We now take you to the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers room, washington, d. C. , september 21 hshgs 2022. 2022. I hooeb i hereby appoint the honorable appoint the honorable Henry Cuellar to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the house of january 10, 2022, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties. With time equally allocated between parties and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and minority whip limited to five minutes. But in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from the virgin islands, ms. Plaskett, for five minutes. Ms. Plaskett thank you, mr. Speaker. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. While the path to full Voting Rights for all american citizens has been and still is long and challenging, this week we honor the heroes who fought to secure this right by encouraging and supporting all eligible americans to register to vote. This call to action would be incomplete if i did not mention the nearly four million americans living in u. S. Territories and those in the district of columbia that still do not have equal voting representation in this congress and in our country. As such, americans living in the territories and district of columbia are accustomed to being last in line or giving short relief for hurricane relief, infrastructure funding. We must remain committed to building an america where every vote matter and where every citizen has the ability and the right to participate freely in the democratic process. Thats why i stand with House Democrats to continue to work to securing the vote for all americans. Our nation depends on it. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to affirm my commitment to expanding Work Opportunities to all corners of the country, including the often excluded territory of the virgin islands. That means forming better paying jobs, Economic Opportunities so americans can work and live with dignity and security. The Democratic Caucus has remained committed to people over politics in this. Safer communities, better paying jobs, opportunities for all americans. Thats why they have supported and i support the three significant pieces of legislation that have been passed by House Democrats the chips and science act, which provides billions of dollars in new funding to strengthen American Research and development and rebuild our supply chain. The inflation reduction act, which has stimulated job growth through investments in clean, affordable, and secure American Energy. It will while simultaneously cutting American Energy bills and fighting the climate change. And lastly, the infrastructure, investment and jobs act. Let us not forget which aims to rebuild our roads, bridges, and transit systems while bringing broadband and clean Drinking Water to more communities. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to highlight the disparities that exist for black women due to the double pronged existence of institutional racism and misogyny in our country. Black women bear the unique burden of having both gender and racial discrimination. Weve seen this in health, wealth, education, and work, among all socioeconomic, geographic, and age groups. Black women earn 58 cents to the dollar of a white man, the same job, the same position, 58 cents to the dollar. Their earning gap is even more severe for mothers with black mothers only earning 46 cents for every dollar a white, nonhispanic father earned nationally. Its imperative that we demand pay equity for black women. And so today, i stand with all of my sisters and demand, implore my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support black womens equal pay day. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from kansas, mr. Mann, for five minutes. Mr. Mann mr. Speaker, i rise today to deliver the 14th installment of my farm bill impact series during a time when the effects of a poor harvest in kansas are only compounded by rising inflation. Kansas farmers are laboring under the burden of skyrocketing input costs while they work to keep our country fuel, fed, and clothed. And they need a workable solution to this inforeign relation crisis before the situation gets already worse. Farming is volatile without the burden of inflation. Input costs will continue to rise to astronomical rates throughout 222 and beyond 2022 and beyond. For the example, the corn harvest is under way in some parts of kansas and the results are a fraction of the yield far farmers hope for and bank on during the season. The farm bill, which congress will reauthorize in 2023, exists in part specifically for situations like this current corn crop to provide Emergency Assistance to ag producers even when Mother Nature doesnt cooperate. The weather in kansas canbeextremeandunpredict canbe extremeandunpre extreme unpredictable. The corn condition was 20 very poor, 20 poor, 24 fair, 20 good and only 2 excellent. Meanwhile, according to a drought monitor, 34 counties in my district alone are under extreme drought and 16 are in exceptional drought. The farther west you go in kansas the worse it gets. Even irrigated fields are not good. Many kansas producers are saying this is the worst corn harvest in recent memory. This is a dire situation. Just about missing harvest time in kansas doesnt mean missing out on the