Robin Kelly

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 4684) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 440 Arapahoe Street in Thermopolis, Wyoming, as the ``Robert L. Brown Post Office'', and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 3257) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 311 West Wisconsin Avenue in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, as the ``Einar `Sarge' H. Ingman, Jr. Post Office Building'', and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 241.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to implore my colleagues to come together and pass a COVID relief bill that will help communities that are still struggling to recover from this pandemic. Since the beginning of December, over 150 people a day have died from COVID-19 in Illinois. Across the Midwest, heat maps are glowing red with the increased rates of transmissions and deaths. We cannot wait any longer. Families and small businesses are looking for Congress to act. Time and time again, we have seen the House take action, only to have the GOP Senate ignore the crisis facing this country. The increase in empty chairs around kitchen tables and vacant storefronts will only continue if we do not take decisive action. Mr. Speaker, a recent study found that 1 in 3 African Americans know someone close to them who died of COVID-19. I fall into this category, as I lost my uncle in May, and I know many of my constituents do as well. Something has to be done. People need money now to meet their expenses. Businesses need support now to continue operating, and State and local governments need assistance now to provide services. Inaction is not an option. Mr. Speaker, lastly, I say Happy Hanukkah to all our Jewish friends.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate passage of H. Res. 1250, recognizing the principles that should guide the national artificial intelligence strategy of the United States. In early 2018, Representative Hurd, as chair of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Technology, and myself, as the ranking member, held the first congressional hearing on artificial intelligence. This resolution is born out of those hearings and the culmination of over a year's work with the Bipartisan Policy Center, bringing together experts from government, the private sector, and civil society to outline priorities to ensure the United States remains a leader in AI. AI has the potential to fundamentally change our society. The U.S. needs a national strategy now to invest in our workforce, R&D, national security, and oversight agencies to ensure AI is a positive tool that will benefit all of society. I am particularly pleased that this legislation was able to pass before my friend and close IT partner for the past 6 years, Representative Hurd, retires from this body. This Chamber has been made better by his spirit of bipartisanship and desire to protect our Nation and prepare it to meet the challenges of the next century. Representative Hurd's work will not be forgotten, and I will miss him dearly.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in scams targeting older Americans. These scammers promise everything from COVID cures and take-home testing kits to insurance and stimulus funds. That is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2610, the Fraud and Scam Reduction Act. This bill, championed by my friend, Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, includes my bill and Representative Marshall's bill, the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act. This bipartisan legislation ensures that the FTC makes available resources for older Americans about the type and number of scams targeting their region. It also requires an FTC report to Congress on that information so we can prevent seniors from falling victim to scams during future pandemics. While we may be closer to a vaccine, this will likely only increase the number of these diabolical scams. Let's arm older Americans with the right information to prevent themselves from falling victim. Let's make locally specific resources available to caregivers already working around the clock. Let's help the FTC win this fight against scammers. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 2610.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to challenge this Congress to act to end the shocking health disparities that COVID-19 has put on display. To date, nearly 250,000 Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19 and more than 10 million have been infected. And these numbers are still rising. Shocking, but not surprisingly, a disproportionate number, as you have heard, of those who fought and those who fought and lost battles with COVID-19 have been people of color. Once again, another public health crisis has taken an oversized toll on Black Americans, Latinx Americans, Asian and Pacific Americans, and Native Americans. COVID-19 is simply the latest in a long list of diseases, including cancer, addiction, HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and on and on and on, with a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Why does this continue to be the case in America, the greatest, richest, most powerful country in the history of our world? The answer is simple: health disparities. In America, despite all of our technology and pledges to equity, the ZIP Code in which you are born is nearly inescapable as a determinant of your life, your health, and, yes, even your death. In Chicago, part of my district, life expectancy varies up to 30 years by neighborhood. The pattern is the same across most American communities. But what are the social determinants of health, or, as I like to say, the social determinants of life? In short, they are all of the nonmedical factors that impact your health, the things you don't