Lloyd Smucker

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I hope the American people are watching closely today because there is a fundamental question being debated, and that is: What should the role of the Federal Government be in each of our daily lives, and what economic system best provides for the opportunity and well-being of the American people? That is the question today. Democrats believe--they said this in our hearings--that the Federal Government should provide everything to ensure all needs are met for middle-income Americans. We believe in earned success. We believe in rewarding hard work. That system, the free market system, has provided more opportunity than ever before in the history of mankind. Mr. Speaker, freedoms aren't taken all at once. They are taken bit by bit by bit. This is a move toward an entirely different economic system. It is a move toward socialism. We know that doesn't work. Look at every country in history that has overdelivered and overspent. It has not ended well.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Kim Lemon, who after spending 42 years serving the public as an award-winning journalist and anchor, is retiring from WGAL News 8, which is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the heart of my Congressional District. Kim was born and raised in Lancaster, graduating from Manheim Township High School. She pursued higher education, graduating from Clarion University with a degree in Speech Communications and Theatre. She joined WGAL News 8 in 1979, hired to cover the weekend weather segment. She then spent time as a reporter, morning news anchor, then co-host of ``PM Magazine.'' For the last 36 years, the people of Susquehanna Valley have known Kim as an anchor of WGAL' s evening news, serving as their Senior Anchor. Kim has been the longest serving anchor in the station's history. She has earned 12 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards and many other distinguished recognitions for her reporting. Beyond sharing the news with our community, Kim has worked to give back. She has supported charitable efforts for the Children's Miracle Network, The Salvation Army, The Extraordinary Give and more. She also has been an advocate on behalf of families who are caring for loved ones with dementia, as she cares for her husband John who has Lewy Body Dementia. Kim said that it was ``her lifelong dream to work at WGAL 8.'' And so, we thank her for living out her dream to faithfully share the news with our community for so many years. We wish her continued success and happiness in her retirement.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Keller for his leadership on this issue. My wonderful colleague from Pennsylvania introduced the Congressional Review Act, and I rise today in strong support of this act, which would block President Biden's misguided and, frankly, I think unconstitutional mandate. I thank him for his efforts and I am very, very happy to be able to support that. Madam Speaker, I will say first, that I think the U.S. and what we have accomplished in developing a vaccine through Operation Warp Speed was a remarkable achievement of science and of a system in our country that develops the best medical system and the best drugs from across the world. And to be able to do that in the amount of time that it was done and to manufacture those drugs in a large scale is nothing short of amazing. Personally, for myself, my family, we have discussed this with our doctor. We got the vaccine early on when it became available. And I have encouraged Pennsylvanians to speak with their own doctors and make their own decisions about the direction they want to take. And many Pennsylvanians have, and I think Mr. Keller knows this as well. We now are at over 70 percent of our Commonwealth vaccinated, which begs the question for me: What ever happened to herd immunity? What ever happened? Every one of us were in the room early on during this vaccine when we heard from Dr. Fauci and heard from other experts who talked about herd immunity. And they were talking about herd immunity being achieved when about 70 percent--or even less after we learned that COVID was not as fatal as was originally feared. At that point, we could do away with government mandates--many that were unnecessary in the first place, by the way--but we could reopen the economy and could control COVID; 70 percent. We are there, but nobody is talking about it anymore. CDC doesn't talk about it. This administration doesn't talk about it. What happened? Madam Speaker, so I agree, there has got to be something else going on. And other speakers tonight have talked about it. There has got to be something more, and I fear it is control. It is control that people want. I think we should trust the science. I think you should listen to your medical professionals. Certainly, it shouldn't be government topdown mandates. I hear from employers every day who are worried that this mandate will further harm their ability to hire and retrain staff. They are already having a lot of problems due to some of the policies of this administration, but this will make it a lot worse. And I also hear from employees every day that are worried that this mandate may threaten their jobs and may threaten their livelihoods. I have been heartened that over half of States have sued the administration to reverse this mandate, and I have also joined with my Republican colleagues from Pennsylvania to call on our attorney general in our State to join that litigation. Madam Speaker, I stand ready to oppose this mandate; do everything that I can to block this and any vaccine mandates that this White House puts forth. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Keller for his leadership.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly dedicated township official from Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District, which I am honored to represent. Mr. Les Houck, of Salisbury Township, in eastern Lancaster County, is retiring as a member of the Salisbury Township Board of Supervisors after 48 years of dedicated service in that body; almost a half a century. In fact, his service to the township began 2 years prior to his 48 years as a supervisor, in 1972, when he was appointed to the township's planning commission. Les is a wonderful husband and father as well, but as I said, he has dedicated half a century working to improve his community. Over the years, Les has become a trusted voice who is sought out for counsel in Lancaster County and across the Commonwealth as well. Beyond his service to the residents of Salisbury Township, Les served on several boards for Lancaster County, on advisory committees to the Governor and other State departments, and in leadership roles with both the county and State associations of township supervisors. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Les Houck for 50 years of service to the residents of Salisbury Township and for being an outstanding and true example of servant leadership. Congratulating EHD of Lancaster

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate EHD of Lancaster as they celebrate their business' 125th anniversary; truly an impressive milestone. The business, Engle-Hambright & Davies, now known as EHD, dates back to 1896 and has grown over the years, from previously working in real estate to now being a respected full-service insurance agency which employs 120 individuals with offices in Lancaster, Reading, Exton, and Pittsburgh. They are one of only a few independent insurance agencies who achieved the Best Practices distinction for 6 consecutive years from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. They continue to work to give back to the community they have called home for over a century, supporting a number of local nonprofit organizations through their many charitable efforts. Mr. Speaker, the American entrepreneurial spirit has led to the founding of many businesses. Some do well, some fail, but not many have lasted for 125 years. That is rare. Today, I want to mention EHD. We celebrate with them. We congratulate them on achieving this milestone, and we wish them continued success.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a dedicated law enforcement officer from Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District. Northern Lancaster County Regional Chief of Police David Steffen was recently selected to serve as the president of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, which represents over 1,200 commanding level officers across local, State, and Federal law enforcement entities in Pennsylvania. Chief Steffen has spent his 40-plus-year career in law enforcement, having served in Jackson Township, Hampden Township, and then the Northern York County Regional Police Department, before being named the first chief of Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department in 2011. As chief of the department, Steffen leads over 30 full-time sworn officers and three civil staff, covering approximately 100 square miles in north central Lancaster County. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chief Steffen for supporting his fellow law enforcement officers, for achieving this recognition, and congratulate him on his new and well-deserved role. To Chief Steffen and law enforcement officers across Pennsylvania's 11th District and across the country, thank you for your dedicated service and your efforts to keep our community safe. Honoring Elizabethtown Mayor Chuck Mummert

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to Mayor Chuck Mummert of Elizabethtown Borough in Lancaster County. Mayor Mummert was recently named Mayor of the Year by the Associations of Mayors of Boroughs of Pennsylvania. Mayor Mummert has served the residents of Elizabethtown since 2006, in his first 4 years as a member of borough council there, and then since 2010 as mayor. In addition to this honor, Mayor Mummert, in 2018, received the Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence, and he previously served as president of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. Mayor Mummert is known as the singing mayor, as he is frequently called upon to lend his talented voice in singing the national anthem at events; something that I have certainly always enjoyed. So I want to congratulate Mayor Mummert on being named Mayor of the Year, and to thank him for all of his work in continuing to make Elizabethtown Borough an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, there are several problems with what I am hearing on the floor today. One, this is a blank check for Democrats to continue to spend at unprecedented levels. They talk about this spending for previous expenditures. Not true. This doesn't even set a limit. This would suspend completely the debt limit until December 16, 2022. They can spend as much as they want. It is a big problem. Number two. Democrats aren't talking about finding ways to reduce the debt. We must tackle that problem. Rather, they believe that they can spend their way into a prosperous economy. In fact, they are attempting to completely erode the foundation of our society that has been built on individual freedom and personal responsibility, and