H4256 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 United States Postal Service is under COVID–19. I applaud those who have RECOGNIZING JOSEPH FABRIZIO attack by the current administration. taken a moment out of their lives to AND HOLLAND MIDDLE This is an assault on our democracy march for those who have passed and SCHOOL’S EIGHTH GRADE STU- and our economy, and it is hurting mourn for those families. DENTS Americans across the country. It is This is not America. And I acknowl- (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was hurting the veteran in my district from edge something else that comes to my given permission to address the House Pasadena, , who receives his attention that hurts my heart as a for 1 minute and to revise and extend medications from the VA through the mother, and that is the Trump admin- his remarks.) mail and who is now worried about istration’s policy to separate children. Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, what will happen to him if his medica- That the United Nations has con- I rise today to recognize the hard work tions get delayed. demned it as torture and abuse of chil- and dedication of Mr. Joe Fabrizio and It is hurting my neighbor from dren—some upwards of 5,000 children. his eighth grade students at Holland Lindale Park who cares for her elderly Their own White House immigration Middle School in Bucks County, Penn- mother and didn’t receive her Social specialists, if you will, want it to be sylvania. Security check in the mail on time, 25,000 children. This is not America. Each year, Mr. Fabrizio and his stu- further stressing her financial situa- Today, we fight for those who have dents write letters to our office on a tion and leaving her unable to pay her come to our doors in rain, snow, or variety of topics, and each year, read- mother’s utilities. shine. We must also fight for the chil- ing these letters is something that our And it is hurting the small busi- dren and never again in America see entire staff looks very much forward nesses in my neighborhood in the Hous- any policy that snatches children away to. ton region, already crippled by this from their families. Immigrant or non- Madam Speaker, one of the most im- pandemic, that depend on the Postal immigrant, we are Americans who have portant things that one can do as a cit- Service to mail out payments and prod- values that stand for something— izen is to communicate with your ucts. equality and justice. elected officials by writing a letter, Madam Speaker, we cannot stand by sending an email, making a call, or as people are hurting. The Postal Serv- f paying a visit. These students are play- ice delivers money, medicines, mer- ing their part in the political process, chandise, and, yes, mail-in ballots. and these students at Holland Middle Madam Speaker, we must keep the CONTROLLING INVASIVE ASIAN CARP School know that the decisions that Postal Service running. People are our government makes today will im- hurting. (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given pact them, and eventually, it will be f permission to address the House for 1 their turn to make decisions in their minute and to revise and extend his re- HONORING WORK OF OFFICER government. marks.) BROOKS YANDLE I think my colleagues in the House Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, would very much benefit from being (Mr. BISHOP of asked the United States Congress needs to able to review these letters, and so I and was given permission to address get back to work. We need to start will include the letters in the CONGRES- the House for 1 minute and to revise working on the issues that deal with SIONAL RECORD. and extend his remarks.) our constituents. Madam Speaker, by taking the time Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. One of those that is of great concern to write our elected officials regarding Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor in Tennessee is invasive Asian carp. issues important to them, it shows that the life-saving work of Officer Brooks They are a nuisance in too many of our these students truly care about our dis- Yandle of the White Lake Police De- Nation’s waterways, preventing folks trict and our Nation, and it should give partment. from fully enjoying our Nation’s lakes, all of us faith in the future of our Na- Over the weekend of July 4, Officer rivers, and streams, and destroying our tion. Yandle responded to a call about a 43- ecosystem. year-old woman unresponsive to CPR. f Many in my district, including the Upon arriving, Officer Yandle deter- REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- residents of Tellico Village, have ex- mined that the victim had overdosed VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF pressed legitimate concerns to folks at on heroin, took quick action to resusci- H.R. 8015, DELIVERING FOR TVA and others over Asian carp and tate her, and saved her life. AMERICA ACT their potential spread into our local This is not the first time Officer waters, and I have been proud to work Mr. MCGOVERN, from the Com- Yandle has acted to save lives. In 2016, with them to tackle this issue. mittee on Rules, submitted a privi- he saved a grandmother and her four Madam Speaker, to control the leged report (Rept. No. 116–480) on the grandchildren found unconscious and resolution (H. Res. 1092) providing for suffering from carbon monoxide poi- spread of these pests, I have worked to secure $25 million in funding in fiscal consideration of the bill (H.R. 8015) to soning. maintain prompt and reliable postal Officer Yandle’s courage and deci- year 2021. If approved by the Senate, these resources, combined with lan- services during the COVID–19 health siveness has saved multiple lives, and emergency, and for other purposes, he is a credit to the noble profession of guage in the Water Resources Develop- ment Act, would allow researchers to which was referred to the House Cal- law enforcement. I am proud to pay endar and ordered to be printed. tribute today to him and to the entire study the reproductive habits of Asian White Lake Police Department. carp in the Tennessee and Cumberland f River basins so we are better equipped DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT f to battle these invaders. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, by CALLING FOR EQUALITY AND I thank both the Committees on Ap- direction of the Committee on Rules, I JUSTICE FOR ALL propriations and Transportation and call up House Resolution 1092 and ask Infrastructure for working with my of- (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was for its immediate consideration. fice on these requests. Problematic given permission to address the House The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- Asian carp harass boaters, fishermen, for 1 minute and to revise and extend lows: her remarks.) and swimmers across this country of Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, ours. My constituents are passionate H. RES. 1092 this morning, today, we have arrived in about getting the Asian carp popu- Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso- to fight for postal workers, lation under control and keeping them lution it shall be in order to consider in the out of our waters. House without intervention of any question the United States Postal Service, in of consideration the bill (H.R. 8015) to main- H.R. 8015. But I take this moment to Madam Speaker, I look forward to tain prompt and reliable postal services dur- acknowledge close to almost 175,000 working with them further on this im- ing the COVID–19 health emergency, and for dead Americans who have died from portant local issue. other purposes. All points of order against

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:52 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.007 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE August 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4257 consideration of the bill are waived. An the images of mailboxes uprooted. Oth- tration or its allies want to admit it or amendment in the nature of a substitute ers have been chained shut. Sorting not. consisting of the text of Rules Committee machines have disappeared. Mail serv- Before my friends on the other side Print 116-61, modified by the amendment ice has slowed to a crawl for some try to paint this issue as some kind of printed in the report of the Committee on liberal conspiracy, let me remind Rules accompanying this resolution, shall be Americans, threatening the delivery of considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, everything from medications to Social them: There is no money for hungry shall be considered as read. All points of Security checks. families here, although they badly need order against provisions in the bill, as Did you know, Madam Speaker, that it; there is no funding for State and amended, are waived. The previous question 80 percent of our veterans’ prescription local governments here, though they shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as medications are delivered by mail? are pleading with all of us for relief. We amended, and on any further amendment Why would anyone want to place their have already acted on all that. It is thereto, to final passage without intervening health in harm’s way? MITCH MCCONNELL over in the Senate motion except: (1) two hours of debate equal- Why, Madam Speaker? Because this who is determined to do absolutely ly divided and controlled by the chair and administration knows that more Amer- nothing. ranking minority member of the Committee All this bill does is get the Postal on Oversight and Reform; and (2) one motion icans than ever are likely to vote by to recommit with or without instructions. mail in November. The U.S. Postal Service back to where it was at the Service expects 10 times the normal start of the year and provide them with b 1030 amount of election mail because of the the resources they need, not just to The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- coronavirus pandemic. This President process an influx of ballots, but to con- tleman from Massachusetts is recog- fears that if more people vote, the less tinue delivering mail, including Ameri- nized for 1 hour. likely he is to win a second term. cans’ Social Security checks and medi- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, for Now, we all recently mourned the cations. It ensures that they are able the purpose of debate only, I yield the passing of our dear friend, the great to continue delivering to places in customary 30 minutes to the gen- John Lewis. Not too long ago, he stood rural America that their competitors tleman from Georgia (Mr. WOODALL), right here on this floor and he said: just don’t go, and it supports the Post- pending which I yield myself such time ‘‘When you see something that is not al Service’s more than 630,000 hard- as I may consume. During consider- right, not fair, not just, you have to working employees. And we all owe ation of this resolution, all time yield- speak up; you have to say something; them a debt of gratitude for their serv- ed is for the purpose of debate only. you have to do something.’’ ice, especially during this pandemic. GENERAL LEAVE Madam Speaker, what we are seeing Madam Speaker, if we don’t under- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I today cannot be dismissed as Donald mine and tear apart the Postal Service, ask unanimous consent that all Mem- being Donald or the President just con- then they can handle the increase in bers be given 5 legislative days to re- tinuing to be provocative. This is scary mail-in ballots. They handled two to vise and extend their remarks. stuff. It is frightening, and we have to three times the volume of mail and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there do something. packages at Christmastime, and they objection to the request of the gen- In the face of extraordinary public are determined to handle the volume of tleman from Massachusetts? pressure and action by this majority, election-related mail. But they need There was no objection. the Postmaster General promised to their equipment; they need to pay their Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, on halt further changes until after elec- workers; they need confidence that Friday, the Rules Committee met and tion day. But I have to tell you, I management won’t try to undercut reported a rule, House Resolution 1092, wouldn’t trust this administration to them on the job; and they need support providing for consideration of H.R. tell me the correct time. Not only was from this Congress, Democrats and Re- 8015, the Delivering for America Act, there nothing in his statement about publicans. under a closed rule. reversing the damage that has been al- That is it. This is all pretty bare The rule itself executes a manager’s ready done, there was nothing about bones, Madam Speaker. I don’t see why in the world that Republicans won’t amendment from Chairwoman MALO- reinstalling boxes or sorting machines join us on this. It shouldn’t be a radical NEY, provides 2 hours of general debate and nothing about treating election on the bill, equally divided and con- material as first-class mail. concept to suggest that, in the United trolled by the chair and ranking minor- But the Postmaster General made States of America, every vote should ity member of the Committee on Over- clear, since, that he has no intention of count, whether it is for , sight and Reform, and provides one mo- undoing what he has done. He doesn’t , or someone else. It shouldn’t be a tough call to sup- tion to recommit, with or without in- plan on lifting a finger. He said as port the United States Postal Service. structions. much in the Senate hearing yesterday. More than 90 percent of Americans Madam Speaker, we are here today He made clear that he didn’t even view this agency favorably because it because our democracy is being eroded study the impact of these changes on is their lifeline in so many ways. by this administration. It is under our seniors before they were imple- Madam Speaker, this is a five-alarm siege on all fronts. mented. He didn’t study the impact on fire on our democracy. I think our I read the report released this week our veterans first. Apparently, he just country is worth fighting for. I hope all by the Senate Intelligence Committee, made them, Madam Speaker, strug- my colleagues join together to help us a Republican-led committee. It was gling Americans be damned. save it. truly shocking. It found that some in This administration isn’t going to do Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- the President’s campaign created ‘‘no- a single thing about it, and this is why ance of my time. table counterintelligence vulnerabili- Congress must act. Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I ties.’’ Now, my friends on the other side yield myself such time as I may con- Make no mistake, they welcomed have tried to claim there is no problem sume. help from Russia, and they knowingly here. They have waved around charts Madam Speaker, I thank my friend used intelligence from Putin’s regime. that are weeks and weeks old to try to from Massachusetts for yielding, but While this report was released, the pretend that everything is just fine, that is probably where our agreement President continued to attack his po- that everything is just beautiful. is going to end today. litical enemies. He continued all of the Well, I don’t need some outdated sta- We are not here because democracy is lies. This week, he even floated the tistics to tell me what is going on under siege. We are here because the idea that America should hold a do- today, Madam Speaker. I don’t need Democratic House leadership is under- over of the upcoming election in No- empty rhetoric from the occupant of performing. We haven’t gotten appro- vember if he doesn’t like the outcome. the White House or Mr. DeJoy. My con- priations bills negotiated to the White Are you kidding me? stituents are my evidence. They have House. We haven’t gotten transpor- On top of this, this administration flooded my office with calls. They have tation bills negotiated to the White has moved to dismantle the United stopped me on the street. Something is House. We haven’t gotten water infra- States Postal Service. We have all seen happening here, whether this adminis- structure bills negotiated to the White