necessarily see a doctor for, such as not having ample fresh food and vegetables in your diet because there aren't any grocery stores in your community; missing routine preventive care, such as cancer screenings, because seeing the doctor means getting up at 4 a.m., taking two buses, and missing a day of work or school. It means worrying about manganese or lead poisoning in the air you breathe, the water you drink, or the playground where your child plays. It means dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression from housing instability on top of a recession and pandemic. All of these factors decide our lives, our health, and, tragically, again, our death. So many of these factors are out of one's individual control, including environmental factors, the location of medical facilities, discriminatory housing policy, and discrimination and so forth. We all know these factors have been with us for a long time. They have been undermining our health and the health of generations of Americans for centuries. As we work on these issues, I am continuously reminded of a quote from Dr. King: ``Of all of the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.'' Despite 70 years passing and amazing technological and societal advancement since he spoke these words, injustice in healthcare, of all of the forms of inequality, still remains the most shocking and inhumane. Right now, we are seeing parallel COVID-19 pandemics: one in wealthier, whiter communities, and a much harsher one in vulnerable communities of color. But this is America. There shouldn't be a two-tiered system, because when it comes to public health, we are all in this together. The only solution is to root out health disparities at their source. We must end systemic racism and a lack of opportunities for low-income and minority communities. To address these issues in healthcare, my colleague and mentor, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, has introduced the COVID Community Care Act, H.R. 8192. This legislation, which I am proud to support and my office helped develop, will provide grants for community-based organizations and nonprofits to conduct testing, tracing, and outreach activities in communities. Given the number and rates of COVID-19, we know that these resources are most urgently needed in communities of color. I believe this legislation is central to making health equity a cornerstone of our Nation's immediate pandemic response. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important and immediate-acting legislation. Additionally, I have introduced the Ending Health Disparities During COVID-19 Act, H.R. 8200, which provides a sweeping approach to addressing the widening health disparities from COVID-19. It tackles the immediate-term needs of testing, tracing, and public awareness from COVID-19. But just as crucially, the bill makes long-term investments to build a stronger system to reduce and eliminate health inequities in the future via investments in the social determinants of health, technology, research, workforce diversity, and community health centers and workers. Lastly, H.R. 8200 makes our government accountable for progress on health equity by creating a Federal task force with oversight over health disparities during COVID-19 and beyond and protects the Office of Minority Health. That is a long list to do, but it is all desperately needed. I truly feel that this long-term approach, combined with strict accountability for health disparities, is exactly what this moment calls for. For the first time, many Americans are waking up to the reality faced by communities of color, a reality that the Tri-Caucus and our fellow Members of Congress, such as champions like Representative Barbara Lee, are working to address. We need to harness this rightful outrage and catalyze it into action. We need to make this the last pandemic to have a disproportionate impact on any American community, because the fact is Americans deserve a public health system that works for all Americans. We deserve to live in one America, not an unequal America with worse health outcomes for Black and Brown people. We all deserve healthcare because healthcare is a human right, yet it is not easily won. It must be fought for. As Frederick Douglass taught us: ``Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.'' The only path forward is for us to demand it. We demand action to end health disparities once and for all. We must do this by passing the COVID Community Care Act, H.R. 8192; and Ending Health Disparities during the COVID-19 Act, H.R. 8200.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today for myself and Members of the Illinois delegation to speak about Northern Illinois University, my alma mater and a major contributor to the life, health and future of the Midwest and beyond. This year, NIU celebrates its 125th anniversary. Like so many state universities across our great country, NIU began as a ``normal school,'' or teachers college. In the late 1800s, 11 million people had moved from farms to cities, and our country had welcomed 25 million new immigrants. The need for better access to education was exceeded only by the need for more teachers--and schools like NIU were created to meet those needs. From the beginning, NIU has been an institution committed to providing opportunity for underserved students--students who are the first in their families to attend college, students of color and students with high financial need. Today nearly 75 percent of NIU students fall into one or more of those categories, with about 45 percent Pell grant-eligible, 50 percent students of color and 50 percent first generation college students. At the same time, NIU excels in the creation and dissemination of new knowledge. In 2017, the Brookings Institution gave NIU high rankings for excellence at the intersection