Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a bipartisan proposal that will finally secure clear protection for pregnant workers. Pregnant women should not have to risk their lives on the job. Yet, too often, instead of offering accommodations routinely given to other employees, a pregnant worker risks termination, meaning she loses her paycheck and health insurance right when she needs them the most. We know that COVID-19 has exacerbated health inequalities for women, especially women of color. Before the pandemic, moms in the U.S. already struggled and died from pregnancy-related causes at the highest rate in the developed world, with Black moms dying three to four times the rate of their White peers. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter on behalf of maternal health organizations who support putting a national pregnancy accommodation standard in place. May 11, 2021. Re Support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Dear Representative: The undersigned organizations dedicated to assuring quality maternal, infant, and child health and well-being, improving pregnancy and birth outcomes, and closing racial disparities in maternal health enthusiastically support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 1065). Modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act, the bill would require employers to provide reasonable, temporary workplace accommodations to pregnant workers as long as the accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the employer. This bill is critically important because no one should have to choose between having a healthy pregnancy and a paycheck. Congress must do all it can to end the prejudice pregnant workers, especially Black pregnant workers and workers of color, continue to face in the workplace. This includes making sure when pregnant workers voice a need for reasonable accommodations that those needs are met rather than penalized and that the workplace is an environment where pregnant workers do not fear asking for the accommodations they need to maintain their health. Three-quarters of women will be pregnant and employed at some point in their lives. Most pregnant workers can expect a routine pregnancy and healthy birth. However, health care professionals have consistently recommended that some pregnant individuals make adjustments in their work activities to sustain a healthy pregnancy and prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth or miscarriage. These medically necessary workplace accommodations can include allowing additional bathroom breaks, opportunities to stay hydrated, lifting restrictions, or access to a chair or stool to decrease time spent standing. Unfortunately, too many pregnant workers, particularly pregnant people of color, face barriers to incorporating even these small changes to their workdays. For example, Black women experience maternal mortality rates three to four times higher than white women, with Indigenous women similarly experiencing disproportionately high rates. The circumstances surrounding these alarming statistics can often be attributed to a lack of access to care, including due to inflexible workplaces, and deep biases in racial understanding. Various social determinants such as health, education, and economic status drastically influence the outcomes of pregnancy for Black women leading to severe pregnancy-related complications. As the Black Mamas Matter Alliance has pointed out ``Health is determined in part by our access to social and economic opportunities, the resources and supports that are available in the places where we live, and the safety of our Workplaces . . . however, disparities in these conditions of daily life give some people better opportunities to be healthy than others. Black pregnant workers along with Latinx and immigrant women are disproportionately likely to work in physically demanding jobs that may lead to workers needing modest accommodations to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Too often, however, those requests are refused or ignored, forcing pregnant workers of color to disproportionately contend with unsafe working conditions. Furthermore, Black mothers have among the highest labor force participation rates in the country and 80 percent of Black mothers are their family's primary breadwinner. Yet, historically, Black women have been exploited in the workplace, and that exploitation continues to this day. Though Black women only comprise 14.3 percent of the population, nearly thirty percent of pregnancy discrimination complaints are filed by Black women. This is because of the multiple forms of discrimination Black workers and other workers of color too often face in the workplace. As scholar Nina Banks has noted, ``The legacy of black women's employment in industries that lack worker protections has continued today since black women are concentrated in low- paying, inflexible service occupations . . .'' Black women in low wage jobs working during pregnancy face little support from employers when safeguards do not address pregnancy related accommodations. Faced with the threat of termination, loss of health insurance, or other benefits, Black pregnant people are often forced to keep working which can compromise their health and the health of their pregnancy. Workplace accommodations help safeguard a healthy pregnancy or prevent harm to a higher-risk pregnancy. Across the country, pregnant workers continue to be denied simple, no- cost or lowcost, temporary adjustments in their work settings or activities and instead risk being fired or forced to take unpaid leave to preserve the health of their pregnancy. This impossible choice forces many pregnant workers to continue working without accommodations, putting women and their pregnancies at risk of long-lasting and severe health consequences. When pregnant workers must continue working without accommodations, they risk miscarriage, excessive bleeding, and other devastating health consequences. Black women have the highest incidence of preterm birth and yet we know that workplace accommodations such as reducing heavy lifting, bending, or excessive standing can help prevent preterm birth, the leading cause of infant mortality in