Lisa Blunt Rochester

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Anthony DePrima, who is retiring from his position as Energize Delaware's Executive Director on March 17th. Tony moved to the First State in the 1990's to work for the city government of Dover, the capital of my home state of Delaware. He rose from planning director to city manager, and always kept a special focus on green energy. Tony has been instrumental in bringing renewable energy and environmentally friendly energy production to our state. Energize Delaware knew that Tony was the perfect choice as their first Executive Director when they brought him on board in 2011. Since then, he has overseen the nonprofit's expansion into several sectors and has had a constant passion for helping all Delawareans live more energy efficient lives. Tony was recently recognized for his work by the Delaware Business Times as Medium Nonprofit CEO of the Year in 2022. Along with his work with Energize Delaware, Tony is the vice president of the Capital School District Board of Education, the board treasurer of NeighborGood Partners, the board treasurer of Kent County Conservancy, the past president of the Dover Library Foundation, and a member of the Capital City Rotary in Dover. Among it all, he found the time to earn a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware in 2018. Tony DePrima's commitment to serving his community and the state of Delaware is nothing short of admirable. I am proud to salute him for his work and wish him all the best in retirement.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, amendment No. 71.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment that ensures that, under the rule of construction, nothing in this legislation may be understood to repudiate the fact that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced significantly in order to meet our global agreement under the Paris Agreement. Specifically, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by half from 2005 levels by 2030, and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions must be achieved by 2050 to meet this commitment. We need legislative action that brings us closer to achieving our emissions goals, not further from it. In Delaware, as the State with the lowest mean elevation in the country, we feel the impacts of climate change every single day. From our environmental justice communities in Wilmington, where when it rains, it floods; to our farmers, who must adjust to rising temperatures and deal with saltwater intrusion; to our coastal communities, where a sea level rise is an imminent threat to our homes, our economy, and our natural resources, we in Delaware are living among the escalating effects of climate change. I know Delawareans are not alone in this. Wildfires and drought continue to ravage our Western States, and hurricanes are becoming more frequent and stronger across the Gulf Coast and East Coast. All of us are feeling the impacts of climate change, which is why we must all work together to satisfy our commitment under the Paris Agreement to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We need legislation that doesn't force us backward but, instead, propels us forward to a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable planet. Mr. Chair, I urge the support of all of my colleagues on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to welcome home the distinguished Delawarean Bryan Stevenson and to celebrate his impressive career fighting for fairness and equity in the criminal justice system. Mr. Stevenson was born in the town of Milton, a rural community in southern Delaware. It was in the First State and at the Prospect African Methodist Episcopal Church where Mr. Stevenson started to nurture his belief in redemption that ``each person in our society is more than the worst thing they've ever done.'' Raised by a strong Sussex County family, Mr. Stevenson began to show the leadership and passion for public service that would propel him in life. At Cape Henlopen High School, he excelled academically and served as the student body president. He won several public speaking contests, demonstrating rhetorical prowess that would soon lead him to argue landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Stevenson would go on to earn a J.D. and M.P.P. from Harvard University and the position of Professor of Law at the New York University School of Law. In 1989, Mr. Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a non-profit based in Montgomery, Alabama, that provides legal representation to wrongly convicted prisoners, especially Alabama prisoners on death row. One of EJI's first clients was Walter McMillian, a Black man convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a young white woman. Due to Mr. Stevenson's systematic dismantling of the prosecution's case, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Mr. McMillian's conviction was unconstitutional. The State of Alabama finally dropped charges after mounting evidence proved Mr. McMillian's innocence. On March 3, 1993, Mr. McMillian was released from death row and walked out of a courtroom a free man. At the time, Mr. McMillian was one of the first to be exonerated from death row since the end of the civil rights movement. Since Mr. McMillian was exonerated, Mr. Stevenson and EJI prevented more than 130 people from receiving the death penalty. Mr. Stevenson personally argued several cases before the Supreme Court and won major landmark decisions reshaping American jurisprudence. In the 2012 case, Miller v Alabama, Mr. Stevenson successfully argued that the imposition of a mandatory life-sentence- without-parole for a juvenile violates the 8th Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. In the 2019 case, Madison v. Alabama, Mr. Stevenson successfully secured a ruling that would protect prisoners who suffer from dementia from execution. These cases before the Supreme Court demonstrate Mr. Stevenson's commitment to equity in the criminal justice system and prove that Mr. Stevenson is one of America's best public interest attorneys. Yet the good works of Mr. Stevenson were not confined to his successes in the courtroom. In 2018, Mr. Stevenson and EJI opened two new museums in Montgomery to chronicle the legacy of slavery and racial segregation. The Legacy Museum chronicled the post-slavery evolution of racial violence in sharecropping, Jim Crow, and mass incarceration. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice records the names of 4,400 victims of lynchings from 1877 through 1950. Through EJI, he launched major efforts to address the legacy of slavery in America. EJI has published several studies on racial violence and inequities in the law and state constitutions, including the highly influential Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror. He also brought public attention to the racial injustices of the U.S. legal system as the author of the bestselling 2015 memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption and adapted into the 2019 film, Just Mercy. Both the memoir and film received significant awards and nominations, including NAACP Image Awards, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, and the nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards. On October 8, 2022, I will have the privilege to join the Town of Milton and the Milton Community Foundation to honor the selfless dedication of Mr. Stevenson. Our country is so blessed to have him as a steward of justice. As he has so eloquently said--we all have a responsibility to create a just society. How fortunate we are to have Bryan Stevenson as our leader of that movement.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor and commemorate the life of former Wilmington City Councilwoman Rysheema Dixon. We lost Councilwoman Dixon unexpectedly and far too soon on September 16, 2022. During her 35 years of life, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, entrepreneurship, and dedication to public service. The people of Delaware, myself included, will profoundly miss Councilwoman Dixon and her inimitable spirit. Councilwoman Dixon was born in Philadelphia and moved to Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 15. After graduating from the University of Delaware in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, she began her career by serving two terms with Public Allies Delaware. Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program at the University of Delaware's Center for Community Research and Service, recruits and trains emerging leaders with a passion for social justice and impact. In 2013, Councilwoman Dixon furthered her education, earning her master's degree from the University of Delaware. She would later return to her alma mater as an educator, to share the knowledge she had gained with the next generation of students, serving as a professor of social entrepreneurship. Councilwoman Dixon was a true public servant. As the first Black woman and youngest candidate to win an at-large Wilmington City Council seat, she was an exceptional and tireless advocate for her community. During her time in office, she established a legacy of inclusion, creative policymaking, and fearlessness. Notably, Councilwoman Dixon served as Chair of the Community Development & Urban Planning Committee, Chair of the Health, Aging, & Disabilities Committee, and Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee. Among her significant legislative accomplishments was the launch of Wilmington's first disparity study which would help ensure Wilmington City government used its purchasing power fairly and equitably. She also sponsored legislation promoting sex education, consent, and reproductive health. In addition to her years of direct public service, I must also mention Councilwoman Dixon's entrepreneurial prowess and talents in business. In 2011, she founded RD Innovative Planning, now called RD Innovative Solutions. The organization aims to educate and support individuals advocating for more equitable access to affordable services and resources. With issues spanning from health care to nutrition, education, youth development, and beyond, RD Innovative Solutions offers support and advice. Councilwoman Dixon remained the Chief Executive Officer until her untimely passing. Councilwoman Dixon also served as Executive Director of Delaware Pathways to Apprenticeship which helps individuals from low-income communities attain apprenticeships and sets them up for future success. The program serves particularly vulnerable groups including formerly incarcerated people, those on public assistance, and Delawareans living in public housing. This year, Councilwoman Dixon launched a Global Social Entrepreneurship program in Liberia to reach young people across the world. I know I am in the company of so many Delawareans in my grief at Councilwoman Dixon's passing. She was a singular force in the First State and in our world, and we will never forget her kindness, tenacity, compassion, and service. I extend my deepest condolences to Councilwoman Dixon's parents and loved ones. Councilwoman Rysheema Dixon made a true difference in Delaware and beyond, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to know her. She will be missed and remembered forever.