Susan Wild

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 4502, the consolidated appropriations legislation that will fund, among other Federal agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health. This bill represents a strong investment in our national health care infrastructure, workforce, and research and development enterprise--and I thank Chairwoman DeLauro for her strong leadership in ensuring that Congress invests in the health of the American people as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the health care challenges are more diverse than COVID-19 alone and warrant our careful attention and consideration. The historic investments in the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, and other health agencies are critical to addressing many of these health conditions and social issues. I offered my amendment to this bill to address a critical gap in our fight to improve care for and save the lives of America's most vulnerable children--pediatric brain cancer patients. We have invested in intensive clinical and biological research for years, including through the National Cancer Institute, to investigate the origins of and therapeutic options for pediatric cancers, but the mortality of children with brain cancer remains high and is the leading cause of pediatric cancer deaths. While brain tumors are rare in number among pediatric patients, the vulnerability of the patient population, combined with the array of tumor subtypes, makes investigating and treating this terrible condition a unique challenge for researchers. The National Cancer lnstitute's Childhood Cancer Data Initiative is one effort to undertake the difficult work of collecting phenotypic and genotypic data for pediatric cancer patients to inform the biologic and molecular underpinnings of these rare cancers. I fully support this initiative--and my amendment would strengthen its current work by directing the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative to incorporate a key tool for researchers into its workflow--molecular tumor board data. Molecular tumor boards use information from each patient's tumor, including derived genotype and RNA and DNA profiling, and links research to the clinical characteristics of the child, to inform treatment decisions. These data sets are a rich source of real- world information that clinical scientists, treating physicians, and families will be able to use in real time to make critical decisions on care. Over time, they will improve our understanding of pediatric cancers' origins and functions and also assist in the development of new drugs, treatments, and potential cures. Specifically, my amendment provides $2 million in further resources for the National Cancer Institute's Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, which should be sufficient resources to incorporate data from the 2000 most highly malignant brain tumor cases that occur in American children each year. The Initiative is well positioned to incorporate molecular tumor board data from diverse patients across the country, to work with academic centers that have the expertise to review the data and suggest treatment options, provide tumor board report information to patients and families, and to follow cases for clinical endpoints on a longitudinal basis. Mr. Speaker, America's scientific and medical communities lead the world in groundbreaking, lifesaving research, and this bill rightly invests in furthering that national interest and strength. My amendment builds on this goal by centering research on some of the most vulnerable patients and some of the most unique and deadly health conditions that affect America's children. These tumors and cancers need innovative strategies to improve care, quality of life, and survival. This research addresses the needs of pediatric brain cancer patients and their families to access precision-based therapeutics and medical experts. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill to invest in the health of America's kids.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot of talk about the soaring costs of prescription drugs, but we seldom hear about the sad fact that Medicare is not allowed to negotiate prescription drug prices. Earlier this month, drug companies announced yet another painful price hike on critical medications. The soaring price of prescription drugs is crushing Americans at the pharmacy counter, driving up health insurance premiums and creating unaffordable costs for taxpayers, who finance Medicare. That is right. We, the people, fund Medicare. Yet, due to an antiquated law, Medicare has to pay drug prices without the right to negotiate. That is why, last week, I led a group of my colleagues in sending a letter to leadership, demanding that Medicare negotiation of drug prices be included in the upcoming reconciliation bill. This is common sense, and it is long overdue. According to the CBO, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices would save American taxpayers $456 billion in just the first 10 years alone, with those savings heading right back into the pockets of American families. And it would bring down drug prices for all Americans, not just Medicare recipients. Together, we can get this done.