Lauren Underwood

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes today. However, if I was present, I would have voted ``nay'' on the passage of S.J. Res. 38, rollcall No. 8. personal explanation

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes on November 3, 2023. However, had I been present, I would have voted ``NO'' on Roll Call No. 597, H.R. 4821, Department of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. This bill makes significant cuts that hinder the U.S. response to climate change. It exacerbates environmental discrimination and prohibits funding for necessary DEI programs. I do not support this legislation.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I misvoted on the Langworthy No. 10 Amendment to H.R. 3935, rollcall No. 341. I voted NO but wanted and intended to vote ``aye.'' Amendment No. 27 Offered by Mr. Feenstra

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, as a co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, I am so proud to hold the floor today with the united House Democratic Caucus. Let's be crystal clear: The only reason we are here right now is because Republicans are playing politics with people's lives. This crisis has been engineered to rip food out of the mouths of hungry families, take back the benefits our veterans have earned, and kick children out of childcare, or--they tell us--we can default on our debt and march right into a global economic disaster. Now they have gone home for the holiday. Madam Speaker, 87 Democrats spoke before me over the last several hours; 87 Democrats have pleaded with you on behalf of our constituents to keep the House in session, to prevent a default on our debt. Democrats held the floor. I ask the Chair and Speaker McCarthy: Will you join us?

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, last month President Biden announced a vision to advance progress on his Unity Agenda in the year ahead. I am encouraged by the agenda's focus on reducing veteran suicide, which has been one of my highest priorities since coming to Congress. I am encouraged by the specific focus on expanding outreach to justice- involved veterans, who may be at even greater risk for suicide. In recent years, we have seen some signs of progress on this issue. From 2018 to 2020, age- and sex-adjusted veteran suicide rates fell by nearly 10 percent. However, with nearly 17 veterans still dying by suicide every day--a rate that is more than 50 percent higher than suicides among nonveteran adults--we know that we have much more work to do to save lives. Part of the administration's agenda is an important focus on increasing lethal means safety, which is an intentional, voluntary practice to reduce suicide risk by limiting access by those in crisis to lethal means, like medication, firearms, and sharp instruments that can be used to inflict self-directed violence. The data on lethal means safety are clear. People who reduce their access to lethal means during times of heightened risk are reducing their risk of dying by suicide. Given the robust evidence on the effectiveness of lethal means safety in preventing suicide, the Trump administration implemented a requirement for every clinician at the Veterans Health Administration to complete a lethal means safety training so that they would be prepared to have conversations with the veterans they care for about this lifesaving practice. Thanks to this requirement, nearly 100 percent of Veterans Health Administration clinicians have completed the Department's lethal means safety training. However, the training remains optional for all other staff, including at the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, vet centers, and vocational rehabilitation facilities. This lack of a mandate has consequences. Without a requirement to do so, a mere fraction of 1 percent of VA's nonclinical employees have completed the Department's lethal means safety training. What this means is that every day we have veterans who could be in crisis interacting with VA employees who might be able to identify risk factors and have lifesaving conversations, but these VA staff are not trained to do so, and we could be losing our veterans because of it. That is unacceptable, and that is why I introduced the Lethal Means Safety Training Act, which would make the Department's evidence-based training a requirement for all VA staff who regularly interact with veterans in their work, as well as community providers and family caregivers. I will continue my work to get this passed in Congress, but no legislation is needed to expand VA's existing training requirement to other VA employees. Unfortunately, the administration's announcement last month did not include any plans for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use his existing authority to expand the Department's lethal means safety training requirement. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs already has the authority to take this lifesaving action today, and I once again call on him to do so immediately. Every day that VA does not take this simple step is another day that we are leaving valuable tools in our toolbox unused. It is another day that we will lose nearly 17 veterans to suicide. Not every single death can be prevented with an expanded lethal means safety training requirement, but at no cost to the Department and with no need for additional legislation, there is no reason to further delay on implementing this policy. The Secretary has an opportunity to help save the lives of our veterans with the stroke of his pen, and I urge him to do so immediately, by expanding the Department's lethal means safety training requirement to all staff who regularly interact with veterans in their work. This step would build on the meaningful actions the Secretary has already taken and other steps announced by the President last month.