Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to salute Marina Letsios, a woman of exemplary work ethic and dedication to our country. Marina is a powerful example of strong female leadership as a ``Good Will Ambassador At Large'' and member of the Euro American Women's Council (EAWC). With that title and position, she has been recognized for her dedication to the arts and philanthropy with the EAWC Artemis Award. In Greek religion, Artemis is the Goddess of the Hunt and represents both femininity and strength. Marina is dedicated to strengthening her community both in America and abroad. She supports survivors of domestic violence through the organization Long Island Against Domestic Violence. She helps her neighbors in need put food on their tables through Long Island Cares & Baxter's Pantry. Marina also supports non-profits helping those with mental illness and hosts annual coat drives through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Her philanthropy stretches across the pond as a supporter of the Prince's Trust International, a charity dedicated to solely helping young people around the world unlock their potential. Marina is a citizen of the globe who knows no bounds in helping those in need. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Marina Letsios' outstanding achievements. Marina's proven success is due to her ability to create strong teams that approach each challenge strategically. Her commitment to New York, our Nation, and our globe is an example for female leaders for generations to come.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Chef Maria Loi. Chef Loi is an internationally renowned entrepreneur, author, television personality and philanthropist. Often called the Julia Child of Greece, she melds the inspiration of ancient Greece with a modern approach to the Mediterranean diet. The namesake of Loi Estiatorio in Manhattan, Chef Loi has cooked for celebrities and Presidents. But she most enjoys gathering with a roomful of diners over a good, healthy meal filled with laughter and stories and passing out smiles and homemade cookies to children who visit her restaurant. Chef Loi is passionate about sharing the magic of all things Greek especially its culinary treasures and the recipes and practices passed down through the generations. Chef Loi is equally well known for her kindness, friendliness, and warmth, making a friend of everyone she meets and lighting up rooms with her bountiful energy, infectious smile and hearty laugh. The founder of Loi Food Products, a specialty brand built on traditional ingredients from Greece; her pastas, beans, botanical herbs, refrigerated dips, honey and olive oil are sold on QVC, at Whole Foods Markets and in other stores. The author of more than 36 cookbooks, she is also the host of a new show, The Life of Loi, for the Public Broadcasting Service, debuting on broadcast in December 2022. It aims to build an inspirational and educational movement around the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle--from ancient to modern, food to culture and everything in between. Named an official Ambassador of Greek Gastronomy by the Chefs Club of Greece, Chef Loi is also a passionate and dedicated philanthropist who supports a wide variety of causes focused on children and the underserved. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the culinary, professional, and philanthropic accomplishments of Chef Maria Loi.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Rania Alafoyiannis for her outstanding contributions to the fields of ecommerce, marketing, advertising, and customer sales and development. Ms. Alafoyiannis is a groundbreaking entrepreneur with a vibrantly diverse background and a myriad of achievements.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Postal Service on its recent announcement to purchase a new vehicle fleet, 75 percent of which will be electric vehicles. I also rise to thank President Biden for his vision that led this country to that decision. Yesterday's announcement by the Postal Service would not have been possible without the steadfast efforts of the Biden-Harris administration, including the landmark legislation President Biden signed into law earlier this year, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the postal reform legislation, which I authored. I personally thank President Biden for his important leadership on this issue. His efforts to ensure that our Federal fleets, particularly the Postal Service fleet, transition to electric vehicles as soon as possible are a critical step to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future for all Americans. As chair of the Oversight and Reform Committee, electrifying the Postal Service fleet has been one of my top priorities for the last several years. I have spoken and written to the Postmaster General numerous times about the importance of adopting an all-electric fleet, and the committee has held briefings and hearings several times on this issue. The Postal Service operates a fleet of nearly 230,000 cars and trucks. That is roughly one-third of the entire Federal fleet. It is the second largest fleet in our Nation and should set the standard for this Nation. Unfortunately, this fleet is rapidly aging, with many vehicles already more than three decades old. The old postal trucks are often unsafe, have high maintenance costs, and get terrible gas mileage. We cannot afford to continue polluting our environment with unnecessary carbon. This is simply unacceptable. We are in the middle of a climate crisis. The Federal Government should be leading the charge to reduce carbon emissions and green its fleets. That is why I am elated the Postal Service has made the decision to acquire 45,000 electric next-generation delivery vehicles and an additional 21,000 other electric delivery cars and trucks between now and 2028. I applaud the Postal Service for its commitment to purchasing only electric next-generation delivery vehicles after 2026, which is part of President Biden's vision for the future. This is a win for the Postal Service, the climate, and, most importantly, the American people. This critical investment would not have been possible without the $3 billion President Biden championed and Congress provided in the Inflation Reduction Act. These funds will help purchase these vehicles and build the infrastructure necessary to support them. These purchases will make the Postal Service a global leader in the adoption of electric vehicles and sets an example for other Federal agencies and the private sector as they develop their future fleets. They are also a testament to President Biden's efforts to prioritize the climate and make the world safer and more secure for future generations. I commend the Postal Service for making this decision, and I look forward to the steps Congress and the administration will continue to take to protect our planet and to green our planet. This is a great step forward for a cleaner and better environment.