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the INVEST in America Act, an important moment in the fight to upgrade our national infrastructure. I am so glad to see the House take a critical step toward fulfilling many of the key priorities laid out in the American Jobs Plan by passing this bill. I want to be really frank. There is no time to waste on this. We urgently need to fix the roads, bridges, tunnels, and drainage systems that we see crumbling around the country. Not only does the INVEST Act address some of the key infrastructure needs of our country, but it also creates good-paying, middle-class jobs that will turbocharge economic growth. The INVEST Act also includes $20 million in key infrastructure investments for my district, Pennsylvania's Seventh, that will support our economy and make roads safer for both motorists and pedestrians. I am proud to have secured this funding for my community. We have more work to do to get an infrastructure package finalized, sent to the President's desk, and signed into law. Our country simply cannot wait any longer, but I am proud to support the INVEST Act and to get us one step closer to that goal.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the child tax credit, which will start reaching families next month. It is hard to overstate the tremendous good that the American Rescue Plan is doing for people all across Pennsylvania and, indeed, all across this country. Soon, we will see even more direct relief heading to families in Monroe, Northampton, and Lehigh Counties in my district. Starting in July, nearly all families with children in my district will receive monthly payments of up to $300 per child through the end of the year as part of the expanded and improved child tax credit. The expanded and improved child tax credit will be a lifeline for many struggling families, helping more than 133,000 children in my district. I cannot overstate how meaningful this assistance is to families who have been hit so hard this past year. These are payments that will help families pay for the cost of childcare, healthcare, diapers, and clothing. For many, these payments will be the difference between food on the table or hunger. I am proud to have fought for and passed the American Rescue Plan, and I am glad we were able to get important help like the child tax credit into the hands of families across Pennsylvania 7.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I arrived a moment too late to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 138.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Ramon Ramirez of Allentown, Pennsylvania, who tragically lost his life to a senseless rampage of gun violence on April 21 while he was filling up his work truck at a gas station in the wee hours of the morning. He was 31 years old. He was a husband of 12 years and a father of three children. People remember him as a loving family man and a hard worker. He was someone who--as one of his neighbors put it--was always looking to make things better for those around him. That same neighbor remarked that lately she often heard Ramon and his son play basketball in front of their house. The horrific toll of gun violence across our country is puncturing the American Dream. It has stolen the hopes and lives of so many families. Mr. Speaker, I am not up here to advocate for any particular bill. I am up here to ask, beg, and plead that somebody on the other side of the aisle come to me with their suggestions of what we can do to stop these random acts of gun violence. I want to work with my colleagues. We have to end this. I ask that all of my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Ramon Ramirez and standing in solidarity with his family.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, so many of the leaders we hear about are public figures, elected officials, people with loud voices in the community, but there are so many other kinds of leaders. In particular, in connection with this month's Women's History Month, I rise to pay tribute to some who are not often noticed, the extraordinary women who have battled the COVID pandemic on its front lines in my community and across our Nation. This historic crisis has devastated my community and communities in every corner of our country. More than 530,000 of our fellow Americans have died. Millions have lost their jobs. Unprecedented numbers of children and families have faced hunger. Women have experienced a disproportionate share of these converging crises. As a larger share of frontline workers, they have risen to the occasion, putting the health and safety of their neighbors ahead of their own. One woman in my community, the Greater Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, has done everything she can to make sure these heroes and our most vulnerable neighbors are not forgotten. Dr. Rajika Reed has served the people of our community for more than 20 years as a counselor, children's therapist, teacher, public health researcher, and epidemiologist. Most recently, Dr. Reed has served in one of the hospital systems in my community, St. Luke's University Health Network, first as senior director of epidemiology and strategy and now as vice president of community health. Dr. Reed has been instrumental in keeping our community informed throughout the pandemic. Dr. Reed has been particularly incisive when speaking about the disproportionate impact of COVID on various communities throughout the Seventh District, helping all of us recognize and understand how rapidly and drastically the stakes can change depending on a person's life circumstances. By grounding every conversation in easy-to-understand data, Dr. Reed has made sure that officials at all levels have a shared understanding of constituents' lived reality and the challenges they face, particularly the stark racial and economic disparities that have only grown during the pandemic. Still, throughout it all, Dr. Reed's warm and calm delivery has helped soften the blow of what was at times devastating news. Her work has helped mobilize my entire community around the shared mission of taking care of our own and putting the most vulnerable among us first. To Dr. Reed and women frontline workers in every corner of my community, including many low-wage workers who still don't have the support or pay they need, I stand with you. All of us stand with you today and every day.