they want to pave the way for the radical socialist agenda. Unfortunately, we are already seeing the economic damage from their disastrous policies. Inflation is showing a 4 percent increase year to date. Consumer price inflation is higher than that. That is more than double the Federal Reserve's 2 percent goal. Those increases are being felt in my district; they are being felt across the country; and they are essentially a hidden tax on the American people. Another problem we have, while they are attempting to spend even more money, cause even more economic harm, they will further degrade confidence in the dollar. And, finally, another problem. This is an exercise in futility, and they know it. They know that this bill is very unlikely to pass in the Senate. So this is simply to score cheap political points today. Democrats are in full control of the House, Senate, and the Presidency. They can raise the debt at any time. In fact, they passed up another opportunity to amend their budget resolution to include a debt ceiling increase, and they refused to do so. Madam Speaker, I am strongly opposed to the Democrats' radical socialist agenda, and I oppose this bill which will help them advance that agenda.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Poiema Visual Arts as it celebrates its grand opening on this day, September 24, 2021. With roots in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Poiema Visual Arts is an organization which seeks to foster values such as discipleship and friendship among Christian visual artists across Pennsylvania. Lancaster County is home to a burgeoning arts community, with many artists, craftsmen, and others finding it an ideal place from which to hone their craft and exhibit their work. Poiema Visual Arts will be a welcome addition to that community. Art is often thought of as a universal language which can bring together people from all walks of life. We hope Poiema Visual Arts can do just that and unite people across Pennsylvania's Eleventh District and beyond. We wish Poiema Visual Arts all the best and eagerly wait to see what the future has in store.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, this body just spent several weeks considering a massive spending bill proposed by the Democrats. In my case, as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, we went through a 4- day markup considering the bill and debating the bill, and I want to just share some of my thoughts and takeaways. The number one takeaway is that I just cannot comprehend how my Democrat colleagues on this bill are thinking. In fact, I hope the American people are paying attention because I have never seen such divergent views about how to create prosperity for all Americans. I have never seen such differing opinions about how to do it. Now, I will give this to the Democrats: I believe they do want to see the American people prosper. They want to help people. I know we as Republicans want to do that, and I hope they grant us that same courtesy of believing that. But this administration has already spent trillions of dollars in the past 6 months, trillions of dollars, and now, with this bill, they want to spend another $3\1/2\ trillion. Democrats literally believe that Big Government is the answer. They believe Big Government will solve these problems and will help Americans prosper. At the same time, they are disincentivizing work and advancing policies that increase dependence on the Federal Government as if they don't even understand that those who are working and businesses creating jobs and prospering are the ones who are paying the taxes that will pay for these programs. I just don't get it. Republicans have a far different answer. We believe in the American people. We believe in their creativity, their hard work, their ingenuity. We believe in achieving the American Dream. I have lived that American Dream. I was born in an Old Order Amish family, number 10 of 12 children. My father was first a farmer and then a roofer, raising 12 children on that income. I was the first in my family to graduate from high school. I paid for my own education. My parents required me to attend a private Christian school. I bought a small business when I was 17 years old, operating out of a spare bedroom in my parents' home, and lived the American Dream. Over 25 years, I grew, with other family members, that company to be a leader in the type of construction we were doing, creating jobs for hundreds of Americans, family-sustaining jobs. There are stories like that all across this body, all across the district that I represent, all across the country. It is what we call the American Dream, the idea that every generation can do better than their parents' generation and their grandparents' generation before them. I think we have a choice in this body, and I think the choice is clear. Will we allow the government to dictate every facet of American life, or will we renew our trust in the American people and in their freedom? That is a question that will determine how our kids and our grandkids will be able to live and whether they have the same opportunities that we had. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, whose side I am on. I am on the side of the American people. We have already seen the damage done as a result of these policies that the Democrats have implemented. We are seeing inflation where the American people are paying more for goods, and their paycheck is buying less than it did before. It is only going to get worse if we continue going down this path. These programs can only be paid for with more debt, printing money, or raising taxes on hardworking Americans. It doesn't work. Tell me a time in history when it has worked, when a country has overdelivered, overspent, and overpromised. Mr. Speaker, we have a choice in this body. Every American's desire to achieve greatness is what has made our country the envy of the world. Let's reject these policies and let's put us on a path to allowing every American the chance to achieve their own American Dream.