Suzanne Bonamici

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of the en bloc amendments and the Moving Forward Act. In the last few months, more than 47 million people in this country filed for unemployment. They need our support. The Moving Forward Act will help address our Nation's deteriorating infrastructure and will help us transition to a clean energy economy while creating high- quality, good-paying jobs. My amendment will make meaningful investments in our workforce through registered apprenticeships and paid on-the-job training programs to fill those jobs. Last year, I worked with Congressman Mitchell, Senator Kaine, and Senator Portman to introduce the Building U.S. Infrastructure By Leveraging Demands for Skills, or BUILDS, Act, to increase workforce diversity in the transportation, infrastructure, and energy sectors. My amendment includes language from this bill to provide individuals who have historically faced barriers to employment, especially women and people of color, with the support, services, and training they need to succeed and to find better-paying jobs with preemployment services, early employment support, and continuing employment services. I thank Chairman DeFazio and Chairman Scott for their support and leadership. I urge my colleagues to support not only the en bloc amendments but the underlying bill, as well.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, the coronavirus pandemic, racial violence, and the climate crisis have all highlighted systemic and pervasive inequalities in our country, especially for Black communities and other people of color. Racial, economic, and climate justice are intrinsically linked. As a member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, I am pleased to stand with my colleagues this morning to release our climate action plan. It is centered on the principles of justice and equity because all people deserve access to clean air, clean water, and a planet free from toxic pollution. After more than a year of hearings, round table discussions, and feedback from people and groups across the country, we have a bold, science-based, comprehensive plan to address the climate crisis. It sets our Nation on a path to reach net-zero emissions no later than mid-century and net-negative thereafter. Our plan focuses on the needs of frontline communities, accelerating our transition to a 100 percent clean-energy economy, and opportunities to create good-paying jobs. Climate solutions are economic solutions. The climate crisis is an existential threat, and we cannot wait to act. In the Pacific Northwest, climate change is already our reality. Raging wildfires each summer result in hazy skies, smoky conditions, and hazardous air quality comparable to some of the most polluted places on the planet. Decreased snowpack in the winter is upending the outdoor recreation industry. Our ocean is absorbing carbon dioxide and becoming more acidic, devastating commercial fisheries. Warmer water temperatures in the Columbia River are further endangering salmon, which are a fundamental part of the identity and culture of northwest Tribes. Droughts and extreme weather jeopardize the livelihoods of our specialty crop farmers who were already struggling to make ends meet. Despite these conditions, there are reasons to remain hopeful. As I travel across northwest Oregon, I have visited with constituents who are already hard at work to protect our planet. At 46 North Farms near the majestic Oregon coast, Teresa Retzlaff and her CSA members are using dry farming practices to provide sustainable food and beautiful flowers for their community. In Hillsboro, Oregon, First Tech Community Credit Union constructed its headquarters out of cross-laminated timber, which creates an airy and healthy workplace and is an example of how we can reduce emissions with our choice of building materials while helping to revitalize rural communities. In Astoria, more than 100 people filled a community room on a Friday afternoon to hear from scientists about how the climate crisis is affecting the health of our ocean. TriMet and Portland General Electric launched the region's first battery electric bus powered by 100 percent renewable wind energy. In Portland, workers at Vigor constructed a massive wave energy buoy that was deployed off the coast of Hawaii to capture the power of our ocean in generating clean energy. And to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, I joined environment and labor leaders to discuss a green road to recovery that creates good-paying jobs. These examples, and so many more, informed our work on the select committee. Our climate action plan is a comprehensive road map for Congress to build a healthy, resilient, and just America. By enacting our recommendations, we would achieve net-zero carbon pollution by no later than mid-century, save more than 60,000 lives each year from reduced air pollution, and generate health and climate benefits that would help save close to $8 trillion. I am also pleased to see many of our recommendations, included in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. As a leader on the Education and Labor Committee and the granddaughter of a coal miner, I know the way we transition to a clean energy economy and support workers is as important as the transition itself. At a time when more than 47 million workers are unemployed, our recovery package must focus on creating and restoring good-paying jobs. We have the opportunity to incorporate investment in climate resilience and clean energy in the process. As co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus and the Congressional Estuary Caucus, I am pleased that our climate action plan recognizes the power of the ocean to be part of the solution. The climate action plan calls for the conservation of at least 30 percent of our ocean by 2030 to help preserve and protect blue carbon ecosystems that can help serve as a natural climate solution by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Our plan provides solutions to protect the planet and make it more resilient for future generations. It will result in communities and an economy that is stronger, healthier, and fairer. Now, we must turn this roadmap into action. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Castor and the select committee staff for their tireless work.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman DeFazio for his leadership. Long-term investments in transportation and infrastructure create good-paying jobs and drive commerce. When we rebuild systems in a sustainable and resilient manner, we reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and support vulnerable communities. I am very pleased that the Moving Forward Act includes many of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Climate Crisis to invest in transit and zero-emission buses, electric vehicle charging stations, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, and predisaster mitigation. As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I am also glad that H.R. 2 includes the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act and childcare infrastructure funding. Schools and childcare facilities across the country are in desperate need of repairs to protect the health and safety of students and staff. In northwest Oregon, it is not a question of if but when we will have a significant earthquake, and so I am very grateful that this bill specifically provides funding for schools vulnerable to seismic natural disasters. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman DeFazio and his hardworking staff.