Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to share with the House that I am really reserving the time for Mr. Butterfield from North Carolina, but I will begin. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Butterfield, for leading this Special Order hour this evening. Mr. Speaker, our Nation was founded on principles of liberty and justice for some, but not for all. In fact, it took 89 years after the Declaration of Independence and a brutal Civil War to finally end most forms of slavery. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865, ending slavery but preserving involuntary servitude for some incarcerated persons. After a raging debate, former slaveholders in the Southern States held enough influence to preserve the practice and were able to include a loophole in the 13th Amendment to continue to allow slavery as punishment for a crime. Over the next 155 years, that punishment clause was used as a club to overincarcerate African Americans and other minorities for profit and in complete violation of their human dignity. Black Americans were immediately targeted and arrested by law enforcement for minor infractions, and the practice of forced prison labor began and still persists to this day. That is why I, joined by Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon, introduced legislation to amend the Constitution to clarify that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be used as punishment for a crime. I am pleased that many of my colleagues, including Congressman Cedric Richmond, incoming Assistant Speaker Congresswoman Katherine Clark, and many of my colleagues in the CBC and broader Tri-Caucus, have also taken a leadership role on this issue in legislation. Confronting and rooting out the systemic racism that is still rampant in many facets of American life requires us to examine the painful truth in order to fix it. It is an indisputable historical fact that many local and State law enforcement practices in this country grew out of the legacy of racism and slavery. As millions of Americans are demanding criminal justice reform and a change in the training and culture of policing, passage of this constitutional amendment would send a clear signal: Bigotry and profits will no longer be used to deny any person their dignity. Our criminal justice system and laws cannot be fully respected until we end this injustice that allows disproportionate numbers of Black and Brown people to be imprisoned and enslaved. As I retire from Congress next month, I urge my colleagues to make passage of this legislation an urgent national priority. America cannot heal and move forward until we have real equality for all instead of just for some. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my farewell remarks as a Member of the U.S. House. And while I will be sad to leave this historic place, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve Missouri's 1st Congressional District for two decades, and to have been blessed with the friendship of so many colleagues. I have given my best because my constituents deserved nothing less. I learned that vital lesson about public service from my best advisor and my personal hero . . . my dad, former Congressman Bill Clay. And the truth is none of my success would have been possible without my remarkable family. I want to thank the rock of our family, my mother Carol; and my devoted and talented sisters, Vickie and Michelle. I also want to thank my children, Carol and Will. No Member serves unto themselves. Families also sacrifice greatly. Carol and Will have made me extremely proud. They carry themselves with such dignity, poise, and character. There is no greater joy I have than being their Father. I thank them for being my greatest and best legacy. To my wonderful wife Pat: I could not have selected a better partner to share in my post-Congressional career. Her love and optimism keep my life balanced and exhilarated. I so look forward to our days to come. Of course, the best part of being a Member of Congress has been helping tens of thousands of constituents solve issues with the federal government. None of that could have been possible without my dedicated and compassionate staff over the years--Patricia Green, Sheila Mileszko, Virginia Cook, Debra Miller, Michelle Bogdanovich, Sandra Houston, Ishmael-Lateef Ahmad, Jasmina Hadzic, Sean Weller, Craig Rasmussen, Percy Green, Adam Bordes, Marvin Steele, Richard Pecantte, Frank ``Les'' Davis, Mark Odom, Lou Aboussie, Noelle Lindsey, Brian Williams, Michelle Mitchell, Brittany Packnett, Josh Peters, Pauline Jamry, Perre Smalls, Samantha Williams, Sherry Faulkner, Tony Grandison, Bill Sibert, Frank Taylor, Erica Powell, Matt Alexis, Rico Doss, and my Communications Director Steven Engelhardt, and the late Allison Singfield and the late Dottie Ross. I would like to extend a special thanks to educator Gwendolyn Reed, who also served as a staffer for both me and my father, Congressman Bill Clay, Sr. I also want to thank an exceptional American who has devoted 48 years of public service to the U.S. House, my remarkable Constituent Services Director, Edwilla Massey. I want to thank my devoted Executive Assistant and Scheduler, Karyn Long. Karyn is family. She always went above and beyond for me and I am forever grateful. I also want to especially thank all my Chiefs of Staff: Harriet Grigsby, Darryl Piggee and Yvette Cravins. In the book of Matthew chapter 25, verses 36-40, the scriptures read, ``When I was naked you clothed me. I was sick you visited me, when I was in prison you came to me. The righteous answered, Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, clothed you, or in prison visited?'' And the King answered them, ``Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'' These scriptures have been a guidepost for my career in public service. Over my ten terms, I have fearlessly advocated for the permanent interests of African Americans and other unheard voices. I have had many legislative achievements in this body and I thank all of colleagues who assisted me in doing as the scriptures noted ``caring for the least of these''. In my remaining time, I would like to highlight a few victories. For 14 years, I hosted the Career Fair at St. Louis' HBCU, Harris- Stowe State University, which connected thousands of job seekers with good paying jobs providing economic stability. Creating jobs and economic development was