David Cicilline

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the Senate amendment to H.R. 1957, the Great American Outdoors Act. This legislation will establish permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and establish a National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund supporting deferred maintenance projects on federal lands. The funding authorized by this legislation will assist many states, including my home state of Rhode Island, in improving state parks and beaches, and preserving open spaces and wildlife habitats. Additionally, funding for deferred maintenance projects within the National Park System will help ensure that resources remain available to Rhode Island in the future for required improvements and developments for sites like the Roger Williams National Memorial and the Blackstone Valley National Historic Park.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, John Robert Lewis, an American hero, a civil rights icon, a movement leader, a peacemaker, a teacher, a drum major for justice, a mentor, a colleague, and a friend. I want to begin by thanking John's family for sharing him with us and with our country. As I listened to my colleagues tonight speak about John, I realize that he made each one of us feel like a very special person to him. I also realize that words can't really capture John Lewis and what he meant to us, to our country, and to the world. I had the privilege, like so many of my colleagues, of walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with John and listening to him speak about his work in the civil rights movement; to be part of an effort to organize a sit-in here on the House floor to demand action on gun violence; to work with John when we played a really critical role in our right for passage of the Equality Act and made the case that LGBTQ Americans were entitled to full equality in this country; on his visit to Newport News, Rhode Island; or traveling to South Africa to celebrate Robert Kennedy's ``Ripple of Hope'' speech. John Lewis made America more just, he made us all more human, because he deeply believed in justice and equality. They weren't just things that he believed in; it is who he was. And most importantly, he reminded us always to be optimistic, because he believed in the fundamental decency of every human being. And even in the darkest moments, he would encourage us: ``Keep the faith, brother. Keep fighting.'' And it is that belief in the fundamental goodness of everyone, that optimism, that John left with us. And so, John, knowing you, serving with you, has been the greatest honor of my life. I thank you for all that you have done for me and for our country, and we promise you that we will keep the faith and keep up the fight. Rest in peace, my friend.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 3607) to extend public safety officer death benefits to public safety officers whose death is caused by COVID-19, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 886) to direct the Attorney General to establish and carry out a Veteran Treatment Court Program, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Rhode Island legend, the late former mayor of Newport, Paul Gaines, Sr. At a moment in our Nation's history, when we are again confronting the torment of generations of racial inequality, and collectively working to repair the soul of America, Paul Gaines will be remembered as a trailblazer in the fight for equal justice under the law. As New England's and Rhode Island's first Black mayor, Mayor Gaines was an inspiration, an educator, a soldier, a mentor, and a change- maker who succeeded in every endeavor by bridging divides and leading with humility and integrity. When he died last Thursday, at the age of 88, Mayor Gaines left behind an enormous legacy. As an activist, he spent a decade of his life working to build a memorial to the First Rhode Island Regiment, a Continental Army regiment that is best remembered today for recruiting Black soldiers to serve during the Revolutionary War. In these recent years, he continued his work to ensuring equality of opportunity regardless of one's race, who they are, or where they came from. Mr. Speaker, I offer my deepest sympathies to his wife of 61 years, Jo Eva, and to the entire Gaines family.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, our infrastructure is stuck in the 1950s, and it doesn't have to be. It is time--in fact, it is past time--for Congress to bring our bridges, roads, and schools into the 21st century. The American people gave Democrats control of the U.S. House last year because we promised to work for the people, higher wages, lower costs, and rooting out corruption in Washington. The Moving Forward Act delivers on that promise. It creates millions of good-paying jobs at a time when they are needed most. More than 40 million unemployment claims have been filed since the start of this pandemic, but the President is more interested in tweeting than helping people who are out of work. As a candidate, President Trump promised to rebuild our infrastructure. It turned out to be yet another empty promise on his road to power. Mr. Speaker, now Democrats are providing $1.5 trillion to build modern, sustainable infrastructure. This is a bill that invests in the well-being of our cities and towns. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to adopt the en bloc package, which includes my amendment to establish the interagency innovative materials standards task force and to pass the underlying bill without delay.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his extraordinary leadership. I thank Chairman Scott, Chairman Neal, and Chairman Pallone. 