Kathy Manning

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Global Respect Act, including my amendment to ensure accountability for torture. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am proud to work with my colleagues, Chairman Meeks and Congressman Cicilline, to protect and defend human rights and uphold our values around the world. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill would require the President to identify and impose visa sanctions on foreign individuals responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQ-plus people. My amendment would direct sanctions against those responsible for one of the most horrific acts of violence: torture. No one should face violence because of who they are or who they love. We must hold those responsible for gross violations of human rights accountable no matter what. This important legislation ensures that the United States continues to protect the human rights of all people, including LGBTQ people targeted by some of the world's worst and most oppressive regimes. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Global Respect Act.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the late Commissioner Carolyn Coleman, a loving mother, grandmother, and a remarkable trailblazer for civil rights. She had a lifelong commitment to activism, from her first heroic actions at the Savannah sit-in, to her years of advising Governor Hunt on legislation to benefit minorities. She made history as Guilford County's first African-American chairwoman in 2005, where she continued to serve her community for the next two decades. Commissioner Coleman recently earned the North Carolina Association of Black County Officials Frederick Douglass award for her work feeding the community during the pandemic, a testament to her unwavering commitment to service. She was never the center of attention, but when she spoke, all eyes immediately went to her. Her thoughtful words had the power to change minds and encourage others to join her calls to action. Her influence made a consistent and admirable impact on the community. Carolyn Coleman paved the way for progress, with a kind heart and a relentless spirit. She will be deeply missed by the Triad community, but she leaves behind an incredible legacy and a loving family. May her memory be a blessing for all who knew her.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the America COMPETES Act, which includes two of my amendments. This bill includes important provisions that enhance our ability to attract the best talent from around the world, such as scientists and engineers with doctoral degrees. My amendment would extend this program to STEM graduates with master's degrees who work in fields that are critical to our national and economic security. The bill also includes funding for scholarships for low-income Americans to study in the STEM fields. The bill also includes my amendment to ensure our Nation's HBCUs, Tribal colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions or active members of Manufacturing USA institutes. These and other provisions in the America COMPETES Act will help us create more jobs, sharpen our technological edge, and make critical investments in our future. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 1960, four young Black North Carolina A&T State University students began a revolution with the simple but fiercely significant act of sitting down. David Richmond, Jibreel Khazan, Joe McNeil, and Franklin McCain, ``The Greensboro Four,'' took their seats at the White-only lunch counter of the Woolworth Department Store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Despite being met with hostility and a store manager who refused them service, the Greensboro Four stayed seated at that counter, refusing to stand until the store closed. The next day they returned to the Woolworth Store with 25 more students, including Bennett Belles from the neighboring Bennett College, an all-female HBCU. Their movement spread to 55 cities in 13 States. Protest signs read: Support North Carolina Students, in demonstrations outside the South. By the end of 1960, 400 demonstrations had taken place across the country. By staying seated at that counter, those students inspired the Nation to stand up against the blatantly racist Jim Crow laws of that time. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize the Greensboro Four and the courageous students who joined their protest, sparking a national movement for civil rights. Those students exhibited great bravery in the face of violence from counter protesters. All the while, they remained peaceful and undeterred. Their peaceful protest left a legacy that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. That sit-in, and hundreds that followed, led to the 1960s Civil Rights Act, a crucial step toward dismantling segregation. Today, that very Woolworth Building is the location of Greensboro's amazing International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which still contains that lunch counter and enshrines this movement in history, commemorating the actions of the Greensboro Four and all who joined them. That museum was recently denied a shuttered operator grant. Last year, I joined my fellow North Carolina Representatives, Alma Adams and G.K. Butterfield, in leading a congressional resolution to honor the Greensboro Four. The resolution encourages all States to teach the history of the Greensboro Four sit-in in their educational curriculum. I was proud to reintroduce that resolution with Representatives Adams and Butterfield again this year on the 62nd anniversary of the sit-in. This Black History Month, and all year long, it is vital that we recognize the countless contributions of Black Americans and the work that remains to end racism and ensure equality and justice for all. I am proud to be the representative of the city of Greensboro and all of North Carolina's Triad Sixth District. I will do everything I can to preserve this history, honor our civil rights heroes, and combat racism and discrimination in all forms. As we reflect on this event, it is important to recognize that even with the odds stacked against these students, they never lost hope. They saw our Nation broken and segregated. They faced hatred every day, but they persevered and successfully led a movement that changed the Nation. Today, we draw inspiration and hope from the Greensboro Four.