Lori Trahan

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1, and I commend the Speaker, the majority leader, Chair Lofgren, and Representative Sarbanes for their unwavering leadership. Madam Speaker, we live in a cynical age. Some of this is due to the fact that the wealthy and well-connected have been granted access and influence in the halls of power far beyond what is fair. The results speak for themselves--massive economic, health, and wealth disparities. It is also due to the fact that we have seemingly entered a post-truth era in which facts have less of a grip on public debate, particularly on our social media platforms. Madam Speaker, the race to the bottom continues, whether it is the big lie about the election, or gaslighting the American people about the political leanings of insurrectionists, or the denial of climate change. The roots of these problems cannot be solved unless we reform our government, starting today. H.R. 1 is needed to help dissolve the cynicism and ensure that facts and honesty have a place at the table once again. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in passing H.R. 1.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Equality Act, and I associate myself with the remarks of the bill's sponsor, the gentleman from Rhode Island. Because Mr. Cicilline and my colleagues have already said all that there is to say about the clear merits of the bill, I would simply ask, through the Chair, that if our colleagues on the other side cannot find it within themselves to support this bill out of a sense of fairness and goodwill to those enduring discrimination, then please do so out of concern for their parents, people just like our colleagues on the other side, mothers and fathers who love their children every bit as much as our colleagues love theirs. We want nothing more than to send our kids out into the world with confidence and a reasonable expectation of being treated fairly and equally. It is never too late to do the right thing. Please join us in voting ``yes'' on the Equality Act.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the passing of my friend, Don Motaka. Today, would have been his 69th birthday. Don was truly one of a kind and he made an impression on everyone he met. I will always remember his quick wit, huge heart, irreverent sense of humor, and booming laugh. He was not someone that could be easily overlooked, as his positive energy could take over a room. Unfortunately, Don died suddenly on December 21, 2020 in Oxford, Michigan of complications unrelated to COVID. I had the honor of getting to know Don when we worked together as congressional staffers in the mid-1990s. Don was not your typical staff member, as his personal and professional life had taken him on a wondering and diverse journey by the time he made his way to Capitol Hill. A native of Gettysburg, PA, his teenage years were marked by instability that resulted in Don being taken in and cared for by members of St. James Lutheran Church. In spite of those challenges, Don excelled as a student and went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania and Yale Divinity School. After graduating from Yale Divinity School, Don served as Pastor to two rural churches before leaving to lead Tabernacle Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia, a challenging assignment that left him looking for other ways to serve people. He held many different jobs during that time, including serving as a congressional aide to U.S. Representative Marty Meehan, where we met. In 2013, Don returned to the ministry to become a monk at St. Augustine's House Lutheran Monastery, the only Lutheran Monastery in North America. Upon becoming a simple professed monk in 2015, he took the name Father Jude--who is known as the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. At the monastery, he spent his time listening for God and regularly preaching at Sunday Mass. He also dedicated many hours to working in a woodworking shop he created at the monastery. He is missed by his mother, Almena Motaka, his brothers at the monastery, and his sudden passing has impacted many who loved him and referred to him affectionately as ``Uncle Don,'' including Rev. Edward Keyser and his family, Rev. Fritz Foltz and Faith Foltz and family, Joe Moore and his family, and David Schildknecht and his family. Don was passionate about politics and was a dedicated Democrat who loved this country and followed in great detail the twists and turns of public policy debates held in Congress. Like many, Don was troubled by what had happened to our country over the past four years and was overjoyed by the results of the election in November. During my first campaign for Congress, Don was a voice of encouragement from the very beginning, and his daily prayers for me from the monastery were a source of comfort and strength. While it was many years ago that I last saw Don, I can still see his smile and feel the warmth of his personality like it was yesterday. I am grateful to have crossed paths with him and I hope his memory is a blessing to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today in disbelief-- disbelief that, after the President incited a violent mob to commit an act of insurrection and remained silent as police officers were assaulted, the Capitol was ransacked, and Members of this body fled for their lives, that there are still members of his party who refuse to hold him accountable. It is because of that inaction that there is only one path forward to put an end to this Presidency. Donald Trump must be impeached, removed from office, and barred from ever holding the Office of the Presidency again.