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, this week another month's rent or mortgage is due for millions of Americans who are out of work or barely making ends meet. Without swift action, many struggling Americans will soon face eviction or foreclosure. I rise in strong support of the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act to help desperate families maintain stability by providing additional financial support and expanding protections that were included in the bipartisan CARES Act. A family of five living in Sherwood, Oregon, wrote to me and said: ``It feels cruel to be facing eviction during a pandemic that stripped our family of its only income.'' It feels cruel, because it is cruel. And thousands more families will face the same cruel reality unless the President and Senate join us in acting swiftly. Today, I led many of my colleagues in calling on HUD Secretary Carson to immediately extend protections for tenants in federally supported housing until the comprehensive solution before us today is signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for her leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, this is the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Over the past 10 years, our country has made significant progress in improving access to affordable healthcare-- despite the Trump administration's constant assault on the ACA. Now, in the middle of an unprecedented global health crisis, the administration is in court trying to get rid of the ACA, including its critical protections for people with preexisting conditions. This threatens the health coverage of more than 20 million Americans, nearly half a million of them Oregonians. The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for those with underlying conditions, disproportionately harming Black and Latinx people in communities of color. We should be doing all we can to expand access to affordable healthcare for everyone, not take it away. I strongly support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. This bill will increase coverage, lower costs, and make quality care more accessible for all. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation to keep millions of Americans covered and build on the legacy of the Affordable Care Act.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 76, the veto override. The Obama administration wrote the original borrower defense rule to provide defrauded students with the debt relief they are entitled to under the Higher Education Act. Rather than protect students, however, DeVos rewrote the rule to make it nearly impossible for students who are victimized by deceptive institutions to get the relief they deserve. That is not justice. Mr. Speaker, five months ago, I urged my colleagues to support the resolution to reverse Secretary DeVos' harmful new borrower defense rule. I was glad it passed with bipartisan support. We are here today because the President has chosen to veto the resolution and stand with Secretary DeVos and unscrupulous institutions that cheated students. This is indefensible. Mr. Speaker, we are in a challenging time for our country, but this should not be hard. Let's stand with the victims of deception, the students we represent across the country, not with unscrupulous institutions, not with Secretary DeVos, and not with Donald Trump. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join together and override this veto.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, Black lives matter. I rise in strong support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Black people in this country have been fighting for centuries for freedom, equality, and justice under the law. The senseless death of George Floyd is the latest tragic example of how, too often, the Black community is targeted rather than supported by law enforcement. In Oregon and around the country, people from all backgrounds are demanding change, and the bill before us today answers their call. It bans chokeholds and no-knock warrants, overturns the existing qualified immunity doctrine, creates a public national police misconduct registry, and increases accountability and oversight of Federal, State, and local law enforcement. The bill cannot bring back George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or the countless others who have been killed or mistreated by the very individuals who swore an oath to protect them, but we can honor their memory today by passing this legislation to prevent these abuses going forward. I thank Chairwoman Bass for her leadership.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Debrah Marriott on her retirement as Executive Director of the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership at the end of this month. Throughout her career, Debrah has been a steadfast champion for protecting and advocating for the Lower Columbia River. Debrah has led the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership since its inception, and there is no doubt that the river's habitats and water quality are improved today because of Debrah's leadership, particularly her work on the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus, I have relied on Debrah's expertise for years. Her thoughtful perspective and extensive network through the National Estuary Program have been invaluable. Most recently, she and her staff helped inform my work on the bipartisan Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act. Last year, I had the pleasure of joining Debrah at the groundbreaking of the Steigerwald Reconnection Project, a 960-acre habitat restoration project on the mainstem of the Columbia River that will help salmon, wildlife, and the larger ecosystem flourish. Projects like Steigerwald and countless others along the Columbia River would not exist without Debrah's commitment to collaboration with regional partners. I appreciate her dedication to the ecological benefits of a project, and also her commitment to supporting the region's economic, social, and cultural needs. Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Debrah joined me for a virtual panel discussion earlier this month on how to revitalize our coastal communities. Debrah's tenacity and dedication to protecting our lands and waters has created an incredible legacy of conservation for our region. I thank Debrah for her more than 25 years of dedicated service to Northwest Oregon and congratulate her on her retirement.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. Our nation is experiencing unprecedented job loss as our communities deal with a global health pandemic that is responsible for the deaths of more than 85,000 individuals in our country in just the past few months. We cannot wait another day, another week, or another month to take action. Our communities need help now and they are looking to Congress to lead. I'm grateful for the leadership of the House of Representatives, Speaker Pelosi, and our committee chairs and staff for working with us to put together an ambitious bill that will send needed help to individuals and families in the form of an additional direct stimulus payment; to our state and local governments, which are experiencing extreme budget shortfalls; and to our small businesses that are the backbone of our local economies and the heart of our communities. Although I am disappointed that the bill does not include several provisions including ongoing payments for individuals and families, additional funding to support child care, and a strong investment in our workforce systems, among other things, I will support this step forward. We heard loud and clear from our state and local governments--they need more support to keep our communities safe. This bill includes $915 billion in emergency funding to state and local governments, funding that can be used to help prevent teacher job loss and funding cuts to education and, importantly, the bill expands the use of funds to cover lost, delayed, or decreased revenue from the public health emergency. The HEROES Act also includes $90 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund that can be used to provide emergency support to students--including Dreamers, who were previously excluded from receiving emergency grants--schools, and institutions of higher education. These funds are critical to supporting public colleges and universities, addressing student mental health needs, and purchasing technology and mobile hotspots