this country. Black women also experience higher rates of preeclampsia, which is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. We are still learning about how to prevent this dangerous medical condition, yet we know that simply allowing workers to take bathroom breaks can prevent urinary tract infections which are ``strongly associated with preeclampsia.'' Similarly, ensuring pregnant workers can drink a sufficient amount of water can also help pregnant workers maintain their blood pressure, which is critically important since hypertensive disorders (high blood pressure) are also a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. By putting a national pregnancy accommodation standard in place, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act has the potential to improve some of the most serious health consequences Black pregnant people experience. Furthermore, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will help remove one of the many barriers Black pregnant people face at work by ensuring they are afforded immediate relief under the law, and not thrown into financial dire straits for needing pregnancy accommodations. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a measured approach to a serious problem. As organizations dedicated to maternal health and closing racial disparities in pregnancy and birth outcomes, we understand the importance of reasonable workplace accommodations to ensure that pregnant persons can continue to provide for their families and have safe and healthy pregnancies. We collectively urge swift passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Sincerely, Black Mamas Matter Alliance; March of Dimes; National WIC Association; 1,000 Days; A Better Balance; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Civil Liberties Union; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Agricultural Justice Project; Ancient Song Doula Services; Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs; Baobab Birth Collective. Black Women's Health Imperative; Breastfeeding in Combat Boots; California WIC Association; Centering Equity, Race & Cultural Literacy in Family Planning (CERCL-FP); Earth Action, Inc.; Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project; Farmworker Association of Florida; Feminist Women's Health Center; First Focus Campaign for Children; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia; Healthy Women; Human Rights Watch; Mom2Mom Global; NARAL Pro-Choice America. National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health; National Birth Equity Collaborative; National Partnership for Women & Families; National Women's Health Network; National Women's Law Center; Nebraska WIC Association; Nurse-Family Partnership; Physicians for Reproductive Health; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Public Citizen; SisterReach; SisterSong National Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective; U.S. Breastfeeding Committee; Workplace Fairness; Wisconsin WIC Association; ZERO TO THREE.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to declare unwavering and steadfast support for the State of Israel. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are single-handedly responsible for the escalation that has led to the bloodshed of Israelis and Palestinians. These terrorist organizations do not care about people or peace. They seek only to destroy the Jewish state. Israel has every right to defend herself. No nation should be subject to a barrage of rocket fire, like what we see on this easel on a civilian population. Without the Iron Dome air defense system, the loss of life would be worse than the nightmare before us today. Congress must ensure the lifesaving missile defense systems continue to get the support and funding needed to keep civilians safe. Israel has taken serious steps to deescalate the conflict while Hamas has only escalated its attacks. So it is especially irresponsible to demonize Israel's conduct while ignoring her right to self-defense. America unequivocally stands by our key democratic ally, Israel. I pray for peace and security in the region, and I mourn the loss of all lives--Israeli and Palestinian. I urge the cessation of all intentional acts of violence and a return to working toward a viable two-state solution. Everyone deserves to live in peace from terrorism.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor one of the foremost fighters for justice Florida has ever known, Congressman Alcee Hastings. Throughout my public service, I have been proud to be associated with and stand alongside this fierce but gentle and courageous statesman. The shadow he casts in my own political life is long. It started at the University of Florida, when I ran for Student Senate side by side with his son, Alcee ``Jody'' Hastings, II. Twenty years later, I had the honor and pleasure of serving alongside his father, a man who was my dear friend and mentor. Alcee revered this institution, and he loved his 20th District, from Belle Glade to Broward, and the Sawgrass to Sistrunk. Anyone who knew him knew he was Florida through and through, and he brought that to these Halls of power. He valued every part of the cultural and ethnic mosaic that enriches our great State, and he contributed to that throughout his life. With his passing, his constituents lost a brilliant, fearless, and giant-hearted advocate for the community he so dearly loved. Our folks back home will miss their ``on his mind, on his tongue,'' firebrand voice in these Halls of power. The common refrain among anyone unfortunate enough to follow Alcee Hastings on a speaking program was: Well, this is the last place on a program you want to be. He was a powerful, impactful orator. Here in Congress, as you all know too well, each of us lost a wise, patient, and humane statesman; and our delegation lost a seasoned, thoughtful, forceful leader. Personally, I lost a treasured friend and trusted teacher. I can't count the times I leaned on him for his honest, perceptive counsel. Even when I didn't know I needed that advice, Alcee did, and he provided it generously. Afterwards, I was always grateful for his words of wisdom. Alcee Hastings devoted his life to righting the world's wrong. He