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:52 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22AU7.006 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4258 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 House. I can go on and on and on. And Massachusetts is absolutely right— back on overtime. Ninety Democrats, we are here today with yet another bill there are real crises that need to be ad- led by Congresswoman KATHERINE that there is absolutely no effort to ne- dressed. CLARK and me, already demanded his gotiate and send to the White House. I had hoped when we were called back immediate removal. Madam Speaker, you are going to on a Saturday, Madam Speaker, it Because, on top of this blatant voter hear more about Donald Trump today would have been to address one of suppression, Trump and DeJoy are than you are going to hear about the those crises. But the truth is, it is just hurting millions who depend on the Postal Service today, and that is be- the punctuation mark at the end of the Postal Service every day: seniors and cause we are not here about the Postal Democratic National Convention week. veterans waiting for lifesaving medica- Service. We are here for another round And to the leadership’s credit, they tions, families waiting for paychecks, of attacks on President Trump. scheduled it so that it wouldn’t inter- small businesses with delayed packages I get it. Folks don’t like President fere with the Republican National Con- whose very survival is already threat- Trump on this side of the aisle. I get it. vention next week. ened by COVID–19. Folks have concerns about President How convenient that our scheduling On Thursday, the Progressive Caucus Trump’s rhetoric on all sides of the was dictated by two political conven- held a hearing and heard from David aisle. tions, because that is the only reason Williams, the former vice president of But the Postal Service has $10 bil- that we are here today, Madam Speak- the Postal Service Board of Directors, lion. I asked the question yesterday, er: politics. who resigned in protest to Trump’s ac- Madam Speaker: For the $25 billion Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- tions. What he told us, unfortunately, bailout package we are here about ance of my time. shocked no one: that the Postal Serv- today, how much of that money are we Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I ice was fully prepared for mail voting going to spend this year? How much do yield myself such time as I may con- until this administration manufac- we need to protect the election infra- sume. tured an intentional crisis; that DeJoy structure my friend from Massachu- I am just getting a little sick and wasn’t selected by the firm that was setts just described? I couldn’t get an tired of all of the excuses as to why my hired to find a new Postmaster Gen- answer. Folks didn’t know an answer. Republican friends don’t want to join eral, but he was the only candidate Conveniently, we are going to have us in helping the American people. interviewed and was unqualified to lead the Postmaster General called before My friend mentioned the appropria- the Postal Service; and that Steve the House for a hearing for these an- tions bills. Well, with all due respect, Mnuchin sought intrusive control over swers in about 48 hours. About 2 days we passed almost all of them here in core Postal Service operations and after we have passed this bill, we are the House. My friend, the Republican wanted to impose a pricing practice going to get all the answers about why leader in the Senate, hasn’t done a that would ruin the Postal Service. this bill may or may not be necessary. damn thing, hasn’t passed one. This chaos is not the result of a pan- What my friend from Massachusetts We passed the HEROES Act, which demic. This chaos was manufactured said—I have gotten pessimistic, in would have helped the Postal Service, by the administration and is inten- light of our 6-hour Rules Committee which would have provided relief to tional. hearing yesterday. I actually agree cities and towns, which would have That is why Congress is acting today. with my friend from Massachusetts on provided assistance to those in this We are reversing Louis DeJoy’s disas- much more. He is right that we owe a country who are going hungry. The trous actions and providing the Postal thank-you to our men and women of Senate majority leader hasn’t done a Service with the funding it so des- the Postal Service for the work that damn thing, not anything, hasn’t lifted perately needs. We won’t let anyone they are doing. a finger for anybody. And we have even dismantle our Postal Service. The The previous Postmaster General agreed to meet him halfway. He still Postal Service belongs to the people. came to Congress in the spring, worried won’t negotiate. 1045 that mail volume was going to collapse On an infrastructure bill, we passed b and the Postal Service was going to an infrastructure bill here. Negotiate Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I enter a period of financial instability. with the Senate? They haven’t passed a yield myself 1 minute. The truth, Madam Speaker, is just the damn thing. It is malpractice. If politi- Ordinarily, I am concerned that I opposite. Postal office deliveries have cians could be sued for malpractice, only have 30 minutes for Rule Com- exploded. Folks are doing e-commerce then the Senate majority leader would mittee debate, but the lunacy that we like never before. Our men and women be sued. This is ridiculous. are hearing down here today makes me of the Postal Service are working hard- And here we are with a crisis in the glad that we are going to be done with er than ever before, delivering more Postal Service. Mail has slowed down this in 30 minutes. packages today than they were 6 all across the country. Members are Madam Speaker, you know when Eli- months ago. And we owe them a big, getting calls, including Republican jah Cummings chaired the committee big thank-you for their work during Members. And what is the response? and MARK MEADOWS was the ranking these times. My friend from Massachu- Oh, well, we will just let it go. You member, now President Trump’s chief setts is right: It is a lifeline for so know, we will say we need to do better. of staff, we came together to do Postal many families. We will deal with this another day. Service reforms because we all know Madam Speaker, it is an election This is ridiculous, it is unconscion- the Postal Service needs to be re- year. Who believes that serving their able, and I am tired of the excuses. formed. We all know this. We could do constituents comes from denying vet- Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to it today, if it was about Postal Service erans access to prescription drugs? No- the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. reform, if it was about Postal Service body. If that is what this was about, we POCAN). improvement, but it is not. would have gotten together, Repub- Mr. POCAN. Madam Speaker, this What is the solution today? Throw licans and Democrats, House and Sen- President is on a warpath to destroy more money at a problem. We don’t ate, Congress and the White House, and the Postal Service and, through that, trust the Postmaster General, the we would be moving legislation in a co- our elections. other side says. We don’t trust the operative way. After months of hearing this Presi- President, the other side says. So what We heard from the ranking Repub- dent, and now Republican Members of is the solution to the manufactured lican yesterday on the committee. He Congress, spread conspiracy theories crisis? Give $25 billion to the Post- wasn’t consulted in these conversa- and misinformation about voting by master General and the President of tions. He wasn’t brought in to these mail, he has made GOP megadonor the United States. conversations. There are no Republican Louis DeJoy his new chief of chaos in In response to my assertion that this amendments here. There is no con- voter suppression. House is a do-nothing Congress because versation going on with the Senate. In an attack on the Postal Service, it fails to negotiate with the Senate This is another wasteful partisan exer- DeJoy has removed mail processing and the White House, my friend from cise in a time when—my friend from equipment, collection boxes, and cut Massachusetts lists half a dozen bills

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.011 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE August 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4259 that this House passed unilaterally But the context is that overall mail volume According to House Speaker , with no effort to negotiate with the has fallen 33% since 2006. ‘‘They’ve been tak- DeJoy is a ‘‘complicit crony’’ aiding Trump’s Senate or negotiate with the White ing machines out of service for years now, effort to sabotage American democracy. She and I’ve been encouraging them to do it believes the two have hatched a plot to delay House. more aggressively,’’ says Hamilton Davison, mail-in voting and disenfranchise countless Madam Speaker, if what we want to the president of the American Catalog Mail- Americans prior to the election. do is come and talk, we have a wonder- ers Association. ‘‘I think that’s a good thing Protesters over the weekend showed up at ful Chamber in which to do it. If what for America, because we don’t want to pay DeJoy’s Washington apartment and North we want to do is come in and get some- for stuff that we don’t need.’’ Carolina home. Two Democratic congress- thing done, it can only get done to- Mr. Kearney, who now runs the Alliance of men have called for a criminal inquiry into gether. This is yet another example of Nonprofit Mailers, concurs. ‘‘It’s obvious, to his changes at the postal service, and he will be efficient and not waste money, you need testify at a House hearing next week. the House leadership’s failure to oper- to take out some of that capacity,’’ he says. In tried and true fashion, President Trump ate in a partnership fashion. His group has similarly been urging produc- has stoked suspicions by saying that he op- Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to tivity improvements, ‘‘because if they don’t poses a $25 billion postal-service bailout in the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. do that, our postage rates are going to go the latest Democratic COVID-relief bill. Ac- COLE), one of the greatest negotiators way up.’’ A leaked USPS document floating cording to Trump, blocking this measure— in the House, a gentleman who has a in the online ether is titled ‘‘Equipment Re- and $3 billion in election aid to the states— long history of bipartisanship, and duction.’’ But it’s dated May 15, and Mr. will prevent universal mail-in voting. DeJoy took over June 15. But the bailout doesn’t have anything to thus, legislative success, the ranking Another claim is that the USPS is pulling do with mail-in voting, and given the billions member of the Rules Committee. blue collection bins off the street en masse. of pieces of mail handled by the post office Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I want to ‘‘They’re going around literally with tractor every week, it surely can handle the in- thank my good friend for yielding and trailers picking up mailboxes,’’ Joe Biden creased volume from mail-in voting. very much appreciate his leadership on said last week. ‘‘I mean, it’s bizarre!’’ The It is true that Postmaster General DeJoy USPS says it has nearly 142,000 boxes across is a major Trump donor. He made his fortune our committee. in shipping and logistics, though, and he was Madam Speaker, I want to rise to op- the country, which are adjusted as volume and costs dictate. In August 2016, the USPS’s selected by the postal service’s board of gov- pose both the rule and the underlying Inspector General said that ‘‘the number of ernors. legislation. collection boxes declined by more than 12,000 Little did he know when he took over the Before I do, though, I include in the in the past 5 years.’’ Voter suppression by agency in June that he’d soon have a star- RECORD four newspaper articles dis- the Obama Administration? ring role in the country’s latest psycho- cussing the majority’s concern about Alarmed Twitter users last week posted a drama. Every change at the postal service is photo of mailboxes on a flatbed truck in New now seen through the prism of a belief that the Postal Service. The first is a Wall the agency is a tool of creeping Street Journal editorial; a column by Jersey. Oops: ‘‘Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty said the mailboxes were being re- authoritarianism. Rich Lowry appearing in the placed with new anti-fishing boxes,’’ the Letter collection boxes are being re- Post; a column by Byron York, appear- local newspaper explained. On Monday the moved—never mind that this has been an on- ing in the Washington Examiner; and a USPS said it would postpone this security going process for years. Underused boxes are column by Ruth Goldway, a former upgrade for 90 days ‘‘while we evaluate our decommissioned or moved to higher-traffic commissioner of the Postal Service, customers’ concerns’’—in other words, to areas. In 2009, reported keep jittery partisans on the internet from that 200,000 boxes had been shelved over the appearing in . prior two decades. In 2016, the inspector gen- All four articles make it clear that losing their minds before Nov. 3. Mr. DeJoy is being knocked for trying to eral noted that another 12,000 collection the majority’s reasons for bringing this cut overtime costs. But is it any wonder? boxes had been cut over the previous five legislation, frankly, are ludicrous, and The day he was sworn in, the Inspector Gen- years. that what they are proposing actually eral reported that in 2019 the post office Letter collection boxes all of the sudden will make it more difficult to reform. ‘‘spent $1.1 billion in mail processing over- have big red locks on them—well, yeah, as an off-hours device to prevent the theft of mail, [From the Wall Street Journal, Aug. 17, 2020] time and penalty overtime, $280 million in late and extra transportation, and $2.9 bil- something the service has also done for NANCY PELOSI GOES POLITICALLY POSTAL lion in delivery overtime and penalty over- years. (By the Editorial Board) time costs.’’ For context, the USPS’s overall The postal service is deactivating mail- Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House loss that year was $8.8 billion. sorting machines—right, and there was a back into session this week to address fears Mrs. Pelosi is trying to put on a political plan for this prior to DeJoy becoming post- that the U.S. Postal Service is being infil- show, starring Democrats as the saviors of master general, and it has been long dis- trated by alien lizard people posing as letter the post office. She says she wants to pass a cussed in response to the declining volume of carriers. OK, it isn’t quite that bad. The ac- bill that ‘‘prohibits the Postal Service from mail. DeJoy is cutting back on overtime—indeed tual conspiracy theory holds that President implementing any changes to operations or he is, because artificially swollen overtime is Trump is strangling the USPS to hack the level of service it had in place on January 1.’’ an enormous expense that he hopes to elimi- November election. Also in the mix may be a $25 billion cash in- fusion. Then Chuck Schumer will demand nate with a more rational delivery system. But talk about ‘‘unsubstantiated,’’ as the Democrats and much of the media make it that the Senate come back to town for the press likes to call Donald Trump’s Twitter sound as though the post office was an effi- same vote. By the way the letter-carriers emissions. Democrats should be deeply em- cient, smooth-running agency before DeJoy union endorsed Joe Biden on the weekend. barrassed that their leadership has embraced took charge and then, at Trump’s behest, such claims. Two Congressmen, including This is a made-for-TV phony political cri- sis. The USPS has long-term challenges, but transformed it into place struggling to keep Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem up with broadbased changes in how we com- Jeffries, wrote to the FBI on Monday to enough money to last into 2021. Mr. DeJoy says there’s ‘‘ample capacity to deliver all municate. urge, if you can believe it, a criminal inves- In reality, the post office has lost nearly election mail.’’ Some states have startlingly tigation of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. $80 billion since 2007, and it lost more than $2 lax ballot deadlines, but can pretend ‘‘This conspiracy theory is the most far- billion last quarter. Unless the service finds with a straight face that it’s the post office’s flung thing I think I’ve ever heard,’’ says a way to innovate, it is headed for bank- fault. Democrats have also scheduled a hear- Stephen Kearney, who worked at the USPS ruptcy. for 33 years, including as treasurer and a sen- ing for next Monday so they can yell at Mr. This is the impetus for DeJoy’s reforms, ior vice president. ‘‘DeJoy was not appointed DeJoy in person. How long before Rep. Adam which should be welcomed by all the people by President Trump,’’ but by the USPS’s bi- Schiff says it’s another Russia-Donald now caterwauling about how essential the partisan governors. (Who, as it happens, se- Trump conspiracy to steal the election? post office is to the American way of life. lected him unanimously.) DeJoy has been adamant that the postal [Aug. 17, 2020] ‘‘You can find valid operational reasons for service will do its job regarding mail-in bal- the actions taken by the Postal Service so THE LEFT’S LUNATIC ‘POSTAL’ CONSPIRACY lots. The post office’s recent warnings to far,’’ says Mike Plunkett, another longtime THEORY states that they should be mindful of how USPS executive who now leads the Associa- (By Rich Lowry) quickly ballots can be delivered were played tion for Postal Commerce. ‘‘In no way do I At this rate, Postmaster General Louis up as yet another assault on mail-in bal- detect any criminality behind them, and I’m DeJoy will be lucky if he isn’t arrested and loting. To the contrary, they were intended at a loss as to how one would reach that con- tried for treason before a people’s tribunal. to avoid unrealistically late deadlines for clusion.’’ DeJoy has quickly replaced Vladimir Putin mail-in voting that could create a train- The Democratic letter to the FBI cites as the man that progressive opinion will hold wreck in November. news reports that the USPS is decommis- responsible if Trump wins a second term in But in their inflamed state, Democrats sioning hundreds of mail-sorting machines. November. want a villain—if not a foreign potentate,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.013 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4260 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 then the guy in charge of delivering the for the blind and overseas balloting in elec- deal with some of the Postal Service’s sys- mail. tions. temic problems with a pilot program to The Postal Service has lost money for a make deliveries more efficient while reduc- [From the Washington Examiner] very long time. In fiscal year 2019, it had op- ing the Postal Service’s crippling overtime A REALITY-BASED LOOK AT TRUMP AND THE erating revenues of $71.1 billion and oper- costs, which added up to more than $1 billion POST OFFICE ating expenses of $79.9 billion, leaving it with in fiscal year 2018. (By Byron York) a deficit of $8.8 billion. At the moment, Post- In the past, postal delivery worked this al Service officials have told Congress, it has way: A worker would arrive in the morning The news is filled with reports of President about $14 billion in cash on hand, putting it and work on various things in the office— Trump’s ‘‘assault’’ on the U.S. Postal Serv- on the road to fiscal insolvency (without fur- sorting mail, handling holds on mail, waiting ice. The president, Democrats and some in ther aid) in late 2021. for incoming mail to arrive to prepare for de- the media say, is deliberately slowing mail In the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Eco- livery. That often involved waiting around delivery and crippling the Postal Service so nomic Security Act, or CARES Act, the $2 for hours and then starting an actual deliv- that it cannot handle an anticipated flood of trillion relief measure passed in March, Con- ery route later in the day. Once started, a voting by mail in the presidential election. gress gave the Postal Service a $10 billion route has to be finished, and that involved Former President Barack Obama said Trump borrowing authority. After the bill became workers going into overtime as they deliv- is trying to ‘‘actively kneecap’’ the Postal law, there were negotiations between the ered through their route as evening ap- Service to suppress the vote. Speaker Nancy Postal Service and the Treasury Department proached. Pelosi has called the House back into session on the terms of the borrowing; a deal was an- DeJoy’s plan, now being implemented in a this week and has set an ‘‘urgent hearing’’ nounced in July. The ability to borrow $10 pilot program in about 200 cities, is called for Aug. 24, demanding Postmaster General billion, the postmaster general said, would Expedited to Street/Afternoon Sortation, or Louis DeJoy and the head of the Postal Serv- ‘‘delay the approaching liquidity crisis.’’ ESAS. Under it, a worker would arrive in the ice Board of Governors testify ‘‘to address That was all the aid for the Postal Service morning, collect all the mail that was ready the sabotage of the Postal Service.’’ in the CARES Act. Completely separately, to go out, and head out for delivery—‘‘re- Some of the accusations have grown so the bill also gave $400 million to something trieve, load, and go.’’ Then, after finishing frantic that they resemble the frenzy of a called the Election Assistance Commission the delivery route, the carrier would return couple of years ago over the allegation, from for distribution to states to ‘‘prevent, pre- to the office and do in the afternoon the of- many of the same people, that Trump had pare for, and respond to coronavirus, domes- fice work that used to be done in the morn- conspired with Russia to fix the 2016 elec- tically or internationally, for the 2020 federal ing. That way, when the end of his or her tion. Now, it’s the Postal Service. But what election cycle.’’ shift arrived, that would be the end of the actually is going on? Here is a brief look at The next mega-relief package, a $3 trillion workday, with no overtime incurred. Mail some of the issues involved. bill known as the Health and Economic Re- that arrived to the office in the afternoon, 142.5 BILLION PIECES OF MAIL cover Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or while the carrier was doing office work, The idea that the Postal Service will not HEROES Act, was passed by the House in would be delivered in the next morning’s be able to handle the volume of mail in the May by a vote of 208 to 199. The winning route. It would be ready and waiting when election, or not be able to handle it within total of 208 votes was comprised of 207 Demo- the carrier arrived for ‘‘retrieve, load, and normal Postal Service time guidelines, does crats and one Republican. Fourteen Demo- go.’’ not make much sense. According to its most crats and one independent voted against the The effect to customers would be that mail recent annual report, last year, in fiscal year measure. The bill has so far gone nowhere in that was delivered to the office in the after- 2019, the Postal Service handled 142.5 billion the Republican-controlled Senate. noon would be delivered the next morning, pieces of mail. ‘‘On a typical day, our 633,000 The House HEROES Act would give $25 bil- instead of that evening. The effect to the employees physically process and deliver 471 lion to the Postal Service in what is essen- Postal Service would be to save an enormous million mailpieces to nearly 160 million de- tially a bailout. The bill mentions nothing amount of money in overtime. livery points,’’ the report says. This year, about helping the Postal Service handle the In addition, there have been reports of the that number is higher, given the Postal upcoming election or any other election. In- Postal Service removing collection boxes Service’s delivery of census forms and stim- deed, the only stipulation at all placed on and sorting machines. While some Demo- ulus checks. Those alone added about 450 the $25 billion is that the Postal Service, crats and journalists have portrayed that as million additional pieces of mail. ‘‘during the coronavirus emergency, shall another effort toward voter suppression, the In 2016, about 136 million Americans voted prioritize the purchase of, and make avail- fact is the number of letters the Postal Serv- in the presidential election. The number will able to all Postal Service employees and fa- ice handles each year has declined for 20 probably be a bit higher this year. If officials cilities, personal protective equipment, in- years since the arrival of email. In those last sent ballots to every single American reg- cluding gloves, masks, and sanitizers, and two decades, the Postal Service has istered to vote, about 158 million people, and shall conduct additional cleaning and sani- downsized its capabilities as the number of then 140 million people returned ballots, the tizing of Postal Service facilities and deliv- letters handled has decreased. Here is how roughly 298 million pieces of mail handled ery vehicles.’’ If the House Democrats who the Washington Post described the situation, over the course of several weeks would be wrote and passed the bill intended the money specifically concerning sorting machines: well within the Postal Service’s ability to to be spent specifically for elections, they ‘‘Purchased when letters not packages made handle. Of course, officials will not send a did not say so in the text of the legislation. up a greater share of postal work, the bulky ballot to every American registered to vote, Separate from the Postal Service provi- and aging machines can be expensive to and not every voter will vote by mail. What- sions, the bill would give $3.6 billion to the maintain and take up floor space postal lead- ever the final number is, the ballots that are Election Assistance Commission for distribu- ers say would be better devoted to boxes. Re- cast by mail will not cripple a system that tion to states ‘‘for contingency planning, moving underused machines would make the delivers 471 million pieces of mail every day. preparation, and resilience of elections for overall system more efficient, postal leaders There are, of course, compelling examples federal office.’’ There has been some confu- say. The Postal Service has cut back on of election dysfunction, most notably the sion about that; some discussion of the cur- mail-sorting equipment for years since mail mess New York made of some of its congres- rent controversy has left the impression that volume began to decline in the 2000s.’’ sional primaries this summer. But rather Democrats want $3.6 billion for the Postal Some Democrats have characterized the than representing a Postal Service problem, Service for the election. In fact, the $3.6 bil- current reform efforts, much needed in an that was because some states are unprepared lion would be for the states’ election use. In agency losing so much money, as part of the for a dramatic increase of voting by mail. neither the CARES Act, which is now law, president’s master plan to steal the election. The states have to prepare the ballots, ad- nor the HEROES Act, which has been passed But together, the Expedited to Street/After- dress them, and process and count them by the House but not the Senate, is there noon Sortation program and the cutback in when the Postal Service delivers them. That any money given to the Postal Service spe- sorting capacity would seem to be reasonable is the focus of the entirely legitimate fears cifically for the election. In any event, the measures of the type the Postal Service of a possible vote-counting disaster this Postal Service has the capacity to handle needs to implement, and indeed has been im- year. But it’s not the Postal Service. the election and does not need any addi- plementing over the years. Yet this is what $25 BILLION FOR WHAT? tional money specifically to do the job. Democrats, and some of their allies in the press, have labeled as an ‘‘assault’’ on the Some news reports have left the impres- THE LATEST REFORM PROPOSAL Postal Service. sion that the Postal Service will not be able Whatever its other concerns at the mo- to handle mail-in ballots without an imme- ment, the Postal Service does have chronic NIGHTMARE SCENARIOS diate infusion of money from Congress. That financial problems. This year, Trump chose Many news accounts have included stories is not the case. DeJoy, who made a fortune in shipping and of Americans suffering from interruptions in The Postal Service is not funded by a reg- logistics and whose former company was a Postal Service deliveries. For example, a ular appropriation. It is, instead, an ‘‘inde- contractor of the Postal Service for many story in the New York Times headlined pendent agency’’ and is expected to support years, as the new postmaster general. (DeJoy ‘‘Postal Crisis Ripples Across Nation As itself, beyond a yearly appropriation of is also a major donor to Republicans and the Election Looms’’ included the story of Vic- about $55 million to cover the costs of mail Trump campaign.) DeJoy has attempted to toria Brownworth, a freelance journalist in

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22AU7.015 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE August 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4261 Philadelphia. ‘‘For Ms. Brownworth, who weaponization of the U.S. Postal Service for The bottom line was that Trump made a was paralyzed four years ago, the mail is her the president’s electoral purposes.’’ mess of the issue. He didn’t make a case lifeline,’’ the New York Times said, ‘‘deliv- TRUMP CONFUSES EVERYTHING against universal mail-in voting, which does ering prescriptions and checks and mail-in not exist in the United States. He didn’t Despite the heated rhetoric, many of the ballots to her Philadelphia home. But that make clear why Democrats wanted $25 bil- Postal Service’s problems are relatively lifeline has snapped. She said she had re- lion for the post office. He suggested that clear, if extremely difficult to solve. In the ceived mail just twice in the past three not agreeing to the $25 billion was a way to context of the upcoming election, Trump has weeks, and she dreaded November’s election, stop universal mail-in voting, which it is repeatedly added confusion to the situation, worried that her ballot would suffer the not. He didn’t address the serious problems most recently with extended discussions in a same fate as the oxygen tube that she or- at the Postal Service which need attention television interview on Thursday and a press dered three weeks ago—and that had still and do not have anything to do with voting. conference on Friday. not arrived.’’ In all, he left the issue more confused than it Other news reports have included many In the press conference, Trump was asked, ‘‘If the Democrats were to give you some of had been beforehand—and that was saying other examples. They are largely, if not en- something. tirely, anecdotal. While each is serious for what you want . . . would you be willing to DEMOCRATS SMELL VICTORY the person involved, at the moment, it is im- accept the $25 billion for the Postal Service, possible to tell how much of a national prob- including the three and a half billion dollars On Friday, the Washington Post published lem they represent. People who keep track of to handle mail-in voting?’’ As has happened a story headlined ‘‘Trump’s assault on the the Postal Service suspect that many of the many times in this controversy, the question U.S. Postal Service gives Democrats a new stories are rooted in workforce availability conflated the Democrats’ proposal for $25 bil- campaign message.’’ Put aside the casual use problems related to the coronavirus pan- lion for the Postal Service and the request of the word ‘‘assault.’’ The fact is, Pelosi, demic, plus the changes in operations (for for $3.6 billion for the Election Assistance Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and example, closing a facility to clean it during Commission. In any event, Trump answered, other top Democrats are jumping on the an outbreak) that have become part of life ‘‘Sure, if they give us what we want.’’ He Postal Service controversy with both feet. during the pandemic. The Postal Service then began to elaborate on other policy pri- ‘‘Democrats are already blanketing the air- would not be the only large organization orities. waves, latching on to the opportunity to that has found it impossible to operate as ‘‘So, if they were to give you that, you highlight support [for the Postal Service],’’ usual during the crisis. would sign off for the money for the Postal the paper reported. Obama has joined in, There is also the fact that the Postal Serv- Service?’’ tweeting that seniors and veterans and small ice does, on occasion, fail to deliver the mail. ‘‘Yeah, but they’re not giving it to me,’’ businesses ‘‘can’t be collateral damage for an In its annual reports, it includes data on Trump said. ‘‘They’re giving it to the Amer- administration more concerned with sup- ‘‘performance outcomes.’’ For example, for ican people.’’ pressing the vote than suppressing a virus.’’ first-class mail, which is the type of mail ‘‘But if they were to agree to that—‘‘ The Democratic commentariat cheered and that would be most employed for election ‘‘Yeah, I would,’’ Trump said. ‘‘I would cer- signaled it is ready to press the issue until purposes, the goal in fiscal year 2019 was to tainly do that. Sure, I would do that. Yeah.’’ election day. ‘‘Trump donor & Postmaster deliver 96% of letters in one to three busi- The next day, Friday, Trump spoke to Fox General Louis DeJoy should be in the cross- ness days. Its actual performance was 92%. News’s Maria Bartiromo. ‘‘They [Democrats] hairs of every relevant congressional com- So 8% of first-class letters were not delivered want $3.5 billion for the mail-in votes, OK, mittee, inspector general, prosecutor, inves- on time. Now, consider that the Postal Serv- universal mail-in ballots, $3.5 billion,’’ tigative journalist, whistleblower, class ac- ice handled 54.9 billion pieces of first-class Trump said. ‘‘They want $25 billion for the tion lawyer, editorial board, etc. etc. etc.,’’ mail in fiscal year 2019. That is more than 4 post office. Now, they need that money in tweeted former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. billion pieces of first-class mail that were order to have the post office work so it can No doubt that is precisely what will happen not delivered on time. And that, in a fraught take all of these millions and millions of bal- in the Democratic world and some major political situation, could be the basis for a lots. Now in the meantime, they aren’t get- media outlets between now and Nov. 3. But lot of anecdotes in news articles. ting there. By the way, those are just two shouldn’t someone, sometime take a look at Many of those anecdotes, by the way, ap- items. But if they don’t get those two items, what is actually happening? pear to have made it to the media with the that means you can’t have universal mail-in help of the Postal Service unions. There are voting because they’re not equipped to have [From the New York Times, Aug. 18, 2020] two major unions representing Postal Serv- it.’’ I WAS A POSTAL SERVICE REGULATOR FOR 18 ice workers. On Friday, the largest postal In fact, while the $3.5 billion proposal for YEARS. DON’T PANIC. union, the National Association of Letter the Election Assistance Commission (it is (By Ruth Y. Goldway) Carriers, endorsed Democratic candidate Joe actually $3.6 billion) is specifically for the President Trump has threatened to with- Biden for president. In June, another union, purpose of facilitating mail-in voting, the $25 hold funds from the United States Postal the American Postal Workers Union, en- billion for the Postal Service is basically a Service. The new postmaster general, Louis dorsed Biden as well. In 2016, both unions en- bailout. In April, the previous postmaster DeJoy, has embarked on cost-cutting meas- dorsed Hillary Clinton. In 2008 and 2012, both general, , citing a ‘‘steep ures to eliminate overtime and remove sort- unions endorsed Barack Obama. In 2004, they drop’’ in mail volume during the coronavirus ing machines. These actions have created endorsed John Kerry. And so on. crisis, had asked for far more—$75 billion. worries that Americans, reluctant to walk One more note about delivery times. A few The Postal Service didn’t get anywhere near into voting booths because of Covid–19, will days ago, the Washington Post published a that much money in the first relief bill, the be unable to vote by mail this year. story headlined ‘‘Postal Service warns 46 CARES Act—just $10 billion in borrowing au- I served as a regulator of the Postal Serv- states their voters could be disenfranchised thority. So when the second relief mega-bill ice for nearly 18 years under three presidents by delayed mail-in ballots.’’ The paper ob- came up, Democrats threw in $25 billion for and I urge everyone to be calm. Don’t fall tained letters from Postal Service leadership the Postal Service. It was not about mail-in prey to the alarmists on both sides of this to various states informing them that some voting. (On Sunday morning, White House debate. The Postal Service is not incapaci- of their election deadlines are ‘‘incongruous chief of staff Mark Meadows, who as a con- tated. It is still fully capable of delivering with the Postal Service’s delivery stand- gressman followed postal issues closely, said the mail. The focus of our collective con- ards.’’ The resulting ‘‘mismatch,’’ the Postal the administration offered House Democrats cerns should be on how the Postal Service Service said, ‘‘creates a risk that ballots re- $10 billion for the Postal Service.) can improve the speed of delivery for elec- quested near the deadline under state law Nevertheless, the president connected the tion mail. will not be returned by mail in time to be two and suggested that the Postal Service First, the president is wrong about the counted under your laws as we understand needed the $25 billion, and the Election As- Postal Service’s finances. While the agency them.’’ In other words, several states are not sistance Commission needed $3.5 billion, to indeed has financial problems, as a result of giving the Postal Service long enough to de- handle ballots in the election, and that he a huge increase in packages being sent liver a ballot to a voter and then deliver the would not give it to them for that very rea- through the system and a credit line through filled-in ballot to the state election board. son. the CARES Act, it has access to about $25 For example, if a state’s law allows a voter ‘‘How would you like to have $3.5 billion, billion in cash. Its own forecasts predict that to request a ballot seven days before the gen- billion, for mail-in voting?’’ Trump asked. it will have enough money to operate into eral election but also requires that votes ‘‘So, if you don’t have it—do you know how 2021. must be received by election day to be count- much money that is? Nobody has any idea The Postal Service’s shaky financial situa- ed—that would be a recipe for a lot of votes . . . Oh, $3.5 billion. They want $25 billion for tion has to do in large part with the drop in not being counted. It was an entirely reason- the Post Office because the Post Office is first-class mail (typically used for letters), able concern on the part of the Postal Serv- going to have to go to town to get these ri- about 30 percent less than a decade ago. But ice, and it is a problem more for the states diculous ballots in . . . Now, if we don’t the service’s expensive, overbuilt infrastruc- than the Postal Service. Yet media discus- make a deal, that means they don’t get the ture can absorb the addition of more mail in sion of the story suggested it was just an- money. That means they can’t have uni- 2020—including election mail that is mailed other chapter in what one source in the versal mail-in voting. They just can’t have to and sent back by every voter in every Washington Post account called ‘‘the it.’’ state.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22AU7.016 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4262 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 The new postmaster general’s management son. It is a silly rule. It actually vio- open right now all across the country. team still includes many knowledgeable and lates the rules that my friends passed My friends passed $100 billion in the seasoned executives. And the Postal Service at the beginning of this Congress. The HEROES Act for it. The President said, has over 500,000 employees who are remark- legislation before us has not gone actually, we think it would take about ably honest, dedicated and used to working through emergencies: hurricanes, snow through any committee, has not been $105 billion. Put that on this and help storms, social unrest and pandemics. marked up, has not been debated, has every school district in America. But While the Postal Service has contemplated not been amended. my friends chose not to do that, but if many different approaches to modernizing My friend said at the beginning of you do, it will pass here, it will pass and improving efficiency, there has not been the Congress they wouldn’t bring legis- the Senate, and the President would a consensus on how much the service should lation like that to the floor, they con- sign it. reduce costs. It is not at all surprising that veniently waived that rule yesterday. Let’s talk about unemployment. The Mr. DeJoy’s choice of particularly visible So here it comes with no committee President said, hey, we think the $600 cuts has raised alarms. The Office of the Inspector General of the procedure or markup. We had a number extra is a little high, but while we are Postal Service has agreed to a review of the of amendments, Madam Speaker, that negotiating, by the way, we will keep changes. And Congress has been called back were presented to the committee, none paying it. My friends on the other side to conduct its own review next week, restore of them were made in order. said, no, they can do without the $600. trust in the institution and ensure that vot- I offered an amendment for what is And then the President said, well, we ing by mail proceeds smoothly. called an open rule, where any Member think $200 is the right number, but we Given that there is enough money and per- could come down here and put forward can go to $400. Put that on here. Every haps more if the president agrees to addi- what they thought would be a better unemployed person in America would tional bailout funds; that there is plenty of capacity in the system; and that voting by idea since we had no opportunity to do get $400 a week. Right now, thanks to mail can alleviate a health threat to the na- that in committee. That too was re- the Speaker and the minority leader in tion, the Postal Service should be made to jected. the , they are get- handle all election mail as if it were first- So this rule is a take-it-or-leave-it ting zero. The only help they are get- class mail. This is where the policy discus- ultimatum from the majority, and it ting is from the President who is using sions surrounding the Postal Service should means you can pass it in the House, but Herculean executive orders to try and settle. it is not going anywhere else. get them some additional relief. Most election-related mail is sent at non- Now, let’s turn to the bill itself. My So this is a joke. This is, as my profit rates. The 1993 National Voter Reg- friends say that—we are going to hear istration Act requires the Postal Service to friend the distinguished Member from charge state and local election offices the a lot of bad things about the Post- Georgia said, a theatrical moment same price for postage as nonprofit mailers. master General in the course of the punctuating the two conventions, the The Postal Service has a history of providing morning. I have never met him. I don’t Democratic Convention and leading extra care and attention to election-related know him. The people that do know into ours. No legislation is going to mail, on the level of first-class mail: usually him say that he is a really good guy, happen because my friends aren’t seri- two to four days for delivery. A special logo but I don’t know. We are going to hear ous about legislation. and bar code identifiers were created so that a lot of terrible things about him. But No money is going to get to the post mail sorters were able to pull election mail at the end of the day my friends are out from the routine mail stream to be sure office because it can’t pass the Senate, it was delivered as soon as possible. going to vote to give him $25 billion, and the post office doesn’t need it any- But a recent letter sent by Thomas J. Mar- and they are going to do it in a bill way. So we are going to have an enter- shall, the general counsel for the Postal that has no reforms in it, just says you taining couple of hours. Fortunately, it Service, to election officials around the can’t change anything. Now, how smart is on a Saturday morning, so I don’t country seems to suggest that election mail is that? think very many Americans are going will now be treated like regular nonprofit You can’t change anything in an in- to waste their time listening to this. mail (typically three to 10 days for delivery) stitution that is losing $8 to $9 billion When my friends want to get serious, and may take as long as 15 days. This is not every single year. We don’t trust the acceptable. when they want to negotiate, when The Postal Service has the capacity to en- person who heads this, but we are going they want to move something to the sure that ballots sent to voters arrive on to give him $25 billion. Do we need that floor, we will be ready. time and that ballots dropped into the sys- money? Absolutely not. The post office With that, Madam Speaker, I urge re- tem by voters are postmarked and delivered tells us they have $15 billion on hand, jection to the rule and rejection of the in times that accord with state and local they have access to a $10 billion line of bill. guidelines. In their meeting with Congress credit that will more than take them Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I next week, the leaders of the Postal Service for a year from now. So we don’t need yield myself such time as I may con- should guarantee that election mail will con- to be spending this money right now. It sume. tinue to be treated as first-class mail. The Congress should agree that there will be no is a silly, silly bill. Madam Speaker, I would love to additional financial support for the Postal But I want to give my friends some spend weeks and weeks discussing this Service without this promise. free political advice. They want to pass in committee, but the truth is that is But state and local election officials must this bill. They want to get it through what the Trump administration wants, also recognize the possibilities of delays and the Senate. They want to get it to the to run out the clock before the Novem- plan for earlier mailings so there will be President’s desk. They want to get it ber elections. So trust in our democ- more days for ballots to be returned. Voters signed. I believe that. If that is true, racy is undermined, and they can act must be reminded to send in requests for bal- make it bigger. Do exactly what my like there is some conspiracy if he lots, change of address, voter registration forms and especially filled-out ballots as friend, the distinguished chairman of loses. early as possible. the committee said, let’s put some I have heard my friends on the other The Postal Service does indeed need a bail- stuff in it that we agree on. side of the aisle talk about process, but out from Congress so that it can be counted The President of the United States I really question their judgment here. on to deliver the mail, medicines and other says, I think every family in America They thought that dealing with cheese vital products for years to come. It needs that makes less than $75,000 a year was such a national emergency last funds to rebuild its more than 30,000 post of- needs help right now, they need $1,200 Congress that they used emergency fices and aging vehicle fleet to reduce its re- per adult, $500 per kid, that would be powers to bring a bill on that topic to liance on temporary workers and to broaden $3,400, a one-time payment for a family the range of services it provides. But these the floor during a government shut- problems do not affect this year’s election. of four. Attach that to this, it would down no less. Americans must continue to support the pass the floor unanimously in a bipar- But today, as seniors can’t get life- Postal Service, whose existence is enshrined tisan fashion and be picked up by the saving medications and our veterans in our Constitution, by using its vote-by- Senate. And the President said, can’t get social security checks, they mail services to save lives now and to pro- through his chief of staff, I will sign want to hit pause. Our Postal Service tect our democracy in the future. something like that. is in chaos. Give me a break. Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I rise to You could do something a little bit You know, my friends say they don’t oppose the rule for a very simple rea- different. We are all having our schools know who the Postmaster General is.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22AU7.018 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE August 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4263 Let me tell you who he is. He is like gent. We need $25 billion, and we need responsible for delivering about 90 percent of the least qualified candidate for the to do it now. I ask my colleagues to all VA mail order prescriptions, has indeed job. He is a big, mega donor to Donald support it, and let it be bipartisan. been delayed in delivering these critical medi- Trump. And my Republican friends are Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the Rule cations by an average of almost 25 percent believing everything Mr. DeJoy says, for H.R. 8015, the Delivering For America Act. over the past year, with many locations experi- like claiming there is no mail shut- I thank Chairman MCGOVERN for the work of encing much more significant delays. down. the Rules Committee to bring this important Under the urgent need to fix the postal serv- Well, let me remind them what the measure to the Floor of the House for consid- ice, we must not forget that the Postal Service Postmaster General wrote in a recent eration. employees are essential workers in COVID– memo that these changes have had: I also thank Chairwoman MALONEY for her 19, and if they are essential it means that the ‘‘Unintended consequences that have leadership in drafting H.R. 8015, which is work they do is essential. impacted our overall service levels.’’ being debated under the Rule. In addition to delivering prescriptions and Those are his words, Madam Speaker. I offered an Amendment to improve this business mail, they are also delivering democ- He is transforming the Postal Service very good bill, but it was not included in the racy to millions of voters who will need to cast all right. Transforming it from reliable Rule for H.R. 8015. their ballot by mail this election year to reduce to chaotic right before an election. So The Jackson Lee Amendment, if it had been their risk of contracting COVID–19. even if you trust Mr. DeJoy, which I do included would have ensured that ballots post- The U.S. mail service has provided essen- not, even he acknowledges that there is marked on or before Election Day would have tial mail service for absentee voting for well something happening here. ten business days following that date to be de- over 100 years by enabling Union troops to Those on the other side of the aisle livered by the Postal Service to local elections vote during the Civil War, World War I, World cannot have it both ways here. This ad- officials to have it counted for the election. War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraqi Free- ministration apparently won’t lift a I offered this amendment out of consider- dom, and to this day. finger to fix this problem, but this Con- ation for the nearness of the election and the Since that time, absentee or not, in-person gress is acting. And I would respect- likelihood that the U.S. Postmaster will not voting has grown in popularity across the fully urge my colleagues on the other change the policies that have led to the de- United States and is now a welcomed and val- side of the aisle to join us. Help the commissioning of mail sorters and mailboxes, ued component for assuring citizen participa- American people. They should be your which is slowing down the U.S. Mail. tion in public elections. priority, not the guy in the White The job of the United States Postal Service In 2016, 20.9 percent of all votes cast in House. is to receive, process, and deliver the mail that federal election were done so by absen- Madam Speaker, I yield 11⁄2 minutes without favor or special consideration to any- tee ballots and this year that number is ex- to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. one. pected to be much higher due to COVID–19. JACKSON LEE). I applaud the work done in the underlying The attack on the viability and value of ab- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, bill to provide relief to the Postal Service, and sentee voting should be viewed as just one I rise with a sense of urgency. I rise be- I appreciate the desire to narrowly focus the component of many assaults on our elections cause the Postal Service is near col- bill only on addressing the issues arising out system that may make this a very difficult lapse. I rise in the name of Army Ser- of intentional efforts to disrupt mail service. election year. geant Retired Boudreau, stage 4 can- I believe that we must be more aggressive This view is shaped by the decades of elec- cer, and Katy, stage 4 breast cancer. in our approach to protect the election and tions filled with disinformation and misinforma- These are the desperate people that are make sure that Election Day does not become tion tactics designed to suppress or repress feeling the brunt of a collapsed Postal a victim of COVID–19. black, LatinX, and young voters from voting or Service. The voices I listen to are the I will work with my colleagues to ensure that having their votes counted. letter carriers who are denied the abil- all available means are provided to ensure For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to ity to deliver mail, or the postal work- that every voter, no matter their party or pref- join me in voting in support of the Rule for ers who have no machines to deliver erence has access to cast a vote that will be H.R. 8015. mail. counted in the November election. Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I H.R. 8015 is an emergency SOS act, I support the Rule for this bill because it yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from provides much-needed protection to postal Delivering for America. It is crucial Texas (Mr. BURGESS), a member of the that we meet today, not because we are workers and relief for those who are depend- Rules Committee and the Energy and political, because we had to get here as ent on the mail service for sustaining life and Commerce Committee. fast as we could to be able to acknowl- health as well as commercial needs and busi- Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, this edge that the Postal Service is a cru- ness. bill, H.R. 8015, does seem to be rushed. In 2019, the Postal Service: cial lifeline for Americans. And here is the biggest thing, it is not Delivered 142.6 billion pieces of mail to 260 Madam Speaker, I submitted an going to address the core problem that million addresses in America; amendment. I am glad that the Rules exists in the United States Postal Delivered 1.2 billion prescriptions, including Committee moved on a closed rule. Service. most of the medications ordered by the VA; This bill appropriates a $25 billion This is an emergency. Later on today, Employed 633,108 of our friends and neigh- bailout using emergency supplemental I will introduce Protecting Democracy bors, including more than 100,000 veterans; by Securing the Right to Vote, that Served 70 percent of businesses with fewer funding, removing it from the pre- will allow you to request ballots on- than ten employees; viously agreed to bipartisan budget line, by phone, or mail, and most im- Had a 90 percent favorabilty rating, making agreement numbers, and prohibits the portantly, setting a 10-business-day it the most popular federal agency. Postal Service from making any re- mail return time for ballots sent by The Postal Service: forms until next year at the earliest. mail and are postmarked on election Is often the only delivery option for rural So if this bill is intended to improve day. America where service is not profitable; efficiency or effectiveness of the Postal Why? Delivers 48 percent of the world’s mail with Service, I would just simply ask: How Because as we are working today to one of the world’s largest civilian vehicle in the world is it supposed to do that if ensure that mail ballots are safe and fleets; it is prohibited from making any secure under H.R. 8015, we have seniors Is a vital service for the more than 18 million changes? who are listening to the scare tactics seniors who do not use the Internet. The Postal Service is in trouble, that are being said from the highest of- The Postal Service has become a pharmacy every Member of this Chamber, Repub- fice in the land. They are frightened. of choice for millions of Americans who live in lican or Democrat, understands this. Yesterday, I was at the house of a pharmacy deserts—locations where there are We should be deeply concerned about blind senior citizen, she can’t get out no pharmacies to serve communities. the precarious position of the Postal to vote, she will have to do a mail bal- The Postal Service is an essential compo- Service. But despite the narratives, lot. nent to Veterans’ health because they deliver this problem has been decades in the So I rise enthusiastically to support medicines to our veterans. making. the H.R. 8015 rule because we are in a The VA has now confirmed to us that the The Postal Service’s operational collapse of the postal system. It is ur- United States Postal Service (USPS), which is pains have been festering literally for

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.014 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4264 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 decades. Since 2007 mail volumes have election, I mean, I don’t believe in co- Last week, Treasury released $10 billion al- fallen year after year as American con- incidences. This is deliberate, and it is ready allocated to the USPS, with conditions sumers and businesses have chosen dig- shocking. As I said before, this is a that are at best questionable. It was required ital communication over letters and five-alarm fire on our democracy. to share with Treasury details of contracts it negotiated with and others. Con- Madam Speaker, I yield 11⁄2 minutes mailed advertising. Over the same pe- gress should allocate without any condi- riod, the number of addresses requiring to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania tions, just like it has bailed out multi- delivery and obligations for (Ms. SCANLON), a distinguished member national corporations as a result of the pan- retired Postal Service employees have of the Rules Committee. demic. continued to grow. So in very simple Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I If we believe what we hear from the admin- terms, revenues have fallen, and costs thank the gentleman for yielding. istration and the postmaster general they have risen for over a decade. Madam Speaker, I include in the seem to have two solutions: First, raise the RECORD an article, ‘‘Quit Interfering price of packages, although the rate-making b 1100 and Save the Postal Service,’’ by the process has confirmed the prices set were This novel coronavirus’ impact on former chair of the Board of Governors fair, and within the confines of the law. Sec- the economy is only exacerbating this of the Postal Service, David Fineman. ond, cut the pay of the unionized workforce, situation. The Postal Service lost $2.2 which has already suffered thousands of [Aug. 5, 2020] coronavirus illnesses and, at last count, at billion in the second quarter of this QUIT INTERFERING AND SAVE THE POSTAL least 60 deaths. year. H.R. 8015 kicks the can down the SERVICE If the price of packages is raised, who road and forces the Postal Service to (By S. David Fineman) pays? The consumer and small businesses, continue to sustain financial losses. No The U.S. Postal Service is in trouble and not just on packages sent by USPS, but by reforms to modernize the Postal Serv- needs help just like the airlines, large and every private delivery service. That is the re- ice, so we should expect its fiscal small corporations, and consumers. There ality of how business works, and to deny it is health to worsen. are ways to save it if Congress takes action not dealing with reality. Now, in spite of all the heated rhet- very soon. As USPS raises its prices, you can be as- sured that the private delivery services will oric today, the Postal Service will not Where to start with its problems? The USPS is losing billions because of the pan- raise their prices. Considering the present collapse tonight. The Postal Service demic. Its leadership has said running out of composition of Congress, the provisions of has informed Congress that it has money is a question of when, not if. Its board the law regarding how union contracts are enough cash on hand to remain solvent of governors temporarily lost its quorum negotiated ls not about to change. through August 2021. That is a year this year and is now made up only of Trump With the pandemic, the USPS is needed from now if you are doing the math at administration appointees. The president of more than ever before. Small businesses and home. And Congress has already pro- the United States called the Postal Service a the average American rely on delivery of vided an additional lifeline by raising ‘‘joke.’’ And now state election officials are mail six days a week. They need to get their checks, their letters, and packages, on time. the Postal Service’s loan authority by warning that reduced mail service could interfere with mail-in ballots in November. The USPS needs help! There is a way to fix $10 billion. I served as a governor of the United States it! Instead of voting on this rushed and Postal Service from 1995 through 2005. I was The administration must stop holding the partisan bill, Members of this Chamber nominated by President Bill Clinton, and USPS hostage to its own private agenda. could work together to solve the prob- served as chairman during the administra- Rural America and the inner city population lem. Congress has time to work tion of President George W. Bush. By law, would suffer more than anyone else. The so- through the proper committees, pro- the USPS should have nine members on its lutions are clear. Let us just get it done. vide the proper oversight, provide the board, five of one party and four of another. Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, ‘‘I’m proper reforms, and preserve this es- During my tenure, there was never any in- writing to you today after having terference by the president in the business of skipped a day of my high blood pres- sential service. the USPS, like there is currently. Let’s vote against this bill today, a What is happening now is unprecedented, sure medication for the first time.’’ dictatorial bill brought to us by the and we wonder why. Let us hope it is not to ‘‘I have not seen a Postal Service car- Speaker of the House, H.R. 8015, and disturb the election process and mail-in bal- rier in my neighborhood for a week or work together in finding a meaningful lots. more, not received mail for 10 days. and lasting fix for the United States During my first year on the board, it be- The last couple pieces of mail were 30 Postal Service. came clear the rate-making process, which days late.’’ decides how much one pays to mail a letter Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I ‘‘I am a small business owner. I am in or a package, made no sense. Not until 2004 have heard some of the Republicans a real bind. I usually ship packages to was there movement on any legislation in customers. Switching to UPS or FedEx clamor last night in the Rules Com- Congress. Eventually the chairman of the mittee all about statistics. committee overseeing the Postal Service, would be too expensive. I would likely Well, let’s look at some. This is from Dan Burton (R-Ind.), and the ranking mem- lose customers.’’ the Postal Service’s most recent quar- ber, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), agreed on the These are just a few of the thousands terly report. It compares on-time deliv- outline of a bill. The blll, with a few changes, of messages that my office has received ery for single-piece first-class mail this passed the House of Representatives, the from constituents who have been fiscal year so far as compared to last Senate, and then was signed into law by caught in the crosshairs of this admin- Bush in 2006. istration’s war on the U.S. Postal Serv- fiscal year. Do you see the red line? It One section of that legislation called for is going in the wrong direction. Mail is the USPS to prefund its pension obligations ice. slowing. People aren’t getting deliv- for 75 years. I remember meeting with the We are here today to deliver a mes- eries that they need on time. This is then-postmaster general, and after a thor- sage to this administration: Don’t mess just through the end of June. We don’t ough briefing, we both concluded the USPS with the USPS. know what truly happened in July or would never have the necessary funds to and This vital public service is essential so far in August. maybe naivety, I believed congress would in our everyday lives. In a pandemic, it Our constituents are not lying to us. amend the law in due time to eliminate that is a lifeline. Their mail is delayed. Their medica- burden. These are the real consequences of So here we are in 2020, in the middle of a this administration’s ill-conceived effi- tions are delayed. pandemic. Congress and the administration Yesterday, we were told: You know, cannot agree on how to fix the USPS. Every- ciency measures, which have disrupted people who are on Social Security one in the so-called postal community, postal service across the country. don’t have to worry because they get ihcluding its unions, agree the prefunding re- Those consequences have made their all their Social Security checks elec- quirement is not needed. Let us get legisla- way to the doorsteps of seniors, vet- tronically. We know that is not true. tion to eliminate the prefundlng require- erans, people with disabilities, and We know that close to 1 million people ment passed. countless families and businesses, large What else can be done? First, let us stop get Social Security and SSI through and small. the parochial mindset of Congress. The As millions of Americans are ex- the mail. USPS has needed to right-size for some time, So, this is real. This is happening. and not just close post offices. Because of pected to vote by mail, many for the And we need to do something about it. population shifts, it can consolidate large first time, we need to give Americans The fact that this is happening in the processing plants, so they can process mail the peace of mind that their mail will middle of a pandemic right before an from various states and municipalities. be processed swiftly. That is why I am