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. In October, new data showed how maternal health outcomes worsened during the pandemic. The number of maternal deaths in 2021 was nearly 80 percent higher than in 2018, with Black and Hispanic Americans experiencing the largest increases. This is a crisis--and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is the solution to that crisis. The evidence-based investments in the momnibus will comprehensively address the drivers of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities. Recently, 140 Members of Congress signed on to a letter calling for key momnibus provisions to be included in an end-of-year package, and a new poll found that passing the momnibus is the number one legislative priority for voters for the end of the year, with a majority of support from Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. We must get this done. Congress must pass the momnibus immediately. Moms and families don't have any more time to wait.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, this week, we are making history as we pass the Honoring Our PACT Act and move one step closer to sending the legislation to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. The journey to this point has been long. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I was proud to be an original cosponsor of the PACT Act when we introduced it over a year ago. Now, we are finally at the finish line, ready to expand healthcare to 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. We are upholding our end of the pact we made with our veterans to ensure they have the care they need and deserve when they come home. I am grateful to the veterans and military families in my community who have made their voices heard on this urgent cause, and I am thankful for the tireless advocacy of the VSOs across the country who have made this moment possible.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Kennedy Anderson for her service to my office. Kennedy joined our team as our D.C. staff assistant in July 2021, and quickly proved herself indispensable to our organization. In February of this year, she took on additional responsibility with my communications team and was promoted to staff assistant/press and digital assistant. Kennedy embodies our office's values of excellence, kindness, service, responsiveness, productivity, and accessibility. Kennedy's role is demanding and involves serving not only our staff, but also our broader community, as well as managing our paid internship program. On top of this workload, she always finds time to connect with each colleague, mentor each intern, and identify opportunities to improve our office's operations and constituent communication. In her management of the internship program, she often went above and beyond, providing additional skills training, life advice, and job seeking support to talented young people with ambitions for public service. She worked with our Chief of Staff to improve recruitment of interns from underrepresented backgrounds. Kennedy unfailingly treats all who interact with my office with respect and enthusiasm and is among those special people whose positive energy illuminates a room-- even a Zoom room. During our office's celebration of Black History Month, she shared daily presentations of her family's experiences facing and rising above discrimination in the Jim Crow South and pioneering their way to success in professions where Black Americans are under represented. She also took a leadership role in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our office by bringing educational programming to our staff meetings. We will miss the joy and creativity Kennedy brings to our office, the sweet potato pie she brought to our office holiday party, and her being the one staff member who truly commits to the theme on celebratory Zoom gatherings--sometimes even through costume. Prior to joining my staff, Kennedy earned a Bachelor's degree from Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina. We are incredibly proud of Kennedy's professional growth in the time she has been with our office and wish her the best in her next opportunities. Although Kennedy may be leaving our office, our community in northern Illinois and my entire staff will always consider her as part of Team Underwood. Madam Speaker, I would like to formally thank Kennedy Anderson for her service to my office, to Illinois' 14th Congressional District, and to our country.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6052, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2021. The bipartisan VA OIG training act, which I introduced with Congressman David McKinley of West Virginia last fall, is a critical step to promote accountability at VA and ensure our veterans are receiving the world-class care and benefits that they have earned. This bill requires every current and future VA employee to participate in the VA's OIG training, which will ensure that staff are prepared to report fraud, waste, and patient abuse, and are aware of protections for employees who report wrongdoings. An assessment of initiatives carried out by VA's OIG found that every dollar spent on oversight yielded a $21 return on investment. Ensuring the OIG can carry out its crucial oversight work will save taxpayer dollars, while also improving care and ensuring that veterans receive every dollar and benefit that they have earned. My commonsense, bipartisan bill codifies OIG's training requirement, which strengthens the Department's Office of the Inspector General, protects VA employees who report wrongdoing, and most importantly, honors the service and sacrifices of our veterans. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act today. I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for their support to advance this legislation. I also thank Representative McKinley for co-leading the bill with me in the House, and Senators Hassan and Boozman for leading this bipartisan bill in the Senate.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the end of Women's History Month and highlight the contributions of women in my community: From education leaders like Joliet-native, Margaret Haley, a teacher who led the Chicago's Teachers Federation to become the largest women's union in the country by 1900; and Katharine Lucinda Sharp of Elgin, a founder of the Illinois Library Association who ran the Midwest's first library school; To entertainers like Plainfield-native, Melissa McCarthy, whose comedy has graced our screens for two decades; and Businesswomen, like Mary Foot Seymour of Aurora, who founded the Business Women's Journal, a publishing company led entirely by women. These are just a few of the amazing women who have made a mark on my Northern Illinois community and our country, and I am proud to honor them.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the bipartisan fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill becoming law, I am proud to have secured over $10 million to fund 10 projects in communities across northern Illinois. These essential projects will reduce wait times for mental healthcare, upgrade infrastructure to ensure clean water, make college more affordable and accessible, support foster youth and families, and strengthen local emergency response and community safety. Last summer, I visited many of the organizations that sponsor these projects to learn more about how these funds will impact Illinoisans. Independence Health & Therapy will receive $60,000 to expand tele- psychiatry hours and reduce wait times for mental health services in McHenry County. The DeKalb County Regional Office of Education will receive $150,000 to expand the work of the DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative and provide quality early learning opportunities to residents of Sandwich, Sycamore, and Hinckley. The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission will receive nearly $1.4 million to prevent impending dam failure of the Sylvan Lake Dam and protect nearly 500 homes from flooding and damage. The Kendall County CASA Program will receive $200,000 to establish a CASA clubhouse which will serve the growing foster youth population by providing a free, safe location for families to meet during court- ordered visitation. McHenry County College will receive $825,000 to expand dual credit and dual degree programs, offering low-cost college credits to high schoolers across McHenry County. The Wauconda Fire Protection District will receive $36,000 to replace a 28-year-old natural gas emergency backup generator to power the fire station's emergency operations center, which provides essential services to the 40,000 residents in Lake and McHenry Counties. And over $7.5 million is being directed to critical water infrastructure projects to ensure safe, clean, and sustainable drinking water for residents of Joliet, Pingree Grove, and Richmond. From day one, I have worked hard to bring the voices of the 14th District to Congress. And as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I will continue to ensure that our communities' priorities are reflected within Federal funding. These projects will create jobs and improve the well-being of our communities, and I am so proud to deliver this $10.5 million investment to my constituents. This month, the House passed the bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act which would expand healthcare for 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and an original co- sponsor of the bill, I am proud to champion this historic legislation. Simply put, the Honoring our PACT Act is a full accounting for the true cost of war. When our servicemembers signed up to defend our country and our freedoms, we made a promise to care for them when they returned home. For too long, we failed to keep that promise. By passing this bill, we are upholding our end of the pact and ensuring every veteran has access to the care they deserve. The Senate must pass this comprehensive toxic exposure legislation swiftly. Our veterans deserve nothing less.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, as we mark the beginning of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, I rise today to celebrate the recent renaming of the iconic Farnsworth House to the Edith Farnsworth House. Located in Plano, Illinois, the home designed by Mies van der Rohe was commissioned by Dr. Edith Farnsworth in 1945 and today is a National Historical Landmark and considered a masterpiece of modern architecture. I am proud that this piece of architectural history is located in the 14th District of Illinois and that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is elevating the role of women throughout history by renaming and rededicating the house for the woman who commissioned it. Too often, women's roles in history are overlooked and forgotten. That is why the National Trust's efforts through the Where Women Make History project to recognize places across the country where women have changed their communities is so important, not only to elevate more of our history and celebrate women's contributions to it, but to inspire the next generation of artists and change-makers. The Edith Farnsworth House is a cultural gem of the 14th District of Illinois that would not have been possible without the vision and commitment of Dr. Edith Farnsworth. I am proud to see this landmark rededicated in her name so that her legacy can be appreciated for generations to come.