Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. House 20240711

Together. I do want to Say Something real washington journal live every day at 7 00 a. M. Eastern. At h the entire program cspan. Org. Well fulfill our 40yearplus commitment to cover the u. S. Congress. You live to the floor, next. One bill on the house agenda today. Apprenticeship opportunities. And now live coverage of the u. S. House on cspan. Heaven ane you thanks for giving us another day. Bless the members of the peoples house with focus and purpose as they gather these few days before thanksgiving. May their efforts give true cause for americans to gather to give thanks. As infections continue to spread in hospitals nationwide and hospitals nationwide are pressed to their limits, look with with mercy upon your people. May we all, together, be mindful of the part we can play in addressing the spread of coronavirus. May all that is done be for your greater honor and glory. Amen. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 4a of House Resolution 967, the journal of the last days proceedings is approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from texas, mr. Williams. Mr. Williams i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker pro tempore the chair will entertain up to 15 requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Thank you, madam speaker, id like to make a oneminute speech and to revise and extend my remarks, as necessary. Withoutker pro tempore objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Lost a vember 8, we trailblazer for the latino covid19. Due to mr. Garcia maria was the first puerto rican woman and first appointed to the chicago board of education. In that role she secured funding bilingual Educational Programs and curricula that me whose ldren like first language was not english succeed. To cofound the Latino Institute and later appointee to president jimmy carters National Council on education resear research. N the 1980s, the mayor had mar maria had her oversee job training programs. The role she played in turning into a sanctuary city also deserves recognition. Arrested by accosted by immigration agents n a clear case of racial profiling. The incident prompted mayor washington to issue the nations preventing nce harassment of people of background. We celebrate her for her utstanding commitment to social, educational, and Economic Equity for latinos in hicago and throughout our country. Rest in power, maria. We are eternally grateful for your work. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . I rise to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise in Health National rural day and to commend our Health Care Providers across the 25th their t of texas for determination during this once in a Generation Public Health crisis. Throughout the covid19, these men and women have stepped up to continue to and protecting the wellbeing of our families. m proud to closely partner with Rural Health Facilities in district like goodall and provide them with tangible under the resources cares act. To further support their mission, i introduced the Health Expansion act that would help ensure ease of care for both physicians and especially ts, during the pandemic. As our world becomes more dependent on technology for its care delivery, crucial we adapt by creating policies that ensure the highest possible. Care to our Central Texas doctors, nurses, physicians, First Responders, and all other professionals, we simply say thank you. So may god bless you, may god texas, and may we continue to bless the United States of america. In god we trust. Back. D the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Seek permission to address minute. E for one the speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, today i rise to recognize transgender day of remembrance and honor the emories of far too many transgender or gender nonconforming people at least 36 year to e lost this fatal violence. Majority of the latinx trendck and gender women. They faced violence in the city their adelphia, to honor memory and because when we fail to acknowledge this issue, we it. Ot begin to address murdered on dz was july 9. A friend described her as a beautiful and unique soul. Heartened that an arrest was occurred. 28. Y was murdered september her friends and family shared ow her smile was so contagious and how she made people laugh. Own ll was attacked in her home august 24. Transphobics yelled slurs and said they would come finish the job. Thankfully she survived. His violence is motivated by antitransgender bigotry and the intersections of employment, of ing, and other forms discrimination put too many people transgender people, transgender women of color at risk of violence. This transgender day of we honor those lost, honor those survivors, and rededicate myself to working for change to protect this community from discrimination and violence. Back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from West Virginia seek recognition . Mr. Mckinley madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mckinley i rise today to horn the life of my longterm my longterm of paul iii lee paul iii. He e was nothing more than loved than his family and the community. He was a successful business owner. Member of the welling weeling chamber of commerce. He was part of numerous organizations. Political role in circles earned him the nickname of mr. Republican. Supporter of d conservative values and principles. Importantly, lee worked hard to try to make west weeling, a strong and vibrant community for generations to come. E and his wife, june, touched the lives of thousands in our area. Our thoughts and prayers are their three ly, children, and six grandchildren, passing. Mourn his lee, you made a difference. Missed. Be thank you, madam speaker, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from mississippi seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Today, i rise to welcome my join theagues who will 117th congress. This Group Includes individuals backgrounds, including a historic number of women. Ative the ideals that these conservative members stand for of the ideals of the radical left. American people have spoken and voted against defunding the olice, against overreaching legislation to take election independence away from our states. Adding t against justice to the justices to the supreme court. Moving our country toward the failed policies of socialism. American people are interested in issues that will move our country forward, like veterans, our securing our border, addressing our aging infrastructure, and our country remains a safe place to live and worship family. Aise a in short, the American People their d deserve from leaders Real Solutions to problems facing our nation, and with continue to work others towards finding those solutions and advancing our principles. Thank you, madam speaker, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is minute. Ed for one mr. Davis madam speaker, i rise to honor tom lowry of taylorville, my friend who away last sunday. In 1971, tom opened a kentucky ried chicken restaurant in our hometown and operated it until he wretired it in 2018. The ll be remembered in community for his dedication to running the k. F. C. And making everyone who walked through the family. L like for a long time, he was also on directors at First National bank, but im going to remember tom the most because he was my neighbor. Snowfall, single since i lived right by him, and same street, we would never have to wake up to an unplowed driveway because tom did. St what im going to miss seeing tom ith his dog on his golf cart rolling down our street, but hes also going to be mostly remembered for the love of his grandkids. His passing is a loss for taylorville and everyone that him. He pleasure of knowing shannon and oi send our thought and prayers to his wife, fran, kids cheryl and jerry, his his sister, d gloria. Tom, i am going to miss you, man. Rest in peace. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arkansas seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is minute. Ed for one madam speaker, i rise today to commend the work of republican leader Kevin Mccarthy Affairs Committee Ranking Member mike mccaul for their hard work on the china force. After months of meeting and investigations, the task force 82 key findings and 430 associated recommendations. Hill that recommendations demonstrates the number of important work we must do as address chinas refusal to play by the rules as a global power. Was most disappointing, madam speaker, was that Speaker Pelosi refused to participate in effort. Many of the recommendations and legislation linked with the recommendations are bipartisan. Heard it directly from my democratic colleagues ith concerns about chinas actions in a variety of areas from human rights, intellectual military heft, and incursions in the south and east few. Seas, just to name a tackling china is an issue as n issue should be a bipartisan one. And i hope my democratic colleagues will come to the table in coming months to collaborate with the republicans proper strategy to counter chinas decision to threaten the global system. You, madam speaker, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Lamalfa i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is minute. Zed for one mr. Lamalfa thank you, madam speaker. I rise to recognize National Rural health care day. Five american calls Rural America home, including the reat people of northern california. We have some great Health Care Providers, and id like to thank them for their efforts, during the pandemic to keep everyone safe and healthy. In ourt as it is to live state, we have a severe shortage of physicians and recruiting new ones has proven to be a challenge. The 12 Community Health centers and teaching Health Centers erve over 200,000 patients alone. These medical facilities provide muchneeded shortterm care, but who help train physicians will plant their roots, hopefully, in underserved areas available for their patients long term. Funding is sometimes the only that people can get the care they need. Hope we can use this day to spotlight more of this issue. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Madam speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to my remarks. Xtend the speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam mpson thank you, speaker. Madam speaker, i rise today to congratulate and celebrate a district. Ness in my the galaxy federal credit union in franklin, pennsylvania, is 80th ating its anniversary. The credit union was founded in 1940 by a dozen employees of joy manufacturing. For four decades, the credit union operated out of the joy manufacturing factory, serving by helping them save and establish credit. Union openedcredit its doors to other local companies in the county and in a community e credit union. The employees at galaxy federal pride themselves on a, quote, people helping people, business. Approach to today, galaxy credit union serve including5,000 unions 400 youth members. Id like to thank linda, as well the employees and members and volunteers who serve as the through of the county the credit union. Congratulations on 80 years. Thank you, madam speaker, and i yield back the balance of my ime. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman rom new york seek recognition . By direction of the committee on rules i call up House Resolution 1224 and ask for its immediate consideration. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york the clerk will report the resolution. The clerk house calendar number 97, House Resolution 1224. Resolved, that upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the house the bill, h. R. 8294, to amend the National Apprenticeship act and expand the National Apprenticeship system to include apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and preapprenticeship registered under such act, to promote the furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on education and labor now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part a of the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except, one, one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on education and labor, two, the further amendments described in section 2 of this resolution, three, the amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution, and, four, one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Section 2. After debate pursuant to the first section of this resolution, each further amendment printed in part b of the report of the committee on rules not earlier considered as part of amendments en bloc pursuant to section 3 of this resolution shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, may be withdrawn by the proponent at any time before the question is put thereon, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. Section 3. It shall be in order at any time after debate pursuant to the first section of this resolution for the chair of the committee on education and labor or his designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of further amendments printed in part b of the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on education and labor or their respective designees, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. Section 4. All points of order against the further amendments printed in part b of the report of the committee on rules or amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution are waived. Section 5. House resolution 967, agreed to may 15, 2020, as most recently amended by House Resolution 1107, agreed to september 15, 2020, is amendedone, in section 4, by striking november 20, 2020 and inserting the remainder of the one hundred sixteenth congress, two, in section 11, by striking legislative day of november 20, 2020 and inserting remainder of the one hundred sixteenth congress, and, three, in section 12, by striking legislative day of november 20, 2020 and inserting remainder of the one hundred sixteenth congress. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for one hour. Madam speaker, for the purposes of debate only i yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from georgia, pending which i yield myself such time as i may consume. During consideration of this resolution all time yielded is for the purposes of debate only. I ask unanimous consent that all members be given five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Madam speaker on tuesday, the rule committees met and reported House Resolution 1224 providing for consideration of h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020 under a structured rule. It provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and Ranking Member of the committee on legislation and education and labor and provides one motion to recommit. Mr. Morel it makes ined or mr. Morelle. It make order en bloc authority. It provides one motion to recommit and extends recess instruction, sameday and Suspension Authority through the remainder of the 116th congress. Before i begin my formal remarks id like to take a point of personal privethroge thank mr. Woodall for his friendship during my time on the rules committee. We dont always agree but even in our disagreements he is never disagreeable. I admire his wit hurricane passion, his love for this constitution and for this stews and his love for the country. I wish him the best for the future and hope this is not the end thoifs public career. I am always delighted to spend time with him not only in lengthy rules meetings but on the floor. This is critical work force legislation that will invest 3. 5 billion to create nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years. This is a historic investment in Work Force Training and im so pleased to support this effort. Amid this challenging and catastrophic pandemic, i am grateful that this body is not only addressing the needs of the American People as they grapple with the covid19 virus but also looking ahead and preparing for the challenge ours nation will face as we recover economically. Skilled workers are the backbone of our economy. Apprenticeship prossvidse a unique opportunity to grow and expand access to this work force. The successful apprentice the success of Apprenticeship Programs is wellestablished. 94 of apprentices are employed after completing their Apprenticeship Programs, earning an average starting wage of 70,000. Not only do they provide pathways to meaningful, sustainable careers, they are critical to expabbed expanding our nations skilled work force. When i meet with local Business Leaders in my district of rochester, new york, i regularly hear that their greatest challenge is finding Skilled Labor to fill positions and keep their businesses thriving. Apprenticeship provides an provide an invaluable pathway to engage workers, establish connections with highdemand industries, and set workers on a path toward a rewarding and sustainable career. Im proud that a bill i introduced with my colleague, congresswoman trahan, has been included in the text of the National Apprenticeship act. Our bill helps scale up participation among populations not typically engaged in apprenticeships, particularly small and mediumsized businesses. Together we can create new opportunity highdemand businesses. This bill bolster our nations Apprenticeship Programs, build up a muchneeded labor force an open doors for businesses and workers alike. Through my position on the education and Labor Committee i have seen the months and years of bipartisanship thats led us to this day. While we dont agree on every aspect of the bill, i believe the legislation before us is the best course of action to support Apprenticeship Programs that have proven most successful for working families an employers. Now more than ever these programs are critical to grapple with the longterm Economic Impacts of covid19. I applaud my colleague, congresswoman davis, for her work on the National Apprenticeship act. This comprehensive legislation is a testament to her leadership as chair of the Higher Education Work Force Investment subcommittee and she will be sorely missed in the days and weeks and years ahead as she leaves us at the end of this term. I urge all my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. Madam speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Woodall thank you very much, madam speaker. I want to thank my friend from new york not just for his kind words but for the time today. We always say, madam speaker that time is yielded for the purposes of debate only and for folks who dont follow what the rule committees does that prevents the shenanigans that could occur if the gentleman were to give me 30 minutes unlimited and i could start calling measures to the floor. But we do need more debate, less vitriol and more debate. The Apprenticeship Program is one of those programs that does bring people together. The track record speaks for itself. When we talk about the 90 employment retention rate that these apprentices bring forward. When we talk about the 300,000 in lifetime earnings that apprentices generate compared to their nonapprentice peers. This really is a Partnership Opportunity that im afraid the house is missing again today. Lame duck sessions, madam speaker, are strange things. Sometimes we bring the biggest bills that congress is going to work on during lame duck sessions. Sometimes we bring the smallest. Sometimes it provides that extra time brick people together. And candidly on this bill i thought thats what we would be doing because exactly as my friend from new york points out, this is a Partnership Issue. But we find ourselves here today with a base text that passed out of committee on a party line vote. I think we can do better than that i know we can do better than that. To the majoritys credit, because this is a majority aaron institution, the majority can do a a majoritarian institution, the minority is often excluded. And the wisdom of rules Committee Members like mr. Morelle and other, the republican substitute was made in order by the rules committee so we will have an opportunity to debate different visions of the a i of the Apprenticeship Program. But i wonder in this exceptional time where folks are exceptionally worried about the future if maybe this isnt the time to have more of those republican alternative, Democratic Alternative debates and not one of those times that we should be speaking with one voice to the American People. There were amendments made in order and candidly more amendments than are tradition alely made in order for a bill like. This i cant fault my rule committees sleegs colleagues for trying to get out of some of the closed amendment process ruts we have been in. But we were so close to being able to make this a truly bipartisan process and im concerned, having excluded about half of the republican amendments that were offered, we are going to fall a little bit short of that today. At its core, madam speaker, the disagreement is about how easy should it be to have Apprenticeship Programs certified. We absolutely have, through the department of labor, an official process for putting apprenticeships on the official u. S. Government list. It comes with lots of benefits and privileges and also comes with many burdens as we sit here today, madam speaker, this is a process that has been in place for 80 years and is in need of a modernization in the 1st century. Many of the in the 21st century. Many of the numbers suggest there are more apprenticeships happening outside of the department of labor official program than inside the official department of labor program. One of the amendments we have made in order today is one from my friend from washington state, mr. Kilmer, thats going to make Computer Science programs, Computer Programming programs eligible for the first time. Course anybody who has been in math, been in the first a. P. Computer science class america had in the 1980s knows you learn more from your friends, more from your colleagues, more from being in the process together than you ever learn from reading a book or sitting in the classroom. Of course Computer Science ought to be on that list of programs. Yet its taken us well into 2020 to get to that place. I would argue we may be a decade or two late in that process. But better late than never. As my friend from new york referenced, im on my way out of the institution, and im pleased that we have a process that is even though the result is a partisan result, had more bipartisanship in it than many of the bills that ive had to represent here in the rules Committee Minority position that i hold. It is my great hope that as this institution shrinks the distance between the majority and minority heading into 2021, that its going to provide opportunities to remind us how much we need each other to get things done. The best vote us took as a young freshman member, madam speaker, were not the ones that john boehner jammed through with all the republicans voting yes and all the democrats voting no. E best votes i that i took freshman year were the ones john boehner jammed through with Nancy Pelosis help that had about 50 of the democrats and 50 of the republicans and did the big things you couldnt do alone that required members to stand up and get outside of their ideological comfort zone and get into that space of how can we really make a difference . Is this bill going to make a difference for American Workers and young people trying to get started in their career, businesses trying to recruit good talent . Of course it is. Its a modest step in the right direction but it is a step in the right direction. Im going to encourage my colleagues to defeat the rule so we can take a larger step in the right direction. Sometimes you have to play small ball to get the gears of success turns at the appropriate speed. Sometimes youre up against crises like covid19 where you dont have time for small ball. Youve got to take the big steps. Ill mention just one to you, madam speaker. I offered an amendment in the rules committee to make in order an amendment by my friend from pennsylvania who you saw on the floor earlier, mr. Thompson. His amendment simply said this during the covid19 crisis, while were seeing the economy evolve in ways we could have never predicted and still cannot predict, let us give the department of labor, the secretary, the ability to be nimble in terms of designating new Apprenticeship Programs. Now for the next 40 days that department of labor secretary is going to be a trump appointee. After those 40 days, were going to have a different scenario happening there. Is this an issue of us being in the rut of voting no on the administration that is not of our political persuasion . Is this an example of us starting to reclaim some article 1 power and to stop delegating things down to 1600 pennsylvania avenue and instead retaining those authorities here . We didnt get to have that debate. Make that amendment in order and were not going to be able to have that conversation. Its a conversation that needs had. We need to get out of our habits of voting no on the other team that sits in the white house and to get into the habit of being so nimble ourselves that to delegate authority to the executive in order to get things done that those things get done. Me, madam cult for speaker, to be this close to the of legislative process that i came here to be a part of and that goal. H i do want to recognize success lives, and we had a more successful rules Committee Process this time than past. Imes in the but it only reminds us how close i are to that process that believe all of our constituents expect of us and that is, bring room. E ideas into the vote no on the bad ideas. Ideas. S on the good bring all 435 of our collective experiences to the floor and of it into e best the law books to serve those are sworn to serve. If my colleagues are willing to me to defeat the previous question today, i think move in e a chance to that direction. I look forward to talking with my friend from new york and the about thatcolleagues more to come. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia reserves, and the gentleman from new york is recognized. R. Morelle thank you, madam speaker. I just just a couple points i would make. First, with regard to amendments, i do note there are substantial amendments made in offered by ere republicans. I do know that some amendments were d by republicans withdrawn because theyre essentially part of the large mendment in the substitute bill, which will be on the floor. So there will be, i think, to i woodalls point, and appreciate his sentiments here, i think there will be an pportunity, given the way we structured this rule and given the latitude that i think the majority gave in making certain will be an adequate opportunity for real debate distinctions the between the minority and majoritys perspective on this particular bill. Think this was an opportunity and will be an chairman scott and mrs. Davis, whos the chair and i subcommittee, suspect well be debating the bill and amendments in just short order. Think there will be that fullness and that richness of debate that my good friend from about. Has talked i do want to just make a point, hough, about the process over the last several yearplus. I think the last year and a there were four different hewi gs held by the subcommittee, which mrs. Davis eads, Higher Education workforce subcommittee. There were months of intensive negotiations. There was a series there was bipartisan member level roundtable. There were at least four hearings on the subject. Effort, and i l believe even an opportunity for bipartisan compromise to expand access to these highquality programs. Ship unfortunately, i think what i the describe as nearly 11 11th hour, the white house made t clear they would not support the bill unless the department of labor and the white house ere granted a much broader opportunity to approve Apprenticeship Programs in ways we dont believe safeguard the businesses or the those who would apply for apprentice programs. Floor and this certainly with mr. Woodall in rules committee, my experience to this in the state legislature. Ne of my responsibilities during my career there was to chair the committee on insurance. In the would find myself position, even though i had a riendly democratic administration, where the legislation would have sort of it sort of a blanket ability for at the time the superintendent of insurance whatever he or she felt was appropriate and give wide latitude. Strike that from the bills before passage saying thought it was the responsibility of the set policy. To what i believe we ought to be doing here and i think mr. Generally agree with me relative to our article 1 responsibilities of passed by bothng houses of the congress that iving, in my view, too wide a latitude to the department of labor, whether its in the administration or incoming that it doesnt make sense. Its the rule and the responsibility and duty of make sure those standards are set in law, in in rule, not in regulation, and not at the whim f the department of labor or any other agency of the government. So i think what we seek to do is and expand promote apprenticeship opportunities, my use for all the reasons distinguished colleague from georgia and friend mentioned, the ability for apprentices to more during their career, the quality of those programs hat we believe standards need to be continued, that they need to be strengthened, that we can to nd these programs, and the kinds of industries heretofore have not availed apprenticeship opportunities, that we can do that, meet all those goals, those standards and make sure theyre delineated in statute. Appreciate his comments. With that id reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the entleman from new york reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Woodall thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself such time as i consume. Here are a lot of issues out there. Certainly Student Loans and educating young people for 21st skills is one of those. m glad were taking this time out today to focus on that before the end of this congress. Out are other issues there, though, that we all know in a bipartisan way need attention. Its covid testing, vaccines, and therapeutics that every day newspaper but on which congress has not acted recently. We know that needs attention. Whether its the Paycheck Protection Program. That were ams supporting employers and employees that have expired, knowin a bipartisan way we need attention but the congress has not acted on that. Reform. Its on police again, in the paper and the we know in day, and a bipartisan way we can do better to serve our citizenry. On yet, we have not acted that. If we defeat the previous question today, madam speaker, down the t slow apprenticeship conversation that were having. Is make sure in the limited time we have remaining in this congress that e do tackle those three issues that i mentioned. Ovid, vaks ooens, their vaccines, therapeutics. Police reform. A way we can work in a to serve the country. And the Paycheck Protection Program, helping employers and to survive into 2021, as we all know they need to do. Would ask unanimous consent, madam speaker, to insert the my amendment in the congressional record immediately prior to the vote on the previous question. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Woodall madam speaker, i therapeutics out as it relates to covid. Im very fortunate on the rules mr. Morrelle, s to be able to serve with a gentleman who spent his Lifetime Service of others through medicine, dr. Burgess. Sits on the lso energy and Commerce Committee which has had jurisdiction over which has had numerous bipartisan bills and forward. Ties to move defeating the previous question today would make in order the bill. Man from texas id like to yield four minutes to the gentleman from texas to talk about the real impact that could have for the american citizenry. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Burgess i thank the yielding. For and truly it has been a privilege to serve with the the eman from georgia on rules committee. ve learned a lot from occupying that seat beside him there. Madam speaker, theres still a our g pandemic through country. Every community in this country and communityted, spread is unfortunately going in the wrong direction as the virus rages across our land. My home state of texas has had this ne million cases of novel coronavirus. For been awaiting relief months, and passing partisan packages does not help when our needs us most. Where has the sense of urgency been from the House Democratic leadership . In february, i called for in ings on the coronavirus the energy and Commerce Committee. My requests were dismissed. Has since provided support in the form of funding vaccines and testing and more, but we should continue to nations Pandemic Response in these ways, especially as cases are now country. Ross the we could come together to provide our country with the esources to fight this invisible enemy. House democratic leadership does this task. Be up to y legislation, h. R. 8086, provides funding for the Public Health and social services mergency fund to develop additional medical countermeasures and vaccines. Weeks, in the past two we received incredibly dataraging news that early shows two of the coronavirus accine candidates to be more than 90 effective. A safe and effective vaccine is strongest arrow we could have in our quiver to allow our to normal. Eturn we also have new antibody used in s that can be ospitalized, nonhospitalized, mild coronavirus patients. At this point, id give credit to the administration that these zed the need for medical countermeasures, antibodies and vaccines and antibodies, and of ines and put the whole the government response into operation warp speed. He Public Sector and private sector are now delivering on that promise, and we are likely just days away from the food and providing stration emergency use authorization for these new of vaccines. Again, vaccines that are over effective. When we didnt even have the genetic sequence of this virus of january. D that is a phenomenal accomplishment. The time to take our foot off the gas. The house continues to waste its bills that are going to be dead on arrival in the senate instead of delivering americans. R there are commonsense, bipartisan ways to help our nation respond to the my bill us, including to increase funding for the coronavirus response. To improve bill Paycheck Protection Program, and mr. Staubers bill to fund etter training for Law Enforcement. But House Democrats have turned the needs of america. I urge members to vote against he previous question so we may take up these important measures. Im pleased to yield back to my georgia. Om the speaker pro tempore does the gentleman from georgia reserve . Maam. Dall yes, the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Madam elle thank you, speaker. I do want to note that were ere to discuss the National Apprenticeship act, and thats the subject on the discussion in house. F the but i would note paraphernalia however, that the irony in the subject that was friend up by my dear from texas, the president of the nited states has not met with his own Corona Task Force in six months, has barely spoken in the weeks while this nation is engulfed with the virus throughout the midwest. E have now surpassed 250,000 americans dead of the coronavirus. A quarter of a million americans lives, and yet, there is no discussion out of the white house. Would encourage, perhaps my colleagues, to ask the president if he might meet with dr. Fauci and those on the front lines this illness. I would also note that seven onths ago this house passed 3. 4 trillion heroes act to tracing and ct testing and support for our front line workers and hospital local and state and governments. We had no action from the United States senate. Weekse back and about six ago took up the updated heroes act, 2. 2 trillion, again, to to address the suffering of millions of americans and, yet, no action from the United States senate. I think we have more than stepped up to address the concerns of the American People as it relates to the issue, not before the house right now. I do understand that the good people of georgia, my dear friend, will go home in a few weeks and the great folks in the state of georgia will perhaps have something to say about the direction of the United States senate going forward. But i do note that i think this houses record has been exemplary in addressing this. I would now like to get back to the issue at hand and for purposes of further discussion id like to yield three minutes to my friend, the gentleman from illinois, mr. Davis. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Davis thank you, madam speaker. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of the rule and in strong support of the act. As we listen to the discussion relative to the coronavirus, the pandemic, im very optimistic now with the advent and the announcement of vaccines that may very well prove to be effective. It means that as we gain control of the pandemic, as we gain control of the virus, were going to need a welltrained, skilled work force, ready and available to work if were going to rebuild, rebuild and redevelop our economic status. Having this work force available increasing Apprenticeship Training and opportunities, is one of the best possible things that we could do. Soy commend representative scott and the Education Committee for their work on this act, this bill. , will strong support for vote to pass it, and can hardly wait to do so. I thank you, madam speaker, i thank the gentleman for yielding, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Woodall thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. I have worked with the gentleman from new york long enough to know that it is true that we sometimes measure our success by what the house does. But working with the gentleman from new york i have seen him measure his success by what he actually gets done for folks. You never see him trying to take credit for getting the work done, hes just doing the work. Too often, i think, all of vuss come to talk about what it was that we passed in a partisan way and how that absolves us of anymore responsibility. Its true the house jammed but through a partisan covid package seven months ago and nothing has happened to it since then. Thats what happens when you jam through partisan packages. If we jam through a parking lot san apprenticeship package thats whats going to happen to a partisan apprenticeship package. I want to yield to the Ranking Member of the Small Business committee who crafted the last bipartisan package and when that bipartisan package was crafted, it didnt just pass this house, it didnt just pass the senate, it was signed into law by the president of the United States and it made the difference in the life of our constituents that may friend that my friend from new york and i would like to make if we to make. If we defeat the previous question well have a chance to go to the bipartisan well of support that my friend from ohio has generated and i would like to yield four minutes to the Ranking Member of the Small Business committee, the gentleman from ohio, mr. Chabot. Mr. Chabot i thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam speaker, the gentleman from new york suggested that we on this side of the aisle should talk to the president of the United States about what he has or hasnt done. Hes all the way down on pennsylvania avenue. I suggest the gentleman from new york might want to talk to a lady who is probably in this building right now, the speaker. To bring up a second round of p. P. E. Loans. P. P. P. Loans. We tried to do it, we tried a discharge petition so were trying again. A lot of Small Businesses really need this. An important holiday is coming up. Next saturday is Small Business saturday. Its a day when we take time to support the restaurants and shops and other Small Businesses that create two out of every three new jobs in america. Normally this is an occasion to eat a delicious meal, get a head start on Christmas Shopping and say hello to friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, this year, an awful lot of those Small Businesses are struggling due to covid19. A recent nfib survey indicated over half of Small Business owners expect to seek additional Financial Assistance over the next year. If they cant access that help, they may be forced to lay off employees again or cease operations. Thats just unacceptable. Because we can help them. We have a program that is already that has already supported over 50 million jobs all across this country. Even has over 130 billion ready to go. We already have the money, dont have to appropriate additional dollars at all. The money is there. That program, the p. P. P. Program, pake protection program, stopped accepting applications back in august. Instead of quickly passing a bill to reopen the program, the democratic lead ship in this house used it as a political football. For over three months, while Small Business owners had to drain the last of their funds to stay in existence and to continue to pay their employees, and they nervously continued to worry about how theyre going to make payroll, today we have a chance to do the right thing and do right by these Small Businesses that theyre after all the heart beat of each and every one of our communities. If we defeat the previous question, which is before us now, we can move directly to the legislative package that includes the bill that i just mentioned, my bill, the p. P. P. Program, again to reopen and improve the Paycheck Protection Program. Lets defeat this previous question and send aid to those Small Businesses all across the country desperately who desperately need it. I can think of no better way to celebrate Small Business saturday. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia yields, the gentleman from new york is ecognized. Mr. Morrelle are you preparerd to close . Ill reserve. Mr. Woodall i am not quite prepared to close. I accept the gentlemans yielding, using our time, madam speaker, id like to yield to he gentleman from minnesota, again thinking about things the American People are looking for, the opportunities we have to craft those in a bipartisan way, mr. Stauber brings his lifetime of Law Enforcement experience to this chamber, giving us an opportunity to do those things that we all know need to be done. How can we serve our skitcy better . I would like to yield to share his not just his partnership effort, trying to work across the aisle to get that done but also his vast experience in that area, four minutes to the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Stauber. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Stauber thank you very much, madam speaker. Im worried that once again we are not rising to the occasion as the American People continue to suffer from both this Health Crisis and the subsequent economic disaster. As the American People continue to call for justice for their fellow americans, we are back here in d. C. For the first time in seven weeks. And not one item on the speakers docket is to answer the American Peoples call to provide them relief. Im disappointed because i know that we can do better. 2020 has been a tough year but we have seen some wonderful moments of bipartisanship. In the early months of this pandemic, republicans an democrats came together to pass the cares act. Which created lifesaving programs for Small Businesses and helped provide families financial relief. Additionally in response to calls for nationwide criminal justice reform, i introduced the bipartisan justice act. Legislation cosponsored by both republicans an democrats that will improve our policing and reest cab lish trust twean our Law Enforcement officers and the communities they serve. Unfortunately, despite the justice acts bipartisan nature, democrat leadership does not want to address this issue. Despite the cares act bipartisan nature, democrat leadership continues to walk away from relief package discussions. Partisanship has once again taken priority over the needs of the American People. If the previous question is defeated, we will take up legislation that i introduced that will provide 850 million for better training of police officers. 500 million to increase the number of body cameras. And 1. 2 billion in grants to Police Departments to invest in community policing. Which is the philosophy that you dont police your community, you police with your community. I said this on the house floor in august. It is unfortunate that im saying this here once again in november. It is time for this congress to get back to work. Nd i yield back. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman from georgia reserve . Mr. Woodall if my friend from new york is prepared to close ill yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Morrelle if i may make a comment and then im prepared to the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Morrall thank you, madam speaker. I want to note, i feel a little bit like alice in the Looking Glass where in is out and up is down. Just want to reiterate that this house has addressed in a significant way reform for policing. We have indeed in this house addressed on two separate occasions the impact of covid on Health Care Workers and state and local governments. And the millions of americans who struggle to put food on the table and face unemployment. So all of the things that my friends have just discussed on the other side of the aisle are things that this house has done and its really the recalls trance of the United States senate and their unwillingness not only to adopt our measure bus adopt their own that would allow us to then set intool a conversation or discussion about the differences that separate us and to try to reach a bipartisan, bicameral compromise that mr. Woodall, i know very much believes. In i also want to make one other point if i might which is the apprenticeship act which we have before us, if you had dropped in from somewhere and saw on our program we were discussing the National Apprenticeship program and listened to my friends on the other side of the aisle youd be confused why they arenten the subject but i want to get to the subject which is this. This is in part a response, not certainly totally, a response to, because we were working on this for some time before covid, but this has at its heart a response to the economic fallout of the virus and is entirely on point because the Economic Impacts will be felt for years. Some economists are saying this country will feel the impacts of covid for another three or four years. The Apprenticeship Program and the reason were here having this conversation is to be able to expand and dramatically and give people in transition from other careers or getting into careers will give them the opportunity to earn a not only a living wage but to advance, get career tuns and a career ladder particularly to those industries that have really not been involved in the Apprenticeship Program in the past. I want to again reiterate what we are doing here, the importance of what were doing, how critical this is, and obviously we want always to seek a bipartisan compromise because as my dear friend from georgia rightly points out, its not about what we pass in this house. Its what we pass in the congress and send to the other end of pennsylvania avenue. Hopefully for signature. Its very much the conversation here. I hope that not only my colleagues here but our friends across the floor and in the senate will take up this muchneeded legislation before were done in a lame duck session. It is the session in front of us. And that the president can can be persuaded to act on it. That is the work before us, it is critical and important work indeed. With that, i reserve and prepared to close if mr. Woodall. Is the speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Woodall thank you, madam speaker. When you reach the end of your service in congress you start thinking about those things that you really, really proud of and you start thinking abthe things you wish had gone differently. Ive only got ton override one of president trumps vetoes since i have been here in congress and ill tell you, and ill tell president trump, i thoroughly enjoyed that. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Because i didnt come here as a republican, i came here as a United States house member. Any time the article 1 branch comes together and speaks so loudly and proudly in a single voice that it cab even swamp the voice of the it can even swamp the voice of the most powerful leader of the free world, the president of the United States, that tells me something about how our republic is functioning and im excited about that. I dont think im going to have a chance to do that in our next three weeks here but i appreciate the opportunity to do it the one time i did. Weve got to get back into that habit of speaking with one voice. We are stronger not just as an institution when we speak with one voice, were stronger as a nation when we speak with one voice and this apprenticeship bill should have been one of those things. Instead of having me on the house floor saying we are taking a small step in the right direction but why didnt we go big, it ought to have been nice if the chairman and Ranking Member could have negotiated that middle ground first and i could have been down here talking about how it didnt go as far as i wanted but did the best we could and lets all vote yes. We can do that. We have had some experience doing that. Our initial response to covid was exactly that. Candidly this is as close as we have come in quite some time. I know that the Ranking Member, Virginia Foxx from North Carolina, wanted to get over the finish line. We have made two republican amendments in order in this rule, madam speaker. We have made two bipartisan amendments. And 13 democratic amendments in order all in a bill that passed on a bipartisan line vote out of committee. Sometimes the process works that way. Sometimes the house needs to put down a marker. But late november of an Election Year is not the time for putting down markers. Its the time for putting points up on the scoreboard for the American People and this bill fails in that regard. If we defeat this rule, i ask my colleagues to join me in voting no on it, i know, i dont think, madam speaker, i know that the chairman and Ranking Member can come back together and we can bring that Partnership Bill to the floor that im talking about. My friend from new york talks about expanding the Apprenticeship Program, thats the crux of the program. He expanded a little. We want to expand it a lot because we all recognize what the needs of the American Worker and the American Economy is. Defeat this rule, well have that chance. But defeat the previous question, madam speaker, and we are going to have a chance to talk about these three bills. My friend from new york is right. They are extraneous to what we are talking about today. But the three gentlemen who spoke spoke truth when they said we have been trying to bring these things up through the regular process and we cant. We know to extend and reform the Paycheck Protection Program would pass this house with a huge bipartisan majority today. But the house leadership has not given us an opportunity to have that vote. We know that investment in community policing, a goal championed by republicans and democrats for decades, we know that could pass this floor in a bipartisan basis. But the house leadership hasnt given us that opportunity. We know as every single one of our constituents is concerned about their health and their business and their children that if we pass a covid therapeutic program, a testing program, a Program Targeting vaccines, getting the rest of that job done, we know it would pass in a bipartisan way. But we have not had a chance to bring up such bipartisan legislation. I have served in this institution when the house and the white house were held by one bipartisan and the senate was held by another party. And what i found during that time is that the negotiation happened between 1600 pennsylvania avenue and constitution avenue. Those of us on independence avenue were largely left out of that conversation. For my colleagues who remain i worry about that for you because i believe that we operate differently than the senate and for good reason. Dont want to change the majoritytarian of our institution. Im glad its passionate and deep and messy and sometimes the fights spill out of the Committee Room and on to the house floor. I value that. And i value the senates go slow approach and the larger voice given to the minority there. We dont often get opportunities to fix our bad habits. While paul ryan was speaker of the house we had not one open rule. Not one chance in his entire speakership for the house to come together and have everyone have a chance to contribute and have their voice heard. Not once. And during Speaker Pelosis second speakership, we have had not one opportunity, either. For years now, years now this house has gotten in the habit of deciding that every voice is not worthy of hearing. And certainly there are bills and there are measures where that needs to be true. A Partnership Issue like the Apprenticeship Program, a Partnership Issue like serving our young people, a Partnership Issue like getting our economy jumpstarted, this is one of those opportunities. For the bad ideas would be rejected in a bipartisan way and the good ideas would be adopted in a bart way bipartisan way, and we would speak to america in a single voice bipartisan way about the pathway that we have crafted to go forward. Madam speaker, if you would surrender your gavel and allow mr. Morelli and i sort out all of the issues i mentioned today, i think by the end of november, certainly the first week of december, we could for whatever reason, our framers that did not believe that it should be given to two bipartisan folks that want to solve a problem, they believe all 435 voices should be heard. Its hard and i worry when we miss chances like the one we had today to demonstrate to the American People what we know to be true about the way that we Work Together when we miss an opportunity, demonstrate that to folks on the floor of this house, we do some bit of damage to the fabric of our republic. And that damage happens under Republican Leadership and that damage happens under democratic leadership, and i fear one that damage will be so great that Neither Party will be able to turn it back. I want to recognize members like mr. Morelle from new york and mr. Mcgovern from massachusetts who have made sincere and difficult efforts to move us in that partnership direction. Defeat this rule, defeat the previous question, give them a chance to move us further in that bipartisan direction going forward. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Morelle i just take a moment to wax philosophical on bipartisanship. I think i agree with almost everything my distinguished friend had to say. If you are frustrated, mr. Woodall, imagine our frustration that for the last seven months we have continued to try to engage in conversations with the other house only to be met with silence. And we here, as you do, when you go home, we hear from thousands of constituents in each district, millions of americans who struggle because they have lost their job, because they lost their restaurant as a Small Business owner, that they struggle. We have heard from Health Care Workers who continue to struggle, to have personal protective equipment. We talk to people who desperately need stimulus checks or some other support to put food on the table. So we hear all of that. I wish that the conversation that could happen between both sides of the aisle here in this chamber would answer those questions. But they cant because we do need to have support and engagement and a dialogue with our friends in the other house. So i understand and feel your frustration. Our frustration is even greater. And what i love that we would work out the issues here in this chamber. You and i and members of the rules committee and all the members of the house and have that be a settled question, i think that we would be in a better place. Having said that, madam speaker, let me just, again, note perhaps the last time ill have the great opportunity to serve on this floor and have a discussion on a rule with my distinguished friend from georgia. Again i want to just indicate how much i appreciate him and how much admiration and affection i have for him and wish him all the best. Madam speaker, i want to thank all the colleagues who have spoken on the various committees for their words and support of h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act. I urge a yes vote on the rule and yes vote on the previous question. I yield back the balance of my time. I move the previous question on the resolution. The speaker pro tempore the question is on ordering the previous question on the resolution. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Woodall knowing how difficult that was for you, id like to request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from illinois sec retion . As the designated by mr. Rush, i inform the house that mr. Rush will vote yes on rdering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maine seek recognition . As the member designated by mr. Rose pursuant to h. Res. 965, i inform the house mr. Rose will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio wish to be recognized . As the member designated by ms. Bay di, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Beatty will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore does the gentlewoman wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. Degette of colorado, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Degette will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from missouri wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, on the motion as the member designated by representative clay, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Clay will vote yes on the motion. As the member designated by representative carson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Carson will vote yes on the motion. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mr. Desaulnier, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Desaulnier will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman om california wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mr. Gonzalez, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Gonzalez will vote aye on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from North Carolina wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mr. Price of North Carolina, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Price will vote yes, he will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from New Hampshire wish to be for what purpose does the gentlewoman from New Hampshire wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, as the member designated by mrs. Bustos, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Bustos will vote aye on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by ms. Pingree, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Pingree will vote ye on the previous question. As the member designated by mr. Keating, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Keating will vote aye on ordering the previous question. And as the member designated by ms. Meng, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Meng will vote aye on the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, as the member designated by representative lowey, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that representative lowey will vote aye on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from washington wish to be recognized . As the member designated by ms. Shriver, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Shriver will vote aye on the previous question in h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida wish to be recognized . Ms. Wasserman schultz as the member designated by mr. Hastings of florida, pursuant to h. Res. The 65, i pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Hastings will vote yea on the previous question. Madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. Payne of new jersey, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house, that mr. Payne will also vote yea on the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan wish tock recognized . Mrs. Dingell as the member designated by mr. Rose of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the will vote mr. Rose aye on ordering the previous uestion. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts wish to be recognized . Mr. Mcgun as the member designated by mr. Welch of vermont, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Welch will vote yes on ordering the previous uestion. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from minnesota wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. Peterson of minnesota, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the use that mr. Peterson will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california wish to be recognized . As the member designated by, by Congress Member vargas, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that Congress Member vargas will vote yes on ordering the previous uestion. As the member designated by Congress Member napolitano, pursuant to House Resolution 5, i inform the house that Congress Member napolitano will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan wish to be recognized . Mr. Kildee as the member designated by mr. Ryan of ohio, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house mr. Ryan will vote yes on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by mrs. Lawrence of michigan, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house, that mrs. Lawrence will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york wish to be recognized . Mr. Jefferies as the member designated by chairwoman Eddie Bernice johnson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that chairwoman johnson will vote yea on the previous question. As the member designated by by chairwoman zo lofgren, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that chairwoman lofgren will vote yea on the previous question. As the member designated by chairman jerry nadler, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that chairman nadler will vote yea on the previous question. As the member designated by by congressman jose serrano, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that congressman serrano will vote yea on the previous question. As the member designated by by congressman brendan boyle, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that congressman boyle will vote yea n the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland wish to be recognized . Mr. Razz kin mr. Raskin as the member designated by mr. Pocan, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house, that mr. Pocan will vote aye on ordering the previous question. As the as the member designated by ms. Jayapal, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Jayapal will vote aye on the previous uestion. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts wish to be recognized . Mr. Lynch good afternoon, madam speaker. As the member designated by the honorable mr. James langevin of rhode island, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Langevin will vote yes on the motion to move the previous question on House Resolution 1224. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mrs. Kirkpatrick, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Kirkpatrick will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from pennsylvania wish to be recognized . As the member designated by ms. Speier, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the vote that ms. Speier will yea on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, as the member designated by representative brian higgins, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Higgins will vote aye on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida wish to be recognized . Mrs. Demings as the member designated by mr. Al lawson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lawson will vote yea on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from colorado wish to be recognized . Thank you, madam speaker. As the member designated by mr. Perlmutter, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Perlmutter will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey wish to be recognized . Mr. Pallone madam speaker, as the member designated by mrs. Bonnie watson coleman, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Watson coleman will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. Mceachin, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Mceachin will vote yes on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by ms. Porter, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Porter will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas wish to be recognized . Ms. Garcia as the member designated by ms. Escobar of el paso, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Escobar will vote yes ordering the previous question. As the member designated by mr. Castro of texas, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Castro will vote yes on ordering the previous question. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from massachusetts wish to be recognized . As the member designated by ms. Fran tell, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Frankel will vote yes on ordering the previous uestion. As the member designated by ms. Brownley, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Brownley will vote yes on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by ms. Bonamici, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Bonamici will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california wish to be recognized . As the member designated by representative roybalallard, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that representative roybal add lard will vote aye roybalallard will vote aye on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mr. Garamendi, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Garamendi will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia wish to be recognized . As the member designated by ms. Moore, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Moore will vote yes on ordering the pleeves question. As the member designated by mr. Cohen, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Cohen will vote yes on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by mr. Blumenauer, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Blumenauer will vote yes on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by mr. Lieu, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lieu will vote yes on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by mr. Lowenthal, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lowenthal will vote yes on ordering the previous question. As the member designated by ms. Barragan, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Barragan will vote yes on ordering the previous quefment as the member designated by mr. Rooney of florida, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Rooney will vote no on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mr. Costa, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Costa will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia wish to be recognized . Madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. Titus of nevada, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Titus will vote yes on the motion to remove the previous question on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from connecticut wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mrs. Wilson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Wilson will vote yes on ordering the pleeves question. The previous question. As the member designated by mr. Courtney, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Courtney will vote yes on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois wish to be recognized . As the member designated by mr. Grijalva, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Grijalva will vote yea on ordering the previous question. The speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 227. The nays are 169. The previous question is ordered. The question is on adoption of the resolution. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Woodall i ask for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question are postponed. The house will be in order. The chair asks that all members house will be in order, the speaker the chair asks that all members in the chamber as well as members and staff throughout the capitol to rise for a moment of silence in remembrance of the more than 250,000 americans who have passed away from the covid19 virus. The speaker pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on the adoption of House Resolution 1224 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 1224, providing for consideration of the bill h. R. 8294, to amend the National Apprenticeship act and expand the National Apprenticeship system to include aprenstissships, youth apprenticeships, and preapprenticeships to promote the furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices and for other purposes. The speaker the question is on the adoption of the resolution. Members will record their votes by electronic device. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Mr. Connolly mr. Speaker, as the member designated by ms. Titus of nevada, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Titus will vote yes on h. Res. 1224, the rule to consider h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . As the member designated by mrs. Beatty, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Beatty will vote es on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . As as the member designated by representative roybalallard, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Ybalallard will vote aye on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maine seek recognition . Mr. Golden mr. Speaker, as the member designated by by mr. Rose, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house, that mr. Rose will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from washington seek recognition . Kilmer as the member schrier, d by ms. Ursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Vote ms. Schrier will vote aye. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition . Mr. Raskin mr. Speaker, as the jayapalesignated by ms. Of washington, pursuant to house 965, i inform the house that ms. Jayapal will vote 1284. H. R. And as the member designated by mr. Pocan, pursuant to house i inform the , house that mr. Pocan will vote House Resolution 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition . Mrs. Dingell as the member ruiz, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform will use that mr. Ruiz 1224. Ye on h. R. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Ms. Matsui mr. Speaker, as the ember designated by mr. Desaulnier, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Desaulnier will h. R. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from minnesota seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, as the member esignated by mr. Peterson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Eterson of minnesota will vote yes on House Resolution 1224. The speaker pro tempore for does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Granger mr. Speaker, as the ember designated by ms. Escobar ms. Garcia mr. Speaker, as the member designated by ms. I inform the house that ms. Escobar will vote yes on 1224. Mr. E member designated by castro, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Castro will vote on h. R. 1224. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition . Mr. Mcgovern as the member esignated by mr. Welch of vermont, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Wrechl will mr. Welch will vote yes on h. R. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Sherman as the member garamendi, y mr. Pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. On mendi will vote yes h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from seek recognition . Speaker, as the member designated by ms. Degette of h. Res. , pursuant to 965, i inform the house that ms. Will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from North Carolina seek recognition . Mr. Butterfield mr. Speaker, as the member designated by mr. Price of North Carolina, ursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Price will vote yes, he will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from illinois seek recognition . Ud ms. Underwood as the member rush, pursuantr. To House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Rush 1224. Ote yes on h. R. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition . As the er mr. Speaker, member designated by mr. Costa, pursuant to House Resolution mr. I inform the house that costa will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition . As the on mr. Speaker, member designated by mr. Mceachin, pursuant to house i inform the , house that mr. Mceachin will 1224. Es on h. R. As the member designated by ms. Porter, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the will vote ms. Porter yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from pennsylvania seek recognition . As the member designated by ms. Speier, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Speier will vote yea on House Resolution 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . Ms. Wasserman schultz mr. Speaker, as the member esignated by mr. Payne of new jersey, pursuant to h. Res. 965, i inform the house that mr. H. R. Will vote yea on 1224. Mr. Speaker, as the member esignated by mr. Hastings of florida, pursuant to h. Res. 965, i inform the house that mr. Also vote yea on h. R. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . Mr. Stanton mr. Chairman, as mrs. Mber designated by kirkpatrick, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Kirkpatrick will on h. R. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, as the member designated by Congress Member vargas, pursuant to house i inform the , house that Congress Member argas will vote yes on House Resolution 1224. As the member designated by member napolitano, pursuant to House Resolution to inform the house that Congress Member napolitano will vote yes on House Resolution 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from colorado seek recognition . Mr. Neguse mr. Speaker, as the mr. R designated by perlmutter, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Perlmutter will vote yes on House Resolution 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from connecticut seek recognition . As the member designated by ms. Wilson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. H. Res. Ill vote yes on 1224. As the member designated by joe courtney, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for the purpose does gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . Mrs. Demings as the member designated by mr. Lawson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Will vote yea on h. R. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition . Mr. Lynch good afternoon, mr. Speaker. As the member designated by the onorable mr. James langevin of rhode island, pursuant to House Resolution 965, id like to nform the house that mr. Langevin will vote yes on house esolution 1224, the rule to consider h. R. 8294, the national 2020. Ticeship act of thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . Mr. Kildee mr. Speaker, as the member designated by by Police Lawrence of michigan, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Lawrence will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by mr. Ryan of ohio, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Ryan will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . For what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Mr. Tonko yes, sir. Mr. Speaker, as the member designated by by representative lowey pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the lowey hat representative will vote aye on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from missouri seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, as the member designated by representative lacy clay, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Clay will vote yes on the rule. As the member designated by by representative carson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Carson will vote yes on the rule. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Mr. Connolly mr. Speaker, as the member designated by of florida, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house, that mr. Rooney will vote no on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by miss bear began of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house ms. Barragan will vote no on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by ms. Moore of wisconsin, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Moore will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. Mr. Beyer as the member designated by mr. Cohen, tennessee, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Cohen will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by mr. Lieu of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lieu will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by mr. Lowenthal of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lowenthal will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by mr. Blumenauer of oregon, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Blumenauer will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. Million beyer correct inform the house that police barragan ill vote yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from massachusetts seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, as the member designated by ms. Frankel, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Frankel will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by miss brownley, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Brownley will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. Ms. Clark as the member designated by ms. Bonamici, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Bonamici will vote yes on h. Res. 224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from the state of new york seek recognition . As the member designated by by chair woman Eddie Bernice johnson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that chairwoman johnson will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. Mr. Jefferies as the member designated by by congresswoman zo lofgren, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that congresswoman lofgren will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by congressman jose serrano, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that congressman serrano will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by chairman gerry nadler, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house, inform the house that chairman ned already will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by congressman boyle, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that congressman boyle will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the the gentlewoman from New Hampshire seek recognition . Ms. Kuster mr. Speaker, as the member designated by mrs. Bustos, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Bustos will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by ms. Pingree, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Pingree will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by mr. Keating, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the keating will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. As the member designated by by ms. Meng, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Meng will vote yea on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, as the member designated by mrs. Bonnie watson coleman, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Watson coleman will vote yes on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, as the member designated by mr. Gonzalez, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Gonzalez will vote aye on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, as the member designated by mr. Brian pursuant toew york, House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Higgins will vote aye on h. Res. 1224. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Speaker, as the member designated by mr. Grinch, pursuant to house resoluti mr. Grijalva, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform willouse that mr. Grijalva vote yea on h. R. 1224. The speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 229 and the nays are 170. The resolution is adopted. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 4 of rule 1, the following enrolled bills were signed by the speaker on thursday, november 19, 2020. 1773, rk h. R. 835, h. R. 8472,539, h. R. 3104, h. R. Enate 327, senate 3147, senate 3587. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Mr. Scott pursuant to House Resolution 1224, i call up the bill h. R. 8294, the bill to amend the National Apprenticeship act and expand the system to include apprenticeships and free apprenticeships rendered under such act and labor standards to safeguard the welfare of apprentices and ask for its immediate consideration. The clerk Union Calendar number 465, h. R. 8294, a bill to amend the National Apprenticeship act and expand the National Apprenticeship system to expand youth apprenticeships and preapprenticeships under such act and promote National Standards to safeguard the welfare of apprentices and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution the modified by the amendment and printed in part a of house report 116593 is adopted and the bill as amended is considered read. It shall be debatable for one hour equally divided by the chair and ranking minority member by the committee education. The gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott, and the gentlewoman from North Carolina, ms. Foxx, each will control 30 minutes. Mr. Scott i ask i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. That members may have five legislative days to insert extraneous material on h. R. 8294 National Apprenticeship act of 2020. Without objection. Mr. Scott i yield myself such time as i may consume. I rise today in support of h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. Our economy continues to permanently lose jobs due to covid19, pandemic. It estimated that 7 million of those who lose jobs during the pandemic will not return to those jobs. Congress has the responsibility to help workers not only find jobs but also prepare them for longterm employment. Expanding registered apprenticeship system, a most successful Work Force Development initiative is a proven solution that we need. Each year, hundreds of thousands of workers count on apprenticeships to learn skills, earn wages that go along with those skills and receive nationally recognized credentials that lead to rewarding careers. Registered apprenticeships are successful that 94 of apprentices that are employed upon completion and earn an average starting wage of more than 70,000 a year. Despite the growing demand for opportunities, congress has not reauthorized the act since it was first passed in 1937. The legislation before us will invest 3. 5 billion in our system and ensures consistency and quality across programs, increases opportunities for Diverse Groups of workers who have not traditionally been included and expands apprenticeships in health care, finance and technology. This investment alone would create one million apprenticeships and youth apprenticeships and yield 10. 6 billion in benefits to taxpayers through higher tax revenues and decrease spending on social safety net programs. Construction trades and their Industry Partners have long proven that the registered apprenticeship model works. It is long past due we expand the opportunities to benefit workers across other industries and across the country. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. And mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to submit into the record an exchange of letters with the chairman on the committee of the judiciary, mr. Nadler, regarding the provisions of this bill which falls within the jurisdiction of the judiciary committee. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Scott and i reserve. 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. I rise today in opposition to h. R. 8294, which kills the ability tore businesses and industry to fill indemand jobs. Republicans and democrats agree that apprenticeships play a Critical Role in preparing workers for meaningful wellpaying careers. The narrow minded approach taken by the democrats doubles down on a system that limits apprenticeship opportunities. Many in Congress Know i have cre advocated for these careers. Nothing can prepare a student like on the job experience and apprenticeships is a tried and true method. Unfortunately, the potential for a strong bipartisan effort to expand beyond the existing registered apprenticeship model has been eclipsed by the democrats typical partisan games. While our economy continues to recover from covid19, workers and job creators need the flexibility to innovate. Republicans understand that employers, not washington bureaucrats, know best what skills their employees need to excel in the workplace. The Trump Administration recognizes the importance of employee employerled innovation in the apprenticeship space and has taken steps to expand and innovate workbased learning programs. More than 430 organizations have signed the president s pledge to American Workers. Committing to providing more than 60 million new education and on the job learning opportunities for American Students and workers. The department of labor is moving forward with industry recognized Apprenticeship Programs to give employers the flexibility to shape Apprenticeship Programs that will attract workers and prepare them for the 21st century. We have seen real Success Stories when we let employers innovate. Opportunity opportunity and the Brookings Institute published a study on the federation for advanced manufacturing education. An organization that connects educators, employers and students with handson learning to strengthen the maffering industry. The study found ken particular graduates when compared to their counterparts earned up to 63 more than one year after graduation. Five years, graduates earned ,783. 00 compared to 52 this study represents a Success Story in kentucky but uncovers a larger narrative. There is Untapped Potential in the apprenticeship space waiting to be unleashed because the existing registered model doesnt meet the need of Many Companies right now. Instead of giving workers and employers more autonomy to create programs that are responsive to work force needs, the democrats bill clings to an 80yearold system that shuts he door on know vay and in a letter to committee republicans, assistant secretary for employment and training at the department of labor cautiononned that, quote, if enacted this bill would inhibit the ability of the department to fulfill its mission in providing more americans access to apprenticeships, end quote. He went on to warn h. R. 8294 puts jobfilling programs in jeopardy due to an excessive number of requirements that are overly prescriptive, still House Democrats want to make registered apprenticeships the only possible model under the National Apprenticeship act. This approach is flawed. The numbers speak for themselves. Fiscal year 2019, 252,000 individuals entered apprenticeships and only 81,000 graduated. It is obvious that we can and should do better, but democrats are turning a blind eye to needed improvements that will allow more americans to get back to work and achieve the american dream. The bill before us will force job creators to deal with overly prescriptive requirements, additional bureaucracy and timeconsuming paperwork. This has discouraged new and Small Businesses from participating in the registered apprenticeship system now. The majority claims it will create one pillion new programs simply by throwing more money at the registered system without solving the underlying problems that prevent employers from participating or allowing for alternative models. It seems the new definition of insanity is the federal Government Spending more dollars on decades ive old programs. An all of the above approach is the best way to connect workers with apprenticeship opportunities. Thats why republicans on the education and Labor Committee introduced a commonsense amendment during the bills markup to unleash the full potential of apprenticeship and fill indemand jobs. Among other provisions, it will allow the department of labor the flexibility to pursue of other workbased learning under the National Apprenticeship act including in response to covid19. It would reduce the paperwork burden on states to submit state plans under the preexisting framework of the Work Force Innovation and opportunity act rather than forcing them to accomplish a duplicative application process. Rarely is more Government Intervention the solution which is why the amendment would strike provisions in h. R. 8294 that would add to the bureaucracy in the form of interagency agreements. The amendment provides states with more discretion of how they spend their money instead of the federal government dictate where their dollars must go. More apprentices setting an Playing Field between nonunion and union sponsors. Scheme by ther emocrats to force workers into unions. Unfortunately, this commonsense by dment was struck down democrats. Thankfully the full house will floor this during consideration, and i hope democrats will take this to adopt legislation to enhance workbased learning opportunities. When workers and job creators are working hard to vercome the challenges presented by covid19, we shouldnt close potential work. Ys to apprenticeships can help put as americans back to work we recover from the pandemic, but only if job creators are given the flexibility to and develop ighquality earnandlearn programs, and the Democrat Bill fails on that front. Reserve thevote and balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. He gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. One minute i yield to the House Majority leader, the gentleman from maryland, mr. Hoyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hoyer thank you, mr. Speaker. Chairman friend, the of the education and labor ommittee, mr. Bobby scott, whos done such an extraordinary job through the years in the minority and in the majority in workers and for creating jobs and security for workers. And i rise in strong support of legislation. Two weeks ago, mr. Speaker, we aw the deep divisions within our country. Divisions that we must heal. Art of that division, i believe, comes from a broad lack of faith in government to deliver on what the american need to get ahead in our economy. In my view, want their elected officials to focus consensus on broadly popular initiatives that expand pportunity and connect people with good careers. This legislation, mr. Speaker, that were considering today the scope of the make it in america plan that ve been proud to lead since 2010. That plan seeks to make our orkers and businesses more competitive by legislating in the three key areas of training, skills infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. Bipartisan ideas that most americans support. Those ideas is reauthorizing and enhancing the for nal apprenticeship act the 21st century in order to help more of our people reach or the opportunities that enable them to make it in america. His bill would have been, mr. Speaker, and should have been not for the re it Trump Administrations insistence on including unproven ed and Apprenticeship Programs that do not have adequate worker quality ns or standards. Shame. A and i hope we can revisit this ffort and make it truly bipartisan when president elect office. S taken hen our country is in crisis because of the covid19 pandemic, Many Americans are ooking to get back in the workforce. They know this moment presents an opportunity to gain new in their move up careers, as mr. Scott has pointed out. Hats why, mr. Speaker, congressional support for pprenticeship programs is so important. According to the labor department, 94 of participants registered apprenticeships are employed upon completion an average salary of 70,000. This bill would permanently authorize the labor departments and e of apprenticeship directed to promote new labor, hips among industry, and educational institutions to create tracks. Ceship it will also codify standards, registered for apprenticeships, youth pprenticeships, and preApprenticeship Programs. This legislation would invest in the n 3 billion National Apprenticeship system, off vestment that will pay eometically to our country geometrically to our country and to our workers. That will be spent over the next ive years in order to create nearly one million additional pprenticeship opportunities by 2025. For those worried about the cost of this legislation, here is to consider. E the 10. 6 billion in increased revenues and decreased spending on public assistance rograms and unemployment insurance, that will be saved. Let me reiterate that. 10. 6 billion in increased tax as a result of the success of the Apprenticeship Program. This bill time, includes measures to promote reater diversity among those accessing Apprenticeship Programs. This is critical. At a moment when the pandemic led womens workforce participation to fall to a level 1988. Since right now, only 10 of by enticeships are held women. By promoting greater diversity of access, we can increase that dramatically and help millions of women jumpstart their return to the workforce helping them get ahead in their careers. Them. Or good for their families. Good for america. Representative susan davis of california for her leadership over the years sponsoring this bill. Shes been a champion for apprenticeship opportunities for aids. For decades. She will be leaving the congress and she will be sorely missed. Voluntarily, i might add. She will be sorely missed because not only on the civilian defense side the shes looked at personnel and how to enhance work skills, ties, worker and their success. I also want to thank chairman scott of the education and labor for his work moving this bill through committee. The rankingto thank member, because i believe that in fact what she said is she is nterested in Apprenticeship Programs. Im hopeful that mr. Scott, ms. Both sides hers on of the aisle continue to work to xpand apprenticeship opportunities. We dont want to constrict opportunities. To expand. In spite of the Trump Administrations attempt to this, i hope this legislation will pass with the kind of strong bipartisan support it deserves. Urge all my colleagues to join me in voting for a bill that our people l of faith that washington is united in our determination to help crisis andrough this build back better in the future. And i yield back the balance of time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Three minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the distinguished republican leader of our committee for yielding and her service. R. Speaker, i rise today in opposition to h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. Passed in 1937, the National Apprenticeship act established the registered that wevehip system come to know. For more than 80 years this ystem has provided Many Americans with opportunities to skills, high wage and high skill and indemand jobs that will lead to careers. G weve seen interest for apprenticeship surge as more employers and Small Businesses recognizing the Critical Role that they play in workforce. A skilled this law is in desperate need of reform that will strengthen and traditional system while empowering employers and others to pursue workbased innovation. As cochair of the bipartisan career and Technical Education and s, i always supported will continue to support legislation that promotes education for a 21st century economy. With that being said, we must the national at registered apprenticeship system be suitable for a modern workforce. And on this point, this bill gnores the needs of or workers and our economy now in the 21st century. Trump administration has taken tremendous steps to grope the high number of pprenticeships and modernize workbased learning programs, especial through department of iraps. This recognizes the dignity of all work and provides another for apprentices to move into meaningful work in our rapidly evolving economy. Theres room for an alloftheabove approach that registered system while also allowing for future innovation and other earn and models. However, this legislation does not change the current status quo. Or that reason, i must urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. We must craft a bipartisan bill employers to s innovate and develop Apprenticeship Programs that current needs of the workplace. Employers are struggling enough presented bylenges covid19. The last thing they need is tenuous l red tape and requirements. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i yield back. Tempore the o gentleman from the entlewoman from North Carolina yields. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott i yield to the chair higher ubcommittee on ducation and workforce investment, the author of the bill were considering today, mrs. Davis. The peaker pro tempore gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Davis thank you for being a Strong Partner over the years the importance f investing in Workforce Development. While we look at the apprenticeship systems of switzerland, the u. K. And other that united know states has the potential to have highly effective environment for a mentorled workforce. Resources an put behind our need to match community ddressing needs with our constituents, ith our constituents who seek skills and education. At a time when many workers have look for new pathways to financial stability, a responsibility as members of congress to expand opportunities that provide meaningful work and supporting family wages. The legislation under consideration today will do just that. We have had many conversations in our ed and Labor Committee providing highquality educational pathways, and i appreciate the work of the on that regard. Weve spent much time together talking about this issue. Go on to pinpoint hose issues that have to be included. The educational pathways that we not require a Fouryear College degree. That allow people to earn while sense. Arn, makes and provide nationally portable and recognized credentials. Tirelessly worked for months with our republican this gues to make sure legislation achieves these goals. March, just before the orld changed as we know it, we made public draft of this legislation that was open for feedback. We were able to incorporate from over 20 groups and stakeholders. This legislation also incorporated feedback from the ipartisan hearings and roundtables we had with mployers and apprenticeship stakeholders. One of the legislations primary ensure that people across the country are speaking regarding nguage apprenticeships. T is designed to demonstrate that apprenticeships are an highquality postsecondary prestigious traditional o the two to Fouryear College degree. Interest, this bill codifies youth apprenticeships opportunities that prepare High School Students for education. Ry much like advanced placement classes. Already seen ave how a small Investment Firm from results al government in enormous returns. Insurance Company Started their business in chicago with only two employers and 25 apprentices. They have over 50 employees and over 750 apprentices all country. E in fact, they have announced the xpansion of their Chicago Apprenticeship Network to cities and employers across the country their lead in ng looking at registered apprenticeship credentials as a fouryear to degree. Key. Ear, hear is the as but here is the key. As the c. E. O. Of aon stated, and quote, the biggest obstacle, at scale s at scale, is not in finding a qualified supply of talent. Incenting employers to quality e demand for careertrack jobs that look beyond traditional hiring practices. That is precisely what this bill is set out to do. I ask to ask unanimous consent to submit a letter from aon and demonstrating how many firms have not only not been hindered by the current registered system beneficiaries of it. We all talk a good game one minute mr. Scott yield an additional minute. Mrs. Davis we talk a good game to build opportunities for our constituents, but we havent put financial muscle and knowhow but creating these credentials that employers seek. This legislation only codifies the standards for programs that have registered for access to the credentials and funding provided on this. Programs that do not want access to this bills resources will not need to change their programs. We are strengthening the known registered apprenticeship system that is in place today with more clearly established programs. Families can discuss their and look to the rejuvinated system as one of pathways to postsecondary education. I urge a yes vote and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx i want to compliment the gentlewoman from california, congresswoman davis on her work and her career in congress. We all respect her and i wish we could have come with ar bipartisan bill. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield three minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Smucker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smucker i would like to thank the Ranking Member. I agree, i wish we could have come here about with a bill we could all agree upon. Unfortunately, i have to say i oppose the bill that we are discussing today and this is particularly important because over the past few months we see the impact that the pandemic has had on our work force. All of us standing here today we are in positions to learn to do our jobs differently, whether it is remotely or implement some safety measures. But there are millions of americans who dont get that opportunity to work remotely and instead lost their jobs. And we all know that the work force will not look the same once this Public Health emergency is over. It is more imperative than ever that we take actions to help displaced individuals learn new skill sets to be competitive and fit these new jobs that will be available. Expanding apprenticeships is one issue to accomplish that goal. This needs to make smart reforms to our apprenticeship system when it is needed most. But unfortunately, h. R. 8294 comes up short. I will say as well that throughout my past two years serving as the Ranking Member of the subcommittee on Higher Education and Work Force Investment, i have enjoyed working along side chairwoman davis as we looked other models. We studied u. S. Models and International Models of apprenticeship as well. E have received testimony from first from germany, australia and belgium. Each of those nations have apprenticeships in nearly every single industry, not just a few like we have in the u. S. From banking to positions in the health care industry, these nations have managed to find a structure, a system, that can respond to labor market demands while preparing the next generation with valuable skill sets. And while we do agree in a bipartisan fashion that these are models that we could learn from as we reauthorize our own system, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have chosen to steamroll over proposals for flexibility and double down on a registered system that places much of the Decision Making authority into the hands of labor unions. So the majority leader was correct when he said a little while ago on the floor that that is the fundamental difference on the two sides in this bill. This bill as written strips the department of labors authority to pursue more flexible partnerships for workbased learning models. This legislation would prevent the department from moving forward with the industry recognized Apprenticeship Programs. Iraps are in the early stages an i get another minute . Ms. Foxx i give the gentleman 30 seconds. Mr. Smucker we are already seeing many new stakeholders get involved. The program is showing tremendous promise and we are growing Apprenticeship Programs in industries that never used them before. We believe in allowing businesses to make the decisions they believe is best for their employees to learn the skills that they need. Thats the fundamental difference in the approach to apprenticeship. I will be offering an amendment that will allow the law to reach the full potential of apprenticeships to help fill in demand jobs by addressing some of these issues. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott i yield one minute to the chair of the work force protections, ms. Adams. Ms. Adams i want to thank the gentleman from virginia, our distinguished labor and education chair. I rise today in strong support of the National Apprenticeship National Reauthorization act by creating one million new opportunities and yielding 10 billion in net benefits. This legislation is a lifeline for our economy and for countless americans including those in my home state of North Carolina. Proven track record of success, we know this is a safe and smart investment. I am pleased that this legislation includes my bill, the apprenticeship for access foral act and includes the retention of people of color, individuals with disabilities, individuals facing barriers to employment, especially in highskilled, highwage and in demand sectors and occupations. We must be sure that everyone has access to opportunities and to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle 30 seconds. Mr. Scott i yield additional 30 seconds. Ms. Adams to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and i want to be clear what we are doing, the work force needs to have the investment and people are being seen and heard and giving them pathways and voting to uphold Congress Commitment to serve every american. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx i yield two minutes to , e gentleman from wisconsin mr. Grothman. Mr. Grothman it was enjoyable working with congresswoman davis nd i wanted to convince her to stay here. Apprenticeships are very important. We have a very important one in wisconsin. People that complete the work and classroom requirements has a Median Income of 80,000. And that shows the importance of having a bill like this brought to the floor. Not only 80,000 but im sure a much lower debt load than many people who have a fouryear degree. It is important to emphasize the pathway to a career through apprenticeships which results in more job security, more income and less debt than other things. It is much regret im voting against this bill. I do believe there is a high demand for skillsbased education. Is important we open up alternatives. Industryrecognized Apprenticeship Programs, and that is one way and unfortunate it didnt make it in this bill. There was effort to make it a bipartisan bill and maybe we can come back in the appropriations process and make a few tweaks in there to make it more bipartisan. But im glad the bill its coming this far and we can go back home in our districts and talk to young people and tell them about the benefits of apprenticeships and missing Something Big time if you dont take advantage of it. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott i yield two minutes to a recommendation graduate of he registered Apprenticeship Program, mr. Norcross. Mr. Norcross i talk about the importance of the bill. I want to say thank you to use and davis and chairman scott for putting this bill up and thankful that my priorities are included in this. Last week was National Apprenticeship week. Registered Apprenticeship Programs literally shape many lives. While my three brothers went to college, i did an Apprenticeship Program to become an electrician. Learn learn while you earn. Take the knowledge that you learned at school and take it right to the job. Thats what the Apprenticeship Program is. I supported my young family and able to continue that and went from the construction site to congress. Education is not one size fits all. We hear that. And for many and many dont want to go to college, build the college or defend the college. We need all of those. The registered apprenticeship system is the most successful federal Work Force Training program in the history of the United States. 94 of those people will have a job when they complete their apprenticeship with a starting 70,000. E of it works. It is more than just a paycheck but about the dignity of a job. The respect that comes with that. You know, in our country in so many ways that you can succeed, whether you are in a shipyard, a medical tech, a harvard phd, they are all the same in terms of value to this great country and we need all of them. Investing 3. 5 billion in a system that has created one million new opportunities. But how important the standards are particularly in the world that i come from. Why standards count is because when storms hit our coasts 30 seconds, mr. Chairman. Mr. Scott yield additional 30 seconds. Mr. Norcross electrician linemen come from around the country to put the system back together. Could you imagine if they had their own program. This is why standards count particularly in the Building Trades because when there is not working in a hometown, you go to another. We all Work Together. Since 1937, we havent updated. Just because its old doesnt mean its not good. It is handed down through generations. This is how we have trained the next generation. And i would like to submit a letter from the north american Building Trades that talks about the importance of what we are talking about today. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Norcross i urge my colleagues to support the National Apprenticeship act to make sure we put america back to work. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx i yield to the the gentleman from georgia, mr. Allen. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Allen i rise in strong opposition to h. R. 8294. I, too, come from the Construction Industry which i learned from the ground up and i learned firsthand how apprenticeships provide our work force to gain opportunity to secure a good paying job and long lasting career. The reason why apprenticeships are successful is because employers know what skills are in demand. We must encourage more employerled innovation in the apprenticeship space. This denies workers and employers to create programs that are responsive to work force needs. This shortsided bill would undo the recognized programs created under president trump. This Program Provides companies to train skill workers and develop programs for their specific industry needs. This year has been tough on our employers with covid19 devastating businesses across the country and last thing we need is to impose more bureaucratic red tape and requirements. This bill will prevent more from assessing these opportunities. I believe this is a space for and i ask my colleagues to work with us to encourage innovation and flexibility. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the entlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott mr. Speaker, can you advise us how much time is remaining on both sides . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia has 16 remaining. The gentlewoman from north minutes has 12 1 2 remaining. Mr. Scott thank you. Mr. Chairman, i yield one minute the gentlelady from connecticut, a member of the committee on education and labor, mrs. Hayes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of the national act of 2020. P my state of connecticut was till recovering from the 2008 recession and now covid19 has, again, thrown it into dire economic straits. Businesses shuttered from prolonged economic pause, nearly 200,000 connecticut residents now forced into unemployment. If we say we agree on this, then to create time pathways to highwage employment with longterm prospects. Fouryear degree is a great opportunity for many, it cannot be the only option. Unanimous consent to submit a letter in support of the National Apprenticeship act education tional association. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mrs. Hayes the national act ensures that todays workforce can fill the jobs of tomorrow by creating one million apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years. Salary average starting after completion of around 70,000, registered apprenticeships create opportunity to attain critical incomeg while earning an and acuring little to no student debt. Can fill businesses key vacancies with credentialed, employees. In short, putting people back to work. This act will invest in and our ut workers countrys workers and businesses at a time when we need it most. Vote in colleagues to favor of this legislation. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Yield 2 1 2 minutes from another gentleman from mr. Keller. , the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Keller thank you, mr. Speaker. To se today in opposition h. R. 8294, the national 2020. Ticeship act of Apprenticeship Programs are a tremendous benefit to our economy. Provide diverse range of opportunities for emerging workers to hone and develop while providing competitive salaries that strengthen our economy. That e with my colleagues the National Apprenticeship act needs to be updated and reauthorized. Congress needs to ensure that changes to this act andrately reflect the needs challenges of the current economy and the modern workforce. 8294 fails to address and expand workbased learning traditional nd the registered model. Ow more than ever, we need an apprenticeship system that provides tools and opportunities will rkers to succeed and encourage our small and mediumsized businesses to participate. Existing apprenticeship system is severely outdated and is unresponsive to the needs and challenges of an economic workforce. The Current Administration has needs by these creating the industry recognized Apprenticeship Program, commonly referred to as iraps. 25 years working in private taught me that no one knows the needs of workers more than americas employers. That we allow these job creators to participate in a of em that is reflective their needs and the needs of the workforce. Oing so will open greater pathways to work for current workers and job seekers and ltimately get more americans back to work. In addition, these to these concerns, i must convey my opposition to the amendment offered by representative levin. Amendment essentially restricts nonunion entities from funding e to apply for under title 2, allowing taxpayer dollars to go to apprenticeship only partner with unions. At best, its signaling that congress would rather double a union registered model rather than loyers expanding partnerships with Small Businesses. To elevate the use unions. This bill has bureaucratic red tape. Most importantly, this bill actively prevent iraps from moving forward, decimating thousands of opportunities for participate in a dynamic and innovative apprenticeship system. We should not support this bill in its current form. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. He gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from york, mr. Suozzi. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Suozzi thank you, mr. Speaker. Scott. Ou, chairman i rise in support of the National Apprenticeship act. 1980s, the dow 1,400 . S gone up,4 the g. D. P. 600 . Normous wealth have been created. Workers wages during the same period of time have gone up 20 less. Hardworking men and women have been left behind. Everyone in america believes to the most conservative the most progressive that if youre willing to go to work every day, you should make money so you can have a decent place to live, you can have health insurance, you can you te your children, and can retire one day without being scared. Unfortunately, that american no longer a reality for Many Americans. The National Apprenticeship act while you earn, because we all know the more you the the more you learn more you earn. Do not go to cans college. E must make the skills necessary to be a welder or a plumber or a computer machinist any skilled worker widely available to any high school so or re graduate graduate so they can pursue noncollege opportunities like programs. There they can acquire the skills necessary to do the jobs necessary to ages live a decent life. The National Apprenticeship act that. Ust its a key to the middle class, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the entleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The republican side is very strong and its especially strong because of the representatives from pennsylvania. I now yield two minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Meuser. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Meuser i thank the gentlelady from North Carolina. The number of americans entering Apprenticeship Programs has more than doubled in the last 10 years. Its a success. Demand among employers and in a variety of industries is an endorsement of the apprenticeship models skills gap lose the and provide opportunity to millions of americans. A great thing. Legislation we are considering today, however, to d shut down efforts expand apprenticeships and make he existing 80yearold registered Apprenticeship Program and system the only option. Alking to job creators in my district, which i do needs vely, i heard the of talented new workers and their challenges with the cumbersome system. Or union and nonunion, the registered apprenticeship system is not the gold standard. Its the old standard. Workers and employers need a system as innovative and as our current American Economy. Republicans offered an alloftheabove approach that improves the registered apprenticeship system and to otes flexibilities strengthen our workforce, particularly in manufacturing construction, and would allow the apprenticeship model o be applied across all industries such aztec, health are as tech, health care, logistics, particularly, mr. Speaker, as we strive to for u. S. Manufacturers and to fortify u. S. Manufacturers repatriotize manufacturers from around the world, including china, we should not insist on but we should standards. Gh gold so we should focus on baking cutting them up. The economy and workforce have years. Over the past 80 our laws should too. I urge a no vote on this bill. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Back. D the speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Cott thank you, speaker. I yield one minute to a Senior Member of the committee on appropriations, the gentlelady from ohio, ms. Kaptur. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Kaptur thank you. Mr. Chairman, i rise in strong the rt of h. R. 8294, National Apprenticeship reauthorization act of 2020, enormous you for your leadership, as well, susan davis. This legislation takes real steps to increase access to registered apprenticeships, one of the most Successful Development programs we had in our country where 94 complete them earn of over l salary 70,000. An auto leveland, have mo young history, this helps people and adults. Trade. G the automotive whether to replace a battery in vehicle, there will for skilled arker redo these vehicles. And the americas inventors of the future for new Power Systems and new engines. This legislation is estimated to create over one million apprenticeship opportunities years and xt five will strengthen our workforce, ensuring businesses large and can recruit the skilled workers they need. I ask unanimous consent to place in the record the National Task on trade womens issues that support this legislation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the alabama, mr. Byrne, who has been an extremely valuable member of this we will miss him in the next term. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Byrne thank you. In opposition to h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. Original National Apprenticeship act was passed in 80 years s now over old. Theres no doubt congress should update the apprenticeship act. Owever, the legislation being considered today will have will harm apprenticeships rather than aid Workforce Development. H. R. 8294 removes the department labors ability to administer industry recognized making ceship programs, only d. O. L. Registered programs. Hile they work for many employers, onesizefitsall solutions dont work for all industries and they are simply answer. Industry recognized Apprenticeship Programs are developed by Third Party Groups that are recognized by the labor. Ent of theyre held to high standards are sure apprentices getting the training they need. Iraps, some say are harmful. Ecause they think they could limit union sponsored apprenticeships. What these individuals dont think about are the areas of the like mine where union sponsored apprenticeships do not or extremely limited. My home district has none. Not only does this legislation force onesizefitsall programs onto apprentices and while favoring unions, it increases the amount of bureaucratic red tape placed on sponsors. Nd Apprenticeship Programs are a f fantastic option for individuals find n skills and wellpaying jobs and for businesses to grow and expand their workforce. In the year thats greatly affected our workers, we not pass legislation that threatens to reduce access to Workforce Development or makes run or difficult to establish an Apprenticeship Program. No, and i to vote yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Speaker, i yield two minutes to the gentlelady from pennsylvania, a member of labor cation and committee, ms. Wild. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. You. Ild thank i ask unanimous consent to introduce a letter dated 17, 2020, from the International Union of operating of this in support bill, addressed to the honorable the t c. Scott, chair of committee on education and labor. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Wild thank you, mr. Speaker. In support of the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. Exposed has shortcomings in our workforce nfrastructure, but those shortcomings are the result of a long history of making only arginal investments in our National Apprenticeship model. It seems we are always reacting planning rather than in advance. In response to the great ecession of 2008, congress invested significant funding in our workforce systems. Congress, we made investments through the cares ct, but only as this covid crisis spiraled. It should not take a recession or a pandemic to invest in communities like mine. Lehigh, North Hampton and monroe with es are replete potential, but its critical we invest in times of prosperity, too. In ourry dollar invested registered Apprenticeship Program, we see a return of 28 benefits, but the u. S. But the u. S. Invests just 195 per apprentice while canadas system spends 1,300 per apprentice. This makes longterm investments regardless of economic fortunes or misfortunes. It provides grants toin sentivize hiring of apprentices. It provides workers with the opportunity to earn while they learn and obtain portable credentials without incurring significant debt. And this bill emphasizes the importance of apentiesship programs for highneed programs like Apprenticeship Programs for Early Childhood educators, something congressman guthrie and i have sought to do with our early educators aprenticeship act. I thank my friend, susan davis, for her leadership on this bill. I urge a yes vote and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields. The gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Others have spoken to this bill eing a gift to the unions. Its no surprise that the democrats want to pay favor to the union bosses who line their pockets. Their end goal must be what all socialist countries have in common control of the work force through unions. After all, they spent this congress pushing one socialist agenda after another. The bill before us is just another example. Democrats blatant favoritism toward unions with will block countless job seekers from receiving apprenticeship opportunities. Americans americas workers and their families will pay the price. This bill reinforces the idea that theres only one way to do things, the governments way. When all democrats learn that the American People are not interested in when will democrats learn that the American People are not interested in government mandated socialist policies . Once again, democrats are choosing to bend to the will of big labor instead of putting American Workers first. It is shameful, mr. Speaker. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott mr. Speaker, i yield two and a half minutes to the gentlelady from texas, ms. Lee. Ms. Jackson lee. Ms. Jackson lee sorry, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Jackson lee is recognized for two and a half minutes. Ms. Jackson lee i thank the gentleman from virginia for his leadership. I thank the gentlelady from california for her leadership. I rise with great enthusiasm to support this outstanding legislation which is h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. Mr. Speaker, 250,000 americans have died from covid19. Today, 720,000 americans applied for unemployment insurance. Here we are today recognizing the pain that america is experiencing but more importantly giving an opportunity for Young Americans and others to be part of a major Apprenticeship Program which invests more than 3. 5 billion over years, five years, in expanding opportunities and access to register aid prenticeship, youth apprenticeship and preapprenticeship. Im glad to be an american. Im glad to a union supporter. One of the reasons is i look over the landscape of my mothers work, my fathers work and i saw lives improved as unions gathered together to ensure that americans could have a decent living, support their family, provide opportunities for their children. And here we are today investing 3. 5 billion but the return will be 10. 6 billion in net benefits to the United States taxpayers. I believe that that is a real darn good return. This legislation could not be more timely because of the record unemployment and because of the pain america is experiencing. This legislation also creates an additional one million new apprenticeship opportunities. Let me tell you what i did before i flew up here to washington. I visited lone star college, it hadnt opened yet at the fall brook campus, but they understood what apprenticeships are all about. They have a logistics apprenticeship that will be part of their educational system. That will give people the opportunity in this whole new business of online selling and buying. Yes, it is innovative. H. C. C. Apprenticeship programs, Houston Community college. Plumbers, ironworkers, painters, engineers, let me tell you the real picture that we see of this issue of helping with apprenticeships. These are the faces from all over our city and guess what. Interested in new career . According to the houston chronicle, i ask unanimous consent to place this in the record, consider an apprenticeship. Unionsponsored program, build skills and careers. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Jackson lee i ask consent to place that in the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Jackson lee then i would like to emphasize reallife activity that comes about through apprenticeship. C. C. Apprenticeship students build a new hospital. I dont think were doing anything more important than providing this Apprenticeship Programism ask my colleagues to support this legislation and put americans back to work. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman time has expire. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Millions of workers will need reskilling due to pandemicrelated job loss and displacement. The World Economic Forum Discusses this issue at length in their recent report titles, the future of jobs report 2020. In the report, they point to a double disruption scenario impacting workers due to both automation and covid19 workplace disruptions. This double disruption is further reinforced in their findings that, quote, 84 of employees are set to rapidly digitalize working processes. End quote. The demand for reskilling workers is high and well be left chasing the needs of our work force with the current one size fits all approach if this bill seeks to enshrine into law. As indemand skills evolve in the years to come, the skills gap will continue to grow in the absence of forwardthinking reform. I again urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join republicans in creating new apprenticeship pathways through innovative models such as the industryrecognize aid prenticeship model. With that, i reserve, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. Could you advise how much time is left on both sides . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia has 1 2 minutes. Has 8 1 2 minutes. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 3 minutes. Ms. Scott thank you. I yield one minute to the gentleman from the northern mariana islands, the chairman on elementary and secondary education, mr. Sablan. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Sablan i rise in support of h. R. 8294. For 83 year, the National Apprenticeship act has helped local economies grow by providing unprecedented Career Opportunities to young people. However, the National Apprenticeship act has not support aid prenticeship the marianas and other areas has not supported apprenticeships in the marianas and other areas. That changes with this. It will create and expand apprenticeships to the insular areas. Our schools provide students with the skills employers seek but we need to build the connection between the classroom and real world work. Apprenticeships provide the link. I thank congresswoman davis and chairman scott for their leadership on apprenticeships and for working with me to include a technical fix to include the insular areas in the act. With widespread unemployment due to the coronavirus we need people to get to work. H. R. 8294 will help accomplish that goal. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on h. R. 8294. Thank ng to i chairwoman davis as well and i yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Earlier we heard from our colleagues that theres going to american ned to the people for every tax dollar they give up to get this program funded in the next five years. I want to tell you, i think the American People would be happy to see that return. Show me any federal program that returns to Hardworking Taxpayers 3 for every dollar they pay in and ill show you some swampland in new mexico. With that, mr. Speaker, i reserve i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentlelady from massachusetts, a member of the committee on education and labor, representative trahan. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from massachusetts is recognized. Mrs. Trahan thank you, mr. Chairman. I rise to offer my strong support for the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. I would especially like to commend the bills author, my friend, representative susan davis. Its due to her steadfast, Visionary Leadership that were here today advancing this important and timely legislation. This bill is a capstone on her remarkable legacy. Registered apprenticeships are a tried and true system for preparing our work force for stable jobs and providing familysustaining wages and benefits. I have seen firsthand how unions have put this tool to excellent use over the years. In fact just last year i visited the labor Training Facility in hopkinson, massachusetts, where young apprentices are training for career construction. Labor is reck laborers recognize the importance of this bill which is why they endorsed and urged its passage. I ask unanimous consent to submit their support letter for the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mrs. Trahan however, for far too long, apprenticeship opportunities have been used almost excuse ily for just a handful of constructionrelated programs. It is time to open it to a wider array of careers. Im pleased it includes legislation to assist Small Businesses in participating in registered Apprenticeship Programs and provide a particular focus on opportunities for people of color, women, and veterans. At a time when College Students are drowning in debt, we need to advance measures that offer more affordable pathways to the middle class. The bill before us will help countless people achieve the american dream. I thank the chair and representative davis for their excellent work and i urge the bills passage. Thank you, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Actions speak louder than words. When it comes to democrats delivering on promises, americans are often left disappointed. Work force development and apprenticeships are no exception. Take their socalled heroes act as an example. Democrats tout the impactful role apprenticeships will play as our country recovers from the covid19 pandemic yet their bill allocates a min us kuhl amount of money for Work Force Development initiatives and doesnt ensure it is used to develop and educate workers. In the first heroes act only. 07 of total funding was allocated to the work force administration. Unsurprisingly in the heroes act 2. 0, only 0. 1 of total funding was allocated to the employment and training administration. This is hypocrisy at its best. I yield i reserve my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentlelady from georgia, a member of the committee on education and labor, representative mcbath. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Mcbath thank you so much. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of h. R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. We are in the midst of our countrys worst economic crisis . Decades and to better serve the American People we must invest in the work force, invest in the american dream. Register aid prenticeships prepare people for the jobs of the 21st century and with the evolution of technologies like 5g, congress and the department of labor should be laser focused on encouraging and incentivizing apprenticeships for advanced wireless deployment by supporting these programs we can ensure georgia remains the best state in the couldnt troy live and do business. For decades the registered Apprenticeship Program has been proven to be an entry to the middle class for many people. Congresswoman davis National Apprenticeship act would support this program at a time when we need it most. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Reserves. The gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. Im prepared to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from virginia. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Domonique foxworth thank you. And i thank my colleague for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, work force programs like apprenticeships will aid in closing the skills gap and more american put more americans to work. But only if employees and job creators are given the flexibility to innovate and develop highquality earn and learn programs without overreach from washington. Thats why republicans want to expand employers opportunities to address the needs of their current and prospective workers, through an alloftheabove approach to apprenticeships. Rather than closing potential pathways to work. Unfortunately h. R. 8294 doubles down on a narrow and prescriptive approach and gives washington bureaucrats, not job creators, more control. This flawed legislation will prevent more job seekers from accessing apprenticeship opportunities. I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting no on h. R. 8294 and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina, mexico foxx, yields back ms. Foxx, yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of the time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. While im disappointed that some of my republican colleagues now appear to be opposed to some parts of the National Apprenticeship act of 2020, i still remain hopeful that we can come together to pass this critical legislation. All of us agree that Congress Must prioritize investing in apprenticeship opportunities. That is why the Committee Members on both sides of the aisle spent months working in good faith toward a bipartisan proposal. The tried and true registered Apprenticeship Programs funded in this bill provide valuable credentials that are nationally recognized. Weve heard about the new untried program, industry recognized Apprenticeship Programs. Unfortunately those programs do not create as valuable credentials and are not nationally recognized. So i work our work on this important even more now considering the significant work we have to do because of the covid19 pandemic. So, mr. Speaker, as we often sing as we often have a strong voice in support of Apprenticeship Programs, the National Apprenticeship act of 2020 offers us a real opportunity to actually match our word with action. I hope that today we can set our policies our politics aside and make the investment nd registered apprenticeships, the preapprenticeships and youth apprentice stpshps our economy needs and our workers deserve. I want to thank the gentlelady from california for her steadfast leadership on this legislation and i urge my colleagues to support the bill. I would ask unanimous consent, mr. Speaker, to introduce into the record letters from the United Association of Union Plumbers and pipe fitters in support of the legislation, the National Electric Contractors Association in support of the legislation, and third way in support of the legislation. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Scott thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. All time for debate has expired. Each further amendment printed in part b of house report 116593 not earlier considered as parts of amendments en bloc per p you are suent to section 3 of House Resolution 2324 shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, may be withdrawn by the proponent at any time before the question is put thereon, shall not be subject to an amendment, shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the committee on education, labor or its designee to offer amendments en bloc consistent consisting of further amendments printed in part b of house report 116593, not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc shall be considered as read. Shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on education and labor, or their respective designees, shall not be subject to an amendment and shall not be subject to demand for ivision of the question. For what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Mr. Scott mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 1224, i rise to offer amendments en bloc number 1. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will designate the amendments en bloc. The clerk en bloc number 1 consists of amendments numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 printed in part b of house report 116593 offered by mr. Scott of virginia. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott, and the gentlewoman from North Carolina, ms. Foxx, each will control 10 minutes. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these amendments generally ensure accessibility for those with disabilities, increase equity and increase opportunities, theyre not controversial and i would hope there would be they would be accepted. I reserve the balance of my ime. Domonique foxworth thank you, mr. Speaker ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise to claim time in opposition to the amendment, although i am not opposed to the amendment. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I am pleased to see that representative stefaniks amendment was made in order and i now yield such time as she may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Ms. Stefanik thank you, mr. Speaker. And thank you to Ranking Member foxx. As our nation recovers from the economic toll of the covid pandemic and strives to restore the livelihoods of americas workers, we must take every opportunity to strengthen the pathway to meaningful, familysustaining careers. The apprenticeship model of providing paid Work Experience coupled with classroom instruction and onthejob mentorship is a proven approach to equip workers with the skills they need for lifelong success. Individuals who complete highquality Apprenticeship Programs immediately enter into wellpaying jobs. And do so without the debt that often saddles our Younger Generation of workers. Despite this track record of success, apprenticeships remain the pathway to opportunity for far too few. Less than 3 of the work force comes up through the apprenticeship system and the vast majority of registered Apprenticeship Programs are concentrated in just a handful of industries. This stark reality leaves one of the strongest Work Force Development strategies vastly underutilized in developing talent for the modern economy. In order to achieve our common goal of expanding apprenticeships to a more expansive set of occupations, we must develop a system that is responsive to the demands of the 21st century workplace and accessible to employers in emerging industry sectors. My amendment offers a simple step in the right direction. Removing a barrier for employers who seek more freedom to design a program that fits their unique needs. For the nontraditional occupations and sectors, the mandated minimum of 2,000 hours of onthejob learning may not fit the nature of the job. And thus prevent interested employers from ever developing an Apprenticeship Program. And while h. R. 8294 provides a process for these employers to pursue an alternative timebased model that fits their industry, the legislation requires approval from both the state Registration Agency and the secretary of labor. A state Apprenticeship Agency seeking to foster the growth of apprenticeships in their state could grant approval to an innovative model only to have these efforts stifled by Department Officials in washington. The bureaucratic nature of this process may discourage employers from even attempting to use the flexibility in the first place. My amendment removes the department of labor from the process and leaves it solely at the dis discretion of states to approve alternative program models, empowering work force leaders across the country to inject needed dinism in the ageold system. Yet this amendment alone cannot atone for the countless missed opportunities to incorporate additional republican amendments. Amendments that would have allowed innovation to thrive while still upholding the safety and accountability standards necessary to underpin the taxpayers investment in Apprenticeship Programs. We is right liesing Economic Opportunity for americas workers and Small Businesses will require a robust pipeline of earn and learn models that can serve an evermore Diverse Group of job seekers and i believe more work must be done before this legislation can truly fulfill that promise. As we stand here in the final weeks of the 116th congress, and recognize we will be back at this issue next year, i wholeheartedly believe that we can reestablish the bipartisan spirit that has been the hallmark of our efforts on Work Force Development. I want to thank the gentlelady from california, mrs. Davis, for her passion and commitment on this important issue, and her leadership on the Higher Education and Work Force Investment subcommittee. As well as her leadership on the House Armed Services committee. I serve with mrs. Davis on two committees. She will be deeply missed. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and i yield back the balance of my time to the Ranking Member foxx. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentlewoman from North Carolina reserves. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i yield two minutes to a person who actually ran a program in nevada to increase job skills, the gentleman from nevada, mr. Horsford. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from nevada is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Horsford thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank chairman scott from virginia for your kind words and leadership and to commend congresswoman susan davis from california for leading on this important issue. I rise today in support of h. R. 8294. The National Apprenticeship act. And to urge my colleagues to support my amendment, which would ensure equity and fairness in our National Apprenticeship system. Specifically, my amendment would support the recruitment, retention and completion of nontraditional apprenticeship populations. Including women, people of color and individuals with barriers to employment. Now more than ever, in response to the economic challenges posed by covid19, people need access to opportunities in apprenticeship. This is especially true for my constituents throughout nevada. Which has been one of the hardest hit economic regions in the country. My amendment would ensure that women, like evelyn, who is the founder and president of nevada women in trades, continue to have opportunities to provide apprenticeships to women of color throughout southern nevada. And the opportunities presented by women like evelyn matter because 94 of apprentices who complete an Apprenticeship Program retain employment with an average annual salary of 70,000. It is no secret that this pandemic has disproportionately impacted workers of color, particularly women of color, who have shouldered the greatest job losses due to their concentration in lowwage Service Industries that have been hardest hit by the economic down turn. That is why we must do everything in our power to ensure that we have equity and fairness in our National Apprenticeship system, so that every person can have access and support for desperately needed job training. So i encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of my amendment and support the passage of h. R. 8294. Mr. Speaker, i would like to request unanimous consent to enter into the congressional record a letter from the National Urban league supporting my amendment and the National Apprenticeship act of 2020. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Horsford thank you, mr. Speaker. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia refreshes. Reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, representative stefaniks amendment is a valuable change that would make it easier for programs of shorter length to be approved, specifically in fields where apprenticeships have not traditionally seen growth or an expansion. And while most of the other amendments in this en bloc are unobjectionable, i do want to highlight three amendments where i have concerns. The amendment offered by representatives beyer and pressley is mostly unobjectionable. We share the majoritys intent in ensuring access to apprenticeships for people with disabilities. However, it also includes a provision that would actually hold Apprenticeship Program sponsors to a higher standard than the standard in which section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 currently holds federal agencies. Which are the target of that particular provision. While this was likely well intentioned, the underlying bill already prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, and requires Program Sponsors to provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities, so holding Small Businesses and other employers who are seeking to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities to a higher standard than we hold ourselves in the federal government is a guaranteed way to ensure fewer apprenticeships opportunities rather than more. Another amendment concealed within the en bloc is offered by representative moore, which will lead to excessive paperwork and little real outcomes for lowincome individuals or individuals with barriers to employment. Final think finally the amendment offered by representative horsford claims o offer equity in the as pre apprenticeship system but im afraid it will cause confusion. It would add new definitions requiring them to support increased participation of nontraditional apprenticeship populations and nontraditional apprenticeship industries or populations. Even if they wanted to, some nationally qualified intermediaries may not be in a position to do this either because of their location or the nature of their program. If there is an opportunity in the new congress to resume bipartisan conversations on reauthorization of the National Apprentice ship act, i welcome the chance to discuss what the intent is here and to seek out common ground. In fact, i hope the new congress brings about true bipartisanship work for my colleagues. With these three specific amendments, while these three specific amendments cause me concern, on balance this en bloc consideration is worthy of support even if it wont ultimately redeem the underlying bill and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentleman from virginia, the chair of the joint economic committee, mr. Beyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Beyer thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in support of my amendment with representative ayana pressley. This amendment works to enthat people with disabilities are able to access registered apreptiesship on an equal basis with nondisabled peers. The Work Force Participation rate for those with disabilities is less than one third that of nondisabled peers. Among those actively seeking work the Unemployment Rate is twice that of nondisabled work ers. And three, disabled people are a third less likely to have access to Apprenticeship Programs. This will help them develop skills and build a work history to ensure their future. It will also help employers understand the sthreefl work force. Accommodating a disabled employee is usually a simple, inexpensive process that benefits the employee, employer, and all of white house benefit from having an engaged and diverse work force. I thank chairman davis for this bill and bobby scott. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx i believe i have the right to close, ill reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. As i indicated and several have spoken oer their amendments, i hope we adopt the en bloc amendment and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, its unfortunate that we havent here debating a block of amendments that will work to address the failings of the underlying bill. Im pleased to see at least one amendment in this group will help bring some flexibility to states. I do urge support of the en bloc considerations of these amendments and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the previous question is ordered on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from virginia. The question is on the amendments en bloc. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The en bloc amendments are agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. For what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Mr. Scott i rise to offer amendments en bloc number two. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will dez egg designate the amendments en bloc. The clerk enoclock number two consisting of amendments number 7, 8, and 17, printed in part b of house report 116193, offered by mr. Scott of virginia. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott, and the gentlewoman from North Carolina, control 10 h will minutes. The chair recognizes mr. Scott. Mr. Scott these are expected to be noncontroversial. They generally expand the industries to be affected by the opportunities for apprenticeships and adds veteran Services Organization as a partner organization. I would hope that we would adopt these and i yield i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. This en bloc incorporate theres amendments to the underlying bill that would enhance opportunities in the registered apprenticeship system. The amendment offered by mr. Kilmer of washington, mr. Fitzpatrick of pennsylvania amend the Grant Program within the underlying bill to promote offerings for Computer Science programs. Modernizing the 80yearold National Apprenticeship act ought to include apprenticeship opportunities within a variety of sectors. Far too often, society paints apprenticeships as only applying to, quote, the trades. While there are certainly valuable pathways within those fields we need to expand the horizons of what apprenticeships are capable of providing for workers. This is also why i think it is important to call these professions rather than the trades. A broader policy should not be limbed by how it is tra how it has traditionally been viewed or how we speak about it. Computer science is a high growth, promising career path leading to indemand, lucrative jobs for workers. We hear too often that students are graduating without the Technical Skills they need to be successful in todays work force. This amendment would support employers in recruiting and developing new employees with Computer Science competencies they need to make up for the deficits and help fill a widening skills gap. Similarly, the amendment offered by ms. Titus of nevada and cosponsored by several members on both sides of the aisle adds hospitality and tourism to the list of nontraditional apprenticeship industries that are eligible for grants under this act. If this Grant Program is to live up to its name and reflect the economy of the 21st century, we must break free from antiquated, narrow ideas of apprenticeships and bring more opportunities to promising sectors. The hospitality and Tourism Industries are a prime example of areas in which students would benefit from more onthejob learning experiences and plerled instruction than they would from a Traditional College education. Finally, the amendment offered by mr. Lamb of pennsylvania and mr. Taylor of texas includes Veterans Service organizations in several key places. Specifying v. S. O. s as Partner Organizations for involvement in the register aid prenticeship system ensures the needs of veterans will be considered and incorporated into Apprenticeship Programs. The amendment also highlights the v. S. O. s as entities that should be contacted for promoting and raising awareness about apprenticeship opportunities. Making sure our veterans have full access to an information to and information about apprenticeship opportunities. Because apprenticeships recognize and build on prior knowledge and skill, veterans stand to benefit greatly from these opportunities and should be engaged in the system as much as possible. We want apprenticeships to support all workers seeking to access and enhance Career Opportunities. These amendments ensure the 1st century Grant Program expands opportunities in promising sectors and that the registered apprenticeship system engages veterans. I support these amendments, encourage my colleagues to do the same and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her tile. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the gentleman from washington, mr. Kilmer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Kilmer thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this package of en bloc amendment which is includes a bipartisan amendment i offered along with my good friend and colleague from pennsylvania, representative fitzpatrick. To expand access to access to Computer Science youth Apprenticeship Programs that are critical to the 21st century work force. We know session the door to Economic Opportunity and one of the most american and foundational paths to high quality Work Based Learning and education are Apprenticeship Programs. In todays changing economy its important to continue to find ways to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future, jobs in advanced manufacturing, health care, green jobs an yes, Computer Science. According to code. Org, a i cross 24 states only 35 of high schools in the United States teach Computer Science. That same study found that black and hispanic student, state of the unions receiving free and reduced lunch and students from rural areas are less likely to attend a school that provides access to this critical subject. Not everyone is going to have a tech related job but we know theres a growing demand, a demand were struggling to meet for student in demand jobs an for equiping work wers advanced Computer Science skills. To prepare students to be successful in the work force the federal government needs to expand Computer Science education and pathways to more students. Thats why my amendment would ensure that exurte science apprenticeship, preApprenticeship Programs are prioritized. Mr. Scott i yield the gentleman an additional minute. Mr. Kilmer thank you, mr. Chairman. It would provide priority for funding thru this historic National Apprenticeship act of 2020. Growing the number of Computer Science programs for Student High School and beyond will provide more 21st century job tuns for our kids, more highskilled and qualified employees for our employers, an more Economic Resiliency for our communities. I thank the chairman for his support of this simple yet important amendment. I thank susan davis, representative from california, for her leadership on this issue. I encourage my colleagues to vote yes on this package and yes on this bill. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia. Mr. Scott i yield two minutes to the gentleman from fromylvania, the gentleman pennsylvania, mr. Lamb. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Lamb is recognized. Mr. Lamb thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the last 2 1 2 years i have been a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and during that time one of the things i have seen is the way our veterans Services Organizations, particularly the american leeand the v. F. W. , Vietnam Veterans of america, several others too, play a central role in connecting all the good things were trying to do with government programs, with the people who actually need to benefit from them and take advantage of them. So often in the government we have a hard time getting our ideas and our Solutions Beyond the walls of the Federal Office Building and into the communities and streets and homes where we want them to be. These organizations are very, very good at doing that. I want to thank my colleague, republican from texas, van taylor, for partnering with me on these amendments to bring in these veteran Services Organizations as part of signing people up to, enrolling them in Apprenticeship Programs so the veterans who are out there, who are most in need of upscaling upskilling or creating a new career path can kind out about these opportunities and take advantage of them. Theres probably no one in america more qualified and a better bet for this investment than a veteran. On the job training is what we do. These people have the patience and discipline to complete these programs and make our entire work force stronger and better off and i know that the Veterans Service organizations will help us get there. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott i yield two minutes to the gentleman from the northern mariana islands, mr. Sablan. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Is a plan thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, the titus amendment is simple, it includes ospitality and tourism as an career for apprenticeships. Industry for the marianas. Hospitality and tourism account for 40 of g. D. P. We are not unique. The industry is critical to many across the nation but it is considered a nontraditional industry for apprenticeships and has been unable to take full advantage of the apprenticeship system. The titus amendment fixes that. As i stated earlier, for 83 years, the National Apprenticeship act has helped local economies grow, providing Career Opportunities to young people. The titus amendment guarantees will build 94 success by ensuring the apprenticeship system is modernized to address the work force needs of the 1st century. I support the titus amendment and urge my colleagues to vote yes and i also am grateful that the Ranking Member is supportive of the titus amendment. I thank everyone for your consideration and i wish everyone a happy thanksgiving, a happy Merry Christmas and happy new year. I yield back. Mr. Chairman, i seek unanimous consent that the letter from the American Hospitality and lodging association be inserted into the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Sablan thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Scott thank you, mr. Speaker. I support the three amendments en bloc. I would hope that the urge my colleagues to also support the legislation. Along with these three amendments. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott, yields back. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the previous question is ordered on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from virginia. The question is on the amendments en bloc. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The en bloc amendments are agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. Purr subte to pursuant to clause 1c of rule 19, further onsideration of h. R. 8294 is postponed. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask for unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to remember a life long servant of the lansing community, mr. Mark antony brown, who passed away on november 9. I had the honor of knowing him and have learned much from him. Born in lansing, raised in lansing and devoted to lansing, he lived with relentless desire to improve himself and those around him. Ms. Slotkin he was an integral part of many lansing organizations, from the local branch of the naacp to the mayors Diversity Inclusion Advisory Board in board. In every endeavor he was dedicated to making sure that underrepresented voices were heard in when decisions were made. He was a man who was loved deeply, guide i by faith with his family. He never stopped working for his community and above all, mr. Brown believed in the power of Genuine Connections across race, creed, background and belief. He was a unifier that brought people together to better lansing and i will be forever grateful to him. Today im thinking of those closest to him, his mother, his brothers and sisters, his aunts and uncles. And his four children. I speak these words today so that his legacy is forever remembered in the permanent record of the peoples house. Letting all who read it know, mark brown made a difference. Thank you, mr. Speaker. And yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor an amazing constituent and patriot from the Central Coast of california. Lester should have. Raised in pennsylvania, lester was drafted into the army in 1941. His draft number in the lottery was lucky number one. Making the rank of staff sergeant, lester was sent to the South Pacific and faced many of the challenges of serving in world war ii. Mr. Panetta he fought for four years on close to 10 islands in the pacific. During which time he turned down a Battlefield Commission to become an officer. He was shot in the back by a sniper and he was even stung by a scorpion. Although lester was the recipient of the purple heart and bronze star, his daughter, kay, told us he never liked discussing the war. Because when he did, the unemotional lester would be brought to tears by the memory of two men that died on a mission that he led. After serving, lester moved to Silicon Valley where he worked for lockheed and developed blew in for the space shuttle. He then retired to the Central Coast with his family. Madam speaker, some say lester was lucky. I say that we are all lucky to call lester an american. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today to introduce a bill that would add the counties in my Congressional District to the southwest Border Regional Commission. Modeled after another commission, the southwest Border Regional Commission was established to promote economic growth, to help distressed regions that have been historically left behind, attain social economic parity with the rest of the nation. The Central Valley is one such reason plague region plagued by economic disparities, yet it isnt part of any regional commission. This must change. Mr. Cox thats why im here. My district is in deep need of Economic Development and federal investment. Unemployment in the region is consistently higher and Educational Attainment lower than any other region in california. The need for more federal investment is critical now more than ever because of the covid19 pandemic and recession. Adding these counties and funding the sbrc will jumpstart communities and Small Businesses, helping america build back better. While generating new Economic Opportunities for hardworking people who are waiting for their chance of achieving the american dream. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jackson lee madam speaker, one of the major leaders in the ight against covid19, dr. Holmes, said a few days ago that if we continue on this same path, there will be 1,400 persons a day that may die of covid19. This is a season that we gather together as family members and as well a season of joy. But i believe it is important for those of us who hold the reins of government, as we have been doing in this congress, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, one, to fight without ceasing to pass the heroes legislation, for dollars for our local cities and counties and states. For testing, for p. P. E. And of course our businesses and restaurants. Before i left houston this week, i did a press conference to call upon my local authorities to issue a Public Safety alert. It was done in california and out of that came 30,000 people to be tested. This weekend im calling for a citywide challenge, for people to be tested before thanksgiving. I ask my colleagues to join me in the testing sites that are available because we must save lives. Wash your hands, wear a mask, socially distance. But in thanksgiving ensure youre outside or 10 or under. Houston, do the testing regiment, join us at the allen parkway village. Get tested and save lives and stop community spread. I yield back. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from pennsylvania seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to recognize a native son of my community. Amtrak Vice President joe mccue hugh from allentown, pennsylvania, who is retiring after a storied career with our National Railroad corporation. Which he has proudly served for 26 years. Joe served in various leadership roles for the railroad and many here in the house of representatives will remember him as one of amtraks most Effective Advocates in its 50year history. Ms. Wild joe helped lead amtrak through an era of transformation and growth. He also has a unique firsthand understanding of the railroad. Over his 26 years, he accomplished the rare feat of traveling over every mile of amtraks more than 21,000mile route network. Of his many accomplishment, the many people he mentored and whose careers he helped foster may well be his most important contribution to the railroad. The house of representatives and the nation owe joe mchugh a debt of gratitude for his dedication and contributions. On behalf of the house of representatives and my community, i congratulate him on his retirement and extend our very best wishes to him as he embarks on the next chapter in his life. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask permission to speak for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, more than 245,000 americans have already died due to covid19. Cases are surging to unprecedented levels. Millions are facing poverty, Food Insecurity and eviction. Lowincome, homeless, minority communities have been hit especially hard and disproportionately. With the win the and holidays upon us, this wave threatens the health and economic wellbeing of our entire country. I am proud that we have already enacted four bipartisan Economic Relief packages that deliver targeted assistance to those impacted by this pandemic. Mr. Carbajal we need to do it again and we must act now during this congress. Another relief package should include a Robust National strategy for testing, tracing and vaccinations. Businesses, local governments, workers and families need help to make ends meet. We must come together to eliver and help america with the urgent need that it has and get this virus under control. Madam speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from texas, mr. Flores, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Flores madam speaker, i request unanimous consent to address the house for an hour, to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Flores thank you. I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Vincent Anderson of hewitt, texas. Affectionately known as pike by his family and friends, he passed away on 7 october, 2020, following a courageous battle with cancer. Pike was born 18 august, 1944, in missouri, to john Kenneth Anderson and Genevieve Collier anderson. As a child, his family moved to jackson, mississippi, where he graduated from high school in 1962. In 1967, pike graduated from Mississippi State university where he was a member of the army rotc program and the alpha omega fraternity. Following army flight school, he deployed to vietnam where he flew cobra helicopter gun ships for the air cavalry. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross in 19740 for his service in the 1970 for his service in the valley. In 1973 he was promoted to captain and later honorably discharged at the conclusion of his active military service. In 1977, pike went on to earn his masters degree from the University Masters degree from the university of south alabama. Following graduation, they moved to waco, texas, where he send a job with the veterans administration. After 23 years at the v. A. , pike retired in march of 2000 kenisiotherapy. He served on the active duty from march, 1986, to august, 2005. When he retired from the u. S. Army with the rank of chief warrant officer. Upon the second retirement, he worked with the military order of the purple heart as a National Service officer, assisting veterans with v. A. Claims at the waco v. A. Regional office. In 2008 he received the Kenneth Richardson award as a National Service officer of the year. Pike retired from service with the order of the purple heart as the region five deputy region field supervisor in 2015. He remained active with the local Veterans Community and served as a charter member, Quarter Master and commander of v. F. W. Post 6008 in hewitt, texas. In addition to his many years of dedicated military and veteran service, Pike Anderson served on the Hewitt City Council for 16 years, including two terms as mayor. He was instrumental in the development of several transportation projects and the Veterans Memorial park at hewitt. Pike contributed a great deal of his time to his family, as well as to the church of the holy spirit where he served on the vestry and became a lay minister. Pike and maria, his wife of 52 years, were blessed with three beautiful daughters and nine grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy of service to his family, the community of hewitt and to our nation. Madam speaker, Pike Anderson served this country proudly for many years and his legacy will be forever worn into our wove noon our american history. Pike was not only a public servant, he was a devout christian and a committed family man. My weve jean and i offer our deepest heart felt condolences to hi family. Ive requested the flag be flown over the nations capitol to honor the life, legacy and service of Pike Anderson. I ask that all americans continue to pray for our country in these difficult times. Pray for our veterans. Pray for our military servicemen and women, and prayner First Responders who keep us safe at ome. Madam speaker, i rise today honor the life and legacy of mr. Joe earl west of College Station, texas, who pass pa who passed a way on 5 june, 2020. He was born on 8 march, 1932, joe c. And josie oaks west. He grew one four younger sibling three brothers and a sister his family moved after the death of his younger brother robbie. In high school he became enamored with texas a m university and decided to see it himself. He took a bus and arrived in College Station very late the next evening. Upon his arrival, joe discovered there were no vacancies at the local aggieland inn but in act characteristic of aggie a m ss, the clerk phoned veterinary professor and his wife who hosted joe that weekend. His love for a m continued after he enrolled and he became an integral part of the aggie community. By the conclusion of his undergraduate studies he participated in the corps of cadets, the Baseball Team and was senior yell leader his senior year. He graduated with his doctor of veterinarian veterinary medicine degree and was commissioned into the u. S. Air force veterinary corps. A lifelong learner he earned his masters in radiation biology from university of rochester before moving to california to earn his ph. D. In comparative pathology at u. C. Davis. While studying at davis he met carolyn francis, a talented microbiologist an it was love at first sight. Shortly after their weding he receiveded orers to report to washington, d. C. There he taught his passion, radiation biology, to dentists, doctors and veterinarians working on radiation effects including those of space travel. After years of dedicated service colonel west retired from the waferse with many distinctions including the air force commendation medal, Meritorious Service medal with oak leaf cluster and legion of merit. He served the a M University System for 18 years. During that time he served as president they have aian m Yell Leaders Association as faculty advisor to the corps of cadets where he was a speak thats right 2001 texas aggie muster ceremony in College Station. Some of his proudest accolades were being chosen as distinguished alumnus of a m college of veterinary medicine in 2004, as distinguished alumnus of a m university in 2011, the latter being the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an aggie, he was he was installed in the hall of honor in 2014. He excelled his chosen field of veterinary medicine. He was a delegate to the vet their medicine association, president of the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice and a highly rarred clinical pathologist as the at the texas a m laboratory. He after retirement he dedicated a lot of time to his family and to the Methodist Church in College Station. He was blessed with four children and three grandchildren with whom he enjoyed spending time, share his love of texas a m and teaching them thousand live by the aggie code of honor. Madam speaker, joe served his country proudly for many years and his legacy will be forever woven into our american history. Joe was not only a public servant, he was a proud texas aggie, devout christian and committed family man. My wife jean and i offered our deepest heart felt condolences to the west family. I have requested that a United States flag be flown over the Nations Capital to capitol to honor the life, legacy and service of earl joe west. I urge all americans to continue to pray for our country in these difficult time, for our military men and women who protect it, for ow veterans and for our First Responders who keep us afe at home. Madam speaker, i rise today to honor the life and legacy of wallace lee edge sr. Wallace lee edge, known as lee to his family and friends, was born 17 march, 1919, in bryan, texas, as the seventh of nine children, to george p. And may harris edge. Shortly after the attack on pearl harbor, at the age of 21, he answered the call to service and enlisted in the United States army. Upon completion of basic training he was promoted to sergeant and was trained to lead an artillery battery. He participated in operation overlord, landing on utah beach along with thousands of other tough hombres, serving in the farmed 90th infantry division. Serving in the a battery of the 333 Field Artillery battalion he earned the affection and respect of the men he served. With as they made their way across france, bell july, luxembourg, germany and czechoslovakia, he participated in some of the fiercest fighting in europe including the battle of the bulge. He was awarded a bronze star and bronze arrowhead. Upon returning from europe he embarked on various ventures before settling down in houston where he worked at sears robuck for almost 25 years. In august of 1961, while working at sears, he met the love of his life, francis rudek. A month later he proposed and by november of that yeerp marry. During their marriage they lived the american dream, raising four boys and building a family in houston, texas. Nothing was more important to lee than his family. On Independence Day of 1974, while on a family vayation vacation, their 11yearold son wally began to struggle in the water. Lee dove in fully clothed to save him but he perished in an unsuccessful attempt to save his first born son. Lee edges life was dedicated to service to his god, his service and his country. Hes survived by his sons fran by his wife francis and his sons and three grandsons who would have been the pride of his life. Wallace lee edge sr. Served his country proudly for many years and his legacy will be forever woven into our bright american history. Lee was not only committed to his country but he was a man of faith who was whole heartedly committed to his family and community. Ive requested the United States flag be flown over the United States capitol to honor his life and legacy. I urge all americans to pray for our country in these difficult times, for our veterans, for our military men and women who keep us safe and for our First Responders who keep us safe at ome. Madam speaker, i rise today to honor the life and legacy of lee wayne russ. A courageous Law Enforcement officer who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. 20 years ago, on 29 october, 2000, he lost his life while protecting innocent persons. Lee wayne russ was born on 19 june, 1952, in el paso, texas, the son of a Police Lieutenant and registered nurse who was installed with the values of service to others from an early age. He began his career in Law Enforcement and joined the Ward County Sheriffs Office in 1989. On that fateful day in october, 2000, deputy russ was the first officer to respond to a domestic disturbance in progress at a home in monohance, texas. As he entered the home he took action to disarm the suspect and rotect the victim, ms. Norma sepulveda esparza. He received multiple stab wounds that would prove fatal. As the suspect resumed his attack on the victim, lee summoned his remaining strength to retrieve his Service Revolver and fatally shot the attacker before succumbing to his injuries. That day nestic violence resulted in the loss of two innocent lives, the officer and the victim he was protecting, leaving six children without one parent. When a 911 call came across the radio, lee did not hesitate to put himself in harms way to serve and protect another. A warrior and protector up to his last breath his final act was his valiant attempt to save the life of someone he had never even met. He truly exemplified the words of jesus, greater have no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Lee was surrounded by a community of friends where he was known for his kind and generous personality and quick sense of humor. He had a reputation as an exceedingly fair an just peace officer who could defuse tense situations. He took his oath to protect and serve seriously, on and off duty and never turned down a request for help. He knew the texas penal code backwards and forwards and continually sought out additional opportunities to become a better peace officer through training and education. When people shared stories of lee, they often recall the small details that made him unique. He would not drive a patrol car thout his signature beaded knob over and rope on the to fidget with. He would read stacks of novels. He kept note pads next to his bed hurricane phone and anywhere else he felt he might feel the need to jot down reminders. He distrusted computers and resisted learning how to use one until he found out he could play solitary on one. Two days later two decades later, his legacy lives on. His story is told in Police Academy training sessions in telling about the will to survive and protecting others. The ward county sheriffs facility now bears his name. There the lee russ memorial Law Enforcement center includes a bronze portrait of him where he watches over his brothers and cysters in blue. Above all else he should be remembered for his the addams familyly. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle and father. Left to carry lizing hecy are his children, now grown. Jason, benjamin and miranda russhenderson. His two grandchildren, Barrett Russell henderson and Madison Renee henderson, will grow one the lessons left from their grandpa russ and the stories of his humor, bravery and kindness. Madam speaker, russ was a true american hero. A man of faith and dedicated family man. His life embodied Selfless Service and serves as an example to us all. My wife and i offer our deepest heart felt condolences to the russ family on this unfortunate anniversary and i requested the United States flag be flown over the United States capitol to honor the life, legacy, service and sacrifice of lee russ. As i close today i ask all americans to continue praying for our country in these difficult times, for our military men and women who protect it and for our First Responders who keep us safe at ome. Madam speaker, i rise today to honor the life and legacy of Billy Brandon gibson of huntsville, alabama, who passed away 6 october, 2020. He was born on 1 november, 1920, in blunt county, alabama work laura and george w. Gibson. He wanted nothing more to wear the uniform and join the fight against the axis powers. It would take him two attempts to become a marine. His first try was in 1941, and 63, billy was deem today tall for his weight. He tried again about two years later, before which he ate one half dozen bananas and tank a quart of butter milk in order to gain more weight when he arrived at the rae cruting office he was also bent his knees as he was measured for his height enabling putting him at an even 60. He was efforts were successful and they enlisted him in the marine corps at that time. He quit his job at the cottop mill, trained on mortar equipment and qualified as a sharp shooter. He then headed to the South Pacific. His first stop was fwaudal canal where his career am end almost ended when he got hit in the head and shoulder by a military vehicle. His right here was dangle big a thread and his shoulder was broken. His superiors wanted to send him home, he begged to go and fight. He was told he wasnt fit for combat but they ultimately allowed him to go fight. Battle known the as 82 days of health and rain. He said his worst scare dame from a rat. Just before they made it to the front line they stopped at a torn down house where they were going to sleep. During the night a rat jumped out of the attic and hit him in the chest. He said that event was the closest he ever came to dying up to that point. Later during the fight he almost drowned in his fox hole and a mortar round exploded less than three feet away from him, killing all five men around him he was once said the greatest adventure you can have is to go into mortal combat and beat the enemy. Hes proud of what he and his fellow marines did and that they did it on behalf of our country. At least one marine credits billy with saving his life. He and billy were behind a bluff trying to sneak up on a snipe for the a cave. As his buddy moved from one boulder to another he got shot in the chest. Billy called him and called for the corpsmen to come tend to him. He didnt see how his buddy would survive whose injuries, nonetheless he got him to safety and went back to take out the sniper. Billy received a letter from his injured marine buddy thanking him for saving his life. E said he never felt like he was a hero. Job. Id he was doing his billys company a in the marine regiment sion, 29th had 300 casualties. Times. Wiped out three miraculously, billy and four original nes were the Company Members who were not killed or wounded. After serving our country, billy married his wife, alma christine gibson. Bil billy went to work for nasa in the missile program. Prestigious d the snoo snoopy work there. Part of his church and pastimebut his favorite was golfing. They said he was everything they grandpa could be. E tried to get to his 100th birthday. He passed away 26 days shy of mark and 25 days f sharing 73 years with his beloved wife. Wife, two is daughters, seven grandchildren, and 15 greatgrandchildren. Are my grandkids. Adam speaker, billy gibson was a true american hero, a man of faith and a member of americas generation. He is an example to all. And i offer our deepest condolences to the gibson family. Requested the United States flag be flown over our nations and ol to honor the life legacy and service of billy gibson. Ask you pray for our military and women and for our First Responders who keep us safe at home. Madam speaker, i rise today in elebration of the life of navy ignalman kenneth gene hooment who hamilton. Enneth was born in 1926 in lamisa, texas. He served the life of dedicated his enlistmentng in the United States navy on his 17th birthday. Not yet 18, kenneth was required to provide written arental commission in order to enlist. This selfless act was indicative f his passion and unwavering desire to serve his country. Him to camp ed wallace in galveston, texas, and to a camp to d training as a signalman. He traveled to San Francisco to crew. He rest of his kenneth was assigned to a erchant marine ship that had contingent of naval personnel known as the armed guard onboard. Included weapons personnel and signal personnel. It provided Logistic Support to ther vessels in the Pacific Theater and i assisted in and assisted in carrying ammunitions. He completed his enlistment and along with other world war ii eterans, he returned home to raise a family. On behalf of a grateful nation, we celebrate the life and of signalman s hamilton. Enneth hamilton has lived a long life of joy. Im proud to recognize him on this joyous occasion and i know his family and friends love him and are very proud of him. Wife, gina, and i wish kenneth many more years of ealth and happiness and happy birthday. We have requested the United States flag be flown over our ations capitol to recognize signalman hamiltons 94th birthday. S i close, i ask all americans to continue praying for our country, for our military men nd women and for our First Responders who keep us safe at home. Madam speaker, i yield the alance of my time to mr. Palazzo of mississippi. I yield three minutes to mr. Mississippi. Mr. Palazzo i want to thank my good friend and colleague for yielding me this time. Speaker, today, i rise to recognize the outstanding life f service to the community of mrs. Ruby Thompson Green. Mrs. Green, for the better half years on this earth exhibited true altruism and love biloxi. City of she was born june 5, 1916 in North Carolina. Her bachelor of science from Hampton University in hampton, virginia. Also spent some time studying at Atlanta University before ta, georgia, attending the university of southern mississippi. P. Irving married mr. Green on july 26, 1941. Hey moved to biloxi, mississippi, in 1947. Mrs. Green founded and operated kindergarten. For 17 years. And she was the first africanamerican teacher at school. Igh mrs. Green also worked in the star program and worked as the of stant education director the head start program. Mrs. Green joined the new bethal under the rch pastorship of reverend potter teacher of the intermediate class, superintendent of the sunday vacationirector of the bible school, member of the senior mission, member of the member ofmmittee, and the bus committee. She also served as assistant secretary of the Shiloh District of christian s workers. After returning retiring from to many years of dedication her students at biloxi high school, she volunteered at the hospital in gulf port, mississippi gulfport, mississippi. Was a member of the Senior Citizen group. Mrs. Green spent a great many contributing to her community and for many of her students and brothers and sisters in christ, she was a pillar in the community. Months, 23 ears, 11 days that she spent with us, ost of her time was spent bettering the lives of those around her. Rs. Ruby Thompson Green was an outstanding citizen, kingdom of god, the United States of merica, and mississippi and biloxi. And her contributions stand as a reminder to all of us that its etter to serve than to be served. It is my honor and privilege to ecognize the wonderful life of mrs. Ruby Thompson Green. Colleague k to my from texas. Mr. Flores madam speaker, i ield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The speaker pro tempore under speakers announced policy 2019, the chair recognizes the gentleman from grothman, for 30 dvertisements telling us what we can do to reduce the huge number of deaths attributed to this disease. What ill do today is talk one more time about vitamin d. Folks back of the home are familiar with vitamin , but i dont think the huge number of studies that recommend been publicized enough. Near right before i got here i was talking to one of my onstituents back home, a bright, wellinformed person. He was surprised that vitamin d reduce the to mortality rate from the covid. And i want to go over some of the things that was determined by vitamin d. E have many universities doing studies, dating all the way back in march. D se with adequate vitamin levels were less likely to experience hyperinflation within lungs and less likely to get luss ses siptible to susceptible to severe covid symptoms. Recently in september, the university of chicago Medicine University of boston medicine both conducted Research Studies substantiating the prelimary evidence between the vitamin d of deficiencies and even getting covid19. At harvard have also published articles highlighting for in ds benefits respiratory health and mentioning the connection between vitamin d and covid19 quite compelling. European health professionals, u. K. , they w the have upped their recommendation among their citizens. Something thats high time our more sionals were aggressive in doing. In late october, as part of a clinicalthe journal of kri nothing at crinology, they looked patients in the hospitals in spain. The patients were deficient in vitamin d if they had severe covid. A y 40 of the population as whole had longer hospital stays inflammatory markers within their lungs. You look at this again and again and again, the researchers talking about the correlation etween adequate levels of vitamin d and not having as much or serious things happening, and you wonder why professionals th and the c. D. C. Is not talking should. Is more as they i know a couple months ago, about dr. Fauci talked evidence of vitamin ds benefits after waiting months and months it. He finally talked about it, but e only talked about it om some interview on some interview with a hollywood personality. He shouldnt wait for a asking himersonality questions to point out that he himself, as the most prominent of our Public Health community, takes vitamin d. How much vitamin d should he take . Should you take . I talked to numerous doctors. To this conclusion, not just by looking at a plethora of studies done by college and universities around the world, but by talking to doctors. L before coming up here, i talked to a doctor from my district who routinely every day takes 5,000 nternational units of vitamin d. Thats not the only way to get vitamin d. You can get it from wonderful and get vitamin d s well, interaction with the sun. Sadly during a lot of this coronavirus, people have been encouraged to stay inside rather outside and getting the sun which would actually increase your vitamin d levels. Would ask dr. Fauci and the c. D. C. And the n. I. H. And public professionals across the ountry, when you again to tell people begin to tell people what to do to save yourself and our loved ones, make sure theyre taking their vitamin d. Here are obviously some communities, more than other communities, who are susceptible to vitamin d deficiencies. Darker skin are much more likely to be vitamin d deficient. Nd, therefore, if you have darker skin, pay special attention to the necessity of d. Ing vitamin again, its not just for yourself. Make sure if you have any loved with cardiovascular problems, loved ones who may be i am a overweight little overweight here. That vitamin take d. If you have diabetes, make sure youre taking that vitamin d. Today, i founder out another acquaintance of mine from back in the district passed away from covid, and it kind of bugs me that the vitamin d is not being stressed. A while ago, the Surgeon General in my district rattled off five thicks to do, they talk about social distance, they talk about masks, wash your hands, fine but they dont talk about vitamin d despite all these studies. I dont have an exact figure but i would bet if the entire American Public had adequate levels of vitamin d, and right now about 40 of the American Population does not have adequate levels, i would bet you decrease the number of decrease the number of fatality this country by at least a third. None of these studies have an exact amount. But i think it could be that high. If thats true youre talking maybe 80,000 deaths, if only the Public Health professionals would put taking vitamin d in the same talks they give you about a mask or social distancing or whatever. Im going to point out that its more important than ever because were going into the winter, and in winter you get, what . At least in wisconsin you go outside less. And you get less sun. An going outside less and getting less sun are both things that are going to accelerate the number of people who get the covid and get the covid seriously. So now, one more time to emphasize, a good time to make a list of all the older people or people with preexisting conditions, and make sure they get vitamin d. Actually as im giving the talk up here, i would suggest for thanksgiving or for christmas even stopping by one of our fine chains of drugstores and getting some vitamin d. You can on your own look on the internet and hear what they say about zinc, a lot of people say some zinc is good as well, supplementing it. Something else you dont hear the professionals talk about a lot. But when i talk to doctors in their own right, nurse their own right, grab some zinc as well or talk about patients taking both vitamin d and zinc and they have almost no patients that have had to be hospitalized for the covid. I want to y, emphasize for the political geebs who tune in an watch this show, make sure youre taking your vitamin d. Make sure you give visit min d to older people you know or people with preexisting conditions. I especially emphasize to any Public Health professionals who are watching this little speech, next time youre giving a talk on the Radio Station or if anybody is out there preparing the next set of commercials on how to deal with the covid, you emphasize the vitamin d and you familiarize yourself with the studies from Trinity College in ireland, the spanish studies, whats been said in harvard. The study northwestern. And the studies in the university of chicago. And youll learn a little bit more about things your occupation might be talking about. So thats all the time i have today. And thank you for allowing me to give this little speech. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman will suspend. Members are further reminded to address their remarks to the chair, not a perceived viewing audience. Mr. Grthman ok, very good. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 4b of House Resolution 967, the house stands adjourned until 9 00 a. M. Be sure to join the discussion with your phone call, facebook comments, Text Messages and tweets. Friday afternoon, Vice President mike pence will be speaking at a rally in canton, georgia, with Georgia Republican senators david perdue and Kelly Loeffler who have Runoff Election this is coming january. Watch live coverage at 12 30 eastern on cspan2, online at cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. With coronavirus cases increasing across the country, use our website, cspan. Org coronavirus, to follow the trends. Track the spread with interactive maps. And watch updates on demand any ime at cspan. Org coronavirus. House minority leader Kevin Mccarthy held his Weekly Briefing with reporters today at the capitol. He spoke about the president ial Election Results and republican gains for theup coming 117th congress set to begin in january. This is 20 minutes