Haley Stevens

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rose), the author of this bill.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible efforts of the Thelander and Zarate families, who have spearheaded a conservation and awareness program for thousands of beautiful monarch butterflies that began their lives as caterpillars in Michigan's 11th District before attempting the 2,000-mile migration to central Mexico every year. A couple of years ago, Maecy Zarate, who was then just 8 years old, petitioned the Highland Township board to establish the Milkweed Mile, a beautiful stretch of land along highway M-59 in Highland Township that provides a sanctuary for monarchs. Along this stretch of road, which is designated as a no-mow zone, milkweed is left to grow and thrive freely, creating an ideal environment for monarch caterpillars to complete their lifecycle. Each summer, these conservation efforts culminate in the Highland Monarch Butterfly Festival, an annual celebration of these amazing butterflies, in an effort to raise awareness of this species that has seen their global populations plummet in recent years. I was honored to visit the Highland Monarch Butterfly Festival in August of 2019, and it was so inspiring to meet young Michiganders passionate about conservation and biodiversity in our great State. This is also part of the work that we are doing on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, to protect and to promote biodiversity throughout the world. The Thelander family also tags and releases hundreds of monarchs every year. One butterfly, named Jeronimo, was tracked all the way from Michigan's 11th District to central Mexico last year, beating the odds and completing a grueling 1,900-mile journey over 3 months. This is significant and symbolic. It is symbolic because of the journey that we are on as a Nation right now in somewhat uncertain and troubling times but with an end goal to reach the other side. The monarch sanctuary along Milkweed Mile provides a special opportunity for young people to get involved in real conservation efforts right in their backyard. As Maecy says, ``If there's no milkweed, there's no monarchs.'' I look forward to working with monarch lovers all over Michigan to protect Milkweed Mile as a sanctuary for years to come. I ask this Chamber to join me in recognizing the inspiring efforts of the next generation of conservationists who are making a difference in our community through their passion and dedication for these beautiful butterflies. I could not be more proud of their efforts, and I look forward to learning more about their progress in next year's Highland Township Monarch Festival.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the beautiful lives of thirteen nuns taken from our community by the scourge of coronavirus between April and June of this year. We honor the memory of Sister Mary Luiza Wawrzyniak, Sister Celine Marie Lesinski, Sister Mary Estelle Prints, Sister Thomas Marie Wadowski, Sister Mary Patricia Pyszynski, Sister Mary Clarence (Adeline) Borkoski, Sister Rose Mary Wolak, Sister Mary Janice (Margaret) Zolkowski, Sister Mary Alice Ann (Fernanda) Gradowski, Sister Victoria Marie Indyk, Sister Mary Martinez (Virginia) Rozek, Sister Mary Madeleine (Frances) Dolan, and Sister Mary Danatha (Lottie) Suchyta. These righteous women spent their days working and living together as members of the Felician Sisters at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary convent in Livonia, Michigan--some for more than a half century. At the time of their deaths, they ranged in age from 69 to 99, still wholly committed to serving the most vulnerable among us. Prior to the pandemic, the sisters could be found working in our local schools, libraries, and medical facilities, providing enrichment to our students and care to our sick. Many of them pursued degrees in higher education during their lifetimes, always seeking new ways to instill a sense of peace, justice, dignity, and truth in the world around them. My heart aches for the harm done to the soul of our community. This distinguished group has been responsible for the founding of multiple schools and care centers in Michigan's 11th District, including Madonna University, which has become one of the nation's largest Franciscan universities with a student body of approximately 3,000 students. We, in Michigan's 11th District, are forever indebted to them for their mission and impact. We grieve for the virtuous lives lost, and we hold their extended community in our prayers. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the indelible mark left by these sisters on our community. May the grieving find comfort in the extraordinary legacies of faith and service they leave.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker's staff for allocating some time at the conclusion of our legislative session. Mr. Speaker, this has been a remarkable 2 weeks in Washington. The session began on a remorseful note with the departure of our beloved John Lewis. We have been able to come together to recognize his life's work, his messages, his passion, his dedication to this country. Many of us, as his colleagues, can look back and feel so grateful for the time that we had with Mr. Lewis. I am looking over at where he used to sit. He would make time for every single one of us. Mr. Speaker, I also asked for this time because, as I was walking down the steps after our last vote, I felt a sense of profound reflection, reflection that is coming across our news feeds, the headlines. Obviously, Washington is always making news. They are looking at us, and they are wondering if we are going to get a deal done. The American people are looking at us in the sense of: Are we going to get a deal done for them? My colleague on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Comer, I happened to catch some of his remarks. I really appreciate what he had to say about our work and contribution for the American taxpayer. See, I share that belief that we must have a return on the taxpayer dollar. I have so many constituents, so many Michiganders who pay their taxes, and they look for that realized return on that taxpayer dollar that comes into this government. They saw us act in a moment of profound need when it was realized that this pandemic was going to rage war here in America. Now, those heavy headlines before us, Mr. Speaker, are headlines that 150,000 Americans have lost their lives to the coronavirus scourge. Countless families, countless friends, countless workplaces, countless places of worship--our communities are changed. 150,000, Mr. Speaker, is more than the largest town in my district. I want to absorb that number for a minute because I know people are counting on us. I know they are looking to us. I know they saw us act in a moment of triage when we had to get that CARES Act done to secure the livelihoods for the hardworking people of this country, to allow us to successfully hibernate, to secure our industrial base, to support our municipalities, and to do so fairly, with a return. I don't seek to act in this body other than to deliver for the people who sent me here. I certainly don't look to wage felicitous dialogue that doesn't contribute to an outcome. I take so seriously every time I have the opportunity to stand on this floor, to sit in these chairs-- oftentimes now we are up in the gallery--and to listen. See, I came to Washington with this commitment to the people who sent me here, that I will listen, I will learn, and I will lead, in that order. You make a mistake when you start off thinking you have all the answers right away. We are here because we want to get something done. We haven't finished the deal. The House passed the HEROES Act. I know my educators back home are listening, looking, and waiting. $750 per pupil cut. How are we going to reopen our schools safely, Mr. Speaker, if we don't close the budget gap? How are we going to tell our small businesses and our municipalities that they are able to continue in their function