February 25, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H703 of the failures and slowdowns delib- big shows, massive conventions, show- uary 4, 2021, the gentleman from erately imposed by Postmaster DeJoy. girls with the big iconic feather head- (Mr. ROY) is recognized for 60 minutes His efforts to eliminate overtime, close pieces. It is a magical place. as the designee of the minority leader. mail processing facilities, and remove But the glitz and glamour doesn’t GENERAL LEAVE mail sorting machines have taken all happen on its own. Even though it feels Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- of the cushion out of the system. that way, it is not magic. mous consent that all Members have 5 Our postal workers are demoralized, It is the result of the work of thou- legislative days in which to revise and they are seeing mail pile up as they are sands of Nevadans working in the en- extend their remarks. blamed for the delays. Seniors have tertainment, tourism, and hospitality The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there gone for days waiting for medications. industry. I am talking about the Vegas objection to the request of the gen- Constituents and local mayors are performers, ticket takers, stage man- tleman from Texas? sounding the alarm. agers, convention workers, and bar- There was no objection. The truth is that our Postal Service tenders. To them, Vegas isn’t a week- Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the has survived this assault from its own end getaway or a drunken cliche, it is distinguished gentleman from Arkan- leadership, only because those letter their livelihood, which sadly has been sas (Mr. HILL), who, like me, served as carriers and mail handlers have dou- gutted by the COVID pandemic. a staffer for a Texas Senator in his ca- bled down in spite of the challenges Many of them don’t have jobs to go reer, the great John Tower. through rain, through sleet, and snow. back to because the industry can’t CELEBRATING THE MEMORY OF DAISY BATES And, yet, DeJoy has failed them. He thrive when people aren’t traveling. Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my has failed the American people. They are stuck until the pandemic is friend from Texas for yielding. He has not failed by accident. He has over. And because of that we need to Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise in cele- a mission to weaken and ultimately help get them through this moment. bration of Black History Month. I rise privatize the post office to make people The American Rescue Plan includes in honor of the memory of Daisy Bates, who depend on the Postal Service hundreds of billions of dollars for small a native Arkansan and civil rights angry enough to finish the destruction businesses, laid off workers, and direct hero. that he has started. He hasn’t suc- aid to families and communities like Daisy Bates was born in south Ar- ceeded yet. But every day he stays in those in Las Vegas, including the $23 kansas in 1914 and moved to Little office is another day closer to him real- billion to support the travel and tour- Rock in 1942. Active in the NAACP, izing that goal. The Postal Service ism industry, and the $1.25 billion in Daisy and her husband, L.C., started needs a leader who is committed to targeted relief for live venues. the Arkansas State Press, a weekly public service. DeJoy must go. We need to support the venues and newspaper, which they used to call at- the workers that make our magical f tention to racial injustices. town the number one destination in In the face of violent threats, Mrs. CELEBRATING VERLINN SANDRA the country, and we can do that by Bates courageously led the movement AVERY passing the American Rescue Plan. (Mr. CLOUD asked and was given per- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- to desegregate Little Rock Central mission to address the House for 1 bers are reminded to observe the deco- High School, recruiting and mentoring minute and to revise and extend his re- rum of the House. the Little Rock Nine. Daisy Gatson Bates became an icon marks.) f Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the fight to end segregation in the today to celebrate a pillar of the Vic- PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS Jim Crow South. She was the only toria, Texas, community, Mrs. Verlinn (Mr. PALMER asked and was given woman to speak at the 1963 March on Sandra Avery, who passed away on permission to address the House for 1 Washington, led by Dr. Martin Luther January 30, 2021. minute.) King. Resilient and devoted to caring for Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to Daisy Bates is a hero to Arkansans others, Mrs. Avery demonstrated her comment on H.R. 803, specifically, the and Americans, and I am proud to passion for serving her community debate I just heard. honor her legacy today, and I look for- through her work as a child nutrition This bill does not protect public ward to her statue joining the pan- specialist for Victoria ISD, and her lands, it turns them into economic theon of American leaders highlighted leadership of Victoria’s Old Landmark deserts off limits to public use and sen- in the U.S. Capitol. Committee, which she founded. sible management practices. At some NATO STATES ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR She organized Juneteenth celebra- point we must recognize the damage SHARE tions, multicultural ‘‘Taste of Soul’’ that is done by these left-wing land Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, on a cold events, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day grabs, to our economy, our commu- Tuesday in January, an irritated Presi- festivities, and much more. nities, and even to our national secu- dent met with his National Security The impact she had on her commu- rity when we make critical resources Council. During the meeting, the Presi- nity is evident in the Victoria news- off limits. dent was outspoken, and complained, papers, which were often filled with My Democratic colleagues are advo- We cannot continue to pay for the mili- coverage of her events and letters to cating land use and management poli- tary protection of Europe while the the editor thanking her for her service cies that are entirely misguided. As I NATO states are not paying their fair to the community, and now includes listen to my Democratic colleagues’ share and living off the fat of the land. tributes to her memory. speeches, I heard an almost religious We have been very generous to Europe, Mrs. Avery is sorely missed and will devotion to the sites covered by this and now it is time for us to look out be rightfully remembered as a commu- legislation. for ourselves. nity leader for generations to come. When I heard one Member talk about Mr. Speaker, that quote urging Euro- f protecting the Grand Canyon from peans to pay their fair share in their mining, even though mining is already own defense by way of their responsi- HELPING LAS VEGAS THROUGH prohibited there, I couldn’t help won- bility to the North Atlantic Treaty Or- THE PANDEMIC dering what my colleagues would think ganization was not made by President (Mrs. LEE of Nevada asked and was if it turned out the Grand Canyon was Trump, it was not made by President given permission to address the House the result of an ancient mining com- Obama, or even George W. Bush. Mr. for 1 minute and to revise and extend pany. It would probably be fine if it fit Speaker, that irritated President was her remarks.) their agenda. John F. Kennedy. Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I f We are now nearly 60 years after that rise today on behalf of my hometown, meeting, and 30 years following the re- Las Vegas. ISSUES OF THE DAY unification of Germany and the col- What comes to mind when I say Las The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under lapse of the USSR. Yet, the debate con- Vegas? Bright lights, slot machines, the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- tinues.