of research accomplishments and the creation of social mobility for students exposed to hands-on research and other opportunities they might not otherwise experience. NIU faculty are not only great teachers, but many are world-renowned scientists, authors, and policy experts. They study climate change, look for ways to improve physical and mental health, create fuel-saving vehicles, expand the boundaries of visual and performance art, explore ancient and modern cultures and much more. A host of federal agencies have expressed confidence in NIU through grant awards for study of such diverse areas as Southeast Asian languages and cultures, assistive technologies for people who are blind or visually impaired, and new devices for the Department of Homeland Security to keep air travel safe. Nearly 250,000 alumni in the northern Illinois region and around the world are making a difference in their chosen fields. The impact of this outstanding institution has earned the respect and attention of a grateful state and nation. As a proud alumna, I am honored to join my colleagues to congratulate Northern Illinois University on this, its 125th anniversary.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to encourage my colleagues to support the Helping MOMS Act. This bipartisan legislation, which I authored together with my colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would allow States to use their own funds to extend Medicaid coverage for new moms to the entire postpartum period of 1 year, which is the recommendation of medical professionals and experts. Right now, States must seek a waiver from the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand postpartum coverage beyond 60 days. With Medicaid providing coverage for more than half of new American moms, expanding Medicaid would save lives. Study after study has proven this to be the case. This bill will help correct a hurdle that has existed for too many women. Tragically, we know that our Nation's maternal mortality crisis, like so many public health challenges, is taking a disproportionate toll on African-American moms. Black moms die at 2\1/2\ times the rate of White moms. In my home State of Illinois, the disparity grows to six times. It is time for us to give new moms that opportunity to stay healthy by seeing their doctors. On top of removing the waiver requirement, this bill also studies the availability of, access to, and success of doulas in providing care to moms before, during, and after birth within the Medicaid program. For those unfamiliar with the term, a doula is a trained companion who, while not always a healthcare professional, supports mothers through the pregnancy process. Studies have shown that doulas are a powerful and cost-effective way to improve care delivery and prevent maternal death. Before closing, I want to thank my colleagues from Texas and Washington for their leadership and support. Likewise, I would like to thank the more than dozen organizations that endorsed this legislation, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. While the Helping MOMS Act is a compromise and not as comprehensive as I had hoped, this is a major step forward that Congress can and should take in a bipartisan way to help save mothers' lives. In 2020, starting or growing a family should never cost a woman her life, so I urge a ``yes'' on the Helping MOMS Act. It will help ensure healthy and happy moms, babies, and families across America.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Giana Hutton, one of my constituents and a passionate advocate for education and equity. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Giana grew up in Flossmoor, Illinois, and attended Parker Junior High School and Homewood-Flossmoor High School. She obtained her BA in history from Williams College in 2010 at just 18 years of age. Later, she completed a master's of science in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University, one of our Nation's most prestigious programs. Between her studies, she interned for Illinois Senator Roland Burris, supporting staff working on education and judiciary policy. Most recently, she was working as a program analyst for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, D.C. In this role, she directly supported the educational success of District students by helping programs work better and be more effective. She had recently been accepted in the District's Certified Public Manager Program Cohort at GW University. Giana is survived by her fiance, parents, and sister. Giana will be greatly missed by all, especially the young people whose lives she positively impacted through her work. As we remember her life and legacy, we must recommit to her passion: educational equity and the opportunity for every young American to receive a quality education.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8247, the Veterans COMPACT Act. This important package will help veterans struggling with mental health and slow the alarming rate of veteran suicides in this country. This package includes my bipartisan bill, H.R. 7747, which implements reporting requirements for the VA Solid Start program. The Solid Start program is a new transitional program designed to contact veterans three times during the first year after departing military service. Veterans are often at their most vulnerable as they transition to civilian life. From waking up to a less structured day to having to navigate the often-frustrating VA benefits system, veterans can feel alone or overwhelmed. But we can change that. The proactive engagement from this program has already produced positive results. In its first year, VA representatives have helped more than 750 veterans apply for disability benefits, and several veterans in crisis were immediately connected to suicide prevention services. We need to build on that success. Sometimes all it takes is a friendly voice on the other end of the line to make a difference. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting the Veterans COMPACT Act so we can give our veterans the support they deserve.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, in regards to a technical question from some of my colleagues, H.R. 1668 will set the minimum security policies and vulnerability disclosure guidance for the procurement of government Internet of Things devices. To ensure that devices do not slip through the cracks, Section 7 of this bill includes a simplified acquisition threshold provision. The intent of this section is to ensure that all contracts, even those below the simplified acquisition threshold, are subject to the standards and guidelines developed under section 4 or the guidelines published under section 5.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, in October 2017, the IT Subcommittee held a hearing on cybersecurity of the Internet of Things. This hearing was largely held in response to the Mirai botnet, a massive Distributed Denial of Service, or DDoS, attack, which left the internet inaccessible for much of the East Coast. IoT devices have processing power and an internet connection, but often have little security and no built-in ability to be patched remotely. IoT devices can range from your home routers, security cameras, and baby monitors to smart appliances and industrial sensors. During the Mirai attack, hackers attempted to log in to common devices using 61 username-password combos that are frequently used as a default for IoT devices and never changed. This tactic gave them access to hundreds of thousands of unsecured IoT devices. This attack served as a wake-up call. In 2018, Lieutenant General Robert Ashley, DIA Director, described the exploitation of insecure IoT devices as one of the two ``most important emerging cyber threats to our national security.'' This is why I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. During the hearing and subsequent process, we learned that the U.S. Government is purchasing these IoT devices without a standard for security to prevent them from being used in such an attack or used as an unauthorized access point to U.S. Government networks. Bipartisan and bicameral conversations necessitated the introduction of this legislation. H.R. 1668, the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act, aims to address supply chain risk to the Federal Government stemming from insecure IoT devices. By establishing light-touch, minimum security requirements for procurement of connected devices by the government, this bill has two main focuses: ensuring the government is purchasing secure devices and resolving critical vulnerabilities to existing devices. Building upon the amazing work over at NIST, the bill has NIST- published guidelines on the appropriate use and management of Internet of Things devices owned or controlled by a government agency. At a minimum, it will address secure development, identity management, patching, and configuration management for IoT devices. Following this, OMB will take these guidelines and issue policies and principles consistent with the current law. To ensure these devices stay secure, this bill creates a coordinated vulnerability disclosure program to receive information about a device's related vulnerabilities. To improve U.S. cybersecurity and the security of American citizens, agencies would be prohibited from purchasing devices that fail to comply with the minimum security policies and vulnerability disclosure guidance. Throughout the entire process, I have worked hard to ensure that the requirements of this bill do not impede or conflict with the current and good efforts of NIST or CISA. Both agencies have been issuing excellent guidance on IoT devices and Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosures, and they should be commended for their proactive work and their engagement with me and my team during this process. This bill offers Congress the opportunity to secure our Federal infrastructure from threats, both foreign and domestic. We cannot wait as more devices are connected to government networks that could potentially become part of a botnet or an entryway for hackers. I want to thank everyone: experts, industry leaders, civil society leaders, and my colleagues who made comments and helped us craft a bill that is bipartisan and solves a real problem. Finally, I have been proud to have worked with my friend and colleague Will Hurd on this legislation. He has always been there when I needed a partner on IT legislation, and he has taught me a lot about technology. His absence from this Chamber will be sorely missed. I also want to thank Senators Warren and Gardner for working with me on this legislation. This is a strong bill that I believe can pass both Chambers and be signed into law. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important bipartisan piece of legislation.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I stand with my colleagues today shocked and dismayed by the actions of this administration. For the past few years, the Oversight and Reform Committee has worked in a bipartisan fashion to modernize the Postal Service with former Representative Mark Meadows leading the charge. Now, like too many things over the past 3\1/2\ years, mail has become a partisan issue. The Postal Service is a pillar of our democracy. It is essential for providing critical services such as: lifesaving prescriptions, Social Security benefits, paychecks, tax returns, letters home from military families, and absentee ballots to millions of Americans. The VA delivers prescriptions to 80 percent of our veterans via the mail. This intentional and ridiculous slowdown means vets are skipping doses while checking empty mailboxes. While I was back home, one of my businesses told me they hadn't received mail for 10 days. Another person told me they received mail every other day. This cannot go on, and we cannot trust the word of a Postmaster General who is unqualified and whose sweeping operational changes degrade the Postal Service, delay the mail, and threaten our upcoming election. We must pass the Delivering for America Act so we can return the United States post office to normal and ensure we have a safe election where everyone is counted.