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the leadership and legacy of a great leader and friend, Mayor Daniel ``Dan'' Rivera, who will retire as the 59th Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Mayor Dan Rivera is leaving his second four-year term in office early to become the President and CEO of MassDevelopment; the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' finance and economic development agency. Mayor Rivera was born in New York City to a single mother who emigrated from the Dominican Republic in search of a better life for her family. His mother moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts to find work as a seamstress in the area's mills, and it was in Lawrence that Mayor Rivera was raised and began his career as a public servant. After graduating from Lawrence High School, Mayor Rivera enlisted in the United States Army and became a Military Police Officer, serving in Germany, Iraq, and Kuwait. After his multiple tours overseas, Mayor Rivera returned home to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Indeed, he became the first person in his family to graduate from college--something that he and I have in common. Prior to being elected as the City's mayor, he worked tirelessly to improve the growth and economic development of the Merrimack Valley for its residents. As an economic development director for Congressman Marty Meehan, Mayor Rivera continued to bring critical investments to his hometown and communities across the Merrimack Valley. Not long after, he was elected to the Lawrence City Council where he served as the Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee. He provided key leadership in adjusting the City's budget in order to restore key services and personnel. Then-Councilor Rivera worked to diversify the Lawrence Police Department by making it a majority-minority department with 53% of the officers making up individuals of color and tripling the number of women on the force, more accurately representing the people of Lawrence. In 2013, he was elected as the City's mayor. Over the last seven years, he has led Lawrence through two major crises--the 2018 Merrimack Valley natural gas explosions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Time and again, he has demonstrated his leadership and dedication to the residents of the great City of Lawrence. The Merrimack Valley gas explosions forced thousands of families to flee the area, damaged and destroyed dozens of homes, left many businesses with considerable financial losses, and tragically took a young man's life. Throughout that period, Mayor Rivera led with purpose and empathy in every decision he made to get the City on the path of recovery, while fighting to ensure the community received all necessary support and resources. He has been a close ally as we successfully advanced the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act. This legislation will ensure no community ever faces a disaster like this one again, becoming law in December of 2020. Just as the City of Lawrence was recovering from the natural gas explosions, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Lawrence has been among the hardest hit communities in the Commonwealth by the pandemic, disproportionately impacting its large population of Black and brown residents. With the utmost transparency in communication, Mayor Rivera consistently urged the community to maintain social distance, enacted a city-wide eviction moratorium to protect renters, created two Emergency Small Business Relief Programs designed to help the Lawrence businesses and immigrant entrepreneur communities as they work to get back on their feet, and diligently collaborated with the State and Federal governments to set up testing sites around the city. Mayor Rivera's leadership and hard work has been recognized by various organizations. He was awarded Masslnc.'s Mayor Bill Carpenter Award for Excellence in Gateway City Leadership in 2020, and in 2018 was recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People of Color in Greater Boston by Get Konnected. Through his many years of service, Mayor Rivera has made the City of Lawrence a better place to call home. Thanks to his efforts, the City's future is bright, and I join Lawrence residents in thanking him for his dedication to this incredible community.