Gwen Moore

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in strong support of the CAPTA reauthorization measure that is before the House today. I want to thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Foxx for their leadership and for the bipartisan work on this legislation that has brought us to this point. This measure provides an overdue but critical reauthorization of programs authorized under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). These changes would, among others, address child abuse and neglect related to families impacted by substance use disorders, racial bias in the child protective services system, and improving efforts to combat child sexual abuse. The bill also contains language based on my Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act, which aims to stop families from being ripped apart not because of neglect or abuse, but for issues rooted in poverty. In these situations, services to help families and support them and their children are a much better approach than family separation. I appreciate the support from the chairman and bipartisan support and efforts of Rep. Susie Lee and Rep. Bob Good to ensure this language was included in the bill. I also worked with Rep. Joseph Morelle and Rep. Van Taylor to include the Study and Report on Marital Age of Consent examining the prevalence of forced child marriages in the United States and their impact on children's safety and well-being. I am pleased that we are taking steps to refresh and strengthen our efforts, with states and local authorities, to protect our children. I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1280--George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. This legislation has been a long time coming and for many it has arrive too little too late. Our nation is a work in progress, and we will continue to fight for equality under the law in every and all aspects. This essential legislation has critical provision including supporting the need for more deescalation training for police officers, something that I have long fought for and which has proven time and time again to work. The bill will also block the transfer of weapons of war to police departments , end the no-knock warrants that led to the murder of Breonna Taylor, ban choke holds that killed Eric Garner and George Floyd, and finally end qualified immunity which has shielded police officers from receiving justice for killing or injuring members of the community. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus but more importantly as a black mother, grandmother, and now great-grandmother, I am so proud to be an original sponsor of the legislation. Our communities are demanding action, calling for strong and effective action that will help not only prevent future tragedies between police and the communities they patrol, but also help increase trust and build safer communities. This is a commonsense bill that deserves bipartisan support. This is the first step to making our union more perfect, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the American Rescue Plan. This bill provides needed relief for our communities. Since Congress acted on the last COVID-19 package in December, over 100,000 Americans have died from this deadly disease. Economic growth remains stagnant, millions of Americans remain unemployed, and many worry that their jobs may have disappeared forever. And, even as vaccine distribution efforts ramp up, it is clear that our nation is not out of the woods yet. Metrics of housing insecurity, hunger, poverty are all trending in the wrong direction. While I have concerns about some of the changes made in the Senate, overall, the package still delivers key aid to hurting communities, individuals, and businesses that continues to be needed. This package helps support child care, a key employment enabler--without which so many women have dropped out of the workforce during this pandemic, according to a growing body of evidence. It provides rental and housing relief to prevent a wave of evictions and resulting hardships in our community. In the long run, it costs the government less to keep people housed than dealing with the consequences that follow eviction. The American Rescue Plan gives critical support for our state and local governments, which have been on the front lines of this fight while their revenues have fallen. As a result, they have shed public employees at high rates in the last year--a disturbing consequence that must be reversed. The bill helps put money in the pocket of hurting families, with another round of stimulus checks which if the past is any precedent, will be spent to meet immediate needs. It extends UI, funds SNAP, provides additional help to get health insurance which is even more critical during a public health emergency. It refills FEMA's disaster assistance fund, provides funding so that schools can reopen safely or continue to do virtual learning effectively, provides assistance to public transit systems, and provides pension relief, among many other provisions. Does this bill do all the things I would want? No. I would love to have gone further to deliver greater relief. But it is a good enough start and helps address some key challenges and will help expedite recovery in our communities on the long and challenging road ahead. I thank the President for his leadership, as well as the Speaker, and Chairman Neal.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the career and ongoing legacy of Gayle Griffin, a retired nurse formerly employed at Milwaukee's Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center and President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3. She is an exemplary voice in our community and has consistently used her position to defend others. I want to congratulate her on her recent selection as AFGE's District 7 Woman of the Year. Gayle is the first African American to ever be elected president of her Local AFGE branch. During her time in AFGE leadership, she has continually used her position to advocate for her members against anti- union executive orders, racism, and other inequities as a fierce champion for social justice. Throughout her eleven-year career as a nurse serving our veterans at the Milwaukee VA, Gayle was one of many Black nurses who endured racism in her workplace. However, rather than backing down, she resolutely sought to protect and defend the rights of workers at the Local AFGE branch. She has spoken out about the tremendous struggles that VA nursing staff are facing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and has repeatedly called for more honest communication from the Department of Veterans Affairs with its employees. On February 21, 2021, Gayle was selected as AFGE's District 7 Woman of the Year. This important award is granted to those who exhibit selfless dedication to union solidarity, public service, and workplace health and safety. This is an honor that Gayle has truly earned. She has fought tirelessly to protect the health of veterans, for workers' rights, and for commonsense workplace safety and equity--especially during the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her altruistic spirit and inspiring dedication to her colleagues and community are why Gayle is so deserving of the title of AFGE's District 7 Woman of the Year. Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District, and the veterans who depend on the VA for their health care, have been made better as a result of Gayle's phenomenal work. I sincerely respect her determination and applaud her accomplishments. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my constituent and her recent accomplishment and celebrate the great work that she and others in AFGE District 7 are doing in service to our veterans, our country and the state of Wisconsin.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Joan M. Prince, the Vice Chancellor of Global Inclusion and Engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). After more than two decades of working with distinction and serving her alma mater, she is retiring on March 1, 2021. Dr. Prince's education career with UWM began as a promising freshman when she was 16 years old. She was the first African American recipient of a bachelor's in medical technology and a master's in clinical laboratory science. She joined St. Joseph's Hospital as a hematologist and, in 1988, she became the supervisor in hematology for the Medical Science Labs. Around the same time, she began working for the University of Wisconsin's Medical school where she implemented the Health Professional Partnership Initiative's collaborative project as lead strategist. Equipped with a strong educational background and a breadth of experience, she began her 20-year career with UWM when she was appointed Vice Chancellor in 2000. She went on to earn a Ph.D. from UWM in Urban Education, with a focus on STEM education. At UWM she is also the Chief Administrator for the Divisions of Global Inclusion and Engagement, and Partnerships and Innovation, with responsibilities as the University's Chief Inclusion Officer. She led campus-wide project areas such as the STEM Inspire Pipeline, the Inclusive Internationalization Projects, Global Partnerships in STEM, Center for International Health, Carnegie Engagement Classification team, Center for Community Solutions, and Equity and Diversity Services. Dr. Prince has led many important campus-wide initiatives that include the establishment of the first anti-bias training curriculum, as well as the formation of a program dedicated to advancing historically underrepresented students and first-generation students in the STEM field. Outside of work, Dr. Prince's commitment to community service extended to working to meet the needs of students in underserved communities, including minorities, women, children, entrepreneurs and small businesses. She served in a variety of leadership positions, civic organizations and was board member and governance chair of The Council on Foundations, the International Foundation Membership Association and the Urban Libraries Council. She is also a corporate board director of Managed Health Services, a subsidiary of the Centene Corporation, a director emeritus of C. G. Schmidt Construction Company and a corporate director of Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation. Dr. Prince has received recognition and numerous awards for her commitment to community service from civic and professional organizations such as The Business Journal's Woman of Influence award, The Community Leadership award (Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund) and the Friends of the Hispanic Community award. She was named one of the ten most powerful women in Milwaukee in the February 2006 issue of Milwaukee Magazine and is featured as an honoree in the national 2008 Black Women in Sisterhood Distinguished Black Women calendar. She is also spotlighted as a nominee in the national African American oral history archival project, The History Makers. On September 12, 2012, Dr. Prince was nominated by President Barack Obama to the key administrative post of alternate representative to the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations with the honorary rank of ambassador. This diplomatic position also maintained an appointment position as Senior Advisor to the State Department and Public Delegate. Dr. Prince leaves behind a legacy of a long list of accomplishments. She is someone that cares deeply about her former students, the individuals she mentored, her colleagues and the greater community. For the more than 25 years that I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with her, she has been a tremendous force in the City of Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin and the United States. Madam Speaker, I am so proud to honor Dr. Joan M. Prince and to call her a friend. I wish her much success as she transitions into this new phase of her life.

