Jim McGovern

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1129, providing for consideration of three measures. First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, under a structured rule. The rule provides 90 minutes of debate equally divided among and controlled by the chairs and ranking minority members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The rule self-executes a manager's amendment, makes in order 98 amendments, and provides en bloc authority and one motion to recommit. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 6270, the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services, and it provides one motion to recommit. Finally, the rule provides for the consideration of H.R. 8319, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations and provides one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, the bills contained in this rule are about meeting our responsibility here at home and living up to our values abroad. First is H.R. 8319, a continuing resolution to keep our government funded through December 11. Fortunately, we won't need to call this bill up because a compromise passed this House last night by a vote of 359-57. That is quite an accomplishment because sometimes we can't even agree on what to have for lunch here, yet we were able to come together to keep this government open. That is good news for the American people. Second is H.R. 4447, a sweeping energy package that will help our Nation lead the world once more in clean energy. Investing in renewable energy like wind and solar won't just help us combat the threat of climate change; they will help us create jobs here at home that can never be outsourced. It is especially important that we are considering this package right now. There are wildfires raging in places like California, Oregon, and Washington that are leaving a heartbreaking path of destruction. Scientists are unequivocal: These fires are just the latest indication that climate change is real and is happening right now. This is not some long-off threat that we can leave for our kids or grandkids. This is happening today. By addressing it, we won't just protect our environment. We will create jobs at a time when our country badly needs them. Because of the coronavirus, our country is facing the worst economy since the Great Depression. The Labor Department said last week that 12.6 million Americans are collecting unemployment benefits. One year ago, that number stood at just 1.7 million. Renewable energy can and should be part of the equation in rebuilding this economy because, make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, jobs in things like solar energy will be created. The only question is whether they are created here or in other countries like China. I want them made in America. Lastly, the Rules Committee considered two bills on Monday to help defend the human rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities who have suffered horrific human rights abuses at the hands of the Chinese Government: H.R. 6210, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, and H.R. 6270, the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act. I am proud to have authored H.R. 6210, which passed the House with an overwhelming 406-3 vote yesterday. I also strongly support H.R. 6270, the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act, authored by my colleague, Representative Jennifer Wexton. It is disappointing that some Republican Members may oppose the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act that requires disclosures about products made with forced labor from a region where crimes against humanity and perhaps genocide are being committed by the Chinese Government. As many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities have been arbitrarily detained in mass internment camps and subjected to forced labor, torture, political indoctrination, and other severe human rights abuses. We know forced labor is widespread and systematic, and audits are simply not possible because workers cannot speak freely and honestly about working conditions given the heavy surveillance and intimidation by the Chinese Government. This legislation is essential to protect American investors and consumers through stronger disclosure requirements alerting them to the presence of Chinese and international companies whose operations enable the mass internment and population surveillance of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. Such involvements represent clear and material risks to shared values and the corporate reputations of these companies and U.S. investors and consumers. It seems the only argument against this bill is that it is similar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo conflict minerals provision from years ago, but the comparison simply just doesn't hold water. Free enterprise, as we know it, doesn't exist in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It should not be compared to Africa in terms of the business climate or access. The Xinjiang economy is tightly controlled and directed by the Chinese Government and Communist Party. It is built on a foundation of forced labor and repression. International observers, the press, and government officials are restricted from even traveling there. Just this week, a number of respected supply chain auditing firms say they will no longer conduct inspections in Xinjiang because of the hostile environment ruled by fear. The argument against this legislation is that the DRC conflict minerals provision was bad because businesses left that region because they didn't want to or could not disclose their supply chains. Well, it is long past time for U.S. and international companies to reassess their supply chains and find alternatives to production in Xinjiang where forced labor is widespread and embedded in the regional economy. We don't think Chinese, U.S., and international companies should be exploiting the Uyghur and other Muslim people in allowing global supply chains to be contaminated with forced labor. So I hope on both sides of the aisle, but I say this to my Republican colleagues, to those who might be considering a ``no'' vote, think long and hard before voting against the bill that would help reveal the extent of how the Chinese Government's system of forced labor has contaminated global supply chains. I am proud to stand in solidarity with the Uyghur people and, indeed, all the people living under the rule of the Chinese Government in their struggle to live freely, practice their religious beliefs freely, and speak their own language freely. I urge all of my colleagues to join with us and give this rule and underlying bills a broad bipartisan vote so we can fulfill our obligations here at home and around the world. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to diverge from what we are considering today and recognize some of the people here who help us all navigate how legislation is considered. There are staff here that work day in and day out to make this Chamber function smoothly so that we can get things done on behalf of the American people. They aren't Democratic or Republican staff. They serve both sides without fear or favor. That team includes the staff in the Office of the Parliamentarian. Tom Wickham has served in that office for the last 25 years. As House Parliamentarian, he became a master of House procedure. And make no mistake, having an encyclopedic knowledge of how this place operates is no small thing, Mr. Speaker. Tom is now retiring after serving with distinction for many years. I want to recognize him, and I want to thank him for that service here today. Now, I could say a lot about Tom. On a physical level, Tom is usually the tallest person in the room, and a lot of people fit in this room. On a human level, Tom always makes time for everyone, from the most senior Members to the most junior staff. Unless he is in a meeting, the door to his office right across the hall is literally left open all the time. He has perfected the art of dry parliamentary humor. It is incredibly impressive when someone can make germaneness, promptly motions, and Deschler's Precedents funny. Tom is always willing to listen to argument and never too proud to change his mind or say he was wrong about something in the face of new information. To me and my staff, Tom Wickham appears to know everything about the rules and history of this House. But he is quick to say that he knows nothing about the Senate whenever we ask a Senate question; although, we suspect he knows everything about the Senate as well and just doesn't want to offend his friend, Elizabeth, the Senate Parliamentarian. Tom has guided us through some turbulent times. He has advised the presiding officer during times of heated debate, even yelling at times. He has been on that rostrum through impeachment proceedings and opening day sessions, during late nights often followed by all-too-early mornings. He has seen it all, and we are lucky to have had him at our side through it all. He will be missed, but we congratulate him on a well- deserved retirement. Mr. Speaker, I also want to congratulate Jason Smith for being named the new House Parliamentarian. Many of us already know Jason pretty well, having worked with him in his prior role as Deputy Parliamentarian. His know-how made an impression, since he was named to this new role after a bipartisan recommendation, and I think that also is a tribute to his skills. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Cole for working with me on this. I valued his advice and counsel, as I do so often as we serve together on the Rules Committee. His wisdom made this process largely an apolitical one. I could not ask for a better partner at the Rules Committee than the gentleman from Oklahoma, Tom Cole. He and I try to put this institution first, and I know that Jason will, too. It is clear Jason has the confidence of both sides of the aisle, and that is no small thing. I look forward to working with him in his new role. The truth is we are lucky to have such dedicated staff in the Parliamentarian's Office, and that includes Anne Gooch, who works with us day in and day out, whether it is at 7 a.m. or 11 p.m. My staff and I have her on speed dial. Her work also makes our work possible, and we are grateful. So we have a lot of debates on this floor, Mr. Speaker, all to make progress on behalf of the American people, but it is important during moments like this that we also recognize people whose work behind the scenes makes this progress possible. So, Mr. Speaker, I just want to pay this tribute to these incredible people, and I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) would agree with me that we both learned more from the Parliamentarian's Office than we ever knew was possible as we engaged in trying to get a replacement for Mr. Wickham. Our admiration for the staff there has only increased. I just want to say one final thing here. Normally, under normal circumstances, this Chamber would be filled with Members, which I think we would all have preferred in order to give you a proper sendoff. Obviously, outside events have made that impossible, but we want you to know that everybody in this Chamber appreciates your incredible work. So I ask everybody who is here to give you a round of applause and say thank you. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I just want to say for the record that if my Republican friends want to know why there is no agreement on another coronavirus relief package including PPP, they should call their friend Mitch McConnell because this House did its job. We passed the HEROES Act more than 125 days ago to help cash-strapped State and local governments, to help businesses on the brink, and to help Americans struggling in the middle of this pandemic. A lot of people are suffering. Hunger has increased in this country. Senate Republicans can't even come to an agreement amongst themselves. They couldn't even get their entire caucus on board, let alone Democrats. The HEROES Act is bipartisan, but even that hasn't been enough to get Mitch McConnell to take it up. Apparently, he couldn't find the time, Mr. Speaker, but he is moving with lightning speed to confirm a new Supreme Court Justice. Are you kidding me? In the middle of a pandemic he can't find the time to provide a vote on a package to help the American people and small businesses? Our restaurants are in deep trouble. Those of us who come from States--like I do in Massachusetts--outdoor dining is going to cease pretty soon because it is getting cold, and they don't know how they are going to get through the winter. And we can't even get the Senate to debate this stuff? More than 200,000 Americans are dead. The President says, Oh, everything is going great. 