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:39 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25FE7.075 H25FEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE H704 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 25, 2021 Recently, NATO held a 2-day video Do they work or not work? standing that we have a right to have conference with the theme of increas- How well do they work? our voice heard and that we have a ing NATO’s funding for our core deter- Where should we wear them? right to have peaceful public discourse rence and defense activities. NATO They question the removal of Ameri- and dissent. That is how we come up Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg cans from social media, the coordi- with good legislation. That is how to told the assembled allies that spending nated effort of technology companies have good policy. That is how we avoid more together would demonstrate the to block companies or threaten to pull conflict and wars on our soil. strength of our commitment to Article down news media outlets. But we have entered a most troubling 5, our promise to each other. And it We see examples of cancel culture in time in our Nation. This cancel culture would contribute to fairer burden shar- society are all around us. has persisted, and it needs to stop. The ing. Sound familiar? Ryan Anderson is a good friend of unilateral march of legislation meant When then-candidate mine. His book is behind me, titled not to protect our liberties, but, rath- became President, only three of the ‘‘When Harry Became Sally,’’ respond- er, force the American people to con- then 28 countries were spending the ing to the transgender moment. It is an form to woke ideology in this House agreed upon guideline figure of 2 per- important work on civil rights and needs to stop. cent of gross domestic product on de- transgender policy. Well, it was Then there is big tech that canceled fense. deplatformed by Amazon and Apple conservatives while allowing for liberal Members of this body to repeatedly b 1845 without explanation this week. It has been on for 3 years. It is a good book, call for unrest in our streets and raise With President Trump’s urging, whether you agree with it or don’t money to bail out violent rioters, not today, 7 countries out of the now 30 agree with it. to mention providing a platform for NATO allies are meeting this impor- Are we really into book burning? Communist China terrorist groups and tant benchmark. The United States is Is that where we are? the like. This hypocrisy is not over- joined by its longtime allies, Great Is that what we have become as a looked. Britain and Greece. Yet the only other country that supposedly values free- Recently traveling throughout my countries meeting the benchmark are dom and the free exchange of ideas? district the last couple weeks, I came countries that know well the risk of A book written by a good man, a across a few immigrants in my commu- Soviet—and now Russian—threats or PhD, on a topic that matters, ‘‘When nity. I know them. They came up to me threats from external forces of terror. Harry Became Sally.’’ concerned about what we are in at this These are the formerly enslaved coun- Am I going to get canceled? point in our Nation. Some of us who tries from behind the Iron Curtain: Is C–SPAN going to cancel this? are so privileged to be born in this Bulgaria, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Is Speaker PELOSI going to cancel country where we have inherited these Lithuania, and Romania. As Ameri- this because this is somehow offensive? wonderful liberties might not see the cans, we salute their partnership, and It is a book with ideas researched and signs so readily as people who have we share in their renewed sense of free- offered. That is where we are as a coun- come from Ecuador, Cuba, and Iran. dom. try. But these individuals came up to me Mr. Speaker, as we in the legislative because they are very concerned. They branch of this government meet and Gina Carano was recently canceled by Disney for tweeting a comparison of are concerned that they left this and confer with our parliamentary counter- now they are seeing it be rooted and es- parts, as well as foreign ministers and Nazi Germany rounding up Jews for the current hate doxing and targeting of tablished here in our Nation. finance ministers from our NATO al- Ironically, the one from Iran was lies, let us urge cooperation with our fellow Americans for political views. Now, should she make that compari- concerned because she was talking to promise to defend each other, but, me and she had liked a post about our more importantly, urge the rapid adop- son? I don’t know. But we are a free coun- taking out of Soleimani and she got tion to achieve that fairer burden shar- banned from Instagram following that. ing, a goal so long ago argued for by try where people are supposed to have the free exchange of ideas. And if there She knows firsthand what is going on President Kennedy. in Iran. She is a first-generation immi- Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate is anything that should bind us to- gether, it should be a unanimous belief grant. I was troubled, especially when the gentleman for his commitment in she looked at me and said: We have being down here on the floor. We have that standing up against tyranny and standing up against this kind of cleans- more freedom of speech in Iran at this this Special Order reserved tonight to moment—this is her opinion—than we talk about an issue that I think is fun- ing is something that this body—all 435 of us—should agree to. We see it from do right here right now. No one is try- damentally important to what we are ing to cancel people, you can speak seeing now today. And that is what I college campuses to religious schools, to small businesses, to corporate freely against the government there. describe as the ideological cleansing of Now, I am not saying Iran is a won- boardrooms. America, the silencing of dissent—can- derful place to live. I am thankful to be Mr. Speaker, I am going to have cel culture in common parlance today. here in the United States of America, more to say on this. I have some of my It is a sickness that lies among us. It but we are heading down a troubling colleagues here who want to join. So I threatens to tear apart our Republic at path. the seams. It undermines our economic am going to yield first to my good I remember being at an event just a strength, our families, our schools, our friend from Texas, . couple days ago. It was before the elec- churches, our culture at all levels, and Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I appre- tion. Some lady was there, and she was even our military strength. That sick- ciate the gentleman for taking this talking to me about her motivation for ness is indeed the ideological cleansing moment to speak on this. I cannot being involved in the public discourse. of America. imagine a more important topic for us She came up to me and said: I am from We have witnessed in America in just right now in this Nation. Ecuador. I remember escaping. a matter of months the shaming of Mr. Speaker, we are unique in his- Her parents did not make it out, but Americans questioning COVID. They tory in that our Nation rests on the un- she made it out. She didn’t call it ‘‘to are not questioning its existence. They derstanding that our inalienable rights the United States of America.’’ She are questioning our response. They are to life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap- called it ‘‘to freedom country.’’ questioning the fact that we have got piness are not a grant from the govern- She said: We cannot lose freedom people who are committing suicide, ment; they are a gift from Almighty country. I am here to support this, I who are stuck, unable to see loved God. And among these enshrined in our am here to work, and I am here to do ones, or can’t get cancer screenings. First Amendment is the freedom of whatever I can because we cannot lose They are questioning why speech, which is the most essential freedom country. hydroxychloroquine is one day okay freedom, along with the freedom of re- Mr. Speaker, I am here to stand up and one day not okay, and then sud- ligion. along with our colleagues because we denly okay again. They are inquiring The peace and tranquility of our en- cannot lose freedom country. It is ex- about the efficacy of masks. tire Republic is based on the under- tremely and essentially important that

VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:39 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25FE7.076 H25FEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE February 25, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H705 we in this House and people across the Mr. ROY. And has a family who does marks and passion for this issue. May United States of America stand up in as well, does the gentleman have God bless the gentleman. this hour at this time. thoughts on that? Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- once said—and I have Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman woman from Colorado (Mrs. BOEBERT). said this before to many people, en- from Texas (Mr. CLOUD). Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank couraging them how important it is to Mr. CLOUD. Sure. You know my fam- my friend and colleague from Texas, get involved in the process and also to ily, you know my wife. I have had Congressman CHIP ROY, for yielding. thank our veterans—‘‘Freedom is never those comments put on me that I Mr. Speaker, I have said it before and more than one generation away from somehow don’t like Brown people and I will say it again: cancel culture has extinction. We didn’t pass it to our that I am somehow racist. They fail become a pillar of the left. children in the bloodstream. It must be sometimes to look at my family photo. Today, cancel culture took on toy po- fought for, protected, and handed on My wife is an immigrant. I didn’t tatoes, but not a sitting Governor ac- for them to do the same.’’ marry her because she was an immi- cused of sexual assault. That is where I thought about that quote. There is grant. I married because I loved her. I we have come to. another part of it that has resonated met her when she was 15. I was 17 at From Kevin Hart to Gina Carano, the with me even more and more in this the time. We had a long-distance rela- woke mob will go after decades-old time, and it is: ‘‘Or one day we will tionship. I met her back before Al Gore comments, and in Gina’s case, for sim- spend our sunset years telling our chil- invented the internet. ply being a Conservative. The woke dren and our children’s children what Mr. Speaker, I can tell you what an mob now includes big tech, major cor- it was once like in the United States honor it was for her to stand there in porations, and the Hollywood elites at where men were free.’’ the U.S. courthouse, raise her hand and Disney who fired Ms. Carano for the God forbid that we continue down take the Pledge of Allegiance for the crime of—wait for it—posting conserv- this path and reach that point where first time and become a citizen of this ative content on social media. we have to tell our kids and grandkids great country. They tried to come after me, too. about what it was once like to live in So we understand that there is a Twitter tried to cancel me. It didn’t the beloved United States where men proper way to do immigration. We work. The fake news at CNN and other were free. want a big, beautiful gate to this coun- outlets also tried to cancel me for sim- Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman try. But to say that we need to secure ply walking around the Capitol with for setting aside this Special Order. I our communities and keep out the car- my family. That didn’t work either. cannot imagine a more important tel activity, I serve on the Inter- Mr. Speaker, it will never work be- topic. parliamentary Group between the U.S. cause I refuse to bow to the cancel Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I just want to and Mexico, so I have had the oppor- mob. say to my friend from Texas that I tunity to talk with our colleagues in We are a nation that has always had know he has a heart for immigrants Mexico. I talk to them about how arro- the audacity to dream, the strength to who come to the United States of gant of a notion it is for us to assume lead, and the boldness to speak our America. We both live in Texas. We that the way we heal the world’s ills is minds. We must stand tall and kneel both deal with an open border and we to bring everybody to the United before God. Scripture says that every deal with the issue of immigration on a States. That notion is uniquely Amer- knee will bow and every tongue will regular basis. ican arrogant. confess Jesus is Lord. Too often when you talk about can- We want people to prosper every- Now, that is an audacious statement cel culture, if I dare to say that we where. And what we know from our in America right now: Jesus is Lord. Why is that such a controversy? should have a secure border in the unique history is that if you embrace Because there is power in the name United States of America and that I be- the principles this Nation was founded of Jesus. lieve that is pro-immigrant, that that upon, you can have the same sort of undermines the power of cartels, that prosperity. You can have your people b 1900 makes it less likely that immigrants prosper everywhere. This isn’t the first time Christians are abused, also protects us, protects When I said that thought, we got re- have been attacked for professing the us from the dangers of fentanyl. That sounding applause from them because Lordship of Jesus. is the kind of canceling that we see they understand that our wanting to If you go to the Book of Acts, Peter every single day. secure their borders, we want their and John were arrested. It says: Now as Oh, you want a secure border? communities to thrive, we want our they spoke to the people, the priests, You hate Brown people. communities along the border to be the captain of the temple and the Sad- It is as if my colleagues on the other protected, and we want migrants not to ducees came upon them, greatly dis- side of the aisle have some sort of mo- be persecuted and abused along the turbed that they taught the people and nopoly on being able to say things way. preached in Jesus the resurrection about Brown people, and here I am try- Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I agree with from the dead. And they laid hands on ing to protect our border for the bet- the gentleman. If you take that view, them and they put them in custody terment of the United States and the you are labeled a bigot. If you take the until the next day for it was already immigrants who seek to come here, view that we want a secure border, you evening. However, many of those who and somehow I am a bigot. The very are labeled as someone who wants to heard the word believed and the num- structures put in place by the Obama- keep people out of this country. ber of men came to be about 5,000. Biden administration are called cages If you dare to say what you just said, There were 5,000 salvations because for kids. which is that maybe we should think someone had the boldness to speak in And now what has happened? through how to make sure that Mexico, the name of Jesus. It goes on. The Biden administration is having Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador Now, when they saw the boldness— an uh-oh moment because their absurd are strong so that—by the way, the their boldness was tangible. It was evi- policies of open borders are attracting first lady of Guatemala was visiting dent to the people around them. It people to come across our border. Now and said something along the lines of: wasn’t in a prayer closet. It wasn’t hid- they are saying: Oh, no, what do we do All of these caravans and all of the car- den. It was out in front. They saw the with unaccompanied children? tels are driving a lot of our people out boldness of Peter and John and per- Well, who the heck could have seen of our country, and it is hurting our ceived that they were uneducated and this coming? country. untrained men. Yet somehow we are canceled for be- I am told from the other side of the That means that they didn’t know lieving in a secure border. aisle that it is compassionate to have the languages that they were speaking The gentleman from south Texas, open borders, and then we are labeled in. They were speaking in unknown who I know has a heart for immi- as bigots. languages. grants— I know the gentleman has somewhere They marveled and they analyzed Mr. CLOUD. I certainly do. to go. I appreciate the gentleman’s re- that they had been with Jesus. Their

VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:39 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25FE7.078 H25FEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE H706 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 25, 2021 boldness was so tangible, so intense the today on a bill voted on the floor of Dr. Fauci is inconsistent, sometimes people around them knew that they this body today in the so-called Equal- making stuff up, maybe to be on the had been in the presence of Jesus. Wow. ity Act, with a direct assault on the front cover of a magazine, and maybe It goes on to say: What shall we do to First Amendment of the United States, we ought to hear from 20 scientists in- these men? For, indeed that a notable a direct assault on religious liberty, a stead of one, well, suddenly, you hate miracle has been done through them. It direct assault, basically. It is the tyr- science. is evident to all who dwell in Jeru- anny over the mind of man. If you say that COVID has been po- salem and we cannot deny it, but so I am inspired by the Book of Acts, liticized, as I did last year, or question that it spreads further among the peo- and I assume that the gentlewoman any aspect of it, not that it exists, not ple, let us severely threaten them— from Colorado agrees. that people are getting sick—I have Whew, sounds like America. That Mrs. BOEBERT. Absolutely. Abso- had it—not that you want to protect sounds really familiar right now—that lutely. It is an ongoing testimony of your family—I canceled Thanksgiving we would severely threaten them, that even the lives that we are living today. because my dad is 78 and had polio— from now on, they speak to no man in Our stories, I believe, will be recorded but if you question any of it, you are this name. They wouldn’t even say the as there are a cloud of witnesses that calling it a hoax. name, in this name. are watching eagerly what we are If you want to go to church, you are So they called them, and they com- going to do. They have been waiting for reckless. manded them not to speak at all, nor this time and this season and they are If you believe men are men and teach. They were not allowed to speak watching the sons of men. They are women are women, you are a bigot. or teach in the name of Jesus. watching us like never before. If you think it is wrong to let bio- But Peter and John answered and Jesus came here and He showed us logical boys compete against your said to them, Whether it is right in the how to live, not as God, but as men, daughter in a sports competition, or sight of God to listen to you more than anointed by the spirit of God, to walk you don’t want your daughter to have God, you judge. in grace, not just a wishy-washy, cover to share a locker room with a male, It goes on to say exactly what God up your mistakes kind of grace, it is you are a bigot. will do if you remain bold and strong in this boldness. It is empowerment. It is I mean, when are we going to sit your convictions and if you refuse to God’s ability working in and through down, roll our sleeves up and actually bow down to the cancel mob, to the you. And I am very much inspired by do the work of the American people, in- woke culture. the Book of Acts and many others. stead of sitting here firing shots across Peter and John spoke out. Now, Lord, Mr. ROY. I appreciate the gentle- everybody and saying, well, you are a look on their threats and grant to Your woman from Colorado, and I appreciate bigot. servants boldness as we may speak our joint commitment to the Lord Al- I yield to my good friend from Geor- Your word by stretching out Your mighty and liberty in this country. gia, Mr. HICE. hands, hands to heal, that signs and And I would just say before I yield, I Mr. HICE of Georgia. I appreciate the wonders may be done through the think, to the gentleman from Georgia gentleman’s leadership on this and he’s name of Your holy servant, Jesus. next, a couple of thoughts. a very dear friend from Texas. And I This is the boldness that God is look- You know, we are talking today am grateful. ing for right now. He said, if we cry out about cancel culture. We are talking Listen, I don’t know that there are to Him, He will hear us, and He will about the silencing of dissent, the many issues that are much more sig- heal our land. cleansing of ideology in the public nificant, if any more significant, than This cancel culture isn’t just to keep square in America. It is truly an ideo- what we are watching unfold in our so- us quiet; it is to stop the very plan and logical cleansing, but it is always not ciety these days, with the cancel cul- movement of God Almighty. But I have direct. ture movement. And the gentleman read the end of the book and we win. I alluded to it when I was talking to brought up so many great examples. Glory to God. God bless America. the gentleman from Texas (Mr. CLOUD) Everyone certainly, I believe, probably Do not give up the faith and hope in about immigration; that if we dare everyone on this side of the aisle has God. He will turn all shame into glory. stand up for secure borders, we are a experienced this cancel culture in one Mr. ROY. Well, I appreciate the gen- bigot. It happens all the time. You hate degree or another, and it is, frankly, tlewoman from Colorado. I will tell Brown people. You are a bigot. not a new thing. It started quite some you, you know, as I was thinking Today, I stood up against the Equal- time back. through the times we are in right now, ity Act. The first thing out of the indi- But certainly, it has built to the the Book of Acts is my favorite book in visible crowd in Austin and San Anto- point of enormous momentum now to the Bible. nio, you’re a bigot. You’re transphobic. the point of literally destroying lives, And when you—you know, I look at Dare stand up for what you believe. destroying businesses, destroying ca- the arrows that some are taking today Oh, my gosh. The gentleman from reers, and that is what is disturbing to for standing up for their beliefs and Texas says that there is a man and me. some of the things that are happening woman. Bigot. All right? And I would just go on to say that today; and then you remember that we I mean, this is where we are today. this cancel culture—two main points are not in the middle of a circle yet, And you know, look, if you want your that I just want to bring up, and I getting stoned. child to actually be educated in a would love to have a bit of dialogue You remember what those men did school, then despite the science, you with the gentleman on this. and what they faced in the early don’t care about public health and you But number one is: What is under- church, and it inspires us to know, to want teachers to die. Right? neath it? What is causing it? What is have the strength that we need to have. All last year, running against an op- the purpose? What is the motive behind And this is true of all faiths. This is ponent in Austin, it was, oh, you want cancel culture? true of all Americans. It is instructive people to die. You don’t care about the I don’t think we need to just deal to stand up in faith when you believe science. with the results of it, but what is be- something in your soul and in your If you want to keep your business hind it. And I would suggest that it is heart. open to keep your livelihood going, you a lust for power. And, as a result, there And we, as Americans, when Patrick just want to survive. You are a barber is an attempt to intimidate, an at- Henry gave his famous speech at St. in Dallas, Texas, and you just want to tempt to cancel, an attempt to threat- John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, stay working to pay for your kids and en, and it is also that I am king of the in that famous speech, ‘‘Give Me Lib- your family, put bread on the table. hill and you are not. erty Or Give Me Death,’’ that is the Well, you are just greedy, and you There is this desire for power behind founding building block of this Nation. hate science. the cancel culture movement, and I be- And it is that liberty, that liberty ex- If you think Dr. Fauci is incon- lieve that is a significant issue, and I pressed in the First Amendment of the sistent—I mean, I am just going to be would like to hear the gentleman’s Constitution, which is under assault nice and say inconsistent—if you think thoughts on that, and then I will come

VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:39 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25FE7.080 H25FEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE February 25, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H707 back to another thought that I have And her words to me, I am afraid dent Trump represents a large number and bounce that off you as well that if I do this, the FBI is going to of men and women across this country Mr. ROY. Yeah. There is no question. come knocking at my door. And she who are feeling exactly what we are In my view, what we are seeing today had received those kinds of threats, saying right here. They are frustrated is the assertion of power over the mind those kind of whatever. She didn’t go and angry about what is happening to of America, right? And it is just hap- into details with me, the specifics of their country. They are scared. They pening as we see it. what had brought her to that point. believe the power of government will We have got a fence with razor wire But the realization to me is this can- be used against them, and in many around the Capitol. We were all horri- cel culture is like a cancer that is now cases, we have seen evidence of it. fied, sitting right here, all of us here in infiltrating our society and its tenta- The point of this is not to just rant the body who were here on January 6. cles are reaching, they are far-reach- about it. It is that we should be having We all want to protect each other. ing. And what contributes to part of a debate and a dialogue, and we need to But we also have a duty to lead. We this, I am afraid, we are participating come together as a Congress and do our also have a duty to have a Capitol that in right here in this Chamber. job to do what is right for the people of is open; to figure out a way to secure And a quick example, we just passed this country. I appreciate the gen- the body without sending signals to the the Equality Act. And I could not help tleman from Georgia very much. world that somehow this is a military but think, while this is being passed, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- state. and even some questions I had with it, woman from the great State of Georgia You walk around the Capitol and sure, we don’t want discrimination for (Mrs. GREENE), your colleague. there are people in camouflage. There anyone. This is the land of the free. Ev- Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Speak- is a fence. I can’t even walk around eryone has rights. er, I appreciate this conversation to- D.C. We are harming business. We are night about cancel culture. I think it is b 1915 telling the American people that, nope, one of the most relevant topics that we sorry, you can’t come here, all in the But the bill itself specifically says should be discussing more, and I am name of a virus or then what happened there are no religious exemptions to really glad to talk about this. on January 6. this, that RFRA does not apply, which I think this past year we have seen That is all about power. That is all means people who have deeply held re- more things canceled in our American about message. Okay? ligious beliefs are going to be canceled I do not believe for a minute, with all history than we have at any other from participating in their routine life time. In the past year, starting with due respect, that that is about actual if they disagree with the premise of security of this building and this com- the virus, that has been politicized. I this bill, and if they personally have plex. That is about projecting a mes- say that, I believe that, along with mil- convictions otherwise, that is being sage to the American people. That is lions and millions of Americans that forced upon them. what the magnetometers are for. That believe it. It is very concerning to me that we We saw, starting with schools got is not to keep us safe. It is not. in this Chamber are actually partici- It is not the highest and best use of canceled, business got canceled, jobs pating in throwing gas on the fire of the Capitol Police to be having 20 peo- got canceled, people had to stay home. this whole cancel culture, even with ple around this floor every day; lit- Then things got further. Sports were legislation that is coming out of this erally having Members of Congress canceled, prom was canceled, gradua- duly elected by the people to have to body. I would like to hear your tion was canceled, social life was can- go through magnetometers. You have thoughts on that. celed, vacations, movies, entertain- got to go through security to get in the Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I would ask ment, restaurants, and the list goes on building. It is all a show. And that is how much time we have left in our Spe- and on. Basically, the ability to pursue all a projection of power. And that is cial Order. Sorry for surprising the happiness in the United States of what the Equality Act was today. Chair. America got canceled due to COVID–19 And the last thing I will say is my The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- and the politicization of it because it point about immigration earlier. That tleman has 25 minutes remaining. was an election year. whole point is: It makes no sense to be Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I would say to I can’t think of anything worse. I yelling about kids in cages, when any the gentleman from Georgia that I have been privileged to be a business rational human being knows you are could not agree more, and I have spo- owner for almost two decades, and it trying to figure out what to do with ken a little bit about the Equality Act. has been a joy in my life to be able to this child, a child that could be being The only thing I would add to it—and I function as a business owner, to em- abused by this guy who claims to be his said this earlier on the floor about the ploy people, to do business in the mar- or her uncle, and you are trying to Equality Act—my wife and I, products ketplace and have the freedom to do keep him or her safe. You can’t just let of public school, K through law school, that. But over the past year, many him go. You have got to do something undergrad, law school, we currently small businesses have been shut down, with them. send our kids to a private Christian along with many big businesses. I mean, I am sorry we don’t have school, not an easy thing for us to af- Dreams for people starting a business four-star resorts up and down the Rio ford. We are fine, we are blessed, but it have been canceled. But even more Grande to put these children into, but is a lot of work to make that happen. than that, the belief that conservative go down and work at Border Patrol— Why do we do that? It is because, un- opinions and thoughts and statements who, by the way, are majority His- fortunately, increasingly those with and just beliefs are being canceled and panic—dealing with immigrants com- beliefs and values that they want to be considered dangerous. ing here through policies that attract able to have their children experience, The fact that millions and millions of them. we are being forced into the corner. Americans support President Trump, That is all about power. Kids in We are being forced to kind of be still support President Trump, and are cages. Republicans are evil. Repub- shoved back away from mainstream so- angered that he has been canceled is licans are bigots. They hate Brown peo- ciety. I mean, forget just saying Merry unbelievable to me. ple. It is all about power. Christmas. I mean, it is just hostile to You see, America is the greatest Mr. HICE of Georgia. Absolutely. our values, hostile to our beliefs, country in the world, and I say it over That is extremely well said and very teaching our children something dif- and over. We are all blessed to be potent in the way you presented that. ferent than that there is one man and Americans. We are blessed that we are And it has come to the point, even in one woman. These are the things that equal, and we should have equal voices. just the last couple of days, I had a are happening every day across Amer- We are given that with our First woman face to face I was speaking with ica. Amendment, with freedom of speech. about this, and she was hesitant to get To my colleagues on the other side of But today, it is not looked at that involved in a relatively small way in the aisle, I would say whatever frustra- way. People that support President trying to make a stand in her local tions you have about the previous Trump are considered to be possibly community. President, just understand this: Presi- domestic terrorists. How can that be?