Jahana Hayes

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, due to travel delays I missed roll call number 421. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 421.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the amendments en bloc 2, which includes my amendment to support the mental health and nutritional needs of servicemembers. Servicemembers across the country and in my State who seek mental healthcare often encounter outdated resources or a lack of information on military websites. Without immediate and accurate access to mental health providers, servicemembers and their families are left to navigate a crisis on their own. Servicemembers already have insurance hurdles that can make it difficult to find acceptable and covered providers. My amendment would help bridge this gap by requiring the military to review all installation-level web information about suicide prevention and behavioral health and ensure contact information is up to date. My amendment also requires the military to certify their review to Congress on a yearly basis. Additionally, I urge my colleagues to support Chairman McGovern's amendment, which would require the DOD and the USDA to collect data on food insecurity among servicemembers. Representative McGovern's amendment would require the Department of Defense to train and designate a point person on all military bases to refer servicemembers seeking nutritional assistance. Last November, as chair of the House Agriculture Nutrition Subcommittee, I hosted a hearing to address hunger among servicemembers, and our witnesses pointed out the lack of consistent data to address this issue. I support this amendment and will continue to work with Chairman McGovern to ensure that no family, especially military families, go hungry. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the amendments en bloc 2 and the final National Defense Authorization Act.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this very important piece of legislation. WIC recipients utilize formula at roughly double the rate of nonparticipating families, ensuring that this crisis has had a disproportionate impact on communities and families with the highest needs. That means that low-income women and children are particularly vulnerable during this nationwide formula shortage. Today, we are taking swift action to help these families feed their babies by safely getting more baby formula onto store shelves in the face of manufacturer recalls. I am excited to work with leadership and introduce the Access to Baby Formula Act, which helps improve access to formula products for WIC participants while also better protecting them during future product recalls. This legislation establishes waiver authority to address emergencies during disasters and supply chain disruptions by ensuring States that contract companies with the WIC program can secure supplies from additional manufacturers, if necessary. The bill also waives requirements that slow down the process to get formula back on the shelves, without sacrificing safety standards. The bill promotes coordination and information sharing between the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding any supply chain disruption, including supplemental food recalls. As a member of the Education and Labor Committee and chair of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations, when this crisis arose, I was concerned, like many of my colleagues. I called the chairman and spoke to Speaker Pelosi to share my concerns. We worked together to come up with a solution to get formula to families as quickly as possible. I thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Steel) for joining us in this effort. I thank her so much for her help. I know the feeling of desperation and stress that mothers, grandmothers, and family members across the country are feeling as they are searching for formula for their children. Mothers in my district have joined Facebook groups to find where formula is available in our district. They are waiting in long lines outside of stores and buying sample packs on the street. They are even resorting to the dangerous practice of watering down their formula just to stretch the supply. They are desperate. As many as 75 percent of American families are at least partially dependent on formula to provide nutrients to their infants. Additionally, some infants are solely reliant on specialty formulas to manage medical disorders. In my district, I talked to Marcia from Farmington and Caitlin from Watertown, who sent messages to my office begging for help. My heart broke as these women shared their stories. For those families who are able to find formula in local stores, the prices they are paying today have increased dramatically, in some cases up 18 percent over the past year. It is important to recognize why we are in this situation. Families are actively seeing the consequences of a monopoly in any industry during a time of unprecedented supply chain challenges. The U.S. infant formula market is dominated by three companies: Abbott Nutrition, Enfamil, and Gerber. Abbott holds the largest share of contracts in the WIC program with States, territories, and Tribes. This means that nearly half of all infants in the program are reliant on their formula. They also provide 43 percent of baby formula in the United States and is one of several companies that controls 89 percent of the U.S. infant formula market, making it especially vulnerable to issues like this. When the massive companies in charge of this product fail, millions of families are thrust into the dangerous situation of not being able to feed their children. It is unconscionable that we did not have a backup plan for a supply chain issue like we are seeing, and families are left desperate. This bill does that, ensuring that if we ever have this type of crisis in the future, we are prepared, and we can quickly shift gears. I want to say to the moms struggling that we hear you in Congress, and you do not need to handle this on your own. We are working to find you a solution. Your words are not falling on deaf ears. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the passage of this bill, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a historic, $78 billion investment, which will provide training for 1 million workers per year by 2028. This package includes my bill, the YouthBuild for the Future Act, which would invest $1 billion into YouthBuild over 6 years. YouthBuild is a crucial program that is specifically built to help young people who have not completed their high school degree train for a high-wage, stable career. But most importantly, it helps those young people regain their confidence and their ability to be self-sufficient and contribute to our communities. My bill makes critical investments to the program, such as reserving grant funds for rural areas, extending the period of follow-up services to 2 years, and allowing YouthBuild to fund meals for participants. These improvements will expand opportunity for young adults and employers who are clamoring to fill skilled positions that too often remain vacant. These are meaningful, life-changing investments for Americans searching for long-term, high-wage employment. I know that these programs work because the one in my district and my hometown has young kids building homes. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this reauthorization, I am proud to support passage, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer an amendment to protect communities from malicious scams surrounding the community services block grant program. The CSBG program is absolutely critical to the empowerment of vulnerable communities. Funding from the CSBG program has helped nine community action agencies in my State serve 107,000 families and 260,000 individuals. It has helped over 81,000 households avoid crisis with energy assistance and nearly 17,000 people avoid hunger with emergency or supplemental food and enrolled 5,600 children in early childcare services. Additionally, these agencies have helped nearly 11,000 people file their income taxes, returning $8.5 million to my State's economy. CSBG programs empower our communities' most vulnerable, which is why they are always offered free of charge. However, scammers across the country falsely purport to offer CSBG services for a fee, preying on those in our community when they are most in need of help. We have seen a proliferation of fraud and scams throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when emergency Federal dollars were sent to States. These scams are illegal and morally reprehensible. It is our responsibility to ensure our communities are properly informed to combat predatory schemes. It is our responsibility to reinforce guardrails to protect the integrity of these programs and ensure they fulfill their promises to our communities. My amendment would require that States provide easily accessible warnings about verified scams as well as information on where to seek recourse should someone believe they are the victim of a CSBG-related scam. Making this information available will ensure that CSBG can continue to provide lifesaving services to communities without being subject to greed and mal-intent. This is a simple, commonsense amendment that the Congressional Budget Office has certified as budget neutral. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment and the underlying legislation.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the 2022 National Teacher of the Year, Kurt Russell. Mr. Russell teaches at Oberlin High School in Oberlin, Ohio. He is a 25-year veteran of the classroom. Kurt Russell was first inspired to become a teacher in middle school when he encountered his first Black male teacher. In addition to his classroom and extracurricular duties, Kurt is the head coach for the school's varsity basketball team. He sees basketball as an extension of the classroom and a place where young people can learn about working together and how to handle both adversity and success. He provides an inclusive and safe environment for studying diverse groups and encouraging all students' voices to be heard. Now, as the 2022 National Teacher of the Year, he plans to advocate for classrooms to better reflect the students within them. Mr. Russell joins his cohort of National Teachers of the Year from every State and territory this week in Washington, D.C., to celebrate their achievement, the profession, and their dedication to students. As a fellow National Teacher of the Year, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the entire cohort and all the teachers who are being recognized this week.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the Voices of Freedom choir at the University of Connecticut on their 50th anniversary. Voices of Freedom is a unique ensemble of approximately 80 or more students that provides personal elevation and enlightenment of the gospel and spiritual music of the Black experience church. Gospel music promotes a spirit of hope. Music has healing power, and the existence of this choir on this campus at this time is more important now than ever. I also extend heartfelt congratulations to the Voices of Freedom not only on celebrating 50 years of ministering through music at the University of Connecticut, but a special congratulations to their director, Reverend Lisa Clayton, who is celebrating 27 years leading the choir. Reverend Lisa Clayton's steadfast leadership has been key to the success and longevity of the Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir. I thank them for all they do to elevate the importance of stories through song.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to urge my colleagues to support the Honoring our PACT Act, which upholds the promise we made to servicemembers that we would care for them if they became sick or wounded while fighting to protect this country. This legislation recognizes the full range of military toxic exposure that servicemembers have faced. This monumental package also includes my bill, the Palomares Veterans Act, which would remove barriers to benefits and compensation for those veterans who responded to one of the largest nuclear disasters in history. Over 55 years ago, a B-52 bomber collided with aircraft over the Spanish village of Palomares, causing radiation exposure to more than 1,600 U.S. airmen who had no protection when they responded to the crash. Decades later, many of these airmen are suffering and dying from health conditions that likely came from radioactive material. But the VA still does not count Palomares as a radiation risk event or provide these veterans with benefits or disability. My bill, the Honoring our PACT Act, would address this, ensuring these veterans get the healthcare and benefits they deserve and ensuring their surviving spouses and children are eligible for benefits. The job of Congress is to appropriate funds, yet whenever we want to help people, my Republican colleagues say no. If we are not willing to support our veterans, what are we willing to support?

