Transcripts For CSPAN Politics And Public Policy Today 20240712

Whether or out is not the 23rd amendment will be repealed. Bill, h. R. 51, contains that. Edited procedure for im pleased to yield one minute from maryland, my Good Neighbor and good friend, the majority leader of representatives, steny hoyer. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman maryland. Mr. Hoyer im going to leave my on. Not because its not safe for me but for you. It represents e the best of america. From maryland. Aryland was a slaveholding state. I represent the district that probably had the most slaves, from the my friend first congressional district. Were many ere sympathizers for the southern had that would have maryland join the confederacy. Were, of course, wrong. But i want to tell my friends states who withdrew to whose states tried destroy the union that they to remember that this without ok them back condition, with full citizenship to vote. Ight the same for do fellow citizens. Mr. Speaker, i rise in strong of this bill and i thank delegate Eleanor Holmes norton her extraordinary quest, the prize to e on ake sure that the citizens she represents have full citizenship. Im proud to stand with her in supporting statehood for the people of the District Of Columbia. On this mask there is a drawing of the outlines of the District Of Columbia. Hat is maryland. Before the 1789 and subsequent actions. That was maryland. I dare say there is not a marylander who voted on that secession of that land for the capital of the United States who thought to themselves they were disenfranchising those who ived in that district. I want to thank mayor bowser with whom i have been proud to work to move this issue forward with the leadership of delegate holmes norton. I made clear when we announced that the house would consider this bill today the people who call our Nations Capital home have been disenfan chiesed and shortchanged disenfranchised and shortchanged for too long. Martin luther king said how long . Too long. Not overwhelm have the residents of one of americas most historically africanamerican cities, let me repeat that, historically one of our largest africanamerican cities, it is not exclusive, it is a diverse city. And very frankly, it does not make a decision that if you dont vote for us, we will not allow you to vote. Hear me. If you dont vote for us, we will not allow you to vote. But President Trump says, my friends on the other side of the aisle, mr. Speaker, would be foolish to vote for this bill. Why . Because we are too democratic. And we wouldnt vote for you. What do you think the north would have done with the 11 states that tried to destroy the union if we had said you are not going to vote for us and you cant come back. At least you cant come back with Voting Rights. We will keep you as subjects not as citizens. I hope every one of you that represents one of those states thinks about that proposition. 706,000 e to exclude of your fellow citizens from full participation in our democrattry. Democratcy. Not only have the residents of one of americas great cities been prevented from having full citizenship, but they have also been shortchanged in the money we give them. Just creeptly, covid19 just recently, covid19, we gave them 40 of what we gave wyoming, an entity 200,000 people smaller than the istrict of columbia. I see no head shaking on the other side of the aisle, mr. Speaker. See no agreement on that. Should we say, wyomings too small. That we ought to exclude wyoming . Not big enough to be a state. Et wyoming, more than 10 times smaller than the state of maryland, and as opposed to 40 Million People in california, 500,000, 1 80th of the size have two United States senators. Stand up if you think wyoming at not ought not to have a vote. I see no one standing. And this constitutional argument is a don can hoe at this quixote windmill argument. This is 706,000 american citizens. Same time their elected leaders can be overruled by congress antipresident when it comes to local issues as we saw when President Trump ordered federal Law Enforcement and the National Guard to suppress peaceful age legitimate protests against the killing of black men and women it encounters with the police and with others. George zimmerman comes to mind. Trayvon martin. This is about human rights. This is about democracy. This is about our nation being better than that. I see my colleague from maryland shaking his head. We disagree. The people of d. C. Deserve not only real selfgovernment but also full representation in the congress of the United States. Are these 700,000 people less than the 500,000 people in wyoming . If we ask somebody to come to the District Of Columbia and work for our government, is the condition that they lose their citizenship . That they lose their full Voting Rights . Is that the condition we put on them . If so, i respectfully disagree. With my colleagues who believe thats what america is about. Thats what this historic legislation would do. Admit washington, d. C. , as the 51st state. That would provide residents of the District Of Columbia with a voting house member and two enators. As every other group of americans that lives in a jurisdiction called a state has the right to have. It would right historical wrong to ensure our founders vision of Representative Government would be enacted for all americans no longer excluding the 70 ,000 in the District Of Columbia. The house will 70 ,000 in the District Of Columbia. The house will make action today to make the District Of Columbia a statement it is an historic day. Be on the right side of history. So many voted against the Civil Rights Act of the 1960s and years thereafter. They were on the wrong side of history. Do not have youre absolutely right. Somebody mentioned there was democrats. E were a segregationist party. And guess what . We said we do not want to be hat kind of party. And Hubert Humphrey got up in 1948 in new york at a Democratic Convention said we need to come out of the dark shadows of slavery and segregation into the Bright Sunlight of justice and equality. Yes, i understand. That was our party. And we said to them, we do not want to be that party. Dont you be that party. Dont you have lincoln turn over in his grave and said thats not our party. Yes, i heard you over there. Sadly in denial, in the denial of democracy, Republicanled Senate has indicated, mr. Speaker, it will not act. Just as it has not acted on 275 bipartisan bills that we have sent to the United States senate. They will not act. A senate is elected by 18 of the American People, the majority of the senate. That is unfortunate, mr. Speaker, because this is more than just a local issue for the District Of Columbia. It is a civil rights issue for our country as yesterday was a civil rights issue for our country. It is something that ought to concern all americans because when some americans are denied the full rights and representation of citizenship, it diminishes the meaning of citizenship for all. Statehood is not merely a status. It is a recognition by the rest of the states of the sovereign equality of the people who live there. That they are part of the main. Not simply an island. As the poet reflected. And that they cannot be treated as lesser by their fellow citizens, by admitting washington, d. C. , as a state we will admit what we already know to be true. That its people are fellow americans. Equal in their pursuit of happiness and enjoyment of the full rights and privileges of the american citizenship. Including representation in the congress of the United States. Our patriot forebearers in the 18th century used to cry out, no taxation without representation. The citizens of boston stole some tea, a criminal act, and they threw it into the boston harbor. Why . Because they said we will not be taxed without representation. That king george cannot tell us what to do without consulting us. Be on the right side of history. Washington residents correctly still use that battle cry in the 21st century. Let us make it ring true at last. Let us make our union of states a more perfect one by adding to 37 times, as we have consistent with the onstitution. I urge, mr. Speaker, my colleagues, to stand up for america. Stand up for democracy, stand up for the premise of america that every person counts. Vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from District Of Columbia reserves. Members are reminded to address the chairs, please. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice thank you, mr. Speaker. I feel like the arguments on the other side of the aisle are so weak that they respond by yelling louder. We just heard a great passionate speech about something that is totally irrelevant. The point was highlighted that the condition for statehood is not population. Otherwise we would not have states like wyoming or alaska or other states that were ever admitted. That is not the issue. The issue is washington, d. C. , was set apart as a seat of government. Not to be the same as the federation of states that our constitution grants us. With that id like to yield three minutes to my good friend and great leader, mr. Roy from texas. Mr. Hoyer is the gentleman aware that the district of lumbia was reduced in size historically a while back . That the land was reduced this is whats happening here. There is clear precedent for doing this. I thank the gentleman for ielding. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Roy i thank the gentleman from georgia. Appreciate the opportunity to address this important issue. The question the gentleman from maryland just asked, i hear the question. Their district bound dri lines have changed in the past. What the majority wants to do today is fundamentally alter, fundamentally alter what washington, d. C. , is. Thats whats at stake here. Id love to hear the gentleman from maryland expound on his support and belief in our Electoral College since suddenly my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have found newfound respect for the power of states and the importance of states. Id love to hear them expound on that. Id love to hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about what is critical about community and about respecting the ability of people to live differently. In order for us to agree to disagree. To allow texas to be texas. California to be california. Id love to hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle expound on these principles. This is about power. Thats what this is about. Lets make no mistake about it. D. C. , do i not believe, should become a state. And i use that word importantly. Should not become a state. We can talk about the constitutional infirmities with what the majority is trying to do. My colleagues are doing that. They have laid that out. The constitution speaks to creating the federal city in washington, d. C. The founders wanted to do that for a reason. We wanted this seat to be completely unintertwined, separated from other states. We wanted it to be special and unique and not subject to the powers and struggles that go on about the people in a certain state. Thats whats at stake here. I would note that my friend, mr. Raskin, mr. Connolly, mr. Hoyer, mr. Beyer, they are the first to rattle, the very first to rattle if we dare go down the road of potential shutdown. If we dare go down the road of limiting the size and scope of the federal government. Why . Because the jurisdictions they represent are wholly and heavily dependent on this federal government. Im a proud texan dating back to 1850s, i grew up in loudoun county, virginia, and went to the university of virginia. When i grew number loudoun county, it was 80 dirt roads. One stoplight in my entire school district. It was a rural county. Fully separated from washington, d. C. Now it is the richest per capita county in the United States of america. Because leviathan grows. Because it separates from the real americans out there, the people throughout the entire country who are not being represented by this body. If we want to talk about representation, lets talk about this body doing its job to represent the people, the forgotten man, the American People are tired of watching their country burning to the ground. Statues being toppled. People getting killed in the streets. And we are spending time here today on an unconstitutional effort to create a state out of a federal city that the constitution contemplated being separated so that it could be unique and be the power seat of this great country. Thats what this is about and i yield back to the gentleman from georgia. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. From georgia the gentlewoman from the District Of Columbia is recognized. To norton im pleased yield two minutes to my good from , the gentleman state, that ceded land person perpetuity which was formed, congressman sarbanes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Sarbanes our colleague talked about the District Of Columbia being special. About nothing second being second class which is what has happened to the residents of district. For two centuries, the people of the District Of Columbia have disenfranchised, denied fair representation, excluded democratic at experiment. Residents, who, just like my constituents, and pay constituents work hard, their taxes, and contribute every day to the betterment of society. Yet, they do not have an equal voice in this chamber. To remedy this great injustice. Norton should have the same opportunity that every one of our members does to see her name on that board for every vote. Walk into the well and committees her yea or nay on ehalf of the constituents she represents. Congresswoman norton, we thank you for your service and for tireless fight to bring dignity to the residents of d. C. Ngton, House Democrats committed to this moment when this body h. R. Year ago. N a we observe then and we reiterate today, there are no constitutional, historical, or economic reasons why the 700,000 americans who in the District Of Columbia should not be granted statehood. When americans of all political stripes are demanding greater voice and participation in the political town square, the residents of being forcibly kept out of the town square by this indefensible inbe aing rowmism. Enough is declaring enough. Its time to give a voice and a vote to the residents of the columbia. F i urge my colleagues to vote yes on h. R. 51. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. R. Hice thank you, mr. Speaker. To somehow paint a picture that second class city is absolute absurdity. Ithout question this the most influential city in this country, braperhaps in the worl. With that i yield two minutes to the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. Grothman. Mr. Grothman first, a little comment, maybe clearing things up. To everybody in the room, the phrase to the stands is r which it in the pledge and i think we all memorable comment of Benjamin Franklin at a time the constitution about he d, he talked was giving us a republic if we can keep it. Ow, at the time the constitution was drafted, our a efathers did include district which would be the for the country. Theforefathers put together United States and reached a ompromise between the 13 states. They realized at the time it would be ridiculous to break and give it two senators like all of the other states. It is , that is because so different and such a different than the states. The 50 he states, states, to a variety of degree, amount of ee agriculture. Theres virtually no agriculture, maybe somewhere greenhouse or something in the District Of Columbia. There is no manufacturing. Mining or logging or tiny we can so barely see it. Its a unique city because its on government jobs and tourist jobs coming to visiting buildings. Nment its not like any other state out there. State, re to become a its representatives would have spent all of their time almost getting more money for the city and already the federal government puts a great deal of money into the city. You couldnt complain that they do not have enough funds for city. Schools or their i believe their schools are somewhere in the top, if you consider it a state, somewhere top three or four in the ountry as far as funding per person. It would make no sense, say for wisconsin, to break off and give senators to milwaukee and two senators to the state. State. Ee is not a thank you. Yield the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentlewoman from the District Of Columbia is recognized. I am pleased to the gentlewoman from kelly. S, ms. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Kelly many of those serve he great nation have been denied the right to selfgovernment. Thats a founding principle of our great nation. D. C. Is home to more than 700,000 americans and yet they have no voting members of no voice in the senate. Establishing washington douglas would not create our nations smallest state per reliant on the federal government to survive. Are many states that are far more dependent on federal assistance. More in total income tax than the residents of d. C. Is continually treated as a territory. Calculations starve the local government. No taxation r, without representation. Well, d. C. Pays its faxes. De well, d. C. Pays its taxes. Ets be clear who is playing politics. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice thank you, mr. Speaker. I would like to yield two leader from t texas, mr. Gohmert. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Gohmert thank you. To hear people that have been trained in the onstitution disregard it so, but were taught at law school he ability to rationalize absolutely anything. But the fact is article 1, 8, there is no one of have been es that brought in by congress that is the constitution like this district is. Says, specifically, to xercise this the right of congress exercise exclusive legislation in all cases over such district, not exceeding 10 miles square, as made by one, succession by particular states of congress tance become the seat of government for the United States. If you go aboback and you look the federalist paper 43, you debate at the time, they understood, we had the capital in new york city, we had in philadelphia, and that is dangerous. Because it means if youre by a state and the evof that state or in the middle, surrounded by the tate, then pressure can be brought to bear that would be so to the rest of the country. Look at the debate. Thats why its in there, to protect that. One of the things that we is wrong to hat it make people, the residents of of the District Of Columbia pay income tax. Bill since ling a 2008, i think it was, that would tax. Nate the federal none of the territories who also dont have full voting Members Congress pay federal income tax. Either. Uldnt thats a legislative fix we can do. Nd i look forward to stopping the the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired, please. The gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentlewoman from the District Of Columbia is recognized. Time can much can i inquire how much time we have, please . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has nine minutes. Mr. Hice thank you. The speaker pro tempore and the has 10 minutes. Ms. Norton i say to the the eman, everything about desire of citizens of to be equal. C. , that were pleased to continue to pay federal income taxes. Would be number one. And i appreciate his amendment. His amendment d because we want to be full citizens. Share. Ans paying our im pleased to yield to my good the Virgin Islands minutes, congresswoman stacey plaskett. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from the virgin recognized. Ms. Plaskett as a member representing the territories, id rather pay taxes than have treatment that this body gives to those that live in the territories. I believe its the greatest scam and an okie doke that youve llowed us not to pay taxes and hold that against us to ask for our equal treatment. So keep paying those taxes and your statehood one day. The United States territories not on epresent is also equal footing with the rest of the nation. Theres no representation in the u. S. Senate. Voting representation in the house of representatives. Vote for. , we cannot president. We know what its like to be part of the greatest country in he world but not a full participant. And it feels incomplete. S americans, we strive to be productive citizens and asset to the nation. D. C. Is a matter of fairness thats been slow in coming. His city, built by africanamericans with use of forced labor, contributes more taxes per person basis than many states. A punishment to americans living those capital, including working in policy or Public Service for the good of the disenfranchised when they establish a home in the district. Changed the boundaries slave 1800s to ensure owners could keep their slaves. We have changed the boundaries to allow for ee the federal city to still exists and the residents of d. C. To a state. Its been done by this body before. Dont make it seem like its omething that cant happen again. At this very moment, citizens nation are clamoring for change, equality and justice. We can deliver that for the people of d. C. It is time to do whats right this low the people of city to feel whole, to feel omplete, to feel like they matter. Support h. R. 51. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice thank you, mr. Speaker. It certainly can happen. Ust requires a constitutional amendment. Id like to yield two minutes to my good friend from maryland, dr. Harris. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland is recognized. Mr. Harris thank you very much, mr. Speaker. Mr. You very much, speaker. I hope america is watching going on the floor today and theyre paying careful attention to this debate. After speaker from the other side of the aisle say things like its been before. The majority leader, clear press precedent. Yeah, theres clear precedent. We know the person who was in the chair before comes from the that was the clear precedent. When retrosession occurred. Colleagues on the other side of the aisle say this isnt politics. His is about getting Voting Rights. This is about things like this. Suggest that perhaps the people watching go to wikipedia history is the about the support for back to maryland. Mr. Speaker, this is not land. Ss this is marylands land. United gave it to the states for the sole purpose of a permanent federal enclave. Of hundreds of my colleagues on the other side of he aisle thinking its their land. Its marylands land. And if you want Voting Rights, simple. Do exactly what occurred in 1847 nd give the land back to maryland. Whoa. Wait a minute. Hats not what this debate is about. Because retrosession has been with no many times democrat supporters. In fact, the majority leader was congress when these bills were proposed. If what he really wants is rights, he should have cosponsored the bill. Ecause, mr. Speaker, you know if retrosession occurs, every single resident, except those in house, because of the amendment to the constitution, they get three electoral votes proposed legislation, every single one of those residents would have epresentation in congress and, yes, Eleanor Holmes norton could sit in congress representing from the state of maryland. This is a pure political employ. Thats why ploy. Thats why none of my colleagues will maryland will vote against this bill. Thats why they havent put in a recession bill. Thats why my hundreds of colleagues across the aisle will pretend this is congress land. This is not. The constitution is clear. If this land is given back to maryland the argument is, maryland doesnt want it back. Thats interesting. I sat in the Maryland Legislature with my colleague who is sitting across the aisle right now. If marylanders are so concerned or our representatives from maryland are so concerned about getting Voting Rights, its simple. Go to their colleagues in the maryland general assembly, fully controlled by the democrats, and say, lets take it back. Lets give those 700,000 people Voting Rights. Mr. Speaker, thats the correct approach. Dont steal this land from maryland. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentlewoman from the North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Norton important to note that maryland permanently ceded the land that now is part of the District Of Columbia. You cant get back what you permanently ceded. Its important to note that we have yet another, we have had several members from maryland speak and i am pleased to yield two minutes to yet another friend from maryland, the gentleman from maryland, congressman mfume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland is recognized. Mr. Mfume thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the distinguished delegate, congressperson from washington, d. C. , for her steadfast leadership on this. I had the opportunity to work with her predecessor back in the late 1980s in this chamber, delegate walter font the fauntroy, who passed torch. Delegate you have done a great job. It took 27 years to get this vote back on to the floor. I was there in 1993 when we came up short. Today im hoping and praying that this bill passes. I want to congratulate you on that and to remind others that this is not going to go away. At the end of the day, this is really about taxation without representation. One of the original 27 colonial grievances filed against the king which was a major cause of the revolutionary war. So when people in boston had the tea party and threw tea in the bosston harbor in december of 1773, they were making a statement and setting an example for people across this nation to understand that we just cant tax people without allowing them to be represented. You have heard the great discussions, the cogent points about the fiscal side of this that d. C. Residents pay more taxes per capita than any other state. That they pay more general taxes than 22 states. That they have a budget here larger than 11 states. And a bond rating better than almost 30 other states. I have heard this discussion when it comes to fiscal matters about the Constitutional Federation of states, the great words of hamilton and the federalists in the federalist papers. I understand that. But one thing we have to remember when we raise hamilton and we talk about the federalists is that their stated belief was the constitution was meant to evolve. That it was a living document. Thats not my impression. Thats the impression and opinion of the federalists. So if that were not true i could not be here as a deskendskendant of the slave without the 13 this, 14th, and 15th amendment. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Mfume the distinguished woman couldnt be here. She would not have the right to vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Mfume when i were born i realize that, sir. Would you, madam chair the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is no longer recognized. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice mr. Speaker, the constitution can change by amendment only. With that id like to yield two minutes to the gentleman from alabama, mr. Brooks. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from alabama is recognized. I will never vote to give washington, d. C. , separate statehood status. Washington, d. C. , is a city not a state. Its population is roughly 1 7 that of alabama. To add perspective, giving d. C. Statehood is the equivalent of giving jefferson county, alabama, or the Tennessee Valley separate statehood status. That is nuts. History is in order. The District Of Columbia originally was 100 square miles. 10 miles square. Part of d. C. Was in maryland. Part was in virginia. In 1847 the virginia part of the District Of Columbia was given back to virginia, leaving only the maryland portion of d. C. Still in d. C. These former d. C. Now virginia residents gained the right to vote on u. S. Senators, once senators became elected, rather than appointed. If d. C. Residents want to vote on u. S. Senators, fine. That can be done by following historical precedence and giving the residential portion of d. C. Back to maryland, giving the federal government portion, the capital, white house, monuments, the mall, federal buildings, and the like in d. C. But this option wont be offered by democrats because they dont care one twit about d. C. Residents voting on u. S. Senators. Rather, their goal is to more guaranteed two more guaranteed left wing senators. If offered i will offer to turn portions to maryland giving them the power to vote on marylands two u. S. Senators. I will never vote to give a sidge middling size city the same political power as one of americas great 50 states. I will never support this sham that is motivated by crass partisan political power, not a desire to let citizens of the District Of Columbia vote on u. S. Senators. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from District Of Columbia is recognized. Ms. Norton may i inquire how much time does this side have. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has 5 1 2 minutes. Ms. Norton i yield one minute to the gentlelady from california, the chair of the Financial Services committee, my friend, congresswoman maxine waters. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Waters thank you so very much. I rise to support h. R. 51, the washington d. C. Admission act, which would end centuries of taxation without representation and make washington, d. C. , the 51st state. Nobodys giving back anything. Washington, d. C. , is the home to more americans than two states. And more than 46 of the 700,000 residents are black. Make no mistake. Race underlies every argument against d. C. Statehood, and denying its citizens equal participation and representation is a racial, democratic, and economic injustice we cannot tolerate. It must be acknowledged that the chance to right these wrongs with todays vote would not be possible without my good friend, Eleanor Holmes norton. We were both elected at the same time. She has been doinged and dogged and consistent every single year since then in her fight for this bill and d. C. Statehood. Im so pleased to join my friend in todays milestone vote and im hopeful that eleanors long effort will finally give d. C. The rights they deserve. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice mr. Speaker, i have no further speakers. Im prepared to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from District Of Columbia is recognized. Ms. Norton mr. Speaker, i yield one minute to my friend the gentleman from North Carolina, congressman g. K. Butterfield. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina is recognized. Mr. Butterfield thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you to delegate Eleanor Holmes norton for your years of leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, from 1910 through 1970 thousands of africanamericans from my district and from your district, mr. Hice, migrated to washington, d. C. , seeking employment and better opportunities than existed in the segregated south. They worked and worshipped and pay their taxes. They own and operate businesses here in d. C. They teach in the Public Schools. They are capitol police. They clean our offices. Miss holmes norton, i know very well some of your ancestors originated in my congressional district. Mr. Speaker, d. C. Residents pay the highest per capita federal income taxes in the country. They pay more federal taxes than residents of 22 states. Its a grave injustice that they dont have representation in this body. It is time to say to the citizens of this city that they, too, are american citizens and deserve to be part of this great union with full rights of citizenship. What they dont need to hear on this floor today is for members to say i will never vote for d. C. Statehood. That is irresponsible. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentlewoman from District Of Columbia is recognized. Ms. Norton mr. Speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from georgia, congressman hank johnson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Johnson thank you, mr. Speaker. Article 4, section 3. 1 provides that new states may be admitted by congress into this union. There is absolutely no requirement for constitutional amendment. I was born and raised in washington, d. C. , spending my formative years in this great domain and i grew up knowing that my parents paid taxes but had no voting representation in congress. It was paradoxical that i learned in school that the cries of patriots, no taxation without representation, did not apply to the people of this great domain. We obeyed the same laws and paid the same taxes as our fellow americans, but we had no hope in taking part in the governance of america. Thank the delegate, holmes norton, for keeping hope alive. Im here today to say its time to stop the disenfranchisement. This vote is long overdue and i intend to vote in favor of d. C. Statehood and i encourage my colleagues to vote yes. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice i continue to reserve, mr. Speaker. How much time do we have on our side, please . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has four minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from District Of Columbia is recognized. Ms. Norton mr. Speaker, i yield one minute to the gentlelady from michigan, congresswoman haley stevens. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank my esteemed and tireless colleague from the District Of Columbia, congresswoman holmes norton. In this very chamber we have throughout our nations history long debated statehood for many lands and many people. And adding new states we have. In 1837 michigan statehood was passed by congress as the 26th state. And signed by president jackson, who proudly stated, michigan was, quote, admitted into the union on an equal footing with the original states in all respects. In 1959, as we added hawaii to the union, the secretary of the interior declared, quote, the great statehood of hawaii will be granted and prove to the world that we practice what we preach. And now as we add washington, d. C. , and recognize the over 700,000 people, hundreds of thousands of federal taxpaying people to this union, we reaffirm, we restore, and we continue to flourish our democracy that man fests to promote the general welfare. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentlewoman from reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Highs continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from District Of Columbia is recognized. Ms. Norton how much time . Joip 1 1 2 minutes. Ms. Norton i yield po seconds 30 seconds to my good friend Sheila Jackson lee. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from texas is recognized. Ms. Jackson lee i want to give all acknowledgement to the outstanding gentlelady, Eleanor Holmes norton. President washington stayed, the constitution is the god which i will never abandon. Nothing in the constitution says that we cannot make the Washington State the douglas commonwealth. Frederick douglass said there is no power without struggle. The sons and daughters of washington, d. C. , laid down their life for this country in world wars. They stand for this country in service to this government. Why are we denying them their right. Alaska has 700,000plus people. There is no population requirement. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. Ms. Jackson lee make washington d. C. A state now. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Hice i continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from District Of Columbia is recognized. Ms. Norton yield 30 seconds to mr. Blumenauer of oregon. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from oregon is recognized. Miss blumenauer thank you. I am intrigued listening to my colleagues waxes eloquent about the divine creation of the District Of Columbia. Give me a break. It was oldfashioned horse trading between hamilton, madison, and jefferson like the declaration of enslaved people being 3 5 of a person. Without being able to vote for themselves just simply power for white people. Its time to recognize the reality of what i think was a corrupt deal and give the District Of Columbia the statehood it deserves. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. Georgia is n from recognized. Mr. Hice i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from the district of recognized. Ms. Norton mr. Speaker, i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Hice is the gentlewoman ready to close . Sir. Orton i am, the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized. R. Hice thank you, mr. Speaker. Despite the passionate arguments that we have heard today 51, the plain truth is that washington, d. C. s of the s the Capital United states is exactly as our founders intended. Washington, d. C. , is a vibrant, special city, a unique position in our nations federal system. Not ations capital does exist within one state and, herefore, it is free from the influence of any state. And thats exactly the intention our institution and our founders. Constitution e proposal is going to be a constitution ur but practically speaking, d. C. Financially and otherwise as a microstate. Currently, washington, d. C. Raises about half of its annual udget through local taxes despite the fact they have some of the highest taxes in the nation. Of financial ack readiness for the responsibility statehood. Congress already dealt with this in the past in d. C. s inancial situation, we bailed it out in the 1990s after 20 selfrule. Roubled the majoritys bill does not take into account how these shortfalls would be remedied or how the taxpayers relieved. Statehood, first, the details majoritys s the proposal. In seeking to gain an extra two in the senate, democrats would strip this great historic ity of its special status and make it a shell state. Statehood ats proposal would leave us a state n name only and a tiny remnant of a Federal District. This is far from the intent of our founding fathers. A federation, a federation of states. No one who theres is a greater supporter of states rights than i am. States believe in rights, i cannot support this state. Coming a d. C. Is simply not equipped to statehood. F burden of if democrats were serious about granting representation to the d. C. , they would retroseeding the land back to maryland. Rejected roposed but over and over. If the d. C. Residents would go maryland, they would go back Senate Representation which is what this bill is after but statehood proposal is about olitics, all dressed up in noble arguments about isenfranchising and taxation without representation. But its just a big sham. The constitution is clear. A new state can be formed from or from erritories xisting states with their permission. But the current Federal District is not an existing state. Nor is it a territory. It is unique. And our framers specifically the constitution with a soimum size for the district as to prevent it from becoming a state. Eve been over this time and again. But h. R. 51 changes the clear intentions of our founders. District a state, we are going exactly against the framers and the intentions of our constitution. He framers crafted our constitution with the direct intent that we would have a district, the seat of our federal government that is not influenced by a state. Is what we have. And thats what we need to keep. 51 disregards the constitution and we cannot take this lightly. My colleagues to oppose this bill. The speaker and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the the District Of Columbia is recognized. Ms. Norton how much time is remaining . Po the speaker pro tempore 30 seconds. Minori bill, we standis out as our only democracy which enies democracy to the residents of its own capital leadership. Capital city. To leadership is bill until this ecognizes your capital city as equal in citizenship with the citizens of every member of the representatives. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields. Expired. For debate has pursuant to House Resolution 017, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended. Engrossment is on and third reading of the bill. Aye. In favor say those opposed, no. Have it. Third reading. The clerk a bill to provide for state of to the washington, d. C. Into the union. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman rom pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i have a motion to recommit at the desk. The speaker pro tempore is the opposed to the bill . Mr. Speaker, i am opposed to the bill in its current form. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman qualifies. The clerk will report the motion. The clerk mr. Keller of pennsylvania moves to recommit bill h. R. 51 to the committee on oversight and reform with instructions to to the he same back house forthwith with the following amendment page 3, before line 1 the following section 2, findings. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. The speaker pro tempore without reading is he dispensed with. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from pennsylvania is in gnized for five minutes support of his motion. Mr. Keller mr. Speaker, i rise talk about how for over 200 years lawmakers have come from union to work the and live in this district. The city was not meant to be a of conquest, like the europe. Cities of it was not meant to be the hub of trade like the early american cities. Above anything, it was meant to represent a center of the ederation created by our institution. The city is tied to the idea of the american republic. Of collaboration. The star on the map representing the 50 stars on the flag. With the creation of a 51st of washington dug class commonwealth, the state of a county, that collaboration will be wrong. The majority believes its a pay for two o senators. Republicans need assurances that he interests of our constituents will be reflected in this new state that will have nationsluence over the federal government. And so my motion contains to h. R. 51 dditions that will require the president o assure certain amendments to the state constitution are incorporated before granting statehood. Reflect the ons entirety of the nations views. Not just those of cities democrats. By there is provision that prohibits the former capital becoming a sanctuary city. Hese are provisions that prohibit taxpayer funds being used for political campaigns. To protect ovisions americans Second Amendment rights. These are provisions that full funding for Law Enforcement, that prohibit the destruction of our national mon monuments, that prohibit autonomous zones. New the early entry of states into the union, congress has required that constitutions states reflect certain considerations before granting admission. West virginia were required to prohibit slavery. Various western states were to prohibit polygamy. These requests do not violate courts equal footing doctrine. But the idea of the state of commonwealth glas containing wholly within it the entirety of the Federal Capital in fact violate this doctrine. A state with a controlling nfluence over the nations federal government and capital is simply not on equal footing 50 states. Her it is above them. A vote for the majoritys design statehood is a vote for d. C. Superiority. The ounders recognized status of washington, d. C. House republicans do not support deviation from their vision. However, if the democrats insist this new state, it is only fair that it be with ished as a state policy values that more closely reflect the rest of the country. Vote in colleagues to favor of this motion to recommit. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the yields. N for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland rise . Urge that my colleagues oppose the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore does he gentleman rise in opposition . Mr. Raskin i rise in opposition. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. To urge all i want of our colleagues to reject this weak and unconstitutional motion recommit. The motion proposes to condition admission of washington douglas commonwealth on either imposition of the whimsical olicy preferences of the minority or simply restatements that the state will follow law, which obviously it must do under the supremacy the constitution. All of the states must. The paradigm example here and on their rs to be mind, and i am glad we have at down to this t issue, is to make sure the new state doesnt come in without an people t written by the of washington, d. C. Saying they will not charge people a fee for carrying a concealed weapon. Now, that is not in the u. S. Its not a and matter of federal law obligating the states the 50 states to it. So you cannot selectively impose state of e New Washington d. C. That is the washington, d. C. Thats the equal footing which the Supreme Court has emphasized repeatedly throughout its history, that any state we granted admission 37since the original 13, all have entered on the same plane 13. He original so they want to impose their various policy preferences on linings thick the things like the concealcarry weapon. That pass it for the entire country and it will apply within the new state as well. Do it think you can constitutionally but thats a separate matter. Or resign your seat from herever you happen to be from, if youre g, resign your if youre from georgia, resign your georgia. Move to the new state. Governor and get them to change their law. Thats a matter of local policy. The greatd think that champions of federalism and state rights would want to allow every right to make a decision itself. Mr. Speaker, a number of things have been said that need to be corrected. Friend from , my texas, mr. Roy, said that we for the real te americans. And hes going to speak for the real americans, not the people who live in washington. Hope he would reflect on that and issue an apology to the d. C. E of washington, but it seemed that the logic of the argument was that the only here are federal employees. And theyre different from the rest of america. For a ink about that second. In the first place, the overwhelming majority of federal not live in washington, d. C. As far as i can tell, less than of federal employees live in washington, d. C. , which means of them live in our states. In the rest of america. Hould those people be disenfranchised . Should people work for the post office lose their right to representation in congress . Should members of the armed forces be disenfranchised . The Supreme Court already said carrington vs. Rash. So check it out. He overwhelming majority of federal employees dont live in d. C. , and the overwhelming in rity of people who live d. C. And are the constituents of representative norton are not federal employees. Things. Other yes, they are real americans, too. They are bus drivers. Teachers. Chool they are Business People and entrepreneurs. On. Get real. Be serious. Get out and meet the people in washington. He gentleman from georgia said washington, d. C. , was set aside in the constitution as a Federal District. Former echoed by the judge from texas. But here our friends just unfamiliarity both with the constitution and with american history. Fix onstitution does not the geographic site of the socalled seat of government, district thats set aside for the seat of government. The s why after constitution was adopted, the capital was in new york for a while. It was in philadelphia for a while. That it was in trenten, new jersey. It was in princeton. It was annapolis. A whole room in annapolis set aside for where congress met. That you can look up the constitution and see the boundaries or the map of just gton, d. C. , is absurd. Have the congress authority to modify the boundaries of the federal istrict as proposed by ms. Norton . Of course, it does. We voted to do it in 1846 at the couple hundred of slaveholders in virginia who ere afraid that this congress would follow the advice of representative lincoln from said, abolish the slave traffic in washington, d. C. , and they were afraid it going to happen so fairfax a, arlington, was given back to virginia. There is no Legal Authority to in any way. If we can modify the boundaries to he Federal District placate a couple hundred of owners, we can the bill would grant senators. , d. C. Two the senate is unlikely to take it up, and the president has already said he would veto the measure. Failed touse also override President Trumps veto of a bill blocking a Student Loans rule change by the Education Department. The borrower to Repayment Program is a loan forgiveness bygram originally enacted the Obama Administration to provide debt relief to students who were misled, defrauded or otherwise harmed by predatory colleges and universities. Often forprofit schools. Notwithstanding. The gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott, is recognized for one hour. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise in support of overadding the president s veto, house joint resolution 76, bipartisan Congressional Review Act resolution. That would stop the department of educations defense rule from going into effect and i yield myself such time as i may consume. Mr. Speaker, i first want to recognize the hard work of the gentlelady from the nevada, representative lee, for her retireless efforts in protecting students, particularly student veterans, from predatory schools. Our defense is a valuable tool to provide relief to student borrowers who are defrauded by predatory institutions. Unfortunately, instead of using the departments authority to make borrowers whole and give students a Second Chance at quality education, it has gone out of its way to prevent victims of fraud from getting relief. The departments rewrite of the borrow defense rule, set to go into effect on july 1, will mean that the vast majority of defrauded student borrowers will get virtually no relief. Exactly even in cases where the schools clearly violate the law, defrauded victims can still be denied relief under the rule if they cant show that the school intentionally defrauded them or they cant file their claim fast enough, or they cant document according to the flawed department methodology exactly how much harm they suffered due to fraud. Even those student borrow areoers who receive borrowers who receive partial relief will receive less than before. The average discharge amount for approved borrowers has dropped from 11,000 to about 500. And for many students, zero relief will be available, even though they can prove massive fraud and class actions are not allowed under the rule. Each student must bring an individual case, even though the school may have been found to have been guilty of egregious, systemic fraud. Democrats and republicans came together earlier this year to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution that rejects this rule and prevents the department of education from denige borrowers the relief they denying borrowers the relief they deserve. A broad coalition, including veterans and military groups, consumer advocates, Student Advocates and civil rights groups, called on the president to sign the congressional resolution and protect student borrowers from predatory schools. But while the president initially indicated support for the resolution, he ultimately chose to veto it. Today the house has one final opportunity to ensure the defrauded students get the relief they deserve by overriding that veto. I urge my colleagues to vote to override the president s veto and reserve the balance of my ime. Excuse me. I yield the customary 30 minutes to the ranking member, dr. Foxx. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague from virginia for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in opposition of h. J. Res. 76, a resolution that will overturn the Education Departments efforts to assist students who have been defrauded by colleges, universities, while also taking necessary precautions to protect taxpayer interests. Democrats have resorted to political finger pointing on this issue at every turn. First, education and Labor Committee held a hearing at the end of last year to hurl unfounded and personal attacks at secretary devos. Then they passed h. J. Res. 76 shortly after, to overturn the Education Departments borrower defense rules. And now after President Trump has vetoed this resolution, the democrats still cant take no for an answer. And want to override the president president ial veto. As we sit here or stand here today, yet again, to watch the democrats political games unfold, id like to begin by highlighting real priorities relating fall by the wayside as we waste time debating this partisan resolution. For starters, we should be working on Bipartisan Solutions to combat the devastating effects of the coronavirus. We should be addressing the concerns of small businesses, the backbone of our economy. And the workers whose livelihoods are being impacted by this crisis. Or we could address labor union shortcummings, including the shortcomings, including the widespread and brazen corruption amongst united auto workers, u. A. W. , Union Leadership. We know the u. A. W. Senior Union Leaders engaged in money laundering, tax fraud, bribery and embezzlement. Yet no action has been taken to examine this abuse of power by union bosses. Unfortunately democrats have a long track record of pursuing ideological objectives at the expense of taxpayers, students and schools. Today is no different. So id like to spend some time touching upon the advantages of the Trump Administrations new rule and providing context on the obamaera borrower defense rule and its many shortcomings. The borrower defense rule was first released by the Education Department in 1994. Borrowers rarely used this process over the next 20 years. Until 2015, when a large forprofit School Closed. During the final stretch of his presidency, the Obama Administration used this School Closure as an opportunity to issue new regulations on borrower defense. The caveat a potential 42 billion price tag to be footed by taxpayers that encouraged tens of thousands of borrowers, whether they were harmed or not, to apply to have their loans forgiven. In fact, claim filings for loan forgiveness went from 59 submitted in the first 20 years to roughly 300,000 claims submitted in the last five years. Let me repeat that. For the first 20 years of the rule, there were 59 claims. Then the Obama Administration begins encouraging frivolous appeals and the appeals jumped to 300,000 and climbing. This shouldnt come as a surprise. Massive loan forgiveness has long been a democrat objective and the obama rule was a giant leap toward that goal. One that also ignored the high cost to taxpayers. Furthermore, the Obama Administrations regulations were convoluted, blurring the line between fraud and inadvertent mistakes made by schools. The distinction between the two is important because if institutions are found to engage in fraud, the Education Department can call schools cause schools to close. Despite no intentional wrongdoing, through significant financial penalties. But dont just take my word for it. Colleges and universities, including historically black colleges and universities, hbcus, voice concerns about the obama regulation. Postsecondary education leaders believed that president Obamas Administration proposal could ruin those colleges and universities that did not have large endowments or significant Revenue Streams like the eye very league institutions. The Obama Ivy League institutions. The obama rule could shutter the very institutions designed and dedicated to serving lowincome, minority and firstgeneration students. Additionally, the wyoming posted pointed out Washington Times pointed out under obama rule, students who were forced to take makeshift zoom classes would have legitimate claims against their schools because the obama rule does not differential between willful misrepresentation and schools variedy responses to the coronavirus. Varied responses to the coronavirus. Great for trial lawyers but bad for students and their schools. End quote. The obama regulations created more chaos than clarity and the Trump Administration recognized immediately the need to right these rongs. So working with the education wrongs. So working with the Education Department, President Trump produced a rule with clearer standards for borrower defense and increased transparency for both students and institutions. The rule, first and foremost, holds all schools accountable. Students have been lied to and suffered financial harm are entitled to relief and forgiveness. Let me repeat that. The Trump Administrations borrower defense rule delivers relief to students, including veterans who have been lied to and suffered financial harm. In fact, the obama rule undermined the ability of veterans to earn relief if the institution was considered an elite liberal arts institution. In contrast, President Trumps rule makes sure students have the last word, no matter what institution they attend. Democrats will have you believe that the president and secretary devos want to intentionally harm students who have been defrauded by an institution of Higher Education. And that is simply not the case. While my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are willing to spend taxpayer money recklessly, President Trumps rule actually reduces the cost of the 2016 obamaera regulation by 11 billion, because it helps students go to and complete their education rather than closing schools indiscriminately. This is an 11 billion savings for american taxpayers during a time when many are struggling to make ends meet. Additionally, the trump borrower defense rule holds all institutions, not just forprofit colleges, accountable for misrepresentations, instead of picking winners and losers at considerable cost to taxpayers. It ensures due process for all parties. Extends the lookback window to qualify for closed School Loan Discharges from 120 to 180 days so, when schools close, more students are days, so when schools close, more students are eligible for givens and allows for arbitration, which could allow borrowers to recover resources, such as Cash Payments or other substances not provided by the Education Department. Furthermore, this rule is the result of more than two years of deliberation. Public hearings and negotiations with Higher Education stakeholders, as well as considering incorporating and responding to Public Comments on this issue. Thanks to the this regulatory reset, all colleges and universities will be held accountable. Defrauded students will see relief and taxpayer dollars will be better protected. Republicans stand ready to provide relief to students who have been harmed by fraud and the borrower defense rule issued by the Trump Administration delivers on that front. I strongly urge a no vote on this resolution and i reserve he balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield three minutes to the gentlewoman from nevada, the sponsor of the resolution, and a hardworking member of the committee on education and labor, ms. Lee. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from nevada is recognized. Mrs. Lee thank you. Mr. Speaker, i rise to urge my colleagues to join me in overriding the president ial veto of House Resolution 76 of the last night we took a hiser to 76. Last night we took a historic vote for racial justice. The justice in policing act. Time and again Congress Takes votes. Votes like this one. That will soon be forgotten in the media. But these are the votes that quietly perpetuate the systemic inequality and racism in our country. Thats what this vote today is about. Communities of color, minority and lowincome students and veterans are prayed upon but predator preyed upon by predator, forprofit schools. Theyre manipulated, theyre lied to, theyre defrauded. Because we, the federal government, did not do enough to prevent that fraud, we established the borrower defense rule as part of the Higher Education act. As a way to give those students a path to justice and relief. But the department of education not only rewrote that rule to make justice for our students virtually impossible, its also failing to hold these predatory schools accountable for their actions. Time and again we tell Young Students in this country, education is the answer. And they believe us. But that system failed them. The system failed my constituent, kendrick harrison, a brave iraqi war veteran, a father, a black american. Kendrick and his family were left homeless after his forprofit school blew through his g. I. Benefits and convinced him to take out 16,000 in debt right before shutting their doors. Hes fighting to this day, working as hard as anyone, to get his life back on track. And i promise, this story is not an exception. There are over 350,000 students in recent years who were lied to, manipulated and defrauded by predatory schools. So i ask my colleagues, are you going to stand with these students . Are you going to stand with the system that perpetuates inequality and holds down brave americans like kendrick . Are you going to let these forprofit schools wreak havoc on the lives of these students and take advantage of american taxpayers . Because its us, american taxpayers, who foot these bills foot the bill for these bad actor schools, because the department of education refuses to hold them accountable. Well, im ready to take a stand against this broken policy and i need you to stand with me. Take a stand for the very communities who have been rising up in this country. You know, these protests over the last several weeks, they are about police brutality. But theyre about so much more. Theyre about decisions that we make in this body that continue to perpetuate inequality and continue to stack the deck against black americans, student veterans, students in poverty, and working people who are just trying to better themselves. I urge my colleagues to vote to override the president s veto. Its time to take a stand. I yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Sorry, the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Thompson i thank our education republican leader and thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition to the veto override of h. J. Res. 76. The department of Education First released borrower defense rules in 1994. Which were rarely used over the next 20 years. After a large forprofit School Closed in 2015, the Obama Administration used this opportunity to issue new regulations on borrower defense. These regulations could cost the american taxpayer more than 40 billion 40 billion, encourage tens of thousands of borrowers, whether they were harmed or not, to apply to have their loans forgiven. The 2016 obama regulations created more chaos than clarity, and set massive loan forgiveness as a goal, regardless of the cost to taxpayers. It takes effect july 1. He new rule creates clear, consistent standards and procedures for borrowers who have suffered financial harm due misrepresentation by a school. Specifically, the rule ensures for all parties. Holds all institutions, not just forprofits, accountable for representations. It delivers relief to students, veterans, whove been lied to and suffered financial harm. Choice, rves student including student veterans and institutions that best suit Educational Needs and it saves taxpayers 11 billion by finishvizing students to their education rather than ndiscriminately closing schools. H. J. Re h. J. Res. 76 would undermine and repeal the Trump Defense ations borrow rule and go back to obama regulations that harm students and taxpayers. These reasons, i urge my colleagues to oppose this measure. Thank you, mr. Speaker. And i yield back the balance of my time. Ms. Foxx reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. Yield to the gentlewoman from california, the chair of the subcommittee on Higher Education mrs. Rkforce investment, davis. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california is recognized. Mrs. Davis thank you, mr. Speaker. Speaker, there are 240,000 waiting for dents relief. Loan after doing nothing for students who have been defrauded by predatory colleges, the has come out with a new borrows defense rule that worse. Kes things in several ways. Under the guise of protecting the taxpayer from footing the bill. We have to remember, our students have taxpayers, too. His new rule clearly gives reference to the very colleges causing the harm from the borrows defense rule that it was intended to defense. Closes before delivering on its promises to students, they should have automatic discharge to loans to institution. Students who have spent years bettering themselves working to et into jobs, sacrificing in hope of improving financial conditions for their families, are being told they simply dont matter. Colleges, on the other hand, can taking system to keep money and they dont have to deliver what they promise. Deserve protection from predatory practices. The resolution before us today the first step for blocking borrowers ed from taking hold and i urge support. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I now yield two minutes to the er great gentleman on committee from pennsylvania, mr. Keller. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Keller thank you, mr. Speaker. Opposition to the attempted veto override of 76. Res. When this legislation was advanced through this chamber in january, the majority sought to clock on borrower defense, leading to dangerous students, thoser repaying their loans, and the american taxpayer. Rule, which the majority seeks to return us to, marked legislation, was by chaos, excessive punishments costs. Bill was regardless to cost to taxpayers or merits of the borrowers case. Most importantly, the obama will era regulations did not deliberate between fraud and unintentional errors made by schools. Here can be penalties against cause a ons which can. Chool to close estimates put the total cost of forgiveness n giveaway as high as 40 billion. That is why in 2019, the trump new istration issued the borrower defense institutional accountability rule. Rule, which takes effect on july 1, provides regulatory process to ords due both students and institutions, rovides students relief relative to actual harm, holds all institutions accountable for misrepresentation, provides tudents with more options to more education should their schools close and allow faster allowing arbitration. The 2019 rule is estimated to from axpayers 11 billion the 2016 obama rule baseline. Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot to the outdated costly outdated, costly, and obamaera rule. I urge a no vote. Congress should stay in its lane. Was Rump Administration rightly using its authority to implement the laws promulgating borrower accountability rule. The substantial savings to taxpayers and Holding Actors accountable. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the virginia is m recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentleman from connecticut, a the nguish member of committee on education and labor, mr. Courtney. The speaker pro tempore the entleman from connecticut is recognized. Mr. Courtney thank you, mr. Speaker. Just a few weeks ago before President Trump quietly e italy vetoed this bill. Years, young veterans who sought an education after education, were sought after ripoff factories hat swallow up their g. I. Benefits and pile on new Student Loans. Stories abound about men and of n who wore the uniform this country left with crushing degrees. Worthless although many today are entitled to loan forgiveness, the under ent of education, secretary betsy devos, has woefully made this process as possible. As we listen to the american of on, the Vietnam Veterans america, vote to override, and victims of fraud nd greed some semblance of solvency. If we dont override this voto, g. D. P. Will drop to 3 and will betray thousands of americans who stepped up to to protect our nation. Vote yes to override. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. It interesting that my colleague would say the quietly behind closed doors vetoed the bill. They issued a statement on it immediately. So it wasnt exactly quietly. A erally they have to veto bill on it a desk with people present. Speaker, i yield two minutes to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Allen. The speaker pro tempore the entleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Allen thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to voice my strong overriding o President Trumps veto. We can all agree that no student be intentionally misled in schools engaging in misrepresentation, must be held accountable. But the obamaera borrower regulations lack clarity function. Did not the 2016 regulations did not make the critical distinction fraud and unintentional mistakes made by schools. Nder the rule, the Education Department can impose significant financial penalties on institutions found to engage fraud. But with no distinction. This can cause a school to have despite no intentional wrongdoing. Hurting students on the path education. Er thats why President Trump took Decisive Action and created the borrower defense rule to clear this up. He Trump Administrations Solutions Delivers relief to students, including veterans, who have been lied to and financial harm. It would also save taxpayers 11 billion by helping students their education rather than indiscriminately closing schools. Rule will ensure due process for all parties. While also ensuring institutions in fraudulent misrepresentation are held accountable. When democrats originally brought forward a resolution to disapprove this new commonsense ule, i voted no, and i will vote no again today. I think President Trump i hank President Trump for rightfully using his Veto Authority because we cannot go obamaera regulations that hurt students and taxpayers. Urge my colleagues to oppose this measure today and with that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the entleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentlewoman from oregon, the of the subcommittee on civil rights and human services, ms. Bonamici. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from oregon is recognized. Strong mici i rise in support of the veto override. The Obama Administration wrote borrower defense rule to provide defrauded constitutes with the debt relief the are entitled to under Higher Education act. Rather than protect students, devos rewrotetary the rule to make it nearly mpossible for students who are victimized by deceptive institutions to get the relief they deserve. Justice. Ot five months ago, i urged my colleagues to support the secretary to reverse devoss harmful new borrower defense rule. It passed by bipartisan support. We are here today because the chose to stand with secretary devos and unscrupulous nstitutions that cheated students. This is indefensible. We are in a challenging time for country, but this should not be hard. Lets stand with the victims of deception. The students we represent across the country. Not with unscrupulous institutions, not with secretary and not with donald trump. I urge my colleagues to join together and override this veto i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Minutestwo and one half to the gentleman from tennessee, dr. Roe. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from tennessee is recognized. Speaker. Thank you, mr. I rise in opposition to the resolution. The nking member of committee on Veterans Affairs, i heard a lot of misinformation bout the department of educations borrower defense and its effects on student veterans. Heres the truth. The rule does not limit the provided to efits veterans in the g. I. Bill or ervices who use the department of defense tep program. Who is vice member defrauded by an institution and took out federal loans will have an opportunity to have that fairly adjudicated just like any other student would under the rule. Of the as chairman Veterans Affairs committee in 2017, i authored the forever g. I. Bill to make more veterans to receive a g. I. Bill benefit and make veterans ligible to receive this valuable benefit for life. Army veteran,this when he left the army, used the g. I. Bill. Is, w how valuable it personally, it is, mr. Speaker. It helped me and my family tremendously. To makes why we wanted this benefit a lifetime benefit. Months ago this bills. S passed two veterans who were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. To ensurehas shown is veterans can receive a quality education, and a large part of ensuring that they receive the education they were romised and Holding Schools accountable for fraud. Rule does just that, and it sets up a clear process for borrowers to have adjudicated and hold institutions of all types accountable. To borrowers. Air its fair to schools. Taxpayers. O i support this rule. I support the president s veto. And i yield back the balance of time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Cott thank you, speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from california, a member of the committee on and labor, but more importantly, chair of the full committee on Veterans Affairs, so many veterans have been implicated by fraud on institutions. The gentleman from california, mr. Takano. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized. Takano i thank the chairman for yielding. So when the Trump Administration approved its devos new borrower defense to repayment rule late last year, was clear that they had hosen to pander to the forprofit College Industry and cheat thousands of borrowers out deserve. Lief that they predatory forprofit institutions consistently put profits over students education. They make false promises about prospects, drain federal resources, and leave millions of useless degrees debt. Gh student loan yes, veterans are among that roup of people, and thats why major veteran Services Organizations have come out in of this veto override and upport of the original legislation. Veterans, women, and minorities by aggressively recruited these institutions who always to their s a benefit bottom line. I. T. T. Technical institute, and dream leges, orentian colleges, and dream institution, turns students dreams into a nightmare. Were udent borrowers who defrauded by these schools are relief but seeking secretary devos is making that task nearly impossible, and thats why this year both chambers of h Congress Passed a bipartisan act essional review resolution that rejected rule. Ary devos harmful students, consumer advocates, and student veterans groups this out in favor of c. R. A. And urged President Trump to sign it into law. Refused to do nt chose to put additional borrowers. We must override the president s veto. Again, stand with student loan borrowers and stop Trump Administrations attacks on American Students and his attempts to rig the rule in devos secretary cronies. More than 200,000 student orrowers are still waiting for relief. I yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, ma thank you, mr. Speaker. I now yield two minutes to another wonderful gentleman on the committee from pennsylvania, mr. Smucker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smucker thank you, mr. Speaker. And thank you to the leading republican member of the committee. I rise today, mr. Speaker, in strong opposition to todays attempt to override the president s veto. I think all of us agree that it is important to offer borrowers a process to discharge loans when they have been defrauded by a school. And thats what the rule, crafted with significant stakeholder input, offers. And that was the original intent of the borrower defense process when it was enacted in 1995. However, in 2016, as weve heard, the Obama Administration used this process to advance an ideological loan forgivens scheme and it worked forgiveness scheme. And it worked as they intended. We went from 60 claims over 20 years to 330,000 claims in four years, which would cost the hardworking taxpayers, if they had to pay this price, 40 billion. And they will have to pay that price. Now, i dont need to go into reasons why that 2016 obama rule was flawed. Instead, ill highlight some of the improvements made under the new rule. This rule strengthens protections for borrowers from fraud and applies the same accountability metrics to all institutions across the board. The rule provides due process for students and institutions, but rightfully gives students the last word. The rule keeps the standard of evidence the same as the one used by the administration by the Obama Administration, by the way. And thanks to stakeholder feedback, the rule does not require borrowers to prove intent. Another point, this new rule will only apply to new claims for loans taken out after july 1. And i do want to thank secretary devos and all of the hardworking individuals at the department of education for working through the caseload under the obama standard. Your hard work of processing more than 5,000 cases per week for boer for borrowers seeking relief has not gone unnoticed. A vote for this is a vote in favor of creating a system that is fairer for students and takes payers. Mr. Speaker, i urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, the chair of the work force protection subcommittee, and also chair of the hbcu caucus, ms. Adams. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Adams mr. Speaker, i rise in support of this measure to override the president s veto and to stand up for our nations 20 million College Students. Secretary devos rule would harm tens of thousands of College Students and would allow bad actors to contain some of the worst practices to continue some of the worst practices. Such as forcing students to sign prearbitration agreements that limit their rights. We cannot allow predatory institutions to steal the dream of a College Degree from any child. Its shameful that in his veto message President Trump used historically black colleges and universities, hbcus, as cover for his profraud, antistudent agent agenda. Now, lets be clear. No hbcu has ever been implicated in a borrower defense claim and no hbcu has voiced support for secretary devos rule. Thats fake news. It is time that President Trump and secretary devos begin standing up for north carolinians seeking opportunity our tead of laying down to nations worst institutions. And if they wont do it, congress will. Its a fundamental right, of all of the civil rights of which the world has fought and struggled for, the right to learn is the most fundamental. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from alabama, mr. Byrne. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from alabama is recognized. Mr. Byrne i thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in opposition to overriding President Trumps veto of h. J. Res. 76. Everyone in this chamber can agree that schools that commit fraud and take advantage of students must be held accountable. However, returning to the 2016 borrower defense rule put in place bethe Obama Administration is not by the Obama Administration is not the answer. Put simply, the obamaera rule sends million of taxpayer dollars to those who were not harmed by their university. Under the obamaera rule, the standard to define fraud was placed solely that the department of education saw about 300,000 relief applications in just five years. Compare that to the just 59 applications in the previous 20 years the borrower defense process has been in placement understanding this problem, the Trump Administration place. Understanding this problem, the Trump Administration updated this rule, to prevent fraud, ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, and cut the regulatory red tape that has made it difficult for students and educational institutions to understand the old rule. The new rule also ensures the due process, a founding principle of our nation, is in place for both students and institutions. The cost of allowing the obama rule to stand is great. Over 40 billion, 40 billion taxpayer dollars. Thankfully the changes made by the Trump Administration will save taxpayers billions, while still ensuring that students are protected from fraud. The Trump Administration rule applies relief where it is needed. Unlike the overly broad obamaera rule. This should be something both parties can support. Mr. Speaker, theres no doubt that students who are defrauded by education institutions deserve debt relief. But the obamaera rule is not the answer. I urge my colleagues to vote no and sustain the president s veto and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentlewoman from washington, distinguished member of the committee on education and labor, ms. Jayapal. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from washington is recognized. Jay allen thank you, mr. Speaker ms. Jayapal thank you, mr. Speaker. The American People do not support betsy devos. We do not support her radical attempts to privatize education. We dont support her corrupt efforts to take Coronavirus Relief away from Public Schools so that it can be sent to private ones. We dont support her hateful transphobic agenda or attacks on survivors of sexual assault. And we do not support her putting predatory forprofit colleges over those who they cheated with the rule that would force the most vulnerable students who were robbed to repay 97 of what they borrowed. Thats why Congress Passed h. J. Res. 76, with bipartisan support. But just as Vice President pence had to save Betsy Devos Senate confirmation, President Trump is trying to save her dangerous rule against our bipartisan bill. So i urge my colleagues to override this veto and once again lets make clear that the peoples house stands on the side of the people and not betsy devos. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from kansas, mr. Watkins. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kansas is recognized. Mr. Watkins thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to the costly resolution that would allow more fraud, waste and abuse. No one condones fraud. Especially when its perpetrated by an institute of higher learning. Every student who is financially defrauded is entitled to relief and forgiveness. Period. But we should make sure that were helping those who have been defrauded. Its our job to do Due Diligence for the american taxpayer. The Trump Administration has made this a priority, unlike the Obama Administration. They used the rule to forgive as many Student Loans as they could. Theyd even target institutions they didnt like as like. Its partisan, its costly to the taxpayer and its harmful to the student. Thats why i support secretary devos and President Trump. Their borrowers defense rule takes taxpayers into account. After seeing the enormous price tag of 42 billion that the obama rule created, President Trump and secretary devos acted swiftly to take that burden off of the back of the taxpayers. Thank you, mr. President. Thank you, madam secretary. And i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentlewoman from pennsylvania, distinguished member of the committee on education and labor, ms. Wild. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from pennsylvania is recognized. Ms. Wild thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in support of house joint resolution 76. Students defrauded by predatory forprofit colleges can be left with crushing debt, useless degrees and none of the Job Opportunities they were promised. Secretary devos could provide immediate relief to students who were defrauded. Instead she has halted Student Loan Relief and written a new rule under which defrauded borrowers could be denied debt relief even when predatory colleges clearly violated the law. Earlier this year, bipartisan majorities in the house and the senate voted together to reject that rule. But President Trump has vetoed our legislation, yet another of his actions that will hurt students and taxpayers. More than 7,000 pennsylvanians are suffering, while their applications for Financial Relief are sitting in limbo at the department of education. If congress does not override the president s veto, student borrowers will be harmed and predatory colleges will receive another giveaway. I am proud to stand with students and to vote to override the president s veto of house joint resolution 76. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Guthrie. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Mr. Guthrie thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today yet again to urge my colleagues to vote no on todays vote to override the president s veto of house joint resolution 76. It is unconscionable that any institution of Higher Education would engage in fraudulent misrepresentation to prey on student loan borrowers. Particularly veterans who are able to qualify for g. I. Benefits to attend schools. President trumps commonsense rule would help students who were defrauded and suffer financial harm by any school to give them the opportunity to individually make their case, ensuring due process for all parties. It would also save taxpayers 11 billion, compared to president obamas lastminute onesizefitsall rule that did not hold schools accountable. As a member of the education and Labor Committee and the former chairman of Higher Education subcommittee, i strongly urge my colleagues to vote no today. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentleman from california, distinguished member of the committee on education and labor, mr. Harder. Mr. Harder thank you, mr. Chairman, and thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to encourage my colleagues to vote to protect my constituents who were scammed by forprofit colleges. Both the house and the senate took bipartisan votes to protect these students, but the president overruled our vote, siding with secretary devos and her billionaire donors. This issue hits home for me. I met a woman who attended a corrupt college in my district. She studied to be a nurse and graduated with 40,000 in debt. But no one would hire her. She is still paying off that debt to this day. And its not just her. Thousands of students have similar stories. And if secretary devos new plan isnt stopped, these student borrowers may never get the justice they deserve. Thats not what we do in this country. If secretary devos is concerned about cost, she should talk to her billionaire friends and the in the corrupt College Industry. The criminals should not be putting the financial burden on the victim of this fraud. I encourage everyone to vote to overturn the president s veto. Thank you, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Well reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from california, the chair of the committee on Financial Services, ms. Waters. The speaker pro tempore the chairwoman is recognized. Very ers thank you much, chairman scott, for yielding to me two minutes to me on this important issue. I rise to override the president s veto of h. J. Res. 76. Which undoes a secretary devos rule that would make it nearly impossible for veterans and student borrowers defrauded by their schools to obtain Financial Relief. Congress voted on a bipartisan basis to reject secretary devos borrower defense rule, which only cancels 3 of the Student Loans resulting from school misconduct, keeping 97 of our veterans and student borrowers drowning in debt they only incurred due to fraud from which they may never recover. Secretary devos efforts to prioritize profit over education are allowed to stand, then the forprofit industry will continue to do what it always has, exploit veterans, student borrowers and those trying to better their lives and support their families, by obtaining an education. This is a fight with which i am deeply familiar. This congress, the house Financial Services committee, held two hearings, examining the student loan crisis and approved three bills that will provide strong student and borrower protections, including for those harmed by forprofit colleges. And during the covid19 crisis, i have fought to provide up to 10,000 of relief for private student loan borrowers and continue to fight to protect student loan borrowers who should not have to deal with debt collections, negative credit reportings, late fees and penalties while dealing with this panama. With pandemic. With over 200,000 pending borrower Defense Applications for loan relief, these students desperately need and deserve our help. So i urge my colleagues to support veterans and student borrowers by overriding the president s veto of h. J. Res. 76. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Reserve. Inue to the speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. R. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from connecticut, chair of the appropriations subcommittee on labor, health, delauro. Services, ms. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from connecticut is recognized. I delauro mr. Speaker, rise to support this override. Predatory, forprofit colleges and taxpayers s out of millions of dollars. Forprofit colleges account for 9 of students in education, but 33 of defaults. The departments, of education, under the Obama Administration, created a streamlined resolution process. Under the borrower defense epayment provision of the Higher Education act. Now, secretary devos is breaking the process. You what her goal is. Its to aid the perpetrators, to help the victims. Under her new rule, borrowers outs. They lose out. They lose out if they cannot prove if the schools defrauded them. If they cant file their claim fast enough. Their hey cant document exact financial harm. S a result, as little as 3 of eligible debt will be forgiven now. And what little relief there is likely be shouldered by taxpayers, not the schools fraud. Ing the stopping the secretary, as we re pushing to do, has wide support. 20 state attorney generals, nearly 60 advocacy groups for civil rights and education. The American Legion said, and i uote, deception against our veterans and Service Members has been a look are a tiff scam scam for unscrupulous actors. O i say to my republican colleagues who support the military, support this override. For those that want to fight for racial and economic justice, this override. To the we wrote secretary about how this rule could hurt students of color. Students 5 of black attending a forprofit college took out Student Loans and a 75 of black students who did not complete their program defaulted. Must act now for veterans, for students of color, for across this country. In connecticut, 1,100 defrauded waiting toe waiting, be made whole. They need this override. Not that cruel policy. Override, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx well continue to reserve, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. N the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott mr. Speaker, before i yield to the gentleman from i just like to remind our colleagues that just yesterday, a federal court ruled that the department of education must provide full relief for 7,200 defrauded massachusetts tudent borrowers who attended corinthian college. Unfortunately, there are borrowers around the country still waiting for relief. Speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from rhode island, a member of the house committee, mr. Cicilline. Mr. Cicilline i thank the gentleman for yielding. Speaker, i rise in strong support of the resolution to override the president s veto. The Obama Administration issued the borrower defense rule in order to provide relief to students by predatoryrauded forprofit institutions, which promised an education and career als to pursue a only to find these credentials did not have the value they were promised. In the aftermath of collapses of i. T. T. , n college and Obama Administration helped students left out in the cold. The borrower defense rule provided a path for those with ts who were left nothing but debt and few paths forward. Sadly and predictably, the trump these tration ended protections and implemented a ulemaking it hard to get relief. Iding for forprofit institutions. The number of students eligible to seek debt relief or loan mr. Speaker, i yield to the gentlewoman from california. Thank you. Under the Higher Education act, students who were defrauded by predatory colleges are entitled to relief on their loans. The Prior Administration had a streamlined process to help access relief and move forward with their lives. Secretary devos tried to strip those protections away, but we fought back. Votedublican colleagues with us to overturn betsy devoss new rule. We came together to defend students against fraud, waste and abuse. Thisresident trump vetoed important legislation. Instead of standing with students and taxpayers, he stood with corrupt private colleges and secretary devos. I ask my republican friends, the want to stand with our countrys students, the future of our workforce and communities, or do you want to betray them to please the president . The choice is clear. Thank you, i yield back. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Reserve. Continue the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Could you advise how much time is remaining . The gentleman from virginia has nine minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has seven minutes remaining. Thank you. I yield one minute to the gentlewoman from iowa. I rise in support of this and overriding the president s veto. I want to talk about to iowans who tried taking a step forward but were knocked to steps back by a forprofit school looking for an easy buck and taking advantage of the hopes and dreams of my constituents. Julie, a mother from iowa was looking to boost her career and an Army Reservist and construction manager was trying to continue his education. They bought into itt text promises, worked hard for new Career Opportunities and took out loans to do it. Both had their lives turned upside down when itt tech suddenly closed. A 2015 federal rule gave for like juliefor folks and jeff who were obviously taken advantage of. Ere obviously of. N advantage unfortunately, thiS Administration decided to roll ack the commonsense rule, weakening protections for borrowers. In our state, there are more 1,000 borrowers who were takeni akening advantage of and still waiting for their case to be resolved. We must stand with them and ofrride the president s veto this resolution. Thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx ill reserve. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. N the gentleman from virginia is recognized. R. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the a tlelady from michigan, member of the Financial Services committee and oversight and ms. Talib. Ittee, the speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Thank you so much, speaker. In january of this year, i stood here to speak against thiS Administrations continued on our students. Five months later, secretary devos, with the support of this continues to , work on behalf of predatory, forprofit institutions rather the students they lied to, that they scammed. Instead of ensuring that out ofs who were cheated their future aboby these fraudut institutions, secretary devos is fighting to ensure that these nstitutions are never held accountable. Both democratic and republican if you alike agreed that were defrauded by one of these olleges, then your federal student loan should be forgiven. We must stop thiS Administrations relentless pockets o protect the of predatory corporations at the expense of our students. Support this veto override. Thank you and i yield back the my time. Of the speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Scott mr. Speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. Close. Pared to the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is prepared to close. The gentlewoman from North Carolina. S. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Were prepared to close also. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you. Speaker, i yield myself the balance of the time. To the ker, contrary democrats claims weve heard administration and republicans in the house are committed to providing relief to truly s who have been harmed by fraudulent practices. He Obama Administrations borrower defense rule, though, as extremely difficult to administer. It left students and nstitutions confused, encouraged massive and unnecessary loan forgiveness, nd created a hefty bill for taxpayers. Anyone who believes it was a process, i will show ou some swamp land in new mexico. President trump acted quickly to rotect borrowers and taxpayers better. He 2019 borrower defense rule clarified standards and made a efense a process more accessible. If democrats overturn the be idents veto, we will left with the convoluted obama the rules nder associated with todays legislation, there can be no to improve de even or clarify the obama rule. Schools to serve students well. In particular, we want veterans their education benefits protect rotected, and in thiS Administration, they will be. Mr. Speaker, i worked hard all y life to help people get a good education and have a better life. I would not be supporting the this rule if that was not the direction in which we were going. Departments borrower defense rule protects borrowers, including veterans, holds Higher Education accountable, and billion. Payers 11 unfortunately, democrats will top at nothing to tear down meaningful reforms ushered in nder President Trumps leadership. Even if it comes at the expense students. Ions with that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The peaker pro tempore gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i consume. Mr. Speaker, we heard a lot about 11 billion. Et me tell you exactly what that is. Thats 11 billion that students defrauded will now have to pay if this resolution fails. To the flawed formula from the department of even those that can prove fraud can expect relief on from about 50 of their debt to down to 3 of many, because of that formula, will get absolutely nothing. The time r, now is that we have a choice. We can give relief to students, who have veterans, been defrauded by predatory olleges, or make them make them pay Student Loans even though they received a worthless educational experience. I urge my colleagues to side students and vote yes on this resolution. The measures fell short of the two thirds majority to override the president s veto. The house and senate are back in session next week before taking their expected twoweek holiday recess. The house returns monday at 9 00 a. M. Eastern and will spend the week working on the health care law, infrastructure, credit score reporting, and Housing Needs that have arisen due to the coronavirus. Follow the house live on cspan. And the Senate Returns monday at 3 00 p. M. Eastern to continue debate on the 2021 Defense Authorization bill, which provides for defense programs and policies for the next fiscal year. Senators will hold a vote at 5 30 eastern to formerly formally begin debate. Watch the senate live on cspan two. During the summer months, reach out to your elected officials with cspans congressional directory. It contains the Contact Information you need to stay in touch with members of congress, federal agencies, and state governors. Order your copy online today at cspan store. Org. Florida Governor Ron Desantis held a News Conference after his newe reported almost 9000 coronavirus cases. He said he does not believe requiring people to wear masks or enforcing such a rule would be productive. He also updated the states efforts to counter the coronavirus at a briefing in fort myers. Good afternoon. I want to thank dr. Anthony fauci for having us back. I was able i was able to have a roundtable with some of the doctors and other folks, the hospitals and got a really good update on what is going on here in southwest florida. Today, a loteeing of news saying a huge number of cases. Really nothing has changed in the past week, in terms of we had a big test dump. We have been testing 10 to 15 positive for really the last week. Thats a huge change from where we were at the beginning of june, when we were three or 4 , in terms of the positivity statewide. So the number of cases, if im going to get 75,000 test results like today, you will get a certain number of cases, if i get 35,000, you will get less. Thats really what were seeing, in terms of an increased Positivity Rate, which is one of the major factors driving the cases. The last week of may, the Positivity Rate statewide was about 3 of test results coming in that were positive. That was good. March,the cases go up in through april, and then decline. Then the positivity, once we got into may, was really low and steady for all of may and into june. We started to see an increase in the positivity that second week of june. Some of that was driven by some hotspots around the state. Then some of it was driven, particularly in the last two weeks, by a lot of Community Transmission, particularly from the younger demographic. Positivity, particularly in the last week, has trended up. It started creeping up the second week of june. The last two weeks at ghana. We like where we were in early maine and june, but we are also seeing more cases in addition to positivity. We are doing more tests. The last week of may, we would get about 24,000 test results a day. The last seven days, we have gotten 45,000 test results a day. Thats a good clip, in terms of getting test results in. Of course, if you have a stable Positivity Rate, the more tests you do, the more cases you will discover. If our Positivity Rate was back down in the 3 , 4 range, we would be getting more cases today than we were in may, simply because we are testing more. A higher positivity, more number of tests. Probably the most significant change we have seen is a radical change in the median age of people testing positive. When we started at the beginning of march, really starting to test, the median age half the tests positive were people 60 and over. I started going through most of april and may usually in the low to mid 50s. Then, really in the last two to three weeks, you have seen a dramatic decline. First it went to 38, 37. Now, it consistently is 33, 34, 35. You have a day were you have a median age of 33, which means half of the positive test result that come in are under that age. We were talking about a lot of people in their 20s, in particular, early 30s. Even the ones above that median age, we are seeing a lot of people in their late 30s and early 40s. Those groups by a large will be much less at risk for really serious consequences as we know with this virus. In florida, weve had 86 of all covid related fatalities have been in the age group of 65 or older. There have been more covid linked fatalities over the age of 90 than under the age of 65. By and large, you are talking about folks 55 and under, but certainly 35 and under. You are talking about much less of a risk group now. If you have significant conditions, this is something that can certainly aggravate that. But, that is what we are seeing. The Community Transmission is being driven by that 18 to 35yearold group. In fact, the Positivity Rate for 15 to 1444 is getting close to 20 . So, thats a lot different than where we were at the beginning of june. If you go from june 1 until now, the number of cases from 25 to 34 is almost tripled just in less than a month now. Thats a really, really big group of folks. Part of the message is, is most of these people are a symptomatic. Most of them, if they do have symptoms, it will be so mild they dont have to seek medical attention. But you are somebody who would potentially be able to spread the virus to more vulnerable groups. So, we want to send a message to folks in the younger demographics to understand that while this may not be affecting passing itely, by along to folks who may have some Health Issues or advanced in age, that really could affect them very much. So, we want to continue to remind people that. When we started doing things in march, the goal, remember, was to flatten the curve. We wanted to preserve the Health Care System and its resources from being overwhelmed by the results of the virus. Florida was able to do that. We were protected to have hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations by the third week of april. We had a small fraction of that. What now, when you flatten the curve, you dont have less infections necessarily. You just spread them out over a longer period of time. What it has allowed us to do and i think larry can talk about it as well were in a much better position to be able to handle what would come down the pipe. In march, there was a question about whether there would be enough ppe for folks and hospitals to be able to do ppe is much better shape today than it was in march and april. In march, we didnt even know who sometimes, you would not be able to test people. The tests were not widely available. They were usually only reserved for people who were symptomatic and older. Now, we have mass testing. That is one of the reasons why we are seeing a lot of positive cases in the Younger Group because you dont have to have symptoms to get a test. Hospitals contest anyone coming in. When someone comes in for a procedure, if they are going to be hospitalized for something, they are still being tested for covid. You have the ability to do that in a way that was not present in march. There is also better treatments, better ways to deal with patients. I think the physicians have learned a lot. You do have things like remdesivir that is being used and i think has proven to have some positive effects, which is very good. Then, it is also given us time to do even more to protect residents of longterm care facilities. Here at lee health, they have one of a number of facilities around the state which the state has really worked on to help set up in conjunction with systems like lee health and other Skilled Nursing facilities to have covid only nursing facilities. So if you have an outbreak at a longterm care facility. Not all of those patients will require hospitalizations, but if they are contagious, you dont want to leave them in the nursing home and make the outbreak worse. You have a place at lee health. Theres other places around the state where those folks can be put and have a safe place where they will be able to be isolated. Thats a really good thing. We do have that. Certainly way better shape in terms of handling this then we were at the time. We have heard a lot about social distance over the last few months. I guess most of the last few months. There were a couple of months were people were not talking about it where you had some big gatherings out there. To me, given whats going on with the younger demographics, seeing how you have more spread amongst people under the age of 40, its really important for folks who may be in some of those vulnerable groups to really understand you are seeing more Community Transmission among the Younger Groups. Most of them are probably not going to present with symptoms and certainly not with very serious symptoms. So, continue to be vigilant. Continue to avoid crowds. Continue to avoid contact with folks outside the home is much as you can. Most folks and the seniors in florida have done a great job of doing that. Obviously, as we got into may and had very low caseload, low positivity. Got into june, covid kind of fell off the headlines. I think people were naturally just wanting to get more back into a normal swing of things. Now you still want to be vigilant, particularly with a lot of younger carriers out there. So that is something, if you are 65 or older, if you are medically vulnerable, take the steps necessary to limit that type of close contact. I also say for those who may be in the low risk groups, understanding and maybe circulating amongst some of your friends. You have a response ability to be careful if you are in contact with somebody who is more vulnerable. The state and the department of health, we have been stressing avoiding the three cs, which are closed spaces with poor ventilation. Crowded places with many people nearby. And close contact setting such as close range conversations. A you have one if youre private home, packed in, no outdoor air, a lot a people shoulder to shoulder and a lot of close contact touching or talking, that will be a bigger risk for transmission. One of the things you are seeing coasttocoast and the sunbelt is you are seeing more cases particularly amongst young people route the entire region. I dont know exactly why that region as opposed to other places, but i think part of it may be, as it gets hotter, people are going to want to go indoors more and be in the air conditioning. The air conditioning is not going to be your friend when it comes to the virus. The virus will do much better when its an enclosed, airconditioned space than in terms of outdoor activities. Outdoors is your friend. The sunshine is your friend. The heat and humidity is your friend. If you are doing different things, keep that in mind. We also at the beginning of may when we did phase one advised all floridians that if you cant socially distance, wear a mask to protect yourself and those around you. And particularly, if you are in businesses that are facetoface that have close contact, it is important you are doing that to protect yourself and others. Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Of course, if you are sick, stay home. Dont go to work, dont go out and expose other people. Floridahealth. Gov has a lot of information on that. At the end of the day, we are seeing really big positive test lessts from our younger, risky demographic in terms of the effects of it, but a lot of a symptomatic characters and transmitters. Thats what i think the concern is particularly for the vulnerable population, that that seeps into some of those folks who will be more vulnerable to the virus. I want to turn it over to larry, let him make some comments and then we will hear from some of our physicians. I want to thank Governor Desantis for being here with us today. We appreciate his attention to this pandemic. At lee health, we have been seeing increased cases both in our hospital and are testing. Our positive test rate has been about 13 across the board since we began. In the last week or so, it has been over 20 . The demographic is definitely shifting to a younger the average whicith age being around 40 now instead of being much older earlier on. We are definitely seeing those cases. We have adequate capacity in our hospital right now. Andave 1300 staff beds 1600 licensed beds. If you look at the covid positive patients in the hospital, only about 20 to 25 of requiring icu care. The icu capacity is fine. The Ventilator Capacity is good. Our ppe stockpile is much better than it was early on. We are really trying to drive home the message of social distancing and mask wearing. This community had incredible resolve early on and we were able to flatten the curve in a very dramatic way, as the governor mentioned. But, i think we are getting complacent. As i go around the community, i see a lot of people not wearing masks. Although you may be 25 and feel that you are bulletproof, you have parents and grandparents, and i bet you know someone who is overweight or diabetic or has Heart Disease or lung disease and they are at risk. The fact of the matter is you are going to put them at risk. So, we really are trying to deliver a message, trying to get to the hearts and minds of people in this community of why its important to wear a mask. If you are not wearing a mask, tell us why. We want to know why you are not because for us, it is about putting resources towards education to the public to let them know why its important and how we can make a difference. As we see this increase right now, we can flatten that again like we did before. It is going to take effort, it is going to take to community to rally around this effort and do this. So thats my message to the public today is please wear a mask when you are in a crowded area. Practice social distancing, good hand hygiene. All the things we have been talking about for months now. With that, i will turn it over to the doctor. Thank you. Thank you to staff and leadership over the last three months in these trying times. Governor desantis for coming down to lee health for meetings with us and discussions over the past several month have been helpful. Last time we were here, we had come up with a plan to open up elective surgeries that were closed. Thanks for the nursing physicians and staff, we put those plans in action, ramped it up over several weeks to the point where we are doing a lot of elective surgeries now. Not quite 100 , but we made a long way. I think most patients are very happy. They feel very safe, they are very confident. Going forward, hopefully we will get to where we were before. Patients should realize it is a safe place to come and feel confident in the care they will get here and they will be safe when they are here. Hopefully, we will get to a normal, a new normal very soon. Thank you. Thank you, larry. Thank you again to Governor Desantis for his leadership through this trying time. I just want to mirror the doctor s comments about how things have changed at the hospital and also at our private Health Care Offices. In the private Health Care Offices and in the hospitals, just expect when you see your health care practitioner, you will be asked to wear a mask. You will be asked to socially distance and are waiting rooms, in our lobbies. When you come to those facilities, please expect you will not be able to bring extra people with you to your visit so that we dont unnecessarily crowd too many people into a smaller space and potentially prevent even further spread. You will be screened for any symptoms you may have or any comorbidities that might put you at risk. Then, just to mirror what the doctor said about the elective surgeries side. We still treat all patients that are going to have elective surgery as if there potentially infected. Patients are asked to wear masks. Health care workers wear masks. We all practice good hand hygiene and make sure we make the lowest risk possible to the patient and to the community so we can continue to provide Important Health care. One of the messages we tried to spread last i was the impact of the virus is far beyond the number of cases that people do not seek proper medical care and cannot get timely care. People suffer in other ways that may be more serious than the virus itself. So, i just wanted to put that message out there. Even though there is a rise in that itspositivity, safe to come to your doctor s office, Health Care Facilities and seek care in this health environment. Thank you. Good afternoon. Governor, thank you for coming today. Thank you for your support of our facility. Thank you for your leadership as well. As a member of the Infection Prevention Leadership Team and part of the incident command center, we started up all around meetings throughout this entire pandemic with two goals in mind. We have to provide the care that our Community Partners need. We need to be sure we are therefore for our patients and their families. In order to do that, we have to care just as much as the people that work in our system, the medical staff that work for us and the medical staff that works with us, as well as our own staff that we employ here. Our goals are to keep everyone safe. The best way we can implore you to help us do that is to do the things spoken about. We can all be a risk to someone else. While we may not feel that, we could be a risk to people around us. We are asking for responsible actions. We want you to live your life not in fear this is a new normal ball have to get used to. So, we dont want you to be fearful. But we do want you to take those things that we know will help lessen disease and flatten the curve like our governors have talked about. Thank you for your part in helping us to keep our Health Care Workers and your neighbors healthy. Want to thank i lee health again for being here. Great to be in southwest florida. To underscore what the doctor said there was a great job done throughout the state of florida, march and april. Low, tremendous may, very studies is she goes case load. Even into the first week of june. The last three weeks, we have seen a change. I think now this is back in the news. I think people understand. It was natural. I would do press events in may. I would never be asked about coronavirus. It was about all these other things. Now its something. I think people just naturally assumed it was behind us. Viruses dont go away. I think we are seeing that now. Someve an ability to do very easy things. Be very vigilant and i think it will make a big difference. With that, i will take some questions. Good afternoon. The experts sitting next to you at this very table and across the country and world have stopped the spread of disease. Why not mandate it . Gov. Desantis he has told me it is something we provide education. We did in advisory at the beginning of may. Weve advised that is something that can make an impact. At the same time, to put criminal penalties on that is something that is probably would backfire. We have seen some localities require it. They will have to figure out how they will use the long arm of the law to enforce it were not. A lot of businesses will require it when you are going in and thats fine as well. A lot of what we are seeing with younger people, they are partying at somebodys house or something, they are probably not wearing masks, lets be honest. You really would need to change the behavior there which i think would be great. But at the same time, it is a little bit different. I think the businesses have done a good job when people have come in creating a safe environment. I think a lot of customers will want to see that, so they have every incentive to do it. We will continue to put out the messaging. We are going to continue to put out the guidance. And we are going to trust people to make decisions. Governor ron desantis president ,like the think the o Economic Impact is more of a deterrence than the virus itself . Gov. Desantis i would not put it in those terms. We know a lot more about the virus now than we did in the beginning of march. We understand if you look at florida, the incidents in terms of mortality and morbidity is dramatic in terms of the ages it affects and the ages that have a much lower impact. My view has been thats why weve done so much with the longterm care facilities. Some other states did it a different way. I think the way we did it has been successful. That is why we are doing all these things to have Skilled Nursing facilities that are cobit only to have a safe place for people to isolate so they dont infect other nursing home residents. That is why we have messaged since the beginning of march to the folks who are advanced in years, 65 and plus, those who have underlying conditions to avoid crowds and understand that close contact could put you at risk of contracting the virus. I think thats really the way to go. Having people working is a good thing. Rail not been any theres not been major outbreaks going to very many businesses. I think a lot of it has been social. Youve had agriculture outbreaks. Thats not because it is working, its because a lot of them live close together. We went to phase i at the beginning of may and we have the best covid results weve ever had all through may and the beginning of june. Positivity was low, the cases were low. Things were going really well. It shows you can do things economically and continue to keep your eye on the ball with the virus. I think whats happened in the last few weeks is, i think it is more people want to be social. They want to interact. That is why you are seeing it so much with younger folks who, quite frankly, arent much less risk. They want to interact and they understand the risk so it has caused some spread. I think the older folks have been very vigilant, very cautious and have taken efforts to protect themselves. I think thats what should be done. Mentioned there has been a bit of a testing dump, that most people are being tested and there are younger people being tested positive. In the last few weeks, we have seen the hospitalizations go up. Weve also seen the caseloads consistently go up the past few weeks as well and becoming a hotspot so why are you doing more now to curb the problem . Gov. Desantis like what . What did texas do . Texas is causing the reopening. They have added more limitations to reopening. Gov. Desantis like our secretary did this morning . Texas did that. What else has texas done . There is a twitter hashtag with people from our community asking you to resign because you have not done enough. Asking hownot, im you are planning to address that because all i have seen is you asking people to wear masks, social distance and stay vigilant. It is fantastic but his a lot of real concern in the community right now. Gov. Desantis right, so one of the reasons why we are coming here, one of the reasons why we are showing what we are doing is because we want to continue to advise folks of where we are seeing any issues in terms of the transmission, which is in the younger demographic, which is in the social situation, we naturallyhich occurs. You did see action occur. You didnt admit that until i told you about it. You have seen the nursing facilities. Larry, what do you have, 50 patients . That is you to take action to protect our most vulnerable. We are going to continue to take action to protect those who really are the ones who are vulnerable to this virus. We are going to continue to do that. We have stepped up our ability to do that since may. And actually, even since june because we have brought more of these facilities on. Thats what you want to do to keep people safe. I want to see the positivity right go down, but at the same time, an individual case i have said to the beginning it is not the most boring thing to look at because as you see the cases a shift younger, that is not going to be a significant clinically as if you have nursing home outbreaks or outbreaks among the elderly. [indiscernible] gov. Desantis the phase one when people follow the guidelines, we havent had any problems. The reason why dbpr took it is because you have people that werent following it. There was widespread noncompliance and that led to issues. So, folks just follow the guidelines. We are going to be in good shape. When you depart from that, it becomes problematic. I think that has been clear from the beginning. Beginning of may, we went to this, he didnt see any problems. Very good, solid may beginning of june. Now you start to see more, but part of that is less business than it is social interaction. Want to said that we trust people to make the right decisions, follow the advisories, wear masks, but you also said people have not been complying with the guidelines. In people arent wearing masks. Can people be trusted to do the right thing and wear a mask voluntarily . Gov. Desantis i think when people saw this falloff out of the news, may was not at least in florida, people were not talking about it as much. You had two weeks of protest where nobody was talking about it really. It was like coronavirus was no longer here. I think people look at that and decided, lets go back and do our thing. I think now people understand that you still need to be able to do the basic social distancing and just take the basic precautions to be able to protect yourself, but particularly your family members. That is really something that is very important. There has been areas for example, we had a 10 person gathering mandate, a prohibition in place statewide until june 4. Where their gatherings bigger than 10 people going around . Did you ever see that . Yeah, i think you did. They are still in place in south florida. I know you have seen a lot of big gatherings there. The idea that you are going to mandate and selectively prosecute people, i dont think that is necessarily going to work. I do think what will work is consistent messaging, letting people know what they can do to help protect themselves and to protect others. You obviously can have local folks, if they want to do different ordinances, quite frankly, theres parts of florida. Would it make sense because you dont have the same cases. It is not something where the high. Ence is haas you also have some sheriffs come out and say they would not enforce any type of mandate. I think at the end of the day, we advised it almost two months ago, we continue to do it. I think that is the better approach than to try to prosecute someone criminally for it. Last question. Do you have any reaction to the quarantine put in place by other states, traveling to other states . [indiscernible] gov. Desantis when we did that from new york, we were in a situation where most of the people fleeing there were going to southern florida. It was not doing it for my health, we were doing it because we were concerned that would accelerate the outbreak in southern florida. I think the virus has run its course in new york. That is why we did it. Theyve got to do what they got to do, but our situation here is much different than what you are seeing in new york city. If you compare the fatality rate per capita between florida and new york, they had it 10 times more fatalities per capita than we do. We are testing a lot of people. Obviously, we are getting a lot of younger people testing positive. But in terms of the disease burden, it was much different there than it is here. We want to continue to work to have fewer folks in the younger demographic test positive. We are working on that. I know folks throughout the state of working on that as well , but that is a different problem than what you saw earlier. I think they did the thing with the Vice President , dr. Birx talk about whats going on in the sunbelt and pointing out we have seen a lot of dramatic case increases. We have not necessarily seen the dire clinical consequences as you saw in those areas. She made the point it is a little different. Fight asry much in the we have been the whole time. We have great capacity with our Health Care System. Not only here, what larry has come around the state very good. They are wellpositioned to help people if they need help. We have the adequate ppe. We have mass testing. Anybody in the hospital can get tested now. The treatments have been a lot better and we have done even more to protect the most vulnerable in our longterm care facilities. Much better position now to be able to help folks to the extent that they would need help but obviously we want to make sure we want to take measures like they did the first time going through march and april. At the end of the day, folks understand the issue now. They understand it is backdated they understand it is something we have to deal with and i think a lot of people want to do that. I really appreciate folks like lee health, what you have done to put forth a very strong, consistent message to the community and we are going to continue working with them and other folks to make sure that the message continues to get out. And that folks will heed some of the advice. A lot of this stuff is very simple. These are not earth shattering actions that need to be taken. A lot of simple action can go a long way, particularly for folks who might be in those younger demographics can make a big difference. All right, thank you. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2019] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] washington journal, every day, we are taking your calls live on the air on the news of the day and discussing policy issues that impact you. Coming up this morning, Public Opinion pollster and political analyst disgusts how the coronavirus pandemic is shaping Public Opinion. Talks aboutfriedman his role changing policing in camden, new jersey and the effectiveness of community policing. Watch cspans washington journal live at 7 00 eastern and be sure to join the discussion with your phone calls, facebook messages, and tweets. Sunday night on cuban day come, university of california at berkeley historian of medicine, author of vaccine nation on the lessons the polio vaccine in the 1950s can teach us about a covid19 vaccine. We will face distribution problems. Equity,face problems of even if we have enough vaccine for everybody. There will be those who have the privilege to say im not comfortable getting it until 5 Million People have been vaccinated and there will be those who say i have to get vaccinated because i have to go to work and i have to make sure that i am safe and i can provide for my family. I guarantee that we will see problems of equity. This is one thing i feel concerned about. 8 00tch sunday night at p. M. Eastern on cspans q and a. At the first Coronavirus Task force Briefing Since april, Vice President pence told reporters that President Trump has the right to hold Campaign Rallies despite federal guidance against. Arge gatherings the Vice President and members of the task force also talked about efforts to combat the recent rise of Coronavirus Infections in a number of states. Vp. Pence good afternoon, and we just completed todays meeting of the white house Coronavirus Task force and im pleased to be joined by new members of the task force with us for this briefing. I want to thank secretary azar, dr. Birx and dr. Fauci, dr. Redfield at the cdc as well as our attorney general, admiral giroir of the u. S. Public Health Service and dr. Hahn and seema verma. We will make a series of presentations to update the American People on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and then be available to take questions. But we very much appreciate the attendance of all who are here and all of you who have made time to tune in. As we reported today, we have now more than 2,500,000 americans that of contracted the coronavirus. And sadly we have lost more than 126,000 of our countrymen to this disease. And i know i speak for the president and for every american when we express our sympathies and our deepest condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones. Despite of those losses, despite those losses, since the end of our 45 days to slow the spread and the beginning of efforts to open up america, thanks to the cooperation of the American People, the efforts of governors and state Health Officials, efforts i want to proudly say the entire federal team under the leadership of President Trump, we have made truly remarkable progress in moving our nation forward. We have all seen the encouraging news as we open up america again, more than 3 million jobs in the last job report. Retail sales are rolling and, of course, the extraordinary progress in new york, new jersey, connecticut and new orleans areas that just a matter of a month ago were struggling under the weight of this pandemic. And now have arrived at a very, very different place. As we stand today all 50 states and territories across this country are opening up safely and responsibly. But with cases rising, particularly over the past week throughout the south, President Trump directed our task force to brief the American People on several topics. First, we want to share with you as dr. Birx will, what we are seeing in the rise of new cases that today surmounted 40,000 new cases in a single day. Secondly, we want to speak about what we have done and what we are doing at the federal level to support the state effort, particularly in the states will where we see rising cases. Well talk today about how this moment in the coronavirus pandemic is different than what we saw two months ago to better equip the American People to respond and ultimately we will speak about what every american can do to play their part in reducing the spread and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For our part, also, ive spoken to governors in arizona, in florida, in texas in the last 12 hours, and dr. Birx and i will be traveling on sunday to texas, on tuesday to arizona, and i will be traveling to florida on thursday of next week to get a ground report. And on monday we will conduct what would be our 26 weekly call with the entire white house Coronavirus Task force and all of the nations governors as we meet this moment. As i mentioned, it is important gathering today i think that we take, take a step back and think about how far we have come as a country. When the president tapped me to lead the Coronavirus Task force, we had one mission. That was to save lives. President trumps decision to suspend all travel from china in january to stand at the white house Coronavirus Task force, in february to halt travel from and travel from other places around the country all , contributed to giving our nation time to stand up a broadbased response. The whole of government response that we spoke about so many times at the podium throughout this pandemic. We at the state Department Also coordinated the repatriation of 95,000 americans and then came the moment when we brought this chart to the president of the United States on the counsel of our very best scientists. The president was presented with a decision that if we did nothing, no intervention, the possibility existed at that moment that we could lose between 1. 5 to 2 million americans, but with intervention and mitigation, calling on the American People to embrace the mitigation efforts, social distancing that we called for for 15 days to slow the spread that would become 45 days to slow the spread. Our best scientists believed that we could reduce the number of american fatalities to a number ranging between 100,000240,000. The president made that decision, and we unveiled the 15 days that became the 45 days to slow the spread. As we see where we are today as a nation, because of what the American People have done, because of the incredible work of our healthcare workers, because of our partnership with governors in every state we did just that. We slowed the spread. We flattened the curve. We saved lives. In the midst of that we exponentially scaled testing capacity, partnering with private sector commercial laboratories. We now reached some 30 million tests across the country conducting some 500,000 tests a day. In that partnership with governors, also, the president directed us to make sure that states had what they needed and when they needed it. And at this point, i am pleased to report that the federal government both delivered and facilitated the delivery of billions of supplies of face shields and gowns and gloves and masks, and we continue to be on track to construct more than 100,000 ventilators in 100 days. I spoke to governors last night. They confirmed to me again what fema has reported. We have no outstanding requests from any state at this time for personal protective equipment or medical supplies. Let me say that again. In the affected areas, particularly the states down south that are seeing rising cases, we have no outstanding requests. But as i told we are ready at a moments notice to search personnel, to expand capacity and to support their healthcare , response. In the midst of all of that, i think it always bears saying that because of the great work of our healthcare workers and because of American Manufacturing, no american who required a ventilator has ever been denied a ventilator in the United States. I consider that nothing short of a national accomplishment. We searched Hospital Capacity in areas of the greatest anticipated need and we send sent military and National Guard personnel. These charts show the progress that we made in new york and new jersey and new orleans all demonstrate the efforts of the people of those states in cooperation with the federal government and all the great healthcare workers to show the progress that we made in areas that were once deeply impacted, there and are paying to people of each of those dates for the sacrifices they made during those great and a challenging times. But at the close of the 45 days to slow the spread we unveiled a plan to safely reopen america again. Now all 50 states and territories are moving forward. And as i said we are seeing america go back to work, and in much of the country we are seeing jobs expanding and Economic Activity expanding. Our focus today is very much on rising new cases across the american south. Our First Mission was to save lives. Once we came out of the 45 days to slow the spread, what are task force has been focused on over the course of the past two months is to partner with states to save lives and safely reopen. We have had 17 meetings of the white house Coronavirus Task force in the intervening days since we began the process of opening up america again. And we have been working very closely with states to move that agenda forward. As the president has made clear we want to open our economy up and we want to move america forward, even while we take and continue to take steps necessary to protect lives and the health of the American People. We stand here today because with the rising cases among southern states, President Trump asked us to brief the American People to give details on what we are seeing, what we are doing, and how its different from two months ago. As you may recall, after seeing over all cases drop from a 30,000 a day average in april t0 25,000 a day in may, first few weeks in june actually saw cases averaging roughly 20,000 new cases a day. We now have seen cases begin to rise precipitously across the south. In fact, 34 states, 34 let me make sure i got my numbers exactly right here. As we reported early on, 34 states across the country though are experiencing a measure of stability that is a credit to all the people of those states. When we speak about stability, we are talking about not necessary states where there are no new cases, but these would be states where there are either no new cases and no rising percentage, or no combination of those two things. There may be states across the country that are seeing a modest increase in cases but their percentage of positive rates is remaining very stable, and but nevertheless, there are 16 states with rising cases and rising percentages. We will focus on those states today. The first thing we would share with the American People is that while there is a penchant in the National Debate to use a broad brush and to paint an entire state one color, if there are rising cases in the state, this is actually a better picture of the data that we analyze every single day. Dr. Birx will take a few moments to unpack the specific outbreaks in texas, florida, arizona and california. But the first thing we would convey is that from this new positive results in the last three days you can see the concentration of new cases in specific parts of states and, very specifically in parts of the country. Secondly, we want the American People to understand that its almost inarguable that more testing is generating more cases. To one extent or another, the volume of new cases coming is a reflection of a Great Success of expanding testing across the country. As i said at the top we are , testing more than ever before, some 500,000 people a day and perhaps we could go to that testing chart just to show you the acceleration of testing that has taken place over the course of this pandemic if it is a bear. It has truly been a remarkable and it is that a public and private partnership from the very outset. One of the things were seeing among the cases of your disk in florida and we had this in texas and elsewhere is that roughly half of the new cases are americans under the age of 35. Which is at a certain level