Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Illinois for leading this Special Order hour, which is a great responsibility given to them by the chairman of this body. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the recent expulsion of two elected members of the Tennessee Legislature and the threat this action poses for American democracy. On April 6, two Black elected officials, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, as we all know, were expelled from the Tennessee State Legislature. They were involved in peaceful protests to demand legislators pass stricter gun laws in the State. Why they were engaged in that peaceful protest is because their colleagues had tried to silence them so many times during normal debate, in committee, and on the floor of the Tennessee Legislature that they finally had to take these actions in order to be heard. They were expelled because of that protest. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of those young men. They stood up for what they felt was right, and they took their opportunity, as elected officials of that body, to be heard. If it took rebellion to be heard, a megaphone to be heard on the floor, then that is what they had to do. I was honored to be part of something similar that the Congressional Black Caucus led on this floor not too many years ago. I see my colleague Joyce Beatty and my colleague Yvette Clarke here. They were both part of that rebellion. We sat down on the House floor, which is against the rules. We sat down because of the same issue these young men spoke up for: gun violence. We were tired. John Lewis led us, as he had done so many times before, and we sat right down on that floor and held the House of Representatives for over 24 hours. Our colleagues tried to come back and disrupt us and scare us, but we were unbowed. We continued to hold this floor until we had people understand that we were serious about this. Our children are being killed all over this Nation, and the unfortunate thing that happens with so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is that, until it happens in their community, until it happens to their friends, until it happens to their family, they don't want to talk about it. Let it happen in their community and to their friends and to their family, and then we have to do something. It is just like the fentanyl problem, a major problem in this country now. Urban communities screamed about the opioid issue for 20 years, and nobody did anything. Now that it is impacting their families, it is a major health issue. We have to understand that all issues in this country should be looked at in that manner. These young men were brave and articulate. It made sense for them to protest the horrible and unnecessary gun violence that occurs every day in this country. In March, a former student entered the Covenant School in Nashville and killed three students and three adults. The school was part of Nashville's Covenant Presbyterian Church. Like millions of Americans, Tennessee residents are sick and tired of gun violence. I have many Members behind me, so I will not belabor the point, but, Mr. Speaker, when are we going to address this issue? The majority of the people in this country say they are willing to have reasonable gun background checks to make sure criminals or people with mental illness do not have these weapons because we are finding many times those are the people that are having these issues. Why can't we deal with that? It is not unreasonable. Every American has a Second Amendment right to own a gun, but we should make sure we keep guns out of certain people's hands. That is what we need to do.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Lower Energy Costs Act, or H.R. 1. That is a joke. Once again, the title of a Republican bill does not match the content. This bill does not save Americans one dime in energy costs. Instead, it will cost them at least $2.4 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It will pollute drinking water and poison the air we breathe. It eliminates Federal funds to decrease greenhouse gases, and it increases dangerous drilling on Federal lands and in national parks. It was Republican President Richard Nixon who started the Environmental Protection Agency. Back then, Republicans cared about the health and safety of the environment and Americans. Clearly, this bill shows they could care less about both.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Walter Dukes and the 1953 Seton Hall University National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Championship team. It was exactly 70 years ago that Dukes led the Seton Hall Pirates to the NIT championship. It was a remarkable achievement for Dukes and his teammates, who fought racism and segregation during their historic championship season. Walter Dukes was Seton Hall's seven-foot tall, African-American center during that magical 1952-53 season. Like most championship teams, the 1952-53 Seton Hall was well-coached with strong players at every position. The Pirates won 31 games that season and lost only two games. They remain the only New Jersey college basketball team to have won a national tournament championship. Dukes was their indisputable leader who pulled down a remarkable 734 rebounds that year, an NCAA Division 1 record that still stands. Yet, many college basketball fans didn't approve of his presence on a basketball court dominated by white players. At the time, Life Magazine wrote about the experience for Dukes and the Seton Hall Pirates under the headline: ROUGH GAME. ROUGHER SEQUEL. In a four-page article, the magazine memorialized one of the ugliest, race-related moments in college basketball history- an angry mob attacking Dukes and his teammates following a loss against the University of Louisville Cardinals. At the end of the 1952-53 regular season, the Pirates chose the NIT instead of the NCAA Tournament in order to avenge their loss to