Senate
Page H4321 · Official textThe House met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Newhouse).
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Vol. 172, No. 109 · 119th Congress, 2nd session
Designation of Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H4321 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker:
Text printed in the Record (158 characters)
June 30, 2026.
I hereby appoint the Honorable Dan Newhouse to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Morning-Hour Debate
Page H4321 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the order of the House of January 6, 2026, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.
The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties and each Member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m.
Promesa Is a Democratic Tragedy
Pages H4321–H4322 · Official text(Mr. Hernandez of Puerto Rico was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, PROMESA became law. It established a financial oversight board capable of overriding Puerto Rico's elected officials on fiscal matters.
PROMESA is a democratic tragedy. We surrendered our self-government in exchange for fiscal relief. Ten years later, we have restructured most of our debts and balanced our most recent budgets, but we still dream about restoring our democratic self-government.
The 10th anniversary of PROMESA begs the question: Where do the people of Puerto Rico stand today? As their voice in Congress, I say: We oppose the bad government practices that created the impression that PROMESA was a necessity. We oppose the vulture funds that want to profit from our misery and energy crisis. We oppose unelected oversight boards that can override our democratic will.
We support good government. We support responsible bankruptcy relief. We support restoring democracy and electing the people who govern us.
Puerto Rico was once an example of good government in Latin America, but it became an example of how politics and corruption erased the path to prosperity.
On the 250th anniversary of the United States, let us not forget the parts of this country of States, territories, and commonwealths that had and lost their government by consent of the governed. Let us not forget that we the people must continue to work toward a more perfect Union, a more perfect Union of States, territories, and commonwealths.
Now, for the benefit of my constituents, I will repeat my remarks in Spanish.
(Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:)
Hace diez anos, PROMESA se convirtio en ley. Le impuso a Puerto Rico una junta de supervision no electa, con la capacidad de pasar por encima de los funcionarios electos en asuntos fiscales.
PROMESA es una tragedia democratica. Entregamos nuestro autogobierno a cambio de alivio fiscal. Diez anos despues, hemos reestructurado la mayoria de nuestras deudas. Hemos balanceado nuestros presupuestos mas recientes. Pero todavia sonamos con restaurar la democracia en nuestra isla.
El decimo aniversario de PROMESA obliga a plantearse la pregunta: qdonde se encuentra hoy el pueblo de Puerto Rico?
Como su voz en el Congreso, digo:
Nos oponemos a las malas practicas de gobierno que hicieron que PROMESA pareciera necesaria.
Nos oponemos a los fondos buitre que quieren lucrarse de nuestra miseria y de nuestra crisis energetica.
Nos oponemos a las juntas de supervision no electas que pueden pasar por encima de nuestra voluntad democratica.
Apoyamos el buen gobierno.
Apoyamos un alivio responsable ante la quiebra. Apoyamos restaurar la democracia y elegir a quienes nos gobiernan.
Puerto Rico fue una vez un ejemplo de buen gobierno en America Latina y en los paises emergentes. Se convirtio en un ejemplo de como la politica y la corrupcion destruyen el progreso y borran el camino hacia la prosperidad.
En el aniversario 250 de los Estados Unidos, no olvidemos aquellas partes de este pais de estados, territorios y estados libre asociados que tuvieron--y perdieron--su gobierno por consentimiento de los gobernados.
No olvidemos que "nosotros, el pueblo" debemos continuar la labor hacia una union mas perfecta: una union mas perfecta de estados, territorios y estados libre asociados.
Thanking the American Legion Post 290 for Sponsoring the Moving Wall
Page H4322 · Official textTHANKING THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 290 FOR SPONSORING THE MOVING WALL (Ms. Foxx of North Carolina was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and thank The American Legion Post 290 in King, North Carolina, for recently sponsoring a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Referred to as "The Moving Wall," this replica is 246 feet in length and honors every servicemember who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Vietnam.
In late April to early May, The Moving Wall was displayed at The American Legion Post 290 in King, and I was fortunate enough to attend the closing ceremony and offer a few remarks about its importance.
The American Legion Auxiliary sponsored the event, and doing so takes serious and dedicated planning by all who are involved.
This event came together through countless hours of preparation and diligence in monitoring the wall while it was in King.
Sheila Winfrey, the 290 unit president; Lynn Shouse, the vice president; Cherryl Penn; and Jessie Penn deserve tremendous credit for putting this entire event together.
The citizens of King and those from the area who came to view The Moving Wall indicated that they share the exact same sentiment.
We are all grateful for the dedication and efforts of these four wonderful individuals in helping put this event together, as well as grateful for those represented on the wall.
Everyone who was fortunate enough to attend, me included, would agree that they did a fantastic job all around.
It is my hope that many others across our Nation will attend such events where The Moving Wall is displayed and take the time to learn of its importance and the sacrifices made to preserve and protect the freedoms we are all blessed to have by those who have served and especially those who lost their lives in service.
Honoring the Life of Dominic P. Strangio
Page H4322 · Official text(Mr. Kennedy of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life of a remarkable young western New Yorker and St. Joe's student, Dominic P. Strangio of Niagara Falls, whose courageous battle with cancer came to an end on April 22, 2026, at just 16 years old.
Dominic was a beloved son to Frank and Sara, a devoted big brother to Sofia and Frankie, and a treasured grandson, cousin, teammate, classmate, and friend. Though his time on this Earth was far too short, the impact he made on those around him will endure for generations.
Dominic was a proud Marauder, attending St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. As someone who walked those halls myself, I know firsthand the values St. Joe's seeks to instill: faith, brotherhood, compassion, and service to others.
Dominic embodied those values in every sense. The entire St. Joe's community mourns this immeasurable loss alongside the Strangio family, united in both grief and gratitude for having known such an extraordinary young man.
On the baseball field, Dominic was someone his teammates could depend on. Off the field, he loved hanging out with his cherished friends, going on fishing trips with his papa, and spending Sunday afternoons at his nonna's kitchen table. He found joy in the simple gifts of life and treasured every moment spent with his brother and sister.
It was not only how Dominic lived his life before his diagnosis that inspired so many. It was how he faced adversity. Throughout his illness, Dominic demonstrated courage and grace far beyond his years. Guided by his faith, he remained selfless, optimistic, and resilient. He never complained. He continued to think of others even as he confronted challenges that few adults could ever imagine.
Dominic's strength became a source of inspiration to his family, friends, classmates, and our entire community.
Mr. Speaker, while Dominic's years were few, his example was immense. May we all carry forward his kindness, faith, resilience, and love for his family.
To Dominic's parents, Frank and Sara; his brother, Frankie; his sister, Sofia; and all who mourn this tremendous loss, our Nation and our community mourn with you.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us. Live, Jesus, in our hearts forever.
May Dominic Strangio rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of western New York: the 100th anniversary of The Buffalo Criterion.
Founded by Frank Merriweather, Sr., and his wife, Carmelita, The Criterion is the oldest Black-owned newspaper in western New York and the oldest Black-owned business in Erie County.
For over a century, four generations of the Merriweather family have carried forward a simple but powerful mission: to tell the stories that too often go untold and to ensure that Buffalo's Black community has a voice that is heard loud and clear.
Frank Merriweather, Sr., a graduate of the Tuskegee Institute, who studied under Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, understood that journalism would be a force for justice, opportunity, and change. That vision has endured for 100 years and counting.
From the extraordinary leadership of Frank Merriweather, Jr., to Evelyn Patterson Merriweather, Frank Merriweather III, Dr. Eva Doyle, and countless dedicated journalists, photographers, and community leaders, The Criterion has chronicled the triumphs, struggles, and aspirations of generations of western New Yorkers.
When our community faced tragedy following the racist terrorist attack at Tops on Jefferson on May 14, 2022, The Buffalo Criterion helped to tell Buffalo's story to the Nation and the global community.
In a moment of profound grief, it became a source of truth, moral clarity, strength, and healing. That is what The Criterion does. It leads.
For 100 years, The Criterion has spoken truth to power, preserved history, amplified local voices, and strengthened our community.
Today, we honor its extraordinary legacy and congratulate everyone who has played a role and helped to make The Buffalo Criterion an enduring institution in Buffalo and throughout western New York.
I congratulate them on a century of work, and here is to many, many more years to come.
Recognizing 150th Anniversary of Allen, Texas
Pages H4322–H4323 · Official text(Mr. Self of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the city of Allen's 150 years of history and community spirit and encourage all residents to join in honoring this sesquicentennial milestone.
Founded in 1876, Allen has become one of north Texas' most vibrant communities and has built a proud legacy of civic leadership, opportunity, and service.
Allen's story is one of vision, resilience, and progress. What began as a small railroad settlement in rural Collin County has become a dynamic city known for its flourishing neighborhoods, strong local economy, high-ranking schools, and exceptional quality of life. Its continued success reflects the dedication of generations of residents, educators, business leaders, first responders, public servants, city leadership, and staff who have helped shape Allen into the excellent example it is today.
As Allen has expanded in size and prominence, it has remained grounded in the values that have long defined its character: Texas toughness, hard work, civic pride, and a deep sense of unity. The city's sesquicentennial anniversary is not only an opportunity to honor its rich history, but to celebrate the bright future that lies ahead.
Allen's legacy continues to reflect the strength, promise, and spirit of north Texas. On behalf of Texas' Third Congressional District, I am honored to recognize the city of Allen on the occasion of its 150th anniversary and to extend best wishes as we celebrate this historic milestone.
Recognizing 75th Anniversary of North Texas Municipal Water District
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the North Texas Municipal Water District as it celebrates its 75th anniversary of service to the people of north Texas.
Founded in 1951 by civic leaders from 10 original member cities who understood that water would be the key to our region's future, the District has spent the last 75 years turning that vision into reality. What began as a partnership among a handful of communities has grown into a regional utility of 13 member cities and 34 customers serving more than 70 communities and over 2.4 million Texans across Collin County and beyond.
In Texas' Third Congressional District, I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary growth of north Texas. Communities such as McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Allen, Wylie, Farmersville, and many others have become one of the fastest growing areas in America. Families and businesses continue to choose our region because of its opportunity, innovation, and quality of life.
However, growth does not happen on its own. It requires planning and the willingness to build for tomorrow. Every home, school, hospital, and business depends on reliable water infrastructure. Today, the North Texas Municipal Water District provides not only drinking water but also wastewater treatment and solid waste services that support communities across our vast region.
For 75 years, the District has demonstrated a commitment to the region through responsible stewardship, long-range planning, and investment in the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of future generations. Its leadership has helped ensure that one of America's fastest growing regions has the resources to continue thriving.
On behalf of the people of Texas' Third Congressional District, I congratulate the North Texas Municipal Water District on this milestone anniversary and thank the men and women of the District past and present for 75 years of dedicated service.
Honoring Life and Legacy of Spencer Leak, Jr.
Page H4323 · Official text(Ms. Kelly of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, Representative Jackson is going to stand with me, but this is not his 5 minutes. He is just standing with me.
I rise today to honor the life and extraordinary legacy of Spencer Leak, Jr., a devoted father, husband, son, brother, and faithful community leader whose service left a lasting mark on the Chicagoland area. Most of all, I am honored to have called him a friend and a constituent.
Spencer dedicated his life to serving the people of the Chicagoland area. He carried forward his family's proud legacy and business, Leak & Sons Funeral Home.
He pursued his education with purpose, graduating from Southern Illinois University with a degree in mortuary and funeral sciences and becoming a licensed director in 1989. However, his calling started long before that. Spencer began working at the family business at just 12 years old, answering phones and learning his trade. He rose to become vice president in 1993, carrying on a tradition of faithful, kind, and honest service to families in their most difficult moments.
As a third-generation funeral director, Spencer expanded the vision of his grandfather, Reverend Andrew Leak, so that Black people living in the Chicagoland area could lay their loved ones to rest with the dignity, respect, and care they deserved.
Mr. Speaker, Spencer's work reached far beyond his profession. He was an advocate for civil rights and justice, a trusted friend to leaders across our community, and a generous supporter of the causes that lifted up those in need. His commitment to service and to positivity never wavered. He mentored young Black men, partnered with organizations to empower residents, and stood as a true pillar to his community.
Spencer was a champion of the small, humble acts of kindness that so often go unseen. His devotion to a more just world was never in question, and through it all, he grew the Leak family legacy of making the Chicagoland community better and more loving. His love touched many. His generosity ran deep, and his service knew no bounds.
Above all, Spencer was an amazing husband, father, a kind son, a supportive brother, and a truly wonderful human being. His passing is deeply felt by his beloved wife, Dr. Donna Leak, who is in the gallery; his children, Spencer Leak III and Emma Leak; his parents, Spencer Leak, Sr., and Henrietta Leak; his siblings, Stephen and Stacy; his extended family; and the many friends and community members that mourn his loss.
On a personal level, I experienced Spencer's kindness on many levels, but most personal was when he handled my husband's funeral services almost 3 years ago.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary legacy of Spencer Leak, Jr., and extending my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were blessed to know him.
May his memory be a blessing. Rest in peace and power, my friend.
Celebrating 250 Years of America
Pages H4323–H4324 · Official text(Mr. Mann of Kansas was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we honor and prepare to celebrate 250 years of American independence.
Mr. Speaker, 250 years ago, our Founders declared to the world that our rights do not come from government nor do they come from a king. They come from our creator. They declared that government exists to protect liberty, to secure the rights of people, and to preserve a nation where free men and women could build lives, raise families, worship God, and pursue opportunity. That idea changed the course of human history.
As we approach America's 250th birthday, we ought to look back with gratitude, but we should also look forward with clarity. America's success was not an accident. We were blessed by God with extraordinary resources, but it was freedom that allowed the American people to turn those blessings into the most prosperous Nation in the history of the world.
I often think about it this way: America was dealt three aces. First, we were given the largest stretch of fertile farmland in the world, which runs right through Kansas and the district that I am blessed to represent. In the Big First District, agriculture is not just an industry, it is our way of life. Our farmers, ranchers, feedlot operators, ethanol producers, researchers, truckers, and small businesses all play a role in feeding, fueling, and clothing the world.
Second, running through that great patch of farmland is the largest navigable river system on the planet, the Mississippi River system. That river system gave American producers the ability to move goods, reach markets, trade with the world, and build an economy that went well beyond the county line, a State line, or even a coastline.
Third, and most importantly, America was founded on faith, freedom, private property rights, the rule of law, and limited government. Fertile soil alone does not create prosperity. A river alone does not create opportunity. Natural resources alone do not make a nation great. Freedom does.
It was freedom that allowed families to farm the land, own the land, improve the land, pass it down to the next generation, and build communities around it. It was freedom that allowed entrepreneurs to take risks, churches to strengthen communities, families to flourish, and citizens to govern themselves.
That is why America became the most prosperous and free Nation the world has ever known. One of the reasons we remain free is because we have never had to rely on another nation to feed us.
Food security is national security. A nation that cannot feed itself cannot long remain independent. For 250 years, American farmers and ranchers have helped secure our freedoms while our brave servicemen and -women defended them on the front lines. Farmers have kept grocery store shelves stocked, strengthened rural communities, supported our economy, and ensured that America never had to turn to our adversaries to sustain us.
In Kansas, we understand that well. The Big First is the most productive agriculture district in the country, ranking first in cattle, wheat, and sorghum production. We help feed, fuel, and clothe the world. We know when agriculture is strong, America is strong.
Our State has always had an outsized role in the American story. We are home to Abilene, where President Dwight D. Eisenhower learned the values that helped him lead the Allied Forces to victory in World War II and later to lead this Nation as our President. We are home to leaders like Senator Bob Dole, who carried the values of faith, service, sacrifice, and duty from the plains of Kansas to the battlefields of Europe and the Halls of Congress.
I like to think that the Big First District is the pilot light of America because the values that make our country great are still alive and well in my hometown and across Kansas. Folks where I am from live by faith, family, hard work, personal responsibility, and service to their neighbors. As long as those values continue to burn bright in America, our brightest days are yet to come. However, preserving those values requires us to be clear-eyed about the threats we have to freedom.
History scholars know there is an inverse relationship between the size of government and the freedom of the people. The larger and more intrusive government becomes, the smaller the space becomes for families, churches, businesses, farms, and individuals to flourish. That truth is just as important today as it was in 1776.
Yes, America was blessed with fertile land, mighty rivers, abundant resources, and a people willing to work, but it was freedom that allowed those blessings to become prosperity. It was faith that gave our Nation its moral foundation, and it was family that carried our values from one generation to the next.
As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, let us do more than look back. Let us recommit ourselves to the principles that made our Nation possible: faith, family, freedom, limited government, private property, strong communities, gratitude, and faith in God.
We must protect this inheritance, strengthen it in our time, and pass it on to our children and grandchildren so that 250 years from now, America remains prosperous, secure, free, and rooted in the truth that our rights are derived from God, not from a king.
Mr. Speaker, may God bless Kansas and may God bless the United States of America. Happy birthday, America.
Honoring Beatrice Lumpkin
Page H4324 · Official text(Mrs. Ramirez of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Beatrice Lumpkin, who passed away June 14, 2026, at the age of 107 years. Bea was the living, marching, fighting embodiment of solidarity forever.
Many of us know Bea because of her unwavering commitment to worker power, civil rights, and educational justice. A Chicago Public Schools educator and leader with the Chicago Teachers Union, Bea was a fixture at marches, rallies, and picket lines across our city.
She started her activism early. At the age of 9, she marched with striking textile workers. Across her century of activism, Bea was on the front lines of the struggle for justice and equity. From marching alongside Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Marquette Park, to being instrumental in Harold Washington's campaign for mayor 43 years ago, to supporting the recent unionization of Starbucks employees, Bea showed up for her neighbors, for Chicago, and for our movement.
In 2018, my colleague, Representative Jan Schakowsky, took to the floor to celebrate Bea's 100 years of fighting for justice and inspiring generations of activism.
Today, I rise to thank Bea for reminding us that there is joy in the struggle, in solidarity, and on the front lines of the fight for justice because joy, in fact, is an act of resistance.
On behalf of Chicago's Third Congressional District, I honor the memory and the life's work of Beatrice Lumpkin, a true champion for the working class and a giant in our movement.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jae Jin Pak and Timotheus Gordon, Jr., two leaders who cofounded the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition and who serve as research associates at the Institute on Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Throughout their careers, they have dedicated themselves to unifying disabled, autistic, deaf, and neurodivergent people of color, fostering collective pride, strengthening advocacy skills across our communities, and building intersectional solidarity.
Through the arts, culture, and relentless advocacy, they champion disability justice, advancing the principles of accessibility and radical inclusion within communities of color.
By cultivating brave spaces that center the lived experiences of disabled people of color, they dismantle systemic barriers to inclusion and empower individuals to forge their own path to reclaim their identities and their dignity.
They are the architects of a more inclusive, equitable Chicago.
On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my proud honor to be able to commend Jae Jin Pak and Timotheus Gordon, Jr., for their dedication to disability justice, radical inclusion, and the innate dignity of all people.
Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL)10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Chicago Young Lords and their protests of 1969, the first marches for Puerto Rican self-determination in Chicago's history.
It is fitting that I honor a revolutionary organization fighting for Puerto Rican liberation and the rights of all oppressed people on the eve of our 250th anniversary of the United States of America. While America will declare its commitment to no kings, we also must demand no colonies.
That is because 57 years after the summer of 1969, 57 years after Jose Jimenez traveled to Puerto Rico to visit the shrine of its nationalist leader, Don Pedro Albizu Campos, 57 years after the Chicago Young Lords mobilized 10,000 people to march carrying Don Pedro Albizu Campos signs from Lincoln Park to Humboldt Park in support of independence in Chicago's Puerto Rican parade, Puerto Rico is still a United States colony.
We cannot celebrate 250 years of freedom while ruling a colony for 128 of them. We cannot celebrate our independence while denying the Puerto Rican people the dignity of self-determination.
That is why, here on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I publicly commend the Young Lords for teaching us that when we support Puerto Rico's self-determination, we are supporting, in fact, the right of sovereignty for people everywhere.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Chief Stephen C. Ignacio
Pages H4324–H4325 · Official text(Mr. Moylan of Guam was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of Chief Stephen C. Ignacio, a son of Guam who dedicated his life to serving and protecting our island.
His passing is not only a profound loss for the Guam Police Department, but for the entire island of Guam. There are few professions that demand more sacrifice than law enforcement. Police officers willingly place themselves in harm's way so others may live in safety. They miss holidays, birthdays, and precious moments with their families because the call to serve never stops. Chief Ignacio understood that sacrifice because he lived it every day.
Throughout his distinguished career with the Guam Police Department, Chief Ignacio earned the respect of his fellow officers, government leaders, and the community he faithfully served. Rising through the ranks to become chief of police, he led with professionalism, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to protecting the people of Guam.
Under his leadership, the department continued efforts to modernize its operations, strengthen officer training, and build trust with the community. Beyond policies and programs, those who knew Chief Ignacio will remember the person behind the title, a leader who cared deeply about his officers and understood that effective policing begins with service, compassion, and integrity.
The work of a police chief is often thankless. When communities are safe, the long hours and difficult decisions often go unnoticed. Yet when tragedy strikes, it is the chief who bears the weight of responsibility. Chief Ignacio accepted that responsibility with humility and unwavering dedication.
His leadership extended beyond the walls of police headquarters. He understood that public safety is built through partnerships with families, schools, neighborhood organizations, and community leaders. He believed that trust is earned, not demanded, and he worked to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the people they serve.
Today we remember more than a police chief. We remember a husband, a father, a family member, a colleague, a mentor, and a friend. We remember a public servant who devoted his life's work to making Guam a safer place for future generations.
To the men and women of the Guam Police Department: We grieve alongside you. Your department has lost a leader, but the example he set will continue to guide those who wear the badge.
To Chief Ignacio's family: Please know that the people of Guam share in your sorrow. We are grateful that you shared him with our island for so many years. His commitment to public service came with countless sacrifices, and we recognize that your family made those sacrifices alongside him.
As we reflect on his life, may we also remember the values he embodied: duty before self, integrity in leadership, and service to others.
Chief Ignacio answered the call to serve his community for decades. He did so with honor, courage, and a deep sense of responsibility.
His watch has ended, but his legacy will live on in every officer he mentored, every life he helped protect, and every member of our community who is safer because of his service. I extend my deepest condolences to Chief Ignacio's loved ones and the entire Guam Police Department.
To his family: No words can fully ease the pain of losing someone so deeply loved, but I hope you find comfort in knowing that the countless hours he devoted to protecting our community made a lasting difference, and the legacy he leaves behind will continue to inspire generations of law enforcement officers who follow in his footsteps.
May God grant his loved ones strength and comfort during this difficult time. May we never forget Chief Stephen Ignacio's years of faithful service, and may he rest in eternal peace.
Medicare Guarantee Is Under Threat
Page H4325 · Official text(Mr. Doggett of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, approaching the 61st anniversary of Medicare, a true lifeline for retirees and individuals with disabilities, I am filing the Saving MEDICARE Act to ensure a solvent, better Medicare that reaches more Americans.