championed the most vulnerable, and he himself knew what it meant to overcome. He fought for human rights at home and abroad. Alcee was a champion of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and a steadfast friend to the Jewish community. He knew that Jews and African Americans were much more alike than we were different, and we often joked about the similarities. Years ago, as police brutality stretched the fabric holding our community together, he and I joined together to ensure that law enforcement and our people would be able to pledge to protect one another and had a safe forum to communicate. When it came to protecting the world's most unique tropical wetlands, Alcee always spearheaded our Everglades restoration efforts. In just the last month, he led the delegation in a letter to the President advocating for record-level funding. Even on battles dearer to me, he poured his own heart in it. Alcee was one of my most fierce allies in battling breast cancer. These last 10 months, I spoke to him almost every day. It was an honor to cast his proxy vote. Good days or bad, he made sure he personally told me his vote preferences. Some days he might say in his Alcee kind of way: Why are we even voting on this? And I left out some of the choicer words. I cherished catching up with him every opportunity. Other days, he would just share his vote, and that call would end far too quickly. No matter how he felt, he always ended those calls by saying: ``Debbie, thank you for this.'' He was always gracious, always grateful. But it was I who was grateful for the gift of this man. I was also so proud to swear him into this 117th Congress. He took what he must have known was his final oath with such pride, dignity, and authority. In our last conversation, he told me he was at peace. And why shouldn't he be? He rose from a young man in the orange groves of the segregated South to become the first African-American Federal jurist in Florida and part of a historic 1992 class of the United States Congress. His political life took him as far off as the Parliamentary Assembly in Europe. Congressman Hastings did it his way, and he leaves an immense personal and political legacy, both in these Halls and in our hearts. I know that I and this hallowed body are better off from having been in Alcee's midst. And that lasting impression he left behind, we will always carry with us. May his memory be for a blessing.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, today, we confront one of America's lingering legacies of discrimination. At America's founding, women were intentionally left out of the Constitution and, as second-class citizens, we did not have the right to vote or own property. Today, we still receive less pay for the same work, and we face actual or imminent threats of violence and harassment daily. But the equal rights amendment rejects that. After over a century, the ERA is on the cusp of ratification, and we finally have a President who will make this long overdue provision of our Constitution a reality. Women's rights should not depend on which party is in power. These basic fundamental rights must be guaranteed. We must secure equality for women under the law, in the Constitution, and in our daily lives. If we want to hand a more perfect union over to our daughters--and I have two--this Women's History Month, let's seize the moment and end sex discrimination once and for all. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this resolution to remove the arbitrary and outdated deadline for ratifying the ERA.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. VAWA established critical infrastructure that responds to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. For far too long, this vital update collected dust in the Senate graveyard. Thankfully, with a Democratic Senate majority and President Biden, we finally have real partners to secure justice, safety, and dignity for American women, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The statistics remain deplorable: One in four American women are victims of domestic violence; one in six will be a sexual assault victim in their lifetime. The pandemic only exacerbated the need for services to comprehensively respond to these egregious crimes. Now is no time to retreat from the vital work of improving the Federal response to gender-based violence. For Women's History Month, let's reaffirm our commitment to survivors everywhere, and make this world safer for all our mothers, sisters, and daughters. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this urgent legislation.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise today to honor our foremothers who first demanded equity in and outside the home, along with the sheroes of today who still battle for it amidst this deadly pandemic both on and behind its front lines. The onset of COVID-19 pushed so many brave women into the deadly viral fires. It also foisted upon too many of them an inordinate share of unpaid caretaker and teacher roles once they were safe at home. Throughout all of history, it is women, especially those of color, who bear the harshest health and economic burdens and fallout from such national crises. The data is clear: Only a full recovery that prioritizes women can reverse this ``she-cession'' we are in. That is why I proudly supported the American Rescue Plan, which provides much-needed help to women across this country. This relief package includes historic expansion of the child tax credit to help lift children and families out of poverty, and provides paid-leave tax credits to help more women stay in the workforce. It also makes the investments needed to safely reopen schools and keep the childcare industry afloat so women and families can pay for care and get back to work. And with the inclusion of $1,400 stimulus checks per family member and extended unemployment assistance, women can finally regain their footing as equal partners and breadwinners. Yet, even among these many challenges women have faced over this last year, we cannot overlook that, for the first time in history, we have sworn in a Madam Vice President. The historic inauguration of Vice President Harris will inspire countless girls to higher ambitions, and it marks a milestone for all women of color whose work, leadership, and vision went unrecognized for far too long. In the Jewish faith, one of our most important tenets is the concept of l'dor v'dor--from generation to generation. It is our responsibility to lift up the women of tomorrow and ensure that the world provides every opportunity for them to succeed. This Women's History Month, while we honor and remember the women who have carried us through this and other past national calamities, we also celebrate that the shoulders we now stand on provide an even clearer vision of the equity and fairness for which we all strive. Women are the changemakers, the visionaries, and the leaders of the future. Today, we celebrate a world in which my two daughters and all young girls everywhere have bold, limitless visions and dreams that are now truly possible. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, to honor the half million Americans who perished in this pandemic and rescue the millions still struggling in its fiscal chokehold, we must end this national viral nightmare. The American Rescue Plan is our best hope and the most ambitious, progressive legislation in scope and impact since the Affordable Care Act. It delivers direct payments to families, helps our schools safely reopen, and ensures small businesses and Main Street stay open. It also ramps up testing and vaccine deployments, especially to underserved communities. This plan's tax changes likely cut child poverty in half. If we want kids behind desks, shots in arms, and people in jobs, this American Rescue Plan delivers vital relief now and lays a solid foundation for the future. Thankfully, the misers are no longer in charge, and help is on the way.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise as both a mom and a Member of Congress in strong support of H.R. 8. Last month, my community marked the 3-year anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting that stole 17 innocent lives. The anxiety and terror that came that day has never left us. Yet, too many communities witness horrific gun violence every day. Commonsense reform can end this agony and keep us safer mainly by requiring background checks for gun sales. Yet, loopholes allow up to 80 percent of firearms to be sold without background checks. We must mandate universal background checks for firearm sales by passing H.R. 8 and then pass Jaime's Law, my legislation that expands that same mandate to ammunition purchases. The pandemic made gun proliferation worse, and inaction is not an option. We must do all we can to ensure guns and bullets don't end up in the wrong hands. Mr. Speaker, the outliers on this issue are Republicans whose fealty to the NRA results in more people dying from gun violence. Enough is enough.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, in Florida, we have strong redistricting standards that were passed by a large majority of Florida voters and placed in our State constitution. I also recognize that strong standards and criteria are provided for in H.R. 1. Would the chairperson agree to working together with the State- adopted redistricting criteria to ensure H.R. 1 does not dilute the Florida requirements?

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, as a founding vice chair of the LGBTQ-plus Equality Caucus, I am proud, once again, to cast my vote for the Equality Act. It is my sincere hope that this is finally the year that it will be signed into law. In dozens of States, including my own, LGBTQ Americans are still denied housing, discriminated against in education, or denied service at businesses. The Trump administration ruthlessly attacked the LGBTQ community's rights from the transgender military ban to allowing doctors to deny medical care to LGBTQ individuals. States have continued to put forward so-called bathroom bills. Legislators in my own State have introduced bills to deny medical care to trans children and prevent trans youth from playing sports. Even worse, 44 trans Americans were murdered in 2020, the deadliest year on record. We can't tolerate any more discrimination. It costs lives. The Equality Act is vital so that Americans everywhere can love whom they love and be their authentic selves without fear of persecution, eviction, or discrimination.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot here today so, in closing, let me remind my colleagues that we were sent here, not only to uphold the Constitution, but to uphold the standard of conduct. Let me share with you what should have happened. What should have happened is some remorse for the pain that the gentlewoman from Georgia has caused and to acknowledge that pain, the damage that she has caused, the violence she has advocated. I would have hoped that she would have realized, like so many of us have, the awe and gravity of serving in this institution and that, despite all the harm that the words and actions she has taken have caused, that now that she is a Member of this body, she truly understands and is sorry she stalked the teenager who was a victim of a mass shooting; sorry that she actually suggested that our leader of the House of Representatives should meet a bullet as her end; sorry that she suggested that President Obama should have his life snuffed out. But none of that happened, and that is why she has forfeited the right to serve on committees in this House of Representatives.