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, investing in innovation is vital to strengthening America's economic and national security. That is why I supported the America COMPETES Act of 2022, which makes a historic investment in American technology and innovation. This bipartisan bill addresses 21st century challenges by turbocharging the domestic production of semiconductors, increasing the manufacturing workforce, and investing in STEM education. I am proud that my amendment, which creates partnerships with local industries to tailor STEM education to local economic needs, was included in the House version of the bill. This amendment will broaden the scope of STEM education and offer new opportunities in rural communities like much of my district. With transformative investments in some of Illinois' biggest industries, like manufacturing, education, energy, and biotechnology, the America COMPETES Act will strengthen the STEM pipeline in my district and across the country. I am proud of this bipartisan effort to support American economic competitiveness and urge my Senate colleagues to act quickly to send this legislation to the President's desk.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, public transportation that everyone can access is a critical, long-term investment in our communities. The bipartisan infrastructure law is the largest Federal investment ever in safe, healthy, and sustainable transit options for millions of Americans, options like Pace bus that keep seniors and our neighbors in my community in northern Illinois connected. Not only will the bipartisan infrastructure law continue record job growth by adding millions more good-paying union jobs; it invests $4.5 billion in Illinois for critical upgrades and repairs to aging transit infrastructure. Last week, I visited the Crystal Lake Metra station to highlight the difference this money will make for us at home. Now, Metra can invest in upgrading ADA accessibility and replacing decades-old railcars with cleaner alternatives. I am proud to work with the Biden-Harris administration to improve, modernize, and expand our public transportation infrastructure.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, last week, House Democrats advanced yet another historic investment in the American people, the America COMPETES Act. Not only will the America COMPETES Act strengthen our economic and national security, it supports the production of U.S. semiconductors, which play a role in nearly every sector of our economy. This critical $52 billion investment in semiconductors will address chip shortages and supply chain disruptions, lowering car costs for consumers while creating good-paying jobs. I have heard from my neighbors how much they have been feeling the recent spike in new and used car prices and wait times, and this bill will help. The America COMPETES Act also makes transformational investments in research, authorizing a new program to advance accelerator technology and build on the work of scientists at Fermilab National Accelerator Facility in my district. I am proud to support this comprehensive legislation to boost American competitiveness and broaden economic opportunity, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly to send it to President Biden's desk.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month and highlight the contributions and impact of Black Americans in my community. When I was elected to Congress in 2018, I became the first Black woman to represent the 14th District and the youngest Black woman in Congress. I am honored to hold a place in Illinois 14th's Black history alongside the trailblazers that came before me--like Batavia-native Charles Edward Hall, whose 35-year career at the Census Bureau fundamentally changed our national understanding of Black communities; or Civil War veteran, Henry Beard, and his wife, Julia, who after escaping slavery, became the first Black residents of Sycamore in 1871; and Dr. Lloyd from Elgin, who revolutionized food, drug, and cosmetic preservation with the creation of a sterilization process. These are just a few of the Black Illinoisans who have made a mark on my community and our country, and I am very proud to honor them.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, climate change presents an existential threat to our environment, our economy, and our future. That is one of the reasons I was so proud to support the bipartisan infrastructure law, a generational investment in clean energy jobs and technology, like solar. This investment is critical for the communities I represent, which are already working to advance clean energy technologies at home in Illinois. Just last week Mundelein, Illinois, was awarded the Department of Energy's SolSmart Silver award for making it faster, easier, and more affordable for communities to utilize solar energy. We owe it to our families, communities, and future generations to create climate change solutions. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, that is exactly what we are doing.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, today marks one year of Democrats in Congress working alongside the Biden-Harris administration on behalf of American families. I am proud of what we have accomplished so far, including the once- in-a-generation investment in our roads and bridges made by the bipartisan infrastructure law. With nearly 2,500 bridges in poor condition, Illinois ranks third among States with crumbling bridge infrastructure. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, Illinois will receive $1.4 billion to repair and rebuild these bridges, like the Blackberry Creek and Mendota railroad bridges in my district. These upgrades will save Illinoisans money on costly car repairs and time on their daily commutes. This long-overdue investment will also connect our communities and support our supply chain, while creating good-paying jobs and spurring economic development. With the partnership of the Biden-Harris administration, we have spent the last 365 days delivering for the American people. Our work is far from finished.