Medicare represents a valued Federal guarantee that workers will age with dignity and have access to quality, affordable healthcare. That guarantee is now under threat from giant, private insurance companies that profiteer off Medicare.
This landmark proposal comprehensively addresses the many ways that Medicare Advantage insurers are overpaid. My goal is to level the playing field so that traditional Medicare is no longer at a disadvantage to these private insurers.
Twenty-three years ago, in this very room, Republicans arm-twisted their own members and others all night long into the wee hours of the morning to ensure approval of a terrible bill that has hurt Americans and cost them hundreds of billions of dollars.
Its landmark provision was one to limit Medicare from negotiating prescription drug prices, ensuring that we continue to pay the most outrageous pharmaceutical prices anywhere on Earth. At the same time, they also included this new program with the great misnomer Medicare Advantage, a private insurance alternative to Medicare.
Though the supporters claimed that they would save us so much money, it would cost less than traditional Medicare, MA private insurers have never saved us a dime. Indeed, MA actually costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars more every year.
This year, the nonpartisan, independent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or MedPAC, estimates that MA costs taxpayers $2,660 more for each person who goes into their plans rather than traditional Medicare.
Insurers claim that this great bonus that they are receiving provides so many extra benefits to consumers, from pest control, to rent, to a trip to get groceries, all these various things from one advertised insurer, except a Joe Namath autographed football.
Hidden in the fine print are caveats, and consumers often find they aren't eligible for any of those advertised benefits, and skimpy coverage and high cost-sharing when they need help the most. Difficulty in accessing the doctor of their choice and getting treatment approved create long delays, often outright denials, and many MA enrollees are struggling to receive quality healthcare.
In short, the only advantage in Medicare Advantage is to the monopoly and oligopoly private insurers.
The Saving MEDICARE Act will stop this waste, fraud, and abuse. It is about delivering to Americans the care that they deserve at a reasonable price. These funds will extend Medicare solvency and improve Medicare with dental, vision, and hearing benefits--another piece of legislation I have offered. We can achieve an out-of-pocket cap, lower premiums, and more.
We can achieve this by simply saying to MA that you should not cost more than traditional Medicare.
My bill reins in upcoding, a practice insurers use to make it appear that patients are sicker than they really are. It will also stop plans from profiteering when the Veterans Administration is providing most of the healthcare, but they have recruited veterans to join their plans for whom they provide little or no care.
It addresses insurance practices of steering sicker patients into traditional Medicare and trying to get healthier consumers who cost less into their plans. It phases out the failed county quartile system and the Quality Bonus Program which have only delivered more money to private insurers.
Finally, it enhances Federal oversight and involves State partners in this also. Medicare Advantage is putting Medicare on long-term life support. The Saving MEDICARE Act is a roadmap for accountable, and reasonable spending and improving the healthcare for many Americans.
In this totally ineffective and unsubstantial Congress, chances of getting Republicans to stand up to any special interest are pretty slim, but this bill is designed to encourage colleagues in the future with specific guidelines on how to deal with Medicare and make it better for more Americans, and to urge more of our colleagues to have the courage to stand up to these insurance giants by preventing them from using Medicare as a piggy bank.
Americans Leave a Tremendous Legacy
Pages H4325–H4326 · Official text(Mr. Kennedy of Utah was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, this week America turns 250 years old.
A birthday like that invites reflection. I have found myself considering what a privilege it is to be an American, on what it actually means to be one, and on the history that all of us get to claim as our own.
I reflect, too, on my own State and on its place in history. I think about the pioneers of Utah. We often gather in Utah to recite their deeds. We praise their determination, and we tell their stories. We are tempted to believe that because their story is great, we have become great by inheritance.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say that idea is only half true. The great stories of the past are not what make us great. The great stories of the past are what we measure ourselves by. The founders and the pioneers and the ideas that animate them do not belong only to the past. They belong in this room, forcing us to ask what we have done with what they have built, and shaping what we should do next.
In 1856, a stonecutter from England named John Rowe Moyle crossed an ocean and walked the plains to Utah. When work began on the Salt Lake Temple, he answered the call to help build it.
Every Monday John woke at 2 in the morning. He walked 22 miles to reach his post. He worked all week. On Friday night he walked 22 miles home in the dark. He did this year after year.
Then a family cow kicked him in the leg. His leg could not be saved. His family strapped him to a door and took the leg off with a common bucksaw. Most men would have stopped there.
John Rowe Moyle did not stop. He carved himself a leg out of wood. He walked on it through the pain, and he continued to walk to the temple. Standing on that wooden peg, with his own hands, he carved the words: "Holiness to the Lord" into the granite.
He would not live to see that temple finished. He knew that would be the case, yet he spent years of his life dedicated to the task anyway.
Mr. Speaker, John Rowe Moyle did not do this for praise. He did it because he wanted to leave something for those who came after him.
That temple still stands, and in our time its care was handed to us. The Salt Lake Temple is emerging from the largest restoration in its history. For years it stood wrapped in scaffolding. This year the scaffolding came down, and it will open again. All of you are invited next year between April and October to tour this remarkable and sacred building.
We did not simply admire what the pioneers built. Utahns restored it. Crews built the new foundation built to carry it through an earthquake that the pioneers never could have imagined. They preserved the old craftsmanship, and they made it strong enough to stand for generations we will never meet.
That is the whole lesson, Mr. Speaker, in one building. A great thing was handed to us Utahns, and we did not take it for granted. We did the hard and unseen work to make it last, and we will pass it on stronger than we found it.
Here is the difficult question. It is the test of this generation, the test of this body, and the test of this people. When something great is handed to us, are we the kind of people who only stand back and admire it, or are we the kind who will do the quiet and difficult work and pass it on better than we found it?
That is what the pioneers in Utah did. That is what the Founders did 250 years ago. They did the hard work and got up a steep road for a reward many of them would never collect.
This Republic is that same kind of inheritance. It was built for us. It is now ours to strengthen, not simply to live off of.
Mr. Speaker, let us be worthy of the people who built before us. Let us carry our own burden. Let us leave behind something that stands.
Urging Omb to Withdraw Proposed Rule
Page H4326 · Official text(Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the sweeping proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget that would fundamentally overhaul how Federal agencies award and administer grant funds.
Under this proposal, Federal grant funding would be tied to the President's ideological agenda and subject to intense scrutiny by political appointees of the President instead of nonpartisan scientific peer review.
The proposed rule would also make it easier for agencies to suspend or cancel grants if administration priorities change. This rule would prevent grantees from having the opportunity to contest political decisions from the administration without incurring expensive litigation costs.
If implemented, this rule would force already burdened local governments, nonprofits, and community health centers to operate in an ever-shifting environment, making it more difficult to provide vital services, including housing, food, and disaster assistance.
Mr. Speaker, I urge OMB to withdraw this rulemaking in full.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today 1 week after the Supreme Court decision to end temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti and Syria.
When the TPS program was created in 1990 by Congress, its purpose was to ensure an immediate solution for immigrants fleeing emergent crises, whether that may be ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions.
Today, 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians face potential deportation to parts of the world where crises remain, and their security is threatened.
Engineers, students, doctors, and caregivers who came to this country to give, not take, are being thrown to the wayside.
While I joined a majority of my colleagues in the House to pass a bill protecting TPS for Haitians, until it becomes law, over 350,000 lives remain in limbo.
Mr. Speaker, on the 250th anniversary of the United States, this decision turns its back on a founding promise to give refuge to the persecuted. It is time we get back to honoring that promise.
Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the American Dream, most imagine settling down with a good-paying job and a constant roof over their head.
Sadly, that goal continues to grow out of reach for many with rising inflation and the lack of affordable housing.
I saw the pressures of that crisis as Westchester County executive, where I worked to create more than 2,500 affordable housing units.
In Congress, I have continued to support legislation to expand housing opportunities and improve affordability. That is why I was proud to support the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which would build more homes, make it easier to buy or rent a home, and provide better data to improve resources in underserved communities.
Although President Trump refused to sign this crucial piece of legislation into law, this will not stop Congress from delivering for the American people.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to show my constituents and people across the country that despite the disarray handed down from the President, on this particular issue, Democrats and Republicans worked together to address the affordability crisis.
Real Ingredients, Real Standards, Real Butter
Pages H4326–H4327 · Official text(Mr. Wied of Wisconsin was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the last day of National Dairy Month to ask my colleagues to support my newest bill, the Recognizing Engineered Alternatives as Lab-Created Butter Act, or the REAL Butter Act.
It is unbelievable that legislation like this is even necessary, but unfortunately, that is the reality we face today.
Billionaire food experiments are no longer hypothetical. Bill Gates is funding a lab-grown butter project made from carbon dioxide instead of milk from a cow right in Illinois, right in the backyard of America's Dairyland.
This creation is an attack on American farmers, the dairy industry, and the Trump administration, which recently recognized butter as a healthy food under its newly announced dietary guidelines.
The REAL Butter Act would simply require that this fake butter be clearly labeled as "lab-created butter" directly on the product.
America's dairy farmers put in the work every day to keep our families fed, our rural communities strong, and our agricultural heritage alive. They should not have to compete with products that hide behind vague or misleading labels.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in standing with America's dairy farmers and supporting this commonsense legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of a true pillar of our community in Wisconsin's Eighth District and one of my inspirations for getting involved in public service, Elmer W. Ragen.
Born in Oconto County in 1929, he enlisted in the United States Navy after high school and served from 1950 to 1954 in the Korean war, during which he rose to the rank of petty officer first class.
In addition to his military service, he volunteered with the Pulaski and Little Suamico Fire Departments; was a member of the Knights of Columbus, The American Legion, and the VFW; and served as an Oconto County veterans service officer, helping his fellow veterans.
If that wasn't enough, Elmer served on the Chase Town Board and the Little Suamico Town Board and as an Oconto County Board supervisor.
Mr. Speaker, Elmer Ragen's life is a testament to public service. From serving our country in uniform to serving in northeast Wisconsin as a volunteer, veteran advocate, and local elected official, his legacy will never be forgotten by me and so many others. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate northeast Wisconsin's very own Kaukauna High School baseball team on winning the WIAA Division 1 State baseball championship.
The Galloping Ghosts defeated Madison Memorial 11-5, earning Kaukauna's first State baseball title since 1953. This historic win was the result of an incredible team effort, with Kaukauna recording 13 hits and eight different players contributing at the plate.
This championship title did not come easily. After falling behind early, the Galloping Ghosts refused to let the moment get away from them. The team battled back, took control of the game, and delivered a performance worthy of a State champion.
Mr. Speaker, this victory is a proud moment for the entire Kaukauna community. After more than 70 years, the Galloping Ghosts are, once again, State champions.
I extend my congratulations to Head Coach Mike Jenkins, the entire coaching staff, and the team on this incredible accomplishment.
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Congratulating Fox Valley Lutheran High School Softball Team
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Fox Valley Lutheran High School Foxes on winning the WIAA Division 2 State softball championship.
After ending an undefeated season in a heartbreaking loss at the sectional finals last year, the Foxes came back this season determined and with something to prove. That determination led them all the way to the finals, where they delivered a decisive 9-1 victory over Pewaukee to claim the first WIAA softball State title in school history.
This achievement is a proud moment for the players, Fox Valley Lutheran High School, and the entire Fox Cities community. Through their hard work and dedication, the team has made school history and has given northeast Wisconsin another championship team to celebrate.
Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere congratulations to Head Coach Gunner Pfrang, the entire coaching staff, and the team on this incredible accomplishment.
Marking Fourth Anniversary of Dobbs Ruling
Page H4327 · Official text(Ms. Johnson of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, we have just recognized 4 years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Women today have fewer rights and are less safe because of Republicans.
It is unacceptable that if you are a pregnant woman in this country, your only guarantee to access safe, effective care for you and your baby is where you live.
Abortion bans haven't decreased abortions. Instead, they have only put women's lives at greater risk.
If you live in a blue State, you can make your decision that you and your family determine is best for you, and you can access the care that you feel is appropriate.
If you live in a red State and have a complication, however, you have to be near death to be seen by a medical professional.
The Texas abortion ban specifically is so confusing and restrictive that doctors are refusing to treat pregnant women until they face life-threatening complications because treating them too soon could send that doctor to jail.
These are the problems that women and families are facing across the country because of what Republicans have done, and it is putting lives at risk.
Mr. Speaker, as we observe 4 years since this awful Court decision, our fight for safer health and reproductive care for women across this country must continue. We must never stop until women have their full equality to access the care that they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 250th anniversary of the birth of our great Nation.
Founded on the ideals of equality and self-determination, the American experiment has been an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy.
For 250 years, our Nation has been at the forefront of innovation and scientific discovery. It is because of our strong democratic institutions and our Nation's diversity that this country is so great.
Most importantly, we celebrate and honor the sacrifices that so many Americans have made to protect and defend the freedoms that we enjoy today, but we are at a crossroads.
Rights are being eroded, not expanded. The right to vote is under attack. Racial divisions and healing have taken backward steps, while the rise of White Christian nationalism explodes.
For the first time, our younger generations are not seeing a future where they are better off than their parents. We must reset as a politic and resume a focus on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone; a focus that the rule of law and due process matters; and a focus that truth matters, service is honored, and accountability exists even at the highest levels of government.
As we contemplate what it means to be an American today, we can look back and see that progress made by our ancestors and look forward knowing that, united under our ideals of freedom and equality, we can take steps to finally achieve that more perfect Union.
Recognizing Bill Jensen
Pages H4327–H4328 · Official text(Mr. Bacon of Nebraska was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man from Omaha who is known for his dedication, integrity, tenacity, and voice. Bill Jensen, also known as the Voice of the College World Series, started his radio broadcast career at KLIN in 1967. He took a small break to serve in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972.
Bill then returned to Omaha radio, working at KOTD, KLNG, KYNN, WOW, KOMJ, and KFAB. He gave his vocal pipes a break when he worked as an aide to the Omaha mayor from 1978 to 1981.
On January 10, 1975, Bill was the last to arrive at KLNG on a Friday and would be stuck there with the rest of his news team until Sunday. Omaha received 16 inches of snow, compounded by 60-mile-an-hour winds, paralyzing the city for days.
The following May, Omaha was struck by an F4 tornado that, at the time, was the costliest tornado in history, with at least $150 million in damage. As trained spotters and radio station personnel called in reports, Bill remained steadfast on the KLNG airwaves as the anchor, providing the people of Omaha with calm resolve and valuable information.
Bill was also credited with being the first journalist to report on the death of Omaha Mayor Bernie Simon in 1988.
Throughout his career, Bill also worked part-time for the Omaha Royals and the Storm Chasers at the College World Series, starting in 1983 as an usher supervisor and serving in different areas such as ticket taker, pass gate attendant, security at the Hall of Fame room at Rosenblatt, and scoreboard operator. In the mid-1980s, he took over as the announcer for the Omaha Royals, and in 2001, he competed and won the coveted spot to replace Jake Payne at the mike at the College World Series.
What many people don't know is the time that Bill would spend preparing for the World Series, watching as many regional college games as possible to learn the teams and the players' names. In his 26 years, Bill has announced more than 370 consecutive games, and together, he and Jack announced over 900 games.
Some of his most memorable moments include his very first game when he introduced President George W. Bush, who threw out the first pitch, and Nebraska's first-ever appearance at the College World Series.
Bill also fondly remembers Father's Day in 2022, when members of his family surprised him in the announcer's booth because he never got to spend a Father's Day with them. He will also remember the baked treats that his wife would make for him and his colleagues during the World Series.
Bill Jensen and his predecessor, Jack, will forever be remembered as the Voices of the College World Series.
Now, he looks forward to being a fan and spending time at and away from the games with his wife, Deanna; his daughter, Danielle; stepson, Brian; daughter-in-law, Wendy; and grandchildren Natalie, Connor, Carly, and Camryn.
Mr. Speaker, as Bill hits the button on the mike for the last time, Omaha thanks him.
Honoring John King
Page H4328 · Official text(Mr. Cisneros of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a pillar of the Covina community, Councilmember John King.
After 20 years on the Covina City Council and 30 years of serving the city, Councilmember John King is moving on from public office.
John guided the community with love and care and made every resident proud to call Covina their home.
He is an example of what it means to be a true public servant. While his time on the council comes to a close, I am sure his service to the community will only grow even stronger.
We are also grateful to have benefited from his many years of leadership. He left an incredible legacy and a permanent mark on the community.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate John on a remarkable career in service. Covina is so proud of him.
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the outstanding achievements from schools in California's 31st Congressional District at this year's National Speech and Debate Tournament.
I congratulate the students representing West Covina Unified School District for their multiple top 10 finishes.
I extend a special congratulations to Edgewood Middle School on receiving the prestigious School of Excellence Award for the third year in a row.
To the 20 middle school students and 8 high school students who competed, you demonstrated exceptional talent, resilience, and intellect. All of us in the 31st Congressional District are so proud of them. They all competed under high pressure and completely rose to the occasion.
I want to give a special shout-out to California's 31st Congressional District students who earned top 10 finishes in the Nation: Cetlalli Valenzuela-Gonzalez, Darcy Lam, Lorenzo Williamson, Jacky Huynh III, Jillian Liang, and Arielle Hsiao.
Mr. Speaker, their hard work and perseverance paid off, and I am honored to uplift their accomplishments today.
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize this July as Disability Pride Month and to commemorate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In 1990, the U.S. passed this landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with physical and mental disabilities.
In the time since then, we have made great progress breaking down barriers to employment, healthcare, and housing, dismantling harmful stigmas, and fighting against ableism.
There is still work to be done to ensure every disabled American can contribute to our society and receive the accommodations they need to live a free and fulfilled life.
Disability is a vital aspect of our country's diversity, and no one should ever be discriminated against or excluded from public life because they are differently abled.
In light of this current administration's disturbing decision to move the Office of Special Education out of the education department, it is especially important to protect disabled students' rights and support their access to the programs and support they need to succeed.
Mr. Speaker, to everyone living with physical and mental disabilities in California's 31st District, I am proud to champion their right to live in a society built on equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
While this is a time for celebration, it is also a time for reflection. In southern California, we know what this country is capable of when we care for each other, lead with empathy, and open our communities to everyone, not just to some.
I am proud to represent a community of families, friends, teachers, servicemembers, veterans, and small business owners, a community of people who came from all over the world to call the San Gabriel Valley home, because that is exactly what makes this country special. At our core, we are a nation of immigrants, a melting pot of diverse traditions, cultures, and shared histories.
In this time of great political divide, it is more important than ever for us all to come together to build a better nation that lives up to our founding principles of liberty, freedom, and justice for all.
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to champion our district in Congress. On the 250th anniversary of our democracy, I am grateful to uplift what we should be celebrating today.
Honoring Rosemary Noel Combs
Pages H4328–H4329 · Official text(Mr. Norman of South Carolina was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, one of the real privileges of serving in Congress in the United States House of Representatives is to be able to recognize ordinary people who have done extraordinary deeds in their life. It is special today, June 30, 2026, because in 4 days we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor the life of a remarkable American: Rosemary Noel Combs of Pineville, Kentucky, who passed away on May 3 of this year at the extraordinary age of 100.
Born on the Fourth of July in 1925, Rosemary embodied the very essence of the American Dream, through her lifetime defined by faith, family, service, and the enduring strength of the American spirit.
Rosemary was raised in Pennsylvania, where she studied at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, mastering communications, meteorology, the Morse code, and airline operations. Her work with Capital Airlines, and later the Pennsylvania Railroad, reflected both her intelligence and her intense determination during a transformative era in history. But, truly, it was in Pineville, Kentucky, where Rosemary would leave her greatest mark.
After marrying Robert Mason "Doc" Combs in 1954, Rosemary immersed herself in service to her new community. She and her husband opened the beloved Flocoe Drug Store and Diner, an establishment renowned throughout Bell County for the warmth, generosity, and the sense of real fellowship Rosemary extended to every person who visited.
To generations of Pineville residents, Rosemary was more than a local businessowner. She was a counselor, volunteer, faithful servant, mentor, and friend. Whether through the Pineville Women's Club, the Rotary Club, the Bell County Chamber of Commerce, or through several decades of faithful service to St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Rosemary dedicated her life to serving others.
At her funeral, a member of the community recalled a moment when Rosemary gave him medicine he could not afford for a sick child. Such quiet acts of compassion were the very essence of her being.
Perhaps no tribute to Rosemary's life speaks louder than the fact that over 800 people gathered at her funeral, nearly half the town of Pineville. You have got to remember. She was 100 years old, and very few of her friends were still around. She had 800 friends.
Her legacy lives on through her 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.
In an age that often celebrates fame and fortune, Rosemary reminds us that the true measure of one's life is found in service, kindness, faith, and love of your neighbor.
Today, we honor not only a wonderful woman, but a generation of Americans whose quiet strength built communities all across this great Nation.
Mr. Speaker, may Rosemary's memory continue to inspire the United States of America and all who were blessed to know her. She epitomizes the phrase to live is to serve. She did so admirably.
Release of Armenian Prisoners
Page H4329 · Official text(Ms. Rivas of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, for 1,000 days, Armenian prisoners of war and civilians have been held in unlawful detention. Detainees are reported to have suffered from torture and abuse while being denied fundamental legal rights. These conditions are unacceptable, and their continued detention is a violation of fundamental human rights.
I am proud to cosponsor the Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act to demand the release of these prisoners and hold officials accountable for these abuses.
The San Fernando Valley is home to one of the largest communities of Armenian Americans in the country. The stories that members of the Armenian-American community have shared with me throughout this conflict are heartbreaking. I stand with the Armenian-American community, my colleagues, and the families of the detainees in calling for the release and safe return of these prisoners of war.
Mr. Speaker, just moments ago, the Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's illegal attempt to end birthright citizenship and ruled that 4 million children born in the United States, including many across the San Fernando Valley, have a place in this country as American citizens.
For 250 years, our country was built and defined by immigrants and children of immigrants. This includes people like my sister and me, who were born and raised in Los Angeles and are now pursuing our own American Dreams and contributing to the country that we love.
The Constitution is clear. Anyone born in the United States is a citizen of the United States. Donald Trump does not get to bend the rules and rewrite the Constitution just to comply with his illegal and anti-immigrant agenda.
Mr. Speaker, I will keep fighting to protect our immigrant communities like mine in the San Fernando Valley and across the country so that they, too, can have their chance at the American Dream.