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the most important pro- labor legislation in several generations, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, otherwise known as the PRO Act. For far too long, the deck has been stacked against the right to freely organize and collectively bargain. We have seen the result. Despite massive gains in productivity and economic growth, working- and middle-class American workers' purchasing power and real wages have barely moved from where they were 40 years ago. Meanwhile, the gains that were created by those workers have flowed overwhelmingly to the super wealthy at the very top. Let's level the playing field and give America's workers a seat at the table. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the PRO Act, and I urge the Senate to pass it and get it to the President's desk for signature.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I know that no one in this Chamber needs to be reminded that we are here to represent people. In my community and nationwide, many people have been facing unprecedented financial hardship and personal struggles for a year now. Despite that fact, some people in this town will grow louder and louder in saying that the American Rescue Plan is too large and that after passing tax cuts for the super-rich, we can't afford to come to the aid of everyday working people and small business owners. The truth is that we are in danger of doing too little, not too much. As Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz wrote: ``Congress must pass this legislation or risk an anemic and devastatingly incomplete recovery.'' After the 2008 financial crash, Washington bailed out the largest financial institutions without passing a large enough relief package. The resulting recovery was weighted heavily against working people. We cannot make that same mistake today. Passing the American Rescue Plan means saving as many as 4 million jobs and returning to full employment as quickly as possible. It means setting up more vaccination sites in our communities. Let's pass this bill this week and get it to the President's desk for signature.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I represent a Congressional district with nearly equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. But when it comes to the question of whether everyday Americans' interests are reflected in their government, I hear the same message from my constituents, almost unanimously. Regardless of political affiliation, my constituents seem to agree that dark money is drowning out the voices of working families. And they are outraged that lobbyists for the most powerful interests have a degree of access to our political system that is unheard of for an everyday citizen. H.R. 1, the For the People Act, would begin the work of returning power to the American people. Among many important provisions, it would implement landmark anti-corruption reforms, including: requiring super PACS and dark money groups to disclose their donors, strengthening ``conflict of interest'' requirements for federal officials, and preventing members of Congress from serving on corporate boards. I'm also proud to have introduced the Lobbyist Loophole Closure Act as part of H.R. 1, which will enact more robust regulations around what constitutes lobbying and ensure no one can skirt federal lobbying rules. Together, let's restore the trust of the American people in their government.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, if the Equality Act is signed into law, millions of our fellow Americans will, for the first time, no longer be subject to discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Barriers across our society--in essential areas like housing, employment, credit, and education--will finally come down. In reflecting on this legislation, I can't help thinking about my uncle Wes, who grew up during the Depression. As a young man, he was never able to come out to his family because he didn't think they'd accept him for it. Later in life, he did come out--living as a proud, gay man in Alabama. He passed away last year, and when I cast my vote for this legislation, I'll be thinking of him. I'll also be thinking of the many messages I've gotten since I was first sworn in from young LGBTQ people in my community. They've shared their stories with me, and I've been inspired by their courage. I want them to know that this country belongs every bit as much to them--and that they have the right to a life of dignity and respect. That is what's at stake in this vote.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, in November of last year, I stood in this Chamber to support this legislation, the bipartisan National Apprenticeship Act. The House passed it, but the Senate failed to put it up for a vote. We need to seize this opportunity. Revitalizing our apprenticeship system is not a Democratic or Republican priority. It is a national priority for workers across our country. It is essential to our task of building an economy that provides a wider, sturdier bridge to the middle class. For every dollar invested in our registered apprenticeship system, we see a return of $28 in benefits. But the U.S. invests only $195 of public money per apprentice, while our Canadian neighbors spend $1,300 per apprentice. We are leaving too many communities behind and at risk of getting outpaced in the world economy. Now is the time to invest in the American worker. This bill makes long-term investments and provides grants for employers to incentivize the hiring of apprentices, and it provides workers with the opportunity to earn while they learn and obtain portable credentials without incurring significant debt. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition.