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to support H. Res. 72, legislation I never hoped to author. My resolution would remove Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments. We have already heard today a lot about precedents, so let me explain the precedents which brought us here. Congresswoman Greene advocated for the execution of a leader of this House. She advocated for the execution of former President Obama. She encouraged violence against law enforcement and has a long record of racist, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic comments. She spread cruel conspiracy theories, even claiming the horrific mass school shootings in Sandy Hook and Parkland were staged, and even stalked a young survivor of one of those tragedies, calling him a ``coward.'' These are unprecedented comments and actions by a Member. No one else on this floor has called for violence against other Members and law enforcement. Only one Member has done that and refused to back down, and that is the real precedent we are dealing with today. We have also heard about regrettable conduct before taking office, a so-called statute of limitations on bad behavior. Prior to her floor remarks this afternoon, Congresswoman Greene spent this entire week doubling down on her promotion of violence, bigotry, and conspiracy theories. Her response to her critics just yesterday was: ``I won't back down. I'll never apologize.'' We have also heard today about revenge and whataboutism. Greene herself threatened that when Republicans wield the gavel, Democrats will face a similar fate. And if a Democrat proposes violence against Members and peddles dangerous lies and conspiracy theories, then refuses to renounce them and our caucus refuses to police it, then punishment would be in order. That is the reality of what we are dealing with today with Congresswoman Greene. We are dealing with conduct that brings shame on this House and a pointed refusal to denounce or internally police it by Republicans. Congresswoman Greene's past support and present reaffirmation for violence, intimidation, lies, and racism is dangerous. It is exactly the kind of conduct that helps fuel domestic terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I don't take this threat of violence lightly. Two years ago, a pipe bomb, one of 16 sent around the country in my name, sat in my district office for more than 24 hours with my staff handling and moving around it before anyone knew or told them it possibly contained an explosive device. None of my staff signed up for that kind of threat. No one should be terrorized at work. But what delivered that bomb to my office was not just one disturbed man. It was the culmination of endless lies, conspiracy theories, and hate that drove someone to violently attack his political rivals. We all saw that unfold again with deadly consequences here in the Capitol on January 6. We can't afford to have these kinds of violent threats continue and certainly not from someone in this very House. This is not about whether we find Marjorie Taylor Greene's speech offensive. The point here is that she has promoted and advocated violence. Denying her a seat at committee tables where fact-based policies will be debated and crafted is an appropriate punishment and restraint of her influence. Congresswoman Greene chose a dangerous and harmful path into this House, one filled with deliberate lies that fomented violence. Once elected and seated here as a sitting Member, she then also chose not only to stand by, but affirm those words and actions. A deathbed, mild walk back of a couple of wild conspiracy theories just moments ago is not enough to prevent her future harm. Importantly, there was no apology for the hurt and harm caused, and she did not express regret for the stalking of a teenage mass-shooting victim; nor for life-threatening statements she made or promoted against the leader of this House, and so much more. Now that she has made her choices, the House must limit the future harm and violence that she can invite on this body. The deceptive and inflammatory conduct that fueled such violence cannot be tolerated anywhere, certainly not in this House. We can take an important step toward restoring integrity, security, decorum, and truth in this House by removing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments. While it is an action we do not take lightly, it is the necessary course of action in the face of her extraordinary behavior that is unbecoming of a Member of Congress.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the lives of two fallen FBI agents, Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger. While executing a federal warrant in a child exploitation investigation, Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger were shot and killed in the line of duty in Sunrise, Florida. They died protecting our most vulnerable citizens and the community they loved. This was sadly the FBI's deadliest day since the tragic events on 9/ 11. It has also been more than 30 years since two agents were gunned down together in the line of duty. A 16-year veteran of the FBI, Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger's specialty was pursuing crimes against children. Her work with the FBl's Miami Field Office's Innocent Images National Initiative led to the arrests of those involved in the exploitation of children and ``sextortion.'' She leaves behind a husband and two children. Special Agent Daniel Alfin was a 12-year veteran of the FBI. He was a veteran agent who led the investigation into a dark web site called Playpen, one of the country's largest child pornography operations. He also leaves behind a wife and one child. While I did not have the good fortune of knowing these two Special Agents, I know this--these were two brave individuals taken from us and we lost them way too soon. These were incredible parents, ripped from their families before their time. They were extraordinary public servants trying to make our community a safer place to raise our families. To their families and loved ones, I struggle to find words that can offer solace and comfort in their time of distress. The great poet William Wordsworth once said, ``Not without hope we suffer and we mourn.'' Perhaps he meant that we find hope in the belief that our thoughts and prayers will in time heal their families, and in the hope and belief that the children of these fallen heroes will grow up knowing that their parents made this sacrifice to make their world and our world a better place. Agents Alfin and Schwartzenberger put their lives on the line every day to make us safer. We lost them to a senseless act of violence by someone with a total disregard for the lives of others. We grieve their loss not only to the community they served, but to the families and loved ones they leave behind. They made the ultimate sacrifice, and we will be forever grateful.