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of the Inflation Reduction Act. Oh, what a day in America. From lowering prescription drug prices for seniors, to closing tax loopholes on the wealthiest corporations, to making the largest investment in clean energy in history to tackle the climate crisis, the Inflation Reduction Act will help improve the lives of every single American. It will do it all while paying down the deficit. I am particularly proud that the bill includes my climate smart ports provisions with my colleague, Ms. Barragan, which invests in ports across the Nation, like the Port of Wilmington, allowing them to upgrade their facilities, lower their carbon footprint, and create more good-paying union jobs. Madam Speaker, in a session of Congress that has already seen remarkable landmark legislation passed, the Inflation Reduction Act is the capstone of our efforts to deliver. With this bill, we continue to put people over politics.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Mr. Ernest B. Marvel, proud World War Two Veteran and recent recipient of France's highest distinction, the Ordre national de la Legion d'honneur, also known as the Legion of Honor. On July 13, 2022, Mr. Marvel was presented the Legion of Honor by the French Ambassador to the United States, Phillipe Etienne. The Legion of Honor was first created over two centuries ago to reward eminent military and civil merits in service or defense of France. Created as an order of merit, foreign citizens may be awarded this recognition for their actions in support of France. For a World War Two Veteran like Mr. Marvel to be awarded the Legion of Honor, they must prove they were involved in combat operations within France. As a Private First Class with the 45th Infantry Division of the United States Army, Mr. Marvel's service demonstrated exceptional bravery, character, and valor. Arriving in France shortly after the Battle of the Bulge, Mr. Marvel was soon given a vital mission to clear mines and booby traps. That mission brought Mr. Marvel and another soldier into direct contact with enemy troops. For his successful actions that day, Mr. Marvel was awarded the Bronze Star. After this action, Mr. Marvel participated in several dangerous combat missions to help liberate France from Nazi Germany, including missions as a bazooka-man and in notable amphibious operations across the Rhine River. Despite the significant combat Mr. Marvel and his unit saw in Europe, perhaps the most harrowing experience was their actions to liberate the victims in the Dachau Concentration Camp. As Mr. Marvel and the 45th Infantry Division moved toward Dachau, they were engaged in fierce combat with German troops still defending the camp. Mr. Marvel would help liberate 32,000 captives of Dachau. But, as Mr. Marvel recalls, the ``sights in this camp I will never ever forget.'' Mr. Marvel was awarded numerous awards for his service, including the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, and several campaign medals. With the latest award of the Legion of Honor, Mr. Marvel joins a distinguished group of Americans, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Audie Murphy, Chuck Yeager, and many others. Finally, on behalf of the State of Delaware and a grateful Nation, I thank Mr. Marvel for his service to our country. He sacrificed greatly to safeguard freedom and democracy. He is a testament to our Nation and his actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army. I congratulate Mr. Marvel once again on this honor--he brings great pride to Delaware and the United States.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and legacy of Col. Ron Sarg, a Vietnam veteran, a tireless advocate for Delaware's Veterans, and a friend. Col. Sarg served combat duty in Vietnam and pursued a career in the Air Force. After his time in Vietnam and throughout his career, he was posted from Turkey to New Mexico. Eventually, he was stationed in Dover, Delaware, where he retired from active duty in 1993. But Col. Sarg continued to serve his country and community in retirement. He helped Delawareans gain rewarding careers as an instructor at Polytech Adult Education in Dover and he trained many students in the field of dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Yet, he never forgot his fellow veterans. He spent his retirement serving those who heard the call to duty in our Nation's military. He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America and served as Chairman of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, a significant leadership role for Veterans in the State of Delaware. In these roles, Col. Sarg pushed for national and state-level policies that helped Veterans and active- duty service members access affordable housing, receive high-quality mental health care, and gain opportunities for a good education and career. To Col. Sarg's family, please accept my heartfelt and sincerest condolences. Ron was a true friend and a pillar of our community in the First State. He will be greatly missed but not forgotten.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Mr. Ernest B. Marvel, proud World War II Veteran and recent recipient of France's highest distinction, the Ordre national de la legion d'honneur, also known as the Legion of Honor. On July 14, 2022, Mr. Marvel was presented the Legion of Honor by the French Ambassador to the United States, Phillipe Etienne. The Legion of Honor was first created over two centuries ago to reward eminent military and civil merits in service or defense of France. Created as an order of merit, foreign citizens may be awarded this recognition for their actions in support of France. For a World War Two Veteran like Mr. Marvel to be awarded the Legion of Honor, they must prove they were involved in combat operations within France. As a Private First Class with the 45th Infantry Division of the United States Army, Mr. Marvel's service demonstrated exceptional bravery, character, and valor. Arriving in France shortly after the Battle of the Bulge, Mr. Marvel was soon given a vital mission to clear mines and booby traps. That mission brought Mr. Marvel and another soldier into direct contact with enemy troops. For his successful actions that day, Mr. Marvel was awarded the Bronze