if we don't show them we have their back? That is what our Committee on Small Business is doing. That was that first amendment I got done on this House floor last year. It was called the Stevens amendment. It was part of the Consumers First Act, and it was for the voice of small business. I went right over there when we were in different times of nonsocial distancing, and I asked my colleagues, I said: ``Hey, I am over here asking for your vote, and I am asking for it because it is here to bring the voice of small business and the industry advisory board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the voice of small business.'' One man looks up at me, and he says: ``You know what? Because you are asking so nicely, I am going to vote for it.'' And another guy said: ``You know what? I will change my vote.'' That amendment passed 400-8. I remember all eight of my colleagues who didn't vote for the amendment, of course. I continue to work on them. We find these opportunities where we can come together and deliver. It is only a small handful of us. Our manufacturers are watching as they are working. See, they go in every single day, producing the goods that fuel this country, that put this country on wheels, this incredible interconnected supply chain that we have, proudly, in my district, Mr. Speaker. We love that supply chain. They don't ask: Are you a Democrat or a Republican? They just get to work. And at some point, we must implore and ask something better of ourselves beyond party. When we reflect on the scourge of this coronavirus and the magnitude of the loss, I am not here to play the blame game. Yes, I am frustrated that we seem so possessed by the elections coming that we are not even focused on running the government. When my district team back home, as we try and help constituents--$1.4 million back into the taxpayer pocketbook, that is what we have been able to do with our case management work. But today, when we call, it is like trying to open the lid of a can that can't open. These agencies need to be unleashed. They need to be better connected to those who they are intending to serve. You go to run for an executive office, to run the executive office in the branches of the government of which the taxpayers are paying for when they have a problem. We are in a static time, Mr. Speaker. We are in a challenging time. The lid has ripped off of so many issues: the plight toward equality, the plight toward freedom, the plight toward true justice, to make sure that every vote counts fairly. That is why we did all these amazing election security bills, one of which I had the privilege of chairing a hearing on, on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which, by the way, is such a special committee. Right before this pandemic hit, our incredible chair, a mentor, someone I deeply admire, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson from Texas, with Mr. Lucas from Oklahoma, passed, in full committee, a bipartisan energy and R&D package. How are we going to solve our climate change problems? We must do so together. We must realize that our biggest challenges are our greatest opportunities. I am here for the policy, Mr. Speaker. I am here for the deliberation, the dialogue, and the discourse of this country that will move us forward and solve our problems. I don't look at the coronavirus as a Democrat or a Republican issue. It is something that we face together as Americans. I walked into the Treasury Department in the very early days of 2009 during a financial crisis, the teetering of the American economy before us, different than what we are facing today. We are stalemated today. We are stagnant today. We have unbelievable unemployment, which is totally unacceptable. Last time I checked, I am in the party of jobs. I am in the party of getting people back to work. I am in the party that believes that people make things for a living, and we value and honor that work through a 21st century organized labor movement that keeps people safe, that allows them to retire with dignity. We say that to every hardworking American. I have the privilege of being able to get things done here. When I walked into the Treasury Department with my colleagues in the Obama administration, the Bush administration was there waiting for us. They hunkered down, and they said: We want to work alongside you. We had a bipartisan team on the U.S. Auto Rescue. We said we are going to stand up for the industrial economy, the Main Street effort of what we needed to do to stabilize our Nation's economy, and we did so together. And I feel that here, despite the friction, despite the frustration. I realized earlier this session, as I was reflecting on the most benevolent man I ever had the privilege to know, a walking saint, Mr. John Lewis, he said, in my reflection and remarks about him, Mr. Speaker, that he was the richest man I had ever known, because richness is defined by how much you love. And, boy, did he give out that love. In reflecting on that, Mr. Speaker, I realized the opposite of that is that arrogance and insecurity are the cousins of one another, are a poison to our discourse. They prevent us from having the discussions and committing to the work that we need to do, and we need to put that down. The perception of everything. It is the outcome, it is the product, it is the result, that is what gleans out of all the manufacturers in my district. It is not a chimera. It is a produced, manufactured result. And so I reflect, Mr. Speaker, with the energy, the hope, and the optimism. If you recall, with our freshman class, when we began session and Mr. Colin Allred and I became the ceremonial presidents of the freshman class, we said during one of our orientation sessions, we hearkened to the words--I found these words of President Truman, who said that America is not built on fear. America is built on courage, America is built on determination, and America is built on the willingness to do the job at hand. My friends, we have a job to do; we have legislation to pass; and we shall get this done for our schools, for our healthcare workers, for every American who is wondering how they are going to pay their rent, where their next job is going to be, how their kid is going to go to school safely. That is the job that we are determined to do here. And if you actually listen to what my colleague was saying on the other side of the aisle before I got to this podium, it is not that different from one another. We are restored, we are renewed, and we are committed to the tenets of this beautiful, incredible democracy in this sacred space, this House floor. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment on drowning prevention in H.R. 7617. This amendment emphasizes the pressing need to appropriate $5 million to the CDC to continue its lifesaving work on water safety and drowning prevention. This amendment is in memory of Jacob Sandy, a loving brother and son, who drowned off the coast of Lake Michigan just over a year ago. Jacob graduated from Seaholm High School, my alma mater. His young adult life was just beginning, and he was known for his deep Christian faith, his positive outlook, adventurous and humorous spirit. Now that summer is in full swing, it is time for us to ensure that no one has to experience the pain suffered by his mother, Carol, his brother, Paul, his sister, Charlotte, and the countless others who loved him. There is so much more we can do to prevent drownings in America.