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions and legacy of Mr. Antonio Dias Chaves, a proud Portuguese immigrant who made Hudson, Massachusetts his home and dedicated his life and career to public service and the prosperity of the Portuguese community in Massachusetts. He tragically passed away due to COVID-19 on December 31, 2020. From 1967 when Antonio immigrated to the United States from the Azores until his death, he worked tirelessly to make his country and community a better place. Shortly after his arrival, he enlisted in the Army and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. His public service did not end there. Rather, it was just the beginning. In 1978, Antonio became the first Portuguese-American elected to the Hudson Board of Selectmen and just the second elected Portuguese-American in all of Massachusetts. His passion for politics blossomed and he developed friendships with many political leaders throughout the Commonwealth and beyond--all to give back to his country, support his community, and most importantly, help others. Antonio's impact on the Portuguese diaspora in Massachusetts cannot be understated nor can his commitment to helping other immigrants achieve the American Dream. Antonio helped thousands of people make a life for themselves and their families in America as both an immigration consultant and a public servant with the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants. As a former congressional staffer and member of Congress, I had the opportunity see first-hand Antonio's determined advocacy for helping others, his devotion to his community, his pride in his heritage, and of course, his passion for the Hudson Portuguese Club. I will miss seeing him among families and friends during dinners or feasts at the Club, where he could usually be found as the resident Master of Ceremonies, hosting in the restaurant, cheering on his favorite team (Sporting Clube de Portugal), having a toast with friends, or tending to duties as the president of the general assembly. For his contributions and accomplishments, he was awarded one of the highest civilian honors bestowed by the Portuguese Government, the Order of Merit and the title of ``Comendador''. Throughout his life, Antonio would receive numerous recognitions from State and local government and other distinguished organizations for his work in the community through the Hudson Portuguese Club and Portugal 73, one of the oldest continually running Portuguese radio shows in the world. Recently, Antonio authored and published ``Os Meus Imperios'', a memoir of establishing the Holy Ghost Festival or ``Imperio'' in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Antonio will be remembered for his love for his family, our great nation, unparalleled friendship, passion for helping others, and pride in his Portuguese heritage. His contributions to our community and grateful nation will never be forgotten. My heart goes out to Zelia, Derek, and the entire Chaves family during this difficult time. Antonio's legacy will live on through his loving family and all of us who had the honor of calling him a friend

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong support for the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. Especially I would like to commend the bill's author, my friend, Representative Susan Davis. It is due to her steadfast and visionary leadership on the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee that we are here today advancing this important and timely legislation. This bill is an apt capstone on her remarkable legacy. Registered apprenticeships are a tried and true system for preparing our workforce for stable jobs that provide family sustaining wages and benefits. I have seen firsthand how unions have put this tool to excellent use over the years. In fact, just last year I visited the Laborers' training facility in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where young apprentices are training for careers in construction. The Laborers recognize the importance of this bill, which is why they have endorsed it and urged its passage. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter. LiUNA!, Washington, DC, November 18, 2020. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: I write on behalf of the 500,000 hardworking men and women of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) to ask you to vote for H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, when it comes to the House floor for a vote this week. LIUNA is proud to support this important bill to keep our union apprenticeship programs strong. Registered Apprenticeship Programs, like the ones that LIUNA has had for decades, help workers earn while they learn. H.R. 8294 invests more than $3.5 billion over five (5) years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeship Programs and Preapprenticeship Programs, among others. The bill creates nearly a million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system. It would also yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased workers productivity and decreased spending on public assistance programs and unemployment insurance. The rigorous standards in the bill ensure that the programs that apprentices will work in will be top-quality. At a time when our nation's infrastructure needs are so great, H.R. 8294 will ensure that we continue to train the best workforce in the world. Again, I ask that you vote in favor of this important bill on the House floor. With kind regards, I am. Sincerely yours, Terry O'Sullivan, General President.