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, as Congress reconvenes for the Second Session of the 117th Congress, I want to take a moment to reflect on the important achievements that the Democrats have made this past year. The pandemic continues to be a challenge, but thanks to the funding provided by the Democrats' American Rescue Plan Act, the vast majority of Americans have been vaccinated and are protected from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. We must also acknowledge that the Democrats' commitment to building back stronger and more equitably than before has resulted in unprecedented economic recovery from the initial impact of the pandemic. Last month, the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, the largest calendar-year decrease in the unemployment rate in history. We reached this rate 5 years before experts anticipated. That is the result of adding 6.4 million jobs to the economy since President Biden took office, regaining 84 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic. This economic boom was brought to you by President Biden and the Democrats in Congress who voted for the American Rescue Plan. The American Rescue Plan supercharged our economic recovery by providing critical support to small businesses as they navigated the pandemic. It expanded the child tax credit, which helped families put food on the table and pay for childcare. It provided rent assistance so families could keep their housing. Now, the bipartisan infrastructure law is creating millions of good- paying jobs while rebuilding our Nation's crumbling infrastructure and combating the climate crisis. Through the American Rescue Plan and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Democrats have delivered for the American people and created historic economic growth. We have more important work to do. We must encourage the Senate to pass the voting rights protections that we in the House passed months ago that are critical to ensure that all citizens can exercise their most precious right to vote. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue our important work, building back stronger and more equitably than ever before.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support from Jewish Women International. Jewish Women International, Washington, DC, October 8th, 2021. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington,

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the reauthorization of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act. This act was the first Federal law to provide resources for survivors of domestic violence and remains the primary source of funding for shelters. This critical legislation hasn't been reauthorized since 2010, leaving vital programs like crisis counseling and safety planning underfunded and outdated. In North Carolina, a staggering 35 percent of women and 30 percent of men experience intimate partner violence or stalking. COVID-19 has only further increased intimate partner violence rates and has put a strain on services survivors urgently need. No individual should have to endure the trauma of domestic violence. We must ensure victims have access to the support and resources necessary for their safety and well-being. We cannot turn our backs on our neighbors in need. During this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I urge my colleagues to join me in reauthorizing this important act.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the historic bipartisan Investment and Jobs Act. This bill will provide critical funding to rebuild our Nation's physical infrastructure and accelerate our shift to green energy, all while creating good-paying jobs in communities like mine. In North Carolina, more than 3,000 miles of highway and 1,400 bridges need repair. The average driver spends $500 a year on vehicle maintenance costs, thanks to this rundown infrastructure. More than 400,000 North Carolina residents lack adequate access to internet. This bill expands broadband access, helping to ensure that everyone has the tools they need to stay connected and participate fully in school and in remote work. All these investments create good-paying jobs, spurring economic development, and catapulting our Nation into the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the late Gladys Shipman, a lifelong champion of civil rights and pillar in the Greensboro community. Gladys began her journey as a civil rights pioneer with protests at the Woolworth's lunch counter where the Greensboro Four Sit-In occurred. By the time of her passing, she was a board member on the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in that very same building. Gladys was the first woman to lead the Greensboro NAACP, served on the city of Greensboro Human Relations Commission, and held many other influential positions. As a businesswoman, civil rights leader, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she approached every aspect of life with care and compassion. Her passion for social justice and equality guided her as she improved the lives of those around her and inspired future generations to carry on her legacy. Madam Speaker, I am thankful for Gladys' steadfast commitment to bettering our community, and I am inspired by her kind and determined nature. Her memory will be a blessing for all who knew her.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Women's Health Protection Act. Congress must take action against the Republican's relentless attacks on women's reproductive freedom, including medically unnecessary restrictions and blatantly unconstitutional bans on abortions. These State bans go against 50 years of judicial precedent. We must take action now to protect women and their freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, their own health, their own families. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this vital bill.