Carolyn Bourdeaux

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today with gratitude to bid this body farewell. I thank my family, my friends, my supporters, and the wonderful people of Georgia's Seventh Congressional District for the honor of serving as your Representative in Congress. While there are many things we accomplished, the most important occurred in my first week in office. On January 3, as I was on the floor to be sworn in, I looked at my phone and saw a notification that President Trump had tried to illegally pressure Georgia's secretary of state into finding 11,780 more votes to change the results of the election. A few days later, on January 6, as I was in my office preparing remarks to defend Georgia's electoral count, I was told to lock down and to shelter in place. There I sat for hours and hours with my sister and a couple of staff as we followed on TV and through text threads the mob attacking the Capitol and the narrow escapes of many of my colleagues. I was one of the first of my colleagues to call for impeaching President Trump because there was never any doubt in my mind that he had incited that crowd to march on the Capitol to try to block the vote to certify the election and to keep himself in power. That night, I walked past the broken glass through the eerie, empty halls to certify the election of Joe Biden as the next President of the United States. At some point during these events, majority leader Steny Hoyer turned to me and said: ``I bet this wasn't what you expected when you ran for Congress.'' I told him that actually I ran for Congress precisely so that I could be standing at this place at this time to take this vote to certify the election and to defend our democracy. I know that many of the people who supported me in the 4-year effort to flip Georgia's Seventh Congressional District and to deliver Georgia for the Democrats worked so hard and sacrificed so much in large part because they, too, saw the danger and worried that President Trump would stop at nothing to achieve and retain power. While there were many other important issues at stake, fundamentally, we saw our efforts as a rescue mission for our country. I know that many other democratic frontliners saw their efforts the same way. I know that some of my Republican colleagues who took brave votes at great political risk shared our concerns. So for those who are cynical about our politics, who believe that it is all about corruption, money, and power--and, yes, there is a lot of that--please know that many people of integrity, courage, and talent in both parties and in many different roles worked hard for years to be at the right place at the right time in this particular moment in our country's history so that they could hold the line to stop the forces of chaos and autocracy and renew our democracy for one more turn of the wheel. I want to recognize the sacrifice of my family and thank my husband, Jeff, and my son, Nathan, who encouraged me all along the way. I want to recognize my sister, Margaret Bourdeaux, who threw herself into helping me day in and day out, and my aunt and uncle, Margaret and Howard Arbuckle, who stood by me when both my parents died in 2017 and told me I could not quit working for change, it was too important. I thank my many supporters whose persistent acts of courage and sacrifice allowed me to have this brief but very important time in Congress. While the preservation of our democracy was always top of mind, we accomplished quite a lot on other fronts, including the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Also critical to the Seventh District was the PPP Extension Act and almost $18 million in community funding projects that will allow the restoration and preservation of our community's Black history, that will support critical early childhood education programs, that will promote small businesses and innovation and economic development and infrastructure, and that will support a vast array of much-needed mental health and other social service programs in our rapidly growing community. To my staff, all that we have accomplished would not have been possible without you. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, and I look forward to seeing what you do next. To the residents of Georgia's Seventh District, thank you again for the honor of representing our community in Congress.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the minibus appropriations bill the House passed earlier today. This legislation includes my bill to support the revitalization of vacant shopping malls like the Gwinnett Place Mall in my district. This provision would catalyze additional investment in these projects and enhance economic activity, access to housing, and mobility for local residents. The minibus also includes six of my community project funding requests, including funding for the acquisition of African-American books and historical artifacts at the Hooper-Renwick Memorial Library, as well as projects to increase wraparound services for Latino families and youth through Ser Familia, provide transportation to low-income students through Corners Outreach, and enhance access to transit and clean drinking water for many communities in Georgia's Seventh District. Altogether, the T-HUD bill and the minibus include important investments that will make our communities stronger.