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the lives of two fallen FBI agents, Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger. On Tuesday morning, while executing a Federal warrant in a child exploitation investigation, Special Agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were shot and killed in the line of duty in Sunrise, Florida. This was, sadly, the FBI's deadliest day since the tragic events on 9/11. It has also been more than 30 years since two agents were gunned down together in the line of duty. They died protecting our most vulnerable citizens and the community they loved. Laura Schwartzenberger's specialty was pursuing crimes against children. Her work with the FBI Miami Field Office's Innocent Images National Initiative led to the arrests of those involved in the exploitation of children and sextortion. She leaves behind a husband and two children. Daniel Alfin was a veteran agent who led the investigation into a dark website called Playpen, one of the country's largest child pornography operations. He leaves behind a wife and one child. These were two heroes taken from us way too soon while trying to make our community a safer place to raise our families. We grieve their loss not only to the community they served but to the families and loved ones they leave behind. They made the ultimate sacrifice, and we will be forever grateful. Madam Speaker, I ask the House to please pause for a moment of silence in memory and honor of these heroes who gave their lives protecting our children.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the lives of two fallen FBI agents, Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger. On Tuesday morning, while executing a Federal warrant in a child exploitation investigation, Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger were shot and killed in the line of duty in Sunrise, Florida. They died protecting our most vulnerable citizens and the community they loved. This was, sadly, the FBI's deadliest day since the tragic events on 9/11. It has also been more than 30 years since two agents were gunned down together in the line of duty. A 16-year veteran of the FBI, Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger's specialty was pursuing crimes against children. Her work with the FBI Miami field office's Innocent Images national initiative led to the arrest of those involved in the exploitation of children and ``sextortion.'' She leaves behind a husband and two children. Special Agent Daniel Alfin was a 12-year veteran of the FBI. He was a veteran agent who led the investigation into a dark website called Playpen, one of the country's largest child pornography operations. He also leaves behind a wife and one child. While I did not have the good fortune of knowing these two special agents, I know this: These were two heroes taken from us, and we lost them way too soon. These were incredible parents torn from their families. They were extraordinary public servants trying to make our community a safer place to raise our families. To their loved ones and colleagues, I struggle to find words that can offer solace and comfort in their time of distress. The great poet William Wordsworth once said: ``Not without hope we suffer and we mourn.'' Perhaps he meant that we find hope in the belief that our thoughts and prayers will, in time, heal their families and their colleagues, and in the hope and the belief that the children of these fallen heroes will grow up knowing that their parents made the sacrifice to make their world and our world a better place. Agents Alfin and Schwartzenberger put their lives on the line every day to help us be safer. We lost them to a senseless act of violence by someone with a total disregard for the lives of others. We lost them to evil. We grieve their loss, not only to the community they served, but to the families and loved ones that they leave behind. They made the ultimate sacrifice and, for that, Americans will be forever in their debt and forever grateful. May their memories be a blessing.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump for seditious acts against America. To overturn the 2020 Presidential election, Trump incited a violent assault on Congress--a treasonous betrayal of our Nation. This criminal incitement left us with five dead, including a police officer; a desecrated Capitol; and a second constitutional crisis. His acts show contempt for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the foundation of any democracy: a peaceful transition of power. President Trump is a clear and present danger to American lives and democracy, and he leaves us no choice but to immediately remove him from office.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the life of Mrs. Evelyn Fernandez. Mrs. Evelyn Fernandez was born on February 14, 1932, in Jamaica and migrated to the United States in the late 1970s and became a resident of Brooklyn, New York. She was a retired schoolteacher and passionate about education. Mrs. Fernandez was a sincere woman who loved God and her church and was faithful in her service to The Faith Center Ministries. She was a woman of great faith who cared deeply for her fellow congregants and worked tirelessly to better the lives of all those in her community. Mrs. Fernandez was the devoted mother of three sons and three daughters, among them Bishop Henry Fernandez, spiritual leader of The Faith Center Ministries in Sunrise, Florida. I join Bishop Fernandez and his family as they mourn the loss of this kind and compassionate soul. In the days, weeks and months ahead, we will celebrate her life and honor her legacy. While this loss will be felt deeply by everyone, we are forever privileged to have shared this time with her on Earth. May her memory be a blessing.