you are the sweetest friend, mr. tonko. let me recognize my colleague from ohio, who has been a really great collaborator on this work, mr. gonzalez. mr. gonzalez: thank you, madam chair. happy birthday. and thank you to our witnesses for being here today and for your expertise. i agree, congress must get to work on ways to accelerate innovation in plastics and battery recycling, reduce the environmental impact of their consumption and increase domestic resources and supply chains. recycling needs to address the climate challenge, as mr. hillmyer just discussed. we need to spur innovations through r&d and coordination across relevant federal agencies on the work. that's why i was proud to join the chairwoman in introducing the plastics waste reduction and recycling research act. this congress. and applaud her leadership on this issue. it's also important to recognize the unique role of the department of energy and its national labs in enabling next generation research and advanced recycling. mr. baca, i want to start with yo

pallone: i yield to the chairman of the climate change subcommittee, mr. tonko. mr. tonko: thank you, and thank you to the chair for yielding. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. tonko: thank you, madam speaker. every life and every job depends on safe drinking water. unfrment, our water system have been underfunded for decades and e.p.a. has been unable to finalize new national standards since 1996. division i will enhance our drinking water and affordability. this includes the investments and policy reforms to make the safe drinking water act live up to its name. it significantly increases funding for the state revolving fund. if funds -- it funds lead-lined removals to the full extent and addresses pfas contaminations which are an endangerment to public health. this is a down payment on critical public health infrastructure that must be part of our infrastructure investments moving forward. we know our water systems need these dollars. and our constituents deserve to have safe, reliable, and affordable water, free from lead, free from pfas and

you really are the sweetest friend, mr. tonko. and with that, allow me to recognize my colleague from ohio, who has really been a great collaborator on this work, mr. gonzales. >> thank you, madam chair, happy birthday, and thank you you to our witnesses for being here today and for your expertise. i agree, congress must get to work on ways to accelerate innovations and battery recycling, reduce the environmental impact and increase the economic value and security of domestic resources and supply chains. recycling and innovations in recycling need to be a key part of addressing the climate challenge, as mr. hilmeyer just discussed. it is important we consider an approach through coordination across relevant federal agencies. that's why i was proud to join the chairwoman in introducing the plastics waste and reduction and research act, and applaud her rude research -- her research on the issue. mr. baca, i want to start with you. in your prepared remarks, you described accs work on labs. the question is, how is the department of ene

mr. tonko: 40% of americans before covid couldn't cover $400 expense without selling belongings or going into debt. i am proud of our work to pass the american rescue plan and deliver a lifeline for struggling americans. starting july 15, that lifeline gets stronger, in a few weeks, hard-working families will get a check for up to $300. think can buy food, clothes and pay rent and afford child care. in my home district, these checks will reach more than 37 ,000 households and lift 5,000 of our kids out of poverty. these are not just lasting investments, they are the down payment on our brightest future. i urge every parent who has struggled, to visit childtaxcredit.gov and make sure you are signed up. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does vasm virginia seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. >> madam speaker, despite our nation sitting o

mr. tonko: we cannot unravel infrastructure from climate as we consider new investments in america's infrastructure our decisions will be better than worse. this will force future generations of americans to cover a blank check and we are passing grave and growing costs for past failures to act. let me put it another way to tackle climate change will help us build legislation that makes america cleaner, safer and more competitive as a nation and will create millions of good american jobs. if we make climate a priority, our workers will miss fewer days on the job. our local budgets will suffer less strain and our infrastructure dollars will go farther. climate change is a growing which demands bold action and doing about it. it is condemning the united states to be a weaker, sicker or poorer nation. do we allow america to further decline or have a prosperous and just future. the decision is clear. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentlewoman fr

tonko: thank you, and i appreciate the work the biden administration and its civil servants are doing to rebuild trust. i yield back. rep. degette: the chair recognizes mrdunn for five minutes. rep. dunn: thank you. i appreciate the ability to conduct oversight. i am interested in ensuring these unaccompanied children receive adequate medical care. as unaccompanied minors enter the country illegally, they are placed in the care of hhs, responsible for their health and safety. i think it is abundantly clear we have a crisis at the southern border and the fate of these children is just one aspect of this crisis. i think the unsustainable increase in order crosses jeopardizes the ability to monitor, track and trace covid-19 among illegal immigrants, putting them, the unaccompanied children under your care, and the american people at risk. i would like to hear more about the health and safety protocols and how they are functioning in light of the covid-19 pandemic. to that end, can you tell me how many children in orr's care have tested positive for covid-19 to date? as an audit number or percentage. ms. chang: i don't have the number but i am happy to get