John Yarmuth

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the Democratic Caucus chair, and a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today is a big deal for American families and a big deal for our planet. The Inflation Reduction Act will lower healthcare costs and energy costs for American families. It will allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices and cap drug costs for seniors, saving many Medicare beneficiaries hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year. This legislation finally makes the biggest corporations start paying their fair share in taxes, and it ensures that rich tax cheats start paying what they owe. The Inflation Reduction Act is fiscally responsible, fully paid for, and has been strongly endorsed by top U.S. economists across the political spectrum. Not one American family making less than $400,000 a year will see their Federal tax bill increased by this legislation, not by a penny. The Inflation Reduction Act is also the biggest investment the U.S. Government has ever made to combat climate change. It leapfrogs us ahead of nearly every other country in terms of our commitment to tackling this crisis. Now, we have seen a lot of Republicans spreading misinformation about this legislation, and it is for one reason and one reason only: They are scared. They know the provisions of this bill are overwhelmingly popular, yet because they consider it a Democratic bill, every single one of them will be voting against it. This is a crystal-clear example of Republicans putting party before country. Just look at the numbers. Mr. Speaker, 77 percent of Americans support placing caps on prescription drug prices to lower healthcare costs. That is a key component of this bill. Mr. Speaker, 83 percent of Americans support allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices to make healthcare more affordable. That is another key component of this bill. Two-thirds of Americans think the government should do more to combat climate change. This bill takes on climate change with the urgency it deserves. By opposing this bill, Republicans are making it very clear where they stand: not with the American people, not with their priorities or needs, but with Big Pharma, with corporate lobbyists, with tax cheats. The American people are on our side. They want this bill. Today, in a huge victory for them, we will send it to the President's desk to be signed into law. Let me remind my Republican colleagues what they are voting against. They are voting against cutting prescription drug prices for their constituents--in many cases, for lifesaving medication. They are voting against combating inflation and lowering energy costs when American families are desperate for us to take action. They are voting against providing the largest Federal investment ever to combat the climate crisis and its life-threatening consequences. I could not be more proud that I will not only be voting ``yes'' on this bill but that this historic legislation will bear my name. With or without Republican support, today, we will make a real difference. We will use the power of the Federal Government to make American lives better and our country and planet safer. In other words, we will do our job. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the Senate amendment to H.R. 5376.

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the Assistant Speaker.

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1316, I call up the bill (H.R. 5376) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the outstanding service of Jeffrey Werling, who is retiring this week after almost 40 years as a dedicated public servant, educator, and economist, the past six of them at the Congressional Budget Office. Jeff has served as the Director of CBO's Macroeconomic Analysis Division since 2016. In that capacity, he has overseen the production of the economic forecasts that underlie CBO's budget projections, led the agency's macroeconomic analyses of major legislation, and provided guidance to the Director and staff on economic issues under some of the most challenging circumstances that the agency has experienced. Jeff has been a leader in enhancing transparency in CBO's economic analyses and promoting public understanding of the key economic issues facing the nation. Drawing on his diverse experience, deep understanding of economic relationships, and strong intuition, he helped make CBO's analyses clearer and more helpful to the Members of Congress and more accessible to the broader public. Jeff started his career in 1981 in the United States Peace Corps as a secondary education teacher in West Africa. After receiving his Ph.D. in economics from University of Maryland, he made many contributions to economics research and education as an analyst, teacher, and leader in private and public organizations in the United States and abroad. He came to CBO from Inforum, an economic research organization, where he was the executive director, providing guidance on government policy analysis and a variety of economic issues. In his leadership role at CBO, Jeff has been a constant source of support, encouragement, and constructive feedback to his colleagues. He has always been generous, especially to junior staff, with his time, ideas, and mentorship. His colleagues in CBO will miss his guidance, wisdom, keen sense of humor, and softball prowess. I know my colleagues join me in extending our thanks and appreciation to Jeff for his service to our country. We wish him well in his future undertakings and hope that the Nation will continue to benefit from his expertise and commitment.