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, as terrifying as today was here in the people's House, it was, thankfully, fairly short in duration. In contrast, the pain and fear that so many Americans are experiencing this year has been long and continuous to this very moment. Rather than pitting Americans against Americans, as we are here, we should be working to ensure rapid distribution of vaccines and adequate relief to Americans who are struggling economically because of this horrific pandemic. But we are not doing that. Instead, we have witnessed a stunning assault on our democracy itself. This challenge is not an act of patriotism. The position of the objectors is completely incompatible with patriotism. Our country is defined by her great people, and our democracy is defined above all else by our Constitution, a Constitution that these individuals want to ignore because they have decided that their judgment, the judgment of a small minority of partisan elites, should somehow override that of the more than 155 million Americans who participated in this election. That, my friends, is not democracy. We should all remember this country's founding was a rejection of monarchy, a rejection of the notion that any one person could be all- powerful. Our commitment to self-determination is what gave rise to our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. It is why our Founders made the choice to build a country anchored in respect for the rule of law rather than one tied to the whims of men. It is why we have free and fair elections that allow us to vote out those who hold office. I am proud to join the vast majority of my colleagues in both Chambers, Republicans and Democrats alike, in making it clear that our democracy is bigger than any of us. Let's be clear: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won a victory of 306 electoral votes in the electoral college, the same margin that President Trump won by in 2016 when he called it a landslide. Nearly 7 million of my fellow Pennsylvanians braved this devastating pandemic and economic crisis to cast their ballots, culminating in a total turnout of more than 70 percent, the highest in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And nationwide, we saw record- breaking turnout. Both in Pennsylvania and nationally, the President's efforts to overturn the election results in the courts failed resoundingly, with many of the strongest rebukes coming from judges the President himself appointed. In fact, contrary to the assertion of my colleague from Georgia across the aisle, not a single lawsuit in Pennsylvania alleged fraud. The gentlewoman may not be aware of this, but allegations of fraud require specificity and detail, and no lawyer could risk his or her license to make such false claims. I am heartened that several of the country's leading Republicans, including Senate Republican Majority Leader McConnell, Senator Mitt Romney, and former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, have spoken out against this political stunt. Senator Romney said: ``The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our democratic Republic.'' And as former Republican Representative Charlie Dent from my district said, the claim by the President of voter fraud in our State ``was simply reprehensible; the truth is that he suppressed his own vote by discouraging mail-in voting.'' And as Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw, also a Republican, has said: ``My question is, if the mail-in voting of Act 77 was so bad, why did The Trump Organization send out a mail-in ballot application to every registered Republican in the State?'' Today, I am thinking of all of the people who took the time to do their civic duty and vote, many standing in long lines or painstakingly researching how to vote by mail correctly. We reject these disgraceful attacks on the voters of Pennsylvania and this attempt to throw out their votes. To those in this Chamber who may cynically believe that stoking the forces of disinformation and division may be worth a short-term benefit to their political careers, I would urge serious self-reflection. Our democracy is one of the most precious resources of the American people, protected against enormous odds and at great sacrifice by each generation of servicemembers and everyday citizens who put their lives on the line to build a freer and more equitable nation. They deserve better than what is happening in this Chamber today.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of a hero in my community who recently passed away from this devastating virus. Robert S. Washock, Jr., or Bob as he was known to everyone, was a devoted father, grandfather, husband, brother, and friend. He defended our Nation in the United States Navy and was a member of Dyle E. Bray VFW Post 739 in Bangor, Pennsylvania, serving as quartermaster and treasurer of the Home Association. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to know Bob, and the qualities that I can speak to are those that touched the lives of countless people across our community: kindness, humor, and compassion. The tributes that have poured in from people of every walk of life reflect the world of difference that he made. At this extraordinarily difficult time for Bob's family and many friends, I extend my deepest condolences. On behalf of a grateful community, it is my honor to pay tribute to Bob for his lifelong service as an Active Duty servicemember and as a proud veteran to the country he loved. His spirit will endure.