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to memorialize the beautiful lives of 13 nuns taken from Michigan's 11th District by the scourge of coronavirus between April and June of this year. We honor the memory of: Sister Mary Luiza, Sister Celine Marie, Sister Mary Estelle, Sister Thomas Marie, Sister Mary Patricia, Sister Mary Clarence, Sister Rose Mary Wolak, Sister Mary Janice, Sister Mary Alice Ann, Sister Victoria Marie, Sister Mary Martinez, Sister Mary Madeleine, And Sister Mary Danatha ``Lottie.'' These righteous women spent their days working and living together as members of the Felician Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary convent in Livonia, Michigan, some for more than half a century. At the time of their deaths, they ranged from age 69 to 99 years old, still wholly committed to serving the most vulnerable among us. They would call it ``from the womb to the tomb,'' the dedication of their service to the community. Prior to the pandemic, the Sisters could be found working in our local schools, libraries, and medical facilities, providing enrichment to our students and care for our sick. Many of them pursued degrees in higher education during their lifetimes, always seeking new ways to instill a sense of peace, justice, dignity, and truth in the world around them. My heart aches for the harm done to the soul of our community and with the loss of these incredible lives. Since this news has broken and spread throughout the world, they have heard from the world. From Alaska to Arizona, to as far away as Taiwan, people reaching out and sending them masks, sending them Hershey chocolate bars. This distinguished group has been responsible for the founding of multiple schools and care centers in Michigan's 11th District, including our beloved Madonna University, which has become one of the Nation's largest Franciscan universities, with a student body of approximately 3,000 students. We, in Michigan's 11th District, are forever indebted to these beloved nuns for their mission and their impact. We grieve for the virtuous lives lost, and we hold their extended community in our prayers. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in reflecting on the indelible mark left by these Sisters on our community, our country, the soul of our country, and this world. May the grieving find comfort in the extraordinary legacies of faith and service that they leave.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, we have a childcare crisis in America. In Michigan, when our auto manufacturers had to stop producing to address the impacts of COVID-19 and we saw production orders go to zero, with that, our daycare centers witnessed and experienced a dramatic drop in participation. Today, 40 percent of daycare providers in Michigan are at risk of imminent closure. We say, ``Let's get back to work. We are ready to get back to work. We want to get back to work safely,'' but we need our daycare centers. We need the Child Care Is Essential Act because of the very fact that childcare is essential in America. This is too much of an impediment for the hardworking people in Michigan and across this country, and it is a long overdue and realized endeavor that we must take on to address the coronavirus pandemic and what we need to do to get back to work safely in America.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important legislation. As our country faces a public health and economic crisis, we are in desperate need of the talents of black men and boys to address these unprecedented challenges. Our country's history of institutional racism has caused tremendous inequality. This legislation confronts the educational and economic disparities experienced by black men and boys for far too long. This nation will rise when all of us are able to rise together. I thank my friends, Congresswomen Frederica Wilson and Lucy McBath, for their inspiring leadership.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to recognize the outstanding service of my dear friend and hometown mayor, Bryan K. Barnett, as he concludes his tenure as the 77th President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Mayor Barnett is currently serving his fourth elected term as Mayor of Rochester Hills, Michigan, where he has fostered a distinguished community to live, work and raise a family. Through his leadership, Rochester Hills has become a national model in public safety, innovation, and civic engagement. I am proud to be represented by such a considerate and dedicated public figure. He brought his extensive experience and unshakable hope with him to his role as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors this past year, where he was responsible for leading our nation's cities through what remains to be one of the greatest challenges of our lifetimes: the coronavirus pandemic. In this crisis, and throughout the implementation of resulting federal directives, he has shown relentless dedication to securing the necessary resources to keep our communities safe, and our businesses strong. Mayor Barnett has played an integral role in our pandemic response in Michigan's 11th District, and I am grateful for his steadfast partnership as we work toward recovery together. In leading the organization, Mayor Barnett will be remembered for his unyielding optimism, commitment to bipartisan consensus, and belief in the unique power of local government. As he passes the presidential baton onto our good friend, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, we can be confident that the U.S. Conference of Mayors will continue to prosper and deliver for our cities. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the unparalleled service of Mayor Bryan K. Barnett and his far-reaching contributions to our country as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding career of Captain Dustin Krueger as he marks his retirement from the Northville Police Department. Captain Krueger has worked in the Northville community for more than twenty-seven years. During his decades of service, he served as a DARE instructor, Taser Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, Western Wayne Mobile Field Force Squad Leader, and a Bicycle Officer. He rose through the ranks quickly by demonstrating strong leadership and commitment to his work. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2001 and Captain in 2014. Captain Krueger received numerous honors throughout his career, including the 1995 and 2018 Police Officer of the Year Awards. In 2018, Captain Krueger was appointed Acting Chief of Police, where he provided decisive leadership and stability during a time of transition. His unfailing dedication to the department and distinguished character were assets to his fellow officers and the community. We, in Michigan's 11th Congressional District, are so very grateful for his service. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the remarkable career of Captain Dustin Krueger and his many contributions to his community in Northville, Michigan.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, Congressman John Lewis was the embodiment of human prosperity as measured by love. Not only was he the richest man I have ever known, but he was absolutely the most generous. John Lewis gave out love and, boy, did love come back. He was always showering people in love. When I saw him in Kentucky long before I knew I would ever join this Chamber at the encouragement of a friend from Georgia, he was talking about Comic-Con and that his new book with pictures, ``March,'' had just come out. We have so much work to do. John Lewis, we will heed your words. We will not despair. We will look up. We will keep moving and marching forward. We will pass that Voting Rights Act. And we will remain dedicated to your pursuits.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding career of Captain Dustin Krueger as he marks his retirement from the Northville Police Department. Captain Krueger has worked in the Northville community for more than twenty-seven years. During his decades of service, he served as a DARE instructor, Taser Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, Western Wayne Mobile Field Force Squad Leader, and a Bicycle Officer. He rose through the ranks quickly by demonstrating strong leadership and commitment to his work. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2001 and Captain in 2014. Captain Krueger received numerous honors throughout his career, including the 1995 and 2018 Police Officer of the Year Awards. IN 2018, Captain Krueger was appointed Acting Chief of Police, where he provided decisive leadership and stability during a time of transition. His unfailing dedication to the department and distinguished character were assets to his fellow officers and the community. We, in Michigan's 11th Congressional District, are so very grateful for his service. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the remarkable career of Captain Dustin Krueger and his many contributions to his community in Northville, Michigan.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud my outstanding constituent and staffer, Sanjay Reddy, as he makes his departure from my Washington, D.C. office to attend Georgetown University Law Center. Sanjay joined my staff upon my being sworn into Congress, and he quickly helped to develop and establish our office. He built our constituent correspondence program from the ground up as my Legislative Correspondent, and he met regularly with constituents regarding health care and developing medical technologies as my Legislative Aid. In every project he took on, Sanjay demonstrated the utmost thoughtfulness and professionalism. He was an exemplary Hill staffer, and I have no doubt that he will exhibit the same character and commitment in all his future accomplishments. Madam Speaker, I extend my deepest gratitude to Sanjay Reddy for his dedication to our team, and to the constituents of Michigan's 11th District. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Sanjay much success in his upcoming studies and future law career.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today with respect and upon reflection of the core tenets of our democracy: our federal elections and their aftermath. As you know, Madam Speaker, our nation boasts a steady history, no matter the circumstance, of maintaining a peaceful and efficient process upon the conclusion of our presidential elections. Whether a President continues in office for another term, experiences defeat, or concludes holding office due to the Constitutional term limit, our democracy has flourished to the benefit of the American people for centuries. Our streak of peaceful transitions of power remains unbroken, intentionally and without accident. This reflects the genius of our founders and the will of the American people to continually commit to forming a more perfect union. In America, our government and its successful function does not depend on one person or political party. Rather, our federal government and its institutions represent the glory and the privilege bestowed by the system of a federated republic. And while to some, the peaceful transition in the aftermath of our presidential election may seem perfunctory, our society and the success of our economy depend on the reliable transition of presidents-elect or presidents continuing to a second term. It is without question essential that the talented and dedicated public servants in our federal government are able to serve the American people following the aftermath of any election. Such duties include ensuring no veteran is denied benefits and no Social Security recipient misses a check. Professional civil servants--nonpartisan and the best in their fields--provide continuity and ensure that government stays focused on serving the American people. From air traffic controllers to food safety inspectors to servicemembers defending our nation at home and abroad, the federal workforce ensures that citizen services are uninterrupted by a change in administration. As you may acknowledge, Madam Speaker, it was of the highest civilian honor for me to serve as a member of then President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, and to engage with the apolitical workforce. While the country faced economic peril, I formally joined the Administration just a few weeks after the President was sworn into office, as a White House appointee serving in the United States Department of the Treasury, alongside Presidential appointees of the former Administration of George W. Bush. I witnessed first-hand how a peaceful and collegial transition of power is achieved. In the process, I garnered tremendous respect for the dedicated career civil servants who continue to serve no matter the political outcome. Today, that same workforce is looking at two possibilities come November: preparing for a new administration or continuing to govern as part of the current administration. If, following the results of the November 3rd election, a presidential transition falls upon our federal government, a large task is at hand for the new administration. While this is not assumed, it is a scenario worthy of planning and consideration. Just as, if the current president is reaffirmed and continues to a second term, the duties of his administration will continue. Peace and trust in either scenario is paramount. In any such outcome, I ask of my fellow countrymen and women and with specific request of my colleagues within this coequal branch of government to pledge to achieve a more perfect union and recognize that in November, millions will see their votes cast for the winner of the Presidential election, just as millions will see their vote cast for the runner-up of the election. We may suspect or assume the continued and sustained activities of our federal government, and recommitting to this assurance is a healthy and productive exercising of our authorities. In particular, as collective bodies within the Congress and federal agencies, it is our cooperative responsibility to ensure strife and upheaval does not impede the critical duties of our civilian workforce. We, as an elected body of federal representatives oversee, fund, and authorize the efforts of our federal agencies and maintain a responsibility and dedication to their success, particularly in the aftermath of presidential elections. Today I officially submit as record to this chamber a request to my colleagues. We, as federated leaders and representatives, may express dismay and disagreement with one another and with election outcomes, but we also set the tone to continue the peaceful process following from the votes cast by millions and preparation for ongoing governance and legislative affairs. And we certainly maintain an authority to hold reckless actions of federal officials accountable. Many in this Chamber on both sides of the aisle have dedicated their life's work to achieving equality, and all took an oath upon being a sworn member of the United States House of Representatives to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Our duties are not just reflections; they are actions and commitments that form a more perfect union and promote the general welfare as this nation continues to thrive as a free and safe democracy. As we exercise the full abilities vested in us as men and women within this form of public trust, we commit to continued renewal and restoring of our government with each election.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the beautiful life of Marie J. Bonamici-Woodcock, mother of my esteemed colleague, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, who passed away on June 14, 2020, at the age of 91. Marie was born on August 10, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan. Growing up, she studied music and had a profound appreciation for the arts. In 1948, Marie married and moved to Plymouth and then Northville, Michigan, where she raised three children, Andrew, Suzanne, and James. She was an active member of the Northville Historical Society and the Detroit Folklore Society. She modeled for her children openness to ideas, respect for the environment, and a deep appreciation of diverse cultures. She inspired in them lifelong interests in music, art, world cultures, environmental protection, and human rights--all qualities that we admire about our colleague, Representative Bonamici, today. Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her two brothers, John and Robert Kehrl; and her husband, George. She is survived by her children, Andrew Bonamici (Beth), Suzanne Bonamici (Michael Simon), and James Bonamici (Debra); grandchildren, Kate Flaim (Ben), Tom Bonamici, Andrew Simon, Peter Bonamici, Sara Simon, and Nicolas Bonamici; and three great-grandchildren, Tuck, Ellie, and Hannah Flaim. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the remarkable life of Marie Bonamici-Woodcock and the love of peace and freedom that she spread throughout society.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the special life of Florence ``Peggy'' Anderson, a notable leader in Michigan's 11th District who passed away on June 6, 2020, at the age of 93. Peggy was born on June 25, 1926, in Sturgis, Michigan to Arthur and Margaret (Hetherington) Carls. Peggy was a graduate of Sturgis High School, from where she went on to work as a secretary with the War Department in 1943 and later with the Pontiac School District and Clinton Valley Center. She was a long-time member of the Waterford Democrats, the DAR Waterford Chapter and the Michigan Mayflower Society, as well as a member of the Central United Methodist Church and the State Employees Retirees Association. She enjoyed flower gardening and making arrangements for her friends and acquaintances. Peggy lived a life filled with purpose and community, and she will be remembered by all who had the good fortune to know her as someone who showed up for what she believed in. She is survived by her children Thomas (Pat) Anderson of Petoskey and Robert (Marci) Anderson of White Lake; her grandchildren Christy Anderson, Ryan (Nikkia) Anderson, Russell (Theresa) Andersonning and Bradley (Hannah) Anderson; great- grandchildren Noah, Claire, Emrik and Myrna; and many nieces and nephews. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the life of someone very dear to our Waterford, Michigan community, and to our greater Michigan family.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to join you in the Chamber this evening. I thank all of our professional staff, as well; our parliamentarian, our readers, our clerks, our typists for their continued commitment to this institution in this climate. It certainly feels different. We recognize that the well is no longer open for this time period, that we speak from the desk and from the chairs, and yet, we still speak. We still deliberate. We still conduct the dialogue and the discourse of democracy, for that is what we do in this institution, we erect and pass the Nation's laws. And oftentimes we hear from the public that it feels so polarized, that it feels too heated, that it feels stagnant because of the polarization. Why can't you just work together? You hear that all the time. I hear that from my district that is comprised of so many Independents, people who are not registered as Democrat or Republican. They are registered to vote, and they are good Americans in Michigan's 11th district, but they are looking for us to work together. And in part, Madam Speaker, it is because I represent so many manufacturers, so many individuals who are engineers, who are dedicated makers and creators, so many educators, people passing those technical skills down to the next generation, Madam Speaker. I know you have many of those in your district in eastern Iowa. That is something us midwestern ladies have in common, the districts we represent are full of the people who make things. And they go to work every day not under a partisan circumstance, right, they go to work to produce, to give a good day's effort for that on-time delivery. That is the privilege I have representing the largest concentration of suppliers in America. The world changed very quickly in 2020, this new decade in this still fledgling century. It changed so quickly with the coronavirus pandemic. Almost overnight schools stopped, work stopped. Health and safety paramount. The listening and the engagement with the science, the patience that we had to provide for the science with a new virus that swept the globe in a fiscal quarter, less than a fiscal quarter. Many infected, many perished tragically and unfortunately, and yet, our economy changed as a result. And I think it is worth noting where our economy is today and what I am seeing out of my incredible district, a manufacturing district. We have some sayings in Michigan, the metro Detroit area. We call ourselves ``metro Detroit.'' It is southeastern Michigan. It is just an absolutely remarkable place. And we say, you know, Detroit hustles harder, that Detroit hustles harder. And I like to say that Detroit always rises, that we rise when times are steady, and we certainly rise when times are tough. And we have done it before, Madam Speaker. There is a fly in here, but I don't mind having a little fly buzzing around the floor. Who'd a thunk? But the words continue. Detroit always rises. And we say that because 10 years ago we were staring at the edge of another cliff. Our auto industry was looking at bankruptcy, true liquidation, in the face. And it wasn't just a nameplate company, it wasn't just General Motors and Chrysler and Ford, but it was the thousands of suppliers with the hundreds of thousands of jobs, 900,000 jobs on the line. And Democrats and Republicans together said, We are not going to let Main Street fail. We are going to continue to be a first world Nation with industrial assets. And that is what we did with the CARES Act. Overwhelming support passed by a Republican Senate, a Democratic House, signed by a Republican President standing up for the hardworking American and for our industrial assets that we will continue to make cars in America. Little known fact about southeastern Michigan, we have an incredible aerospace sector, a diversified supply chain. We just launched a rocket, SpaceX, into outer space. So many of the suppliers in my region, so many of the incredible workers helped produce the parts and components that go into those rockets. It is absolutely remarkable what we continue to do and the workforce that bests all the expectations. So what did we do when this pandemic hit and we had to say, Guess what? For the health and safety of everyone, auto manufacturing is ceased for the time being. It had to shelter, it had to hibernate. But then they stood up and said, We are going to make protective personal equipment. Ford with their respirators. General Motors with the ventilators. Chrysler with a million-masks source and on and on down the supply chain. The hand sanitizer coming from Michigan Enterprises. It has been unbelievable having those conversations. AlphaUSA located right in Livonia, Michigan, right where our incredible district office is located. I saw them shortly before we went into the shutdown, a UAW-run supplier company and they were making the PPE. Now, we keep our fingers on the pulse of this manufacturing sector. And we, by the way, recognize that today it is an incredibly special day, not only because it is America's birthday coming up and we salute all of our good men and women, our veterans, our current members of our Armed Forces, and those who, throughout our communities, are going to safely engage in recognizing America's birthday. But we are also going to recognize what July 1st is, which is, it is the new day of our competitive framework as a North American continent. The USMCA. What the freshman class, with so many of us, came here to see done right, not for some, you know, bad action for the prescription drugs or anything along those lines, but to say, We are going to make things in America. We are going to increase Buy American content. We are going to make and produce and sell to the world, and by golly, we got this trade deal done. And so now we can go and win, and we can compete more effectively against China. We know they are a problem. We know they are not good actors. We know they manipulate their currency. We know that they dump. But yet, it is a new dynamic here with this trade deal, and it begins today. And I am on the phone with the trade ambassador and the deputy trade ambassador and all our manufacturers working on an effective and fair implementation, recognizing that given this pandemic, given the low demand, that sales