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. There are serious votes, and then there are messaging votes. A messaging vote is designed for attack ads. That is exactly what we saw on the floor yesterday. The motion to recommit, a parliamentary action, has been turned into a dishonest attack and framed as a vote against the security of Israel. I am a Democrat, and I remain firm in my commitment and appreciation for Israel's legitimate right to self-defense, and I remind everyone again that the motion to recommit just sends the bill back to committee. According to the memorandum of understanding between Israel and the United States reached in 2016, for fiscal years 2019 through 2028, the United States is expected to provide $500 million every year for missile defense. That has not changed. Funding for the Iron Dome was never in jeopardy. In fact, President Biden has pledged to replenish the Iron Dome funding system, and Congress will approve it following the correct legislative action. A motion to recommit is a procedural vote that sends a bill back to committee. That is all it does. My Republican colleagues have shown time and time again that when we have to take actual votes, they vote against Israel.

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, on July 1 the Appropriations Committee voted on H.R. 4373, which contains the bulk of Israel aid, $3.3 billion in security assistance. Every Republican voted ``no.'' On July 13, the Appropriations Committee voted on H.R. 4432, which includes $500 million in missile defense. Every Republican voted ``no.'' So let's be honest about what is happening here. We have consistently voted to support our allies in Israel. I end by saying, being pro-Israel and expressing concern for Palestinian rights are not mutually exclusive. I will continue to challenge myself and my colleagues and ask the difficult questions in an effort to work toward a solution. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, l rise today to voice my opposition to Amendment No. 97/No. 188 of H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act. This amendment was included as part of an en bloc which l supported, however, I do not support this amendment. During my time in Congress I have been an ardent supporter of high-speed rail, building rail capacity and improving existing infrastructure in Connecticut, the Northeast, and across the country. Unfortunately, I do not believe this amendment and the specific compact it seeks to create are the best path forward for rail in my state, the region or the country. The INVEST in America Act presents us with an opportunity to make a once in a generation investment in our transportation systems and infrastructure, and in rail in particular. I am concerned that proposals like this take away from our ability to implement comprehensive, fully vetted plans, that are free of redundancies. As we look towards the future of rail in the United States, we must be sure that we partner with state and local transit authorities, and stakeholders. We must also be sure to consider and mitigate the climate and environmental risks that stem from these projects. Congress must advance a bold vision for our Nation's infrastructure, and I look forward to the INVEST in America Act passing the House. I hope the Senate will quickly begin working on this vital issue.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice and have fallen in the line of duty. My husband, Detective Milford Hayes, has been on the job for 25 years. I know all too well the risk officers accept when they take this role. I have lived the anxiety of not knowing if my loved one would return home from a shift. I have watched my husband put on his dress blues and attend the funerals of fallen officers and mourn in the weeks and years after that. Over the past year, I have borne witness to the difficulty caused by growing mistrust between police departments and the communities they serve. In addition to honoring officers this week, we must commit to rebuilding that trust and to providing them with the necessary funding they need to safely and equitably protect themselves and our community. This is not a binary choice. Yes, we have systemic racial and social injustices that must be addressed. Yes, accountability needs to be addressed. But on this day, in these remarks, during National Police Week, I ask my colleagues to join me in committing to supporting all of the good officers that are out there, to ensuring officers have clear national guidelines regarding use of force, to providing access to diversity training, and to ensuring departments have necessary supports to serve communities with underlying social challenges. This will protect both police officers and the communities they serve from unnecessary violence. This will also attract new officers to the profession. I ask that we honor fallen officers by committing to action. We must provide the necessary guidelines, training, and social services required to support our communities and to guarantee the safety of law enforcement. We must ensure that my husband and every officer makes it home to their families safely.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call your attention to National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, which takes place annually on April 9th. This day honors the men and women who fought two battles, one in combat and another in enduring untold brutality by our enemies. April 9th is also the 79th anniversary of the start of the infamous 1942 Bataan Death March in the Philippines. Invading Imperial Japanese forces forced more than 80,000 American and Filipino soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines to walk 65 miles up the Bataan Peninsula in the tropical heat without food, water, or medical care while subjecting them to beatings, bayonetting, and beheading. Thousands died. One of my constituents, Daniel Crowley of Simsbury, Connecticut, is a survivor of the Battle of Bataan. A member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, he was sent to Bataan in December 1941 after Japan destroyed the military airfields in the Philippines. He was part of the United States Army's Provisional Air Corps Infantry Regiment and fought in