Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 209, 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 today to celebrate Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) on the occasion of its 80th anniversary and to recognize Internal Audit Awareness Month. The IIA was founded in 1941 by a small group of auditors based in New York City who understood the importance of the profession as well as its critical role in governance, risk, and control. From these humble beginnings the IIA has grown tremendously with branches in 170 countries and over 210,000 members. By relentlessly advocating for its members, providing valuable training to students, hosting conferences and so much more the IIA works to uplift this critically important profession. Madam Speaker, the IIA is a real New York success story. I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the Institute for all that they do to promote the critical field of auditing and wish them continued success.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the contributions of Henry Thacker ``Harry'' Burleigh of the great state of New York. The newly christened Harry T. Burleigh Place in Gramercy Park celebrates a man who dedicated his life to enhancing lives through music singing, composing and social justice. This well- deserving recognition honors the indelible impact Mr. Burleigh, known widely as the Father of Spiritual Music, left on New York and communities around the world. Born in 1866 and growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania as a young African- American baritone singer, Harry Burleigh traveled to New York City and applied to the National Conservatory of Music to study with well-known Director and composer, Antonin Dvorak. His exceptional talent was recognized, and a scholarship awarded to Mr. Burleigh in 1892 enabled him to gain experience editing recordings and developing his classical spirituals. One of these was ``Deep River'' a spiritual composition from 1917 which is recognized all over the world to this day. Tragically, Mr. Burleigh's life was spent under the heinous abuses of Jim Crow, and the systemic discrimination of ``separate but equal'' endemic to it. Yet in the face of these challenges to his rights and liberties, Mr. Burleigh always led with his talents and tireless work ethic, earning him many glowing accomplishments throughout his life. In 1894, Mr. Burleigh auditioned at St. George's Episcopal Church at 4 Rutherford Place in Manhattan, which still stands proudly today within my district and holds concerts celebrating Burleigh's compositions annually. Church member J.P. Morgan insisted that St. George's hire Mr. Burleigh, and so became the church's Choral Director. He would continue to introduce and play his classical spiritual music there for 52 years. Concurrently he integrated Temple Emanu-El, now Congregation Emanu-El, for a quarter of a century. In 1895, Mr. Burleigh made it a point to personally test the strength of newly passed civil rights laws in New York by asking for service at 25 establishments. From 1908 onward, he sang for King Edward VII in London, performed on Mayor La Guardia's weekly radio show Talk to the People, and composed over 200 pieces encompassing the classical spiritual music genre. The renowned Dvorak' Symphony No. 9 (From the New World) credits the incorporation' and soulfulness of Burleigh's spiritual works. Mr. Burleigh was also a distinguished chartered member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) bestowed with great public honors. He received the 1917 N.A.A.C.P. Spingarn Achievement Medal, and honorary Doctorate of Music from Howard University and Atlanta University in 1920. In addition, Mr. Burleigh mentored Paul Robeson, Marion Anderson, Roland Hayes and Enrico Caruso who would go on to make their own exciting contributions to our nation's musical story. Mr. Burleigh's legacy of social justice lives on through The Harry T. Burleigh Society. Formed in 2017, the society continues Burleigh's important legacy of disrupting boundaries and challenging social norms to address issues of our time. The Center for Peace, Equity & Justice at Friends Seminary School in New York City, coordinated an education/ postcard campaign that was sent to Community Board Six in Manhattan, further highlighting his importance in American social justice to our beloved city. The co-naming on September 12, 2021 at the South East corner of 16th Street and Third Avenue, Harry T. Burleigh Place, stands now as a testament to his important work as a baritone soloist, choral director, music arranger, editor, mentor, and a New York Community leader. Harry Burleigh contributed so much to New York and the world, adding his sonorous and unique brand of spiritual signing to our ever-growing chorus of American culture. I am pleased to add my own voice to that chorus today in recognition and remembrance of this great man.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Uma SenGupta, a lifelong educator and the first Indian American woman elected as a Democratic District Leader in Queens. Uma passed away peacefully on March 9, 2022. She is known for her steadfast commitment to ensuring justice, access, and equity for Indian Americans in Queens. In 1970 Uma moved to New York with her husband Suprabhat. Shortly after arriving, Uma founded the Rainbow Montessori School in Flushing and became its first educational director. During her 30+ years as an educator Uma became a fixture of the Indian community in Flushing which led her to make history in 2004 when she was elected as a Democratic District Leader in Queens. Uma used her role as a District Leader to encourage minorities, women, and other marginalized populations to become more directly involved in the political process. Because of her vital work in this area the number of women, minorities and immigrants involved in local politics has increased substantially which is a testament to the lasting impact of her efforts. Madam Speaker, my constituents and I are grateful to Uma for everything she did for New York City throughout her long and storied career. May she rest well.