Daniel Kildee

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), who is also a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu), who is a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, to my friend from Arizona, I appreciate his passion. I wish it were true that he had somehow cured diabetes. It would be great news for my daughter and so many other Americans who say that they are looking for that cure. In the meantime, while we are working to get there--and I appreciate the effort, I do, because I am on board, I am completely on board with the notion that we ought to cure this terrible disease--however, until that day comes, let's make sure that the people who depend on insulin in order to stay alive can live to see that day that I know he and I both are looking forward to. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), who is my colleague from the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues' support of this legislation. This is important legislation. I will say this: I understand the points that have been made on the other side. As a father of a type 1 diabetic, I am one of those many millions of families that pay very close attention to the important research that we think ultimately may lead to a cure for diabetes, so I embrace the suggestion made on the other side that we have hope for a cure. I have hope for a cure. Ever since my daughter was diagnosed, I have been waiting for that moment, as she has, for that cure to appear. If it is just outside our grasp, let's do everything we can to get there. But that is not what this legislation is intended to attack. It doesn't mean we ignore that. It means we continue to push. I have worked with my colleague on this side of the aisle, Congresswoman DeGette, to try to do everything we can to find these cures. But in the meantime, let's make sure that there is not a diabetic who is standing at the pharmacy counter with lifesaving medication just beyond their reach, not because it is unavailable but because it is unaffordable to them. I take the point that while this legislation doesn't do what we all would like to do--and that is to reduce the overall cost of medication through the way markets actually work, negotiation between a buyer and a seller. I mean, that is the way the free market works. Let's let the free market work and not have law that allows the seller to dictate to us the price of a drug that can save lives and make huge profits while there are people in a pharmacy reaching for a drug that they can't get because the price is too high. This legislation will help save lives in the immediate term. I hope there is a day when Democrats and Republicans can come together to establish policy that would allow negotiation on the overall price of these lifesaving medications. That would be a solution. We support it; you oppose it. In the meantime, let's do this and save some lives. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly condemn the recent forced removal of Sudan's transitional government by Sudan's military forces. Before the October coup by military leaders, Sudan's civilian-led government was positively reengaging with the United States and the rest of the world, including being removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and opening up the Sudanese economy for foreign investment. The Sudanese people have bravely stood up to demand the right to democratically choose their own future after decades of oppression under a previous regime. The Sudanese military must respect the rights of the Sudanese people. America must stand with those who want democracy, including the people of Sudan. The U.S. and our allies must use every diplomatic tool available to restore stability and civilian-led control of Sudan's government. Thousands of Sudanese civilians are risking their lives every day for democracy, and the United States must align its policies to support their democratic aspirations.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the America COMPETES Act. With this legislation we have an opportunity to strengthen domestic supply chains, invest in American manufacturing, and to lower costs for families, for small businesses, and seniors. This pandemic has exposed deep weaknesses in our supply chains that have increasingly relied on foreign manufacturing, instead of making goods right here in America with American workers. This bill will help fix our broken supply chains so that we can build more critical components here in America, not overseas in China where government exploits its own people. For Michigan's auto workers, this includes addressing the semiconductor chips shortage, which has shuttered auto plants and forced thousands of auto workers to temporarily be laid off. This bill will invest billions to bring chip manufacturing back to the United States. Also, this legislation includes my legislation to create a new Trade Adjustment Assistance for Communities program, and it will help many older industrial communities that have been negatively impacted by trade communities like Flint, Saginaw, and Bay City. TAA for Communities will address the needs in these places and develop local economic development strategies. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize an incredible leader in mid-Michigan, Angie Hendershot. For the past 25 years, my constituents in Flint, Saginaw, and Bay City have welcomed Angie Hendershot into their homes as a reporter and anchor with ABC TV-12. She is a trusted voice in our community. Local reporters like Angie play a vital role in democracy. For the past 25 years, she has kept mid-Michigan informed and connected through her on-the-ground reporting and investigative journalism. Throughout her course of work, Angie has won many awards, including 10 Emmys and numerous awards from the Associated Press and Michigan Association of Broadcasters. But for Angie, working at ABC 12 isn't just a job; it is a way to give back to the community she loves. She has demonstrated time and time again her commitment to mid-Michigan throughout her career with volunteerism and charity work. One of those initiatives is the annual diaper drive, where Angie helps to collect donations of diapers, wipes, and cash to help the Flint Diaper Bank supply more than a million diapers to local, needy babies every year. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Angie on her achievements and this important milestone. I speak for our entire community when I say we look forward to welcoming her into our living rooms for many, many years to come. Great work, Angie.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for his work on this important piece of legislation. With the Build Back Better budget, we help lower costs for the working families that I represent. We lower healthcare costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of drugs like insulin, lowering out-of-pocket costs for those families back home that I represent. It will lower childcare costs by ensuring universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds and expanding the child tax credit, which is a monthly tax cut helping working families with children pay for groceries and school supplies and take care of their monthly mortgage payments. This Build Back Better budget isn't free. It is fully paid for. It is paid for by making corporations and the wealthiest Americans finally step up and begin to pay their fair share. Today, Democrats are delivering on this important legislation to cut taxes and to lower costs for working Americans and for those middle- class families that I represent.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, last week I lost my uncle, and the people of my State and this country lost a leader, former Congressman Dale Kildee. Our hearts go out to my Aunt Gayle, and to my cousins David, Paul, and Laura, who are experiencing the kind of loss that I and so many of us know far too well. He served here for 36 years, and he believed that this place, this Congress, and our government could be a force for good. During that time, he had many, many legislative accomplishments around education, the environment, things that he cared deeply about, but I think perhaps his greatest contribution was the fact that he served here so long and left with so many friends because he served here with dignity, with kindness to everyone, with respect for everyone regardless of their position or their point of view. I hope we can remember him for that, and I hope we all take note of that. It is an important message, especially now. He believed that the role of government was to preserve, to protect, to defend, and to enhance human dignity. His life was a testament to that promise. I would ask all present to join us in a moment of silence for my Uncle Dale.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and chairman for yielding time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation to protect the American economy, to save it from catastrophe, and to prevent a default on the obligations of the United States of America. The full faith and credit of the United States can't be questioned. The full faith and credit of the United States should never be a partisan question. We have passed action to address the debt limit 78 times--29 times with a Democrat in White House and 49 times with a Republican in the White House. In fact, when President Trump was in office, Democrats helped. We cooperated, and we helped to address this issue three times. Yet now they are refusing to vote and refusing to support, meeting obligations that we already have. A robust debate about the future is fine, and we should have that, and we will have disagreements. But we should never, ever, ever question, let anyone question the promises made by the United States Government.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of this resolution, Congresswoman Lee's longtime effort to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The Constitution is clear: Only Congress has the power to authorize war. In 2002, this resolution was adopted in order to address the ongoing threat from Saddam Hussein and his regime in Iraq, the threat that it represented to America. Saddam Hussein is gone. A new government has been established in Iraq, and this AUMF is obsolete. There are threats to the United States, and we have the authority to address those threats when they arise. There are ongoing threats that we ought to be able to debate here on the floor of the House of Representatives and act upon when our security is threatened. But no President of any party should ever be able to reach back two decades when Congress, on a different fact situation, authorized the use of force in order to authorize any use of force that they deemed to be important to them. Congress has this authority, and we need to assert it. That is what we do today.