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, the trauma, disruption, stress, and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated the mental health crisis facing our young people. I have seen this reflected in my own community. My alma mater, Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois, has lost two students to suicide just this school year. These are not isolated events. We are seeing the impacts of the youth mental health crisis play out in schools and communities across my district and across the Nation. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago has seen the number of children admitted as a result of suicide attempts increase from two to three children per month to two to three per day. There are now 3,000 children on their waitlist for outpatient mental healthcare. This is absolutely heartbreaking. However, I find hope in seeing young people in my community stand up in the face of tragedy and demand solutions from their schools and government officials. They shouldn't have to do this, but they are organizing, participating in school board meetings, and writing and calling my office. I want them to know that I hear them, and I am fighting for them. This summer, I introduced the Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act to invest in educating healthcare providers and evidence-based youth suicide prevention measures. It is absolutely critical that we act immediately to address the growing unmet need for more school-based mental health providers. That is why I am fighting for the maximum possible funding through the Department of Education for the school-based mental health workforce in the omnibus appropriations package. I am inviting all Members to join this bipartisan effort. Last month, I was proud to join Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark to introduce the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act to provide consistent, long-term funding to support schools in hiring more school- based mental health providers and meet the recommended student-to- provider ratios. As we begin another year of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, we must target resources toward supporting the mental health of kids in school. As U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned in his recent advisory on youth mental health: ``It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place.'' Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues in both the House and Senate to work together and across the aisle to pass legislation, including a fiscal year 2022 spending package, that makes necessary investments in combating the mental health crisis facing young people. We must seize this critical opportunity to build better, safer, and more supportive environments for our young people to grow and thrive.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, every American deserves the opportunities that a good-paying job makes possible. Working with the Biden-Harris administration, Democrats in Congress have expanded those opportunities. Thanks to investments like the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, job creation is at record levels. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will create millions more good-paying, union jobs. Not only will it rebuild our roads and bridges, but it also invests in infrastructure that will spur economic development in our communities. Removing lead pipes and guaranteeing clean drinking water for 10 million more Americans will improve community health and help attract new companies that will bring jobs and investments. So will expanding reliable broadband and modernizing regional airports like the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport in my district. Finally, expanding our electric vehicle charging network will give Americans more options when choosing a new car, while accelerating climate action. I am so proud to work with the Biden-Harris administration to rebuild infrastructure for Illinois families, and we are just getting started.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the Senate to protect our fundamental right to vote. Communities of color are disproportionately targeted by the wave of voter suppression laws we have seen across America. These attacks are just the latest battle in the centuries-long, racially fueled war on voting rights in our country. But the right to vote is foundational to our democracy. Without it, we would cease to be a government of, by, and for the people. This is a life-and-death issue for America itself. The late Congressman John Lewis wrote that ``Democracy is not a state. It is an act.'' I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act, to prioritize democracy and ensure access to the ballot box is not undermined. I urge them to send voting rights legislation to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 439. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Baird (Walorski) Barragan (Gallego) Bass (Brownley) Buchanan (Waltz) Courtney (Hayes) Crist (Soto) Cuellar (Green (TX)) Fallon (Gooden) Fulcher (Johnson (OH)) Garamendi (Sherman) Granger (Cole) Guthrie (Barr) Hagedorn (Carl) Hice (GA) (Greene (GA)) Higgins (NY) (Connolly) Huffman (Levin (CA)) Kim (CA) (Pfluger) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lesko (Miller (WV)) Lofgren (Jeffries) Loudermilk (Fleischmann) Mfume (Evans) Moore (UT) (Carl) Napolitano (Correa) Nehls (Cawthorn) Newman (Garcia (IL)) Payne (Pallone) Posey (McHenry) Porter (Wexton) Reschenthaler (Meuser) Rush (Quigley) Sires (Pallone) Smith (NJ) (Van Drew) Smith (WA) (Kilmer) Speier (Thompson (CA)) Strickland (Meng) Swalwell (Gomez) Veasey (Neguse) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) Young (Spartz)

