Rashida Tlaib

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Ms. Luneata Hite, a long-time resident of Detroit in Michigan's 13th Congressional District as she celebrates her 105th birthday. Truly an amazing milestone to reach in life. Born in New York in 1916, Ms. Hite spent part of her childhood in Texas before settling in Detroit, Michigan. She went on to attend The University of Michigan and pursued a career in social work. Ms. Hite takes pride in one of her most interesting and powerful work pursuits-- helping to investigate restaurants accused of discriminating against African American patrons. This work should inspire us all in this Chamber as we continue to rid society of all forms of discrimination. In 1941 Ms. Hite married Sherman Johnson and was a devoted wife. Together they nurtured and raised three children in their home in Detroit. Ms. Luneata Hite is cherished by her family, friends, and neighbors. Please join me in wishing her a very happy birthday, surrounded by love and light

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, did you know that over 40 percent of mothers are sole or primary breadwinners for their families? It has been over 50 years since the Equal Pay Act was signed into law, yet the problems that preceded that legislation remain today. So it is time for the Paycheck Fairness Act. Mr. Speaker, across the country, women are paid 80 cents to the dollar that men are paid, and the number is significantly lower for women of color. Black women make roughly 60 percent to the dollar. Native-American women make about 57 cents. And Latina women make just over 50 to the dollar. The discriminatory wage gap is costing women thousands of dollars a year for doing the exact same work as their male counterparts. And I see this right here in my community and my district where women are forced to work longer hours, harder, just to make ends meet and put food on the table for their families. My community is one of the poorest in the Nation, and the wage gap is one of the biggest factors for families who are really trying to get out of the cycle of poverty and get the support for their children so they can thrive. I am grateful to my colleagues on the Committee on Education and Labor for bringing this long overdue legislation.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, workers in our Nation deserve human dignity. That means the right to fight for safety and fairness in the workplace, as residents in my district know this all too well because we birthed the labor rights movement. One of the most important provisions in the PRO Act provides for mediation and arbitration if the employer and union cannot agree to a first collective bargaining agreement. My amendment guarantees that there will be no undue delay providing workers that agreement. Currently, almost 50 percent of unions fail to reach an agreement within a year with the employer. So my amendment specifies that the arbitration panel must issue a decision within 120 days. This furthers the core purpose of the bill by preventing employers from delaying this and putting the harm on workers.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in loving memory of Aiyana Jones, who was only 7 years old when she was killed by Detroit police. The fact that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act could have been named after countless other people murdered by police shows that this is long overdue. It is important to note this bill is a start, not the end, of our movement to transform what it means to feel safe in our country. We must demand true accountability, justice, and reparations for the generations of police brutality against our Black communities. We must invest in the social programs that we know will give our communities the opportunity to thrive. This is the justice that Aiyana Jones and George Floyd and many other lives lost to police violence deserve.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise because voting is a right that must be extended to all people, and, yes, that includes currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. Madam Speaker, in a country that has yet to fully make amends or pay restitution for its racist past, we must recognize that taking away the right to vote as punishment for a crime is directly tied to the racist, mass incarceration system that continues to wreak havoc on Black and Brown communities. The stripping of the right to vote of incarcerated people, especially Black folks, is directly connected to the racist past of our country, from slavery and Jim Crow laws to mass incarceration. It was done with intent, to disenfranchise them for the most sacred right: to choose the people and policies that govern. Madam Speaker, people need to look it up. There are countries that allow formerly incarcerated people to vote.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Grijalva, Congresswoman DeGette, and the committee staff for working with me on this amendment and for the continued leadership on this bill. The amendment incorporates environmental justice communities like mine into this space. It would require a report on permits by providers serving environmental justice communities. This measure, first introduced last Congress by the soon-to-be first Native American Cabinet Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior, Congresswoman Haaland, is an important step in identifying and removing barriers to access our public lands. Communities of color, low-income communities, indigenous communities, and those most impacted by pollution and climate change often have the least access to our national parks and Federal lands. My 13th District Strong is an environmental justice community, an area that the State calls the epicenter of the asthma burden due to corporate polluters. Folks in my district deserve the same opportunity to enjoy clean air and public lands as anyone else so they don't grow up like me, thinking that sulfur dioxide and rotten eggs was just how the air smelled. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please support this amendment.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the resilience of the residents in my district who have seen the traumatic impacts of the pandemic but they continue to show up for each other. The sisterhood among the women of the Zeta Phi Beta's Highland Park Michigan chapter, Kappa Rho Zeta, in my district are a true testament to our community's strength. This sorority was founded with the purpose of upholding the tenets of sisterhood and service. Over the past 40 years, the sisters have given countless hours of community service to the people of Highland Park. Their service and charity work has extended to so many organizations across my district. Even during some of our district's most challenging times, they continue to show up for our neighborhoods and community members who are most vulnerable. They have spearheaded annual holiday celebrations for our seniors, provided workshops and assistance for pregnant mothers, and uplifted the graduating high school students of Highland Park by awarding scholarships to support them in their academic pursuits. This is our district's strength. I am honored to uplift the 40 years of sisterhood, service, and strength of the women of Zeta Phi Beta's Kappa Rho Zeta Chapter and their many outstanding contributions to the residents of Highland Park and 13th District Strong. Honoring Wayne County Residents Lost to COVID-19

Ms. TLAIB. The people define my district and its history, so it is essential that I give reverence to the residents who are among the 500,000 people in the United States who lost their lives as a result of the coronavirus. I would like to honor a valuable member of the community who has passed, Ms. Abena Hogan. Ms. Hogan was born and raised in Detroit and was a proud daughter of our community. She began her first career in public service working for southeast Michigan's regional public transit system. After 20 years of service, Ms. Hogan briefly retired before she was called back into service to work for our Wayne County Clerk. Ms. Hogan took immense pride in serving the people of Wayne County, and Ms. Hogan believed deeply in the power of the people and grassroots action. She will be dearly, dearly missed. I also want to give tribute to a very highly respected public servant. This is Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. He left a tremendous mark on our community and the community that he truly loved to serve. Benny Napoleon served as our Wayne County Sheriff from 2009 until the time of his death. His love for Detroit and its people was unwavering. His tenure as Wayne County Sheriff was marked by his work to reduce inmate populations by utilizing alternatives to incarceration and employing electronic tethering. Napoleon was well-known for his personality and his big heart, and he had a smile that would just light up a room. Shortly after his death, we lost yet another public servant in our district, Mayor Dan Paletko. Mayor Paletko served the Dearborn Heights community from 2004 until his death late last year. He prioritized making Dearborn Heights a welcoming place for all of its residents to call home and was especially proud of his city's rich cultural diversity and recreational resources. His pride in Dearborn Heights was evident in his dedication. We will continue to honor the memories of not only the mayor, the sheriff, and Abena, but also the countless other residents of 13th District Strong who have lost their lives to this deadly disease. Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko, and Abena Hogan are three of more than 16,000 Michigan residents who have lost their lives to COVID. It is essential that our families who have suffered such a great loss this past year get the resources and support they need from our government so that they do not face financial struggles and hardship because of the pandemic. We must act now. Our families and our communities can't wait any longer. Our families deserve recurring payments. Our local communities deserve direct aid. Our residents deserve to be vaccinated, and our students deserve to be educated in a safe environment where they can not only learn but thrive. So today, I rise in remembrance of those we have lost due to COVID but lean on the strength and the resiliency of my district who deserves more.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day. Today, we send a clear message to every LGBTQ person that you belong here, that you are loved for who you are, and that we won't stop fighting until you experience true equity and equality. We are experiencing a crisis of violence against our LGBTQ neighbors, especially people of color, and our transgender communities. Today's passage is for Treasure Hilliard, for Paris Cameron, and for every LGBTQ person taken too soon by hate. When one in five transgender people has experienced homelessness, when transgender people have half the homeownership rate of cisgender people, we have a structural problem. By outlawing discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations, we send a powerful message to the bigots, including those here in Congress, that their time is over. Listen very closely, and remember these words: We are winning. We will continue winning. Our will is unbreakable. Our love is so much stronger than your sad, pathetic hate.