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. I am grateful for Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano and Ranking Members Graves and Rouzer as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff for working with my office and me to ensure that some key needs for Georgia were met. My district specifically is home to Lake Lanier and the Buford Dam, which are critical resources in the Chattahoochee River Basin. The Chattahoochee River supplies 70 percent of metro Atlanta's drinking water, and it is hard to overstate how essential the lake and river are to the metro area. The river is also a key source of water for farmers and agriculture throughout the State. But according to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, more than 1,000 miles of waterway within the watershed do not meet water quality standards. This bill would authorize a watershed-based study for the Chattahoochee River Basin which will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to assess the water resource needs of the basin, including ecosystem protection and restoration, flood risk management, watershed protection, water supply, and drought preparedness. This bill also includes my important legislation, Lake Lanier and Upper Chattahoochee River Safety Act, which would direct the Army Corps to carry out a review of potential threats to human life and safety from the use of the river. Unfortunately, there are parts of the river that are extremely dangerous, and during a release of water from Buford Dam, the Chattahoochee can rise as much as 11 feet in 1 minute. Based on the findings of this review, the bill would authorize the Corps to take measures necessary to make the river safer and minimize or eliminate some of these hazards. Finally, I am proud to see Lake Lanier included as a focus area in the previously authorized harmful algal bloom demonstration program which will allow the Corps to work with local stakeholders to research tools for freshwater HABs detection, prevention, and management which is critical to protecting the drinking water of millions of people. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today delivers for my constituents and the people of Georgia. It delivers for the people of this country. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, my vote via voting card was not recorded for the House vote on H.R. 7500, Roll Call Number 201. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 201.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan supply chain resilience subtitle in the America COMPETES Act. The COVID pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the United States' supply chains. When disruptions occur in our supply chains, it leads to higher prices for families and businesses. The America COMPETES Act includes my bill to map and monitor our supply chains and other important provisions that would create good- paying manufacturing jobs here in the United States. Studies have found that Georgia lost 25 percent of its manufacturing jobs since 1999. Not only is this bad for workers, it is harmful to our national security when we are dependent on other nations to manufacture critical goods and services. The America COMPETES Act would address this vulnerability by making a historic investment in our Nation's manufacturing capabilities and would equip us to prevent and mitigate future supply chain disruptions. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to retain this critical subtitle as we work to pass a final competitiveness bill.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings. Across our country, the Asian-American community has been under attack because of misinformation and xenophobia that wrongly blamed them for the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 16, 2021, 1 year ago, in Atlanta, eight innocent people, six of whom were women of Asian descent, were senselessly murdered. The victims of this attack included mothers and grandmothers, fathers and sons, teachers, and veterans. These are lives that cannot be restored, leaving pain that cannot be forgotten. These attacks in Georgia were a wake-up call for the public to the reality the Asian-American community is facing each and every day. Acts of violence like these demonstrate why we must always call out bigotry and hate whenever or wherever we see it. We must all speak out against it. I would like to thank CAPAC Chair Judy Chu for her leadership on this issue and encourage my colleagues to continue to speak out as we stand together with the Asian-American community.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Mr. Speaker, in the fall of 1912, Forsyth County, in my district was the site of an appalling racial cleansing. Following the death of a White woman named Mae Crow, three Black men, Rob Edwards, Ernest Knox, and Oscar Daniel, were accused of her murder and lynched without due process. Following this, White men on horseback dubbed ``night riders'' rode throughout Forsyth County terrorizing families and burning Black churches, homes, and businesses, ultimately driving out over 1,100 Black residents. Forsyth County continued to have little to no Black residents for almost a century. Today, I am introducing a resolution condemning the lynchings of Rob Edwards, Oscar Daniel, and Ernest Knox in 1912 and condemning the actions of the white supremacist mobs which forced out nearly the entire Black population of Forsyth County. It is particularly important during Black History Month that we as a Nation acknowledge horrific events such as this one and honor the memory of the victims of these tragedies. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and reaffirm this body's commitment to fighting white supremacy and seeking justice to right the wrongs of our past.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the America COMPETES Act, a bill that would bolster American leadership in critical economic sectors for decades to come. In addition to necessary provisions to spur American production of semiconductors, the America COMPETES Act would take action to address supply chain disruptions and shortages. My bill, the Supply CHAIN Act, is included in this package and would ensure the newly created Office of Supply Chain Resiliency and Crisis Response at the Department of Commerce has the tools it needs to map and monitor critical supply chains, as well as prepare for and respond to supply chain shocks and disruptions. I have heard from families and small businesses and manufacturers in Georgia's Seventh District of the challenges presented by supply chain disruptions, especially amidst the pandemic. This package of supply chain resiliency measures will help us to identify and mitigate these disruptions moving forward. In closing, I would like to commend my colleagues for their hard work in assembling this critical legislation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the America COMPETES Act.