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I was caught in traffic. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 126. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Brown (OH) (Jeffries) Brownley (Correa) Butterfield (Evans) Carey (Balderson) Castro (TX) (Correa) Craig (Pallone) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) DeFazio (Blumenauer) DeSaulnier (Beyer) Garcia (IL) (Pressley) Gohmert (Weber (TX)) Gonzalez, Vicente (Correa) Jackson (Nehls) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kelly (IL) (Jeffries) Lamb (Pallone) Lawrence (Stevens) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Levin (MI) (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) Morelle (Jeffries) Murphy (FL) (Deutch) Ocasio-Cortez (Escobar) O'Halleran (Stanton) Payne (Pallone) Ross (Beyer) Sires (Pallone) Smith (WA) (Beyer) Spartz (Miller-Meeks) Strickland (Jeffries) Suozzi (Beyer) Taylor (Van Duyne) Torres (NY) (Correa) Trahan (Beyer) Trone (Ruppersberger) Waltz (Gimenez)

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the MORE Act and I applaud my colleagues, Chairman Nadler and Barbara Lee, for their leadership on this critical legislation. For years, public support for marijuana legalization has surged. Thirty-seven States have voted to legalize marijuana. It is past time that Congress answers the call for marijuana justice. This sweeping legislation would finally decriminalize cannabis at the Federal level by removing it from the Controlled Substance Act. The law would apply this retroactively to prior and pending convictions that have disproportionately harmed communities of color. The MORE Act would also help those whose convictions are overturned through the Opportunity Trust Fund that would provide job training, reentry assistance, legal aid, and healthcare. If we are serious about criminal justice, we need to get rid of the antiquated cannabis laws. The MORE Act would do just that. I hope my colleagues will join me in voting on this long overdue bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of sixty years of independence of the nation of Jamaica, and over sixty years of cooperative and friendly relations between Jamaica and the United States. The United States was among the first countries to recognize Jamaica's independence in 1962 and has enjoyed strong diplomatic and cultural ties with the stalwart island nation since. This diplomatic support has expressed itself through the work of organizations like USAID and direct commercial links between our nations for six decades. And in the last year alone, the United States has demonstrated its strong support for Jamaica through its fight against COVID-19. The United States has sent hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to Jamaica to combat the pandemic, and as of December 2021 we have shipped over 400,000 vaccines to the island. But the effects of this crisis expand beyond public health; Jamaica has relied heavily on tourism for its economic successes, and the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation extraordinarily hard. To help alleviate those pains, Vice President Harris met Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the White House this week. There she announced $30 million in economic assistance to further augment Jamaica's economic recovery from the pandemic, including investments in human capital and violence reduction. These essential investments were capped by the announcement of even more investments to help Jamaica survive a rapidly changing Caribbean climate, as evidenced by the ever- stronger storm systems and hurricanes that ravage the region every year. The United States and Jamaica also cooperate proactively on Caribbean security. Under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the United States provides Jamaica with support in tackling trafficking, including training, equipment, and technical assistance on maritime security procedures and more. Our cooperative efforts help to counter public corruption and enhances the Jamaican justice system's efforts to fight crime across the country. But good relations between our nations goes beyond diplomatic ties, as Jamaicans have emigrated in droves over the decades to the United States. In New York City we are able to enjoy such cultural staples such as Jamaican jerk chicken and ox tails, live Reggae music and more as a result of our neighbor's cultural heritage. Even the highest levels of government enjoy cultural links to Jamaica, where the father of our Vice President was born. Congratulations to Jamaica for six decades of independent governance, and for being such a longstanding and firm partner of the United States.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Polish and Slavic Center (PSC) on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. For five decades, PSC has promoted the culture and heritage of Poland, whilst providing a broad range of services and opportunities to the Polish American community. Working alongside Polish immigrants who had just arrived in New York City, Reverend Longin Tolcyzk established PSC in 1972. In the 50 years since, PSC has expanded rapidly, becoming an important cultural institution for the Polish-American community in the tri-state area and has over 40,000 members. Over the course of this period, PSC has continuously expanded the services it provides to the local community. For over 48 years, the Extended Social Services Program has provided information and assistance for elderly Polish and Slavic-Americans, in matters as varied as social security, healthcare, and housing. PSC further assists seniors by providing daily low-cost meals at the Krakus Senior Center and John Paul II Friendship Center. Since 1994, PSC has expanded its reach by providing immigration and legal support. Through its bilingual services, PSC works to provide free legal aid to all members of the community. Beyond