Star. After this action, Mr. Marvel participated in several dangerous combat missions to help liberate France from Nazi Germany, including missions as a bazooka-man and in notable amphibious operations across the Rhine River. Despite the significant combat Mr. Marvel and his unit saw in Europe, perhaps the most harrowing experience was their actions to liberate the victims in the Dachau Concentration Camp. As Mr. Marvel and the 45th Infantry Division moved toward Dachau, they were engaged in fierce combat with German troops still defending the camp. Mr. Marvel would help liberate 32,000 captives of Dachau. But, as Mr. Marvel recalls, the ``sights in this camp I will never ever forget.'' Mr. Marvel was awarded numerous awards for his service, including the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, and several campaign medals. With the latest award of the Legion of Honor, Mr. Marvel joins a distinguished group of Americans, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Audie Murphy, Chuck Yeager, and many others. On behalf of the State of Delaware and a grateful nation, I thank Mr. Marvel for his service to our country. He sacrificed greatly to safeguard freedom and democracy. He is a testament to our Nation and his actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army. Congratulations once again to Mr. Marvel on this honor, as he brings great pride to Delaware and the United States.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act. In the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, this legislation is necessary to ensure that those in States that have restricted abortion care can travel across State lines to seek the care they need and not be criminalized for doing so. I am proud that women in my home State of Delaware still have access to abortion care and that we can serve as a safe haven for those from other States. But the reality for far too many people across the country is that they live in States where access to reproductive care has been so severely restricted that it is unavailable. While the bills we are voting on today are necessary, we must also confront the realities of what overturning Roe means. Now, my middle name is Blunt, so let me be clear about who is going to be hit the hardest: poor women, young women, women in rural areas, and women of color, people who may not have the ability to travel hundreds of miles to get the care they need. Madam Speaker, I was 10 years old when the landmark case of Roe was decided. Half a century later, I am standing on the floor of the House of Representatives, standing in the gap for doctors and healthcare providers, so that they don't have to consult with a lawyer before they decide to give good care to their patients, standing for those who stood before us and fought for us to have this right for reproductive rights in the first place. I am standing for our young people so that our daughters and granddaughters don't need a health passport to travel from State to State or need to worry about being criminalized for seeking care. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to support both the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act and the Women's Health Protection Act. The bottom line: There is no room for politicians in our wombs.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for his leadership. I am proud to have my amendments to H.R. 7309 before the House today. In particular, I am proud of amendment No. 3, which gained the support of 42 of my colleagues. This amendment would establish grants to help break the cycle of violence in communities by providing job and workforce development opportunities to youth in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. With this broad support, I call on my colleagues to support this amendment, which helps reduce community violence the best way we know how--by building pipelines to good-paying, high-quality jobs for youth that are disconnected from school and the workforce--to create opportunity, to improve lives, and to provide for the future. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman, again, for his leadership.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to remember the life of a remarkable public servant, leader, and educator, Dr. Terrance Newton. Today, family, friends, and his beloved Warner School community are saying good-bye to a person who they called Newt. Dr. Newton was a fixture in the Delaware education system for decades, himself a product of Wilmington's East Side, a Kappa Alpha Psi man, and a Delaware State University man. Newt would become known to his students as their most fervent advocate and ally. Every morning, he would stand on the front steps of Warner Elementary and greet students as they passed through the front doors, hugging them, high-fiving them, and inspiring every child. Dr. Newton was always looking for unique and impactful ways to connect with his students, going so far as to open a barbershop where he could cut the students' hair in school, giving them a safe space to talk about their academics, their communities, and their lives. It is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Terrance Newton was a powerful pillar of the community, a real-life superhero who spent every day devoted to the next generation of Delawareans. We have lost Dr. Terrance Newton far too soon, but because of all the energy, inspiration, and love that he poured into his students, family, and community, his legacy will live on for a lifetime. To his family, colleagues, students, friends, I send sincere condolences. Madam Speaker, I close with some words from Dr. Newton himself. He said of his students: ``When I see them, I see me. So, my goal is to change the world.'' Indeed, Dr. Newton, you did.