the historic Battle of the Points on the Peninsula. Daniel avoided the Bataan Death March by swimming from Mariveles on Bataan through three miles of shark-infested and mined waters to the fortress island of Corregidor. There, he became part of the 4th Marines Regimental Reserve who fought a dangerous and desperate shore defense until Corregidor fell to Japan on May 6, 1942. He was one of 300 Prisoners of War sent to build an airstrip on Palawan Island for the Japanese Army. Today this site serves as the Philippine Air Force's Antonio Bautista Air Base. Daniel was fortunate to be transferred off the island before the December 14, 1944 Palawan Massacre where the 150 Prisoners of War remaining on the island were doused with aircraft fuel, set afire, and machine gunned to death. Instead, Daniel was shipped to Japan aboard a ``hellship'' to be a laborer in two copper mines: one owned by Hitachi Ltd. and the other, Ashio, owned by the Furukawa Company Group. He labored alongside Japanese and conscripted Korean miners as well as Allied and American Prisoners of War from the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dutch East Indies, Norway, Australia, and China. After liberation in September 1945, Daniel returned home to Connecticut. He raised a family and became a storied salesman for Northwestern Mutual. On January 4, 2021, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont proclaimed ``Pacific War Heroes Day'' in Daniel's honor. After 76 years, Daniel, 98, finally received his long-denied Combat Infantryman Badge, a Prisoner of War Medal, and his previously unknown 1945 promotion to Sergeant in a ceremony held at the Air National Guard Base outside Hartford, Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring now Sergeant Daniel Crowley for his extraordinary service to our country fighting tyranny and oppression. His and the more than 200 American Prisoners of War of Japan from Connecticut have a history we must never forget.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, this amendment would allow employers to self-audit compensation disparity. Asking the same employer, who may be engaged in pay discrimination, to self-police their wage practices is a blatant conflict of interest. Rather than actually incentivizing equal pay, as Ms. Stefanik would claim, this amendment gives employers the tool to hide evidence of pay discrimination and delay any resulting lawsuit and accountability by 3 years. The very idea behind this provision is insidious. It presumes that employers should be given loopholes to avoid liability after breaking the law. Employers do not need a workaround to guard against these types of lawsuits. Their best defense is simple: do not engage in wage discrimination. In fact, this amendment actually creates another means for employers to discriminate on the basis of sex by preserving a vague standard for employer defense when accused of wage discrimination. Unlike Ms. Stefanik's proposed amendment, H.R. 7 makes clear that the ``any factor other than sex'' employer defense must be bona fide, job-related, and required by business necessity. Employees must be judged by their education, training or experience instead of their gender. As women drop out of the workforce in historic numbers due to the pressures of COVID-19, we have a responsibility to take every precaution to ensure they do not face discrimination when they return to the workforce. The Paycheck Fairness Act ensures all workers will get equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender. It will prohibit employers from paying women less simply because another employer paid them less in the past. It helps to oppose pay discrimination with more speed and transparency, and allows women to fight pay injustices they may experience. The Paycheck Fairness Act fixes a systemic injustice that women have suffered. This amendment would only water down this landmark civil rights and labor legislation. Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' to this amendment and stand up for equity.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the American Rescue Plan. I was sitting in my office listening to debate, and I was thrilled to hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle speak up about reopening schools. These are words I have been waiting a year to hear. I immediately looked up H.R. 682 to read it, and I was so disappointed that this bill offers no support, no assistance, and no funding for school reopenings. The American Rescue Plan, on the other hand, invests in helping K-12 schools reopen safely and addresses learning loss in the classroom. The bill provides nearly $130 billion to help schools take the steps recommended by the CDC to ensure students and educators can return to the classroom safely. This includes repairing ventilation systems, reducing class sizes, implementing social distancing guidelines, purchasing PPE, and hiring support staff to address students' well-being. Madam Speaker, as someone who has spent over a decade in the classroom, I can tell you that this is what every teacher in America is looking for, this is what every parent is looking for, and this is what is necessary to reopen schools safely--not just in communities that are largely Democrat but also in Republican communities. All of our children will benefit from the provisions of this bill. The bill also sets aside 20 percent for long-term learning loss to get our kids from behind screens and back into the classroom by providing comprehensive after-school programs, summer learning programs, extended schooldays, reengaging students who have been absent from remote learning, and hiring counselors and nurses to care for students' emotional and physical well-being. I am thrilled to see part of my own legislation included in this bill, the Save Education Jobs Act, which will not only make sure that we are not laying off support staff and personnel to meet our students, but to make sure that there are not budget cuts in light of the catastrophic shortfalls that are expected as a result of this pandemic. I am so proud to be a part of a body that came up with this legislation that gives America's schools exactly what they need, gives America's children the support that is necessary, and reopens our economy by investing $130 billion.