to support distance learning. Under this proposal, my home state of Oregon would receive approximately $980 million. During this public health crisis, no one should have to choose between affording basic needs or making payments on their student loans. The CARES Act suspended involuntary collection like wage garnishment or reduction of Social Security payments for delinquent federally-owned student loans. The HEROES Act follows my recommendation to extend these protections to all borrowers, including those who have privately held student loans. Building on my earlier efforts to make sure K12 students can access school meals during school closures, this legislation funds school meal and child and adult care food programs with emergency relief that will help schools continue to meet the needs of children and their families. This bill will further help families access nutritious meals by increasing the SNAP benefit level by 15 percent. I am grateful that this bill provides $7 billion for child care, but this is far from the investment that is needed to support families, providers, and the child care workforce at this critical time. I will continue to fight for significant, additional funding in future relief packages. If child care is not available and affordable, families will not be able to return to work. Additionally, I will continue to fight for additional funding for the Community Services Block Grant program to support the vital anti-poverty work of the more than 1,000 Community Action agencies across this country. We cannot overcome this virus until we drastically increase our public health efforts. The HEROES Act provides crucial funding to conduct national testing, implement a contact tracing and surveillance strategy, and allow all Americans to seek treatment for COVID-19 without worrying about the cost. The bill also increases support for our frontline health care providers, invests in public health infrastructure, and expands access to health coverage whether employer- provided, publicly supported, or on the open market. The HEROES Act also provides key resources to older adults and people with disabilities. The bill provides an additional $85 million in funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs that were reauthorized earlier this year by legislation I was proud to lead. This means more resources for supportive services, nutrition programs, assistive technology, and elder rights protection activities. The direct payments to individuals in the CARES Act was an important first step, but I know that too many people in Northwest Oregon and across the country need more support during this health and economic crisis. Although this bill does not provide at least $2,000 per month for individuals through the duration of the pandemic, which I advocated for, it does provide a second stimulus payment of $1200 to most individuals and, importantly, it retroactively fixes a problem in CARES and will now extend direct payments to individuals filing with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers. More than 396,000 Oregonians have filed for unemployment insurance in the last two months. I know how important this support is during the pandemic, and I'm working in Congress to strengthen and expedite access to these benefits. The HEROES Act expands the additional $600 in federal benefits added to every weekly unemployment compensation check through January 2021, and it extends eligibility for self-employed individuals, gig economy workers, and independent contractors. This vital economic support must continue until workers can safely get back on the job. Also it is truly unfortunate that, despite the merits of a more comprehensive approach, the HEROES Act does not include the Paycheck Guarantee Act, legislation spearheaded by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. The Paycheck Guarantee Act would allow most individuals to stay on payroll during this national emergency and keep their benefits, and it would also significantly reduce the number of people filing for Unemployment Insurance. I will continue to advocate for creative approaches like the Paycheck Guarantee Act that maximize the benefits to workers and the economy while also reducing bureaucracy. We need to do more to protect workers from hazardous conditions on the job, and I will keep fighting for workplace protections and personal protective equipment for all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am an original cosponsor of the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act, and I'm pleased that it is included in the HEROES Act with additional funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Protecting essential workers during the pandemic is one of my top priorities. I have also advocated for premium pay for essential workers to recognize their role in sustaining our communities and the sacrifices they are making during the pandemic. The HEROES Act will provide frontline workers who are in contact with patients, the public, or co-workers-- including grocery store workers, health care workers, and first responders--with an additional $13 per hour in premium pay on top of regular wages, up to $10,000. As more communities start to lift stay-at-home orders, all workers need access to paid family, medical, and sick leave benefits. The HEROES Act will help expand access to emergency paid sick leave and emergency paid family and medical leave by eliminating exemptions for health care workers, first responders, workers at businesses with fewer than 50 employees, and workers at businesses with 500 or more employees. And I will keep working with my colleagues to secure permanent paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave for all workers. I started working at Legal Aid while I attended community college, and learned there that people do not struggle by choice. With our national economy upended, consumers face even greater financial hardships and predatory actors continue to take advantage of people facing this crisis. We should have implemented the strengthened consumer protections in the HEROES Act at the beginning of this crisis, and I have continued calls for their passage. I'm glad that the HEROES Act suspends consumer debt collection during the COVID-19 emergency and for 120 days after the end of the national emergency to make sure consumers can fully recover. I worked with the Congressional Progressive Caucus to make debt collection suspension a priority in relief legislation. We know that Oregonians are struggling through no fault of their own, and they should not be further harmed financially. Negative credit reporting will be suspended under the HEROES Act for the duration of this crisis and any future national emergencies. This is an essential step to safeguard consumers most affected by the current outbreak. I have also continued to call for medical debt collection and credit reporting suspensions--needed reforms to prevent a hospital visit from destroying the credit of consumers. I am glad to see that medical debt related to coronavirus treatments will not result in adverse credit information; however, we must give consumers the flexibility to settle their medical debt before it shows up on a credit report and we must continue to fight so everyone can access affordable health care. The HEROES Act also clarifies the intent of the CARES Act by preventing the garnishment, levy, or seizing of direct payment for private debts. I have been a vocal advocate for stopping unfair garnishment and protecting payments like Social Security and other essential earned benefits. Oregon has strong laws to prevent unfair price hikes during crises like the current pandemic. I am continuing to work with Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on ways to expand Oregon's protections to all Americans. It's beneficial that the HEROES Act includes provisions to stop unconscionably excessive prices on necessities like food, hygiene products, personal protective equipment, and health services. Workforce boards, labor unions, community