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

Thank you, madam speaker. I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield to my friend from maryland, the majority leader. Mr. Hoyer i thank my friend from georgia for yielding. On monday the house will meet at 9 00 a. M. For morning hour debate, i repeat that because its unusual. On monday, 9 00 a. M. For morning hour debate and 10 00 a. M. For legislative business, votes expected to occur as early as 2 30 p. M. On tuesday and wednesday the house will meet at 9 00 a. M. For morning hour debate and 10 00 a. M. For legislative business. On thursday, the house will meet at 9 00 a. M. For legislative business. The house will consider h. R. 1425, Patient Protection and Affordable Care enhancement act. This bill will sig canly increase the a. C. A. s affordability, subsidies, lower Prescription Drug prices, expand coverage and crack down on junk plans. While strengthening protections for people with preexisting conditions an addressing Racial Health disparities. The house will also consider, madam speaker, h. R. 7301, which is the emergency housing protection and relief act of 2020. This bill would authorize nearly 200 billion for the dire Housing Needs arising due to the covid19 pandemic. H. R. 7301 which was included in the heroes act would help renters an homeowners by extending the eviction an foreclosure moratorium, provide 100 billion for emergency rental assistance and 75 billion for ohm owners assistance to coverage mortgage, property tax and more than 11 billion for homeless assistance programs. I would again reiterate that that bill passed as a part of the heroes act which is now pending in the senate. Lastly, the house will consider h. R. 2, moving forward act. This bill would invest more than 1. 5 trillion in modern, sustainable infrastructure while creating millions of goodpaying jobs, combating the Climate Crisis and addressing disparities in urban, suburban and rural communities. It provides reauthorization of the surface transportation program, invest in schools with the reopen and rebuild americas schools acts, invests over 100 billion in our nations Affordable Housing infrastructure, delivers affordable high Speed Broadband Internet Access to all part of the country and promote nuss Clean Renewable Energy infrastructure. We expect at that point in time o be out on thursday for the july 4 break and i would tell the house that the two weeks that will follow the july 4 weekend will be reserved as will the first weeks in june for committees to do their work, in particular the National Defense authorization act, being considered by the House Armed Services committee. That bill is obviously a very lengthy, composes half, a little more than half of the Discretionary Spending and we expect the committee to need substantial time to mark up that bill. In addition, the Appropriations Committee will be marking up its 12 bills for consideration by the house and then the last two weeks we will be taking the products that will not be limited to the ndaa thend Appropriations Bills but will be primarily taking up time with other legislation that will be promoted and sent to the floor for consideration by the committees. I yield back my time. Thank you and i very much appreciate that update and question, does the gentleman expect to consider amendments to h. R. 2 on the transportation bill on the floor next week . Mr. Hoyer yes. I talked to does the gentleman yield . Yes. Mr. Hoyer i talked to mr. Mccarthy yesterday. Obviously because of the time frame that the covid19 health strictures have imposed on us it takes a long time to vote on amendments. So rather than consider amendments individually the leader and i talked about having amendments either in managers amendments or in amendments which have a lot of individual amendments within them and theyll be considered engross. So there may well be a lot of amendments but we hope to hold the votes down to aing moreable level. As you know, votes have been taking about an hour so that every amendment, if we took every amendment we wouldnt finish until september. So were trying toing more that. And were working with the minority leader. I yield back. Thank you. Im happy to hear that but it seems kind of odd. This week when we were considering the Police Reform bill there were no amendment considerations and i believe the majority leader, madam speaker, said on the floor that we have constraints on amendments because of the coronavirus. So i ask if there were amendment constraints this week, do those same constraints exist next week . Mr. Hoyer it turns out we consider the bill in the house the same way minority leader wanted to consider the excuse me the majority leader in the senate wanted to consider the scott bill or the republican policing bill. So both houses wanted to consider them apparently in the same way. Mr. Ferguson i certainly appreciate that. I was disappointed this week in the fact that i thought we had a chance to make the bill better. Police reform bill. It was a genuine effort on both sides of the aisle to have this discussion. Once again, you know, republican voice was left out. There were some really good amendments and ideas from our sides that simply did not gain consideration on the floor and they should have. One such example was decline amendment that would have discouraged collective bargaining agreements with organizations that really kind of had poor officer disciplinary tactics. Something that really could have fundamentally changed how departments operate in big cities. But anyway. Its a disappointment. Hate that we did not get to do that. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson for a minute, yes. Mr. Hoyer we are hopeful the senate will pass a bill. I know my friend will say yes but its the democrats that stopped the bill. Let me tell you i genuinely hope that we have a bill passed by the senate that we go to onference, and that we adopt a bill which can garner the support of the majority of the house and senate and can be signed by the president of the United States. As i said on the noor when we considered the bill, karen bass and the Congressional Black Caucus and those of us who strongly support the bill, we dont want to send a message, we want to make a difference. To the extent that making a difference requires us to have agreement between the two parties, im hopeful we will get to that. Mr. Ferguson reclaiming my time. Those words are fine now. But when we talk about having agreement and talk about having those discussions, madam speaker, clearly the committee and this body should be considering it as an entire body. Opportunity for us to consider those amendments here on the floor of the house is really important. But we understand that the minority in the senate blocked a debate and continuation of mr. Scotts bill, senator scotts bill, which was quite candidly an excellent piece of legislation and if anyone has not seen his remarks on the senate floor in his speech i would highly encourage you to do it. That was a disappointment. But then to hear the majority leader say were going to eliminate debate in this house simply to do it in conference, i think were we deserve better opportunity for that. But i understand. Youre in the majority and thats the way that yall have chosen to do that but hopefully we can get to that point where we can have those honest debates right here on the house floor. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson for just a minute. Mr. Hoyer the gentleman will surely note that when his party was in power and scheduling bills uric had the most closed rules of any congress in the history of the congress. I yield back. Mr. Ferguson it seems to me that i voted on a lot more amendments last year than i have this year. We probably did have more closed bills. We seem to have a lot more legislative activity, seemed to be a lot more productive. But anyway. So mr. Speaker, another thing that is concerning to us, were disappointed ast whats transpired in the house over the recent weeks. For the first time in 230 years, have come to d. C. To represent their constituent, they no longer need to do that. They can now turn their voting cards over to another member, including Speaker Pelosi or any other member, and have them vote in their place. One thing im thankful for is that the covered period for this laid out by the speaker comes to an end july 4 an we look forward to seeing all the members come back to do their jobs. Since many states are fully reopened and even here in d. C. Phase two reopening is in place, you can go to restaurants an gyms, as a matter of fact we can even now go to the house gym again. Most employees are returning to work. With that said id like to confirm with the gentleman that he does not plan to extend the july 4 covered period and continue this absurd proxy voting scheme . Mr. Hoyer first of all, of course i reject emphatically the premise that this is absurd. As the gentleman knows there were some 70, some weeks ago who cast a vote, there were 30 today. They cast their votes because they were concerned about their health or families to whom they would return health. And i think the gentleman probably has been reading as well and maybe listening to the cases inary spike in that have been identified and the concern that the hospital beds will be overrun. We will end this when the medical community, not somebody who has no medical knowledge and very little command of the facts tells us time to get together again. When he told people to do that, they did get together, 10 of whom apparently work for the white house who have gotten inected, and frankly, spikes , in arizona, as and yes, even in california. And some other states as well including arkansas. Now im not sure exactly what the figures are in your state, but mr. Speaker, madam speaker, i believe that were going to continue to be concerned about the health of the members, the health of the staff, the health of the people who cover us on behalf of the american people, so i cant tell you whether its going to end. Because i cant tell you when the pandemic is going to end. I conditioned tell you when the spike in numbers of people getting sick or dying are going to end. But i can tell you we will be very sensitive to the risks and we will act accordingly. Mr. Ferguson certainly we want to be safe and thoughtful about what we do. But i think america, i think weve done an excellent job of what we set out to do. Not to stop the spread of this virus, but it was to slow the spread of the virus. Not a single one of us, not a Single Person in america, wanted to see one of our fellow americans suffer because there was not room for them in a Health Care Facility where they needed it. And i think that weve done that. I think america has shown that theyve had the discipline to stay at home and to bend the infection rate curve down. So sure, there will be more americans thattle contract covid. Thank goodness that our Health Care System is Strong Enough and intact that we have the capacity to take care of the most vulnerable. Speaking of that, you know, i think as i have watched a lot of the news, a lot of the data, very, very, very concerned about the most vulnerable in our nation. And i think one of the most horrific things thats happened seemed to be the blatant disregard for rules from c. D. C. And c. M. S. By some governors where they returned covid positive patients to the Nursing Homes where they were able to infect the most vulnerable. So id ask the majority leader, do you think that there will be legislation considering how to protect our patients in Nursing Homes and also to really hold those accountable that violated the rules and were reckless with our fellow americans lives. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson i yield. Mr. Hoyer i hesitate to ask a question i dont know the answer to, so i wont. I dont know which governors the gentleman is talking about, i want to find that out. Mr. Forgetson reclaiming my time for just a minute, i would refer you to the special Committee Led by the gentleman from south carolina, mr. Clyburn, and i would refer you to the data coming out of that committee that clearly indicates where those particular states are. I yield back. Mr. Hoyer let me tell the gentleman that we certainly intend to continue, as i said, to try to protect the american people. Lot of people have died, over 122,000 people have died. And every one of mr. Ferguson and every one is a tragic loss. Mr. Hoyer the president of the United States said this virus was a hoax. It was a he said hoax people didnt have to worry about it. I tell my friend from georgia, a hoax. A gentleman who refuses to set the example of wearing a mask which the science and medical people say we ought to do. A gentleman who really shunted aside much of the science and medical advice that he got. So i tell the gentleman, we hope that the president is as concerned as you have stated you are and i know that i am and i think all of our members are. But i will tell you that mr. Ferguson i am certainly meant to reclaim some time. I am certainly glad to hear that my colleague from maryland is truly committed to making sure that every single american stays the safest they possibly can. And when those incidents occurred where rules were violated, regulations were disregarded, and there was in fact harm caused to our fellow americans, boy, i tell you what, im glad to know youre committed to getting to the bottom of that as well. Because i believe that youre a man of honor and integrity and i believe that your commitment to lead it to go to where the data and the facts are, i tell you what. Im awfully glad to hear that. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson absolutely. Mr. Hoyer he hope the gentleman has as high expectation of the president of the United States that he has of others. Mr. Ferguson not only expectation. Theres gratitude for the work that the president and the administration have done to get information out, to expand testing, to go out to make sure that the resources were delivered to our colleagues in the great state of new york. Things, resources there to build extra hospital beds. The nursing home patients could have gone to, but unfortunately were sent back to their Nursing Homes. Yes, im grateful not only for his commitment to america, but im grateful for the fact that he has helped lead this country and will continue to lead this country back. Yes, we should all expect a lot of ourselves. We should be committed to the greatness of this country, as i know that we all are. And with that, madam speaker, i yield. Mr. Hoyer i yield back the alance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california, ms. Waters, seek recognition . Ms. Waters pursuant to house esolution 1017, i call up h. R. 5332, the protecting your credit score act of 2020, and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk Union Calendar number 335, h. R. 5332. A bill to amend the fair Credit Reporting act, to ensure that consumer reporting agencies are providing fair and Accurate Information, reporting in Consumer Reports and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 1017, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on Financial Services, printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part c of house report 116436 is adopted. And the bill as amended is considered read. The bill as amended shall be debatable for one hour, equally divided among and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on Financial Services. The gentlewoman from california, ms. Waters, and the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Mchenry, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california, ms. Waters. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days within which to revise and extend their marks on h. R. 5332, and to insert extraneous material thereon. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i yield myself such times i may consume. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i rise in support of h. R. 5332, the protecting your credit score act of 2020. I would like to thank representative gottheimer, the bills sponsor, for all of his hard work and leadership on this important Bipartisan Legislation. He worked extensively for most of last year to seek the input and support of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, making improvements along the way. Our Credit Reporting system is badly broken. And consumers have little recourse. It should be no surprise that Consumer Complaints regarding Credit Reporting errors and failed attempts to fix these errors are consistently a top complaint submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the federal trade commission. This demonstrates that millions of consumers are frustrated with the Current System and need our help. H. R. 5332 would direct the nationwide consumer reporting agencies to create a streamlined, Patient Protection<\/a> and Affordable Care<\/a> enhancement act. This bill will sig canly increase the a. C. A. s affordability, subsidies, lower Prescription Drug<\/a> prices, expand coverage and crack down on junk plans. While strengthening protections for people with preexisting conditions an addressing Racial Health<\/a> disparities. The house will also consider, madam speaker, h. R. 7301, which is the emergency housing protection and relief act of 2020. This bill would authorize nearly 200 billion for the dire Housing Needs<\/a> arising due to the covid19 pandemic. H. R. 7301 which was included in the heroes act would help renters an homeowners by extending the eviction an foreclosure moratorium, provide 100 billion for emergency rental assistance and 75 billion for ohm owners assistance to coverage mortgage, property tax and more than 11 billion for homeless assistance programs. I would again reiterate that that bill passed as a part of the heroes act which is now pending in the senate. Lastly, the house will consider h. R. 2, moving forward act. This bill would invest more than 1. 5 trillion in modern, sustainable infrastructure while creating millions of goodpaying jobs, combating the Climate Crisis<\/a> and addressing disparities in urban, suburban and rural communities. It provides reauthorization of the surface transportation program, invest in schools with the reopen and rebuild americas schools acts, invests over 100 billion in our nations Affordable Housing<\/a> infrastructure, delivers affordable high Speed Broadband<\/a> Internet Access<\/a> to all part of the country and promote nuss Clean Renewable Energy<\/a> infrastructure. We expect at that point in time o be out on thursday for the july 4 break and i would tell the house that the two weeks that will follow the july 4 weekend will be reserved as will the first weeks in june for committees to do their work, in particular the National Defense<\/a> authorization act, being considered by the House Armed Services<\/a> committee. That bill is obviously a very lengthy, composes half, a little more than half of the Discretionary Spending<\/a> and we expect the committee to need substantial time to mark up that bill. In addition, the Appropriations Committee<\/a> will be marking up its 12 bills for consideration by the house and then the last two weeks we will be taking the products that will not be limited to the ndaa thend Appropriations Bills<\/a> but will be primarily taking up time with other legislation that will be promoted and sent to the floor for consideration by the committees. I yield back my time. Thank you and i very much appreciate that update and question, does the gentleman expect to consider amendments to h. R. 2 on the transportation bill on the floor next week . Mr. Hoyer yes. I talked to does the gentleman yield . Yes. Mr. Hoyer i talked to mr. Mccarthy yesterday. Obviously because of the time frame that the covid19 health strictures have imposed on us it takes a long time to vote on amendments. So rather than consider amendments individually the leader and i talked about having amendments either in managers amendments or in amendments which have a lot of individual amendments within them and theyll be considered engross. So there may well be a lot of amendments but we hope to hold the votes down to aing moreable level. As you know, votes have been taking about an hour so that every amendment, if we took every amendment we wouldnt finish until september. So were trying toing more that. And were working with the minority leader. I yield back. Thank you. Im happy to hear that but it seems kind of odd. This week when we were considering the Police Reform<\/a> bill there were no amendment considerations and i believe the majority leader, madam speaker, said on the floor that we have constraints on amendments because of the coronavirus. So i ask if there were amendment constraints this week, do those same constraints exist next week . Mr. Hoyer it turns out we consider the bill in the house the same way minority leader wanted to consider the excuse me the majority leader in the senate wanted to consider the scott bill or the republican policing bill. So both houses wanted to consider them apparently in the same way. Mr. Ferguson i certainly appreciate that. I was disappointed this week in the fact that i thought we had a chance to make the bill better. Police reform bill. It was a genuine effort on both sides of the aisle to have this discussion. Once again, you know, republican voice was left out. There were some really good amendments and ideas from our sides that simply did not gain consideration on the floor and they should have. One such example was decline amendment that would have discouraged collective bargaining agreements with organizations that really kind of had poor officer disciplinary tactics. Something that really could have fundamentally changed how departments operate in big cities. But anyway. Its a disappointment. Hate that we did not get to do that. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson for a minute, yes. Mr. Hoyer we are hopeful the senate will pass a bill. I know my friend will say yes but its the democrats that stopped the bill. Let me tell you i genuinely hope that we have a bill passed by the senate that we go to onference, and that we adopt a bill which can garner the support of the majority of the house and senate and can be signed by the president of the United States<\/a>. As i said on the noor when we considered the bill, karen bass and the Congressional Black Caucus<\/a> and those of us who strongly support the bill, we dont want to send a message, we want to make a difference. To the extent that making a difference requires us to have agreement between the two parties, im hopeful we will get to that. Mr. Ferguson reclaiming my time. Those words are fine now. But when we talk about having agreement and talk about having those discussions, madam speaker, clearly the committee and this body should be considering it as an entire body. Opportunity for us to consider those amendments here on the floor of the house is really important. But we understand that the minority in the senate blocked a debate and continuation of mr. Scotts bill, senator scotts bill, which was quite candidly an excellent piece of legislation and if anyone has not seen his remarks on the senate floor in his speech i would highly encourage you to do it. That was a disappointment. But then to hear the majority leader say were going to eliminate debate in this house simply to do it in conference, i think were we deserve better opportunity for that. But i understand. Youre in the majority and thats the way that yall have chosen to do that but hopefully we can get to that point where we can have those honest debates right here on the house floor. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson for just a minute. Mr. Hoyer the gentleman will surely note that when his party was in power and scheduling bills uric had the most closed rules of any congress in the history of the congress. I yield back. Mr. Ferguson it seems to me that i voted on a lot more amendments last year than i have this year. We probably did have more closed bills. We seem to have a lot more legislative activity, seemed to be a lot more productive. But anyway. So mr. Speaker, another thing that is concerning to us, were disappointed ast whats transpired in the house over the recent weeks. For the first time in 230 years, have come to d. C. To represent their constituent, they no longer need to do that. They can now turn their voting cards over to another member, including Speaker Pelosi<\/a> or any other member, and have them vote in their place. One thing im thankful for is that the covered period for this laid out by the speaker comes to an end july 4 an we look forward to seeing all the members come back to do their jobs. Since many states are fully reopened and even here in d. C. Phase two reopening is in place, you can go to restaurants an gyms, as a matter of fact we can even now go to the house gym again. Most employees are returning to work. With that said id like to confirm with the gentleman that he does not plan to extend the july 4 covered period and continue this absurd proxy voting scheme . Mr. Hoyer first of all, of course i reject emphatically the premise that this is absurd. As the gentleman knows there were some 70, some weeks ago who cast a vote, there were 30 today. They cast their votes because they were concerned about their health or families to whom they would return health. And i think the gentleman probably has been reading as well and maybe listening to the cases inary spike in that have been identified and the concern that the hospital beds will be overrun. We will end this when the medical community, not somebody who has no medical knowledge and very little command of the facts tells us time to get together again. When he told people to do that, they did get together, 10 of whom apparently work for the white house who have gotten inected, and frankly, spikes , in arizona, as and yes, even in california. And some other states as well including arkansas. Now im not sure exactly what the figures are in your state, but mr. Speaker, madam speaker, i believe that were going to continue to be concerned about the health of the members, the health of the staff, the health of the people who cover us on behalf of the american people, so i cant tell you whether its going to end. Because i cant tell you when the pandemic is going to end. I conditioned tell you when the spike in numbers of people getting sick or dying are going to end. But i can tell you we will be very sensitive to the risks and we will act accordingly. Mr. Ferguson certainly we want to be safe and thoughtful about what we do. But i think america, i think weve done an excellent job of what we set out to do. Not to stop the spread of this virus, but it was to slow the spread of the virus. Not a single one of us, not a Single Person<\/a> in america, wanted to see one of our fellow americans suffer because there was not room for them in a Health Care Facility<\/a> where they needed it. And i think that weve done that. I think america has shown that theyve had the discipline to stay at home and to bend the infection rate curve down. So sure, there will be more americans thattle contract covid. Thank goodness that our Health Care System<\/a> is Strong Enough<\/a> and intact that we have the capacity to take care of the most vulnerable. Speaking of that, you know, i think as i have watched a lot of the news, a lot of the data, very, very, very concerned about the most vulnerable in our nation. And i think one of the most horrific things thats happened seemed to be the blatant disregard for rules from c. D. C. And c. M. S. By some governors where they returned covid positive patients to the Nursing Homes<\/a> where they were able to infect the most vulnerable. So id ask the majority leader, do you think that there will be legislation considering how to protect our patients in Nursing Homes<\/a> and also to really hold those accountable that violated the rules and were reckless with our fellow americans lives. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson i yield. Mr. Hoyer i hesitate to ask a question i dont know the answer to, so i wont. I dont know which governors the gentleman is talking about, i want to find that out. Mr. Forgetson reclaiming my time for just a minute, i would refer you to the special Committee Led<\/a> by the gentleman from south carolina, mr. Clyburn, and i would refer you to the data coming out of that committee that clearly indicates where those particular states are. I yield back. Mr. Hoyer let me tell the gentleman that we certainly intend to continue, as i said, to try to protect the american people. Lot of people have died, over 122,000 people have died. And every one of mr. Ferguson and every one is a tragic loss. Mr. Hoyer the president of the United States<\/a> said this virus was a hoax. It was a he said hoax people didnt have to worry about it. I tell my friend from georgia, a hoax. A gentleman who refuses to set the example of wearing a mask which the science and medical people say we ought to do. A gentleman who really shunted aside much of the science and medical advice that he got. So i tell the gentleman, we hope that the president is as concerned as you have stated you are and i know that i am and i think all of our members are. But i will tell you that mr. Ferguson i am certainly meant to reclaim some time. I am certainly glad to hear that my colleague from maryland is truly committed to making sure that every single american stays the safest they possibly can. And when those incidents occurred where rules were violated, regulations were disregarded, and there was in fact harm caused to our fellow americans, boy, i tell you what, im glad to know youre committed to getting to the bottom of that as well. Because i believe that youre a man of honor and integrity and i believe that your commitment to lead it to go to where the data and the facts are, i tell you what. Im awfully glad to hear that. Mr. Hoyer will the gentleman yield . Mr. Ferguson absolutely. Mr. Hoyer he hope the gentleman has as high expectation of the president of the United States<\/a> that he has of others. Mr. Ferguson not only expectation. Theres gratitude for the work that the president and the administration have done to get information out, to expand testing, to go out to make sure that the resources were delivered to our colleagues in the great state of new york. Things, resources there to build extra hospital beds. The nursing home patients could have gone to, but unfortunately were sent back to their Nursing Homes<\/a>. Yes, im grateful not only for his commitment to america, but im grateful for the fact that he has helped lead this country and will continue to lead this country back. Yes, we should all expect a lot of ourselves. We should be committed to the greatness of this country, as i know that we all are. And with that, madam speaker, i yield. Mr. Hoyer i yield back the alance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california, ms. Waters, seek recognition . Ms. Waters pursuant to house esolution 1017, i call up h. R. 5332, the protecting your credit score act of 2020, and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk Union Calendar<\/a> number 335, h. R. 5332. A bill to amend the fair Credit Report<\/a>ing act, to ensure that consumer reporting agencies are providing fair and Accurate Information<\/a>, reporting in Consumer Reports<\/a> and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution<\/a> 1017, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on Financial Services<\/a>, printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part c of house report 116436 is adopted. And the bill as amended is considered read. The bill as amended shall be debatable for one hour, equally divided among and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on Financial Services<\/a>. The gentlewoman from california, ms. Waters, and the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a>, mr. Mchenry, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california, ms. Waters. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days within which to revise and extend their marks on h. R. 5332, and to insert extraneous material thereon. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i yield myself such times i may consume. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i rise in support of h. R. 5332, the protecting your credit score act of 2020. I would like to thank representative gottheimer, the bills sponsor, for all of his hard work and leadership on this important Bipartisan Legislation<\/a>. He worked extensively for most of last year to seek the input and support of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, making improvements along the way. Our Credit Report<\/a>ing system is badly broken. And consumers have little recourse. It should be no surprise that Consumer Complaint<\/a>s regarding Credit Report<\/a>ing errors and failed attempts to fix these errors are consistently a top complaint submitted to the Consumer Financial<\/a> Protection Bureau<\/a> and the federal trade commission. This demonstrates that millions of consumers are frustrated with the Current System<\/a> and need our help. H. R. 5332 would direct the nationwide consumer reporting agencies to create a streamlined, Single Online<\/a> portal for consumers to have easy access to free Credit Report<\/a>s and Credit Scores<\/a>, dispute errors and place security freezes. With that, i will retain the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore thank you. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. I rise in opposition to h. R. 5332. Mr. Hern and mr. Mchenry i want to first thank the gentleman from new jersey for his work on this bill. Im disappointed were not able to come to a bipartisan compromise. We worked for the better part of a year to try to achieve a good product that could broadly be supported and this product does not represent that work. Sadly. Unfortunately we didnt get there. And i believe that we are considering today a bill that is just another attempt for House Democrats<\/a> to socialize the Credit Report<\/a>ing and scoring industry. Were voting on a bill that will decrease competition, increase fraud, prop up the trial bar, and expand authority of an already unaccountable cfpb. Consumer financial Protection Bureau<\/a>. First, this bill directs the three nationwide Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies to create a shared online portal. This portal will allow unlimited and Free Consumer<\/a> access to credit information. This is good. Credit freezes. This is good. And allows consumers to initiate disputes. Well, that all sounds very good. In fact, republicans support a onestopshop for consumers to access important credit information. But were talking about the three largest players in the industry and this bill codifies their place, their structure, their favored view of the current marketplace and enshrined them further into play enshrines them further into law with this outsized authority. This bill could be in condones their Market Structure<\/a> by mandating that many of their services be merged into a single web portal. This doesnt make things better. It makes it worse. If Congress Really<\/a> wants to protect consumers, we should be working to promote more competition in the Credit Report<\/a>ing and scoring industry. We should be promoting new ways to eliminate barriers to entry, not promoting what really comes down to Less Consumer<\/a> choice. Second, this bill requires the complete Social Security<\/a> numbers be used to confirm a consumers identity. So heres the problem. The bill fails to set appropriate standards to protect that information. Specifically, the bill directs the Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies to match all nine digits of a consumers Social Security<\/a> number before including any information in Consumer Credit<\/a> reports. That sounds well, fine and good. But we know hacks happen. Just look at federal employees, weve had our information hacked and stolen. Look at the Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies. Theyve had their information hacked and stolen. This is why we wanted to come to a bipartisan compromise. Theres something legitimate we should be doing. But today not all data furnitures collect Social Security<\/a> numbers for Consumer Credit<\/a> information to the Credit Bureaus<\/a>. That means that this bill will has a requirement now that they collect all the Social Security<\/a> information to confirm the consumers identity. This will potentially have two negative consequences for consumers. First, data thats not already linked to that Social Security<\/a> number will be excluded from Credit Bureaus<\/a>. That means under this bill, Accurate Information<\/a> will be removed from no for no oregon reason than using the Social Security<\/a> number. This will actually decrease the Predictive Power<\/a> of credit files, thats a negative for consumers. And that in turn will jeopardize the ability of lowcost im sorry, low the ability to get lowcost credit for consumers. Especially for those who are on the margin, where much of their information is derived by being a consumer and paying back regular consumer debt. Second, data furnishers will start aggressively capturing and storing Social Security<\/a> numbers for consumers just so the data can be used in the credit models. That means that our Social Security<\/a> number will be in more places and Identity Theft<\/a> can then increase with more opportunities to steal our information. It means that consumers will be further at peril for fraudulent activities by bad and malicious actors. So Committee Republicans<\/a> have consistently expressed concern with the private sector and governments use of Social Security<\/a> numbers for Identity Verification<\/a>. I think we should all agree on that. This bill will only exacerbate the problem by statutorily directing an increase in reliance on this personal information. Very highly personal information. Next, this bill creates an additional opportunity for trial lawyers to exploit litigation, the litigation system, ultimately raising the cost of credit for all consumers. The bill expands the private right of action under the fair Credit Report<\/a>ing act to allow for injunktive relief. It further provides plaintives plaintiffs with compensation for attorneys fees and more litigation means increased costs associated with Credit Report<\/a>ing. Additionally, this bill allows consumers to continuously dispute information, even if the account is verified as accurate, promoting an endless cycle of frivolous reinvestigations and decreasing the effectiveness of Credit Report<\/a>ing. Lastly, this bill contain continues the democrats goal of expanding the Statutory Authority<\/a> of the cfpb. E bill creates duplicative omni budsmen in the cfpb for Credit Report<\/a>ing. Something they currently have but the person has more than just Consumer Credit<\/a> reporting responsibilities. Since its creation, Congressional Republicans<\/a> have fought to place the unaccountable government agency, this unaccountable government agency, under the annual appropriations process and have argued that the single director structure is unconstitutional. Thats being litigated and will be decided by the Supreme Court<\/a> this summer. While the current cfpb director is working to increase accountability and transparency at the agency, we dont know what the next director will do, if he or she will use abuse his or her power. We should fix the cfpb before we expand their authorities. So, i also want to take issue with a larger set of issues here. The democrats decision to report out a closed rule means that you cant even have the ultimate goal of a bipartisan bill. That can then get action in the senate and then potentially get a signature by the president. This too is a sad sign of the state of affairs and what seems to be a highly broken legislative process than were in the midst of it. Further demonstrates my point that many colleagues that my colleagues in particular on the other side of the aisle have no interest in working with republicans to craft a bill that will protect consumers personal information. I submitted many amendments to the rules committee to provide for targeted solutions. Eliminating this reliance on Social Security<\/a> numbers, removing paid nonelective medical debt from Credit Report<\/a>s, which this bill fails to do. Allowing parents to electronically freeze their minors Credit Report<\/a>s, which this bill fails to do. Requiring sources for Public Record<\/a> data in Credit Report<\/a>s, which would then expand credit files so that those are on the margins for credit worthiness, would have enhanced credit potentially. Rohibit the inclusion of prohibit predatory mortgage lending or private Student Loans<\/a> in Credit Report<\/a>s, this bill does not act. And directing g. A. O. To study and report to congress on nontraditional data in Credit Report<\/a>s. This has bipartisan support in the committee. Those are sensible measures that could have been included if we had an open amendment process. But then again were wearing masks, were conducting business in this odd way, were where member cans vote for other members who are not here on the house floor and we have to go through this long process so i understand they have a need to rush. Right . But this is an illconceived bill that will have a negative impact on every american, every american, this is signed into law. So i think we need better consideration and a better product that can actually achieve a bipartisan outcome. So lets vote no on this. And lets get on with the real work of the american people. Yield back. Reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time is reserved. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from new jersey, the author of this bill, and a member of the financialer is vess uses of the Financial Services<\/a> committee. Mr. Gottheimer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Gottheimer thank you for allowing me to speak today on behalf of my Bipartisan Legislation<\/a>, h. R. 5332, the protecting your credit score act of 2020. Since i took office ive been committed to helping protect seniors and other vulnerable communities from fraud and to protect their financial well being. Like many of thinkmy colleagues, constituent in my district are feeling economic pain caused by the on doing pandemic. Just this week, a constituent of mine reached out to ask what can we do as policymakers to help protect peoples credit during this crisis . Im proud that were able to provide americans with debt and credit relief as part of the bipartisan cares act prork tecting homeowners in fore bearance and federal student loan borrowers. We are able to continue to work to do so with the bipartisan heroes act which is yet to become law which is in the senate awaiting action and that act including suspending negative Credit Report<\/a>ing in the pandemic, giving americans time to recover economically before theres a risk of being hit on their Credit Report<\/a>s, its also time that we look at the way hard working americans are able to track and ensure accuracy in their Credit Report<\/a>s so their scores are where they need to be as we progress into economic recovery. I want to thank chairwoman waters for her impactful leadership and partnership on this bipartisan bill and her incredibly supportive and smart team. I also want to thank Ranking Member<\/a> mchenry for spending so many months working with me in such a constructive and cooperative manner. My bill reflects a lot of his wise input. I too am sorry we werent able to find ultimate common ground. I want to thank my good friend and cochair of the bipartisan problem solvers caucus, tom reed, for his work cosponsoring this important legislation. After working on this bill for a year i was proud when the bill was reported favorably out of the Financial Services<\/a> committee on december 11, 2019. Im also proud the house last night passed the landmark George Floyd Justice<\/a> in policing act. We must continue to come together as a country to fight for Racial Justice<\/a> on all fronts and to combat inequalities that have plagued the nation for too long including the ability to access credit. Credit impacts all community, impacting what americans pay for a car, whether they can get a mortgage for a house, rates on a credit card and how much they can receive for a Small Business<\/a> loan. The impact it has is especially strong on communities of color and experts testified to the Financial Services<\/a> committee that the Credit Report<\/a>ing system is biased particularly against these communities. Running this crucial part of our economy are three companies in United States<\/a> that literally hold the keys to the kingdom. Its an olgoply. They decide americans credit fate on whether they should get access to credit and its all done in a closed off system behind the drapes an we dont know what goes on. How they develop those scores. And im glad the Ranking Member<\/a> is interested in trying to get more competition into that process and im very eager, im sure the committee is too to Work Together<\/a> on that front. Im glad there are areas we how old he would like to go further on overall, and im eager to sit down as well. But the bottom line is these three Credit Bureaus<\/a> come up with thain ore magic number. Hue dee knee himself couldnt figure out how the Credit Scores<\/a> are calculated. They have their own secret formula. It impacts every aspect of your life from your car loan to your mortgage and its up to you to track it and beg them to fix inankaracies when they arrive which is far too often and most auvens not your fault. The best way to discover if there are errors on your Credit Report<\/a> is to check your Credit Report<\/a>s from these companies. Consumers have the right to view the report for free once every 12 months. Otherwise you have to pay out of pocket and track down these reports. Expert recommend checking your report before applying for a new line of credit, making a Large Purchase<\/a> or renting or buying a home because a mistake could seriously affect your credit and lead to more costs. And things like that Rising Interest Rates<\/a> that we that would affect your loans an even worse you may be ineligible to qualify for financing altogether. The federal trade commission has found that one in five consumers have verified errors in their report, not of their own making, and one in 20 have errors so serious they would be denied credit or need to pay more for it. That adds up to 42 million americans with errors in credit and 10 million with errors that can be life altering. We also now live in a world where data breaches are constant threat. Unfortunately every year, 15. Million americans are victims of credit card fraud. 