 Okay. We're back on YouTube. This is the House Healthcare Committee. It's Friday, March 12th, and it's almost 3.30 p.m. So at this point, we have, we're working on House Bill 210 that is an act that is addressing issues of health disparities and working toward health equity. That's not the official name, but it's a paraphrase. We've marked up the bill and made additions and have taken the time for every committee member to be able to read the latest completely integrated, with all the integrated suggestions that have been made earlier today. So at this point, unless, let me just check, is there anything else that people need to bring forward in terms of a last minute suggestion? I see a hand. Oh, I see several hands. Okay. Representative Burroughs. It's just a little, a little one. I think that cisgender should be defined because not everybody reading the bill understands what that means. I'm going to suggest that we not try to do that right now. But I will defer to, I don't think I want to put it in the definition section. No, sorry. I appreciate your suggestion, but I'm going to use my judgment as to not go there right now. Okay, my other question is, I, and I don't know the answer to this question, so I'm asking. It was in, in lower cases, one word that is that the newest conventional use of which word are you talking about cisgender. It's lower case. Okay. Lower case. I was going to say, I think it's, I think it's in the dictionary now people can always just look it up. Words you're not familiar with. Yeah. Representative and then represent golden. Yes. I just want to like, let you all know I sent you an email just now with the latest findings I added in a link to and on his testimony and I also added in a link to the UVM website and I did both because I felt like the record does have your, your testimony which has a lot of evidence in it and I just think that it's important to show people there's like a rich amount of rich body of evidence. So if every Katie has looked it over and approved my formatting. So if everyone takes a look, this is what will go in the final record of our like sort of bibliography. Thank you. Thank you for that work. I'm just having to communicate with the clerk's office if you bear with me for a second. So it's really amazing to read this piece of work now that we've done it all together and have this conversation want to congratulate Brian for bringing it forward. It's really meaningful piece of work so thank you and it for everyone else to I have two small things that I just want to get off. These are tiny one is on page 11 I'm still hung up on that health equity definition. I think people would consider taking out the first sentence of that line eight on section six because health equity is not the that's not what health equity is but health equity is what comes next. So that's just an issue for me but it doesn't change anything in the long run. I wasn't party to that discussion so I'm not going to weigh in at this point. The issue was heard and kind of decision to move on. I think that if there were any changes. Yeah, okay if there were any changes at this point they ought to be because it was a major error found rather than an error obviously right. I'll have to live with that. I'm the only other piece I'd like to go back to be be that's on page 17. And I'm hoping we could say, unnecessary appoint to carry on because every other one they're appointed by Vermont so in this case the commission is appointing the at large members. And I just like that clarified, probably deems necessary to appoint to carry out the functions whatever or appoint to carry out the function somewhere the word appoint. I'll bet the editors might catch that. Well, I wouldn't mind just putting it in and then letting them put it in the right place grammatically so I just would like to see that. So, so ability. I don't have that right in front of me at the moment. Let me. Yeah, it would be on the second online to on page 17 it would be. It's a little awkward but that deem necessary to appoint to carry out the functions of this section, because that gives the commission the authority to appoint the at large. I see your point. As it were, I do though I see I see what you mean. Yeah, I just think it's a language thing it just we point out yeah we go up a member appointed a member appointed. I'm hearing you right, right because we're not appointing those. Yeah, that's something that can just be corrected after it comes from editing if it's just adding in two words Katie or is that going to be a problem. In general I'm fine adding two words I feel like the sentence reads a little awkward with that addition so I might just run it just that paragraph by them again with that addition to see if they have any suggestions. And I'm going to leave it to the discretion of our ledge council and editors. We understand the issue and they can figure it out. I agree. Okay, great. Anything else. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Court is. Mine is a clerk question. A clerk question. Yeah. Oh, okay. The bill, the draft that we're working off of is one that you've been amending Katie as we go or editing as, as we go, but it's still dated. The final version, which will also be a version that you send to editing. And then I would use that date and time marker on the report of the record of action. So they're going to give me back a clean 4.1. The reason why it's dated this morning is that's when I created the newest version 4.1. So I need to wait until we get it back from editing before I fill out my record of action. I don't think the draft number will change and I don't think the time will change, although if we're making that change to add to a point, then it might become a 4.2. So let me see if they're going to accept that change. Can would you mind just communicating with me. So I. Communicate on that. Thank you. Okay. Anything else. Okay, at this point, I'm going to. I'm going to have us move forward for committee discussion. And I'm going to open it up to members to make any. Last, not last, but well, it would be last, but any comments. About the bill before us prior to ending prior to anticipating action taken on the bill. So with that, I'd open up the committee for committee discussion represent Peterson. Yes, I'll bite. Representative Lippert. I'm not going to support the bill. But I don't want you to hate me because I don't. The thing is, when you vote on something. If we weren't voting. And it was all dictated that we wouldn't have the system we, we have so I feel like when things are voted on people have a right to, to have a different opinion. The main reason I'm not supportive of this is I think that there's no, the number one thing is there's a tremendous amount of duplication. And within, within the, that I've seen within the healthcare field as a whole. And I just want to look at something. I hope I can get it back up. There's so many agencies that deal with people in the state who have, I think some of the problems, the folks we're trying to help have. In referral clinic want cares, want medical society among many others. We also have the department of health and I really think the bill we need to craft is to ask the Department of Health by a date certain to do a study of health disparities and go through every policy procedure. And law rule recommendation throughout the entire healthcare system to find out what the disparities are and bring them to us so we can be aware of them. And then go about correcting them. I don't think we need legislation. I think it's, it's there for the telling. I think we could, we could just get it done, frankly, without spending all the time we've spent trying to craft the bill. I think if we did that that would be at least the logical first step. I look at my district, and I just feel like this amount of stuff just doesn't apply to my district. And so, and some of the language in the bill, you know, I've made it clear. I'm, when I hear systemic racism, it makes the hair stand up my head. I get bothers me. It's in this bill throw. I just, I can't put my name on it. So I will vote no when it comes to the committee vote. Thanks for listening. Yeah, I'd like to say a few things as the chair of the committee. First of all, you have every right to expand this is the time, as I said earlier, during committee discussion, every member has their full opportunity to express whatever point of view you have. This is also not a time I'm not going to. In fact, I'm going to ask this is not a time to debate. This is not a time for others to rebut anything you've said, any more than for you to rebut something someone else has said. And I anticipate that we will have differing points of view on this. And that is, that is acceptable. Some of those points of view are divergent, and maybe even diametrically opposed, but that is your right to hold that opinion about this bill. I'm And I, so I would just say as well that one of the things that I've worked toward and I will continue to work toward as the chair of this committee. This is before hearing anyone else speak, but just to say because you've made a very strong statement that it is my goal that when we can disagree that we can disagree in a respectful and civil way. And I hope this I hope what I said was respectful and civil because I certainly mean it that way. I know you do. And I know that some issues are very, very sensitive for many people, but I would just suggest that this is that we listen to each other, rather than try to rebut each other and speak for ourselves as to about what what our thoughts are on this bill. But I would. I recognize representative China. Thank you. I know you just did not to rebut people but I don't want to rebut what art said but I want to respond to him as a human, like just as like as a as a colleague that, although we may disagree on some things I don't hate you. And it makes me think of Martin Luther King's quote, I'm here. Where he says Martin Luther King said hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. And I think in the end like we have to just focus on our love for each other as human beings, even when we disagree. So, I just want to say that at first, it's not like my statement on the bill but just as we're humans we have relationships with each other and I want to acknowledge that. And you know that that means a lot. That means a lot, because I know I'm going to stick out here and it means a lot. Thank you. And now I want to just speak what you know in support of the bill. That, um, where do I begin. I'm like having a hard time catching my like pulling myself together so sorry. I'm going to have a lorry moment. As I remember, as I said to Lori that's perfectly fine. Yeah. So I think when we think about the work we're doing in healthcare it's really like people it's like your substance your body your mind your spirit you know it's like who you are health care is like affecting that so it's you know, it's a it's very emotional when you think about what it really means for people. So, I will be supporting this bill even though it has strayed from the original bill I mean we, I expect that