200,000 people are dead. Compare that to Canada or other countries that actually had a plan to manage this pandemic. Countless millions have been infected. The Senate needs to act. And shame on them for not acting. It should be more than just an assembly line that rubber-stamps conservative judges. There is legislating to do, and none more important than dealing with the impacts of this pandemic. I don't know whether the Senate majority leader has a heart of stone or what, but it is inexcusable. It is unconscionable. It is unbelievable that he hasn't acted, and so I urge my Republican colleagues to pick up the phone and call him and tell him to do something. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the good news and what is comforting to me is that the American people get this. They understand where the problem is. And I would just say to my friends who don't like everything in the HEROES Act, the way this process is supposed to work is we pass a bill in the House, the Senate passes a bill, and then we have a conference committee and we work out the details. Well, the only negotiating that has been going on is Democrats have been negotiating with themselves. We have actually lowered the request in the original HEROES Act--which I personally think is not the right thing to do, but I get it--to get something done. There is nothing in here that helps communities who are trying to deal with the school situation. In some places schools are opening, in some places they are not but there are all of these new expenses on how to make the classroom safer. When my friends say, Oh, we don't want to give any more money to cities and towns to deal with that, I don't know whether you talk to your superintendents, or your teachers, or your principals, or parents, but this is real and they are looking for some help. I mean, we are in the middle of a pandemic. We haven't seen anything like this since 1918. It has impacted our entire economy and you would never know it. You would never know it based on the inaction and the indifference over in the Senate. I mean, it just takes my breath away when we have leaders there, Republican leaders, who won't even come to the negotiating table. And I just find that appalling. I will just say one other thing. I urge everybody to vote for the previous question because let me just tell you something that some people don't appreciate; if you defeat the previous question, they get to bring up whatever they want to bring up. They can bring up this, they can bring up whatever. They basically take control of the House. And they may say they are going to bring up this, but who knows what they will bring up. And so this is a bad procedural maneuver, but it is designed to give them power. And, again, what I am learning here is that we don't share the same values on a lot of these things. I find that particularly disconcerting during a pandemic. In the past, after 9/11, I was here. George W. Bush was President. I didn't agree with him on a lot of stuff, but he helped bring this country together and get us all reading off the same sheet of music in terms of our response. It is very different now. So I would urge my colleagues again to vote ``yes'' on the previous question, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for the gentleman from New York, and I appreciate his efforts at trying to find common ground and trying to make this place work better. But I do take exception to a statement he made, that if you vote against this, then you are turning your backs on small businesses. Well, I can make that same argument to all of my Republican friends who voted against the HEROES Act. Not only did they turn their backs on small businesses, they turned their backs on schools and on people who right now are going hungry in this country. I can go right down the list of all the things. They are turning their backs on cities and towns that are not just blue cities and towns. Mr. Speaker, this notion that we have to define everything in terms of red and blue, in terms of whether they get assistance, I find very disconcerting. I never question a vote in favor of disaster relief if a red State was hit by a hurricane or an earthquake or a fire. You try to do the right thing. So spare us the indignation, because the deal is, we passed something here 4 months ago, and there has been no action. We all know that we weren't going to get everything. The Speaker brought it down by $1 trillion, hoping that that would spur a negotiation, and there is nothing yet. By the way, the Senate can't even get its act together amongst its own Republicans, never mind with Democrats. So we need to do something. Hopefully, before we leave here, the Senate majority leader will pick up the phone and work with the Speaker and with the White House, and we can get something here. Quite frankly, all of us, if it is not done, are willing to come back here on a moment's notice. We have all been told by our majority leader to be prepared to come back here in a nanosecond if we can get a deal. But to leave schools behind, to leave hungry people behind, and to leave countless others who have been impacted by this virus behind, this is a big deal. It is a big deal. We need to help our small businesses, and we have to help others as well. Let's hope rationality will prevail, common sense will prevail, and we can come together similar to the way we did on the continuing resolution yesterday. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me remind all of my colleagues this is a procedural vote, and this is a very common practice of my Republican colleagues on a regular basis to urge a defeat of the previous question so they can bring up whatever they want to bring up. The gentleman just said that we need to move quickly. My question is: Where have you been? Where have you been? Four months ago--4 months ago--we passed a bill that would provide relief to our small businesses and to our cash-strapped communities, many of them forced to lay off first responders. Where have you been? Have you picked up the phone and called Mitch McConnell? Have you lobbied any of your Republican colleagues on the Senate side? Nothing. We are about to recess. I think everybody knows that people back home are not happy with the obstructionism and the Senate doing nothing. So let's toss out a procedural vote, and we can use that as cover. Talk about being cynical. We had an opportunity. We still have an opportunity to come together and do something that will help all Americans. Instead, this is the best we can do, no promises to talk to the Senate, no nothing. It is just frustrating because people are hurting, and it is not enough at the last minute to come up with a procedural vote that doesn't mean anything and all along having been opposed to the HEROES Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is unclear to me what this President would or would not sign. I am looking at a headline from CBS News: ``Trump said coronavirus `affects virtually nobody,' as U.S. surpasses 200,000 deaths.'' Talk about clueless here. We passed the HEROES Act to help our schools and our healthcare workers. I would like to think that there is no objection to helping our schools and our healthcare workers. We want to help our first responders. They are the heroes here. Why is that such a controversial thing to do? We wanted to pass the HEROES Act to provide more testing and tracing so we can contain this virus. We are doing that while the President of the United States is hosting superspreader events where people without masks are all bunched together. We passed the HEROES Act to support families who are struggling to pay their rent, and we passed the HEROES Act to help small businesses. It is time for my Republican friends to pick up the phone, call Senator McConnell, and ask him to sit down and negotiate a deal that helps the entirety of this country. I don't see why that is so controversial, yet they won't do it. They won't do it. This is cynical politics, pure and simple. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I understand why the gentlewoman doesn't want to talk about the past, because 4 months ago, she--as well as most Republicans--voted ``no'' on the HEROES Act. They voted to deny help to small businesses. They voted to deny help to our schools, to our healthcare workers, to our first responders. Mr. Speaker, I get it. She and others are going to have to explain to their constituents why they did that, why they voted against the interests of their own constituents. So I get it. But the bottom line is this: If my Republican friends want to help, pick up the phone and call their friend, Mitch McConnell, and ask him to get serious about negotiating a compromise here so we can help small businesses and also help our schools and our first responders and our healthcare workers. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my friend just mentioned ``the least'' we can do. Well, this is not the time to do the least of anything. We are faced with a pandemic, haven't seen the likes of this since 1918. This is a big deal. It impacts every part of our economy. And they are talking about ``the least.'' Well, you know what? We have to help our small businesses; we have to help our schools. We have to protect our first responders and our healthcare workers. This impacts everybody. And the notion that they can't muster the political will to pick up the phone and ask the Senate to negotiate with us is really, really sad, and it is a disservice to the people of this country. Mr. Speaker, I get it. Like everything in the HEROES Act--well, that is what a negotiation is for, you go back and forth, and you trade things off. I would argue everything in the HEROES Act is necessary and important. Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support the rule. It includes an important energy bill that will help us deal with the climate crisis, which is real--no matter what the President says, we have a climate crisis--and some human rights legislation as well, to stand up for the human rights of the Uyghurs, and make sure that no U.S. or international businesses are utilizing forced labor by the Chinese Government against the Uyghurs. Mr. Speaker, again, we have a job to do here, and that is to provide relief during this pandemic. And it really is frustrating that my Republican friends have done nothing--done nothing--to help get us to a solution. Mr. Speaker, I would urge all my colleagues to join with us in support of the rule and the underlying measure. Please vote ``yes'' on the previous question.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend from Texas (Mr. Castro) for yielding, but also for his commitment to human rights, not only with regard to the repression that is going on in China, but all around the world. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6210, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. I am proud to have authored this legislation to address human rights and forced labor abuses against Uyghur and other Muslim groups in China. There is strong, diverse, bipartisan, and bicameral support for this legislation, including from my colleagues on the Congressional- Executive Commission on China. Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Chris Smith, and Representative Tom Suozzi all helped draft this legislation. I thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her longtime advocacy for human rights in China and for her leadership in getting this bill to the House floor. I thank Chairman Engel, as well as Ranking Member McCaul, Chairman Neal, and Chairwoman Waters for the support of their committees. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China, of which I serve as the chair, held the first congressional hearing on this topic a year ago, followed up with a groundbreaking staff report, and then held an expert roundtable event on this issue. We found that the evidence of systematic and widespread forced labor in Xinjiang is astounding and irrefutable and includes evidence from camp detainees, satellite imagery of factories being built at internment camps, and public and leaked Chinese Government documents. All the evidence we accumulated led to the introduction of this bipartisan, bicameral legislation in March 2020. It is time for Congress to act. Over the past several years, we have watched in horror as the Chinese Government first created and then expanded a system of extrajudicial mass internment camps. As many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and members of other predominantly Muslim ethnic minority groups have been arbitrarily detained in the camps and subjected to forced labor, torture, political indoctrination, and other severe human rights abuses. Reports published during the past year detailed an expansive and systematic policy of forcibly separating ethnic minority children from their families. A Chinese Government policy document stated that nearly half a million schoolchildren were attending boarding schools. The forcible displacement of children is in violation of the Chinese Government's law on the protection of minors and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Investigations during the past year detailed a policy of forcibly separating ethnic minority children from their families and the use of forced birth control and sterilization, which may be in contravention of the U.N. Convention on Genocide to which it is a party. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum had already determined that crimes against humanity may have been committed. In July, I joined a bipartisan letter signed by over 75 Members calling on the Trump administration to make an official determination as to whether atrocity crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity, are being committed. We have yet to hear back from the administration. It is time for Congress to act. We know forced labor is widespread and systematic, and it exists both within and outside the mass internment camps. These facts are confirmed by the testimony of former camp detainees, satellite imagery, and official leaked documents from the Chinese Government. We know that many U.S., international, and Chinese companies are complicit in the exploitation of forced labor and specific products include textiles, electronics, and food products. Audits of supply chains are simply not possible because workers cannot speak freely and honestly about working conditions, given heavy surveillance and intimidation. Current U.S. law states that it is illegal to import into the United States ``goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part'' by forced labor. Unfortunately, products made with forced labor are still making their way into global supply chains and our country. The Trump administration has taken some actions, including sending out a business advisory and placing withhold release orders on some businesses and entities in China. But these piecemeal actions fall far short of addressing a regional economic system that is built upon a foundation of forced labor and repression. Further, we should all be disturbed by reports that President Trump gave a green light to President Xi by telling him that building the camps was ``the right thing to do.'' Ending forced labor was not even discussed as part of the ``Phase One'' trade deal. It is time for Congress to act. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act prohibits imports from Xinjiang to the U.S. by creating a ``rebuttal presumption'' that all goods produced in the region are made with forced labor unless U.S. Customs and Border Protection certifies by ``clear and convincing evidence'' that goods were not produced with forced labor. The legislation also authorizes targeted sanctions, requires financial disclosures about involvement in the region, and requires a State Department determination about whether crimes against humanity or genocide are occurring. For more than 2 years, U.S. and international companies have been aware of forced labor throughout the Xinjiang region. It is long past time for these companies to reassess their supply chains and find alternatives that do not exploit labor and violate human rights. Their failure to do so has led U.S. consumers to unwittingly purchase goods made with forced labor. That must end. Effective enforcement would mean that workers and farmers would no longer have to compete against forced labor from Xinjiang. For too long, the world has been silent while Uyghurs and other Muslim groups suffered under severe repression.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I believe the lack of any international response for so long allowed the Chinese Government the space to impose this extreme system of repression. But now the world has woken up. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives is taking the strongest action yet. I am proud to stand in solidarity with the Uyghur people and, indeed, all the people living under the rule of the Chinese Government, in their struggle to live freely, practice their religious beliefs freely, and speak their own languages freely. Madam Speaker, I look forward to the passage of this legislation, continuing our bipartisan work together to support human rights in China. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Affordable Interior Systems, or AIS, of Leominster, Massachusetts, a company that normally manufactures office furniture, but which has organized volunteers from across the United States to create an amazing new initiative called Sew the Masks. Like so many other patriotic Americans, when the AIS team began to see the terrible toll the coronavirus pandemic was inflicting on our country, they jumped into action. Affectionately drawing on the inspiration of World War II icon Rosie the Riveter, AIS leveraged their expertise and retrofitted a chair production line to produce high- quality, reusable masks. Then they mobilized their own employees, as well as volunteers from across the country, affectionately known as Rosies, to sew high-quality reusable masks for first responders and other essential employees. Madam Speaker, I find their dedication to helping their neighbors in the fight against COVID-19 nothing short of awe-inspiring, and I hope you will join me in recognizing the amazing work of AIS and their volunteers from across the country.