[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4271-H4272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, OAKLAND COUNTY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Tlaib) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the Jack and Jill of America, 
Oakland County, Michigan chapter. For 45 years, they have brought 
leadership and mentorship programming for our African-American young 
people across Oakland County.
  Founded in 1978, the Oakland County chapter of Jack and Jill of 
America was the realization of a dream of two mothers, Robbie Johnson 
and Bobbye Wilhite, who were looking for more opportunities for their 
young children.
  The 39 charter members were united in seeking a better quality of 
life and opportunities for success for young African Americans in our 
community.
  The Oakland County chapter is currently one of 262 chapters 
nationwide whose programs are centered on education, public service, 
health, cultural awareness, and recreation.
  Please join me, Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the Jack and Jill of 
America, Oakland County Chapter as they celebrate 45 years of service, 
education, and excellence in our community.


                             SUPPORTING UAW

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I am the proud daughter of the UAW. My family 
knew the power of being part of a union family.
  My dad, who came to the United States with only a fourth grade 
education, felt human dignity for the first time when he worked at the 
Ford Motor Company in Flat Rock on the assembly line and became a 
member of the UAW.
  We know this week hundreds of thousands of workers are fighting for a 
fair contract to support their families. Their current contract, Mr. 
Speaker, expires at midnight on September 14.
  The right to strike in our country is the single most powerful tool 
to fight corporate greed. In the first 6 months of this year alone, the 
Big Three: Ford, Stellantis, and GM made a combined $20 billion in 
profits.
  The Big Three CEOs received a whopping 40 percent increase in pay 
while the majority of workers today are living check to check.
  Did you know that since 1948, every single UAW contract had a cost-
of-living adjustment, a COLA. In 2009, something spectacular happened, 
workers came together and helped the Big Three stay afloat. They 
decided to put COLA aside, allowing the companies to create tier 
systems.
  In 2023, the contract doesn't have the cost-of-living adjustment. 
These are the same workers, Mr. Speaker, that sacrificed so much, and 
now the Big Three are refusing to have their backs when they are 
struggling.
  Two workers doing the same job side by side should not be receiving 
drastically different wages and benefits due to tiers that were put in 
place during the Great Recession. Tier systems have no place on an 
assembly line.
  These companies should not be able to find loopholes to hire 
supplemental workers just so they can get away with paying them lower 
hourly wages and no retirement benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, my dad in the 1980s was vested in health benefits within 
90 days. There was no five, six, seven, eight--I even met a young girl 
who said it took her dad 10 years to get on top of that tier.
  Folks don't realize the majority of the UAW workers in our country do 
not have a pension today. It is 2023. Autoworkers should be able to 
retire with dignity. Every worker deserves a guaranteed pension and 
healthcare when they retire.
  The Big Three need to value their workers more than they value 
profits and their own CEO pay increases. They need to do what is right. 
They have record profits, and that should result in a record contract.


                         FUNDING FOR CHILDCARE

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I am, as you know, a proud mother and a proud 
founder of the Congressional Mamas' Caucus.
  When we passed the American Rescue Plan, I was proud to have included 
a Federal investment for childcare; keeping childcare providers open 
and ensuring working parents could access childcare when they needed to 
go back to work.
  The American Rescue Plan included $24 billion in funding for 
childcare stabilization, $15 billion alone for childcare programs for 
low-income families, and so much more.
  This Federal funding was critical in enabling providers to pay 
personnel costs and keep programs afloat.
  These critical funds are already running out in many States and are 
set to expire at the end of this month. Without immediate action here 
in Congress to invest in childcare, there will be dire consequences for 
working families.
  It is estimated, Mr. Speaker, that we will lose 3.2 million slots. 
That is 3.2

[[Page H4272]]

million less children that will be able to have childcare nationwide, 
and it also includes 56 children in Michigan alone.
  As the founder of the Congressional Mamas' Caucus, we are fighting, 
many of us Members, for fair and equitable access to childcare, paid 
leave, benefits for our care workers, and so much more. We must come 
together, Mr. Speaker, to find solutions to address this childcare 
crisis.
  To all my colleagues, please realize that childcare isn't a luxury. 
It is a necessity for working families. Childcare is essential, and the 
Federal Government must renew this critical funding.

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