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, today, I would like to recognize and honor the outstanding service of Robert G. Shackleton, Jr., who retires June 27 after more than 30 years as a public servant, the past 22 of them at the Congressional Budget Office. Bob Shackleton joined CBO in 1999. Throughout his career there, he has been integral to the development of CBO's economic projections that underlie the agency's budget projections and analysis. For several years now, for instance, Bob has been the principal analyst behind the agency's model for projecting potential output over the long run. In macroeconomic forecasting circles, those projections by CBO are the benchmark to which other forecasts are compared. The profession knows that the agency's model of potential output is backed by very careful analysis and scrutiny. As the economy and data about it have evolved, Bob has made substantial improvements to the model and published a paper and code documenting this fundamental tool for CBO's analysis. Bob also has been a primary contributor to CBO's analysis of the economic effects of climate change and the policies that might be adopted in response. Almost 20 years ago, he wrote a comprehensive survey on the issue: The Economics of Climate Change: A Primer. Since then, he has helped develop and write several other CBO reports on climate change. Bob's public service did not begin with his work at CBO. He came to the agency after eight years at the Environmental Protection Agency. At EPA, Bob worked with headquarters staff responsible for providing policy analysis. He directed state-of-the-art economic research policies aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change. By all accounts, Bob's colleagues at CBO and in Congress appreciate his dedication, ability, skillful work, and breadth of experience. They will miss his generosity with his time and knowledge-and especially his musings about topics such as linguistics, geology, and bird watching. I know my colleagues join me in extending our thanks and appreciation to Bob for his service to our country. We wish him well in his future undertakings and hope that the Nation will continue to benefit from his expertise and commitment.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, l rise today to honor Sharon Darling, President and Founder of the National Center for Families Learning and former Kentucky Director of Adult and Community Education, as she begins her well-earned and much-deserved retirement after years of dedication to the advancement of education policy and family literacy. For decades, Sharon has served as a national leader in family learning, making NCFL a go-to resource for all who are working to make adult literacy not only a priority, but a powerful tool for breaking the cycles of poverty that limit far too many families. Without her pioneering work, the very definition of family literacy that our federal government relies on to steer the policies that help countless Americans would not exist. It is not an exaggeration to say that Sharon Darling helped write the lesson plan for America's comprehensive approach to intergenerational learning, because that's exactly what she did. Her day-to-day presence will be sorely missed by her colleagues and all whose lives she has touched, but I'm thrilled to know that Sharon is staying on to serve as an active member of NCFL's Board of Directors and will continue to support the organization in a variety of ways. Even in retirement, she will help continue the success of NCFL in the years ahead as they continue under the leadership of Dr. Felicia C. Smith. When asked about her upcoming retirement, Sharon said, ``Never did I expect my life to unfold how it has, but each day I am grateful to all those who believe in the tremendous power of multigenerational learning.'' On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District and all who know Sharon Darling, let me say that we are all incredibly grateful that her life unfolded as it did, and that millions of Americans--including the more than 4.5 million parents and children across the 150 communities in 39 states and Washington, D.C. served by NCFL--are all better for her life's work. I thank Sharon for her selfless dedication to improving the lives of others through learning. I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Brendan Canavan, President of UPS Airlines and head of UPS's Worldport Freight Facility located in my district in Louisville, Kentucky, as he begins his retirement after 41 years with the company. Under his leadership, Worldport has grown to a 5.2 million square- foot facility that processes more than 2.4 million packages a day, thanks in large part to its massive air operation and a team of more than 3,200 skilled pilots led by Brendan at UPS Airlines. His work has helped grow the UPS Airlines fleet to more than 290 aircraft that circle the globe ensuring that the goods and packages they're trusted to carry are delivered on time. Brendan first joined UPS in 1981, loading trucks while earning his degree at Villanova University. Since that time, he has worked his way up through leadership of the company here in America and abroad, becoming a trusted leader and working in numerous positions around the world to help expand UPS's operations and meet the challenges of an always changing global economy. No matter the assignment, Brendan Canavan answered the call. On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District, I congratulate Brendan Canavan on his successful career at UPS and wish him the very best in his much-deserved retirement.