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, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 No. 50 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was Mr. MRVAN led the Pledge of Alle- REDEVELOPING ABANDONED MINE called to order by the Speaker. giance as follows: LAND f I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania United States of America, and to the Repub- PRAYER asked and was given permission to ad- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, dress the House for 1 minute and to re- The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. vise and extend his remarks.) Grun Kibben, offered the following Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. f prayer: Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join Eternal and loving God, we pray Your ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER my colleague, Mr. MATT CARTWRIGHT, blessing on us this day. In our duties, once again as cosponsor on the RE- give us courage to press on with hearts The SPEAKER. The Chair will enter- CLAIM Act. This bipartisan legislation open to emulating the forbearance and tain up to 15 requests for 1-minute focuses on reauthorizing the abandoned sacrifice You have demonstrated in speeches on each side of the aisle. mine land fund, or the AML fund. Your steadfast love for us and for this My district, Pennsylvania 15, has the world. f most abandoned coal mines in the As brothers and sisters of Your cre- country, and reauthorizing the AML GUARANTEE WOMEN EQUALITY ation, we pray the faith to leave behind fund will provide opportunities and all that has kept us from living into (Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida funding to clean up the abandoned this Your gracious plan. And as we asked and was given permission to ad- land, not just in my district, but across strain toward what is ahead, toward dress the House for 1 minute.) the Nation. the goal of a higher calling, we pray Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Coal mining built America. It pow- Your favor. Madam Speaker, I stand in favor of re- ered us onto the world’s stage. It May all who trust in You receive this moving the deadline for the ratifica- helped us win two world wars and Your benediction on today’s journey: tion of the equal rights amendment, brought our Nation into the modern May the raindrops fall lightly on and I ask the following question: What era. your brow. do the following women have in com- The AML is set to expire this year. While we continue to make progress on May the soft winds freshen your spir- mon? environmental restoration, reauthor- it. Teacher Melissa Falkowski, who izing the fund is crucial to support May the sunshine brighten your saved 19 children during the massacre clean-up efforts and spur economic de- heart. at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; velopment. May the burdens of the day rest Madam Speaker, Congress has a Senator TAMMY DUCKWORTH, who lost lightly upon you. great opportunity to do right by Penn- both her legs in a combat mission in And may God enfold you in the man- sylvania and other great coal mining tle of His love. Iraq; States by reauthorizing the abandoned We offer ourselves to You, praying in Chemist Alice Ball, who revolution- mine land fund, which is not funded by the strength of Your name. ized the treatment for leprosy; tax dollars but by a fee that has been Amen. Joy Harjo, who was the first Native placed on every ton of coal mined since f American poet laureate; 1977. Those moneys are sitting there in Dolores Huerta, civil rights activist; THE JOURNAL the Federal Treasury, and we need to The nearly 9 out of 10 nurses and two- reauthorize that abandoned mine land The SPEAKER. Pursuant to section thirds of the workers at grocery store fund to further the redevelopment of 11(a) of House Resolution 188, the Jour- checkouts and fast-food counters who the scars of the water and the land in nal of the last day’s proceedings is ap- are women. those abandoned lands. proved. What do they have in common? No f f matter the sacrifice or contribution to society, if you are a woman or a girl in ENSURING EQUALITY FOR WOMEN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE the United States of America, you are (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman not guaranteed equality under the law. given permission to address the House from Indiana (Mr. MRVAN) come for- After 245 years since the birth of our for 1 minute.) ward and lead the House in the Pledge Nation, it is time to pass the equal Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, of Allegiance. rights amendment. every single constitution in the world 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. H1417 ® Pdnted on recycled papfil. VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:21 Mar 18, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17MR7.000 H17MRPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H1418 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 17, 2021 drafted since 1950 has the equivalent of Because of the essential role farm- the steelworker women’s caucus in the the equal rights amendment, except workers play in our economy and our Chicago-Gary district of the Steel- the United States of America. communities, I support the creation of workers union. In 1976, Roberta was Though some might say otherwise, it an earned pathway to citizenship. elected the first female member of the is clear that women need the equal I also stand with our Dreamers, many USWA Local 65’s executive board and is rights amendment, and we need it now. of whom have known no other home currently a member of the Steel- We need the ERA to strengthen the than the United States. Dreamers are workers Organization of Active Retir- movement women have been building the embodiment of the American ees. to achieve paycheck fairness and paid Dream. Dreamers represent the very Madam Speaker, I am honored to cel- family leave, to prevent discrimination best of our country, and they are real- ebrate Women’s History Month and against women who are pregnant in the izing their fullest potential. Their suc- recognize the role Women of Steel have workplace, and to fight for comprehen- cess is America’s success. played to organize, unionize, rally, and sive reproductive health for all women I urge my colleagues to join me in inspire workers to fight for justice. and girls. supporting the Farm Workforce Mod- These extraordinary women continue Today, I will vote for the equal rights ernization Act and the American to be fearless, strong, and vocal advo- amendment to assure that my grand- Dream and Promise Act. cates for more women in leadership and daughters, that women and girls f carry on the march to fight for full throughout the world and throughout gender equality in the workplace. I HONORING JOEL BENSON the country, are not only strong, pow- commend these women. erful, and resilient, but also equal here (Mr. CAWTHORN asked and was f in the United States under the Con- given permission to address the House stitution. for 1 minute and to revise and extend PROTECTING SURVIVORS OF f his remarks.) SEXUAL ASSAULT Mr. CAWTHORN. Madam Speaker, HONORING CONNIE LAWSON (Ms. ROSS asked and was given per- today, I rise to honor an august leader mission to address the House for 1 (Mr. BAIRD asked and was given per- within my hometown community in minute.) mission to address the House for 1 western North Carolina, a proven en- Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise minute and to revise and extend his re- trepreneur and a great business leader today to say how honored I am to be marks.) who is about to open a second quick- Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today, I able to file two amendments to the service restaurant in my district, critical reauthorization of the Violence rise to honor Indiana Secretary of which will employ over 100 people. State Connie Lawson. Against Women Act. Not only will this restaurant employ My first amendment aims to protect Since 2012, Connie has overseen Indi- 100 people, this restaurant will also ana’s elections and modernized how the safety and privacy of survivors by feed 100 families. This restaurant will creating a statutory mandate that a Hoosiers and businesses interact with help house 100 families. the State. Connie championed com- victim’s safety should be central to Not only will these employees get to housing decisions made by covered prehensive election reforms that in- have the honor of being able to earn a cluded election security and expanded housing providers. This amendment living to provide for their families, but will ensure that housing providers do our voting access for Hoosiers. they will also be under the careful tu- Connie is a fierce advocate for Hoo- not evict survivors, keep their informa- telage of their new employer, Joel Ben- siers to be financially literate and has tion confidential, and prioritize their son, who everyone in my community advocated high schools offer a free fi- safety when considering admissions, will recognize is one of the most influ- nancial class to all students.