Expressing Gratitude
Pages H4329–H4330 · Official text(Mr. Kean of New Jersey was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. Kean. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep gratitude for the patience, kindness, prayers, and concern that have been shown to me and my family over the course of the last several months. This is not an easy speech for me to give. I am a private person by nature, and I have spent most of my life talking about the people that I represent, issues facing our communities, and work that needs to be done. Talking about myself has never come naturally, but I believe that I owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey's Seventh District, to my colleagues in this Chamber, and to the American people for my actions. Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay. I was given the diagnosis of depression. Now, when people hear the word "depression," many people think it simply means feeling sad. But depression is so much more than that. It is physical and emotional. Until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be. The doctors recommended that I remain in the hospital to address my illness. They explained to me that this would be the fastest way to recovery. To be honest, I was hesitant. I didn't think that I had time for it. I had responsibilities to my family, constituents, and to this institution. Like many people, I believed that I could simply push through, but I agreed to follow my doctor's recommendations, again, not believing that it would result in a long-term stay. I began to understand not only my diagnosis but how long depression had been affecting my life. When I first informed the public that I was dealing with a medical issue, I was still trying to understand what was happening myself. When I said I hoped to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it. Those were the best estimates that the doctors could provide. Yet, as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing and recovery--only the work of getting better one day at a time. Today, I am grateful that I listened to my doctors, and I am grateful for the exceptional care that I received from doctors, nurses, and support staff. I am grateful that I accepted help because today I stand before you healthier, stronger, and excited to return to the work that I love. I have always been a supporter of mental health care. During my time in New Jersey legislature, I worked to advance mental health parity. I believed in the cause then, and I understand it in a far more personal way now. This experience has given me a deeper appreciation for the millions of Americans who face these challenges each and every day. Many do so quietly. Many do so alone. Many do so while carrying burdens that the rest of us never see. To them I would say: Asking for help is not a weakness. It is a strength. I thank my constituents. I thank them for their patience. I thank them for their understanding. I thank them for their prayers, and I thank them for allowing me the honor of serving them. I also thank my staff, who worked tirelessly to ensure that our office continued serving constituents every day during my absence. Most importantly, I thank my family, whose love, whose support, and whose faith carried me through some very difficult days. This is not a partisan issue. It touches every community, every family, and every corner of this country. If sharing my story encourages even one person to seek help, if it gives one family the courage to have a difficult conversation, or if it reminds one person that recovery is possible, then this moment will have been worthwhile. I am grateful to be back with the full support of my doctors. I am grateful to be healthy. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the people of New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District. I say thank you. May God bless the people of New Jersey, and may God bless the United States of America.
Haiti Temporary Protected Status
Page H4330 · Official text(Ms. Brown of Ohio was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, as often the case with the current occupant of the White House, it all started with a lie.
Nearly 2 years ago, JD Vance got up off his couch and tweeted a racist smear that Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs. Days later, Donald Trump shamelessly repeated it at a Presidential debate.
They knew it was a lie. They knew those families were here legally. They knew they were working, raising children, paying taxes, and helping rebuild a community.
None of that mattered because the point was never to tell the truth. The point was to make Americans fear Haitians, to turn them into scapegoats, to convince the country that Black immigrants were the source of their problems.
JD Vance admitted that he was willing to "create stories" to advance his political agenda.
We all saw what happened next: Springfield was terrorized. Schools were closed. Bomb threats poured in. White supremacists descended on the city.
So families lived in fear because two of the most powerful politicians in America decided that a racist smear was politically useful. They never apologized. Instead, they spent 2 years putting that lie to work and turning it into government policy. Now, that campaign of fear is the official policy of our government.
Last week, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to terminate the Temporary Protected Status, also known as TPS, for hundreds of thousands of Haitians, not because Haiti is safe, not because the facts have changed, but because this administration wants more people for ICE to deport.
Haiti remains consumed by political collapse and humanitarian disaster. The conditions that justified TPS still exist.
These are people who care for our seniors, build our community, and pay billions in taxes. They followed the rules. They trusted the American promise. Now, they are being told that a racist political narrative matters more than the law they followed to a T.
This is not who we are, America. The House has already passed the bill extending TPS because the facts demand it and because decency requires it.
Now, the Senate must pass it before the mass deportation tears lives and communities apart, all because of a racist, reckless, bigoted, blatant, dishonest, and disgusting campaign lie.
Mr. Speaker, while families are struggling to keep up with rising prices for food, housing, gas, and utilities, this President is focused on something else entirely different--himself.
He is spending taxpayer dollars on a lavish White House ballroom. He is tearing up the reflecting pool for another vanity project. He is putting his name and image on anything he can.
While Americans are tightening their belts, Donald Trump is building monuments to himself.
One year later, Republicans are still celebrating what they call the President's signature legislative achievement.
That law ripped healthcare away from millions of Americans, cut food assistance for families and children, made it harder to afford college--all to hand out massive tax breaks to the wealthiest people in America.
It was a transfer of wealth from working people to wealthy people.
Mr. Speaker, 17 million Americans have lost healthcare. More than 4 million Americans, including 800,000 children, have already lost access to basic food assistance.
Meanwhile, the wealthiest 0.1 percent received tax cuts worth nearly a quarter million dollars just last year.
I will ask the simple question: How has Trump's big, ugly law helped the American people? As far as I can tell, it is just welfare for the wealthy and well-connected.
Meanwhile, we have gotten higher prices, higher inflation, slower job growth, and an economy that works even better for those already on top.
Republicans called it the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. I call it a big, ugly law, because there is nothing beautiful about taking healthcare and food away from families to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
Happy anniversary to Trump's signature achievement. One year later, the verdict is in: Working families paid the price, and the wealthiest Americans cashed the check.
Recognizing Hillary Olson
Pages H4330–H4331 · Official text(Mr. Morelle of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary leader, a cherished friend, and someone whose impact on Rochester will be felt for generations to come: Hillary Olson.
Since arriving at the Rochester Museum & Science Center in 2018, Hillary has helped strengthen one of the cornerstones of our community. Through enormous challenges, including the pandemic, she guided the RMSC with vision, determination, and grace, helping ensure it emerged stronger than ever.
Hillary cares deeply about this community, about its history, about its future, and the people who call it home. She brings warmth, curiosity, and an unwavering belief that institutions like the Rochester Museum & Science Center can inspire young people, connect communities, and open minds.
Because of her leadership, countless families, students, and visitors have experienced the wonder of science, culture, and discovery.
While we are sad to see her leave Rochester, we are proud to see her take on this next chapter, knowing she will bring with it that same remarkable leadership wherever she goes.
Mr. Speaker, I wish her nothing but success, happiness, and continued impact in her new role and in the years ahead.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Beth Paul as she concludes her tenure of as president of Nazareth University after 6 years of remarkable leadership.
Beth arrived at Nazareth during one of the most difficult moments in modern higher education, taking the helm in the midst of a global pandemic.
Through steady leadership, vision, and determination, she helped guide the institution through extraordinary challenges while positioning it for a stronger future.
Under her leadership, Nazareth embraced a historic new chapter, transitioning from Nazareth College to Nazareth University and celebrating its centennial year--milestones that will shape the institution for generations to come.
Beth has been a passionate advocate for students, a champion of higher education, and a leader who understands that universities are not just places of learning. They are engines of opportunity, discovery, and service.
On behalf of my entire community, I thank my dear friend Dr. Beth Paul for her leadership, her service, and her unwavering commitment to helping students realize their potential.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today after visiting the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York, where I met with my constituent Omar Ramos-Jimenez.
Omar has lived in Rochester for three decades. He has worked, paid taxes, raised a family, and built a life in our community. He is not a danger to anyone. He is not a flight risk. He is a husband, a father, a neighbor.
As we spoke, he kept repeating the same words: "I just want to go home." He does not want to go to Mexico. He wants to go to Rochester because Rochester is his home. Donald Trump told the American people he would target violent criminals, the worst of the worst. Instead, we are seeing longtime, productive members of our community swept up in a system built on fear. It is not about public safety. It is simply about cruelty.
In this moment, we must uphold American values. Dignity must be nonnegotiable. Due process must be nonnegotiable. Basic humanity must be nonnegotiable.
I will continue fighting for Omar, for thousands like him, and for an immigration system rooted in fairness, decency, and respect for every person.
Dangers of Nitrous Oxide
Page H4331 · Official text(Mr. Mullin of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about nitrous oxide--a deadly inhalant that is being sold to consumers online and in stores across the U.S.
Put yourself in the shoes of a parent who just received the worst news of their life: your child has suddenly become unable to walk. They have blood clots around their lungs, or, tragically, they have lost their life, and it is all because they got addicted to inhaling nitrous oxide they bought legally off the shelf from their corner store or online in bulk.
While grieving the unimaginable, you are left asking: How did this happen?
That is what Julia Charleston was thinking when her 34-year-old son, Robert, a military veteran, died after becoming addicted to nitrous oxide.
Often called laughing gas, nitrous is probably something you have heard about at the dentist, but it is extremely dangerous to inhale without medical supervision. Even a single use can cause debilitating side effects, like neurological damage or even death.
This is a growing problem. Mr. Speaker, 14 million Americans say they have misused nitrous oxide, and fatalities from nitrous oxide misuse have increased by 578 percent in the past decade.
Despite these risks, nitrous oxide is being marketed as a carefree party drug, with names like "galaxy gas" or "baking bad," in giant, brightly-colored canisters and flavors. This is clearly targeting both kids and adults for recreational use.
Meanwhile, the smaller canisters, like this one, are pervasive at music concerts, college campuses, parks, and beaches.
Social media videos of people using nitrous have glamorized and fueled this deadly trend, and DUI nitrous cases are putting everyone in harm's way.
Right now, it is incredibly easy to buy nitrous oxide at smoke shops, gas stations, and online. I was even able to purchase nitrous oxide canisters and have them shipped directly to the U.S. Capitol, no questions asked.
Congress must act to protect people from this dangerous and deadly inhalant. That is why I introduced the bipartisan Nitrous Oxide Safety Act to ban the sale of nitrous oxide to consumers and close the loophole that is being exploited.
While there are legitimate reasons for doctors, dentists, businesses, and industry to use this chemical, it has no business being sold in stores or online. That is what my bill would prevent, regardless of whether it has a warning label.
It has been reassuring to see some States start to act, but we need Federal legislation to address this truly interstate problem.
No more parents should have to experience the devastation of losing a child to nitrous oxide.
Recognizing Steve Keown
Page H4331 · Official text(Mr. Baird of Indiana was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Steve Keown, a retiring agriculture teacher and FFA adviser who dedicated 42 years to Carroll County Junior-Senior High School.
Mr. Keown received his bachelor's degree from Murray State University and a master's degree from Purdue University in curriculum and instruction.
Mr. Keown mentored countless future educators through the MI-BAT program. Mr. Keown also served the Indiana Association of Agricultural Educators for numerous years.
During Mr. Keown's tenure, the Carroll County FFA chapter earned national recognition for over 20 consecutive years, produced over 200 recipients of State FFA degrees and nearly 60 American FFA degrees, over 50 proficiency champions, and more than 25 national finalists and winners.
Mr. Keown's commitment to student leadership and hands-on learning has shaped success for FFA chapters in Indiana. His passion for agriculture education and mentoring others will leave a lasting impact on our community.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Tippecanoe School Corporation's Extra Mile Award winner, Deb Liggett.
Deb Liggett is an extremely dedicated caretaker of students who drives 170 miles every day, taking students to McCutcheon High School, Southwestern Middle School, and Klondike Schools for over 40 years. She has been a dependable source of kindness and joy for Hoosier students.
Our students need role models who are examples of reliability, compassion, and good citizenship.
One kindhearted person can make a difference in the lives of so many young people. Deb Liggett has been that role model in the Tippecanoe area.
I am proud to congratulate her on receiving this well-known and well-earned award, and I am glad our students have Ms. Liggett on their way to and from school.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ivy Tech Community College, which recently won three third-place awards in the U.S. Department of Energy's Battery Workforce Challenge.
This challenge is a 3-year collegiate engineering competition where teams build an advanced battery pack for the commercial Ram ProMaster EV program.
All the students who competed progressed through technical milestones that reflect the same trials that the energy industry faces. Throughout the program, the students met demanding engineering standards without compromising safety.
I am so proud of these students at Ivy Tech who succeeded throughout the competition and provided real results from their work.
Our Nation needs innovative minds. The challenges we face are difficult and complicated, and I am glad we have young Hoosiers who are ready to tackle these issues head-on and showcase the incredible talent we have in Indiana.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Ivy Tech on these well-deserved awards.
Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary: Contradiction and Hope
Pages H4331–H4332 · Official text(Mr. Jackson of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, my reflections on the Nation's 250th anniversary:
Happy birthday, America.
Mr. Speaker, 250 years ago, a remarkable experiment was launched upon this continent. It announced to the world that liberty was a universal birthright, that governments derived their authority from the consent of the governed, and that human dignity deserved political expression. It was a dream of uncommon brilliance.
Yet on that very same day, another story marched beside it--a nightmare of uncommon cruelty. Freedom and slavery entered history together in an unholy matrimony.
The Declaration proclaimed equality while hundreds of thousands remained in chains. The promise was magnificent. The practice was monstrous. The vision soared toward Heaven while the reality remained anchored in human bondage.
This is not merely the paradox of America's founding. It is the permanent tension within the American story.
Our Republic has always contained both contradiction and conviction, hypocrisy and hope, exclusion and expansion, injustice and aspiration.
Yet history teaches us something very profound. The greatness of America has never been that it was born perfect. Its greatness has rested upon its capacity to become better. Every generation has been asked a single question: Will you enlarge the promise, or will you shrink it?
That question confronts us today, for what a nation chooses to remember becomes its operating system. What it chooses to forget becomes its character. Memory is not nostalgia. Memory is infrastructure. It determines how a people think, how they govern, how they educate their children, and how they understand their obligations to one another.
When a nation tells the whole truth about itself, it becomes stronger. When it edits its past for comfort, it weakens its future. History is not an accusation. History is instructional. History is not about assigning perpetual guilt. History is about cultivating perpetual wisdom. That is why institutions devoted to preserving our collective memory matter so profoundly.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is not merely a building of bronze and stone. It is one of America's greatest classrooms. It reminds us that the story of African Americans is not a chapter added to America's history. It is one of the central texts from which American history is written. African Americans in history make American history whole.
The labor of enslaved people helped build this Nation's wealth. They built this building. The courage of abolitionists challenged its conscience. The sacrifices of Black soldiers defended its flag. The determination of teachers, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, clergy, laborers, and ordinary citizens expanded the meaning of democracy itself. To diminish those stories is not simply to diminish African Americans. It is to diminish America itself.
Throughout our history, there have been recurring efforts to narrow the Nation's memory. Certain voices have always argued that some stories are too uncomfortable, some documents too inconvenient, and some truths too disruptive.
That pattern is not new. It appeared after Reconstruction. It appeared during the long struggle against segregation. It also has appeared whenever honest history threatened comfortable myths.
When debates arise over museums, classrooms, archives, monuments, historical interpretations, and books that are being banned in schools, we should recognize them as part of a much longer American conversation about who belongs within the Nation's narrative.
The stakes extend far beyond any single institution. They concern whether future generations inherit a history expansive enough to include all who helped build this Republic. The answer should never be fewer stories. The answer should always be fuller stories to tell the whole truth, for memory is not a scarce resource. Truth is not diminished by inclusion.
Indeed, the opposite is true. Every time America has widened its understanding of itself, it has become more faithful to its founding ideals.
Consider the long procession of those who enlarged the American promise: those who challenged slavery, those who defended the Union, those who fought for women's right to vote, those who demanded women's suffrage, those who organized workers, those who secured civil rights, those who expanded voting rights, those who insisted that democracy belongs to every citizen rather than a privileged few.
Each generation inherited an imperfect Nation. Each generation left behind a better one. That is the true American tradition: not perfection but progress, not complacency but correction, not silence but an honest conversation, not fear but an abiding faith.
At 250 years, America does not celebrate because every promise has been fulfilled. America celebrates because generation after generation refused to surrender those promises. The American story has always advanced because citizens possessed enough patriotism to criticize injustice and enough hope to repair it.
Love of country has never required blindness. It has required courage. It has required the truth to confront those things that are uncomfortable, the courage to confess, the courage to correct, and the courage to continue.
Mr. Speaker, a happy 250th anniversary to our country. May God bless the United States.
Honoring the Lives of Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson
Pages H4332–H4333 · Official text(Mr. Gallagher of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two of my constituents who tragically lost their lives in a senseless act of gun violence at a public library in Chico, in the heart of my district.
Libraries are places of learning and community, spaces where families, children, and neighbors come together. Last week, that sense of safety was shattered by unimaginable violence.
I take this time to honor Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson and offer my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and community who are devastated and forever changed by this tragedy.
Jacob, or "Cody" as he was known, had taken someone he cared for deeply, a close friend's 8-year-old daughter, with him for a visit to the library. He gave his life that day to protect hers by shielding her from the attacker in an act of extraordinary courage and selflessness. Because of his actions, she was able to escape, flee to safety, and reunite with her family.
Jacob Hull is a hero.
Robert spent 30 years as a resident of Orland, California, where he spent a career in the ag industry before retiring. He was beloved by his family, who fondly referred to him as Uncle Robert.
Robert found great joy in spending time at that Chico library, which his family described as his favorite place in the world. It was a place of comfort, of learning, and peace, where he could indulge in his passion for reading. Reading was the passion that remained with him throughout his life.
Robert was a quiet strength.
Both Robert and Jacob were beloved members of the greater Chico and Butte County community, whose absence will be deeply felt, and it leaves a void that cannot be replaced.
Members of the Chico community have already banded together to raise money in support of the devastated families of both victims. Two memorial funds for Cody and Robert have been started by the North Valley Community Foundation, and donations can be made on the North Valley Community Foundation's website at www.nvcf.org.
I also extend my gratitude to the librarians, the bystanders, and the first responders who selflessly rushed to the scene to provide aid during this horrific crime.
I commend Chief Aldridge and his amazing officers of the Chico Police Department, who responded to this incident within 4 minutes. Their excellent training was on full display, and they quickly apprehended the suspect. Their heroism undoubtedly saved lives that day. We are grateful to them, and we salute them, the thin blue line that protects our community each and every day.
No words will ease the deep pain and suffering our community is feeling, but I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the memories of Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson and in praying for justice and healing for their families and our community in the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Mr. Speaker, a new fiscal year starts off in California, and we have a fiscal bust that could cost us vital wildfire funding.
The cap-and-tax system doesn't raise enough money this year. Under a terrible deal struck between Gavin Newsom and a select group of politicians, money meant for wildfire prevention may be lost because it was put into last place under this deal; and the high-speed rail, a project that hasn't built a single mile of track, was put in first place, along with legislative projects for a select group of legislators: $125 million for transit passes, $25 million for a UC Climate Research Center.
One curious one: $85 million of our taxpayer funding to go to some entity chosen by the legislature to explore climate innovation and solutions for the future--where is it going? No one really knows, but what we do know is that wildfire funding could very well be slashed under this terrible deal.
Even worse, our CAL FIRE firefighters' budget could be slashed if we do not reach a deal that comes to putting wildfire prevention and wildfire suppression first in our State.
I rise to call out this terrible and atrocious deal, and I demand that my former colleagues in the State legislature put wildfire first. I demand that they put victims first after they have been through so much horror over these many years in California, wildfire after wildfire. Put them first by making sure that that funding is there.
We can do our jobs here in the U.S. Congress, as well, by passing our Fix Our Forests Act, which is now on the Senate side. We need to make sure that we get that through so that we can increase the pace and scale of removing dangerous fuels.
Opening of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
Page H4333 · Official text(Mrs. Fedorchak of North Dakota was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, as our Nation celebrates America's 250th birthday, North Dakota has the extraordinary privilege of marking this milestone in a truly historic way.
Tomorrow, on July 1, we open the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in the Badlands of western North Dakota. It is a place that forever shaped one of America's greatest Presidents.
First, I recognize the countless people whose vision, generosity, and determination made this remarkable library possible. They are too numerous to mention each individually, but I thank the TR Presidential Library Foundation Board, its staff, donors, volunteers, community leaders, Secretary Doug Burgum, Robbie Lauf, Ed O'Keefe, and so many more. Because of their efforts, future generations will come to North Dakota to experience the place that shaped Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt famously said: "I never would have been President if it had not been for my experience in North Dakota."
He arrived in the Dakota Territory as a young man, grieving unimaginable loss. He left transformed. The rugged landscape, hardworking ranchers, and independent spirit of the people he met there, these things forged the character that would later define his Presidency.
North Dakota didn't just change Theodore Roosevelt. North Dakota helped shape the leader who would shape America.
Roosevelt embodied what he famously called the "Bully Spirit," an expression of enthusiasm, optimism, courage, and confidence in America's future. He believed in living boldly, embracing challenges, and approaching life with energy and purpose.
This is a spirit that has defined our Nation for 250 years, and it is one we should carry forward into the next 250.
TR was a rancher, a soldier, and a conservationist. He was a reformer, an explorer, an author, a statesman, a Nobel Prize recipient, and one of the most energetic Presidents our Nation has ever known.
His life was filled with stories that have become American legend. After being shot while campaigning for President, Roosevelt refused to leave the stage. The bullet had been slowed by a thick, 50-page speech that was folded inside his breast pocket. He insisted on finishing his remarks before seeking medical attention.
His White House reflected the same fearless, determined, and adventurous spirit. His children filled it with dogs, snakes, birds, ponies, and every imaginable creature. They showed us that public service and joy are not mutually exclusive.
Theodore Roosevelt lived a big life because he believed America was meant to dream big, build big, and accomplish big things.
Interestingly, today's President carries some of these same qualities. At President Trump's 2025 inauguration, he said: "In America, impossible is what we do best."
Consider some of the big accomplishments of Roosevelt. He strengthened our Navy, completed the Panama Canal, won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating peace between Russia and Japan, and changed the way we think about conservation by protecting our public lands, forests, parks, and wildlife.
Perhaps Roosevelt's greatest legacy wasn't simply what he accomplished. It was what he asked of every American. His words from "Man in the Arena" remain just as relevant today as when he first delivered that speech over a century ago.
This strikes me so profoundly on the cusp of our 250th birthday, when our country is so divided, so angry, and so critical of each other. Theodore Roosevelt gives us encouragement. "It is not the critic who counts," he reminds us. "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena."
Those words are a challenge to each of us and to every generation to participate, to lead, to serve, and to have courage to act rather than merely criticize.
As we dedicate this remarkable library in my beautiful State of North Dakota, as we do this during America's 250th year, we are reminded that the strength of our Republic has never come from spectators. It has always come from the citizens willing to enter the arena.
May every visitor who walks through the doors of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library leave inspired by the example of this President whose character was forged in North Dakota and whose leadership strengthened America.
His enduring message still calls each of us to live courageously, serve faithfully, and leave our country stronger than we found it.
That is Theodore Roosevelt's legacy. That is the Bully Spirit. As we begin our Nation's next 250 years, may it continue to inspire us all.
Recess
Page H4333 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Moore of North Carolina)
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until noon today.
Accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 50 minutes a.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H4333 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker at noon.