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Alan Jennings, a constituent of mine and a very good friend, who has spent decades working to weed out hunger and poverty in my community. Alan joined the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, CACLV, as a young man in 1980. For the past 30 years, he has served as the executive director of the agency, touching countless lives, challenging barriers of race and bias, and working to expand diversity in the nonprofit sector. Now Alan is stepping down to get some much-needed rest after a lifetime of hard work. Under Alan's leadership, CACLV's funding has increased 30-fold. His entire life's work has been about building a just and equitable society for all. From providing food to hungry families to raising funds for low- income and working-class kids to be the first in their families to go to college, Alan has lived the mission of community action every single day. Alan, on behalf of the people of the Seventh District, thank you for your extraordinary leadership. We are so grateful to you. As you begin a new chapter, I join people in every corner of our community in wishing you the very best.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter dated November 17, 2020, from the International Union of Operating Engineers in support of this bill, addressed to the Honorable Robert C. Scott, chair of the Committee on Education and Labor. International Union of Operating Engineers, Washington, DC, November 17, 2020. Hon. Robert C. Scott, Chair, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Scott: The International Union of Operating Engineers supports H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, and we appreciate your work to strengthen and expand opportunities in America's most successful training model for blue-collar workers: apprenticeship. The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) represents 400,000 operating and stationary engineers who build the transportation, water systems, and energy networks that comprise the nation's core infrastructure. In partnership with construction contractors and employers of stationary engineers, the IUOE dedicates resources to develop and implement nearly 100 registered apprenticeship programs. The programs possess over 550 instructors. and they train tens of thousands of apprentices and journey-level workers every year. This focus on training is reflected in the safety, skills. and productivity of members of the Operating Engineers. Labor-management apprenticeship program of the IUOE and our employers are widely recognized as the gold standard of our industries and our occupations. Since the National Apprenticeship Act was first authorized in 1937, the Registered Apprenticeship system has served as a model for delivering industry-driven training in the construction sector and beyond. According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of apprentices who complete Registered Apprenticeships are employed upon completion, earning an average starting wage of above $70,000 annually. Apprentice wages are connected to experience, skill development, and productivity. The increase annually and include benefits like health insurance and a pension plan. The Registered Apprenticeship system remains a highly successful path for thousands of workers, providing a stable and predictable career path with economic security. H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 expands the limited framework of the existing Registered Apprenticeship program to reinforce quality standards that safeguard the welfare of apprentices. The legislation codifies and streamlines the existing regulations and includes important reporting and evaluation requirements to guarantee program effectiveness and accountability. The legislation strengthens the connections to the career ladder for apprentices, more closely linking pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs with the system of registered apprenticeship. The enhanced technical assistance in the legislation will help expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities into new sectors. That technical assistance will also support more opportunities to improve diversity, bringing more women, people of color, and veterans into the system of apprenticeship. The value of this proven on-the-job training model is even more evident today as we navigate the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to this extraordinary crisis will require extensive public investment to rebuild America's infrastructure and its workforce. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 provides historic investments in workforce training, laying the foundation for economic recovery and preparing the skilled and qualified workforce to rebuild our country. While the nation continues to experience staggering levels of unemployment, the reauthorization of the National Apprenticeship Act, will expand job opportunities and increase access to high-paying careers for millions of hard- working Americans. The International Union of Operating Engineers proudly endorses H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, and we look forward to working with you to enact it into law during this session of Congress. Sincerely, James T. Callahan, General President.

