E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 No. 85 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was struggling to keep staff. Despite the need to return to these solutions today called to order by the Speaker pro tem- progress that we are making in our to secure our success for tomorrow. pore (Mr. PERLMUTTER). fight against the COVID–19 virus, American workers are the key to our f Democrats are continuing their Big recovery. They are truly essential. For Government, socialist plans. This centuries, hard work has been the key DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO alarming workforce trend is rooted in to uplifting families and achieving the TEMPORE the Democrat’s scheme to keep paying American Dream. We cannot allow this The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- people to stay at home, and it must longstanding tradition to be lost. fore the House the following commu- end now. For the sake of our workforce and for nication from the Speaker: Thanks to American innovation and our communities, we must uphold the WASHINGTON, DC, the success of Operation Warp Speed, dignity of work. We must support the May 17, 2021. our Nation is winning the fight against workforce, and we must get our Nation I hereby appoint the Honorable ED the COVID–19 pandemic. Safe vaccines back on the road to recovery. PERLMUTTER to act as Speaker pro are the key to restoring our personal f tempore on this day. liberties, eradicating this virus, get- RECOGNIZING NORWEGIAN NANCY PELOSI, ting our kids back to school full time, INDEPENDENCE DAY Speaker of the House of Representatives. and, yes, getting the American people The SPEAKER pro tempore. The f back to work. Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from MORNING-HOUR DEBATE Just like every previous challenge in California (Mrs. KIM) for 5 minutes. our history, I know that our Nation The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, has the potential to recover from this ant to the order of the House of Janu- I rise today to recognize Norwegian ary 4, 2021, the Chair will now recog- pandemic and to recover stronger than Constitution Day. On May 17, 1814, Nor- nize Members from lists submitted by ever before. This truly is the American way’s Constitution was officially the majority and minority leaders for way. signed, declaring Norway as an inde- To succeed, we cannot allow Presi- morning-hour debate. pendent country. The Chair will alternate recognition dent Biden and the Democrats to sabo- Mr. Speaker, 207 years later, we re- between the parties, with time equally tage our forward momentum. From day member this important history and allocated between the parties and each one in office, the President has prom- join Norwegians around the globe in Member other than the majority and ised Big Government interference that celebrating its independence. minority leaders and the minority comes with higher taxes and more reg- I would like to extend our apprecia- whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no ulation for American businesses. tion to the Norwegian-American com- event shall debate continue beyond 1:50 Now, in the name of so-called infra- munity for all the tremendous con- p.m. structure reforms, the Biden adminis- tributions they make to make America tration is flaunting job-killing plans f great. that would crush America’s and Penn- I would also like to recognize my UPHOLD DIGNITY OF WORK sylvania’s robust manufacturing and amazing scheduler, Kristine Nichols. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The energy industries. She is a proud Norwegian-American Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mr. Speaker, job-killing schemes and who recently obtained her U.S. citizen- Pennsylvania (Mr. JOYCE) for 5 min- higher taxes are not the answer to the ship. I want Kristine to know that I ap- utes. problem that lies in front of us. The preciate all that she does to keep my Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. dignity of work is a core tenet of our office running smoothly and, most im- Speaker, right now, our Nation is fac- national fabric. This belief has moti- portantly, to keep me sane every day. vated the generations of courageous ing a growing workforce crisis. f For anyone who is paying attention, Americans who built and forged our the most recent jobs report was incred- Nation. RECESS ibly disappointing, but it wasn’t a sur- Now it is once again time to get The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- prise. Nearly everywhere I go across America safely back to work. Along- ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair my district in Pennsylvania, I see side President Trump, I worked hard to declares the House in recess until 2 ‘‘help wanted’’ signs. advance a pro-growth agenda to sup- p.m. today. Every day, I hear from small busi- port the workforce and create Amer- Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 5 min- nesses that are struggling to hire and ican jobs for American workers. We utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H2359 ® Pdnted on recycled papfil. VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:31 May 18, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17MY7.000 H17MYPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE H2360 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 17, 2021 b 1400 ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Jake, your story of following your PRO TEMPORE dreams and overcoming adversity is an AFTER RECESS The SPEAKER pro tempore. The inspiration to all of us, and I couldn’t The recess having expired, the House Chair will entertain up to 15 requests be prouder to represent you in Con- was called to order by the Speaker pro for 1-minute speeches on each side of gress. tempore (Mr. MORELLE) at 2 p.m. the aisle. f f f ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRAYER MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PRO TEMPORE The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret MONTH The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Grun Kibben, offered the following (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair prayer: asked and was given permission to ad- will postpone further proceedings God, You are our savior, our dress the House for 1 minute and to re- today on motions to suspend the rules strength, and our song. vise and extend his remarks.) on which the yeas and nays are or- Lord, even as we reflect on these Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. dered. words of the Psalmist, call to our Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The House will resume proceedings minds how often throughout history, May as Mental Health Awareness on postponed questions at a later time. and in our own lives, You have been Month. The focus of this campaign is f our salvation. to break down the stigma surrounding Help us to recall how You have inter- mental health. IMPROVING VA ACCOUNTABILITY vened time and again in the health and Each year, millions of Americans TO PREVENT SEXUAL HARASS- welfare of our loved ones as well as our face the reality of living with a mental MENT AND DISCRIMINATION ACT own. illness. By breaking the stigma and OF 2021 May we recollect how often You have talking about depression, anxiety, and Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to set Your shield before us in the pres- other conditions, we can help those af- suspend the rules and pass the bill ence of our enemies, in moments of de- fected to seek the quality care that (H.R. 2704) to amend title 38, United spair, and in the face of harm. they deserve. States Code, to improve the equal em- Give us reason to remember the innu- After spending the past year locked ployment opportunity functions of De- merable times You have protected us down and secluded from society, it is partment of Veterans Affairs, and for from our own foolish actions and pride- more important than ever to check in other purposes. ful behavior. on your loved ones. If you are suffering The Clerk read the title of the bill. Inspire us by these memories of Your or feel alone, please reach out for help. The text of the bill is as follows: saving acts, large and small, that we It is important to remember that you H.R. 2704 would allow them to shape our present. are not alone. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Save us, we pray. We beseech You, O Mr. Speaker, by bringing attention resentatives of the United States of America in Lord, grant that all that we say today to mental health, we can elevate the Congress assembled, would reflect our gratitude for the suc- conversations surrounding mental SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. cess You have given us. May all that health. We are focusing on prioritizing This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving we do today be a prosperous celebra- mental health and acknowledging it is VA Accountability To Prevent Sexual Har- tion of Your redemptive love to us and okay to not be okay. assment and Discrimination Act of 2021’’. to those around us. This month, reach out to your loved SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT Salvation belongs to You, O Lord.