Prayer
Page H4333 · Official textThe Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer: Holy God, author of our lives and source of our many blessings, may we, in gratitude, take time to reflect on the many men and women who came to this land over 250 years ago with a vision of freedom and a commitment to justice. We pray that the blood they shed and the hope for which they toiled, all to establish the Republic on these foundational principles, would inspire in each of us our full measure of devotion to this Nation. For out of many, one--the many people, many ideas, many voices that join together before You in the founding of this Nation, so that the sacrifices they made would inspire the generations to follow to do likewise. You have told us what is good. In their service to You, they have left us both a legacy and a challenge: To bear faithfully our responsibility to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with You. Bless then our history and its sacred memory. Sanctify our celebration of our Nation's birth, that we would receive the inheritance of Your blessing with humility, gratitude, and sincere devotion to Your divine providence in our day. Preserve, oh, Lord, these United States, and keep this country in Your care for the years to come. In Your sovereign name we pray. Amen.
The Journal
Page H4333 · Official textThe SPEAKER
The Chair has examined the Journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the House the approval thereof.
Pursuant to clause 1 of rule I, the Journal stands approved.
Pledge of Allegiance
Page H4333 · Official textThe SPEAKER
Will the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver) come forward and lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. CLEAVER led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:
Text printed in the Record (174 characters)
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Announcement by the Speaker
Pages H4333–H4334 · Official textThe SPEAKER
The Chair will entertain up to 15 requests for 1-minute speeches on each side of the aisle.
Honoring Robert Stephenson
Page H4334 · Official text(Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert Stephenson, a proud member of the Greatest Generation, as he celebrated his 101st birthday on June 14th, 2026.
Born in Chicago in 1925, Robert came of age during the Great Depression, developing the values of hard work and perseverance that would guide his life.
At 17 years old, he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, where he helped manage personnel and aerial mapping records.
Following his military service, Robert studied accounting at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1964, he founded R.L. Stephenson, Incorporated.
He shared 75 years of marriage with his wife, Helene. He remains as active today, at 101 years old, as he ever has been.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Robert Stephenson a very happy 101st birthday and in honoring his century plus of service to the American spirit that he embodies.
Commending Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial
Page H4334 · Official text(Mr. LATIMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the youth mental health crisis.
Organizations like the Andrus institution in my district are doing meaningful work to address the challenges that our youth face today.
The Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial, in Yonkers, New York, operates as a trauma-responsive system of care, bringing education, clinical services, and community-based programs together to support children and families.
Founded in 1928 by John Emory Andrus, former mayor of Yonkers and New York Congressman, in the area that I now serve, the Andrus institution helps children, families, and communities succeed through its community programs, health clinics, K-9 school, and residential treatment services on its campus.
Led by award-winning president and CEO Dr. Corine Lurry-Mabin and her outstanding team, Andrus provides comprehensive therapeutic services to children with severe emotional disabilities and autism, 90 percent of whom live below the poverty line.
Andrus is the largest school-based mental health provider in Westchester County, serving more than 2,500 children every year.
From the floor of the House of Representatives, I commend Andrus for its tireless work to provide life-changing support to help children heal, grow, and thrive.
Paying Tribute to Milton Turner Wright, Jr., Retired Texas Sheriff
Page H4334 · Official text(Mr. NEHLS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Milton Turner Wright, Jr., a former Texas Ranger and retired sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas, who passed away on March 5, 2026.
Sheriff Wright was a true example of a public servant. From serving honorably in the United States Navy to dedicating his life to law enforcement, he always put others before himself. He served as sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas, for four terms, 16 years, making him the longest serving sheriff in county history.
As sheriff, he revolutionized the office by embracing modern technologies, specialized divisions, and inmate support programs. Earlier this week, Fort Bend County rightfully renamed its detention center after Sheriff Wright, ensuring that his legacy will never be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in praying for his wife of 68 years, Marian; family, friends, and loved ones as they mourn the loss of such an honorable man.
End Hunger Now
Page H4334 · Official text(Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, WIC provides pregnant and postpartum moms and their babies with healthy food. It increases nutrition, reduces premature births, and improves access to healthcare for moms and babies.
That is why, Mr. Speaker, I find it unconscionable that Republicans in this Chamber passed a bill earlier this month that slashes funding for the program by $200 million. The bill takes away money for nutritious fruits and vegetables and would force WIC providers to turn away eligible families for the first time in 30 years.
Then, 1 week later, Republicans gave $70 billion to make a slush fund for ICE and CBP. When it comes to giving $200 million, that is less than 0.1 percent of that number, to hungry kids, Republicans said that we ran out of money.
What the hell is wrong with these people, Mr. Speaker?
I thought they wanted to make America healthy again. You can't be healthy if you are hungry, Mr. Speaker, and the Republican Agriculture appropriations bill will make hunger worse.
I will fight tooth and nail for the Senate to restore the fruit and vegetable voucher and reverse these cuts to WIC. Let's work together to actually make America healthy and end hunger now.
Recognizing State College Farmers' Market
Page H4334 · Official text(Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the State College Farmers' Market which celebrates 50 years of service this year.
Since the mid-1970s, the farmers' market has been a State College staple, bringing together local businesses, families, and Penn State students.
Started by a dozen local farmers, the market has stayed true to its original mission: to provide people with fresh, local foods while supporting Pennsylvania farmers.
For five decades, the market evolved to offer a variety of products, influenced by Centre County's growing population and Penn State's large student body.
Vendors have continued bringing old-time favorites like maple syrup and pies, while introducing new goods like cider doughnuts. A handful of vendors have been selling local favorites since the market's earliest years, showing up every weekend to sell their goods.
Mr. Speaker, the State College Farmers' Market exemplifies the importance of Pennsylvania farms, the value of small businesses, and the influence of community.
As we celebrate this milestone, let us look ahead to the next 50 years and keep this community tradition thriving.
Gratitude for Dr. Melanie Yates
Page H4334 · Official text(Ms. KELLY of Illinois asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my health fellow, Dr. Melanie Yates, for her service to my office and the Second Congressional District of Illinois.
I am so lucky Melanie joined us. She is brilliant, deeply caring, and has a funny wit about her. Melanie, a practicing ER physician, was always my trusted source for any medical question, whether it was a complex policy matter or a personal concern, bringing a unique sense of calm to our entire office.
As a proud Minnesotan, Melanie loves the cold weather. She has even joked that she could live in Alaska, so it is pretty funny that she found herself in D.C. and is now heading to Cincinnati. It is not exactly the frozen north, but I know that wherever she is and despite the weather, she will excel.
I am so incredibly proud of her, and she will always be a part of the Kelly Alumni family.
Honoring Lives Lost in the Knowles Fire
Pages H4334–H4335 · Official text(Mr. HURD of Colorado asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor three brave wildland firefighters who gave their lives protecting the people of Colorado.
Last Friday, Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson were responding to the Knowles fire in western Colorado as members of the Rifle Helitack crew. They answered the call to protect others, and in doing so gave their lives.
Emily was from Clinton Township, Michigan. Nick was from Glendale, Arizona. Sydney was from Warrior, Alabama. They came from across our country to serve in Colorado on some of the most challenging terrain in the American West.
This is what wildland firefighters do. They go where the need is greatest: into the smoke, into the canyons, and into danger so our communities can remain safe.
Today we thank Emily, Nick, and Sydney not only for how they died, but for how they lived: with courage, selflessness, and a commitment to serving others.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to keep their families, crewmates, and every firefighter still on the line in our thoughts and prayers.
Celebrating Liliana Haggerty's Accomplishments
Page H4335 · Official text(Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the inspiring resilience and perseverance of my constituent Liliana Haggerty. At just 14 years old, Liliana was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that spread through her lymphatic system.
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of meeting Liliana and her wonderful family in my office. Her courage in the face of a frightening disease was profound. As a patient, she founded a nonprofit dedicated to providing pediatric hospital patients with pajamas, blankets, and socks.
Thanks to the exceptional care she received at Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City and an aggressive 12-week chemo plan, Liliana's cancer is now in remission.
Today, Liliana dedicates her time to advocating for other patients and families navigating through serious illnesses.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Liliana's accomplishments and wishing her continued success in the years ahead.
Halifax Resolves
Page H4335 · Official text(Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, before there was the Declaration of Independence, there was Halifax, North Carolina.
More than 250 years ago, 83 delegates gathered in Halifax with the courage to take a bold stand. Through the Halifax Resolves, the first Colony officially called for independence from Great Britain. That is why North Carolina proudly carries the title "First in Freedom."
The journey of American independence traveled through eastern North Carolina, where brave individuals believed freedom was worth the risk. Their courage helped change the course of history.
As America prepares to celebrate 250 years, let's remember that every generation has a responsibility to protect the freedoms they fought to secure.
May God bless our wonderful country, the United States of America.
Congratulating Severn School Sailing Team
Page H4335 · Official text(Ms. ELFRETH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Severn School sailing team.
This spring, these students made history by becoming the first team ever to win both the Baker and the Mallory National Championships in the same season, but these victories did not come easily.
In the Mallory competition, the Admirals made a critical comeback from third to first place, despite dicey wind conditions, to win their second title.
Four graduating seniors, Alex Baker, Charlotte MacDonald, Annie Sitzmann, and Annabelle Ulak, even missed their commencement ceremony to compete in the national championships.
These students' commitment to excellence, both in the classroom and on the water, is truly inspiring, and their accomplishments speak to the incredible coaches and mentors they have had along the way.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Coach Sitzmann, Coach Alexander, Coach Davids, and the entire Severn sailing team on an incredible season and this historic accomplishment.
Providing for Consideration of H.r. 8800, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027; Providing for Consideration of H.r. 8595, National Security, Department of State, and Related...
Pages H4335–H4344 · Official textMr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1398 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (9,702 characters)
Resolved, That at any time after adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8800) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and amendments specified in this section and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Armed Services now printed in the bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 119-33 shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the five-minute rule and shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived.
Sec. 2. (a) No further amendment to H.R. 8800, as amended, shall be in order except those printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution, and pro forma amendments described in section 4 of this resolution.
(b) Each further amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 4 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
(c) All points of order against further amendments printed in part A of the report
of the Committee on Rules or against amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution are waived.
Sec. 3. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on Armed Services or his designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of further amendments printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 4 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
Sec. 4. During consideration of H.R. 8800 for amendment, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of debate.
Sec. 5. At the conclusion of consideration of H.R. 8800 for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill, as amended, to the House with such further amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit.
Sec. 6. At any time after adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8595) making appropriations for national security, Department of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The bill shall be considered as read. Points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 or clause 5(a) of rule XXI are waived.
Sec. 7. (a) No amendment to H.R. 8595 shall be in order except those printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, amendments en bloc described in section 8 of this resolution, and pro forma amendments described in section 9 of this resolution.
(b) Each amendment printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 9 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
(c) All points of order against amendments printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules or against amendments en bloc described in section 8 of this resolution are waived.
Sec. 8. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 9 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
Sec. 9. During consideration of H.R. 8595 for amendment, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of debate.
Sec. 10. At the conclusion of consideration of H.R. 8595 for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit.
Sec. 11. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 8884) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize demonstration authority for the disability insurance program. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 119-34 shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 12. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the resolution (H. Res. 1383) commemorating the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts. The amendment to the preamble printed in part C of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted. The resolution, as amended, shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and preamble, as amended, to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees.
Sec. 13. House Resolution 1377 is laid on the table.
Sec. 14. In the engrossment of H.R. 8800, the Clerk shall--
(a) add the text of S. 1383, as passed by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 8800;
(b) assign appropriate designations to provisions within the engrossment;
(c) conform cross-references and provisions for short titles within the engrossment; and
(d) be authorized to make technical corrections, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, page and line numbering, section numbering, and insertion of appropriate headings within the engrossment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yakym)
The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 1 hour.
Austin Scott (R-GA)12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Austin Scott (R-GA)12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore12:30 p.m.
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Austin Scott (R-GA)12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, last night the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1398, providing for consideration of four measures:
H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, under a structured rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees, provides for one motion to recommit, and makes 312 amendments in order.
H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, under a structured rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees, provides for one motion to recommit, and makes 29 amendments in order.
H.R. 8884, Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, under a closed rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees and provides for one motion to recommit.
H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts.
The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees.
Additionally, the rule provides that H. Res. 1377 is laid on the table and, once the NDAA is passed, the Clerk shall add the text of S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, to the bill and transmit it, once again, to the United States Senate.
Mr. Speaker, we are here today to debate a rule on four measures.
First, H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.
Under the leadership of Chairman Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith, one of the top priorities of the bipartisan fiscal year 2027 NDAA is to rebuild our arsenal of freedom.
As President Reagan reminded the Nation more than four decades ago: "It is not just immoral but unforgivable to ask the sons and daughters of America to protect this country with aging equipment and bargain-basement weapons." That conviction remains as true now as it was then.
This year's NDAA continues our commitment to ensuring the United States maintains the most capable, lethal, and ready fighting force in the world. This is made possible through a top-line that supports an investment consistent with rebuilding the American arsenal and revitalizing our defense industrial base.
Since the 1990s, we have seen a lack of competition in the defense sector that has reduced resiliency in supply chains, stifled innovation, and, ultimately, has increased costs for the taxpayers while decreasing readiness. This bill aims to change that.
The fiscal year 2027 NDAA strengthens America's security by expanding domestic production capacity, mobilizing private-sector investment, accelerating innovative defense entrants, cutting unnecessary regulatory barriers, and creating thousands of high-skill American jobs.
To reduce costs, this bill expands the multiyear procurement authority for critical platforms such as the F-35, F-15EX, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and many other weapon systems.
This enables the defense industrial base to expand and accelerate domestic production, leading to decreased costs, increased capacity, and increased jobs.
A country that cannot make its own ammunition and weapons cannot deter a war, Mr. Speaker.
In addition, the fiscal year 2027 NDAA makes another major stride in strengthening servicemembers' quality of life and revitalizing our recruitment efforts. It authorizes a 5 to 7 percent pay raise; improves military housing, education, and childcare options for military families; and invests in support systems that keep our force resilient.
The bill also tackles the Nation's pilot shortage head-on by issuing targeted aviation bonuses, expanding the training pipeline capacity, and accelerating pathways to produce and retain the next generation of military aviators.
Implementing the Peace Through Strength agenda, the fiscal year 2027 NDAA rebuilds depleted stockpiles and accelerates game-changing technologies, like quantum computing, hypersonics, and autonomous systems, while sustaining legacy platforms until future replacements become operational.
Platforms such as the F-22, F-18, A-10, and MQ-9 have been instrumental in the operations against Venezuela and the Iranian regime. Sustaining these platforms will eliminate the capability gaps created by prematurely divesting legacy platforms without a replacement platform being operational.
Peace Through Strength starts with a factory floor at Scranton, a shipyard in Newport News, a welder in Pascagoula, and our skilled workforce at Robins Air Force Base.
A stronger, more resilient defense industrial base is what turns American manufacturing capacity into credible military power. This credible military power is what convinces our adversaries that today is not the day to test the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues and the House Armed Services Committee staff for all of the work that went into creating this strong, bipartisan legislation that should pass with overwhelming support.
Second, Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027.
H.R. 8595 advances the America First policy agenda and restores accountability to how taxpayer dollars are spent abroad.
This year's legislation provides $47.32 billion, 6 percent below the fiscal year 2026 enacted level, while still supporting a foreign policy agenda that supports our allies and counters our adversaries.
This bill restores fiscal sanity by reducing duplication, streamlining operations, and prioritizing core diplomatic functions.
Additionally it codifies President Trump's executive orders to eliminate wasteful programs in spending, strengthen oversight of foreign assistance, and ensure no funds flow to organizations that refuse to cooperate with the United States.
Further, this legislation funds efforts to counter malign influence from the People's Republic of China, denying the CCP access to U.S. factory sources and prohibiting countries from using U.S. aid to repay debts owed to Communist China. It deserves bipartisan support, and I look forward to its passage.
Third, Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for the consideration of H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act.
This is a simple bill with an important goal: to make sure Americans with disabilities are not punished for wanting to go to work.
For too long our disability policies have been built around outdated assumptions, assumptions that treat work as a risk rather than an opportunity.
H.R. 8884 gives the Social Security Administration the tools it needs to test new approaches, gather real data, and design policies that support work instead of discouraging it.
This bill extends the Social Security Administration demonstration authority through 2030. Participation is voluntary and will not result in a decreased overall income for any member that elects to participate in the program.
This demonstration authority will be a gateway for the Social Security Administration to run scoped test programs which could help disabled Americans work, earn, and maintain stability without risking harm to beneficiaries.
This is commonsense legislation that everyone should support. I look forward to passing it in the House and sending it over to the Senate.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the rule provides for consideration of H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.
Nearly 1 year ago today, House and Senate Republicans delivered on President Trump's promise to cut taxes, deliver affordability, and strengthen our economy for everyday hardworking Americans.
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is the largest tax reform passed by Congress in decades, making permanent the tax cuts passed under the first Trump administration and ensuring a tax cut for over 140 million Americans.
We saw over $324 billion in tax refunds for both individuals and families in 2025 and approximately 96 percent of the filers receiving a refund earn less than $200,000 in annual income.
Further, crucial provisions in this legislation provided numerous deductions for overtime pay, service industry workers who rely on tips, as well as deductions for car loan interest and expansion of the enhanced child tax credit.
American families and workers overwhelmingly benefited from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, and President Trump and congressional Republicans delivered for the American people by making these tax cuts permanent.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to consideration of these measures and urge passage of this rule. I reserve the balance of my time.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me the customary time, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me begin by asking: Do Republicans even have the votes to pass this rule? Because, if not, what on Earth are we doing here? Wasting more time?
Even your own Members are fed up, Mr. Speaker--every week wondering if someone is going to throw a fit; if Donald Trump is going to post something crazy and blow everything up; if Mike Johnson is going to bring something to the floor when he doesn't have the votes. The chaos and the dysfunction around here is unhinged.
We wasted hours and hours at the Rules Committee last week debating and voting on a rule that never came to the floor. And for what? Because Congress passed a bipartisan housing affordability bill, and the President had a temper tantrum, refused to sign it, and derailed everything? I mean, really? And why? Because he is still busy trying to fraudulently claim that the 2020 election was stolen, and now he wants to use that as an excuse to try to rig the midterms.
Let me remind my colleagues: This is the United States of America. It is still the United States of America. We are not China, or Russia, or some two-bit dictatorship.
This is insane what is going on here. Families cannot afford rent. Folks are priced out of buying a house. Donald Trump is asked about the bipartisan housing bill yesterday, and he says: " . . . it's so unimportant . . . `' he says: " . . . it's so unimportant . . . `' then he says: "I made a lot of money with housing."
The American people are not asking whether Donald Trump made a lot of money in housing. They are asking why they cannot afford it. They are asking why his economy sucks, why their prices are going up, and nobody in this Republican administration seems to give a damn.
So, now, we are back with another rule. Maybe it passes. Maybe it doesn't. Who knows anymore. This rule includes a National Defense Authorization bill with a trillion--that is with a t--dollar price tag.
I should tell my colleagues that we already spend more on our military than the next six countries combined. It is an astronomical amount. Over another trillion dollars on our military budget? Boy, that is so wild and extravagant, even Dr. Strangelove would be impressed.
Now, Mr. Speaker, let me get this straight: Republicans want to give Donald Trump over a trillion dollars for the Pentagon? Donald Trump who started an illegal war? Donald Trump who got 13 American servicemembers killed because he started a war to distract from the Epstein files? That is who they want to give a trillion dollars to? I mean, get real.
The State and Foreign Operations bill is a mess, too. It guts all the programs that actually prevent crises before they explode. When the next war, famine, pandemic, or global breakdown knocks on our door, just remember it was Republicans who set the stage, just like they did when they cut funding for screwworm protection.
There is the Social Security disability bill that hands more authority to an administration already targeting programs that working people rely on.
Then, we get to this Republican self-esteem exercise, yet another nonbinding resolution, praising Republicans for the big, ugly bill.
Mr. Speaker, I have a secret for you. I checked with my staff. Not a single person has called my office saying: Congressman, I think Republicans should spend time congratulating themselves on a bill they passed last year that took away my healthcare and is directly responsible for raising my bills. I haven't got a single call about that.
What exactly is it that my Republican friends are congratulating themselves for anyway? You passed the big, ugly bill a year ago. Since then, gas prices have gone up. Grocery prices have gone up. There is a new war in the Middle East. Healthcare is more expensive, and fewer people have it. Child hunger has gone up. The tariffs are crushing farmers and driving up costs.
That is what you guys are doing a victory lap over? Really? I mean, really? Never have we seen so much inequality between the rich and the poor in this country. Regular people are getting screwed while the top 0.001 percent saw their incomes go up by--get this--$20 million last year.
You guys could not be more out of touch if you tried, Mr. Speaker.
There might be hours of floor debate on these crummy bills this week, but right now we are here to talk about the Republicans' agenda, their plan for the week. The truth is that their bills are just more of the same old status quo nonsense that people back home are sick and tired of.
The Republican agenda is a nightmare for this country. The American people are in an economic crisis right now. They are getting screwed by the policies of this administration. Their wallets and their pocketbooks are getting cleaned out by this President and this majority's billionaire-forced agenda.
Then, they turn on C-SPAN today--and God help them if they do--and what do they see Republicans bringing to the floor? Not a bill to help deal with rising inflation and economic uncertainty--no, no, no. Their focus this week is a resolution to congratulate themselves on a bill that they already passed last year. In case they haven't noticed, for most people, things have gotten worse since then, not better.
People are looking to this place and wondering whether anybody at all on the Republican side has any idea what their life is actually like. They believe that this Republican majority is just out of touch, out of sync with where regular people are. If people look at these awful, lousy bills, the answer is obviously no.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Austin Scott (R-GA)12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, no doubt the Democrat socialists of America believe everything that the gentleman from Massachusetts just said, but the majority of Americans are smart enough to know that those things are simply not true.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)12:40 p.m.
Boy, that was a good retort.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to strike the section adding the SAVE America Act to the NDAA during engrossment.
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. I think the SAVE Act is an awful bill. It is not about election security. It is about relitigating Donald Trump's loss in 2020--and he did lose. He lost big. It will make it harder for American citizens to vote if this SAVE Act ever becomes law.
Here is another thing that is clear to everyone, or should be. This little maneuver by the Speaker is a nothing burger. It is a shell game. It is the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain pretending to do magic. Here is the truth: The SAVE Act will not become law. Even if this rule manages to pass, the Senate will not pass an NDAA with the SAVE Act included. They have already said that, and Leader Thune, 5 days ago, already filed cloture on the Senate's own version of the NDAA without the SAVE Act.
At the end of the day, it is very simple. Republicans are using procedural tricks to try to make it harder for people to vote because they can't win elections the old-fashioned way. They can't win them fair and square. It is offensive. In the case of this MIRV scheme, it is downright stupid.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment into the Record, along with any extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Meuser)12:40 p.m.
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, to discuss our proposal, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), the sponsor of this amendment.
Terri A. Sewell (D-AL)12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for allowing me to speak.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to attaching the SAVE America Act to the NDAA.