Mrs. TRAHAN. However, for far too long, apprenticeship opportunities have been utilized almost exclusively for just a handful of construction-oriented occupations. It is time to open this successful model to a wider range of careers and invite folks from a more diverse array of backgrounds to participate. This bill accomplishes both. I am particularly pleased it includes legislation that Representative Morelle and I filed to assist small businesses in participating in registered apprenticeship programs and provide a particular focus on opportunities for people of color, women, and veterans. At a time when college students are drowning in debt, we need to advance measures that offer more affordable pathways to the middle class. The bill before us will help countless people achieve the American Dream. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and Representative Davis for their excellent work, and I urge the bill's passage.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of a son of Massachusetts, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Marwan Sameh Ghabour. He and four other brave American soldiers tragically lost their lives on Thursday, November 12 while on a peacekeeping mission in Egypt. Mr. Ghabour will be remembered as a hero for his valiant service and commitment to protecting the freedoms and values that all Americans hold dear. This tragic loss serves as a reminder that when our troops bravely volunteer to serve, both they and their loved ones sacrifice more than we can ever imagine. My heart goes out to Mr. Ghabour's family and friends during this difficult time. Nevertheless, his legacy is secured by the many people who carry his memory forward. In particular, the residents of Marlborough and Arlington, Massachusetts, where he grew up and volunteered, will remember his passion for public service. I am grateful for patriots like Mr. Ghabour who risk everything to make the United States and the world a better place and are prepared to give the ``last full measure of their devotion,'' as President Lincoln said. We are fortunate that such brave men and women are among us. Marwan Sameh Ghabour and his fellow servicemembers will never be forgotten.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong support for the amendment offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Lamb. The world desperately needs a new source of energy that has zero- carbon emissions. Such a technological breakthrough is absolutely vital to combating climate change and meeting our growing energy demands. One such promising technology is fusion energy. When commercialized, fusion will accelerate the transformation of America's energy system, providing the foundation for our zero-carbon energy economy of the future. My colleague's amendment, which I'm pleased to co-sponsor, would provide the basis for the United States to maximize its resources, both public and private, to demonstrate and commercialize fusion energy. His amendment would support public-private partnerships to make fusion energy a reality by building full-scale demonstration facilities--and creating new companies and more jobs here at home. This is a race against time--not only to prevent the worst catastrophes that we're beginning to see due to climate change, but also ensuring adequate funds so that the United States is the global leader in fusion. As Professor Dennis Whyte of MIT wrote last year in The Washington Post, ``This is a critical moment for such funding decisions. Other governments are investing billions in fusion.'' The pending amendment's milestone-based funding program will support the development of a U.S.-based fusion power industry by providing funds to stimulate R&D and eventual commercialization of this new energy source. Each private sector participant will need to meet milestones agreed- upon in partnership with the Department of Energy in order to receive the public funds. Federal assistance would be made only upon completion of agreed-upon milestones. I urge support for the amendment as well as the underlying bill.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the early educators and childcare workers who have sacrificed so much for our children and their parents across the Nation throughout this pandemic. As a working mom, I know how critical they are to our families and to our economy. The fact is, had our childcare workers not done their part, many other essential workers like our nurses, firefighters, police officers, postal workers, food service and sanitation employees, and grocery workers could not have done theirs. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated what we have known to be true all along, that our childcare workforce is essential. That is why I was proud to cast my vote yesterday for the Child Care Is Essential Act. The House advanced bold legislation to ensure that our childcare workforce has the support it needs to operate childcare centers safely. I would like to commend my colleagues, Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Bobby Scott, and Katherine Clark, for their leadership on this critical issue. The fact is, even before the pandemic, enrolling an infant or toddler in a quality childcare program could be enormously expensive. Frankly, there was inadequate support to make those programs fit in the household budgets for many families. The GAO found that, on average, just 1 out of every 10 children who are eligible for Federal childcare subsidies actually received them. Moreover, 1 in 10 parents have reported being demoted, transferred, or fired due to childcare problems. Overall, inadequate childcare costs our economy nearly $60 billion, annually. Meanwhile, we are leaving money on the table. For every dollar invested in quality early childhood programs, we get a $7 return on our investment. As challenging as it has been over the years for parents to find affordable childcare, COVID has massively compounded the problem. It has demanded even more of our childcare workforce, while stretching budgets to the absolute limit. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, some childcare centers have had to turn parents away in order to make the necessary public health accommodations, such as reducing class size. A childcare center in the city of Lawrence went from serving 715 children pre-COVID to 360, a nearly 50 percent reduction. What is more, 97 percent of the households with children in that program were eligible for subsidies. What is a parent to do when they can't afford to miss work but also has no childcare support? It is long past time for America to assist them by investing in reliable, affordable, high-quality childcare. Each day we hear praise for our essential workers, and they deserve every word of it. They have been keeping us safe for months while risking their own lives. It is obvious that thank-yous will no longer cut it. The least we can do is guarantee that they aren't left penniless due to the cost of childcare. If we are going to show our commitment to workers and to families, the Child Care Is Essential Act should advance through the upper Chamber without delay.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 164 on H.R. 7608, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I intended to vote ``no.''

