Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the chairwoman of the Committee on Small Business.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the dynamic chairwoman of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the dynamic, hardworking, and committed chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), the vice chair of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the motion to recommit.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, as of this morning, nearly 86,000 people in the United States have died from this virus. More than 1.4 million people have been infected, and those are just the cases we know about because of the frontline workers who are risking their lives to test as many people as possible. Unemployment is at its highest level since the Great Depression. Tens of millions of families are struggling to put food on the table and pay the rent. If you don't understand the suffering, you haven't been paying attention. Just turn on the TV--or better yet, listen to your constituents. They are demanding two things: facts and action. No matter what the President tweets, the facts of this pandemic are clear. And no matter whether Senator McConnell sees urgency or not, the time for action is now. The American people have unprecedented needs, and the Federal Government must step up to the plate, provide the necessary assistance to meet those needs. However, the Republicans are yet again standing in the way of helping people. They are in the same denial that led to the Trump administration's bungling of this virus. Against the weight of economic expertise, they are saying we need to slow down on spending money. Against the clear desperation of families, they are saying we need to wait and see what happens. Well, we know what is going to happen. We have seen what is going to happen. We have seen what has happened. There will be more cases tomorrow, more deaths this weekend, more economic hardship next week. But instead of worrying about these concerns, the only thing Republicans can offer is regurgitated talking points about immigration. Right now, the American people are focused on their own survival and that of their families. I want to make it very clear: COVID-19 does not discriminate or differentiate on immigration status. Our country doesn't have time for Republicans to relitigate the culture wars. Regardless of background or country of origin, we need action today. People are suffering. Every day there are more cases. We need action now without further delay. I strongly oppose the motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this historic families and workers-first legislation. My own community is an epicenter of the coronavirus. Families in the Lower Hudson Valley--as in other areas of the country--have lost loved ones, and even as we all hunker down for our lives, too many fear that their livelihoods are still at risk when this crisis ends. Congress must come together in this historic, bipartisan way to meet this crisis head-on and ease some of the burden on our communities. This legislation will provide increased testing capacity, personal protective equipment for health workers, funding for hospitals and health care providers, and research and development on vaccines and therapeutics as well as much needed resources for small businesses, schools, and state and local governments. This country is resilient, and I am pleased that this third package will give hundreds of millions of dollars in federal assistance to help Westchester and Rockland Counties recover from this pandemic. We must send this bill to the President's desk today to reassure the American people that the federal government is united in protecting every American's health and economic security.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6201) making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6201, currently under consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act builds on the $8.3 billion supplemental enacted last week to meet the needs of the American people, by: Guaranteeing free coronavirus testing; Providing paid leave; and Strengthening food security initiatives through additional investments in WIC, food banks, and senior nutrition. The bill also makes sure that children who depend on free and reduced-price meals have access to food during school and childcare closures. Mr. Speaker, we must help ensure the physical safety and financial security of our Nation's working families during this time of crisis. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the hour is late, vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of the bill, H.R. 6201, the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections and conforming changes to the bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6074, currently under consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as the coronavirus moves closer to becoming a global pandemic, it is spreading within the United States, including in my own home county, and its death toll continues to grow. While the Trump administration has repeatedly demonstrated a failure to understand public health needs, Congress is acting with the seriousness and the sense of urgency the coronavirus threat demands. This emergency supplemental is the product of thoughtful bipartisan cooperation. It provides $8.3 billion in entirely new funding to keep Americans safe, including: More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics; $300 million for the government to purchase vaccines at a fair and reasonable price; $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response, of which $950 million is to support State and local health agencies; Nearly $1 billion for medical supplies, healthcare preparedness, community health centers, and medical surge capacity; $1.2 billion to address the coronavirus abroad, which helps keep Americans safe here at home; and Low-interest loans to affected small businesses to cushion the economic blow of this public health emergency. Finally, several other important provisions have been included that will: allow seniors to access telemedicine services for coronavirus treatment, require the Trump administration to reimburse health accounts that were previously raided to pay for the coronavirus response, and ensure State and local governments are reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the Federal response. Madam Speaker, strong funding in this legislation is a critical first step to enable a strategic, coordinated, and whole-of-government response to the coronavirus. While we all ardently hope that this public health emergency does not worsen, House Democrats will not hesitate to act again if we must augment this funding with more resources. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6074) making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, the government's greatest responsibility is to keep Americans safe. This emergency supplemental addresses the coronavirus and takes critical steps to protect the American people from this deadly and expanding outbreak. I urge my colleagues to vote for this critical assistance, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1140, the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act of 2020. Chairman Thompson and I have worked on this bill for a very long time, and I am glad the House is considering it today. H.R. 1140 would give TSA's screening workforce the same rights afforded to other Federal workers under title V, like fair pay under the General Schedule pay scale, sick leave according to OPM guidelines, and collective bargaining rights. Our TSOs have earned these rights. TSOs serve on the front lines of aviation security and protect the traveling public on a daily basis. It is unreasonable to deny these hardworking men and women who keep us safe the basic protections of Federal civil service. We must pass this bill today to send a clear message to TSA from Congress that a system denying TSOs predictability and consistency is unacceptable. H.R. 1140 would improve the morale and stability of our screening workforce and help ensure safety at our Nation's airports. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Mr. David Stern of Scarsdale, New York. Mr. Stern passed away on January 1, 2020, at the age of 77. An attorney by training, Mr. Stern served as commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1984 through 2014. Mr. Stern is survived by his adoring wife, Dianne, and his two sons, Andrew and Eric. As NBA Commissioner, Mr. Stern shepherded the NBA from a middling American sports product to a global entertainment giant. During his tenure as commissioner, the NBA gained 7 new franchises, opened offices in 15 cities outside the United States, and televised games in more than 200 countries and in 50 languages. Business accomplishments aside, David Stern's socially responsible leadership of the league was truly groundbreaking. He was deeply committed to advancing opportunities for women in the game of basketball, overseeing the creation of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 1997. In speaking of his commitment to the WNBA, the league's first president, Val Ackerman, said, ``Without his vision and engagement, the league wouldn't have gotten off the ground. He was the mastermind, and the WNBA was really in line with his vision about how sports and society are intertwined.'' We also recognize David Stern for his support of Los Angeles Lakers forward Earvin `Magic' Johnson in the wake of Johnson's HIV+ diagnosis in 1991. In an era of great mythmaking and stigma regarding people living with AIDS and HIV, Stein appeared publicly with Johnson at a press conference in the announcement's wake and invited Johnson to participate in that NBA season's All-Star game. The next summer, he ensured Johnson's inclusion on the 1992 Olympic `Dream Team' that sent NBA players to compete in the Olympics for the first time in the league's history, an achievement Stern also masterminded. Stern's public support for Magic Johnson, coupled with his efforts to educate both the league and the public about the reality of the disease, was more than just a nice gesture from employer to employee. It was a bold, public demonstration of compassion that changed minds and undoubtedly helped save lives. For this, we honor the character and strength of David Stern. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members of Congress to join me in recognizing David Stern's exceptional accomplishments and in sending our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5687.