This week, Mr. Speaker, marks the 250th anniversary of our Nation's independence. Yet, instead of working to strengthen our democracy, Trump and Republicans are hell-bent on undermining it.
While we should be celebrating how far we have come since the days of Jim Crow voter suppression, Republicans are working to drag us back. Old battles have indeed become new again.
Mr. Speaker, the so-called SAVE America Act is nothing more than a scheme devised by my colleagues across the aisle to save themselves from accountability at the ballot box. It is a voter suppression bill designed to block millions of eligible voters from casting their ballots.
Let me be perfectly clear. We all agree that it is important for citizens to verify who they are during the voting process, but this bill is not about voter ID.
It is so extreme that even a valid driver's license would not be enough to register to vote.
This bill is about one thing and one thing only: making it harder for Americans to vote and easier for Republicans to win.
Here are the facts: Rampant voter fraud is a myth. It does not exist. It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections. In fact, under current law, noncitizens would face up to 5 years--5 years in prison for attempting to vote in Federal elections, and they would even risk being deported.
That is why the fact of the matter is that noncitizens voting is roughly 0.0001 percent according to the Brennan Center.
This legislation is an egregious attempt to solve a problem that is not based in reality. The solution to this nonexistent problem is not to prevent eligible voters from voting and accessing the ballot box.
Mr. Speaker, roughly half of all Americans do not have a valid passport. In my home State of Alabama, that number is even higher. More than 72 percent of Alabamians do not have a passport. To get one, most Americans would have to pay an application fee of $130.
Mr. Speaker, this is nothing more than a modern-day poll tax.
There are also 69 million women who have changed their last names after getting married. Those women would not be able to vote using their birth certificate.
Under this voter suppression bill, up to 21 million eligible Americans would be blocked from exercising their right to vote.
The SAVE Act also requires States to purge their voter rolls on a consistent basis without requiring commonsense measures, like requiring officials to notify voters before removing them from the voter roll. That means that eligible voters would risk learning that they had been removed from the polls on election day.
Mr. Speaker, keeping voter rolls accurate is important, but it must be done by using quality data and best practices to ensure that citizens are not inadvertently removed from the voter roll.
In my home State of Alabama, an effort was made to remove noncitizens from the voter rolls using data from the State's department of labor. The data was highly incorrect, and what we found is that 93.8 percent of the voters removed were U.S. citizens--U.S. citizens being removed because my State thought that they were using something accurate in removing voters from the voter roll.
Let me say that again: 93.8 percent of the voters removed were U.S. citizens.
Mr. Speaker, this is very personal to me. I am a proud daughter of Selma, Alabama, and the Representative of Alabama's voting rights and civil rights district. It was in my hometown 61 years ago where hundreds of foot soldiers like John Lewis shed blood on a bridge for the equal right of all Americans to vote. They marched. They bled. They prayed, and some even died for the right to vote. The so-called SAVE Act makes a mockery of their legacy.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we in Congress should be working to make voting more accessible, not less. Our democracy functions best when every citizen is given an opportunity to participate in our elections.
I urge all my colleagues to vote "no" on the previous question, "no" on the rule, and to oppose any efforts by President Trump and Republicans to suppress the voting rights of Americans.
Austin Scott (R-GA)12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, one of the key provisions of this rule is the National Defense Authorization Act. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation that has passed every year for the last several decades and passed out of committee with a strong bipartisan vote.
I encourage the American citizens to understand this with regard to our national security and our national defense and how important this piece of legislation is. Up until 2022, in order to launch a satellite, the United States was buying rockets from Russia.
Mr. Speaker, 2022 is the last time we purchased rockets from Russia to launch satellites, and 2024 is the last time we actually used a Russian rocket to launch a satellite.
We have to invest in our defense industrial base so that we are not dependent on the enemies of the United States of America to provide for the security of the American citizens. The National Defense Authorization Act, in a very bipartisan manner, does exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, this rule needs to pass. We need to ensure that we are not dependent on our adversaries for our national security, and I reserve the balance of my time.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I remind the gentleman and others that we already spend more than six of our nearest competitors in terms of military spending combined. We are talking about $1.5 trillion--trillion with a t--going to the defense budget this year.
I have to tell you that I really think we ought to have a debate in this Congress about the definition of national security, and I think it ought to include things like healthcare. My Republican friends cut $1 trillion from healthcare. People are losing their healthcare left and right, but if you don't have healthcare, you don't feel very secure.
The definition of national security also ought to include the quality of education we provide our young people.
It ought to include things like ending hunger in this country. We are the richest country in the history of the world, and we have 48 million Americans who don't know where their next meal is going to come from.
It ought to include housing and whether people can afford housing. We have an affordability crisis right now that we tried to address in a bipartisan way, but Donald Trump had a meltdown.
It ought to include supporting our veterans and cleaning up our environment.
It ought to include things like investing in our workforce.
All of those things are sources of our national strength that are getting shortchanged here, so forgive us if we are not getting excited about this massive increase in military spending at a time when the average American is getting screwed.
Enough. Enough.
When you go back to your districts and you talk to people in coffee shops, they are not worried about whether we are spending $900 billion or $1.5 trillion on our military spending, most of which goes to defense contractors. What they are worried about is whether they can afford their groceries, whether they can afford their rent, and whether they can afford the gas for their car.
Those are things that are real. Whether they can send their kids to college, all of those things matter.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner).
Seth Magaziner (D-RI)12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, 8 million Americans have lost their health insurance over the last year. Again, 8 million Americans lost their health insurance.
Millions more have seen their health insurance premiums go up by hundreds and thousands of dollars. Hospitals and community health centers have shut down all across the country. Why? It is because our Republican colleagues passed the big, ugly bill last year that cut funding from healthcare in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.
That is not all. They also cut money from SNAP.
Mr. Speaker, 1 million children--children--lost their SNAP benefits over the last year. Children are going hungry. People who are sick and hurt are not able to go to the doctor because they can't afford it anymore.
I see our Republican colleagues. They don't understand why their bill isn't more popular. They don't understand why the American people aren't grateful to them for cutting their healthcare and cutting their food aid in order to pay for tax cuts for rich people who don't need it.
They tried changing the name of their bill. They don't call it the big, beautiful bill anymore. They said that maybe if they change the name, then people will like the fact that they can't afford to go to the doctor anymore because of our tax cuts for the rich.
Well, that didn't work, so now they are proposing to use floor time this week to vote on a resolution congratulating themselves for passing this monstrous bill that has cut healthcare and cut food aid for the American people in order to pay for tax cuts for people who don't need it.
Don't worry. The bill did more than that, by the way. One thing that it did fund is more ICE agents invading American cities, such as Minneapolis and Chicago, and killing American citizens in broad daylight.
They wonder why the American people aren't grateful for that. Well, maybe a resolution congratulating ourselves for doing this will do the trick.
Why aren't the American people grateful for the fact that whatever small tax relief was included for the middle class is outweighed dramatically by the increased costs from the tariffs, the war, and health insurance premiums skyrocketing?
Mr. Speaker, how about this: How about we, as a Congress, instead of using this floor time on meaningless resolutions, actually do the work of the American people? How about we fund healthcare? How about we fund food aid? How about we fund education instead of yet more tax cuts for Elon Musk and the billionaires partying at Mar-a-Lago while working people suffer?
Austin Scott (R-GA)1:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
A couple of things, Mr. Speaker: One is that Federal tax revenues are actually up this fiscal year over last fiscal year, and that is because the economy is doing pretty good under President Donald Trump. Again, tax revenues are up 5 percent over the last year.
I want to mention one other thing. People under the age of 18 were exempt from the changes we made in the SNAP benefits. Under 18, they were exempt. Yet, they still stand up and say we kicked children off of SNAP. Read the law. If you are under 18, you are exempt from the changes we made.
I will speak, Mr. Speaker, about one thing that is in this piece of legislation, in this rule, that is wrong that I have tried to correct for many years. If we get the chance to vote on it, I hope we will get it corrected.
I will tell you, several years ago, I went to Bethesda, and a young man I represented had stepped on a pressure plate and lost both legs in Afghanistan. I stayed in touch with the young man. A couple of years later, I was taking him hunting. I remember exactly where I was on 475 in central Georgia. He told me: I work at O'Reilly Auto Parts, but I have to be careful--at the time, it was $1,100 a month--to make sure that I don't make more than $1,100 a month or my family loses the Social Security benefits.
We talked a little while about this. I told him: When I get back to DC, I am going to meet with the lawyers because that just doesn't sound right.
When I came to D.C., I scheduled a meeting with the attorneys up here who deal with Social Security. I met with them, and I had the discussion with them. They told me that that is actually the law, that that is correct.
Here we have this young man who is combat wounded, totally and permanently disabled, who wants to go back to work. I am a firm believer that the number one thing we can do for our veterans, especially when it comes to veteran suicide and their mental health, is to get them back to work as soon as possible.
So, I wrote a piece of legislation that has had multiple cosponsors from both parties, from all spectrums of the political divide, conservative, liberal, Democrat, Republican, moderate. We haven't been able to get it through because of some of the budget rules that plague this place on good ideas.
Now, we have H.R. 8884. If it is passed, I am confident that the concept of the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act will be put in place as a pilot project. What it would allow people to do is, for people who are combat wounded, totally and permanently disabled, it will allow them to go back to work and keep their Social Security benefits.
It shouldn't take as long as it has taken to do this and to get this passed. If this rule passes, I am confident that H.R. 8884 will pass. If we can get it through the Senate--and that is a big "if" with getting anything through the Senate--then, hopefully, our combat-wounded, totally and permanently disabled veterans can go back to work and not be afraid of going back to work because they would lose their Social Security benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)1:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I have to admit I was taken a little bit aback by the gentleman's statement earlier when he said the economy is doing "pretty good." I think those are his exact words.
I am kind of stunned by that because inflation is up. The price of groceries is up. The price of gas is up. The price of housing is up. The price of everything is up. People, by every poll that has been conducted, whether it is on the left, on the right, or in the center, say the same thing: People are not satisfied with this economy. They do not think it is pretty good, no matter what their party affiliation is. They do not think it is good.
Now, maybe if you are Republican in the House of Representatives and you hang around with the Mar-a-Lago class, maybe they think it is pretty good. I mean, Elon Musk is now the first trillionaire. I guess he thinks it is pretty good.
If you are the average worker, whether it is in Massachusetts or Georgia or California or South Dakota, you don't share that view because it isn't. Things are actually pretty bad. Things are pretty bad.
The gentleman said that poor kids are not losing their SNAP benefits. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record an article titled: "Over 700,000 Poor Kids Across 12 States Have Lost Food Aid Under Trump-GOP Budget Law."
The SPEAKER pro tempore1:00 p.m.
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection. Over 700,000 Poor Kids Across 12 States Have Lost Food Aid Under Trump-GOP Budget Law
Text printed in the Record (3,360 characters)
(By: Jake Johnson)
A new analysis warns that large-scale loss of food assistance is "jeopardizing the short- and long-term health, education, and economic benefits of nutrition programs for our children and society."
The budget package that US President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans rammed through last summer has already spurred large-scale loss of nutrition assistance among low-income children, with an analysis released Wednesday estimating that more than 700,000 kids across a dozen states have lost federal food aid since the GOP law took effect.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a liberal think tank, found that the "sharp participation declines" among children likely stem from provisions of the Republican law that--for the first time in the program's history--shift large Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit costs onto states. The law also expands punitive SNAP work requirements.
The new analysis notes that children account for "nearly half of the 1.6-million-person decline" in SNAP enrollment since last July among people of all ages in the 12 states with data available.
"The new law's cost shift has led states to take steps that are making it harder for eligible people to receive SNAP, including families with children," CBPP explained. "Losing SNAP also makes it harder for low-income children to qualify for other food assistance, such as WIC and free school meals--jeopardizing the short- and long-term health, education, and economic benefits of nutrition programs for our children and society."
Republican lawmakers repeatedly denied that their legislation would strip food aid from needy children, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) saying the package was laser-focused on "fraud, waste, and abuse."
"We are not cutting SNAP," Johnson falsely claimed in May 2025, just over a month before Trump signed the Republican legislation into law. The package will cut $186 billion from SNAP over the next decade and strip food aid from millions of low-income people, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst at CBPP, emphasized that the SNAP cuts triggered by the Republican law have not "fully taken effect," meaning recent benefit losses among families across the country are just the start unless Congress moves quickly to avert disaster.
"Congess must act before even more eligible low-income families--including families with children--lose the food assistance they need to afford groceries, starting by delaying this SNAP cost shift for all states," Bergh wrote on social media.
The Trump-GOP cuts to SNAP, combined with rising grocery costs stemming in large part from the president's tariffs and war of choice against Iran, have resulted in surging food bank demand across the country.
"We've been going to food banks every week," a single mom in Arizona whose SNAP benefits were recently cut off told NBC News. "We're eating less, we're eating more frozen stuff."
Far from reversing course on their assault on federal nutrition assistance, Republicans and the Trump administration are doubling down, pursuing massive cuts to fruit and vegetable benefits for low-income mothers. CBPP has projected that roughly 5.4 million people would lose fruit and vegetable aid if Republicans' newly proposed cuts become law.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)1:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this article appeared in May 2026. That number is now estimated not at 700,000 but at 800,000 in this country.
Think about it. The economy is doing pretty good, and in this country that we live in right now, the United States of America, we have close to 50 million Americans who don't know where their next meal is going to come from, who are hungry. I don't think they think the economy is pretty good. In fact, the majority of these people are working families. They are working harder than ever, but because everything is going up, they can't afford groceries.
Go to any grocery store in this country, and you will see people actually putting groceries back on the shelves because their paychecks don't stretch as far as they used to because prices are going up.
By the way, it is not just the big, ugly bill. It is the President's stupid tariff policy, which is raising prices all across this country, and the war in Iran that--I don't even know if he knows what the hell he is doing. It just goes on and on and on. Again, we are spending countless dollars on this war, again, which is resulting in energy prices going through the roof.
No, people do not think the economy is pretty good. They do not. I suspect that that is what is behind this effort by Republicans to try to rig the midterm elections, because they know that the American people are not happy with where things are.
It is not just Democrats, not just independents, but a whole bunch of Republicans. A whole bunch of Republicans are also dissatisfied.
I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to go to coffee shops, to go to diners, to go to grocery stores, and to go to VFW halls in their districts and listen to what people are saying. They are not happy. They are very concerned about the state of the economy. They are not confident that things are going to get better.
They do not think that the person running this country right now has any clue about what the reality is for working families. He lives in a different sphere altogether. He is worried about reflecting pools, building monuments in his honor, and redoing the East Wing that he said would cost nothing but is going to cost us billions when it is all said and done--cost the taxpayers billions. That is what he is consumed about.
They want a Congress and a government that cares about them.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Austin Scott (R-GA)1:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore1:00 p.m.
The gentleman from Georgia has 14\3/4\ minutes remaining. The gentleman from Massachusetts has 8 minutes remaining.
Austin Scott (R-GA)1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I don't have any additional speakers, am prepared to close.
I have listened a lot today, and I want to get back to the heart of this matter, which is the National Defense Authorization Act. That is what this rule is about. It is about H.R. 8884 and allowing--in the case of the legislation that I had--Purple Heart recipients, people who are wounded in combat totally and permanently having the ability to go back to work and not worrying about losing their Social Security benefits, at least for a period of time. It is about the appropriations act for our State Department and things that we do around the world.
There is a lot in this rule, Mr. Speaker, and this rule needs to pass. Yes, the SAVE America Act will be attached to the legislation when it goes across because, yes, we do think you all are letting noncitizens vote in elections. We know you are doing it at the local level, and we think that places like California ought to get their ballots counted before the end of the night, not before the end of the week.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time until the gentleman is prepared to close.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am not yet prepared to close, but I do want to remind the gentleman that it was the Republicans that put into this rule a bill to congratulate yourselves on the big, ugly bill, and it was the gentleman who said that people think this economy is doing pretty good, and I take issue with that.
There are people who are losing their healthcare. Republicans like to pretend that their big, ugly bill, which cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1 trillion, didn't actually hurt anyone. I mean, there are lots of real stories of people being hurt.
Kathy and Jeffrey Many, who live in Brandon, Vermont, are owners of a garage door installation repair business. They said that their premium was jumping up from $625 a month to nearly $2,670 per month, and the cheapest alternative they could find was still nearly $2,000. Kathy and Jeffrey ended up dropping their coverage. The economy is not working good for them.
Eric and Lisa Frankenfeld, a chiropractor and his wife, who live in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, said their premium was set to skyrocket to $1,928 per month, up from $340 per month, so they decided to go without coverage this year. Lisa said: We are healthcare providers who cannot afford benefits. Oh, the irony.
Katelin Provost, a 37-year-old single mom and social worker from Henderson, Nevada, saw her premium jump from $85 to $750 a month. She said she would likely drop her own coverage in order to keep insurance for her 4-year-old daughter.
I mean, these are real-life stories. I can go on and on and on and read them here. The economy is not pretty good for them. The economy is lousy for them, and there is nothing that is in this rule that we will consider that will help any of them.
In fact, there is nothing that this Republican Congress has done to help any of them. Instead, you have made their lives worse. The economy is not doing pretty good. The idea that you are going to congratulate yourselves on the passage of the big, ugly bill, well, I just have a difference of opinion.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Austin Scott (R-GA)1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to address a couple of issues. One is he said healthcare providers can't afford their benefits. Well, that is because you turned the whole system over to a select few extremely large health insurance companies that are accountable to nobody, and they are not paying their claims. They are not.
My father was a surgeon. A lot of my friends are in the healthcare business. Let me tell you something: When you gave UnitedHealthcare and the other multibillion dollar corporations control over all aspects of our lives, you did a lot of damage, and you did that in your so-called Affordable Care Act.
If the Affordable Care Act had worked, we wouldn't be having this discussion. You want to talk about the problems in the healthcare system, you need to look in the mirror because you all wrote the bill, and now those big insurance companies aren't accountable to anybody. They own the PBMs. They own the pharmacies. They own the doctors' offices. They own the hospitals. They are huge, huge oligopolies that cater to nobody other than their shareholders.
Look at the share price of the large health insurance companies. Look who you made rich with the Affordable Care Act. It was the shareholders and the executives of all of those major health insurance companies.
When I talk about the economy, yes, I realize that the American citizens are paying more. Inflation, which started because of the so-called American Rescue Plan--I think that is what you all called it--and your so-called Inflation Reduction Act--why did you name a bill the Inflation Reduction Act? It was because you started the inflation with the American Rescue Plan, and then you turned around and passed the so-called Inflation Reduction Act that just exponentially escalated the amount of inflation that the American citizens were having to deal with on a regular basis.
My point with the economy is this: Real GDP grew. Real GDP grew at a 2.2 percent annual rate for the full year of 2025. That beat the baseline expectations.
Yes, American citizens are having challenges. One of the reasons they are having challenges is the cost of energy.
Do you know what? I will admit, after Donald Trump tried to end the Iranian jihadist control over what was happening around the world--and he has done a pretty good job with it--and let me tell you this: Donald Trump, the President of the United States, knows exactly what he is doing with Iran. He knows exactly what he is doing with Iran, and if you would get the briefings, you would understand why.
In fact, I would point out that a U.S. Senator who doesn't like the President had a few things to say, and as soon as he went and got the briefing, he turned around and reversed his position. Instead of blaming everything on Donald Trump, you should get the facts.
However, the cost of energy is embedded in every single thing that we do and that we buy. When the Democratic Party does things like canceling the Keystone pipeline, like stopping the development of nuclear power plants, like stopping oil and gas developments inside the United States of America, it hurts the American citizens. It hurts the American citizens, and it leads to inflation.
I am sorry that we are having to deal with the inflation that the Democrats started with the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act and the pain that has come from that, and I am sorry the American citizens are dealing with the pain of the Affordable Care Act. I wish we could repeal that horrible bill, but we didn't get it done. We didn't get it done.
Healthcare providers who can't afford their benefits, they can't afford their benefits because the insurance companies that you turned the system over to aren't paying the claims.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is rich to be lectured about healthcare from my Republican friends. Let me tell you what Democrats did with the Affordable Care Act. By passing it, it stopped health insurance companies from charging sick people more premiums than healthy people. It kept health insurance companies from denying coverage to pregnant women and people with preexisting conditions. It demanded insurance companies cover more preventive services. It allows young adults to stay on their parents' insurance until they are age 26. I could go on and on and on.
What did my Republican friends do? They cut $1 trillion from healthcare. By the way, I should remind the gentleman that Republicans control the House, Republicans control the Senate, Republicans control the White House, and healthcare prices are going through the roof under your watch.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Austin Scott (R-GA)1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act created a system where the major insurance carriers are not answerable to anybody. You did this to the American citizens. It is your responsibility. I reserve the balance of my time.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore1:10 p.m.
The gentleman from Massachusetts has 5\1/4\ minutes remaining.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on about healthcare all day. I just urge those who are in the gallery and those who are watching, I mean, look at your own healthcare bills, look at your own healthcare coverage now after nearly 2 years of Republican control of the government. The bottom line is: People are losing their healthcare benefits. In this country, that is unconscionable.
Mr. Speaker, I have served here a long time, and I have seen majorities struggle before. I have seen close votes. I have seen disagreements. This is something else entirely. This is a majority that cannot function unless Donald Trump is lucid and in a good mood, and even then it is a coin flip.
I mean, Americans need cheaper housing. They need a raise. They need healthcare that doesn't break the bank. They need a government that lowers prices and brings down inflation and protects them. Instead, what they are getting is a Republican administration that raises prices, increases inflation, and protects the Epstein pedophiles.
Republicans promised they would lower prices on day one. It is now year two. They have been in complete and total control for almost 18 months. They run Washington.
If you go home and ask people in small towns, in big cities, in suburbs, in rural communities, and in States across this country how things are going with Trump and Republicans in charge, they will tell you the truth, which is that things are getting worse because Trump's economy sucks.
He swore he would end inflation--end it. Those are his words, not mine. He said he would end wars. He is starting them. He promised gas would be cheap. The national average is nearly $4 a gallon.
The only people who are doing great right now are the billionaires, and now a trillionaire, and the greedy corporations that helped Republicans get elected because that is whom they work for.
I think people are sick and tired of it. They are sick of watching Congress lurch from crisis to crisis. They are sick of Republicans spending more time managing their own egos than lowering anybody's bills.
Let me just end with this. As we celebrate our country's 250th birthday this weekend, we have so, so much to be proud of as Americans. We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for. Each new generation that has fought to expand the circle of our democracy and make real the promise of our founding has brought us closer to the dream of a more perfect Union. That is what makes America great.
I am looking forward to spending this Fourth of July with families and friends back up in Massachusetts, the birthplace of America, where our citizens came together to overthrow the most powerful army in the world and establish a government of, by, and for the people.
However, the truth is that right now too many people feel as if this country is run by, of, and for the powerful, the wealthy, and the well-connected.
Do you know what, Mr. Speaker?