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Affordable Interior Systems (AIS) of Leominster, Massachusetts, a company in my Congressional District which manufactures office furniture and which has organized and joined together with people from across the United States to create an amazing new nonprofit initiative called Sew the Masks. Like so many other patriotic Americans, when the AIS team began to see the terrible toll the coronavirus pandemic was inflicting on our country, they jumped into action. Affectionally drawing on the inspiration of World War II icon Rosie the Riveter, AIS leveraged their expertise and retrofitted a chair production line to produce high- quality, reusable masks. Then, they mobilized their own employees, as well as individual sewers across the country, affectionately known as ``Rosies,'' to create high-quality reusable masks for first responders and other essential employees at risk of COVID-19. Fifty masks at a time, these volunteers are sewing the pre-cut masks that AIS provides and then shipping them out to corporate sponsors across the country, which then are distributed to communities in need. AIS has also launched a special partnership with the United Way of North Central Massachusetts to help combine efforts and provide masks for United Way volunteers. Madam Speaker, I find this dedication to the fight against COVID-19 nothing short of awe-inspiring. During these challenging times, AIS has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to helping their fellow Americans. They now have hundreds and hundreds of volunteers across the country, and their leadership is a true testament to the value of bringing people together to make a difference. I am sincerely grateful to the employees of AIS, including President and CEO Bruce Platzman, and to all the volunteers across America who have given their time and talent to this awe-inspiring and selfless cause. On behalf of the United States Congress, the people of Massachusetts' Second Congressional District, and all the people impacted by this incredible work, it is my great honor and privilege to recognize AIS and Sew the Masks for their tireless efforts to support our communities during this unprecedented time.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Usher syndrome and, in particular, to recognize the Usher Syndrome Coalition, a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts that is building and connecting the global Usher syndrome community to help speed the search for a cure. This Saturday, September 19, 2020, is Usher Syndrome Awareness Day. Usher syndrome is a rare genetic disease that affects at least 25,000 people in the United States. It causes deafness or hearing loss from birth, and retinal disease that slowly and progressively leads to blindness. Currently, there are no treatments or cure for Usher syndrome--but that can change with awareness and support. Finding a cure has never been more urgent or more achievable. Some of the world's most innovative researchers are leading efforts to develop treatments for Usher syndrome at institutions across the country including in my home state of Massachusetts. Scientists at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital are pursuing promising paths to treatment, including a stem cell therapy trial and gene therapy strategies to treat the vision loss and hearing loss caused by Usher syndrome. As a nation, we need to do more to find a cure. Usher syndrome not only impacts our families but our communities, our health care system, our educational system, and our economy. For the past six years, federal spending on Usher syndrome has remained flat. This must change if there is to be any real progress toward finding a cure. Targeted research supported by sufficient funding and serious agency attention are critical components to finding a cure. The COVID-19 pandemic and the daily challenges facing the Usher syndrome community could not be more pressing and finding a cure more paramount. I am proud to recognize the work of the Usher Syndrome Coalition, and the commitment to finding a cure for Usher syndrome. I stand with those who suffer from Usher syndrome and hope with the dedicated efforts of the Usher Syndrome Coalition, there will soon be a cure.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and service of a truly exceptional young man whom I had the great fortune of meeting and working with, Patrick Henry Beauregard, who was taken from us far too soon on September 6, 2020, after a courageous and awe-inspiring battle with colorectal cancer. Many of you know that my own faith has been greatly influenced by the teachings of the Jesuits, and in particular, the idea that we ought to live our lives as men and women for others. Mr. Speaker, Patrick Beauregard embodied this idea in every way. Patrick was born in Portland, Maine, and grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts. He attended Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts, and Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island, where he met the love of his life, Amanda. After graduating from college, Patrick decided to serve our country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps where he was an intelligence analyst. And during his service, Patrick received commendations for exceptional leadership, initiative, loyalty, and dedication to duty. Patrick's stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis in September 2017 at the age of 29--a month after marrying his beloved wife, Amanda--changed everything. I think some of us would be tempted to give in to the uncertainty and doubt. But Patrick remained positive through surgeries, immunotherapy, and over 40 rounds of chemotherapy. But what