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good colleague from New Mexico. It is truly an honor to be able to serve with her. Yesterday, she shared with me a young student in her district sent her a beautiful letter. It was her first letter from a young child in her district, and I lovingly called the child Teresa's truth-teller. I hope it starts a trend in her community. Mr. Speaker, to many of my colleagues here, I ask them all to please come and tour my district. I lovingly call them 13th District Strong because they never stop fighting for justice even when many here across the country are always being asked to wait: wait for this, wait for change, wait for us to be able to tackle poverty wages. Those that can afford it, they wait, but our folks can't afford it anymore. Raising the Federal minimum wage to $15 per hour has never been more urgent for my residents, and it is long overdue. You see, I represent the third poorest congressional district in the country. I want you to think about that for one moment. I have an elderly couple who has to melt snow in a bucket so that they have the ability to flush their toilet because they can't afford water. Water has been increased by 400 percent in rates. I have a mother in my district who is pleading for me to find a place where her daughter can eat twice a day. More than half of my residents pay a third or more of their income for housing. Our economy is structured in a way to benefit the few over the many. It is no surprise that the many it is not working for are the working people in our communities. If we want to truly look and peek at the economy, measure the amount of debt our families have compared to their incomes. Look at the productivity numbers that are up compared to the wages that remain stagnant. At the same time that our people are suffering, large corporations are seeing record-breaking profits, and CEOs are being paid record-high salaries. It is simply unfair and immoral. Raising the minimum wage is also a matter of racial justice. Workers of color are far more likely to be paid poverty wages than their White counterparts, and Black and Brown workers are far more likely to be victims of wage theft. I know because I used to represent them and fight for their fair access to their wages that they have earned. A $15 Federal minimum wage would increase the earnings of 38 percent of Black workers across our Nation, a raise that will be life-changing. It is time for all of us right here in Congress to earn our own pay and deliver this overdue minimum wage increase without delay. I hope folks understand, $15 is already the compromise. It is. If the minimum wage had kept up with worker productivity, it would already be at $24 per hour. Workers aren't asking for anything they aren't already earning for their bosses. Without workers, there is no profit. It is high time for us to end the pattern of exploiting workers, our neighbors, family members. Raise the wage. It is the right thing to do for our Nation. It is so incredibly supported outside these Halls of Congress. Listen to the people who sent us here. They are urging us to please stop waiting. We have been given the power to change their lives for the better. Mr. Speaker, I thank, again, my colleague from New Mexico.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the many outstanding contributions to the communities of Wayne County in Michigan's 13th Congressional District of Abena Hogan, as we honor her memory. Born and raised in Detroit, Ms. Hogan was a proud daughter of her community. She began her first career in public service working for southeast Michigan's regional public transit system S. After 20 years of service, Ms. Hogan briefly retired before she was called back into serving the public once again, as the Community Relations Liaison to the Wayne County Clerk. Ms. Hogan took immense pride in serving the people of Wayne County. She was an active member of countless community organizations, serving as a board member and as a volunteer, including the NAACP and Barton McFarland Community Council. Ms. Hogan believed deeply in the power of the people and grassroots action. She engaged people, young and old, on the importance of being involved and taking action. Ms. Hogan was well-known for her boundless energy, willingness to always lend a hand to someone in need, and commitment to improving the quality of life for all community members. Ms. Hogan was affectionately called ``Queen Abena'' because of her commanding, yet loving presence. She was a true public servant and will truly be missed. Please join me and ``Smile! One more time!'' as Abena Hogan always said, as we pay tribute to her memory and recognize her hard work on behalf of the communities of Detroit, Wayne County, and Michigan's 13th Congressional District.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many outstanding contributions of the sisters of Zeta Phi Beta's Highland Park, Michigan Chapter, Kappa Rho Zeta. Under the leadership of the late Ione H. Gibson, Florida Mitchell, Mary Grant, Louise Beamon, Brenda Reed and Constance Russell, Kappa Rho Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sorority was founded with the purpose of upholding the tenets of sisterhood, service, and scholarship. Over the past 40 years, the sisters of Kappa Rho Zeta have given countless hours of community service to the people of Highland Park. Their service and charitable work has extended to several locally-based organizations, including the Agape of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Coalition of Temporary Shelter (COTS), Highland Park Lions Club, Park Geriatric Village, the Children's Center, Detroit Goodfellows, the Boys & Girls Club of Highland Park, and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries in Highland Park. They spear-head the annual holiday celebration for the seniors of Highland Park. Kappa Rho Zeta Chapter also opened two Stork's Nest locations in the community to provide workshops and assistance for pregnant mothers. And, in the tradition of scholarship of Zeta Phi Beta, uplift the graduating high school students of Highland Park by awarding scholarships to support them in their academic pursuits. The sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Kappa Rho Zeta Chapter have embodied the spirit of giving and the importance of service. Please join me in recognizing the women of Zeta Phi Beta Kappa Rho Zeta Chapter for their many outstanding contributions to the residents of Highland Park and the 13th Congressional District as they celebrate 40 years of sisterhood in service.