122,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, nearly 2.6 million are infected. And, in the midst of this deadly and historic global health pandemic, with infection rates continuing to rise all across our country, there has never been a worse time to try to rip away healthcare from the American people. But just last week, President Trump and my Republican colleagues filed a pleading in the Supreme Court to take away healthcare from 20 million Americans and to gut protections for 135 million Americans with preexisting conditions. Now, more than ever, Democrats are standing up to fight to protect access to quality, affordable healthcare. And the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act does just that. It lowers healthcare costs; it protects patients with preexisting conditions; it expands Medicaid; and it lowers the cost of prescription drugs. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have described these ideas as radical. Only in the Republican Conference is expanding health coverage and driving down costs and covering more people with preexisting conditions radical. For the rest of the American people, it is a basic human right: access to quality, affordable healthcare. The Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Enhancement Act will do just that. My colleagues have been on a relentless campaign to repeal the Affordable Care Act in its entirety and promised they were going to repeal and replace. They have only tried to repeal. There has never been a replacement. Once again, we are stepping into the breach, building on the success of the Affordable Care Act in the midst of a global health pandemic to drive down healthcare costs, expand coverage, and protect people with preexisting conditions. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye.''

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, during this pandemic millions of Americans have lost their jobs and are dangerously close to losing their homes. The relief this Congress provided has kept millions of Americans housed. We must continue to act. Thirty percent of renters are not able to pay their rent in June--one in three. We passed the HEROES Act to provide emergency relief for renters and homeowners who desperately need it, because everyone deserves a safe home, especially during a pandemic when being in our houses keeps us safe. The Senate has chosen not to act on the HEROES Act so we must pass the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act to ensure that millions of Americans remain in their housing until this pandemic ends and they are able to go back to work. At a time of a national crisis, I urge my colleagues to please put aside their partisan bickering and obstruction and pass the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank you, who brought me to the site of this horrible tragedy and allowed me to see the warmth and beauty of your community in response to it. Four years ago, 49 people were murdered in a violent, hate-filled mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando. In the days that followed, we saw and heard stories of courage, bravery, and resolve. But mostly, there was unspeakable pain for those who lost someone in this attack. And although I pray that the passage of 4 years has brought some measure of relief, the truth is that their pain will never fully go away. It is critical that we designate this memorial today so that our country never forgets those who are lost, but it is also important to take action so this never happens again. Individuals convicted of hate crimes should never own a gun, and that is why I introduced the Disarm Hate Act--to do just that. If you commit a hate crime, you shouldn't be allowed to own a gun, period. We know that those who commit hate crimes become increasingly violent as time goes on. No American family should have to suffer because of this loophole. Let's disarm hate once and for all. We will never forget the 49 young people who lost their lives at the Pulse club in Orlando, the extraordinary response of the first responders, and the hospital facilities that provided miraculous care that prevented so many other lives from being lost. Let's do all that we can to prevent the next hate-filled tragedy. Again, I salute Orlando Strong for the magnificent and nurturing response of the entire community to this devastating attack on all of us.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will vote on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, a bill that will lower healthcare costs and prescription drug costs, protect patients with preexisting conditions, expand Medicaid, and lower prescription drug costs. Democrats have been committed since the day we arrived here to strengthening access to quality healthcare. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, on the other hand, are trying to rip away healthcare from 20 million Americans and weaken protection for 135 million Americans with preexisting conditions. They have been trying to do this for 10 years. They are obsessed with the very idea. Yesterday, President Trump joined 18 Republican Governors and attorneys general in filing a brief in the United States Supreme Court to have the entire Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional in the middle of a global health pandemic. More than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment; 120,000 Americans have died; and more than 2.25 million Americans have been infected with this virus. There has never been a more important time to protect access to quality, affordable healthcare than right now. That is why Democrats are going to move forward with another bill that will further strengthen access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. It is important that we continue this fight to protect the American people and their access to healthcare.