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record this article in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Francis Vincent. [From the Delaware Genealogical Society, May 2021] Francis Vincent: Editor, Public Servant (By Mary Anne Vincent) March 17, 2022 will be the 200th anniversary of the birth of one or Delaware's most illustrious citizens, Francis Vincent. Francis Vincent was only 23 when he co-founded the Blue Hen's Chicken, a newspaper which would greatly influence events in Delaware and Maryland within the next few years. Local papers in his day borrowed heavily from large city paper but they printed little news about either Wilmington or Delaware. Vincent, who knew the state from end to end, devoted most of his paper to state and local news. Within three months his paper had the largest circulation in the state. Vincent used the Blue Hen's Chicken to advocate for major changes in his home state. He called for proportional representation in the state legislature, ratification of more important laws by popular ballot, and election of state officers instead of their appointment by the governor. Politicians, especially Whigs who controlled the state government, were sharply opposed to such changed. Vincent persistently called for a state convention to change the state constitution. Other newspapers followed his lead by addressing the same issue. In 1846, the Whigs were turned out of office. In 1848, Vincent published an article on the ``Moral Effects of Hanging''. Shortly thereafter, the state legislature abolished public hangings. He also called for abolishing public whipping of women. Known to his contemporaries as a courteous, gentle man, this treatment of women was abhorrent to him. Vincent showed his concern for other segments of society by calling for a 10-hour work day (an act of courage in those days), the exemption of a portion of a citizen's goods from forcd seizure for debt, the establishment of life-saving service and coastal patrol on the Delaware River, and free universal education. All of these proposals were adopted. Indeed, the school system of Wilmington at the time of his death in 1884 was substantially what he proposed in 1850. After the Civil War, Vincent gained fame for his ``Essay Recommending the Union of Great Britain and her Colonies and the United States and the Final Union of the World into One Great Nation''. He explored the topic further in a subsequent essay addressed to the International and Permanent League of Peace in December 1869. His plan, which ante-dated Wilson's League of Nations by almost five decades, never came to fruition.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bipartisan supply chain subtitle found in the House-passed America COMPETES Act. We have all heard from our constituents over the last several months about the impact that inflation has had on households and businesses. We also know that a key reason for rising prices on critical goods is our supply chain instability. The supply chain subtitle in the America COMPETES Act will strengthen our supply chains and ultimately tackle a root cause of inflation. It is vital that this subtitle is preserved through the negotiations of the America COMPETES Act as we build a better America. This is about creating good-paying union jobs, protecting our national security, and, ultimately, protecting the pocketbooks of the American people. Let's get it done.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule, to voice my strong support of the America COMPETES Act, and to highlight pivotal supply chain provisions that I worked on with Representatives Malinowski and Kinzinger. As I have traveled Delaware over the last summer, speaking to businesses and constituents, I heard a lot about three things: workforce, inflation, and supply chains. The provisions we are discussing today would tackle all three, ensuring that the manufacturing of critical components of goods we rely on every day are brought back home, creating good-paying union jobs. At a time when Americans are facing rising prices and manufacturers are struggling to obtain the raw materials they need to produce consumer products, we must act. These provisions are the solution to strengthening our supply chains while preventing these disruptions from impacting us again in the future. And that is why I am so proud that these provisions enjoy support from key stakeholder groups, from the United Steelworkers to the National Association of Manufacturers. Let's work together to support American jobs, maintain our national security, and lower the price of consumer goods. Let's pass this bill.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, tonight, I am honored to stand before you to speak on the passage of one of the most transformational pieces of legislation in a generation signed into law, the bipartisan infrastructure bill. In my State of Delaware, this bill will invest $1.2 billion for highway repair, over $200 million for bridge repair, and over $100 million to expand internet access, and $300 million to expand access to clean drinking water. But it is more than just concrete and fiber-optic cables, it is about the faces and places that will benefit from this bill. In my State, I think of the students, I think of the farmers, I think of the union workers whose lives will be improved and whose communities will forever change. It is about recovering, rebuilding, and restoring hope. Madam Speaker, we have more work to do, but make no mistake--with the bipartisan infrastructure law--we are now on the road to recovery and on the road to building back better.