colleges, community-based organizations, small businesses, and other stakeholders are training health care, direct care, and front-line workers, but they are in desperate need of more resources. I am pleased that the HEROES Act includes $2.5 billion for adult education, youth training, dislocated worker grants, migrant and seasonal farmworker programs, and public health worker recruitment and training as authorized in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, but this funding is insufficient to meet the scale of the crisis at hand. For comparison, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act provided more than $7.7 billion in workforce funding. To respond to the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, we need at least $15.1 billion in supplemental federal investments to help prevent further layoffs and provide dislocated workers and employers with access to employment services like training, career navigation, and supportive services. I will keep working with my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee to advance the Relaunching America's Workforce Act because the historic unemployment levels over the last two months require an equally historic response to support workers. No one should be forced to choose between paying their bills and paying for food, but as Oregonians face the ongoing economic consequences of COVID-19, this is becoming a reality for too many working families. This bill includes $175 billion to assist renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments, and other housing-related costs. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is an important wraparound support that helps low-income families pay for heating and cooling bills. The HEROES Act includes another $1.5 billion in supplemental funding for LIHEAP, but many more households will need and likely qualify for assistance in the coming weeks and months. Additionally, as individuals comply with stay-at-home orders across the country during the pandemic, they will likely be using more electricity and heat or air conditioning to keep their homes habitable. As we work to craft the next response package, I will keep fighting for more funding for LIHEAP to provide tangible assistance to families who are struggling to pay their bills. I also advocated for assistance similar to LIHEAP that would help households economically affected by COVID-19 with drinking water and wastewater services during this national emergency. The HEROES Act includes an additional $1.5 billion for this support. The success of our economic recovery will depend on the success of our small businesses. The Paycheck Protection Program was a good first lifeline for many, but many business owners are concerned about artificial timelines and a lack of flexibility in the program. I'm glad that the HEROES Act will extend the coverage period to the end of 2020 and give businesses additional flexibility while still adhering to local stay-at-home orders that may not allow them to fully open and resume operating for some time to come. The bill would also expand PPP eligibility to additional nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes, as well as provide an additional $10 billion in economic injury disaster grants (EIDL) through the Small Business Administration. Fisheries are an important part of our economy in Northwest Oregon, and I know that our coastal communities need more assistance to get through these challenging times. The HEROES Act provides an additional $100 million in disaster funding, and I will keep working to secure more direct assistance for fisheries and the domestic seafood supply chain. Northwest Oregon is known for its prestigious specialty crops, and our farmers have been struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. The HEROES Act will also support our specialty crop farmers by providing $100 million for specialty crop grants and $50 million for support for local farmers markets and other direct to consumer markets. This bill addresses one of the key shortcomings of previous legislative efforts; the exclusion of individuals from direct economic relief because of their immigration status. The HEROES Act retroactively extends direct payments to mixed-status families and immigrants who file taxes using ITINs, and it expands eligibility for other economic support. It removes barriers to testing, treatment, vaccines, and other health care based solely on immigration status and automatically extends work permits for individuals with DACA or TPS. The bill offers protections from ICE removal and employment authorization for individuals in critical industries, including agricultural workers and meatpackers. It also requires ICE to review its detention policies and find alternatives for individuals not subject to mandatory detention. Importantly, the HEROES Act strengthens our democratic institutions with new resources to conduct secure, reliable elections using vote-by- mail. Oregonians have used this trusted method of voting for more than twenty years, and it should be implemented nationwide as a simple and safe solution that will increase access while allowing voters to maintain physical distancing measures. We must act quickly and decisively to curb the spread of COVID-19 and create conditions that will allow us to begin our recovery, but we must also act boldly so our response is sufficient to prevent a widespread resurgence of the virus. We must also not leave behind any segment of our society as we work to repair the immense and harmful economic damage that we see across Oregon and the country. We are all safer and healthier when everyone in our communities is safer and healthier. I commend House leadership for putting forward a proposal that responsibly addresses the desperate need we are currently facing while also acknowledging the potentially disastrous costs of doing too little. I urge all my colleagues to support our nurses, first responders, grocery workers, and all frontline heroes by supporting this legislation.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize May 5, 2020 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Today, we recognize our nation's devastating history of colonization and the disproportionate effects for Native women. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed health care inequalities in our country, especially the health care available to Native communities. But we must be equally concerned about the number of Native women and girls that face incredible violence in this country every day. In the United States, Native women face tragically high rates of violence, sexual assault, and murder. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native women. These rates are ten times higher than the national average and far too often, families are left without answers. I am a cosponsor of Savanna's Act, which will recognize Native women and make sure that their invisibility to law enforcement ends. The bill would create and improve procedures, communication, and cooperation among federal, state, tribal, and local agencies that may share jurisdiction over crimes against Native women. We cannot allow the experiences of Native communities continue to slip through bureaucracy. Today, I am calling on House Leadership to quickly bring this bill to the floor. I am thankful for the work of the City of Portland to shine a light on this issue by passing a resolution later this week calling attention to this urgent crisis. We need to all work together to demand action. We must strive to better understand the institutional racism and systemic inequalities that Native communities face. I will keep fighting for justice for those who are missing or murdered, and I remain committed to taking action to prevent these crimes in the future.