yield of a missed crop. It means missing out on a special kansas tradition, culminating all of the hard work. It leaves a void where camaraderie should be. Washington, d. C. , unfortunately, doesnt understand this. This nation has not been crippled like a loss harvest. Washington, d. C. Moves through the drought, heat, torrential downpours unphased. Thats why im standing here today to remind congress that one in 10 employed americans, nearly 20 Million People in this country, work in food and agriculture. Where weather creates a make or break situation to their livelihoods. And most importantly, every american has to eat. American agriculture producers are hurting, not only from the skyrocketing input costs that comes with inflation but also lower morale that comes with heat, drought, thin margins and a broken supply chain. In 2023, Congress Must reauthorize the farm bill with American Families at the front of their mind. I will be back on the floor to deliver another installment of my farm bill impact series and how like more programs and titles within the bill that i believe Congress Must understand and support to ensure that agriculture thrives in america. The people who feed, fuel, and clothe us all deserve our unwavering support. They also deserve a robust safety net in the farm bill and Workable Solutions to the inflation crisis before its too late. Thank you, mr. Speaker. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from washington, for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise to celebrate the lives of two outstanding eighth district students. One passed away at the age of 94. Carmen was a pioneering figure in the fight against polio, a Tireless Community advocate and a beloved, she worked at Deaconess Hospital as a physical therapist, carmen was often the only thing standing between polio patients and debilitating pral is i. Ms. Schrier she was the only licensed physical therapist practicing in northwestern washington and as patients flooded through her doors, carmen devoted herself to the recovery of hundreds of patients. As the reflection of her tireless leadership, carmen became the head of physical therapy at Central Washington hospital until her retirement. Carmen remained a tireless advocate against polio in her later career. She was an active member of the wenatchee rotary club, one of the first women to join. She passionately led fundraising for global vaccine programs to ensure no family would have to experience the devastation of polio. Friends remember carmen as a pillar of the community, splitting her time between her beloved and eradicating polio. Were deeply grateful for her legacy and service. She will forever be part of the state. I join her friends and family in mourning the loss of an extraordinary woman. Also, mr. Speaker, id like to share the story of Gunnery SergeantArthur Branson summers, a u. S. Marine killed in action in world war ii. After 76 years, his body has returned home to his family members and laid to rest in east wenatchee, washington. Gunnery Sergeant Sommers of company i, sixth marine regiment, second marine division, was killed in the winter of 1943 in the island battle with japanese forces. Sadly, sommers was one of a thousand Service Members who died that day and one of almost 500 whose remains were never found. Tragically for his family, friends, and loved ones, they were deemed nonrecoverable in 1949 but this changed in 2009 thanks to the tireless work of the Nonprofit Organization history flight. After a small piece of military rain poncho was found near the site, history flight began excavations in 2009 and discovered the body of Gunnery Sergeant sommers as well as several lost Service Members. His body was brought home to his nephews. He received an honorable burial in east wenatchee, washington. Gunnery sergeantant you are branson sommers answered our nations call during a time of need and through his service, sacrifice, were forever thankful. I want to thank history flight for their work in returning sommers home and thank them for providing Gunnery Sergeant sommers an honorable burial on americas soil. On behalf of the grateful nation and the entire eighth district, were glad to have Gunnery Sergeant sommers in his final resting place in east wenatchee, washington. Mr. Speaker, id like to take a moment to honor some tremendous Young Athletes. The eighth district had not one but two teams representing our state at the Little League world series. The allstars represented the Northwest Region at the softball Little League world series. And the bonnie lake somer in Little League team represented the northwest state during the baseball world series. Im so proud of these Young Athletes who represented our districts and state so well on the national stage. Congratulations to them and their fum lease on their families on their success. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from michigan, mrs. Mcclain, for five minutes. Mrs. Mcclain thank you. I want to reiterate an important statement made by our president the pandemic is over. This weekend on 60 minutes President Biden finally said what most americans have known for months we are no longer in the covid19 pandemic. So if the president just admitted it, that means the National Emergency is over, correct . Well, if thats the case, then why did the president just tell the country that the pandemic is so bad that we should forgive billions of dollars of student debt . Or that its because of the ongoing pandemic that we must continue to enforce a Vaccine Mandate on our nations military . Ill tell you why. Its because it was never about the pandemic. It was about the president bypassing congress and the constitution to push his radical socialist agenda. Mr. Speaker, President Biden himself has President Biden himself has said the pandemic is over. It is past time we strip him of his Emergency Powers and end the Vaccine Mandates and reject all covid related funding requests. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from nevada, ms. Titus, for five minutes. Ms. Titus thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to acknowledge and congratulate the las vegas aces on winning the Womens NationalBasketball Association championship this past sunday. On september 18, 2022, the las vegas aces defeated the c connecticut sun 7871 in game four of the wnba finals. The aces won the championship three games to one and secured the first major professional sports championship in the history of the city of las vegas. Even before the playoffs, the ace has an incredible season led by rookie head coach, becky hammond. Who became the first former nba player and rookie head coach to win the nba championship. Every member of the team, including keer sten bell, sydney coalson, chelsea gray, der reca ham bye, theresa pleasant. Kelsey plum, ileana reupert, kia stokes, aja wilson, and jackie young was critical to the success of the ace this is year. Since coming to las vegas in 2018, the aces have played well but unfortunately up until now they were unable to win it all. In 2020 during the covidshortened season and without key players due to injury, the team still made the wnba finals but were ultimately turned back. Then in 2021 the team was set for greatness, but, unfortunately, fell short in the heartbreaking fashion of game five of the western conference finals. In the leadup to the 2022 season, the team lost key players to free agency and former coach Bush Administration laimbeer retired form coach Bill Laimbeer retired. They took the league by storm. Led by prolific threepoint shooting. The aces dominated the regular season and ended with a league best record of 2610 securing the commissioners cup along the way. Heading into the playoffs, the team was primed for success. Led by forward aja wilson, who won this years regular season most valuable player, also defensive player of the year, and first team all wnba honors. Bela guard kelsey plum and wnba most improved player jackie young, the las vegas aces dominated the playoffs. In the finals chelsea gray delivered a tremendous performance averaging 18 points a game in the series and winning the wnba finals most valuable player. In the championship clinching game, williams scored a crucial 17 points with her incredible threepoint shooting to lead the victory lead the aces to victory. Following this victory, aces player chelsea gray, kelsey plum, jackie young, and aja wilson, who have competed in and won gold medals for the United States in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, joined an exclusive club of players who had won both olympic gold and the wnba championship. So in closing, i want to congratulate owner mark davis who his continued investment and caring has put Womens Basketball on the map in las vegas. Coach becky hammond, all the amazing players led by the fabulous aja wilson, and the entire las vegas Organization Led by president nicki fargas, and general manager natalie williams. Congratulations on this tremendous achievement. The city of las vegas and all of Southern Nevada are extremely proud of the aces. They certainly raise the stakes and they hit the jackpot. Thank you very much. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from veavment, mr. Cline, for five minutes. Mr. Cline thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the 250th anniversary of fin castle, virginia. In 1772, western moving settlers john mill and Israel Christian founded the town and by 1784 there were 59 homes as well as at that verns and the early formation of a justice system. Once virginias gateway to the west, fin castle is the county seat which once extended to the mississippi river. Meriwether lewis and William Clark visited there during their expedition into the west. William returned to fin castle and married Julia Hancock in 1808 in the historic home santalane. Passing settlers stopped on their way to the interior of what would become the United States. Conducting business and buying goods from the merchants in town. Today fin castle proudly main tains its heritage and history. Their version of the courthouse designed by president Thomas Jefferson is located in fin castle and contains records going back hundreds of years. Fin castles annual historic festival will be a bit more special this year celebrating the towns 250th anniversary and being held this weekend. Im proud to represent this historic town, a bedrock of the Oldest Colony and the greatest commonwealth of virginia. Mr. Speaker, i rise to criticize President Biden and House Democrats in washington for turning their backs on hardworking families. Month after month they have continued to advance a r