Bobby Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to several provisions included in this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Reauthorization, although ultimately, I will vote in favor for final passage of the bill. First, I oppose Amendment 640, considered on the floor as part of en bloc Amendment 5, which directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reclassify public safety telecommunications officers, also called 911 dispatchers, as a protective service occupation in the U.S. Government's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. This Amendment would have no direct effect on these workers' wages, benefits, or other resources; proponents of this reclassification have stated that it ``would provide validation.'' The SOC classification system is a federal statistical standard used across agencies in data collection. According to OMB, ``[t]he-SOC is designed exclusively for statistical purposes.'' Changes to the codes affect multiple data sources frequently used by policymakers, researchers, and employers, including the American Community Survey, the nation's largest household survey; the Current Population Survey (CPS), the key source of our monthly employment numbers; and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES), the authoritative source of employment and wage information by occupation. These changes would undermine the intent and legitimacy of the SOC by deviating from the long-established process designed to ensure the objectivity and integrity statistical data classifications more broadly. A standing committee at OMB, the SOC Policy Committee (SOCPC), is responsible for maintaining the accuracy of these codes using well- defined principles. The SOCPC undertakes a routine revision of the codes roughly once per decade; the process spans multiple years and ``involves extensive background research, periods or public comment, review of comments, and implementation of revisions.'' During its latest revision, which began in early 2012 and was finalized in 2018, OMB specifically rejected comments requesting it reclassify 911 dispatchers as directed in Amendment 640. In response to public comments presented in the May 2014 Federal Register, the Obama Administration's OMB explained it ``did not accept these recommendations based on Classification Principle 2, which states that workers are coded according to the work performed. The work performed is that of a dispatcher, not a first responder.'' In 2016, OMB declined a similar request for reclassification. Based on the principles OMB's policy committee applies to determine SOC codes, 911 telephone dispatchers are already properly and accurately classified. This point was reiterated in communications with the Education and Labor Committee in 2021, explaining, ``After an extensive technical review of the requested reclassification for 911 dispatchers, OMB, consistent with the recommendation of the Chief Statistician of the United States, decided not to make such an adjustment because it is inconsistent with the statistical purposes of the SOC.'' Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in a written communication with the Education and Labor Committee on September 15, 2021, reported that the change made by H.R. 1175, a bill identical to Amendment 640, ``will introduce costly, unnecessary logistical and data interpretation delays and challenges affecting the quality of data.'' Moreover, changes outside of the routine revision process would undermine the goal of data continuity, limiting data sources' usefulness for their key purpose of statistical analysis; create precedent for disrupting the standard SOC revision process; and undermine the SOCPC's authority as experts to apply the classification principles to determine what accuracy requires. Public safety telecommunications officers perform critical, challenging work. They deserve our honor and gratitude for their efforts. However, considering the many alternative ways policymakers could confer ``validation,'' as the proponents are seeking, there is little policy justification for this Amendment's approach to achieving that goal. Furthermore, the SOC is not intended to rank or group occupations by education, credentials, earnings, benefits, or any other user-defined indicator of status. In conclusion, mandating a change to a statistical code would not affect these workers' wages, benefits, or other resources--but it would disrupt data series continuity; require significant additional work for government agencies, researchers, employers, and others; and intervene in an official, routine government data-collection and statistical process. Second, I oppose language in the bill, added by Amendment 113 considered on the floor as part of the en bloc Amendment 2, which would expand the Troops-to-Teachers program from recruiting veterans to become teachers, to recruiting veterans to fill a longer list of school-based positions including school resource officers (SROs). Increasing the presence of SROs can have a particularly harmful effect on students of color and students with disabilities. Nationally, Black and Latinx youth make up over 58 percent of school-based arrests while representing only 40 percent of public school enrollment, and Black students are more than twice as likely to be referred to law enforcement or arrested at school as their white peers. According to a 2018 study by GAO, Black students, boys, and students with disabilities are also disproportionately disciplined in K-12 public schools. Moreover, the amendment removes crucial language from the definition of ``eligible school'' which would target resources to high-poverty schools. This is concerning with regard to the recruitment of key positions such as teachers, school leaders, and counselors to meet the needs of students in high-poverty schools, particularly as high-poverty schools have been disproportionately impacted by recent staffing shortages. Finally, I oppose section 572 of the bill, added to NDAA during the full committee markup of the bill on June 23. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) plays a critical role in educating the children of our nation's military families. Across the globe, DoDEA coordinates the education of more than 60,000 children. Importantly, the DoDEA also stands apart from other public-school districts as one of only two federally operated K-12 school systems. As a result, while it is within the federal government's purview to implement the proposed requirements for DoDEA schools under this legislation, these proposed requirements would be inappropriate to impose on traditional public school districts. This is a unique exception in our education system. Moving forward, Congress must continue to ensure that state and local governments can meet the unique needs of their students and parents without mandating requirements regarding the rights of parents. While I support the overall passage of NDAA, I remain opposed to these three provisions.