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.016 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE August 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4265 proud to support the Delivering for Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, let When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for America Act. me just say again for the RECORD be- Saturday morning. Saturday morning Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I cause we hear this on the other side: in our house, my brothers and sisters, say to my friend from Pennsylvania, I Wouldn’t it be nice if we were here ne- we would get up, and we couldn’t wait want to solve every single one of those gotiating a larger package on a whole to watch our favorite cartoons. problems that she just laid out. Those range of things. Well, we actually Now, decades later, here I am again, are absolutely bipartisan concerns. passed something in the House called on the floor of the House of Represent- This bill solves none of them. the HEROES Act. The Senate has atives, watching a cartoon about the Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to passed nothing. The reason why is be- only outcome this debate is going to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. cause Republicans are fighting with have today: one of entertainment LESKO), another member of the Rules Republicans. They can’t agree on what value, nothing substantive. Committee. to do, so they have done nothing. So, The chairman of the Rules Com- Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, I we are negotiating with an empty mittee called this a five-alarm fire. thank the gentleman for yielding. chair. Now that the Democratic Convention ‘‘Nancy Pelosi Goes Politically Post- If my friends really want to help, has concluded and the Republican Con- al.’’ That’s the catchy title of a recent they ought to pick up the phone, and vention is about to begin, we have a ca- op-ed written by The Wall Street Jour- they ought to call MITCH MCCONNELL tastrophe. nal editorial board, and that is the rea- and tell him to do something, to actu- It is not going to build infrastruc- son we are here today, for phony polit- ally do something. ture. It is not going to give aid to peo- ical theater to once again bash Presi- Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to ple suffering from the pandemic. It is dent Trump just in time for the Sun- the gentlewoman from Connecticut not going to fund the government by day talk shows and the Republican Na- (Ms. DELAURO). October 1. It is not going to become tional Convention. And just like all the Ms. DELAURO. Madam Speaker, mail law. other times, the media will lap it right is an essential government service and Just like the previous attempts, my up. a critical lifeline for many, especially friends on the other side of the aisle Wouldn’t it be nice if we were here during this pandemic. have had to derail a duly-elected Presi- What have operational changes made today on a Saturday voting on a nego- dent. This, too, will fail. I urge a ‘‘no’’ to the postal system accomplished? tiated COVID relief package to help vote. Parts of the country are having their the American people that could actu- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I mail delayed by up to a week or more. ally be signed into law? But sadly, in- am sad that the gentleman thinks this stead, we are here talking about a post- This is harming veterans, seniors, and our rural communities. is entertaining. We have veterans who al bill, one The Wall Street Journal What has the Postmaster General al- are calling our offices whose medica- editorial board called a ‘‘made-for-TV ready done? Curtailed overtime; re- tions have been delayed getting to phony political crisis.’’ Boy, did they stricted deliveries; eliminated sorting them. We have some people on Social get that right. machines; in Hartford, Connecticut, in Security and on SSI who are worried Let’s review the facts. the parking lot there is a dismantled that their checks are not going to get A task force recommends that the machine; removed mailboxes; prohib- to them. We have small businesses that U.S. Postal Service overhaul their iting employees from making late mail are calling to complain. in order to return it to deliveries, directing them to leave mail This is a crisis that this administra- sustainability because expenses have undelivered at distribution centers tion produced all on its own. And outpaced revenue for 13 straight years, overnight; warned 46 States and the whether it is designed, as some of us and they lost $8.8 billion in 2019 alone. District of Columbia that it could not fear, to try to create more chaos The new Postmaster General is guarantee all ballots cast by mail for around the election—and by the way, unanimously selected by a bipartisan the November election will arrive in this is what Donald Trump said about Board of Governors, not President time to be counted. the money that we have in this bill: Trump. The Postmaster General starts Yes, this is about our democracy, as ‘‘They need that money in order to making some changes in an attempt to well. This administration is under- have the post office work so it can take make the post office more sustainable, mining a pillar of our democracy, vot- all of these millions and millions of as recommended by the task force—you ing for a partisan purpose. Obstructing ballots.’’ know, similar to the types of changes the Postal Service for political pur- Did anybody ever think that they that were made under the Obama ad- poses is illegal. It is illegal to interfere would see a President of the United ministration in the past. with the mail. States who would publicly say that he The Postmaster General worries that During this unprecedented time, we doesn’t want every vote to count? This some States allow voters to request must be streamlining, not sabotaging, is outrageous, and I cannot believe mail-in ballots too close to the election voting by mail. that my friends on the other side of the day and is afraid that there is not The administration wants to destroy aisle, who I know are getting the same enough turnaround time for those bal- the public’s faith and trust in the pub- calls we are, are totally fine with doing lots to get back in time, so he sends a lic service. No, the American people nothing. courtesy letter to those States, recom- are not going to let you do it. I might b 1115 mending they tell voters to mail in add, the Postal Service has a 90 percent their ballots early so they can get favorability rating. It is the most pop- Well, maybe if some of my Repub- them in time. ular Federal agency. Would that we lican friends would join with us, it Guess what? Democrats freak out, had a 90 percent favorability rating. might send a message to the White blame Trump, say he is trying to influ- We must fight for this essential com- House that they have to respond, they ence the election, even though Trump ponent of our democracy and of peo- have to do the right thing. doesn’t have control over the Post- ple’s lives. We will, through rain, shine, It is the complicity; it is the indiffer- master General, and run to the ever-so- or sleet, or President Donald Trump. ence that I just can’t understand given willing media to spread a new Trump Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker I what is going on in this country right conspiracy theory. yield 1 minute to the gentleman from now. Seems insane but all too typical for Arkansas (Mr. WOMACK), the ranking So we have been complaining about the Trump-hating Democrats to me. member of one of the committees that this for weeks—this didn’t just happen But don’t take my word for it, let’s is near and dear to my heart, the rank- this week, but for weeks—but it is now see what Stephen Kearney, a 33-year ing member of the Budget Committee, out of control, and we have to do some- veteran employee, former Treasurer, a good friend, and a member of the thing. and Senior Vice President of the U.S. freshman class of 2010. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to Postal Service said: ‘‘This conspiracy Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, I the gentlewoman from California (Ms. theory is the most far-flung thing I thank my friend ROB WOODALL for MATSUI), a distinguished member of the think I have ever heard.’’ yielding. Rules Committee.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:55 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.018 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4266 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, over Texas (Mr. BURGESS) to speak on one of Madam Speaker, I urge Members to the past few weeks, we have seen the those provisions. vote against the previous question. reports of decommissioned sorting ma- Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I Allow us to debate and pass this meas- chines, removal of postboxes, and the thank the gentleman for yielding. ure. It is of critical urgency. Indeed, a cutting back of hours for the U.S. Post- There is a sudden sense of urgency to miracle could be coming. al Service employees. address the financial stability of the Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I In my district of Sacramento, I have Postal Service, but I would simply ask insert in the RECORD a CNBC article, never seen such an outcry, an outrage the body: Where was the sense of ur- entitled, ‘‘Patients Say Post Office amongst my neighbors and constitu- gency from our House Democratic lead- Slowdown Is Delaying Delivery of Life- ents. ership at the start of the pandemic? saving Medications.’’ This is serious business. We are feel- Look, I recognized in January this PATIENTS SAY POST OFFICE SLOWDOWN IS DE- ing the effects of delayed mail delivery deal over in China was a bad deal, a LAYING DELIVERY OF LIFE-SAVING MEDICA- and seeing the real-life consequences of novel virus, biological behavior not TIONS these operational changes: Financial known, not worked out. (By Christina Farr) documents are late; prescriptions are The Postal Service’s problems did The U.S. Postal Service has become a po- stuck in transit; and we worry about not surface this week. They have been litical battleground, and has experienced our future ballots being counted. going on for years. But the Postal delays after Postmaster General Louis That is why this administration’s at- Service will not go bankrupt tomor- DeJoy slashed overtime. tacks have alarmed so many Ameri- row, and yet we have been called back Many patients are experiencing delays re- ceiving life-saving medications and are shar- cans. We recognize it is about more here to vote on an issue that, quite ing their experiences online via hashtags than just getting letters from A to B. frankly, is not going to get solved from like #USPSMeds. It is about the fabric of our democracy. today’s activities. Experts say the situation could escalate, The Postmaster General has made But I called on the Committee on En- despite Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s his political preferences and business ergy and Commerce last February to promise to suspend changes to the Postal interests no secret. The U.S. Postal do hearings on this novel coronavirus. Service. Service should not be manipulated as a My requests were ignored and then sub- Nathan Geissel, who lives in rural Oregon, sequently dismissed because we had has been waiting more than nine days for a political or business tool. lifesaving medication to arrive in the mail. Hundreds of millions of Americans other important work to do: horse rac- As far as he knows, it’s stuck in a fulfillment across this country rely on the Postal ing, flavored tobacco, ticket stubs— center. Service for lifesaving medications, So- any number of things—other than work Geissel’s doctor prescribed the medicine cial Security benefits, paychecks, and on the novel coronavirus. two years ago to prevent blood clots. He’s mail-in ballots. The Delivering for But we could have provided support never experienced delays before. America Act will help ensure that in the form of funding for vaccines and The U.S. Postal Service has become a po- those services continue as needed. testing and more. We have done some litical battleground after President Trump of that in the short-term sense, but we said he opposes additional funding because This bill takes critical steps to halt he doesn’t support universal mail-in voting. the damage being done, while providing could continue to support our Nation’s Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump $25 billion to put the Postal Service pandemic response in additional ways, supporter, reportedly ordered recent cost- back on track. which is why I have introduced legisla- cutting measures, slashing overtime and While the Postmaster has recently tion that aligns with the legislation al- curbing late delivery. It has created signifi- claimed that he will halt operational ready existing in the Senate, where we cant delays in mail deliveries, according to changes until after the election, he has could come together and provide our mail worker advocates and others. also stated he has no intention of re- country with some of the critical re- Americans are sharing stories about medi- cation delays with the hashtag #USPSMeds. commissioning sorting machines and sources necessary to fight this novel Many are veterans who have reported weeks- postboxes that have already been shut- coronavirus. long delays. Some are seniors who instead tered. The damage has already been Unfortunately, the House Democratic have to visit a pharmacy, putting them at done, and it is unacceptable. leadership does not acknowledge or higher risk of exposure to Covid–19. We must pass the Delivering for seem even to be curious as to whether Geissel chose mail-order for the conven- America Act to provide emergency or not they are up to the task. ience—the nearest pharmacy is 20 minutes funding and put protections in place to So this legislation provides $29 bil- away—and the affordability. His insurance support reliable mail delivery for all lion for the Public Health and Social company covers more of the cost of the Services Emergency Fund to develop medication when it’s delivered by the U.S. Americans. postal service. Geissel has to pay a $135 As I said, this is serious business. The additional medical countermeasures copay for a months supply if he instead picks post office is important for the fabric and vaccines. A safe and effective vac- it up at a retail pharmacy. of America. cine is the strongest arrow in our quiv- ‘‘Thankfully, a local pharmacist approved Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, er to help society return to normal. two more weeks of medication with my though this bill is going nowhere, if we Importantly, the bill would provide health plan that I could pick up as an emer- defeat the previous question this morn- $2 billion for the Strategic National gency,’’ said Geissel. ‘‘I work in health care, ing, I will offer an amendment to take Stockpile and $2 billion for the Bio- so I know the system, but I can’t imagine medical Advanced Research and Devel- what it must be like for an elderly patient up three bills that are partnership bills who doesn’t have that same access.’’ that can go through the Senate to the opment Authority for use in developing ‘‘I’m worried,’’ said Liz Austin by phone. President’s desk and make a real dif- medical countermeasures. Her mother, Barbara, is sick with cystic fi- ference for the American people, deal- But you have to ask yourself: The brosis, a progressive disease that causes lung ing with important issues like business plan as promulgated by the infections and limits her ability to breathe. healthcare, like relief for folks suf- Speaker of this body, why is it anti- ‘‘Covid–19 is primarily a respiratory disease, fering from the COVID economic crisis, thetical to that development? Could it so my mother relies on the mail to get her and our law enforcement reform activi- be because the nominee of their party prescriptions as safely as possible.’’ Her medicine was so late that her husband ties. this week in a very important speech had to risk visiting a pharmacy. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous promised the American people ‘‘no mir- After lawsuits from more than 20 state at- consent to insert the text of my acle is coming’’? Is that because you torneys general and a call to testify before amendment in the RECORD imme- are going to cut off the funding for Congress, DeJoy on Tuesday said he’s sus- diately prior to the vote on the pre- BARDA? for the Strategic National pending operational changes until after the vious question. Stockpile? for research on vaccines? November election. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Look, there are commonsense, bipar- Some experts are concerned that the tisan ways to help our Nation and help delays will snowball. objection to the request of the gen- ‘‘There’s an exponential factor to this,’’ tleman from Georgia? our Nation respond to the coronavirus, said John McHugh, a former congressman There was no objection. but House Democratic leadership has who heads up the Package Coalition, an alli- Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I turned their backs on the needs of ance that aims to preserve affordable postal yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from America. package delivery services. Members of the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.020 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE August 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4267 Package Coalition include Amazon, eBay, Madam Speaker, because that is waiting for MITCH MCCONNELL to do and Cigna’s Express Scripts. ‘‘Once you are what the USPS Board of Governors rec- something. behind, what happens next is you get further ommended, and this Board is made up But I love my friends on the other behind and then further behind.’’ side of the aisle who come up with all The pandemic has strained the mail-order of 100 percent of Donald Trump’s ap- medication system as more people are opt to pointees. So, you know, this is not a these ideas right now. Most of them receive prescriptions at home. Those with number that Democrats made up. It is were in the HEROES Act. pre-existing conditions are at greater risk what his Republican Board of the But if these are so important, where for hospitalization if they get Covid–19. USPS came up with. So that is why is MITCH MCCONNELL? Where is the ‘‘Data show an increase in prescription that number is there. United States Senate? They went on drugs dispensed through mail-service phar- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- vacation. They are gone. macy during the pandemic,’’ said a spokes- ance of my time. We are here because we have a crisis. person from PCMA, a national association Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I We have people who can’t get their representing pharmacy benefits managers, which negotiate prescription drug costs on yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from medications, who can’t get their ben- behalf of insurers. Ohio (Mr. CHABOT), the ranking mem- efit checks. We have a crisis where we Online pharmacy Honeybee Health said ber of the Small Business Committee have a President who is trying to un- about 20% of patients who order delivery via that has made such a difference for so dermine our elections. So we are here first-class mail have experienced delays so many Americans, in support of the pre- doing our work. far. vious question and legislation that we Where is MITCH MCCONNELL? Where is ‘‘The situation is fluid but it’s clear from could bring to the floor that would the Senate? How about picking up the our customer service team that an usually high number of patients are receiving their make a difference to the American peo- phone and calling them to come back medication far later than expected—and in ple. and do something for the American some cases, not receiving it at all. These Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I people? delays are troubling for everyone, but for pa- thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- tients who rely on medication to live, it’s es- Madam Speaker, there is no doubt ance of my time. pecially dangerous,’’ said Dr. Jessica that the Paycheck Protection Program Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, Nouhavandi, co-founder and lead pharmacist has produced impressive results. All again, if we defeat the previous ques- for Honeybee Health, which delivers generic across America, PPP loans have sup- tion, we will bring much-needed legis- medications via USPS. Umar Afridi, founder of TruePill, a com- ported over 50 million jobs. That is 50 lation to the floor. pany that provides pharmacy services to million people who can continue to Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to telemedicine companies, said he ‘‘estimates support themselves and their loved the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. that about 90 percent’’ of prescription drugs ones. In Ohio’s First Congressional Dis- STAUBER), a rising star here in the Re- his company delivers via mail run through trict, for example, which I have the publican Conference, to talk about the postal service. honor of representing, the program that. ‘‘We tend to use UPS and FedEx more for helped over 200,000 people to stay on Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, it time-sensitive and expensive drugs,’’ he said. has been 22 days since the last time ‘‘USPS is often the lowest cost and they the payroll and support their families. have the biggest reach.’’ Despite this success, there are small this body has met, and in those 22 days Afridi said he hasn’t yet heard about businesses that still need our help. Ac- that the Speaker has refused to work delays but knows there are service-level dis- cording to a July 27 NFIB survey, al- on real relief packages, people have ruptions, including pickups not happening on most half of small business borrowers lost their jobs, small businesses have time. predict that they will need additional closed, and Main Streets have suffered. Pharmacy benefits managers are more op- capital within the next 6 months. The American people were left with the timistic. Express Scripts, a major pharmacy As ranking member of the House question: Where are our leaders? benefit manager, said it was ‘‘not experi- I have begged, the President has encing unusual delays.’’ OptumRX (owned by Small Business Committee, I have UnitedHealth Group) declined to discuss pushed for targeted bipartisan solu- begged, and the Senate has begged: delays. It said it’s working with all major tions to make sure that our Nation’s Please call the House back into session carriers ‘‘to help ensure timely shipments of smallest firms have a chance to sur- to work on a bill to help suffering home delivery prescriptions.’’ vive, and this Congress has acted. Now Americans. Some doctors are concerned for their low- it needs to do so again to help those Now we are back in Washington for income and elderly patients. Dr. Lakshman small businesses and their employees. less than 12 hours. It is embarrassing Swamy, a Boston-based pulmonologist and Unfortunately, the top leadership on that, while we could be working on critical care doctor, says the situation could be disastrous for asthma patients who rely the other side of the aisle apparently vaccine funding, saving small busi- on Medicaid or don’t have insurance. These doesn’t feel the urgency to do so and nesses, and justice reform, the Speaker patients might not be able to negotiate an allow a vote on additional help for will gavel us out and Americans will emergency supply. those small businesses that need it so once again be wondering: Where are Swamy, who also has asthma, said it’s much. our leaders? common for patients with chronic res- Let me be clear: Every day that goes I introduced legislation that will piratory conditions to rely on mail-order by without action jeopardizes Amer- fund better training for police officers, medications. ‘‘You can do rescue therapies ica’s 30 million small businesses and increase the number of body cameras, for a while, but the strong medications will wear off,’’ he said. ‘‘Once you don’t get the their employees. and fund important grants to police de- medications you need, you can quickly fall Madam Speaker, I urge my col- partments that help with community off the wagon and end up hospitalized.’’ leagues to support reopening the Pay- policing, which builds trust and lasting ‘‘Any additional strain will have an impact check Protection Program through De- relationships in the communities they on patients,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s inevitable.’’ cember 31 and allow businesses that serve. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I have suffered revenue declines to apply It has been 89 days since George yield myself such time as I may con- for a second loan. Floyd’s tragic death, and in those 89 sume. Madam Speaker, we owe it to Amer- days, Senator TIM SCOTT and I have put Madam Speaker, I don’t know for ica’s small businesses to work together forth legislation to fix and improve our certain that the Senate will take this for a solution. We ought to be voting policing. We have begged Democrat bill up, but I fervently hope that they on that today. leadership to come to the table and ad- will, because I sure as hell know that Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I dress this issue that Americans and our we are doing the right thing here in the yield myself such time as I may con- communities have asked for. House. sume. Yet, what do we get? Twelve hours in Madam Speaker, I would also like to Madam Speaker, it is interesting to Washington, D.C., and no action on just point out, because I have heard hear my friend talk about the exten- vaccine funding, no action on small these questions raised about the $25 sion of PPP when he voted against that business relief, and no action on police billion in this bill for the Postal Serv- in the HEROES Act when it came be- reform. ice: Why are we providing that fore the full House. Luckily, it passed Madam Speaker, I urge defeat of the amount? and it is over in the Senate. We are previous question so we can consider

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22AU7.007 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4268 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 this important bill and get Congress we will be there together arm in arm to Office. He is interested in dismantling back to work, because a Congress at make that happen. But today, when it. That is what he has been doing. work is America at work. the Postal Service is sitting on $15 bil- The bill that is before us is about Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I lion in cash and an unused $10 billion more than money, I would say to my yield myself 30 seconds. line of credit, a blank check of another colleague from Georgia. It is about Madam Speaker, the gentleman $25 billion does not solve any of the undoing all the damage that the cur- asked: Where are the leaders? We are challenges that you and I know exist or rent Postmaster has put into place here. We are doing our job. We are re- solve any of the problems that all of that is resulting in all these delays, all sponding to a crisis. our constituents have. this confusion, and all this chaos. Where is MITCH MCCONNELL? On vaca- Madam Speaker, the frustration you Come on. This is serious business. tion. hear from my colleagues on this side of I am going to close with this. History Where is the President? Tweeting the aisle is that we are back in an is not going to look well on those who more insults. emergency session working on lan- just went along to get along with this But we are here doing our job to help guage that is going nowhere, that will President while he has done some deal with this postal crisis, and we also help no one. We can pound on our things that would have been unthink- did our job when we passed the HE- chests all we like about all the wonder- able in any other administration, Dem- ROES Act. ful things that we think—unilaterally ocrat or Republican. The complicity Where is MITCH MCCONNELL? On vaca- by themselves, without any bipartisan and the indifference are shocking to tion. input—Democrats crafted and put in me. I can’t believe it sometimes when I Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- this bill. But we all know from year hear people defend the indefensible. ance of my time. upon year upon year of painful experi- What the President is doing with the Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I ence, the only things that get done in Postal Service is indefensible, and ev- would like to share with my friend, the this town get done together. In a di- erybody needs to be counted on this chairman, that I have no further vided government you cannot bully issue. I ask my Democratic colleagues speakers remaining, and I am prepared your way to success, Madam Speaker, and I ask my Republican colleagues to to close when he is. you have to partner your way to suc- support this bill. It is the right thing Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I cess. to do for your constituents. Even if the I know my friend from Massachusetts am prepared to close. man in the White House doesn’t want believes that. That is the kind of lead- it, it is the right thing to do. It is b 1130 ership style he brings to the committee about time people started doing what on which I have the honor of serving. I Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, I is right for the people of this country. understand my friends have a job to do yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote today. They need to pass this bill. They Madam Speaker, I don’t know how on the rule and the previous question. are going to do it. It is not going to go many more times I will be on the The material previously referred to House floor between now and the end of anywhere, but they are going to do it. by Mr. WOODALL is as follows: the year. It is a great honor I have to Madam Speaker, defeat the previous serve with the chairman of the Rules question with me today. Let’s move AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1092 Committee, Mr. MCGOVERN of Massa- PPP extension, let’s move vaccine At the end of the resolution, add the chusetts. I think all the time about all funding, let’s move law enforcement following: the things we could do together; and, reform, and let’s do the political exer- SEC. 2. Immediately upon adoption of this candidly, we have done a lot of great cise that you brought us here to do. resolution, the House shall resolve into the things together. This body, when it But let’s do these things that matter as Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill acts together, does amazing things. well. Madam Speaker, I urge defeat of the (H.R. 8086) to provide additional appropria- But an unfortunate thing has hap- tions for the public health and social serv- pened in politics these days, Madam previous question, and if not that, de- ices emergency fund, and for other purposes. Speaker. We talk more about the bills feat of the rule. The first reading of the bill shall be dis- that we pass than the changes that we Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- pensed with. All points of order against con- make. My friend from Massachusetts ance of my time. sideration of the bill are waived. Clause 2(e) Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I has talked time and time again about a of rule XXI shall not apply during consider- yield myself the balance of my time. unilaterally drafted bill passed by this ation of the bill. General debate shall be con- Madam Speaker, I have great respect fined to the bill and shall not exceed one House in the spring that purports to for my colleagues on the other side of hour equally divided and controlled by the address families in need, but that in- the aisle which makes me especially chair and ranking minority member of the cluded no Republican input, no part- sad to hear some of the comments that Committee on Appropriations. After general nership, had a veto message from the we heard here today. debate the bill shall be considered for President, and had no chance of getting This is a crisis that we are currently amendment under the five-minute rule. All through the Senate. points of order against provisions in the bill facing. We are getting calls from vet- are waived. When the committee rises and We are here on exactly that same ex- erans whose medications are being de- ercise today with this manufactured reports the bill back to the House with a rec- layed in the mail. We are getting calls ommendation that the bill do pass, the pre- Postal Service bill. The Postal Service from others whose essential benefits vious question shall be considered as ordered has the money that it needs. I will just are being delayed in the mail. People on the bill and amendments thereto to final tell my friends that President Trump rely on this stuff. It is important. passage without intervening motion except won the mail-in vote in the great State Madam Speaker, you have heard the one motion to recommit with or without in- of Georgia. That year I won the mail-in testimonies that have been recounted structions. If the Committee of the Whole vote 2–1. There is absolutely no effort rises and reports that it has come to no reso- here on our side of the aisle. lution on the bill, then on the next legisla- at voter suppression here. As my friend This is an emergency, and on top of from Connecticut pointed out earlier, tive day the House shall, immediately after that, we have a President who does not the third daily order of business under clause that is illegal. That is off the table. want every vote counted in the upcom- 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Committee of We are talking about, Is there ing election because he believes that if the Who further consideration of the bill. enough money to fund the Postal Serv- we do count every vote, he will lose. SEC. 3. Immediately after disposition of ice or not? We are in the middle of a pandemic. H.R. 8086, the House shall resolve into the My friend from Massachusetts ref- More and more people are going to be Committee of the Whole House on the state erences a supervisor’s report from the voting by mail, and this President, of the Union for consideration of the bill spring when they thought mail deliv- rather than trying to make it easier (H.R. 8087) to amend the Small Business Act ery was going to go down in volume. In and the CARES Act to establish a program for people to vote and to have their for second draw loans and make other modi- fact, it has gone up in volume. Reve- voices be counted, is trying to make it fications to the paycheck protection pro- nues are higher than they expected. If more difficult. gram, and for other purposes. The first read- the Postal Service