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, walking the halls of the United States Capitol this week has felt different, like a piece of what makes this institution great is missing, because he is. It has been a somber reminder that this body and our country will never be the same without our guiding light, our moral compass, Congressman John Lewis. I have never known someone to be more devoted to our Nation than John Lewis. He demonstrated that devotion by setting standards high and requiring her continuous improvement; calling out when our policies or practices didn't live up to the words written in our Constitution; and never giving up on the pursuit of freedom and equality for everyone in our country. He committed his life to the fight for civil rights and, along the way, he persuaded a Nation, through steadfast, peaceful protests. Yes, John Lewis is a hero. He is also the closest example I will likely ever know of a saint. But more than that, he was a friend. To those of us who are new to Congress, John Lewis welcomed us. He made time for each of us; got to know us and, somehow, made you feel like the only person in his presence. He wanted you to know that he truly heard your words and that they mattered. Part of what makes this job the honor of a lifetime is serving alongside giants like Congressman Lewis. Like so many in this Chamber, I stood in absolute awe of him. He embodied decency, perseverance, justice, courage, and compassion, traits that he used to great effect in changing hearts and minds by meeting hate with love, and cruelty with kindness. I will forever remember and cherish the opportunity to join John Lewis in Selma, Alabama, this past March with my husband, my mom, and two daughters. The time he spent with Grace and Caroline, describing to them what ``good trouble'' was; walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge one last time, and reminding us what happened there 55 years ago. He said: ``On this bridge, some of us gave a little blood to redeem the soul of America. Our country is a better country; we are a better people. But we have still a distance to travel to go before we get there.'' Thank you, John, for never giving up, for never giving in, for keeping the faith, and for always keeping your eyes on the prize. We know the work we have left to do, and you gave us the tools and the courage to continue your legacy. Rest in peace, Congressman Lewis.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, we can disagree on issues that we face as a Nation, and we can disagree on the policies and the prescriptions that we develop to fix them. In fact, this very body was built on the belief that productive tension and spirited debate would force legislators to do the hard work of creating laws that will benefit all Americans. For centuries, the House of Representatives has rejected personal attacks like those hurled at Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez on the steps of the U.S. Capitol earlier this week. This institution has maintained rules that hold us, as Members of Congress, to a higher standard because that is what the hardworking people we represent expect from us, and that is what we owe to them. Madam Speaker, when we learn of the kind of personal attack levied against Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, we cannot sit idly by. We cannot let it go unaddressed, as many of us women have long been expected to do. We must call it out. We must demand accountability, like we are here today. That is what we owe to all women, especially to our daughters. We have to send the message loud and clear because, apparently, people still aren't getting it. The days of bullying women you disagree with, whether it is in a boardroom, in a newsroom, or a military base, or in these hallowed Halls of Congress, are over. If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don't believe me, watch as we continue winning in districts across America. Watch as women band together to say enough to being publicly humiliated simply because they disagree. And watch as we make up for lost time by course- correcting the behaviors that women like us have had to endure so that our daughters, and yours, will never have to. I want to thank my fearless colleague for the grace, the courage, and the intellect that she brings to this Chamber every day.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Jeffries for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we have long encountered excuses as to why we can't tackle bias, discrimination, and racism in America, excuses that have prevented equality in healthcare, in the classroom, housing, in the workplace, and, yes, in the way police interact with communities they have sworn to protect. That approach has led to a deadly reality where Black lives are equal on paper, but not in real life. We know this because the data show it. The data show that Black Americans are more likely to die during a trip to the hospital and more likely to be killed, while unarmed, by the police. We know this because George Floyd should be alive today; so should Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and so many others. The Justice in Policing Act would have prevented their deaths, and it is long overdue. We owe it to them and to every Black American to make this bill law. Then we must get to work fixing the injustice that has persisted in our country for centuries so that we can create a more inclusive, truly equal, and just America for everyone to call home.