Louisville. Unfortunately, they never had that opportunity as Louisville was eliminated from the tournament. But, the Seton Hall Pirates continued to win and beat St. John's University, 58-46, to win the 1953 NIT title. Walter Dukes, Seton Hall's star center, was named NIT Most Valuable Player. Walter Dukes continued to play basketball professionally for a few years with the Harlem Globetrotters and then in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the New York Knicks, Minneapolis (now Los Angeles) Lakers, and the Detroit Pistons. After his basketball career, Dukes became a civil rights lawyer to protect the rights of African Americans. He died in 2001 of natural causes at the age of 70. Walter Dukes and his Seton Hall teammates are legends in New Jersey and college basketball lore. They are a team that should inspire all of us for their courage as they battled racism in their pursuit of a championship. Their 1952-53 championship season bears witness to the importance of character and faith to success.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Benevolent Protective Order of Reindeer. This organization is one of New Jersey's oldest African-American fraternal organizations. It was founded in 1923 in response to the prejudice in other animal lodges. Early organizations named after animals would not let African Americans become members, so the Benevolent Protective Order of Reindeer was formed and invited everyone to join. Today, the organization's principles of service, unity, and charity are represented in its exceptional social work. In addition, it provides scholarships for worthy students and engages in community activism to fight for social justice. The Benevolent Protective Order of Reindeer is an outstanding organization in my district, and I am proud to celebrate its 100th anniversary on the House floor today.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Theresa Maughan. The East Orange Educator is New Jersey's 2022 State Teacher of the Year. She teaches 10th grade social studies at East Orange STEM Academy, and she is an inspiration to everyone in my district. Ms. Maughan was born in Belize and immigrated to America when she was in elementary school. In her childhood, she was inspired to teach by her own social studies teacher. She has worked in education for 40 years. Ms. Maughan tells her students that she tries to learn something new every day, and her commitment to my district's teachers and students has helped her win numerous awards, such as the 2021 Essex County Teacher of the Year. Congratulations, again, to New Jersey's 2022 Teacher of the Year, Theresa Maughan. She is a great example of how teachers benefit our lives and communities every day.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Jackson of the great State of Illinois, for the opportunity to speak with you today. Let me acknowledge my colleagues who are leading this fight, the Honorable Cori Bush from the great State of Missouri, the Honorable Ayanna Pressley from the great State of Massachusetts, and all the women who have held us down in the struggle. There would not be the great strides of African-American men if it were not for African- American women. I understand that, and I appreciate that every day. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the tremendous work of African- American women in the continued fight to pass the equal rights amendment, and I thank, once again, Representative Bush for hosting this Special Order hour tonight. The equal rights amendment is one of America's most important pieces of legislation. The amendment would guarantee equal legal rights for all Americans, regardless of gender. The Constitution is an amazing document, and it is amazing how many people were left out of it. The ERA was written 100 years ago by Alice Paul, a New Jersey advocate for women's rights. There have been several prominent African-American women who have made significant contributions to the Nation's fight for the equal rights amendment. Pauli Murray was a lawyer and civil rights advocate who wrote the book ``States' Laws on Race and Color.'' Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall called her book the bible of the civil rights movement. Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman in Congress, and she introduced dozens of bills for gender and racial equality. Flo Kennedy challenged the reputation of African Americans in the media and advertising. Barbara Jordan was a lawyer and the first African-American woman from the South to be elected to Congress. Many of my congressional colleagues continue their fight for women's rights every single day. I am proud to be from a State with a long history of support for women's rights. In 1790, New Jersey was the first State to enfranchise women in its constitution. Then, New Jersey's constitution was rewritten in 1947 to include equal rights for women-- but that was only White women. In New Jersey, equal rights have been the law for 76 years. Thanks to New Jersey's constitution, it is impossible to take those rights away. That is why we need a national equal rights amendment. I am so proud of the gentlewoman from Missouri for spearheading this fight. It would keep extremist legislators from taking the hard-earned rights of women away from them. If you look now at what is going on in this country, there is an effort to take rights away from many people--making it harder for them to vote, eliminating polling sites in minority areas, and not allowing people to get drinking water handed to them from someone else. There is already an assault to turn the clock back. Is that what making America great again is all about, returning to a day when people don't have equal rights and making sure that minorities have a more difficult time exercising their rights? Everyone thought that Roe v. Wade was the accepted law of the land, and look at where that has gone. It is chipping away at rights slowly but surely. When African Americans got