these services, PSC offers ESL classes each year to over 100 recently arrived immigrants, and a scholarship program for Polish and Slavic-American youth seeking higher education degrees. PSC works to provide enriching cultural experiences for all, partnering with both established and emerging Polish and Slavic- American performers to host exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural events. PSC seeks to inspire creativity and confidence in the younger generation through programming for aspiring young artists. As PSC enters its sixth decade, it plans to continue expanding its services. A 3-K for All Preschool Program will serve the growing population of young Greenpoint families. PSC also plans to open a new cafeteria at its 177 Kent Street location. To enhance its cultural programming, PSC intends to renovate its old church premises into a modern venue for holding concerts, conferences, and community gatherings. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the ongoing work of PSC for the Polish and Slavic-American community. For 50 years, it has made a significant contribution in making New York the vibrant city of immigrants and diverse cultures that exemplifies the promise of the United States and the American Dream.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Insulin prices in the United States are the highest in the world. I support the Affordable Insulin Now Act, a bill that would cap patient costs at $35 a month. It would make lifesaving medicine affordable for millions of Americans living with diabetes. My committee's investigation found that since the 1990s, insulin manufacturers have been raising the price of this lifesaving medicine despite no improvements to the drug, while making record profits. The price gouging has harmed Americans. More than one in four Americans with diabetes report having to ration insulin, and some have died. Nearly 2 million New Yorkers have diabetes. Capping out-of-pocket costs to $35 a month is an important step that Congress can take to reduce insulin costs for patients with diabetes. Let's make prescription drugs affordable. Vote for this bill. I thank Representatives Kildee, Craig, and McBath for their leadership in authoring this bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the centennial anniversary of the first Bat Mitzvah of an American girl, which took place on March 18, 1922, at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism (SAJ) in New York City. At 12 years of age, Judith Kaplan became the first girl on American soil to formally step into the Jewish community by becoming a Bat Mitzvah (daughter of the commandments). Her father, Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, founded SAJ just three months prior, in January of 1922. He believed strongly that girls should have equal religious opportunities, so he arranged for his daughter to read from the Torah soon after the synagogue was created. This momentous occasion helped begin the meaningful inclusion of women and girls in Jewish religious life. Bat Mitzvahs became common place, Jewish women started to serve in leadership roles in synagogues and organizations, and exactly 50 years later, the first female rabbi in American history was ordained by a rabbinical seminary. Judith Kaplan's Bat Mitzvah was also the first in a long line of countless innovative and groundbreaking advancements in Jewish thought and practice by SAJ and their leadership. Rabbi Kaplan established SAJ as the first synagogue based on the principles of Reconstruction, which views Judaism as a constantly evolving civilization. He believed that Jewish life was rooted in tradition but also able to adapt alongside the ever-changing circumstances of wider society under that guiding principle. Since Rabbi Kaplan's pioneering tenure, SAJ has continued to live up to his powerful legacy of American Jewish innovation. The synagogue is considered a cornerstone of Jewish life in New York's Upper West Side. SAJ, led by an all-female clergy and staff, is an intellectual stalwart in the community that is dedicated to practicing a modern, American, egalitarian form of Judaism. They advance Jewish education, arts, music, and cultural self-expression as vital to the religious practice. SAJ upholds the Jewish tenet of tikkun olam, a Hebrew phrase that means to repair the world. The synagogue embodies this teaching by working for economic, immigrant, and reproductive justice; affirming LGBTQ+ members and interfaith families; and actively supporting and partnering with New York City's Westside Campaign Against Hunger to fight against food insecurity. I honor Judith Kaplan's courage and celebrate the 100th anniversary of her groundbreaking Bat Mitzvah. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Society for the Advancement of Judaism's remarkable contributions to the Jewish community in New York City and all over the world.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation banning Russian oil and gas imports and imposing additional sanctions to punish Putin and his cronies for their war of aggression in Ukraine, which has caused more than 2 million Ukrainians to flee their country. President Biden has already imposed swift and severe consequences, including yesterday's executive action. However, it is the duty of Congress to join the President, enact a congressional ban on Russian oil and gas imports to the U.S., and send a strong message to the Kremlin that none of our money will be used to bankroll shelling of Ukrainian families. Yesterday, the Oversight and Reform Committee held a bipartisan briefing with U.S. and Ukrainian Government officials. The message was clear: Putin's regime must be denied these crucial oil revenues while we continue to provide urgently needed aid to Ukraine. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation for the good of the United States and the support of Ukraine.