Thomas Suozzi

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Chairman for his leadership on the CASH Act and also, as he mentioned, on the Ban Surprise Billing Act. It is really amazing the relief we are going to be giving to consumers this year on a bipartisan basis with his leadership. We are going to be making people's lives a lot better. So I thank him so much for the work he has done on both the CASH Act and on the work to address surprise billing. Madam Speaker, the effects of this pandemic have been cruelly uneven. Some remain unscathed, working remotely and still healthy, while millions of others are awash in misery, unable to return to work or pay their bills, even funeral bills for lost loved ones. While the stock market has hit a new record today, there are still bodies stored in refrigerator trucks. While online retail and grocery stores are booming, airline, Broadway, and mom-and-pop store employees have been laid off, and life savings invested in small businesses have been wiped out. The President's cynical ploy to threaten the COVID relief package to obscure his dark-of-night pardons has now resulted in a fighter's chance that we can pass this $2,000 stimulus check legislation if we can only get Mitch McConnell to finally show some empathy. Let's pass this bill, and then let's immediately work to send the billions necessary to save our State and local governments before they fire police officers, teachers, and frontline workers, which will only result in more unemployment checks from us and financial ruin for those families and the communities they serve. Let's rebuild our infrastructure and put Americans back to work. Let's build back better. We can do this if we remember why we are here and we, both Democrats and Republicans, recognize that outside of this Beltway fantasyland, millions of Americans are desperately pleading for our help.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of our bipartisan legislation to both fund the government and for the COVID relief package. As Speaker Pelosi just noted, this bill is far from perfect, but we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Madam Speaker, today, is the darkest day of the year. It is a fitting symbol of the misery and suffering that so many people are facing in our country right now. The effects of this pandemic have been cruelly uneven. Some people have remained relatively unscathed. Some people can work remotely, still have their jobs, no one around them has gotten sick or died within their immediate circle, while others are awash in misery: unable to return to work, unable to pay their rent, to pay their utilities; people around them have gotten sick. People have lost their lifesavings in their small business, and many hundreds of thousands have died, including my 92-year-old father-in- law, who, in April, was diagnosed with the coronavirus and died within 48 hours. Today's relief package--and that is what it is is relief--will provide much-needed help for millions of Americans. So while today is the darkest day of the year, every day will get a little brighter, and spring will surely follow our dark winter. But we must remember that, while spring is on its way, there is so much more that needs to be done. Our State and local governments must have relief from their massive loss of revenues. Without our help, police officers, teachers, and other heroes on the front line will face layoffs. Madam Speaker, we need to continue today's spirit of bipartisanship.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mary Collins who, after 22 years is retiring as chair of the Huntington Town Democratic Committee. Over the years, I have been fortunate to know Mary both as a friend and an ally and remember the gracious welcome she gave me when I opened my flagship Congressional office in the Village of Huntington. As a staff person to former members of Congress Gary Ackerman and Steve Israel, Mary spent many years advocating for the constituents of New York's Third Congressional District. She is admired by many and I join with them in wishing her the best as she moves on to the next chapter in her life. I include in the Record the following tribute to Mary that was prepared by the Huntington Town Democratic Committee: On the Occasion of the Retirement of Mary Collins as the Chairwoman of the Huntington Town Democratic Committee, celebrating her 22nd anniversary as our beloved chair, we honor Mary for her excellence and service to the Huntington Community. We hereby recognize and acknowledge her tenure in office by sharing some of her biography and contributions. Mary has been a resident of the Town of Huntington since 1950. She moved here from East Hampton as a child at the age of 8 when her Father became the caretaker of the Marshall Field Estate (now Caumsett State Park) where he was in charge of the stable of horses. Her family ties to East Hampton connected her to Eleanor's Legacy by her relationship with Judith Hope who was the East Hampton Town Supervisor. Judith Started Eleanor's Legacy. Mary brought Eleanor's legacy to Huntington by appointing Sherry Pavone as head of the Woman's Initiative. HTDC has supported Eleanor's Legacy's goal of supporting women candidates throughout NY. Mary was a teacher by profession. She spent her career wholly within Syosset High School District. Mary's area of expertise in teaching was Global studies. However, she became very interested in local politics on Long Island after observing her mother's long service as a Board of Elections volunteer, registering voters and working through election times as far back as the 1950's. Huntington at that time was a quasi-rural area with much farmland. Many Huntingtonians wanted to keep the character and nature of Huntington as it had been before WWII. Huntington experienced rapid suburbanization with the development of Dix Hills/Melville, community groups such as