Care is An Economic Development Strategy Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5547) to amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to require eligible recipients of certain grants to develop a comprehensive economic development strategy that directly or indirectly increases the accessibility of affordable, quality care-based services, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5547

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act'' or the ``CEDS Act''. SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.

(a) In General.--Section 302(a)(3)(A) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3162(a)(3)(A)) is amended--

(1) by striking ``and'' before ``balances resources''; and

(2) by inserting ``, and directly or indirectly increases the accessibility of affordable, quality care-based services, including child care, early childhood education, disability and long-term care, and elder care'' after ``sound management of development''.

(b) Guidance.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall issue guidance on implementing the amendments made by subsection (a), to include how to increase access to the affordable, quality care-based services described in section 302(a)(3)(A) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3162(a)(3)(A)) in a comprehensive economic development strategy developed under section 302 of such Act.

(2) Existing comprehensive economic development strategies.--In issuing the guidance under paragraph (1), with respect to a grant recipient whose comprehensive economic development strategy has been approved under section 302 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3162) before the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that such grant recipient is only required to update such comprehensive economic development strategy to comply with the amendments made by this Act when a regularly scheduled update to such comprehensive economic development strategy is required. SEC. 3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION CARES ACT FUNDING.

(a) In General.--Not more than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the Department of Commerce shall submit to Congress a report on the activities and outcomes of economic adjustment assistance funding provided by the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136).

(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include--

(1) each recipient that received economic adjustment assistance funding from such Act; and

(2) the corresponding project that received economic adjustment assistance funding from the CARES Act.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. 5547, as amended.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act.

I would like to start by honoring my coauthor of this bill, who recently passed away unexpectedly, Congressman Don Young, the longest- serving Member of this body, the dean of the House. As my partner on this bill, I got to see his dedication to serving the people up close.

Even though he is no longer with us in this Chamber, I know that Congressman Young would be proud that the full House is considering the bill we worked so hard on together to help our kids and our communities.

We authored this legislation with a simple idea in mind: Investing in care will help get people back to work, create good-paying jobs, and create a stronger economy for everyone.

I know this firsthand as the working mom of my 6-year-old son, my Carter Cakes. My ability to be standing before you today is dependent on making sure that my Carter Cakes is safe and cared for. Let me tell you all, it can even be difficult for families like mine.

When I was pregnant with Carter, we struggled to find childcare that was affordable and accessible. Today, it is up to my husband, Leslie, and me to make sure that Carter continues to be cared for so I can serve the people.

Just this month, my husband had to take a day off from his job so that I could make a last-minute trip to D.C. when school was closed for a teacher workday. Later that same week, it was my turn. It became ``Bring Carter to Work Day.'' So, in Atlanta, Leslie traveled to do his job, and I was home with Carter as he attended many Zoom sessions in Congress.

We have made it work, but unfortunately, during this pandemic, not everyone has been as lucky as my family.

Earlier this week, I visited Our House, a childcare center in my district that serves some of the most marginalized families, families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. One of the providers told me that, during the height of the pandemic, a parent told her that she had to reopen because: ``Corona may kill me, but poverty definitely will if I can't go to work and provide for my family.''

Care is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. Women, especially women of color, have been forced to drop out of the labor market at record rates during the COVID pandemic. This impacts the prosperity of our families and our economy at large.

Care is an economic development strategy, and it is time that we treated it like one. My CEDS Act will ensure care accessibility is prioritized for all communities and all constituents.

Currently, economic development districts must consider transportation access, workforce development, technology use, and environmental protection when creating their comprehensive economic development strategies. Right now, there is no mention of considering quality, affordable care-based services. The CEDS Act would simply add this as a consideration.

This bill will treat childcare, early childhood education, disability, long-term care, and eldercare as essential to communities' economic development. When we do this, we can help folks return to work, provide for their families, and invigorate our economy while knowing that their loved ones are in good hands.

I bring this bill before you today for every caregiver who has been forced to leave the workforce, for every working parent who has given up on finding a solution that works, for every person who feels forced to choose between their loved ones and their livelihoods. It doesn't have to be this way, y'all.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, for our children, our seniors, and our families nationwide.

House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, March 7, 2022. Hon. Peter DeFazio, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 5547, the ``Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act.'' In order to permit H.R. 5547 to proceed expeditiously to the House Floor, I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill.

The Committee on Financial Services takes this action to forego formal consideration of H.R. 5547 in light of our mutual understanding that, by foregoing formal consideration of H.R. 5547 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves forward with regard to any matters in the Committee's jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation that involves the Committee's jurisdiction and request your support for any such request.

Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration of H.R. 5547. Sincerely, Maxine Waters, Chairwoman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington DC, March 7, 2022. Hon. Maxine Waters, Chairwoman, Committee on Financial Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairwoman Waters: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 5547, the Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.

I acknowledge that by foregoing formal consideration on H.R. 5547, the Committee on Financial Services does not waive any future jurisdictional claims to provisions in this or similar legislation, and that your Committee will be consulted and involved on any matters in your Committee's jurisdiction should this legislation move forward. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving provisions within this legislation on which the Committee on Financial Services has a valid jurisdictional claim.

I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation, and I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 5547. Sincerely, Peter A. DeFazio, Chair.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation as care is an economic development strategy.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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