very encouraging news, as the experts tell us, because as we know so far in this pandemic that younger americans are less susceptible to serious outcomes of the coronavirus. The fact that we are finding more younger americans who have contracted the coronavirus is a good thing. We will speak about the testing and admiral giroir is here and can detail any questions that you might have about testing going forward. Thirdly, we will talk about what these new numbers mean, how we can address them. Dr. Fauci will speak about that in just a moment, particularly in the affected areas. And the other area that we spend a great deal of time thinking about is hospitalization. We track new cases every day on a county by county basis but we also track hospitalization. And the map on the left of your screen shows you how we look at it and how we ensure that hospital and healthcare test resource and support they need. How we ensure that hospitals and Health Care Workers have the resources and support that they need. Again as in the matter of new cases come you can also see with hospitalizations it is highly focused highly detailed and highly specific. Secretary azar will speak about hospitalization, the work of hhs to make sure that our hospitals around the country have the capacity to meet this moment. As dr. Birx may reflect as well, we are encouraged that we were as two months ago we were seeing some 15 of new cases being hospitalized. Now that number is averaging roughly 5 around the country, which is also encouraging news to say the least. We have 16 states that we are focusing on. I would just reiterate to the American People the most useful thing to note is where it is happening seeking take the steps necessary to do your part. Rest assured in our conversation with the governors in all of the most impacted states, we continue to be assured that Hospital Capacity remains strong and they know the federal government stands ready to provide them with the personal protective equipment or supplies or even expanded capacity and personnel to meet any moment. At this point we are told in all of the states most deeply impacted that hospitalization remains very, very broadly available. Finally i want to speak about the progress that weve made as a country on the most difficult aspect of this. I said at the beginning that our hearts and our prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones in the course of the coronavirus pandemic, and i know i speak on behalf of everyone in this country when i extend our sympathies to the more than 126,000 families that have lost loved ones. As the president has said many times, one life lost is too many. Nevertheless, i believe at this point in the course of the pandemic we can still take some comfort in the fact that the fatalities are declining all across the country. There literally was a day two months ago this week where we lost 2500 americans in a single day. This week, because of the extraordinary work of our healthcare workers, because of the availability of a new medicines like remdesivir becausetreatment, and of the cooperation of the American People heeding the guidance that we gave at the federal level and state and local officials gave, this week there were two days were lost less than 300 americans. You can see from this chart what has been a precipitous decline from some of the worst moments of this pandemic. Again, i have a heavy heart anytime i recite these numbers, but the fact that we are making progress, reducing the number of americans that we have lost and are losing, i hope, and encouragement. Because as we see new cases rising, and were tracking them very carefully, there may be a tendency among the American People to think that we are back to the place that we were two months ago, that we are in a time of great losses and great hardship on the American People. The reality is, we are in a much better place. With the efforts President Trump mobilized at the federal level, with the efforts of this team, this whole of government approach, the efforts of governors across the country, our incredible healthcare workers, and the cooperation of the American People. We are in a much stronger place. The truth is we did slow the spread. We flattened the curve. We were able to stand up the resources and the capacities and our Healthcare System to be able to meet this coronavirus in a way that would put the health of all our country first. Also cared for the most vulnerable, and continue to focus resources and testing and supplies on the most vulnerable seniors with serious underlying conditions and i believe with all my heart that we have continued to save lives. We created a Solid Foundation for whatever challenges come, either in the days ahead or in the months ahead here thats a credit. Thats a credit i believe to our president , to our federal team and state partners. But mostly it is a credit to the American People and our healthcare workers. And so we stand today, we believe we have made progress. But we are reminded we see cases rising across the south, that we still have work to do and so we say to every american, particularly those in counties and in states that are being impacted by rising cases, that now is the time for everybody to continue to do their part. And i think youll hear from this podium today a particular message to younger americans, younger americans across the sunbelt and the role that you can play in protecting the vulnerable and making sure that while the coronavirus doesnt represent as significant a threat for serious outcomes to a younger american, none of us would want to bring the disease back to our parents or grandparents, moms and dads, an elderly friend or a friend who has an immunodeficiency and cause a serious outcome as well. So we leave you just with the guidelines for all of the phases. When we put out the guidelines to open up america again, we laid out at the outset, guidance for responsible reopening. States across the country are doing just that. 34 states are reopening safely and responsibly and seeing low and steady cases, not seen a rise in the percentage of positives here and in the 16 states that are being impacted, particularly those that we will focus on today, we would just encourage every american to follow the guidelines for all the faces. Continue to practice good hygiene, wash your hands, avoid touching your face, disinfect frequently. People who feel sick should stay home, and when it comes to businesses, social distancing, protective equipment, temperature checks, testing and isolation. These are the guidelines for all of the phases and they are good practices to implement if youre in a community that is affected or even if you are not. We are all in this together. The progress we made you saw in and new york, new jersey, connecticut and new orleans, was the result of the American People stepping forward. Of federal,guidance state and local authorities and we can turn and we encourage you to continue to do that. At home and at work and in your community but for those in the areas most affected, we want to encourage you to listen to and respect the guidance of your state and local authorities. This is different than two months ago both in our ability to respond and in the nature of those being infected and younger americans have the particular responsibility to make sure they are not carrying the coronavirus into settings where they would expose the most vulnerable. Lastly, as i prepare to bring doctor birx to the podium, i encourage you to continue to pray. Pray for the families who lost their loved ones, pray for the healthcare workers on the front lines. Continue to pray. By gods grace, every day, each of us do our part to heal our land. With that i will introduce the coordinator for the White House Task force doctor deborah , brooks. Thank you. Thank you for that great introduction. Just to remind everybody where we come from the last four months, we had a great deal of understanding about the differential disease, differential infections. Everybody is susceptible to infection. But we know it leads to a spectrum of disease and we have much better detail about whos vulnerable and why. As the Vice President said, at one time, we were diagnosing people in the icu after they came into the emergency room. Thanks to the millennials who have been heeding our guidance, theyve been coming forward and getting tested. Whereas before we told them to stay home now we are telling , them to get tested. This is a great change for us because it allows us to find the , asymptomatic and mild diseases we could not find before. As dr. Redfield talked about yesterday, from the serology test, we have a great understanding of what was happening in march and the number of asymptomatic and mild conditions that led to individuals that have antibodies, but never come forward with significant disease. We now know whos at risk for significant disease. We now know and particularly the elderly and those over 80 and individuals with comorbidity and they span the entire age group. We do know we have people in the Younger Age Group with significant type one diabetes and also individuals with significant obesity. Risk factors comorbidity not , necessarily sure age. Age. Ecessarily with as we call on individuals to protect one another by passing we dontn the street, necessarily know what they have. We have been trying to focus on protecting one another. That is for the highest mortality and weve been able to to, Clinical Care has dramatically improved and want to thank nih working on updating the clinical guidelines around the u. S. And around the world using this must updated information improve disease courses for those in the hospital. Treatment in the hospital that we didnt have in march and april. With improved methods of oxygenation which is quite important. Improved treatment of oxygenation with individuals on the ventilator who respond well to steroids. Research on going on what we call the acute set of keen storm. Ytokine storm. Often, where they respond well to steroids and research thats ongoing often in the later stage when people are on ventilators, the seriously ill may need steroids and other items and that is being researched and research being done on clotting. Now we have new therapeutic such as remdesivir. And we have reallocated to state facing increased hospitalizations as well as monthly allocations weve been sending out. We can go start where the Vice President left off and this disease tackled community the community. Testing of the Community Level and working with Community Groups to understand the spread in those communities. Weve been trying to map the epidemic and new positives down to the level of communities to understand where spread is occurring, so we can match our prevention interventions to those areas. As we discussed, it is difficult for you to see because the top line on this graph is new york and we should remember where we were and the slope, the early slope you can see in the case of the new york cases, the rapid acceleration. On the same side, you can see california, that is the blue line thats passing the orange line and also texas in green, florida and orange. Arizona at the bottom. As dramatic as these slopes are, they are not equivalent to the original acceleration we saw in new york. That doesnt mean we arent absolutely focused on working with the governors in those communities to stop the spread of the virus in those states. This shows through the entire country, we are tracking statebystate, obviously this axis is vastly different than the one on the prior slide but you can see weve been tracking closely North Carolina, working with the state and local Public Health authorities to respond to the changes there as well as South Carolina at the bottom. Ill just go quickly through these so you can see. Oklahoma is at the bottom of the slide. Next slide, you can see idaho and oregon. Those are the ones in the light blue and dark green for you see inflection in those slopes. These inflection points and understanding when they occur and why are critical for understanding how to prevent the spread. The Vice President talked about as we created an alert system that brings together what we just talked about, rising cases with an understanding of test positivity. This chart, which is difficult to see, those states on the far side of the highest test positive that you can see a higher level of the graph. Those of the states we have concerns about because of the rising number of cases and rising test positive. This explains the extent of Community Spread. States have increasing cases falling test positive, it tells us there getting into the communities defining a symptomatic cases. Asymptomatic cases. This puts on one slide the states we have that weve been talking about across the south where we have our greatest concern. The two top states with the largest increase in test positives are texas and arizona followed by florida, mississippi, South Carolina, alabama, georgia, louisiana, and utah. Those last we are tracking them closely as we look at that individually. Finally, next slide. You can see we are tracking, this is when you hear about 2 or 3 of counties under specific alerts, it doesnt matter the size of the county. We are tracking the increase and the rate of increase of new cases at the county level. We currently have 130 counties out of the 3100 in the u. S. In that category. This level shows you case positivity by the metros and the number of tests that have been done. This shows the change over time of test positivity and the largest metro where we have concerns. Phoenix, houston, dallas, san antonio, orlando, riverside, california and then to the bottom. This is how we continue to integrate data cases, data on testing and on hospitalization so we can work with the states for comprehensive integrative response. I know many of you would be interested in seeing how high test positivity became. March and april, the top line is new york city metro and you can see it reach over 50 on a series of days for almost two weeks. 50 of the tests were positive for covid19. Under that, you see new jersey and minnesota and a series of individuals. Detroit is the second one. To show you how you look at the state level and work with the governors and local health authorities, this is florida. We track testing, the number of test positives in the blue line, total number of cases in the black bar and what we call syndromic presentation of early respiratory diseases and pneumonia. Then we look at the county level to look for changes in the slope from the number of new cases. You can see the top county with the largest increase in scope and cases is miami dade, followed by broward and palm beach. All of the counties are much lower in the daily case increases. This allows us to focus resources and testing along with the state and these specific specific sites. This comes together to create this graphic so individuals can understand and we can understand precisely the rate of growth and where it is occurring. By the shading of the boxes. I will quickly take you through texas because its the same story. This shows you the same graphic, now shown for texas showing a continued rise in daily tests performed but also a rise in the test positivity, the blue line. You can see throughout may after opening, their test positivity continued to decline as their testing increased. It was the last two and a half weeks that we saw this inflection of rising test positivity with rising inflection. But it was the increase in rising test positivity that alerted us along with increased cases that this was becoming an alert. Everything is heat mapped so you can tell at a glance two boxes in the middle that are red, its a heat map showing of rise in cases and rising test positivity. But even in texas, this gives you a map of texas, it shows you where the cases are and where they are rising most rapidly. Finally, im going to go through arizona quickly along with california. Next. Same situation we are showing here with arizona, rising number of testing but also rising test positivity rise in cases. Arizona is unique and they have essentially one county primarily represented by the depth of the new cases and this was in the phoenix area. Next slide. This is california. Can see california over the last week has had that increase in test positivity, you can see the dramatic increase at the end in the blue line along with increasing testing that has been done and we want to thank the governors and the work and laboratories that has allowed us along with hhs to ensure the supplies were there, to increase these orange lines. You can see in each cases, they have dramatically gone up over the last four weeks. Like new mexico, the primary infections right now in california, at the highest level are in the l. A. Area but because l. A. Is a large metropolitan area, you really need this kind of more specific and local graphic to show that is increasing in the central valley. This gives us the ability to focus resources among Agricultural Workers to improve testing and isolation for those who become positive. I wanted to take you through how we look at data, how we consolidate the data and report out to the government monday. Out to governors on monday. We hope to over the next week have this Data Available in realtime on the white house , website so everybody across the country can see where the cases are because in the end, we want to call to action, when we started talking about what can be done, we said the most important thing that would change the spread, i know tony is going to talk about it. Is individual behavior and respect for one another social distancing, wearing a mask and ensuring we are protecting the most vulnerable that may be in multigenerational households. And i want to end by thinking thanking millennials who have come forward and i know during the protest we asked a lot of them to go forward to get testing. Testing rates are improving in the under 40 age group. Its important to continue to accelerate testing among the under 40 age group because thats the age group most likely to have asymptomatic spread and be spreading the virus unbeknownst to them. No one is intentionally spreading the virus but they dont know they are positive, they dont have symptoms and need to be tested to have that awareness so we want to thank them for coming forward and enriching the amount of testing done in the under 40yearold age group. Our older population, you know if you have comorbidity, if youre over 80, we ask you in these states having expansion in cases to continue to take shelter as much as you can use your grandchildren to do your shopping. Dr. Fauci thank you very much. I want to extend some of the comments made by the Vice President and doctor birx. It has to do with the situation you find ourselves facing right now. It is very clear from the maps you saw that there are certain areas in the country states, towns, cities and regions doing well. They have followed the guidelines and opened up in a prudent way thats been effective. However as you can see we are , facing a serious problem in certain areas. Know when you look at the map, it is interesting because you see some dark parts of the map and some light parts of the map. We have a heterogeneous country but that does not mean we have not intimately interconnected with each other. So what goes on in one area of the country, ultimately, it could have an effect on other areas of the country. Lets look at this problem we are facing now, this resurgence of cases. I dont think theres time to try to analyze and figure out the multifaceted elements, everything from opening a little too early on some, to open at the right time but not actually following the steps in an orderly fashion to actually trying to follow the steps in an orderly fashion but the citizenry did not feel they wanted to do that for number of a number of reasons likely because everyone feels the common feeling of being pent up for a long period of time. So we are not going to say blame, were not going to try to analyze but theres something important about it that i like i would like to get a message to the country in general. When you have an outbreak of Infectious Disease, its a dynamic process that is global. So remember what happened in china, it affected us. What happened in europe affected us. What is happening here is affecting others. That. Not get away from it is interconnected. So we are and interconnected society. We half to look at the fact of what our role is in trying to put an end to this. Everybody wants to end it and get back to normal. Everybody wants the economy to recover. I think we are all pretty common and that. That is a given. So what can we do . What i think upon talking to people and reflecting on it, we have such an unusual situation because in all the decades ive been involved in chasing Infectious Diseases, ive never seen anything so protean in its ability to make people sick or not. Theres no other Infectious Disease that goes from 40 of the people having no symptoms to some having mild symptoms to some having severe, some requiring staying home for weeks, some going to the hospital some getting intensive , care, some getting intubated, some ventilated and some going dying. On where you are in that spectrum you have a , different attitude to this particular thing. But anyone who get infected is at risk of getting infected to a greater or less degree is part of the dynamic process of the outbreak. And i know because i can understand when i was in a stage in my life when i said im invulnerable so i am going to take a risk, i think what we are missing is something weve never faced before. A risk for you is not just isolated to you because if you get infected, you are part, innocently or inadvertently, of propagating the dynamic process of the pandemic because chances are, if you get infected, youre going to infect someone else. Although you may feel well and if you look at the numbers, the overwhelming majority of people getting infected are young people, likely the people you see out in crowds, enjoying themselves, understandably, no claim there. No blame there. But the thing you need to realize, when you do that, youre part of the process. If you get infected, you will infect someone else. We know if that happens because the reproduction element of the virus is not less than one so people are infecting other people. Ultimately, you will infect someone who is vulnerable and it may be somebodys grandmother or grandfather, uncle who was on chemotherapy, aunt whos on radiation, or a child who has leukemia. There is what i call and i want to bring this out without making it seem anybody is at fault, we have an individual responsibility to ourselves but you have a societal responsibility because if we want to end this outbreak, really end it, we got to realize that we are part of the process. So when the Vice President went , back, pulling back a couple of months ago, when we showed about the guidelines to safely reopen the country, weve got to make sure we drop back a few yards this is part of a process that drop back a few yards and , think about that, this is part of a process that we can be either part of the solution or part of the problem. Witht to make a plea people who understand the stress we are under as we try to capital not only