Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), the long-time champion of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3807, the Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022. This bill will provide $42 billion to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and allocate $13 billion to launch a new industry- neutral relief program for the small businesses most impacted by the pandemic. Last year, Congress created the RRF under the American Rescue Plan to provide targeted relief to struggling small restaurants. The program delivered emergency aid to over 100,000 employers in communities across the country. This grant was a critical lifeline and allowed businesses to keep their lights on and continue to pay their employees. Despite the program's success, approximately 177,000 small businesses are still awaiting relief. While these companies are dispersed throughout the country, they are united by a common message: Small firms are still hurting, and they are counting on Congress for more support. That is why we must act to replenish the RRF and deliver long-awaited aid to hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country. H.R. 3807 also takes the crucial step of creating a new $13 billion hard-hit industries award program, which will extend aid to businesses with the greatest revenue losses that were ineligible or unable to access relief through other means. Rather than picking winners and losers, this industry-neutral program makes hard-hit companies the priority. These programs are offset by utilizing recovered money from fraud cases in the pandemic relief programs. Congress will take the money that was fraudulently obtained and put it in the hands of small businesses that need it the most. The SBA OIG, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, and the Department of Justice are all working aggressively to investigate and prosecute instances of fraud and abuse, and this bill provides them with much-needed support. By allocating $30 million to oversight funding, today's legislation ensures these offices have the resources needed to pursue bad actors and reclaim money Congress intended to help small businesses. Small employers and entrepreneurs are the backbone of our communities and economies, and they cannot be ignored. Without today's legislation, our local communities risk losing these critical job creators. We simply cannot ignore them in their time of need. Members on both sides of the aisle have come together numerous times throughout the pandemic to pass legislation to support small firms. Today gives us the opportunity to do that once more. I urge my colleagues to meet this moment and pass this bill so that these businesses can stop treading water and start looking to the future. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3807.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished House majority leader.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1033, I call up the bill (H.R. 3807) to amend the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to increase appropriations to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans), a member of the Small Business Committee.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining on our side.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation because it is long overdue for our Federal laws to catch up with the legal reality in almost every State in the Union, and because Federal reform must place restorative justice as the top priority. I thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Nadler, and my fellow chairs for once again bringing this legislation to the House floor. Mr. Speaker, voters in States like New York have led the way in changing their cannabis laws, emphasizing restorative justice for our most marginalized communities. This bill takes a meaningful approach to undo the wrongs of the failed war on drugs by removing cannabis as a schedule I drug and encouraging States to expunge low-level possession records. Importantly, the MORE Act also helps entrepreneurs access affordable capital to start a legitimate business, which too often is a barrier to entrepreneurship for people of color regardless of industry. As chair of the Committee on Small Business, I am proud the MORE Act includes measures my colleagues and I championed to ensure SBA programs, like the flagship 7(a) Loan Program, the disaster loan program, and Small Business Development Center resources, are available to legitimate cannabis businesses. The MORE Act is the best proposal to ensure communities disproportionately impacted by the prohibition of cannabis are best positioned to profit from its legalization. Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Lillie Marshall who has dedicated much of her life in service to her Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY community. She was born on April 24, 1943, in Sparta, Georgia, to a family of community leaders in education, law and business. Five years out of Hancock Central High School, she moved to Red Hook, Brooklyn. As a proud single mother of four, Ms. Lillie Marshall became known for her no-nonsense approach and commitment to the area children. She advocated for and arranged after-school programs for youth of all ages. When a private school was built in the neighborhood, she served on a committee that successfully secured annual scholarships for qualifying children of Red Hook public housing. She has watched over generations of families for decades. Ms. Marshall fervently advocated for tenants in her twenty-year role as the Tenant Association President of Red Hook West. She met with NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) executive and local leadership alike to give tenant perspectives and amplify their voices. Ms. Marshall also served on NYCHA's Citywide Council of Presidents as District Chair of Brooklyn South. Ms. Marshall's efforts will long be remembered for her Thanksgiving turkey drives for local families, feeding the homeless, delivering meals and PPE to homebound seniors during the COVID-19 Pandemic. She has been a leader at events such as Red Hook Old Timers Day, National Night Out Against Crime and has organized Red Hook Family Day every year. For her decades of leadership and volunteerism, Ms. Lillie Marshall will not soon be forgotten by her beloved Red Hook. Her legacy of life- long community service has instilled core values and civic pride in her community.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life achievements of Ms. Beatrice Byrd, in celebration of her 80th Birthday. Born February 3, 1942, Ms. Byrd, has served as a selfless and celebrated advocate to her community of Red Hook, Brooklyn. As a public servant, Ms. Byrd ran for City Council to represent her community and the surrounding area in 1991. She has also been elected to serve as the Resident Association President of Red Hook Houses West. In her appointment as a NYCHA Board member, she was an outspoken voice for tenant rights and ensured that her neighbors received equal opportunities, resources, and access to upward mobility. In her tenure as an educator, Ms. Byrd was a well-respected NYC Public School teacher during the most formative years of a child. She continues to remain a recognized role model in and around the community of Red Hook. In her role of extended community service, she held the prestigious honor as the President to the Brooklyn Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was a member to the Lions Club of Red Hook and served on Area Policy Board 6. Currently Ms. Byrd continues to represent Red Hook as a board member to the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center. As displayed by her decades of community service, Ms. Beatrice Byrd remains a solid pillar of the Red Hook community. She is well respected by generations of her students, neighbors, community professionals and the local clergy. Through her life-long actions she has instilled the core values of ethics, public service and civic pride. I thank Ms. Byrd for her public service and Happy 80th Birthday.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1192, the Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021. I was proud to introduce this bill with bipartisan support in the House. I would like to thank House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman Jerry Nadler for bringing this legislation to the floor and to Senator Bob Menendez for introducing a companion bill in the Senate and for his tireless efforts to make sure this Bill would get approved in the Senate. H.R. 1192 already unanimously passed this House back on February 24, 2021 and I expect to do so the same today. The Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021 or ``PRRADA'' eliminates a double standard currently facing Puerto Rico. Under U.S. Code and Federal Bankruptcy procedure, any conflicts of interest--or even the perception of such conflict--between those working on the bankruptcy and the debtor are required to be disclosed. However, a loophole in the current law prevents this requirement from being extended to the people of Puerto Rico. In 2016, Congress passed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, otherwise known as PROMESA. When PROMESA was originally passed, it incorporated Chapter 11's bankruptcy requirement that professionals file fee applications with the court. But PROMESA did not include Chapter 11's disclosure requirements that go hand-in- hand with those fee applications. PRRADA remedies this and makes sure that professionals paid by the taxpayers of Puerto Rico are fully transparent about what interests they are serving. Puerto Ricans should be confident that the Board's bankruptcy advisors do not have their ``thumb on the scale'' to favor certain debts where they have a self-interest. This bipartisan bill ensures integrity and transparency of the PROMESA process. While we can have differing opinions on how effectively the Oversight Board is carrying out its mission, one thing should be clear--the island's residents should be entitled to the same rights and protections as any debtor on the mainland. Once more, I would like to thank Chairman Nadler, the Committee Staff and the bipartisan cosponsors of this bill. I strongly encourage all members to vote ``Yes'' on this critical piece of legislation.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation because working families deserve a government that will make their lives better. First off, to build back better, we must invest in our Nation's entrepreneurs, and that is exactly what this bill does. It will make a $5 billion investment in SBA programs that go beyond recovery and provide transformative, long-term solutions and economic stimulus. It will create millions of new jobs on top of the millions already added under the Biden administration. This legislation also includes the largest single, one-time investment ever made to HUD's public housing capital fund. It will go a long way to clearing the backlog of repairs around the country. This bill also creates universal pre-K, extends the child tax credit, and finally mandates paid parental leave. On climate, we are including a focus on environmental justice and frontline communities like those I represent.