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution on behalf of my constituents in Connecticut's Fifth District. The statements made by the Representative from Georgia have amplified horrific and deeply dishonest rhetoric and empowered and mainstreamed fringe conspiracy theories about school shootings. Giving any Member the platform to spread dangerous rhetoric only rewards and normalizes this behavior, places already vulnerable groups in danger, and further traumatizes survivors. There is no place in this House for a Member that trivializes these events or refuses to publicly disavow her own words or apologize to those affected. Mr. Speaker, there are men and women on both sides of the aisle whom I strongly disagree with, colleagues who have made statements that have deeply offended me. Yet, I have never believed we should remove them from committees on this body. But today is different. We are forced to make this motion, not because of a disagreement in values or opinions, but because the Republican Conference has refused to take any actions addressing dangerous comments made by a Member, comments which have no place in common discourse and cannot be given a platform to be amplified. While I remain respectful of the voters in Georgia, we have a responsibility as a body to hold our own Members accountable, and I would vote in the same way if a member of my own caucus had committed the same infractions. No Member of Congress should promote conspiracy theories or sow doubt about the validity of tragic mass casualty events like Sandy Hook, Parkland, and others. No parent should ever have to invite a Member of Congress to visit their child's grave or touch the bullet-riddled clothing that their child wore to prove that their death actually happened. Mr. Speaker, the Speaker of this House always tells Members to vote our district. Today, I vote as an act of conscience in defense of my district. I vote for the babies who left for school 8 years ago and never returned home, and the teachers who died trying to protect them.

Mrs. HAYES. Today, I will vote for millions of educators who stand bravely before students while they lead lockdown drills and whisper quietly to them while sheltering in place that school is still safe. I will vote ``yes'' on this resolution for the parents and the communities who want real debate that produces real solutions for keeping schools and communities safe.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the 26 beautiful lives that were lost on December 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Mr. Speaker, 8 years ago, 20 innocent children and six selfless educators were murdered in what should have been the safest places in their community: their school. Today, I ask that we pause, reflect, remember, and recommit ourselves to working to ensure that this never happens again. For many residents of Newtown, Connecticut, 8 years feels like yesterday. Time has stood still for so many families as they attempt to rebuild their community and honor the precious memory of their children and educators. Mr. Speaker, much needs to be done to ensure that our schools and communities are safe places. We owe it to the 26 families from Sandy Hook to work together to make this happen. We owe it to the over 38,000 people who will die each year from gun violence to do better. We owe it to the 50 million people who are affected by mental health challenges each year. We owe it to ourselves, because we are capable of creating change. Mr. Speaker, today, we honor, remember, and reflect, and then we get back to work.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. My State of Connecticut was still recovering from the 2008 recession, and now COVID-19 has again thrown it into dire economic straits. With businesses shuttered from prolonged economic pause, nearly 200,000 Connecticut residents are now forced into unemployment. If we say we agree on this, then now is the time to create pathways to high- wage employment with long-term prospects. While a 4-year degree is a great opportunity for many, it cannot be the only option. I include in the Record a letter in support of the National Apprenticeship Act from the National Education Association. National Education Association, Washington, DC, November 18, 2020. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of our 3 million members, who prepare students across America to pursue fulfilling careers that support their families and communities, we urge you to vote YES on the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 (H.R. 8294). Votes on this issue may be included in the NEA Report Card for the 116th Congress. Apprenticeship programs are a key part of the education landscape, yet the National Apprenticeship Act has not been significantly updated in the nearly 80 years since it was signed into law. H.R. 8294 recognizes that programs offering on-the-job training and mentoring pave the way to successful careers, and helps bring these programs into the 21st century. The legislation is particularly timely given rising joblessness and financial insecurity stemming from the COVID- 19 pandemic. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 would: Create the Office of Apprenticeship in the U.S. Department of Labor, with responsibilities including supporting development of apprenticeship models, providing technical assistance to state agencies, updating requirements for each occupation in the program, and determining whether to approve new occupations for the program; Codify provisions implemented over the years regarding registered apprenticeship programs and expand the programs to new industries; Amend the existing law to include pre-apprenticeships and youth apprenticeships; and Authorize annual grants ranging from $400 million to $800 million to expand apprenticeship programs and encourage employer participation in them. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 recognizes the value of apprenticeships in supporting the dreams and ambitions of students of all ages and preparing them for high-wage careers. We urge you to vote YES on H.R. 8294. Sincerely, Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association.