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of the resolution to override the President's veto. In 2016, the Obama administration issued the borrower defense rule in order to provide relief to student borrowers defrauded by predatory for-profit institutions, which promised an education and credentials to pursue a career only to find these credentials did not have the value they were promised. In the aftermath of the collapse of institutions like Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute, the Obama administration sought to provide relief to those students left out in the cold. The borrower defense rule provided a path to relief to those students who sought to receive an education but were instead left with nothing but debt and few paths forward. Sadly and predictably, the Trump administration ended these protections and implemented a rule making it harder to obtain relief, siding with predatory for-profit institutions rather than the victims-- the students and veterans--of these wrongdoers. According to the Institute for College Access and Success, the number of students eligible to seek debt relief or loan forgiveness will drop from 53 percent of borrowers under the Obama-era rule to just 3 percent under the Trump rule. In response, Congress, in a bipartisan way, came together to reject the administration's rule change, rejecting efforts to leave defrauded students out in the cold. The President vetoed this relief. Now, Congress must once again stand on the side of those who sought to obtain a higher education and provide a better life for their lives and family. I urge adoption of the override resolution.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visited my district in April of 1967. Almost a year to the day he was killed, Dr. King told Rhode Islanders: I haven't lost faith in the future. But I never intend to adjust myself to the madness of militarism or racial inequality. More than 50 years later, we are still fighting the madness of racial inequality. I believe that all of us in this Chamber are here for a reason. It is our solemn duty to acknowledge the sins of the past 400 years and begin to repair the soul of America. We can build a better, more just country. Pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, because Black lives matter. Make the critical reforms that we need to do right now. End the chokehold. End racial profiling. Demilitarize police departments. Hold bad police officers accountable. When we do this, we can begin to rebuild trust between the police and the community. Colleagues, do not be obstructionists. Stand with us in this historic moment. Set aside politics. Stop living in fear of the President's Twitter account. Remember the oath you took to your constituents and to our country.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, almost 100,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Nearly 40 million unemployment claims have been filed. Our economy is in shambles. Two weeks ago, the House took action. We passed the HEROES Act, $3 trillion in new relief funds, to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people. Two weeks later, the Senate is on vacation. They were in session last week, but all they did was move forward on approving right-wing judges. This is outrageous. The Senate is sitting on a bill that provides $1 trillion to pay first responders, healthcare workers, teachers who are in danger of losing their jobs; $200 billion for hazard pay; $75 billion for testing, contact tracing, and isolation; and cash for families, up to $6,000 per household. The American people deserve better. They deserve a Senate that is committed to protecting their health and safety. They deserve an up or down vote on the HEROES Act in the Senate, not next week, not the week after, but right now. The virus isn't taking a break, the United States Senate shouldn't take a break either.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of discussion this morning about the HEROES Act as a political agenda. It is an agenda for the people of this country, providing economic relief to families who are suffering with direct cash payments, providing resources to protect our heroes on the front lines who are risking their lives to protect us, providing desperately needed money to cities and States to protect against tax increases at the State and local level to make up for revenue losses, expanding testing and treatment to defeat this pandemic, supporting hospitals at the center of this crisis, and rental and mortgage assistance for those struggling with these payments. So the question is: This the agenda for the people. The real question is why is it not your agenda? This is about responding in a comprehensive way to the hurt and devastation this pandemic is causing. You ought to join us in this effort. The American people need action now, and they need your support on this legislation. Vote ``yes'' on the HEROES Act.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the interim relief package. Thanks to the strong leadership of the Speaker and our outstanding committee chairs, this bill helps our smallest small businesses, our hospitals, and a national testing strategy, which were not included in Senator McConnell's original bill. So thanks again for their leadership. Madam Speaker, we also have to work hard to flatten this curve, and we have to do a lot more for America's working families. In the next phase of relief, we need to include recurring direct cash payments to workers, additional small business relief, aid to States and cities to pay first responders and their healthcare heroes that are on the front lines, and even more in unemployment benefits. Our response must meet the gravity of the moment. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join with us to make sure we respond to this issue in the way that is necessary and not resist efforts to help hospitals, to help workers, to help expand testing, all of the things we know we need to do to defeat this pandemic. Thank goodness we stood up. Otherwise, we wouldn't have $75 million for healthcare workers, $25 million for testing, and all of the other things which are in this bill to help the smallest of small businesses.