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. COVID-19 has exposed shortcomings in our workforce infrastructure, but those shortcomings are the result of a long history of making only marginal investments in our national apprenticeship model. It seems we are always reacting to crisis rather than planning in advance. In response to the Great Recession of 2008, Congress invested significant funding in our workforce systems. In this Congress, we made investments through the CARES Act, but only as this COVID crisis spiraled. It should not take a recession or a pandemic to invest in workers in communities like mine. Lehigh, Northampton, and Monroe Counties are replete with potential, but it is critical that we invest in times of prosperity, too. For every dollar invested in our registered apprenticeship program, we see a return of $28 in benefits, but the U.S. invests just $195 in public money per apprentice while a system like Canada spends $1,300 per apprentice. This bill would reset our approach. It makes long-term investments regardless of our economic fortunes or misfortunes. It provides grants for employers to incentivize the hiring of apprentices. At the same time, it provides workers with the opportunity to earn while they learn and obtain portable credentials without incurring significant debt. This bill emphasizes the importance of apprenticeship programs' high- need social service occupations, like apprenticeship programs for early childhood educators, something Congressman Guthrie and I have sought to do with our Early Educators Apprenticeship Act. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Susan Davis, for her leadership on this bill, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a native son of my community, Amtrak Vice-President Joe McHugh, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, who is retiring after a storied career with our National Railroad Corporation, which he has proudly served for 26 years. Joe served in various leadership roles for the railroad, and many here in the House of Representatives will remember him as one of Amtrak's most effective advocates in its 50-year history. Joe helped lead Amtrak through an era of transformation and growth. He also has a unique firsthand understanding of the railroad. Over his 26 years, he accomplished the rare feat of traveling over every mile of Amtrak's more than 21,000-mile route network. Of his many accomplishments, the many people he mentored and whose careers he helped foster may well be his most important contribution to the railroad. The House of Representatives and the Nation owe Joe McHugh a debt of gratitude for his dedication and contributions. On behalf of the House of Representatives and my community, I congratulate him on his retirement and extend our very best wishes to him as he embarks on the next chapter in his life.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4447 which, in broad strokes, would reform U.S. energy policy by making investments in energies that will reduce our carbon footprint. My amendment is offered, not as a critique of the underlying bill, but to fulfill a promise made to constituents in my community that we can simultaneously invest in cleaner energy and in our workforce. My amendment creates opportunities for workers at risk of being displaced so that they can begin or continue a career in construction. For those in coal or other related industries, this amendment offers cost-shared grants to pay for pre-apprenticeship training in cleaner energy career paths. My amendment prioritizes grants to entities that have a successful history of placing pre-apprentice graduates into full apprenticeship programs or into gainful employment, and it supports local businesses by creating a sliding scale of Federal cost sharing, devoting a greater percentage of resources to small, local businesses rather than to larger businesses that already have the financial wherewithal to transition workers. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, today, across the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte's brutal regime is using the pretext of a so-called anti- terrorism law to ramp up efforts targeting labor organizers, workers, and political opponents. This law allows suspects to be detained by the police or military without charges for as long as 24 days and placed under surveillance for up to 90 days. In response to these abuses, I introduced the Philippine Human Rights Act, which would block U.S. funding for police or military assistance to the Philippines--outlining a series of basic criteria which would have to be met in order to resume such funding. I am proud to stand alongside so many faith and civil society organizations in advocating for this legislation. And I am especially proud to stand with leaders of the U.S. labor movement: the AFL-CIO, the SEIU, the Teamsters, the Communication Workers of America. They understand that in fighting for their brothers and sisters in the labor movement abroad, they are also helping safeguard their own rights and dignity here at home. Let us make clear that the United States will not participate in the repression. Let us stand with the people of the Philippines.