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. This interim legislation is critical to support our small businesses and healthcare systems, but we must do much more to support families, communities, and our economy. In the wake of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, Congress acted swiftly to provide funding for hospitals and healthcare facilities, schools, states and localities, and small businesses. Unfortunately, the funding was not sufficient to meet the need and too many small businesses are left wondering if they can survive. I have heard from small business owners from across Northwest Oregon who were unable to access the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Grant funding. They described their frustration as the money was quickly exhausted; a significant amount going to large restaurant chains while small mom and pop businesses were left out. The pandemic continues to ravage communities and our economy remains largely shut down through no fault of the small business owners and workers who need our help in this unprecedented time. The bill before us today will provide the assistance those businesses need. The bill includes $310 billion in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, with $60 billion of that funding dedicated for lending by community-based and small- and mid-sized lenders, including credit unions, community banks, and other institutions that are prepared to lend to that small businesses that have traditionally been overlooked, such as minority- owned businesses, businesses owned by women and veterans, and small businesses in our rural communities. We must make sure this money gets to mom and pop businesses. The bill also bolsters the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Grant programs by providing $60 billion in funding, and expanding the program so farmers and many agricultural enterprises are eligible. The programs provide funding for small businesses to cover operating expenses, but were similarly underfunded for the demand. H.R. 266 also provides $75 billion in much-needed funding for our hospitals and healthcare facilities. We know that these facilities are operating without the resources they need, and are unable to cover expenses because they can't perform elective procedures during stay home orders. The bill also includes $25 billion to expand testing, including funding for states and localities, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and the Food and Drug Administration. We need to vastly expand testing capabilities if we are going to be able to get a handle on this pandemic, so I am thankful that this funding was included. The funding included in this bill is critical to help our country, but we must do so much more to support workers, small businesses, and communities. Our work is far from done. I am continuing to fight for robust child care support, increased funding and capabilities for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, funding for workers and our workforce system through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and expanded access to capital through our credit unions to make it easier for them to lend to small businesses. I am also fighting to make sure that our state and local governments receive more funding, students and teachers have the resources they need, that people receive additional economic impact payments, and that our immigrant community is included in future relief efforts. I'm also advocating for workplace protection standards and essential pay for frontline workers during this pandemic. I am extremely disappointed that this bill doesn't recognize the increased number of people who are now food insecure and lack additional SNAP benefits that individuals and families desperately need. As we move forward, I will continue to fight for robust legislation to help individuals, families, and our communities and small businesses around the country.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr, Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Our country is suffering from a pandemic on an unimaginable scale, and this legislation will provide critical support to workers and families, small businesses, healthcare providers, student loan borrowers, and people struggling to make ends meet. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that we need direct payments to individuals to strengthen and rebuild our economy and to assist everyone with basics needs, such as rent and groceries. The pandemic has caused businesses to shutter without clarity about if or when they will be able to reopen, and it has left workers with the uncertainty of whether they will have a job to return to when this crisis ends. I'm pleased that this bill provides a direct cash payment of up to $1200 for individuals making up to $75,000, and at least $2400 for families making up to $150,000. This is a good start, but Congress will need to extend this assistance if the pandemic continues as expected. Last week more than 3 million people applied for Unemployment Insurance benefits, including more than 76,500 claims in Oregon. This is the highest number in our country's recorded history. The bill we are passing today will expand Unemployment Insurance to part-time, self-employed, and gig economy workers and it bolsters the weekly benefit by an additional $600. Incentives for states to eliminate waiting periods for enrollment of UI and an additional 13 weeks of federal funded unemployment benefits are also included. Additionally, the bill includes rent assistance and additional funding for SNAP. In addition to providing for cash payments and enhanced UI benefits, the bill greatly increases wraparound services that families across the country need. The bill includes an increase in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding to help people heat and cool their homes, a moratorium on many evictions and foreclosures, more than $30 billion to help school districts and higher education institutions, and a six- month pause on payment and interest accrual of federal student loans. Furthermore, I advocated for the Treasury Department to temporarily halt wage garnishment and collection programs for certain unpaid debts, and this bill incorporates provisions to suspend involuntary collections of student loans, including garnishing wages, tax refunds, and essential benefits like Social Security. We also know that now, more than ever, we need to be taking care of our seniors and the most vulnerable. My legislation, the Advocating for Older Americans During Coronavirus Crisis Act, was included in the bill. These provisions will make sure that seniors in long-term care facilities have access to support advocates during the crisis. I also led my colleagues in advocating for funding for workforce development programs for workers displaced or dislocated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although I am pleased that this bill includes some funding for employment services, much more is needed to support our nation's economic recovery and the success of workers. As a leader on the Education and Labor Committee, I will continue to fight to protect workers, families, students, and seniors throughout this crisis. Additionally, many small business owners have had to close because of the pandemic. Their owners have told me that they do not know if or when they'll be able to return to normal operations. This legislation provides $377 billion for small businesses, including $350 billion in loans for small businesses and non-profits to use to cover their expenses. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if the proceeds are used to retain employees and keep the businesses open. I also advocated on behalf of the arts and humanities community to make sure that relief for non-profits was included in this bill. Small and medium sized farms in Northwest Oregon are continuing to supply our food chain, but this pandemic is disrupting the livelihoods of farmers, their families, and their employees. I advocated for additional funding to send directly to farmers, and I'm pleased that this package includes $9.5 billion in emergency funding for agriculture, including growers of our prized specialty crops. Our health care workers and hospitals have been on the front lines of fighting this pandemic, and this legislation secures $150 billion in funding to support those efforts. The bill makes sure those critical care providers have the resources they need to respond to the crisis by making additional investments in public health infrastructure, community health systems, vaccine development, and funds for the purchase of critical medical supplies. Importantly, that funding will be used to acquire urgently needed personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies, as well as new facility construction to meet the demand. There is more we need do to get PPE into the hands of our health care providers and first responders, and I'll be focusing my efforts on increasing production of domestic manufacturing in the days and weeks ahead. Our frontline workers would not be able to do their lifesaving work without robust child care support. This bill provides an additional $3.5 billion in Child Care Development Block Grant funding to make sure that nurses, firefighters, doctors, and others who are still working are able to access child care, and that our child care providers have the financial support necessary to keep their doors open and safely care for children. There is also additional funding for Head Start programs. For weeks, states have been shouldering the burden of combating the pandemic, and this bill provides critical funding to support their ongoing efforts. The legislation creates a Coronavirus Relief Fund for states, and Oregon will receive more than $1.6 billion to help pay for the costs associated with fighting coronavirus. The bill also contains funding for Community Development Block Grants, which will help our local communities rebuild. As we continue to battle this pandemic, I am so grateful for manufacturers across Oregon and around the country are stepping up and working on innovative ways to provide assistance. The bill will make it easier for manufacturers to make personal protective equipment and get it into the hands of those who need it most. I championed a provision in the bill that increases federal funding for Manufacturing USA Institutes and our local manufacturing extension partnerships, and a cost share waiver so that partnerships like the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership can begin their work without delay. I also advocated for strengthening of the Defense Production Act to support our manufacturers in meeting the PPE shortage, and I am pleased that this bill includes $1. billion in DPA funding to strengthen the domestic supply chain. Finally, this bill includes $500 billion in loans to companies to provide security to our economy. We fought tirelessly to make sure that these loans are subject to strong oversight and robust guardrails to provide accountability and protect the American workforce. Companies that participate in the bill's loan program must not engage in stock buyback for the life of the loan plus one year, there are restrictions on executive compensation increases, and collective bargaining agreements are protected. The bill creates a Treasury Department Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery and a Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, as well as a Congressional Oversight Committee to make sure that the loan program is fully transparent and accountable to the American people. Importantly, the bill prohibits businesses controlled by the President, his family, and members of Congress from receiving loans under the program. We will continue to provide vigorous oversight over these companies and further advance the needs of workers in future legislation to promote economic recovery. I thank Speaker Pelosi for her leadership in negotiating this critical package. There is much more work we must do on behalf of Oregonians and people around the country, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to enact policies to help working families.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4334) to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of International Women's Day on March 8 to call attention to women around the world who have risked their personal safety and freedom to speak out for the rights of all women. I am particularly inspired by the example of three brave Saudi women who have spent nearly 2 years imprisoned or under house arrest because of their fearless advocacy. These three women, Loujain Al-Hathloul, Nouf Abdulaziz, and Eman Al- Nafjan, are outstanding examples of the many Saudi activists who bravely fought to stop Saudi Arabia's male guardianship, fought to end its prohibition on women driving, and fought to open up female participation in elections and public office. And although the government ostensibly granted such freedoms in 2018, these three women continue to face different injustices, including torture or threats of murder and sexual violence and limited access to family or legal representation. Loujain has been particularly targeted for her courageous leadership within this women's movement. Her selfless commitment has paved the way for crucial social reforms, but unfortunately, the Saudi Government has attempted to undermine her contributions with politically-motivated criminal charges, a lengthy imprisonment, and inhumane abuse. This incredible woman deserves to be honored, not jailed, which is why I recently led several colleagues in nominating Loujain for the Nobel Peace Prize and will continue to advocate for her through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project. This Congress, we have already adopted a bipartisan resolution in the House to urge for the release of these women and other activists. Today, we call on Saudi Arabia once again to free these women and to lift the threat of their continued persecution. To maintain our international leadership, the United States has a moral obligation to uphold democratic principles. The President, the Secretary of State, and the entire Trump administration must increase its diplomatic pressure to demand the release of these women and hold the Saudi Government accountable for its appalling disregard of human rights. As we recognize this International Women's Day, we are reminded to look beyond our borders; to continue to bring attention to the urgent and ongoing human rights violations that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committing. I ask that all women and their allies throughout the United States and around the world and all men join me in standing with these amazing Saudi feminists in demanding that they be freed.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, Benjamin Franklin said: ``An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.'' I agree. I am proud to lead the Public Schools Week resolution with my colleagues, Representatives Pocan, Graves, and Thompson. This resolution recognizes the importance of and contributions of our public schools to the country and to our Nation's young people. I came to Congress to strengthen public education and to make sure that all students, regardless of their race, color, national origin, ZIP Code, or family wealth, have an equal opportunity to obtain a high- quality, well-rounded public education. At the State of the Union, I was disappointed to hear the President dismiss public schools as failing government schools. Public schools are not disconnected from the communities around them. They are our schools, our children, our students in our communities; and it is our collective responsibility to do all we can to strengthen, not weaken, our system of public education. I will continue to fight for public schools every day, and I am proud to honor them this week.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I was unable to be on the House floor on February 26, 2020, because my flight from Oregon was canceled. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 4852, the G.I. and Veterans Education Empowerment Act, and H.R. 2490, to amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I was unable to be on the House floor on February 26, 2020, because my flight from Oregon was canceled. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 35, legislation to make lynching a federal hate crime. This bill is named in memory of Emmett Till, a fourteen- year-old African American child from Chicago who was brutally tortured and murdered in 1955 by two white men during a trip to visit family in Mississippi. An all-white jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding the men not guilty of Till's murder. Emmett is one of thousands of African American children, men, and women who have been lynched in this country in the past four centuries. Our country's historical acceptance of lynching is appalling, and by passing this bill Congress took an important step in recognizing lynching for what it is--a hate crime. For hundreds of years people have escaped convictions and justice has been denied. This legislation cannot and will not undo those unspeakable crimes, but it is an important step in reckoning with our nation's history. I am grateful for Rep. Rush's leadership in advancing this bill, and I urge the Senate to quickly pass the bill so it can become law.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to remove the arbitrary deadline to ratify the equal rights amendment. This year is the centennial of the 19th Amendment, yet women are still fighting for full and equal rights under the law. Women continue to face many barriers to true equality, including pregnancy and gender discrimination, unequal pay, and a lack of access to a full range of reproductive healthcare services. The equal rights amendment to the Constitution would provide for fundamental equality for women regardless of who is President, who is on the Supreme Court, or changes in Federal law. Congress first approved the equal rights amendment in 1972, and my home State of Oregon was quick to ratify it the following year. Now, 38 States--the required three-fourths under the Constitution--have ratified the amendment. Today Congress will stand with our States and make it clear that it is time--actually way past time--to adopt the equal rights amendment. It is not too late to do the right thing. It is not too late for equality. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, the City of Hillsboro, and Washington County on the 125th anniversary of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. The City of Hillsboro has grown from its agrarian roots to emerge as an economic engine in the State of Oregon. Since the Hillsboro Chamber was founded in 1895, it has worked tirelessly with local business and community leaders to bring greater opportunities to the people of Hillsboro. When the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived, the ability to export wheat, hops, berries, onions, and dairy helped expand a commercial district in the community that eventually led to the formation of the Chamber. The Chamber emerged as an advocate for farmers and community members and, over time, the economic prospects of a once sleepy agrarian town expanded. During the Great Depression, the Hillsboro Chamber committed itself to unifying the community in difficult financial times, helping to lift spirits with celebrations such as Happy Days, Hillsboro Bargain Days, and the Harvest Festival. The Chamber also helped the local economy survive by partnering with the City of Hillsboro to administer funds that were used to employ workers to expand runways at the airport, build a post office and hospital, and improve a municipal water system. These early investments in infrastructure have helped make Hillsboro and the surrounding region a hub for the semiconductor and high technology industry. Silicon Forest, as it is known today, will continue to lead the way in development of new technologies and innovative thinking. Even with the expansion of the economy and growth of modern industry, the Chamber has continued to support small business owners and community members, making sure they have the opportunity to participate in the growing economy. In 1995, The Hillsboro Chamber created the School to Career Program, which has developed an important workforce pipeline to connect high school students from schools throughout Washington County to career opportunities in their communities. By connecting employers to educators and community leaders, the Hillsboro Chamber is also at the forefront of rethinking post-secondary opportunities for its community members. The 125th anniversary of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce is a testament to how a collaborative commitment between multiple stakeholders makes a community better for everyone. Although Hillsboro and the surrounding region look very different now, the spirit of collaboration and seeking opportunity in Hillsboro remains the same.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Scott for his leadership. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Income inequality is challenging our communities and our future. In northwest Oregon and across the country, the labor movement has helped fight income inequality, raise wages, improve working conditions, and expand benefits. More workers would join a union if given a choice, but many feel retaliation for supporting or engaging in organizing efforts. Under current law, tactics to intimidate, coerce, or fire workers involved in union organizing are illegal, but the penalties aren't strong enough to deter employers. I helped ban captive audience meetings when I served in the Oregon legislature, but these rights should be protected for every worker in the country. We should be making it easier, not harder, for workers to form unions and collectively bargain. I am an original cosponsor of Chairman Scott's Protecting the Right to Organize Act. Under this bill, employers who break the rules will finally be held accountable. Today, by supporting the bipartisan PRO Act, we can support workers, restore fairness, and help to make sure our economy works for everyone. Mr. Chairman, I insert in the Record letters in support of the PRO Act from the BlueGreen Alliance and more than 70 environmental groups. BlueGreen Alliance, January 31, 2020. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: As a coalition of some of the nation's largest labor unions and environmental organizations, collectively representing millions of members and supporters, we write to express the BlueGreen Alliance's support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2019, H.R. 2474. In the United States, we face a critical juncture for the rights of employees to organize. As Supreme Court cases and anti-union legislators and their financial backers seek to strip workers of their rights, we need a strong law on the books to ensure that workers are not penalized for organizing and demanding collective bargaining for higher wages, safer working conditions, and better benefits. Union membership has fallen dramatically from 33 percent in 1956 to ten percent in 2018, due in large part to exploitation by employers of labor laws that have been made toothless. As it stands, no meaningful penalties exist for corporations using illegal tactics to eliminate the option to organize. Additionally, workers now are facing record wage inequality, and we know based on the National Bureau of Economic Research's statistics that unions consistently provide working Americans with ten to twenty percent higher wages than non-unionized workers. Empowering workers to band together to negotiate better wages and safer working conditions is the best path forward to protecting our workers and rebuilding America's middle class. Organizing does not just affect job quality, though: unionized workers are better equipped to handle potentially hazardous workplace situations, and have more freedom to blow the whistle in dangerous situations. This can avert industrial accidents and result in safer communities, as well as cleaner air and water. Many unions also take firm positions on environmental issues because they understand the impact that clean air and water have