Gwen Moore

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5118, the Wildlife Response and Drought Resiliency Act. This much- needed legislation will take steps to help protect communities from the devastating consequences of extreme weather events by providing crucial investment and response measures to help prevent and respond to wildfire, drought, and other climate related weather issues. These provisions include disaster assistance and environmental justice measures for communities disproportionately harmed by drought, wildfire, and other extreme weather events. Extreme weather exacerbated by the climate crisis is increasingly wreaking havoc throughout our country, putting lives in danger while causing tremendous damage on private property and public lands. Currently, much of the western United States is experiencing the driest conditions in over 1,200 years. It is estimated that 1 in 6 Americans live in areas of significant wildfire risk and more than 65 million experienced severe to exceptional drought this summer. Portions of our country are suffering under intense heat waves while in other places, too much rain in too short a period is causing flooding. My heart goes out to families of those who have died in flooding in Kentucky, a toll that stood at 30 at last report, with many still missing. The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act includes policies and resources to strengthen federal efforts to better understand, prevent, and respond to wildfires and other extreme weather events that are affecting our nation, including calling for a 10-year federal wildfire strategy and supporting our federal wildland firefighters and land managers who are on the frontlines in the fight to protect communities and lives. The bill would also create a National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program that would coordinate Federal efforts to reduce the loss of life and property from wildland fires especially in the face of a changing climate. The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act delivers critical drought relief for communities in several ways including authorizing investments in new water supply projects, promoting the delivery of reliable water to Native American communities, and supporting the development of technologies to enhance effective water management. I want to take a moment to highlight the bill's provisions on environmental justice because we know that some communities bear a disproportionate share of the burden of extreme weather events as they do environmental hazards such as poor air and water quality, lead exposure, and other environmental threats. For example, in Kentucky, some of the worse hit areas of the recent flooding are low-income. A recent EPA study found that people of color, regardless of region or income, are significantly more likely to live with exposure to air pollution. This leaves communities of color at a heightened risk of developing health complications like chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease. A study by Clean Wisconsin found that people of color in my state are exposed to more ``dangerous particulate matter'' than the state average. This bill would authorize Environmental Justice Community, State, and Tribal Grant Programs to empower local nonprofits, state governments, and tribal communities to identify and implement programs that reduce or eliminate disproportionately adverse human health or environmental impacts in specific communities. For example, the bill authorizes new grants to develop community-led partnerships that implement projects addressing climate justice needs, like solar and wind energy, home and building electrification and weatherization, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In addition, H.R. 5118 would establish a federal Environmental Justice Interagency Council to guide federal agencies actions to identify and respond to environmental inequities among communities of color, tribal communities, and low-income communities. The bill would also require federal agencies to more closely consider the needs of and engage with communities that bear a disproportionate share of environmental burdens including by preparing community impact reports assessing the potential consequences of a proposed federal action on these communities. The bill would also require early and meaningful community involvement in federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act review process. I support passage of this bill and urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 8294, legislation that would authorize appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023 for a number of federal agencies and programs, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. I want to thank Chairwoman DeLauro and Chairman Price, among others, for their support and leadership in putting together this strong package. While there are many good provisions in this package, I want to take a moment to highlight one of the key victories for our communities. Americans nationwide have faced difficulties finding affordable housing long before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pandemic has exacerbated an existing crisis. As rent increases and wages stay stagnant, many members of our communities are facing the threat of homelessness. Without stable housing, children face challenges in school, adults struggle to maintain employment, and those battling physical and mental health disorders, as well as substance abuse, lack the support they need to adequately address and treat these issues. According to the Housing and Urban Development 2021 Annual Assessment Report, the number of sheltered individuals that identified as chronically homeless increased by 20 percent between 2020 and 2021. The report also identified that more than 326,000 people are still experiencing sheltered homelessness in the United States on any given night. Homeless Assistance Grants, like the Continuum of Care and the Emergency Solutions grants, help people who are at risk of or are currently experiencing homelessness through non-profits, community organizations, government agencies, or other providers. These programs are successfully used by state and local governments, as well as an extensive network of providers of shelter and housing services in hundreds of communities, to reduce homelessness. I am delighted that the package that passed the House would provide $3.6 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program. Earlier this year, I led a letter, signed by 140 of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, urging the inclusion of that amount. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, like the Continuum of Care grant, have a profound impact on our communities, including my own city of Milwaukee. According to the City of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Continuum of Care was able to track a 77 percent decrease in people experiencing chronic homelessness over the last 10 years. This decrease was made possible through robust federal funding of supportive housing programs to end homelessness, including the Homeless Assistance Grants program. Given the lack of affordable housing across the Nation and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, strong funding for HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program is necessary to address homelessness and to get more people off the streets and into permanent housing. The increase in this bill is necessary and will provide much-needed resources to state and local governments to address the housing crisis. I look forward to working with the Chair and my colleagues to ensure this increase is maintained and even increased as the FY 2023 appropriations process moves forward.