[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE LOSSES CAUSED BY COVID-19

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, just a few minutes ago, Members stood 
on the steps of the United States Congress, reminiscent of the unity of 
this Nation and the words of our Pledge of Allegiance that we stand 
united.
  I rise to offer words of condolence and remembrance for the 500,000 
lives taken by COVID-19. The Nation, over the last 12 months, has faced 
a crucible of suffering, death, and disease that has taken lives, 
devastated the economy, and put millions at risk of greater hardship 
due to the death of a loved one, unemployment, loss of healthcare or 
forgone education opportunities.
  I continue to remember the little 4-year-old boy in Texas who lost 
both of his parents; or those who continue to mourn losing a mom, dad, 
husband, wife, children, yes, and siblings.
  Yesterday, as the news broke that this Nation has lost 500,000--more 
than World War I, World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war--my 
heart was heavy, and this loss is a sad mark.
  So I come today to this floor to say to those who have lost: You will 
never be forgotten.
  To those who remain: Your loved one will never be forgotten. Their 
lives will not be in vain. Their deaths will not be in vain.
  And though these are staggering proportions, our commitment as the 
United States Congress should be to ensure this moment.
  Madam Speaker, I end by a quiet moment of silence at this moment.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to offer words of condolence and remembrance 
for the five hundred thousand lives taken by COVID-19.
  The Nation over the last twelve months has faced a crucible of 
suffering, death, and disease that has taken too many lives, devastated 
the economy and put millions at risk of greater hardship due to the 
death of a loved one, unemployment, loss of health care or forgone 
education opportunities.
  Yesterday, as news broke that the Nation had reached the milestone of 
losing five hundred thousand people to COVID-19, I was at the 
dedication of a Community Vaccination Center at the NRG Stadium located 
in Houston Texas.
  Today, with a heavy heart our nation sadly marks the loss of 500,000 
American lives to the coronavirus: an unimaginable human toll in our 
modern era of medical and technological advances.
  These deaths are of staggering proportions and cause incomprehensible 
sadness, but we cannot think of them as the end of COVID-19.
  As we have learned COVID-19 can surge again claiming even more lives.
  This is why we cannot be complacent by accepting so much death 
without continuing to fight to save lives and end this pandemic.
  Every life lost is a profound tragedy and earth-shattering moment in 
the lives of families, neighborhoods, and communities that touch each 
of us in countless ways as we mourn and console our family members, 
coworkers, neighbors and friends.
  Today, I joined my colleagues of the House to observe a moment of 
silence on the steps of the Capitol for the 500,000 lives lost.
  Members of Congress will join tens of millions of Americans in prayer 
for the lives lost or devastated by this vicious virus.
  As we pray, we must commit ourselves to honoring those we have lost 
by wearing face coverings, observing social distance, washing of 
hands--and most important getting the vaccine when it is our time to do 
so as a pledge to all who have been taken from us far too soon that we 
will act swiftly to put an end to this pandemic and to stem the 
suffering felt by so many.
  My commitment is to save lives and also livelihoods through public 
and personal action.
  As Texans work to overcome the tragic winter disaster that befell the 
state last week, I wrote to President Biden asking that he grant the 
state's request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, which he did 
and today FEMA is on the ground providing water delivery, food 
distribution, and other vital services to help Texans get back on their 
feet.
  I also encourage those who have lost health insurance during the 
economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of 
the extended enrollment period for getting health insurance through 
healthcare.gov, which is open until May 15, 2021.
  Currently, 36 states are using HealthCare.gov. Since President Biden 
announced the creation of the Special Enrollment Period for 
HealthCare.gov, all 14 states and D.C. that have their own state-based 
marketplaces have announced that they would also have Special 
Enrollment Periods.
  President Biden has extended a lifeline to struggling small 
businesses, to save American jobs and power the American economy, while 
promoting equity and fairness across Main Street.
  The reforms he had made will expand access to the Paycheck Protection 
Program (PPP) to the hardest-hit businesses that anchor our low and 
middle-income and communities of color.
  Importantly, they will ensure that sole proprietors, which are 
overwhelmingly women and minorities, and which also serve our immigrant 
communities, are not left behind.
  My unwavering support of these Biden Administration reforms will also 
build on recent PPP successes that increase assistance to businesses 
with ten or fewer employees in underserved and rural areas.
  They also build on the work of increasing assistance through 
community-based lenders that specialize in serving those markets.
  As President Biden advances these actions, I can say with pride that 
I participated in the Budget Committee's Markup of the American Rescue 
Plan intended to end COVID-19 pandemic and save the nation's economy.
  Real Help is on the way. We will win this battle against COVID and 
save the economy by working together.
  I conclude with these words ``Precious Lord take my hand'' and lead 
me on. We will together win the battle.

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