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my friend, Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport, as he begins his much-deserved retirement. Since 1988, Rabbi Rapport has served at The Temple, Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom, the oldest and largest synagogue in Kentucky. During his time at The Temple he has been an incredible leader, teaching a variety of adult education classes, working closely with Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, leading countless congregational programs, and serving as rabbinic liaison for the Brotherhood, The Temple Archives, and The Temple Library. In addition to his spiritual leadership, Rabbi Rapport is also a deeply involved community leader, serving as a member of the President's Advisory Council of the University of Louisville and sharing a seat on the Board of Directors of both the Center for Interfaith Relations and Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light, alongside his wife, Rabbi Rooks. He also is a former chair of the Louisville Coalition for the Homeless and Many People One Community, a diversity project of the National Conference for Community and Justice. Rabbi Rapport's deep devotion to his faith has also called him to always lend a voice on behalf of the less fortunate or the oppressed. Whenever incidents of intolerance or injustice rear their ugly head in our community--whether racial or religious, Jewish or not--Rabbi Rapport is one of the first people there, offering his support to those victimized and standing up for decency and good in our community. This is why I firmly believe, in my years of friendship with Rabbi Rapport, that he is the true embodiment of the Hebrew phrase Tikkun Olam--or ``world repair''--a mandate to not just look out for our own moral and spiritual welfare, but also the welfare of society as a whole. Rabbi Rapport not only teaches the lessons of social justice, he lives them each and every day. Rabbi Rapport is a treasure to our community and is truly a ``mensch'' in every sense of the word. He has never grown weary of helping others, and during his 34 years of service to our Commonwealth, he has enriched countless lives with his wise words and spiritual guidance. Rabbi Rapport has not only inspired me, but also a younger generation of leaders who will continue his passionate pursuit of peace, love, and justice in the world for years to come. On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District and the city of Louisville, it is my honor to recognize Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport for his outstanding leadership, his friendship, and his unyielding love for our city and the people who call it home. I wish Rabbi Rapport nothing but the best in his well-deserved retirement, and I hope he enjoys every single moment of his time spent with family and loved ones.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my constituent, Oksana Masters, who is now the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all time. Born in Ukraine in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, Ms. Masters faced challenges early on in life due to the serious impacts of radiation exposure. But, like most things in her life, she overcame these obstacles with unyielding courage. Knowing the serious medical attention that would be needed, Ms. Masters was placed up for adoption and spent the first seven and a half years of her life in orphanages. After being adopted, Ms. Masters' family moved to Louisville when she was 13 years old, where she excelled in sports and graduated from my alma mater, Atherton High School. During her impressive career, Ms. Masters has established herself as a world-class athlete who continues to inspire young people in Louisville and beyond to pursue their dreams in the face of adversity. With a gold medal in the cross-country skiing mixed relay at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics, Ms. Masters now holds 14 Winter Paralympic medals in cross country skiing and biathlon, along with three more Summer Paralympic medals in cycling and rowing. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Ms. Masters is an outspoken activist on behalf of her home country, where she advocates to improve medical services for children with disabilities in Ukraine. On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District and the city of Louisville, I thank Ms. Masters, for her leadership and for representing the United States with such distinction. She is an incredible role model both on and off the slopes, and I have no doubt that she will continue to be a source of pride for her friends and family, the people of Louisville and our entire nation.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the best college basketball team not in a bracket this weekend. The Bellarmine Knights did what no team has done before, winning a Division I championship just 2 years removed from Division II, a title that should come with a big dance invitation. Instead, this Cinderella story was cut short by an NCAA which, as it often does, played wicked stepmother, upholding a bizarre rule preventing teams elevating too quickly from Division II to championship contender. Who they think they are serving, I don't know, but they cannot take away the Knights' extraordinary achievements or the pride they brought their school and hometown. They entered the season as afterthoughts and finished as ASUN champions and just the tenth team since 2007 to win 20 games against a top-5 schedule. This incredible feat for the players is a triumph for Coach Scotty Davenport, who has won championships in Louisville for 35 years at every level and seems like he could for 35 more. Scotty noted that each season ends with just two teams left standing, the NCAA and NIT champs. This year, the season ends with three. Please join me in honoring the Bellarmine Knights, the first NCAA team to finish this basketball season as champions.