Lois Frankel

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, this is a declaration in the United States of America: That getting children off to an early start at ages 3 and 4 is as important as getting them into kindergarten or 6th grade, or whatever. Madam Speaker, I know I said one last thing, but I do have one last thing, because we are talking about taking care of our families. If anything we learned from the pandemic, is the importance of being able to take care of a loved one when they are sick or disabled, or whatever. That is why the paid family leave provision of Build Back Better is so important. In fact, is it true that we are the only industrialized nation in the country that does not have a paid leave policy?

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am glad I got to do my little ranting and raving. I know I have colleagues who are going to add a lot to this. The American people should know that the Democratic Women's Caucus right here, and we represent people all over the country--

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this SFOPs bill, which, in the words of President Biden, says that the United States is back on the world stage. The bill reflects the importance of diplomatic and development assistance and cooperation with valuable partners to advance peace and prosperity around the world. It rebuilds public health infrastructure, confronts climate change, and advances basic education in undeveloped nations. On a subject I know that we can agree on, on both sides of the aisle, the bill is proudly pro-Israel. It fulfills our commitment to Israel, whose security in a very, very dangerous region of the world is America's security, too. We expand our development partnership between our two countries to work together and improve lives around the world in poor areas. I say to my colleagues, let's maintain this bipartisan support to our very good friend, Israel. Mr. Speaker, the bill also recognizes that when girls and women succeed, the world succeeds. The bill invests in education, health and maternal care, economic opportunity, and combating barriers to success like gender-based violence and child marriage. It supports the implementation of the ``Women, Peace and Security'' strategy. Mr. Speaker, most importantly, this bill removes the harmful Helms amendment, which restricts U.S. funding for abortion services around the world, and removes the global gag rule, which forces healthcare providers to choose between U.S. global health assistance and the ability to counsel and provide clients with accurate and a full range of safe and legal reproductive options. The gag rule has resulted in good and honest healthcare providers turning down United States financial assistance, forcing the closure of clinics around the world, leaving more than a million women without access to healthcare, including reproductive care. Yesterday, I heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about restricting abortion in the United States. Now, today, it is Ghana and the rest of the world. I want to say to my colleagues, let me respectfully clue you in that in poor, undeveloped countries, you are not stopping abortions. You are stopping safe abortions. Unsafe abortions are responsible for 13 percent of maternal deaths around the world. Let me give you another clue. The best way to stop abortions is with access to family planning and contraception, which is in this very, very good bill. I heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about polling, and I say polling, schmolling. Polls say one thing; polls say another thing. I want to ask you, has any woman or even man in the world taken a poll to decide whether or not they should become a parent? I don't think so. I am talking about past bills that have had these terrible provisions, the gag rule, the Helms amendment, and so forth. You know that sometimes you go along not because you want to go along. This has been the case for many of us with these provisions. Let me just say as loud as possible, women cannot live their full potential unless they get to make their own decisions about parenthood. So, removing the global gag rule and the Helms amendment makes this such a very, very good bill that I celebrate today. This is an important bill, and I support it.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Lee for yielding and for her great work on this bill. Madam Speaker, all I can start with saying is my, my, my. It is not enough that Republicans are trying to block safe, legal abortions in every nook and cranny on Earth, now they want to defund the world's finest health agency and cut funding for family planning. For those who don't follow it, the UNFPA is the United Nations' sexual and reproductive health agency. Here is what it does: It supports reproductive healthcare for women and youth in more than 150 countries, home to more than 80 percent of the world's population; it supports the health of pregnant women as well as reliable access to modern contraceptives and the training of thousands of healthcare workers; it supports the prevention of gender-based violence, including the abandonment of female genital mutilation; and it supports the prevention of teen pregnancy complications and efforts to end child marriage. I want to make it very clear, UNFPA has never supported forced abortions anywhere. Where I have heard that, it is a lie. This en bloc also seeks to cut family planning. Are you kidding? Really? You are trying to stop abortions, and then my friends on the other side of the aisle think you are going to stop it by stopping access to contraception and blocking the work of healthcare providers who deliver reproductive care? To me that is just crazy, Madam Speaker. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Madam Speaker, I have said this before, and I say this again, for women and their families to be safe, for communities to be prosperous, for the world to be peaceful, women must succeed. And that means they have to be healthy, free from sexual violence, and free to make their own personal decisions about whether and when to become a parent. I oppose the amendments en bloc, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill that invests in the love and commitment we have for our families, from the very young to the very old. It gets our children off to a good start with historic funding for pre-K and child care, and makes sure all children have access to high- quality public education regardless of their ZIP Code. We want our children to have a chance to live out their dreams, so we make unprecedented investments in Pell grants for college students, including DACA recipients. And our grandparents have given us so much. To help them age with dignity and comfort, the bill increases funding for home and community- based services and research on Alzheimer's and other conditions that impact older Americans. And, of course, we want our families to be safe and healthy, so this bill doubles funding for research on gun violence, pluses-up mental health treatment, and makes historic investments in combatting climate change and protecting Florida's Everglades, drinking water for millions. And this is a country that honors our veterans. I am proud to champion Centers of Excellence for Student Veteran Success programs that help veterans transition from Active Duty to civilian student life. And today we celebrate reproductive freedom with historic investments in Title X Family Planning program, which provides health service to millions of low-income patients in our most underserved communities, and we eliminate provisions blocking the use of Medicaid funding for abortion. No matter how we feel about abortion, politicians should not deny someone's health coverage just because they are struggling financially. Women must have the freedom to decide when and if to become a parent. This is monumental. This is a bill filled with love and hope and justice that lifts up our families. I am proud to support it.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise on the 200th day of the House Democrats delivering for the people. Madam Speaker, over the years, I have had the opportunity to mentor young girls from hard-pressed families, and I will tell you this, they taught me more than I ever could teach them. And I learned that even with mothers working two jobs, there were weeks of just peanut butter in their pantry and having to move place to place just to find affordable rent. That is why I celebrate the historic expansion of the child tax credit in the American Rescue package, because it has the power to lift millions of children out of poverty, give them the futures they deserve. It is going to help our families thrive and our economy to recover. We can build back better by lifting our children.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 205.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Takano and Ms. Brownley for their magnificent leadership advancing the health and safety of our women veterans. Madam Speaker, my, my, my, this bill, which passed unanimously last session, is just mind-boggling that now some Republicans are opposing it. Really? I am going to say this: As a very proud mother of a son of a United States Marine Corps veteran, I know the risks and sacrifices of our brave military. So I say without hesitation, after service to our country is completed, no veteran of the United States Armed Forces should be forced to pay out-of-pocket expenses for preventative care, including contraception, that their civilian counterparts do not pay. Small copays can be prohibitive for veterans struggling to make ends meet. In fact, studies show that costs associated with contraception, even when small, lead some people to forego it completely, to choose less effective methods, or use it inconsistently. Here is the thing, Madam Speaker; the decision about whether or when or how to become a parent is one of the most important decisions a person can make. Our veterans were willing to stand up and take bullets for our freedom, so we need to stand up for theirs. Let's make it clear, today we are focused on access to birth control. The Republican position conflating abortion and contraception is part of a broader extreme effort to block access to any type of reproductive healthcare. So let's eliminate the barriers and get the veterans the healthcare they need. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to demonstrate their commitment to the patriotic people who make up our military and veteran communities by passing this very good bill, Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Waters for her leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, I want to highlight some language in this en bloc amendment that is very important to the working women of this country. The provision requires publicly traded companies to disclose the number and monetary amounts of settlements and judgments in connection with workplace harassment claims. This will not only improve transparency and accountability for public companies, but it will provide incentives for them to foster respectful, safe workplaces free from harassment and to make sure that there are consequences when workplace abuses occur. Here is the thing. Up to 80 percent of women have experienced some form of workplace harassment, and there are serious implications that often result: physical and mental health problems, career interruptions, and lower earnings. Enduring this kind of harassment at work can even discourage women from advancing their careers, which only makes the gender wage gap worse. All persons must have safe workplaces to reach their full potential, and investors should know more about the workplaces they are putting their money behind. Transparency should add motivation to employers to keep their employees safe, and that is good for everyone.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, last week, the unthinkable happened. A grandmother, Litha Verone, was innocently shopping in a local supermarket with her precious young grandson when they were both brutally murdered by a deranged man with a semi- automatic weapon. My heart breaks for Litha's family for their unbearable loss. But, once again, prayers and good wishes are not enough. On so many levels we must take action passing commonsense gun legislation, strengthening our mental health system, reaching out to those in trouble because in the last moments of her life, a grandmother watched in horror as her grandchild was shot and killed by a man who should never have had a gun. Madam Speaker, last week, the unthinkable happened, and we must not stop thinking about it.