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendments to the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that will help save lives and promote the health and well-being of those who are serving or have served our country. The CDC estimates that nearly 264,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and as many as 1 in 8 women will live with this disease at some point in their life. The American Cancer Society predicts that 43,250 women will lose their lives to breast cancer in 2022. My colleagues must also understand that the plight of breast cancer is not an equitable one. Black women are more likely to die of breast cancer. In my home state of Wisconsin, black women with breast cancer have a mortality rate of 56 percent, far outpacing the death rate for white women according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. While treatment for this disease has evolved drastically, access to a conclusive, accurate, early, and expedient diagnosis remains challenging. Mammograms are a basic screening tool to help try and detect breast cancer as soon as possible. However, for women with dense breasts, mammograms alone may not be sufficient to help identify breast cancer as dense breasts can make mammograms harder to accurately read. As a result, women with dense breasts may be called back for additional follow-up tests more frequently than others and dense breasts can also put women at higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer within 12 months of a normal mammogram result. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), nearly 50 percent of women over 40 who get mammograms have dense breasts and live with an increased chance of developing breast cancer, a risk that is separate from the effect of dense breasts on the ability to read a mammogram. For individuals with dense breasts for whom additional testing may be needed to confirm breast cancer, even with insurance they may face additional costs for these potentially life-saving diagnostic screenings. My amendment directs the GAO to examine current health policies at the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to ensure that those with dense breasts can access additional cancer screenings without facing burdensome financial barriers. Cumulatively, the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs provide healthcare to over 18 million American service members and veterans. My amendment would require GAO to examine whether existing VA and DOD programs provide beneficiaries with low-cost screenings and diagnostic tools needed to confirm breast cancer, especially when standard mammograms are inconclusive or ineffective. Additionally, GAO will be required to examine and provide recommendations on how each agency can improve their policies to address the unique challenges of identifying breast cancer in those with dense breasts. We must do all we can to ensure that our veterans and active-duty personnel receive the highest quality care available. We can accomplish this by evaluating current policies and developing new ones that prioritize the health of those who serve or have served our country. While there is no cure for this disease, we can certainly do more to improve access to screening and treatment. Additionally, I have offered an amendment that would require the Secretary of Defense to ensure that TRICARE includes programs and policies to promote universal education on healthy relationships and intimate partner violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1 in 4 women have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Sadly, it can occur in every community, including our military community, to both men and women regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. The amendment would require TRICARE to provide guidance to healthcare providers, health workers, and managed care entities to help educate and to establish routine assessment and screenings for signs of intimate partner violence. I thank the Chairman for his support of my amendments.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of legislation to address the mental health and substance use needs of our college students. Our Nation continues to struggle with adequately meeting these needs, resulting in devastating consequences for too many of our constituents. Milwaukee has long been a magnet for higher education. Students from across the globe enter our city to attend any of our twelve colleges and universities. When students enroll, we must offer them the support they need to attend and successfully complete their education. This includes those who need additional physical health, mental health, and substance misuse services during this exciting yet trying time of life. We know the need for mental health and substance misuse services is increasing in our communities. It is critical that we take steps to protect the mental health of all Americans, especially our college students. Across the country, young adults struggling with mental health and addiction lack access to the quality, on-campus treatment they desperately need. With an average of 1,100 suicides on campuses each year, suicide is currently the number two leading cause of death among college students. Today, I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the passage of H.R. 5407, the Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act, and H.R. 6493, the Campus Prevention and Recovery for Students Act. These bills will fund programs that better support students on our college campuses. The Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act would authorize federal support to encourage campuses to establish comprehensive, evidence-based mental health and suicide prevention programs that meet their student populations' diverse and urgent needs. Such plans would consider existing Federal and State efforts to address mental health and suicide prevention at higher education institutions. They must also align with existing federal and state programs, including those authorized under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. The Campus Prevention and Recovery for Students Act would mandate all college campuses receiving federal funding or participating in the federal student loan program to have in place evidence-based programs and policies that prevent alcohol and substance misuse by students and school employees. The legislation would also increase authorized funding (to $15 million annually) for federal grants, allowing institutions of higher education to implement and support evidence-based programs (including programs to improve access to treatment, referral for treatment services, or crisis intervention services) that eliminate illegal substance use, decrease substance misuse, and improve public health and safety for students. Universities may utilize these funds for a range of new activities, including recovery support services, peer-to-peer counseling, and integration of campus-based health services that coordinate screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental, behavioral, and substance use disorders. Our students are struggling. In my home state of Wisconsin, opioid misuse outnumbered national trends by half a percent. According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 3.5 percent of Wisconsin youth admit to misusing opioids. Implementing the measures outlined in these bills will help our schools and educators provide much-needed support to millions of college students throughout the country, including an estimated 68,000 in the Milwaukee area.