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, the President radicalized American citizens. As his Vice President fled from a lynch mob and the Speaker cowered and while people died, he watched with glee. That is why, even though it is only 7 days before the end of his term, we have the fierce urgency of now. Seven days is too long for him to be in power. He could declassify state secrets. He could monetize national secrets to foreign adversaries.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act. This important bill eliminates the mandatory five-month waiting period for patients with ALS seeking to access the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits they earned. The waiting period creates an undue financial burden when ALS patients are already facing enormous financial stress. But while we act today to alleviate the hardship created by this waiting period for ALS patients, Congress must extend similar relief to other beneficiaries who are equally deserving. What sense does it make to have require SSDI beneficiaries to endure a five-month waiting period after they have been determined eligible for their earned SSDI benefits? This requirement creates an unnecessary delay for some of our nation's most vulnerable. We must ensure that all individuals who qualify for SSDI can access the benefits for which they have already qualified without undue delay. I urge my colleagues to not only support the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act, but to end the waiting period for all SSDI beneficiaries.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Emilio E. Lopez, an icon in the Hispanic community and the City of Milwaukee. He passed away on October 31, 2020. He was 70 years old. I offer my sincere condolences to Emilio's family and have them in my thoughts and prayers. Mr. Lopez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and arrived in the U.S. at the age of 3. He grew up on Milwaukee's east side with his parents and siblings. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1968 and was the Prom King. Emilio went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and was president of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity before attending law school. Soon after, he dutifully served as the Assistant District Attorney of Milwaukee and even ran for circuit court judge and alderman; paving the way for future Latino candidates. Realizing he wanted to work outside the confines of the courtroom, Emilio went on to empower thousands of youth in the community. Some of his notable achievements include his work as the Athletic Director of the United Community Center (UCC). He encouraged youths to stay off the streets by hosting late night basketball games and mentoring. His hard work was instrumental in the implementation of youth and drug rehabilitation programs for the Latino Community. Emilio was also an educator and worked as the Principal of Aurora Weier Educational Center, a high school serving high risk students. He raised significant funds to renovate the former city natatorium into new classrooms, a new gymnasium, and science lab. He was President and Founder of the Felix Mantilla Little League, where he coached youths. He also served as the Associate Executive Director at the Milwaukee Christian Center (MCC) for a number of years. In his spare time, he dedicated his time to the Milwaukee Chapter of the National Latino Peace Officer Association. He was a true Milwaukee treasure and above all he was a devout husband, loving father, grandfather, great- grandfather, relative and friend to many in Milwaukee. Emilio lived a purposeful life, one of service dedicated to his community as an advocate and leader to countless Hispanic and Latino families on Milwaukee's Southside. Emilio's positive impact and generosity knew no bounds; he was well known and respected throughout our city and was recognized as Hispanic Man of the Year in 1992 for his contributions to the community. I am pleased to say I had the pleasure to work closely with Emilio when he served as Associate Director at the MCC and led the federally funded Youthbuild Program. He was a true Milwaukee treasure and we are all benefactors. Madam Speaker, Emilio E. Lopez was a valued member of the Milwaukee community, the 4th Congressional District, and the entire State of Wisconsin. I applaud and value his contributions as a public servant and am pleased to honor the late Emilio E. Lopez.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. The programs being addressed in this bill support on the job training, mentoring, and other assistance to help individuals gain employment and build careers in high paying and/or high skilled occupations. Registered Apprenticeships are our nation's most successful federal workforce training program. According to the DOL, 94 percent apprentices are employed after completing a Registered Apprenticeship and earn an average starting wage of $70,000. That success is to be applauded. Yet, this powerful tool can be improved. Just consider these two facts: Registered Apprenticeships only account for 0.3 percent of our workforce and nearly two-thirds of active apprentices are employed in just one industry, construction. It's long past time we bring these federal efforts into the 21st Century and expanding access to apprenticeship opportunities is now especially important as we work to build back our economy from the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key provisions to me in this bill are the calls to strengthen equity and promote equal opportunity to participate in youth apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships, especially for nontraditional apprenticeship populations. Who are they? These are individuals who have traditionally faced barriers to accessing these opportunities, including low-income individuals, those with disabilities, foster youth and former foster youth, and the formerly incarcerated, among others. I don't have to tell you that low-income workers frequently face barriers . . . as do those who were previously or recently incarcerated. But we might remind ourselves ``[a] history of incarceration does not disqualify a person's skills, initiative, or humanity.'' Thanks to Chairman Scott and the sponsor of this legislation, Chairwoman Susan Davis, among others for their efforts that have resulted in the legislation before us today. It recognizes that we need to keep working to ensure equal opportunity for all to participate in these programs. Pre- apprenticeships and apprenticeships are key gateways to potentially good paying careers. It's critical that we work to ensure that populations that have barriers to entry into these programs and are underrepresented. Inclusive workforce development practices will help us achieve a more diverse workforce that leverages each individual's talents, skills and abilities to determine their success, rather than the barriers they may face. My amendment, which is included in this en bloc, builds on the base bill to ensure we do not forget populations that have traditionally been underrepresented in these programs. This includes requiring regular reviews by the federal government of participation by nontraditional populations in these programs and assessing how these programs increase participation of these populations, especially in occupations where we know that their involvement is underrepresented. My amendment would also ensure that federal coordination among a host of programs serving low-income individuals helps to promote their participation in the efforts supported by this bill. It is estimated that the efforts in this bill could create nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities in addition to expected growth in the apprenticeship system. But it's not enough just to increase the number of opportunities. We must expand access to the opportunities. Truly expanding access to these opportunities for all, including women, minorities, and other underrepresented and nontraditional populations, will benefit not only the workers who we connect to stable, good-paying jobs but also their communities. I urge my colleagues to support this en bloc and the underlying bill.