a priority for me. We were able to build the new $120 million National Archives Administration Center in North St. Louis County. The greatest economic victory for North St. Louis was the bipartisan effort to build the headquarters of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. That $1.7 billion project is the largest single federal investment in St. Louis history, of which I am extremely proud. As Chair of the Financial Services Housing Subcommittee, I secured the renovation of over 200 units of housing at the old Homer G. Phillips hospital in North St. Louis and an additional 200 plus units in Wellston with the help of St. Louis County. People in my district, particularly the elderly, deserve to live with dignity and security. As Chair of the Oversight Census Subcommittee, I worked to ensure Census 2010 was successful and addressed the digital divide in vulnerable communities. My focus on healthcare led to The Everson Walls and Ron Springs Gift of Life legislation, increasing grants to states and expanded organ and tissue registry for minorities. I have been a champion for environmental justice, cleaning up waste sites often lingering in minority neighborhoods. My environmental record includes $5 million to clean up the former St. Louis Army Ammunition plant: $30 million to clean up the former Carter Carburetor plant; and $266 million to clean up West Lake Landfill which holds waste from the Manhattan Project. Lastly, one of my signature achievements was the African-American Civil Rights Network Act. The National Park's program educates generations on the struggles of African Americans who demanded full civil rights in spite of violence and hate. I am proud of my legacy and work for Missouri's first Congressional District. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my farewell remarks as a Member of the people's House. And while I will be sad to leave this historic place, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve Missouri's First Congressional District for two decades and to have been blessed with the friendship of so many colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I have given my best because my constituents deserve nothing less. I learned that vital lesson about public service from my best adviser and my personal hero, my dad, former Congressman Bill Clay. The truth is none of my success would have been possible without my remarkable family. I thank the rock of our family, my mother, Carol, and my devoted and talented sisters, Vickie and Michelle. Mr. Speaker, I also thank my children, Carol and Will. No Member serves unto themselves. Families also sacrifice greatly. Carol and Will, you all have made me extremely proud. You carry yourselves with such dignity, poise, and character. There is no greater joy I have than being your father. Thank you for being my greatest and best legacy. To my wonderful wife, Pat, I could not have selected a better partner to share in my post-congressional career. Your love and optimism keep my life balanced and exhilarated. I so look forward to our days to come. Mr. Speaker, of course, the best part of being a Member of Congress has been helping tens of thousands of constituents solve issues with the Federal Government. None of that would have been possible without my dedicated and compassionate staff over the years: Patricia, Sheila, Virginia, Sandy, Ishmael, Jasmina, Sean, Craig, Percy, Adam, Marvin, Richard, Les, Mark, Lou, Brian, Michelle, Brittany, Josh, Pauline, Perre, Samantha, Sherry, Tony, Bill, Frank, Erica, Matt, Rico; my communications director, Steven Engelhardt; and the late Alyson Singfield and the late Dottie Ross. I also thank an exceptional American who has devoted 48 years of public service to the U.S. House, my remarkable constituent services director, Edwilla Massey. I thank my devoted executive assistant and scheduler, Karyn Long. Karyn is family. She always went above and beyond for me, and I am forever grateful. I also especially thank all my chiefs of staff: Harriet Grigsby, Darryl Piggee, and Yvette Cravins. In the book of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 36-40, the Scriptures read: When I was naked, you clothed Me. When I was sick, you visited Me. And when I was in prison, you came to Me. The righteous answered, ``Lord, when did we see You hungry, thirsty, clothed You, or in prison visited?'' And the King answered them, ``Truly I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.'' Mr. Speaker, these Scriptures have been a guidepost for my career in public service. Over my 10 terms, I have fearlessly advocated for the permanent interest of African Americans and other unheard voices. I have had many legislative achievements in this body, and I thank all of my colleagues who assisted me in doing as the Scriptures noted, ``caring for the least of these.'' Mr. Speaker, in my remaining time, I highlight a few victories. For 14 years, I hosted the Clay Career Fair at St. Louis' HBCU Harris-Stowe State University, which connected thousands of jobseekers with good-paying jobs, providing economic stability. Creating jobs and economic development was a priority for me. We were able to build the new $120 million National Archives administration center in North St. Louis County. The greatest economic victory for North St. Louis was the bipartisan effort to build the headquarters of the National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency. That $1.7 billion project is the largest single Federal investment in St. Louis' history, of which I am extremely proud. We have also built hundreds of units of new housing. We have also expanded organ and tissue donation registry. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the legacy and work of Missouri's First Congressional District. May God bless you all.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill is a commonsense reform that provides the Mint with the flexibility needed to meet consumer demand for coins while saving taxpayer dollars. This bill ensures that modifications will operate interchangeably and without disruption to existing coin acceptor infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire through the Chair if my colleague has any remaining speakers on his side.