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:39 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25FE7.081 H25FEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE H708 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 25, 2021 You see, we don’t look at America that Yes, being canceled in Congress after 35 by a feeling of doom; feeble govern- way. We don’t look at people that we days, being stripped of my committee ments; societies whose defensive reac- disagree with politically that way, not membership, is not something that I tions have become paralyzed; spiritual at all. ever expected, and I think it is com- confusion leading to political upheaval. President Trump was canceled on pletely wrong. What will happen as a result of all this Twitter. I understand what that is like. Statements and things that I had lies ahead of us. But the time is near, I have been suspended multiple times said that I addressed here and with my and from bitter memory, we can easily on Twitter. I have been in Facebook colleagues that happened before I even predict what these events will be.’’ jail multiple times for stating my opin- campaigned for Congress, certainly not Mr. ROY. Will the gentleman yield? ions, things I think and feel. It anything I did as a Member of Con- Mr. PERRY. I certainly will. shouldn’t be that way, where people gress, but that cancelation is taken to Mr. ROY. I also have a quote here I are canceled by companies. an extreme, and it should not happen. was going to close with from Alexsandr We are moving in an era of corporate Then the fact that we did object to Solzhenitsyn because it is so on point. communism to where corporations and electoral college votes, that is some- I am going to go ahead and do it now businesses can force their views and po- thing we are able to do. You disagreed rather than closing with it because you litical opinions, and force it on their with us, and here we are, having a per- just went there. customers. That is absolutely wrong. It fectly great conversation. I wish we He said this in another part of that should not be happening. But that is could have the same type of conversa- book: where we are today. tion with our Democrat colleagues be- What was drummed in our ears as political Where do we go from here? Today, we courses, we have now internalized. Live com- cause they have, indeed, objected to fortably and all will be well ever after. We saw my Democrat colleagues here in electoral college votes in the past, I Congress cancel gender. This is not up lie to ourselves to preserve our peace of think, every Presidential election for mind. It is not they who should be blamed, for debate, and it should not be shock- the past 20 years or so. Thank you for but ourselves. One can object but cannot ing for us to say there is only male and reminding me that, and thank you for imagine what to do. Gags have been stuffed female. That is not a shocking state- setting this up tonight. into our mouths. Nobody wants to listen to ment. It is science. There are only two Mr. ROY. I am going to yield to the us, and nobody asks our opinion. How can we sets of chromosomes. They also can- gentleman from Pennsylvania. I would force them to listen to us? It is impossible to change their minds. Some will lose their celed women’s rights, religious free- ask the Speaker how much time we dom, and the ability for little girls to jobs, but there are no loopholes for anybody have remaining. who wants to be honest. have privacy in the bathroom. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- This cancel culture has gone too far, Now, that may sound like a diatribe tleman has 16 minutes remaining. from a conservative talk radio host and we have to change that. The media Mr. ROY. I thank the Speaker. Right is addicting America to hate, and the today, but it wasn’t. It was him. before I yield to the gentleman from Mr. PERRY. It was a guy who lived media is addicting people to the idea Pennsylvania, I want to appreciate his that they can cancel out someone’s it, who saw it happen, who lived under service, his service to the country, the oppression of a Russian gulag, im- opinion that they don’t agree with. both in the military and now in Con- Mr. ROY, would you like to elaborate prisoned for decades, and watched the gress. I know he has a passion for this on that? West, watched 66 million souls Mr. ROY. Yes. One of the things that issue. exterminated on the border of Russia you made me think of is how much Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend and Europe, and Europe did nothing cancel culture is now getting rooted in from Pennsylvania. about it. Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I appre- government and, in fact, the institu- We are in this Capitol today, as Chip ciate Mr. ROY, my great friend from tion in which we are currently stand- has already said, surrounded by razor ing. The gentlewoman is well aware Texas. I appreciate the sacrifices that wire and fences. Free speech, they are that my colleagues on the other side of he has made on behalf of this great Na- saying: Well, you have free speech. The the aisle stripped you of your ability to tion. government is not censoring you. The If you know me, you know I am a fan serve and sit on committees, in an un- government is not canceling you. of books because I think, in this tran- precedented action, for things that you Well, in this age where Google, sient, throwaway society, they are a said before the election, that you have Facebook, these platforms have 95, 99 record of things that happened in the addressed on the floor of this House. percent market share, whatever the past. So, like I said, if you know me, That is canceling. heck it is, when you are taken off that, Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Yes. you know I love books. They never your free speech is taken away, effec- Mr. ROY. We are in a situation right asked me, because I am not running for tively. now where this body is now refusing to President, what books do you rec- We are not here to talk to just each work. Democrats are refusing to work ommend? But if I were running for other. Free speech means you can talk with Republicans. They are threat- President and they ever deigned to ask to each other, everybody else. So it is ening to hold up and block their legis- me, this would be one. This is by a guy not about being able to just have a con- lation because they dared to object to named Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn. It is versation with yourself in a cell. Free the electors, a proposition, by the way, called ‘‘Warning to the West.’’ It is speech is about discussing ideas, and that I disagreed with, on my side of the hard to come by. It is a little expen- some of them are going to be aisle. I spoke right there. I stated my sive, but it is well worth the effort. I unpalatable. disagreement with my Republican col- just want to read an excerpt to you There were book burnings back at leagues. where he is thinking about the West as this time because they wanted to de- But it is perfectly normal speech and he sits in a Russian gulag. stroy ideas. We are not afraid of ideas. debate under the Constitution and the ‘‘We contemplate the West from what We are afraid of the advent of com- laws, under an act passed in 1887, one will be your future, or we look back 70 munism and socialism in our country, that my Democrat colleagues have en- years to see our past suddenly repeat- but we are not afraid to discuss it be- gaged in themselves: Ms. WATERS from ing itself today. And what we see is al- cause we know that our ideas will win. California, for sure, Mr. RASKIN from ways the same as it was then: adults What we are afraid of is not being Maryland, others who have objected. deferring to the opinion of their chil- able to discuss it, and that is what is Now, Democrats in this body want to dren; the younger generation carried happening. That is happening all across cancel my Republican colleagues. That away by shallow, worthless ideas; pro- America, whether you are Project is how bad it has gotten. Cancel cul- fessors scared of being unfashionable; Veritas, whether you are President ture is now in this body. journalists refusing to take responsi- Trump, whether you are MARJORIE I have a couple more colleagues here, bility for the words they squander so TAYLOR GREENE and you say the wrong Mrs. GREENE, but do you have a closing easily; universal sympathy for revolu- thing. You say the wrong thing, and it thought? tionary extremists; people with serious is not about disagreement for the other Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Thank objections unable or unwilling to voice side; it is about obliteration of your you, Mr. ROY. I really appreciate that. them; the majority passively obsessed thought.