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act. I thank Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member Walden, Subcommittee Chairwoman Eshoo, Subcommittee Ranking Member Dr. Burgess, Congresswoman Kuster, Congressman Tom Cole, Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler, Congressman Josh Gottheimer and so many others who have heard the cries of hurting families that have experienced the tragic death of a child, often unexpected and without explanation. I want to thank the advocates, like John Kahan, Judy Rainey, Stephanie Zarecky, Shelia Murphy, who have worked hard to help get this bill to the floor. This bill is named after one of those children--Scarlett Lillian Pauley, Stephanie's daughter--who left this earth too soon. It is also a story about her family--her mom and her dad (and now her little sister) who took their personal pain and used it to begin to advocate to help prevent other families from having to go through what they did. January 8, 2017 is a day that Scarlett's family will never forget. To this day, her family does not know what took Scarlett from them. But I hope that September 21, 2020 is also a day they or other families that have gone through this gut-wrenching experience will never forget. It's the day when this House stepped up to the plate to help ensure that their pain and loss was not in vain. The statistics tell us that thousands of families experienced the unexpected death of an infant or child each year, with SIDS just one in this category. But we must never forget that this is not just about statistics. It's about the real families, the real tears that have been shed, the real frustration when they can't get an answer for why even years after the death, and the real fear that lives with them. I remember sitting down with Scarlett's mom, Stephanie, earlier this year after she had the privilege of sharing her story before the Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee. She and her husband have a little girl--I think she is 18 months or so--and I asked her if she still lived in fear that the same thing would happen again--and the answer was yes. So today, we honor Scarlett and the others who lost their lives way too soon by passing this bill to strengthen existing programs to help get answers. To improve training so that these deaths are investigated thoroughly and uniformly across the country. Without knowing why, we can't act to stop these deaths. I thank everyone who worked to help get us to this day and I urge my colleagues to vote Yes on this bill.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8015, legislation that is sorely needed to help protect the integrity of our Postal Service. Our communities depend on a reliable Postal Service. The hardworking men and women of the Postal Service every day help ensure that critical mail reaches every part of this country, even in the middle of a pandemic. These essential workers make sure that this essential public service is carried out. Despite the challenges of moving mail in a country as large as ours and longstanding fiscal challenges, it is no wonder the Postal Service continues to score high in public opinion polls. It is after all, the public service that touches most Americans almost every day. The Postal Service is not a business. Nor is degrading its level of service a viable business plan. Doing so would only hurt the Postal Service, its workers, and the American public, including those in rural areas. Yet, that is unfortunately the direction that the Postal Service's leadership. I have heard from so many of my constituents who are concerned about the damaging recent changes to Postal Service operations under the leadership of the new Postmaster General, changes which are already being felt in our communities through reports of delays in getting critical mail. While the recent announcement that these changes would be suspended for a short time is a step forward, that is not enough. Additionally, besides the changes being made by new Postmaster General, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has befuddled this Administration also poses a clear threat to the short-term and long- term fiscal health of the Postal Service. I am pleased that the bill before us today includes needed funding to address mail volume declines to support the Postal Service and its workers through these trying times. We need to protect and maintain a strong Postal Service which is what this bill does. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, year after year since coming to Congress, I have led efforts in the House to secure funding for Violence Against Women programs. I was honored to have led the efforts to renew the VAWA authorizing legislation in 2013. This is personal for me. And I want to make sure that for all of those who are going through the horror that domestic violence, they know that they have a place to go or services and supports to turn to get through those dark days. VAWA is essential legislation that provides the premier services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. However, that authorizing language is only as good as we actually fund it. With domestic violence-related homicides on the rise, now more than ever, we need these funds and we need these funds right now. I have offered two amendments to this bill for programs that are in desperate need for additional funds. I applaud the committee for their efforts but like so many programs, the need continues to outpace available resources. The first amendment I submitted is for the Transitional Housing Program. This program provides transitional housing and short-term housing assistance for victims and their children or other dependents. With many victims stuck at home during the pandemic, access to safe housing can be the difference between life and death. I also offered an amendment to increase funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program. This essential program provides grants to rape crisis centers and other agencies for survivors of sexual assault. I am so proud of the work that these programs have done but we cannot limit the resources required to combat sexual violence in our communities during these dire times. I am glad that these amendments have been included in En Bloc and thank Chairwoman Lowey and Chairman Serrano for their support. I encourage my colleagues to support this En Bloc.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of legislation that is before the House to ensure access to child care, a critical work support for tens of millions of Americans. Childcare is a necessary work enabler. Conversely, lack of access to childcare hinders the ability of many, including women and marginalized persons, to enter, re-enter, or stay in the workforce. High quality and affordable childcare is a necessity, not a luxury so I am glad that these two excellent bills are being debated today. Even with recent increases in federal appropriations for programs like the Child Care and Development Block Grant, only about 1 in 6 eligible children received federal childcare assistance prior to the pandemic, fewer children than were helped in 2006. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated prior childcare shortages, making it difficult for essential workers to find care during their work hours--even for those who had reliable childcare before the pandemic. In the meantime, childcare providers have been hit hard, laying off employees and closing permanently or facing the threat of permanent closure. During this pandemic, childcare facilities that want to stay open or reopen are generally serving far fewer children. A recent survey found that the majority (65 percent of those childcare facilities that remain open report operating at less than 25 percent capacity, so that even while open they continue to lose money. Yet as great as the need was before this pandemic, it may get worse. One estimate by the Center for American Progress found that nearly 4.5 million existing childcare slots are at risk of being lost permanently. Without access to childcare, many Americans cannot go back to work. Without support from the federal government, quite frankly, I am concerned that the loss of childcare slots will continue to hinder our communities even long after we hit public health milestones needed to safely reopen. With the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 7327) and the Child Care is Essential Act (H.R. 7027), House Democrats are again leading the way in helping ensure we meet the real needs facing Americans hard hit by this pandemic. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle in both chambers to join us. Among other provisions, H.R. 7327 would make the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit refundable, allowing many low- and middle-income families to claim the credit for the first time. To help childcare providers, the bill would create a 50 percent refundable payroll tax credit for mortgage obligations, rent obligations, and utility payments incurred by childcare facilities that have been affected by COVID-19. H.R. 7327 would also increase mandatory federal funding through the Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) program for the first time in over decade, raising the amount to $10 billion per year. The bill also supplies an additional pot of funds--some $850 million--to help essential workers find childcare. H.R. 7027 would create a Child Care Stabilization Fund within the existing Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program and invests $50 billion into that fund to help providers through these challenging times. These funds would be targeted to pay salaries, purchase PPE and cleaning equipment, rent and other fixed costs, and other goods and services necessary to maintain or resume operation. Additionally, H.R. 7027 would require providers helped by these funds to pay their staff at the same compensation level as pre-COVID-19. Finally, the bill would require providers who open or who remain open to meet health and safety guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local authorities. Assisted providers who are closed would have to provide an assurance that they will reopen their program when they are able to implement such guidance. I am pleased to support these bills and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7608, a bill to provide Fiscal Year 2021 funding for the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Veterans Affairs, among others. This package includes critical programs that help address important priorities such as helping our most vulnerable escape hunger and our veterans to receive the care and benefits they have earned. Our country has been hit by an economic freight train and many families have been reeling for months and will continue to do so if the federal government does not step up in the fight against this deadly virus. Food insecurity was a challenge before COVID-19 but it has only gotten worse as tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs. We have seen long lines at food banks and pantries. The bill before us ensures that SNAP can continue to help struggling Americans. It blocks ongoing attempts by the Trump Administration to force more people to lose food aid. It supports the WIC program to ensure that we help some of our most vulnerable pregnant women, infants and children. It also increases funding for grants to help increase access to school breakfast, a priority for me. Unfortunately, too many kids begin the school day without a healthy breakfast and participation in school breakfast lags well behind school lunch. Studies repeatedly show that students who consume nutritious breakfasts have better health outcomes, and better educational outcomes. These dollars will help support innovative and proven interventions that can help increase participation. I appreciate Chairman Bishop's leadership in helping to make sure that more families can keep food on the table. Likewise, I appreciate Chairwoman McCollum's continued efforts to protect our environment and the Great Lakes. I am pleased that the committee provides a $15 million increase for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative which has been an unmitigated success in working to help our communities address some of the biggest challenges facing these valuable waters. This bill also increases funding to help protect water quality. I thank the Chairwoman as well as Congresswoman Lori Trahan who worked with me to help push for greater funding to help address combined sewer overflows, which endanger both our waters and the public's health. A great number of CSO's are in the Midwest and Northeast and communities need all the support they can to help make the investments to reduce this threat to our waterways. The bill's investment of $57 million in regular appropriations and $400 million in emergency funding will go a long way in helping address this problem. The bill also includes funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which are the main federal programs supporting investments in critical water infrastructure. Our communities are struggling to deal with aging infrastructure and the funds in this bill are sorely needed. And I also appreciate Chairwoman McCollum's leadership in protecting and strengthening programs that help Native communities. For example, the bill would provide $6.5 billion for the Indian Health Service, including $66 million for Urban Indian Health. And the State-Foreign Operations bill rejects a variety of harmful cuts proposed by the President that would further damage our diplomacy and development efforts. The bill also includes language to permanently repeal the global gag rule, rejects efforts to defend the UNFPA, invests in global health, education, and environment programs, including to address climate change. It is critical that we invest in our international affairs budget and I applaud chairwoman Lowey for her steadfast leadership again in helping to protect these key programs. Sadly, this is her last appropriations cycle. While I wish her the best of luck in her retirement, she will be sorely missed. Lastly, the MilCon-Va bill makes needed investments in health care for our veterans, supports increases for homelessness assistance grants, and to process and pay benefit claims. This is a good package and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Our country is going through turbulent times. People are taking to the streets to cry out for real justice and an end to racism that pervades so many institutions in our country, not just the police or criminal justice system. They are crying out for investments in society; in education, social services, housing, and healthcare. Over the weekend, we lost one of our true champions for justice and equality, and a true leader a remarkable human being, Congressman John Lewis, who I was privileged to call a friend. A deadly pandemic has killed over 140,000 Americans in nearly four months, and cases are still surging, setting new records almost daily in the last few weeks. Yet, the President continues to dissemble, disengage, and diminish the threat of this pandemic, despite the advice of our nation's public health experts and the obvious and immediate need for a credible and strong federal response and leadership. That's what this moment is calling for . . . Leadership. Not more of the same. But what we have here before us today folks is legislation that won't invest in a single meal for a hungry child, a vaccine for the pandemic, or help for the homeless or those about to lose their homes. Furthermore, the bill, in my opinion, is a retreat by Congress from its power to protect the power of the purse and our war powers. I recognize and appreciate the work of Chairman Smith and his committee on this legislation. I know that countless hours of hearings, testimony, and a long markup went into putting together this bill. However, anyway you slice it, the Pentagon's budget has increased dramatically since September 11, 2001. The war in Afghanistan is the longest conflict in our nation's history and it shows little sign of ending, even with a supposed peace deal in hand. I support the amendment put forward by Mr. Pocan that would cut the defense budget while still providing for our national defense. The amendment would exempt the Defense Health Programs and Military Personnel Accounts from any cuts. We cannot continue to mindlessly push forward defense budgets that are out of line with the threats that face our nation or the needs of our country. The U.S. spends more money than any other country on our military, but can any American look around and say with a clear conscious that all that spending has produced more peace, more world stability, or better overall outcomes for Americans, or our global brothers and sisters? All this treasure we throw at defense is not even helping the military itself, as a series of incidents over the past year has raised concerns about readiness. In fact, we appear to be spending more and more money on defense, yet our forces are less and less prepared, and it is taking longer and more money to deploy weapons systems. As noted by a bipartisan group of House members nearly a decade ago, ``We know the United States can maintain the best fighting force in the world while also pursuing sensible defense savings. How we spend our resources is just as important as how much we spend.'' Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served under both Republicans and Democrats, put it succinctly: ``We must come to realize that not every defense program is necessary, not every defense dollar is scared and well-spent, and that more of nearly everything is simply not sustainable'' especially at a time when ``the gap between the U.S. military and the rest of the world . . . will continue to be vast.'' I would also have liked to support the Schakowsky amendment on Iran; unfortunately, it was not made in order. Last year, the House voted at least three times, including on the FY 2020 NDAA, about the need to prevent a needless war with Iran and to reclaim our war powers to ensure that any such decision properly remains the provenance of Congress. I am grateful that the House Appropriations Committee recently adopted an amendment to its FY 2021 Defense Appropriations bill to stop a needless war with Iran absent formal congressional authority. But we need to take every opportunity to make clear how dangerous any ill- advised war with Iran would be. Given a President who's decision-making is as reckless as it is illinformed, this Congress must consistently push for an end to escalation and saber rattling and instead to work towards immediate diplomatic solutions. This bill is a missed opportunity, one I hope that we do not come back to regret.