House Beautiful and the development of the 110 Corridor. However, these changes came and our leaders had to wrestle with the issues surrounding this development. Early on, Mary was particularly interested in the corruption felt throughout Long Island in the late 1950's. She fondly remembers when Robert Flynn, attorney and longtime Huntington Democratic leader, joined with likeminded Republicans to form The Fusion Economy Party designed to combat such corruption with the goal to defeat institutional corruption. There were Democrats and Republicans that ran on that line. Mary recalled a time when Committee people were recruited, friend to friend, neighbor to neighbor. Her own mentor into the position as Chair was Eunice Titcomb. Eunice taught Mary the day-to-day workings of the committee. Mary became more active in Huntington Democrats with her husband, the late Dick Tretler. They met Annie and Matt Berger around 1979 during Frank Grimes' tenure as HTDC Chair and they all campaigned actively for Jane Devine's successful run for County Legislature. In fact, she recalled that the reason she became a Notary Public was when Jane Devine was first running for office in order to carry Jane's petitions. In those days you could not carry a petition outside your district unless you were a Notary Public. Annie Berger shares what she believes to be key to Mary's success: her listening skills. She listened, she heard people, even if she would not commit to their position. This was echoed by every elected Democratic official and leader past and present. We Recognize that under Mary Collin's leadership, Huntington Democrats maintain a strong presence in Huntington. She made it a time to be proud to be a Democrat in Huntington and support our neighbors and friends in our community. Under Mary's leadership, Huntington held the majority in the town for 18 years. Her integrity was always high and she put the Committee first. Frank Grimes, HTDC long time Chair asked Mary to be Vice Chair and she readily accepted helping to bring HTDC into the 21st century. Mary was the Vice Chair of Huntington Town Democratic Committee for 6 years. In 1998 she became the Chair holding that position until 2020 when she became Vice Chair for Western Suffolk of the Suffolk County Democratic Committee. She has always enjoyed reaching out to people, being available to provide the best advice and assistance to every candidate, every Committee person, every constituent inquiry. Frank Petrone, our long time Town Supervisor and now Committee Chair always found Mary welcoming, even though he was a Republican at the beginning of his tenure as Town Supervisor. When Frank changed his own party affiliation, Mary continued to provide him with an orientation to our Committee and paved the way for his acceptance to the Committee. ``She was, as ever, always gracious.'' Mary worked for a long time as a Legislative Assistant to Congressman Gary Ackerman whose district stretched from Queens to Smithtown, dealing with constituent issues, becoming well versed in local issues affecting Huntington. Former Congressman Steve Israel recalls that he met Mary when he moved to Huntington in the 1990's. He recalls learning about her from his friend, Congressman Bob Mrazek. Her knowledge of Huntington politics, as Congressman Israel remembers, was a reason that he asked Mary to join him when he was first elected to Congress. Israel remembers that he was always amazed by her dedication to her neighbors, her insistence that we were in politics not for power but to help those without it and her passion for improving communities. Congressman Israel is reminded, upon returning from Washington, walking into his local office feeling uplifted seeing Mary at the front desk helping constituents with their everyday problems. As Chair, Mary not only kept up the day-to-day operations, she nurtured us all with her amazing Home baked goodies. If you haven't tried her famous Irish Soda Bread, you are really missing out. Anyone coming to the office for GOTV work has enjoyed the extra benefit of sharing in a good cup of coffee or tea and a delicious homebaked treat made with love. Ever the quintessential politico, Mary has always been able to straddle being essentially apolitical in a very political position. The interaction with people, trying to improve things for all Huntingtonians has always been her goal. And in her own words: ``Politics is the most fun people can have legally.''

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for yielding. I rise in support of the National Apprenticeship Act. Since the late 1980s, the Dow Jones has gone up 1,400 percent; GDP has gone up 600 percent; enormous wealth has been created; yet workers' wages during the same period of time have gone up only 20 percent or less. Hardworking men and women have been left behind. Everyone in America believes, from the most conservative to the most progressive, that if you are willing to go to work every day, you should make enough money so you can have a decent place to live, you can have health insurance, you can educate your children, and you can retire one day without being scared. Unfortunately, that American Dream is no longer a reality for many Americans. The National Apprenticeship Act says learn while you earn, because we all know, the more you learn, the more you earn. Yet 60 percent of Americans do not attend college or do not graduate from college. We must return to honoring the dignity of work. We must make the skills necessary to be a welder or a plumber or a computer machinist or any skilled worker widely available to any high school student or graduate so that they can pursue noncollege opportunities like apprenticeship programs. There they can acquire the skills necessary to do the jobs that pay the wages necessary to live a decent life. The National Apprenticeship Act does just that. It is the key to the middle class.