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, after decades of living through discrimination from our government, my older Black neighbors in my district finally began having a sense of hope that a new generation of elected leaders is here. Recently, however, those same neighbors have told me they began to feel that fear again because of what is happening here in this Chamber. In today's Republican Party, Marjorie Taylor Greene's world views are violent, anti-Black, racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic, and they are condoned. Every single day that goes by without outright condemnation from every single one of her Republican colleagues, without consequences for her extremist views, is an outright endorsement of white supremacy. We owe it to our residents who have been victim of these very hateful views to take action. When Members like Marjorie Taylor Greene proudly claim that Muslims shouldn't be allowed in this Congress, or that 9/11 attacks were fake, or that the Speaker of the House should be executed, there must be consequences.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her incredible courage. I asked her to go last because this is so personal. This is so hard because, as many of my colleagues and my closest colleagues know, on my very first day of orientation, I got my first death threat. It was a serious one. They took me aside. The FBI had to go to the gentleman's home. I didn't even get sworn in yet and someone wanted me dead for just existing. More came later; uglier, more violent. One celebrating in writing the New Zealand massacre and hoping that more would come. Another mentioned my dear son, Adam, mentioning him by name. Each one paralyzed me each time. So what happened on January 6, all I can do is thank Allah that I wasn't here. I felt overwhelming relief. I feel bad for Alexandria and so many of my colleagues who were here; but as I saw it, I thought to myself, Thank God I am not there. I saw the images that they didn't get to see until later. My team and I decided at that point we would keep the death threats away. We tried to report them, document them, to keep them away from me because it just paralyzed me. All I wanted to do was come here and serve the people who raised me; the people who told my mother, who only had an 8th grade education, that she deserves human dignity; people who believed in me. So it is hard. It is hard when my seven brothers and six sisters beg me to get protection, many urging me to get a gun for the first time. And I have to tell you, the trauma from just being here, existing as a Muslim woman is so hard. But imagine my team, which I love and just adore. They are diverse. I have LGBTQ staff. I have a beautiful Muslim who wears her hijab proudly in the halls. I have Black women who are so proud to be here, to serve their country. I worry every day for their lives because of this rhetoric. I never thought that they would feel unsafe here. So I ask my colleagues to please try not to dehumanize what is happening. This is real. And you know many of our residents, from the shootings in Charlottesville to the massacre at the synagogue, all of it--all of it is led by hate rhetoric like this. So I urge my colleagues to please, please take what happened on January 6 seriously. It will lead to more deaths. We can do better. We must do better.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, this pandemic has taken the lives of nearly 16,000 Michiganders with 25 percent of the deaths from Wayne County and the city of Detroit. Our communities are forever changed. The U.S. is on a course to reach 500,000 deaths by February 20. That is a half a million lives lost. And in response to this record death toll, Congress has sent out one $1,200 check almost a year ago and another $600 check, for a total of $1,800. That is an average of $163 per month. Mr. Speaker, there is not a single person in this Chamber or in my district who can survive on that little per month. My residents cannot afford to wait. The bills don't stop after 1 month; neither should the checks. The budget resolution ensures that we can do the work of delivering urgent relief to our families and every single district across the country.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the exemplary leadership and faith-based work of Pastor Jean Overman, who has been recognized as the 2021 Pastor of the Year for the National Christians in Action. Pastor Jean Overman has dedicated her entire life's work to serving the people in her community in and around Inkster and Western Wayne County in Michigan's 13th Congressional District. Her drive to serve for the good of our communities has had a profound impact on the lives of many. In addition to her pastoral duties and spiritual work, she serves as Executive Director of Operation Refuge, a local charitable organization that runs a number of programs to assist our most underserved populations. Its Mother's Pantry program affords families emergency food assistance in a grocery store-style setting. And, its Camp Inspire, a summer STEM camp, is a catalyst to instill confidence in young women and inspire them to explore science and technology studies. In short, Pastor Jean Overman is an advocate for social justice, uplifting issues around poverty, education, racial justice and more. Her work reflects her love of community and her passion for creating a better future for our families. Her commitment to help those in need is unwavering and truly reflective of what it means to live like Christ. Pastor Jean Overman is a true public servant, and we are truly grateful for her advocacy and her work every day serving the district. Please join me in recognition of her outstanding achievement.