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank chairman Smith for his inclusion in En Bloc Amendment No. 2 of my bipartisan amendment regarding efforts to reduce maternal mortality among servicewomen. I would like to thank Congressman Steve Stivers for joining me in this effort. Our nation's overall maternal mortality rate is terrible, there is no way to sugar coat it. And we all know, that women of color suffer rates that are abysmally higher. This amendment, which has been endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, will send a strong signal to the Defense Department that Congress supports and encourages the work it is already doing with CDC to establish an Maternal Mortality Review Committee or MMRC so that we can identify the causes of servicemembers' and their dependents' pregnancy-related deaths and act to prevent them. As long as there are any maternal deaths occurring among our servicemembers and their dependents in the military, there is a distinct need for a Maternal Mortality Review Committee that will help dig deep into each maternal death and get the answers that can save other lives. I remind my colleagues, that just in the last Congress, we enacted legislation into law that would strengthen the ability of States to form these committees comprised of experts in maternal health. Since then, MMRCs around the country have provided enlightening reports that are helping us understand the drivers of maternal mortality, racial inequities, and the most effective interventions to eliminate preventable maternal deaths. And now its critical that we put this proven tool to work to help ensure safe pregnancies for servicemembers and their dependents. Additionally, as this bill moves to conference, I hope that House and Senate conferees will including report language directing the Defense Department to provide a report to Congress on its efforts to establish a MMRC and whether that committee will meet established criteria that has proven effective, including being composed of a multidisciplinary group of experts including physicians, epidemiologists, and patient advocates, having strong confidentiality protections, and facilitating comprehensive and effective data sharing with relevant state maternal mortality review committees as well as federal state death data. The goal is zero preventable maternal deaths. And it is going to require all of us working together to get there. An MMRC is just one more tool to get there. We are standing them and/or strengthening them in every state and now it's time to take this best practice and incorporate it in the military. Every maternal death is a tragedy. If we can prevent them, we need to act to do so.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2 and look forward to working with my colleagues to strengthen and improve this legislation as it moves through the legislative process. I thank the Chairs of the various committees who have worked hard and tirelessly to put this legislation together. My colleagues may have noticed that over the past few weeks demonstrators of all colors and creeds have taken to the streets to press for changes in our country caused by systemic racism. While it was police brutality that brought them to the streets, let's be clear that these inequalities span across all institutions of our society. One area where this systemic discrimination has been long known is in federal transportation funding. For much too long, good ol' boys networks have held tight the rein on this funding so that qualified small businesses owned by minorities and women have been left on the sideline. Even today, their participation is far too low, even as we celebrate some progress. Report after report continue to find systemic barriers, such as access to capital, that leave these businesses hard pressed to compete for these funds. Economic disempowerment is one of the most crippling effects of the systemic and institutional racism that has gripped this country. When businesses owned by minorities are excluded or have to jump through so many hoops as to be effectively excluded from being able to fairly compete for and undertake the billions of dollars in transportation funding we distribute every year, then we have a problem. A big problem. Policies to promote equity and end systemic racism in America must not overlook the transportation sector. We must continue to prioritize tearing down barriers that limit the ability to win work because of the color of the skin of the owner or owners or gender or any other form of unlawful discrimination when advancing transportation legislation. With so many literally crying out in our streets across our nation for Congress to act boldly and strongly to address inequalities that are so entrenched and pervasive, particularly against women and people of color, this bill marks a great opportunity to move the ball forward. Unfortunately, while H.R. 2 today recognizes the historic discrimination in the transportation industry that has left qualified businesss owned by minorities and women behind, and I applaud those steps, it overalls punts on trying to help ensure a fair and competitive process for winning work on the $1.5 trillion in funding authorized in this legislation. Even as the DOT Inspector General, GAO, and others continue to identify problems with existing programs (much less make recommendations about ways to improve them) that hinder their effectiveness, including grantees supplying incorrect data, problems with certification, and much more, this bill largely stands pat with the status quo. I am disappointed that some amendments to try and improve existing programs to address identified problems were not made in order. The status quo is unacceptable. We need to take every opportunity to tear down systemic racism and discrimination, including that found in our transportation and infrastructure sector. If the federal government is unwilling to lead in this area, who will? I include in the Record a letter that I authored, and which 40 of my colleagues joined, to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee earlier this Congress asking for an infrastructure package that helps ensure a level playing field for these qualified businesses. At the end of the day, what these communities desire is not a promise of hearings or more excuses about why we have to be careful here, but the opportunity for all communities to compete on a fair, impartial, and unbiased basis for federal transportation dollars that they, as taxpayer, contribute to. It is clear that even today, that is not the reality. We need to dismantle the institutional barriers that stack the odds against these qualified businesses. Again, I support the level of investment in this bill. I support the plus-ups for public transportation, water, rail, and to combat climate change. Those are critical changes that will help improve infrastructure and address real needs in our communities. And while I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and will vote for it, I also want to make clear that there is more work to do here to heed the voices that have taken to our streets and are screaming out today to end racism in all its forms, in all aspects of our society. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, February 8, 2019. Hon. Peter DeFazio, Chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman DeFazio: As you put together an infrastructure package, we write to urge you to take steps to ensure that minority contractors can fully participate in all projects funded by any proposal in the 116th Congress. We urge the inclusion of funding and provisions in any such proposal that help facilitate the certification of these contractors as well as to support their ability to fairly compete and win work. Additionally, we urge you to ensure that all hearings on an infrastructure package in the 116th Congress include the voices and viewpoints of minority contractors who can testify to the ongoing challenges they face in competing for and winning work on federally funded infrastructure projects. Transportation projects mean jobs and businesses for communities across our nation and ensuring that all businesses in our communities, including small and disadvantaged concerns owned businesses, must remain a priority. Unfortunately, too often, the promises provided by federal law and regulations regarding minority contractor participation in federally funded infrastructure projects fall well short of the reality. Despite some successes, many states are still struggling to meet participation goals and requirements