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Kentucky Science Center--located in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky--as this outstanding institution celebrates its 150th anniversary. Originally founded in 1871 as a ``cabinet of curiosities'' in the Public Library System of Kentucky, what was soon known as the Louisville Museum of Natural History and Science has grown in size and scope to become the largest hands-on science center in the Commonwealth and one of our region's leading resources for education immersion. Simply put, they make science fun. At the core of the Kentucky Science Center's mission are these simple instructions: ``play, tinker, explore, collaborate, test, experiment, goof up, and try again.'' Though their focus is helping teach their visitors about a specific field of study, I can't think of more fitting instructions for any endeavor of learning, no matter your age. Their approach makes learning accessible to people from all walks of life. Whether you 're an individual, a family, or an educator with a classroom full of students, the Kentucky Science Center has a seemingly never-ending supply of programming tailored to meet your needs, helping you think big and learn more. Understanding the important role STEM education plays in our future, the Kentucky Science Center has been an invaluable resource in advancing this field of study for all who are lucky to pass through its doors, helping us prepare the next generation of leaders right here in Louisville. On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District, I thank the administrators, staff, volunteers, and supporters of the Kentucky Science Center for all of their hard work in making this place of learning such a valuable asset to our community. The Kentucky Science Center has encouraged us to think critically, to immerse ourselves in the marvels of science, and to stay forever curious. I congratulate them on this important milestone and I look forward to another 150 years.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Wayne Perkey, a Louisville broadcasting legend, a man of immense compassion and charity, and my friend. He passed away this weekend after a hard-fought battle with COVID-19. A Tennessee native, Wayne landed at Louisville's WHAS as a young deejay in 1969, and he would ultimately grace our city's airwaves for more than 30 years, hosting the radio station's daily morning show and emceeing WHAS11 TV's annual Crusade for Children charity event. Wayne's skills as a broadcaster were only surpassed by the kindness he showed to his colleagues and fellow Louisvillians, his dedication to helping others, and his deep love for his family. Wayne's passing is a loss for our city and Commonwealth, for all who remember starting their morning with that familiar cheerful voice, and for me personally. I am keeping the entire Perkey family in my thoughts and hope the fond memories we all have of Wayne are a source of strength for them. He truly was a treasure.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man who has served the nation in various capacities for more than 41 years and is now retiring from his position as Chief Administrative Officer of the Congressional Budget Office. Joseph Evans began his service with 4\1/2\ years in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a financial management specialist. He then joined the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), where he took on steadily increasing responsibilities during his 19-year tenure--first as an accounting technician, and then as Human Intelligence Financial Resource Manager, Chief of Budget Formulation Integration and Funds Control, Senior Finance Resource Manager, and ultimately as Senior Financial Resources Expert. In that capacity, he provided expert advice and guidance on all budgetary, financial, and force structure management to the DIA's Chief Financial Executive and directed the planning and coordinating of the DIA budget. For his important contributions to DIA's work, he received the DIA Award for Meritorious Civilian Service. Mr. Evans then put his financial skills to work in the legislative branch, joining CBO as its Chief Financial Officer and then taking on broader responsibilities as its Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Management, Business, and Information Services. Over his 18 years at CBO, Mr. Evans provided superb leadership, pushing for continuous improvement, developing high-functioning teams of professionals, maintaining focus on the needs of the client, and treating all employees with respect and kindness. He has skillfully overseen the areas of human resources, finance, editorial and publication services, security, and information technology--the largely behind-the-scenes activities that enable CBO to perform its vital services for the Congress. Under his leadership, CBO has received a continuous series of clean opinions on its financial statements. CBO's measures to protect privacy and security have never been stronger. Mr. Evans also played a crucial role leading CBO's working group on diversity and inclusion. During the pandemic, CBO continued to meet the needs of the Congress while protecting CBO employees, thanks in large part to the incredible work of Mr. Evans and his team. They provided the technology and support needed to transition seamlessly from working in the office to a full-time telework environment and developed new ways of performing important tasks, such as hiring new staff, overseeing security efforts, and supporting employees' well-being and safety. I thank Joe for his more than four decades of dedicated and skillful work for the American people and wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize the outstanding service of Cynthia R. Cleveland on her retirement after nearly 43 years of distinguished public service, the past 39 years of which were spent at the Congressional Budget Office. At CBO, Cindy rose to the level of Division Administrative Assistant, mostly for the Director of the National Security Division. Cindy's public service began at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1976, where she spent three years as a clerk typist. Over the ensuing four decades at CBO, Cindy's expert skills grew as the tools and processes for producing cost estimates and reports evolved--from typewriters to Sharepoint, and from landline calls to virtual meetings. All along, Cindy provided rock solid support and a positive and friendly spirit, one that was contagious to those around her. Her responsibilities also evolved and grew over the years, moving from supporting the chief of the Natural Resources Unit