Mr. VELAZQUEZ

Mr. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, here is what I can guarantee. Because of this bill, millions of working families will see their lives improved by a Federal Government that we are showing today has their back. While this is not the end of the fight, it is what progress looks like. That is why I am proud to vote ``yes.''

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, Representative Gosar is a member of this institution as am I, and as is Representative Ocasio-Cortez, and so are roughly fifty other women of color. We all walk the same hallways and took the same oath of office. We are here to serve our districts and the American people. The graphic video that Rep. Gosar posted violates every sense of mutual respect that we should have for one another. Not only that, but it also dangerously promotes violence towards a sitting member of Congress who is a powerful Latina. It's exactly the type of misogynistic and racist recklessness that the previous President deployed, and social media companies eventually stripped him of his accounts. Rep. Gosar needs to be held accountable for this and that's what we are doing today. We need to deliver a message that in the people's house, this dangerous behavior will not be tolerated.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, November 17, I regret not being present for one vote session due to a committee briefing. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the motion on ordering the previous question on the Rule H. Res. 795, roll No. 377. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Auchincloss (Clark (MA)) Blumenauer (Beyer) Carter (LA) (Kahele) DeFazio (Brown (MD)) Dingell (Clark (MA)) Khanna (Gomez) Kildee (Butterfield) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawrence (Beatty) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lesko (Joyce (PA)) Levin (MI) (Raskin) Lowenthal (Beyer) McEachin (Wexton) Nunes (Garcia (CA)) Porter (Wexton) Rice (NY) (Murphy (FL)) Roybal-Allard (McCollum) Rush (Quigley) Stevens (Lee (NV)) Swalwell (Gomez) Tlaib (Bowman) Underwood (Casten) Waltz (Salazar) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. As the small business economy continues its recovery, we have an opportunity to optimize SBA's flagship capital access program. Today's legislation improves SBA's ability to oversee the loan agents in the 7(a) program and empowers the agency to hold noncompliant agents accountable. Currently SBA's Office of Credit Risk Management conducts loan agent oversight as part of its periodic lender reviews, not directly through the agents themselves. The registry established under this bill will improve SBA's ability to conduct more targeted oversight over the 7(a) loan agents. I applaud the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser) for their bipartisan work to improve the 7(a) program. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4481) to amend the Small Business Act to establish requirements for 7(a) agents, and for other purposes.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 4481, the Small Business 7(a) Loan Agent Transparency Act. This bill would establish a registration system for 7(a) loan agents that assigns each a unique identifier and collects data to help SBA track and evaluate loan performance for loans generated through agent activity. Our committee has consistently heard from agency watchdogs about the increased risk associated with loans originated through loan agents. In October 2021, SBA's Office of Inspector General identified increased risk introduced by loan agents as one of the agency's top management and performance challenges facing the agency this fiscal year. H.R. 4481 addresses the IG's finding by establishing a registry and including loan agents as entities against which SBA's Office of Credit Risk Management may issue formal or informal enforcement actions. Earlier this Congress, our committee approved this bipartisan bill on a unanimous basis, and I am proud to support it again today. I applaud my colleagues, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Meuser, for identifying this issue and working together on a commonsense solution. I ask all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3462 adds new layers of Congressional oversight to regularly assess SBA's IT and cybersecurity systems and controls, and it will go a long way to increase transparency in the event of another IT or cyber incident. Congress and the American people need to know that the SBA's systems are fully operational and capable of handling the next surge. This bill takes a step towards rebuilding the trust and confidence in the SBA's IT infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their work, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.