with their regular federal infrastructure funding, when such goals and requirements are attached. What these challenges do point out is the need for lawmakers to continue to make forceful efforts to attack the historically and ongoing inequality when it comes to federal infrastructure contracting. I know you agree with us that a new infrastructure package must benefit all stakeholders, including minority contractors. Therefore, including the voices of minority contractors in the development of an infrastructure package, including hearings on such a package, is a necessary first step. Hearing from these stakeholders will allow you to better understand existing gaps in federal and state participation requirements and help get to the bottom of the most frequent complaints and problems. And the message you will most likely hear is that the Department of Transportation (DOT) needs to improve the effectiveness and oversight of its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, including better enforcement. The DOT's implementation of its DBE programs has been the subject of numerous reports by its Office of Inspector General (IG), highlighting problems with the Department's various DBE programs including at the Federal Aviation Administration. One of the most glaring conclusions from the past reports is the IG's conclusion that ``[t]he Department does not provide effective program management for the multibillion-dollar DBE program.'' Before we pour billions more of federal transportation dollars through DOT to the states as a part of an infrastructure package or surface transportation reauthorization, Congress should listen to, and then appropriately respond to, the needs and concerns of stakeholders, including minority contractors and the IG. And any such package should incorporate their ideas about how to best construct a proposal to help ensure that all communities truly benefit and have a fair and equal opportunity to compete for the thousands of contracts and subcontracts that are likely to flow from that package. We also know that without pressure from Congress, long overdue but needed improvement will not occur and these business and our communities will find themselves remaining on the sidelines, even as billions in new funding flow to communities nationwide. Again, as you move forward on constructing the infrastructure package that our nation needs, we must consider and address the needs of these qualified but often overlooked businesses. The fact is that despite repeated affirmation by Congress, some states still make no or limited efforts to help certified firms obtain DBE work on federally funded projects and in others, most certified DBEs never win any business should concern and trouble us as policymakers. Lastly, one step such legislation can take is to make clear that all infrastructure agencies have a responsibility for implementing and enforcing rules, guidance, and federal laws which require equal employment and labor opportunities in federal contracting such as Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity). That E.O. requires agencies to include certain nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity provisions in 'federal contracts, including federally assisted construction contracts. Unfortunately, we are concerned that this Administration's weak record and blatant attempts to roll back important protections enshrined in federal contracting law and regulations will have a disparate impact on minority communities and contractors. There is no reason why any package to invest in our infrastructure in order to foster a safe and modem transportation system should not also help small businesses like yours. These are not conflicting goals; it actually makes good and sound economic and transportation policy. As Members of Congress who care deeply about ending unequal access to federal contracts and addressing our nation's glaring infrastructure needs, we hope you understand the need to make sure both goals are met in any infrastructure package and will work with us to achieve them. Sincerely, Gwen Moore, Member of Congress; Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Member of Congress; Gregory Meeks, Member of Congress; Al Lawson, Jr., Member of Congress; Jan Schakowsky, Member of Congress; Alcee Hastings, Member of Congress; Marc Veasey, Member of Congress; Sheila Jackson Lee, Member of Congress; Bobby L. Rush, Member of Congress; Jaoquin Castro, Member of Congress. Karen Bass, Member of Congress; Adam Smith, Member of Congress; Suzanne Bonamici, Member of Congress; Marcia L. Fudge, Member of Congress; Ayanna Pressley, Member of Congress; Terri A. Sewell, Member of Congress; Brenda L. Lawrence, Member of Congress; Rep. Tony Cardenas, Member of Congress; Donald Payne Jr., Member of Congress; Betty McCollum, Member of Congress. Yvette D. Clarke, Member of Congress; Collin Peterson, Member of Congress; Earl Blumenauer, Member of Congress; Ilhan Omar, Member of Congress; Nydia M. Velazquez, Member of Congress; Debbie Dingell, Member of Congress; Rashida Tlaib, Member of Congress; Bennie Thompson, Member of Congress; Andre Carson, Member of Congress; Jesus G. ``Chuy'' Garcia, Member of Congress. Sanford D. Bishop, Member of Congress; David Scott, Member of Congress; Bonnie Watson Coleman, Member of Congress; Adriano Espaillat, Member of Congress; Joyce Beatty, Member of Congress; William Lacy Clay, Member of Congress; Mark Pocan, Member of Congress; Angie Craig, Member of Congress; Laureen Underwood, Member of Congress; Ruben Gallego, Member of Congress. Cedric L. Richmond, Member of Congress; Grace Meng, Member of Congress; John Lewis, Member of Congress; Eddie Bernice Johnson, Member of Congress; Anthony Brown, Member of Congress; Robin L. Kelly, Member of Congress

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of the Tlaib/Kildee/Slotkin/Cicilline/Moore amendment to help remove dangerous lead pipes in our communities. Lead paint in housing and water infrastructure containing lead are the two primary, but not the sole, pathways for lead poisoning in our children. HUD estimates that over 22 million homes (34 percent of the homes built before 1978) have significant lead-based paint hazards. Nationwide, estimates are that there are as many as 10 million lead service lines. The pernicious impacts of lead poisoning are well known. These impacts are often lifelong and irreversible. Lead poisoning is a serious threat in the State of Wisconsin and particularly in the City of Milwaukee, which has the largest concentration of lead service lines in the state. And its not just my state. According to the Great Lakes Governor's and Premiers, the Great Lakes region contains the highest concentrations of lead service lines in the United States. The good news is that lead poisoning is preventable, not inevitable, if we act. It is critical that we start taking steps to boost assistance, especially to localities with extremely high numbers of households served by lead lateral lines, who are least able to pay for the replacement of those lines. That's what this amendment does. This amendment would authorize $4.5 billion dollars per year for 5 years to help pay to fully replace lead service lines across the country with a priority given to low-income and other communities that suffer disproportionately from the harms posed by this threat. A sustained substantial commitment to federal lead prevention and mitigation efforts is critical if our country is to make serious progress in protecting our nation's children. That's what this amendment does. It raises the federal investment and makes changes to ensure that more households can participate in comprehensive lead reduction projects that fully replace lead lines. Unfortunately, the households most affected by this problem often have the fewest resources available to pay to replace lead pipes. It reaffirms a federal commitment to helping get lead pipes out of the ground. Primary prevention--the removal of lead hazards from the environment before a child is exposed--is the most effective way to ensure that children do not experience the harmful effects of lead exposure. These funds will help to ensure that children can grow up healthy and safe while living in homes where they are protected from lead poisoning. For this small investment, our communities reap great gains. The annual costs of lead poisoning have been estimated at over $50 billion. As noted in a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, ``In the absence of lead, hundreds of thousands of children would be more likely to realize their full potential thanks to higher GPAs, a better chance of earning high school diplomas and graduating. This amendment gets us closer to riding our communities of lead service lines and to providing a healthier tomorrow for millions of children and their families. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge support for my amendment, including in the En Bloc Amendment, that would provide the Office of Tribal Affairs created in this bill with the responsibility of ensuring that the Department of Transportation has in place and enforces federal government wide requirement for regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with Tribes and Tribal officials as outlined in Executive Order 13175 issued by President Clinton in 2000. I thank the chairman for its inclusion in En Bloc Amendment No. 1. The reality is while Executive Order 13175 was groundbreaking, it has never quite lived up to its promise. Too many federal agencies have failed (and still fall short today) to executive its directive to ensure that tribes have a say in federal activities that impact them. Why was this Order needed? Because, unfortunately, history has shown that failure by the federal government to consider the impact on tribal communities or to include their voices in federal decision making has all too often led to undesirable and, at times, devastating policy. Consultation and engagement is a basic must for maintaining a strong and productive Federal-tribal relationship. A key part of protecting sovereignty and self-determination is to make sure that federal agencies actively gather, listen, and heed the input of tribes relating to federal projects and activities that will impact them. Providing this responsibility to this new office within a Department that supports tens of billions of dollars of projects in every part of our country makes sense. Among other requirements, Executive Order 13175 called on each federal agency to ``have an accountable process to ensure meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications.'' It further went on to require each federal agency to designate an official to lead the agency's implementation of the Order's requirements. I believe the new Tribal Office created in this bill would be perfectly position to carry out those duties and ensure that the Department of Transportation and its agencies implement an effective tribal consultation process, including pushing the Department to follow up on its commitment to tell tribes how their input was or was not actually used, a flaw pointed out in a 2019 report by the GAO. The impact of the transportation programs authorized in this bill and on tribal lands goes beyond the tribal programs authorized in this legislation. Therefore, this new office should also be able to look broadly across the Department and work to monitor and fix problems with how the Department in general works with tribes on projects and activities, regardless of funding source. No single office can fix this problem but by creating a point for accountability and transparency, it will move us closer to the goal wonderfully articulated in Executive Order 13175 but which has proved so elusive ever since. With that, I urge support for my amendment and the larger En Bloc package.

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment which has been included in this En Bloc Amendment. As we debate this bill, our nation is experiencing a resurrection in COVID-19 cases, with record or near record one day totals occurring almost daily. While this may not be the time to rehash rash decisions to reopen in the face of public health advice, it does again remind us of the need to continue to provide tools to communities to help identify, track, and treat those affected by this deadly virus. Tracking COVID-19 in the community is extremely important in the fight to stop this deadly killer which has already infected over 2.5 million Americans and killed over 125,000. As noted by the Water Research Foundation, ``wastewater surveillance of COVID-19 could be an early, cost-effective, unbiased community-level indicator of the presence of COVID-19.'' Research is underway in our nation and around the world to try and use sewage samples to spot any potential surge or other trends in caseloads in a community. It is believed that the virus will show up in sewer samples even for patients that show no outward symptoms. For example, in late March, samples from one wastewater utility in Massachusetts found that the amount of SARS-Co V-2 particles indicated a far higher number of people likely infected with Covid-19 than the area's reported cases My amendment would formally authorize a more robust EPA research program to help develop guidance and procedures to help identify and measure SARS-Co V-2 levels in wastewater. There are still a lot of unknowns associated with this evolving tool. The EPA is well positioned to offer key guidance and information to wastewater utilities interested in helping support such research. While it has undertaken some activities in this area, more can be done to inform sample collection, analysis, and interpretation of results of this research. The EPA can also help support greater coordination in ongoing research to prevent duplicative effort, help close knowledge gaps, and support better communication of the results of such testing to the public, public health officials, and others. As our nation continues to respond to the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, this is an evolving field that shows promise at providing real time or near real time community wide surveillance that isn't directly tied to testing (although we still need to do that and do that better). I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7301, legislation to provide help to our renters, homeowners, and landlords who are at risk of becoming homeless. The bill would strengthen and renew critical protections to ensure that tens of millions of Americans can keep a roof over their heads. It also makes sure we can continue to get help to those who are already homeless. The economic shock created by COVID-19 is still ongoing. Now is not the time to relax the protections that Congress has put in place. When this health crisis escalated in March and the House first acted, no one could imagine the devastation that would befall our communities. Over 120,000 Americans dead, more than 2 million infected. And the confirmed death and case counts remain on the rise. Our nation has experienced 14 straight weeks of over 1 million unemployment weekly claims and national unemployment rates that have tripled. Many have lost jobs and the only thing keeping them in their homes is either a local, state, or federal moratorium or the kindness of landlords. We know we are engaged with a deadly foe that preys on the most vulnerable. Our new normal is not going away and our public policies need to respond to help the tens of millions of Americans who are now living on the edge, through no fault of their own. In my state of Wisconsin, according to media reports, we saw ``eviction filings jumping 42 percent statewide in the first two weeks of June'' following the end of a statewide moratorium on such actions. The number of eviction filings will only worsen if we allow the federal moratorium, currently scheduled to lapse no later than July 25 that affect federally subsidized housing and backed mortgages, to come to a sharp halt. The Trump Administration and Senate Majority Leader McConnell may be content to wait and watch as more and more Americans falter in these trying economic times, but we must not be so callous. This bill would extend the eviction moratorium to March 27, 2021. It would also extend it to help all renters and provide $100 billion for an emergency rental assistance fund that would help renters cover their rent and utility bills, including any unpaid bills. We also help homeowners by banning foreclosures for an additional 6 months and creating a Homeowner Assistance Fund that would help with mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, and other housing related costs. The legislation also takes steps to help the homeless, who were already vulnerable before this pandemic. Strong funding for homeless assistance grants will help ensure that people experiencing homelessness are able to follow social distancing guidance and have access to necessary services to get them into permanent housing. This bill would also give $1 billion to for new Housing Choice Vouchers that would be targeted to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and survivors of domestic violence. Because homelessness leads many people to cycle through costly emergency systems and shortens life expectancy, it is good public policy to put resources toward keeping people from becoming homeless in the first place and helping those who are homeless get stable housing. The middle of a pandemic is not the time to take away lifelines. Housing is crucially important. Let us act to help keep people homed and to support those experiencing homelessness. As I said on this floor nearly four years ago, ``The American people deserve a Congress and a President who will keep them in their houses and in their homes.''