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4411) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building''.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia), the sponsor of the House companion bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring the life of this young woman by naming a post office in Houston, Texas, after her. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 4411, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association (OANA) in support of their efforts to create a dedicated arts district located along the waterfront in Astoria, New York. OANA, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2014 by President Richard Khuzami, has displayed a long-lasting commitment to the community and promotes quality of life, economic growth, and culture throughout Astoria. The Astoria Waterfront Arts District (AWAD) proposed by OANA would stretch from Astoria Boulevard south to Rainey Park along the waterfront, housing hundreds of graffiti artists, abstract painters, sculptors, muralists, and many more who contribute to the landscape of the community. The district would be the second arts district established in Astoria following the creation of the Kaufman Arts District in 2014. It would aim to showcase artwork by many of the world's most highly recognized artists and sculptors in addition to hundreds of works by community artists. The district would encompass many cultural institutions in Western Queens, among which are the Socrates Sculpture Park, the Noguchi Museum, and the Welling Court Mural Project. Socrates Sculpture Park, established in 1986 by the artist Mark di Suvero with other artists and community members, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting artists in the production and presentation of contemporary public art. The park serves as both an internationally renowned outdoor exhibition space and studio program as well as a neighborhood park that offers a wide variety of free community events, programs, and services. Socrates Sculpture Park offers an extensive roster of inclusive public and educational programming for individuals of all ages, supporting life-long learning through an engagement with all and the natural landscape of the Park. The Noguchi Museum, founded in 1985 by category-defying artist Isamu Noguchi and chartered as The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, was the first museum in the United States to be established, designed, and installed by a living artist to show their own work. Located in Long Island City, Queens, the Museum itself is widely viewed as among the artist's greatest achievements. The Museum today remains a place for the exploration of individual artistic endeavor and creative collaboration through exposure to Noguchi's wide-ranging practice. Through an active exhibition and public programming schedule, coupled with ongoing education, preservation, and research projects, the Museum continues to illuminate the enduring influence of Noguchi in dialogue with contemporary culture. The Welling Court Mural Project began in 2009 when the organization Ad Hoc Art was invited by the community of Welling Court to add to the aesthetics of their neighborhood. The first project debuted in May 2010 with over 44 murals, fitting for the diverse and lively inhabitants, Each year since, spectacular crews of legendary and groundbreaking artists have come together to transform the neighborhood into a creative celebration and public art experience. Now featuring over 150 murals painted by artists from all corners of the globe, the Welling Court Mural Project is regarded as one of the leading collections of contemporary graffiti and street art. OANA is a firm believer that the art presented by these cultural institutions not only unifies the local community, but also attracts individuals from different parts of the world who travel to Astoria to observe and expand on the district's works. The location is easily accessible to all New Yorkers thanks to the centrally located Astoria Ferry Landing. Additionally, the AWAD is located close to the New York City Housing Authority Astoria Houses campus and would connect residents with more artistic programming. Diversity is the banner of the cultural institutions that define the AWAD. Art is presented in differentiating forms by individuals who interpret the world through distinct feelings, opinions, views, and perceptions. As the local population expands, the neighborhood is experiencing a demographic shift towards greater multiculturalism and ethnic diversity. This shift exposes new generations and cultures to the creative inspirations of different groups and opens a dialogue to build the future of art in New York City. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association for its dedication to arts and culture throughout Astoria. The Astoria Waterfront Arts District's incorporation into the neighborhood, in consultation with and subject to approval by municipal government entities, would strengthen Astoria's already vibrant culture, support local artists, and be a welcome addition to the artistic community, both throughout the city and our country.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Nancy Shor in recognition of her receipt of the Silver Shingle Award from her alma mater, Boston University School of Law. Ms. Shor graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1976 and was presented this award by the Dean on December 7, 2022, in honor of her 40 years of Public Service on behalf of dis. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Nancy Shor's dedicated years of service and in expressing my gratitude for her continued commitment to service.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker and my dear friend, Nydia Velazquez, from the great State of New York, I rise today to recognize the outgoing staff director of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Russell Anello. Russ became my trusted adviser and leader of our committee staff in May 2021. Before his promotion to staff director, Russ served under three of our distinguished colleagues: Chairman Henry Waxman, Chairman Jim Clyburn, and Chairman Elijah Cummings. Russ is a tireless leader who defended democracy when democracy needed defending the most. Under his leadership, the committee passed landmark legislation, held high-profile hearings, and skillfully navigated complex investigations to hold government and private actors to account. Russ' sharp legal skills and political instincts have helped to make our government more effective and efficient and have improved the lives of Americans. On behalf of the members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and on behalf of the American people, I thank Russ for his selfless, dedicated service to our Nation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. It has been a privilege to be inspired and to work with you, and thank you for being arrested with me--