that's what's going to happen and I feel like the committee worked really hard with stakeholders to adapt this bill so that it makes sense in the current dynamics that we're in. I mean the reality is that it's not business as usual right now. But I'm appreciative that during a public health health emergency we've decided to prioritize health equity because the public health emergency has amplified those inequities. So it's the perfect time to to say enough is enough we're going to do something proactive about this beyond what we've been doing. I feel as building on the past work of the committee and the four years before this one that I was on the committee, we heard extensive testimony about how inequities in the health care system. So I see this being the next logical step. In my own life experiences, I've had a hard time with the health care system as a, you know as a recipient of health care. I have my own horror stories of how I was mistreated by providers. As a health care provider. I see it. You know I see it constantly, I hear from my clients what they go through, whether they're BIPOC or LGBTQ or people with disabilities. I'm in situations in the health care system that are that are incredibly harmful to watch, you know hurtful to see happen. I see people being oppressed pretty regularly by by the practices of our health care system. And I often feel powerless in those moments because sometimes I'm the only person in a room who seems to be noticing what's what's really happening to a person as their rights are taken from them and as they're humiliated and and oppressed. So too often, the voices of people who've been oppressed have been left out. And still we are building into the government. A structure that says that those voices are important with this commission. You know when we're and we're getting I'm pleased that we're giving this commission even more power than it originally had by letting them actually budget the money, you know letting them figure out how they're going to budget the money and hold their hands and letting them add people if they see it is necessary and figure you know letting them figure that out. That's a huge shift in policy I think, from the way that I've seen things happen. And, and there's something really significant about that about giving people who have been a systemically disempowered, a chance to be systemically empowered. So I really appreciate that. And, you know, through this bill we are transforming the existing systems of government. I don't, I personally don't see it as I'm extra I see it as we've done all this work, and it wasn't aligning upright, and we were hearing that from people. People in the BIPOC community said let's look at this issue and let's come forward with an idea and then this committee took testimony, we refine that idea and I believe we've come forward with a solution that it's like the next logical step and what the state needs to do to address health disparities and to promote health equity so thanks everyone for hearing me out. Thank you for keeping an open mind and we will move on from this and continue our work together and on many other important things but I appreciate the time we've given this issue. So, thank you. Thank you represent Gina, representative black. I'm not sure what order people, if other it matters too much at this point but represent black and then represent Donahue represent of course. I was going to say the exact same thing that Brian and that representative Tina said but he beat me to it. No, no, I just wanted to say that I'll be I'll be supporting this. I did want to, I did just want to make sure that representative China was was comfortable with everything that we've done with that I think he clearly said that he is because to me it's important that that he is comfortable with that. I don't think I'm supporting this because this lays a framework, and it lays down the groundwork of the direction that we need to move I don't believe that this is a complete panacea. There is so much work that needs to be done. But, you know, I think that this puts in place it acknowledges that we have work to do, and it puts in place a structure where we can begin moving down that road and I'll obviously be supporting it for that reason. So, and I think I really want to thank representative China for all the work that he's that he's done on this. Thank you. Representative Donahue. Representative quarter second like Brian maybe a little still figuring out articulation but um, but when I think about when I first brought forward the eugenics apology resolution 10 years ago and the Human Services Committee said oh well this is, you know, we'll spend a morning on this and we'll pass it because this is pretty clear cut. And what happened is different groups who had been affected came in and said, Well, we don't like this wording because we were actually more affected than what this reflects. And another group come in and say well you left us out. Well you weren't as damaged long term as our group. And, and that's why we couldn't put more time into trying to solve that problem but. How I came to this issue and why this bill is important to me. I don't want to say it in a way that that makes it sound that way, I would have supported the bill. If it was only focused on the group that we are most conscious of right now. So I'm very grateful for the history and the depth of that inequity and the impacts of coded. But I'm also very grateful that there was recognition and incorporation of the health disparities that we know exist with other