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many contributions of one of Detroit's longest-serving fraternal and service organizations, Palestine Lodge No. 357 F. & A. M. Founded January 26, 1881, Detroit's Palestine Masonic Lodge has operated for one hundred forty years. The Palestine Lodge can count among its past members many high-profile residents, including James Vernor, originator of Vernor's Ginger Ale, a Detroit staple, and automotive pioneer Henry Ford. More recently, the Palestine Lodge, in affiliation with the Michigan Masons, has helped make significant contributions to its charitable foundation to make meaningful impacts on the lives of countless Michigan residents. These actions are not limited to its scholarship programs for students, its bikes for books child literacy incentive program, as well as its S.A.Y. Detroit tutoring and literacy program. In addition, the Palestine Lodge members give countless hours of volunteer time on local community initiatives. Please join me in recognizing Detroit's Palestine Lodge No. 357 F. & A. M.'s many contributions to the residents of Michigan and the 13th Congressional District over the past one hundred forty years.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, in Michigan's 13th, we proudly speak truth to power, even in the face of a racist in chief. Those who incited an attack on the people's House do not get to talk about healing and unity. They have torn this country apart. They have stoked the fire and then handed the gasoline to Donald Trump. Dr. King once said: ``True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.'' Today, we must embody those words, and we must understand that peace must be centered in truth and action. We cannot, Madam Speaker, sit idly by after a violent attempted coup and allow lies and hate to continue. Today, we stand up for our constituents, who continue to be harmed by Donald Trump.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the legacy of public service and commitment to our communities of the late Mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Daniel Paletko. Dan Paletko served as mayor of Dearborn Heights from 2004 until his death in 2020. Paletko served one term as a Michigan State Representative and more than two decades as a Dearborn Heights City Councilman. He prioritized making Dearborn Heights a welcoming place for all its residents to call home and was especially proud of the city's rich cultural diversity and recreational resources. His pride in Dearborn Heights was evident in his dedication. Beyond his public service, Mr. Paletko volunteered his time to many community-based organizations. He was particularly involved with his church community at St. Linus Church, where he served as an usher. He also proudly gave his time to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs and to the American Legion. Please join me as we recognize Mayor Daniel Paletko's many contributions to the families of Dearborn Heights and the 13th Congressional District as we give honor to his memory.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the work of public servant Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon as we honor his memory. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Benny Napoleon began his law enforcement career working in Detroit's police department in the 1975. He worked his way up the ranks to serve as chief of police in 1998 before retiring in 2001. Napoleon became assistant Wayne County executive in 2004. In 2009, he was appointed Sheriff of Wayne County, the role he continued to serve in until his recent death. Benny Napoleon's tenure as Wayne County Sheriff was marked by his work to reduce inmate populations, by utilizing alternatives to incarceration and employing electronic tethering. Napoleon was well- known for his affable personality and big-heartedness. He is a true son of Detroit. His absence will be felt by the communities of Wayne County. Please join me as we recognize Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon for his many contributions to Wayne County and the 13th Congressional District and honor his memory.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the late Dr. Ahmad Jaber, a physician and founder of the Arab American Association of New York, a human rights advocacy organization. Dr. Jaber was born and raised by his widowed mother in the Palestinian village of Yamoun in the West Bank. Following the example of his mother, Dr. Jaber worked hard to put himself through college and medical school. He immigrated to the United States in 1974 to pursue a medical career in obstetrics. While he is well-known for having delivered more than five thousand babies over the course of his career, Dr. Jaber was celebrated for his generosity and advocacy on behalf of others. Dr. Jaber founded the Arab American Association of New York as a welcoming center for new immigrants to New York from the Middle East. Under his leadership, the organization grew to become a social services organization that provides adult education services, youth programming, and mental health services. More than that, the organization seeks to create cross-culture dialogue within New York's multiethnic communities. It has served as a liaison to challenge discrimination against Arab Americans. I invite you to join me in recognizing the legacy of Dr. Ahmad Jaber as we give honor to his memory.