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5323, the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act. Israel is our most important, most reliable, and only democratic ally in the Middle East. The United States has a longstanding bipartisan commitment to Israel's security, and that commitment must remain ironclad. In May, innocent civilians in Israel, Jews, Christians, and Muslims were targeted by terrorist groups from Gaza who fired more than 4,500 rockets at schools, hospitals, and population centers. It was the Iron Dome missile defense system that intercepted those rockets, saving thousands of lives. Now we must stand with our ally on a bipartisan basis and make sure Israel has the resources to defend her people from future terrorist attacks. We do that by passing this bill. I am grateful to Majority Leader Hoyer and Chairwoman DeLauro for their leadership in bringing this supplemental to the floor today. We cannot play politics with Israel's security especially when lives are at risk.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I was in a confidential briefing and we were not informed the vote was called in time to get back to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 284.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill and my five amendments included in the bill. My State of North Carolina is home to eight military bases and more than 800,000 Active Duty military servicemembers and veterans. The NDAA will give these servicemembers a 2.7 percent pay raise and add a crucial level of accountability by taking the prosecution of sexual assault and other crimes out of the chain of command. I urge support for my amendment requiring the military to consider the benefits of using electric vehicles for students at military installations. Increased use of electric vehicles by our military will help accelerate our transition to clean energy and create good-paying jobs in districts like mine. This bill also includes my amendments to express concern about the safety of Afghan women and girls and to require the Secretary of Defense to appoint an official to assist the State Department with continued evacuations from Afghanistan. We must do better for the people who helped our troops. I urge my colleagues to support this act.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, my amendment, amendment No. 5, seeks to draw attention to the need to resolve the significant delays in passport services at the Department of State. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on international travel. According to the Department of State's Passport Services, Americans who submit new passport applications today may not receive their new passports for another 18 weeks, well into the fall. Even customers who pay an additional fee for expedited service may not receive their passports for another 12 weeks. In response, the State Department's Passport Services recommends Americans planning to travel internationally apply for a passport at least 6 months in advance. These delays are simply unacceptable. In North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District, my constituents have been unable to travel to visit family, to seek important medical care, and to conduct important business meetings. It is essential that Congress send the message loud and clear. We must have better service on passports. We need to address passport delays so that Americans can get their passports in a timely manner.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4502. This appropriations minibus makes historic critical investments in North Carolina's Sixth District and in all of our communities. This bill invests in new jobs and the future of our workforce with $11.6 billion for the Employment and Training Administration at the Department of Labor. It creates greater opportunities for students to succeed with increased funding for title 1 grants, HBCUs, and primarily minority- serving colleges and universities, and an increase in Pell grants. It provides much-needed funding for the health, equity, safety, and well-being of our communities with funds for public health infrastructure, maternal and child health, and mental health. It also takes long overdue action to defend health and reproductive rights by repealing the discriminatory Hyde and Weldon amendments. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill to support the needs of families and communities across the country.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, to recognize the Olympians from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the largest HBCU in the Nation, located in my district in Greensboro, North Carolina. It gives me great pride to recognize Trevor Stewart and Randolph Ross, Jr., who will represent the United States on the track and field team. Randolph Ross, Jr., a sophomore, is competing in the men's 400-meter and the 4x400-meter relay, and Trevor Stewart, a senior, will compete in the men's 4x400-meter relay. Two other Aggie runners will compete in the Olympic track and field events. Akeem Sirleaf will compete for Liberia, and Daniel Stokes will compete for Mexico. With all four of these young men qualifying, the entire Aggie 4x400- meter relay team will run in the Olympics. I also recognize NC A&T director of track and field programs, Duane Ross. Coach Ross' leadership has propelled his team forward to success. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the athletes and coach on this tremendous achievement. On behalf of North Carolina's Sixth District, I am sending them the best of luck in Tokyo. Go, Aggies.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Foxx amendment. The amendment proposed by my colleague from North Carolina would weaken the essential civil rights protections that are the very purpose of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. The goal of the bill we are voting on today is to treat workers who are discriminated against based on age, the very same way we treat workers who are discriminated against because of their race, gender, national origin, or religion. In our world of rising costs, shrinking pensions and retirement savings, and longer life spans, many workers must work longer in order to be able to live out their retirement years in dignity. That, in addition to the reasons of basic fairness, is why the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act is so important. This bill would apply the same burden of proof to age discrimination claims that are currently applied to other forms of employment discrimination and retaliation prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other statutes. The Foxx amendment would weaken these protections by creating two different burdens of proof; one, for proving an act of discrimination, and a tougher burden of proving retaliation against a worker who has reported