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. My amendments seek to better understand the mental health challenges and mechanisms of support available to servicemembers; mandate strong reports which will be critical in enacting better policy for servicemembers in the future; and make defense communities more resilient to the growing threat of climate change. The first amendment (Amendment No. 322), which my colleague, Congresswoman Elaine Luria, has cosponsored, represents an important step forward in better understanding and combatting the epidemic of suicide facing not just the Navy, but the entire armed forces. There is a dearth of information about suicide and suicide prevention in the Navy, particularly on Navy ships. This is why directing the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to compile and publish a report on instances of suicide, suicide prevention, and response within the Navy is so important. This report will be comprehensive and desperately needed, given how little we truly understand why some sailors choose to end their lives, as well as the failures of command and areas where available resources have failed to catch and prevent these tragedies. Additionally, the report will contain a survey of the mental health teams found on Navy ships and installations, so that we might better understand the limitations faced by these critical teams to properly treat, prevent, and respond to instances of suicidal ideation, suicidal intent, and suicidal attempts of the crewmembers they serve. These mental health teams are critical components of every unit, but do not always have the staff or resources available to provide necessary treatment and counseling to the sailors under their care. This report will be critical in better understanding the shortfalls these teams face, which will allow us to set them up for better successes in the future. The discussion of suicides in the Navy is a personal one. I have lost constituents in the Navy, particularly this year wherein the shocking number of sailors who died by suicide while serving on the USS George Washington in Newport News, Virginia made national headlines. It is my belief that this DoD report will be the first step in better understanding how to prevent another, similar tragedy and see where the Navy could be doing more to actively support its servicemembers during times of mental and emotional crisis. My second amendment (Amendment No. 323) requires the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to survey and report on programs across the armed services which allow servicemembers to file anonymous complaints and concerns without fear of identification or reprisal from command. The chain of command is something that every soldier and employee of the Department of Defense is taught to respect from the earliest days of training. Soldiers know there are some issues they cannot voice without risking the ire of their commanding officers or drawing undue attention to themselves, even if the nature of their complaint is a valid quality of life concern, a note about morale, a safety issue, or any reasonable request for support from existing Department services and programs. Programs which allow anonymous complaint filing for servicemembers fill a critical gap of inter-unit communication by encouraging soldiers to advocate for themselves through a channel which they know will protect their identity and be taken seriously and reviewed on its merits. However, there is currently no DoD-wide review of where such programs exist, making it difficult to gauge their level of user participation, analyze data on the sorts of complaints filed, or even know which units and branches support such programs. This is a gap in knowledge that merits a proper review by the Department of Defense, so that we may better understand what support our soldiers are asking for and where they are and aren't being given the opportunity to even ask. My third amendment (Amendment No. 321) seeks to improve adaptation and emergency management coordination between state, local, and federal entities in defense communities, especially the Department of Defense. By creating interagency regional resilience coordinator positions in defense communities, this amendment will enhance military readiness and community resilience. I was pleased to have the support of my colleagues, Congresswoman Luria, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and veteran of the Navy; Congressman Wittman, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee; Congressman McEachin; and Congresswoman Sanchez on this important amendment. As a Nation, our aging stormwater infrastructure, housing stock, emergency management systems, and power grid exacerbate the threats of climate change. Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the United States is making our infrastructure more resilient and creating jobs in the process. These investments in our infrastructure will help protect our communities and prevent needless loss and human suffering. The Department of Defense recognizes that, as the climate changes, ``leveraging knowledge and actions when planning climate change adaptation and emergency preparedness and response requires expanded collaboration with surrounding communities.'' This is especially true in Hampton Roads, Virginia due to the significant federal footprint, including 15 military bases, and the region's geographic complexities. In my district and throughout Hampton Roads, communities play an essential role in supporting critical defense installations. Community assets, infrastructure, and services ensure the region's bases are ready and provide the region's 83,000 active-duty service members and their families with amenities to live, get to work, and recreate. The threat of sea level rise and increasingly frequent and severe storms, however, jeopardize these community services and military readiness. Fortunately, the region has developed strong cooperation and expertise in this regard. This acumen and spirit of collaboration are clear in the two recent Joint Land Use Studies and a 2016 report released following the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience Intergovernmental Pilot Project. Thanks to the hard work of local governments, federal partners, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and academic support from Old Dominion University and others, much has been done to implement the