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Korean- American Day, which marks the arrival of the first group of Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903. I am proud to represent tens of thousands of Korean Americans in Georgia's Seventh District. These individuals are critical members of our community. From small business owners to healthcare workers, they continue to support us throughout the pandemic. I would like to take this time to acknowledge Korean-American leaders in my district. Representative Sam Park is the grandson of refugees from the Korean war who became the first Asian American and openly gay person elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives. Michelle Kang serves as president of the Korean-American Public Action Committee and is a tireless leader in the community. It is an honor to work with each of you. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been challenged with an increase in the number of anti-Asian hate crimes. This Korean- American Day, I am particularly grateful to all of those working to address and end anti-Asian hate in Georgia and across the country. I look forward to continuing this work in Congress.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Build Back Better Act. This bill increases access to affordable healthcare by expanding Medicaid in States like Georgia and significantly reducing the cost of health insurance premiums on the exchange. With this bill, we will finally ensure that every Georgian has access to quality, affordable healthcare. This bill will also ensure that nearly 200,000 additional 3- and 4- year-olds in Georgia will have access to universal pre-K. The Build Back Better Act is the largest effort to combat the climate crisis in American history and realigns our tax code to support economic growth in our clean energy economy. These are just some of the highlights in this critical bill that is fully paid for and makes long-overdue investments in our community and in our country. I urge the Senate to act swiftly to pass the Build Back Better Act and invest in the future of all Americans.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution, H. Con. Res. 44, which the House will consider later today. When I came to Congress, I promised my constituents that we would make responsible decisions about our Nation's fiscal future. It is extremely difficult, however, to make good decisions without good information. The Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution will require the Comptroller General to provide an annual assessment of our Nation's finances to Congress, a small but important first step in getting our fiscal house in order. Similarly, my bipartisan bill, the Duplication Scoring Act, would ensure Members are aware when new bills potentially duplicate existing programs in areas which have already been identified by the GAO. I urge all Members to support passage of the Fiscal State of the Nation act today and renew our commitment to putting our Nation on a sustainable fiscal trajectory.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the tremendous achievement of the Atlanta Braves and wish them good luck in their first World Series since 1999. The story of the 2021 Braves is one of resiliency. The team lost two of their stars--Ronald Acuna, Jr., and Mike Soroka--to injuries early this season. Despite these setbacks, the Braves persevered and won the National League's Eastern Division title for the fourth year in a row. The Braves have been underdogs in each of their playoff series, but thanks to big performances by players such as Eddie Rosario, whose 14 hits against the Dodgers tied the record for the most hits in a single series, tonight, they will take the field to compete in the World Series. Many of the players on the Braves' roster honed their skills in Georgia's Seventh District, playing for the Gwinnett Stripers, the Braves' Triple-A affiliate in Lawrenceville. The 2021 Atlanta Braves embody the never-quit spirit of the State of Georgia, and I wish them good luck as they begin the World Series tonight. My family, staff, and people of Seventh District are cheering you on. Go Braves.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today, October 21, to recognize Latina Equal Pay Day, the day when the pay for Latina women catches up to that of White men from the previous year. Latinas typically earn only 57 cents for every dollar earned by White men. This disparity harms women, their families, and the communities that depend on their wages for survival. This inequity is why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act in an effort to break the patterns of pay discrimination and strengthen workforce protections for women, especially women of color. I would also like to take this time on Latina Equal Pay Day to acknowledge the recent conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month and to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Hispanic community and the over 60 million Americans who identify as Hispanic or Latino. I am proud to represent one of the most diverse districts in the United States and the more than 170,000 Hispanic Americans who call Georgia's Seventh District home. One of my most significant legislative accomplishments was borne out of conversations with Tony Rodriguez, CEO and president of the Aurora Theater in Lawrenceville. My conversations with him encouraged me to introduce the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act, which extended the deadline to apply for forgivable PPP loans from March 31 to May 31 and gave small businesses more time to access this critical assistance. I would also like to recognize Antonio Molina, chair of the board of Georgia's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, for his hard work ensuring Hispanic small business owners have the resources they need to be successful. I also recognize Santiago Marquez, the executive director of the Latin American