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, a 63-year-old grandmother, Leah, was sitting in her house near Tel Aviv. Ido, a 5-year-old boy, was home with his big sister and his mom in a small Israeli city near Gaza. Nadine, an Arab-Israeli 10th grader, was driving with her mom and dad outside Jerusalem. What did they have in common? Their families are shattered and heartbroken. Leah, Ido, and Nadine were all murdered by Hamas rockets bombarding Israeli cities. In the last few days, Hamas terrorists have launched over 1,500 rockets-- blowing up homes, schools, and buses. Thankfully, Iron Dome has stopped most. Still, millions of Israelis are forced to sleep and eat in bomb shelters as red alert sirens blare across the country. The violence is a cynical Hamas power grab using policy disputes as an excuse for terrorism. Let me make it clear: I agree with President Joe Biden: Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying in your territory. Hamas must end its attack, and the United States and allies must help bring calm.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, give me a break. Since when is having babies a liberal activity? In fact, I believe that police women have babies, too. And let me tell you about a couple of other women. Erica was working at a warehouse lifting heavy boxes. She had been working there for years. And when she was denied her request to pick up lighter boxes, she lost her pregnancy. Hannah gave 5 years of her life to a healthcare company, was consistently promoted; but when she disclosed her pregnancy to her employer, she was fired. And Sara, who spent 7 years building a tech startup from the ground up and truly loved her job and had been promised a promotion when she came back from maternity leave, had it revoked. These are all true stories of women who have faced the real-world consequence of discrimination against pregnant workers in America. So right now, if a woman becomes pregnant, she can be denied, for example, an extra bathroom break, a place to sit, a lighter lifting, or fired for asking for simple accommodations or even just disclosing that she is pregnant. This leaves many women having to choose between the health of their pregnancy and putting foods on their family's table. We are putting women in danger every single day while we hold off on this action. They are real-world implications for women like Erica and Sara and Hannah, especially in light of how women have really suffered the brunt of the job loss during the pandemic and as we see a rise in maternal mortality rates for women of color. Mr. Speaker, so these stories are not unique. Pregnancy should not prevent a woman from putting food on the table, for paying her bills. Mr. Speaker, I urge everybody to pass this good and needed bill, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, just to follow Chairman McGovern, I thank him for his very kind words on my friend and neighbor, Alcee Hastings, who was a brilliant and forceful advocate for justice and the great senior leader of the Florida delegation. We miss him dearly. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Urban League in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act. National Urban League, April 14, 2021. Re Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7) and vote no on harmful amendments. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Urban League, with 90 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia, I strongly urge you to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 7, without amendments that limit its scope or undermine its critical protections. The National Urban League is a civil rights organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of African Americans and other underserved populations. The National Urban League and our affiliate movement have a strong interest in ensuring equity in the workplace, including payment. Despite federal and state equal pay laws, gender pay gaps persist, and earnings lost to these gaps are exacerbating the financial effects of COVID-19, falling particularly heavily on women of color and the families who depend on their income. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which has been passed three previous times by the House of Representatives, mostly recently in the 116th Congress, offers a much-needed update to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by providing new tools to battle pervasive pay gaps and to challenge discrimination. Women are increasingly the primary or co-breadwinner in their families and cannot afford to be shortchanged any longer. Women working full-time, year-round are typically paid only 82 cents for every dollar paid to men, adding up to a loss of more than $400,000 over a lifetime. This wage gap varies by race and is often larger for women of color: Black women working full time, year-round typically make only 63 cents, Native American women only 60 cents, and Latinas only 55 cents, for every dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts. Over the course of a 40-year career, Black women lose nearly $1 million in earnings and Latinas lose more than $1 million. While Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women make 85 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men, many AAPI communities experience drastically wider pay gaps. Moms are paid less than dads. And even when controlling for factors like education and experience, pay gaps persist and start early in women's careers and contribute to a wealth gap that follows them throughout their lifetimes. Persistent pay discrimination, often cloaked by employer-imposed pay secrecy policies, is one factor driving these wage gaps. These pay gaps can be addressed only if workers have the legal tools necessary to challenge discrimination and employers are provided with effective incentives and technical assistance to comply with the law. The Paycheck Fairness Act updates and strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to ensure that it provides robust protection against