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Anthony Cazillo, III, who passed away last month at the young age of 26 years old. Anthony made an exceptional impact in his short life in the lives that he touched and in the community that he lived. He served as a township supervisor in Pequea Township, Lancaster County, and he was running for reelection this year. To serve in elected office at such a young age speaks to the life of service that Anthony lived and the passion that he had for improving his community. One of Anthony's goals as a supervisor was to ``make Pequea Township boring again.'' This is just one example of his wit, his sense of humor, and I believe indicative of the servant's spirit that he carried as a local elected official. Anthony was a graduate of Millersville University and the Penn Manor School District. He is survived by his wife, Katelyn; his parents; and his sisters. My condolences and prayers of comfort are with the Cazillo family, his friends, and all those who grieve for Anthony. I was really thankful to have gotten to know him in recent years. We certainly wished that Anthony could have been with all of us longer, but we do give thanks for the time spent with him. Utz's 100th Anniversary

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an iconic business and household brand name from Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District. Utz Brands of Hanover--the ``Snack Food Capital of the World''--is celebrating its 100th year in business and now has the fifth generation of family members as part of the company. Founded as Hanover Home Brand Potato Chips by Bill and Salie Utz in 1921 with just $300, the company used hand-operated equipment to produce up to 50 pounds of potato chips per hour from their home. Quickly outgrowing the volume they were able to produce from their home, the company changed its name to Utz Potato Chip Company and purchased land to build their first factory on Carlisle Street in Hanover in 1947. Fifty pounds of potato chips per hour in 1921 has grown to 5.5 million pounds of snacks produced each week. Utz Brand operates 15 factories in the United States, generating over $1 billion in sales annually. The company's headquarters and six manufacturing facilities, as well as 1,800 employees who staff those facilities, call Pennsylvania's 11th District home. Utz is certainly one of the key families and companies that have earned Hanover the moniker of the ``Snack Food Capital of the World.'' They have made an extraordinary impact on the community that I represent through their business and charitable efforts. I want to congratulate them on this remarkable milestone of 100 years in business and wish them continued success in the next century as well. Eighteen Days for H.R. 18

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of life and our Nation's unborn children. For over 40 years, the Hyde amendment has kept taxpayer money from funding abortions, and it is estimated to have saved at least 2.4 million lives. Polling consistently shows that a majority of Americans oppose being forced to pay for abortions with their tax money. This is something that we all should be able to agree on. However, House Democrats recently passed a spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services that, for the first time since 1976, does not include the Hyde amendment. H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, would make the prohibition against Federal funding for abortions permanent and government-wide. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18. Life is a precious gift, and we must do all that we can to ensure that we defend the unborn who have no voice to speak for themselves.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Lampeter- Strasburg High School softball team for winning the PIAA 5A Softball Championship earlier this month, with a 10-7 victory over Armstrong. This is the Pioneers' second State championship in just 3 years. This victory capped off a dominant 30-win season. Through the halfway mark, the Pioneers were down 1 run entering the 5th inning, but after putting 5 runs on the scoreboard, including a 2- run home run from senior Cam Byler, the game was over as the Pioneers closed out to claim the championship. Mr. Speaker, I extend congratulations to the team members for their success this season. It is a great credit to the players, their hard work, Head Coach Gene Charles, the entire coaching staff, that, for the past 3 years, the Pioneers have played in the championship game, bringing home the trophy this year and previously in 2018. Mr. Speaker, our community is really proud of this truly outstanding accomplishment. We wish the graduating seniors best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Harold Keller of Mount Joy, who recently passed away. Harold will be remembered for his life of service and building a stronger community in Mount Joy. He was a proud Rotarian, serving as President of the Mount Joy Rotary Club. He additionally served as a member of the Mount Joy Borough Council and Mount Joy Chamber of Commerce. Harold and his wife Helen were known as Mr. & Mrs. Santa in Mount Joy, bringing happiness to