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend, Chairman Engel. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 809, which, as the chairman mentioned, I authored. This resolution expresses the importance of our country's alliance with the Republic of Korea. Affirmation of this alliance during this time of transition to a new administration and a new Congress is being closely watched throughout the Indo-Pacific region, and it is encouraging to note that support for this resolution is bipartisan and was passed unanimously by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. A little over 100 years ago, the Republic of Korea declared itself sovereign and formed a provisional government. Today, it is one of the most vibrant, prosperous, and free societies in the world. The United States and South Korea have a special diplomatic, economic, and security relationship, strengthened by shared strategic interests and a commitment cemented by democratic values. Our alliance is central to advancing democracy, free markets, human rights, the rule of law, peace and security, and crushing COVID-19, not only in the Indo-Pacific region, but throughout the world. But this alliance is not limited to international cooperation. Korean Americans contribute so much to the fabric of our American communities, including the communities in my district in New York. Nearly 2 million Korean Americans live across our country, and I know from my personal experience that Korean Americans enrich all aspects of our society. I am proud to lead this resolution through the House of Representatives today and call on my colleagues to continue to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the U.S. and our vital ally, South Korea.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Castro for yielding. I thank Mr. Smith for his great work on this, and Chairman Blumenauer for the work of the Committee of Ways and Means. And I thank Chairman McGovern as well. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. We really need to wake people out of their torpor. It has been reported in the newspapers often, but I don't think most Americans realize exactly what is going on in China. It was almost 50 years ago when Nixon first went to China. And we always believed, as Americans, that the more they are exposed to our way of life, our democracy, our economic system, the more they would become like us. That simply has not happened. We have had hearings on the China Commission. We had a hearing the other day of the Committee on Ways and Means, and the witnesses testified not only about forced labor, which is clear, but they talked about crimes against humanity. They talked about forced sterilization. They talked about forcing people to eat pork, even though it violates their religion. They talked about prohibiting people from practicing their faith, attending religious ceremonies, observing fasts. It is hard to imagine that in today's world that forced labor is happening and we know about it. We need to recognize that China has to be held accountable. We have rules in place now that say you can't use forced labor, but this bill is going a big step further in saying everything that comes out of the Xinjiang region will be presumed to be using forced labor. This is going to have a big impact. A lot of the cotton in the world comes from China; 84 percent of that cotton from China comes from the Xinjiang region. This will have an impact. We will have to support other countries to produce cotton. We will have to work to get the Northern Triangle, for example, to produce cotton so we can try and address those issues where our friends are. But we need to hold China and the Chinese Communist Party accountable for these violative acts of our very conscience. We have to do everything we can do to stand up for our values and to say this is simply unacceptable. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues for their support.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great American and veteran in my district, Mr. Anselm ``Jerry'' Cramer. Mr. Cramer joined the Navy Reserve in 1948 and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950 during the Korean War. In December of 1950, Mr. Cramer fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where he suffered severe frostbite wounds to his hands and feet. Mr. Cramer spent weeks in the hospital for treatment to his injuries. Since then, Mr. Cramer has been denied a Purple Heart four times. As a member of the 1st Marine Division, Mr. Cramer fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, braving subzero temperatures without shelter for ten days. In conditions this harsh, frostbite can develop in a matter of minutes, hypothermia and death setting in shortly after. Mr. Cramer has described how his duties included loading dead Marines onto trucks, their bodies frozen solid from the cold and wind. By the time he made it to the safety of an aid station, Mr. Cramer's hands and feet were black from frostbite, and he could no longer grip or feel anything with them. He was evacuated to a hospital in Japan for immediate treatment. Mr. Cramer watched as military personnel on his ward received a Purple Heart for frostbite wounds, but he was overlooked. Mr. Cramer has never fully recovered from his frostbite injuries and currently receives a forty percent disability rating for the wounds he sustained in December of 1950. Mr. Cramer has repeatably been denied a Purple Heart due to a change in regulation made months after his injuries occurred. In inquiries submitted by my office, the Board of Corrections of Naval Records has acknowledged Mr. Cramer's injuries, but maintains that he does not qualify due to the Secretary of the Navy's 1951 decision to disqualify frostbite for the Purple Heart. They also state that fellow Marines were ``erroneously awarded the Purple Heart''. This is not a medal that is given out in error. The Purple Heart that is awarded due to an injury or wounds inflicted from an outside force or element, which is exactly how Mr. Cramer received his injuries. Mr. Cramer is now in his 90s; he has fought and sacrificed a great deal for the country he loves. This December will mark 70 years since Mr. Cramer sustained his injuries. It is past time that he receives the recognition he has earned.