Association, which provides a critical safety net service for so many in the Seventh District. I would also like to thank two Hispanic members of the Cabinet: Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, who visited Georgia's Seventh District this year. It was an honor to host each of them and introduce them to the wonderful place we call home. Finally, I would like to acknowledge my chief of staff, Estefania ``Stefy'' Rodriguez, for her work leading my staff to serve the great people of the Seventh District. As I host and attend events across my district, I am struck by the vibrancy of the Hispanic communities. Recently, I visited with the Latino Lions Club of Norcross, the Latin American Association, the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia, and Latino Community Services to discuss how we can work together to address the issues that matter most to our community. We all benefit from the contributions Hispanic Americans have made and will continue to make. The inclusion of their voices and values in our community make my district and the United States so much stronger. They are the scientists, doctors, nurses, and essential workers who have helped us get through the COVID-19 pandemic; the teachers who educate the next generation of Americans; the artists who grace our television screens and our stages; the small business owners who drive our economy; and the many Hispanic elected officials, some who walk these very halls, who work every day to make a positive difference for our community. I am a proud cosponsor of critical legislation, such as H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which extends the American Dream to millions of people who already call this great Nation home. Today, on Latina Equal Pay Day, and following the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month, I reaffirm my commitment to always work to support and strengthen our vibrant Hispanic communities.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, which will be considered by the House later this week. As a working mother, I strongly support this bipartisan bill to provide reasonable accommodations to nursing mothers in the workplace. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, among other critical changes, would extend the break time and space protections to workers who are currently excluded from overtime protections, including teachers, transportation workers, and agriculture workers. I was proud to work as part of a bipartisan group along with the bill's sponsor, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, to offer an amendment which maintains the undue hardship exemption threshold at its current level of 50 employees. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the National Retail Federation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Education Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Mr. Speaker, I enthusiastically support this bill and urge all Members to do the same when it comes before the House this week.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Earlier this year I was honored to work as a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus to participate in developing the bipartisan infrastructure framework that formed the foundation of this legislation. I deeply appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and their willingness to work together to find common ground. In the Seventh District, we know the importance of this bill since we have one of the worst commutes in the country. Businesses have left our community because of the congestion and lack of access to transit. The significant increases in funding for roads, bridges, transit, high-speed rail, electric charging stations, among many other investments will help unlock gridlock, spur economic growth, and make a critical down payment on tackling climate change. I appreciate the work on both sides that has gone into crafting this bill. I urge all Members to support it.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Mr. Speaker, Georgia was one of the first States in the country to pass a voter suppression bill after the 2020 general election, but S.B. 202 is just our State's latest attempt to disenfranchise minority communities. Georgia has a long history of undermining the right to vote, from the Jim Crow era to more recent voter roll purges and exact-match policies. This week, news from Georgia and Florida confirmed, yet again, that bills like S.B. 202 were adopted because Republicans are afraid that they will lose elections if all eligible voters participate. It is time for Congress to fix what the Supreme Court broke in 2013 when they effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act. I proudly supported the For the People Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, both of which laid essential groundwork toward protecting our democracy. I now look forward to supporting the Freedom to Vote Act in the coming weeks.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, Georgia was one of the first States in the country to pass a voter suppression bill after the 2020 general election, but S.B. 202 is just our State's latest attempt to disenfranchise minority communities. Georgia has a long history of undermining the right to vote, from the Jim Crow era to recent tactics like voter roll purges and exact match policies. It is time for Congress to fix what the Supreme Court broke in their 2013 ruling, which effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act. When I came to Congress, I vowed to support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and I am proud to keep that commitment today. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4 and protect the sacred right to vote.