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, this public health crisis has been devastating. Nearly 1.5 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and, tragically, more than 85,000 people have died. We have asked small business owners and workers in our districts to close up shop and stay home for months to do their part to slow the spread of this virus. Across the country, workplaces are innovating and figuring out how to operate while keeping pace with commonsense public health guidelines. Like them, Congress has an obligation to do the same. This moment requires us to lead by example, to show that in the face of a highly infectious disease we can change how we do business and still get our constituents the much-needed relief they desperately need, while also conducting proper oversight. I support this rule change to temporarily allow committees to conduct meetings remotely and to provide my colleagues with the opportunity to make their constituents' voices heard. This is the 21st century. We have an opportunity to show that we can use the tools at our disposal to continue congressional operations at full capacity while also practicing what we preach. This is common sense, and I would urge my colleagues to support this change as well.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, since day one of this Congress, Democrats have committed themselves to a For the People Agenda. Today is no different. The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting people across the world, our country, and my district. It is for the people that we stand here today to assist families, uplift workers whose basic livelihoods have been threatened, strengthen our community hospitals, and support our frontline healthcare workers. We are here to deliver relief to people, like the owner of a community bookstore in Andover, Massachusetts, whose business has been crushed; to keep our end of the bargain for the hospital workers at places like Lawrence General, Lowell Community Health Center, and so many others who are putting their lives on the line each day. We are here for the families who are worried about their basic health and safety. This bill delivers for them. This is a time for bold action, and much more needs to come. For families struggling with the harsh realities of this situation, know that we will keep protecting you. We will take our lessons and courage from our frontline workers, from the families banding together to care for their loved ones, from the acts of kindness we are seeing all over our country as we stand united as Americans. I support this bill.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New York, Chairwoman Maloney, for her leadership. Mr. Speaker, this bill would direct the GAO to evaluate the social, economic, and historic contributions that Minor League Baseball has made to American life and culture. George Will wrote last October: ``In baseball, as in the remainder of life, the most valuable rules are unwritten.'' To my mind, one of the cardinal rules is: ``Don't forget where you come from.'' My grandmother, an immigrant from Brazil, worked in the very mill building in Lowell where I now have my Congressional office. And each day, we help people just like her. It is a constant reminder of the community Lowell is--welcoming, loyal, diverse, and proud. Mr. Speaker, in 1996, the Spinners came to Lowell, Massachusetts. The Spinners are an affiliate of our beloved Red Sox, and they play just 30 miles away in Fenway Park. Ever since that first season, fans from across the Merrimack Valley have rallied to them each summer. The Spinners are today as much a part of our city as the Lowell National Historical Park, UMass Lowell, and the Merrimack River. The city has invested in ensuring that LeLacheur Park, where the Spinners play, is among the best ballparks in our country. Baseball has deep roots in communities just like Lowell across the Nation. However, fans of the Spinners and 41 other teams nationwide, had a rude awakening last fall when it was learned that a contraction proposal put their affiliations at risk. Instead, they were offered a pipe dream alternative that would almost certainly spell the end of professional baseball in these communities. The bill before us notes that: ``Preservation of Minor League Baseball in 160 communities is in the public interest, as it will continue to provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment in those communities.'' Mr. Speaker, these communities deserve better than to be forgotten. They deserve better than to be considered merely in the context of a balance sheet. These communities have supported their teams through thick and thin, and they produce the talent that we all see on the baseball diamond at the major league level. Mr. Speaker, I urge MLB: Don't forget where you come from. Baseball has always been a game rooted in communities like mine.