inspires me most about Patrick is that in the midst of this awful situation, he saw an opportunity to do good. Even as he fought his own disease with incredible grace and resilience, he used his voice to speak out and to bring the issue of colorectal cancer to the attention of researchers, donors, elected officials, and other young people at risk for the disease. He appeared on the news, advocated for patients, and worked with groups like the Prevent Cancer Foundation, to educate the public about the alarming increase of young onset colorectal cancer. Mr. Speaker, Patrick Beauregard truly lived his life in service to others. From serving on the Alumni Association Board at Thayer Academy, to serving in the United States Marine Corps, to serving as an advocate so that we can prevent this terrible disease, Patrick is an inspiration to all of us, and he embodies the ideas of service and self-sacrifice this Nation was built on. His incredible strength and tenacity allowed him to accomplish his final goal of meeting his son, Noah Patrick, on July 10, 2020. Noah, your dad was a great man, but more importantly, he was a very good man, who did his very best to serve those around him and made our world a better place. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Massachusetts, cancer patients and survivors around the world, and the entire United States Congress, please join me in honoring the life and service of Patrick Henry Beauregard and praying for his family and friends and all those who hold him in their heart.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished member of the Rules Committee, Ms. Scanlon, for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of good things included in this rule. I want to discuss one in particular today: H. Res. 908--condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19. This resolution is about our values; not our Democratic values, not our Republican values, it is about our American values. Look, I understand that politics can be contentious. The rhetoric can get heated. But what we are talking about here is something else altogether. Anti-Asian rhetoric crosses a line that should never be crossed. The Asian-American community is an integral part of our society. It is an important part of my community in Massachusetts. These are our neighbors, our friends, and our family. And the hateful rhetoric that we are hearing directed towards them during this pandemic is unacceptable. It has led to an uptick in physical attacks, verbal assaults, and online harassment. Hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise. Mr. Speaker, this is the antithesis of what the United States of America stands for. During difficult times, our Nation comes together. We don't allow offensive rhetoric to tear us apart, no matter who says it. We are nearing 200,000 lives lost in this country because of the coronavirus. Countless more are sick. Businesses have closed, our economy is struggling. Mr. Speaker, the world has changed. But one thing that is not and will not change is our obligation to be there for each other, to treat others as we would want to be treated. To show those around us the dignity and respect and the basic human decency that we would want them to show us--pandemic or no pandemic. To pretend that these hateful words about Asian Americans don't matter is to kid yourself. Just ask those who have been on the receiving end. Or ask the groups that monitor hate-inspired discrimination. They tell us that there were more than 2,100 anti- Asian-American hate incidents in this country related to this pandemic between March and June. I shudder to think what the number has grown to today. No one should be forced to endure such hate and violence. Asian Americans are struggling under the weight of this pandemic, just like everyone else. They are doctors and nurses and first responders--just like everyone else. I know that in politics our values don't always align, but on this, Democrats and Republicans should agree. Some things go beyond partisanship. They speak to who we are as a Nation and what we are willing to tolerate. Mr. Speaker, I am hoping for a strong bipartisan vote on this resolution because this country should always stand as an inclusive and just society. And as elected officials, that starts with us. We must lead by example. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues on both sides to support this rule and the underlying measures.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on global hunger and food security, especially among children. Even before the pandemic, malnutrition and hunger rates were alarmingly high. Globally, 144 million children suffer from stunting; wasting affects 47 million children; and hunger has risen by 60 million people since 2014. The pandemic could push over 130 million people into hunger by the end of 2020. In July, The Lancet estimated that without timely action, the global prevalence of child wasting could rise by a shocking 14 percent, affecting nearly 7 million more children and causing more than 10,000 additional child deaths every month. Madam Speaker, with such unprecedented need, Congress must act. We must help fund the global response to this COVID-19 pandemic. We must divert this potential hunger and malnutrition crisis. The children of the world, just like our own children, need us.