They are right. People see the corruption, the greed, the self-dealing, and the self-enrichment of this President's family and his crooked administration, and they are fed up with it. I believe that patriotism means calling your country to a higher standard. Patriotism means telling the truth, Mr. Speaker, and the truth is that Americans are hurting, costs are too high, and our democracy and freedoms are under assault by an out-of-control, lawless administration run by a President who thinks he is a king.
Republicans are either too busy pledging allegiance to Trump to notice or too distracted fighting with each other to care.
We can do better than this, we should do better than this, and we must do better than this. Reject this rule. Stop acting like a cult. Let's bring back bills that actually help people, and, for God's sake, let's start acting like America.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge a "no" vote on this rule, a "no" vote on the underlying bills, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore1:20 p.m.
Members are reminded, they already know it, but they are reminded, again, to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.
As well, Members are reminded not to reference guests in the gallery and are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair, not to each other in the second person.
There is decorum here as well.
Austin Scott (R-GA)1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I know that you were talking about the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, who has done something that will probably never be done again in the history of the country.
He has been elected in 2016 and 2024.
I want to say this as we talk about healthcare and health insurance and the other things.
This side of the aisle recognizes there are problems, and this side of the aisle recognizes that the only way to fix those problems is to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Now, the other side of the aisle thinks that they did a perfect job.
Now, let me tell you something, Mr. Speaker. Before the Affordable Care Act went into place, UnitedHealth Group was trending at $28 a share. Today it is $415 a share, and that is after about a $140-a-share drop.
The only thing the Affordable Care Act did was make a bunch of health insurance executives rich. They are not paying their claims today.
One thing we could do, and I wish we would do, is to give the State insurance commissioners the authority to step in and make them pay their claims.
I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, my local hospital has about $15 million outstanding with the UnitedHealth Group. It is a small hospital, $15 million; a big company, a small hospital. I don't know if my hospital will ever get paid.
That is not what this one is about, Mr. Speaker. This week the House can advance four pieces of legislation under this rule. It is about H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027. It authorizes a historic $1.15 trillion to rebuild the American defense industrial base and arsenal.
This act implements the Peace Through Strength agenda and restores lethality to our armed forces by investing in modernization and multiyear procurement for weapons systems production to deter our adversaries.
It also makes a significant investment in the quality of life of our servicemembers and retention opportunities.
The fiscal year 2027 NDAA reforms key programs and saves taxpayer dollars resulting in a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force.
This legislation will deter China and counter Russia, North Korea, Iran, and foreign terrorist organizations while leveraging our alliances across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Finally, this act strengthens our nuclear deterrence, prioritizes the Golden Dome, and grows our Nation's strategic space capabilities.
This is bipartisan, must-pass legislation that every one of my colleagues should support.
Additionally, H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 delivers on an America First foreign policy agenda.
This protects our allies, confronts our adversaries, cuts waste, and puts American national interests first. It strengthens embassy security, fights fentanyl, defunds radical programs, and ensures every dollar advances American security and prosperity.
Further, H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled American Act, allows the Social Security Administration to test new approaches on a voluntary basis and without impacting the participants' overall income to ensure Americans with disabilities are not punished for returning to the workforce.
Finally, H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts, highlights the largest tax reform passed by Congress in decades, making permanent the tax cuts passed under the first Trump administration, and ensuring a tax cut for over 140 million Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting "yes" on the previous question and "yes" on the rule.
The material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows:
An Amendment To H. Res. 1398 Offered By Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts
Text printed in the Record (4,454 characters)
Strike section 14.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous question.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-minute vote on ordering the previous question will be followed by 5-minute votes on adoption of the resolution, if ordered; and adoption of H. Con. Res. 108.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 215, nays 210, not voting 6, as follows:
Aderholt Alford Allen Amodei (NV) Arrington Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Barr Barrett Baumgartner Bean (FL) Begich Bentz Bergman Bice Biggs (AZ) Biggs (SC) Bilirakis Boebert Bost Brecheen Bresnahan Buchanan Burchett Burlison Calvert Cammack Carey Carter (GA) Carter (TX) Ciscomani Cline Cloud Clyde Cole Collins Comer Crane Crank Crawford Crenshaw Davidson De La Cruz DesJarlais Diaz-Balart Donalds Downing Edwards Ellzey Estes Evans (CO) Ezell Fallon Fedorchak Feenstra Fine Finstad Fischbach Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Flood Fong Foxx Franklin, Scott Fry Fulcher Fuller Gallagher Garbarino Gill (TX) Gimenez Goldman (TX) Gooden Gosar Graves Griffith Grothman Guest Guthrie Hageman Hamadeh (AZ) Haridopolos Harrigan Harris (MD) Harris (NC) Harshbarger Hern (OK) Higgins (LA) Hill (AR) Hinson Houchin Hudson Huizenga Hunt Hurd (CO) Issa Jack Jackson (TX) James Johnson (LA) Johnson (SD) Jordan Joyce (OH) Joyce (PA) Kean Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (UT) Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Knott Kustoff LaHood LaLota Langworthy Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Letlow Loudermilk Luna Luttrell Mace Mackenzie Malliotakis Maloy Mann Massie Mast McCaul McClain McClintock McCormick McDowell McGuire Messmer Meuser Miller (IL) Miller (OH) Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Mills Moolenaar Moore (AL) Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moore (WV) Moran Murphy Nehls Newhouse Norman Nunn (IA) Obernolte Ogles Onder Owens Palmer Patronis Perry Pfluger Reschenthaler Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rouzer Roy Rulli Rutherford Salazar Scalise Schmidt Schweikert Scott, Austin Self Sessions Shreve Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Spartz Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Strong Stutzman Taylor Tenney Thompson (PA) Tiffany Timmons Turner (OH) Valadao Van Drew Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Wagner Walberg Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Westerman Wied Williams (TX) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
Adams Aguilar Amo Ansari Auchincloss Balint Barragan Beatty Bell Bera Beyer Bishop Bonamici Boyle (PA) Brown Brownley Budzinski Bynum Carbajal Carson Carter (LA) Casar Case Casten Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Conaway Correa Costa Courtney Craig Crockett Crow Cuellar Davids (KS) Davis (IL) Davis (NC) Dean (PA) DeLauro DelBene Deluzio DeSaulnier Dexter Dingell Doggett Elfreth Escobar Espaillat Evans (PA) Fields Figures Fletcher Foster Foushee Frankel, Lois Friedman Frost Garamendi Garcia (CA) Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Gillen Golden (ME) Goldman (NY) Gomez Gonzalez, V. Goodlander Gottheimer Gray Green, Al (TX) Grijalva Harder (CA) Himes Horsford Houlahan Hoyer Hoyle (OR) Huffman Ivey Jackson (IL) Jacobs Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (TX) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Keating Kelly (IL) Kennedy (NY) Khanna Krishnamoorthi Landsman Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Latimer Lee (NV) Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Lynch Magaziner Mannion Matsui McBath McBride McClain Delaney McClellan McCollum McDonald Rivet McGarvey McGovern McIver Meeks Mejia Menefee Menendez Meng Mfume Min Moore (WI) Morelle Morrison Moskowitz Moulton Mrvan Mullin Nadler Neal Neguse Norcross
Ocasio-Cortez Olszewski Omar Pallone Panetta Pappas Pelosi Perez Peters Pettersen Pingree Pocan Pou Pressley Quigley Ramirez Randall Raskin Riley (NY) Rivas Ross Ruiz Ryan Salinas Sanchez Scanlon Schakowsky Schneider Scholten Schrier Scott (VA) Sewell Sherman Simon Smith (WA) Sorensen Soto Stansbury Stanton Stevens Strickland Subramanyam Suozzi Sykes Takano Thanedar Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Titus Tlaib Tokuda Tonko Torres (CA) Torres (NY) Trahan Tran Underwood Vargas Vasquez Veasey Velazquez Vindman Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Whitesides Williams (GA) Wilson (FL)
DeGette Dunn (FL) Emmer Hayes Lucas Rose
Austin Scott (R-GA)2:04 p.m.
Ms. MEJIA, Messrs. COHEN, SCHNEIDER, and Ms. SCHOLTEN changed their vote from "yea" to "nay."
Mrs. LUNA changed her vote from "nay" to "yea."
So the previous question was ordered. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Knott)2:04 p.m.
The question is on the resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)2:04 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore2:04 p.m.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 198, noes 224, not voting 9, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,733 characters)
Aderholt Alford Allen Amodei (NV) Arrington Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Barr Barrett Baumgartner Bean (FL) Begich Bentz Bergman Bice Biggs (AZ) Biggs (SC) Bilirakis Bost Brecheen Bresnahan Buchanan Calvert Cammack Carey Carter (GA) Carter (TX) Ciscomani Cline Cloud Clyde Cole Collins Comer Crank Crawford Crenshaw Davidson De La Cruz DesJarlais Diaz-Balart Donalds Downing Edwards Ellzey Estes Evans (CO) Ezell Fallon Fedorchak Feenstra Finstad Fischbach Fitzgerald Fleischmann Flood Fong Foxx Franklin, Scott Fry Fulcher Fuller Gallagher Garbarino Gill (TX) Gimenez Goldman (TX) Gooden Gosar Graves Griffith Grothman Guest Guthrie Hageman Hamadeh (AZ) Haridopolos Harrigan Harris (NC) Harshbarger Hern (OK) Higgins (LA) Hill (AR) Hinson Houchin Hudson Huizenga Hunt Hurd (CO) Issa Jack Jackson (TX) James Johnson (LA) Johnson (SD) Jordan Joyce (OH) Joyce (PA) Kean Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (UT) Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Knott Kustoff LaHood LaLota Langworthy Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Letlow Loudermilk Luttrell Mace Mackenzie Malliotakis Maloy Mann Mast McCaul McClain McClintock McCormick McDowell McGuire Messmer Meuser Miller (IL) Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Moolenaar Moore (AL) Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moore (WV) Moran Murphy Nehls Newhouse Norman Nunn (IA) Obernolte Ogles Onder Owens Palmer Patronis Perry Pfluger Reschenthaler Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rouzer Rulli Rutherford Salazar Schmidt Schweikert Scott, Austin Sessions Shreve Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Strong Stutzman Taylor Thompson (PA) Tiffany Timmons Valadao Van Drew Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Wagner Walberg Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Westerman Wied Williams (TX) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
Adams Aguilar Amo Ansari Auchincloss Balint Barragan Beatty Bell Bera Beyer Bishop Boebert Bonamici Boyle (PA) Brown Brownley Budzinski Burchett Burlison Bynum Carbajal Carson Carter (LA) Casar Case Casten Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Conaway Correa Costa Courtney Craig Crane Crockett Crow Cuellar Davids (KS) Davis (IL) Davis (NC) Dean (PA) DeLauro DelBene Deluzio DeSaulnier Dexter Dingell Doggett Elfreth Escobar Espaillat Evans (PA) Fields Figures Fine Fletcher Foster Foushee Frankel, Lois Friedman Frost Garamendi Garcia (CA) Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Gillen Golden (ME) Goldman (NY) Gomez Gonzalez, V. Goodlander Gottheimer Gray Green, Al (TX) Grijalva Harder (CA) Harris (MD) Himes Horsford Houlahan Hoyer Hoyle (OR) Huffman Ivey Jackson (IL) Jacobs Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (TX) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Keating Kelly (IL) Kennedy (NY) Khanna Krishnamoorthi Landsman Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Latimer Lee (NV) Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Luna Lynch Magaziner Mannion Massie Matsui McBath McBride McClain Delaney McClellan McCollum McDonald Rivet McGarvey McGovern McIver Meeks Mejia Menefee Menendez Meng Mfume Miller (OH) Min Moore (WI) Morelle Morrison Moskowitz Moulton Mrvan Mullin Nadler Neal Neguse Norcross Ocasio-Cortez Olszewski Omar Pallone Panetta Pappas Pelosi Perez Peters Pettersen Pingree Pocan Pou Pressley Quigley Ramirez Randall Raskin Riley (NY) Rivas Ross Roy Ruiz Ryan Salinas Sanchez Scalise Scanlon Schakowsky Schneider Scholten Schrier Scott (VA) Self Sewell Sherman Simon Smith (WA) Sorensen Soto Spartz Stansbury Stanton Stevens Strickland Subramanyam Suozzi Sykes Takano Thanedar Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Titus Tlaib Tokuda Tonko Torres (CA) Torres (NY) Trahan Tran Turner (OH) Underwood Vargas Vasquez Veasey Velazquez Vindman Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Whitesides Williams (GA) Wilson (FL)
DeGette Dunn (FL) Emmer Fitzpatrick Hayes Lucas Mills Rose Tenney
So the resolution was not agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. Stated for:
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA)2:14 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 231.
Steve Scalise (R-LA)2:14 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore2:14 p.m.
The Clerk will report the motion to reconsider.
The Clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (252 characters)
Mr. Scalise of Louisiana moves to reconsider the vote on
adoption of H. Res. 1398.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to reconsider.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
James P. McGovern (D-MA)2:14 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore2:14 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
Directing the President Pursuant to Section 5(C) of the War Powers Resolution to Remove United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in Lebanon
Pages H4344–H4345 · Official textDIRECTING THE PRESIDENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(C) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on adoption of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 108) directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Lebanon, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the adoption of the concurrent resolution.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 189, nays 235, not voting 7, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,734 characters)
Adams Aguilar Amo Ansari Auchincloss Balint
Barragan Beatty Bell Bera Beyer Bishop Boebert Bonamici Boyle (PA) Brown Brownley Budzinski Bynum Carbajal Carson Carter (LA) Casar Case Casten Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Conaway Correa Costa Courtney Craig Crockett Crow Davids (KS) Davis (IL) Dean (PA) DeLauro DelBene Deluzio DeSaulnier Dexter Dingell Doggett Elfreth Escobar Espaillat Evans (PA) Fields Figures Fletcher Foster Foushee Frankel, Lois Friedman Frost Garamendi Garcia (CA) Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Goldman (NY) Gomez Goodlander Green, Al (TX) Grijalva Harder (CA) Himes Horsford Houlahan Hoyle (OR) Huffman Ivey Jackson (IL) Jacobs Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (TX) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Keating Kelly (IL) Kennedy (NY) Khanna Krishnamoorthi Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Lynch Magaziner Mannion Massie Matsui McBath McBride McClain Delaney McClellan McCollum McDonald Rivet McGarvey McGovern McIver Meeks Mejia Menefee Menendez Meng Mfume Min Moore (WI) Morelle Morrison Moulton Mrvan Mullin Nadler Neal Neguse Ocasio-Cortez Olszewski Omar Pallone Pappas Pelosi Peters Pettersen Pingree Pocan Pou Pressley Quigley Ramirez Randall Raskin Riley (NY) Rivas Ross Ruiz Ryan Salinas Sanchez Scanlon Schakowsky Scholten Schrier Scott (VA) Sewell Simon Smith (WA) Stansbury Stanton Stevens Strickland Subramanyam Sykes Takano Thanedar Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Titus Tlaib Tokuda Tonko Torres (NY) Trahan Tran Underwood Vasquez Velazquez Vindman Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Whitesides Williams (GA) Wilson (FL)
Aderholt Alford Allen Amodei (NV) Arrington Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Barr Barrett Baumgartner Bean (FL) Begich Bentz Bergman Bice Biggs (AZ) Biggs (SC) Bilirakis Bost Brecheen Bresnahan Buchanan Burchett Burlison Calvert Cammack Carey Carter (GA) Carter (TX) Ciscomani Cline Cloud Clyde Cole Collins Comer Crane Crank Crawford Crenshaw Cuellar Davidson Davis (NC) De La Cruz DesJarlais Diaz-Balart Donalds Downing Edwards Ellzey Estes Evans (CO) Ezell Fallon Fedorchak Feenstra Fine Finstad Fischbach Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Flood Fong Foxx Franklin, Scott Fry Fulcher Fuller Gallagher Garbarino Gill (TX) Gillen Gimenez Golden (ME) Goldman (TX) Gonzalez, V. Gooden Gosar Gottheimer Graves Gray Griffith Grothman Guest Guthrie Hageman Hamadeh (AZ) Haridopolos Harrigan Harris (MD) Harris (NC) Harshbarger Hern (OK) Higgins (LA) Hill (AR) Hinson Houchin Hoyer Hudson Huizenga Hunt Hurd (CO) Issa Jack Jackson (TX) James Johnson (LA) Johnson (SD) Jordan Joyce (OH) Joyce (PA) Kean Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (UT) Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Knott Kustoff LaHood LaLota Landsman Langworthy Latimer Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Lee (NV) Letlow Loudermilk Luna Luttrell Mace Mackenzie Malliotakis Maloy Mann Mast McCaul McClain McClintock McCormick McDowell McGuire Messmer Meuser Miller (IL) Miller (OH) Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Mills Moolenaar Moore (AL) Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moore (WV) Moran Moskowitz Murphy Nehls Newhouse Norcross Norman Nunn (IA) Obernolte Ogles Onder Owens Palmer Panetta Patronis Perez Perry Pfluger Reschenthaler Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rouzer Roy Rulli Rutherford Salazar Scalise Schmidt Schneider Schweikert Scott, Austin Self Sessions Sherman Shreve Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Soto Spartz Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Strong Stutzman Suozzi Taylor Tenney Thompson (PA) Tiffany Timmons Torres (CA) Turner (OH) Valadao Van Drew Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Vargas Veasey Wagner Walberg Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Westerman Wied Williams (TX) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
DeGette Dunn (FL) Emmer Hayes Lucas Rose Sorensen
Mr. BILIRAKIS and Ms. STEFANIK changed their vote from "yea" to "nay." Mr. SMITH of Washington changed his vote from "nay" to "yea." So the concurrent resolution was not agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. Stated against:
Lauren Boebert (R-CO)2:26 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 232, I mistakenly voted Yea when I intended to vote Nay.
Jahana Hayes (D-CT)2:26 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was unavailable to vote because of a health emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 230, NO on Roll Call No. 231, and YEA on Roll Call No. 232.
Removal of Name of Member as Cosponsor of H.r. 2555
Page H4345 · Official textMr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 2555.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ezell)
The gentleman's request is granted.
Recess
Page H4345 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the Chair.
Accordingly (at 2 o'clock and 27 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H4345 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Goldman of Texas) at 4 p.m.
Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House
Pages H4345–H4346 · Official textMr. Speaker, I rise to raise a question of the privileges of the House and offer a resolution previously noticed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The Clerk will report the resolution.
The Clerk read as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,030 characters)
Whereas transparency is essential for accountability in government;
Whereas sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual advances by Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners, in violation of clause 9 and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House, affect the safety, dignity, and the integrity of the proceedings of the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, (1) That with respect to reviews, investigations, or matters which the Committee on Ethics or the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights have reviewed, conducted, or facilitated, the Committee on Ethics and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights shall, not later than 60 days after the adoption of this resolution, make publicly available--
(A) a single consolidated list that sets forth separately for each Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner--
(i) the name of each Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who was the subject of any review or investigation involving a violation of clause 9 of Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment, or clause 18 of Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, or any case involving sexual harassment or sexual abuse, if it resulted in a payment of taxpayer funds; and
(ii) adjacent to each such name, the total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such matters;
(B) the aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such reviews, investigations, or matters involving Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners that did not, in any portion of the settlement, involve sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct;
(C) the aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such reviews, investigations, or matters involving, in part or in full, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct by employees of the House of Representatives; and
(D) the aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such reviews, investigations, or matters involving
conduct by employees of the House of Representatives that did not, in any portion of the settlement, involve sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct.
(2) That for purposes of this resolution, any such settlement, payment, reimbursement, award, or other financial consideration shall be treated as involving sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct if sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct was any component of the matter, regardless of whether the matter also involved, was classified as, or was resolved under another claim, violation, or category.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The resolution qualifies.
Pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie) will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie).
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in a representative democracy, as we have here, a Republic, if you will, transparency is essential to the operation of government, particularly transparency in the official behavior of the Members of this body, as well as the officers and employees of this body.
In 1995, due to the Congressional Accountability Act--which, by the way, was a good bill. We always say that Congress should be subject to the same laws as the rest of the country. Well, that is what the 1995 Congressional Accountability Act was about, saying that you can't discriminate or harass your employees just because you are a Member of Congress or an office of the House of Representatives.
In that sense, it was good, but it also set up a fund from which payments could be made to settle claims. Presumably, this is in the best interests of the victims of those claims.
This program went on for many years with a lot of opaqueness, and there wasn't much clarity in terms of what kind of claims were being paid out. Were they being paid out to settle claims against staff? Were they being paid out to settle claims against Members?
Occasionally, there would be reports from the offices that were responsible for administrating the law, but there just wasn't enough information in there. That is part of what my privileged resolution here today is about: getting more transparency into what happened in the first 20 years of this program.
In 2018, Congress sought to revise the transparency of this program and also to impose more accountability. I have a concern that the 2018 bill may not have been carefully drafted and may have left some loopholes that are now open.
Even though we get an annual report now that reports which offices in the House have paid out settlements and whether those settlements impose a requirement on the Member in that office to pay back that taxpayer money, what I have discovered is that there have been no reports that have reported that any Member of Congress has settled a claim against a staffer for which the Member of Congress is responsible for paying back that claim.
When I dig into the results, and also the language of the 2018 amendment to the Congressional Accountability Act, I see that "covered payments" refer to chapter A of title 2, but when you look at the Code: 2 U.S.C. 1415, harassment is qualified to two other sections of code, referring to race, gender, age, and discrimination against veterans, for instance. It is unclear to me if it covers physical or sexual harassment or other forms of sexual misconduct that may be settled through ethics investigations and then through the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.
I believe it is necessary to have this report that my resolution requests. I believe it is important to the House of Representatives to have transparency so that people know there wasn't a mistake in the 2018 law--or maybe there was an intentional omission in the 2018 law where several claims could escape the new requirement in 2018 that Congressmen pay back certain settlements and that these certain settlements be reported.
It shouldn't require a long debate and a lot of explanation for a resolution that is only two pages. I would urge my colleagues to vote for this in the interest of transparency and openness. We need to know what has been going on here in the House of Representatives in order to convince and assure the people that we are conducting the people's business with the utmost integrity and treating the officers and employees of this institution with the respect that they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the resolution.
There was no objection. The question is on adoption of the resolution. The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question are postponed.
Recess
Page H4346 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the Chair.
Accordingly (at 4 o'clock and 9 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H4346 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Bost) at 5 o'clock and 15 minutes p.m.