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend from Virginia for yielding and for his steady leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, on Tuesday evening, the American people were treated to a number of fairy-tale promises. But none was more preposterous than the claim that the administration's agenda has been ``relentlessly proworker.'' It has been relentless, all right. Relentlessly hostile to our unions, particularly those seeking redress from the NLRB; relentless in favoring corporate interests over working people, such as those deliberately misclassified as contractors; and relentless in its opposition to permitting employees the right to have their day in court when their rights are violated. The PRO Act is what a real proworker agenda looks like: It levels the playing field for workers in organizing drives. It reorients the NLRB to defend workers who are unfairly targeted. It blocks worker misclassifications, and it demands real penalties for violations of workers' rights. I am pleased that the PRO Act includes my amendment to ban offensive lockouts, a cruel technique designed to bring workers to their knees rather than the negotiating table in good faith. The steelworkers in my home State of Massachusetts know that cruel tactic all too well. Mr. Chairman, as the daughter of a union ironworker and the granddaughter of a union carpenter, I have experienced firsthand why unions are the foundation of America's middle class. I have lived the benefits that unions and organized labor bring to families across Massachusetts and the United States. I wouldn't be standing here today without them. And it is perfectly clear why our unions must have their rights restored. Income inequality has risen as union membership has declined. It is time to reverse that trend. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter from NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice organization which endorses the PRO Act. Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Washington, DC, February 6, 2020. Dear Representative: NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice urges you to vote YES on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 2474). In the spirit of the Gospel, we promote a just society which ensures that all people are able to live dignified lives. According to Catholic Social Justice, labor ``maintains the fabric of the world.'' We are called to recognize the value of people's human labor, thereby honoring the dignity of work as a path to growth, human development, and personal fulfillment. The PRO Act does just that by restoring workers' rights to collectively bargain, empowering them to negotiate for fair wages, benefits, retirement security, and protection from discrimination and harassment. We urge a YES vote on the PRO Act to achieve fairness and justice for disenfranchised working people. Labor union participation has fallen precipitously over the years: from a third of wage and salaried workers in the United States to just 10.7 percent, as of 2017. Protecting the right to freely associate and organize at the workplace has been proven to help settle workplace disputes by restoring the balance of bargaining power between employers and employees. Workers and employers alike benefit from the institution of labor protections through unions. Disputes can be settled unfairly when the power differential between the employer and employee goes unchecked. Without the power of collective bargaining, workers' voices go unheard and workers' concerns go unheeded. When Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act in 1953, they knew this. However, nearly every amendment to the law since has undermined its spirit--making it harder for working people to form unions, chipping away at workers's rights, and harming the economy. The PRO Act would expand the full force of protections once offered by the NRLA. The PRO Act would: shield workers from retaliation when they exercise their right to form a union, end mandatory arbritration in contracting, and apply a clear, fair standard of protection nationwide which ``right to work'' laws currently sidestep. The PRO Act would also: prevent further erosion of the law by penalizing employers that don't comply, and apply simple tests to end misclassification of employees. The PRO Act is a historic proposal that faithfully restores dignity to workers and rightly appraises their value as full participants in the workplace and in the economy. We urge you to vote YES to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (H.R. 2474).