groups, including the one I belong to. In fact, I mean I certainly believed myself have always believed myself to be, you know, open minded to not carry a lot of biases around but when I first experienced my illness. I learned a lot about that, because I could both go through the experience. Not just of the shame of all of the implications of having a psychiatric illness, but also discovering something I would it would never have occurred to me that having always paid into and maintaining my insurance all of a sudden I would have an illness that was deemed. Not something that insurance would cover. And it also made me so acutely aware that when I was in law school, I really wanted to be involved in clinical legal work. And Georgetown had three clinics it had a clinic it had a juvenile law clinic it had a criminal law clinic, and it had a mental health law clinic. I know acutely how much I had no interest in the mental health law project. Yeah, dealing with that kind of stuff and those people. No, not interested. So, I feel like I have a, if you call it a kinship and awareness of what it feels like to be part of a group. But I also know how different it is. Because some of our groups that are discriminated against or press can hide it. We don't have to wear it on our skin. The causes and history are very different. My group also is probably the only group that I know of where, you know, in the past four years, and I don't want to make it political but in the past four years. We had somebody who made a lot of comments that were attacked as that was really horrible language it was discriminatory it was biased language. Every time that that wasn't said is when that person used the term psycho. It wasn't the big press reaction saying, Oh, how horrible. You know, we have in our state house. Yesterday I was listening to video to it by saw coverage on a mental health issue that is in a, in another committee right now. It was related to, you know, should we ban guns and hospitals and it was a comment about wealth. Given the amount of people with mental illness who come into our hospitals, we really need to move on that. So, when I think about the structure this bill has taken I think that's one of the most important positive things we can be doing. Because it goes back to the disability slogan nothing about us without us to try to fix anything to try to address inequity. Build or rebuild systems right. We can't do it for other people. We have to hear and be guided by the people who are experiencing. What they are experiencing. Even whether we see it objectively or not. There are plenty of people who will say now there's no, there's no stigma to mental illness anymore. We're past that. People actually tell me that. I had to change my psychologist who was retiring and, and I actually told the new person I was seeing it was a little difficult for me because my car was parked in a place where, you know, I was in a parking lot with other cars I had my state house plates, front of this therapist's office. The person act of this therapist said to me, should this is not stigma anymore that would that shouldn't be a problem. Be kidding. And so I really relate and I see that and I know there are people who believe, you know, we don't we don't have this as a problem. We can connect deeply to recognizing how we can have really significant problems that we don't experience ourselves or don't recognize because we're not experiencing it and feeling it. And, and it makes sense and it's understandable and it's, and it's challenging, but I think I would have supported the bill regardless but I would have been, I was a little leery initially in terms of creating this office from the get go. I think that to me it's just an incredibly good and powerful thing, the way it's structured that it is the people who are affected by the things that lead to disparities in the outcomes and health. But that's where it's going to be led. That's how it's going to be built and created. That's such a positive way to be going and I'm really proud to have been part of the process and to work with all of you, meaning every single one, whether we see it a lot differently or a little differently. But I'm really proud to be supporting this bill. Thank you. Thank you very much. Representative Cordis. Representative Cordis needs to be a moment of silence. After that, I am supporting the, this bill. And in my mind and in my heart, I see it as a model of how I would like other bills to be created and then edited. And added to and shaped. Because Brian, and every voice that worked with Brian before this even came to our committee, told their stories, and were clear about their experiences. And that has not happened. That has happened far too little in our representative democracy. And so that's, that's why I think this is such a profound model for how to create policy that that impacts people. And if we do have the intent of not leaving people out, and it's the data is clear and the, the stories and the oral histories of so many people that we've heard from tell us that they have been left out. So I'm just, I'm so incredibly grateful to Brian to everyone on this committee who has spoken whether we agree or not. I think the process has been very powerful. And I am grateful to have been a part of it and to be a witness to every story that we heard. And I honor everyone's strength and vulnerability. Thank you representative burrows. Thank you. I am a person who had to move across the country to be able to stay in group health on a group healthcare plan. I moved from Texas to