Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1696589022009.pdf (United States)
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE HONORING BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BITNER June 7, 2023 BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS The SPEAKER pro tempore.

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN) for 5 minutes.

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Black women and girls everywhere.

While Black women play one of the most active and essential roles in our economy, we continue to be left behind and are the ones who are hit the hard- est by economic downturns.
Every day, Black women face seem- ingly insurmountable challenges rang- ing from structural barriers to sys- temic inequities that can hinder us from achieving full and meaningful lives.

According to ‘‘An Economy for All: Building a ‘Black Women Best’ Legis- lative Agenda,’’ a comprehensive re- port that provides compelling and con- nective legislative policy proposals to improve the lives of Black women, when we center and uplift Black women, we are, in fact, uplifting every- one.
At its core, Black Women Best serves as a blueprint for economic, racial, and gender prosperity.

Today, the Congres- sional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, which I cofounded and co-chair, released an updated report outlining a legislative agenda informed by the Black Women Best framework.
The report’s policy proposals include everything from maternal health to criminal justice reform to food injus- tice and breastfeeding injustice, all of which demonstrate just how vital it is to craft legislation that benefits all communities.
Soon, I will reintroduce the Black Women Best resolution to address the systemic injustices Black women and girls face and to encourage Congress to craft legislation that benefits every American as laid out by the Black Women Best framework, which was de- veloped by former Labor Department chief economist Janelle Jones.

These policies all have two things in common: They bring Black women from peril to prosperity; and they ben- efit the economy, as well.
Black Women Best is about giving Black women the freedom to thrive, the freedom to stay employed, and the freedom to continue driving our Na- tion’s economic growth.

Equity-focused legislation uplifts not just Black women but our entire economy.

If we are going to change anything, we need to start giving Black women and girls the very tools that they need to thrive.
Black women and girls are the missing piece to securing our Na- tion’s future, and I hope that every sin- gle one of my colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike, support the Black Women Best resolution.

Every action we take towards bettering the quality of life for Black women and girls every- where is a step in the right direction.

The SPEAKER pro tempore.

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. SPARTZ) for 5 minutes.

Mrs. SPARTZ.
Mrs. SPARTZ.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our heroes who risk their lives for our freedoms and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

I share with you and the American people a memorial service note that my friend Lieutenant Colonel in Spe- cial Operations David Strysko wrote for his fallen brother, Master Sergeant Benjamin Franklin Bitner, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in April of 2011: What does it mean to honor the fallen?

In a word: Rise.
In a word: Rise.

Rise to the occasion: It is easy for us to conflate remembrance with honor, because we all want to honor the ultimate sacrifices made by our brothers, and the easiest way to do that is by remem- bering them.

Undoubtedly, the greatest trav- esty of a free nation is when it forgets the sacrifices that keep them free.

But remem- bering is only the passive aspect of honor.

It is only when our suitable actions accompany our remembrances that we truly honor their sacrifice.
But what actions truly honor?

Laying wreaths, rendering salutes, and pausing for moments of silence are all commendable, but they fall short of true honor when compared to the immense gravity of the ultimate sac- rifice they recognize.

The actions that speak true honor are those that pick up where the sacrifice of our fallen brothers left off.

And it is often a rare and fleeting occasion that we get an oppor- tunity to honor our fallen through our own deliberate actions.
It is to these occasions that we rise to honor.

When faced with difficult decisions, with- ering opposition, physical and psychological peril, certain defeat, reprisal, hopelessness, chaos, and terror, we rise to honor the fallen.

When the occasion calls for sacrifice, we rise to honor the fallen.

Sacrifice can only be truly honored by sac- rifice.

Courage can only be truly honored by courage.


When it is our turn to honor those who have mortally proven their resolve, we must rise with courage to sacrifice.

It is in these moments, where courage and resolve are tested, that we can with convic- tion rise to honor the fallen.

And in doing so, we will stand as living tes- taments to those sacred words: ‘‘ .

.

.

that these dead shall not have died in vain.’’ Today, we remember Benjamin Franklin Bitner, but only our actions will honor him.
May God bless our heroes and our great Republic.

f CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT A HOAX The SPEAKER pro tempore.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. ESPAILLAT) for 5 min- utes.

Mr. ESPAILLAT.

Mr. Speaker, I wear my mask in solidarity and sup- port for the families, the children, the seniors being impacted by the Cana- dian wildfires.

I rise today to call at- tention to the climate crisis, which we are all witnessing before our very own eyes.
H2771 Air pollution is spiking across the country from wildfires that have been raging in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia.

To be clear, Mr. Speaker, this is just the start of the Canadian wildfire sea- son, and it is evident that due to the human and societal impacts on cli- mate, there is an increase in wildfire season, length, frequency, and burn area.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is not a hoax.


We are not only seeing the haze from these fires, we are also feeling it in our very own lungs.

The environmental and public health impacts are very real, and we must do more to hold polluters accountable.

Thirty-seven percent of the total area of forest burned in the western U.S. and Canada since 1986 can be linked to emissions released by the world’s 88 biggest fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers.
Air pollution from wildfire smoke has become a significant health risk in the United States, and it is growing.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is not a hoax.

In my city of New York, we are being severely impacted, and we are taking extreme precautions, especially for children, older adults, and asthmatics.

Last night, the city’s air quality index was 215, a score considered very unhealthy by the Environmental Pro- tection Agency.

This was deemed the second worst level of air pollution in the world.
The situation is so grave that Mayor Eric Adams forced schools to cancel all outdoor activities today.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is not a hoax.

Is this the future for our children?

Let me remind you that millions of Americans die each year from air pol- lution-related health issues.

In 2016, around 4.2 million premature deaths were associated with fine par- ticulate matter, according to the World Health Organization.
That is why I am insisting on passing my bill, the Green Climate Fund Au- thorization Act, which will authorize appropriations to the Green Climate Fund, ensuring that the U.S. is a leader in global solutions to combat climate change.

Again, Mr. Speaker, climate change is not a hoax.

Moreover, we know where the money goes.

It matters.

Join me in this fight in cosponsoring the Green Climate Fund Reauthorization Act.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is not a hoax.


f HONORING ERNEST SICKEY The SPEAKER pro tempore.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. CARTER) for 5 minutes.

Mr. CARTER of Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ernest s