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of Sami's Law. Congressman Smith and I introduced this legislation to address passenger safety issues with the transportation network companies, TNCs, such as Uber and Lyft. I thank Congressman Smith again for his tireless advocacy on this issue, and I also thank Chairman DeFazio. There is no way this would have made it to the floor unless he had worked together with House leadership to get this bipartisan and commonsense legislation on the floor. It is a tremendous challenge to determine what policies are necessary to ensure that the new industry of transportation network companies, TNCs, provide safe, efficient, and cost-effective solutions to consumers and employees. Earlier this year, when news reports surfaced about the tragic, horrific death of Sami Josephson, a friend of mine, who is also a friend and neighbor of the Josephson family, contacted me to work on legislation to ensure that no other parent would experience the devastating loss of a child in the way that the Josephsons did. I later discovered that Congressman Smith, who represents the Josephsons, was also working on the issue. Sami Josephson called for an Uber, entered the wrong car, and was murdered. The Smith/Suozzi legislation provides consumers with a level of safety before entering a vehicle. Our bill's safety provisions are commonsense and easy to implement, including the following requirements: One, requiring companies like Uber and Lyft to connect with passengers and drivers to positively establish their identities before the trip starts. Two, prohibiting the unauthorized sale of ride-hailing signs and spells out the civil penalties of violating the law. Three, establishing an advisory council comprised of representatives from Federal agencies, TNCs, law enforcement, disability and advocacy groups to recommend standards for positive identification systems. As we began researching this issue, I was surprised to learn that TNCs, a relatively new business model, are regulated differently across States and local borders. While some States and cities, such as New York City, have implemented new rules, such as creating a new license category for high-volume for- hire services, TNCs have been mostly left to create their own policies for preventing and tracking violence or abuse to their passengers. We have all heard about the horrific reports of assault and abuse incidents involving both TNC passengers and drivers. That is why our bill also requires a Government Accountability Office study on the prevalence of assault and abuse perpetrated on riders by TNC drivers of ride-hailing vehicles and on TNC drivers by passengers. This data will be instrumental in determining any other safety procedures that may be necessary to ensure the safety of everyone who uses a ridesharing app. There is no way to describe the sadness, the horror, the pain that Sami's death caused for her family and to her community. She lived a vibrant and loving life. She had her whole life ahead of her. She planned to study law. She had hopes. She had dreams. We must do everything we can to prevent what happened to Sami and so many others from happening to anyone else. I encourage my colleagues to support this critical, commonsense legislation.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, it was such a great gift and honor when John Lewis would call me like he called many of us, ``my brother,'' to serve on his committee, to ask him to give the closing prayer at this year's National Prayer Breakfast, to travel to Selma with him, and like all he came in contact with, to learn from him. When the Christian church was in its infancy, there was tremendous infighting, different tribes and sects, different personalities battling over the direction of this new organization that will go on to transform the world. Paul the Apostle, one of the earliest and most prolific leaders, was imprisoned by the Romans and ultimately beheaded for his belief in Jesus. While in prison in 62 AD, Paul wrote a series of letters to the followers of Jesus instructing them how to conduct themselves. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul gave this instruction in chapter 4, versus 1 to 3: ``I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.'' John Lewis also a prisoner for the Lord many times, lived that model life worthy of his calling with humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with everyone through love, striving to preserve unity through the bond of peace. John Lewis showed us that strength comes from humility and gentleness and patience and love, striving for unity through peace. I know I need to be better. Thank you, John Lewis. Rest in peace, good and faithful servant.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I was in district with the Secretary of VA. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 159 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 160.