are down. It is on the front page of our Detroit newspapers today, the free press and the news, the projected almost-40- percent decline in auto sales. Remember my friends, Detroit hustles harder. Detroit always rises. We rise to the industrial call in this Nation. That is what we did in World War II. And we don't say those things because they are cliches. We don't hearken to the Greatest Generation because it is trite. It is because we can do big things in this Nation collectively and together. We can fight common enemies. We can protect the health and safety of everyone together. Look at what is manifesting in the neighborhoods around this country. Certainly, in the incredible neighborhoods that I represent. Right across the street from me is an industrial park right off of Auburn Road. And then you go on down and there is a nursing home. Heroes work here. We value work in America. And there is no better time than this era that we have found ourselves in with the respect and dignity for the value of work and organized labor and a 21st century labor movement that is going to protect enforceable standards and make sure that no one has to go to work afraid, but that they can successfully go to work and produce that outcome. Everyone matters. No one should be left behind. Our schools, the envy, frankly, in my opinion, in my district, the envy of the world because of our training programs. We have more first robotics teams in Michigan than in any other State in the country. Now, I was looking forward to going to Worlds, okay, it is located in Michigan. It has teams from all over the world competing, not just because they are making amazing robotic machines and pieces of equipment, but they are doing strategy, they are doing communications, they are doing sales, they are doing diplomacy. These students give me hope, and we owe them all a debt, not just of gratitude but of responsibility. We talked a lot about the class of 2020. We talked a lot about the class. They didn't get to go through their traditional sayonaras, the traditional graduations, the proms, the engagements. Some of them have senioritis to begin with. They are ready for that next step. They are ready for that training program, that engineering degree. Oakland University, located in my district, an amazing engineering school leading in cybersecurity. We are a hub for cybersecurity in Michigan's 11th District in partnership with Automation Alley. And yet we think about our students who are still coming through the pipeline who missed out on a sports season, who missed out on a computer science class, and yet they are not even seniors. And we have got to think very carefully and effectively and collectively as a government, not just exclusively as the House of Representatives as one Chamber, but in partnership with our government actors. This is why I talk to the dozens of mayors from Michigan's 11th District every week. My friends, from Commerce, to Canton, to Plymouth, to Troy. We are on the phone with one another working, deliberating, identifying, and engaging. How do we get the best results possible for the most amount of people who we represent and work for in the given time? And that is what we are doing for our students. So I want to remind every student from the Chamber of which I am delivering this address, the House of Representatives, we work for you and we will continue to be accountable to you and for you. We will listen to you, and we are so proud of you. For the recently graduated seniors who are going to go off to that freshman year or to that new job or to join our military, we salute you. We are grateful for you. And for those of you still making your way through, we are not going to leave you behind, and we are going to continue to listen to you and see all the ways in which you use the tools before you to succeed. It is absolutely remarkable. And we are going to continue with your intellect, your talent, your brilliance to be leaders in Michigan of the manufacturing economy. Where the world looks to us leading on electric vehicle technology, companies like soulbrain that make the chemicals, the electrolytes that go into the lithium-ion batteries. They are the only one in the region, and they are one of two in the United States. So we talk a lot about Buy American. Buy American. American jobs. Of course, we do. We are the country that makes things that the entire world wants to buy. And when we look at the complexity of supply chains and sourcing Buy American and who chooses to expand their business, we love when they come to Michigan. We do that because we have the right policies in place, and we have the right tapestry here. We are looking at our countless downtowns, small communities. I represent the suburbs, the downtown areas, the sole proprietors, the individual companies that are not reliant on a brand name, but they are reliant on themselves. They are entrepreneurs. It is really quite remarkable the leadership that they have shown. We are going to continue to listen to them and compete on fair and level playing fields. That is certainly a big part of it. We are going to recognize what a diverse workforce gets us, what the competition for talent gives us, and we are certainly going to talk with our community stakeholders. We did so much in the CARES Act, Madam Speaker, to make sure that we stood up for the small businesses of America, the small businesses in our district. It is absolutely imperative to make sure that our small businesses can compete. Now that some of our companies are back online and we are seeing our auto manufacturing go back--I was just at a great company, Clips & Clamps, a tool and die company. They bought a brand-new stamping machine, just gleaming, absolutely beautiful. They turned on the stamper; I cheered. Just amazing, the humming of making things in this country. You have to understand the supply chain. You have to understand the complexity that goes into the payment cycles and the receivables and the need for fair and proper assurance. We only have to bat our eyes a couple of times and then we remember what we were looking at when we had the largest drop in automotive sales in recent history. In 2008, credit dried up, and our suppliers were left wondering, ``Am I going to get paid? Am I going to continue to be able to do the on-time delivery?'' We have to do that today, right? Liquidity in the supply chain is a real thing, and boy, is it complex to talk about. It certainly doesn't fit into a nice hashtag or a 140- character sound bite. We wrote the Secretary of the Treasury about this, Senator Gary Peters and I, along with the Michigan delegation. This is a great coming together of our government if we can get this done and make sure that our suppliers can continue to supply the original equipment manufacturers. That is all they are asking for. That is all we are looking for in that. I believe, with the right wherewithal in the Treasury, you can bring the banks together, you can listen to the workforce, you can make sure people still have jobs and that we continue to make things and compete as effectively as possible. OPS Solutions is located in Wixom. I invite everyone to come over to Wixom, Michigan, home of the shuttered Ford Lincoln plant from 2007, a rebuilt area. There were people who were singing the swan song of my region not too long ago. We know what they were saying. We stood up and said something different. OPS Solutions is run by Paul Ryznar and his incredible team of people doing light-guided parts assembly. You can do it from home. You can do it with a disability. It is something for all workers. We talk about education and the need for equal funding in education. We talk about educating students of all abilities and jobs for people with all abilities. OPS Solutions was formed in the downturn in Ryznar's basement, a furloughed auto engineer creating this incredible new enterprise. OPS Solutions just today joined the World Economic Forum, one of 50 companies in the advanced manufacturing and technology space. The quiet humming that