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from business leaders in support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. These businesses range from Patagonia to Chobani to Mastercard to Johnson & Johnson. September 15, 2020. Dear Members of Congress: Women's labor force participation is critical to the strength of our companies, the growth of our economy and the financial security of most modern families. The private sector and our nation's elected leaders must work together to ensure that working women and families have the protections and opportunities they need to participate fully and equally in the workplace. Twenty leading companies from across states and industries have come together in support of pregnant workers and their families by calling on Congress to pass H.R. 2694, the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, without delay. More than 40 years ago, Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, which made it illegal to discriminate against most working people on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. Since that time, 30 states and the District of Columbia now require certain employers to provide accommodations to pregnant employees at work. It's now time to clarify and strengthen existing federal protections for pregnant workers by passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. This bill would ensure that pregnant workers who need reasonable accommodations can receive them and continue to do their jobs. As a business community, we strive to create more equitable workplaces and better support pregnant workers and their families every day. We urge the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as an important advancement toward ensuring the health, safety and productivity of our modern workforce--and the workforce of tomorrow. Signed: Adobe, San Jose, California; Amalgamated Bank, New York, New York; BASF Corporation, Florham Park, New Jersey; Care.com, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts; Chobani, Norwich, New York; Cigna Corp., Bloomfield, Connecticut; Expedia Group, Seattle, Washington; Facebook, Menlo Park, California; Gap Inc., San Francisco, California; H&M USA, New York, New York; ICM Partners, Los Angeles, California; Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, New Jersey; L'Oreal USA, New York, New York; Levi Strauss & Co., San Francisco, California; Mastercard, Purchase, New York; Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington; Navient, LLC., Wilmington, Delaware; Patagonia, Ventura, California; PayPal, San Jose, California; Postmates, San Francisco, California; Salesforce, San Francisco, California; Spotify, New York, New York; Square, Inc., San Francisco, California; U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, Washington, District of Columbia. The Sustainable Food Policy Alliance: Danone North America PBC, White Plains, New York; Mars, Incorporated, McLean, Virginia; Nestle USA, Arlington, Virginia; Unilever United States, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, as a former lawyer who worked long hours during two pregnancies, it is outrageous to me that, in 2020, 100 years after women finally secured the power to vote, current law does not explicitly guarantee every pregnant worker the right to a reasonable accommodation at work. I had the luxury of a desk and chair and an office door that closed-- not all workers do. Currently, in order to get an accommodation, a pregnant worker must show that other nonpregnant employees are similarly accommodated. It is beyond absurd. Because the challenges of pregnancy are so unique, it is often difficult to find comparable nonpregnant workers who received similar accommodations. Fatigue, vomiting, back pain, and frequent urination are more than just nuisances; these are symptoms that can make it impossible to work without accommodation. And that is without mentioning the more serious conditions related to pregnancy. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act secures for women basic rights to earn a living without jeopardizing their health or the baby's.

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, it protects workers with known limitations related to childbirth, because it is time that we recognize that mental health conditions like postpartum depression are real and tangible medical conditions. Madam Speaker, I thank leadership, the ACLU, and the Chamber of Commerce for endorsing this bill. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise in opposition to this political poison pill of an MTR. Corporations are a legal creation. They don't have religious beliefs. Their officers might, but they do not. Let's be clear about who inspired the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It is women who have asked for accommodations in lifting requirements because their doctors told them they were at high risk of miscarriage or preterm birth. It is women like the worker in Pennsylvania who was denied a schedule change and fired due to cramping in her uterus that landed her in the ER. This MTR invites discrimination. It emboldens those who would use religion as a basis to discriminate against people who are pregnant and not married, workers in same-sex couples, women who used IVF to get pregnant, even people with partners of a different race. Something the proponents of this amendment aren't saying out loud is that other religious exemptions would already apply to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. This MTR frustrates the purpose of a good bill, a bill that is supported by the Chamber of Commerce and by 89 percent of voters. Every year, an estimated quarter of a million women are denied requests for an accommodation because current law forces pregnant workers to find other nonpregnant employees who received similar accommodations to make a case. When pregnant women are denied accommodations, they face health risks, miscarriage, premature births. Symptoms and conditions of pregnancy cannot be fully appreciated unless you have been pregnant yourself. So when you consider this vote on the MTR, remember that 80 percent of directors of ACWI Index companies are men. Men who have never experienced the struggles of pregnancy will be deciding whether to invoke an exemption to deny an accommodation to a pregnant worker. That is not right. This bill is not some new burden on employers. They must already engage in a good faith interactive process over reasonable accommodations under the ADA. This bill, as written, takes employer concerns into account. Employers with fewer than 15 employees or those who would suffer undue hardship need not provide accommodations. Madam Speaker, I urge a resounding ``no'' vote on this MTR because it dilutes the very protections for pregnant workers that the bill seeks to establish. Those protections are long overdue.