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the anniversary of the Delaware River Basin Commission. Sixty years ago this month, President John F. Kennedy gathered with the Governors of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, as equal partners to sign the Delaware River Basin Compact, which created the Delaware River Basin Commission. For six decades, the Commission has carefully balanced the economic and environmental needs of the public, setting a model for the nation and the world on how to manage a vital, common resource. As we continue to battle the impacts of climate change, it is more important than ever to work together to maintain the health of the Delaware River Basin and the communities it serves. I congratulate and thank the Delaware River Basin Commission for all that they do.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 222. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Aderholt (Moolenaar) Amodei (Balderson) DeSaulnier (Thompson (CA)) Fulcher (Meuser) Garcia (IL) (Garcia (TX)) Gonzalez (OH) (Timmons) Graves (MO) (Wagner) Green (TX) (Perlmutter) Grijalva (Stanton) Horsford (Jeffries) Jones (Williams (GA)) Kelly (PA) (Keller) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawrence (Beatty) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lowenthal (Beyer) Maloney, Carolyn (Velazquez) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Jeffries) Napolitano (Correa) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Ruppersberger (Brown) Rush (Underwood) Sires (Pallone) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Wild (Axne) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for her leadership and the things that she does to protect all of us across the country, not just in her district but across the country. We are greatly indebted to her for her service. The gentlewoman mentioned me coming from the State of Delaware and whether it is Southern or Northern. Many people might not know, but we are on the Mason-Dixon Line. We are urban, suburban, rural, and coastal. But we are also on that Mason-Dixon Line with that strong history. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman and her coanchor, Mr. Torres, and I thank our esteemed chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Joyce Beatty. Madam Speaker, I stand before you tonight with a sense of urgency because the most fundamental and sacred right we have as Americans is under attack. Across this country, State lawmakers have introduced at least 389 restrictive bills in 48 States just this year, and 14 States have already enacted more restrictive voting laws. Even the highest court in the land is chipping away at this fundamental right. We know that those who would engage in suppression, subversion, and intimidation are not resting, but neither is the Congressional Black Caucus. Tonight, we are standing up and speaking out because we know that just as our message is our power so, too, is our vote. I am going to say that again: Our vote is our power. We are here to protect and defend that right because the vote is tied to everything. The vote is tied to criminal justice reform. The vote is tied to healthcare. The vote is tied to the minimum wage increase across this country and access to affordable childcare. It is tied to the preservation of our democracy. It is tied to our very existence: the ability to drink clean water, breathe air that is free of pollution, and even to have a planet to live on. Everything is tied to the vote, and the vote is on the line. While we are fighting a new battle, it is the same old tactics that we have seen before. And it is a future we are not going back to. Yesterday, we lost another American civil rights leader and educator, Bob Moses. One of the many things that he was known for was Freedom Summer, a project to organize and register voters. Through intimidation and beating, Bob Moses never relented in his mission to register voters in the South. Sixty years later, it is our turn to answer the question that Bob asked of students, a question that goes to the very core of who we are: What kind of society will we be? Today, the CBC is here to proclaim loudly and proudly: We will be the kind of society that values every voice, empowers every citizen, and counts every vote because it is all on the line. We must pass and have signed into law H.R. 1, the For the People Act, and H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. In honor of Bob Moses, let's make this the Freedom Summer of our time.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to cosponsor an amendment to H.R. 1187, a bill that would increase transparency of publicly traded companies to disclose workplace harassment cases, and I am pleased to see this amendment passed in the House yesterday. Workplace harassment is far too common, and the shareholders and customers of a company should know whether that company fosters a healthy work culture and that it allows its workers to thrive. Up to six in seven women in the workplace report having experienced sexual harassment. Seven of 10 people of color report experiencing some form of verbal, racial, or ethnic harassment, and those who speak out usually face retaliation. This amendment would bring to light these forms of mistreatment and incentivize companies to prevent harassment in the workplace. I thank Ms. Frankel for her leadership on H.R. 1187, and I encourage my colleagues to support this workplace improvement bill, as well as improving the quality of life.