on workers. Unions have supported the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other actions designed to both reduce the carbon pollution driving climate change and grow good-paying jobs in the clean economy. The PRO Act empowers employees by strengthening workers' rights to bargain and to organize. It does so by ending prohibitions on collective and class-action litigation, prohibiting employers from permanently replacing striking employees, amending how employees are defined so that no one is misclassified as an independent contractor, strengthening remedies and enforcement for employees who are exercising their rights, creating a mediation and arbitration process for new unions, protecting against coercive captive audience meetings, and streamlining the National Labor Relations Board's procedures. The PRO Act would take tangible steps to stem the tide of continued violations of the rights of working people to organize and would provide real consequences for those who violate the rights of workers. We must restore fairness to our economy so that workers no longer get a raw deal, and strengthen the right of workers all over the country to unionize and bargain for better working conditions. For these reasons, the BlueGreen Alliance urges you to vote yes on the PRO Act. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jason Walsh, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Gun Violence Survivors Week and to honor and support the Oregonians and people across the country who have been affected by gun violence. Gun violence is a public health crisis in this country. Each year, more than 36,000 people, nationwide, including almost 500 Oregonians, are killed by guns, and more than 100,000 people across the country are injured by gunfire. For those survivors of gun violence and the friends and families of those killed, life will never be the same. Nobody is immune to the threat of gun violence, and communities have been forced to take what should be unthinkable steps to protect themselves. Parents are buying bulletproof backpacks for their young children. Schools across the country are conducting active-shooter drills to make sure their students know what to do in the event of an attack. These drills often cause trauma for students and for educators. At a townhall meeting, a student told me the first thing she does when she goes into a classroom is she looks where to hide and how to escape. As a mom, this is heartbreaking; as a policymaker, it is unacceptable. Kids in classrooms should be focused on learning, not being fearful for their lives. This is not normal, and it should never be normal. But there is reason to be hopeful. Families and communities in Oregon and around the country are rising up and demanding change. Students are demanding that Congress finally take action to protect them. This Congress, we took the critical step of passing H.R. 8, a comprehensive bipartisan background check bill that will save lives if it is enacted. I call on Leader McConnell to immediately bring H.R. 8 to the floor. We cannot wait any longer. Every day this bill languishes in the Senate is another day when people are dying in Oregon and around the country. We will not rest until we have done all we can to reduce gun violence in this country. We owe it to the children who are looking for a place to hide in the classrooms; we owe it to the families who are mourning their loved ones they have lost; and we owe it to the communities that are forever changed by gun violence. I stand in solidarity with the survivors of gun violence.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4044, the Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus, I am pleased to support this bill to reauthorize the National Estuary Program through Fiscal Year 2026. The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, in my home state of Oregon, is one of the twenty-eight National Estuary Programs across the country. The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership is leading outstanding resiliency efforts in the Pacific Northwest to restore and protect habitat, improve water quality, restore flood plains, and address marine debris. This bill will help the National Estuary Programs consider the effects of extreme weather events that are increasingly common in the climate crisis, and implement appropriate adaptation strategies in their management plans. Additionally, this bill takes important steps to allow the NEPs to better address storm water runoff, coastal resiliency, and accelerate land loss mitigation efforts. This past weekend, we celebrated World Wetlands Day. Our coastal wetlands and estuaries are often overlooked and undervalued, but they are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. We can help support and safeguard our National Estuary Programs by passing the Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 76, which will reverse the Trump administration's harmful new borrower defense rule. The initial borrower defense rule was designed to provide defrauded students with the debt relief they are entitled to receive under the Higher Education Act. Unfortunately, Secretary DeVos rewrote the rule to make it nearly impossible for future students who are victimized by deceptive institutions to get the relief they need and deserve. According to the Department's own estimate, only about 3 percent of the loan debt held by defrauded borrowers would be dismissed under the new rule. That is not justice for victims of fraud. We must also continue our work to update the Higher Education Act to prevent unscrupulous institutions from harming students and taxpayers in the first place. The College Affordability Act will hold institutions accountable and make college more affordable and equitable for everyone. I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 76 today and the College Affordability Act when it comes to the floor.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Scott for yielding. Mr. Chairman, today, by supporting the bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, we can protect the civil rights of older workers who are striving to provide for themselves and their families. According to recent data from the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of retirement-age Americans in the labor force has doubled since 1985. Unfortunately, age discrimination in the workplace remains disturbingly pervasive. According to the AARP, three in five workers over the age of 45 reported seeing or experiencing age discrimination on the job. Americans are living and working longer, and we must do all we can to protect them from discrimination. My home State of Oregon has one of the most rapidly aging populations in this country. I have heard from workers, many in the technology industry, who believe they have been dismissed or denied employment because of their age. My office has helped older workers who have filed age discrimination complaints at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but the burden and the outcomes are very uncertain. In 1967 Congress passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or ADEA, to prohibit age discrimination in the workplace and to promote the employment of older workers. Then in 2009 the Supreme Court in the Gross case changed the burden of proof for workers and made it much harder for workers to prove age discrimination. This bipartisan bill simply returns the burden of proof to what it was for decades before the Gross case. I joined Chairman Scott and Congressman Sensenbrenner in reintroducing the bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act to amend the ADEA and our other core civil rights laws: the anti-retaliation provision of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. We need to make our laws clear. Unlawful discrimination in the workplace is unacceptable. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Scott and Congressman Sensenbrenner for their work on this important issue, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.