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York.--as we protested for the rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies. I would say there is no democracy if you cannot make your own healthcare decisions.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. It was an honor to work with you. I will miss all of my colleagues.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, it has been a privilege to have had this extraordinary opportunity to serve with you for the past 30 years in the House of Representatives. A special thank you to our tremendous Democratic House leadership. Thank you, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, for being a great strategist, mentor, and friend; and, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, for what you have taught me and all that you have done for this great Nation. Thank you to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a trailblazer who was the first female Speaker of the House in history and is rightfully being called the most effective Speaker in modern times. A very special mention to the new minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries. New York is so proud of you. Like Speaker Pelosi, my career has been a series of firsts. I was the first woman to represent my district on the city council and to represent my district in Congress and the first in history to give birth while on the city council. Many men became fathers, but I was the first one to become a mother while serving on the city council. I was also the first woman to serve as chair of the Joint Economic Committee, as well as the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. I remember almost as if it were yesterday, walking toward the Capitol as a newly elected Member. I had just defeated a 14-year incumbent Republican, who outspent me 4 to 1. No one thought I could win. Yet, I did, and I had such a feeling of hope and optimism for what could be done to help people. I will never forget walking down the aisle, not to get married but to be sworn into the United States Congress. I said it then, and it is still true today, that serving in the United States Congress is the thrill, honor, and extraordinary opportunity of a lifetime. The first time I ever walked onto the floor of this historic Chamber was 1992. It was called the Year of the Woman. I announced my run for Congress on the day of the Planned Parenthood v. Casey Supreme Court decision, which placed restrictions on Roe to a woman's right to choose. Along with great New York leaders like Bella Abzug, Geraldine Ferraro, and Elizabeth Holtzman, they expressed their outrage, and I announced my run for Congress to fight to reverse this situation and to bring other changes. It is really hard to believe that, years later, in 2022, the Supreme Court didn't just chip away at abortion. They bulldozed our rights into the ground, depriving 33 million American women of access to abortion. When I first entered Congress, about 10 percent of Congress were women. Back then, the entire Women's Caucus could meet in an elevator. Our numbers have now moved to 149, or nearly 28 percent. As the great New Yorker Shirley Chisholm once said: ``You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.'' There is no better place in the world to implement new ideas than the United States Congress, and that is just what I did. In the last 30 years, I have authored and passed more than 80 bills and had 12 Presidential bill signings with five of our Presidents, which are usually reserved for transformational legislation. President Clinton signed my Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act and the Standby Guardianship Act for children. President Bush signed my Debbie Smith Act, which has been called the most important antirape legislation ever passed, as well as many sex trafficking prevention laws, and CFIUS, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, to protect our infrastructure and country. In 2009, President Obama signed my Credit Card Bill of Rights, which, according to the CFPB, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has saved consumers over $16 billion each year since 2009. Even President Trump signed my Never Again Education Act to support Holocaust education, as well as the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which is part of the reason why my coat is hanging here. I wore this coat for well over a year, every single day, until we approved the necessary funding for this vital program to help our heroes and heroines. They were there for us. We need to be there for them, and they still need more help. More legislation needs to be passed this year to help them. Just this past April, President Biden signed my bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act. Thanks to Oversight Committee Ranking Member James Comer, we proved that bipartisanship can prevail over partisan bickering in the best interests of America. All of these achievements would not have been possible without my fellow Members of Congress, who have proven to me that if you work hard enough, our government can provide for the people. I truly believe that the best legislation is always bipartisan, and I hope our Congress can come together more for more meaningful legislation as we did after 9/11, as we did after natural and financial disasters, as we came together during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we came together in our bipartisan infrastructure bill and so much more. Believe me, there is no Nation that is better, stronger, or more innovative than the United States when we work together. I also recognize those who have worked in my office over the years, including my district office staff, my D.C. staff, and the staff of the Oversight Committee and the Joint Economic Committee. Our work truly would not have been possible