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7995, the Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act of 2020. I thank the gentleman from Nevada (Representative Amodei) for his work on this bill, which authorizes the Director of the Mint, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to modify the metallic composition of circulating coins to better meet public demand for coins while seeking to reduce costs to taxpayers and preserve interoperability with existing coin acceptor technology. Despite the changes to our everyday lives brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, coin production is at an all-time high. Just this year, the U.S. Mint averaged a monthly production rate of approximately 1.27 billion coins per month for a total of 15.2 billion coins over the past 12 months. By comparison, the Mint produced 11.9 billion coins for all of 2019. Since 2006, metal prices have risen to where the unit costs of a penny and nickel exceed their face value. The U.S. Mint estimates that by adjusting the metal content of coins, the Federal Government could save between $10 million to $17 million per year. This bill would require any proposed change in the metallic composition of coins to both reduce costs to taxpayers and be seamless. This means that the diameter, weight, and electromagnetic signature of the new coins would operate interchangeably in most coin acceptors that use electromagnetic signature technology, such as vending machines, laundromats, and the self-checkout lines at your local grocery stores. This commonsense reform provides the Mint with the flexibility to save taxpayer dollars and avoid future supply chain disruptions while balancing the needs of stakeholders in ensuring that any new coins work within the existing coin acceptance infrastructure. This bill is supported by a wide range of industry stakeholders, including the National Automatic Merchandising Association, the Coin Laundry Association, and the Food Industry Association. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Amodei for his work on this bill, and I urge Members to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material thereon.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7995) to amend title 31, United States Code, to save Federal funds by authorizing changes to the composition of circulating coins, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney), my friend and colleague.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1830, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act. The Purple Heart is one of the oldest and most recognized American military medals awarded to servicemembers who were killed or wounded by enemy action. The mission of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, located in New Windsor, New York, is to collect and preserve the stories of Purple Heart recipients from all branches of the Armed Forces and across all generations. The Hall of Honor serves as a living memorial to these servicemembers and ensures that all recipients are remembered. Currently, there are over 200,000 names installed at the Hall of Honor. This bill would provide tangible support to the Hall of Honor by directing the West Point Mint to produce commemorative coins in recognition of the work of the Hall of Honor. Proceeds from the sale of this coin would fund improvements to the museum itself to help expand the understanding and respect for those who have served and sacrificed. This bill passed the House last September, but the version we are considering today incorporates changes made by a Senate amendment that updates the time period for issuance of the commemorative coins to fiscal year 2022, and includes financial assurance language that minting and issuing coins under this act will result in no net cost to the Federal Government. I thank Mr. Maloney, Mr. Takano, and Mr. Gallagher for their work on this bill, and I urge Members to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material therein.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1830) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this bill ensures that the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor can continue its important mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories of the brave men and women who were killed or injured in service to their country. The straightforward changes we are considering today will align the time period for the issuance of the commemorative coins and ensures that the coins issued under this act will result in no net cost to the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank my friend from Maryland, Senator Chris Van Hollen, for his cosponsorship of this legislation. The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act would require the SEC to suspend the trading of securities at issue by foreign issuers who are not fully compliant with PCAOB audit inspection for 3 years, commencing upon the enactment of this bill, as well as require foreign issuers to disclose whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government. For too long, foreign issuers have circumvented important investor protections crafted by Congress to protect U.S. investors, retirees, workers, and U.S. capital markets. This commonsense bill does nothing more than ensure a level playing field by requiring foreign issuers to play by the same rules as everyone else. Additionally, with passage of this bill, investors and markets can be assured that the legally required disclosures they are receiving pursuant to U.S. law from the company they are investing in have been thoroughly vetted by an independent entity whose mission is to protect investors and safeguard market integrity. Maintaining the status quo would allow foreign issuers to continue to exploit U.S. retirees, workers, and investors, all while allowing them continued access to the greatest, most dynamic capital market system in the world. I call on all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting the bipartisan Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), my 20-year friend and colleague.