Steve Scalise: “I thank my friend from Kentucky for yielding and for bringing this important legislation to the floor. When you look…”

“I thank my friend from Kentucky for yielding and for bringing this important legislation to the floor. When you look across the country, people have worked hard to get their lives back in order, to get their small businesses back up and running. States pushed to open up again because they knew that the health of their people, the mental health, the ability for kids to get back in school, was so critical. Of course, data is out there all around but especially amongst our young kids. Many millions of young kids in America lost a year-plus of learning because of virtual learning. Not being in the classroom just wasn't the same. Those communities that made the effort to open back up again were able to provide a much higher level of education than those schools that went out of their way to shut down. Damage was caused to so many. As you see most of the country now back at work, they look at Congress and say: Why isn't Washington back at work? When you look at Federal agencies that are there to provide a service for the 330-plus million people all across this great Nation, Mr. Speaker, those people expect that when they pick up the phone and call those agencies--if you are a military veteran who served this Nation, you surely showed up for work. You showed up, in fact, overseas, in some cases, risking your life, receiving injuries. You want to get your military record so you can be eligible to go get the healthcare you deserve.…”