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the INVEST in America Act. This bill provides funding that will accelerate road repairs, reduce congestion, and shore up our water systems, all while creating good- paying jobs and building sustainable, green infrastructure. Under the INVEST in America Act, Georgia will receive a $2.6 billion increase in funding for core infrastructure programs over the next 5 years, a 38 percent increase. With such an investment, we need to be innovative, forward-looking, and climate conscious. The bill includes many of my FutureFit The Suburbs initiatives, providing funding for the expansion of greenways, express lane transit options to decrease congestion, renewable energy projects, innovative wastewater technology, and more. The INVEST in America Act will jump-start innovation that will lead to economic growth in small towns, big cities, and suburban areas like mine. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the INVEST in America Act.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address a serious problem facing our country, one that many of us have been dealing with firsthand since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. As I do so, I also want to acknowledge that while we are headed in the right direction, earlier this week we crossed the solemn milestone of more than 600,000 American lives lost in the pandemic. Today, I speak for millions of Americans from across the country who lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19. They then did exactly what they had been told to do and filed for unemployment insurance, and then they waited. But in Georgia, for many, that unemployment check never came. Many of us have received a flood of calls and emails regarding this issue. Currently, my office is processing nearly 150 cases dealing with unemployment insurance, our second highest of any issue area, and the stories are truly frustrating. There is a substitute teacher in my district who couldn't find work due to the COVID pandemic. When Georgia schools reopened to in-person instruction, she was unable to go back, as she lives with a high-risk family member. In April of 2020, she applied for unemployment benefits and received them for just a short amount of time before they mysteriously stopped, even though she is still eligible. She contacted my office in February, and we have sent five inquiries on her behalf, and not a word of response from the Georgia Department of Labor. We have another person who was approved for benefits in July and began filing claims weekly but has never received a single cent. That person contacted our office in March. We sent four inquiries. Not a word in response from the Georgia Department of Labor. Let me be clear: This isn't just the slow gears of government bureaucracy. Every day delayed means a human being has to decide between putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads. One such person my office has talked to had their car repossessed and are on the verge of eviction because their government can't get it together. Along with the rest of the Georgia Democratic congressional delegation, I sent a letter in March asking the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General to conduct an audit of the Georgia Department of Labor, and they recently replied. What they found was that they couldn't figure out what was going on because Georgia couldn't even supply basic data on a number of key issues, including the timeliness of benefit distribution and the number of Georgians who requested the federally funded unemployment insurance supplement. There are two other States which were unable to provide data on the timeliness of claims through all three Federal enhanced unemployment insurance programs. There were four other States which apparently did not report the required claims volume data. Georgia is the only State that was unable to provide data on either. In other words, the Georgia Department of Labor stands out as uniquely unable, by either choice or competence, to report on its administration of enhanced unemployment benefits. While factors such as initial understaffing and limited technology may have prevented the Georgia Department of Labor from processing claims, after over a year and after over 67 million in Federal dollars to help the State, extensive questions remain about how the agency plans to identify solutions to address the serious backlog that currently exists. Georgians are lawfully entitled to the benefits they applied for. They are also entitled to transparency and accountability from their government. It is time for answers and for solutions.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, like so many of us in this Chamber, I spend a lot of time on the road driving from event to event. As someone who represents the metro Atlanta area, I have spent far more hours than I care to admit sitting on I-85 in bumper-to-bumper traffic. My staff have all had the experience of being on the phone with me as I pull off the road and try to find a spot with a strong signal in order to call into events because there is just no way I will make it in time with all the traffic. Congestion is one of the issues we all hear about with frequency. It is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It is a question I get frequently, regardless of whether I am at a townhall, speaking to a Chamber of Commerce, or visiting a small business: What is being done to ease congestion? This question is particularly important as we continue to have a national conversation on infrastructure. Having spent my career in public policy and public finance, I know how important it is that we make smart investments today to set us up for success tomorrow. That is why recently I rolled out my infrastructure agenda. I call it FutureFit The Suburbs. FutureFit The Suburbs is a vision to address our growing needs in the suburbs to make smart investments now to prepare for the next century, from preparing for the impact of climate change to building the transit system of tomorrow. This agenda focuses on the needs of fast-growing suburbs, recognizing the need for transit and congestion relief in order to maintain economic viability while addressing the climate crisis, and doing all of it in a way that leverages public-private partnerships in a fiscally responsible manner. The key is to do well by doing good. This initial launch of FutureFit The Suburbs