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the chairman of the Budget Committee, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and the American people support this legislation because it is good for families, for seniors, for businesses, and it provides immediate economic relief to the people who are struggling right now. $2,000 to every American, supported by Democrats and Republicans. Speeding up vaccinations, supported by Democrats and Republicans. Extending unemployment benefits, supported by Democrats and Republicans. Expanding the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit, cutting child poverty, supported by Democrats and Republicans. I say it is supported by Democrats and Republicans with one exception: the Republicans who serve in this Congress. Republicans across the country support it. Independents across the country support it. Democrats support it. This is the time to act.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to be here today, to be on the record in favor of this legislation. No one should be fired from their job or evicted from their home because of who they are or who they love. This legislation will guarantee that our LGBTQ friends, neighbors, and family will be full members of the American family with all of the protections that come with that. Mr. Speaker, I will just say one thing before I sit down. For anyone who ever wondered what they would have done in those days in the early 1960s, when the civil rights legislation was being debated here, let me just say this: Whatever you are doing now is what you would have done then.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this budget resolution, which gives Congress the additional legislative tool it needs to pass the urgently needed coronavirus relief for our constituents and for our communities. I am very pleased that President Biden has made defeating this virus his top priority. This pandemic is not over. COVID-19 continues to pose both a health and economic crisis, so we have to respond with solutions that are scaled to the size and scope of this problem. By passing this resolution, Congress will be able to get relief to people more quickly: more resources for vaccine distribution; more aid to reopen schools safely; additional support for families, for seniors, for small businesses that are hurting. I know that Republicans and Democrats share these common goals. In fact, they are speaking up all across the country. Republicans and Democrats support this big and bold approach. We should work together in this body to manifest that and pass this legislation, so we get the people the help they need. Doing nothing is not an option, and neither is doing too little. In fact, we have heard so much about the long-term economic impact. The truth of the matter is, doing nothing or doing too little will cost us more money, an estimated 4 million jobs that could be lost. The impact on families, the impact on all of us, would be tremendous if we fail to scale the response to the size of this problem. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues were very quick to use this very same process to pass legislation that we received the day before we voted on it, to give massive tax cuts to the very people at the very top of the economy. Now, when we see a crisis that literally is threatening the lives and the livelihoods of Americans, we have to use every tool we can to get them the help they need. I support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, 1 week ago, the President of the United States incited a deadly attack on the United States Capitol, while a couple of dozen Members of this House and I covered ourselves in that Gallery, away from the Trump mob. Five dead, including Capitol Police. If inciting an insurrection does not warrant impeachment, nothing does. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Mr. KILDEE. Today, I uphold my oath.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this and for recognizing me. Madam Speaker, I stand in strong support of this legislation. The American people are struggling. We hear from them every single day, and they need this additional relief now. The recent coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress obviously is long overdue. The House wanted to pass relief last May, but Republicans refused. Then, the pandemic has only gotten worse, and the pain has been worse for so many families and small businesses. While the relief bill does supply short-term relief, it was regrettable to see President Trump delay signing this legislation. That decision, that delay, had consequences. It hurt families with greater uncertainty and, in some cases, caused people to lapse their benefits. I did support the legislation that included the $600 stimulus checks because that was all we could get the other side to agree to. But it is obviously not enough. That is why I support this legislation, $2,000 in direct payments for Americans who are struggling. I, along with my Democratic colleagues, have pushed for these higher payments for some time, and now, President Trump agrees. The leader of the Republican Party stands in support of this effort. These $2,000 payments, every Member of Congress should support them. This would make a difference in the lives of Americans who are facing the greatest uncertainty that they have experienced, for many of them, in their lifetimes, putting money in their hands, allowing them to pay their bills, which will help them support those small businesses. Probably more importantly, it can give them some of the financial support they need in order to make the decisions that they have to make to protect their families. President Trump changed his mind and supports this legislation. That is why we acted. We would have included much larger payments in the legislation had he spoken up sooner, but it is never too late to do the right thing.

