[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 21, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, 2022

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, the right to vote is fundamental to our 
democracy. While the path to full voting rights for all American 
citizens has been and still is long and challenging, this week we honor 
the heroes who fought to secure this right by encouraging and 
supporting all eligible Americans to register to vote.
  This call to action would be incomplete if I did not mention the 
nearly 4 million Americans living in U.S. territories and those in the 
District of Columbia who still do not have equal voting representation 
in this Congress and in our country.
  As such, Americans living in the territories and the District of 
Columbia are accustomed to being last in line or given short shrift for 
hurricane relief, Medicaid, and infrastructure funding.
  We must remain committed to building an America where every vote 
matters and where every citizen has the ability and the right to 
participate freely in the democratic process.
  That is why I stand with House Democrats to continue to work on 
securing the vote for all Americans. Our Nation depends on it.


                           Better-Paying Jobs

  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to affirm my commitment to 
expanding work opportunities to all corners of the country, including 
the often excluded territory of the Virgin Islands. That means forming 
better-paying jobs and economic opportunities so Americans can work and 
live with dignity and security.
  The Democratic Caucus has remained committed to people over politics 
in this with safer communities, better-paying jobs, and opportunities 
for all Americans.
  That is why they have supported and I support the three significant 
pieces of legislation that have been passed by House Democrats: the 
CHIPS and Science Act which provides billions of dollars in new funding 
to strengthen American research and development and rebuild our supply 
chain; the Inflation Reduction Act which has stimulated job growth 
through investments in clean, affordable, and secure American energy 
while simultaneously cutting families' energy bills and fighting the 
climate change; and, lastly, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act, let us not forget, which aims to rebuild our roads, bridges, and 
transit systems while bringing broadband and clean drinking water to 
more communities.


                      Black Women's Equal Pay Day

  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the disparities 
that exist for Black women due to the double-pronged existence of 
institutional racism and misogyny in our country. Black women bear the 
unique burden of experiencing both gender and racial discrimination. We 
have seen this in health, wealth, education, and work among all 
socioeconomic, geographic, and age groups.
  Black women earn 58 cents to the dollar of a White man--the same job, 
the same position--58 cents to the dollar. Their earning gap is even 
more severe for mothers, with Black mothers only earning 46 cents for 
every dollar a White, non-Hispanic father earned nationally.
  It is imperative that we demand pay equity for Black women. So today, 
I stand with all of my sisters and demand and implore my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle to support Black Women's Equal Pay Day.

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