contains four initiatives. First, I am proud to be introducing a new piece of bipartisan legislation today, the Build Up the Suburbs Act, along with Congressman Carlos Gimenez from Florida, and my Georgia colleague, Congresswoman Lucy McBath. Imagine a regional bus rapid transit system that would run along our major highways and express lanes, developing an electric bus equivalent of commuter rail to help people get from suburban hubs to major commercial hubs while skipping the traffic. The Build Up the Suburbs Act would fund exactly that. The next time you need to go to the airport, wouldn't it be easier if you didn't have to budget in an extra hour or two just to get there? Tomorrow, I will be introducing the National and Regional Greenways Act to provide funding for the construction and expansion of greenways across the country, corridors of land connecting disparate communities with beautiful recreational space and environmentally friendly travel routes, thereby reducing congestion and emissions. This program would support projects like the visionary Chattahoochee River Greenway, a proposed multiuse path that would run along the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. Beyond immediate transit priorities, FutureFit The Suburbs focuses on how we can be smart in leveraging the power of public-private partnerships to maximize available resources. For example, as more and more shopping goes online, retail malls, and the large plots of land that they sit on, are going unoccupied and unused, taking up valuable real estate. Through low-interest and guaranteed loan programs, these areas can be restored in a way that serves the community. Finally, creating a national infrastructure bank would provide Federal seed money to leverage significant private sector investment in major infrastructure projects. Private investment is on the sidelines and looking to invest in our roads, bridges, broadband, and electric charging infrastructure. Change is coming, whether we like it or not. We can make smart investments now that enhance our quality of life, or we can spend a lot more time, money, and effort retrofitting the same projects years down the road. By investing now, we can help slow the effects of climate change, create jobs, and position the suburbs for success in the years to come.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for yielding. Across our country, the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community has felt deeply under attack. Over the past year, xenophobic political leaders used dangerous rhetoric to stir up hatred against many immigrant communities, including the Asian-American community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon, words became action, and on March 16, 2021, the Atlanta area saw the tragic and, in some ways, inevitable result when eight lives were taken from us. The victims of this attack included mothers and grandmothers, fathers and sons, teachers and veterans. These are lives that cannot be restored, leaving pain that cannot be forgotten. Today, we honor their memories. Tomorrow, the House will vote on a bipartisan and bicameral resolution that I coauthored with Chair Judy Chu of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. It calls on Congress to affirm our commitment to combat hate and bigotry against the AAPI community and condemns the hateful actions taken in Atlanta. It is a step in the right direction, but only a step. America is and has always been a nation of immigrants, a fact that deserves to be celebrated. I proudly represent one of the most diverse districts in the Nation, with about a quarter of my constituents having been born in another country. When one group of Americans is hurting, we are all hurting. Watching my son grow up in our diverse community reminds me that none of us are born with hatred in our hearts. Rather, it is something that is taught. As we vote today, let's teach compassion, let's teach acceptance, let's teach empathy. I rise in support of this resolution.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, as we continue to grapple with the issues of race and justice in our country, I rise today to share a story of tragedy and progress from my own district. More than a century ago, Charlie Hale, a young African-American male in Lawrenceville, Georgia, was abducted, brought into the city square, strung up, and shot simply because of the color of his skin. No arrests were ever made in his murder. Decades passed. Charlie's name was forgotten, and in a cruel twist of irony, a Confederate monument was erected mere steps away from the site of his murder. And so it stood for decades, until now. That Confederate monument stands no longer. It was removed following our country's long-overdue racial reckoning this past year. In its place will stand a memorial to the life and death of Charlie Hale. I want to recognize the leadership of Marlene Taylor-Crawford and her work with the Gwinnett Remembrance Coalition Project, the Gwinnett Historical Restoration and Preservation Board, and all the activists who pushed for this change for years. The dirt where his blood was spilled will be collected and displayed in perpetuity in Gwinnett County, as well as the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. I want to be clear: Even more than a century later, this does not make things right by Charlie Hale or those who loved him and lost him. But it does take an important step to ensure the injustices of the past are not forgotten.