[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H3990-H3992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CARE IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ACT

  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5547) to amend the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 to require eligible recipients of certain 
grants to develop a comprehensive economic development strategy that 
directly or indirectly increases the accessibility of affordable, 
quality care-based services, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 5547

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Care is an Economic 
     Development Strategy Act'' or the ``CEDS Act''.

[[Page H3991]]

  


     SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 302(a)(3)(A) of the Public Works 
     and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
     3162(a)(3)(A)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' before ``balances resources''; and
       (2) by inserting ``, and directly or indirectly increases 
     the accessibility of affordable, quality care-based services, 
     including child care, early childhood education, disability 
     and long-term care, and elder care'' after ``sound management 
     of development''.
       (b) Guidance.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall issue 
     guidance on implementing the amendments made by subsection 
     (a), to include how to increase access to the affordable, 
     quality care-based services described in section 302(a)(3)(A) 
     of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 
     U.S.C. 3162(a)(3)(A)) in a comprehensive economic development 
     strategy developed under section 302 of such Act.
       (2) Existing comprehensive economic development 
     strategies.--In issuing the guidance under paragraph (1), 
     with respect to a grant recipient whose comprehensive 
     economic development strategy has been approved under section 
     302 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 
     (42 U.S.C. 3162) before the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary shall ensure that such grant recipient is only 
     required to update such comprehensive economic development 
     strategy to comply with the amendments made by this Act when 
     a regularly scheduled update to such comprehensive economic 
     development strategy is required.

     SEC. 3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION CARES ACT 
                   FUNDING.

       (a) In General.--Not more than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the 
     Department of Commerce shall submit to Congress a report on 
     the activities and outcomes of economic adjustment assistance 
     funding provided by the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136).
       (b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (1) each recipient that received economic adjustment 
     assistance funding from such Act; and
       (2) the corresponding project that received economic 
     adjustment assistance funding from the CARES Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Georgia (Ms. Williams) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Webster) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5547, as 
amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the Care 
is an Economic Development Strategy Act.
  I would like to start by honoring my coauthor of this bill, who 
recently passed away unexpectedly, Congressman Don Young, the longest-
serving Member of this body, the dean of the House. As my partner on 
this bill, I got to see his dedication to serving the people up close.
  Even though he is no longer with us in this Chamber, I know that 
Congressman Young would be proud that the full House is considering the 
bill we worked so hard on together to help our kids and our 
communities.
  We authored this legislation with a simple idea in mind: Investing in 
care will help get people back to work, create good-paying jobs, and 
create a stronger economy for everyone.
  I know this firsthand as the working mom of my 6-year-old son, my 
Carter Cakes. My ability to be standing before you today is dependent 
on making sure that my Carter Cakes is safe and cared for. Let me tell 
you all, it can even be difficult for families like mine.
  When I was pregnant with Carter, we struggled to find childcare that 
was affordable and accessible. Today, it is up to my husband, Leslie, 
and me to make sure that Carter continues to be cared for so I can 
serve the people.
  Just this month, my husband had to take a day off from his job so 
that I could make a last-minute trip to D.C. when school was closed for 
a teacher workday. Later that same week, it was my turn. It became 
``Bring Carter to Work Day.'' So, in Atlanta, Leslie traveled to do his 
job, and I was home with Carter as he attended many Zoom sessions in 
Congress.
  We have made it work, but unfortunately, during this pandemic, not 
everyone has been as lucky as my family.
  Earlier this week, I visited Our House, a childcare center in my 
district that serves some of the most marginalized families, families 
experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. One of the providers 
told me that, during the height of the pandemic, a parent told her that 
she had to reopen because: ``Corona may kill me, but poverty definitely 
will if I can't go to work and provide for my family.''

                              {time}  1245

  Care is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. Women, especially women of 
color, have been forced to drop out of the labor market at record rates 
during the COVID pandemic. This impacts the prosperity of our families 
and our economy at large.
  Care is an economic development strategy, and it is time that we 
treated it like one. My CEDS Act will ensure care accessibility is 
prioritized for all communities and all constituents.
  Currently, economic development districts must consider 
transportation access, workforce development, technology use, and 
environmental protection when creating their comprehensive economic 
development strategies. Right now, there is no mention of considering 
quality, affordable care-based services. The CEDS Act would simply add 
this as a consideration.
  This bill will treat childcare, early childhood education, 
disability, long-term care, and eldercare as essential to communities' 
economic development. When we do this, we can help folks return to 
work, provide for their families, and invigorate our economy while 
knowing that their loved ones are in good hands.
  I bring this bill before you today for every caregiver who has been 
forced to leave the workforce, for every working parent who has given 
up on finding a solution that works, for every person who feels forced 
to choose between their loved ones and their livelihoods. It doesn't 
have to be this way, y'all.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, for 
our children, our seniors, and our families nationwide.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                    Washington, DC, March 7, 2022.
     Hon. Peter DeFazio,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 5547, the 
     ``Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act.'' In order to 
     permit H.R. 5547 to proceed expeditiously to the House Floor, 
     I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on Financial Services takes this action to 
     forego formal consideration of H.R. 5547 in light of our 
     mutual understanding that, by foregoing formal consideration 
     of H.R. 5547 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter contained in this or similar 
     legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves 
     forward with regard to any matters in the Committee's 
     jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek 
     appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any 
     House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation 
     that involves the Committee's jurisdiction and request your 
     support for any such request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding, and I would ask that a copy of 
     our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during Floor consideration of H.R. 5547.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                                     Washington DC, March 7, 2022.
     Hon. Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Financial Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Waters: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 5547, the Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act. 
     I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation.
       I acknowledge that by foregoing formal consideration on 
     H.R. 5547, the Committee on Financial Services does not waive 
     any future jurisdictional claims to provisions in this or 
     similar legislation, and that your Committee will be 
     consulted and involved on any matters in your Committee's 
     jurisdiction should this legislation move forward. In 
     addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I 
     would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number

[[Page H3992]]

     of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving 
     provisions within this legislation on which the Committee on 
     Financial Services has a valid jurisdictional claim.
       I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation, 
     and I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 
     5547.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Peter A. DeFazio,
                                                            Chair.

  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 5547, the Care is an Economic Development 
Strategy Act, will ensure that recipients of Economic Development 
Administration grants consider the availability of childcare, early 
childhood education, disability, and eldercare in their comprehensive 
economic development strategy.
  This helps ensure that the children, the elderly, and those with 
disabilities who live in rural and distressed communities are 
rightfully included in economic development planning.
  Our friend and colleague from Alaska, the late Don Young, cosponsored 
this legislation as the Republican champion for this bill. It is an 
example of the commitment he had to bipartisanship and to supporting 
efforts to help distressed communities not only in Alaska, but 
throughout the Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, H.R. 5547 ensures childcare and early 
childhood education, as well as disability and eldercare are components 
of local comprehensive economic development strategies.
  I thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for championing this 
issue on our side of the aisle and note our deepest appreciation for 
his work.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation as care is an economic development strategy.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Chu). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Williams) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5547, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________