recommendations of these studies. That being said, much work remains to be done. Recommendations from the earlier pilot project and Joint Land Use Studies that are ripe for action include a number of items that require collaboration with the federal government. The establishment of Interagency Regional Coordinators for Resilience positions would be well suited to address persistent challenges that have hindered the ``whole of government'' and ``whole of community'' approach that the growing threats require. As the climate continues to change, lessons learned from these partnerships would be beneficial to defense communities and others that support federal entities and assets of national importance. Addressing the threat of climate change and ensuring members of the armed services have access to comprehensive mental health services and mechanisms to confidently advocate for their quality of life is not only crucial to ensuring military readiness, addressing these threats is morally imperative. Lastly, I am pleased that my amendment (Amendment No. 618) regarding the transfer of federal land currently occupied by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the City of Norfolk has been included in this package. I am disappointed to lose a valuable asset in my district as they continue their planned move to Rhode Island, and it is important that this economic impact does not further affect the city. Transferring the land without cost to the city and in a timely manner will allow Norfolk and the Army Corps of Engineers to better protect the city from future flooding. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Smith for his work on behalf of our Nation's military and his support for these initiatives, and I urge my colleagues to support these important amendments.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my concerns regarding the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. While I support the underlying bill and appreciate that several Republican Senators finally came to the table to work with Democrats to address our nation's gun violence epidemic, I remain troubled by the legislation's possible expansion of the federal death penalty and the creation of broad new criminal offenses that may disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities. Specifically, with regard to the expansion of the federal death penalty, I have not been given a clear answer as to the impact of the legislation's additions to the definition of ``racketeering activity'' in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1961(1), commonly known as ``RICO predicates.'' On its face and cross referencing the impacted provisions in Title 18, it appears that murder committed in the furtherance of these new RICO predicates would trigger the federal death penalty. In states that do not have the death penalty, this creates an opportunity for federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in states where it does not currently exist. It is possible that but for these changes, a new universe of defendants would now be subject to the federal death penalty. The Senate Judiciary Committee staff circulated a document that appears to confirm my reading of this provision. However, the Department of Justice sent a dismissive e-mail to staff simply stating that ``changes to RICO laws do not constitute an expansion of the potential applications of the federal death penalty as a matter of law.'' While I hope this is indeed the case, DOJ provided no citation to federal law or reference to internal Department memorandum directing charging decisions. I hope that the Department provides Congress with their legal authority on this matter expeditiously. I also consulted several experts in the criminal justice defense community who also confirmed that this bill expands federal death penalty-eligible offenses. However, there is no consensus as to the magnitude of these expansions. While this may in fact not be a measurable expansion, I have been troubled by the lack of comprehensive legal analysis available for a reasonable understanding of the breadth of this legislation. While I find this troubling, I will vote in favor of this bill. It should not go uncelebrated that this is the first significant legislative effort in thirty years that attempts to address the scourge of gun violence in our country. I have a long record of supporting measures to curb the epidemic of gun violence and it includes provisions I have long supported. This bill closes the boyfriend loophole for domestic abusers, enhances background checks for those aged 18 to 21 when purchasing a gun, and provides incentives to states to enact red flag laws that protects individuals in crisis from perpetuating further harm on themselves or others. But without adequate time for members and the American public to review the unintended consequences of the many provisions within the bill, many questions are left unanswered where they should not be for such a significant piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, despite my strong concerns, I applaud the bipartisan effort that went into crafting this legislation. With reservations about the bill's potential to expand the federal death penalty, I will vote for yes because of the assurance from the Department of Justice and the positive strides towards creating safer communities that the bill seeks to achieve.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1204, I call up the bill (S. 2089) to amend the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to extend child nutrition waiver authority, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment to the House amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the legislation currently under consideration.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are here, again, to pass legislation to ensure that our Nation's children have access to healthy meals. The Senate amended the bill that we passed yesterday, and so today we are going accept that amendment so the bill can be forwarded on to the President for signature. S. 2089 would: Maintain school meal flexibilities that do not increase costs; Continue flexibilities to support summer food programs this year; Provide additional support for child and adult care feeding programs; and Increase school meal reimbursement rates for this upcoming school year. We know this bill alone will not end hunger in America, nor does it uphold the stronger provisions in the bill that the House passed yesterday, but it is an important step to take for our Nation's children and to fulfill our basic responsibility to keep them from going hungry. I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina, the ranking member of the committee, Dr. Foxx, for cooperating and making sure this legislation could come to the floor, along with the Senator Stabenow from Michigan and Senator Boozman from Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The reality is that Congress has reached its deadline. We must pass this critical legislation to ensure that children have healthy meals this summer and that schools and daycares have the funding and flexibilities they need to respond to the supply chain challenges and high food costs in the future. If we do not act, we will jeopardize children's access to nutritious meals. I wish, again, to thank the ranking member, Dr. Foxx, for her cooperation in bringing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to the floor, along with Senators Stabenow and Boozman. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2089, support the motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record for S. 2089, as amended, the following letters from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Feeding America, Save the Children, the School Nutrition Association, the Council of the Great City Schools, and the Center for Law and Social Policy in support of the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022. [June 21, 2022] Protect Nutrition Security for Children: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Welcomes New Bipartisan Bill Chicago--The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics strongly supports the new Keep Kids Fed Act, introduced June 21 in Congress, as a crucial step in addressing nutrition security among school-aged children in the United States. The bill was introduced by U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and John Boozman (Ark.) and U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (Va.) and Virginia Foxx (N.C.). ``Studies have shown that the school cafeteria is the healthiest place for children to eat in the U.S.,'' said registered dietitian nutritionist and the Academy's 2022-2023 President Ellen R. Shanley. ``The Keep Kids Fed Act therefore is more important than ever in providing parents and guardians with the assurance that their children are receiving healthful meals to fuel them throughout this summer as well as the next school year.'' The Academy commends the Keep Kids Fed Act, which grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture the authority to provide temporary waivers that will provide full flexibilities to summer meal programs, eliminate the reduced-price meal category and increase reimbursement rates in response to rising food costs. ``The Academy and our members have tirelessly advocated for the continuation of child nutrition waivers as the country continues to grapple with ongoing supply chain and labor shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as inflation,'' Shanley said. Because the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on people from underrepresented communities and those with diet- related disease, access to healthful school meals promotes nutrition security as well as health equity. While the Academy considers nutrition waivers to be a step in the right direction, the legislation comes late in the process as schools are organizing and operating summer meal programs and planning meal programs for the next school year. ``A better solution is to make school meals free for all children, all year,'' Shanley said. ``The Academy has long advocated for Healthy School Meals for All and will continue to educate members of Congress on its benefits. We look forward to working with Congress on a permanent solution to issues of nutrition security for all, particularly for children.''

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5407) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to promote comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, over the last 2 years, our Nation's college students have grappled with a mental health crisis that was significantly worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. A national survey last year found that 65 percent of students reported having poor or only fair mental health. And according to the CDC, suicide attempts amongst females aged 15 to 23 increased by 87 percent from 2007 through 2020. The surging mental health needs of students on college campuses have further strained campus-based mental health care providers. Since the start of the pandemic, campus counseling centers have been forced to respond to an increased demand for services without the funding, staffing, and resources that they need. Regrettably, insufficient access to mental health care during the pandemic has exacerbated preexisting mental health inequities. A 2015 survey indicated that students of color are significantly less likely to be diagnosed or treated for mental health conditions than White students. The gaps between the increased mental health needs of students and the limited capacity of institutions to address them demand urgent action. In response to this crisis, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), along with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), introduced a bill, Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act. This bill will help institutions of higher education develop comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention plans to better support mental health needs of college students. Specifically, the legislation directs the Department of Education to build on existing mental health programs to create evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention and mental health care. And it would encourage the Department to collaborate with State agencies, nonprofit organizations, and stakeholders to help ensure that these programs fully meet the needs of students. In other words, the Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act is a critical opportunity for each of us to stand up for the healthcare needs of our Nation's students and ensure that we care for their well-being. I thank Ms. Wild and Mr. Keller for their work on this critical priority, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, the evidence is clear that our Nation's students are continuing to grapple with an ongoing mental health crisis. Even as we continue to recover from COVID-19, we are still seeing far too many students suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress without the support and services they need to get back on their feet. Madam Speaker, students in this country should not have to grapple with serious mental health challenges on their own. However, we cannot expect campus mental health care providers to support students if we do not support them with the resources that they need. The Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act is legislation that we need to help ensure that our institutions of higher education are equipped to support students' mental health, both during the pandemic and into the future. I, again, thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller) for their leadership and cooperation on this bill. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6493) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prevent certain alcohol and substance misuse, as amended.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2089) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that grants provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for State veterans' cemeteries do not restrict States from authorizing the interment of certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces in such cemeteries, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2089.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, S. 2089 was amended to replace the language of that bill with the language of H.R. 8150, the bipartisan and bicameral Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022, in order to send the bill to the Senate for expedited passage. Roughly 2 years ago, our communities experienced an unprecedented surge in child hunger, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just weeks into the pandemic, more than one of every three households with children, and nearly half of all mothers with young children, struggled with food insecurity. In response, Congress took decisive action to ensure that child nutrition programs, our best tools for addressing child hunger, could continue feeding hungry children during the pandemic. One of the most important steps we took was providing child nutrition programs with the flexibility they needed to expand access to school meals and address the challenges of serving students who are not physically in the school buildings. This relief made a measurable difference in our fight against child hunger. By expanding access to child nutrition programs, we allowed an additional 10 million students to receive free school meals each day. From January 2021 to April 2021, food shortages among households with children fell by more than 40 percent. Regrettably, unless Congress acts, these key flexibilities would expire at the end of this month. The bipartisan and bicameral Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 is likely our best and last opportunity to preserve relief for child nutrition programs. This legislation would: Maintain school meal flexibilities that do not increase costs; Continue flexibilities to support summer food programs this year; Provide additional support for child and adult care feeding programs; and Increase school meal reimbursement rates for this upcoming school year. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 would take a critical step to support child nutrition programs and prevent children from going hungry during the ongoing public health emergency. This is a step well worth taking. I thank the ranking member of the full committee, Dr. Foxx, and Senators Stabenow and Boozman for working with me on this legislation. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor and a leading advocate to reduce and eliminate child hunger.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), the distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record two letters from No Kid Hungry and the Food Research and Action Center, better known as FRAC. [From Share Our Strength] Share Our Strength's Lisa Davis on the Introduction of the `Keep Kids Fed' Act To Extend Child Nutrition Waivers Washington, DC.--This afternoon, leadership from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the House Committee on Education and Labor announced an agreement to extend nationwide child nutrition waivers, which are set to expire on June 30. The Keep Kids Fed Act would extend some of these waivers through the 2022-2023 school year and provide school nutrition programs with additional funding to help address food price inflation and supply chain challenges. The following is a statement from No Kid Hungry Senior Vice President Lisa Davis: ``We are grateful that a deal has come together to help address the immense challenges facing schools and community organizations working tirelessly to feed kids this summer and during the school year. This issue couldn't be more urgent with waivers expiring in nine days and summer meals programs already up and running. ``Time is of the essence, especially for those operating summer meals sites without the certainty and flexibility of the waivers who will face difficulties turning on a dime. We know these waivers are needed and that they work. The reach of the summer meals program increased dramatically with them, doubling in 2021 and even tripling in 2020. ``While these waivers don't solve supply chain issues, lower the rising cost of food and gas, or solve our nation's inflation problem, they do help soften their impact on schools and community organizations and, ultimately, keep kids fed and nourished. ``As we know with legislation like this, there can be miles to go before it gets across the finish line. We urge Congress to move quickly on the Keep Kids Fed Act before nationwide child nutrition waivers expire on June 30.''

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, as I said at the beginning of the debate, the legislation before us is likely our last and best opportunity to protect millions of students' access to nutrition programs, which have been critical to feeding hungry children during the pandemic. The simple reality is that schools, children, and families are still dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. As school meal programs continue to endure supply chain disruptions, inflation, and other challenges, the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 would provide school meal programs that are urgently needed for stability and will help continue providing students with nutritious meals that they need. We know this bill alone will not end all hunger in America, but it will be an important step to stand up for our Nation's children and fulfill our basic responsibility to keep them from going hungry. Again, I thank the ranking member of the committee, Dr. Foxx, and I thank the gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Steel, for helping to bring this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to the floor. I also thank Senators Stabenow and Boozman for their work in bringing this legislation to reality. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2089, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.