New York City, in order to be able to, after having been let go from our, my job a week before having a baby. So when we think about the breath of the testimony that we've heard, and the variety of voices, and the similarities of the messages, and the very simple requests of being heard, which we did. I really heard all of the people who testified, or give testimony, and the simple request was to be lifted up. And I think that we have done this gently and thoughtfully, and as others have said, I probably would have supported it anyway but to be able to be a part of gently lifting this tender group of people is really a, a, it's a humbling moment to me. Not just as a kind of tangential member of one of those groups but it, it adds to my own human, humanity. And I thank you for the opportunity to to be part of this it makes me really thrilled to be a legislator. And Well, thank you. It's good. It's really good. Anyone else who wishes to speak, be part of this committee discussion. I hesitate to speak after everyone else because I have nothing profoundly to say, like everyone else other than I want to thank representative China I know we did not see a fraction of the work that he obviously put into this so thank you very much. I would just say for me I was in full support of this bill from the very beginning and stayed throughout because to me it's fundamentally what we should be doing in government and that is systematically changing the processes and policies that are in place in order to help protect and provide safety to our volunteers. I think this is a really someone else said, good way of starting that in regards to health equity. Thank you representative Goldman. I agree with Lori I can't be anywhere near as eloquent as all of you have been. But what I really wish is that we were in the same room and that we could hug each other after this amazing piece of work. I would appreciate what you said representative about we don't hate each other. We work together to do what we can to improve lives in the path that we have in front of us. There are so many different ways to do it. But this path is here right now. I feel very honored to have heard from people that otherwise I would never have heard from except for being in this room with you all. I've had a lot of power for me. So I want to thank that to have that opportunity. And I just want to end with I can't wait to see what we do next. Thank you. Anyone else wish to be heard. There's no requirement to speak, but Woody, if you wish here, the floor is yours. Certainly said enough about the bill and I've added my two cents along. So I might as well continue my comments. I guess I feel that if there are inequities. You need to move up to your mic. I feel that if there are inequities in our healthcare system. Then our current agencies should be enforcing fair and equal treatment. Throughout the healthcare system. I think that there are departments in the department of health. That should be putting more effort on this. Rather than having us. Registrating from the top down. Mari sent a note some time ago, I think it was from Brattleboro. There's a hospital. Brattleboro hospital in which they have a council that is. Working on LGBTQ issues. And my, and my local. Hospital also is working on this as well. It's, it's, it's, it's grassroots efforts, which is probably the best that there could possibly be, rather than having. Having us legislate this from the top down. Although I do recognize that. Often we do have to legislate things. Make to make changes in our world. You know, I have all these communities that we've talked about in this bill. I've known many of them. I've served. Many of them. When I was in the military. And I knew. I knew. Or I had an inkling. Of who they were. Okay. It didn't make any difference to me because I tried to treat them like I would want to be treated. And in the end, everything worked out. For them with my dealing with them in the military. I have a friend. That comes up from Washington DC to visit me at our local camp. And he has a similar background and I actually work with him. You know, in the Department of Defense. He's African American. And I actually worry about lives up to see me. And at my local camp. There's a back road. It's a dirt road. And he, he drove up it. And he asked, you know, Does anyone know what he page, do you know where, where his campus. This is my African American friend. Who's driving a black sedan. On a, on a back country road to see me and to spend some time with me and go fishing. And I worry about him when he comes up to visit. And then I worry about him. And he goes home that he's not, that he's not stopped or that he's not hurt. You know, throughout my life, I've tried to be there. And this bill has me in knots. So I'll just leave it there. Thank you. Well, let me, I think everyone else has spoken. Yeah. Let me say a few words. This is a bill that I've been wanting to work toward for many years. And it always felt like other, other things took precedence. We had to deal with other pressing issues. And I think that's a measure of what happens too often. I mean, I, I take some satisfaction in having to highlight. Issues of health disparities over past several. Issues of health disparities. By any, by any of them. But it's a measure of the way that. Oppression sits. On these issues. That it doesn't often rise to the top of our agenda. And we've put it at the top of our agenda. When I came to this session, I said health disparities are one, are one of the top issues that I as the chair want us to address. But