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to share my letter to Congressman John Robert Lewis. Dear John, I hope you knew how incredibly honored I was to call you colleague and to serve with you. It was such a great privilege to watch you in action and listen to your stories. When we planned the sit-in, being a part of the Fab 5 made me so proud. It took a while to get the bill out of the House, but we finally did it. I promise you, when I encounter a situation that is just not right, I will stand up, speak out, and get in the way. I plan to carry a piece of you with me forever. I know I will be a better person for it. I hope you, C.T. Vivian, Martin, Rosa, Edgar, Robert Kennedy, and others are having a fabulous reunion. Rest in power, my friend, until we meet again. Love, Robin.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise for several reasons; first and foremost, to honor the life and legacy of my friend and colleague, Congressman John Lewis. Long before he brought his talents to the halls of Congress, John was a young leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Together with his SNCC and CORE brothers and sisters, they waged a war for the heart and soul of this Nation and changed history. I feel truly honored to have served with him, and I will be forever changed. From the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the House floor, John is or was the conscience of the Congress and truly of our Nation, and he will be missed. Likewise, we lost another civil rights leader, Reverend C.T. Vivian, a Freedom Rider who worked alongside Dr. King. Reverend Vivian was also a member of the Atlanta community, and my heart is with that great city at this difficult time. Challenging The United States Senate To Do Their Job

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to challenge the Senate to do their job. The American people are suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitals remain flooded, small businesses remain shuttered. Restaurants are trying to get by on take-out only, and bills are piling up on the kitchen table. Yet, the Senate, controlled by the GOP, does nothing but confirm questionable judges. Have they had a debate on the House-passed HEROES Act? No. Have they discussed providing resources to communities so they can pay the salaries of our brave first responders, our community heroes? No. Have they considered how out-of-work parents will pay their bills when the emergency unemployment insurance expires? No. And that is because this Republican Party, most clearly, Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell, do not care about the American people. They do not care about you, the bills that are piling up because you can't work, or the kids who are going hungry every day. Time and time again, my colleagues on the other side of this aisle and across the building have shown nothing but disregard to the challenges of the American people, the same people they claim to serve. Look at the record. The GOP Senate has dragged its feet time and time again, while more than 100,000 Americans died from coronavirus. Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly 2 months since the people's House passed our Nation's fifth COVID-19 bill. We called it the HEROES Act in honor of all the men and women putting their lives and health on the line to protect and serve our families and our communities. The HEROES Act is focused on three things: Testing, testing, testing; and it ensures that testing, including contact tracing, is conducted in areas with the highest rates of infection. It also provides another round of direct payments to American families to help them weather this economic storm. I can't tell you how many families told me that the first $1,200 was spent before it hit their bank accounts. We need to be frank about our current economic situation. Our GOP colleagues shoved through their GOP tax scam in order to juice our economy. Right now, this is the only economic leverage available to Congress or the Fed. It is time to put money directly into the pockets of American families and business owners. They will spend it, and our economy will continue. But that's basic math and economics, something often lost on the other side. Mr. Speaker, it is not hard to turn on FOX or MSNBC and hear the talking heads arguing this or that point. But I want to talk about the rest of America, places like Lansing and Bourbonnais. I am proud to represent more than 40 cities and towns. It is no secret that State and local revenues have plummeted due to COVID-19. Yet, these dollars pay for critical government services like first responders, trash collection, teachers, and public health workers; and COVID-19 has shown us how truly indispensable they are. The HEROES Act includes billions in Federal investments in our States, cities, and towns, the places we call home. Under the HEROES Act, Lansing, in my district, will receive more than $13 million over the next 2 years; more than $18 million for Calumet City, and nearly a half a million dollars for Chebanse. Think about what those resources can do for our communities. Every cent pays for our firefighters and teachers, health educators, and essential bus drivers. HEROES Act funds will ensure that our kids keep learning despite COVID-19. It provides $90 billion to ensure schools can cover