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Chair, it is time to pass the PRO Act.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Today I rise to offer my strong support for the joint resolution led by my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Susie Lee. On the Education and Labor Committee we are taking action on behalf of students who were fleeced by predatory for-profit colleges. Secretary DeVos has ignored hundreds of thousands of pending claims from defrauded borrowers and taxpayers. That includes almost 3,000 from my home State of Massachusetts. Despite having authority to provide full and immediate relief, the Secretary's borrower defense rule does not make students whole. Her new, partial-relief formula to determine debt forgiveness adds further insult to injury. We tested that formula in committee with the secretary and exposed how flawed it is, how it severely restricts the relief one can receive. H.J. Res. 76 is necessary to block efforts to weaken key consumer protections against crushing student debt and useless degrees. I thank Congresswoman Lee and the committee for taking legislative action, and I call upon my colleagues to support defrauded students in this joint resolution.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Chair, I would like to commend the sponsor of this bill, my friend from Michigan, Congresswoman Dingell. She is a true champion of clean air and water. Families across my district are rightfully concerned about a chemical legacy that they and their children will bear unless we pass this bill. Sampling of wells is ongoing in the community of Devens, as well as its neighbor, the town of Ayer. PFAS contamination was likely due, at least in part, to the firefighting foam used at the Fort Devens Army base over the past century. The town of Hudson has had to contend with its own PFAS issues, such as in its Cranberry Bog well. The EPA has failed in its duty of care to the American people, so I urge my colleagues to protect public health and to pass H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act. Clean drinking water is something to which everyone in this Nation is entitled.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to defend our democracy. In this Chamber, we debate the Nation's most pressing issues, and often, reasonable people can draw different conclusions. But not today. The facts are black and white. President Trump abused the power of his office for personal and political gain, and then he engaged in a coverup. It is up to us to confront those facts and vote to preserve and protect our democratic Republic. This is not a fight I or my colleagues sought out when we ran for Congress, but it is one we pledged when we raised our right hand and swore an oath to defend our Constitution. Anything other than a vote to impeach will be read as a vote endorsing a future President without rules or consequences, an ``anything goes, no holds barred'' brand of executive branch authority that will leave us weaker and surely undermine what the Framers passed down. We owe it to future generations to transcend personal interests and party loyalty and to vote our conscience for what is really at stake here today, the sanctity of our Constitution and the sanctity of our democracy.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of the late Pete Frates, a global icon and champion for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research and awareness. A lifelong resident of Massachusetts and former Boston College baseball player, Pete Frates passed away on December 9, 2019 after a hard-fought battle with ALS. Diagnosed with the disease in 2012, Pete spent his numbered days raising funds and awareness for ALS research through his social media phenomenon, the ``ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,'' sparking a global movement that ignited 17 million people into action in order to raise $115 million for the cause. Pete lived his life selflessly, leaving behind a strong legacy and lessons we can all learn from--be kind to one another and when faced with adversity, face it bravely and help others like you. Eight years ago, Pete received a terrible diagnosis and a hopeless prognosis. Instead of falling into a cycle of self-pity and remorse, Pete saw this as an opportunity to help others suffering with ALS. At the time, Pete looked at the one life he had and saw its incredible worth. He then took this one step further, springing into action to improve the lives of others. My heart goes out to Pete's mother and father, wife, child, and friends. I know they will carry on his legacy and continue his courageous work to bring the world one step closer to the eradication of ALS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a man whose life is an inspiration to us all. Pete Frates did not die in vain.

Mrs. TRAHAN

Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Florida for yielding. Today, the House considers historic legislation to lower prescription drug prices and deliver a transformational expansion to Medicare under H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. The namesake of this bill inspired many Members of this body, myself included, to act boldly on behalf of working families like the one I grew up in. It is time to flip the status quo on a system that has pocketed billions off the backs of patients like my dad who suffer from chronic diseases like MS. I am proud to have championed a provision which added a critical lever of transparency and accountability by requiring a GAO study on the negotiation program, essentially ensuring that there is no unfair manipulation or gaming at play. While I regret that my amendment to support baseline knowledge of addiction among prescribers was not made in order, I look forward to supporting this important bill. I am grateful to leadership, my colleagues, and the committees of jurisdiction for bringing us all here to this point today.