sex-based pay discrimination. Among other provisions, this comprehensive bill: ends secrecy around pay by barring retaliation against workers who voluntarily discuss or disclose their wages, and requiring employers to report pay data to the EEOC; prohibits employers from relying on salary history in determining future pay, so that pay discrimination does not follow women from job to job; closes loopholes that have allowed employers to pay women less than men for the same work without any important business justification related to the job; ensures women can receive the same robust remedies for sex- based pay discrimination that are currently available to those subjected to discrimination based on race and ethnicity; and provides much needed training and technical assistance, as well as data collection and research. The COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism have exposed how the work performed primarily by women, and particularly Black and brown women, has long been and continues to be undervalued and underpaid, even as the rest of the country is newly recognizing the essential nature of this work. We cannot build back an economy that works for everyone without ensuring that all women can work with equality, safety, and dignity, starting with pay equity. Passing the Paycheck Fairness Act would mark a vitally important step toward ensuring this becomes reality. We urge you to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act without harmful amendments that weaken its critical protections. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Joi Chaney at the National Urban League. Thank you for your consideration, Marc H. Morial, President & CEO.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act. I have some important questions and simple answers. First, do rent and food cost less for women than men? The answer is no. Do women work less hard than men? Absolutely not. Do children depend on the financial support of their mothers? That answer is yes. So should women make less money than men for doing equal work? Obviously not. Yet, for many reasons, women are paid an average of just 82 cents for every dollar paid to men--it is even lower for women of color--causing struggling families and eventually lower Social Security benefits and retirement savings for our grandmothers. No wonder it is women and their children who are the majority of poor in this country. As we emerge from a pandemic that has hit women workers the hardest, isn't it time for an economy that compensates women fairly for their work? Of course it is. This requires numerous actions, including making sure that women and girls have full access to healthcare, education, and financial resources; family-friendly workplaces; combating on-the-job sexual harassment and violence; making child and adult care more affordable; and raising the pay for minimum wage workers, two-thirds of whom are women. Today, we can take a giant step toward this moral and legal imperative of closing the gender wage gap by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act and giving workers the tools to enforce the Equal Pay Act of 1963, that requires pay equity. Isn't it time, Madam Speaker, that our mothers, daughters, and sisters get paid fairly for their hard day's work? Of course. That is my final question and final answer for today.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I stand in favor of removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment, and I ask the following question: What do the following women have in common? Teacher Melissa Falkowski, who saved 19 children during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Senator Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs in a combat mission in Iraq; Chemist Alice Ball, who revolutionized the treatment for leprosy; Joy Harjo, who was the first Native American poet laureate; Dolores Huerta, civil rights activist; The nearly 9 out of 10 nurses and two-thirds of the workers at grocery store checkouts and fast-food counters who are women. What do they have in common? No matter the sacrifice or contribution to society, if you are a woman or a girl in the United States of America, you are not guaranteed equality under the law. After 245 years since the birth of our Nation, it is time to pass the equal rights amendment.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Speaker, consider this: Your spouse or partner calls you names, he insults you, puts you down. He discourages you from going to work or school or seeing family members or friends. He tries to control how you spend your money, where you go, or who you can see, what medicines you take. He acts possessive, gets angry when drinking alcohol. He tries to control when you can see a doctor; threatens you with violence; and may hit, kick, shove, slap, choke, or otherwise hurt you, your children, your pets. He forces you to have sex against your will. He blames you for his violent behavior and tells you that you deserve it. And this comes from someone you love. You are in pain and embarrassed to ask for help. You are one in four women. The Violence Against Women Act is critical for your safety and economic independence. Madam Speaker, I urge its passage.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 88. Allred (Davids (KS)) Axne (Stevens) Barragan (Beyer) Bera (Aguilar) Bishop (GA) (Butterfield) Blumenauer (Beyer) Buchanan (Gimenez) Bush (Clark (MA)) Cardenas (Gomez) Cleaver (Davids (KS)) DeSaulnier (Matsui) DesJarlais (Fleischmann) Garamendi (Sherman) Garbarino (Joyce (OH)) Grijalva (Garcia (IL)) Hastings (Wasserman Schultz) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kahele (Mrvan) Kim (NJ) (Davids (KS)) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Kuster (Clark (MA)) Langevin (Lynch) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lieu (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Clark (MA)) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Moulton (Underwood) Napolitano (Correa) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Peters (Kildee) Pingree (Cicilline) Porter (Wexton) Rush (Underwood) Sires (Pallone) Slotkin (Stevens) Timmons (Steube) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) Young (Joyce (OH))