in the Budget Analysis Division, where she helped produce cost estimates for publication, to the assistant to the director of the National Security Division, where she kept the division running and also managed the division's document holdings and its clearance processes. Along the way, Cindy's portfolio expanded to include supporting the Macroeconomic Analysis Division and eventually the Financial Analysis Division. She helped organize and support the semiannual meetings of CBO's Panel of Economic Advisors, organized travel and training for all three divisions, and managed the background investigation and clearance process for all of CBO. Throughout her career at CBO, Cindy embodied the agency's ethos of doing things carefully and with high quality. Cindy's colleagues, current and former, are deeply indebted to her for all that she has given to CBO and the people that make the agency what it is. Cindy knew everyone and everyone knew her. They will miss her gentle, friendly, and positive influence on the workplace and, most of all, will miss her laughter ringing down the halls of the Ford building. I know my colleagues join me in extending our thanks and appreciation to Cindy for her long service to our country. We wish her well in her future undertakings.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding service and contributions of Simone Thomas, who is retiring after 37 years as a skilled and dedicated public servant at the Congressional Budget Office. For many years at CBO, Simone has served as a trusted, expert adviser to senior management and staff on the most effective use of the agency's intra net and new communications tools. She has been the driving force spurring intranet enhancements and innovations that have made it easier for staff to collaborate on analytical work for the Congress, such as CBO's periodic volume of budget options. She has made significant contributions to enhance internal communications as CBO's SharePoint Administrator, enabling CBO's staff to stay better connected and informed. She has distinguished herself with her hard work and resourcefulness during the pandemic. She came up with creative ways to instruct CBO's staff in the use of new communications tools to help them work more effectively on a remote basis. Simone's expertise also extends to CBO's public website. She was responsible over the years for publishing time-sensitive, high-profile cost estimates as well as the agency's major recurring reports. That work sometimes required working during the evening or on weekends, which Simone always took in stride. To her colleagues, Simone has been a constant source of knowledge, support, and kindness. She has received accolades over the years for her prompt customer service, patience, reliability, and ingenuity in troubleshooting complex SharePoint challenges. She is a consummate professional, always seeking out opportunities to learn, grow, and share her expanded knowledge with others. She has also led by example in her philanthropic efforts, devoting significant time and energy to spearheading CBO's efforts each year to raise money for breast cancer research. She has helped raise thousands of dollars for that cause over the years. She will be missed by her colleagues, who have benefited greatly from the depth of her knowledge, as well as her generous spirit, warmth, and collegiality. I know my colleagues will join me in extending our thanks and appreciation for Simone's service to our country. We wish her a relaxing, well-deserved retirement.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished career and retirement of Sheila Dacey after 26 years of service at the Congressional Budget Office. Sheila has been Chief of the Income Security and Education Cost Estimates Unit in CBO's Budget Analysis Division since 2015, following two decades as an analyst in that unit. Sheila served in numerous capacities as an analyst, including long stints analyzing welfare programs and Social Security. It is hard to overstate Sheila's role in analyzing the budgetary impacts of income security legislation over the past two decades. Sheila was instrumental in providing insightful and objective estimates of the effects of much of the important income security legislation that the Congress has considered, debated, and enacted since 1995. Notable examples include the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, subsequent changes to the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, numerous bills to improve child support enforcement, and legislation affecting Social Security benefits. As a unit chief, she was instrumental in managing CBO's work related to unemployment insurance benefits provided during the COVID pandemic. Sheila has worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and staff on both sides of the aisle throughout the years. During many hours of discussion and patient explanation, she was always methodically forthright and fair, embodying CBO's commitment to nonpartisan analysis. She helped us understand the key levers to move an estimate and the need to focus on making the language match the intent. Sheila has been a mentor and guide to numerous analysts at CBO. Thanks to her efforts, those analysts have learned to dig deeper and consider all the possible outcomes of a bill. The high standards that she set for herself and for other analysts will continue to be a benchmark for CBO's analysis going forward. On behalf of the House Budget Committee, I thank Sheila for her years of dedicated service to the Congress and extend to her our best wishes for a well-earned retirement.