the cost of the digital transition and that they will be safe and sanitary when students return. And finally, the HEROES Act prioritizes ensuring American families can eat by increasing the maximum SNAP benefit. After working to ensure the needs of Illinois families are addressed in the HEROES Act, I know this bill is about America's heroes and our families. That is why it came from the people's House. The HEROES Act is not about the President or any one party; it is about doing the right thing because American families are struggling. Small businesses are on the edge of closing, and our communities are struggling to pay our EMTs and firefighters, the very people we rely on during this pandemic. My mayors have told me they will have to start furloughing and laying people off. The Senate must act. The ball is in Mitch McConnell's court. Do the right thing. Do your job. By the way, Mr. President, if you want to help Chicago, the Nation needs safe gun reforms, investigations of illegal sales, more spending on community-based outreach and development. We don't want Portland repeated in Chicago.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. For too long, we have neglected our Nation's roads, bridges, and airports, while inequalities in broadband access and healthcare have increased. Our Nation's infrastructure is in need of significant upgrades to make our roads safer, reduce congestion, and make our transportation networks more energy efficient. The Second District of Illinois, in particular, will benefit from the support for small airports, investment in rail, and increased access to affordable housing. This bill invests $100 billion to promote competition for broadband internet infrastructure for underserved rural, suburban, and urban communities. The coronavirus epidemic has shown just how important it is to have access to high-speed internet. From completing school classes at home to conducting a virtual visit over telehealth, the need for connectivity has never been higher. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will continue to look at infrastructure as a bipartisan issue and support this package to upgrade our communities for the 21st century.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1425. Since enactment of the ACA, millions of Americans have gained health coverage, but too many families have been left behind by GOP Governors and legislatures more interested in playing politics than helping families. Today, we build on that success. Each year, more than 700 American women die from pregnancy complications, and more than half of these deaths are entirely preventable. Tragically, Black moms die at three to four times the rate of White moms, but passing this bill will help address that by allowing new moms to remain on Medicaid for the entire postpartum period. And this piece of legislation left the Committee on Energy and Commerce with many Republican votes. This portion is just one example of the good in this bill and the lives it will save. We cannot allow preventable deaths to continue in this country. We must do more. It was safer for me to have my daughter than it is for my daughter now to have a baby. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this lifesaving legislation. There is a lot of talk about how we should care about the health of the American citizens, and one thing that we all can do is wear a mask.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 51. For more than 200 years, Americans living in the District of Columbia--many of whom serve the people of this great Nation as public servants--have been denied the right to self-government. That is a founding principle of our great Nation. Mr. Speaker, today, D.C. is home to more than 700,000 Americans and, yet, they have no voting Members of Congress and no voice in the Senate. Establishing Washington, Douglass Commonwealth would not create our Nation's smallest State by population, nor would it be reliant on the Federal Government to survive. There are States with smaller populations and many other States that are far more dependent on Federal assistance. Despite paying more in total Federal income tax than the residents of 22 other States, D.C. is continually treated like a territory instead of a State in funding bills. These calculations starve the local government of the funds they rightly deserve. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues listen to the voice of our Founding Fathers, who we keep hearing about. ``No taxation without representation.'' Well, D.C. pays its taxes. It deserves a voice in Congress. And let's be clear about who is playing politics.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Mr. Speaker, I am going to be frank. A bill like this should have been passed years ago. We know that chokeholds are dangerous, the same with no-knock warrants in nonviolent Federal cases. This legislation would have prevented George Floyd's death and the death of so many other Black and Brown people in America. We should have acted when Laquan McDonald was killed in Chicago--you remember, ``16 shots and a cover-up.'' Or Rekia Boyd in Chicago. Or we should have acted when Tamir Rice was killed for playing with a toy gun that anyone could buy at their local Dollar General. Yet, still today, after watching the life and oxygen drain from the face of George Floyd, my colleagues on the other side still defend the status quo. Some parts of this bill are not new, but we could never get them passed. I was part of Speaker Ryan's task force on police accountability: 18 months of meeting with the public and nothing came of it. Well, not this time, because George Floyd deserves better. Sandra Bland deserves better. Breonna Taylor, Laquan McDonald, and Oscar Grant deserve justice. And this is from the niece of three cops, the cousin of one cop, the auntie of two cops, but also the mother of a Black son and a Black daughter. Mr. Speaker, I just have to say one more thing. I get so sick of hearing Chicago being bantered about. I was here for 5 years and could not get one gun violence prevention bill passed or signed on to by my colleagues on the other side. It wasn't until the Democrats took over that we could at least get background checks passed and the Charleston loophole. But, again, we can't get anything called in the Senate.