The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers rooms, washington, d. C. May 15, 2020. I hereby appoint the honorable Diana Degette to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore the prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. Compassionate and merciful god, thank you for giving us another day. Send down your spirit upon this chamber. May your protective energy banish all malicious elements, and your healing presence inspire the members of this peoples house to recognize and accept the awesome responsibility that is theirs. N this difficult time. Continue to bless all those whose lifes work is in bringing your healing to all those stricken by the coronavirus. Finally, on this peace officers memorial day, we give you thanks for the men and women in blue who stand watch every day throughout our nation and for us here at the capitol. May all americans be inspired to similarly be of service to one another that our common wheel might be guaranteed. May everything done today be for your greater honor and glory, amen. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 7a of House Resolution 891, the journal of the last days proceedings is approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from texas, mr. Burgess. Mr. Burgess please join me in the pledge to our flag and country. 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 lays before the house a communication. The clerk the honorable the speaker, house of representatives madam, pursuant to the permission granted in clause 2h of rule 2 of the rules of the u. S. House of representatives, the clerk received the following message from the secretary of the senate on may 15, 2020, at 8 16 a. M. That the Senate Passed senate 2746. That the Senate Passed senate 3434. That the Senate Passed senate 3607. That the Senate Passed senate 3744. With best wishes, i am, signed sincerely, robert f. Reeves, deputy clerk. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts rise . Mr. Mcgovern madam speaker, by direction of the committee on rules, i call up House Resolution 961 and 967 and ask for its 3450ed resolution. The clerk resolution number 79. House resolution 967. Resolved, that upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the house the resolution, h. Res. 965, authorizing remote voting by proxy in the house of representatives and providing for official Remote Committee proceedings during a Public Health emergency due to a Novel Coronavirus, and for other purposes. The resolution shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution to adoption without intervention motion or demand for division of the question except one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on rules. Section 2, upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the house without intervention of any question of consideration the bill, h. R. 6800, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2020, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The amendment printed in 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. Clause 2e of rule 21 shall not apply during consideration of the bill. 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, two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on appropriations, and, two, one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Section 3, until completion of proceedings enabled by the first two sections of this resolution, a, the chair may decline to entertain any intervening motion, except as expressly provided herein, resolution, question, or notice, and, b, the chair may decline to entertain the question of consideration. Section 4, on any legislative day during the period from may 19, 2020, through july 21, 2020, a, the journal of the proceedings of the previous day shall be considered as approved, and, b, the chair may at any time declare the house adjourned to meet at a date and time, within the limits of clause 4, section 5, article i of the constitution, to be announced by the chair in declaring the adjournment. Section 5, the speaker may appoint members to perform the duties of the chair for the duration of the period addressed by section 4 of this resolution as though under clause 8a of rule i. Section 6, each day during the period addressed by section 4 of this resolution shall not constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 7 of the war powers resolution, 50 u. S. C. 1546. Section 7, each day during the period addressed by section 4 of this resolution shall not constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of rule 13. Section 8, each day during the period addressed by section 4 of this resolution shall not constitute a calendar or legislative day for purposes of clause 7c1 of rule 22. Section 9, each day during the period addressed by section 4 of this resolution shall not constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of rule 15. Section 10, it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider concurrent resolutions providing for adjournment during the month of july, 2020. Section 11, it shall be in order at any time through the calendar day of july 19, 2020, for the speaker to entertain motions that the house suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule 15. The speaker or her designee shall consult with the minority leader or his designee on the designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this section. Section 12, the requirement of clause 6a of rule 13 for a twothirds vote to consider a report from the committee on rules on the same day it is presented to the house is waived with respect to any resolution reported through the legislative day of july 21, 020. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized for one hour. Mr. Mcgovern madam speaker, for the purposes of debate only i yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from oklahoma, mr. Cole, pending which i yield myself such time as i may consume. During consideration of this resolution all time is yielded for the purposes of debate only, and i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Mcgovern madam speaker, on thursday, yesterday, the rules committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 967, providing for consideration of House Resolution 965, authorizing remote voteling by proxy in the house of representatives voting by proxy in the house of representatives and providing for official Remote Committee proceedings during a Public Health emergency due to a Novel Coronavirus resolution. And h. R. 6800, the heroes act. Madam speaker, the rules committee met for over nine hours and while there are strong disagreements between democrats and republicans on these matters, i want to say that the proceedings were civil and i appreciate that very much. I want to thank the Ranking Member, mr. Cole, for the tone that he set. Not only yesterday, but in all of our hearings on issues where we have Common Ground and issues where we disagree. The rule provides for consideration of h. Res. 965 under a closed rule. Provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on rules. And provides upon adoption of the rule shall be in order without intervention any point of order to consider the resolution. The rule further provides for consideration of h. R. 6800, under closed rule, selfexecutes a managers amendment from chairwoman lowey, provides two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on appropriations and one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule also provides that upon adoption of the rule it shall be in order to consider the bill in the house without intervention of any question of consideration. Finally, the rule provides Suspension Authority through july 19, 2020, and same Day Authority and recess instructions both through july 21, 2020. Madam speaker, let me begin with a snapshot of what we are seeing in america today. A Novel Coronavirus that has infected more than 1. 4 Million People in this country. And has taken the lives of close to 90,000 americans already. More than 20 million jobs lost in the last month. Communities asked to stay home. Businesses closed. And Unemployment Rate that stands at 14 and growing. Lines for food banks that stretch for miles. And First Responders working to the bone to save lives. People are struggling, madam speaker, we havent seen numbers like this since the great depression. This situation demands a whole of government response that matches the challenges that we face. Im proud that this congress has come together on multiple bills that provide trillions of dollars in emergency aid. We knew then that although those bills were a large investment, they were just the first step in our response. This rule will allow for consideration of the heroes act, a comprehensive response to further help the American People. This bill is named after the teachers, health care workers, and First Responders that keep us all safe. It puts these heroes front and center by providing more than 1 trillion for states and localities to give them the pay that they have earned. The bill also establishes a heroes fund totaling 200 billion, so that the essential workers who have risked their lives during this pandemic get the hazard pay they deserve. There is another 75 billion for coronavirus testing, treatment, and tracing. There is support here for workers, renters, homeowners, and Small Businesses. This legislation also protects our democracy by providing resources to ensure safe federal elections, an accurate census count, and Postal Service that can continue its vital work. I am especially proud to see provisions here to fight the growing hunger crisis in america. That includes many of the ideas behind the bipartisan, bicameral feed act and a separate 15 increase in the under the snap under snap. Our nations premiere antihunger program. More than 40 Million People relied on this program even before this pandemic hit. When people say they want to get back to normal, i want to get back to better than normal because having 40 Million People in this country hungry even before this pandemic is unconscionable. We need to do better. Today we see lines for food banks across the country that go for miles and miles. Parking lots are so full at some these place these look like some gathering for a major sporting event. Instead it is people just trying to secure their next meal. This is happening in the richest country on the face of the earth. A country whose president , by the way, was trying to weaken the snap program and slash its benefits before covid19 hit. If he succeeded, that would have thrown millions and millions of poor people off the program. People are suffering, madam speaker. But just this Week Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell called this bill a messaging exercise. I dont give a darn about spending a message, madam speaker. I want to send help to those in desperate need. As we act on this bill today, we are also moving forward as part of this rule with temporary changes to ensure that congress can continue legislating throughout the covid19 pandemic. That includes enabling virtual Committee Proceedings and remote voting on the house floor during this emergency. I dont suggest these changes lightly. I still believe that we do our best work in person and side by side, but we must temporarily embrace technology during this unprecedented time. The same way local governments and countries around the world have, so we can continue legislating as safely as possible. Madam speaker, the status quo has become dangerous and unacceptable, we must act. Threats lets meet this moment, honor our heroes, and make sure we can act throughout this pandemic. I encourage all my colleagues to support this rule antiunderlying measure. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from oklahoma. Mr. Cole madam speaker, i thank the gentleman from massachusetts, my good friend the speaker pro tempore would the gentleman suspend. If the gentleman could move the microphone up closer, and also the gentleman from massachusetts, we are having trouble hearing. Mr. Cole is that better . The speaker pro tempore thank you. Mr. Cole hang on a second. I think i got it. Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, i thank my good riend, the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Mcgovern, for ielding me the customary 30 minutes and i yield myself such time as i may consume. Madam speaker, were here today that providesrule for consideration of two items. Todays rule establishes a consideration of h. R. 6800, what the majority is act, but is eroes etter described as an 1,800page, 3 trillion list of priorities. T involves the most consequential change to the house rules. It covers two key areas. Irst, it would impose for the first time in our history as an institution a system of proxy floor of the house of representatives. That change also allows for the totally remote voting upon the certification of member of congress, chairman lofgren, of a Te Technology for that use. Would also allow remotely. To go i said quite a bit about these ules changes at our Committee Meeting yesterday and i continue to stand by those comments. Believe those changes will fundamentally alter the nature of the institution and not for the better. E must never forget that the house is part of a congress. Literally, a physical meeting between delegates. We move to acting remotely, we lose that fundamental aspect character. We lose the opportunity to meet together, discuss ideas, discuss and move Forward Together on bills that shape our nation. Way that does a not, in my view, pass constitutional muster. To reject olleagues these rules changes today and return to the drawing board so a can act together in bipartisan manner to ensure congress can continue to operate crisis. His not to be outdone without attempting to change the fundamental nature of the house representatives. And todays rule, the majority is proposing an enormous bill change l fundamentally the nature of our country. We saw for the first time on tuesday afternoon, an is 1,800 pages long. While we do not yet have a majority is the purporting that the bill includes spending in excess of trillion. And to make matters worse, the bill was assembled with only democratic input. A stretch to say that this bill is nothing more than agenda ic policy masquerading as a response to the coronavirus crisis. Without saying, madam speaker, that this bill is going nowhere nd is going fast. The senate will not consider this bill. The president will not sign it law. Why are we wasting what precious little time that the speaker is to be assembled here at the capitol on partisan policy priorities of one party of working together in a bipartisan manner is beyond my understanding. More so surprising is how quickly the majority ants to move on a bill of this magnitude. Just six weeks ago, Congress Passed and the president signed act, a bill cares that provided over 2. 3 billion relief efforts. And just two weeks ago, we bill another bipartisan that provided an additional 500 billion in relief. These twoe money from bills havent even been spent yet. But now democrats are falling over themselves to spend another 2 trillion on their own priorities. Simply astonishing. Let me be clear of one thing, madam speaker. House and the the senate and in the white house stand ready to work with another to pass time isan Corona Relief after the normal give and take of serious consideration. When it comes, will be very different in scope and detail from what we are today. Ring here consider just a few of the provisions in h. R. 6800. Trillion in spending. Nearly 10,000 for every american. Bailout of ial multiemployer pension plans. Student 10,000 of loan debt per person. Federalizing the national system. Changing credit scoring models collection. Debt requiring nationwide vote by mail and sameday registration. On. Uld go on and and on. But i think everyone gets the picture. O much of whats in this bill simply has nothing at all to do with the current crisis. A liberal Ike Christmas card list wish list. Sense, in my more view, madam speaker, to send it than ht to santa claus send it to the United States senate. It has a better chance of that way. Aw madam speaker, this doesnt make sense. If the majority actually wants to help americans, there are ways to do partisan so. We could be focusing on our efforts on legislation to combat the pandemic, to get people back to work and to restore the economy. Weve been handed and over 3 trillion in democra