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Velazquez, Ranking Member Luetkemeyer, and Representative Kim for joining me in introducing the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act. In 2 weeks, the Paycheck Protection Program, also known as PPP, application period will expire, taking away much-needed help from thousands of small businesses that are struggling to keep the doors open and employees on the payroll. The PPP Extension Act would extend the application period for another 2 months, ensuring that those small businesses can continue to apply for critical financial assistance until May 31. It also provides an additional 30 days for the Small Business Administration to process applications submitted by May 31. PPP loans have provided a lifeline to mom-and-pop businesses across the country, including those in my district, that are simply trying to survive an unprecedented health and economic crisis. In Georgia alone, the Paycheck Protection Program has provided more than 260,000 forgivable loans for nearly $19 billion since the program was created last year. Without that money, we would have lost thousands more of the small businesses that make up the foundation of our communities. I hear every day from small businesses in Gwinnett and Forsyth Counties who are simply struggling to survive. This bill has its origins in a conversation that I had with local business owners Tony Rodriguez and his wife, Ann-Carol Pence, who own Lawrenceville's Aurora Theatre. In early February, they reached out to me, concerned about the March 31 PPP deadline. The Aurora Theatre is hoping to receive support through the shuttered venue operator grant program, but due to some delays in launching that program, they were concerned that with the PPP application period set to end on March 31, they could potentially miss out on critical financial assistance. While this was one of the first times I heard from businesses in my district about the March 31 deadline, it was certainly not the last. As I talked to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we realized we were hearing the same thing from small businesses and lenders across the country: They needed more time to make sure we are reaching as many businesses as possible. Last year, Chairwoman Velazquez, along with Members on both sides of the aisle, made significant improvements to the PPP loans in order to protect small businesses. Recently, President Biden made changes enhancing access to the PPP loans for the smallest of small businesses, many of which are minority-owned and women-led businesses, such as the ones located throughout my district. The data show that it is working: 73.5 percent of the loans distributed in 2021 are under $50,000, almost 5 percent higher than what that number was last year. Now is not the time to stop fighting for the mom-and-pop stores, restaurants, and businesses across the country. Some examples of situations that this bill will address include a local pre-prepared food company that has not applied for a PPP loan because of how the loan amounts were initially calculated for sole proprietorships. Thanks to President Biden's changes to the loan calculation formula, this business would now qualify for a forgivable loan. However, because of the March 31 deadline, some lenders are reluctant to help out because it is such a short timeframe to evaluate and process these loans. Another performance venue in Gwinnett County was pleased to learn that the American Rescue Plan we just passed would now allow them to access both the shuttered venue operator grant program and the PPP program, but now they are scrambling to get their loan application in by March 31. This bill allows additional time to get funding to the small businesses that need it most. This bill is supported by a number of leading business organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the International Franchise Association, the National Restaurant Association, and Small Business Majority, as well as over 90 additional organizations. Last, I also want to appreciate and point out that this bill is bipartisan. In this time of deep division in our country, we have all come together to do what is right for our communities, and I hope that we can build on this moment as we continue to tackle the challenges that face our Nation. I thank Chairwoman Velazquez, Ranking Member Luetkemeyer, Congresswoman Kim, and the House Committee on Small Business for partnering to protect small businesses. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act of 2021.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment, which clarifies that the PRO Act does not expand the National Labor Relations Board's jurisdiction over the smallest of small businesses, who help drive the economy in my district and across the country. The NLRB uses metrics to determine whether a company affects interstate commerce, and, thus, is subject to its enforcement and standards with different thresholds for different types of businesses. My amendment ensures that these thresholds do not change. In other words, my amendment provides certainty to the small family- run businesses found throughout my district because the labor standards they are subject to will not change under this bill. My amendment protects our employees while maintaining stability for small businesses that are already under so much strain. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment.

Ms. BOURDEAUX

Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Lofgren for yielding. After an election with record-breaking turnout in November, the Georgia General Assembly has recently introduced a number of partisan bills to restrict voter registration and make it more difficult for Georgians to vote. Similar efforts are being made in States across the country. H.R. 1 would codify into law provisions to protect voters from the systemic efforts to suppress the vote, and I rise in strong support. Every voice must be heard and every vote must be counted. I would like to highlight my amendment, cosponsored by a number of my Georgia colleagues. It would directly counter the threats posed by partisan voter suppression efforts across the country by ensuring that drop boxes are easily accessible to all Americans, no matter where they live. It would safeguard access to absentee ballots and promote voter registration efforts rather than trying to limit them. I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 1 to protect the sacred right to vote. H.R. 1 will also end partisan gerrymandering, place people over special interests, and enable free and fair elections. I resolutely urge my colleagues to support the adoption of H.R. 1.