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, the National Apprenticeship Act ensures that today's workforce can fill the jobs of tomorrow by creating 1 million apprenticeship opportunities over the next 5 years. With an average starting salary, after completion, of around $70,000, registered apprenticeships create the opportunity to attain critical training while earning an income and incurring little to no student debt. Apprenticeships also ensure businesses can fill key vacancies with credentialed, skilled employees--in short, putting people back to work. The National Apprenticeship Act will invest in Connecticut workers and our country's workers and businesses at a time when we need it most. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late Sargent John Francis Dwyer and his service to our country. As a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII as part of Operation Carpetbagger, Sargent Dwyer was among the men and women who comprised America's first spy agency, a predecessor to the CIA. On March 21, 2018, Congress bestowed its highest civilian honor upon the group by presenting them with the Congressional Gold Medal. The archivists of the Air Force Historical Research Agency, the repository of the United States Air Force's official unit histories, have researched their files and found that after enlistment on August 5, 1942, Sergeant John F. Dwyer arrived in England on March 18, 1945 and was subsequently assigned to the 406th Bombardment Squadron at Harrington Airdrome. After theater and aircrew orientation, Sergeant Dwyer and his crew, under the command of Captain Maurice W. Freeman, become operational on May 17, 1945. Captain Freeman and his crew flew eight successful missions between May 17 and June 9. Sergeant Dwyer was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945. In addition to the dangers from German night fighters and flak, the Carpetbaggers always ran the risk of crashing into hillsides as they made low-level parachute deliveries to the resistance forces waiting below. From January 1944 to May 1945, they completed 1,860 sorties and delivered 20,495 containers and 11,174 packages of vital supplies to the resistance forces in western and northwestern Europe. Overall, more than 1,000 parachutists were dropped into enemy territory. The OSS Congressional Gold Medal Act states that the group was America's first effort to implement a system of strategic intelligence during World War II and provided the basis for the modern-day American intelligence and special operations communities. At its peak in late 1944, it employed almost 13,000 individuals, a third of whom were women. The OSS organized, trained, supplied, and fought with resistance organizations throughout Europe and Asia which played an important role in America's victory during World War II. The OSS invented and employed new technology through its Research and Development Branch, inventing new weapons and revolutionary communications equipment. Its X-2 branch pioneered counterintelligence with the British and established the modern counterintelligence community. The network of contacts built by the OSS with foreign intelligence services led to enduring Cold War alliances. OSS ``Mercy Missions'' at the end of World War II saved the lives of thousands of Allied prisoners of war. Present-day Special Operations Forces trace their lineage to the OSS. Its Maritime Unit was a precursor to the U.S. Navy SEALs. The OSS Operational Groups and Jedburghs were forerunners to U.S. Army Special Forces. The 801st/492nd Bombardment Group were progenitors to the Air Force Special Operations Command. The Marines who served in the OSS were predecessors to the Marine Special Operations Command. U.S. Coast Guard personnel were recruited for the Maritime Unit and its Operational Simmer Group. Ultimately, the OSS spawned the Central Intelligence Agency. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sergeant John Francis Dwyer as he rests in peace after such extraordinary service to the United States of America.