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, this is a public health crisis unlike any other in modern history. Since day one of this pandemic, House Democrats have been focused on two things: saving lives and supporting families, workers, and small businesses. That is why we moved swiftly in recent weeks to pass two bipartisan relief packages that provided billions of dollars for medicine, protective gear, and lab tests; low interest loans for small business; emergency paid leave; and free coronavirus testing. Yet we understood more needed to be done for working families. Mitch McConnell still tried to use this third package to put huge corporations first, but Democrats fought to make this bill about the folks who really need help. Thanks to the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and our extraordinary committee chairs, that is what this bill does for healthcare workers on the front lines of this fight and the working folks and small business owners struggling to get by. That is why this bill provides $130 billion for hospitals to treat patients and to protect workers, $360 billion in relief for small businesses, $250 billion in direct cash payments to workers and families, and an average of 4 months of full pay for workers who are laid off because of this crisis. Let's pass this bill now.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, today, the House will vote on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This critical legislation provides much-needed support for working people across America. It includes funding for free coronavirus tests for everyone who needs it; 14 days of paid sick leave and up to 3 months of paid family and medical leave; enhanced unemployment insurance that will protect furloughed workers; food security through SNAP, student meals, senior nutrition, and food banks; and increased Federal funds for Medicaid. We are facing an enormous crisis in our country right now. Once we pass this bill, the Senate and the President need to act swiftly so these resources are made available to the American people. Madam Speaker, I thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi and all of our colleagues who worked so hard on this over the last several days. Nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of the American people. There is more work to be done, and we will do whatever it takes, bear any burden, confront any obstacle in order to minimize the damage that this pandemic will do to our country, and we will do all that we can to keep our country and our constituents safe.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, as the number of coronavirus cases rises, it is important that our constituents have the information they need to protect themselves, so I am going to use my 5 minutes today to walk through what doctors and health experts know and what Congress has done in response. First, there is no vaccine to prevent coronavirus, so taking steps to protect yourself is paramount. As much as possible, avoid contact with individuals who are already sick. If you yourself are sick, stay home. There is no need to go to work and risk getting other people sick as well. Try to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you have to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue. If you don't have a tissue, use your sleeve. Be sure that you are cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces, like doorknobs and phones. If you feel compelled to wear a face mask, be sure that you check the CDC's recommendations. Face masks are not recommended for people who are trying to protect themselves from respiratory diseases. This includes coronavirus. However, face masks are recommended if you are showing symptoms of coronavirus or another respiratory disease. Most importantly, the CDC recommends that you wash your hands frequently. Do so with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You should especially wash your hands after using the restroom; before you eat; and after you blow your nose, cough, or sneeze. If you are unable to wash your hands but have a sanitizer available, the CDC recommends that it be alcohol-based with at least 60 percent alcohol. As the coverage of this ongoing outbreak continues and the number of positive cases grows, it is also important that the American people know what the symptoms of coronavirus actually are. According to the CDC, coronavirus symptoms may appear as soon as 2 days and as late as 14 days after exposure. These symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you are suffering from these symptoms, you should stay home. Do not rush to the emergency room, a minute clinic, or another medical facility. While you are at home, do your best to stay away from your family or other people you may regularly encounter. The next step is to call your doctors and let them know that you are exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus. They will tell you the next steps you should take. If they want you to come in for a test, this call will allow your healthcare provider to take the necessary steps to keep other people from getting infected. If you are going to the doctor or out in public with symptoms, now is the time to wear a face mask. If your symptoms continue to worsen, call your doctor and seek prompt medical attention. Be sure that your doctor is in contact with your local or State health department. This will make the monitoring or self-monitoring process easier for both you and health officials. If you are instructed to self-quarantine, stay at home until you are instructed to leave. This will minimize the risk of transmitting the disease to others. Finally, we have an obligation to each other to do everything we can to prevent the further spread of this disease. Again, if you do not feel well or you have any of these symptoms, do not go to work. This includes my colleagues and my staff here in the Capitol, some of whom have already made the responsible decision to self-quarantine themselves. We have had briefings from administration