42,000 people every single day. 42,000. According to the her vant risk council, 80 of all credit cards are compromised. And the Identity Theft<\/a> Resources Center<\/a> has reported that as of june 11 there have been 475 reported data breaches already this year exposing more than five million records. And once youre a victim, almost immediately, the criminals start in. They apply for new cards, for mortgages, for loans for cars, anything else they can get their hands on all under your name, affecting your credit score within these three Credit Bureaus<\/a> and its vital the fraudsters be caught immediately and not be allowed to cause further between the one free annual report. Its happened to my sister, to my constituents, to people i know and im sure everyone out there knows someone this has happened to. When someone is the target of this fraud right now its up to the victim to fix these issues. They receive all the burden of chasing after these three companies with their own systems and procedures and beg them for help and that can take three to six months. My Bipartisan Legislation<\/a> with congressman tom reed of new york asks the private sector, not the government, to help fix this. This is a big distinction here i want to point tout ott Ranking Member<\/a>. This is a private sector this is driven by the private sector not the government to fix this issue. My bipartisan bill sets up a onestop shop online portal to check your Credit Report<\/a> for free at any time. It allows victims to shut off the ability to have credit crooks from using their information to apply for credit under your name. The portal will also provide the ability to initiate and resolve disputes between you and the Credit Bureau<\/a> and youll be able to see who the bureaus have sold your data to in the prior two years because they take your data and make money on your information. The bill strengthens Cyber Security<\/a> safeguards to help prevent a repeat of the 2017 equifax data breach. The bill also asks the g. A. O. To examine the most secure and accurate marker to track your credit whether its your Social Security<\/a> number or another federal identifier. And this is very important. Im glad the Ranking Member<\/a> raised this issue because i agree we should find the best possible identifier thats most secure and thats exactly what this study is all about because we need to make sure we keep your identity secure. By creating this one stop portal, all three Credit Bureaus<\/a> will have to Work Together<\/a> to protect you and make your lives better not the other way around. And i understand the issue raised about security and making sure this is not handed off to someone. Thats why again as i say this private sector will develop these websites and to a point about this that was raised. If my friend actually really concerned about, and he thinks these three bureaus dont have cure websites now, we better get them here immediately and find out why hes worried about that and find out if they should be more secure. Were asking them to develop a website like they have now which i hope and i will ask the companies again, i hope that they are doing everything pble to keep their own websites secure. When my own siser had her credit hacked last year she told me she was lucky to get a day off from her job to figure this out. She had to sit on the phone and chase everyone. What if you dont have the ability to take a day off to be on the phone with the Credit Company<\/a> to chase down the issues. My bipartisan bill will fix this and help american prospect what they spent a lifetime building. Im proud to have the support of several consumers groups. The president of the National Association<\/a> of realtors sent a letter that states, transparency in the reporting process and use of consumer information, high standards for vetting information and a reliable method for contesting and correcting information are critical to a vibrant housing. Other supporting groups include the Consumer Federation<\/a> of america, consumer action and world privacy forum. We didnt earn the support of every group and i recognize that, i am proud that even among those who disagrea with us act knowledge the efforts we took in order to work toward a bipartisan agreement. I will continue to work and make every effort. I appreciate the acknowledge of that effort. Finally let me say during a downturn and throughout the years well spend recovering for it, americans Financial Security<\/a> will and must be paramount. Weve already seen spikes in fraud throughout this pandemic especially related to direct payments and direct different types of loans and the chairwoman has worked overtime in all of our bills to make sure we do Everything Possible<\/a> to protect americans during this time and im grateful for her leadership. As we recover from this crisis i want to make sure americans can protect their credit and resolve disputes that may arise. As s. E. C. Chairman testified yesterday to the house Financial Services<\/a> committee, the best thing you can do is understand your credit and get your credit under criminal. We need a modernized system that empowers all consumers, especially those facing new challenges with this new pandemic work transparency and the ability to correct errors and to make sure everyone can have access to credit so they can have a home, a car, and enjoy everything that everyone who works hard should have access to. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan bill which will help every american. Thank you madam speaker, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a>. I highlight for the bills sponsor that first with equifax data breach its proof that the industry could use better data standards. Second, making sure they have the fullness of the Social Security<\/a> numbers only means when they steal that information they also steal our full Social Security<\/a> nurbles so they can have full action for fraudulent activity. Mr. Mchenry and Identity Theft<\/a>. That we know and it should have been addressed in this bill and thats a failure of this legislation, thats a reason i oppose itful i yield to the gentleman from northwest georgia, mr. Loudermilk, the Ranking Member<\/a> on the Artificial Intelligence<\/a> task force. For three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Loudermilk thank you, madam speaker. I thank our rnking our Ranking Member<\/a> for not only yield bug his fine leadership in this committee. I also appreciate my colleague, mr. Gottheimer, the sponsor of this legislation. I appreciate his leadership on this and i truly believe he did work very hard in a bipartisan manner to try to come to an agreement. Up fortunately we werent able to close that gap. I hope Going Forward<\/a> we will be able to do that. This is something we do support on this side with the certain constraints to protect the consumers identity. One of my Major Concerns<\/a> on this is Cyber Security<\/a>. As was spoken about earlier, the bill would create an online portal for consumers to access Credit Report<\/a>s from all three major Credit Bureaus<\/a> in one place. The idea is a good idea and very worth discussing. And very worth pursuing. But in its current state it would be a massive amount of Sensitive Data<\/a> in one place so it must be done in a way that is cyber secure to make sure that the information doesnt lead to more fraud and more Identity Theft<\/a>. As someone who spent many years in the i. T. Sector as i know my good colleague, mr. Gottheimer, as has has as well, im concerned about potential breaches of this portal. We remember the 2017 equifax data breach that financed the Financial Information<\/a> of millions of americans. The last thing we should do is increasing the chance of that kind of event happening again. This bill has the potential to do that very thing. It does not include robust Cyber Security<\/a> protections to make sure the information is secure. Another worthy goal of the bill is to make it easier for consumers to dispute errors in their Credit Report<\/a>. It allows consumers to repeatedly dispute the same information on their Credit Report<\/a> even if its found to be accurate which would lead to unnecessary and frivolous disputes. Another significant concern i have with this bill is that it would expand the authority of the Consumer Financial<\/a> Protection Bureau<\/a>, the cfpb is unaccountable Regulatory Agency<\/a> that took many rogue actions thrned eprevious administration. My threes on the other side of the aisle know that expanding the cfpbs power is a nonstarter for republicans, therefore i cannot support this bill and ask my colleagues to oppose this bill and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters i yield to the gentleman from new jersey an additional five minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Thank you, madam chairwoman. I just just one point i want to bring back up, if i may. I want to thank my friends for his comments and i appreciate his Work Together<\/a> and our efforts together here. The one point about the Social Security<\/a> number that i want to raise is, the bill requires a study at the g. A. O. To see what the best answer is, whether from a if its a federal identifier number or Social Security<\/a> number, whatever the best answer is. Got got if it turns out mr. Gottheimer if it turns out, tie am very concerned with making sure i too am very concerned with making sure we have the best outcome to protect people and their information. If the g. A. O. Comes back and says we should develop a new federal identifier so that we keep it separate from the Social Security<\/a> numbers, then to me that would be the best outcome and thats why its exactly why the bill requires the g. A. O. To study this. Again, theres one other point. If we are concerned about the current security and cybersecurity of course, ill yield. In one section of the bill you have the study to say whether or not using Social Security<\/a> numbers is good or bad. I think thats good. That was laudable. The problem is, in another part of the bill, you mandate immediately that they need the fullness of Social Security<\/a> numbers in order for the data to be included. Mr. Mchenry thats what im highlighting and thats one of the rubs i have with the bill. Mr. Gottheimer thank you. Yes, they also have a period of time to develop the site. Its not going to happen overall. In that period of time, we will get direction on what the best outcome is in terms of using a federal identifier and we will execute against that as we develop this site. Back to the site. If the three bureaus, if right now our concern is that their sites are not secure, then we better have them in and explain have them in immediately and take and have them take us through their site. Again, because if youre still oncerned about this mr. Mchenry we on a bipartisan basis beat them up, which is a rare thing in congress, we beat them up because they had a massive data breach that exposed our data. Thats why i sincerely wanted to get to the bottom of this and have a bipartisan bill. This is not a result of this product. Mr. Gottheimer just one owe just one question on that. Do you feel the three are insecure and are you concerned about them . Mr. Mchenry for sure. For sure. Thats why i wanted to get to a solution and this bill sadly incorporates none of the additional things i wanted. Mr. Gottheimer would you agree we should have them back in immediately to talk to them and find out if theyve made progress . Mr. Mchenry the point is, we could have had a massive vote on something that reforms them, rather than bringing them in and wag our finger again. Mr. Gottheimer whole point is because theyre still insecure, we better have people have access to their data all the time, and thats what this bill does. So they can find out instead of having to pay 15 every time to see if these sites are secure. Thats my concern. I yield back. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry i yield myself 30 seconds. What i would say is this. Very simply, madam speaker. We could have had a bipartisan solution here. Thats what i was offering. Give up the right of private action so you have more lawsuits and give up your view of a governmentcentric portal that basically enshrines these big three, those are two additions. The final kicker is this. End the reliance on Social Security<\/a> numbers and put the date in the future and the Technology Solution<\/a> will be there. That is an industry mandate that i offered as a matter of compromise the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Mchenry with that i yield to my colleague from davy county, North Carolina<\/a>, great leader on the Financial Services<\/a> committee, mr. Budd, for two minutes. I already yielded time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Budd thank you, madam speaker. I want to rise in strong opposition to h. R. 5332. The protecting your credit score act of 2019. Although ill not be supporting the gentleman from new jerseys legislation, i want to make sure that people know that i consider him as a friend and i thank him for his efforts to try and bring reform to the Credit Report<\/a>ing industry. There are some good ideas in this bill. Such as the onestopshop approach for consumers to freeze and unfreeze their credit for all three nationwide bureaus that weve just talked about. As well as access Credit Report<\/a>s and scores. But even this idea is taken too far in the bill and it leaves too many Unanswered Questions<\/a> about exactly how the going to be carried out. Now, its truly unfortunate that a bipartisan compromise was not reached. I know the Ranking Member<\/a> and his staff worked tirelessly on this with the gentleman from new jersey and his staff. But a few other point i want to make. Points i want to make. Its a chief priority for Committee Republicans<\/a> to protect consumers personal information. Thats something that we both both sides have brought up. But yet were preparing to vote on a bill that still makes Social Security<\/a> numbers the primary way to identify a person. Despite the fact that we know Social Security<\/a> numbers threaten scumers personal information consumers perm information. Worse yet, it will mandate furnishers to match all nine Social Security<\/a> digits. Another concern with this bill is the creation of yet another ombudsmen to deal exclusively with consumer reporting agencies. This provision has is unnecessary and duplicative. The cfpb already has an ombudsman to deal with consumerfacing issues. Theres no logical reason why the proposed authorities cannot imply be given to the existing ombudsperson. This is another move by the democrats to expand the Statutory Authority<\/a> of the unaccountable cfpb. So i urge opposition to this bill and i want to yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters i yield three minutes to the gentleman from illinois, a member of the inancial Services Committee<\/a>, mr. Casten. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Casten thank you, chairwoman waters. I rise in support of h. R. 5332, the protecting your credit scored act. I support this bill because like so Many Americans<\/a> i personally know the frustration of dealing with erroneous marks on your Credit Report<\/a> and thought id share a recent story. About a month ago i got a letter from a bank where i dont have an account. Bank of america. They were thanking me for something that i didnt recognize. So i did what all good americans do. I threw it in the recycle bin and moved on with my day. Next day i got a similar letter from Navy Federal Credit<\/a> union where i also do not have an account. And this one had a summary of my credit score and was shortly followed with another note saying that my account was verdrawn by 3250 32,50 3,250. The only reason the Navy Federal Credit<\/a> Union Letters<\/a> got my attention is because they were addressed to Lieutenant Commander<\/a> sean casten. Ive been called a lot of things in this job, but that is a rank that i have never earned. A few phone calls and a similar overdraft notification from bank of america later, and i had fraud alerts placed on both accounts. On the advice of the banks, i called transunion to ensure this wouldnt show up on my Credit Report<\/a>. Agent was helpful. At the end of the call she said, is there anything else i should know . I just couldnt resist telling her only that im a member of the house financials Services Committee<\/a> with oversight review and i appreciate how helpful youve been. Now, i tell that story because i was able to correct this. But i can imagine a ton of other scenarios where i dont check the recycling, where im not alleged to be a commission naval officer, where i hadnt been in enough Committee Hearings<\/a> on this subject to recognize a fraud early on. And in all those stories and scenarios, this has a much less happy ending. But those incidents happen every day to an awful lot of americans. We know that 21 of consumers had verified errors on their Credit Report<\/a>s. 13 had errors that affected their Credit Scores<\/a>. 5 had errors serious enough to cause them to be denied or pay more for credit. But those will only be accounts we know about. Many dont know where to turn or have the resources or time to correct them. Fraudulent or accidental marks on a Credit Report<\/a>ing can have a lifealtering consequence. So its important that those reports are correct. But Credit Scores<\/a> and reports are critical gate keep for americans Financial Wellbeing<\/a> and access to the most basic Building Block<\/a> of the american dream. It is determinative in setting premiums for auto and homeowners insurance, landlord on which renters they want to rend their rent their apartments to. Your score determines if you must make a bigger deposit to get your utilities. The why this bill is so important. It creates an Online Consumer<\/a> portal where consumers will have free and unlimited access to their Consumer Reports<\/a> and Credit Scores<\/a>. By allowing consumers the ability to initiate disputes about Credit Report<\/a> accuracy, rather than all the rig ma role i had to go through, to place a security freeze is a critical tool that allows americans control and the ability to remedy those errors. Its 2020. Its long past time nod earnize the way consumers address errors on their credit score. I thank representative gottheimer for introducing this bill and i urge my colleagues to vote yes. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from north arolina is recognized. Mr. Mchenry at this time i yield got ins i yield two minutes to mr. Riggleman. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Riggleman thank you, madam speaker. Do i rise today in opposition to h. R. 5332, protecting your credit score act. Id like to thank the Ranking Member<\/a> for his leadership but also my colleague from new jersey, not only is he a friend, i respect him very much. I do applaud your efforts on this legislation. I share his interest in ensuring Credit Report<\/a>s are complete, accurate and transparent, i believe this bill fails to achieve what goal. The passage of h. R. 5332 will have a harmful and unintended consequence for consumers. It is simply put yet another veiled attempt to socialize the Credit Report<\/a>ing and scoring industry that will cause harm to hardworking americans. This bill is disguised as proconsumer but this will decrease competition, increase the cost of credit for consumers, provide opportunities for trial attorneys to exploit the litigation system, and expand the authority of the Consumer Financial<\/a> Protection Bureau<\/a>. It undermines the fair Credit Report<\/a>ing act and our ability to maintain a nationwide Credit Report<\/a>ing system that benefits businesses and consumers. This bill would create a conflicting patchwork of interpretations of the fair Credit Report<\/a>ing act that will lead to confusion among Financial Institutions<\/a> and raise costs for all consumers. While my colleague named this bill the protecting your credit score after 2019 act of 2019, it does little to protect consumers and their data, quite to the contrary, expands and increeb increases the risk of harm to consumers. This bill mandates that three nationwide Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies create a shared online portal and would create significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities for consumers and companies. All while creating opportunities for bad actors to manipulate and take advantage of our consumer data. And i know a little bit about this because ive done this for about 22 years. Creating a onestopshop for the Credit Report<\/a>, personal information and Social Security<\/a> number of every individual would be disastrous in the event of a cyberhack or data breach. We need to find targeted solutions that focus on increasing the cybersecurity capability at Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies, increase competition and increase access to credit for consumers and businesses, rather than put forward proposals that undermine the consumer reporting system and further empower unelected bureaucrats at the expense of the free market. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters thank you, madam speaker. May i inquire as to how much time i have left . The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman has 12 1 2 minutes remaining. Ms. Waters i yield three minutes to the gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Gottheimer thank you, madam chairwoman. And thank you the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. By the way. Mr. Gottheimer im sorry, madam speaker. Sorry about that. I thank mr. Riggleman for his points. Hes a good friend and i respect him deeply. I disagree here respectfully. The whole point of this is to protect consumers. And giving consumers more data to have access to, about themselves and to understand their own Credit Scores<\/a> and their own Credit History<\/a> and have more transparency into their own lives does not hurt them, it helps them. And thats exactly what were doing today. So that if you are hacked, if you are one of the millions of americans whose credit is stolen every single day, and you are trying to put your credit life back together, not by your own making, because someone did it to you and theyre opening accounts and doing things to you, what this legislation will do is help you. And instead of having to spend hours chasing down the three bureaus and hope that they actually do what they say theyre going to do and put your credit back together so when you want a house or a mortgage and you want you want a car and you want to do the things that youve worked very hard to build your credit for, someone else who stole your credit wont be able to undermine that. And thats what this bill does. One point, the bill, just to clarify this important point that the Ranking Member<\/a> made, the bill does not mandate the collection of Social Security<\/a> numbers. It simply requires that Credit Bureaus<\/a> match the information they already have on file to ensure that jane dough in illinois who defaults on her payments does not impair the credit of jane d. O. E. In indiana. One of the about doe in indiana. One of the biggest reasons they have mix errors on their files is because of mixes. Its another reason why we need a place for consumers to go, to get free access to the reports, to file complaints immediately and contest issues when they see them. And to make sure their credit isnt sold off to someone else right underneath them. And thats the point of thisment and why were having a g. A. O. Study is to make sure we find the best way, the most secure way to do this Going Forward<\/a>. This legislation protects consumers, it protects americans. And it doesnt look out for the oligopoly. We need more competition there. It looks out for the American Consumer<\/a> and thats the point. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry i think since this is such a critical issue we should count up how many hearings when he in the Financial Services<\/a> committee. We had one, one in february of 2019. We could have got yep to the bottom of these things if we had multiple hearings. I stead we got a bill on the floor that doesnt achieve the things we needed to achieve. With that yield two minutes to the gentleman from yeas and naysville, wisconsin. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from wisconsin is ecognized for two minutes. Mr. Style like many of my colleagues i am committed to ensuring all consumers can have faith in the validity of their credit score. Unfortunately the bill failstocheemb that goal. It puts consumers at greater risk of having their information sfolen. It threatens to increase the cost of credit by creating more opportunities for trial lawyers and by making scores less protected. Further, it expands the jurisdiction of the Consumer Financial<\/a> Protection Bureau<\/a> which is completely unaccountable to congress. Credit scores are an essential part of our financial system, both republicans and democrats i believe agree on that point. We also agree that Many Americans<\/a> have difficulty accessing their credit due to their poor or insufficient credit histories. With that in mind, we should Work Together<\/a> to enhance Cyber Security<\/a> at Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies, reduce fraud, and help consumers get the relief they need in times of crisis. Our ranking minority member has been a leader on this issue, introducing amendments and stand alone legislation to move the ball forward. Unfortunately his ideas and the ideas of those on our side of the aisle and our constructive suggestions have not been included in this bill making it a flawed bill. I urge my colleagues to oppose the legislation and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Miss waters ms. Waters madam speaker, i would inquire of the chair if my colleague has any remaining speakers on his side. Mr. Mchenry i do. Ms. Waters i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry at this time id like to yield to the Ranking Member<\/a> of the Capital Markets<\/a> subcommittee, the gentleman. Om ottawa county, michigan ill keep going on so he can get to the microphone. Yield to my colleague, the Ranking Member<\/a> of the Capital Market<\/a> subcommittee for four minutes. The speaker pro tempore the distinguished gentleman from michigan is recognized for four minutes. Thank you, madam chair, from michigan i might add. Appreciate that. And, madam chair, i rise today in opposition to 5332. Its not because i dont lieve that there isnt a mowive behind this that isnt intended to help consumers. I just dont think its going to hit the target. Mr. Huizenga this bill requires the largest threing agencies to create a shared online portal to allow consirmse onestop access to consumer report, scores, freezes, and initiate disputes. This portal would contain information counsel sear rights and directions on how to dispute a Credit Report<\/a>, though requires Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies to match all nine digits of a consumers Social Security<\/a> number with the information included in a consumer file. In addition, the bill codifies the cfpbs supervision of Credit Report<\/a>ing agencies and expands their authority to establish quote, administrative, technical, and safeguards currently under the graham leech bliley act. The bill provides inunderive relief to compel a reporting agency to fix an error, remove inAccurate Information<\/a>. It creates an additional ombudsman to the cfpb tasked with reports not addressed in a timely fashion and allow the ombudsman to make referrals to the supervision of enforcement for correct corrective action. We are all supportive of increased access and available on Credit Report<\/a>s, scores, file freezes, but this legislation is just overly broad and perspective. I, too, like one of my other colleagues who just talked about having mysterious things show up in the mail. I have been a victim of that. I have also had my credit card number stolen in the past. We have had to be online and try to deal with these things. The goal to make sure that we are all protected as much as possible is a lofty goal. What is the problem here, though, is that this is going to potentially decrease competition, which then actually disincentivize that access. Increasing fraud risk which im very concerned about. Propping up the trial bar which i know is a common theme here in washington, d. C. At least out of one party. And expanding the authority of the bureau of the Consumer Financial<\/a> Protection Bureau<\/a>. Lets talk a little bit about the p. I. , personal identical information. When you are putting matching all nine digits of consumers Social Security<\/a> numbers, it doesnt provide any alternative alternate methods for verification. We have had problems with this in the past. I for one and many republicans have consist teptly a number of my democrats have Democrat Friends<\/a> have consistently expressed concerns regarding the private sector and governments overreliance on the use of these Social Security<\/a> numbers. For Identity Verification<\/a> threatens consumers personal information. I oppose the securities and Exchange Commission<\/a> and other federal agencies that have used p. I. I. In their databases because there have been breaches. Im reminded of the old adage why would you rob theback . Because thats where is the money s why would you go after a database . Because thats where the digital gold is. What we are doing is we are putting more digital gold into a new database. So we are increasing that we are increasing that vulnerability. We need to be working to promote more competition in the Credit Report<\/a>ing and scoring industry not less. And i think thats what this bill, unfortunately, is doing. Instead we should be debating more teargetted solutions such as h. R. 3821, which would bolster Cyber Security<\/a> capacity at Credit Report<\/a>ing atecies. Encourage an alternative to use of Social Security<\/a> numbers. Protect minors against fraud. Help consumers who are maybe facing medical data urge my colleagues tree ject this bill. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the the gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters may i inquire if there are any other speakers . I reserve the right to close. Mr. Mchenry at this time i yield myself such time as i may consume. To close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry as i said in the opening, that this is yet another attempt by House Democrats<\/a> to socialize Credit Report<\/a>ing and scoring industry. This is we had an opportunity for a bipartisan bill, and this is not the work of that product, madam speaker. This bill will decrease competition in the industry, increase fraud risk related to consumers personal data, prop up the trial bar, and expand authority of the Consumer Financial<\/a> Protection Bureau<\/a>. If Congress Really<\/a> wants to protect consumers, we should be working to promote more competition to Credit Report<\/a>ing and scoring industry. We should be promoting new ways to eliminate the barriers to entry, not promoting what really comes down to Less Consumer<\/a> choice. We marked this bill up in the Financial Services<\/a> committee back in december. Committee democrats noted in their report on the bill, quote, it has been more than 15 years since congress enacted comprehensive reform of the Consumer Credit<\/a> reporting system. And there have been numerous shortcomings with the Current System<\/a> identified during that time that need to be addressed. End quote. Since the democrats took over in 2019, the house Financial Services<\/a> committee has had one, one hearing on Credit Report<\/a>ing. We had a bipartisan consensus on the things that needed to be done and the challenges therein. This hearing featured a public gilling of the c. E. O. s of the three nationwide bureaus. It discussed structural problems within the industry. Yet this bill just solidifies that structure. The number one complaint in the cfpb Consumer Complaint<\/a> database is about consumer issues with Credit Report<\/a>ing. Why are we reinforcing the current structure of this industry . By legislating that . We should promote more competition in the system, not perpetuate an obviously broken one. The democrats took issue with the market failure and Credit Report<\/a>ing, an issue we agree on. However, their legislative response does not do the things necessary to increase competition and Consumer Choice<\/a> and protect our data. The fact that democrat leadership decided this bill was perfect and needed no amendment demonstrates my point. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have no interest in working with republicans to craft a bill that will really protect consumers personal information this bill is about catering to their stakeholders. Ill reiterate like i have with so many bills that have passed the house. This bill has no chance of being passed by the senate or signed into law. Preserving access to and making available lowcost credit options to consirmse should be congress priority. We should be working towards bipartisan solutions, and we should prioritize those things. We should be working towards those solutions and thats why i urge a no vote on this bill. I would ask under general leave to include the opposition to this bill by the consumer data industry association, the credit union National Association<\/a>, the u. S. Chamber of commerce, the american banker association, the National Taxpayer<\/a> union, and the Consumer Banker Association<\/a> in opposition to this bill. The speaker pro tempore so ordered. Mr. Mchenry i urge a no vote and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time of the the gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters thank you very much. Madam speaker and members, it has been nearly 17 years since major reform legislation to address problems with Credit Report<\/a>ing has been enacted into law. To that end im pleased that earlier this year the house passed h. R. 3621, the comprehensive Credit Report<\/a>ing enhancement disclosure innovation and transparency act. Representative gottheimers bipartisan bill compliments those efforts to ensure we have a well functioning Credit Report<\/a>ing system thats streamlined, easy tureks and better protects the data of all consumers. Republicans were in charge when exwhich faction expose which faction equifax exposed american information. What was their response . Nothing. Enhanced Cyber Security<\/a> of the Credit Report<\/a>ing bureaus, republicans voted no. Representative gottheimer offered this bill that would strengthen Cyber Security<\/a> of Credit Bureaus<\/a>, and now republicans are saying no. We have some republicans opposing giving the cfpb expanded authority. Although i would note Ranking Member<\/a> mchenry introduced h. R. 3821 that would do just that, give the cfpb authority of Cyber Security<\/a> for the Credit Bureaus<\/a>. The bill before us would do the same. So i would urge republicans to reconsider their opposition to the bill. I would urge a vote, an aye vote on this commonsense bill. And i would like to insert into the record support of this bill from the american for financial reform, the National Consumer<\/a> law center, consumer action federation of america, Consumer Reports<\/a>, National Association<\/a> of consumer advocates. Also the National Association<\/a> of realtors. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Ms. Waters i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution<\/a> 1017, the previous question is ordered on the bill as amended. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The third reading. The clerk h. R. 5332, to amend the fair Credit Report<\/a>ing act to ensure consumer reporting agencies are providing fair and Accurate Information<\/a> reporting in Consumer Reports<\/a>, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 1c of rule 19, further consideration of. R. 5332 is postponed. For what purpose does the the gentlewoman from california rise . Ms. Waters pursuant to House Resolution<\/a> 1017, i call up h. J. Res. 90, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5 United States<\/a> code of the rule submitted by the office of the comptroller of the currency relating to Community Reinvestment<\/a> act regulations and ask the speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the joint resolution. The clerk house the clerk providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States<\/a> code, of the rules sub emptied by the office of the submitted by the comptroller of the currency relating to Community Reinvestment<\/a> act regulations. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution<\/a> 1017, the joint resolution is considered read. The joint resolution shall be debatable for one hour, equally divide and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on Financial Services<\/a>. The gentlewoman from california, ms. Waters, and the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a>, mr. Mchenry, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on h. J. Res. 90, and to insert extraneous material thereon. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Waters madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. Madam speaker, i rise in support of house joint resolution 90, a Congressional Review Act<\/a> resolution of disapproval, to nullify the office of the comptroller of the currencys rule undermining the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act. I introduced this resolution with our Consumer Protection<\/a> and Financial Institutions<\/a> subcommittee chair, representative meeks, and i am proud we are joined by 70 other members who have cosponsored the resolution. The Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is a Civil Rights Act<\/a>. It is a law enacted in 1977 to prevent the discriminatory practice of red lining red lighting, in which banks discriminate against proprotective customers in nearby neighborhoods, often based on their racial or ethnic background. The bank the law requires banks to invest and lend responsibly in low and moderate income communities where they are chartered. Unfortunately implementation of the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act has not been robust. Today 98 of banks routinely pass their Community Reinvestment<\/a> act exams. However, research has shown that more than 60 metro areas across the country are now experiencing modernday red lining today. These findings clearly demonstrate the need to strengthen the implementation of the law. Unfortunately the o. C. C. s rule would do the opposite. Despite the warnings of a wide range of stakeholders, former comp controller comptroller rushed to finalize this rule in his final days on the job. So without the support, without the support of the Federal Reserve<\/a> or the federal deposit insurance corporation, the other banking regulators for responsibly enforcing the law. He appears to have been determined to undermine the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act, ever since the law complicated his efforts to quickly obtain Regulatory Approval<\/a> for one west bank, a bank that he ran, with treasury secretary mnuchin to merge with another bank in 2015. I am deeply concerned that the o. C. C. s final rule will harm lowincome and minority communities that are disproportionately suffering during this crisis. Effectively turning the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act into the Community Disinvestment<\/a> act. If this resolution is not adopted, we will have different rules for different banks, leading to regulatory ash tragedy and a race to the bottom of weaker standards that will only hurt the people the laws intended to help. Notably, the o. C. C. Rule was adopted with insufficient and incomplete data and it incentivizes large deals at the expense of smaller and more continuous Financial Transactions<\/a> that truly benefit l. M. I. Communities. For example, the o. C. C. Final rule allows c. R. A. Credit to be given for activities in l. M. I. Qualified opportunity zones. But the rule does not ensure that these activities promote Community Development<\/a> that includes Affordable Housing<\/a>, a Small Business<\/a> economic development. This could lead to the unacceptable result of banks receiving c. R. A. Funding for building luxury housing in opportunity zones, providing no direct benefit to l. M. I. Communities. Additionally, the o. C. C. Concedes it does not have all the data it needs to properly implement its new c. R. A. Framework. With the rules stating that the o. C. C. Will need to issue yet another notice of proposed rulemaking in the future to help set specific bench margs, thresholds and minimums benchmarks, thresholds and men mums. It does not speak highly of a rule when the author says its halfbaked. A wide range of stakeholders have criticized the o. C. C. s effort. For example, a group of civil rights and consumer groups issued a statement noting, and quote, the new o. C. C. Rules stick with an overly systemic metric system simplistic metric system at that creates a loophole for banks to exploit, allowing them to get a passing c. R. A. Rating by making investment in communities where they can reap the largest rewards, while leaving too many credit needs unmet for underserved consumers and neighborhoods. Quoteunquote. During these difficult times, communities across the country have taken to the streets to demand justice and to tell their elected officials that they can no longer ignore the needs of communities of color. In a letter supporting this resolution, from various organizations, led by the Leadership Conference<\/a> on civil and human rights, and national Community Reinvestment<\/a> coalition, they wrote, and i quote, in the weeks since the o. C. C. Final itesed its rule, our nation has been facing a long overdue reckoning with our troubled legacy of racial and ethnic discrimination. Now is certainly not the time to weaken the most important civil rights laws we have at our disposal to correct these disparities, quoteunquote. Congress must block any effort by the Trump Administration<\/a> to weaken our civil rights laws and send a strong message to federal regulators that they should be doing all they can during this panama to help. Pandemic to help. Not hurt low and moderate income communities. And especially communities of color. By passing this resolution, congress will block the o. C. C. s harmful rule so that once the pandemic passes, banking regulators can renew efforts to collaborate, modernize and strength the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act with a new joint rulemaking that truly benefits the community the law was intended to help. Therefore, i urge my colleagues in the house to vote yes on h. J. Res. 90. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. And rise in opposition to the resolution. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mchenry as i said, i rise in opposition to this resolution. First, before i get into the contents of my discussion here, i first want to thank chairwoman waters for her steadfast and longtime leadership in supporting minority, rural, low and middle income communities. L. M. I. Communities. Her service in the California Assembly<\/a> and senate and ngress has been commensurate with that work and focus. Committee republicans share the chairwomans goal of strengthening these communities. For example, we know that Community Development<\/a>, Financial Institutions<\/a>, and minority depository institutions play critical roles in getting necessary funds to the smallest of Small Business<\/a>es in these communities. Committee republicans support the efforts of the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> to target small lenders, as well as Small Business<\/a>es and communities across america. Committee republicans believe the reforms made in the underlying final rule promulgated by the office of comptroller of currency will continue to support minority, rural and l. M. I. Communities into the 21st century. Madam chair, the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act was enacted in 1977. Nearly 43 years ago. Its purpose was to make sure, ensure depository institutions like banks and savings associations help meet the needs of their local communities. The law tasks the o. C. C. , as well as the other bank regulators, with issuing rules to carry out that purpose. However, the last time the c. R. A. Regulations were meaningfully updated was in 1995. I think we can all agree that a lot has changed in the past 25 years. Including how banks can best serve their communities. Much of this change has been driven by technology and innovation. In 1995, it was cutting edge when you could call your bank and get your balance and the last couple of checks that cleared your account. Calling up and not having to talk to somebody, and the computer tell you the answer. That was cutting edge. At that time only 24 of americans had access to the internet. Since that time, weve witnessed a massive shift to online and mobile delivery of Banking Service<\/a>s. And that is for good in many, many ways. And this virus has really enhanced that trend. Just in the last few months. This means that where banks get their depots deposits does not necessarily match up with where their branches are physical request located. Second, the number of Bank Branches<\/a> has steadily declined since the financial crisis. But the c. R. A. Regulations continue to place a very heavy emphasis on banks physical footprints. Rather than where they truly serve. At the same time, c. R. A. Exams have gotten more complex and less transparent. Banks can only guess which of their Community Investments<\/a> will receive credit because the exams are quite highly subjective. To the written evaluations the written evaluations can be thousands of pages long and yet the regulators and the public have no clear data to help understand where all the c. R. A. Money has gone. But theres sadly a few things that have not changed in the last 25 years. Sadly. Including socioeconomic conditions in the poorest communities, Economic Opportunity<\/a> and the persistent lack of capital in those communities. The c. R. A. s intended to help address those issues. And that is why its a vital and important law and properly structured can deliver in a better way. But clearly we know the status quo is not working. It is not working for the communities we care dess pray desperately about giving opportunity to. Economic opportunity to. And thats really what this is driven towards. With this law. Modernizing this Regulatory Framework<\/a> is long overdue. Here are a few aspects of the rule that i believe represent major improvements over the old regulations. First, the rule provides for a public list of activities that will count for c. R. A. Credit. So the community can understand , the banks can understand, and we as elected officials that have oversight over this program, we can understand too. And theyll have that public list on what counts for c. R. A. Credit. This list will eliminate regulatory ambiguity and provide certainty over the types of investments it will lead to a good evalue that will lead to a good evaluation. With more certainty, banks will naturally make more investments. That is how capitalism works. This change alone is likely to increase Community Reinvestment<\/a> across the board. Second, the rule provides a better model for where the activity can count. Banks will be incentivized to invest where they take deposits, instead of only around the branches. Let me explain. Previously, a bank was only evaluated on its lending and investment in an area around its physical footprint. But banking today is very different than it was a generation ago. When this regulation was written. Banking today with the help of new technology and innovation has changed substantially. So, if an online bank chooses a headquarters in one state, let me give you an example. Utah. Utah has a lot of online banks and they domicile in salt lake city. So thats where their Community Giving<\/a> is, around salt lake city. Even if they take most of their deposits from my district. So if you have that headquarters for online bank, it should not prevent them from making investments in other states or localities that need it desperately. Need capital. Under the final rule, banks will get credit for investing in socalled banking deserts. This has been a priority of mine for the last decade. To help those that are in communities where they cant get ready access. We know food deserts in urban areas. And if you cant get access to fresh food, you cant have a healthy diet. Thats a huge issue. Its a huge issue in rural areas, its huge issue in urban areas its a huge issue in urban areas. So we have banking deserts now. This rule prioritizes those banking deserts that dont have a branch. That dont have or dont have many branches. And those underserved places under this rule are distressed areas, economically distressed areas, tribal lands. Folks that have been hit by natural disasters. Regardless of where they get deposits or if they get deposits from those areas. I think there are laudable changes. Now communities without Bank Branches<\/a> that were essentially invisible under the current framework will be able to receive c. R. A. Investment. This is a huge improvement. Finally, the rule introduces objective metrics and transparent evaluations. I think that is a really good thing for regulation. Instead of a highly subjective exam and 1,000page evaluation, examiners will be able to deliver more consistent, useful and timely c. R. A. Evaluations. Timely, meaning more frequent and more readily available. Clear metrics will enable banks and the public have a better understanding of individual banks and Cross Sections<\/a> of the industry. Consumers will be able to see that and understand the type of institution they are banking with as well. Id also note that this final rule is a culmination of a multiyear process t reflects more than a decade of dialogue about how to make the c. R. A. Work better. It build on recommendations at federal banking agencies submitted to congress in 2017. And recommendations released by the Treasury Department<\/a> in april of 2018. And more than 7,500 comments submitted during the rule making process that updated and changed and made better the regulations that they put forward. Republicans an democrats agree the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is extremely important. Its important law. Because its important the regulations need to keep pace with how Americans Bank<\/a> today. I believe this rule is a huge improvement over the status quo. I urge my colleagues to vote against this resolution and support the underlying rule. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters the gentleman from new york who is the chairman of the subcommittee on Consumer Protection<\/a> and Financial Institutions<\/a>, and coauthor of this bill. Mr. Meeks. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Meeks thank you. I rise in support of resolution 90. And im proud to have joined chairwoman waters in introducing it. This resolution provides more congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the office of the comptroller of the currency relating to the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act. The Community Reinvestment<\/a> act was enacted into law as indicated in 1977 as a direct response the long painful legacy of structural discrimination, financial exclusion, red lining, and economic suppression of racial minorities in america. A legacy of prejudice and economic exclusion that we are seeing clearly today and echos to this day which is why many of the individuals you see in the streets today wanting to correct this structural problem that we have in our nation. At its core, the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is a civil rights bill. It was the fourth of a series of banking bills passed to address systemic discrimination in banking including the Fair Housing Act<\/a> of 1968, the equal credit opportunity act of 1974, and the Home Mortgage<\/a> disclosure act of 1975. These bills built on the findings of the 1961 report from the u. S. Commission on civil rights and communityled action in chicago to hold banks accountable for rampant discrimination in lending and ack in black and hispanic communities. Any lenders must remain true to this lady bulldog whycy legacy, particularly given the overwhelming evidence in discrimination in banking and access to finance. We must make sure what we look at c. R. A. , c. R. A. Is creating an opportunity for minority businesses to thrive and strive and investing further in these communities. That Affordable Housing<\/a> is something that is there. Not something where we are investing, driving people out so they cant have the benefits of it in the community t must be relevant to the community and keeping the people in the community so that they can see a better life. Under comptrollers leadership the o. C. C. s work on c. R. A. Modernization has systematically failed to remain true to the laws civil rights roots. In fact the very way the rule was finalized and published by the o. C. C. Was symtomatic of the agencies failed approach from the start. It was rushed, unfinished, unsupported by data, and not done in coordination with the other prudential regulators. To cap it off the comptroller abandoned his post with the very same issue of week of publishing this rule in the middle of a pandemic, economic crisis, and looming banking crisis, leaving everyone else to hold the bag. The fact is in fact the speaker pro tempore the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Ms. Waters i yield an additional 30 seconds. Mr. Meeks the fact is there is room to modendize c. R. A. And update to the realities of modern day. The fed and Community Advocacy<\/a> groups have put forward thoughtful ideas how to do that. Let us pass this bill. Let us stop this illfated the o. C. C. And do some real c. R. A. To help people in these communities who have been deprived for far too long. I field back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry at this time id like to yield to the great member of the Financial Services<\/a> committee, mr. Tipton, who also is the vice chair of the western caucus, yield three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Tipton thank the gentleman. Madam speaker, i rise in opposition to the resolution on the floor today. We agree that the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is an important historic piece of legislation. However my friends across the aisle have mischaracterized the o. C. C. s role and modernization of the c. R. A. First the o. C. C. s rule making process has been thorough, inclusive, and thoughtful. C. R. A. Regulations havent been meaningfully updated since 1995. Making this a much needed effort to ensure regulations match modern state and banking industries. The o. C. C. s process is included input from the Federal Reserve<\/a>, fdic, federal Financial Institutions<\/a> examination council, and the Treasury Department<\/a>. They have also provided ample opportunities for regulated banks and consumer groups to weigh in. Whats more, 94 of the participants in the o. C. C. s advance notice proposed rule making agreed that the current c. R. A. Rules like objectivity, transparency, and fairness. These are central things to the o. C. C. s modendization effort. Second, this update to the c. R. A. Is needed now more than of. One large bank c. E. O. Recently noted that due to covid19 the bank has seen somewhere between a 17 and 35 increase in Online Banking<\/a> activity that would normally been conducted in the branch. Americans are turning to Online Banking<\/a> resources now more than ever. The o. C. C. s rule takes steps to ensure the c. R. A. Dollars go to low and moderate income communities. Where banks draw their deposits, not only branches. This change is forwardlooking and should mark significant new opportunities to invest in underserved communities. Third, the o. C. C. Regularly meaningfully engaged with critics in the rule making process. The o. C. C. Met with community, and academic groups to listen to their concerns about the proposal. These meetings resulted in real changes to the o. C. C. s final rule, including it raised exemption thresholds for community banks, changes to the treatment of mortgage origination, and the sale of secondary market purposes for the c. R. A. In raising bar for a passing grade for c. R. A. Examinations. This rule creates greater accountability between banks, communities they invest in under the c. R. A. It adds transparency to activity that counts toward c. R. A. Credit. Creates fair and more timely examinations, and allows c. R. A. Performances to be measured assessment over assessment and against other banks. It also allows banks to be able to reach new constituencies with their c. R. A. Dollars. Mo most notably disabled, tribal, rural, and farm populations. By increasing regulatory certainty and reducing subjectivity, the o. C. C. s c. R. A. Modernization rule can equal greater lending and investment in underserved communities. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the measure and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters i yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, chairman of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations, mr. Green. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Green thank you, madam chair. It is an honor to serve in the congress of the United States<\/a> of america under your leadership. Madam chair, you and i know hat the c. R. A. Was not born to create luxury homes in opportunity zones. To c. R. A. Was not birthed provide opportunities in what are being called banking eserts that may not be in my communities. The c. R. A. Was born to correct the harm that the government had done in 1930s. At that time the government by and through the f. H. A. Decided that it would craft maps. These maps had red lines on them. And these red lines became communities that were undesirable, more appropriately they were deemed unsafe. And as a result lending institutions would not lend in these red lined areas. The c. R. A. Was born to end the discrimination, the redlining. But this bill takes a step back to the 1930s this. Bill will not undo the harm that was done, it will increase the harm. I cannot support it. The c. R. A. Was created to help l. M. I. , low, moderate income communities, have banking privileges that they were denied under the law. This bill doesnt help us with the l. M. I. s. Its going to give those big guys an opportunity to acquire these funds. I stand against it. I support the chair of the committee. And i stand for justice for the l. M. I. Communities. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry i would like to yield to the Ranking Member<\/a> of the Capital Markets<\/a> subcommittee, my friend from michigan, mr. Huizenga, for three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Huizenga thank you, madam chair. I rise today in opposition to h. J. Res. 90 which is an effort to overturn long overdue regulatory update of the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act. Frankly, its ludicrous to compare this modendization effort to bringing us back to 1930s banking policy. And i dont understand how my colleagues on the other side can possibly equate that. We all agree the fundamental purpose of the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is to combat unacceptable discriminatory redlining and demand that banks meet the credit needs of their communities. There is no disagreement on that. And my friend from new york laid out that history very, very well. It is the reason why we support the c. R. A. And modernizing it. However, the regulations promulgated to implement the c. R. A. Havent been updated since 1995. Earlier we were talking about Credit Report<\/a>ing. And the chair cited the fact that we had not addressed this in 17 years as to why we needed to pass the bill that was on the floor. Well, folks, we havent addressed the c. R. A. In any meaningful way for 25 years. We got eight years on that, on this particular issue. In may of this year the office of the comptroller the currency issued a final rule that modernizes the Community Redevelopment<\/a> act, regulations, for the 21st century. The final rule provides clarity to banks on what activities count for commute reinvestment credit. Updated the geographic definitions of a banks community. As well as the accounts for the technological transformation of Banking Service<\/a> that is we have seen. This will ensure that banks reinvestment will be in those communities that need it most. The final rule establishes new performance standards and trics that will allow o. C. C. Examiners to produce more consistent, fulse, and timely commute reinvestment act evaluations to promore clarity to banks. I understand some of my colleagues want to have this lets move the target to my pet project kind of a way of evaluating where a bank is going, but that is not what is intended to do. So lastly this modendization introduces objective reporting measures that will allow comparison over time and between banks which has never been possible in the history of the c. R. A. What is a good project in one one neighborhood should be viewed as a good project in an adjacent neighborhood. That isnt the case today. So as we work to ensure strong economic recovery for all americans, all americans, its critical that we encourage Financial Institutions<\/a> to continue to provide services to those most in need. I have the poorest county in the state of michigan. I have urban and suburban areas. These are areas that these are issues that affect all of america. The o. C. C. s rule will play an Important Role<\/a> in this recovery effort by encouraging more Capital Investment<\/a> and Lending Services<\/a> in the communities hardest hit by cofmente if i indulge the Ranking Member<\/a>. Mr. Mchenry an additional minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for an additional minute. Mr. Huizenga i appreciate the Ranking Member<\/a> in doing that. Let me just wrap up, by using the Congressional Review Act<\/a> to overturn this critical final rule, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will only delay progress and harm the very communities that i know they want to protect. They are the communities i serve as well. I urge all of my colleagues to vote against this part of san joaquin partisan attempt to overturn muchneeded reform, and i am hopeful that we are going to be able to come together and work on true meaning true, meaningful, actual reform in the long run. And with that, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters thank you. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from washington, a Senior Member<\/a> of the Financial Services<\/a> committee, mr. Heck. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from washington is recognized. Mr. Heck thank you, chairwoman, for introducing this important measure of which i am a proud cosponsor. This resolution is especially timely as we reckon with the legacy of discrimination in our country. And in that process we must consider how housing policy has contributed to systemic inequality. For decades in this country, we allowed a federal agency to legislatize Racial Discrimination<\/a> by creating these colorcoded maps indicating where investments would be profitable, greenlined, or where it would not be, redlined. We built institutional obstacles for black families, trying to purchase a home. And that resulted in devastating intergenerational financial disadvantages. Redlining prevebletted access to the single most prevented access to the single most wealthproviding tool that americans have an access to, thats owning a home. As a result, black families 17,000 ian worth of compared to 171,000 for white families. In fact, Home Ownership<\/a> by black families is 44 and by white families, 74 . We have a responsibility to do everything we can to creblingt this. After all, we correct this. After all, we created it. And yet, in the middle of a pandemic that has made Racial Disparities<\/a> all the more pronounced, the o. C. C. Rushed out a final rule that undermined the legislation that made red lining illegal. And they even did it without the support of the Federal Reserve<\/a> or fdic. The o. C. C. s vague definitions and overly simplistic metrics do not do justice to what a crucial role Home Ownership<\/a> and housing policy have played in racial inequality. Their approach takes us backward. If you dont want to go backward, vote yes on this measure. If you believe Home Ownership<\/a> should be available to all americans, regardless of skin color, vote yes on this matter. If you oppose red lining, vote yes on this measure. If you want to stand for Racial Justice<\/a>, vote yes on this measure. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry i just note for the record, madam chair, that the fdic approved just this week the this rule. The c. R. A. So that is in fact supports they actually support this underlying rule. With that, id yield to my colleague and friend from little rock, arkansas, the Ranking Member<\/a> of the National Security<\/a> subcommittee, mr. Hill. I yield to him for four minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arkansas is recognized. Mr. Hill thank you, madam chair. And thank you, Ranking Member<\/a>, for the time. My friends, i rise in today in opposition to h. J. Res. 90. But i rise in support of the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act. And i rise in support of the goal of c. R. A. For a fair and more equitable treatment of financial investment, particularly in low, mod ral income areas of our communities. This resolution overturns the update outdated Community Reinvestment<\/a> act regulation. Before its even had a chance to take effect. Speaking purely from a procedural standpoint, this resolution in my view, madam speaker, is not necessary. We could be spending time on the house floor today in a much more productive way to advance the economy. The office of the comptroller of the currency has gone through a rigorous administrative procedures act process. I think our constituents should know they conducted outreach since 2017, three years, and have taken all that into consideration. Federal reserve data, treasury recommendations, and have conducted both advanced notice for proposed rulemaking, and a notice of proposed rulemaking and received 7,500 comments. The final rule ended up incorporating much of this serious and constructive criticism. Received from all stakeholders, notably our community groups. Banks have been complying with the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act for years. This is not a new rule. This rule is simply being updated to reflect the current economic and Banking Conditions<\/a> in our country. The last time that was updated was 1995. Working for a publicly traded bank in arkansas then, i was involved in the training and the implementation at that bank for those 1995 revisions. And so, madam speaker, as one of the few members of congress who has actually gone through multiple c. R. A. Examinations, i can assure my colleagues that this rule could benefit from a thoughtful update. The final rule clarifies what counts for c. R. A. Credit. It updates what Bank Activity<\/a> counts for c. R. A. Credit. It evaluates the c. R. A. Performance of our Financial Institutions<\/a> in a much more fair, open manner. It makes c. R. A. Reporting more transparent and faster. It reflects the Fintech Community<\/a> of Digital Banking<\/a> in our country today, and it enhances c. R. A. For rural areas and tribal areas in our country. In short, the bank branch issue that the Ranking Member<\/a> mentioned is serious. Weve had a shrinking number of banks since the original rule was proposed in 1977. And the c. R. A. Rule was connected to those bank bramplings. It was connected to those Bank Branches<\/a>. So thats another reason for modernizing the rule. Since we created this Bank Branch Closure<\/a> system by our economy contracting the number of banks due to regulations, its a double whammy. Lets make sure that our banks can get credit for doing a good job on accessing all of our communities, particularly our minority, low, moderate income and rural areas served by those institutions. Lets fix this problem by having certainty that we have an effective c. R. A. Rule and its implemented properly and that we can all see our constituentsies benefited by that. Lets let the comptroller of the currency do their job. Theyre the banking experts. Theyre the ones who have been managing this work. Congress should not be undermining it. I thank the chairman for the time and i urge my colleagues to vote no on resolution but support the work of the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters i yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from massachusetts, a member of the Financial Services<\/a> committee, ms. Pressley. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from massachusetts is recognized. Ms. Pressley thank you, madam chair. I rise today in support of this critical resolution, reversing a rule tainted by conflicts of interest and callous disregard for the communities most affected. As hundreds of thousands take to the streets, as the cries for a reckoning with this nations past and present grow louder, this administration believes that the future is further deregulation. Today we reject the administrations position that it is banks that are deserving of our time and sympathy is further relief funding is denied to millions of struggling families. There is no separating the history of banking from the history of racism in this country. Wall street, our nations financial capital, is named after a structure erected by enslaved people and then served as a site where they were bought and sold. Today we have predatory lenders set up in black communities where systems of oppression ensure a steady stream of customers. Communities that banks have decided are simply not worth their time or their business. The Community Reinvestment<\/a> act reflects and is a direct response to this history and aims to reverse course. I urge all of my colleagues to acknowledge the decades of divestment from our communities and to support this crucial civil rights legislation. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry i yield to my colleague from janesville, wisconsin, mr. Steil, for four minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from wisconsin is recognized. Mr. Steil thank you very much, madam speaker. Thank you to my colleague from North Carolina<\/a>. I rise today in opposition to the resolution of disapproval. The Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is an important law that encourages investments in places lycra seen and kenosha and janesville and racine and kenosha and janesville. But the rulings governing the c. R. A. Havent been updated since 1995. In the last 25 years, the Banking Industry<\/a> has undergone significant changes. Small and medium sized banks have consolidated and closed. Branches have disappeared from some rural and lowincome areas. And technology has drastically affected the way millions of americans are conducting their banking. The c. R. A. Needs to be updated to fit the Banking System<\/a> we have today and to meet the needs of the communities in 2020. Thats exactly what the o. C. C. Is trying to do with the new rule. The new c. R. A. Rule provides Financial Institutions<\/a> with greater clarity about which activities count for c. R. A. Credit and where that activity needs to take place. It also takes into account the reality that many banking activities are conducted online, by giving banks that are largely Digital Credit<\/a> for investing in areas where they take deposits. By menting consistent, objective metrics, the new c. R. A. Rules also by implementing consistent, objective metrics, the new c. R. A. Rules also make it easier to measure. This would block all that progress to the detriment of communities in need. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this resolution and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Waters i yield two minutes to the gentlelady from new york, who is also a member of the Financial Services<\/a> committee, ms. Oak cort. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Oklahoma oklahoma thank you. Id like ms. Ocasiocortez thank you. Id like to thank carewoman waters. Over the last several weeks our nation has been gripped by the uprisings against antiblack racism and systemic Racial Injustice<\/a> across the United States<\/a>. But theres a difference between saying that we believe in the inherent dignity, equality and value of our Black Brothers<\/a> and sisters and actually committing to it. And the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is one such commitment. Our nation has an unconscionable racial wealth gap that is directly rooted in the racist financial practice of red lining. Whereby black communities had red lines drawn around them on a map and systemically denied banking, housing and economic opportunities. As a result, generations of White Communities<\/a> were given a head start at Home Ownership<\/a>, which was the foundation of generational wealth. While black communities were denied. And this fueled a runaway generational wealth gap that haunts the United States<\/a> today. It is a practice that continues, with over 60 metro areas in this very moment having banks that deny black applicants at significantly higher rates than they do white applicants. Now, the c. R. A. Is an antiracist, antipoverty policy that seeks to remedy some of the damage done. Yet while this administration and the Republican Party<\/a> paid lip service to black and brown communities with a toothless policing legislation, behind everyones back, the o. C. C. Made moves to gut rules around the c. R. A. And advancing the continued economic oppression of black people in the United States<\/a>. In fact, these rule changes advanced gentrification and value luxury housing over investment in black lives. To that move we have four words. Not on our watch. And because and that is because in this house, in the 116th house, under the leadership of chairwoman waters, we will value black lives. Thank you very much. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry i reserve. I have no further speakers. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california. Ms. Waters i yield two minutes i yield two minutes to the gentleman from illinois, a member of the Financial Services<\/a> committee, mr. Garcia. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Garcia thank you, madam speaker. And chairwoman waters, for this opportunity. I rise in support of this resolution and join my colleagues in opposition to the Trump Administration<\/a>s new rule that weakens implementation of the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act. It is an outrage that the Trump Administration<\/a>s o. C. C. Issued this rule that guts a historic law in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. And to add insult to injury, former chairman oting resigned his post immediately after issuing the rule so, that he will avoid cleaning up the fallout from this mess. It is up to congress to clean it up and thats what were seeking to do. The Community Reinvestment<\/a> act was enacted more than 40 years ago and has been one of our most powerful tools against red lining and the per pet situation of systemic racism and poverty. Like so much of our countrys history, the story of the c. R. A. Runs through chicago, where a local Community Organizer<\/a> in austin named gale cincada led the fight against discrimination housing injustices and earned the nickname mother of the c. R. A. Throughout her work in neighborhood associations and National Peoples<\/a> action, cincada fought against red lining and disinvestment from our communities, using some of the innovative and confrontational tactics that we recognize in todays protest movements. My district is a working class immigrant district and gale cincada and organizers like her across the country fought to pass the c. R. A. So communities like mine would not be left behind by Financial Institutions<\/a>. The o. C. C. s rule allows lenders to count activities that have nothing to do women proving our neighborhoods toward their with improving our neighborhoods toward their decision to serve communities. It makes it even harder to hold these institutions accountable. Thats why we oppose it. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a>. R. Mchenry may i inquire if there are further speakers on the majoritys side . Ms. Waters i have additional speakers. Mchenry ill reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california is recognized. S. Waters i yield two minutes to the gentleman from florida, a member of the Appropriations Committee<\/a>, mr. Crist. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from florida is recognized for two minutes. Crist thank you, madam chair. Id like to take this opportunity to thank chairwoman to rs for promoting Access Capital<\/a> for minority borrowers. Ince the murder of george floyd, our nation has embarked on a true broad base push to institutional racism. America is coming to realize with acism did not end emancipation. And it did not end with civil rights. Its still very much with us today. So as we commit ourselves to need to es matter, we also ensure black communities black homeownership matters, black wealth matters matter. K businesses my hometown of south st. Petersburg, florida, is blessed vibrant black community, where, despite their character, and entrepreneurial spirit, we are till working to overcome institutional racism. Nderinvestment in the community, food deserts, and redlining exist. This past weekend i witnessed the unveiling of the black lives mural in front of the carter g. Woodson africanamerican museum. Is right near one of my favorite restaurants on the south side. Cafe. S creole me beyond rt moved words, reality quickly set in. The owners of the cafe were told by the bank they could not get a p. P. P. Loan. Not because they didnt qualify, because the big banks are leaving behind the smallest businesses. Overrepresented by black, women, and veteran owners. Making anks arent p. P. P. Loans to blackowned dont have hen they skin in the game, how can we trust them to do the right thing money at their own risk . Thats why the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act is so vitally important. Need it to work for the communities it was actually designed to serve. Got it wrong. Vote yes to repeal the rule. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a>. California. Man from ms. Waters if mr. Mchenry has speakers, i am prepared to close. Mr. Mchenry ok. Tempore the o gentleman from North Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Mr. Mchenry thank you, madam chair. Thank you. I think theres been i yield myself such time as i may consume. The Community Reinvestment<\/a> act, we agree, is an important law thats intended o support underserved communities across america. Maintaining the status quo also innovation and the needs of our community. Innovations taking place to Financial Services<\/a> and banking over the last 25 years needs to addressed, but also the fact that we are not actually meeting in needs desperately needed communities around our district. Both urban and rural. Will w regulations increase investment in capital in communities and provide more to all and transparency parties involved in the process. Thats why it is a good update. Ensure the strong economic recovery for all we icans, its critical encourage Financial Institutions<\/a> to continue to provide services need. Ose most in the o. C. C. s final rule will Important Role<\/a> in this recovery effort by encouraging ore Capital Investment<\/a> and Lending Services<\/a> in the communities hardest hit by covid19. Thats good. Very c. C. Took a thoughtful approach and elivered an proech in embracing approach in stakeholders over several years. Constructive criticism they received through the open comment process. N fact, this shows the agency is willing to compromise but not willing to settle for the status quo. The o. C. C. s modernization of the c. R. A. Regulation is a long that will help help our communities come into and 1st century stronger healthier. The last time these regulations was in 1995 when banking received most of their through branches as much as the old regulations on the books still rely heavily on locations. Quite frankly, what weve seen over the last 100 days in is that branches are less vital than they were in generations. Because most of these branches have been shut down in our states. Trying tor states are do the right thing to address this health crisis. Masks. Why were wearing thats why were social distancing. Thats why were trying to be and nsible to one another be thoughtful in our approach to one another. But unfortunately, this bill is a very straightforward up and down. I will say lets support not support the status quo. Lets support innovation and update to our regulation to meet the needs of our communities and thats the needs of so desperately needed both in the ural communities and urban communities in america. Vote against this resolution. Rule. T the underlying with that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Thank you very much. May i inquire as to how much time i have left . The speaker pro tempore the has 8 1 2 minutes. Very much. Thank you closing, ove into my id like to correct mr. Mchenry ho said the fdic approved the o. C. C. s c. R. A. Rule this week. That is not correct. Called the just fdic to confirm that they did not approve the rule. Mr. Mchenry madam chair ms. Waters i yield to the gentleman. Misspoke. Y i i said they supported the c. R. A. Yes, supported. Further ask unanimous consent to enter multiple letters into the record consumer, of community, and civil Rights Groups<\/a> in support of h. J. Res. 90. Withoutker pro tempore objection, so ordered. Ms. Waters thank you very much. Would like to close by thanking representative meek for his leadership on this issue, support we iate the have received from our colleagues in this effort. Ake no mistake, unchecked, the o. C. C. s final rule will harm owincome and minority communities that are disproportionately suffering during this covid19 crisis. It will turn the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act into the act. Nity disinvestment in passing this congressional notew act resolution, were only nullifying the o. C. C. Rule, but were sending two clear messages. Should be focused on protecting the economy from the removing nd not on safeguards that after the should go e o. C. C. Back to the drawing board and work with the Federal Reserve<\/a> jointly issue a new ule that strengthens the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act and helps low and moderate income communities, including communities of color. Over a month now, by the thousands, americans have been arching in the streets for justice. Theyre standing up against racism and fighting for justice for all. Yesterday, this house passed historic legislation to police ur nations forces and the unfair treatment so many people of color have of rienced at the hands those meant to serve and protect. To fight against discrimination in our criminal justice system, we must also discrimination, disinvestment, and injustice in system and l economic injustice in our communities. Rule would encourage disinvestment in lead toies of color and redlining on a massive scale. This t stand up against blatant effort to economically isenfranchise hundreds of lowincome and minority communities nationwide. My so i want to say to members on the opposite side of the aisle, ive heard this theme support the Community Reinvestment<\/a> act but you dont socalled but you dont support my bill. And so i would say to you, you have it both ways. And i would ask for an aye vote 90. J. Res. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. Time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution<\/a> question is vious ordered. The question is on engrossment reading of the joint resolution. Resolution oint providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States<\/a> code, of rules submitted by the office of the comp controller of relating comptroller of the currency the peaker pro tempore clerk will suspend. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed on engrossment and third reading. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Reading. The clerk joint resolution providing for congressional chapter 8 of der title 5 United States<\/a> code of by the s submitted comptroller of the currency relating to Community Reinvestment<\/a> act regulations. The speaker pro tempore the on passage of the joint resolution. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Ms. Waters i ask for the yeas nays. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 3 of house 985, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, this r proceedings on question are postponed. Will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from minnesota seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today honor the life of marnie, the of the st. Paul Public School<\/a> board of education, who away from kwoicovid19 on june 7 at the age of 31. This young loss of woman, a rising star, whose egacy was an inspiration to us all. Ms. Mccollum she was a proud member of st. Pauls community. A dedicated advocate for young people and she stood up equality and Racial Justice<\/a>. She understood the disparities of color face in our state, and she worked to make sure that every child had opportunity to succeed. As chairwoman of the board, her critical. Was to successfully resolving the teacher s firstever strike. Hen confronted with covid19 pandemic, marnie helped to steer clear the districts to ecedented transition provide Distance Learning<\/a> for 37,000 students. Heartbreaking this pandemic has taken one of our communitys rising leaders. Me in extending condolences to marnies parents, extended siblings, her family, and her friends in this time of great grief. With that i yield back. The peaker pro tempore gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from texas is minute. Ed for one madam speaker, i ask for unanimous consent to address the minute. R one the speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, the vast majority of Law Enforcement<\/a> are good, country they are competent, they are professional, and they serve when they ity and dont, with the immense power hey have over their fellow citizens, they must be held accountability. R. Arrington that starts at the local level. Policing is a state and local esponsibility, not a federal responsibility. When local leaders fail to do their job and citizens fail to accountable, the system breaks down. Ou have incidents of abuse and sometimes cultures of corruption. So whats the solution . Topdown nother onesizefitsall from washington, d. C. E dont need to federalize policing. We need to hold our local leaders accountable. Come alongside them at all levels of government to dont recycle the bad actors. So we get rid of them. Do, then the 1 wont paint the 99 that are us and ng and serving risking their life to do so. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from mississippi seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. I ask to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. I rise today to celebrate the life of dr. James neely who passed away. Dr. Neely was born in westpoint, mississippi. His accomplishments began at mary holmes. Secretary of the senior class, president of the Athletic Club<\/a> and memberatlarge of the student counsel. He took us to kentucky state and he wentnd had a to medical college. After graug, he took a extent in the United States<\/a> air force and served until his discharge and relocated in mississippi. He served his community as a medical practitioner for 35 years. He was the first africanamerican doctor to have hospital privileges to treat patients at north mississippi medical center. He earned practitioner of the year and distinguished service award, dr. Neely will tell you his greatest accomplishment was his marriage. Outside of the medical profession. Mentorships and the and naa crmppmp and west point united presbyterian church. And he was in the community in which he served. Left in his memory is his wife elaine, his son, my frond and mentor and assistant district attorney, brian neely, his daughter, acclaimed poet, his four grandchildren. Dr. Neely led a life we should all admire. He affected change by his life of Public Service<\/a> and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arkansas seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. I rise today to honor aybears john gas ten and his lasting contribution to ur Catholic Diocese<\/a> in arkansas. He also celebrated his first mass as an ordained priest in 1960. I was privileged to have him as my teacher at Catholic High School<\/a> in little rock, where he served as an english and drama teacher. Even after he retired as serving of pastor of christ the king church in little rock, he continued to serve the diocese general. And again importantly as our 2008 strator from 2006 prior to the appointment of archbishop taylor. I thank him for his love and dedication and years of service. We miss seeing you and forever grateful. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from mississippi seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized for ne minute. Last week, we are reminded of the great sacrifice made by the great men and women of Law Enforcement<\/a>. As family, friends paid their respects to Deputy James Blair<\/a> who lost his life in the line of duty on friday june 12 in simpson county, mississippi. Deputy simpson was a husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather who devoted his life to his to Law Enforcement<\/a>. He was a generous man who was deputy blair nd spent over 50 years of his life in service to his fellow man through Law Enforcement<\/a>. He will be deeply missed by mississippis family, but his selfless spirit will live on through the membery of his sacrifice and those who knew him. Join me in a moment of silence in the memory of Deputy James Blair<\/a>. Thank you, madam chairman. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. You would have to be living in a hole to have not noticed the desecration happening to our statues and the vand lization of our live cities. Time for that to end. Acts of vandalism that are targeted twads long time institutions that fought for our freedoms, this desecration must end. George washington statues, the father of our country who valued freedom, knocked down. General grant, signed the civil san of 1875 was tomed in francisco. Abraham lincoln who freed so many from slavery and even down the street from here they are guarding statues at linchingon park along with mr. Lincoln and key element of f. D. R. s croum known as the black cabinet. There isnt any logic or sense to the vandalism or chaos that is going on here. And it needs to be stopped and needs to be harsh penalties for those doing this. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my marks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today to recognize sid martin biotech at the university of florida for winning the incubator of the year award. The award given by the association. This marks the third time in the last 10 years that it has been recognized as the top incubator in the world. Sid martin biotech is the only program to win more than one award. This is tremendous and this program is located in North Central<\/a> florida in floridas third district. It has had many startups and these companies have raised 8. 8 billion in funding and created over 8,000 hightech jobs. I congratulate the entire team for this great accomplishment and im confident that the success will continue in the future. Go gators. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from arizona, mr. Biggs, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Shimkus i want to speak about my west point mom who passed away. She passed away sunday, june 21 with her family around her. My west point mom who loved me and i broke her chairs and disobeyed a rule now and then, she was the definition of grace. She was preceded in death. And married 61 years. Daughter of the late alan and alma born in milwaukee, wisconsin in 1937. She went to the university of wisconsin, milwaukee for her bachelors degree and received her masters from long island in Library Science<\/a> and dedicated military wife and represented america while being a military wife in indonesia and long time educator. He was a singer and devout christian who was active in her church. Forever those who knew her, she was a softspoken woman who loved bird watching and going to the beach and loved her family and friends and preceded in death by her son matthew and survived by two daughters. And she is survived by her. Ster and her brother she dearly loved her five kayla, ldren, ashley, and thomas. Shelby i look forward to attending the Burial Service<\/a> which will take place at West Point Cemetery<\/a> at a later date. She will be laid next to her husband and her son. We believe that jesus died and rose again. We believe god will bring jesus with those who have fallen asleep. Find comfort in this promise. I yield back. Mr. Biggs i thank the gentleman for his words and express condolences for the loss of his dear friend. With that, im going to yield to the gentlelady from arizona, my colleague, long time friend, representative debbie lesko. Ms. Lesko lawlessness has broken out across our nation and absolutely outrageous and it has to be stopped. Mobs, mobs are taking over the city of seattle. They have taken over a police precinct. Just last saturday, people were shot and one man was killed. Criminals, criminals are Looting Stores<\/a> and businesses all over the nation, including in arizona in the upscale scottsdale fashion square. Protestors are throwing bricks at Police Officers<\/a>. They are throwing water bols at Police Officers<\/a> and i have seen them shine flashlights right up close into the Police Officers<\/a> eyes and call them all kinds of names. Rioters are burning the flag, the american flag. And the Lincoln Memorial<\/a> and world war ii memorial have been defaced. A few days ago, saint sarah, the patron of peace was torn down in san francisco. Ancis key scolt statue was torn down. The statue of general grant, he was a general for the union, was torn down by thugs in san francisco. And then we saw the other night how they were trying so hard, these criminals to tear down the statue in lafayette park. And they almost had it torn down if it wasnt for the Trump Administration<\/a> sending in the National Guard<\/a> to stop. And you know what they wrote and spraypainted on that federal statue . Killer scum. Does any of this show tribute to george floyd . No. Does any of this help . Absolutely not. And now nd now i was really surprised to see that one of our olleagues, congresswoman norton, whos a nonvoting member but represents washington, d. C. , introduced legislation to lincolntatue of abraham aken down, a statue that was funded by the freed slaves. Our country come to . To return to a semblance in our country. Hats why i call on democratrun cities to clamp on these criminals. Autonomous zones, no more looting, no more statues. Ng lets bring back law and order, nd thats why i stand with President Trump<\/a> in his call to and prosecute criminals lawlessness. Op the lets try to heal our country. Nd with that, mr. Biggs, i yield back. Mr. Biggs i thank the gentlelady. I appreciate her comments and we an increase in the amount of lawlessness. Moved from peaceful protests, i understand. T, thats what the First Amendment<\/a> for. We all get the right to assemble with who we want to assemble with. A right to speak. We get a right to seek grievances from the government. Those are important rights for. We support, we stand ut when we move into rioting, looting, mayhem, theres been murder, theres been assaults, brutal violence, some of my colleagues in this body call protests. Its not protesting. Its lawless rioting. It needs to be curbed and checked. Pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina<\/a>, bishop. Mr. Bishop i thank my friend for yielding. Adam speaker, the coronavirus pandemic reminded us that we are together, despite erious and yet unresolved ongoing questions about policy responses to that event, we have stayed home and sacrificed for our neighbors health. We have seen the best of us. We are he past month, seeing the worst of us. Mobs stoning business owners. Federal agents shot to death. Nationwide, ring marxist activists openly defending and promoting it. A major u. S. City ceded to anarchists. America. Ecognize this people experience fear repeatedly of the wanton of their n livelihoods. On fire or being canceled by social media mobs. Government buildings attacked. Monuments. Memorials. Spanning the breath of our history from washington to to roosevelt torn down riotist mobs. By not impassioned, heat of the moment destruction. Targeted, organized, and who dical purge of figures epresent ideas they wish to bury. Ideas such as all people are with d by our creator inali and that government by, for and of the people shall earth. Ish from the weve seen this deliberate history. Roughout in communist chinas cultural revolution. Theocratic purge of afghanistans taliban. The terror campaigns of he reconstruction and jim crow south. What distinguishes america is to such nation responds attacks. Nd purposeful we hold, it is declared, that purpose is to ry secure the inalienable rights of and that when order alls apart, so, too, does our nation. What we have seen in recent the question how serving its core purpose . Local and state officials have that purpose have flouted that purpose, abandoned that responsibility. In those circumstances, the federal government has the tools secure the rights of the people. Chapter general barr, 13 of the United States<\/a> criminal ode provides all the authority you may need. F. B. I. Director wray, the vidence of criminal conspiracies is in plain sight. He department of justice and he f. B. I. Must act without delay. This government must restore the know. A we word is the department of 3500 ce is leading over investigation 500 investigations, and thats good news. We re counting on you, and know youre up to the task. Back. Hanks i yield mr. Biggs i thank the gentleman rom North Carolina<\/a> for his comments. Echo his sentiment that what needs to happen to restore order must arrest who are committing then charge them and prosecute them and give them due process. But without a restoration of in this country has freedom. To yield i am pleased such time as he may consume to he gentleman from texas, mr. Weber. Mr. Weber i thank the gentleman. History from, some our country yesterday was june 25. June 25, 1788, the state of the u. S. Atified constitution and thereby became united state of the states. Virginia willingly joined the union. Virginia willingly left the willingly hen eventually rejoined the union, a reminder from our past. Down everything about virginia . Certainly not. June 25, 1868,on lorida, alabama, louisiana, georgia, North Carolina<\/a>, and readmitted na were to the union. Again, they had willingly joined the union, they willingly left and, yes, they same gly rejoined that union. Reminders from the past. O we do away with all reminders . On may 18, 1896, Supreme Court<\/a> ferguson upheld the constitutionality of racial for public facilities as long as they were equal. E but 1962, that same the Supreme Court<\/a> ruled the use of nondenomination Public School<\/a>s was unconstitutional. Twice. T it wrong two examples. Do we do away with any Mention Court<\/a> . Supreme 25,m speaker, in 1973, june dean, yesterday, john white House Counsel<\/a> for president Richard Nixon<\/a> admitted was president nixon involved in the coverup. Mentions way with all of president nixon . Madam speaker, how about who was bill clinton accused of several sexual harassments, was found guilty of under oath, as i recall, tampering with a witness, all uction of justice, are mentions of president clinton gone . No. Not him. Not nixon. President s of this United States<\/a>. 1999 on june in 25, germanys Parliament National<\/a> Holocaust Memorial<\/a> to be built in berlin. Painful but necessary reminder past. He we could go on. We could talk about professional wordtainers, and i use the professional loosely, who have een accused and the list is bill cosby, harvey weinstein, and all down you can go right list. Hat do we demand any and all their works, their mentions, their be blotted r shows out from memory . Professional about athletes, and, again, i use the word professional loosely. Accused of sexual assault, beating their wives up, their girlfriends up, caught with performanceenhancing rugs, do we gambling, cheating, do we block them out mentions . Emory, all no. Madam speaker, even churches, the catholic church, the baptist church, methodist, other churches, other denomination sex scandals,tary oy scouts, congressional sex scandals. Every occupation, every race, color, creed, and religion, none perfect. Where does it end . Hould we pull down an attempt to erase all mentions of countries like japan, germany, italy, china . The list is endless. Had speaker, george floyd a criminal record, but he did at the rve execution hands of an errant police officer. Again, those whose lives and or their livelihoods being destroyed by vandals, ooters, rioters dont deserve to vir families and their livelihoods their stopped. Peaceful protest, yes. Violence, no. The governors and the president when send in troops requested and needed. I stand with the president with that. Criminals and law breakers deserve to be dealt with in a anner consistent with their behavior and the law. Heyre pulling down statues that were paid for with tax dollars, erected with the governed. The no matter what community or time frame. These thugs simply think they can tear them down. We acknowledge there are those who have an improper mindset . Of course, they were thugs tearing things down. Of course we do. O we acknowledge that black lives matter . You bet we do. I cannot even begin to nderstand the fear of parents and their children who live in that fear that someday they may fate. That same but lets have that conversation a hin the framework of civilized people who earnestly esire what president lincoln called a more perfect union. Iolence, property destruction, vandalism, arson, looting and, yes, killing others is hardly want or ink we would call a more perfect union, madam speaker. A new reset . Leave us ckwards will hating everyone and everything. Statues and symbols of our great remind us how far weve come but more importantly, to go still. Got we should be taking pride in how come. ve actually, let us hope in the romises of where we can go while being saddened as to some of the things that had to happen point. Us to this adam speaker, how about a reset . The e orwell said, once, to way to deny people is obliterate their own history. Reassess ker, as we our shared experience, let us past in order to ake a better, more brighter future. Americas historys imperfect, contemporary norms through violence while rejecting the experiences of our does a disservice to the sacrifice of the great men and lincoln whoresident fought for equality for all. Erase our history. It. Ust learn from this, my friends, is one of the caution and the highest of america, the beautiful. With that, madam speaker, i yield back. Mr. Biggs i thank the gentleman nor his comments and im reminded as i was pondering that that each of us has a history, a personal history. None of us are perfect. Sometimes we have flaws that seem almost insurmountable in our own lives. But if we deny our history, then we deny who we are and who we can become. When i hear folks out there attacking our history and say lets bring down this statue or lets do this or do that, some of that is owe acontext tule. And by that i mean as if there was no history to learn from. And i think how in the world can we be so far cystic that we dont accept the flaws of our own past and build upon the promise of the future. We have problems, for sure. E to does not enu rmp lawlessness, murder or mayhem. It should go to the better angels within us. I yield to my friend from lamalfa. A, mr. Mr. Lamalfa i appreciate you yielding to me. I have to say, im grieved by the strife we have in this country, especially trying to it out of this wuhan virus situation and the horrific things we saw happening in minneapolis. And that was a moment when we saw george floyd being abused and ultimately killed. There was unity among 99. 9 of the population saying thats wrong. We had a moment to learn from that and build upon that. It seemed to be a short moment. Peaceful protests immediately followed. We agreed with those and coo opted by these forces coming out of the ground to divide us, whether its antifa or other groups that are forming and seeking political power with this. It is beyond racism. It is something completely different. And the violence that we are seeing, the mayhem, the destruction, the vandalism is nothing to do with the spirit of conversation of unity that americans felt in that window of time right after the george floyd killing. How are we going to come out of this . How are we going to have a good conversation about how to improve things in Law Enforcement<\/a> but not impugn Law Enforcement<\/a> for what they are doing. They are out there every day trying to find a balance between how to defend the public and defend their own life. They dont know whats going on inside a home or a car and just need a good ambassador. How are we going to find a balance amongst this mayhem and violence. The signal needs to be sent we arent going to tolerate the violence, the mayhem, the destruction, the vandalism and severe penalties need to come down upon those and we have ram cast on those. I just came from linchingon park 10 blocks from here and you have to put fencing and guards out there for the statue of abraham linchingon who is shown there putting a hand up for a slave depicted in that statue. Emancipated slave. Still wearing the chains and looking up to mr. Linchingon and lifting him and taking him to a better place. If that is being misinterpreted hateful. Hat is being and even have a chain a fence around marry right next door cause this is indiscriminate vandalism to anymon youments just because it is a mayhem out there. Its not even logical you tear down, germ grant or whoever, to end the fight of slavery. We arent going to have a good conversation about racism when frauds go on like this. Garage at a raceway here, where somebody said its a noose in the garage and the media ran with it immediately without taking 12 hours to find out it is a pull handle to shut a garage door. It doesnt meet the specifications for a noose. And the driver doubled on that and said definitely a noose. That doesnt do anything to bring the harmony when he was shown incredible harmony by his colleagues when that incident was reported. Where are we going with all of this . I grieve for our country. Has always strivinged to do better to improve. Slavery came in with the country and the founders knew it wasnt right. There were compromises to at least form this country to be something more than the monarchy that england had. Compromises and still building and 1860s when mr. Linchingon said enough. We had more than half the country was ready to do that. We dont get a lot of talk about that because you would think the country was racist. Most of the country was not. We had 13th, 14th, 15th amendments. And the Civil Rights Act<\/a> of the 1960s continuing on that path, Voting Rights<\/a> act. All we hear is that republicans are against that but republicans were leading on greater numbers all the way back to that time and democrats are trying to turn it into something else. The first 20 members of congress were republican and trying to lead them towards freedom and what is going on right now is not going to keep this country free. We lost a lot of freedom by the virus and the freedom to actually assemble downtown in the large city or go visit a stat tue. Our freedoms are being eroded by democratband of people mayors and democratgoverned states arent doing anything. Are we supposed to stand and watch whats going on here . No. We arent going to put up with it. Evere penalties need to be put upon these people. It needs to be harsh. And once we can get the violence stopped and maybe get back to the table and have a eel conversation about how we are going to improve the significances with race. It grieves me that young black males feel like they are going to be victimized by the term driving while black. That is an awful feeling for them and for us to see that happen. And our great colleague on the other side, senator tim scott. He brought forth a bill he has been working hard on for a long time, his justice act and someone tells him it is a token effort. What the heck does that mean . That struck him deeply and didnt give him the opportunity to push that bill. What a shameful moment that was. And now we have legislation here that is trying to aadvice rate the ability of cops how they are going to know what that cop is walking in. Not the latitude we saw in minneapolis but one to simply operate. Doctors need latitude to work on patients. Yet we have this legislation that is going to be sue a cop. Thats not going to happen. What is that going to do . Throughout this mayhem we are d. C. And ening in minneapolis, i tell you what, social workers have their place in certain situations, but we dont defund the cops that are shorthanded in rural areas like mine, sheriffs, police. In order to try and change the whole game. We have a lot of listening to do to each other on both sides. Not everyone with lightcolored skin is a racist and people are feeling after the unity we had, ugly the george floyd incident in minneapolis, this is a time to listen to each other. And if this is allowed to happen, it will be harder for people to listen to each other. And greatness of that flag right up there, in god we trust. Mr. Biggs, i appreciate the time. I yield back. Mr. Biggs thank the gentleman from california. It is my pleasure to yield such time to the gentleman from florida, mr. Posey. Mr. Posey thank the gentleman for yielding. We want america back. And those are just of the lyrics named the steels in 1996. Some of them said, something is wrong with america. This nation is like a runaway train headed down the wrong track. And it concludes in part, if i love america and i dont love what she is becoming. Circumstances seem pretty despairing back then, but they pale in comparison to what we are seeing across our country oday, perpetrated by the malcontents. Today they are using George Floyds<\/a> death to use the police to thwart the law and so far they have been successful. Without Law Enforcement<\/a>, their mobs are free to move in, smash businesses, injury people and cause chaos. Those arent people. Those arent peaceful protestors. Those arent people for peaceful protests. It is cowardly, and corporations and move yeast send money to them. And they are tearing down the statue and giving them even more power. Circumstances are advantageous for them right now because we are in the midst of a pandemic so they are free on the streets. Who could have ever imagined sanctuary cities where america where no law. Who would have ever imagined some elected officials would allow domestic terrorists to take over and rule on public and private property and have dominion over other citizens in the United States<\/a> in socalled autonomous zones. Give me a break. And the law breakers have the lice to be defunded or reimagined. That sounds insane. It is a campaign to drive our president from office. Anyone who stands in their way, they should be destroyed. We expect it to get worse and worse with a hope to put an end to the prosperity created by the president. You have to suffer from the worst case or beltway brain drain to think they are fooling anybody. Meanwhile, the leadership and the majority in this chamber have been silent. I have not heard a single word, r letter in opposition to this violence. Past time to condemn their activities and time for Law Enforcement<\/a> across this nation in every state in every county every city and every little suburb, community, in the rural areas in between to put an end to this lawlessness. There wont be anything left to tear down. I would like to take these receive lieuaries for a few days and see how it would end if they were successful in having their way. If you ever traveled throughout those socialist countries, it is eye opening. The state department and even their own officials worn you, dont wear jewelry, dont carry much cash because there is a good chance you are going to get robbed and if you are approached by a robber, hand over everything because they would shoot you and kill you and there is a lot of lawlessness. They dont fear the police. Hey are going to take and you they are going to take and youre going to give or youre going to die. You know what officials tell you next . If you get robbed, dont call the police. Its not like in our country where if theres a problem, you call the police. There they tell you not to call the police because theyre all corrupt and theyll shake you down for anything the robbers issed. One common denominator of the countries i visited which were a common nidad, was denominator that every single house that i saw, large or small, urban or suburban, no matter how far out you went in the country, every single house that was more than a Cardboard Box<\/a> had bars on every window and most of the doors. Why . Because thats what lawlessness brings. They truly go to bed every night in those socialist countries with the expectation that if they did not have bars, they wouldnt wake up in the morning. Or if they did, every possession that they had that was worth anything would be gone. Very little police. High crime. High unemployment. Bars on all the windows. Is that what we really want for our future . Weve been blessed to live in a land of opportunity. The most great and prosperous nation in the history of the world. Many, many, many people have risked their lives and the lives of their wives, their grandparents, their parents, their children, family members, to come here. This place is really that good that people would risk their life just to come here, a chance of coming here. We cannot stand back and let it be destroyed. We want america back and i yield back. Thank you. Mr. Biggs i thank the gentleman for his thoughts and for taking time to share those with us. I now yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from florida, mr. Owe ho. Mr. Yoho. Mr. Yoho i thank my good colleague from arizona, mr. Biggs, for putting this on. I really do appreciate it. It is so timely. Growing pains. I think thats what we can say were going through is growing pains again as a nation. Nation bursted over 200 years ago. For anybody that watched yesterdays debate, madam speaker, on the house floor, i think it was interesting to see the amount of, i guess, race baiting that was coming from the other side of my colleague which i found very unreasonable. That for some reason, youre a black man, you have to tell your children how to act with the police. My mom and dad had that talk with me, probably for good reason too. And they said if you get pulled over, yes, sir, no, sir. And then when you get home we want to know what happened and why you got pulled over. I had to have that talk with my children. And so thats nothing new and i think that we sometimes overplay that. Does it happen maybe more with minority communities . Yeah, i think it does. But everybody nobody is immune to that. When i came into congress, i got stopped multiple times to see if i had the right credentials. Thats happened to me. And since weve been up here, you know, the divide in this country has gotten so much worse and its been since donald trump has gotten elected. People will blame the president for doing this but we can go back to other president s where weve seen this happen. We are americans. We need to come together as a nation. Ive had the Great Fortune<\/a> of being in congress, this is my last term. Ill have served eight years. I was chairman of the asia pacific subcommittee last year, last congress. Im the Ranking Member<\/a> this year. Ive been able to travel the world. Ive been in the democratic republic of the congo. Africa is a continent of 1. 