the right to vote, why was it only for a period of 25 years and then we have to revisit this topic every 25 years: Should we let Blacks vote, or should we not? That baffles me. That absolutely baffles me. Why was it not just made the law of the land and forget about it? It is because of times like now that we see what is going on. We are turning the clock back. We are questioning whether or not people should have the equal right to vote. We are in a very dangerous time in this country. People are arming themselves with AR-15s. Someone is requesting that that be made the national gun of this country. We are in a very dangerous time, and now an extremist Supreme Court has taken away the fundamental right for women to determine their own healthcare for their own bodies. Mr. Speaker, one day my friends on the other side of the aisle say that government is too much in your business and your privacy--except when they want to take a woman's right to her healthcare. They want government to be involved in that. They don't want the government to be involved in anything important to them, but they feel that they have the right to determine what another woman does with her body. It is hypocritical. It is hypocrisy. We must not let the legal rights that women deserve to be taken away from them. That is why we must pass the ERA, and we must pass it now.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to attack the bill H.R. 5 because it attacks education. Republicans call it the Parents Bill of Rights Act. In reality, it should be called the politics over parents act. H.R. 5 would take vital resources away from local schools and educators. It would allow schools to be centers of indoctrination and not education. It would allow communities to ban books if they don't like them. The Founding Fathers knew that public education was vital to an educated populace and proper self-government. It has helped millions of Americans rise out of poverty, and it has helped millions of Americans start businesses and pursue the American Dream. Yet, Republicans continue their assault on public education at every opportunity. I am proud to be part of a party that supports the American Dream for all Americans and not one that wants to reject it. Thank goodness for the United States Senate.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to New Jersey State Senator Ronald Rice after his passing on March 15, 2022. State Senator Rice was one of the most dedicated distinguished public servants in my district and a tireless fighter for civil rights throughout my district. State Senator Rice spent most of his life serving the people of New Jersey's 28th District and his country. He was the longest-serving Black legislator in our state's history. State Senator Rice graduated from Malcolm X. Shabazz High School in Newark and later joined the Marine Corps. He spent four years in the Marine Corps, including two years in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. When his service was completed, he retired with the rank of Sergeant and earned Presidential and Navy Unit Citations. Then State Senator Rice spent eight years as a police detective, four years as Newark's Deputy Mayor, and served on the Newark City Council. During this time, Rice earned an associate's degree in police science at Essex County Community College, a bachelor's degree at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, and his master's degree at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Criminal Justice. Rice worked for Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) as a member of the safety and security team until he was elected to the New Jersey State Senate. Rice spent more than 35 years as a State Senator. He was known for his strong support and advocacy for social justice and civil rights. State Senator Rice has sponsored legislation in the areas of criminal justice, healthcare, affordable housing, tenant rights, employee rights and education. Recently, he had a street and sports complex named in his honor in my district to commemorate his legacy. Both honors are well deserved. I congratulate State Senator Rice on his tremendous career as a public servant and I know his work for Newark and the people of New Jersey will be missed. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in celebrating his life of public service and extend deepest condolences to his children, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and all his family and friends.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of one of New Jersey's most distinguished State senators. New Jersey State Senator Ronald Rice passed away on March 15. He spent more than 35 years serving the people of New Jersey's 28th District, and he was the longest serving Black legislator in our State's history. Senator Rice started as a Newark City Council member before he became a State senator, but his service to our community and our country extended beyond politics. Senator Rice was a sergeant in the Marine Corps and a decorated Vietnam veteran. He spent 8 years as a police detective and 4 years as Newark's deputy mayor. As a State senator, he was known for his strong advocacy for social justice and civil rights. His dedication to equality was known throughout the State. Senator Rice was an exceptional public servant, and I know his work for Newark and the people of New Jersey will be missed.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support President Biden's new 2024 budget proposal. This budget is just what the country needs to move forward. It includes caps on insulin payments to $35 for all Americans. It restores the enhanced child tax credit and provides up to $3,600 per family per child. It contains $4.5 billion for infrastructure projects. It has $700 million for the Hudson River tunnel and Gateway Program, and it includes $219 million to eliminate lead pipes from drinking water around the country. This budget represents strong leadership, and it supports investments in the future of American prosperity. I am proud to support President Biden's new budget. Now we need Speaker McCarthy to show the same responsibility and leadership with his budget proposal.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Captain Janet Days during Women's History Month. Captain Days is the first African-American female to be the commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Station Norfolk. This naval station is the largest naval base in the world. It is the hub of U.S. Naval operations in the Atlantic, Europe, and the Caribbean, and Captain Days is an exceptional choice to lead the station. In her distinguished military career, she has earned seven Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, and a Defense Meritorious Service Medal. She has served on several ships, including the aircraft carrier USS David D. Eisenhower during Operation Enduring Freedom. She is an American hero, and I am proud to honor her accomplishments on the floor today.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, more than 153,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease, and more than 51,000 people will die from it. Yet, if we catch it early, 90 percent of patients can survive within 5 years. The key is awareness and education. If we can educate more Americans about colorectal cancer, we can limit the number of deaths from it. We can remove the fears and stigmas that prevent people from getting screenings. It is 11 years, 2 days ago, on March 6, that I lost my father, Congressman Donald Payne, Sr., to colorectal cancer. If more people get screened, we can prevent more families, more fathers, more mothers, more sisters, and more brothers from succumbing from the dreaded disease.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Women's History Month. It is important to celebrate the contributions women have made to our country. For example, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson helped put a man on the Moon. Mary McLeod Bethune was an educator and served as an adviser to three U.S. Presidents. Dorothy Height was considered the godmother of the women's movement for her work to advance gender equality. Charlotte Ray was the first female, African-American lawyer in the United States. Ida Wells was born into slavery and became an outspoken advocate for women's issues. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler dedicated her life to caring for low-income women across the East Coast. These women are a few of the many talented ones who have benefited our country, and I get the honor of seeing their legacy in the work of the many brilliant women making history in the U.S. Congress today.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for the opportunity to speak here tonight. As I knew before, I have just learned again, you should not follow any speaker with the last name Jackson. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery, and support the need to pass critical legislation to protect the right to vote for all Americans. In 1964, our Nation passed the Civil Rights Act. It established clearly that the rights described in the U.S. Constitution applied to all Americans, regardless of color. The question I have, though, and I will raise in the future is: Why do we have to continually ask for that right every 25 years? That right should have been given in 1964 and been a permanent right. So as we get through this piece of legislation, I will start to raise that question: Why is it we have to come every 25 years and ask for a right that we deserve? But there were still political structures in place that denied African Americans the right to vote. So African Americans mobilized and promoted voter registration throughout the country, especially in the southern U.S. States. Few places in the country were as segregated as the State of Alabama. In some Alabama counties, African Americans represented half of the population, but they only represented 2 percent of registered voters. At the time, activists engaged in peaceful protests to attack the Jim Crow laws that kept African Americans off the voter rolls. They were arrested and beaten for their efforts. When famed civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested during one of these protests, he said that there were more African Americans in jail than on the local voter rolls. Finally, 600 brave Americans, led by 25-year-old hero, John Lewis, planned to march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery. They wanted to discuss voter segregation with the Alabama Governor and renowned racist, George Wallace. They marched across the now famous Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, in the hopes that they could find justice. Instead, they were beaten by White state troopers and sheriff's deputies in a day known as ``Bloody Sunday.'' We have come a long way in this country from the evils of that era, but there are some people that are looking to set the clock back. The forces of racism and prejudice have found new voices these days, and they are trying to undo the work that we have done to create an equal society. In 2022, there were 11 laws passed in 8 States to restrict voting rights, and another 408 bills to restrict voting rights were considered in 39 States. In Georgia, you are not even allowed to provide water to hot and tired voters waiting in line. Right now, there is a battle to secure voting rights for every citizen in our country. There are still people who think all Americans do not deserve the right to vote, and they target our African-American communities directly. It makes me furious that we have to go through this cycle every 15 to 20 years, as I stated, to keep our right to vote. That is why we must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This bill puts people over politics to protect their voting rights. It establishes Election Day as a national holiday. It allows voting to be more accessible for all Americans, and it ends partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts. Even more important, States with a history of voter discrimination and suppression would need Federal approval before they could change their voting laws. There has never been a more important time to pass this bill than right now. I am fighting to secure the right to vote for all Americans, especially African Americans. That is why I helped pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis bill in the previous Congress and why I am here helping support this bill's passage in this Congress. Mr. Speaker, let us put people over politics and pass this bill now.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise a great speller in my district, Kavya Jakasania. The seventh grade student at Frank R. Conwell, Middle School 4, in Jersey City won the 2023 Hudson County Spelling Bee recently. Kavya bested a field of 62 of my district's top spellers to take the crown. It was a tough battle to the end, but after 12 rounds, Kavya spelled the word ``internecine'' correctly to win the spelling bee. For my edification and for my colleagues who are curious about ``internecine,'' it means deadly or marked by great slaughter. With her victory, Kavya advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30 through June 1. I know she will do a great job. She has already made me, her school, and her family very proud of her success.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to question my Republican colleagues' continued support of Donald Trump. He does not support our country nor their party. He rejects our American Constitution. He steals Republican funds. For example, he raised $150 million for Republican candidates and then kept all the money for himself and his rallies. He insults Americans of faith and used the Bible as a prop during a promotional shoot. He attacks Republican officials and works to remove them from office. Now he could face Federal prosecution for his role in the January 6 insurrection. I am proud to be part of the Democratic Party that works for the American people, not one person. Yet, too many Republicans support Donald Trump more than our country. It does not make sense to me nor the American people.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in our cities and towns. There is no gun violence without guns. From the countless calls I receive from my constituents to the majority of Americans who have voiced their support for gun control reform, something must be done by Congress. So many Americans are haunted by the gun violence that has taken their loved ones, and that is why we should all be in favor of stronger gun laws to keep these weapons out of dangerous hands. Too many lives have been stolen. Too many children have been killed. For this reason, I will be introducing the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2023. My bill would provide Federal grants to States, local governments, and gun dealers to conduct gun buyback programs across the country. We need a national program to give all towns and cities the funds to get guns off our streets. This is commonsense legislation, and if made into public law, it would benefit our Nation greatly.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to acknowledge my new friends from North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise a great small business in my district. Schneider Hardware in West Orange, New Jersey, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. It is one of the last full-service, independent hardware stores in the State of New Jersey. It is located right in downtown West Orange in my district. Schneider Hardware is the oldest business still in operation in Essex County. It specializes in helping owners repair their older homes that populate my district. It was started by Isadore Schneider in 1923. Today, Isadore's grandsons, Roger and Gerald, are the third generation to run the store. They help residents with everything from plumbing issues to repairing lawnmowers. Congratulations again to Schneider Hardware. It is a shining example of the importance of small businesses to local communities.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Horsford for bringing forth this Special Order hour and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ivey) for hosting this Special Order hour. This Special Order hour focuses on the problem of police brutality, especially in Black and Brown communities. I welcome the opportunity to raise awareness for an issue that is so close to so many in my community. To the family of Tyre Nichols, I once again send my heartfelt condolences for your tragic loss in the wake of the release of that horrifying footage that the world watched of, yet again, another despicable display of police brutality in this country. Our cities and streets have been plagued for decades by this senseless and unnecessary use of force by sworn officers of the law. It has permeated facets of Black and Brown lives. In the last 10 years alone, my State of New Jersey has been home to 109 excessive force lawsuits against officers and police departments since 2012. Because of that number, I could not give you the names that were involved in these situations--as I said, 109. The profession of policing should not be costing States and local taxpayers millions of dollars each year in settlements for wrongful acts caused by those entrusted to protect and serve. I voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was legislation that would end racial profiling in law enforcement, ban choke holds and no-knock warrants, and establish a Federal standard for policing in and against African-American communities. The calling card for such a bill came after thousands of Americans took to the streets in the summer of 2020 to protest the brutal murders from policing violence of George Floyd and other African Americans. For too long, many Americans were considered dangerous and violent simply because of the color of their skin. We have been witness for some time now that police officers have been allowed to violate the sanctity and privacy of African Americans while in their cars, homes, or even standing on the sidewalk. The time is now for us to create a nationwide standard for police conduct to stop police brutality against African Americans and other minorities. This is a day we have been waiting for in the Black community for a long time. I am hopeful that we can work together in a constructive manner with my colleagues across the aisle and get this done. I am honored to be a part of the Congressional Black Caucus that has been a conscience and a voice for the American people and the conscience of this body as it continues to talk about righteousness in this Nation.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 76, removing Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Instead of focusing on real issues impacting American families, Republican leadership is attempting to exact political revenge. The effort to remove Representative Omar is inconsistent with previous actions taken by the House to remove Members from committees. In the past, this has only been used for Members who incited violence against other Members, and those removals received bipartisan support. This bill is partisan, hypocritical legislation that ignores Republicans' constant refusal to address the violent rhetoric, election denialism, and extreme ideology among their own Conference. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to oppose this bill.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Larsen for allowing me this time to speak. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the bill before us, H.J. Res. 7. I am pleased that President Biden announced this week that he will end the COVID-19 national emergency declaration on May 11. This will provide a reasonable path to winding down the pandemic measures without leaving States and cities caught off guard with sudden shifts in their budgets. COVID was a once-in-a-lifetime emergency, and an abrupt end to the spending under the emergency declaration would cause chaos for Americans. The wind down aligns with the administration's previous plans to give cities, States, businesses, and taxpayers at least 60 days' notice prior to the termination of the emergency declaration. Mr. Speaker, this is sensible policymaking, and it is a welcome change from the prior administration's frantic, poorly-considered, and dangerous approach to any sort of emergency, including COVID. I agree with the President's plan to wind down the emergency declaration, and I know my colleagues on the other side of the aisle agree with this plan, as well. Why? Because this bill was rushed to the floor without allowing our committee to review it, without soliciting input from any of the cities or States that would be impacted. Nobody has been working with the Senate or the White House to find a solution that makes sense.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the majority knows that abrupt shifts are bad. Yet, they are free to vote for a bill which they know would cause chaos. They also know that it won't be considered by the Senate. I can forgive a messaging bill; we all do that from time to time. What is so galling about the bill before us today is that it shows just how far outside the mainstream the Republican Party is. The American people want commonsense solutions that protect our economy, not a far-right agenda driven by the most extreme voices in their party. It is the same voices that brought us yesterday's anti- vaccine bill. Who knows what other secret promises the Speaker made to the extremists to secure the gavel? Let's get the bill over with because we all know that it is not going anywhere.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, we can then get on to debating the majority's economic plans, like a 30 percent national sales tax or holding the debt limit hostage. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' so we can stop wasting time with this nonsense and get back to the work for the American people.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Black History Month. This month, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of African Americans to the growth of our Nation. Just one example of that contribution is the beautiful edifice that we are in today. It was built by people who were uncompensated for their work, but it is a beautiful testament in our Nation's example. Black History Month started as Negro History Week in February of 1926. That week was chosen because it included the birthdays of President Lincoln and famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In 1976, they expanded it and created Black History Month. Today, African Americans make a difference in every aspect of American life and highlight the fact that the African-American story is the greatest success story in our Nation's history.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my Democratic colleagues for selecting me as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I will work to accomplish at least four strong railroad priorities in the new Congress. The first is the completion of the Hudson River Tunnel and the entire Gateway Program. This is the most important transportation project in the Nation, and it will help commuters in my district as well as travelers throughout the East Coast. The second is using the bipartisan infrastructure law funding to improve Amtrak and travel throughout the Northeast corridor. The third is more oversight over freight railroads nationwide. The fourth is a promise that I made early on in the Congress to make sure that rail workers finally get the sick time they have earned and deserve. We need to make sure they are operating safely and efficiently across the country. Again, I thank my colleagues for my selection. I look forward to working with all of them to make these priorities into realities.