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7120--George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. This legislation has been a long time coming and for many it has arrive too little too late. Our nation is a work in progress, and we will continue to fight for equality under the law in every and all aspects. As we recently celebrate Juneteenth, I am reminded of what my ancestors have endured, and I know that they would be proud of the progress we are making today. I know I am. This essential legislation has critical provision including supporting the need for more deescalation training for police officers, something that I have long fought for and which has proven time and time again to work. The bill will also block the transfer of weapons of war to police departments, end the no-knock warrants that led to the murder of Breonna Taylor, ban choke holds that killed Eric Garner and George Floyd, and finally end qualified immunity which has shielded police officers from receiving justice for killing or injuring members of the community. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus but more importantly as a black mother, grandmother, and now great grandmother, I am so proud to be an original sponsor of the legislation. Our communities are demanding action, calling for strong and effective action that will help not only prevent future tragedies between police and the communities they patrol, but also help increase trust and build safer communities. This is a commonsense bill that deserves bipartisan support. This is the first step to making our union more perfect and I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I support this imperfect interim agreement. But I want to be clear, while it funds some key priorities, it leaves behind additional key assistance that we can provide to households, individuals, and state and local governments that are the tip of the spear in the fight against COVID-19. As we take up this bill, I recognize that it is a much better bill than the one Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tried to ram through the Senate last week. Thanks to those who worked so hard to help accomplish that. That being said, it is clear that this Congress has much more work to do to support the American people, our heroic public health and health professionals on the front line of this pandemic while fighting to get basic protective equipment, and to help support state, local, and tribal governments that are leading this response. This legislation will temporarily refill the Paycheck Protection Program but if the experience of the first week of this program is any indication, demand will again quickly overwhelm this program and the program's funds will be quickly depleted. And while I support the changes to direct funds into the hands of some of the most vulnerable small businesses, that addresses just one of the numerous concerns about this program that my office has heard. And I know other Members have heard as well. More changes are needed not only to increase transparency and protect the taxpayer, but also to help this program work better for more vulnerable small businesses, not just larger corporations or friends of the Trump Administration. I am also pleased that the bill includes additional funding to support our hospitals and other health providers that daily work to test, diagnose, treat those affected with this illness. They have saved countless lives. However, so far, the Administration has only released $30 billion of the first $100 billion provided by Congress a few weeks ago, with little if any of that money shipped out so far going to children's hospitals, community health centers or Medicaid providers, among others who are struggling. The Administration needs to be more transparent about how it will distribute the remaining funds from the first round and the additional funding in this bill and how it will determine key terms, such as hot spots that it reportedly wants to target. And it needs to get these dollars out soon. Weeks more of delay is not acceptable. Additional funding provided for our public health efforts through CDC, HRSA, and NIH is appreciated. But since this is a public health emergency, much more funding is needed especially as state and local governments are challenged by an economic slowdown that has imperiled their revenues. There is more to be done and that must be done soon. We need another strong comprehensive bill in line with the CARES act that responds to emerging needs. Access to Personal Protective Equipment remains a struggle and testing remains a challenge even while the Administration pats itself on the back on both fronts. Additionally, we need to ensure that critical programs that serve populations that will be hit the hardest by any economic downturn, like TANF and SNAP, are granted funding and flexibility to help people through these trying times. Having tried to take care of everybody else, our next package needs to look out for the least, the last, and the lost. Lastly, one of the truly missed opportunities is funding to support safe and secure elections in this environment. Unfortunately, my state of Wisconsin has become an unwelcomed example of what happens when partisanship, rather than people's well-being, guides decisions about holding elections in this environment. In the city of Milwaukee, the largest city in the State, there were only 5 polling stations available. You can guess the result . . . long lines that both discouraged voting and raised a potential health threat to both voters and poll workers. We know more elections will be held soon and regardless of decisions about reopening states and cities, they must take place in the safest and securest possible environment we can ensure. That requires funding. Funding to support a full panoply of voting options including absentee ballots and extended early voting periods. We also need funding to ensure localities have an adequate number of polling places and funds to ensure that all votes cast are counted accurately and fairly. And that's just to list a few of the reasons why funding to protect our election security is so fundamentally needed. In the recent Wisconsin election, nearly 80% of the ballots cast were absentee. But even there you had issues as you had people request a ballot who did not get one or had one sent after the elections, there were also issues with stacks of undelivered absentee ballots, and ballots returned because they did not have a postmark. The longer we delay providing these funds, the less likely we will get, despite the best efforts by hardworking state and local officials, a fair election. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, on March 9, 2020, I missed Roll Call votes 91 and 92. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on both measures.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Howard Snyder the founder and long-time Executive Director of the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For nearly 40 years, Howard has been a critical ally for economic development in some of Milwaukee's most disadvantaged areas and this year will be stepping down from his role. Howard began his career as a community organizer for the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center advocating for housing on Milwaukee's Northwest Side. After serving for six years, Howard saw the communities dire need for economic development and founded the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC) in 1983. His vision for NWSCDC was an organization that could help lead the transformation of the Northwest Side of Milwaukee into a preferred destination for business and residents. Under Howard's leadership, the NWSCDC has served the development needs of Milwaukee's low-income communities by assisting the expansion of industries and small businesses. Since the year 2000 alone, the NWSCDC has lent over $10 million to several major projects for its constituency. As a result, economic growth has continued to spur, creating new jobs, markets, and services for these communities. One of these notable projects included the redevelopment of the Villard Avenue Library on Villard with 47 housing units for ``grand families'', grandparents serving as the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Today NWSCDC is one of the oldest and most dynamic community development corporations, serving as a model for the rest of the country. It has been a catalyst for change in our city; rehabbing properties and lending funds to new businesses. In a community that is still recovering from the effects of deindustrialization, this organization has given our community hope for a grander future. Words cannot express how grateful we are to have a leader like Howard in our community. His heart has always been set on improving the lives of the community he serves. The compassion and ongoing success of NWSCDC reflects the kindness and leadership he has provided to the Greater Milwaukee community. While he may be entering a new chapter of his life, I know that his work and dedication will not end. Madam Speaker, Howard Snyder has made Milwaukee and the 4th Congressional District, a better place and I salute him for his love and service to its residents.