[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2275-H2276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Nunn of Iowa). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 9, 2023, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Jackson Lee) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the 
minority leader.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to be very clear in 
the hearts and minds of Americans and the hearts and minds of Texans, 
the hearts and minds of the Democratic Caucus that no one in our Caucus 
condones the killing of innocent people no matter where we find 
ourselves.
  So I rise today to take great issue with any suggestion that our 
Democratic Caucus would not fight for those who are the most 
vulnerable.
  I recognize the Maryland delegation and the leader, Mr. Mfume, who 
comes to the floor to ensure that the voices of Marylanders are heard 
in helping to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge but also to ensure 
the representation of the American people that we do not discard our 
friends.
  What we will do is demand that our friends stand up for the 
vulnerable, that our friends love babies and women and children, and 
that we make sure that there is not an unequal mistreatment of 
individuals who are here in this country and who are overseas.
  So I must challenge any interpretation of Democrats as being anything 
but supportive of the President's policies, which are policies that 
believe in protecting human rights workers, and again, as I started 
out, by protecting those vulnerable persons in the--how should I say 
it--in the very vigorous war that is going on and the loss of life that 
we see.
  That is why you hear a difference of opinion in the Democratic Party. 
That is why you hear from the majority leader of the United States 
Senate a different voice because that voice has to speak for, again, 
the most vulnerable.
  At the same time, would we not want to have the Nation acknowledge 
the tragedy that happened in Maryland in the Baltimore Harbor where so 
many detrimental disasters could be forthcoming because of the terrible 
tragedy of the bridge coming down, the lack of

[[Page H2276]]

money to be able to support a new system of construction, as well to be 
able to pay for it.
  So here is the real story. Tragedy struck the Baltimore Harbor some 
weeks ago. We saw not only the Maryland delegation come together, but 
we saw the Nation come together.
  The Nation has come together to be able to speak to the pain of the 
people that are in Maryland, that are in Baltimore, and in particular, 
in the city of Baltimore. That is what happened.
  So I am standing with and supporting Mr. Mfume who comes to represent 
the Maryland delegation to ensure that those funds are forthcoming and 
that they are not dismissed. I think it is extremely important that we 
know to help our various communities that are suffering from 
hurricanes, suffering from a particular type of disaster that no one 
had ever heard, which is the disaster of the collision of a cargo 
carrier, if you will, going into the Francis Scott Key Bridge that many 
of us remember as the source of the Star Spangled Banner.
  So I would not be here if I didn't think the value that I stand for 
is to stand alongside Mr. Mfume to recognize that we are Americans 
first and that we are here to help those who are in their time of need 
who cannot help themselves.
  That is why the President immediately went to Maryland in terms of 
his voice, immediately spoke up on behalf of the people of Maryland and 
the people of Baltimore and immediately spoke up on behalf of the 
Maryland Congressional Delegation which Mr. Mfume now will continue to 
lead. He immediately stood up because he is going to be a man of his 
word. He stood up because he is a man of his word that he was going to 
be here to stand with the great people of Maryland.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to indicate my support for the 
funding efforts to help the great people of the great State of 
Maryland. Let's do it together. That is what Americans do. We help each 
other, and we work together.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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