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 945, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which would suspend the trading of securities of foreign issuers that retain accounting firms not subject to audit by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board after 3 years of noncompliance, as well as require the issuer to disclose whether it is owned or controlled by a foreign government. I would like to thank Senator Kennedy and Representative Sherman, who cosponsored the House version of S. 945, for working on this incredibly important and long-overdue piece of legislation. The Enron and WorldCom financial reporting scandals wiped out billions of dollars from retirement accounts, eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and defrauded investors hundreds of billions of dollars. To ensure U.S. investors, workers, retirees, and capital markets were never again exposed to this type of egregious fraud, Congress established the PCAOB through the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to protect investors by overseeing the audits of public companies and ensuring the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent corporate disclosures and audit reports by inspection. As former PCAOB board member Steven Harris noted: ``The PCAOB was established because the accounting profession's framework of self- regulation had failed,'' and the creation of an independent auditor to inspect and verify corporate disclosures and audit work was necessary. However, citing various foreign secrecy, privacy, and national security laws, many foreign issuers who enjoy the full benefits and privileges of trading on U.S. exchanges and access to U.S. public markets have openly flouted U.S. investor protections and prohibited the PCAOB from inspecting their corporate disclosures as well as the auditor's work. According to a June 2020 PCAOB report, China alone had 202 public companies listed on U.S. exchanges representing $1.8 trillion in market capitalization that the PCAOB has been unable to fully and adequately inspect. Make no mistake, the ability of foreign issuers to circumvent PCAOB inspection affirmatively allows foreign companies to exploit U.S. workers and retirees and comes at the direct expense of U.S. investors and the integrity of U.S. markets. To continue with business as usual reverts us back to the Enron and WorldCom status quo. By suspending the trading of securities issued by foreign issuers who are not fully compliant with PCAOB audit inspections for 3 years, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act will hold noncompliant foreign issuers accountable and help safeguard U.S. investors and the integrity of our markets. We can no longer allow foreign issuers to exploit our system. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with me in protecting American workers, retirees, and investors by supporting the bipartisan Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 945) to amend the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to require certain issuers to disclose to the Securities and Exchange Commission information regarding foreign jurisdictions that prevent the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board from performing inspections under that Act, and for other purposes, and for other purposes.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7301. The COVID-19 global pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented economic decline that has greatly affected the health and well-being of the people I represent in St. Louis, Missouri, and millions of other Americans. As the Brookings Institution pointed out recently, the United States housing crisis is not new, because even before the coronavirus pandemic, 10 to 15 percent of households reported being housing insecure. With unemployment at all-time levels, the housing crisis is not just affecting those on the margins. I want my colleagues to step back and imagine being a Black person in St. Louis, Los Angeles, or Chicago and having to deal with all of the problems of a global pandemic on top of the usual unbridled racism that comes with being Black in America. It is mentally debilitating, but for Blacks in America, just another day in the office. I received a letter last week from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, which states: ``Thousands of families have gone from stability to sudden loss of income, which threatens access to basic needs--food, housing, healthcare--and many who were already living on the economic margins are now in even more dire circumstances.'' In short, the past 3 months have been a disaster for many Americans. Just when we see signs of things getting better, new statistics show an increase in forbearance requests. But today, we can help mitigate the harmful effects of the pandemic and help millions of Americans keep a roof over their head by voting for this act.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has reached an inflection point in our history. Our country is demanding change after four centuries of systemic racism toward African Americans. The Members of this body must listen and respond to the millions of Americans who want this country to correct course and move toward the Constitution's promise of equal justice under the law. Your neighbors, friends, children, and grandchildren are demanding that we pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and subsequently move forward in a comprehensive way to erase the stain of racism on this Nation existing since Africans first were brought ashore. This is the moment. History will judge us by our actions today, at this pivotal moment. Future generations will look at this moment and wonder, when you had the opportunity to stand and guide our country in its ongoing quest to be a more perfect union, the question will be asked: What did you do? You can, today, begin to make right the many wrongs perpetrated upon people of color and ensure our country lives up to its great promise. So we must get to yes. Vote ``yes'' on this legislation to improve the quality of life for people that are as American as any one of you. As video evidence has clearly shown, African Americans are still due all the rights and privileges granted by the 14th Amendment. In the words of the Missouri poet Langston Hughes: I swear to the Lord I still can't see Why democracy means Everybody but me. I, too, am America.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the CARES Act, and I am so proud of the emergency housing priorities, including a temporary moratorium on evictions and foreclosures of homeowners with federally backed mortgages. There is $4 billion for emergency grants for homelessness, $5 billion for CDBGs, and $1 billion for project- based rental assistance. We are in this fight together, and we will not be broken. Viruses come and go, but the courage of the American people endures. God bless you all.