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:39 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25FE7.083 H25FEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE February 25, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H709 This is a very, very dangerous preci- get to amend. We never get to debate. tections. That is a longstanding policy pice that we stand on, and we know the We never get to actually have an ac- in Congress that your taxpayer dollars outcome. Solzhenitsyn, even though he tual discussion on the floor of the do not go for abortions. This bill was discredited—imagine, discredited House. And we have fence and razor waives that. It enables taxpayer fund- by the Soviet Union and the Russians. wire around the Capitol. ing of abortion. But he came to America, and he tried Tell me how Democrats are not can- There are more than $414 billion tax- to tell us over and over and over again. celing Congress. You might as well just payer dollars, supposedly intended for Many people know, but my good say Speaker PELOSI can just pass a bill COVID–19 relief, that have no Hyde friend from Texas talked about the by herself. protections. concern the American people have. I know my friend from West Virginia So we are talking a lot about the They are scared. is going to talk a little bit about cancel culture. You have, on the one spending, and the only thing that I will b 1930 hand, a division in this country. Many add to my point here about order is of us believe it is the taking of a They are not scared of their neigh- that we are going to be passing a $2 human life, it is killing, it is murder; bor. They are not scared of a Demo- trillion monstrosity of a bill in the and we object to that. But instead of crat. They are not scared of a Repub- next week with no actual debate or respecting our views, you actually lican. They are scared of their govern- amendment on the floor of this body; want to take money from us through ment. This is a government of and for no real review by the members of this taxes and use our actual dollars to kill the people, by the people. This is our body. That is an absolute travesty. children. If you are going to talk about government. The government doesn’t Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman cancel culture, at least respect the dif- own us; we own it. The government is from West Virginia (Mr. MOONEY). ferences of opinion. supposed to fear us. SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND THE UNBORN But this bill doesn’t do that. This bill You know, I tell people, it didn’t end Mr. MOONEY. Mr. Speaker, I will we are going to vote on this week or it didn’t begin with gulags and slave talk a little bit about some concerns doesn’t do that. It gets rid of the high labor work camps where people died of and, generally, about the sanctity of protections. It is taxpayer-funded abor- exposure, starvation, exhaustion. It human life and the unborn. tions. It also requires taxpayers to sub- didn’t start with that. It started with I rise today in memory of the over 60 sidize health plans that potentially what we are talking about right now, million babies who have been killed cover elective abortions. with razor wire and fences around your through abortion since the Supreme NATIONAL DEBT Capitol and the inability to say what Court’s disastrous decision Roe v. Mr. MOONEY. Mr. Speaker, now I am you want to say. That is where it Wade. As a nation, we have taken ex- going to change topics to something starts. traordinary steps to protect public that is not talked about enough in this We don’t have to ask: Well, where health and save lives amid the Congress, and that is spending. We talk does it end? coronavirus outbreak, but there is a a lot about these bills and how much We know where it ends. huge contradiction when it comes to we are going to spend on this group and I thank the good gentleman from protecting human life in the womb. Texas for this opportunity. You know Protecting all human life should be a spend on that group, and we are going that we will stand right with you in bipartisan issue. Yet, today, President to give money to this and give money this crusade to keep America free and Biden is driving policies like taxpayer to that. to keep speech free. funding of abortion and naming pro- Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, may I ask Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate abortion extremist Xavier Becerra as how much time I have remaining? the gentleman from Pennsylvania. I the Health and Human Services Sec- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- know that is true and I know your retary. tleman has 5 minutes remaining. heart for service, and I know wearing As recently as 2012, President Biden Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the the uniform of the military of the restated his long-held view that human gentleman from West Virginia. United States meant a lot to you and life begins at conception. He said: Mr. MOONEY. Federal debt has in- that your service here means a lot. ‘‘With regard to abortion, I accept my creased sharply. I have this beautiful Mr. Speaker, as I get ready to yield church’s position that life begins at chart here starting in 1790, the first to my friend from West Virginia, I conception.’’ budget in our country right after the would add that my colleagues across Well, it is not only a religious belief, Revolutionary War, and you can see the other side of the aisle are effec- but it is also a scientific fact that the national debt. This is done in a fair tively canceling Congress. I mean, it is human life begins at conception. way. It is debt to the gross domestic pretty extraordinary when the mem- Thanks to modern scientific advance- product. So it is a percentage of the do- bers of a body essentially act to cancel ments, we now can visually see and mestic product in debt. its own institution. know the personhood of preborn chil- And you can see, in 1790, the mark Proxy voting. Half of my Democratic dren. where it was. We just finished the Civil colleagues are never here. About half of Doctors can operate on babies in the War. So we owed some money to the the time I look over there and you look womb to save their lives. We know a soldiers. We paid that off in the next 40 at the number of people there, and they preborn baby’s heart starts to beat at years up until the Civil War. And in are voting from home. By the way, the about 6 weeks. Nails begin to form at the Civil War there was a little bit of rules suggest that is supposed to be di- 10 weeks, and babies have fingerprints debt, and it goes back down again. And rectly tied to the pandemic. But do you by 13 weeks. you can see it is kind of steadily up know how many of my colleagues on It is time to give a voice to the voice- and down a bit. World War II, okay. the other side of the aisle—and maybe less. It is time for the law to acknowl- World War II, again, debt-to-gross-do- increasingly a few on my side of the edge the dignity of the preborn babies mestic-product. We were just trying to aisle—have been here voting and then who are the most helpless among us. survive there, and the debt is back submit the proxy form and then fly I urge my fellow Members of Con- down again. home? gress to join me in defense of all But when you get to where we are It happens. human life, standing up for all human today, things have gone completely out We are turning this institution on its life. I urge President Biden to actually of control. The Congressional Budget head. We have remote hearings that enact his personally held views that he Office estimates an additional $104 tril- are halfway functional, where you sit acknowledges that it begins at concep- lion will be added by 2050. The Congres- there for an hour trying to hear each tion. I think we actually all know that. sional Budget Office forecasted debt other. We have no regular schedule. It It is a scientific fact. would rise 200 percent. Today, as I is come and go. It takes hours to vote. The reconciliation bill that is coming stand here right now, we have $27.9 tril- We have no regular order. We have up, there are pro-life concerns in this lion in national debt. massive bills. We have things being bill. For starters, it fails to include the $27.9 trillion, what is that to you? done in smoke-filled rooms. We never traditional what we call the high pro- That is $84,000.