2 billion people. Yet today in the 21st century, 650 Million People<\/a> do not have electricity. I suppose they have a reason to protest. I suppose they have a reason to complain. But do they have the right to protest . Being on the asia pacific subcommittee, weve got to travel to a lot of arrest countries. We all know whats going on in hong kong today. Hong kong is a province of china. There was an agreement of one country, two systems, where hong ng was supposed to be a a selfruling area with an independent judiciary committee. Yet 23 years into that jinnping, leader of the communist party, said that is null and void and they put the heavy hand of the there. St Party Students<\/a> out there are holding up that flag behind you, madam speaker. The communist party wants to take that away because it scares them, free thought, independent thinking, freedom, they know the communist party cannot survive. So theyre going in there to squash that. These students are holding these signs up, our flag up, they have been in my office here in washington in the washington capitol. They have a reason to protest. But they do not have the right. You talk about venezuela, somebody talked about, go down to cuba and talk against the castro regime. You dont have the right. Talk about religion in those countries. You do not have the right. But then i look at this country and im as guilty as anybody else in this country. We have the right to protest. The First Amendment<\/a>. But sometimes i think, and this is where i feel like im guilty like a lot of us, i think we take it for granted, of what we have in this country. It was interesting because i was with the ambassadors of both ma lay shah and indonesia. They talked about the founding of their country. When they got their independence, when they broke away, and they formed those countries, they told me that their Founding Fathers<\/a> could have picked any system in the world. They could have taken great britains system of government. They could have taken germanys, russia, china. But you know who thy they took . They took the principles of america. Because they had read our history. They had read those documents. And what those documents meant. And ive heard people over and over here today since ive been in congress, america is not a perfect country. Because people are in it. And people are not perfect. But the ideals laid out there were the best ideals that have ever been laid out if not, why are other countries adopting them . Why do people in cuba come across the ocean, a 90mile stretch on inner tubes, on rafts, on surf boards, to get to this country . Its called freedom. Its called justice. But you know what, were not going to fix it if this side is accusing this side and this side over here is accusing that side of pandering to our audience. So what that meant to me when i when those founders, the ambassadors from indonesia, malaysia, what it meant to me was, you know what, america is bigger than a presidency. Its bigger than the democratic party. Its bigger than the Republican Party<\/a>. Its those ideals. That this country stands for. That we all need to fight to hold on to. I want to read something that ne of my constituents sent me. It says the lesson taught at this point by Human Experience<\/a> is simply this. That the man who will get up will be helped up and the man who will not get up will be allowed to stay down. Personal independence is a virtue and it is the soul of which comes the sturdiest manhood. But there can be no independence without a large share of selfindependence. And this virtue cannot be bestowed. It must be developed from within. I had an africanamerican man, conservative republican, afraid to tell people hes a conservative republican. Because he gets labeled uncle tom. Been put on the plantation. These are not my words, these are words coming from him. But that quote came from somebody, i wish we could go back and meet. Mr. Frederick douglass. A person born into slavery. That picked himself up by the boot straps. That educated himself. And he stood beside president lincoln when they dedicated emancipation statue. And ive got these people out here that loath, despise, disdain for this country and being i its cant just blame the democrats, there are people who hate this country but theyre using that to tear this country apart instead of remembering the ideal this is country is built on and those are american idea ols. Not conservative. Not liberal. Not republican or democrat. American. I think its time that we all come together and realize were americans and were on the same team. I yield back. Mr. Biggs i thank the gentleman for his passionate comments about freedom. And i yield two myself such time s i may consume. Those of us who have had the good fortune of studying history , we know that it bumps and crawls along. And we do see progress sometimes. We also see deaf lution sometimes. Sometimes. Lution what we see today though reminds me an awful lot of a revolution that took place in the early part of the 20th century. It was not a large revolution. It was a small revolution. It was the bolshevik revolution. It was funded by some of the ge what see some of the urgeosie who didnt like russia. It was not widespread but it changed that entire nations form of government. And im reminded that it was trotsky who prevented the military from intervening against the lawless revolution. What im seeing here today reminds me an awful lot of that. This is a small revolution that is violent in nature. It is antiamerican. In nature. And when we my colleagues mentioned the police and what they need to do. Whats happened is there has been an immas cuelation of the police. And emasculation of the police. They dont want to get involved. Should they get involved theres a legitimate concern that they will be sued, arrested, etc. And so when you get rid of the blue line of defense against lawlessness, then you basically destroy the foundation of the protection of your freedoms. President trump called certain roups antifa, domestic terrorists. In our debate in the judiciary committee, one of my colleagues said antifa is a fiction. So i said well, you know, is it a fiction . Knew ent to cnn because i that if i went to fox and referred to fox nobody was going to believe that that was not biased, so i went to cnn. Because i want to find out what they said. You can go through and find extensive interviews where the conclusion is clear. Antifa is a real organization. Its a group. And the Group Sometimes<\/a> chooses to resort to violence. Well so what do you have . Theyre definitely domestic. Theyre committing terrorist activity in this country. Thats your domestic. And what would terrorism be . Terrorism is the use of force, intimidation, violence to change or alter behavior for a particular purpose. So you begin to see, you have domestic terrorism going on. 18 u. S. Code 2239a, i call on f. B. I. Director wray to begin using that statute, make the arrests necessary to restore order. I call on attorney general william barr to use that same section to charge and prosecute these individuals. Who are attempting to intimidate a lot of these statuesfreedom. And memorials being ripped to shreds or destroyed are on federal property. And you know what . 18 u. S. Code section 1869 is the statute that director wray should be having his federal agency make arrests under and them i call on attorney general barr to have his u. S. Attorneys charge and prosecute for zucks of veterans memorials. We can go forward, but why do i even bring that up . It is because i believe sincerely that this country is built on the idea that each of us should have agency, will, choice. Hasnt always been worked out real well or perfectly. There are those who have their will taken away from them. That is inexcuseable. But if we are going to have will we choice and freedom, then are part of this great social contract where i delegate my right to defend myself, because i cant do it all the time. There are people who are stronger or more vicious who want to compel me or take something from me. We delegate Police Authority<\/a> to police. Its ot carte blanch, reasonable. Have got to restore respect for the law, for the police, for the courts and for process. Its imperfect. I worked in that system for a lot of years on both sides, prosecuting and defending. Its not a perfect process. The reality is, though, it is as Winston Churchill<\/a> said, democracy is the worst form of government, except for all others. Its the best its the best humankind has come up with. So estroy our history seems gainst to making progress, eradicating our history. College professors are saying we have got to remove books from the library. Remove from the library, because why . Because they have unpopular ideas in them. They may be unpopular ideas, but you know whats pet better than taking them out or removing or it is them ala hitler better to discuss them and rehabilitate our hearts. Artwork being removed from museums, being removed from this house. Why . 2020 some were not politically correct. Hat they did was to some unconscionable and lets have the discussion. Removing your history allows you to repeat the mistakes of your history. I simply dont understand it. We have now moved beyond motivational or some kind of philosophical attempt to remove historical items and we are seeing indiscriminate action. I have a list here and madam chair, i have a series of articles i want to, without bjection, enter into the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. So ordered. Mr. Biggs as we go forward, if we continue to denigrate all Police Officers<\/a> because of a few Police Officers<\/a>, if we denigrate all of our society because of a few in our society, we will we will see this nation, the ideals of individual freedom rased from this earth. I used to do work at Multi Lateral<\/a> institutions and at the united nations. And i will tell you this. This country to me is special and unique. , the ct, but the idea ideals, the people who have gone before us, how can we erase what they have done . Some made some magnificent sacrifices to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today but yet they were wrong on other issues in their lives. How can we erase our history . We must face our history squarely and openly. And build upon that history to the great promise of the ideals of this nation. If we are going to persist as a nation. With that, madam speaker, i thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from texas, mr. Green, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. Mr. Green thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, and still i rise and im here for a special not deviate shall from the cause that has brought me to this podium tonight. But i do assure you there are things that have been said that at an appropriate time, i will respond to. Tonight i rise to call to the attention of this house, h. Res. Celebrationging the the month of june as lggets lgb tmpcunche month. I thank the Human Rights Campaign<\/a> to help us construct this resolution. I would like to thank the center for transgender equality, the Equality Caucus<\/a> and businesses in houston. I rise tonight because 51 years ago, the stonewall riots in new york filled in the beginning of the end of a shameful period in our history. Because 51 years ago, madam speaker, in june of 1969, police a gay stonewall i nmp n, bar in greenwich village, new york and clashes between the police and thousands of the protestors. Hose Historic Events<\/a> he showed the generation of activists who lbts im for ally and i rise tonight because i didnt get here by myself. There were people of all stripes who made it possible for me to stand here in the house of representatives. Rise tonight because 51 years ago, being gay, lesbian or transgender was illegal in most states in this country. Another way of putting it is this. It was illegal to be who you were in this country. 51 years ago, no federal or state laws securitied to secure the rights of lesbian or gay people to live openly in a relationship with their partners. 51 years ago, no law precluded even the most overt discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation<\/a> or gender identity. 51 years ago, our legal system under the lawrson to live free from discrimination in employment, housing and finance, in education. Or in health care. I rise tonight because 51 years ago, there were few openly gay politicians or public figures in this country. And im honored to say that the honorable barney frank, whom i served with in congress, has been and continues to be a part of this resolution. Each resolution that i have sponsored vrhorpped the honorable barney frank, member of congress from 1981 to 2013 and recognized him as a horn area cosponsor of this resolution. I rise because 51 years ago being openly gay was a fineable offense, a crime in many federal gencies and a bar to obtaining to getting clearance. But today, thanks to the resolution and thanks to the this ion that are began month 51 years ago at stonewall, im proud to say several openly gay persons serve proudly on my congressional staff. Im proud to have them. And im proud of the work they o. Today, im even more proud that as of last monday when the Supreme Court<\/a> decided each enjoy of my staff and all the same Legal Protections<\/a> against employment discriminations as all other persons, without regard to sex, gender identity. Decision, storic 63 the court resoundingly afffirmed that the prohibitions of title 7 bar all discrimination and employment on the basis of sex including sex and jeopardier orientation. Today, we recall the painful, of dy and often deadly toll the 51 years between stonewall. And today with we remember each victim of discrimination, violence, prejudice in the 51 years who were shut out, subjugated or even killed. Day we mourn each one of the black transgender women who have been murdered in this year alone. And today, with consideration of this resolution, we continue the tradition that i began as an original sponsor of congress pride month resolution. I am proud of how far we have come as a nation and our lgbts. E for full and in this season of pride, it is fitting to celebrate that remarkable hard one project. But today i also recognize that we have come a long way in 51 years, we still have far to go. Today, we must ensure that full inclusion for these persons does not take another 51 years or even 51 weeks. It is now time that we must complete the march toward full legal equality for all persons without regard tore Sexual Orientation<\/a> or gender identity. Today i call upon the senate to take up and pass the equality act, h. R. 5, without further delay. Im im proud on the original sponsor of this resolution. Im grateful to all who have become original cosponsors. It is not too late for persons to cosponsor the resolution. Ask each person to do so. Now that ive finished my comments on the pride resolution, i would like to step to the next microphone. Madam speaker, i rise to claim the balance of my time. Rise because now i must say, it was most difficult to sit in this house and hear some of the comments made by my colleagues tonight. They seem to value statues above human life. All of the vandalism and crimes that have been committed, i dont support that, and i dont think that the protesters who are out there peacefully protesting supported it either. I dont think you ought to paint all protesters with one brush just as i dont paint all peace officers with one brush. I never conclude that all officers are bad. But those that are bad ought to be punished. And i find it quite fascinating that my colleagues who came here and spoke so eloquently tonight, havent heard them on the floor in prior times talking about all of the atrocities being committed against people of color at the hands of the con stab lair. I just question, why is it that they dont come to the floor and stand up for people of color . I stand up for all people. Doesnt matter your color, your sex, your Sexual Orientation<\/a>. Ive been on this floor consistently doing this. But i dont see that from the other side. I see them here for what i call order and law. Not law and order. And heres how that works. You have a president who goes before members of the Police Community<\/a> and he says to them, when you arrest a person, you dont have to be so nice. Now hes talking about a person who is in the care, custody and control of the police. And that person does not have to be treated so nice. He sent a message. That message was, you maintain order, do whatever youve got to do. Ill provide the law to support you. Thats order and law. I support law and order. I have an uncle who was a deputy sheriff. He influenced my life. Im probably in Congress Today<\/a> because of words he spoke to me. So i support policing. I understand the necessity to have persons who are going to assure us that we can be protected. But what i dont support is a belief that Peaceful Protesters<\/a> are all somehow part of a mob. You can peacefully protest and go to jail. I know, aye been there. I was there with the honorable john lewis. We were peacefully protesting, but we went to jail. Peaceful protesters go to yale. Peaceful protesters get in the way. Peaceful protesters disrupt. Thats what protest is about. If people dont get comfortable, then your protest has accomplished very little. Dr. King was in jail when he wrote the letter from the birmingham jail. He was peacefully protesting but he went to jail. It happens. Thats a part of the protest movement. And when i went out to protest, knowing i would likely go to jail, i had somebody to post my bail. Peaceful protest does not mean that youre not disruptive. It means that you have a message that has to be heard and as dr. Ing put it, protest can be the language of the unheard. Peaceful protest especially. So i am here to say to my that you , i regret that is e the hurt being felt by people of color. I dont understand why my tax a statueave to support in along some thoroughfare of robert e. Lee. You can have it. Take it to a museum. Tuck it away for whatever purposes you like. But you dont have to impose it upon me. E dont allow, or more appropriately, germany does not have statues of hitler in the public square. And i refuse to stand by and allow statues of people who wanted to keep my ancestors in . S, in savely slavery, which is a nice way of saying rape, murder, kidnapping, conscripting babies from their parents, sending parents one way and the children another. Its too nice a word for what happened to my ancestors. So im not going to celebrate them. I never have celebrated them. And its time to remove them. Im not going to go out and pull one over and push it off into some corner but i dont see any colleagues helping with a means by which they can be removed and you take them and put them wherever youd like to have them. I have no problems with your ownership of them. But dont expect me to celebrate them. And have my tax dollars take care of them. There was one in my congressional district. Confederate soldier named dower, it has been removed. Im proud to know it was removed. So i rise now as i close to say just simply this. I love my country. I love my country. I love it because of many of the good things that have happened to me but i also love it in spite of many of the things that were not appropriate that have occurred. And i will continue to love my ountry, but i refuse to accept symbols of racism and hate and i will never honor them and i would sadly have my colleague and i would have my colleagues take them to some other place out of the public square. With this, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Pursuant to section 4b of House Resolution<\/a> 967, the house stands adjourned until 9 00 a. M. On monday, june 29, 2020, for morning hour debate and 10 00 a. M. 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