continue with this top-down government approach or allow the schools the flexibility to fix this problem. My amendment, on the other hand, offers a commonsense solution that could easily garner an overwhelming majority of votes in this body if every Member chose to focus on the importance of actually addressing racial and socioeconomic isolation in schools and not on scoring political points. This amendment would explicitly allow school districts to use funds they receive from the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program under the Every Student Succeeds Act to develop or implement comprehensive strategies to improve diversity and reduce or eliminate racial or socioeconomic isolation in public early childhood programs and public schools. This is a real solution. The SSAEG block grant is currently receiving just over $1 billion. The proposal before us today would have to fight for funding with the multitude of other Federal programs that currently exist. This amendment also ensures that school districts are engaging with their communities to design programs that comply with Federal law and have the support of parents and other constituents. It also alters requirements to distribute funds across multiple spending categories so that districts will have sufficient funding to design effective integration programs. The amendment uses the same language as the Magnet Schools Assistance Program under the Every School Succeeds Act to ensure that school districts choosing to use funds for improving diversity can fund transportation activities, if they see fit. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that we even have to offer this amendment. We have got a problem, but I can tell you, my community solved this problem, which is the reason I ran for Congress. The faith-based community created a school for kids who are branded as losers in the public education system, and these moms don't have but one choice, and that is to send these children to this school. And it is amazing how kids who are branded as losers have become the most outstanding students in Richmond County. We keep talking about fixing these things and, like I said earlier, we continue to offer solutions, but we continue with the same problem. There is a way to fix this. This is a start. Rather than create a new program we know will be underfunded that will benefit, at best, a small handful of school districts, my amendment would ensure that nearly every school district in this country would have Federal funds available to improve diversity and reduce or eliminate racial or socioeconomic isolation in schools. I urge the majority to put the students and families and educators my amendment would benefit before their political interest and take ``yes'' for an answer. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, in response, I understand that we are in unprecedented times, but H.R. 7617 moves our Nation in the wrong direction. We talk about values. Those same children who are in Head Start programs 20 years from now are going to be trying to find a job. Five months ago, we had the best economy in the world. We had more jobs than we had people looking for jobs. Isn't that what America is all about: living the American Dream? Yet what we are doing is those same children--and we say we care about the children--where are you going to get the money? Where are you going to get it? Off their backs? Madam Speaker, we can't continue this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.