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank my long- time Chief of Staff, Brandon F. Webb. Within months of my election to Congress, Brandon joined Team Kelly as my Legislative Director after 6 years of dedicated service to the people of Georgia's 12th District as Senior Legislative Assistant to Congressman John Barrow. Shortly after arriving in my office, he took another leap of faith by marrying his beautiful wife, Sabrina. After leading my legislative team for several years, Brandon became my Chief of Staff and has supported me, my staff and the families of the Illinois' 2nd Congressional District for the last 6 years. As Chief, he helped develop innovative district programming and built a diverse staff to advance the interests of families from Kankakee to Chicago's South Shore. After more than a dozen years serving the American people as a Congressional staffer, Brandon is departing for a new role in our nation's growing and dynamic tech sector. While he will be missed, his legacy of hard work speaks volumes about him, his passion and spirit. Brandon comes from a family dedicated to public service and is a proud brother of Kappa Alpha Psi. Through his service in Congress and to the American public, he has made them very proud. Again, I thank Brandon for his years of service to the people of Georgia's 12th District and Illinois' 2nd District.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank my departing Legislative Director, Zachary K. Ostro, for his hard work and dedication. Zach joined my team as a Legislative Fellow shortly after completing his JD at the University of Maryland School of Law. As a fellow, one of his largest contributions came as Chief Content Editor of the 2014 Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America, the first-ever Congressional analysis of the nation's gun violence epidemic. He quickly became an indispensable part of the team and transitioned into a full-time role as a Legislative Assistant. In 2016, he became Legislative Director and helped me enact a number of bills including the Connected Government Act and Action for Dental Health Act into law. While leading my legislative team, Zach also continued his education and obtained an MBA from Georgetown University in 2018. His family also grew while part of Team Kelly with the birth of his beautiful daughter, Sophie. Originally from Cleveland, Zach is a diehard Indians fan and avid bowler. As he departs for a new opportunity, I wish him and his family all the best. Again, I thank Zach for his years of service to the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Cornelius Levi Knowles; Whereas, ``Corky,'' as he was affectionally known to his friends and family, was born in Hallandale, Florida to Melbourne and Albertha Knowles on January 20, 1928, and graduated from Dorsey High School with bold aspirations in 1946; Whereas, after working hard and saving money, Cornelius moved to Washington D.C. to attend Howard University, overcoming racial prejudices, working nightly at the post office, and obtaining his undergraduate degree, he graduated from the Howard University College of Dentistry second in his class; Whereas, Cornelius had a distinguished career--serving as a clinical instructor at Howard University before moving to Chicago to open his own practice and serving as an examiner for both the Northeast Regional Board of Dentistry and the Illinois State Board of Dentistry; Whereas, outside of his distinguished career, Cornelius was a loving husband to Althea, the love of his life. Together they were active community members supporting countless charities and treating everyone they met like family for nearly 60 years; Whereas, Cornelius will be remembered by friends as the life of the party, always having a joke ready to lighten the mood, even if the reactions to his own jokes were funnier than the jokes themselves; Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the House of Representatives of the United States of America, That the life and legacy of Cornelius ``Corky'' Levi Knowles, who peacefully passed away on April 24th, 2020, be remembered and honored.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I support this legislation because hospitals and small businesses in our communities need relief. Our communities need this bridge over troubled waters. This legislation rightfully invests $300-plus billion into the backbone of our economy: small businesses. It puts $75 billion into our Nation's hospitals and ensures that those serving our most vulnerable receive the resources they need to save lives. It invests $25 billion in testing. As the chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, we must make sure that the testing goes into the areas disproportionately affected, like the Black and Brown communities. This legislation includes language developed by me, along with Congresswomen Bass, Lee, and Pressley, as well as Senators Warren, Harris, and Booker, to ensure that we collect and analyze racial data related to the obvious disparity in COVID-19. The better data made possible by this bill must effectively direct resources into our communities where needed, not where best connected. Let us also remember the postal workers, the State and local governments, our teachers. They need our resources also. Madam Speaker, I want to give my condolences to Senator Warren for losing her brother to COVID-19.