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Keep Kids Fed Act. I want to thank Chairman Scott for his steadfast leadership and determination to work to get something worked out to help ensure that our school meals are available to as many of our students as possible. The school meals provisions were an effective response by this Congress to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools, children and families were disrupted as this deadly disease raced through our country. Congress acted to make sure that we provided flexibility to ensure that no child would miss a meal that they would otherwise have received in school. Why is that important? Because Congress has long recognized that hunger and learning do not mix well, if at all. This isn't some theoretical or academic debate. I know what its like to be hungry and in school. And I am saddened that decades after I went through that experience as a student, many other children still must deal with that reality each and every school day. Food is not a luxury. So hearing that the USDA COVID waivers that had allowed millions of kids to stay nourished were expiring was an emergency for me. And I know the Chairman shares that sentiment. Frankly, it has been hard to sleep thinking of what happens in communities like Milwaukee when families find this lifeline cut off arbitrarily even while the pandemic that spawned these provisions, continues. The reality is that hunger and food insecurity did not take a break during this pandemic. In fact, reports indicate it got worse. Hunger doesn't take a summer vacation even though our schools do. It shouldn't have taken all of this to get us to agree on this: Feed our kids so they can concentrate on learning and being kids. These waivers have done a great deal to help us achieve that and I hope we can continue to work to ensure that we can take the great lessons learned about how to effectively reach and nourish school children during this pandemic and use them to put in place permanent provisions that will ensure that all of our children can go to school and focus on their education That includes taking up and passing bills like the Universal School Meals Program Act which I have joined with Rep. Omar in introducing that would provide the most cost-effective and inclusive model for ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals during the school day without facing barriers such as stigma or burdensome paperwork.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 7666, a bipartisan response to rising substance use disorders and mental health needs in our communities. The need for this bill is clear. We've heard about the growing mental health crisis, including about alarming rates of mental health hospitalizations, suicide rates and depression. The need for mental health services continues to grow, including among our children. In my district, the emergency department at Children's Wisconsin saw a 60 percent increase in young patients who attempted suicide between 2020 and 2021. Substance misuse also remains a crisis in our communities. Milwaukee county has among the highest rates of overdose deaths in Wisconsin and has seen high numbers of emergency calls related to overdoses in the past few years. According to Milwaukee County, from 2014 to 2020, the opioid overdose fatality rate in the country was 30.9 per 100,000 persons, more than twice the rate statewide. This bill includes strong provisions to reauthorize and revitalize federal programs that support access to treatment and services, while boosting access to crisis services. The whole continuum of services needs to be strengthened to ensure that no one in need of help goes without. The bill would also reauthorize and increase funding for the Mental Health First Aid grant program. Mental Health First Aid is an evidenced-based program that teaches ordinary people how to identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use disorder. The bill would also reauthorize the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Grant, a program that supports the ability of pediatric primary care providers to deliver mental health care with the help of rapid consultation with psychiatrists, social workers, and/or psychologists. The program also provides training and education on early identification, diagnosis, and treatment of behavioral health condition, allowing more families to access high-quality mental health treatment in their pediatrician's office. I am pleased to offer an amendment that will improve this bill by ensuring that state and local officials who administer programs serving pregnant and postpartum individuals are consulted by those operating the new maternal mental health hotline. This hotline will provide free and confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy providing yet another tool for those in need. Through programs such as WIC, SNAP and the Maternal and Child Health Service Block grant, among others, the federal government reaches numerous pregnant and postpartum individuals. State and local officials are key partners in the operations of those programs and often are on the frontlines of reaching and serving populations that would immensely benefit from access to this important new resource. It only makes sense that they be involved in efforts related to making this hotline truly effective and that individuals know about the resources it offers. I thank the chairman and Ranking Member for their support of my amendment. I urge my colleagues to support it and the underlying bill.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, legislation that I have cosponsored which would strengthen our response to habitat loss, climate change, and disease impacting the health and well-being of threatened and endangered wildlife throughout our country. Habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, disease, and severe weather have all taken a severe toll on birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and bees. It is important that we take bold steps and invest in collaborative solutions to protect our wildlife. According to the National Wildlife Federation, approximately one- third of bird species in North America are in urgent need of conservation action and over forty percent of American freshwater fish are currently at risk of extinction. Recent ecological changes, such as the increasing number of wildfires and rising average water temperatures, are pushing many species of animals towards endangerment and extinction. As the representative for the great city of Milwaukee, located on beautiful Lake Michigan, I know just how important wildlife is to our economy, outdoor recreation, and the well-being of the environment. This bill would bring much-needed resources to state, local and tribal wildlife professionals tasked with conserving wildlife and their habitat. The legislation would provide funding for the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of the greatest conservation need, to implement the wildlife conservation strategies of states, territories, the District of Columbia and tribal governments, and support wildlife conservation education and recreation projects. Unless we invest in proactive, innovative solutions, we risk losing thousands of species. I was happy to support this bill. Passing this legislation would be a good step in our continuing efforts to protect our environment and wildlife for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting Our Kids Act, legislation in response to the gun violence that is affecting our communities, especially our children. Mr. Speaker, our communities continue to be ripped