officials leading the national effort to get this outbreak under control. We know how serious this is. Now is the time to lead by example. That is why, last week, Congress approved a massive $8.3 billion emergency appropriations package to address the scale and seriousness of the coronavirus epidemic. I was especially glad to see that this package included several key provisions that meet needs specific to my home State of Rhode Island, where we have three confirmed cases already. This includes nearly $1 billion for drugs, masks, lab tests, and additional resources that will be provided to State and local health agencies; $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses, to help cushion the economic blow of this public health emergency; $3 billion for research and development of treatments and vaccines; and $300 million to ensure those vaccines are affordable. Most importantly, this bill gives doctors and public health experts the resources they need to do their jobs. We have the best doctors, scientists, and researchers in the world. Now is the time to let them do what they do best without feeling pressure from politicians, including the President. I am pleased also that the Speaker yesterday sent a Dear Colleague letter which identifies some of the issues that remain of importance to us that we are going to focus on in sort of the second effort by the Congress: paid sick leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, food security, clear protections for frontline workers, widespread testing for the coronavirus, as well as affordable treatments for all, anti- price-gouging protections, and increasing the capacity of our medical system. I really want to thank the Speaker for identifying those issues which remain unaddressed and which the Congress must address in a full and comprehensive response to this public health crisis.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank the chairman and ranking member for their support and urge passage of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4508) to expand the number of scholarships available to Pakistani women under the Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program, as amended.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4508.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, when we break down the barriers holding women back, they lift up entire communities. Top economists back this up. The World Bank says that financing girls' education has the highest return on investment in the developing world. We know that the impact isn't just economic. When girls have access to education, they can inspire millions, empower their communities, and change the world. Look at Malala Yousafzai. Malala bravely put her education to use by blogging about the brutality of Taliban rule in her hometown and advocating for girls' rights to education. The Pakistani Taliban tried to silence her with a violent attack on her life. She survived, and she didn't back down. Malala's continued commitment to advancing women's rights and expanding access to education has resonated with millions of people and spurred action around the world. When we look at Malala, we see an inspiring source of strength, of dedication, and of bravery. We also see what women are capable of when they have the opportunity to go to school and use their voices. So, I am pleased that we are moving forward this bill named in Malala's honor that will strengthen the United States' investments in educational opportunities for Pakistani girls. The Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act will require that at least 50 percent of USAID's Merit and Needs-Based Scholarships in Pakistan are awarded to women. I want to thank my colleague and friend from New York (Mr. Jeffries) for introducing this excellent measure. I am proud to support it, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in doing so. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to, again, really speak to the importance of this resolution, because we have examples all over the world of where, when women are empowered, it lifts up an entire community; and that when women have a voice, they not only contribute to their own empowerment, their own development, and their own success, but have an enormous, positive impact on their local communities in the regions in which they live. It has often been said that one of the best investments we can make is in education, and I think Malala's story is an example of the transformative power of education, not only in terms of economic security, but in terms of building democracy and civil society. So this legislation will ensure that we intentionally and purposefully invest in young women and girls because of not only the impact it will have on their own lives but what it will mean to the communities they are a part of. I want to really applaud the chief sponsor of this, my friend and colleague, Hakeem Jeffries, the chair of the Democratic Caucus, who has really made this a priority in his work. During discussions in the Foreign Affairs Committee there was bipartisan recognition of the significant investment in women and girls; that that had to be a priority, and that it would be a tool to advancing economic success, to advancing educational success, and to really help build a civil society. These are very often regions which, for a very long time, women and girls were excluded from those opportunities. So this resolution will be really transformative and will really help to ensure that Pakistan can serve as a model for what happens when you actually invest in women and girls and the difference it can make in the societies in that country that will be an example, I think, to the rest of the world. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the very distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), who is the author of this very important piece of legislation, the Democratic Caucus chair, and my friend.