comes out of Michigan's 11th District is the determination for where the world is going to go with how we make things, how we sell things, and how we operate in a digital economy. When we think about the plight of these last 20 years--I was talking to another small business owner in my district in the retail sector. ``Oh, boy,'' he was saying, ``these last 20 years have really been a whopper. We had 9/11. We had a recession. Now, we have a global pandemic. And every day, I am going into work, and I am working to sell, and I am working to connect with customers. And now, it is really different, connecting with customers.'' You look at us as a Nation, and so many of these students today, these young adults, were just being born when our Twin Towers fell down and when our Pentagon was attacked. I was a young freshman myself at American University, dropped off for school, a kid from the Midwest who got a chance to study political science at an incredible school just a few miles from the Pentagon. My mom and my brother dropped me off, and they left. I had been talking to my mom about my new Government 101 political science course. I said, ``Mom, I am so excited. This is such an amazing class. It is four credits, and that extra credit is experiential learning, and we get to go to the Pentagon.'' That was the last conversation I had with my mom before 9/11/2001. She was calling my dorm room. She was calling my dorm room, and she was trying to get in touch with me. Everyone was trying to get in touch with their loved ones, before the smartphone. She couldn't get through. I signed on to AOL Instant Messenger: ``Hey, mom.'' What happened next, as a Nation? It is a long story, but economically, we were the ones who proliferated the internet in Industry 4.0, as some people like to describe it, the industrial Internet of Things, making faster, better, closer together, re- localizing manufacturing, re-shoring the production of things. I believe that device, those flat-screen devices, came from the great innovation of America. That is what we celebrate. That is what we work toward. That is the tapestry that we are working to put together in this Chamber. Come visit us at the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee under Eddie Bernice Johnson's fabulous leadership, Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson, an incredible leader. Shortly before this pandemic was declared, we passed a bipartisan energy and R&D package through the committee. Jim Baird and I, my ranking member, as I have the privilege of serving as the chair for the Research and Technology Subcommittee, passed the Building Blocks of STEM Act, investing in our next generation through the National Science Foundation. We can do these things with a return on the taxpayer dollar, by the way. We can have the conversation about effective and efficient spending. Just as this institution made money from the auto rescue, the taxpayer made money. I am optimistic about what is ahead. I am committed to what is ahead because of the stories and the people whom I have the privilege of working alongside in Michigan's 11th District. I thank you, Madam Speaker, for your time and your diligence this evening, and all the people who continue to make our House of Representatives hum. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, what an honor it is to be on this House floor with you here today in representation of the 700,000 constituents I serve from Michigan's 11th District. We are here for the activity of this House floor. We are here for the grand deliberation of our democracy and for the discourse that makes our Nation's laws. It is clear, Mr. Speaker, that this pandemic is continuing to pose a serious threat to our communities and to our Nation. As the global death toll has crossed 500,000 this week alone, the World Health Organization has warned that the worst is yet to come. The suffering and loss of life that we have already endured in Michigan and throughout this Nation is unfathomable. We must recommit to saving lives by listening to the guidance of the public health experts who are telling us to wear a mask and to socially distance as much as possible. We must recommit to the science that stands before us. As a result of this pandemic, Mr. Speaker, we must look at the battle before us in terms of what our States are facing with budget shortfalls. You see, Mr. Speaker, this is what we do as appropriators, as individuals who conduct oversight and who authorize the activity and the efforts of our Federal agencies and for the Nation's purse strings. Without additional Federal funding for Michigan's public schools, a typical school district in Michigan is looking at a $750-per-pupil cut to our State's budget shortfall. The White House recently signed an executive order saying, we are going to look for the skills in an individual. How do you obtain the skills if you are not in a fully funded school? When first robotics doesn't exist, when the skills training doesn't exist, and when the guidance counselors who are going to be there to shepherd our students through this trauma they endured cannot do their jobs? When we are cutting, cutting, cutting. And then we say: Guess what? The Federal taxpayer dollars that you pay and the State taxpayer dollars that you pay are not enough. Who pays again? Who pays again? It is the middle class. It is the individual. Mr. Speaker, I am tired of it. I am tired of the tax cuts for the wealthiest corporations at the expense of our middle class. I am here to deliver for my constituents. I am here to give them a return on their investment that they make every year. They are looking at us. In fact, Mr. Speaker, this is something that this House majority has already done in the HEROES Act. We have already taken these steps to address these budget shortfalls. We are here today to vote on an infrastructure bill to rebuild America's schools, to put people back to work, and to stand for the best this Nation has to offer. I did this work in the halls of government on the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue during another time of crisis, during another time of choppy waters, and I am a believer in these institutions, Mr. Speaker. I saw what happens when Democrats and Republicans come together for the best outcomes, when we rescued the auto industry and millions of auto worker jobs, saying, we will not let you fail, picking up from where the Bush administration left off and where the Obama administration finished it. We will not let you fail. That is what I say from this House floor today on behalf of the 700,000 constituents from Michigan's 11th District I proudly represent.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sarah and George Roberts of Detroit, Michigan on the very special occasion of their first wedding anniversary. Sarah and George were married on July 20, 2019 in Hague, New York. Surrounded by friends and family from around the globe, they committed to a lifetime of love and support for one another. Their nuptials marked the beginning of a journey that I know they will navigate with the same ease that Sarah has guided me with throughout my first term in Congress. The positive impact that Sarah and George make in their professional lives and in their communities cannot be overstated; I cannot wait to see all the good that will continue to result from the partnership of these two dynamic leaders. As they reflect on their first anniversary, may their commitment grow even stronger to cherish and honor one another for many years to come. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Sarah and George on this momentous occasion.