faces a revenue The current Postmaster General is ing of the bill shall be dispensed with. All shortfall, I commit to my colleagues not interested in reforming the Post points of order against consideration of the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22AU7.023 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE August 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4269 bill are waived. General debate shall be con- Carbajal Horsford Perlmutter Huizenga Moolenaar Smith (NJ) fined to the bill and shall not exceed one Ca´ rdenas Houlahan Peters Hurd (TX) Mooney (WV) Smucker hour equally divided and controlled by the Carson (IN) Hoyer Peterson Jacobs Mullin Stauber Johnson (OH) Murphy (NC) Stefanik chair and ranking minority member of the Cartwright Huffman Phillips Case Jackson Lee Pingree Johnson (SD) Newhouse Steil Committee on Small Business. After general Casten (IL) Jayapal Pocan Jordan Norman Stivers debate the bill shall be considered for Castor (FL) Jeffries Porter Joyce (OH) Nunes Taylor amendment under the five-minute rule. All Castro (TX) Johnson (GA) Pressley Joyce (PA) Palazzo Thompson (PA) points of order against provisions in the bill Chu, Judy Johnson (TX) Price (NC) Katko Palmer Tiffany are waived. When the committee rises and Cicilline Kaptur Quigley Keller Pence Tipton reports the bill back to the House with a rec- Cisneros Keating Raskin Kelly (MS) Perry Turner King (NY) Posey Upton ommendation that the bill do pass, the pre- Clark (MA) Kelly (IL) Rice (NY) Clarke (NY) Kennedy Kinzinger Reed Van Drew vious question shall be considered as ordered Richmond Clay Khanna Rose (NY) Kustoff (TN) Reschenthaler Wagner on the bill and amendments thereto to final Cleaver Kildee Rouda LaHood Rice (SC) Walberg passage without intervening motion except Clyburn Kilmer Roybal-Allard LaMalfa Riggleman Walker one motion to recommit with or without in- Cohen Kim Ruiz Lamborn Roby Walorski structions. If the Committee of the Whole Connolly Kind Ruppersberger Latta Rodgers (WA) Waltz rises and reports that it has come to no reso- Cooper Kirkpatrick Rush Lesko Roe, David P. Watkins Long Rogers (AL) Weber (TX) lution on the bill, then on the next legisla- Correa Krishnamoorthi Ryan Costa Kuster (NH) Sa´ nchez Loudermilk Rogers (KY) Webster (FL) tive day the House shall, immediately after Courtney Lamb Lucas Rooney (FL) Wenstrup the third daily order of business under clause Sarbanes Cox (CA) Langevin Scanlon Luetkemeyer Rose, John W. Westerman 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Committee of Craig Larsen (WA) Schakowsky Marshall Rouzer Williams Massie the Whole for further consideration of the Crist Larson (CT) Schiff Rutherford Wilson (SC) Mast Scalise Wittman bill. Crow Lawrence Schneider Cuellar Lawson (FL) McCarthy Schweikert Womack SEC. 4. Immediately after disposition of Schrader McCaul Scott, Austin Woodall Cunningham Lee (CA) Schrier H.R. 8087, the House shall resolve into the Davids (KS) Lee (NV) McClintock Sensenbrenner Wright Scott (VA) Committee of the Whole House on the state Davis (CA) Levin (CA) McKinley Simpson Yoho Scott, David of the Union for consideration of the bill Davis, Danny K. Levin (MI) Miller Smith (MO) Young Serrano Dean Lieu, Ted Mitchell Smith (NE) Zeldin (H.R. 8088} to provide funding to law enforce- Sewell (AL) DeFazio Lipinski ment agencies, and for other purposes. The Shalala NOT VOTING—29 DeGette Loebsack first reading of the bill shall be dispensed Sherman DeLauro Lofgren Aderholt Granger Olson with. All points of order against consider- Sherrill DelBene Lowenthal Amodei Graves (GA) Roy ation of the bill are waived. General debate Sires Delgado Lowey Banks Higgins (LA) Shimkus Slotkin shall be confined to the bill and shall not ex- Demings Luja´ n Brooks (IN) Holding Smith (WA) Spano ceed one hour equally divided and controlled DeSaulnier Luria Collins (GA) Johnson (LA) Soto Steube by the chair and ranking minority member Deutch Lynch Cook Kelly (PA) Stewart Dingell Malinowski Spanberger DesJarlais King (IA) of the Committee on the Judiciary. After Speier Thornberry general debate the bill shall be considered Doggett Maloney, Diaz-Balart Marchant Timmons Stanton Flores McHenry for amendment under the five-minute rule. Doyle, Michael Carolyn B. Walden F. Maloney, Sean Stevens Gabbard Meuser All points of order against provisions in the Engel Matsui Suozzi bill are waived. When the committee rises Escobar McAdams Swalwell (CA) b 1235 and reports the bill back to the House with Eshoo McBath Takano Thompson (CA) So the previous question was ordered. a recommendation that the bill do pass, the Espaillat McCollum The result of the vote was announced previous question shall be considered as or- Evans McEachin Thompson (MS) Finkenauer McGovern Titus as above recorded. dered on the bill and amendments thereto to Tlaib Fletcher McNerney MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE final passage without intervening motion ex- Tonko Foster Meeks RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS cept one motion to recommit with or with- Frankel Meng Torres (CA) out instructions. If the Committee of the Fudge Mfume Torres Small Axne (Raskin) Huffman (Kildee) Peters (Rice Whole rises and reports that it has come to Gallego Moore (NM) Barraga´ n (Beyer) Jayapal (Raskin) (NY)) no resolution on the bill, then on the next Garamendi Morelle Trahan Bera (Aguilar) Johnson (TX) Peterson (Vela) legislative day the House shall, immediately Garcı´a (IL) Moulton Trone Blumenauer (Jeffries) Pingree (Clark (Beyer) after the third daily order of business under Garcia (TX) Mucarsel-Powell Underwood Kennedy (MA)) Vargas Bonamici (Deutch) clause 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Com- Golden Murphy (FL) Porter (Wexton) Gomez Nadler Veasey (Raskin) Khanna (Gomez) mittee of the Whole for further consideration Price (NC) Gonzalez (TX) Napolitano Vela Brownley (CA) Kind (Beyer) (Butterfield) (Clark (MA)) of the bill. Gottheimer Neal Vela´ zquez Kirkpatrick Rooney (FL) Ca´ rdenas SEC. 5. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not Green, Al (TX) Neguse Visclosky (Gallego) (Beyer) (Gomez) apply to the consideration of H.R. 8086, H.R. Grijalva Norcross Wasserman Kuster (NH) Roybal-Allard Schultz Case 8087, and H.R. 8088. Haaland O’Halleran (Clark (MA)) (McCollum) Waters (Cartwright) Harder (CA) Ocasio-Cortez Lawson (FL) Ruiz (Aguilar) Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Hastings Omar Watson Coleman Clay (Davids (Evans) Rush yield back the balance of my time, and Hayes Pallone Welch (KS)) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Costa (Cooper) (Underwood) Heck Panetta Wexton Lipinski (Cooper) I move the previous question on the Davis (CA) (Wild) Sa´ nchez Higgins (NY) Pappas Wild Lofgren (Jeffries) resolution. DeGette (Blunt (Aguilar) Himes Pascrell Wilson (FL) Lowenthal Rochester) Schakowsky The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Horn, Kendra S. Payne Yarmuth (Beyer) DelBene (Heck) (Kelly (IL)) Lowey (Tonko) question is on ordering the previous DeSaulnier Schneider NAYS—171 McNerney question. (Matsui) (Houlahan) (Raskin) The question was taken; and the Abraham Calvert Gaetz Doggett (Raskin) Serrano Allen Carter (GA) Gallagher Engel (Pallone) Meng (Clark Speaker pro tempore announced that (MA)) (Jeffries) Amash Carter (TX) Garcia (CA) Escobar (Garcia Sires (Pallone) Armstrong Chabot Moore (Beyer) the ayes appeared to have it. Gianforte (TX)) Speier (Scanlon) Arrington Cheney Gibbs Foster (Beyer) Mucarsel-Powell Mr. WOODALL. Madam Speaker, on Thompson (CA) Babin Cline Gohmert Frankel (Clark (Wasserman (Kildee) that I demand the yeas and nays. Bacon Cloud Gonzalez (OH) (MA)) Schultz) Titus (Connolly) The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Baird Cole Gooden Garamendi Nadler (Jeffries) ant to section 3 of House Resolution Balderson Comer Gosar (Sherman) Napolitano Visclosky Barr Conaway Graves (LA) Gonzalez (TX) (Correa) (Raskin) 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. Bergman Crawford Graves (MO) (Gomez) Omar (Pressley) Watson Coleman The vote was taken by electronic de- Biggs Crenshaw Green (TN) Grijalva (Garcı´a Panetta (Kildee) (Pallone) vice, and there were—yeas 230, nays Bilirakis Curtis Griffith (IL)) Pascrell Welch 171, not voting 29, as follows: Bishop (NC) Davidson (OH) Grothman Hastings (Pallone) (McGovern) Bishop (UT) Davis, Rodney Guest (Wasserman Payne Wilson (FL) [Roll No. 179] Bost Duncan Guthrie Schultz) (Wasserman (Hayes) Brady Dunn Hagedorn Horsford (Kildee) Schultz) YEAS—230 Brooks (AL) Emmer Harris Adams Bera Boyle, Brendan Buchanan Estes Hartzler The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aguilar Beyer F. Buck Ferguson Hern, Kevin CUELLAR). The question is on the reso- Allred Bishop (GA) Brindisi Bucshon Fitzpatrick Herrera Beutler lution. Axne Blumenauer Brown (MD) Budd Fleischmann Hice (GA) The question was taken; and the Barraga´ n Brownley (CA) Burchett Fortenberry Hill (AR) Blunt Rochester Speaker pro tempore announced that Bass Bonamici Bustos Burgess Foxx (NC) Hollingsworth Beatty Butterfield Byrne Fulcher Hudson the ayes appeared to have it.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Aug 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22AU7.020 H22AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4270 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 22, 2020 MR. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, on Bost Hagedorn Reed Lowenthal Payne Sa´ nchez that I demand the yeas and nays. Brady Harris Reschenthaler (Beyer) (Wasserman (Aguilar) Brooks (AL) Hartzler Rice (SC) Lowey (Tonko) Schultz) Schakowsky The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Buchanan Hern, Kevin Riggleman McNerney Peters (Rice (Kelly (IL)) ant to section 3 of House Resolution Buck Herrera Beutler Roby (Raskin) (NY)) Schneider 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. Bucshon Hice (GA) Rodgers (WA) Meng (Clark Peterson (Vela) (Houlahan) Budd Hill (AR) Roe, David P. Serrano The vote was taken by electronic de- (MA)) Pingree (Clark Burchett Hollingsworth Rogers (AL) Moore (Beyer) (MA)) (Jeffries) Burgess Hudson Rogers (KY) Sires (Pallone) vice, and there were—yeas 230, nays Mucarsel-Powell Porter (Wexton) Byrne Huizenga Rooney (FL) Speier (Scanlon) 171, not voting 29, as follows: (Wasserman Price (NC) Calvert Hurd (TX) Rose, John W. Thompson (CA) Schultz) (Butterfield) [Roll No. 180] Carter (GA) Jacobs Rouzer (Kildee) YEAS—230 Carter (TX) Johnson (OH) Rutherford Nadler (Jeffries) Rooney (FL) Titus (Connolly) Chabot Johnson (SD) Scalise Napolitano (Beyer) Visclosky Adams Gomez Omar Cheney Jordan Schweikert (Correa) Roybal-Allard (Raskin) Aguilar Gonzalez (TX) Pallone Cline Joyce (PA) Scott, Austin Omar (Pressley) (McCollum) Watson Coleman Allred Gottheimer Panetta Cloud Katko Sensenbrenner Panetta (Kildee) Ruiz (Aguilar) (Pallone) Axne Green, Al (TX) Pappas Cole Keller Simpson Pascrell Rush Welch Barraga´ n Grijalva Pascrell Comer Kelly (MS) Smith (MO) (Pallone) (Underwood) (McGovern) Bass Haaland Payne Conaway King (NY) Smith (NE) Wilson (FL) Beatty Harder (CA) Perlmutter Crawford Kinzinger Smith (NJ) (Hayes) Bera Hastings Peters Crenshaw Kustoff (TN) Smucker Beyer Hayes f Peterson Curtis LaHood Stauber Bishop (GA) Heck Phillips Davidson (OH) LaMalfa Stefanik Blumenauer Higgins (NY) RECESS Pingree Davis, Rodney Lamborn Steil Blunt Rochester Himes Pocan DesJarlais Latta Stivers The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Bonamici Horn, Kendra S. Porter Duncan Lesko Taylor Boyle, Brendan Horsford ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair Pressley Dunn Long Thompson (PA) F. Houlahan declares the House in recess for a pe- Price (NC) Emmer Loudermilk Tiffany Brindisi Hoyer Quigley Estes Lucas Tipton riod of less than 15 minutes. Brown (MD) Huffman Raskin Ferguson Luetkemeyer Turner Accordingly (at 1 o’clock and 19 min- Brownley (CA) Jackson Lee Rice (NY) Fitzpatrick Marshall Upton Bustos Jayapal utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. Richmond Fleischmann Massie Van Drew Butterfield Jeffries Rose (NY) Fortenberry Mast Wagner f Carbajal Johnson (GA) Foxx (NC) McCarthy Walberg Ca´ rdenas Johnson (TX) Rouda b 1334 Fulcher McCaul Walker Carson (IN) Kaptur Roybal-Allard Gaetz McClintock Walorski Cartwright Keating Ruiz AFTER RECESS Gallagher McKinley Waltz Case Kelly (IL) Ruppersberger Garcia (CA) Miller Watkins The recess having expired, the House Casten (IL) Kennedy Rush Gianforte Mitchell Weber (TX) was called to order by the Speaker pro Castor (FL) Khanna Ryan Gibbs Moolenaar Webster (FL) Castro (TX) Kildee Sa´ nchez tempore (Mr. CUELLAR) at 1 o’clock and Gohmert Mooney (WV) Wenstrup Chu, Judy Kilmer Sarbanes Gonzalez (OH) Mullin Westerman 34 minutes p.m. Cicilline Kim Scanlon Gooden Murphy (NC) Williams Cisneros Kind Schakowsky f Gosar Newhouse Wilson (SC) Clark (MA) Kirkpatrick Schiff Graves (LA) Norman Wittman REAPPOINTMENT OF INDIVIDUAL Clarke (NY) Krishnamoorthi Schneider Graves (MO) Nunes Womack Clay Kuster (NH) Schrader TO THE HEALTH INFORMATION Green (TN) Palazzo Woodall Cleaver Lamb Schrier TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COM- Griffith Palmer Wright Clyburn Langevin Scott (VA) Grothman Pence Yoho MITTEE Cohen Larsen (WA) Scott, David Guest Perry Young Connolly Larson (CT) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Serrano Guthrie Posey Zeldin Cooper Lawrence Sewell (AL) Chair announces the Speaker’s re- Correa Lawson (FL) Shalala NOT VOTING—29 appointment, pursuant to section Costa Lee (CA) Sherman Aderholt Graves (GA) Olson Courtney Lee (NV) 4003(e) of the 21st Century Cures Act Sherrill Amodei Higgins (LA) Cox (CA) Levin (CA) Roy (Pub. L. 114–255), and the order of the Sires Banks Holding Craig Levin (MI) Shimkus Slotkin Brooks (IN) Johnson (LA) House of January 3, 2019, of the fol- Crist Lieu, Ted Spano Smith (WA) Collins (GA) Joyce (OH) lowing individual on the part of the Crow Lipinski Steube Soto Cook Kelly (PA) Cuellar Loebsack Stewart House to the Health Information Tech- Spanberger Diaz-Balart King (IA) Cunningham Lofgren Thornberry nology Advisory Committee: Speier Flores Marchant Davids (KS) Lowenthal Timmons Stanton Gabbard McHenry Mr. Arien Malec, Oakland, California Davis (CA) Lowey Stevens Walden ´ Granger Meuser f Davis, Danny K. Lujan Suozzi Dean Luria Swalwell (CA) COMMUNICATION FROM THE DeFazio Lynch Takano b 1317 DeGette Malinowski REPUBLICAN LEADER Thompson (CA) DeLauro Maloney, Thompson (MS) Mrs. MILLER and Mr. VAN DREW The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- DelBene Carolyn B. Titus changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to Delgado Maloney, Sean fore the House the following commu- Demings Matsui Tlaib ‘‘nay.’’ nication from the Honorable KEVIN Tonko DeSaulnier McAdams So the resolution was agreed to. MCCARTHY, Republican Leader: Deutch McBath Torres (CA) The result of the vote was announced Dingell McCollum Torres Small CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Doggett McEachin (NM) as above recorded. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Doyle, Michael McGovern Trahan A motion to reconsider was laid on Washington, DC, August 21, 2020. Trone F. McNerney the table. Hon. NANCY PELOSI, Engel Meeks Underwood Speaker of the House, Vargas MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE Escobar Meng Washington, DC. Eshoo Mfume Veasey RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS DEAR MADAM SPEAKER, pursuant to 42 USC Espaillat Moore Vela Axne (Raskin) DelBene (Heck) Horsford (Kildee) ´ Sec. 300jj–12, I am pleased to appoint the fol- Evans Morelle Velazquez Barraga´ n (Beyer) DeSaulnier Huffman (Kildee) lowing individual to the Health Information Finkenauer Moulton Visclosky Bera (Aguilar) (Matsui) Jayapal (Raskin) Fletcher Mucarsel-Powell Wasserman Blumenauer Doggett (Raskin) Johnson (TX) Technology Advisory Committee: Schultz Foster Murphy (FL) (Beyer) Engel (Pallone) (Jeffries) Ms. Cynthia A. Fisher, Newton, Massachu- Waters Frankel Nadler Bonamici Escobar (Garcia Kennedy setts Fudge Napolitano Watson Coleman (Raskin) (TX)) (Deutch) Thank you for your attention to this mat- Gallego Neal Welch Brownley (CA) Foster (Beyer) Khanna (Gomez) ter. Garamendi Neguse Wexton (Clark (MA)) Frankel (Clark Kind (Beyer) Sincerely, Garcı´a (IL) Norcross Wild Ca´ rdenas (MA)) Kirkpatrick KEVIN MCCARTHY, Garcia (TX) O’Halleran Wilson (FL) (Gomez) Garamendi (Gallego) Golden Ocasio-Cortez Yarmuth Case (Sherman) Republican Leader. (Cartwright) Gonzalez (TX) Kuster (NH) f NAYS—171 Clay (Davids (Gomez) (Clark (MA)) Abraham Babin Bergman (KS)) Grijalva (Garcı´a Lawson (FL) DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT Allen Bacon Biggs Costa (Cooper) (IL)) (Evans) Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New Amash Baird Bilirakis Davis (CA) (Wild) Hastings Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Armstrong Balderson Bishop (NC) DeGette (Blunt (Wasserman Lipinski (Cooper) York. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Arrington Barr Bishop (UT) Rochester) Schultz) Lofgren (Jeffries) Resolution 1092, I call up the bill (H.R.

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