apart by gun violence. In the high-profile recent mass shootings in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX shootings, 31 lives were lost, and many more lives were tossed into turmoil because of the actions of armed individuals. It is too easy for guns to end up in the wrong hands. According to the Washington Post, there have been 61 mass shootings in the month of May alone. It is important that we protect our children and our communities from gun violence. What is more important than protecting our children? Which is why I again call on the Senate to act on the commonsense legislation the House has already passed to expand background checks (H.R. 8) and our bill to close the Charleston loophole to help keep guns out of the hands of prohibited buyers. And this week, the House will consider legislation to put in place effective and commonsense protections that can help stop gun violence and contribute to safer communities. This includes the bill on the floor today that would bar those are under the age 21 from purchasing semiautomatic rifles. The legislation would also largely bar the sale, transfer, or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, create new gun trafficking penalties including for straw purchasers who buy guns to pass on to someone who is prohibited from having one, and would strengthen regulations against hard to trace ``ghost guns'' that are turning up at more and more crime scenes in our communities. We must do everything in our power to protect our children. Our children must be able to feel safe in their classrooms. Or the movie theater. Or in their place of worship. Our seniors and others must feel safe to go to the grocery store. This legislation is a start. But there is more that we can and must do, including increasing investments in our children and communities such as my bill to provide grants to community-based organizations to provide deescalation training to help keep conflicts from turning violence or escalating in the first place. I urge support of this bill.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Access to Baby Formula Act, bipartisan legislation in response to the infant formula shortage that is affecting the most vulnerable in our communities, our children. This legislation recognizes the important role that WIC plays in meeting the health and nutrition needs of our nation's mothers, babies, and children. WIC is the premier public health nutrition program that provides supplemental food aimed at improving the health and well-being of millions of pregnant mothers, infants, and children. In FY 2021, average monthly WIC participation in my state of Wisconsin was 80,000, including about 19,000 infants. Studies have proven time and again food is medicine, and that availability of nutritious food reduces adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Unfortunately, families across the country are struggling to find formula that their babies need. The Biden Administration has acted to respond to this shortage and I am pleased that today Congress will build on and support those efforts. With around half of the formula purchased through WIC benefits, our WIC families are particularly vulnerable which is why it is critical that Congress pass this bill swiftly. What can be more important than feeding our babies? This bill authorizes new flexibilities to respond to supply chain or other disruptions such as a recall that adversely affects the ability of WIC agencies and programs to meet the needs of those who rely on the program. We must do everything in our power to ensure that all babies have access to formula that they may need to start life strong and that includes giving WIC programs and the incredible people who staff them the flexibility they need to provide immediate relief to the families they serve. I urge support of this bill.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5129, the bipartisan CSBG Modernization Act, and in support of my amendment to the bill. I appreciate the chairman for his support of my amendment and for bringing this bill to reauthorize the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which supports critical efforts to help those living in poverty, to the floor. The CSBG supports a comprehensive effort in our communities to help families find jobs, obtain housing and food, and achieve self- sufficiency. CSBG funds are to be used for activities that have a ``meaningful and potentially significant impact'' on causes of poverty. The law broadly defines allowable activities including education, help finding employment, removing obstacles to self-sufficiency, and maintaining adequate House. But the actual use is determined by local communities through a needs assessment. This reauthorization reflects a renewed commitment to streamline and revitalize the program's stated purpose: to reduce poverty through support for Community Action Agencies that improve economic security of low-income individuals and families and create new opportunities in the communities where they live. There are sixteen CSBG funded Community Action Agencies in Wisconsin including the Social Development Commission in Milwaukee. One of the challenges low-income individuals and families in Wisconsin and elsewhere in our country face every day is food insecurity. In the richest country on this plan, too many low-income individuals and families find themselves struggling to feed themselves and their families each and every day. According to Feeding America (as of March 2021), an estimated 680,330 Wisconsinites (11.7 percent or just over 1 in 8), including 1 in 5 children, experienced food insecurity in 2020. That includes 147,000 food insecure people in Milwaukee County alone. Feeding America Wisconsin likewise noted that its food banks saw an average sustained increase in demand for food assistance of 40-55 percent in the first months of the pandemic. But I know I don't need to remind anyone that food insecurity has long been a problem in our country. This problem is only worsening as food prices rise while at the same time, federal supports that have helped these families keep food on the table, such as the American Rescue Plan's child tax credit improvements and the USDA's school meal waivers, are coming to an end. Vulnerable communities most at risk for food insecurity include seniors and the disabled living on fixed incomes, people of color, families with children. My amendment would strengthen efforts to address nutrition and food insecurity through the Community Service Block Grant. As noted by WISCAP, ``food insecurity is foremost not a condition, but a symptom--a particularly painful and persistent symptom--of our local, state, and national failure to fundamentally confront and eliminate economic inequality. Food insecurity stands at the crossroads of a host of causal factors--social, corporate, economic, cultural, personal, educational, and governmental--with which it is deeply intertwined. When households lack sufficient income to meet their basic needs-- whether housing, utilities, health care, education, childcare, and transportation--families will first prioritize inflexible bills--like rent, electricity, heat, gas that cannot be negotiated--thus reducing amount of money in the household budget to buy food. Thus, economic insecurity `translates into' food insecurity.'' As we modernize and improve the CSBG for the 21st Century, we must make sure that we do not forget the need to help families put and keep food on the table. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Commissioner Hattie Daniels Rush, an innovator, entrepreneur, business consultant and former White House appointed Commissioner to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. It saddens me to say that this amazing community leader passed away on April 17, 2022. Commissioner Rush started her journey as a trailblazer when she was just a child. She was one of the first African American children to attend 35th Street School and began to desegregate the Milwaukee Public School System. She did encounter racism and learned to confront and mediate such situations. The early lessons she experienced as a child helped mold her into the strong and inspirational woman she became as an adult. Commissioner Rush was a graduate of the HBCU Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. She always understood the importance of education. Commissioner Rush committed her life to public service, serving as a cheerful educator and licensed family therapist in the City of Milwaukee for many years. She also had a deep commitment to her faith in God and served in many roles with her church, Holy Redeemer. Her combination of skill sets from being a trained teacher and her work with the church put her in the perfect position to help Holy Redeemer open the first African American Christian school in the city, Holy Redeemer Christian Academy, where she served as the school's Program Director. Under the leadership of Commissioner Rush, the Holy Redeemer campus expanded to five separate schools and a range of social service institutions providing impoverished children with educational opportunities across Milwaukee. One of her greatest contributions to this community was to cultivate the minds of young Black people by teaching them how to break down barriers and obstacles to achieving their goals. President Bush was so impressed with Commissioner Rush's work that he offered her a position in his administration. Commissioner Rush accepted a part-time appointment to the Commission on Presidential Scholars so she could continue her work as the Program Director for Holy Redeemer Schools. Hattie Daniels Rush has been my friend since kindergarten and a close friend of my family. My sister Brenda and I often debated who Hattie was most fond of and I had the privilege of visiting her before her transition. Hattie had a true loving and giving spirit; she accepted people as they were and encouraged them to be the best they could be. I count it all joy to have celebrated 65 years of friendship with Hattie Daniels Rush. I will truly miss her, and the people of the 4th Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin will miss this incredible woman. She leaves behind her beloved husband and daughter, Robert Rush and Ericka Rush, siblings that include Attorney John Daniels, Bishop Sedgwick Daniels, Valerie Daniels-Carter and a host of other relatives and friends to celebrate her life and enormous legacy of strength and determination. Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to pay tribute to Commissioner Hattie Daniels Rush. She has helped transform the lives of so many people. May she rest in peace.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, just let me say that, unfortunately, I had never taken psychology during my college preparation, but I do know certain things such as, what avoidance behavior is. I tell you, the message discipline on that side is just perfect. You can talk about the southern border and inflation and all of that to avoid the topic of discrimination. Sit down. I have the floor, sir. You are avoiding the fact, and I know personally, as a person with my hair, that I have had people tell my employer that I was an embarrassment sitting in the front office because of the way my hair looked. And so, to avoid a big conversation about discrimination that has an impact, particularly on African Americans, you talk about everything else. It is wrong. You are not engaging and, quite frankly, you are not being honest.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan, or the ARP. The ARP helped to provide critical assistance to individuals and small businesses during our historic COVID-19 pandemic that has driven job and wage growth in our country. I will focus on just one little piece of this law: the provision boosting the child tax credit. Study after study has shown the benefits of this policy: helping families meet basic needs such as food and utilities, a need that has become even greater when we talk about the rising costs and inflation we are all experiencing. Unfortunately, this support ended as families are grappling with higher prices for a range of basic needs. If you really want to help families struggling with inflation, renew the successful ARP child tax credit. It is the right prescription for struggling families.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, last week President Joe Biden delivered a strong State of the Union address focused on building a better America. Our jobs recovery is strong and well underway, as noted by the most recent numbers, which shows unprecedented job growth so far under this President. More than 7.3 million jobs have been created by President Biden's very first year in office, even with the challenges posed by omicron and delta COVID variants. But we have so much more to do in this never-ending process of building a more perfect Union. One area highlighted by the President was his desire to prioritize mental health needs in our country, particularly among our children. Our country faces an unprecedented mental health crisis in which our youth have been particularly impacted. A number of mental health organizations have declared a youth mental health crisis and our surgeon general has issued an advisory calling it ``an urgent public health crisis.'' Today, I rise as we celebrate School Social Work Week, to talk about one way to help address that issue by supporting and investing in school social workers. First, I just want to take an opportunity to thank our school social workers who work every single day to make a difference in the lives of their students and their families. School social workers are responsible for fostering students' social and emotional well-being so that they are ready to learn. As trained mental health professionals, social workers can deliver a wide spectrum of services, from building social skills to providing mental health support. Their presence in our schools is invaluable and the support they provide for students is critical. I personally can attest to how school social workers make a difference. I would not be here if not for the support I received from a school social worker when I was a student. Make no mistake, school social workers are key members of a school's educational team. Their expertise can help guide students through serious life challenges, including poverty, addiction, bullying, children whose parents are incarcerated, and even the military deployment of a family member. It is more important, now more than ever, to reduce the barriers to mental health services for children, especially in our schools. As we do, improving access to school social workers must be a part of those efforts. That is why later this week I will introduce, along with my very good friend and former professional social worker, Representative Barbara Lee of California, my School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act, as we create a grant to help schools hire additional social workers and retain existing school social workers. There should be one social worker for every 250 students in most schools. In high-need schools, one social worker for every 50 students. Many schools struggle to meet these ratios. My bill would also create a National Technical Assistance Center for school social work to help develop strategies for improving the effectiveness of school social work and help disseminate best practices. Madam Speaker, I want to say thank you to the front-line school social workers for the hard work they put in every day to help our students succeed. It is going to be much more challenging after COVID. I applaud the President for his commitment to take on mental health, especially among our youth, and to make it part of his unity agenda for the Nation that I believe colleagues on both sides of the aisle should be able to get behind. I share his dedication to getting all Americans the mental health services they need. I look forward to seeing the proposals included in his fiscal year 2023 budget, including to help increase access to school-based medical health services in which school social workers will play a key role. I sincerely hope that this House and this Congress can come together to address our children's mental health. Democrats continue to prioritize efforts to make our economy recover. I encourage all Members to consider our youth's mental health.