Authorizing highway, bridge, aviation, and waterway projects. Members are working on 170 amendments. They plan to complete work on those amendments around midday today. That will be followed by a vote on final passage of the package. Live coverage now here on cspan. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. Loving god, thank you for giving day. Other we ask your continued protection empowerment of those who tend to the sick and those who medical solutions to this dangerous pandemic. The work of the house these last few days to votes. Wo upport for the department of agriculture. During these times Food Production and delivery and the many e been among challenges facing our nation. Whatever the particulars of this may it proceed through the legislative process ultimately help the benefit of all americans. We ask, also, your continued protection and empowerment of hose who live heroic lives during this time. Give them strength and their service. May all that is done this day be honor and eater glory, amen. The speaker pro tempore to section 4a of House Resolution 967, the journal of days proceedings is approved. The pledge of allegiance will be ed by the gentlewoman from delaware, ms. Blunt rochester. Rochester i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it tands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker pro tempore the to 15 ill entertain up requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island rise . Mr. Cicilline mr. Speaker, i to addressus consent the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to honor a rhode island legend, the late former newport paul gaines sr. Torment ofonting the racial inequality and collectively working to repair the soul of america, paul gaines will be remembered as a trail lazer in the trailblazer in the fight for equal justice under law. Black mayor, he was a mentor, change maker who endeavor in every while leading with humility and integrity. When he died last thursday at 88, he left behind an enormous legacy. Activist, he built a remorial for a continental regiment thats best remembered for recruiting black soldiers to serve during the revolutionary war. In the recent years, he to ensuring work equality of opportunity, regardless of ones race, who hey are or where they came from. I offer my deepest sympathies to years, jo eva, and to the entire gaines family. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise . To ask unanimous consent address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you. Vaca eaker, born in la ounty, texas, archer is a native to that Congressional District of texas. His 100th birthday. Thats not the only thing remarkable about arthur. 22, 1942, he pledged his service to the 88th division, 149th h, antry regimen, company otherwise known as the blue evils, to fight in world war ii. Arthurs service took him across the world. To morocco, rome. Joyful d a brief and reunion with his brother, hubert. Unnotice. E did not go his courageous fight earned him stars. Ronze general george c. Marshall once stated his first division, wildcats. Ght like mr. Cloud after his service, he stateside to haletsville, texas, and met his they raised ther six children. Arthurs service to others never ceased. Is life is marked with strength. Andre known their devotion kindheartedness. Happy birthday, arthur. God bless. You. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the entleman from oregon seek recognition . Mr. Blumenauer seek permission to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Blumenauer mr. Speaker, night after night, young people in portland, joined by thousands neighbors, gather to demand justice that black lives matter. Thousands are caught in the legacy of Richard Nixons that l war on drugs targeted young and especially lack people for selective enforcement. Too many are in jail or prison trivial olent, often offenses. Today, over 2 3 of americans and republicans of hink that cannabis should be legal. Lets pass the moore act with any of barbara lees marijuana justice provisions, already pproved by the justice committee. Stop discriminatory selective enforcement. Protect to finally young black americans from the discriminatory, enforcement on the war on drugs. Time to finally legalize marijuana. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The hat purpose does gentleman from south dakota seek recognition . Mr. Johnson i ask for unanimous onsent to address the body for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. R. Johnson on july 3, 1776, john adams expressed his belief that the signing of the declaration of independence be commemorated with pomp nd parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bon fires illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, forward for e forev forevermore. I think well check most of in southes this july 3 dakota and the beautiful black hills as President Trump is over to watch fireworks the incredible mount rushmore. Now, i know there is a lot of unrest in this country. Plenty ofday, theres political unrest in this chamber. Ut july 4 is a time for us to come together and secelebrate wt binds us together life, iberty, the pursuit of happiness. With that in mind and to honor a day that unites us as americans, speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on versight and government reform be discharged from further consideration of h. Res. 1036, i furthermore ask for its immediate consideration by the house. The speaker pro tempore under guidelines consistently issued by successive speakers, as recorded in section 956 of the rules and manual, the chair is constrained not to entertain the request unless it by the cleared bipartisan floor and committee leaderships. Mr. Johnson well, i understand ruling. Kers but nevertheless, i want to wish the United States of america a birthday. And i yield back. Thank you, sir. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The hat purpose does gentlewoman from delaware seek recognition . Ms. Blunt rochester mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Lunt rochester speaker, i rise today in support moving forward act. This infrastructure bill invests roads, bridges, transit systems, schools, housing, clean so much more. And importantly, it will create oodpaying jobs, repair critical infrastructure, address the Climate Crisis, and create communities. Safer i am proud that this bill includes key provisions that i in congress, including repairing our Natural Gas Pipelines to prevent methane investing in our public buildings to make them more and y efficient, incentivizing our nations ports to reduce harmful emissions. Investments are a down payment on our nations future us they will indeed help move america forward. I urge my colleagues to join me n supporting the passage of h. R. 2. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The hat purpose does gentleman from washington seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous forent to address the house one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. You, mr. Use thank speaker. I rise to celebrate the united tatesmexicoCanada Agreement going into effect today and to ecognize the Important Role this critical trade agreement plays for my district in central washington. Washington state exports to canada and mexico billion. 11. 1 now due to the challenges of the economy, the r usmca is more vital than ever, freer markets, fairer trade, more Economic Opportunity in washington. Modernized trade agreement will promote the potential for in the sinesses to aid combroet and recover growth and recovery of our states provide nd it will expansion of equitable trade opportunities for many of central washingtons farmers and ranchers. The implementation of the usmca for the a crucial time american economy. I am proud to have supported this trade agreement on behalf people in central washington, particularly knowing that my will benefit at a time when they need it most. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Back. D the speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the entleman from new york seek recognition . Seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Higgins mr. Speaker, this afternoon the house will vote to approve a 1. 5 trillion transportation and infrastructure bill. American nationBuilding Program will be the largest in american history. Administration of 1930 spent nearly 700 todays dollars. This Building Program will more han double that investment, creating millions of jobs in the construction trades, jobs in the materials industry, and jobs in the engineering and Design Industries as well. For the am is good Economic Growth at a time when our nation is desperate for growth. For every dollar invested in investment re, that returns 1. 80, or an 80 return on investment to the united economy. The president and both Political Parties have promised a robust investment. Re now is the time to reconcile that rhetoric with action. Of this bill and yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the wisconsin seek recognition . Id like to request one minute. The peaker pro tempore gentleman is recognized for one minute. Every we heard several morning about the covid epidemic and like a lot of every day i like to get up and see whether were moving in the right direction or not. Mr. Grothman i was sad to see this morning i checked the my d meter website, because constituents tell me thats the one to check, and i was sad to when they is morning gave the number of deaths they day on tuesday, isted 764 americans who passed away. However, the worldometer goes day. D down by the its very low on sunday and higher on gets wednesday and thursday. However, i noticed the 764 tuesday, yesterday, was the lowest on a tuesday since march 23. Mondays are always very low. We had 366 deaths on monday. Since s also the lowest march. I hope that where he continue continue to have the progress as we work work the umber of people who died this horrible disease down every day. But i have a feeling a lot of misled. S are being so just pointing out the way going. Tatistics are thank you very much. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the pennsylvania om rise . Thank you, mr. Speaker. To speak in the speaker pro tempore does the gentlewoman seek seek rigs gentlewoman seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ofi rise to speak in support the free press in america and i cant believe that i have to say this. Free press but our is under attack. Physical attack. As americans have taken to the demand change in the wake of George Floyds murder, eve seen our First Amendment trampled as hundreds of journalists have been arrested and assaulted by Law Enforcement officers. In the past few weeks, members of the press have been detained, at, one reporter lost an eye when she was rubber bullets, and the most infamous example was the attack on peaceful outside thegathered white house. A free press is one of the most fundamental and cherished values country predating our constitution. It stems from 1735 when john enger was arrested and charged with sedition for a corrupt person. A free press is one of the most ways we hold our government accountable. On the eve of our nations birthday, i invite my colleagues sides of the aisle to join me in sponsoring House Resolution 999, which condemns press and the e detention of journalists and reaffirms the value of a free democracy. R i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . I can unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. A day that the farmers of pennsylvanias 119 Congressional District have been looking forward to is finally here. Today marks the day the United Statesmexico, Canada Agreement goes into effect. Mr. Smucker over a year ago i stood here in the chamber and said one thing can i tell you bout the farmers of the 11th district is hope is yet to come. Im very proud to represent pennsylvanias 119 Congressional District. The number one district for Agricultural Production in pennsylvania. Usmca is a win for farmers with a number of provisions included in that live my farmers in my district a level Playing Field and open new markets as well. These reforms were critical for the district which, by the way number 2 producer of eggs in the nation and also a top dairy produce. Roducer. I ensure that usmca is a win not overwhelm for farmers but manufacturers and employees in my district as well. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, thank you. I want to raise my voice in support h. R. 2 the moving forward act. I want to congratulate chairman defazio. Hes been working on this for a long time. Mr. Cartwright this is the infrastructure bill that we have een waiting for. Hes father followed what my father advised me do. If you do something, do it right. This is a wonderful bill. This is something that will repair crumbling roads and bridges in this country. Expand transit and commuter rail. Repair and rebuild schools. Make childcare facilities safer. Deliver broadband to the entire country. Reclaim abandoned mines. Save Affordable Housing units. Provide access to Safe Drinking Water and good sewer systems. Put more energy into the grid. This is something that this entire nation needs. Its time for us to come together and fulfill this promise to the American People to rebuild and reinvest in our american infrastructure is the moving forward act, h. R. 2. Lets all vote yes on that bill. I yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Thompson request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we continue to see appalling nursing home negligence nationwide, including my home state of pennsylvania. Last week my fellow Pennsylvania Republican members and i joined the select subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis to send a letter to state attorney general josh shapiro, demanding an explanation for governor wolfs deadly decision to readmit covid19 positive patient residents back into nursing homes. According to the most recent data, pennsylvania has suffered 4,539 nursing home deaths related to covid19. Thats more than 68 of the states total covid19 deaths and more than 3 of the states entire nursing home population. The families who lost loved ones as a result of this reckless policy deserve answers. They deserve an explanation and closure. Prior to my being elected to congress, i spent many years as a licensed nursing home administrator. Specializing in longterm care. I have been horrified to see this avoidable crisis unfold. In closing, id like to thank our frontline employees in nursing homes. They work so hard to protect the residents. My sincerest condolences to the families who are grieving. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . I seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Ing mcnerney mr. Speaker, in response to the attacks on september 11, my son joined the military and i am now the proud father of a u. S. Air force veteran. I know firsthand the anxiety felt by loved ones whose family members are called on to fight for our nation overseas. As the father of a former soldier i am disgusted by the allegations that russia placed a bounty on our troops. And as american citizen, im outraged that the commander in chief of our military forces has seemingly abandoned his responsibilities. The president has an obligation to investigate these accusations and to protect the lives of american soldiers. Once again all we are hearing from this white house is denial and deflection. We deserve no know the truth. When was the president informed . And what action has he teaken to protect the lives of our troops . Americans should settle for nothing less. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yield can back. For what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition . To address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise this morning to honor and recognize mr. Jack thompson from montgomery, alabama. He passed away on sunday, june 21, 2020, after a full life of 88 years. He was born in culvert