Barbara Lee: “First, I thank the chair of our Congressional Black Caucus. I thank Chairwoman Bass, who has helped us organize this…”

“First, I thank the chair of our Congressional Black Caucus. I thank Chairwoman Bass, who has helped us organize this tonight, for her leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus. I join with my colleagues to speak on the impact of COVID-19, the pandemic which has had an especially disparate impact on communities of color. First, again, let me thank Chairwoman Bass, Chairwoman Chu, and Congressman Castro of the Tri-Caucus, as well as Representatives Kelly, Haaland, and Davids, for working together to ensure that we address the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color--also, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. It is really very imperative that our strategy to crush COVID intentionally includes provisions to support the specific needs of our communities. I also want to take a moment to thank Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Pallone for negotiating some of the provisions of our COVID Community Care Act, that is H.R. 8192, in our Heroes bill, which further strengthens efforts to engage medically underserved communities in the latest version, again, of the Heroes bill. I thank Chairman Scott and, of course, our subcommittee chair, Rosa DeLauro, for their support, their input, and their assistance in getting this bill, the COVID Community Care Act, really very targeted, very focused, and something that all of us could support as a Tri- Caucus, also--and, of course, Speaker Pelosi, again, for her steadfast understanding and support for this issue.…”