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, my sister in good trouble. This is Women's History Month, a time to reflect the gains women have made; the struggles we continue to face; and the strong, fearless, and selfless women who have and continue to pave the way. I have often lamented, as have many of my colleagues here, that for women to reach their full potential, we must be in charge of our own reproductive destiny. No one should have to call their Governor or Member of Congress for permission to access contraception or abortion. And even after the landmark decision Roe v. Wade, it is a constant battle to protect a hard-fought right to legal abortion. We have seen Republican administrations and Republican States legislatures create obstacle after obstacle to prevent women from achieving reproductive freedom, blocking access to legal abortion and even contraception. We have seen private citizens, under the guise of protecting lives, threaten abortion providers, including assassinating physicians that provide abortions. And then there are the angels on the ground who, day in and day out, protect our precious right to reproductive freedom. With this background, I want to highlight a courageous woman in my hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida, who has made and continues to make history as a great champion of women's reproductive rights. She is one of the bravest people I know, someone I am proud to call a friend. Her name is Mona Reis. Mona's mission began early on in life, as a teenager. Six years before Roe v. Wade, she participated in a Florida's Girls State program that gives teen girls an opportunity to run the Florida State Legislature, and she actually introduced a bill to legalize abortion in the State. Of course, it didn't pass. But this was just the beginning of a lifelong career and a commitment to protecting a woman's right to choose, from working at the first outpatient abortion clinic established in Florida in the 1970s to, now, building her own outpatient clinic, the Presidential Women's Center, 41 years ago. She has been fighting to make sure that all women, no matter their age, race, or economic status, are able to access full reproductive care, including abortion. Her clinic has treated more than half a million women for things like prenatal care, HTDs, family planning, and pregnancy termination. This has been a fulfilling but sometimes dangerous mission. Every week for 40 years, the clinic is surrounded by protesters who taunt patients as they enter for care. In 2005, her clinic was burned to the ground in an arson attack, but she has continued to provide high-quality and compassionate care despite the fact that she has had to endure so much. Again, I want to thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to talk today. It is an honor to recognize Mona Reis, an unsung heroine who continues to make our communities a safer and a healthier place for women and girls. It is an honor to know her, to thank her, to celebrate her as we recognize Women's History Month.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Rescue Plan. Madam Speaker, I have been honored to be in public service in my State legislature, as mayor of West Palm Beach, and now here in Congress. I can unequivocally say that this is the most important, impactful piece of legislation that I have ever had the honor to vote for. We all know that this past year has tested us like never before. The pandemic has destroyed lives and livelihoods. It has disproportionately hurt women, especially women of color, who are already at an economic disadvantage. The impacts have been devastating. Women have lost 5.3 million jobs, 2 million of which are permanent losses. And that is not all. Women also make up the majority of our frontline workforce. In fact, Madam Speaker, we are calling this a ``she'' session. Schools close and the loss of accessible childcare have only added to the crisis, but this bill will rescue women and their families with the relief they need. It will crush COVID-19, get our children safely back to school, and rescue the childcare industry. It is going to increase the child tax credit, taking half of our children in poverty out of poverty. It is going to get the vaccines into the arms of Americans. I will tell you this, Madam Speaker: My office is getting calls day after day, all day, from people who want these vaccines. This rescue package will put money directly into the pockets of working people and get people back to work. Women have shouldered so much of this pandemic. So it is time to extend the helping hand that they and their families need to get through this pandemic. I believe, Madam Speaker, that better days are ahead with this rescue plan, and I urge my colleagues to pass it.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I join Madam Speaker in celebrating International Women's Day. Today, I rise in support of the VA VACCINES Act. This is a bipartisan bill that will expand the VA's ability to provide COVID-19 vaccines to all veterans and their caregivers, regardless of whether or not they are enrolled in the VA healthcare system. Mr. Speaker, the VA should not turn away any veteran who wants this lifesaving vaccine. You know, where I live in Florida--and I am sure it is like this in most places--it is still like playing the lottery to get a vaccine. This vaccine is free to all Americans and is paid for by our tax dollars. So, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, for our veterans who have selflessly served our country, we should honor their service with easy access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. In my view, there are no people more deserving.