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:39 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25FE7.085 H25FEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE H710 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 25, 2021 That is actually a little more than and California that are completely out ple the dignity of work with a living $84,000 of debt to every American cit- of control in their spending. $510 billion wage. When we don’t provide a living izen right here today. is going to bail out these State and minimum wage to American workers, Now, on this day 1 year ago, in 2020, local governments. It is not a good use they have to work several jobs or rely the U.S. national debt was $23.4 tril- of taxpayer dollars. on food stamps or other government lion, that was $72,309 in debt per per- Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I would agree subsidies to put a roof over their head son. We have actually borrowed $10,000 with the gentleman from West Vir- or food on the table. per person in 1 year. I mean, that is out ginia, and I appreciate his comments. Rather than subsidizing corporations of control. I have 1 minute left and I will simply who pay their workers poverty wage, And when you hear about these just say this: This chart showing debt let’s invest in families. Our workers bills—I plan to vote against this one is not just about the big number. It is put value and love into the work they tomorrow; I think many of us do—they not just about the $30 trillion of debt. do day in and day out. But Congress say, oh, we are going to give this and This is about tyranny. hasn’t raised the minimum wage in give that. That money, that debt that we owe over a decade. It is set so low, it is No. They are taking it from you. to our kids and grandkids is being used unsustainable for anyone. It was This is debt that your children will to fund an education system that unsustainable before the pandemic, and have to pay. teaches our kids that America is evil. now it is impossible for anyone to sur- This $2 trillion—nearly $2 trillion It is being used to fund an education vive off the minimum wage alone. spending package is full of liberal pri- system that won’t even put teachers If we don’t raise the wage, we will be orities. We are going to grow our debt back to work. turning our backs on the essential to $29 trillion. That is even more debt It is being used to fund a DHS that workers, on the same workers who owed per citizen. won’t secure the border and is turning have been keeping our country running There is a lot of misinformation it into a catch-and-release agency. for the last year. We will be turning about where the debt is going. The top It is being used to fund the very in- our backs on working families. two countries we owe the debt to are stitutions that are coming after our Everybody—we hear it all the time— China and Japan, not actually our precious Bill of Rights. is thanking our essential workers. friends. We are at global competition And I would just say to the Speaker Thank you, essential workers. We rec- with China all the time. They are hold- and my friends on the other side of the ognize now that those who work in our ing a lot of the debt. We owe China aisle: It is time that we come together grocery stores, who care for our elder- over $1 trillion and we owe Japan over and protect the rights given to us by ly, who pick our foods, who keep our $1 trillion. our Creator, that are reflected and de- schools and hospitals clean are main- The people who are loaning us the fended in the Constitution of the taining our country through this pan- money we have to pay back are not United States. demic. necessarily people who have our best Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance So while we are thanking them, we interest at heart. Brazil, we owe $258 of my time. are thanking them for putting their billion. India, we owe $216 billion. And f lives at stake every time they go to the list goes on the debt that is owed to INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE work. You know what? That thank you foreign countries. is hollow if we don’t back it up with ac- The national debt was $5.6 trillion in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under tion. That thank you is meaningless 2000. It increased. Under Obama, it ac- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- unless we say we are willing to not tually doubled. Since the 8 years uary 4, 2021, the gentlewoman from only thank you, but to actually pay Obama was President, we doubled our New Mexico (Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ) is you a wage that will allow you to live national debt. And we are adding an- recognized for 60 minutes as the des- and pay your rent and buy your food other—projected here—a completely ignee of the majority leader. and take care of your children. out of control debt-to-GDP ratio. GENERAL LEAVE Finally, we are going to put that So I urge my colleagues to consider Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. thank you into action. We are going to the future. Don’t buy into the—the Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that do that tomorrow because tomorrow government has no money it doesn’t all Members have 5 legislative days to we are going to fulfill our commitment take from you that you are going to revise and extend their remarks and to to workers and we are going to include have to pay back. We need to be judi- include any extraneous material on the the minimum wage in the American cious with these dollars, and most of subject of my Special Order. Rescue Plan. this is not going to coronavirus relief The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there So let’s not lose sight either of the anyway. objection to the request of the gentle- fact that this minimum wage is about Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate woman from New Mexico? our values, but it is also about family the gentleman from West Virginia for There was no objection. values because this is a bill, the Amer- his remarks. And I would echo that— Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. ican Rescue Act, that includes the min- and I think the gentleman would Speaker, for years, the Congressional imum wage, that values families. agree—that I believe that, of the $2 Progressive Caucus has fought to give trillion, only 9 percent is directed to working families the dignity they de- b 1945 COVID relief. serve for the work they perform for our And why? Because we have all heard And I really just can’t believe that communities and our economy. The in- the stories of those families, those par- my colleagues on the other side of the crease of the minimum wage to $15 an ents—whether they are a single parent aisle can really market this as a hour is an important step to accom- or two parents, or two parents and COVID relief bill when, by the way, we plish this goal. their kids—are working. We have all have $1 trillion remaining from the $4 Our caucus is pleased that 14 years heard those stories, that the minimum trillion last year and only 9 percent of after Congress last increased the min- wage we have now set at $7 in many it is directed to COVID. imum wage, we are finally close to see- places, that that is not enough to pay Does the gentleman agree? ing an increase become law. The Amer- the rent. Mr. MOONEY. I would agree. And I ican Rescue Plan is intended to help And so what do people need to do? would add that 27 percent of this bill, those most impacted by the pandemic’s They need to take a second job. They over $510 billion goes to State and local financial hardships. The increase in the need to work longer hours. They need governments. So the taxpayers of my minimum wage will help those most to do overtime. State of West Virginia and your State vulnerable essential workers. It will And what happens when you are of Texas and other States are literally put money into the economy and into working two jobs or overtime? Do you bailing out States that have failed to our local businesses. It will help jump- then have time to coach Little League, manage their own budgets. start our recovery. to coach your daughter’s soccer team, West Virginia taxpayers shouldn’t This is also about the dignity of to spend that extra time reading to have to pay for New York and Illinois work. This is a bill that will grant peo- your kids? The reality is you don’t.

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