without your hours of dedication, your intelligence, and your selfless dedication to public service. To each and every one of my friends and constituents, thank you for your continued support and inspiration. It has been the honor of my life to represent the people of New York's 12th Congressional District. I also thank my wonderful family, my two amazing daughters, Christina and Virginia; my son-in-law, Peter; and baby Leland. You are the joy and meaning of my life. Thank you to the love of my life, Cliff Maloney, who is with me in spirit and whose support always meant the world to me. As I speak today, I am thinking of the important work that lies ahead. Rest assured, I will continue to keep fighting for the issues that are near and dear to my heart, including the Equal Rights Amendment. Let's get it ratified and in our Constitution. There can be no time limit on equal rights, and the ERA is needed now more than ever to stop any more bulldozing over women's rights. We need Senator Schumer, and over 150 of my colleagues have joined me in writing to him and requesting him to put the time limit bill on the floor for a vote so that the American people can see who is for equal rights and who is against it. Infrastructure is in my DNA, especially in these times when modernization and new systems for transportation are so vital to our future. I am proud that the two largest federally funded construction projects--not in New York City, not in New York State, but in the entire country--are in the district I am privileged to represent, the Second Avenue Subway and the East Side Connector. I am proud to have brought more than $10 billion in infrastructure funding to my district alone, and as I part, I will continue to work toward building high-speed rail between New York and Boston. Nothing would build our economy stronger or better. My dear colleagues, together we have bent the moral arc of this Nation in the direction of justice and fairness, but we mustn't rest until equal means just that--equal. Finally, I have always regarded public service as a loan, one that I must repay each and every day I am in office. Thanks to your tireless efforts, wisdom, and support, I feel like I leave office debt-free. The best is yet to come. It has been an honor to work and serve with all of my colleagues.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I feel very strongly about this bill. It is one that came out of a research project that we had on contracting, where we found a major consulting firm was working for the FDA and the manufacturer at the same time. They didn't even have different people. It was the same people working for the FDA on regulation and for the manufacturer, which wanted easy regulations on the product they were putting out--in this case, opioids, which have killed more Americans than any other drug, probably, in history. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for introducing it and the staff of the Oversight and Reform Committee for introducing it here in the House. It is absolutely outrageous. I think it should be a crime, actually, that a contractor would be allowed to advise government regulators and not tell them that, at the same time, they are advising the industry that is benefiting from weaker regulation. If we do not take steps to prevent conflicts of interest and thereby safeguard the integrity of government decisionmaking and operations, then we risk potentially serious breaches in the public trust. I think it is even more serious. You risk having unsafe drugs going into the marketplace, which has happened before. Most government contractors take this responsibility to disclose conflicts of interest seriously, but many do not. It is even the business model of some consulting firms to go after both the regulator and the manufacturer at the same time, and they have repeatedly done it. These contractors would benefit from uniformity in rules. Right now, they are patchwork. We need uniform rules. We need clear rules, and the clear rules should be that a consulting firm can only work for a regulator but cannot work for the manufacturer, or they can work for the manufacturer but not the regulator. Too often, they are working for the same positions with the same person, believe it or not. I think that this bill will save lives. It will make our industries fair and safer. It should be bipartisan, as it is in the Senate. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to strongly support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I would say it is a very necessary bill because it is happening. If it is against the law, then the Department of Justice should come in and prosecute people. But they have not, and they are busy prosecuting a lot of other things. So it is life and death when it comes to healthcare. We know that the FDA originally wrote rules about the opioids saying they were not addictive. They wrote it right into the regulations: not addictive. They are one of the most addictive drugs of all times. They have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, and we are spending billions of dollars in treatment trying to save the lives of people who have become addicted when the inscription used to be that it was safe. It was safe. So there are times when laws are abused. This is not about an individual drug company or an individual contractor or an individual consulting firm. It is about a uniformity of rules. We are looking at legislation. We want to stop that abuse. In a lot of our investigations the Department of Justice has come in and taken action. Maybe they should in this case, too. But if it is illegal, then it is not being enforced; and it is, I would say, dangerous if we don't make it clear--and ironclad clear--that you cannot work for the regulator and the manufacturer at the same time. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7638) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6000 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland, Florida, as the ``U.S. Marine Corporal Ronald R. Payne Jr. Post Office''.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this subject.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6220) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 3rd Avenue Northwest in Perham, Minnesota, as the ``Charles P. Nord Post Office''.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8026) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 825 West 65th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the ``Charles W. Lindberg Post Office''.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this matter.