Ms. FRANKEL

Ms. FRANKEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary Baldwin, a local hero from Florida's 21st Congressional District who has gone above and beyond for students in our community. Mary has worked at Wellington Landing Middle School since 1999, and currently serves as their Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Administrator and Assistant Principal. As an educator of over 35 years, Mary is known for going the extra mile with her students, often counseling her kids all the way through their time at Wellington Landing and sometimes even keeping in touch with them through high school and beyond. During the COVID-19 public health crisis, Mary has gone even further to support our local students by establishing a summer school program designed to support 8th graders who struggled with the new distance learning protocols implemented during the spring semester. Mary worked one-on-one with each student in the program and everyone enrolled was able to pass and move on to high school. Mary's selflessness and compassion during this difficult time is truly humbling. Her outstanding work has touched countless lives, and I am so thankful for her dedication to our community. I am proud to honor her today.

Ms. FRANKEL

Ms. FRANKEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melissa Davison, a local hero from Florida's 21st Congressional District who has gone above and beyond as a healthcare worker both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Melissa began her nursing career nearly 35 years ago at Humana Hospital, which would later become JFK Medical Center. After temporarily leaving to get her master's degree, Melissa came back to JFK in 2006 as their Infection Prevention Coordinator. Since being in this role, Melissa has overseen JFK's entire infection control programming through H1N1, Ebola, and now COVID-19. From March through May, Melissa worked for two months straight, including nights and weekends, making sure hospital policies and procedures followed the most up-to-date regulations per evolving CDC guidelines and supporting nurses, doctors, and staff on the front lines. Melissa's selflessness and compassion during this difficult time is truly humbling. Her outstanding work has touched countless lives, and I am so thankful for her dedication to our community. I am proud to honor her today.

Ms. FRANKEL

Ms. FRANKEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Francky Pierre- Paul, a local hero from Florida's 21st Congressional District that has gone above and beyond as a tireless advocate for the homeless community in Palm Beach County. Francky has become a familiar and friendly face to those in our community experiencing homelessness. Before COVID-19, Francky would go to John Prince Park once a month with a mobile shower, hold clothing and food drives, and offer haircuts to the people who live there. He would also frequently go to Palm Beach County Commission meetings and speak on behalf of the John Prince Park homeless community. Since the pandemic started, however, Francky has only become more generous with his time. In fact, he has now started going to John Prince Park two-to- three times every day to distribute food and resources to those in need. Francky's selflessness and compassion during this difficult time is truly humbling. His outstanding work has touched countless lives, and I am so thankful for his dedication to our community. I am proud to honor him today.

Ms. FRANKEL

Ms. FRANKEL. Mr. Speaker, the COVID pandemic has brought so much grief and desperation to so many people, and we have seen how millions of Americans have rightfully stayed home to stay safe. Our healthcare personnel, our police, our firefighters, our teachers, and other vital workers, they have been in full force, many risking their own lives to save ours. Today, we make sure that these heroes on the front line get the pay that they need and deserve to do their jobs. I urge passage of the HEROES Act.

Ms. FRANKEL

Ms. FRANKEL. Madam Speaker, in my travels around the world as a Member of Congress one thing has become abundantly clear. Advancing prosperity and stability internationally is not just a moral imperative, it's a national imperative--because instability anywhere is a threat to stability everywhere. Human rights violations, terrorism, and infectious diseases don't stop at the border. We have seen that tragic reality reinforced through genocide, international terrorism, and global pandemics. So what is the lesson as we fight COVID-19? No matter how successful we are in combatting this pandemic here at home, we will never fully stop it unless we also combat it around the world. After all, we saw COVID-19 jump from Wuhan, to Westminster, to West Palm, in a matter of weeks. Outbreaks in remote villages don't stay in remote villages. According to the CDC, 70 percent of the world remains underprepared to prevent, detect, and respond to any public health emergency. So while there is still so much more we need to do domestically to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the American public, part of that effort needs to focus on U.S. global leadership to fight this disease and future pandemics. America remains the world's most critical defender of human rights and prosperity around the globe. And that role is needed now more than ever. Before this pandemic, millions were already fleeing war and persecution in countries around the world, including the devastating impacts in Syria. And COVID-19 is now a force multiplier, increasing the risk of violence, displacement, hunger, and suffering. It is crucial that we support the State Department, USAID, the World Health Organization, and others on the frontlines responding to this pandemic and advancing American interests around the world every day. More emergency funding is needed for the International Affairs Budget to support the global response to combat this pandemic.