[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 194 (Thursday, December 5, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H9264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ADDRESS URGENT PRIORITIES OF AMERICA

  (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, it has been less than a year since 
Democrats took back the majority in the House. In that short time, we 
have passed nearly 400 bills to get government working for the people 
again, by increasing access to quality, affordable healthcare and 
protecting coverage for preexisting conditions; by raising family 
wages; by making bold investments in rebuilding our Nation's 
infrastructure; and by cleaning up corruption in Washington and getting 
the government to work for the people again.
  We have sent more than 275 bipartisan bills to the Senate, where 
Mitch McConnell is refusing to vote on them. These bills include 
legislation to protect and strengthen coverage for preexisting 
conditions, to ensure equal pay for equal work, and to fight back 
against the debilitating effects of climate change and ban offshore 
drilling.
  We also voted to give 33 million Americans a long-overdue pay raise 
by raising the minimum wage, provide Gold Star families with much-
needed tax relief, and secure our Nation's elections.
  Yet, Mitch McConnell has described himself as the ``grim reaper'' and 
won't take up any of this legislation.
  We are busy doing the work of the American people. We have passed 
over 375 bipartisan bills that are sitting in the Senate. It is time 
for the Senate to take up these bills and address the urgent priorities 
of the American people.

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