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, on Friday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1092, providing for consideration of H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act, under a closed rule. The rule itself executes a manager's amendment from Chairwoman Maloney, provides 2 hours of general debate on the bill, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Madam Speaker, we are here today because our democracy is being eroded by this administration. It is under siege on all fronts. I read the report released this week by the Senate Intelligence Committee, a Republican-led committee. It was truly shocking. It found that some in the President's campaign created ``notable counterintelligence vulnerabilities.'' Make no mistake, they welcomed help from Russia, and they knowingly used intelligence from Putin's regime. While this report was released, the President continued to attack his political enemies. He continued all of the lies. This week, he even floated the idea that America should hold a do-over of the upcoming election in November if he doesn't like the outcome. Are you kidding me? On top of this, this administration has moved to dismantle the United States Postal Service. We have all seen the images of mailboxes uprooted. Others have been chained shut. Sorting machines have disappeared. Mail service has slowed to a crawl for some Americans, threatening the delivery of everything from medications to Social Security checks. Did you know, Madam Speaker, that 80 percent of our veterans' prescription medications are delivered by mail? Why would anyone want to place their health in harm's way? Why, Madam Speaker? Because this administration knows that more Americans than ever are likely to vote by mail in November. The U.S. Postal Service expects 10 times the normal amount of election mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. This President fears that if more people vote, the less likely he is to win a second term. Now, we all recently mourned the passing of our dear friend, the great John Lewis. Not too long ago, he stood right here on this floor and he said: ``When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up; you have to say something; you have to do something.'' Madam Speaker, what we are seeing today cannot be dismissed as Donald being Donald or the President just continuing to be provocative. This is scary stuff. It is frightening, and we have to do something. In the face of extraordinary public pressure and action by this majority, the Postmaster General promised to halt further changes until after election day. But I have to tell you, I wouldn't trust this administration to tell me the correct time. Not only was there nothing in his statement about reversing the damage that has been already done, there was nothing about reinstalling boxes or sorting machines and nothing about treating election material as first-class mail. But the Postmaster General made clear, since, that he has no intention of undoing what he has done. He doesn't plan on lifting a finger. He said as much in the Senate hearing yesterday. He made clear that he didn't even study the impact of these changes on our seniors before they were implemented. He didn't study the impact on our veterans first. Apparently, he just made them, Madam Speaker, struggling Americans be damned. This administration isn't going to do a single thing about it, and this is why Congress must act. Now, my friends on the other side have tried to claim there is no problem here. They have waved around charts that are weeks and weeks old to try to pretend that everything is just fine, that everything is just beautiful. Well, I don't need some outdated statistics to tell me what is going on today, Madam Speaker. I don't need empty rhetoric from the occupant of the White House or Mr. DeJoy. My constituents are my evidence. They have flooded my office with calls. They have stopped me on the street. Something is happening here, whether this administration or its allies want to admit it or not. Before my friends on the other side try to paint this issue as some kind of liberal conspiracy, let me remind them: There is no money for hungry families here, although they badly need it; there is no funding for State and local governments here, though they are pleading with all of us for relief. We have already acted on all that. It is Mitch McConnell over in the Senate who is determined to do absolutely nothing. All this bill does is get the Postal Service back to where it was at the start of the year and provide them with the resources they need, not just to process an influx of ballots, but to continue delivering mail, including Americans' Social Security checks and medications. It ensures that they are able to continue delivering to places in rural America that their competitors just don't go, and it supports the Postal Service's more than 630,000 hardworking employees. And we all owe them a debt of gratitude for their service, especially during this pandemic. Madam Speaker, if we don't undermine and tear apart the Postal Service, then they can handle the increase in mail-in ballots. They handled two to three times the volume of mail and packages at Christmastime, and they are determined to handle the volume of election-related mail. But they need their equipment; they need to pay their workers; they need confidence that management won't try to undercut them on the job; and they need support from this Congress, Democrats and Republicans. That is it. This is all pretty bare bones, Madam Speaker. I don't see why in the world that Republicans won't join us on this. It shouldn't be a radical concept to suggest that, in the United States of America, every vote should count, whether it is for Donald Trump, Joe Biden, or someone else. It shouldn't be a tough call to support the United States Postal Service. More than 90 percent of Americans view this agency favorably because it is their lifeline in so many ways. Madam Speaker, this is a five-alarm fire on our democracy. I think our country is worth fighting for. I hope all my colleagues join together to help us save it. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I don't know for certain that the Senate will take this bill up, but I fervently hope that they will, because I sure as hell know that we are doing the right thing here in the House. Madam Speaker, I would also like to just point out, because I have heard these questions raised about the $25 billion in this bill for the Postal Service: Why are we providing that amount? Madam Speaker, because that is what the USPS Board of Governors recommended, and this Board is made up of 100 percent of Donald Trump's appointees. So, you know, this is not a number that Democrats made up. It is what his Republican Board of the USPS came up with. So that is why that number is there. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1092 and ask for its immediate consideration.