Providing for Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act; Providing for Disposition of Senate Amendment to H.R. Purple Book Continuity Act of and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, across America, people are dealing with a loss of a job, a business, or even a loved one. People are hurting, and they are hurting badly not only from this pandemic, but also from the incompetence, the callousness, and the negligence of the current occupant of the White House.

When I talk about people hurting, I don't mean big corporations or Fortune 500 companies. I am talking about our workers, our middle class, those on the edge of the middle class, and those struggling in poverty. That is where our focus should be. And thanks to the bipartisan efforts of Members on both sides of the Capitol, we are acting right now--not next year or during the next administration, as some have suggested--but right now.

This deal is not everything I want--not by a long shot--but the choice before us is simple. It is about whether we help families or not. It is about whether we help small businesses and restaurants or not. It is about whether we boost SNAP benefits and strengthen antihunger programs or not. And it is about whether we help those dealing with a job loss or not.

To me, this is not a tough call. We need to pass this, and then we need to prepare to build on it in the next Congress, hopefully, in a bipartisan fashion and with an administration that actually gives a damn about the American people.

Madam Speaker, before I conclude, I also join the gentleman from Oklahoma in recognizing the service of Congresswoman Shalala. Over the years, she has had many titles: Doctor, treasurer, college president, chancellor, assistant secretary, secretary, congresswoman--and I could go on.

Often, Donna has done it first: She was among the very first Peace Corps volunteers. She was the first woman to lead a Big 10 Conference college. She was only the second woman to lead a major research university. And Donna was the first Lebanese American to serve in a President's Cabinet.

Madam Speaker, there is a saying in Arabic, which in English is: ``Do good and throw it into the sea.''

It means this: The reward is doing good. Not the praise or recognition. Just simply an act of doing good.

And Donna Shalala does good, period. I know she will continue to do good.

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