On the recordMay 27, 2020
We are in the backdrop of commemorating Memorial Day just 2 days ago, when the Nation bowed their heads to honor the fallen. We did that without question, without equivocation. But we also acknowledge, and I stand here today acknowledging, the sacrifice of those heroes, acknowledging that 1,000 veterans, as well, have lost their lives from COVID-19. I stand here today to say to America, almost 100,000 of our fellow Americans, our fellow residents, our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, loved ones, and neighbors, dear friends, classmates, and all around us have been the victims of COVID-19. So I speak for the overwhelming number of Americans who say yes to the HEROES Act. Mr. Speaker, I ask those in the other body and in the administration: Have you ever seen a headline that said, when a city tried to do its best, $15 million in rental assistance runs out in 90 minutes--in my hometown of Houston. Mr. Speaker, I say thank you to the mayor, thank you to the county judge. They are trying. Have you ever seen someone who's never had to beg for food or ask for food sit in the hot Sun in their car for 7 hours--I have--to be able to get groceries for their children? Have you ever seen folks line up to be tested, because they should have been tested in February, March, but there were no kits? So working in a public-private partnership with UMMC, I opened seven testing sites.…
