Providing for Consideration of H.R. Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022

Floor Speech

I note a great irony. We face enormous challenges in our country and in our world. But the Members who refuse to wear masks on the floor in the face of rising infections of a deadly delta variant, particularly in States with low vaccination rates, respond to all of this by making a motion to adjourn, to go home, to quit, to stop working. How ironic.

My father, who was a proud pipefitter, Local 13, back in Rochester, New York, said, You never quit. You never quit until the job is done.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to not quitting, I note another irony. My colleagues across the aisle are suddenly troubled by deficits. Never mind that nearly $2 trillion has been added to the national debt by cutting the taxes of billionaires. Aiding the rich, but not investing in the lives of middle class and working Americans? We reject that notion entirely.

Mr. Speaker, many of my Republican colleagues speaking on the rule today painted a dystopian view of our country. Yes, we have challenges: a climate crisis, a public health crisis, economic concerns, and great racial inequities. That is why the investments we are proposing are so critically important today.

But, Mr. Speaker, I reject the dystopian view. I believe America is the greatest country in the history of humankind, and my colleagues, we share an optimistic view. We want to invest in an America where everyone has a chance to realize their potential, and to achieve their dreams.

We want to invest our resources and energies to create a safer, more secure, more prosperous world, and to strive mightily to build a more perfect union.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Reschenthaler is as follows: Amendment to House Resolution H. Res. 567

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 13. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 471) to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from lessening the stringency of, and to prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from ceasing or lessening implementation of, the COVID-19 border health provisions through the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 14. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 471.
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