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional life and light of Nur Omar Mohamed, father of my dear colleague, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Nur passed away on June 15, 2020 of complications arising from the coronavirus at the age of 67. He was taken from his family far too soon, but he leaves behind a distinguished legacy as the ``Superdad'' to his children, community, and all of those in our nation who had the good fortune to know him. After the outbreak of the Somali civil war, Nur kept his family safe and secure until their ultimate move to the United States in 1995. He became a mentor to many in the Minneapolis Somali community, and encouraged his children to pursue their dreams no matter how unconventional. He was an open-minded trailblazer who believed in the unique power of young people to make positive change--all qualities that we admire about our colleague, Representative Omar, today. Nur is survived by his seven children and many grandchildren, including Congresswoman Omar's three children, Isra, Adnan and Ilwad Hirsi. He will be remembered for his laugh, listening ear, and open heart. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the life of Nur Omar Mohamed and the incredible impact he made on our society.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my esteemed and tireless colleague from the District of Columbia, Congresswoman Holmes Norton. In this very Chamber, we have, throughout our Nation's history, long debated statehood for many lands and many people, and adding new States we have. In 1837, Michigan statehood was passed by Congress as the 26th State and signed by President Jackson, who proudly stated Michigan was ``admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects.'' In 1959, as we added Hawaii to the Union, the Secretary of the Interior declared: ``The great statehood of Hawaii will be granted and prove to the world . . . that we practice what we preach.'' Now, as we add Washington, D.C., and recognize the over 700,000 people, hundreds of thousands of Federal taxpaying people, to this Union, we reaffirm, we restore, and we continue to flourish our democracy that manifests to promote the general welfare.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of the incredible Aimee Stephens, who passed away on May 12 at the age of 59. Aimee was born on December 7, 1960, in Fayetteville, N.C. She graduated from Mars Hill University in 1984 with a degree in religious education and obtained a degree in mortuary science from Fayetteville Technical Community College in 1988. In 2013, she was fired from her job as a funeral director in suburban Detroit after she announced that she would begin living as a woman. After filing a complaint against her employer with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Aimee's case began its long journey through the United States court system. In April of 2019, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on the question of whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects transgender people from workplace discrimination. On June 15, 2020, shortly after Aimee's passing, the Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. The ruling was 6-3, with Justice Neil Gorsuch writing the majority opinion. Aimee's story is one of courage and fortitude. We owe her immense gratitude for her bravery in standing up for the equal rights of the L.G.B.T.Q. community nationwide. Her sacrifice in the name of progress and inclusion will not be forgotten; she will be remembered for her enduring hope. Aimee spent her final days at her home in Redford Township, Michigan, of Congresswoman Tlaib's District. She is survived by her wife, Donna, and their daughter, Elizabeth. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the remarkable life of Aimee Stephens: a hero in the fight for equal rights in America.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce the Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act with my colleague Representative Gonzalez, as well as Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Ranking Member Frank Lucas, who have joined us as leading cosponsors of this bipartisan bill. Plastic is invaluable in many applications. It's used as a high- performance material for medical devices and in safety components for automobiles. Plastic is also convenient. It's a mainstay in American households from our toothbrushes to food storage to shampoo and detergent bottles. Global plastic production increased from 2 million tons per year in 1950 to 400 million tons annually in recent years. What happens to all of the discarded plastic is why I am introducing this legislation today. We can no longer deny that we face a plastic waste crisis. In 2018, the U.S. woke up to the fragile predicament of our plastic waste management system. No longer able to ship our plastic waste to international markets, U.S. cities were forced to cut longstanding recycling programs. Instead, they had to resort to incinerating recyclables or tossing them in landfills. There are plenty of reasons for why and how we got here; however, a major factor is because we failed as a nation to invest in domestic recycling infrastructure and policies to account for the growing demand for plastic. As a result, today, the U.S. recycles just 9 percent of its plastic waste. The Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act directs the establishment of a plastic waste reduction and recycling research and development program to develop a world-leading U.S. industry in advanced plastics recycling technologies, and unleash the innovative potential of our nation to address our plastic waste crisis and generate greater value from the plastics we do produce. This approach has the potential to create jobs, develop supply chains, and meet environmental needs. Most notably, this legislation authorizes research and development across several agencies and a range of topics, including plastics that are recyclable by design, next generation recycling technologies, upcycling into high-value products, and environmental impacts of plastic waste. This bill also calls on the Federal government to develop a strategic plan for plastic waste reduction and recycling and plastic waste remediation and to develop partnerships with States, local governments, academia, industry, and international partners to achieve those goals. Finally, this legislation would help ensure U.S. leadership in national and international research and standards development for plastics recycling technologies. Advanced sorting technologies and updated standards are urgently needed for characterizing the multilayered plastic packaging materials used today. Most consumers are not even aware that many of these materials are not easily recycled by most local materials recovery facilities, which just exacerbates the challenges for the facilities, even as consumers are trying to do their part. This bill alone will not solve the plastic waste crisis in this country, but it is an essential and important step. Supporting this bill is an investment in our recycling industry and a demonstration of our recommitment to American manufacturing jobs and the ingenuity so very much needed at this time in our nation's history. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill and see it signed into law.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the fortieth birthday of an exceptional policy advisor and advocate, Mr. Jeff Ziarko. Jeff has spent over a decade of his life designing and advocating for economic policy initiatives on Capitol Hill and in the private sector. He is a respected member of the economic and tax policy communities in Washington, and he has a record of effectively working with both sides of the aisle to advance sound public policy. Jeff served as Senior Economic Policy Advisor for the House Ways & Means Committee and its former Ranking Member, Representative Sandy Levin. During his time on Ranking Member Levin's staff, Jeff led successful initiatives to promote access to capital for small businesses and communities, promote domestic manufacturing, support the deployment of alternative energy technologies and improve the fairness of the tax code. Jeff has had a hand in so many of the policies that improve the lives of hardworking Americans today. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the forty years of life Jeff Ziarko has spent contributing to his community, and to our country at large.