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Moving Forward Act, expertly led by Chairman DeFazio. This transformative $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment, the largest in our Nation's history, would not only help rebuild America's decaying infrastructure, not only stimulate our post-coronavirus economy, not only create solid middle class jobs, hopefully many of them union jobs, but will also make the most significant investment in protecting our environment in a generation. Investments here will combat climate change, improve the resiliency of our shorelines, improve water quality for many American communities, and much, much more. This bill also includes a provision of mine, which incentivizes homeowners in my district, and throughout the Nation, to upgrade their antiquated septic systems by reversing a wrong-headed IRS decision that requires homeowners to pay income taxes on septic system improvement grants that they receive from local governments, such as Suffolk County in my district. Admittedly, this is not a high-profile provision, but it will help homeowners financially and dramatically improve our environment by reducing the devastating impacts of nitrogen pollution. Over the past 25 years, as a former mayor, county executive, and now a Member of this body, I have seen firsthand how reducing nitrogen has helped revitalize the Long Island Sound, our national park. This can happen up and down the coast of America. Investments like these are critical pieces in a comprehensive approach we must take to preserve and protect our environment. I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. Madam Speaker, the Democrats have been debating internally over the past couple of years: What is the best way to reduce healthcare costs? What is the best way to provide more access to people? What should we be doing? Some people push for Medicare for All. People like myself say: Let's build upon the Affordable Care Act. Let's try and figure out how we can provide more access and reduce drug costs. That is what we are doing here today. Meanwhile, our Republican colleagues are continuing to hurtle down a dark and misguided path to take away coverage from almost 20 million Americans in the middle of the worst economic and health crisis we have had in almost a century. I am mystified by the strategy of my colleagues on the other side. What are they thinking? Now, they say that they want to protect people with preexisting conditions. In fact, the President tweeted over the weekend, saying he will always protect people with preexisting conditions. And I have heard colleagues of mine in the Ways and Means Committee say: We are convinced. We know now that we have to protect people with preexisting conditions. Yet, what do they do? Not what they say, what do they do? Their policies don't match their rhetoric. In 2017, they tried to repeal the ACA altogether, which would take away people's preexisting conditions protections. Now, in the midst of a pandemic that has already killed 130,000 Americans, this administration and the Republicans are pursuing a lawsuit to actually undo the Affordable Care Act. That will get rid of preexisting conditions protections. It doesn't make any sense. Prescription drugs, the President said during his campaign and thereafter, when talking about Big Pharma, he said that these guys are getting away with murder. We should be negotiating prescription drug prices. Yet, we have passed the bill before. We are doing it again today, to actually negotiate prescription drug prices, and they are opposing it once again, and they are not doing anything to try to negotiate prescription drug prices. Today, Democrats are, once again, taking steps to reduce premiums, lower drug prices, and expand coverage. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman, the ranking member, and Congressman Smith for their good work and partnership on this issue. I thank Chairman McGovern and Speaker Pelosi for their leadership on all issues of human rights. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, which holds the Chinese Communist Party accountable for the horrific treatment of Uyghur Muslim minorities, including forced labor camps in western China, over 1 million Uyghurs in mass internment who are subjected to systemized brainwashing, Big Brother-like surveillance, and gross violations of their religious freedom. Since President Nixon went to China in 1971, most Americans have believed that with increased economic integration and exposure to our system of democracy and our way of life, that China would become more like us. Clearly, that has not happened. Not only does the Chinese Communist Party reject any real steps toward democracy, withhold information from the world community regarding the coronavirus, continue its unfair trade practices, and cheat by stealing our intellectual property, but it continually violates human rights, as we have seen, not only in Xinjiang with the Uyghurs, but also in Tibet with the Buddhists, and in Hong Kong with the students and the journalists. Representative Chris Smith and I originally introduced legislation regarding abuse of the Uyghurs in November of 2018 and, while it has taken too long, it is never too late to speak out for human rights and penalize China for its egregious violations. Madam Speaker, Uyghur families are prohibited from practicing their faith. They are often separated from their family members and prohibited from reading the Koran and making their daily prayers and, in some instances, they are forced to eat pork during Ramadan. The so-called ``re-education camps'' in China, where Uyghurs are forced to work in textile or manufacturing jobs in or near mass internment camps are not only repugnant to our values, but also taint global supply chains. The brutal, religious-based persecution of the Uyghurs in China is alarming but not new. China has continued to repress anyone who does not conform to their system, including Tibetans, Christians, and the people of Hong Kong. Just last week in Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party proposed national security legislation that would erode Hong Kong's autonomy and civil liberties. We must remain vigilant. This bill holds the Chinese Communist Party and Politburo members like Chen Quanguo accountable for their abuses. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this important, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I represent three of the six hardest-hit counties in America. New York is the epicenter of the pandemic. As a former mayor and county executive, my biggest priorities have been to deliver funds to New York based upon the rate of infection and to eliminate the SALT cap. Both are included in the HEROES Act. Republican and Democratic Governors, mayors, and local officials all support this bill. Mr. Speaker, it is the height of hypocrisy for Senator McConnell to call this a blue State bailout when my State sends billions more to the Federal Government every single year, often to benefit Senator McConnell's State of Kentucky. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I support this legislation. I am concerned, however, that the banks are focused on big small businesses and have ignored the smaller small businesses seeking $100,000 or less. I am asking my colleagues to send a clear message to the banks and to Secretary Mnuchin: We will be watching. We need you to fight for the little guys. There are a lot of good things in this bill, including something we in New York have pushed for: money for hospitals based on the rate of infection. But we need more. My three counties are in the top five in the Nation in confirmed cases. New York has over 30 percent of the cases and 30 percent of the deaths. Previously, this administration gave New York hospitals less money than Texas, which has only 3 percent of the cases. How does that make sense? Now Senator McConnell is saying let's bankrupt our hardest hit States and local governments. Madam Speaker, my State subsidizes Senator McConnell's State and has for decades. The grim reaper is telling my State and others to drop dead. Well, I have a message for you: We are going to fight you. Most Democrats and Republicans have put aside ideological differences for the common good. We must continue to fight for New York, for my district, and for the little guy.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, as you know, my father was born in Italy, and he would say, ``What a country.'' And my grandfather, at family weddings, would give advice to the new couples and say: ``Non c'e sono rose senza spine,'' ``You cannot have a rose without the thorns.'' Well, we mourn the thorns in our country right now. So many people are suffering because of their health, because of their sickness, because they are worried about their family's finances, and because of the deaths that have taken place. But, today, we have to also celebrate the roses, those essential workers who are working for the common good every single day: the grocery workers, the postal workers, the healthcare workers, the people who are out on the front lines every single day, looking out for us every single day. I want to celebrate, today, the roses of life: of Democrats and Republicans coming together for the common good, putting aside ideological purity and working together to try and help people who are facing these desperate times. Mr. Speaker, God bless this country, and God bless all of our American people.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, every Democrat and every Republican in this Chamber recognizes there is a youth vaping epidemic in the United States of America. I am sure that every Member of Congress has heard stories about millions of middle school and high school students using addictive vaping products. I became focused on this issue last year when a group of mothers from Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes told me about the stories of schools filled with student vaping. I actually spoke to my 16-year-old son, and I learned just how prevalent vaping has become in the school districts in my community and how they are throughout the country. We have to act, and we must act now. Madam Speaker, this important bipartisan legislation we are considering today includes my bipartisan bill, the Protecting American Lungs Act, which passed out of the Committee on Ways and Means with bipartisan support. This bill will establish much-needed tax parity between vaping products and cigarettes. It will tax nicotine, a harmful and addictive substance, at approximately the same rate, whether you get it from an e-cigarette or from traditional cigarettes. Importantly, this bill includes an exception for FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies, which means that if a company can prove that its product is a legitimate cessation device, then the nicotine will not be taxed. This bill has the support of over 50 public health, medical, and educational organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Medical Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. These groups agree that one of the best ways we can stop people from using vaping products is to tax them. For young people especially, who have less money and higher price sensitivity, taxes on these products are an effective way to decrease usage. It is proven. In fact, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, every 10 percent increase in the cost of cigarettes leads to a 4 percent overall smoking reduction and 7 percent less youth smoking. I know that some people raised their voices against this effort. We have heard it all before when we fought to raise cigarette taxes in my State of New York. Some will say the science is not conclusive yet. Some will advocate for free choice. Others will say this is typical taxing Big Government. When it is all said and done, however, the opposition will come from those who put their lucrative nicotine interests ahead of our children's health and proven public policy. In my home State of New York, despite intense industry opposition, we raised cigarette taxes. Because of that, we have some of the Nation's lowest rates of smoking and smoking-related illnesses. We can save lives with this bill by raising the prices of harmful vaping products and decreasing their usage among teenagers. The opportunity to stop the youth vaping epidemic is one that we must not pass up. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, before I yield to the chairman of our committee, I just want to note again that the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act has an exception for FDA- approved nicotine replacement therapies and has over 50 public health, medical, and educational organizations supporting it. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee who is just a fantastic chairman.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I just want to point out to my good friend from Georgia that the tax does not exempt premium cigars in any way whatsoever. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee and chair of the Trade Subcommittee.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I just want to note again that the bipartisan Protecting American Lungs Act, again, has over 50 public health, medical, and educational organizations supporting it. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), another senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, and my good friend.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record an analysis by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, showing that e-cigarette use is dramatically higher among high school and middle school students than amongst adults. Action Needed: E-Cigarettes Since their introduction in 2008, e-cigarettes have become both ubiquitous and an increasing source of public policy concern and debate. This concern stems primarily from drastic increases in youth e-cigarette use. The most recent data show that 27.5% of high schoolers are using these products--a rate of youth tobacco product use not seen in nearly two decades. The public health community, parents and educators are shocked and worried to find their children and students using these products at home and even in class. Young people are reporting severe signs of dependence, including using e-cigarettes when they first wake up, inability to concentrate in the classroom without using an e-cigarette, and even waking in the night to get a nicotine fix. We have known for decades that youth in particular should not be exposed to nicotine because it changes brain chemistry to create a stronger addiction, can lead to memory and concentration problems, and can make youth who use it more susceptible to addiction to other substances. Research also suggests that young people who use e-cigarettes are four times more likely to go on to smoke combustible cigarettes. E-cigarettes are now threatening to undo all the progress that the public health community and government have made over decades to reduce cigarette smoking. Indeed, the surgeon general raised the alarm by issuing an advisory declaring a youth e-cigarette epidemic in December 2018. Since then, data show that more and more youth continue to use e-cigarettes. And this isn't just experimental or occasional use--it's regular use likely driven by addiction. The most recent National Youth Tobacco Survey data show that 34.2% of current high school e-cigarette users use them on 20 days or more per month. Conversely, as the youth e-cigarette epidemic has continued unabated, we have seen adults, and especially older smokers, simply reject the product. In 2014, the first year that the National Health Interview Survey measured adult use of e- cigarettes, 3.7% of adults used the product in the last 30 days. In 2018, the adult usage remained low, at 3.2%, and was largely driven by young adult users (7.6%), who have matured during the youth e-cigarette epidemic. While some adults have switched completely to e-cigarettes from combustible cigarettes, the predominant pattern among adult users continues to be e-cigarette use in conjunction with smoking. This ``dual use,'' however, provides no reduction in the harms associated with smoking. As youth use continues to rise, the science around the potential harms of e-cigarettes has grown. Studies show that e-cigarettes produce lower amounts, but are not free from the toxins found in cigarettes. At the same time, flavoring compounds and other ingredients may be producing their own unique harms. Recent studies demonstrate the harms e- cigarettes pose to the respiratory system. Similarly, new studies show e-cigarettes may present unique threats to cardiovascular health. It continues to be nearly impossible to make generalized statements about the potential harms and benefits of the overall category of e-cigarettes due to the incredible variation in hardware design and ingredients. Moreover, as industry executives themselves have acknowledged, we simply do not know the long-term health impacts of e-cigarette use. It took us many decades to understand the toxicity of cigarettes, and, even today, we are discovering new ways in which they harm health. Simply put, the data show that e-cigarettes as they are currently sold and regulated in the United States are overwhelmingly a vehicle for youth initiation, not adult cessation. E-cigarettes expose kids--who otherwise never would have been--to nicotine and put them at risk for both long- and short-term health consequences.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), a good friend and leader on this important issue to reduce cost for Americans with chronic lung disease and asthma.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I just want to mention again that the Protecting American Lungs Act had over 50 public health, medical, and educational organizations sponsoring it. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Shalala), a very good friend, a real leader on health issues, and the former Secretary of Health and Human Services in the United States of America.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, a good friend and a leader on this issue.