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman. This is a moment we can all come together, Democrats and Republicans, including the President of the United States, and do something big and bold that would help American families get through this most difficult time. Madam Speaker, I commend the chairman for his work in moving quickly and putting this legislation together. I commend those on the other side who will stand with us today and support this. It is my hope that this legislation will quickly go over to the Senate. They will get the message and send this legislation on to the President, wherever he may be. He will sign the bill, and we can get this help to the American people.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe and my Michigan colleague, Jack Bergman, with whom I worked on this legislation, for bringing this bill to the floor, which includes my legislation, the Transparency For Wounded Warriors Act. This legislation will improve the Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, known as TSGLI, which provides financial support to help servicemembers recover from severe injuries. This issue came to me 7 years ago as a result of an injury suffered by Sergeant First Class Cameron Corder from Clio, Michigan, my neighbor just a few miles away from where I live, who sustained a severe back injury while on Active Duty serving as a flight medic in Afghanistan. Despite his traumatic injury, the Army repeatedly denied his TSGLI claims, and for years my staff and I fought all the way to the top rungs of the military to try to get Cameron his benefits. Finally, in November of 2017, after years of denials, Cameron received those benefits. His experience, though, was a clear case of bureaucratic harm suffered by a Wounded Warrior. His treatment was unacceptable. This legislation will, hopefully, ensure that it won't happen to other servicemembers. I am pleased that the House has included this bill in this bipartisan package. When it comes to my constituents and veterans, I don't give up until I win. I thank my friend Chairman Takano, and I especially thank Dr. Roe. I very much enjoyed serving with you and look forward to staying connected to you in some fashion.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, look, we all know this pandemic is not over--it is far from over--and Congress has to do its job. Families, seniors, small businesses are suffering, and they need Congress to act now before we leave town. When we were all home over the Thanksgiving holiday, we all saw the same thing: the heartbreaking images of people, people who never have had to seek help, standing in lines for food, millions of people out of work. Small businesses, well, they are closing. We are losing small businesses every single day, and now Federal unemployment benefits are set to expire. Look, families are falling into poverty as a result of our inaction. The people who are hurting are represented by Democrats and Republicans. The people who are hurting are in every district across this country. We worked to get to a solution. In this House, we passed, twice, legislation that would provide that relief, but, at this moment, we need to come together as Democrats and Republicans. The people who are hurting are represented by Democrats and Republicans. The solution has to come in a bipartisan form. So let's set aside our differences. Let's find common ground. Let's pass a COVID relief bill now.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise also in support of S. 1342, the Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2020. I was proud to introduce this legislation here in the House with my Michigan colleagues and also with Senator Gary Peters, a Great Lakes champion on the other side of the building. During his time in the House and the Senate, Gary Peters has been a staunch advocate for the Great Lakes, and I appreciate his efforts over there. Mr. Chairman, I represent 118 miles of beautiful Lake Huron shoreline. In Congress, I am proud to lead the bipartisan effort on this legislation to protect the Great Lakes. This legislation, as has been stated, would update and prioritize environmental sensitivity index maps for the Great Lakes. These environmental sensitivity maps are detailed guides that highlight vulnerable locations, structures, and natural resources along our lakeshore. First responders use these maps to respond in case of emergency and to protect habitat, species, and structures that are most likely to be impacted by an oil spill or some other disaster. If one of those disasters occurs in the Great Lakes, our emergency responders must have the most up-to-date maps and information in order to respond quickly and effectively. These maps are maintained by NOAA. Some maps in the Great Lakes, however, have not been updated in decades. That is why this legislation is necessary, so that our first responders have the most up-to-date information to do their jobs effectively. We can't have one hand tied behind our back when protecting the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are important to all of us. They support many jobs, generate billions of dollars in economic activity, and provide drinking water to 40 million people. We have to do everything we can to protect them. It also defines literally who we are. If you are from Michigan, you can hold up your hand, and the contour of the lakes really defines the shape of our State. I would like to thank Chairman Grijalva and Chairman Huffman for their help in getting this to the floor today. I want to thank my own staff, Jordan Dickinson. I want to thank Rachel Gentile from the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, finally, I want to thank my colleagues, the cosponsors on this legislation, Representative Huizenga, who we have heard from; Representative Dingell; Representative Joyce; and Representative Stevens. This is, as Mr. Huizenga said, one of those issues that allows us to cut across the normal divides. We work well together in a bipartisan fashion to protect the Great Lakes. This legislation is another example of that. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, Michigan, like many States, continues to see a skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases. In my own family, we have cases, serious cases, of this terrible virus. This pandemic is far, far from over. It is actually getting worse, and Congress has to do its job. Families, seniors, small businesses, they need our support right now. I have heard from thousands of constituents who are still struggling to pay their bills, to put food on the table, to pay rent, and to protect themselves. This Congress needs to pass emergency relief now. It has been 6 months since the House passed a COVID relief bill, a bill that would put money in the pockets of workers, up to $6,000 per household; it would extend unemployment benefits for those people who have lost their jobs as a result of this pandemic; and it would support small businesses, importantly, those small businesses that are just on the brink of failure, to ensure that relief gets to those underserved communities and especially to some of our nonprofits. Sadly, the COVID bill sits on Mitch McConnell's desk, gathering dust. This is a pandemic. It is a health crisis. It is an economic crisis. We need to come together, put politics aside, negotiate with one another, come to a compromise, and help the American people.