children and residents for over 35 years. Harold generously supported charitable organizations across the community and supported those in need, for instance, donating food to those impacted by Hurricane Agnes while his own home was flooded. Harold pursued his professional dream of becoming an auctioneer, opening Keller Auctions in 1960, which is now in its third generation. Harold served during many benefit auctions to support community organizations across the region and in 2012, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Auctioneers Hall of Fame. Harold enjoyed every moment with his family, and we offer prayers of comfort for those who grieve his passing. Harold is survived by his loving family, including Helen, his wife of 68 years, their eight children, nineteen grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Mary Duffy Sheaffer Burton, who passed away earlier this year. I certainly appreciated Mary's friendship and support over the last several decades. She was an incredible lady. Mary made an indelible mark through her works and service to the Lancaster County community. She was a lifelong entrepreneur, a pioneer of the manufacturing industry in Lancaster, starting her first business in her garage, HDJ Company, in 1960, which became a leader in the design and manufacture of precision machining parts and would later become specialized medical devices and implants. Her businesses would employ many individuals over the years, building lasting relationships with many, positively impacting their lives. Mary received the Golden Micrometer Award from the Precision Machined Products Association of America, which is the highest honor of the industry in 2008 and was a recognition of her outstanding efforts and achievement. She was just as devoted to improving her community, generously supporting, with her time and talents, many organizations which built Lancaster's thriving arts community, historical organizations, and organizations supporting women and children. Mary is survived by her three children, who we express our sincerest condolences to, Duffy, Mary, and Edward, and by her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. We are sad at Mary's passing, but she brought happiness to the lives of so many, and for that we give thanks. Taxing the Middle Class

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, President Biden is raising taxes on the middle class. Make no mistake about it. Middle-class Americans are feeling the squeeze of inflation as well--at the gas pump, at the grocery store, at the hardware store, and everywhere in between--as a result of the President's reckless Big Government spending plans. This irresponsible $6 trillion budget doubles down on taxing the middle class, breaking his pledge to only tax the wealthy. And we know he wants to tax the middle class because the President's budget would let the working- and middle-class tax hikes from the Tax Cut and Jobs Act expire. By the way, from 2017 to 2019, the TCJA raised the median household income by over $5,000. This was a real positive impact for families across the district that I represent, for families across the country. And it also led to the lowest poverty rate in history, lifting more people out of poverty than ever before and historically slow unemployment. But, apparently, Biden wants to throw away those policies that built the strongest economy that we have seen in generations and, instead, will force greater dependence on the Federal Government. Even with all of the radical socialist policies included in the President's budget, their own projections indicate the worst economic growth of any decade since the Great Depression, at the cost of more than $17 trillion added to the national debt. Madam Speaker, the President says he wants to build back better, but I fear that he will end up building back bankrupt. America can simply not afford his middle-class tax hikes and socialist spending wish list.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank and congratulate Ella Sensenig of Millersville, who, at 85, has recently retired as a school bus driver for Penn Manor School District after 41 years of dedicated and safe service. Those 41 years must have added up to countless miles, but each trip presented the children on her school bus the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. She started in a part-time position, driving students to sports activities or to the Lancaster Career & Technology Center Campuses before she started serving two generations of students at Central Manor Elementary as passengers on her bus for over 20 years. Ella also drove the bus for her church's Bible School program for many years. She also served as a crossing guard, as a part-time police officer with Millersville, and as a nurse's aide throughout her career. In a recent interview, Ella said: ``Not a lot of people can say this, but there are no jobs I had that I didn't like.'' As she looks forward to retirement, she's looking forward to spending time with her family: two children, five grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. I thank Ella for her many years of service to students and I congratulate her on her retirement.