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, the United States of America is home to hundreds and thousands of people of Ghanaian heritage-- including those who were born on this soil to those whose family emigrated here for education, job, or economic opportunities--for the American dream. Ghanaian Americans are an important fabric in the tapestry of America from the cab driver to the medical doctor. You will find them in all parts of the country from Milwaukee to New York to suburban Ohio and Massachusetts. The culture is hard to ignore with rich food, the iconic Akan Kente cloth, storytelling, inventions, architecture and music. Today more than ever Ghanaians living in the United States worry about racial injustice, home ownership, access to education, access to small business and immigration support. Like many Americans, the Ghanaian community in America is not exempt from the COVID-19 crisis. Ghanaian Americans are essential workers and are very active in the health care industry, especially as nurses, personal care aides, and nursing assistants. Ghanaians are included in the 27.5 percent of all Black immigrant workers in the U.S.--more than 750,000--who work in the healthcare sector. Additionally, essential workers include frontline workers in other key industries like food and service & hospitality and leisure. And Ghanaian Americans have been contributing to the success and business continuity of important industries during these dire times. Ghanaian Americans are included in 23 percent of immigrants in the U.S. who work in the food and service industry, as well as 20 percent of immigrants in the U.S. who work in hospitality and leisure. On this day, I recognize the 65th anniversary of Ghana's independence and my intention to launch the Congressional Ghana Caucus that will create an inclusive platform in this body for discussing critical policy issues affecting Ghanaians in the Diaspora, as well as bolster the relationship between the U.S. and Ghana.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2142, to honor Ms. Indiana Hunt-Martin, a member of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) groundbreaking 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion (Six Triple Eight), the only all-black WAC battalion deployed overseas during WWII. As a cosponsor of this bill and the author of the House measure to award a Congressional Gold Medal to all the women of the Six Triple Eight that the Congress will soon enact, Ms. Hunt-Martin's story is the story of most of the women who served in the 6888. According to her daughter, ``she was born in a time and place where share cropping, lynching, and hatred of people, especially males of color were everyday occurrences.'' Yet, she was not deterred from serving her country. Born in Georgia, she moved to New York in the 1920's when she was still a young child. After graduating high school, she read about an effort by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, the founding president of the National Council of Negro Women, to ensure that women of color could join the war effort as part of the WAC. So she applied. And waited. And after, her application was apparently ``lost'', she did not give up. She applied again, was accepted, and enlisted. She was subsequently chosen to serve in the Six Triple Eight. And served honorably with that groundbreaking unit. After her military service, she worked for the New York State Department of Labor, retiring after some 40 years of service. In 2014, in a story that is very familiar to me, she reached out to her local congressman, Mr. Higgins, for help getting the medals she had earned through her service so many decades earlier. This story is familiar to me because my own constituent, Ms. Anna Mae Robertson, who also served with the Six Triple Eight, similarly reached out to my office around the same time to help her get the service medals she had earned. This evening, I will have the honor of hosting Ms. Hunt-Martin's daughter in my office as we celebrate the passage of this bill and my Six Triple Eight Gold Medal bill (H.R. 1012/S. 321). While Ms. Hunt- Martin and the vast majority of the women who served with the 6888 may no longer be with us, today we make sure that their service and sacrifice is not forgotten. As noted by Debbera Ranson, the commander and founder of the Johnetta R. Coles AmVets post in Buffalo, NY, ``There are so many times when African American soldiers have done wonderful things but it takes forever for them to get recognized. Many times, the honors that they eventually received--if they even do--is way after they have passed. And so, as we do these different honors, at least family members will be able to enjoy knowing that their loved ones have been honored.''

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked tirelessly to get the supermajority necessary to consider S. 321 to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women's Army Corps 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Let me just say that I am so pleased to be a sponsor of this bill, particularly as we end Black History Month, honoring these women, and as we begin Women's History Month. The intersection of those two things is certainly a very appropriate time to mention the Six Triple Eight. You have heard about the heroic efforts of this only-Black-female battalion in history that served in World War II who are being honored here today. They are being honored because their heroic efforts enabled them, as a central battalion for the delivery of mail, to give people that little measure of a piece of home when they were away. I just have to ask my colleagues: When there are 7,500 Robert Smiths who weren't able to get their mail during World War II, who did they call? The Six Triple Eight, Black women. When they were coming under fire and there were 17-and-a-half million pieces of mail that were backlogged and couldn't be sent to these soldiers, who they did call? Oh, yeah, the Six Triple Eight. When mothers were worried that their sons and wives were worried that their husbands had lost connection, who kept that connection going? The Six Triple Eight. Their motto was ``no mail, low morale.'' They weren't just sorting mail. They were, in the words of Judi Glaeser printed in the Niagara Gazette on May 21, 2021: Their work was more than sorting mail. It was ministering to the souls of soldiers, making sure they received that piece of home that reminded them that they were not forgotten. Today, we are not forgetting them. I say, in the name of my constituent, who is still alive and will be enjoying her 98th birthday on March 5, Anna Mae Robertson, I congratulate her on this gold medal.