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone for his tireless work to advance this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1215, the Fraud and Scam Reduction Act. Bad actors preying on older Americans is unfortunately nothing new, but in the midst of a global pandemic, cracking down on those scams must be a priority of the Federal Government. That is why I proudly introduced the bipartisan Fraud and Scam Reduction Act with my colleagues Mr. Walberg, Deutch, Buchanan, and Welch. The bill, as its name suggests, was aimed at cracking down on these scams by doing two main things. It would create an advisory group under the Federal Trade Commission made up of government agencies, consumer advocates, and industry representatives, such as financial services and retail, to help identify potential sources of fraud and create educational materials for our Nation's seniors to protect them from these dangerous schemes. It would also establish the senior fraud advisory office, which would give seniors hope in recovering their assets stolen by fraudsters and improve our understanding of senior fraud by encouraging seniors to report this activity. We are proud to say that the bill has broad support, including AARP, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and Western Union, as well as many more. Mr. Speaker, one of the most fundamental obligations of government is to protect our citizens. The least we can do is protect already vulnerable seniors from being taken advantage of by bad actors. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, for their work in strengthening the bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of the measure.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, March is National Nutrition Month, and I am proud to join my colleagues, Representatives Judy Chu and Jackie Walorski, in leading H.R. 1551, the Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act, or the Nutrition CARE Act for short. Madam Speaker, eating disorders account for one death every 52 minutes and can impact the lives of individuals across their lifespan. This mental illness does not discriminate, but longstanding health inequities, implicit bias, and stigma contribute to why people of color with eating disorders are half as likely to be diagnosed or to receive treatment. The Nutrition CARE Act would provide Medicare part B coverage for medical nutrition therapy for beneficiaries with eating disorders, meaning hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who identify as Black, indigenous, or people of color would have coverage of a key treatment component. Madam Speaker, I am proud to help lead this effort, and I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 1551 and bring it to the floor of this Congress.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, to Chairman Scott and the entire Committee on Education and Labor, I thank you for the time and for your hard work. Mr. Speaker, as the former labor secretary from the State of Delaware, I am proud to support the National Apprenticeship Act and have my amendment to H.R. 447 before the House today. My amendment would make improvements to the bill to expand pathways for Americans to obtain good-paying jobs and ensure a diverse and highly skilled workforce, which we need today more than ever. This amendment will make certain that we engage schools which accept Federal funds for students to promote apprenticeships for low-income students, specifically title I schools. It will coordinate with HHS to better support healthcare and childcare jobs. It would ensure that nontraditional populations, such as the Latino community, are represented in apprenticeship programs and, finally, ensure that apprenticeship websites are user-friendly and accessible to those with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, this bill is vital. As we, in America, are in the midst of a pandemic, we know more than ever that jobs are important and that our economic viability is paramount. This bill is also about opportunity and improving the lives of Americans. I stand in support of this bill, and I ask for your support on these amendments. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from Third Way. Third Way, February 1, 2021. Hon. Bobby Scott, House Committee on Education and Labor, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Scott: We are pleased to see that the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 is receiving a vote this week on the House floor. With millions of Americans out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that policymakers work toward an inclusive economic recovery. That's why we encourage House lawmakers to pass the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which would provide a much-needed revamp of the nation's registered apprenticeship system. Apprenticeships can play a key role in our economic recovery and help people regain their footing in the job market. Through your leadership, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 would take important steps to bolster apprenticeships across the country. It would broaden economic opportunity by expanding apprenticeships to women, people of color, and people facing barriers to employment. The legislation would help small and medium-sized businesses create apprenticeship programs. Further, it would modernize our nation's apprenticeship system by expanding apprenticeships in growing fields like information technology, advanced manufacturing, and health care. The bill would also expand apprenticeships in part by relying on intermediaries, or apprenticeship hubs, which would bring together employers, education providers, unions, and other organizations in each state that will work in concert to expand apprenticeships. This is an approach Third Way has long advocated for, and we're thrilled that it's a key part of this legislation. Through the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, this country can promote apprenticeships as a key tool in our economic recovery and ensure everyone has pathways to in- demand, good-paying careers. We thank you and the House Education and Labor Committee for your leadership on this legislation and urge Members to support it. Sincerely, Gabriel Horwitz, Senior Vice President, Third Way.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, on Roll Call vote No. 220, due to an error in the voting process my vote was not officially recorded when I cast my vote and was unable to return to the floor in time before the vote closed. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 220.