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Shen Yun, and welcome it back to Lincoln Center for its 17th anniversary. Shen Yun is a classical Chinese dance and music company with the mission of preserving traditional Chinese culture. The name Shen Yun means ``the beauty of divine beings dancing.'' Shen Yun preserves, memorializes, and revitalizes ancient Chinese stories and traditions, introducing this rich culture and art form to New Yorkers and many other people around the world. In 2006, a group of Chinese artists, persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party for practicing Falun Dafa, founded Shen Yun to preserve their traditions and ancient history, which has been under threat since the Cultural Revolution. These artists chose to gather in New York, a testament to this city's status as a haven for the arts, culture, and freedom. Shen Yun creates a new performance each year dedicated to these principles. Shen Yun's performances draw from historical Chinese stories and legends such as Mulan and Journey to the West. Its dances are accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments such as the pipa, suona, and dizi. Three of Shen Yun's performers were recipients of the Chinese Ministry of Culture's ``National First-Class Performer Awards''. Shen Yun currently has seven troupes that travel and perform all around the world. The troupes perform in over 130 cities in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. In their first three years of touring, over 1 million people attended Shen Yun performances. I congratulate them for their unwavering devotion not only to putting on a fantastic show, but to preserving cultural treasures for future generations. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Shen Yun for celebrating thousands of years of Chinese culture and history through traditional dance, orchestration, costumes, and more.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I call upon all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important resolution, H. Res. 881, and to join me in condemning, in the strongest terms, the heinous attack on Congregation Beth Israel of Colleyville, Texas, on January 15 of this year. Mr. Speaker, anti-Semitism is a growing crisis, both in the United States and across the world, and we need to stand up together to denounce anti-Semitism and hate. This resolution does just that. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 881) condemning the heinous terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022, as amended.

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 myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 881, and I condemn in the strongest terms the hateful attack on Congregation Beth Israel of Colleyville, Texas, on January 15 of this year. Anti-Semitism is a dangerous and growing crisis both in the United States and around the world. According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2020 and 2021 alone, there were 8,366 incidents of extremism or anti-Semitism just here in the United States. According to the FBI, in 2020, more than half of the religiously motivated hate crimes reported targeted Jewish people, even though Jewish Americans make up only 2 percent of the population of the United States of America. This is a staggering level of anti-Semitism. Tragically, on January 15, 2022, violent anti-Semitism became all too real for the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. Four individuals were taken hostage simply for being Jewish. Although all hostages were eventually rescued safely, this attack never should have happened in the first place. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, the revelations of the barbarity, and the scope of the Holocaust, the world vowed never again. Yet, the hate and bigotry that drove the Nazis to commit genocide is still alive and well. This is something we simply cannot allow to continue. I have made fighting hatred and anti-Semitism--a personal mission. In 2020, we passed my bill, the Never Again Holocaust Education Act, to support Holocaust education in all schools across this country so that the next generation will learn the horrific consequences of anti- Semitism, bigotry, and hate. Freedom of religion is one of the most basic rights afforded to every American in the First Amendment of our Constitution. No one should face discrimination or violence because of their religious beliefs. We must send a clear and unequivocal message that anti-Semitism has absolutely no place here in the United States. I thank my colleague, Representative Van Duyne, for introducing this important resolution. Let it be a reminder that the rallying cry of ``never again'' must be more than mere words. It is our duty to come together to denounce anti-Semitism and hate, and this resolution does just that. I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Florida an additional 1 minute.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT Act, which will ensure comprehensive benefits and care for our troops who suffer from toxic exposure, especially from burn pits. I want to thank Chairman Takano for his leadership on this bill. It is something we should all support. It supports our veterans. As the daughter of a veteran, the sister of a veteran, and the wife of a veteran, caring for our veterans is extremely important to me, as it should be to every American. I could not help but be struck by the similarities between this bill and the 9/11 health and compensation bill which served and supported our heroes and heroines of 9/11 who likewise were exposed to burning toxins that later gave them cancers and severe illness. This bill could help over 3 million veterans who are currently suffering from exposure to toxic burn pits. Whether a veteran has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere, if they were exposed to these toxic hazards, they are entitled to care. They were there for us; we should be there for them. We should all support this important bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), the distinguished chairman of the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this manager's amendment to H.R. 3076, which makes minor technical changes to the bill. We have already discussed this bill at length so I will be brief. The Postal Service is one of America's most vital and respected institutions. Every American benefits from the services it provides. This bill will dramatically improve the financial situation of the Postal Service and will allow it to continue providing its essential services for years to come. The technical changes made by the manager's amendment will help ensure that the bill is implemented swiftly and effectively. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, but before that, I want to really give my heartfelt thanks to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, the staff, that made this happen, particularly Mark Stephenson and Ethan VanNess. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), my friend, the ranking member.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, it is an agreement that contains two major reforms that together will save the post office over $50 billion in the coming decade. First, the bill requires postal employees to enroll in Medicare when they are eligible and retire. All postal employees have already been paying into Medicare throughout their careers, but not all retirees could or would enroll when they reached 65. So the bill simply ensures that Postal Service employees can fully utilize the benefits that they have already paid for. Second, the bill will eliminate the unfair requirement that the Postal Service prepay its retiree health benefits for 75 years into the future. This commonsense change will help reduce the burden on the retiree health benefit fund and help it remain solvent. And the bill would provide Congress and the American people with a whole new level of transparency and accountability. It would establish an online, public-facing database that shows weekly service performance information by zip code. The bill also requires the Postal Service to continue to deliver mail 6 days a week, using an integrated network, ensuring that Americans can receive their mail and medications on weekends. The bill also enables our Postal Service to increase revenue through nonpostal services, such as selling permits to go fishing or hunting. I would like to thank my friend, Ranking Member Comer, for his partnership on this bill and for helping to shepherd it to the floor. It has truly been a joint effort. I would also like to thank Representatives Connolly, Lynch, Lawrence, and Foxx, for their work and dedication and devotion to getting this bill done. I also would like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Whip Clyburn, all of whom supported this and helped move it to the floor. Let's do the right thing by all Americans and pass this bill, and send it to the Senate with a large support from this body. I urge all of my colleagues to support this historic, bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 8, 2022. Hon. Carolyn Maloney, Chairwoman, Committee on Oversight and Reform, Washington, DC. Dear Chairwoman Maloney: I write concerning H.R. 3076, the ``Postal Service Reform Act of 2021,'' which was additionally referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 3076, the Committee agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. I also request that you support my request to name members of the Committee to any conference committee to consider such provisions. Finally, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter into the Congressional Record during floor consideration of

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership. I rise today in strong support of the rule on my bill, H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act. The Postal Service Reform Act has been years in the making, and I am proud to say that it is bipartisan. As we all know, the Postal Service is one of our Nation's most vital and respected institutions. It provides service to every American no matter where they live, binding us together in a way no other organization does. What's more, it is one of the oldest institutions in the United States. In fact, the Postal Service is older than the United States. It has been operating in some form since 1775 when Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first Postmaster General by the Continental Congress. Ensuring that this vital American institution has the tools that it needs to prosper and serve the American people for years to come is of the highest priority. This bill does just that. This bill would require postal employees to enroll in Medicare when they are eligible and retire. All postal employees already pay into Medicare through their careers, and the Postal Service has paid about $35 billion into the program since 1983, and it is the second largest contributor to the Medicare trust fund. In short, Postal Service employees have already earned these benefits. The bill would also eliminate the unfair requirement that the Postal Service prefund its retiree health benefits for 75 years into the future, a provision that has already passed the House in previous Congresses. These two reforms would save the Postal Service nearly $50 billion over 10 years. I want to emphasize that these changes do not cost American taxpayers one single dime. In fact, the nonpartisan CBO just last week determined that this bill would save $1.5 billion over the next 10 years. In addition to these savings, the bill includes a provision that will allow the Postal Service to work with States and localities to provide non-postal service in post office locations. This provision would allow the Postal Service to more effectively serve communities based on their individual needs and raise revenue from currently untapped sources. It is abundantly clear that this bill is good for both the Postal Service and the American people. I thank Representative Comer for working diligently with me on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this rule.