those states but the lightcolored part of the country, even though theyve done well, they may have gotten hit badly like new york or they may not have got hit badly at all, they are vulnerable. If we dont extinguish the outbreak, sooner or later, even ones doing well are going to be honorable to the spread so we need to take that into account because we are all in it together and the only way we will and it is by ending it together. Thank you. Thank you all for first, joining us to update the American People. I want to begin by thanking everyone around the country working to defeat the virus. All of the Healthcare Providers on the front lines, those working to reopen our economy safely, the American People who have sacrificed so much and the incredible numbers of our hhs team who have been working tirelessly to protect the health and wellbeing of all americans. Before covering todays topic, i want to mention a major milestone for Global Health yesterday. The end of the secondlargest Ebola Outbreak in history in the eastern democratic republic of the congo. We congratulate the government and healthcare workers and Community Members involved some of whom ive had the chance to meet and thank in the drc last fall. Under President Trump, the u. S. Was proud to play a bigger role in this major victory than any other single nation. Now thanks to the president and , Vice President of leadership and hard work of our team, america has never been readier to combat covid19. We developed readiness under the strategy we developed to address searches and defeat the bars. Defeat virus. We are in a much stronger position to support hospitals and individuals as they fight back. There are six parts to the strategy. Surveillance, containment, healthcare capacity, therapeutics and vaccines. We have been strengthening surveillance so we can be aware of and respond to surges. That means being able to track more cases among younger americans we never would have caught earlier in the pandemic. We have the worlds greatest we have the worlds greatest testing capabilities enabling us second, to confirm the presence of the virus when it crops up and we are confident the capacity will continue to rise in the coming months. Third, states are building the capacity to track and contain outbreaks of the virus with federal help, many states have substantially expanded the arewn capabilities and we deploying knowledgeable experienced cdc and hhs Public Health teams to the areas now seeing increases with a focus on Community Testing and Community Based interventions. Fourth, we are helping Healthcare Systems secure sufficient capacity and supplies. We have dramatically expanded American Manufacturing of ppe and the fda authorized new technologies to sterilize equipment for reuse. Weve spoken with hospitals and states building up their own ppe reserves, many of them getting up to 60 or 90 days of supplies. Nationalhe strategic stockpile, we have more supply visibility into needs across the country including centralized , coordination capabilities that we lacked a few short months ago. Using Healthcare Providers around the country and seeing how they are adapting to bring patients back while taking appropriate precautions. Americas hospitals are ready to get back to business while maintaining their readiness for covid19. The fifth and sixth elements of the strategy are thanks to the president s operation warp speed. We have promising therapeutics benefiting tens of thousands of american patients and in all likelihood have already saved thousands of lives. We identified two promising pharmaceutical treatments, and dexamethasone. Nd allocatedy we have 120,000 courses to all 50 states. We have added eczema zone to our treatment guidelines and it is reasonable to assume other corticosteroids which may be , more readily accessible in some places would have similar immunological effects. Another promising therapeutic, convalescent plasma has treated 25000 americans and 3000 sites across the country. There are no certainties in science but with more than 140 Clinical Trials underway in the u. S. , it is a safe bet more good news on therapeutics is on the way soon. Finally we have announced large investment to support three different vaccine candidates through to manufacturing. These are now in human Clinical Trials, some with potential to deliver safe and effective low safe and effective doses before the end of the year end and we will be adding support for several more candidates. There expanding manufacturing capacity and already making the files, needles and syringes we may need. Our capabilities have grown exponentially in the time allowed by the patriotic sacrifices of the American People. Give a much better grasp the virus and much more data to model it. With that data, we can focus on local trends. We have some very concerning hotspots. And we can track when other hotspots emerge as we expect they may. We are focused on the states and counties within the state, 3 of counties that represent hotspots. Its important for the American People to be aware of this variation across the country. Americans need to understand their local trends because we want to help people make the right decisions for themselves. Making decisions for yourself has to be based on three axes of risk as our Surgeon General taught us in march. You want to assess where you are, who you are and who you live with and what activity you are thinking about doing. There are gradations of risk within each of these. Going to an outdoor restaurant in montana is different from a crowded indoor bar in houston. When you interact with fewer people in an activity, when you you interact with them for shorter period of time, your risk is reduced and individuals can balance these kinds of factors. What i have laid out today is remarkable progress by the president S Administration and a particular credit to the team here at hhs. We have got a lot of work ahead of us but americans can be confident we have a rock Solid Foundation to help us get safely back to work, back to school, back to worship and back to healthcare while we tackle surges of the buyers where they where theyrus, occur. Thanks to President Trumps leadership, we have got capabilities, knowledge and strategy to protect americans livelihoods at the same time and every american should feel proud of that. Thank you. Dr. Hahn thank you mr. Vice president. I wanted to add some comments, once again, i want to thank all of dr. Redman i wanted to add some comments, once again, i want to thank all americans to embrace the importance of social distancing recommendations to slow the spread of covid. We are not defenseless, these are very powerful weapons and is our collective responsibility to recommit ourselves to put them into routine practice. Stay 6 feet apart from each other as much as possible, where wear face coverings in public. And practice figures hand practice vigorous hand hygiene. As we heard today, do our part to protect the vulnerable. I also want to appeal to the millennials and those under 40, it is important that this group commit themselves to these practices to protect those at risk and its not just the elderly at risk. Many of us may have friends and colleagues who are younger and may not advertise their underlying comorbidities. As the case would be with type one diabetes or an underlying immune deficiency. Again, asking this team, millennials and younger people in this country to commit themselves. I agree with ambassador birx, we are thankful the group is coming forward to get tested but i also want this group to put into vigilant practice the importance of our social distancing. One thing i want to stress is there are differences in what we are expanding today and what we all experienced in march and april and may. One of the things i want to focus on is not the case is what not the cases, per se, but consequences, the impact of those cases. It was not too long ago probably , within two months ago, hard to believe, i dont think many people realize that 27 of all deaths that occurred in the u. S. Died of pneumonia actually. Could have been influenza, could have been covid, 27 . One in four of all deaths in the u. S. Two months ago was caused by pneumonia. Im happy to say today the deaths today by pneumonia is about 7 . It is back to baseline. Thats a big difference. , aot of those who are dying lot of the deaths from pneumonia were actually covid infected , individuals that were the elderly, Nursing Homes and individuals with comorbidities. We are seeing progressive decline in deaths from the last two week average. Deaths in the u. S. Is around 650 and as you heard the Vice President , it wasnt long ago were losing 25000 individuals a day. Its critical that we continue to focus on the consequences. As part of that why its , important that we continue to look forward to how we deal with and contain and control the Covid Infection but as we also change the consequences of the impact its had on education in this country country. Or on our economy and business. As i close, i want to reemphasize how important, for now, for individuals to think seriously, as tony said, about the responsibility to others we have because this infection pathogen does have the capacity to cause serious illness in individuals at high risk and embrace our nations recommendations the Vice President put up again that we have for all phases of reopening america. Again i want to thank the Younger Groups for stepping forward and getting tested, clearly what we are seeing is this age group is much more likely to be asymptomatic and to make that commitment, to do their part to protect those of us, whether we are young or old, and have a comorbidity and are more vulnerable to a more serious illness from this virus. Thank you. Questions. Experts are stressing the importance of social distancing. Yet your campaign has helped to massive rallies. Held to massive rallies. Even dr. Fauci has talked about not gathering in large crowds. Can you tell us why do you continue to do this . The freedom of speech, the right to peacefully assemble is enshrined in the constitution of the u. S. We have an election coming up this fall. President trump and i believe that taking proper steps as recreated screening at events, and giving people the very best counsel that we have. We still want to give people the freedom to participate in the political process. We respect that. I was pleased to see that the better part of one week since we were in oklahoma, the Positivity Rate has declined as of today. That is great testament to the fact that people are using common sense, they are being responsible. They know and understand what happening in the community in which they live. Our emphasis today is to say helpfulthink it is most if the American People understand what we are seeing across the south today is really outbreaks. They are outbreaks in specific counties. In some cases, outbreaks in specific communities. Personnel,ged cdc hhs personnel. I didnt mention before, but three weeks ago when we were seeing similar activity in North Carolina and alabama, we sent personnel into those states. We have seen declining numbers beginning in both of those states. The important thing is not one side not onesizefitsall. The overall guidance to every american is to practice good hygiene, the measures we recommended at home and at work. Stand. But our focus today is to make sure in those areas of the country where we are seeing a significant not only increase in cases, but positivity level, just how important it is to listen to whether state and local Health Officials are directing them to do. Wearing a maske has become a political statement. Are you concerned about that . Is there a message you would like to send to people about the importance of wearing a mask . We think that the first principle is if people should listen to their state and local authorities. President trump and i couldnt be more grateful for the partnership we forged around the country. Governor ofhe florida, arizona, texas, just within the last 12 hours. I told them that from this podium, we would remind their citizens to heed the guidance and direction of state and local officials. In some cases, there is a statewide guidance with regard to facial coverings and events and gatherings. In other cases, there are specific countywide or citywide directives. We just believe that what is most important is people listen to the leadership in their state, their local community, and adhere to that guidance, whether it has to do with facial coverings, the size of gatherings. We will reinforce that message. You mentioned state and local authorities. What is the correlation between the spike in cases we see in states like texas and florida, and the way they handled their reopening . Was it too much, too soon . I want to ask dr. Fauci, you said in an interview that something is not working. What is it working . Did you all in your meeting today come up with a plan to fix whatever isnt working . Let me respond first, then i will let dr. Fauci address it, as well. Dr. Birx may, as well. I think there will be a temptation for people to look at these sunbelt states that have been reopening and putting suggestack to work and the reopening has to do what we are seeing in the last week or so. Frankly in the case of each of these states, they reopened almost two months ago. Cases, their new cases from testing were low and steady, the Positivity Rate was low. , andwe are observing today ive heard this from florida, texas, and some other states. We are seeing more and more of 35people under the age who are testing positive. In many cases, they have no symptoms. But they are coming forward and confirming they have contracted the coronavirus. We are working with the states. Embeddeddc personnel in every state of the union. We are surging more cdc personnel as requested to help them unpack what the data is suggesting. I know the governor of texas announced some new measures, which we fully support. Is what we are going to do give our state leadership the best information. Message thatis one comes through, i hope it is saying to younger americans in these states and counties in that they are a big part of the numbers we are seeing in new cases. And while there may not be a significant threat of a serious outcome to them, i know of no young person, and i have three twentysomethings in my immediate family, no young person would ever want to inadvertently dad, grandmother, grandfather, somebody who is vulnerable, to a serious result. So alerting them there has been spread among that age group, urging them to take ed whatmeasures, and he governors and local officials are doing will be our continued strategy. What i meant by what is not working, and this is not anybodys fault or any institutions fault. What we are dealing with right now is Community Spread in the context of a substantial proportion. Identification, isolation, and Contact Tracing to contain that is difficult to make it work under those circumstances. The superimposed upon that, the fact that even with identification, isolation, and Contact Tracing, often the dots are not connected. If you get on the phone and talk to people in these communities, you find a lot of it is done by phone. When its done by phone, maybe half of the people dont want to talk to one, because they think its a government representative. If you live in a community that is mostly brown or black, you are in a different situation, maybe 70 dont want to talk to you. You can identify a contact, you dont isolate them because you dont have the facility to isolate them. Thats was not working. What we are going to do, and we of doing, flooding the area a community to get a feel for what out there, particularly among the asymptomatics. We are dealing with young people, people who will be a symptomatically, and people getting sick in a community setting. Not an outbreak setting, or you know who to identify, isolate, and contact tracer. I just want to finish that thought. About three months ago, we talked about how important it was to have community at the center. When you talk about what will be different, and why the president and Vice President have asked me to go out to texas, new mexico, and arizona, is not only to meet with state and local Health Officials, but Community Groups so the Community Groups can help us support community specific messaging. Public health messaging, when you say the same thing over and over again and people get tone deaf to it, its because its not tailored to their specific circumstances, and they dont see the message resonating in their lives. Weve had to do this across the world. Ive done this over and over again for hiv, tb, and malaria. At the center has to be the community. In the community will help us identify who needs to be tested, which household has the most vulnerability, and how we can go into those communities and support that response at a very local and ground level. When we started, we were very much facility based. We know facilities carry us a long way. If we want to change the transmission rates in these metros, in specific communities and parts of those metros, we have to walk sidebyside with Community Leaders and Community Groups that know how to dogmaate our scientific and information down to a level where people will understand it, hear it, and act on it. I know when they hear it and understand it, they will act on it. When you ask what will be different, thats already started, and it will already be different. Thats exactly what we did with hiv 30 years ago. We got the Community Involved in helping us to outreach. I think thats important to underscore what dr. Birx said. Thats what is being planned, to get people who know the community who live in the community, who the community trusts. Do you expect the death rate to go up in the next three or four weeks, like we see the rate of infection going up . Our hope and prayers is that is not the case. Seen anoted, we have precipitous decline in fatalities. One is too many. Loss of every american life. The fact that two months ago we had lost 2500 americans in a single day, and two days this week, we lost less than 300 americans, is a testament to our Health Care Workers, to all of the medicines that the secretary just described being available in all 50 states. It is a testament to the efforts of the American People. We hope as we engage, we can continue to see those numbers decline. At thisr thing is point, when we look at the 2. 5 of all of in people took place under the age of 25. Each case,ricans in at least 90 , or people with preexisting conditions, underlying conditions that contributed to that sad outcome. As we see that in florida and texas, they have reported half or even more than half of the new cases showing up every day are people under the age of 35 or younger, in most cases, asymptomatic. Our hope is those younger healthy americans will continue to go through the coronavirus, will recover. Our message today as we have spent so much energy in the last four months protecting the most vulnerable. We deployed testing resources, supported state efforts. States across the country in the last month have answered our call to test all the residents of their Nursing Homes to set up a plan to test all of the staff on a regular basis. We need to protect the most vulnerable. We want a message going out to younger americans, particularly those among the sunbelt in these counties where we see new cases on the rise, positivity on the rise, to know that we need them to do their part to make sure and protect the most vulnerable so we can see those losses rise. It is in the hands of the American People. Particularly, young people in this country. On the campaign, it does sound like you are saying do as we say, not as we do. You tell people to listen to local officials, but in tulsa, you defied local Health Officials to have an event, that even though you say didnt result in a spike, dozens of service agents, staffers, are now quarantined after positive tests. In arizona, one of the hardest hit states, you packed a church with young people who werent wearing masks. So how can you say the campaign is not part of the problem that dr. Fauci laid out . Againant to remind you that freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble is the right of the constitution of the u. S. Even in a health crisis, the American People dont forfeit our constitutional rights. And working with state officials, as we did in oklahoma, and as we did in arizona, we are creating settings where people can choose to participate in the political process. And we will continue to do that. I think its really important how recognize how important freedom and personal responsibility are to this entire equation. Toowing younger americans understand, particularly in the counties that are most impacted, the unique challenges we are facing. Their age group, we think, is important. It is so important we recognize that as we issued guidance to reopen american now two months ago, and now as all 50 states are opening up our country, people are going back to work everyday life is being restored one step, one day at a time. I think its important we remind ourselves this is not the choice between the health of the American People and a strong economy. There are profound health lockdownsns to the through which we just passed. I heard a statistic not long ago at a Task Force Briefing that in one jurisdiction, there have been a 50 increase in the number of people presenting in Emergency Rooms having attempted suicide. There are profound mental Health Issues. There are profound economic issues. People needing to be back to work. Our objective today is to make sure the American People know in 34 states, the cases are largely stable. And there is no combination of rising cases and rising Positivity Rates. Thats a tribute to the American People. In the 16 states we are focused equip,y, we want to particularly young people, with the knowledge of the part that they can plate with the knowledge of stemming the rising tide in new cases. Not because coronavirus is a threat to them, in most cases it isnt if you are a younger american, but because no Young American whatever want to spread the coronavirus to someone who had a serious outcome. Im grateful for the time today. We hope this has been helpful. Are these massive rallies ok . Dr. Fauci . Announcer on tuesday, Coronavirus Task force members andfauci, dr. Stephen hahn, others will testify before the Senate Health committee on what federal, state and local governments are doing to help citizens go back to work and school as quickly as possible. On cspan orc or this morning Scott Rasmussen talks about how the outbreak is shaping Public Opinion and later, barry friedman, discusses his role in changing policing in new jersey and the effectiveness of community policing. We will take your calls and you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter. Washington journal is next. What happened in china has affected us. What happened in europe affected us. We cannot get away from that. It is interconnected therefore, if we are an interconnected society, we had to figure out what our role is in putting an end to this. Fauci on thes dr. Briefing from yesterday. U. S. Set another single day record for new covid19 cases, 45,000 around the country yesterday. Texas