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, democracy is not static. It is not self- effectuating. It requires a concerted effort to keep and a willingness to stand up against those who would seek to undermine it. The bill before us reaffirms our commitment to democracy, transparency, accountability, and a strong system of checks and balances. Our Founders knew that the power of the purse would be fundamental to the separation of powers and to our democratic government itself, and they explicitly gave that power to Congress, the branch most responsive to the will of the people. However, over the past few decades, the executive branch has encroached on our constitutional spending authority, and dangerous precedents have been set. Presidents and agencies of both parties have pushed the boundaries, seeking more control of spending powers. The previous administration's disregard for the rule of law and contempt for institutional norms made even more clear the need for laws that can withstand a lawless executive. The commonsense reforms in this landmark legislation will restore Congress' central role in funding decisions, increase executive transparency, and add teeth to our budget laws. None of these provisions or the many others in this legislation is partisan. After all, this bill was introduced during the Trump administration, and it is being advanced during the Biden administration. It is solely about shoring up the separation of powers and maintaining the rule of law. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues on both sides to uphold our sworn duty to defend the Constitution and vote ``yes'' on the Protecting Our Democracy Act.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Ellen Balis, staff director of the House Budget Committee, who recently retired after 37 years of exceptional service to the Congress and the Executive branch. Ellen began her career in Federal service at the White House Office of Management and Budget in 1984. She spent more than 20 years at 0MB participating in the annual development of the President's Budget and advising senior administration officials on budget policy. In 2007, Ellen joined the Democratic staff of the House Budget Committee to serve as the senior budget analyst in charge of all the ``numbers.'' In that role, she led development of the estimates for Democratic budget resolutions and advised Members and staff on budget policy, concepts, and scoring. She quickly demonstrated her invaluable expertise and became a go-to person for analysis and advice. In 2017, when I became the Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, I asked her to serve as our Staff Director. Her knowledge, temperament, strategic acumen, and drive for thorough and accurate analysis made her the obvious choice. Ellen is one of the most respected budget experts in Washington. And during her tenure as staff director, she was instrumental in the development and passage of several key pieces of legislation, including the 2021 concurrent budget resolution and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. In fact, she delayed her planned retirement for several months to help shepherd these two critically important bills through final passage. She knew we had the chance to implement transformative change for our country, and she stayed so we could benefit from her expertise and experience. This selfless dedication to the work of the Congress and service to the American people are emblematic of Ellen's character and entire career. It is impossible to overstate what an asset Ellen was to the Budget Committee and House Leadership overall. To make public policy that does what it is intended to do, that truly delivers for the American people, everything must, quite literally, add up. And when it comes to budget tables and congressional calculations, there were numbers, and then there were Ellen's numbers. Hers were the gold standard. Always reliable, always dependable--like Ellen herself. Over the years, Ellen impacted scores of Capitol Hill staffers who worked for and with her. From interns to senior analysts, her kind and steady leadership has left an indelible mark on all of those who learned from her and the example she set as an effective and dedicated public servant. I want to thank Ellen for her candid advice, thoughtful analysis and most importantly, her friendship. I wish her nothing but the best in her hard-earned and well-deserved retirement.

Mr. YARMUTH

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, we have gone back and forth on this bill for months now, and my Republican friends have said, oh, they haven't had a chance to read the bill. The Budget Committee reported out the consolidated bill on September 25. There have been 180 hours of debate on this bill before today; so if they can't read the bill in 2 months, they have another problem. But at the end of the day, it is clear this has not been a fair debate. On one side you have House Republicans. On the other you have myself and my Democratic colleagues, 17 Nobel-winning economists, former Treasury Secretaries, Jack Lew and Larry Summers, scores of other economists and experts, and most importantly, the overwhelming majority of the American people. This hasn't been an honest debate either. Democrats have a plan to serve the American people. Republicans have an agenda to stop Democrats, period. And my friend from Ohio just had another description of GOP. I don't think it should be GOP at all; I think it should be NOP, the not our problem party. If it is healthcare, it is not our problem. Dealing with climate change, it is not our problem. Dealing with education, not our problem. Dealing with seniors, not our problem. Dealing with childcare, not our problem. Affording college, not our problem. Dealing with medical costs, not our problem. Democrats see important challenges facing the American people, and we are finally dealing with them. It is time to close the curtain on the Republican charade and do our jobs. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and send to the Senate the most transformative legislation for America and American families in a century. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining on both sides?

Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), a distinguished member of the Financial Services Committee.