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I just want to enter into the Record the names of First Lieutenant Fannie Griffin McClendon of Arizona; Corporal Lena Derriecott Bell King of Las Vegas, Nevada; Private Catherine Romay Davis of Alabama; Private Hilda Griggs of New Jersey; and Private Crensencia Garcia of the Bronx, New York, who are still alive. And to the son of their leader, Major Charity Adams, I thank the Major for leading the Six Triple Eight to this great victory today.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank Bonnie Watson Coleman for her stewardship over this bill. I also want to thank Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and so many women who rose up to support this, not only this session but last session as well. I want to thank State representative LaKeshia Myers in my State in the city of Milwaukee for the ordinances and the bills that they have passed, which are similar to the CROWN Act. Mr. Speaker, just let me say, with my short 2 minutes here, that my being instilled with low self-esteem started before I got to kindergarten, and it all revolved around my nappy hair and the way it just coiled. Two minutes is not long enough to carry you on this journey of what it is like to have your employers tell you that you are making them look bad because of the way your hair looks, and having hot combs, lye, chemicals, and being burned so that you can look White. When I ran for this office in 2005 because I had so many pictures with my hair coifed in a European style, my handlers wouldn't let me change it. After 20 hours a day of campaigning every day, I had to figure out how to straighten my hair out. Thank God for the CROWN Act. Mr. Speaker, I thank God for being able to stand here under the e pluribus unum as my authentic, nappy-headed self.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3076, the Postal Reform Act. It is my hope that the changes in this legislation will help the United States Postal Service and its hardworking employees continue to serve our communities. Our communities depend on a strong and vibrant Postal Service. The United States Postal Service reaches into every community of every size across our nation through its unmatchable delivery network. Over 600,000 hardworking Postal Service employees, nearly a quarter of them veterans, help the Postal Service carryout its obligations and provide top quality service to our communities which has helped the Postal Service consistently rank as one of the most respected institutions. My constituents, like most Americans, rely on the efficient and timely delivery of bills, parcels and medication by the Postal Service. And when asked to do more, our postal workers step up. For example, the administration recently leaned on the Postal Service to help distribute at home COVID test kits, given its presence and ability to reach every community in our country. It is critical that the House take up legislation to help strengthen the Postal Service. This debate has been long overdue and so I welcome today's vote. I hope our colleagues in the Senate will quickly follow suit. The challenges facing the Postal Service are well known. The adverse impact of mandates imposed by Congress in 2006 Postal Reform legislation that have hurt the Postal Service. The declining volume of first-class mail and associated revenue losses. Policy changes initiated by the current Postmaster General that has slowed the mail while raising mailing costs, a recipe for disaster. At the same time, the Postal Service has an aging vehicle fleet that becomes more expensive every year to maintain and keep on the road. The bill before us, while not perfect and not addressing every issue, would help put the Postal Service on a better path. I fear that every day of further inaction or delay on legislation such as the Postal Reform Act would only worsen the situation facing the Postal Service, its customers, and its employees. And failing to act may only lead to even more drastic measures and service cuts that will only adversely impact the millions of Americans and businesses that rely on the USPS. For example, some have used the current situation to push for ill- advised privatization of the Postal Service. The Postal Reform Act includes provisions from stand-alone bills that I support such as preserving six-day mail delivery and repealing the requirement that the USPS prefund future retirement health benefits. And it would provide more flexibility for the Postal Service to offer work with state, local and tribal governments, to explore avenues to help generate more revenues. We need a strong and vibrant Postal Service that maintains accessible services for all in our community. As the most trusted institution in the federal government and the cornerstone of a trillion dollar plus industry, the Postal Service and its dedicated postal workforce deserve every effort on our part to ensure it remains a viable and thriving institution. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this latest continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through March 11, 2022. I commend my good friend, the gentlelady from Connecticut, Ms. Delaura, the Chair of the Appropriations Committee for her leadership in helping the House get its funding bills passed last year and her continued dogged efforts to reach an agreement to finalize FY 22 funding. I hope that this is the last CR that this chamber has to consider. The House passed funding bills provided critical increases for a range of education, health care, transportation, housing, funding for our veterans, and other priorities that cannot take effect under a CR. This includes priorities that I was pleased to work to secure including additional funding for the TRIO program which helps provides services to help students not only get to college, but graduate. Other priorities include programs such as WIC, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, and funding for school breakfast programs, among many other programs that this House was able to support in its FY 22 bills. Additionally, enactment of the final FY 22 funding bills is crucial to unlocking programs and funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that passed Congress last fall with bipartisan support in both chambers. The House passed some great FY 22 funding bills that will help our communities, create jobs, and provided long overdue investments. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to work with us to get these bills over the line. And soon.