Sheila Jackson Lee: “I certainly associate with the concerns of the majority leader, Mr. Hoyer. I associate myself with his concerns and my…”

“I certainly associate with the concerns of the majority leader, Mr. Hoyer. I associate myself with his concerns and my appreciation for the Appropriations Committee. Let me thank Ms. DeLauro and my fellow Texan, Ms. Granger, and certainly make mention of her ascending to continue as ranking member in the next Congress. I rise to support this underlying legislation for the extension of the CR to December 18. And I rise to, as well, reemphasize the desperate conditions Americans are in. There are 14 million COVID-19 cases, almost 300,000 dead. It is predicted to have Americans, tragically, that will possibly lose their life in 2021, of upward of 500,000 Americans. This is a funding bill. When we say keep the government open, what we really mean is to serve the American people, to make sure that they have healthcare, that they have education dollars, that they are able to fund their local police and fire, that they have childcare dollars, that they have research dollars. At the same time, if I went on any local street in America today, they would be asking me to give them a lifeline so their restaurants can stay open. The small businesses, they would be asking about their unemployment extension and the cash payments. That is what we need to get into the negotiation, and we are hoping to do the funding bill and COVID-19 as well.…”