Directing the Committee on Ethics to Preserve and Publicly Release Records Relating to Monetary Settlements Involving Acts of Sexual Harassment
Pages H4346–H4347 · Official textDIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON ETHICS TO PRESERVE AND PUBLICLY RELEASE RECORDS RELATING TO MONETARY SETTLEMENTS INVOLVING ACTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on adoption of the resolution (H. Res. 1399) directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records relating to monetary settlements involving acts of sexual harassment, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on adoption of the resolution.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 420, nays 0, answered "present" 1, not voting 10, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,734 characters)
Adams Aderholt Aguilar Alford Allen Amo Amodei (NV) Ansari Arrington Auchincloss Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Balint Barr Barragan Barrett Baumgartner Bean (FL) Beatty Begich Bell Bentz Bera Bergman Beyer Bice Biggs (AZ) Biggs (SC) Bilirakis Bishop Boebert Bonamici Bost Boyle (PA) Brecheen Bresnahan Brown Brownley Buchanan Budzinski Bynum Calvert Cammack Carbajal Carey Carson Carter (GA) Carter (LA) Carter (TX) Casar Case Casten Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu Ciscomani Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Cleaver Cline Cloud Clyburn Clyde Cohen Cole Collins Comer Conaway Correa Costa Courtney Craig Crane Crank Crawford Crenshaw Crockett Crow Cuellar Davids (KS) Davidson Davis (IL) Davis (NC) De La Cruz Dean (PA) DeLauro DelBene Deluzio DeSaulnier DesJarlais Dexter Diaz-Balart Dingell Doggett Donalds Downing Edwards Elfreth Ellzey Escobar Espaillat Estes Evans (CO) Evans (PA) Ezell Fallon Fedorchak Feenstra Fields Figures Fine Finstad Fischbach Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Fletcher Flood Fong Foster Foushee Foxx Frankel, Lois Franklin, Scott Friedman Frost Fry Fulcher Fuller Gallagher Garamendi Garbarino Garcia (CA) Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Gill (TX) Gillen Gimenez Golden (ME) Goldman (NY) Goldman (TX) Gomez Gonzalez, V. Gooden Goodlander Gosar Gottheimer Graves Gray Green, Al (TX) Griffith Grijalva Grothman Guest Guthrie Hageman Hamadeh (AZ) Harder (CA) Haridopolos Harrigan Harris (MD) Harris (NC) Harshbarger Hern (OK) Higgins (LA) Hill (AR) Himes Hinson Horsford Houchin Houlahan Hoyer Hoyle (OR) Hudson Huffman Huizenga Hunt
Hurd (CO) Issa Ivey Jack Jackson (IL) Jackson (TX) Jacobs James Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (LA) Johnson (SD) Johnson (TX) Jordan Joyce (PA) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Kean Keating Kelly (IL) Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (NY) Kennedy (UT) Khanna Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Knott Krishnamoorthi Kustoff LaHood LaLota Landsman Langworthy Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Latimer Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Lee (NV) Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Letlow Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Loudermilk Luttrell Lynch Mackenzie Magaziner Malliotakis Maloy Mann Mannion Massie Mast Matsui McBath McBride McCaul McClain McClain Delaney McClellan McClintock McCollum McCormick McDonald Rivet McDowell McGarvey McGovern McGuire McIver Meeks Mejia Menefee Menendez Meng Messmer Meuser Mfume Miller (IL) Miller (OH) Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Mills Min Moolenaar Moore (AL) Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moore (WI) Moore (WV) Moran Morelle Morrison Moskowitz Moulton Mrvan Mullin Murphy Nadler Neal Neguse Nehls Newhouse Norcross Norman Nunn (IA) Obernolte Ocasio-Cortez Ogles Olszewski Omar Onder Owens Pallone Palmer Panetta Pappas Patronis Pelosi Perez Perry Peters Pettersen Pfluger Pingree Pocan Pou Pressley Quigley Ramirez Randall Raskin Reschenthaler Riley (NY) Rivas Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rose Ross Rouzer Roy Ruiz Rulli Rutherford Ryan Salazar Salinas Sanchez Scalise Scanlon Schakowsky Schmidt Schneider Scholten Schrier Schweikert Scott (VA) Scott, Austin Self Sessions Sewell Sherman Shreve Simon Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smith (WA) Smucker Sorensen Soto Spartz Stansbury Stanton Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Stevens Strickland Strong Stutzman Subramanyam Suozzi Sykes Takano Taylor Tenney Thanedar Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Thompson (PA) Tiffany Timmons Titus Tlaib Tokuda Tonko Torres (CA) Torres (NY) Trahan Tran Turner (OH) Underwood Valadao Van Drew Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Vargas Vasquez Veasey Velazquez Vindman Wagner Walberg Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Westerman Whitesides Williams (GA) Williams (TX) Wilson (FL) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
Mace
Burchett Burlison DeGette Dunn (FL) Emmer Hayes Joyce (OH) Lucas Luna Wied
Messrs. MURPHY and NORCROSS changed their vote from "nay" to "yea." So the resolution was agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Communication from the Speaker
Page H4347 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Schmidt) laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Text printed in the Record (216 characters)
June 30, 2026.
I hereby designate the period from Tuesday, June 30, 2026, through Sunday, July 12, 2026, as a "district work period" under clause 13 of Rule I.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Honoring Fallen Utah Firefighters
Page H4347 · Official text(Mr. MOORE of Utah asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the three fallen firefighters who tragically died this past weekend while fighting fires in Utah.
Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson died during an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires, which are among several fires burning in our State right now. I am praying for their families and those close to the impacted areas. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
I am grateful to the many first responders working tirelessly to protect us. Brave men and women from across the State are on the front lines fighting for our communities, and we can never adequately thank them for their service.
In Utah and across the country, we are seeing devastating wildfires tear through forests and homes. Nearly 2,000 personnel are actively fighting these fires spanning over 250,000 acres.
Too many deadly wildfires are due to unpreparedness and mismanagement of forests. I was an original cosponsor of the Fix Our Forests Act and was proud that it was one of the first bills that we passed in the House this Congress.
The Fix Our Forests Act will increase coordination so wildfire agencies can better prepare for fire season and prevent these catastrophic wildfires. It is time that the Senate finish the job and send this bill to the President's desk. As this weekend has shown, Utah cannot wait any longer.
I am also working on new legislation to better prevent, detect, and mitigate wildfires. We need better coordination and more support for those putting their lives on the line to protect us, and this legislation is a step in the right direction.
What is happening across my State is devastating. I pray that the fires will soon be contained for the safety of our first responders.
Honoring Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford
Page H4347 · Official text(Mrs. FOUSHEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Orange County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford, a devoted public servant whose leadership and compassion left an enduring mark on the community she loved.
For more than two decades, Commissioner Bedford served Orange County with integrity and purpose. She believed people deserve better, and she worked tirelessly to strengthen public education, expand opportunity, and ensure every family had a voice in local government.
She was a steadfast advocate for people with autism and developmental disabilities, helping families navigate complex systems and secure the support that they needed.
I will remember Jamezetta as a trusted colleague and dear friend who led with kindness and never lost sight of the people she served.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family, her loved ones, and the entire Orange County community. She will be deeply missed, but her example of selfless service will not be forgotten.
Celebrating America's Semiquincentennial
Page H4347 · Official text(Mr. STRONG asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the United States of America's 250th anniversary.
There is nothing that exemplifies freedom more than the stars and stripes of the American flag. Have you noticed that businesses, restaurants, and even homes in your neighborhood may have a flagpole with no United States flag flying on it? This Fourth of July, let's change that.
If there is a restaurant, business, or home in your area with a bare flagpole, encourage them to return Old Glory to its rightful place.
If you don't have a United States flag proudly displayed, this Fourth of July is the perfect time for a family project to install one.
Let's fly the American flag as we celebrate 250 years of freedom this Fourth of July. May God bless the United States of America.
Fighting for Women's Freedoms
Pages H4347–H4348 · Official text(Mr. MENEFEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, last week marked 4 years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ripped away the constitutional right women had relied on for nearly 50 years.
In Texas, Republican politicians rushed to impose some of the most extreme abortion bans in the entire country. They promised that these laws would protect life. They told us that there would be no consequences.
However, now the consequences are here, and it is women who are paying for them with their lives.
Since Dobbs and Texas' total abortion ban, infant deaths in Texas jumped from 1,985 to 2,240 in a single year. That is a 255-death increase.
It should pain each of us that here in this country, a woman can walk into a hospital with a medical emergency, and doctors will have to stop and ask whether politicians will put them in prison if they save her life.
If those pushing these abortion bans truly cared about life, they would be fighting for affordable childcare, paid family leave, and better maternal healthcare.
On this anniversary, I hope that we all stay committed to fighting so that every single woman in this country can get their freedom and their right to an abortion back in this country.
Celebrating Frank Horne's 100th Birthday
Page H4348 · Official text(Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, very few people get to celebrate their 100th birthday. Even fewer can look back on those years knowing they helped defend the freedoms that continue to make this country an incredible place to call home.
Earlier this month, my constituent, Frank Horne, turned 100 years old. Today, we celebrate not only his 100th birthday but a century marked by sacrifice, bravery, service, and devotion to his country and community.
Born in South Carolina in 1926, Frank later made Charlotte, North Carolina, his lifelong home. He joined the United States Navy in May of 1945, as World War II was drawing to a close, and began training to serve in naval aviation, answering the call with deep patriotism and love for his country.
After his service, Frank attended UNC-Chapel Hill and built a long career in manufacturing while continuing to serve his church, family, and community, becoming a husband, father, grandfather, and a friend to many.
As America approaches its 250th birthday, Mr. Speaker, Frank's story is a powerful reminder of his character, service, and patriotism that has carried this Nation from one generation to the next.
We are proud to celebrate Frank's 100th birthday. I thank him for his incredible service to our Nation. May God bless him, his family, and the United States of America.
Recognizing Sabrina Anaya
Page H4348 · Official text(Mrs. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary young woman from Yuma, Arizona, Kofa High School senior Sabrina Anaya.
Sabrina distinguished herself both in the classroom and on the field, earning the title of Kofa High School valedictorian while being named Yuma's Female Athlete of the Year.
A remarkable three-sport athlete, Sabrina excelled in cross-country, soccer, and track and field. She was named the Yuma Sun Girls Cross-Country Runner of the Year, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in soccer, and dominated distance events in track, winning the 800-meter, 1600-meter, and 3200-meter races.
However, what makes Sabrina's accomplishments so impressive is not just her athletic talent or academic excellence. It is her dedication, discipline, and determination to succeed in every area. She has shown what is possible through hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.
Sabrina represents the very best of Yuma and Arizona. I congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and wish her continued success at Arizona State University and in her studies in electrical engineering.
To Sabrina, I say: "Congratulations"; "felicidades."
Marking Tragic Anniversary of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym Murder
Page H4348 · Official text(Mr. ESTES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise on the 1-year anniversary of the tragic murder of my intern, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym.
His family endured a devastating loss that no family should ever have to go through. Last summer, Eric was horrifically murdered in the Nation's Capital when he was shot while walking on the street. He was only 21 years old.
My staff and I feel the loss of Eric every day. We remember the time we spent with him at the Congressional Baseball Game last year when he remarked that he loved working on Capitol Hill. We remember when he sat in our front office and was always happy to greet visitors with a smile. We remember how he helped with the daily press briefings every single morning. Also, we mostly remember his dedication to serving others, which is why he came to Washington to intern in a congressional office.
We will never forget Eric for the rest of our lives, and we will never forget the evil that took him from the world.
The hearts of his family; his friends; my staff; my wife, Susan; and I are still impacted by the loss of a bright young man whose life was tragically cut short by senseless violence.
However, Eric did not die in vain. Eric's murder was a catalyst for criminal reform in Washington, D.C. Due to his death, President Trump brought in the National Guard to protect other innocent people like him, the millions of Americans who come to D.C. because of their love of country and public service. We can say that because of Eric, many people's lives were saved from the violence he fell victim to.
Through this tragedy, we find comfort in knowing that Eric is now in the hands of Jesus Christ, our loving Savior. I pray God will continue to provide peace and strength for Eric's family and everyone who knew him on this sad anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to observe a moment of silence to remember Eric Tarpinian-Jachym.
Celebrating Anita Taylor on Her Retirement
Page H4348 · Official text(Ms. CLARKE of New York asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a sense of overwhelming gratitude and admiration for my longtime district director, Ms. Anita Taylor, as she celebrates her retirement.
For more than two decades, from my days as a member of the New York City Council to my tenure in the House of Representatives, Anita has stood by my side, devoted to the cause of selflessly serving the people of the Ninth District of New York, the beloved community that we call home.
As my district director, she has never failed to rise on behalf of those who need her aid or just her listening ear and wise counsel. Truly, Anita is a woman so dear to my heart, so essential to my team, and so beloved by the good people of Brooklyn.
While I am overjoyed to see her embrace her next chapter and all the beauty, peace, and rejuvenation it has to offer, I cannot help but feel a sense of melancholy on having to enter into this new chapter in my own career without her by my side. Thankfully, I know she is only a phone call away.
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of Team Clarke and the people of New York's Ninth Congressional District, I thank Anita. I wish her only the best because the best is all she has ever delivered, and the best is what she deserves.
I congratulate her.
Recognizing Barrett Carter
Pages H4348–H4349 · Official text(Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my middle son, Barrett Carter, a proud southeast Georgia native and accomplished PGA head golf professional.
Barrett graduated from the University of Georgia before settling in the New Orleans area in 2009 where he has built an impressive career as a PGA class A professional. He has served at some of the region's premier facilities, including TPC Louisiana and Metairie Country Club, head golf professional at Oak Knoll Country Club in Hammond, and recently he was appointed as head golf professional at Bayou Oaks at City Parks in New Orleans.
Most notably, Barrett is passionate about growing the game through instruction and creating welcoming programs for golfers of all ages and abilities.
Barrett and his wife, Halley, live in Metairie with three precious daughters, Bennett, Catherine, and Clara. They are proud to call south Louisiana home.
Although Barrett has made Louisiana his home, the First Congressional District of Georgia is proud to claim him as one of our own.
Congratulations, Son. Your mother and I are very proud of you and love you very much.
Honoring Khadijah Muhammad Farrakhan
Page H4349 · Official text(Mr. JACKSON of Illinois asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, we gather today with grateful hearts to honor a remarkable woman whose life was not measured merely by the years she lived but by the lives she lifted.
Mrs. Khadijah Muhammad Farrakhan reminds us that history is often shaped not only by those who stand behind the microphone, but also those who stand faithfully beside it. She was a devoted mother who nurtured character before success, a gracious teacher whose lessons were written as much by example as by instruction, and a faithful servant whose deepest desire was to honor Almighty God through a life of discipline, dignity, and love.
She walked beside her husband of 72 years, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, not simply as a spouse, but as a trusted companion, counselor, and partner in purpose. She leaves us a testimony that greatness is not found in prominence alone but in perseverance, not in position but in purpose, not in acclaim but in unwavering faithfulness.
We honor her memory by living the virtues she embodied: faith that never faltered, love that never failed, service that never ceased, and hope that never surrendered.
Well-done, good and faithful servant.
May God grant her eternal peace, comfort her and her beloved family, and continue to let the light of her life shine through generations yet to come.
Honoring the Life of Michael A. Carricarte
Page H4349 · Official text(Mr. GIMENEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Michael A. Carricarte, an American of Cuban descent, decorated Army combat veteran, a proud Christopher Columbus Explorer, and one of south Florida's most generous philanthropists.
Arriving in Miami from Cuba in 1948, Mr. Carricarte lived the American Dream. He proudly served as a colonel in the United States Army and Green Beret before building one of the leading healthcare and insurance organizations serving Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mr. Carricarte devoted his life to his family and helping others, supporting hospitals, schools, churches, orphanages, and organizations. He mentored young people, assisted students in need, and opened doors for countless others, never seeking recognition.
Mr. Carricarte believed that every blessing carried with it a responsibility to serve. He lived that principle every day through humility, leadership, and faith.
I extend my deepest condolences to his children, grandchildren, and family. South Florida has lost a true giant, but his legacy of service, generosity, and love for others will endure for generations.
May God bless the memory of Mike Carricarte, and may he rest in peace.
HONORING MR. ERNIE C'deBACA
Page H4349 · Official text(Mr. VASQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor an Albuquerque legend, Mr. Ernie C'deBaca, and to congratulate him on his retirement.
For 9 years, Ernie has served as president and CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest in the country. However, his service began long before then, serving as chairman of the board since 2006.
From his work with the International Trade Committee, which helped put Albuquerque's economy on the global map, to helping The Bean coffee shop open inside the chamber's own building, Ernie is the type of leader who gets things done. Most importantly, he does so with kindness, energy, and integrity.
Ernie's employees, colleagues, and mentees all say the same thing: He is the definition of a servant leader, and the ripple effect of his work has touched countless lives and small businesses for the better.
I hope Ernie's next chapter brings plenty of time spent in the loving company of his wife, Geri; and his sons and grandchildren. If he is lucky, maybe he will have a little bit more time to watch the final match of the World Cup.
I thank Ernie for his tireless service to New Mexico, and I congratulate him on a well-earned retirement.
Honoring Mayor Handshoe
Page H4349 · Official text(Mr. STUTZMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late former Kendallville mayor and friend, SuzAnne Handshoe.
Mayor Handshoe serves as an example for all of us to follow for her dedication to her community and her country. Her military career is beyond admirable, as she served 24 years as a U.S. marine and was inducted into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame.
After retiring from the military, her service to her community did not stop. In 2004, Mayor Handshoe became Kendallville's first woman mayor and worked every day to improve the town of Kendallville for its residents.
She had an unstoppable determination to push Kendallville forward, and she tackled every issue with energy and enthusiasm.
Sadly, she passed away this week after losing a battle with cancer at the age of 66. She will truly be missed by all of us, but her legacy of service, kindness, and dedication to others will not be forgotten.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her family, Randy, and her community. We will miss her dearly.
May she rest in peace.
Recognizing Warren Parada
Pages H4349–H4350 · Official text(Mr. VEASEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a son of north Texas who is an innovator, a leader, and one of the most remarkable citizens that the city knows. His name is Warren Parada.
I didn't meet Warren in a boardroom. He was someone who reached out to my office, like many people do on casework, because he had an uncle who was a Vietnam vet who was having issues with his casework. His claim is still under review today, as too many veterans' are, but here is what really set Warren apart.
He really turned his family frustrations into a solution, and his question was not: How do I do this? It was: What if I could make this easier for someone?
That is what Warren has tried to do with his BVARadar tool that helps scan claims, identifies missing information, and compares them against Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings, something that could help veterans who are really out there struggling.
For 3 years now, Warren has been battling cancer, and he wrote this code in between rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, really leaning on his faith.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Warren for everything that he is doing to help veterans like his uncle as he is fighting terminal cancer, which his doctor informed him that he had. I thank Warren for his service to the community. Dallas thanks him for that, too.
Similarities Between United States and Israel
Page H4350 · Official text(Mr. GROTHMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I suppose what I should lead off with is asking for half a minute or so of silence as we consider what I think is the most damaging Supreme Court decision of my time. Instead of going that way, I will address those few people in my district who have come up to me and have been surprisingly anti-Israel.
One thing I point out is the similarity between Israel and the United States that is not talked about enough is that we have people from all around the globe trying to get in both countries. I point out one way Israel is similar is that they are taking people from the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Malawi, Ecuador, Kenya, and China into their country to work because it is such a wonderful place.
Just like Israel is a wonderful place, so is the United States. Both of us have to put up with leftwing crazy people attacking us for being racist.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Israel for taking people from all around the world who know they would be better off there than in their home countries.
Bristol Fourth of July
Page H4350 · Official text(Mr. AMO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the generations of Rhode Islanders who have come together for the longest continuously running Fourth of July celebration, in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Since 1785, when the Reverend Henry Wight, a Revolutionary War veteran and minister of the First Congregational Church, hosted Bristol's first patriotic exercises, Rhode Islanders have gathered to celebrate our values of liberty, community, freedom, and prosperity.
For 241 years, Rhode Islanders from all walks of life and visitors from all over the world have come together to walk along the famous red, white, and blue center lines snaking down the middle of the parade route.
By the time the town welcomes as many as 200,000 visitors to its community, the town committee, the police department, the fire department, and the Fourth of July committee have worked around the clock for months to pull off a safe and spectacular event.
As the crowds and the music swell this weekend, I thank all who have made this event possible. Happy Fourth of July.
Honoring Pride Month
Pages H4350–H4353 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Takano of California was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to submit extraneous material into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the conclusion of Pride Month.
Pride is, and always has been, a protest. From the Stonewall Uprising to the neighborhood parades, Pride is about both standing up for equality and celebrating our authentic selves.
When we celebrate Pride, we make a demand. We demand the right to live and love openly. We demand to be treated equally and fairly under the law. We demand dignity. First and foremost, we demand equality.
This Congress, under Republican control, the House of Representatives has taken more than 20 votes to attack the rights of LGBTQI+ Americans and particularly the rights of transgender Americans. Even after all those votes, not one major anti-LGBTQI+ piece of legislation has become law.
Members of the Congressional Equality Caucus have fought hard to fight back against all these attacks. Thanks to our work, we were able to remove every new anti-LGBTQI+ rider from the government funding bills for fiscal year 2026. House Republicans tried to add dozens of these new riders, and we were able to defeat every one. We plan to do it again for fiscal year 2027, but the Trump administration's relentlessness has still had countless terrible impacts on our community.
Under Donald Trump, transgender Americans' access to healthcare is under direct attack. The arms of the Federal Government tasked with enforcing America's rights, like the EEOC, are being sabotaged and forced to target the rights of the very Americans they are meant to protect.
Transgender servicemembers are being carelessly kicked out of the military without regard for their merits and accomplishments or the military's operational security. Critical funding and research to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemics are being recklessly cut, and so much more.
Mr. Speaker, to the LGBTQI+ people watching right now, know that we are still fighting for you. As chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, I assure the American people that my colleagues and I are fighting back against these attacks at every turn in Congress.
We are conducting oversight of Trump administration officials and demanding accountability from those who violate LGBTQI+ Americans' rights.
As we close out Pride Month, I stand with our allies across the country in reminding LGBTQI+ people that we are fighting for you. We will not give up until every person is fully free to be themselves without fear of discrimination, harassment, or violence.
I wish all of you a happy Pride.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall), my colleague and co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Pride Month ending today for most of the country, but still ongoing in our great State of Washington, where we just can't get enough.
I am also rising today to honor the resolution that I introduced alongside Representative Green, a longtime champion for LGBTQ equality.
LGBTQ people have been dutifully serving in our military for decades. We are your neighbors. We are your elected officials, teachers, mentors, and friends. Despite Republicans' unrelenting attempts to erase queer and trans people from our history books, from our public spaces, and from our military, LGBTQ Americans are standing strong in our truth.
That is the beauty of Pride Month and why I am so proud to introduce this resolution today to honor the many contributions of LGBTQ Americans to our country, contributions which are outlined in this resolution, so that no matter what attacks come on our government websites and in agencies across the executive branch, we will still have the story of so many brave LGBTQ leaders.
Who knows when the majority party will be organized enough to move the NDAA through the House, but we know when it does come, it will come with several anti-LGBTQ amendments that have absolutely no business being attached to the overall package.
Our Republican colleagues talk a lot about protecting our freedoms yet spend so much time trying to strip freedoms away from LGBTQ Americans, like the freedom to access healthcare by stripping TRICARE coverage for medically necessary, lifesaving care for trans people, and even taking away mental health coverage from trans kids and the freedom to serve our country by moving to codify Trump's ban on trans servicemembers.