it's with great gratitude. And it's with great gratitude. That represent China and folks from the racial justice alliance and others. Actually crafted a bill. That became the vehicle for the work that we're doing here that we've been doing. So there's deep gratitude. Thank you. Thank you. On my part. Thank you. It's, it's. It's, it's really important what we're doing. From my point of view. The, the end product is not clear. But the process. Itself is important. And others have said it. I think. To have to invite voices to be heard. That aren't always heard. To tell stories that aren't always told or heard. And I too, someone that said. There were stories that I would not have heard if I hadn't been in this particular committee at this particular time. I include myself there. I've heard many stories, but there were stories I have not heard before. And I've. I've heard many stories. I've heard many stories. I've heard many stories. I've heard many other occasions at least made clear. How challenging it was for me to not become the witness. When we were hearing from the LGBTQ committee. Community. That. I have, I've experienced health disparities. In my own life. And in the lives of my friends. And those close to me. And they're heartbreaking. And so I appreciate each of us being able to listen to different stories. And add to what we. Know needs to. Be different. I don't know if you can hear it. The wind is howling right outside my house right now. So I'm grateful that we have this opportunity. And I'm grateful actually in many ways that. I'm not grateful that COVID. Has been upon us. But if there's been any. Positive side to this. It's that. The broader world. Can no longer. Look at health. And not recognize. The brutal disparities that. Are right in front of us that were right in front of us. And COVID has. Revealed them in ways that. We may not have. We may not have the courage to. Attend to. In the same way. But that is where we are. And it has forced us to look in new ways. So. This will not. I'm hearing echoes of a speech I gave many years ago. That this will not end. The disparities. This bill itself will not end the disparities. But it sets us in a. Emotion. Hopefully. A structure. And a set of voices. To be able to speak to and guide us. Further. In the ending of health disparities. That's my hope. It will require further attention. It will require further resources. And I say that without apology. That for the resources will be required. And I value, I value the input. And I think that. I think that. I think that. I think that. In this process. And, and I look forward to. It's, it's. The word that comes to my mind and that this is not appropriate. Perhaps at this point, but there's a, there's a surreal quality that we. Are able to work together in the way that we have. And I'm also grateful to each of you. That here we are on. Zoom. And. Squares on the screen. But I'm pleased to support this bill. And I'm. I'm ready for us to. Bring it forward. For a vote. So. If there's. Let me ask, is there any other. Is there any other comment that needs to be made? And with that, I would entertain a motion. With regard to house bill 210. Is there anyone who would like to make a motion? I think you should have the honor of doing that. I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you. Oh, I said, Brian, I think you should have the honor of doing that. Welcome you to make a motion, Brian. I'll do it. I would like to make a motion that. The. I would like to make a motion that. That. I don't remember the version number though. Is it, what is this version number that I'm making a motion on. My. Point to. Point to. I would like to make a motion that. The house. Healthcare committee. Pass. Version for draft 4.2 of H 210. An act relating to healthcare disparities. I would like to make a motion that. Addressing healthcare disparities and promoting health equity or something like that. Very good. We have a motion before us. And. Is there a second? I will second. Thank you. We have a second. I'm going to ask the clerk to call the roll. Representative black. Yes. Representative boroughs. Yes. Representative China. Yes. Representative Goldman. Yes. Representative long. Representative page. Could you say that again? Representative page. I couldn't hear you. Yes. Representative Peterson. No. Representative Houghton. Yes. Representative Donahue. Representative Lippert. Yes. The motion passes on a vote of nine. One. Well, thank you all. This has been, this has been a. Oh, this has been a, an important process. And I want to thank you all for your participation in this. And here it is for 20. On March 12th. I think we have. We've accomplished this within the crossover timeline. Who knew. The rip in the quarters. I see your hand. Another clerk question. Shall we discuss the. Reporter of the bill or is that a conversation to have. So I. I'm going to suggest myself as the reporter of the bill. And I will then think with others as to how to present the bill. But I think. Yes. I'm going to make that decision and suggest that as a chair of the committee, I report the bill, be the reporter of the bill. With full acknowledgement that there are many other. Members of the bill. Players and contributors and others too. Who may be part of that as well. But I think, I think. I think that's the appropriate decision at this point. Thank you, chair. Can I share with you the fact that I just got a text. From the speaker of the house saying congratulations. Speaker of the house has been attending to our work. And I think that's the right thing