Those were great ideas. Those were important ideas, and they were necessary.

We can't keep up. We can't compete.

the assistance from Rural Development is very important.

I was really interested in the discussion you have about the Farm Credit's mission in rural infrastructure.

But we can, we are Members of Congress, we always have an opinion. I don't know why you don't have one.

The cooperation and the co-ops are going to be really key.

As a result, it is more difficult for the islands to improve economic conditions.

Robust infrastructure development... is foundational for rural viability.

The program provides essential funding for families in my district to fill in the gap of private market.

The Virgin Islands are particularly in need of broadband infrastructure.

we desperately need more from them.

Importantly, this legislation will serve as a statement of the commitment from the Federal government to address some of our most pressing local needs.

The territories continue to suffer from high unemployment.

By their mere geography, the territories are critically vulnerable to natural forces unique to daily living in an island environment.

I thank you so much, Mr. James Clyburn. There can never be enough time for you to tell these stories and to educate and highlight to all of us the experiences that you have had personally, as well as the importance of Black History Month…

What support can these programs give to the diversification of crops here in the United States to sustain farmers who are not operating on huge, enormous tracks of land?

I really was moved by the portion that Mr. Richmond talked about concerning outsiders coming to organizations and coming to protests, and saying possibly that they are outsiders. No. We are all American, and we will join with other…

The CBC chair, Mr. Cedric Richmond, and myself have a great honor that I rise today as one of the anchors of the CBC, the Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order hour. For the next 60 minutes I have a chance to speak directly to the…

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey) knows that people like he and I would never be here, never have been able to be educated without people who worked in laundry rooms, who were blue-collar workers, policemen, others. Those gains from…

Tribal concerns are often underrepresented, and I'm glad that we're dedicating a hearing to address these issues and finding solutions.

We know that they did fix it. We don't have any information regarding the medical situation for those individuals, but it's certainly not a condition that we want our schools to be in.

So with seeing that there--what would be the thing that would allow for these, not just the inspections to be done and not just us shining a light on them, but actual movement in terms of improvement for children and the environment in…

I can't believe that the Department of Interior wants children to be in these positions of, you know, going to school and in environments like this.

I am asking my Republican colleagues to join me in requesting that the President immediately lift the hiring ban

It appears that not only are the children not being properly educated, but they're being placed in harm's way with outdated and deteriorating equipment and infrastructure.