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and to pay tribute to a community leader, a veteran, and a vocal advocate, Mr. Frank Fryburg, who passed away last week at the age of 94. Those of us who had the pleasure to know Frank know that he lived a life of service to others. Frank joined the Navy in 1944 as an electronic technician, and went on to serve 20 years in the Navy Reserves. Frank was a graduate of Penn State University, earning his bachelor's degree in physics on the GI Bill. He later earned his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Frank served his community for a decade as a commissioner in Manheim Township in Lancaster County. He was an active member of his church, a national leader of his chosen fraternity, and worked to support countless community organizations over the years. With Frank, you always knew where you stood. He always shared his opinions with you, and they were very well-thought out. He was recently recognized as one of the most prolific letter writers to the editor in the local newspaper. Frank Fryburg was a man of exceptional character, of boundless energy and determination, a true servant leader, and a community advocate. Frank is survived by his 6 children, 13 grandchildren, and 20 great- grandchildren. We will miss him. We wish those who are grieving, comfort. We give thanks for the opportunity to know Frank, who positively impacted so many people during his 94 years. Thanking Alex Munro

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give thanks to someone who has positively impacted the lives of a generation of students and untold generations to come in Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District. Alex Munro has retired after 30 years as executive director of the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Foundation and Alumni Association. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is known across the State and across the Nation as a preeminent 2-year degree-granting institution, which prepares students for today's in-demand technical jobs. Prior to serving the college, Alex graduated from the school then known as the Thaddeus Stevens Trade School, and he talked many times about how it changed his life. He studied masonry at the school. After 25 years in the private sector, successfully applying those skills and the lessons that he learned at Thaddeus Stevens, Alex joined the alumni foundation board before becoming the foundation's executive director in 1990. Alex has been integral to the advancement of the school, building relationships with elected officials and industry leaders to support expansion of the school's mission and programs. Alex is known for saying: ``Changing lives is not by chance; it is a tradition at Stevens.'' That is a tradition that he has dedicated himself to for the past 30 years. I personally have worked with Alex for a number of years, and I have always appreciated his efforts and candor. I want to thank Alex for all he has done to improve the lives of so many students, and I congratulate him on his retirement.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 88.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, the previous speaker said Republicans want to do nothing to help, which is false, untrue. Members in this body came together during an unprecedented crisis and passed five bills to provide much-needed relief and pave the way to defeat the virus. I believe that all of us continue to support targeted help for those who need it. But that is not what this bill is. This bill may have made sense a year ago, but why would we print and borrow $2 trillion when we are so close to crushing this virus and returning to a way of life that all Americans sacrificed? Why give $130 billion to schools and not require them to open when the CDC says it is safe and at a time when so many kids are desperate for personal social interaction? Why provide $350 billion to States that shut down their economies even though their revenues are at record highs? Why send $1,400 checks to individuals when the majority of those receiving the checks never lost any income? People want to get back to work. So why make it harder, as we are doing in this bill by giving them a bonus to stay home? The answer is this bill is not just about COVID relief. It is about enacting the largest progressive policy wish list of all time. Mr. Speaker, we can do better than this, and the American people deserve better.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act, to get our kids out from behind screens and back in the classroom.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, this bill today is a missed opportunity, a missed opportunity for people all across this country to live their own American Dream, to access the jobs that are available in this country. This is at a time when millions have lost their jobs due to this pandemic. Why? Because Democrats are more interested in protecting the labor unions than they are in helping the 94 percent of the private-sector workforce that is not part of a labor union and in helping the millions of individuals who are not able to access the workforce at all. It is a shame. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I know because I owned a nonunion construction company that was unable to start an apprenticeship program due to union pushback. Now, I will agree with you, construction labor unions have a great training program. I have seen them firsthand. But why not expand that to other construction companies and other industries? All of us know that in the United States, we are far behind many European countries in the apprenticeship programs that we offer in many different industries, and it affects the American worker and the opportunities that they have. This bill doubles down on that system. What we need is more innovation to allow more individuals and more families to achieve their own American Dream, and the Democrats are wholly failing to do so in this bill.

Mr. SMUCKER

Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the objection.