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the loss of a great public servant for the 13th Congressional District, Wayne County Commissioner Jewel Ware, and honor her memory and legacy as a commissioner for our district. First elected in 1994, Ms. Ware was the longest-serving Wayne County Commissioner, with a district that covered a large portion of Detroit. She was particularly well-known for her commitment to serving senior residents and her work to improve access to mental healthcare. She worked directly with community-based organizations to champion issues important to the residents of the communities she served. Most recently, Commissioner Ware had sponsored a resolution that would ban on chokeholds and restraint by police in using deadly force. Beyond her legislative work, Ms. Ware volunteered her time and energy in public service with a number of organizations, including the NAACP and The Charles. H. Wright Museum of African American History. She spearheaded an annual sock and mitten drive for children in need. Ms. Ware could frequently be found visiting senior housing, coordinating services such as free income tax preparation. Commissioner Ware also served as a member of Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated where she dedicated a lot of her time to serving others. I am truly saddened by the loss for our Wayne County and Detroit communities and am deeply grateful for the time we shared in public service together over the last decade. Her passing is truly a great loss to our district, but her presence will forever be felt in our community. Please join me in tribute to Wayne County Commissioner Jewel Ware, as we remember her life and extraordinary contributions to Wayne County and the 13th Congressional District.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Eternal Light Food Pantry, an organization based in Dearborn Heights, Michigan that serves residents through food assistance to the families of Wayne County. Founder, Sam Bazzi, was moved and inspired by the hardship facing many working families and other vulnerable populations in our district. He started the Eternal Light food pantry to assist community members struggling with food apartheid. He and his team of volunteers have served countless residents, including forty-two thousand people in 2020 alone as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Through the community connections created by delivering meals and food baskets, Mr. Bazzi has gone above and beyond, referring those in need to social services organizations, and even helping to raise funeral funds for another individual. Mr. Bazzi's commitment to community and service are unparalleled and truly a reflection of how the 13th Congressional District has continued to show up for each other during these difficult times. I am truly grateful for the work of Sam Bazzi and Eternal Light for answering the call to service and helping those who are in need the most. Please join me in tribute to Eternal Light Food Pantry, for its outstanding service to the people of Michigan's 13th District.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the lasting impact of the work of Michigan State Representative Leslie Love as she enters into retirement. Over the years, I have witnessed Representative Love's hard work and commitment to the people she serves in Michigan's Tenth House District. Rep. Love was born, raised, and educated in the City of Detroit and her community roots run deep. She is passionate in her approach to securing resources for the residents of Redford Township and the City of Detroit. As a legislator, she counts among her successes, securing financial resources that provide much-needed technology to public schools, public parks, and after school programming for young people. Rep. Love has also championed auto insurance reform, a policy that would have a profound impact on residents. Further cementing her commitment to public service, Rep. Love has connected with residents throughout the Tenth House District on countless occasions, whether it's attending community events or hosting town halls or coffee hours. In short, Representative Leslie Love has served the public admirably. Please join me in tribute to her service.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in calling for immediate action on COVID relief. It is an outrage that Senate Republicans and the impeached President's administration are more focused on undermining our election integrity and faith in our democracy rather than delivering relief to millions of Americans who are struggling right now. With over 20 million unemployed and more than 8 million having fallen into poverty, recurring monthly payments are desperately needed to protect the American people from further harm and loss. Due to the lack of Federal commitment and funding, the maximum amount a worker in my district gets on unemployment is $362 a week, Mr. Speaker; $962 under the first stimulus payment. So now you are asking workers, our families, our neighbors, to live with $362 a week. Not anyone here could survive on that. Due to the uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus, new stay-at-home orders and business restrictions are necessary to protect our public health. But we must couple this with orders with strong, recurring Federal support, putting money directly into the pockets of Americans, so they can actually afford to stay home, and support our local governments and businesses on the brink of collapse without more stimulus. This pandemic has also made clear the need of guaranteeing access to clean water to our neighbors. Washing one's hands is crucial to preventing illness and spread. We need to treat water as a human right, and ban water shutoffs nationwide, and ensure that every American has what they need to protect themselves during this pandemic. So, Mr. Speaker, sending stimulus checks, supporting State and local governments, small businesses, and preventing water shutoffs are some of the first steps we must take to not only control the spread of this coronavirus but to recover from its devastation. I urge my Republican colleagues to please join me in taking urgent action.