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. I rise today to urge the Senate to defend the American people from the ongoing assault on their sacred right to vote. People of color are disproportionately impacted by the recent onslaught of attacks on this fundamental right by certain State legislatures and partisan litigators. This is only the latest salvo from a decades-long war on voting rights, a war that has always been and still is fueled by racism. But although people of color are the primary targets of these attacks, we are not the only casualties. The right to vote is the foundation of any democracy. Without it, the United States would cease to be a government of, by, and for the people. Those are the stakes. This is a life-and-death issue for our country itself. Earlier this year, I proudly voted with most though, unfortunately, not all of my colleagues to designate Juneteenth National Independence Day as a Federal holiday. With this vote, we recognized that America cannot truly be a free country until every American is free. Freedom cannot be conditional on who you are, where you live, what you look like, how many hours you work, what language you speak, or what bus you ride. That is why every attack on voting rights cracks the foundation of our democracy. If we allow it to keep crumbling away chip by chip, soon, the whole structure will collapse. Last week, Senate Democrats brought an urgently needed voting rights bill to the floor, where every single Republican voted to defeat it. Of course, this defeat was made possible by the filibuster, an undemocratic procedural weapon that has been wielded for a century and a half to block anti-lynching legislation, civil rights, and voting rights. Americans are tired of seeing their rights sacrificed on the altar of the filibuster. Every Senator faces a choice about what is more important to protect, an antiquated procedural rule or our representative democracy. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to prioritize our democracy and ensure access to the ballot box is not undermined by restrictive State laws. A democracy for some is not a democracy for all.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, every mom returning to the workforce after childbirth should be provided the time and space that they need to safely and privately pump breast milk at work. As a nurse, I understand how critical breastfeeding is to the health of both mom and baby. Without sufficient workplace protections, breastfeeding employees are at risk of serious and painful health consequences and reduced milk supply. They can also face harassment, docked pay, and even job loss. Yet each year, millions of workers, including teachers, nurses, farmworkers, and salaried employees are denied this basic protection due to an unintended loophole in current law. I am grateful to Chairwoman Maloney for her leadership, and I am proud to join her in leading the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act to close the coverage gap and ensure all breastfeeding moms are protected and supported as they return to work. This bill is bipartisan and has a broad coalition of support from public health, labor, and civil rights groups, as well as from the business community. It is also urgently needed, providing commonsense, necessary protections for working moms, as well as more clarity and predictability for employers. Returning to work after childbirth already poses many inherent challenges for moms and their families, and we must remove barriers for parents making the best choices for their families and themselves. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes'' on this important legislation. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record three letters in support of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act from the National Education Association, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and the March of Dimes. National Education Association, Washington, DC, September 24, 2021. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: The 3 million members of the National Education Association, who educate and support 50 million students across the nation, urge you to vote YES on the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, H.R. 3110. Votes on this issue may be included in the NEA Report Card for the 117th Congress. The 2010 Break Time law provided important protections that ensured employees would have reasonable break time and a private place to pump breast milk. However, the law excludes certain categories of employees, including educators; in fact, nearly one in four women of childbearing age is not covered by the Break Time law. The PUMP Act would: Protect the nearly 9 million employees who are not now covered by the Break Time law; Require employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for breastfeeding employees to pump during the workday; Provide employers with clarity on when pumping time must be paid and when it may be unpaid, leaving in place existing law protecting many salaried workers and clarifying that any time spent pumping while the employee is working must be counted as hours worked; and Ensure that nursing mothers have access to remedies that are available for other violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Decades of scientific research tell us that breastfeeding helps put children on the path to life-long health and wellness. This strong foundation, in turn, can pave the way for their future success in school. The PUMP Act supports children's early development, while also recognizing that breastfeeding mothers are crucial breadwinners for their families. We urge you to vote YES on the PUMP Act. Sincerely, Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I thank these groups for their support of the bill and for their tireless efforts on behalf of working moms.