Mrs. HAYES

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Child Care Is Essential Act. From the beginning, this pandemic has exacerbated the existing inequities in society and revealed the cracks that we have always known existed in our childcare system. The stress on this economy has left it teetering on the edge of total collapse. The tone from parents and providers who call my office about this issue have become increasingly more desperate. Providers in Connecticut tell me stories about being behind on rent payments, having to furlough workers, having to dip into their own savings to stay solvent, and trying to figure out if there is a way to safely open without continuing to mount debt. We may lose over half of licensed childcare providers in my State. Even before coronavirus, the childcare industry and families in Connecticut were struggling. We often hear that there is dignity in work, and without childcare, work can't happen for many people. I am a working mother. I rely on before and aftercare, and right now, like many of my constituents, I am struggling. We live in a country where women contribute to the economy, where women contribute to societies, where families are struggling to go back to work.

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, that is why I am excited to be here today with my colleagues, voting on legislation that will provide immediate relief to community providers and inject stability into the childcare industry. This bill would keep the workers that help our children learn, grow, and thrive employed. It would keep small businesses afloat and respond to the crisis at hand. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Child Care Is Essential Act and put their money where their mouths are.

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, let me first start by saying that licensed providers already receive this training, that licensed providers already are equipped for identifying abuse and reporting abuse. Now is not the time to focus on startups. Today, I ask my colleagues to support childcare providers who need help now, to not allow these pillars in our community to go bankrupt, to prevent our most vulnerable children from becoming disconnected from their childcare providers and centers. Every working parent in this room and around the country knows the feeling of vulnerability that comes with trusting your children in the hands of someone in order to support your family. Every working parent in this room and around the country knows the sense of helplessness that comes when that critical care is in jeopardy and your family is left scrambling for an alternative. That feeling of helplessness is what parents across the country are facing right now in the middle of a global pandemic as childcare centers have closed their doors, many of them permanently. Coronavirus has had a devastating effect on childcare providers. Since March, almost a quarter of providers have lost their jobs, and as many as two out of five centers have recently indicated that they will go out of business without financial support. 4.5 million childcare slots are at risk of disappearing, including over 46,000 in my own home State of Connecticut. That is 4.5 million working families who will be left behind without childcare. It is frustrating to see my colleagues acting in such bad faith here today, attempting to sabotage a commonsense plan that would help Americans get back to work, that would help working parents and children in their States as well as mine. Let us talk about what the bill actually does. The Child Care Is Essential Act provides $50 billion in grant funding within CCDBG for providers to reopen and stay open safely. As part of receiving these grants, the bill requires all providers to commit to employ and pay their employees at pre-COVID-19 levels and to provide families with relief in the cost of care. H.R. 7027 requires providers to follow the CDC guidance and local authorities to keep children and staff safe. Yes, follow the science to keep children safe. Childcare is not a partisan issue, or it should not be. Nine out of 10 Americans support a relief package like the Child Care Is Essential Act. Our childcare industry enables millions of Americans to go back to work and will help millions of parents fully return to the workforce when the pandemic passes. We cannot calculate the revenue of this industry without considering the impact it has on the total overall economy. As a body, and in a bipartisan way, we supported $50 billion in relief to the airline industry. As a body, in a bipartisan way, we supported $670 billion, without restrictions, to the restaurant industry to save those businesses. In all of these relief packages, childcare workers and providers were left behind. We all talk about the need to reopen the economy, but that can't happen without the necessary funding to ensure the sustainability of childcare providers. As the pandemic continues to race through this country due to this administration's failed response, parents who are called back to work have to make a difficult decision: either send their child back to a childcare center or stay home and lose wages or potentially their jobs. Show me your budget, and I will show you your values. That is something that I often say. If we will not make childcare resources a line item in our budget, we cannot claim it is our national priority. My colleagues have a habit of saying they agree with the Democratic proposal on the issue of childcare. But when it is time to make any investments, they retreat. ``It is not a good use of taxpayer dollars,'' is what they often say. I remind you here today that the American families who are asking for this help are the taxpayers. In case there is any doubt here today, Republicans have made it abundantly clear to the American people that they would rather use taxpayer dollars to bail out private industry than support America's working families and their children. House Democrats are here to work for the people, here today to address the childcare crisis in this country, something that my colleagues should get serious about fast. I encourage you all to join us in investing in high-quality childcare and the industry that helps to make that happen. Even as a high school teacher, it was always evident to me which students attended high-quality childcare centers. Their language, socialization skills, problem-solving skills, and increased parental involvement were always evident. We have to support childcare. It is essential.