On the recordApril 23, 2020
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the underlying bill, which was made much safer to save lives and to provide economic opportunity. But, as well, I rise to support the bipartisan, as it should be, oversight bill created by the vision of our Speaker, and I ask my colleagues to understand what oversight is in COVID-19. It is to save lives and to make sure that we focus on the needs of those like the elderly in nursing homes who need to be tested or essential workers. Or we find out the underlying incompetence, if you will, of large companies getting money from the mom-and-pop businesses. That needs oversight. Or we promote more testing, like the $25 billion that is in the underlying bill, and contact tracing. That is what oversight is. Oversight is to maintain the idea that we have responsibility for the budget of this Nation, but we have the responsibility for the lives of this Nation. I served as a staffer for the Select Committee on Assassinations when people were in dismay about the assassinations of Dr. King and John F. Kennedy. I will tell you that even that small committee in the House gave some comfort that Congress was caring about lives and about our budget. I support enthusiastically the rule and, as well, the bipartisan Oversight Committee. Wise people will know that Congress must continue to do its work in a way that saves lives and strengthens our economy. I ask support for this bill and the rule.