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the life of former City of Weston Commissioner, Mark Myers. I was heartbroken to learn of his passing and join my community in celebrating his life. Commissioner Myers was one of the original founders of my hometown of Weston, FL, serving on the first City Commission in 1997. In November 1991, Mr. Myers was elected to serve as Treasurer on the Board of Supervisors, the panel that helped to incorporate the City of Weston in 1996. His life is part of the fabric of our South Florida history, and we are grateful for his service. Mark always emphasized supporting our community's young people as well as improving access to the arts. He was instrumental in expanding cultural and economic opportunities for a new community and even helped design the City of Weston seal. Mr. Myers was an avid art collector and advocate supporting numerous organizations whose work helped improve our surroundings. Commissioner Myers was a graduate of Cornell University and also served our nation with distinction as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. I join Mark's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and my friends and neighbors in mourning the loss of an incredible advocate, visionary, and devoted public servant. May his memory be a blessing.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I find the protestations of our friends on the other side of the aisle rich, when 2 days from now they plan to actually vote in favor of overturning the results of an election that their party's nominee lost. So, please, spare us the protestations about the undemocratic process that you are opposing here. Further, I rise to urge adoption of the rules package for the 117th Congress. This package includes innovative proposals to modernize the House and facilitate good policymaking. It will establish the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will work to combat income inequality and, critically, require committees to address inequities in marginalized communities. I recently proposed the creation of an advisory panel on equity and justice in Federal spending, so I am pleased that this package recognizes the need to dismantle the effects of systemic racism and creates a process to address intractable inequities. As a longtime proponent of diversity in hiring, I am glad we are making the Office of Diversity and Inclusion permanent. I am also pleased that the rules exempt climate legislation from budgetary restrictions, clearing the way for ambitious Federal investments to combat climate change. As an appropriator, I am eager to deploy the power of the Appropriations Committee to fight climate change and work toward environmental justice. Finally, I applaud the inclusion of gender-neutral language.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, finally, I applaud the inclusion of gender-neutral language that embraces all gender identities and reflects that this Chamber is not just a man's world anymore.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the combined fiscal year 2021 government spending and coronavirus relief package. The package before us today does not have everything the American people need. It shortchanges key relief programs, like aid to our first responders and State and local governments. But the American people are suffering and need immediate relief. Support from Congress is long overdue. The package includes critical Democratic priorities we fought for, like money for small businesses, extended unemployment benefits, individual stimulus checks, and public health funding to eradicate the coronavirus. It contains legislation I authored to reauthorize the EARLY Act, which educates young and at-risk women with breast cancer. The appropriations bills in this package advance key priorities, like $250 million for Everglades restoration, fighting child exploitation on the internet, and protecting migrants and holding DHS accountable. As chair of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, we fund improved healthcare for veterans, modernize the VA electronic health record system, and improve military infrastructure to ensure readiness. And we did not include funding to reimburse the President for his theft of military funds for the racist border wall. The Democratic House passed our coronavirus relief bill in May and our appropriations bills in July. Republicans failed to do their job. They have showcased unprecedented incompetence and cruelty this year. Why did Republicans block this relief package until now? They thought we were too generous with the American people, and they wanted to protect corporations who put workers in harm's way, and then tried to shackle the Federal Reserve in a last-minute effort to make it harder for the Biden administration to help struggling small businesses. Democrats will keep fighting for additional aid once President-elect Biden takes office. That cannot come soon enough.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the remarkable career of Monica Russo. After decades of service, Ms. Russo is retiring as executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest local union in the Nation, representing more than 400,000 healthcare workers in five States and more than 25,000 healthcare workers in Florida. Under her leadership, 1199SEIU Florida has grown to represent more than 30,000 healthcare workers and retirees, becoming the largest union of healthcare workers in Florida and the Southern United States. She also serves as international vice president of the SEIU and as president of SEIU Florida State Council, where she politically unites more than 55,000 active and retired SEIU members, from bus drivers and janitors to healthcare workers. Her emphasis on multicultural leadership development and grassroots, member-driven organization building has given a voice and power to healthcare workers, women, immigrants, and the working class. Monica Russo's commitment to our Nation's working families is exemplary, and I am proud to call her my sister and dear and treasured friend. I will miss her guidance and wisdom, but our loss is her family's gain. I wish her a hearty congratulations on her retirement and am grateful for her invaluable work.