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of the bipartisan amendment that I have put forward, along with my colleagues Deborah Ross, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, and Jamaal Bowman. As my colleagues from both sides of the aisle have made clear, our Nation owes a tremendous debt to our veterans. I am pleased that this week, the House will take up a bill to help improve access to services and benefits that our men and women in uniform have earned. H.R. 1836--the National Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021--would allow Members of the National Guard and Reserves to count time spend in training towards their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. I am so proud of the men and women in Wisconsin's National Guard who have mobilized throughout our nation's history in support of overseas combat operations in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, during both world wars, the Spanish-American War, and the Civil War and are now engaged in their longest ever domestic mobilization, to combat COVID-19. They are a key part of our communities and to efforts to protect and defend our nation. Our amendment to this bill simply attempts to help ensure that the VA take every opportunity to ensure that new veterans who are leaving or about to transition from active duty are aware of the VA benefits they may be eligible for, including critical health care services. Unfortunately, too many vets leave the military without knowing what they are eligible for at the VA or do not have the documentation they need to prove their eligibility. As a result, they can find themselves missing out on critical benefits and services they need or trying to navigate bureaucratic red tape, without success, to try and find the right answers. These men and women answered the call to serve their country and it is our responsibility to honor the debt our Nation owes them for their service. We can do better. And that must start with providing as much information as early as possible to those who could be eligible for VA benefits or services. Our amendment requires the VA to inform new veterans of the medical care and services for which they are eligible, including community care; mental healthcare, care relating to military sexual trauma; and any other information the Secretary deems appropriate. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Rosemary Holley, a lifelong advocate for the poor and needy, a community leader, a trailblazer, and a multiple tenure Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners for Milwaukee's Social Development Commission (SDC). It saddens me to say that Mrs. Holley passed away on December 7, 2021, at the age of 95. The Social Development Commission is a community action agency with the sole purpose of advocating for and assisting Milwaukee County residents living in poverty. SDC is a citizen led coalition designed to give people in poverty the organizing power to influence policies that will directly affect them. The members of SDC are not politicians or bureaucrats--they are everyday citizens that care deeply about their communities and want to have their voices heard. One-third of the governing board members live in poverty. The SDC equips its members to affect meaningful change in their own lives. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and self- sacrifice of Mrs. Rosemary Holley. Mrs. Holley has been with SDC since its creation. She first served on the Head Start Parent Council and was elected to the SDC's Board of Commissioners. Her passion and leadership were soon recognized by all and in 1996, she was elected as the Chairperson of the SDC's Board of Commissioners. She was reelected as the Chairperson in 1998 and served until 1999. Mrs. Holley stepped away from SDC in 1999 while in her mid-70s. Most people would have then retired, but Mrs. Holley continued to serve the Fourth Congressional District on a volunteer basis. She coached young leaders with her wisdom and experience, all while continuing to serve the very neighbors who inspired her in the first place. In 2013, she rejoined SDC's Board to serve as Governance Technical Assistance Resource Provider, using her knowledge and experience on the SDC Board to provide advice on matters related to Board Governance. SDC and the Milwaukee Community are indebted to Mrs. Holley for her lifelong, tireless service. Mrs. Holley was a lifelong advocate for the poor and needy. She had multiple opportunities to work in more financially rewarding positions but found her purpose in helping those who were not able to help themselves. Mrs. Holley was the epitome of public service and altruism--to say Rosemary Holley has been a beacon of light to this community is not an exaggeration. Her altruistic spirit and love for others are an inspiration of what we all should strive for in our service to the public. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District, the State of Wisconsin and the Nation have benefited tremendously from her expansive service. As a former employee of the SDC and as both a Congresswoman and a mentee of Mrs. Rosemary Holley, I am deeply grateful for her service and impact on our community. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Rosemary Holley. May she Rest in Peace.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Julia Taylor, an innovative business leader, trailblazer, and the president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) for 19 years. In 2002, Ms. Taylor became the first woman to become president of the Civic Group and tirelessly served for almost two decades. GMC is a private sector civic organization whose mission is to contribute to the cultural and economic base of the Milwaukee Metropolitan area. The organization was formed in the late 1940s and is comprised of leaders in business, the professions, labor, education and philanthropy, and nonprofit community development. The GMC is made up of almost 200 leaders of businesses, financial institutions, law firms, nonprofit groups, and educational institutions in the metropolitan area and is dedicated to improving Southeastern Wisconsin's civic life and economy. Since 2002, the GMC and the City of Milwaukee progressed exponentially under Ms. Taylor's leadership. Julia Taylor brought greater diversity to the membership and the GMC board. GMC now has a record number of minorities and women serving in leadership roles. Ms. Taylor expanded GMC's work to develop and innovate all areas of Milwaukee, especially impoverished areas that are too often forgotten. She worked tirelessly to build new relationships with local community leaders and stakeholders. Because of Ms. Taylor's work, GMC is having a much greater impact in neighborhoods, education and economic development at the most basic levels. Under Ms. Taylor's leadership, the GMC won local and national support for its projects that include efforts to promote and support economic prosperity, vibrancy of place, and development of innovation and talent. Due to Ms. Taylor's work, the work of the GMC in building a better, greater Milwaukee for all of our citizens is more important than ever. Ms. Taylor serves on several boards and was the Executive Director of the Milwaukee YWCA for many years before assuming her current position. She is being honored and recognized for her decades of community engagement in the Greater Milwaukee Area. In fact, Ms. Taylor continues to set a strong example to us all by displaying humor, grace and good will to all and we wish her a long and happy retirement. Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Julia Taylor for her contributions to the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin. She has helped transform the lives of many people in our community.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to support the Build Back Better Act. It is time for us to pass this historic legislation that invests in our communities, our workers, our children, and our families, while asking the wealthiest among us, who have benefited from our growing economy, to pay their fair share. These investments will lower the costs of childcare, which has kept women out of the labor force. It invests in our future workforce through our children. It helps us tackle the climate crisis, bolsters resilience, and creates economic and job opportunities and good-paying jobs for millions. I could go on and on and on. Mr. Speaker, I want to end by talking about the millions of people who depend upon insulin, something that has been a bipartisan issue. It is going to lower those costs to just $35 a month. That is reason enough to pass the Build Back Better Act.