Richard Neal

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore), the passionate advocate for the people of Milwaukee.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene), a terrific member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer), whose economic advice abounds through this institution.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), who is always quotable.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans), a highly effective member of the Ways and Means Committee and a terrific gentleman from Philadelphia.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), a fellow Bay Stater, good friend, terrific leader.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), who is a very effective member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), neighbor, friend, and an effective member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez), whose negotiating skill on USMCA really impressed me.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), who had a substantive impact on the writing of this legislation.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), who is a terrific advocate for all things Nevada.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest congratulations to my good friend Janis Santos on her retirement following 40 years of dedicated public service to the children and families of western Massachusetts. A pioneer in the field of early education and childhood development, Janis most recently served as CEO of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start. Through her efforts to expand Head Start's programs across the Commonwealth, Janis has played a prominent role in improving the lives of more than 1,000 young children. Her diligence in directing the only migrant, seasonal Head Start program in Massachusetts only further demonstrates her exceptional commitment to helping the most vulnerable families in our communities. In 1973, Janis began her lifelong advocacy and action on behalf of children and families by launching one of the first early-childhood centers in Ludlow, Massachusetts. Just six years later, in recognition of her cutting-edge approach to the field, Janis was taken on as Executive Director of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start, During her expansive and impressive career, Janis has served as Chair of the Massachusetts Head Start Directors Association, the New England Head Start Association, as well as a member of the National Advisory Panel for the Head Start 2010 Project here in our nation's capital. While her myriad of leadership roles is most impressive, what I most admire about Janis is the tireless dedication she has demonstrated throughout her 40-year career to providing our youth the resources they need to succeed in the future. Madam Speaker, in light of Janis Santos' many achievements and remarkable contributions to the early education of the children of western Massachusetts, as well as her role in shaping conversations on early education throughout the nation, I would like to thank Janis for her steadfast service, and offer my personal best wishes for a long, happy, and healthy retirement.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Academy Hill School on celebrating their 35th anniversary. This milestone achievement deserves the highest praise for the hard work and dedication of the school's faculty and staff, as well those students whose remarkable commitment to learning has played a pivotal role in the school's success. Although established in 1986, the Academy Hill School began operating in 1979, offering enrichment classes to gifted students throughout the Greater Springfield community. Two years after opening their full-time day school in 1986, the Academy Hill Center for Gifted Children was incorporated as a non-profit organization. Over the next three decades, Academy Hill would grow and expand their campus, relocating to their current location on Liberty Street in Springfield, and nearly doubling their total enrollment in their K-8 program. This past year has reminded us of the critical role our schools play in our children's lives, with millions of educators across the country taking on the tremendous responsibility of providing our students equitable educational opportunities in a safe and healthy environment. Therefore, I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion to celebrate all that the Academy Hill School has accomplished over the past 35 years. Madam Speaker, I would like to once again congratulate the Academy Hill School on celebrating their 35th anniversary, and thank them for continuing to inspire our students. Academy Hill is a cherished member of Massachusetts' First District, and I wish them many more years of success and prosperity.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez), whose work on USMCA was outstanding.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the very capable Congresswoman.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta) again, a very knowledgeable member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader, one of the most capable legislators I have known.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, we keep hearing from our colleagues that somehow we are asking them to cosign a loan. I am prepared here to vote to lift the debt ceiling. That is the responsible position. We have heard a lot today from the other side about why Democrats should shoulder the responsibility of acting responsibly in terms of governance, but that is not how governing simply works. We have been given great responsibility and privilege to serve this great country, and that responsibility means making hard decisions and putting the good of the Nation ahead of all else, including day-to-day politics. So in my hand, Madam Speaker, I have a $1 bill. For anybody in this Chamber or who is watching or who has ever had a chance to travel this great country of ours, you know that wherever you go, you can redeem this dollar. The purchasing power of this dollar is well known to all. But you know what is even more fascinating about this? No matter where you travel in the world, to any nook or cranny of this globe, you put the dollar on the table and they figure out how to redeem it. This argument today is about the full faith and credit of the United States of America. This is signed by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Treasurer of the United States of America. The basis of redemption is the trust that we might even have in strangers as it relates to the transaction of using this dollar to pay our bills. We have always come together to pay our bills. In 2017, when the debt ceiling was reached, 183 Democrats, every Democrat present, voted to lift that limit, joining 133 Republicans. Resist the ill-considered parts of the argument that have been offered today and vote for the responsible position to raise the debt ceiling based upon the full faith and credit of the dollar bill that we know is redeemed everywhere across the globe. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans), who is a very capable gentleman. He is champion of all things Philadelphia, as well as quite knowledgeable about the debt ceiling.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider), who is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and well-known for his midwestern values.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu), who is a very capable member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore), who is always the great champion of expanding the earned income tax credit.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins), a very capable member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), who is always a champion of the industrial heartland.

Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, chief architect of the child credit expansion.