that discrimination. The Foxx amendment would actually make it harder for an employee to secure relief from employer retaliation under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as other civil rights statutes. In other words, an employer who retaliates against an older worker for reporting discrimination would have an easier time getting away with it. If an employer has less risk of being held accountable for retaliating against an older worker who reports discrimination, by firing or otherwise penalizing the employee, then the underlying protections of the law are weakened because people will be deterred from reporting retaliatory acts. H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, clarifies the standard applied to age discrimination and retaliation-- the mixed-motive standard--that was originally applied to claims under title VII of the Civil Rights Act prior to the Supreme Court's wrong- headed decisions in the 2009 Gross case. This is the same standard applied to discrimination claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. It is important to note that the changes in language proposed by the Foxx amendment would have a particularly egregious effect because the enforcement of civil rights laws rely heavily on individuals to assert their rights. That is why every civil rights law makes it a separate act of discrimination for an employer to retaliate against employees for exercising their civil rights or opposing unlawful acts. Charges of retaliation are the most filed type of charge with the EEOC. In 2020, more than half of the charges filed involved retaliation claims. Since so many workers who report discrimination also report retaliation, it is critical that H.R. 2062 correct the legal standard set by the 2013 case, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar. In that case, the Supreme Court applied the but-for standard to retaliation claims under title VII of the Civil Rights Act instead of the mixed-motive standard used for all other types of employment discrimination. It makes no sense to have separate provisions of title VII requiring different standards of causation. The legislation before us today fixes the problem created by the Supreme Court rulings in the 2009 Gross decision and the 2013 Nassar decision by applying a mixed-motive standard to cases of age discrimination and retaliation.

Ms. MANNING. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act establishes the use of a mixed-motive standard, settling the confusing separation of related civil rights claims and strengthening workers' rights. We should reject the Foxx amendment because prohibitions on retaliation do not punish employers multiple times for the same offense; rather, they help to deter employers from punishing employees multiple times--first, by discriminating and denying the equal opportunity, then again by punishing employees for challenging that discrimination. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the underlying bill, H.R. 2062.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. As a working mother, this bill is very personal to me. When I was pregnant with my third child, I experienced premature labor and my doctor ordered me to be on bed rest for ten weeks. I was fortunate to work for an employer who allowed me to keep my job, work a reduced schedule from home, and continue earning my wages. After my daughter was born, I was still able to take my full maternity leave to care for her. Once I returned to the office, I continued to work for that same firm for many years, in part because of the accommodations that were made for me during my pregnancy. This is an experience that should not be unique to me. The Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act will ensure that every person who needs reasonable accommodations during pregnancy will be given those accommodations so they can continue to support their family and contribute to their workplace. I am proud to cast my vote in favor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and I urge my colleagues to join me. Madam Speaker, I also include in the Record a letter from the National Education Association. May 11, 2021. Hon. Robert C. Scott, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Scott: On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to vote YES on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 1065). Votes on this issue may be included in the NEA Report Card for the 117th Congress. More than three-quarters of women--half the American workforce and nearly 80 percent of educators--will be pregnant and employed at some point in their lives. Women are important breadwinners in their families, yet all too often, pregnant women are pushed out of their jobs or forced to risk their health to continue earning a paycheck. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2021 would help by: Clarifying existing laws and creating a uniform national standard for reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions; Providing reasonable accommodations to pregnant women to reduce health risks to them and their babies; Prohibiting employers from denying a pregnant worker employment opportunities or forcing the worker to take an accommodation that she does not want or need; Prohibiting employers from forcing a pregnant worker to take leave when another reasonable accommodation could keep her on the job; Requiring the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to make rules implementing the law, including a list of exemplary accommodations that should be provided unless they pose an undue hardship to employers; and Addressing this issue through a framework modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act. Every pregnant worker should be able to support her family, without risking the health either of herself or her unborn child. H.R. 1065 is crucial to bringing about fairness in the workplace for pregnant workers, and we urge you to vote YES. Sincerely, Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. As a working mother, this bill is very personal to me. When I was pregnant with my third child, I experienced premature labor, and my doctor ordered me to be on bed rest for 10 weeks. I was fortunate to work for an employer who allowed me to keep my job, work a reduced schedule from home, and continue earning my wages. After my daughter was born, I was still able to take my full maternity leave to care for her, and once I returned to the office, I continued to work for that same firm for many years in part because of the accommodations that were made for me during my pregnancy. This experience should not be unique to me. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will ensure that every person who needs reasonable accommodation during pregnancy will be given those accommodations so they can work to continue to support their family and contribute to their workplace. I am proud to cast my vote in favor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and I urge my colleagues to join me. Mr. Speaker, I will include in the Record a letter from the National Education Association.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with our staunch ally, Israel. For days, Israel has been under attack by Hamas terrorists who have fired more than 1,700 rockets from Gaza, targeting civilians and targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Were it not for the Iron Dome missile defense system, the loss of life would be enormous. Thousands of Israelis--Jews and Arabs alike--have taken cover in bomb shelters. I have been in Israel when rockets were fired from Gaza into Sderot. I know the terror of running for cover with sirens blaring overhead, not knowing whether I would make it in time. My heart goes out to the Israeli people. Yesterday, I attended an IDF briefing. Unlike Hamas, the Israeli defense forces target the terrorists, their rocket launchers, weapons stocks, and command centers--not civilians. When a democratic country is attacked by terrorists, it has the right and indeed the duty to protect its people. We must continue to stand with Israel. I pray for peace and all those who have lost loved ones.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, 73 years ago, in the aftermath of the Holocaust, a courageous group of Jewish leaders declared the creation of the State of Israel. Eleven minutes later, President Truman announced the U.S. recognition of the new State. Truman was persuaded that in an area like the Middle East, where there had never been any tradition of democratic government, it was important for the long range security of our country that a nation committed to a democratic system be established there. Even today, Israel remains the only democracy in the Middle East with fair elections, a free press, free speech, a court system that is open to all, and protects the rights of women and minorities. Israel has welcomed millions of immigrants fleeing persecution and war from across the globe. Its thriving economy has a vibrant, high- tech sector and medical breakthroughs that have benefited the world. Israel has literally made the desert bloom with innovative irrigation, desalinization, and agricultural techniques. Israel is our most reliable ally in the Middle East. Our countries share military exercises and intelligence and have developed cutting- edge missile defense systems and border security technology. Israel's brave founders created an extraordinary nation that has provided immeasurable value to our country and the world. May our countries be blessed with many more years of friendship.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I rise today as the granddaughter of immigrants in support of the American Dream and Promise Act. We need a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers who arrived in the United States as children and know this country as their only home; for TPS recipients who, like my grandparents, sought refuge in the United States when crises in their home countries put their very lives at risk. These are doctors, nurses, first responders, who cared for us during the pandemic. Many have served bravely as members of our military. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for our friends and neighbors who yearn to become citizens of the country they already call home.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. I would like to thank my colleague from my hometown for holding this Special Order and for all she has done on behalf of women. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to celebrate Women's History Month by highlighting the multiple and irreplaceable roles that women play in our communities. Generations of women have worked to balance jobs with raising children and caring for aging loved ones. This isn't new. Women have always disproportionately shouldered the burden of caring for family. But for the first time, this pandemic has highlighted the toll these various roles take on women, as so many have been forced to leave the workforce to care for others. Over the last year, 2.3 million women have left the workforce, a nearly 3 percent drop in female participation in the labor force. Several factors have contributed to this drop, but none more than the closing of childcare facilities and schools. The American Rescue Plan is helping women recover from this pandemic and return to work by bolstering the childcare sector, increasing the child tax credit, expanding paid leave, and safely reopening schools. We must treat women with dignity and respect and put into place systems that allow women to care for their families and excel at work. I proudly voted to support the American Rescue Plan because it is an important step in the right direction.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of my amendment, which would bolster the mandate that no voter be forced to wait longer than 30 minutes to cast their ballot. In my home State of North Carolina, it is not uncommon for voters to wait in line for hours on election day to vote. Long wait times come at a cost. For people who work or have family obligations, it is challenging to stand in line for hours to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Sadly, North Carolina is not alone. In recent elections, we have witnessed lengthy wait times at polling locations across the country. Research shows that people who live in poor and more diverse neighborhoods are more likely to wait over an hour or more to vote. Long wait times amount to voter suppression, plain and simple, by causing voters to leave before voting, by discouraging people from voting in future elections, and by decreasing confidence in our democratic process. Mr. Speaker, we must end this tactic of voter suppression, and I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment.