Tom Reed

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, we agree. Families need access to childcare. It is key to making America's recovery stronger. Childcare is an economic, education, and public health issue that demands our full attention, particularly now that millions of Americans want to return to work. Unfortunately, this crisis has hit childcare providers across the country especially hard. Many are facing an acute set of financial challenges. We must address this problem in a bipartisan manner if we are to ensure our Nation's children and the working families that support them are not left behind during this crisis. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle today have decided to throw bipartisanship out the window, knowing that by doing so they are dooming their own legislation. They have once again shut us out of the process and crafted a bill that is out of touch with America's needs. This is no more than a copy-paste of various Democratic childcare proposals superficially edited to link to the pandemic. This bill contains six childcare tax provisions that, combined, would cost more than $100 billion. Simply throwing as much money as you can at the problem with no thought into the actual policy itself won't work. These provisions haven't been through our regular order in the committee of jurisdiction. This package has not been the subject of a single committee hearing, let alone, a committee markup. It is abundantly clear, Democrats were so eager to achieve a messaging victory, they felt they could skip the whole policymaking process that is fundamental to how Congress is supposed to work. We have been down this road before. In multiple States, the additional childcare funding we have already provided through the CARES Act still has not made its way down to childcare providers on the ground. In my home State of New York, one of my constituents, Beth Starks, testified in front of the New York State Assembly on childcare issues. She highlighted that of the $164.6 million in Childcare Development Block Grants for New York State, less than half have gone out to the communities and providers who needed it yesterday. Her testimony also underscores the negative impact State leaders, like our Governor, have had by withholding Federal grants to families and providers. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a copy of her testimony. Testimony of Beth Starks, Founder and Executive Director of Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center Before The NYS Assembly, Standing Committee on Small Business, Standing Committee on Ways and Means, Standing Committee on Agriculture, Standing Committee on Banks, Office of State-Federal Relations, Task Force on Food, Farm & Nutrition Policy Good morning! Thank you for inviting me to testify today. I am Beth Starks, the founder and Executive Director of Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center. I am a third-generation Early Childhood Educator and have experience in everything from infant rooms all the way up through higher education. I am proud to serve on both the Governor's Early Childhood Advisory Council and the Child Care Availability Task Force. I come to you today to speak about child care as a small business. Below, in my written testimony, you will find links to a lot of statistics and additional information on the topics that I will be discussing today. I know that time is of the essence and I am making an appeal to all of you. I come to you as the founder of a non- profit child care center and a supporter of public education. I come to you as a leader, a public servant and a voice for children and families. Other small businesses, and families need your help now by supporting childcare providers. Our small businesses are especially strained right now when it comes to their workforce. Workers need child care to do their jobs. I implore you to ensure more decisive steps are taken in NYS to assist families in paying for child care and to safeguard the safety and health of child care providers and the families they serve. We need you to ensure that New York's child care providers are ready and able to play their vital role in restarting the economy as we emerge from this pandemic. In the past months, I have listened to our Governor and to many other leaders talk about the reality of this situation. We know this is a situation like no other, and there was nothing we could have planned for. We are building the plane as we fly it and we have true budgetary constraints. I do understand that NYS has had the most cases and the most deaths. The health and medical crisis and the medical decisions needed to come first. I understand that the decisions involving child care needed to come a little bit later. Yet child care providers are essential and have been on the front-line providing care for children of essential workers so that they can do their jobs--as nurses, doctors, law enforcement, and so on. Child care providers have allowed essential workers to work every day knowing that their children are healthy, safe and happy. I come to you today frustrated, heartbroken, sad, exhausted, scared, discouraged and so close to giving up. I am frustrated at the lack of support, the lack of supplies and the lack of financial resources. I am heartbroken. Heartbroken for the child care facilities that have already closed, most never to reopen. I am heartbroken for the mom of the 9-week-old who just started in my care on Good Friday as she had to return to work as an essential worker. I'm sad for the staff that I have lost, for the parents crying in my office because they can't afford child care. I am scared for my business of 14 years that I am trying to keep afloat and I am scared for every child care provider and for our industry. I am discouraged at the lack of acknowledgement and awareness of the importance of Early Childhood and the lack of investment in children. First of all, I want all of you to understand that child care is a business that supports all other small businesses. We are an essential business that has remained open throughout the COVID-19 emergency. By doing so, we have allowed all other small businesses (as well as all other industries) to remain open and now to re-open. So, all of your medical providers, restaurant workers, hospital staff and even farm workers have child care (& workers) thanks to our centers. As mentioned by our previous speaker, a farm needs workers in order to operate, there are child care centers that specifically serve migrant workers. Child care is an industry that is different from other small businesses because we enable other small businesses to operate. I chose to begin my verbal testimony by telling a few stories. The things that I told included: why I started my child care facility, the problems that child care had pre- COVID and what we've gone through during this COVID-19 Pandemic. I founded my center as a non-profit 14 years ago while I was working at SUNY Fredonia in the Education Department. While I was there, I had my first son (who just turned 16) and could not find child care for him. I brought him with me to Fredonia every day and I found an incredible in-home child care provider for him. Soon, I decided to stop working at the college and became a licensed in-home child care provider myself. In NYS, an in-home licensed day care facility is also a small business and there are a lot of them in WNY and across the state. After having my in-home facility for two years, realizing the need for child care in Mayville was so great, I then became incorporated and opened my center. Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center (CLCCC) provides care and education for over 100 children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. CLCCC is a non-profit child care center leasing space inside Chautauqua Lake Central School. The partnership with the public school allows families to drop off & pick up their children all in one place. We provide full time care, part time care, UPK, before school and after school programming as well as a full day summer camp for school aged children. We also employ 11 full time staff and 10-15 part time staff, depending on the time of year. I've also been a part of a lot of initiatives in our County and across NYS. I serve on our Education Coalition here in Chautauqua County where we focus on bringing together educators & industries to meet the needs of the County. I lead the K-readiness subgroup where we focus on young children specifically. Our Education Coalition has had a lot of efforts county-wide to try to support child care. We started an initiative in the City of Dunkirk, as there are no licensed child care centers in the City of Dunkirk. Initially, Mayor Willie Rosas called together a Business Roundtable, focused on child care. It was his most well attended roundtable discussion, which demonstrates the need for child care in the area. Our County Executive at the time, George Borrello, now a NYS Senator, made child care a county- wide priority. He recognized how important child care is as an industry and how interconnected it is to businesses and economic development. Last year, then-County Executive Borrello (in collaboration with the City of Dunkirk, private sector business, the County Chamber, and the County Planning office and also with the help and support of Assemblyman Andrew Goodell) was able to apply for some funding through the Governor's Workforce Development Initiative/Economic Development Council to work on obtaining additional funding for child care. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in obtaining funding, even though it was greatly needed. My point is that child care was in a crisis situation here, preventing people from going to work, pre-COVID. We are in what's called a child care desert because there isn't enough child care here in Chautauqua County (or in much of NYS). According to the Center for American Progress, 64 percent of New Yorkers lived in a child care desert (before the Pandemic), which means that there are more than 50 children under the age of 5 in a census tract that contains either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots. The past 3 months, the situation has gotten much worse. Over 50% of my colleagues in Chautauqua County have closed their doors. Nationally, it is estimated that about \1/2\ of them will never open again. We cannot re-open our county or NY without child care because there is nowhere for children to go and that includes children from infants all the way up through the teenage years. We're an industry that needs financial support. My colleagues will tell you that they stayed open during COVID because it was what was right for children and families. I will tell you that we all made poor business decisions because we operated our businesses by leading with our hearts, instead of making financially-based decisions. We are all fulfilling our mission in serving children and families. We remained open serving on the front lines, but every single day we are open we continue to lose money and there is very little support. I was fortunate enough to be able to get the PPP (Paycheck Protection Plan) and I will tell you my story in being able to do so. I had to find the only lender in Chautauqua County that was able to allow me to apply for a PPP loan; there was only one. I searched all weekend to find the lender and it was KeyBank. The manager let me call her on a Sunday and come to meet with her first thing on a Monday morning to open an account with her. None of the other lenders would let me apply and/or open an account with them. Once I was able to open an account, we were able to apply for the PPP and were thankfully approved. If you look at child care centers statewide, I was told that only 10% received the PPP, and that's just for the centers. None of the in-home providers were eligible because they are sole proprietors. So, the PPP money has only helped a few of us. The EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) money I was able to apply for, but I was denied. I don't know the rationale behind it, but we just received the email that told us we were not eligible for that funding. As far as federal funding, there was CARES Act money that was set aside for child care federally and we were really excited because we were told we would receive $164.6 million in NYS specifically for child care, but we have yet to receive that funding. Of that $164.6 million in CARES funding, only $30 million was allocated, $20 million was designated for scholarships for families (the scholarship only assists families making up to 300% of the poverty level and luckily in Chautauqua County we were already serving that population. So, very few families here were able to take advantage of this money.) and $8 million for supplies. We are so thankful for the supplies, which just came this past Saturday. Beyond that there has been no help directly to child care facilities. The biggest need is purely financial. We need working capital. Most of the remaining providers in Chautauqua County literally have weeks left until they too close their doors. We cannot look at supporting childcare as a ``subsidy''. It is truly an investment in economic development and infrastructure. We cannot rebuild our economy without an investment in something as critical as childcare. In closing, I will tell you that there are also bright spots. In the beginning, I spoke about feeling frustrated, heartbroken, exhausted, scared, discouraged and so close to giving up. Well, I also come to you energized, inspired, hopeful and encouraged and determined to never to give up. I am energized by my insightful colleagues, in my community, across the state and across the nation. I am energized by my staff who are incredible and dedicated and selfless. I am energized by my students who are the future educators. I am inspired by my community coming together in a way that it never has and bridging divides. I am hopeful for our future and a chance to fix all of this. I am encouraged by the hard- working families, the families struggling to go to work every day to provide the best opportunities for their children. I am encouraged by the child I sat with yesterday talking about the people he loves and I am encouraged with the knowledge that he is healthy, happy and safe in our care. This issue to me is not political. It is very much bipartisan and I believe that we have to all come together to support children and families. In doing so, we support our economic infrastructure and the future of our state. If we aren't making decisions based on what is best for our youngest citizens, then we are doing a disservice to our entire population. So, I offer to you my assistance as part of the solution. I trust your leadership. I trust your judgement. Families and providers need to be heard. They need your support and they need it now. I recognize the need for funding and the CARES Act allows emergency federal funds to be used to provide child care to the essential worker keeping us safe and to every other worker trying to go back to work. We need to follow the lead of many other states around the country and use that funding immediately to assist families and providers. We need additional funding for child care in the next round of CARES relief from the federal government. There are also so many other sources of funding that could be used for child care in our state. We need to do innovative things like use FEMA dollars, community development block grant funds, and economic development money to invest in child care. We have to try to find other funding sources and make NYS the leader in early childhood education during this time and in the future. I will always believe every challenge is an opportunity and we have the opportunity now to do the right thing for our current workforce and for our state's youngest citizens, our future. Thank you for your time.

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to express my condolences and express the spirit that John Lewis represented to all of us. John Lewis was a humble man. I knew John serving on the Ways and Means Committee with him. I traveled with my colleague, Mrs. Bustos, from Illinois down to Selma, Alabama, on that 50th anniversary day. And I will tell you, one of the moments that inspired me the most in my tenure here in Congress was not just that day, when we walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge arm in arm in celebration of his victory over hatred, but it was the following day, when we sat at the doors of the Montgomery, Alabama, State Capitol, and I saw the daughter of Governor Wallace express to John an apology for the sins of yesterday. And John, in typical John Lewis fashion, stood up and embraced her when she said: ``I'm sorry.'' John Lewis epitomizes the best of the human race. John Lewis was an inspiration to all of us. My predecessor, my mentor, Amo Houghton, who served in my seat for 18 years, expressed to me early on in my tenure: ``Get to know John Lewis. Get to know and listen to his story.'' And I will tell you, that is some of the best advice I received from his friend, Amo Houghton. And so I come here tonight to express my grief, but most importantly, my hope that the spirit of John Lewis does not die with us tonight. The spirit of John Lewis, who is now resting with the glory of God, will shine down upon us and improve this institution, improve each of our souls, and inspire us, the way that he did, as that proud, quiet, humble giant of a human being that inspired me and will continue to inspire me to search for our better angels each and every day. So to my colleagues on the other side, I join you in your grief, but we are united in our love for the great John Lewis.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the retirement of Brian Davis, Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District Field Manager. Brian dedicated thirty years of his life to serving as the district field manager and oversaw a considerable amount of projects that ranged from agriculture to wildlife issues, as well as forest issues and streambank protection. Previously, he served as a technician with the conservation district for five years. His dedication to the cause of conservation has been evidenced by his hard work, successful projects over the years and his enthusiasm for the task at hand. He has overseen millions of dollars of projects over the years that have aided businesses, farmers and highway superintendents across the area. These efforts have had a considerable impact on the district and have improved the environment in various ways. Brian has provided dedicated leadership during his tenure at the Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District and he will be missed by all. He leaves behind a legacy of service and commitment that will be difficult to replace, however, he has certainly earned his retirement. We hope his next steps on this new path will be rewarding and bountiful, as his contributions have been to the communities he has served. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to congratulate Brian Davis of the Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District on his retirement.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the retirement of Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings. Chief Harry Snellings has been with the Jamestown Police Department in Jamestown, New York since 1996. He began as a police officer, was promoted to Sergeant in 2004 and later, Lieutenant in 2009. In 2010, Harry took over as Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety. From 2001 to 2009, Harry was a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics team (S.W.A.T.), serving as a team leader and a team commander during that time. In 2011, he attended and graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy. Prior to his service as a police officer, Harry served in the United States Army for twenty-three years and was deployed three times. He selflessly dedicated his life to public service and public safety throughout his career, and has certainly earned his retirement. We applaud his efforts and wish him the best in the next chapters of his life. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to congratulate Chief Harry Snelling upon his retirement.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the bill before us. The debate, America, is very simple. I am a proud Republican, and I stand with the private market. I stand with you, as the people. My Democratic colleagues, they offer you a vision of healthcare defined and controlled by the government. If you believe the government can do a better job with your healthcare, then so be it, vote with the Democratic colleagues. But if you believe in entrepreneurs, if you believe in innovators, then vote with the Republican ideas that lead to more innovation. The bill before us today, we had a conversation with the Health and Human Services Secretary in the Committee on Ways and Means and with the Congressional Budget Office independently confirming that there will be dozens fewer innovations when it comes to treatments and cures for Americans with the passage of this bill. That is what you are doing--eyes wide open--and we are not going to let you get away with it. Madam Speaker, when you vote for this bill, you are dooming millions of Americans to not have a cure for the disease. Vote for the bipartisan bill, H.R. 19, Lower Costs, More Cures. That is the bill that will get through the system.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the retirement of Gwen Kania, President of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce. Gwen came to the Chamber in May of 2008 as the Director of Operations and in January of 2014, she became the President and CEO of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce. During her time with the Chamber, Gwen put into action a Computer Management System that streamlined processes. She also organized Career Day and the Tioga County Job Fair. For three years, she administered the On The Job Training Grant from the New York State Department of Labor. Gwen was also in the public eye, facilitating the Chamber's traditional events and ribbon cuttings, providing service to the community. One highlight Gwen enjoyed most in recent times was the Chamber's Centennial Celebration and Gala in 2019. For several years, Gwen was also the Leadership Tioga Program Manager and Facilitator. The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce will greatly miss Gwen and her efforts there have not gone unnoticed. However, her retirement is well deserved. I thank Gwen for all she has done during her time at the Chamber. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to congratulate Gwen on her retirement and her twelve years of invaluable service to the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce and dedication to improving the Tioga County community.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I came down this morning, after hearing Father Conroy give his opening speech, to address this House and to address this Nation today in these hallowed Halls to send the message that today is not a day to engage in partisan politics. As a Republican, my hand is open to my fellow Americans, for us to come together, to stand with our Nation as we face this coronavirus crisis across the country. Madam Speaker, the people of America are who we represent. They are not Democrat and Republican; they are American. Now is the time to lead with smart, targeted decisionmaking proposals that will improve their lives for the better. God bless.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County. This important organization is providing vital services to the children and families of this area, and it is good to recognize their work. The Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County serves hundreds of youths a year and has six sites throughout Northern Chautauqua County. In 1994, the club was founded as a satellite program of the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club in Southern Chautauqua County. Space in the Masonic building on Central Avenue in Dunkirk was secured for the program and Jim Szwejbka became the first program director. In 1996, the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County was incorporated as an independent club with Lynn Dorler as the first executive director for the club. Since that time, the club has provided after school activities and a positive environment that fosters relationship building, confidence building and a focus on healthy lifestyles through a variety of programs. The club has had a variety of homes over the years. In 2006, the club moved to former Dunkirk School Number Six on Benton Street, had transitioned to the former St. Hyacinth School on Lake Shore Drive in 2010 and has recently found a new space in the Salvation Army building on Central Avenue. The work this organization has done in the Dunkirk community and beyond has been instrumental in the lives of so many children and their families. For the past twenty-five years, this organization has become a cornerstone in youth programming in the area and I can't wait to see what they do in the next twenty-five years. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to recognize the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the dedication of the new St. James Hospital in Hornell, New York. St. James Hospital was founded in 1890 and has provided healthcare services to residents in the Hornell and surrounding communities for one hundred and thirty years. It has grown and changed over the years into the full-service hospital it is today. The hospital is an affiliate of the University of Rochester Medical Center and provides a variety of services including a twenty-four hour emergency department, general surgery, orthopedics and rehab services, imaging and lab services and a walk-in clinic. The hospital has also partnered with various regional health care entities such as UR Medicine; Loyola Recovery Foundation and Oak Orchard Health in order to provide the best care for area residents. During the long history of the hospital, we were glad to stand with the hospital to help with issues when they arose. We were proud to be instrumental in keeping inpatient services here through cooperation with other stakeholders, and we are equally as proud to see this new facility come to fruition. The new facility is a state-of-the-art hospital with emergency and surgical services, fifteen inpatient rooms, an infusion clinic, MRI services and other imaging services, a new cafeteria, gift shop and more. This eighty-seven thousand square-foot facility will be an asset and treasure in the Hornell community. I cannot thank the doctors, medical professionals, board members, administration and other staff members enough for the work they do in the Hornell community. They have saved lives, provided excellent care for a plethora of years and we are all grateful in the Twenty-Third Congressional District of New York for the work they do each and every day. I congratulate St. James Hospital on the new facility and wish them many more years of extraordinary healthcare services. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body join me to recognize the dedication of the new St. James Hospital in Hornell, New York.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, on Friday, February 7, 2020, I was unable to vote on Roll Call No. 52: Amendment No. 1 offered by Rep. Shalala. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' I was unable to vote on Roll Call No. 53: Motion to Recommit. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' I was also unable to vote on Roll Call No. 54: Passage of H.R. 5687, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Puerto Rico Disaster Tax Relief Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the one hundredth anniversary of the national American Legion Auxiliary and the special one hundredth anniversary celebration being held by the Corning American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 746. The Auxiliary was founded shortly after the American Legion was chartered after World War I. It was decided that a new women's organization should be founded that was closely tied to the Legion, Since the Auxiliary was founded, their goal has been to serve veterans and their families--a goal at which they have succeeded at time and time again. Even one hundred years later, the women of the Auxiliary continue on in their quest to help as many veterans as possible--and for that, we are deeply thankful. The one hundredth anniversary held by the Corning American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 746 will include remarks from several local and national officials. The Corning unit has been in operation since May 13, 1929 and will soon be celebrating ninety-one years of helping veterans. Currently, the national American Legion Auxiliary has more than six hundred thousand members across the country who volunteer countless hours of their time and effort to perform various services. The Auxiliary has also stood with the American Legion to advocate for various issues such as veterans' rights, enhancing United States Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and ending homelessness among veterans. This organization has always and will continue to serve our nation's veterans. I thank them for their service, unwavering commitment, and dedication to their mission. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body join me to recognize the one hundredth Anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I rise today in response to my good friend from Maryland who just spoke. As one of those 27 who voted with the Democrats on that previous resolution, I stand in opposition today because this is a sham. You are using a commemorative coin bill on the floor of the House so we cannot debate the merits of this constitutional question. That is a shame. And just on that basis alone, I vote ``no.'' You are damn right we should, as Members of Congress, exercise our constitutional authority, and we need to come back to this question and debate honestly and openly. When we put our men and women in harm's way, we should set aside our Democrat and Republican colors and say: Let's stand as Americans. So if you want to use this sham process to shame me, I will accept that because I will do the right thing each and every day. Vote ``no'' on these amendments. Vote ``no'' on this sham, and let's have a real debate as Members of Congress do in our constitutional responsibility.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and its Western New York Chapter upon its fiftieth anniversary. For years, this organization has been the leading global organization to fund Type One Diabetes research, and I am honored to recognize their work today. Type One Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin suddenly, and has no link to diet or lifestyle and impacts both adults and children. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation was founded in 1970 upon the desire to cure Type One Diabetes. The organization was founded by parents hoping to find a cure for their children who had the disease. Since that time, the organization has worked to cure this disease that affects so many by raising funds and advocating for research. Currently, there are dozens of locations across the nation and six international affiliates. The organization has raised more than two billion dollars for research. This organization has done great work throughout the country, including the Western New York Chapter that I have often been involved with over the years. This year, we are glad to also be celebrating the Gala's twentieth anniversary, Journey To A Cure Gala, one of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Western New York's largest fundraisers. This extraordinary event draws about six hundred community members together, united for the cause of raising funds for Type One Diabetes research. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to honor the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and its Western New York Chapter upon its fiftieth anniversary.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today because this is a good day. I don't want to discuss yesterday. I don't want to discuss issues that divide us in this Chamber. I want to discuss, today, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement because that has brought us together. When we come together, who wins in that situation? Not us as Members of the House of Representatives, not us here in Washington, D.C., but the American people. I was reminded recently, this morning, that, about 2 years ago, we delivered on tax cuts, and I stood exactly right here, and I knew that was going to unleash the American economy. We have an economy now at an all-time high, with 50-year lows for unemployment and 1.4 million new jobs in America. Today, we have come together for the American worker, the American farmer. We have united as Democrats and Republicans to do something good for our fellow citizens, and that is this updated United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement. As I stood here 2 years ago and had a discussion with my good friend from New York, Mr. Crowley, who is no longer here, I declared in one voice saying, hell, yes, I am going to vote for those tax cuts, and, hell, yes, I am going to vote for this Mexico-Canada trade agreement, because what we are doing here is, again, unleashing the power of America. Standing together, it is amazing what we can accomplish. Madam Speaker, I applaud Chairman Neal. I applaud the Democratic Trade Working Group. I applaud the other side of the aisle for standing with us today for the American workers and American farmers. I also applaud President Trump for having the vision and the leadership to take on this issue when everyone told him it cannot be done. Madam Speaker, I also applaud Kevin Brady, Vern Buchanan, and Devin Nunes, and members of the Committee on Ways and Means who stood forward and said: You know what we are going to do? We are going to make sure we stand for a principle we believe in. That is the American opportunity of a job in an economy that is growing and playing on a field across the world where we have a fair and level playing field of trade. Because, when we have fair, free trade, the American worker wins each and every day. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the retirement of Mary Ann Trickey as the Town Clerk of the Town of Hopewell after twenty-six years of service. Many have said that Mary Ann is the glue that keeps the Town of Hopewell in working order. In her thirteen terms as town clerk and tax collector, she has dedicated her time, talents and passion to making sure each resident is provided the services they need and that town administrative services are functioning with impressive precision. Mary Ann has built up a rapport with residents over the years, getting to know them, their families and even their pets throughout her interactions with them. She regularly attends important events, both public and governmental, in Hopewell as a pillar of the community. In 2017, Mary Ann was chosen as ``The Town Clerk of the Year'' for district seven, which covers Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Yates and Steuben counties. She is also a member of the Hopewell Historical Society, the Hopewell Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and has been an honorary Rotary International member for many years. Mary Ann is a member and past president of the Ontario County Municipal Clerks Association and the Ontario County Tax Collectors Association. The Town of Hopewell will greatly miss Mary Ann and her cheerful demeanor, her dedication and her extraordinary kindness--but her retirement is well deserved. I thank Mary Ann for all of her efforts-- they have blessed a great many people in and around Hopewell. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to recognize Mary Ann Trickey and her twenty- six years of invaluable service to the Town of Hopewell as Town Clerk.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the one hundredth season of St. Bonaventure University Men's Basketball. St. Bonaventure University's basketball program is celebrating their one hundredth season this year, marking the beginning of this legendary legacy that started so long ago. The first game took place on December 11, 1919 in Butler Gym. The once simple team rose to national prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, thanks to All-Americans Tom Stith, Sam Stith and Fred Crawford. The centennial celebration also marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 1969-70 Final Four Squad. This legendary team finished with a 25-3 record which they are still remembered for today. In 1970, Bob ``Big Cat'' Lanier led St. Bonaventure to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Lanier scored 2,067 points during his basketball career. The entire 1970s team will be recognized on December 7 for their accomplishments. The Bonnies, throughout their tenure, have brought joy to many fans, gave many students a variety of opportunities on the team and have brought the community together over the fascinating game of basketball. This anniversary is one to be remembered--a great milestone in the history of both the team and the university. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to recognize St. Bonaventure University on their one hundredth season of basketball. Go Bonnies.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Chairman of the Rochester Project Exile Advisory Board and Camp Good Days founder, Gary Mervis. Gary has been the Chairman of the Rochester Project Exile Advisory Board since its inception in 1998. It is the longest running Project Exile in the country. There is a reason this program has withstood the sands of time--its success is abundantly clear and the statistics are staggering. I was fascinated by the facts and figures of this program's success--five hundred seventy-seven defendants indicted and fifteen thousand six hundred illegal guns removed from our streets. That last statistic is incredible, since Rochester had a homicide rating of seventy in the late nineties when this program began. The homicide rate qualified Rochester as having the highest per capita homicide rate of any city in New York State. In developing this program, community leaders, officials and other community members stood up and said ``No more!'' Gary and his colleagues began meeting once a month to help battle the scourge of illegal guns and drugs in this community, doing what they could do to make things better. As it has been said, ``The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.'' Gary and his fellow citizens of Rochester could have remained motionless and let guns and drugs take over the neighborhoods--but they did not. Instead, they gathered together and created a really remarkable program that works-- and it shows. Those statistics from the nineties have never recurred. I applaud Gary's leadership and the efforts of those involved with Project Exile and encourage these efforts to continue on into the future. This program has been a shining beacon for others throughout the country--and its success has allowed other programs to flourish as well. Gary has clearly given much of himself for his community in service. I thank Gary for all that he has done and will do in the future. Given the above, l ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to honor Chairman of the Rochester Project Exile Advisory Board and Camp Good Days founder, Gary Mervis.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, first, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Engel and the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, for their leadership on this bill, as well as, in particular, my colleague, Mr. Carter, for helping push this bill through, and Dr. Burgess for his assistance in leading the floor debate. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill before us, because as we all know, when loved ones become deathly ill, we are often left feeling helpless, wanting to step in and somehow ease the burden, but not sure how. When my own mother became sick, there was nothing I wouldn't have done, Mr. Speaker, to cure her. The woman who taught me how to live, taught me how to die. She taught me that what truly mattered to her in those times at the end of her life was the comfort of her home, the comfort of her family, and that quality time spent with her loved ones and her friends. Surrounded by a wonderful team of family, friends, but, in particular, hospice care providers, we watched as her wishes were met. Physicians, nurses, social workers, and aides made sure her symptoms were managed and that she was physically comfortable. But just as important, if not more so, were the hospice volunteers who stepped in to give mom companionship, normalcy at the end of her illness, and a much-needed break by the loved ones who were caring for her, such as myself and my brothers and sisters. The experience changed my perspective on death and dying. Even now, I am enormously thankful to the hospice staff and volunteers who stepped in to give my mom, and countless others in the community and folks across the country, quality of life when their days and her days were limited. We must ensure that there is a properly trained workforce to care for those closest to us as they increase in age and become chronically and terminally ill. Estimates show that there will be no more than 1 percent growth in the palliative care and hospice physician workforce in the next 20 years, while the number of people eligible for palliative care will increase by over 20 percent, Mr. Speaker. Without a boost for palliative care education and training, there will only be one palliative physician for every 26,000 seriously ill patients by 2030. This bill promotes a strong American workforce when it comes to our palliative and hospice volunteers and caregivers and advanced training for those healthcare providers providing those services amongst us. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and vote ``yes'' this evening.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the fiftieth anniversary of Jamestown Area Meals on Wheels. The Jamestown Area Meals on Wheels was formed on July 21, 1969 by Rolland Taft, Vaughn Rudy, Harry Bloom and other members of the community. In the past fifty years, the program has served almost five million meals--serving the community each and every day one meal at a time. Volunteers at Meals on Wheels bring healthy, much needed meals to those who cannot access them otherwise. They give of their time, their energy and their passion to do good in the world. This organization is made up of people who care about those in need--that is what makes them truly successful. Today, the program delivers meals five days a week and the meals they provide cover seven days' worth of food for their clients. This service has grown from just a few clients in 1969 to many across the Jamestown area in fifty years. I can't wait to see how much of an impact they have in another fifty years. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to recognize Jamestown Area Meals on Wheels on their fiftieth anniversary.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Bill Winkky, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Bill Winkky, son of Mary Emma and Robert Winkky, was born in Kingston, New York, on September 29, 1939. In his 80 years of life, he has been a mentor, a friend, a father, a husband, and an all-around good man who deserves to be recognized. In 1963, Bill married Charlotte Sommerfield and has remained by her side for the past 56 years. Bill has such dedication to his wife and his family that it is heartwarming to see. Yet his family is not the only thing he has been dedicated to over the years. He was a teacher, dedicating 32\1/2\ years to educating and enriching the lives of the youth he taught. He also coached several sports, including football, wrestling, swimming, and track. The hours he spent dedicated to young people were well spent, and he had a profound impact on his students. Bill also dedicated time to serving the people as the town of Veteran supervisor for 10 years, and he continues to hold this role now. It is not often you have the pleasure of meeting a man as dedicated to helping others as Bill Winkky. He is a pillar in the community who has given so much of himself to our youth through his coaching and teaching tenure. He continues to do a great deal as the town of Veteran supervisor. I am honored to know him, and I am equally honored to celebrate his achievements and his legacy of hard work, compassion, and community- mindedness here today. Mr. Speaker, given the above, I ask this legislative body to pause in its deliberations and join me to honor Bill Winkky on his 80th birthday. Godspeed, Bill, and God bless.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Bill Winkky who recently celebrated his eightieth birthday. Bill Winkky, son of Mary Emma and Robert Winkky, was born in Kingston, New York on September 29, 1939. In his eighty years of life, he has been a mentor, a friend, a father, a husband and an all-around good man that deserves to be recognized. In 1963, Bill married Charlotte Sommerfeld and has remained by her side for the past fifty-six years. Bill has such dedication to his wife and his family, it is heartwarming to see. Yet, his family is not the only thing he has been dedicated to over the years. He was a teacher, dedicating thirty-two and a-half years to educating and enriching the lives of the youth he taught. He also coached several sports, including football, wrestling, swimming and track. The hours he spent dedicated to young people were well spent, and he had a profound impact on his students. Bill also has dedicated time to serving people as the Town of Veteran supervisor for ten years and continues to hold this role now. It is not often you have the pleasure of meeting a man as dedicated to helping others as Bill Winkky. He is a pillar in the community, has given so much of himself to our youth through his coaching and teaching tenure. He continues to do a great deal as the Town of Veteran supervisor. I am honored to know him, and I am equally honored to celebrate his achievements, his legacy of hard-work, compassion and community-mindedness here today. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to honor Bill Winkky on his eightieth birthday.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. for its seventy-fifth anniversary. The Steuben Electric Association, Inc., was formed in July 1941 under the Transportation Corporations Law and was later converted to an electric distribution cooperative in 1942. At that time, the cooperative had five hundred and three miles of line and one thousand three hundred members. Two years later, its first electric line was energized. Cooperatives such as Steuben Rural Electric made it possible for rural areas to have access to electric during the 1930s in areas that would not have otherwise had this service. Without these ingenious organizations, our rural areas would not be what they are today--we owe a debt of gratitude to the rural electric movement that allowed our farmers to use lights instead of lanterns and brought much needed power to the people of these rural communities. In 1969, the Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. and the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Electric Cooperative, Inc. began discussing the possibility of a merger. That merger came to completion in 1970 and made the Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative the largest of four New York cooperatives. However, these services are still needed, from Steuben County to Cattaraugus County and beyond. Currently, the cooperative has grown to include one thousand one hundred miles of line, serving six thousand three hundred homes, farms and small businesses. With such a rich legacy and a bright future, I know we will see many more great things from Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to recognize Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. for their seventy-fifth anniversary.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and the chairman for their work on this proposed resolution. But I want to remind my colleagues that one of the problems that we face in Turkey and Syria today is the failure of congressional leadership to address this issue. When I stood on this very floor during the Obama administration and the question of Syria came up, I remember many of my colleagues agreeing with me that we should not be in Syria with boots on the ground, risking our most precious assets of our young men and women, without a clear Authorization for Use of Military Force and congressional approval of a resolution to do so. We failed in the leadership here in this body. That is why, as we go through this resolution, I understand the Turkish sanctions. I understand. But make no mistake about it, by voting ``yes'' on this resolution, you are authorizing the use of military force of our men and women on Syrian soil. If force needs to be redeployed to this area, I do not want to hear from any Member of this Chamber, nor the Senate, that we have not authorized our men and women to be there. It is time for us to set aside political cowardice because we cannot make the hard choices of approving a military force resolution. We should join and unite--the House, the Senate, and the White House--in one congressional declaration that we, if we put our men and women in harm's way, stand by it and stand by the Commander in Chief in regard to that request.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Arbor Housing and Development for the fiftieth Anniversary of its founding. In 1969, Arbor Housing and Development was founded as Steuben Churchpeople Against Poverty. The organization began as a volunteer driven service offering poverty relief services. At that time, the organization had eight part-time volunteers focusing on self-help housing. Arbor Housing and Development has grown over the years and has fully embraced a mission of enhancing the quality of life within its community by building independence and creating housing options. Growing from the small, volunteer-based service to an organization that has one hundred and twenty full-time employees, it is evident Arbor Housing and Development is deserving of recognition. Arbor Housing and Development President Jeffrey Eaton has been with the organization since 2000, and has been greatly involved in its success. Under his leadership, the organization has been involved in the Neighborworks program; development of the Gerard Block Apartments; the development of the former Northside Blodgett site; and many others. Arbor Housing and Development serves many people over the span of seven counties in New York State and has also expanded to Northern Pennsylvania, The organization offers residential behavioral health and domestic violence services to help people live safety on their own, owns nine hundred units of affordable housing in three states and also provides assistance for renters and home-buyers to create a pathway to security and stability for housing. Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to recognize Arbor Housing and Development on their fiftieth Anniversary