Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank my colleagues for supporting this stopgap measure to avoid a government shutdown as we finish our critical work to fund government and respond to the COVID pandemic. As my time in Congress nears a close, I must briefly, very briefly, reflect on my 32 years of service, which has been guided by a basic principle: When you see a problem, do something about it. In times of crisis like we face today, and after September 11 and Superstorm Sandy, delivering relief has been my sacred duty. I will be forever grateful to colleagues, advocates, and excellent staff who helped me secure critical Federal funds directly for my district, indelibly shape women's health policy, enact lifesaving food allergy labeling and the .08 BAC drunk driving standard, and too many other achievements to fully recount now. Limited debate time leaves me unable to acknowledge by name all of my exceptional staff, but I must thank my chief of staff for the last 16 years, Elizabeth Stanley, and my unequaled district director, Pat Keegan, who, for more than 26 years, has led my outstanding district staff in solving thousands of cases for constituents who needed help. Our successes are often overlooked amid partisan rancor and the notion that institutions of government are irrevocably broken. I do not believe they are. To my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, across the country, and the political spectrum, our work together is a testament to the enduring values of public service and of a collective commitment to better the world. You inspired me to be a better legislator, and I am grateful. While I leave Congress as the first chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, the title I still cherish most is United States Representative from New York. To those I have represented: Thank you for your trust and confidence. To my family, my wonderful husband, Steve; my children and their spouses, Dana and David, Doug and Ellen, and Jackie and David; and my grandchildren, Jillian, Daniel, Ilan, Jesse, Jonah, Rebecca, Jonathan, and Solene, your endless support has made my career possible. I hope you are ready for a lot more of me. Mr. Speaker, with gratitude for having had the honor and privilege to serve, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 107) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes.

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.J. Res. 107, currently under consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge its support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, families and small businesses desperately need support as they continue to reel from the coronavirus pandemic. As we speak, bipartisan negotiations are ongoing to deliver emergency relief alongside an omnibus comprising fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills. To keep government open while negotiations conclude, the legislation before us extends funding at current levels through Sunday. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the ongoing talks by adopting this clean continuing resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, and a hardworking, distinguished leader on all these issues.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the gentlemen from Illinois (Mr. Garcia).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the chair of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1161, I call up the bill (H.R. 925) to extend the authorization of appropriations for allocation to carry out approved wetlands conservation projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act through fiscal year 2024, with the Senate amendments thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the House amendments to the Senate amendments to H.R. 925.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this updated version of the Heroes Act. The health and economic catastrophe facing our country continues to cry out for urgent action. In May, a bipartisan majority in the House passed the Heroes Act to provide critical support for our country to crush the coronavirus so that we can protect lives and reopen our economy. Unfortunately, that legislation has lingered for more than 4 months as President Trump continues to downplay the severity of this pandemic. This updated version of the Heroes Act seeks to meet Republicans halfway while addressing needs that have grown since May. As Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin continue their negotiations, the House's consideration of this legislation formalizes this body's proffer in these negotiations. To that end, we have updated the earlier versions of the Heroes Act by including strengthened support for small businesses, additional assistance for airline industry workers, and more funds for the children, for schools, for postsecondary education, and for childcare. Near and dear to my heart, we have also added a substantial investment in global public health that will save lives at home and abroad. Moreover, House Democrats have maintained many of the earlier priorities of the Heroes Act. That includes: $436 billion for State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to pay vital frontline workers; $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and isolation measures; and $28 billion for procurement, distribution, and education campaigns for a safe and effective vaccine; additional direct payments to families; strong, enforceable workplace safety standards; changes to preserve healthcare for unemployed Americans; an extension of unemployment benefits; housing assistance so renters and homeowners can stay in their homes; food assistance so struggling families can put food on the table; and protections for our democracy, with funding for safe elections, an accurate Census, and the Postal Service. Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents a compromise that delivers for American families. Negotiations are continuing, and I ardently hope that we can soon return to this floor with a bipartisan agreement. In the meantime, a strong vote tonight will show our will to act and bring us closer to delivering much-needed relief to American families. I urge support for this critical legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Virginia an additional 1 minute.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat).

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the ordering of the yeas and nays on the motion that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5572) to establish a grant program for family community organizations that provide support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and their families, as amended, be vacated, to the end that the Chair put the question de novo.