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the remarkable career of Monica Russo. After decades of service, Ms. Russo is retiring as Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East--the largest local union in the nation representing more than 400,000 healthcare workers in five states and more than 25,000 healthcare workers in Florida. Ms. Russo is recognized for having led the most successful private sector healthcare union organizing campaign in the southeastern United States, now known as 1199SEIU Florida. Under her leadership, 1199SEIU Florida has grown to represent more than 35,000 healthcare workers and retirees in more than 100 hospitals and nursing homes across the state--becoming the largest union of healthcare workers in Florida and the southern United States. She also serves as International Vice President of the Service Employees International Union and as President of the SEIU Florida State Council, where she politically unites more than 55,000 active and retired SEIU members from bus drivers and janitors to healthcare workers. Through Monica Russo's leadership, 1199SEIU Florida members are the go-to base to ``make things happen.'' Her emphasis on multi-cultural leadership development and grassroots, member-driven organization building has given a voice and power to healthcare workers, women, immigrants, working-class, professionals and low-wage workers. From raising quality standards for 80,000 elderly residents in Florida's nursing homes to passing cutting-edge legislation which increased the state minimum wage for millions of workers, Monica has dedicated her life's work to protecting voter rights, mobilizing some of the largest civil rights protests in Florida's history, reducing class sizes in Florida's schools, advocating for immigrants' rights, implementing safe staffing levels in Florida's nursing homes and led the charge to institute the state's first early voting process so working people can make their votes count. Her commitment to building new leaders and developing a legacy of partnership and collaboration in Florida has helped build an influential grassroots political base. She was the first labor leader to serve as a commissioner on Florida's Commission for Women and was named the Top 40 Most Powerful Democrats by Politics Magazine in 2009. Ms. Russo has served on the South Florida Workforce Investment Board, Florida International University's Research Institute for Social and Economic Policy and has worked closely with me as a trusted and valued advisor to my Healthcare Working Group. The daughter of Lincoln University professors, Monica grew up in rural Pennsylvania and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Haitian Kreyol. She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University and lives in Miami with her daughter, Giovanna. Monica Russo's commitment to our nation's working families is exemplary, and I am proud to call her my sister and dear and treasured friend. I will miss her guidance and wisdom, but our loss is her family's gain. I wish her a hearty congratulations on her retirement and am grateful for her invaluable work.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the life of former Seminole Tribe Chairman, Max Osceola, Jr. We were heartbroken to learn of her passing and join Floridians in mourning this tremendous loss to the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida. He leaves an unmatched legacy for the Seminole Tribe, South Florida, and our nation. Max Osceola, Jr.'s tenure on the Hollywood Council spanned 25 years, and it was during that time, that Seminole Gaming expanded and became the pillar of Florida's gaming industry. Under his leadership, tribal students were afforded scholarships for higher education and tribal culture was preserved for future generations. He always emphasized improving the management of tribal affairs, whether it was housing, health, employment training or education to advance opportunity for Native American youth. Mr. Osceola was a patron of our South Florida community and supported numerous organizations whose work helps improve our surroundings--the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Ann Storck Center, and the Victory Junction Camp for children with serious medical conditions. A graduate of McArthur High School in Hollywood, Mr. Osceola was one of the first tribal members to graduate from college, earning his degree from the University of Miami. Education was paramount to him and while serving on the tribal council, he created a scholarship to pay for college or vocational school for any member of the tribe. I join the Seminole Tribe and South Floridians in mourning the loss of an incredible mentor, tribal leader, brother, father, grandfather, and friend. May his memory be a blessing.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the remarkable career of Carol Brick-Turin. After 12 years, Ms. Brick-Turin is retiring as the executive director of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council. Carol originally moved to Washington, D.C., to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she worked on public policy issues for more than a decade. A graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics, she was recruited to join the Foreign Agricultural Service and served as a diplomat in Brussels, Belgium, in the U.S. Mission to the European Community. She was the first married female to serve as an agricultural attache in the history of the FAS. Carol attended the Foreign Service Institute, completed a study program taught by faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and attended the University of Tel Aviv in 1973, both before and after the Yom Kippur War. Having raised her children as Zionists, she now has three grandchildren who were born in Jerusalem, in addition to her two granddaughters in Miami. As the JCRC's executive director, Carol has adroitly mobilized and energized Miami's Jewish community on many levels. She has led our citizen activists in building relationships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, key to the success of the pro-Israel movement and the national agenda supported by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. We have worked together to address a multitude of issues facing our community, from the surge of anti-Semitism and senseless gun violence plaguing our schools and places of worship to ensuring we maintain our strong U.S.-Israel relationship. Carol's commitment to Miami's Jewish community and the State of Israel is exemplary, and I am proud to call her my very dear friend. I will miss her guidance and wisdom, but our loss is her husband, Alan, and her family's gain. I wish her a hearty mazel tov on her retirement, and I am grateful for her invaluable work and her dear friendship.