to do. Okay. Brian. Representative. Yes. I just want to say that I actually think. This, the way that this session has panned out, you know, it's been hard to get worked on. And we. We were able to, you know, pass this through with a good amount of testimony and a lot of work. And I appreciate that. And I actually do think it makes sense that our chair take the lead because this does feel like it's like, you know, a big committee thing. And so having our chair, like a committee project. So having our chair be the person who. As the main presenter. I think that does make sense. Thank you. Not that, not that it mattered if I felt that way, but I just want to let you know, I actually appreciate it. I appreciate it. And, and I. So let me also say, so here we are crossover. You know, I want to just reflect for a moment on all the work that we've done before crossover. I think we have, we have as a committee worked really hard and accomplished significant, significant work that we can proudly bring to our colleagues. I think our work this morning. I think our work this morning was. Important in ways that is it, it's, it's a companion piece to what we just did. It's, it's. And yet it stands alone as something which is going to make. Hopefully if enacted and when enacted. Impact specifically people's lives. I'm recalling, I think it was represented black. I think Alyssa, you said. There's so many, I've came here and there's so many gaps. There are so many gaps and I came here to fill gaps, but. I don't, I think I'm closely paraphrasing something you said or. It's something about. What's that? Yeah. Yeah. And sometimes we get to fill a hole or close up a hole and, and there's a lot more to do. There's a lot more to do. But, but that piece of work was generated by. Our openness to hearing. And I think that's something that we're going to have to do. And I think that's something that we're going to have to do. And I think that if someone brings us, bring us the idea and say, you know, I think you could do something here. And, and we opened our committee up to that possibility. And I think we moved something forward that I think we can be very proud of. And I think, you know, we passed, we passed a number of other bills and we've, and we're in the midst of some other very difficult and challenging deliberations as well. We've had a number of people coming from the Senate, the COVID response bill that has to do with more telehealth and extending emergency deadlines. And we are, we're still going to need to wrestle with a recommendation around secure residential and the implications involved there. So we've got lots of work ahead of us. But I just want to say. This is a marker point. The crossover date is a marker. Of the opportunity to look and see where we've been and where we're going. So I'm going to stop there. And I don't know if they're calling. Is it, is there anything further? And well, first, okay, let me stop for a minute. First, Katie McLean, please come on video. If you would be so kind. I want to acknowledge and thank you. For your critical work. Thank you, Katie. And bringing this bill forward, both prior to our deliberations when working with representative China and others. And under some pressure because I was eager to have it brought forward. And that. Created more pressure and also in the course of this. So thank you, Katie. Very, very. Your important, your work was very significant important for us to achieve this goal. So I really did want to acknowledge that. So we, we have more work to do. Nolan's going to help us navigate the shoals of finances and financial presentations further. So thank you, Nolan. And we'll, we'll keep working. I need to do some follow up with you there. And. And calling clearly, we wouldn't be. We would be able to function if you weren't. Helping us every day that we do this work. But I think with that. I think we should, is there anything, oh, I wanted to ask Colleen, is there anything that I'm. That in terms of what we need to do to bring today to a close and Oh, I know what Colleen's going to say. We didn't do the agenda for next week. Yeah, we need to, um, some of us need to stay on with Colleen. Well, everybody else gets to go home. Okay. Well, we know what some of it is, but, um, But so we'll do that, Brian. Yeah, I just wanted to publicly thank Katie, um, because you, you worked very hard, um, under pressure and quickly and while juggling other responsibilities, like many other working people are right now. Um, and I just want to honor that, um, and express appreciation. And I want to thank Nolan too, because you turn things around quickly when you had to, um, terms of the finances. And I think it would, it wouldn't be right if I didn't just. Thank the racial justice, the Vermont racial justice alliance. And all the community members who've contributed, um, that this bill is, um, you know, it's, it represents the, the thoughts and the vision of, of, of hundreds of people. If you think about all the different voices along the way. So I just also need to say that. So thank you. Thank you. I very much appreciate you acknowledging the incredibly important role of the racial justice alliance and bringing this forward to the legislature and to our committee. Absolutely. Okay. So I think that's, that's it for now. Uh, so maybe, uh, and Lori can stay on the screen with us and we'll meet with Colleen and do a little bit of agenda planning and everyone else. Uh, if you can get outside still, I think that the weather is changing, but it's still probably nicer outside than it has been.