There are thousands of trans people who are willing to die to protect our country, but Trump, Vance, Hegseth, and House Republicans want to ban them from serving, or even the freedom for kids to participate in sports without being subjected to invasive and traumatizing exams to determine their gender before they can put on a jersey.
I would like to see some of my colleagues experience what a transvaginal ultrasound feels like. For a kid who is a survivor of sexual assault or trauma, or even one who is not, it is incredibly painful and traumatizing.
These actions are all part of a larger pattern we are seeing at the State level, across the country, by this administration, by House and Senate GOP leadership, and even by our activist Supreme Court, to attack and villainize LGBTQ Americans.
I want to be clear. The NDAA amendments do absolutely nothing to strengthen our military readiness or improve the lives of everyday Americans. Like everyone else, LGBTQ people want to afford childcare and housing, and have access to healthcare, and be able to contribute to an economy that works for all of us.
I look forward to a day where Members of Congress drop this bizarre and personal vendetta against queer and trans people and get back to working on real issues: to lower costs, ensure we all have healthcare and housing and childcare, and make America the country we know it can be.
Mark Takano (D-CA)6:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), vice chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)6:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, as we close out Pride Month, I am proud to join my Equality Caucus colleagues this evening in standing up for the LGBTQ+ community and recognizing their invaluable contributions to our Nation.
My south Florida district is home to one of the most diverse and vibrant LGBTQ+ communities in the entire country. It is a privilege to fight for them every single day here in Washington and push back against the heinous smear campaign driven by extremist, rightwing, culture warriors.
Unfortunately, Florida is a national staging ground to roll back the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community. From the repulsive "Don't Say Gay" law, to some of the more vicious trans attacks, Florida is ground zero for hate.
It hasn't stopped. Earlier this year, funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, or ADAP, which assists low-income Floridians living with HIV and AIDS to afford their medication and insurance premiums, was slashed.
Over 12,000 Floridians braced themselves to be kicked off of this lifesaving program.
I proudly led all of my Florida Democratic colleagues in demanding the Governor and the Department of Health and Human Services reverse these changes, and many organizations and leaders rallied to restore this vital funding as well.
Thankfully, it brought some relief. The Federal Government established a temporary special enrollment period for Florida ADAP patients to switch health plans.
Last month, Florida lawmakers averted these disastrous ADAP cuts in its fiscal year 2027 budget.
Let me be clear. This was an entirely preventable crisis created by Governor DeSantis to harm Florida's LGBTQ+ community. It is an utter disgrace, and I will always call it out.
I am proud to be a founding member and vice chair of the Equality Caucus and an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, to expand the Civil Rights Act, to ban discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
These attacks are relentless. As a senior House appropriator, I will always lead the charge against hateful, anti-LGBTQ+ policies and riders that peddle hate and do nothing to make life more affordable for Americans.
As ranking member of the Appropriations Committee Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I was able to end the ban on Pride flags from flying at VA facilities.
Several weeks ago, Republicans advanced a partisan Labor-H funding bill out of the House Appropriations Committee that decimates domestic HIV and AIDS research and prevention programs across the Federal Government.
It even eliminates funding for the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative championed by President Trump himself in his first term.
This callous indifference shown by my Republican colleagues is astonishing, and that is why we must relentlessly fight the never-ending hate because it has no place in this country.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to brave freedom fighters, LGBTQ+ rights have come a long way. It was only 11 years ago that the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional right to marriage equality for same-sex couples. Yet, now, almost a decade later, insidious and hateful forces try to chip away at this and other landmark gains made by gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals, but we won't let them take us back.
Instead, we will recommit ourselves to building a future and a country that is welcoming, inclusive, and treats everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, with the respect that they rightfully deserve.
Mark Takano (D-CA)6:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman from Florida for her wonderful remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).
Gwen Moore (D-WI)6:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on the last day of Pride Month as more than an LGBTQI ally. I am an accomplice. I am an enabler, because I want to enable people to be cradled by the e pluribus unum, to be embraced by our American values of freedom, liberty, and equality. I want to advocate for people to bring their authentic selves to our roundtable of a more perfect Union. I want people to stand in the glow of our enlightenment after 250 years of this Nation being a democracy.
Despite the sadistic efforts that have been made in this Congress to diminish and limit LGBTQI people, every single appropriation bill riddled with insults and humiliation, none of them have come to fruition. None of them have become law.
Why is that? That is because this is America, y'all. It is because we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. It is a standard that we have lived by throughout this constitutional democracy. Let me tell you, after everything we have been through, the flag still stands.
Mark Takano (D-CA)6:20 p.m.
Congresswoman Gwen Moore, thank you and happy Pride to you.
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko).
Paul Tonko (D-NY)6:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Takano for yielding and for bringing us together for this Special Order hour.
Mr. Speaker, this Pride Month we are at a pivotal moment, a moment that demands our attention, outrage, and, yes, action.
Across the country, we are witnessing a barrage of dangerous policies, executive actions, hateful legislation, and vile rhetoric, all designed to strip away rights, sow fear, and erase hard-fought progress.
This administration and its supporters have continued a calculated and relentless strategy to erase, stigmatize, and endanger LGBTQ+ people, especially trans youth.
Today, the Supreme Court issued an incredibly disappointing ruling, upholding discriminatory anti-transgender sports bans in West Virginia and Idaho.
This decision is dehumanizing and has nothing to do with fairness or safety in sports. Trans kids deserve to have access to the same opportunities as their peers. Trans kids deserve to feel like they belong. When recognition of existence is pulled back, people cannot love freely, and histories are erased, our country is worse off.
Kids trying to live safely and authentically are not a threat. Transgender servicemembers deserve to serve openly. Families seeking care and support are not political pawns. The providers committed to do no harm are not extremists.
I stand with the LGBTQ+ community in my district and across our great Nation. I will fight any actions that limit their right to live safely, freely, and fully as oneself.
Pride is more than a celebration. It is a declaration, a declaration of resilience and a reminder of the power of community. Pride reminds us that joy itself is an act of resistance. Pride is about visibility, solidarity, and, yes, the unapologetic truth that LGBTQ+ people belong, belong everywhere, always.
This Pride Month and every day onward, we must recommit to standing against these attacks and ensuring that freedom, justice, and equal opportunity are guaranteed to all--to all people under the law.
Mark Takano (D-CA)6:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Tonko. Happy pride.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury), my colleague from the Land of Enchantment.
Melanie A. Stansbury (D-NM)6:30 p.m.
Happy pride, everyone.
Today, we rise to celebrate Pride Month in LGBTQ+ communities all across New Mexico and the country. To every member of the LGBTQ+ community, you are seen, you are loved, and you make this world brighter. We celebrate you not just in June, but all year round because pride is every day.
Now, we know it is difficult times: from the relentless attacks on the LGBTQ+ and especially trans communities; from the Trump administration's attacks on our military, veterans, and history itself; to the GOP's relentless and callous attacks on this floor; to the Supreme Court's undermining of the basic civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Our communities are living in fear, uncertain of what comes next. Many have seen this story before: Parents who are scared for their children, elders who lived through the AIDS epidemic, and so many who grew up in places and spaces where their lives were criminalized, where they lived in danger, and where they could not live as their full and authentic selves.
In fact, we almost lost an entire generation because of antiLGBTQ+ policies in the 1980s, and I want to be clear that we are not going back. I am here to stand with the community and fight for them every single day, whether that is at the local, the national, or the State level. I want them to know that in the Equality Caucus, we have got their back, and we want them to be able to continue to live their lives out loud as their authentic selves.
I am going to continue to push for legislation to protect them, regardless of where they live. I am going to continue to fight to pass the Equality Act. I know that this is a matter of life or death for so many out there, but I also know that we cannot do it alone. What I need is for all of them to continue to show up, to speak out, and to live their lives unapologetically--continue to celebrate, continue to live openly, love openly, build community, and imagine that future, because creating queer spaces and queer joy is an act of resistance. You just being here on this planet and being your bad self is also an act of resistance.
Please, continue to show up. Know that your life, your existence matters. Your light matters, and your fight matters.
I am here to celebrate them and to wish them happy pride.
Mark Takano (D-CA)6:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Stansbury. Happy pride.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Bell), my colleague from the Show Me State and my good friend.
Wesley Bell (D-MO)6:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with the LGBTQ community as we close out a truly special month of celebration and joy.
This past weekend, I had an amazing time walking in the St. Louis Pride Parade. It was hot outside, but the energy and the feeling of community was palpable.
To me, that is what this administration fails to see: A community--a community rooted in love, understanding, and acceptance. Instead of supporting our fellow LGBTQ Americans, this administration has chosen to turn them into targets--targets of hate, targets of bigotry, targets of cruel and deliberate policies to erase them and their history.
I have a promise for my LGBTQ friends and family: I will always stand with you. I will always stand for you.
Mark Takano (D-CA)6:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Bell. Happy pride.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a group of people who have been on the front lines of the fight for LGBTQI+ equality: the litigators who are challenging this administration's antiLGBTQI+ policies and, more broadly, fighting to protect our rights, the rights of all Americans.
Over the past 1.5 years, these litigators have filed dozens of lawsuits to both protect LGBTQI+ rights and block the Trump administration's antiequality efforts.
When President Trump reinstituted the trans military ban, litigators jumped into action and fought for our Nation's transgender servicemembers.
When the Department of Health and Human Services wiped critical public health data from Federal websites for simply mentioning LGBTQI+ people, a lawsuit forced the Department to restore these web pages.
As the administration has targeted trans people's access to medically necessary care, litigators have filed lawsuit after lawsuit responding to each attack.
Litigators are standing up for our community--from local district courts to the Supreme Court. Pride is a protest, and there are few forms of protest that are more powerful or with more direct impact than challenging discriminatory policies in court. Many of these organizations leading these efforts are operating with less resources than the last Trump administration, yet dealing with an even higher volume of attacks.
Behind every complaint filed and every win, our teams of litigators and support staff are working countless hours to defend our rights. I must say, when I say, "our rights," I mean our rights as Americans, because LGBTQI+ rights are American rights.
As I stand before this body, I extend my gratitude and the gratitude of the entire Congressional Equality Caucus to the teams of litigators who are fighting so hard to defend our community in courts across this Nation. To all of those litigators and their support staffs, I say to them on this final day of Pride Month, happy pride. I thank them for their great work.
I now yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Grijalva), my friend and colleague.
Adelita S. Grijalva (D-AZ)6:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Congressman Takano, for hosting this Pride Month Special Order hour.
For generations, LGBTQ+ people have been at the forefront of a fight for a more just inclusive future. This month, we honor the resilience, courage, and determination of a community that has never stopped organizing, speaking out, and demanding equality.
As a proud ally and a mom, I know that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is connected to so many of the challenges we face today: from reproductive freedom, to healthcare access, to housing, education, and the right to live openly and authentically.
Pride reminds us that progress doesn't come from the top down. It isn't handed to us by billionaires or corporations. It is one when ordinary people come together, build coalitions together, and refuse to accept injustice. That work is not over.
Just this morning, on the last day of pride, the Supreme Court ruled to allow States to ban trans kids from playing in school sports. Really? I think they are worried about the wrong 0.1 percent in this country.
To the queer youth and trans kids and their families across the Nation, I know these are scary times, but you are not alone.
As Republicans continue to scapegoat queer people, especially transgender youth and their families, we must meet this moment with courage. We have got to organize, speak truth to power, and keep building a movement rooted in justice and equity.
Let us never forget that pride is a protest, but it is also our power, and together we will keep fighting for a future where everyone can live with dignity and freedom.
Happy pride.
Mark Takano (D-CA)6:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Adelita Grijalva for her remarks and wish a happy Pride to her and all the people of the great State of Arizona.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to send a message directly to the transgender community in America, and here is what I have to say: You are not alone.
I know it is easy to feel like there is no one left in Washington who is willing to stand up for you, but that is not true. Every day, my colleagues and I in the Congressional Equality Caucus, which is over 190 strong, are fighting for you.
I know it is hard right now, but you are not alone. Even with all the antitrans attacks coming from this Chamber, my colleagues in the Equality Caucus and I have been successful in blocking the worst of the worst from becoming law.
We successfully blocked every antitransgender rider in the fiscal year 2026 government funding bills from becoming law. Not a single bill exclusively focused on attacking our rights has made it to the President's desk in this Congress.
We are still fighting for a brighter tomorrow, and I hope you are, too.
Mr. Speaker, let me just say that it has been my profound honor to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community and honor the conclusion of Pride Month with my colleagues here tonight.
Pride began as a protest, as a demand--a demand for equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal justice for LGBTQI+ people. As we continue our fight for the rights of LGBTQI+ people here and in the Halls of Congress, that spirit is what drives us.
To every American watching tonight, I want you to know that we will never give up. We will never stop fighting for equality.
To you all, to every American across this country, from Maine to Hawaii to the territories, I say happy Pride.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Honoring Frederick Douglass
Pages H4353–H4354 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. Pressley of Massachusetts is recognized for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the minority leader.)
Mr. Speaker, in 1852, Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist, orator, and formerly enslaved man, delivered one of America's most famous speeches: "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
He addressed a nation celebrating freedom while denying it to millions. With moral clarity and urgency, he exposed the stark contradiction between America's founding ideals and the lived reality of Black people, calling out a democracy that had excluded those who it claimed to liberate.
As our Nation celebrates its 250-year anniversary, that tension still resonates. Black Americans continue to confront systemic inequities that have been legislated and codified. Douglass' words endure as both a mirror and a mandate, revealing uncomfortable truths while urging us to fight for an America as good as its promise.
Before I begin, I recognize and thank Mass Humanities for sustaining this vital tradition through public readings of Douglass' speech across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ensuring that its message continues to educate, challenge, and inspire new generations.
Now, I invite you to listen and to consider these words not as distant history but as a call to action today.
"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
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Mr. President, Friends, and Fellow Citizens:
The task before me is one which requires much previous thought and study for its proper performance. The papers and placards say that I am to deliver a Fourth of July oration. This certainly sounds large, and out of the common way, for it is true that I have often had the privilege to speak in this beautiful Hall, and to address many who now honor me with their presence. The fact is, ladies and gentlemen, the distance between this platform and the slave plantation, from which I escaped, is considerable--and the difficulties to be overcome in getting from the latter to the former are by no means slight. That I am here today is, to me, a matter of astonishment as well as of gratitude.
This, for the purpose of this celebration, is the Fourth of July. It is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom. This, to you, is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God. It carries your minds back to the day, and to the act of your great deliverance.
This celebration also marks the beginning of another year of your national life; and reminds you that the Republic of America is now 76 years old. I am glad, fellow-citizens, that your nation is so young.
You are, even now, only in the beginning of your national career, still lingering in the period of childhood. I repeat, I am glad this is so. There is hope in the thought, and hope is much needed, under the dark clouds which lower above the horizon.
Fellow-citizens, the simple story is that, 76 years ago, the people of this country were British subjects. The style and title of your "sovereign people" (in which you now glory) was not then born. You were under the British Crown. Your fathers esteemed the English Government as the home government. England as the fatherland, although a considerable distance from your home, impose, in the exercise of its parental prerogatives, upon its colonial children such restraints, burdens and limitations, as, in its mature judgment, it deemed wise, right, and proper.
But your fathers, who had not adopted the idea of the infallibility of government, and the absolute character of its acts, presumed to differ from the home government in respect to the wisdom and the justice of some of those burdens and restraints. They went so far as to pronounce the measures of government unjust, unreasonable, and oppressive, and altogether such as ought not to be quietly submitted to. I scarcely need say, fellow-citizens, that my opinion of those measures fully accords with that of your fathers.
Feeling themselves harshly and unjustly treated by the home government, your fathers, like men of honesty, and men of spirit, earnestly sought redress. They petitioned and remonstrated; they did so in a decorous, respectful, and loyal manner. This, however, did not answer the purpose. They saw themselves treated with sovereign indifference, coldness, and scorn.
Oppression makes a wise man mad. Your fathers became restive under this treatment. They felt themselves the victims of grievous wrongs, wholly incurable in their colonial capacity. With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression. Just here, the idea of a total separation of the colonies from the crown was born! It was a startling idea, much more so, than we, at this distance of time, regard it. The timid and the prudent of that day, were, of course, shocked and alarmed by it. Their opposition to the then-dangerous thought was earnest and powerful; but, amid all their terror and affrighted vociferations against it, the alarming and revolutionary idea moved on, and the country with it.
On the Second of July, 1776, the old Continental Congress, to the dismay of the lovers of ease, and the worshippers of property, clothed that dreadful idea with all the authority of national sanction. They did so in the form of a resolution. We seldom hit upon resolutions, drawn up in our day, whose transparency is at all equal it: "Resolved, That these united colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown."
Citizens, your fathers made good that resolution. They succeeded; and today you reap the fruits of their success. The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The Fourth of July is the first great fact in your nation's history--the very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny.
My business, if I have any here today, is with the present. The accepted time with God and his cause is the ever-living now. We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and to the future. Now is the time, the important time. Your fathers have lived, died, and have done their work, and have done much of it well. You live and must die, and you must do your work. You have no right to enjoy a child's share in the labor of your fathers, unless your children are to be blest by your labors. You have no right to wear out and waste the hard-earned fame of your fathers to cover your indolence.
Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?
The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice; I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak today? Fellow citizens; above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions, whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are, today, rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them.
My subject, then, fellow-citizens, is American slavery. I shall see this day and its popular characteristics, from the slave's point of view. Standing here identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this Fourth of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the
present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.
Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the Constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery--the great sin and shame of America! "I will not equivocate; I will not excuse;" I will use the severest language I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slaveholder, shall not confess to be right and just.
I fancy I hear some one of my audience say, it is just in this circumstance that you and your brother abolitionists fail to make a favorable impression on the public mind. Would you argue more, and denounce less, would you persuade more, and rebuke less, your cause would be much more likely to succeed. But, I submit, where all is plain there is nothing to be argued. What point in the anti-slavery creed would you have me argue?
Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man? The slaveholders themselves acknowledge it in the enactment of laws for their government. They acknowledge it when they punish disobedience on the part of the slave. There are 72 crimes in the State of Virginia, which, if committed by a black man, subject him to the punishment of death; while only two of the same crimes will subject a white man to the like punishment. What is this but the acknowledgement that the slave is a moral, intellectual and responsible being?
Southern statute books are covered with enactments forbidding, under severe fines and penalties, the teaching of the slave to read or to write. When you can point to any such laws, in reference to the beasts of the field, then I may consent to argue the manhood of the slave. When the dogs in your streets, when the fowls of the air, when the cattle on your hills, when the fish of the sea, and the reptiles that crawl, shall be unable to distinguish the slave from a brute, then will I argue with you that the slave is a man!
For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. Is it not astonishing that, while we are ploughing, planting and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, silver and gold; that, while we are reading, writing and cyphering, acting as clerks, merchants and secretaries, having among us lawyers, doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators and teachers; that, while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common to other men, digging gold in California, capturing the whale in the Pacific, feeding sheep and cattle on the hillside, living, moving, acting, thinking, planning, living in families as husbands, wives and children, and, above all, confessing and worshipping the Christian's God, and looking hopefully for life and immortality beyond the grave, we are called upon to prove that we are men!
Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty? That he is the rightful owner of his own body? You have already declared it. Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery? Is that a question for Republicans? Is it to be settled by the rules of logic and argumentation, as a matter beset with great difficulty, involving a doubtful application of the principle of justice, hard to be understood? How should I look today, in the presence of Americans, to show that men have a natural right to freedom? To do so, would be to make myself ridiculous, and to offer an insult to your understanding. There is not a man beneath the canopy of Heaven that does not know that slavery is wrong for him.
What, am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters? Must I argue that a system thus marked with blood, and stained with pollution, is wrong? No, I will not. I have better employments for my time and strength than such arguments would imply.
What, then, remains to be argued? Is it that slavery is not divine; that God did not establish it; that our doctors of divinity are mistaken? There is blasphemy in the thought. That which is inhuman, cannot be divine! Who can reason on such a proposition? I cannot. The time for such argument is past.
At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O!
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Had I the ability, and could I reach the Nation's ear, I would, today, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the Nation must be quickened; the conscience of the Nation must be roused; the propriety of the Nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the Nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced.
What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: A day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy--a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.
There is not a nation on the Earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour. Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this Nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.
You declare, before the world, and are understood by the world to declare, that you "hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; and that, among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;" and yet, you hold securely, in a bondage which, according to your own Thomas Jefferson, "is worse than ages of that which your fathers rose in rebellion to oppose," a seventh part of the inhabitants of your country.
Fellow citizens! I will not enlarge further on your national inconsistencies. The existence of slavery in this country brands your republicanism as a sham, your humanity as a base pretense, and your Christianity as a lie. It destroys your moral power abroad; it corrupts your politicians at home. It saps the foundation of religion; it makes your name a hissing, and a byword to a mocking Earth. Be warned! A horrible reptile is coiled up in your Nation's bosom; the venomous creature is nursing at the tender breast of your youthful Republic; for the love of God, tear away, and fling from you the hideous monster, and let the weight of twenty millions, crush and destroy it forever!
Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the Nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from the Declaration of Independence, the great principles it contains, and the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age. Nations do not now stand in the same relation to each other that they did ages ago. No nation can now shut itself up from the surrounding world, and trot round in the same old path of its fathers without interference.
The time was when such could be done. But a change has now come over the affairs of mankind. Walled cities and empires have become unfashionable. The arm of commerce has borne away the gates of the strong city. Intelligence is penetrating the darkest corners of the globe. It makes its pathway over and under the sea, as well as on the Earth. Wind, steam, and lightning are its chartered agents. Oceans no longer divide, but link nations together. From Boston to London is now a holiday excursion. Space is comparatively annihilated. Thoughts expressed on one side of the Atlantic, are distinctly heard on the other. In the fervent aspirations of William Lloyd Garrison, I say, and let every heart join in saying it:
God speed the day when human blood shall cease to flow! In every clime be understood, the claims of human
brotherhood, And each return for evil, good, Not blow for blow; That day will come all feuds to end, And change into a faithful friend each foe.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Math Doesn't Lie
Pages H4354–H4357 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Schweikert of Arizona was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.)
Mr. Speaker, this is going to be another presentation of basically budget, debt, my frustration with this place, and my frustration with telling the truth.
Look, we are a remarkable country, no matter what you hear often from our brothers and sisters, particularly from the left, a quarter millennium of a remarkable experiment. We have brought more freedom to the world, more prosperity to the world, more ingenuity to the world, more health to the world.
I think sometimes our dourness, if that is a word, our frustration--and Heaven knows I am a sinner on this. I am terrified of our unwillingness to tell the truth about basic math. So we are going to walk behind these mikes over and over and over and desperately try to find whatever the dopamine hit is of the day, and yet, we will borrow another $6 billion, $7 billion today.
Last week, when I did this, I had my little boy, who had just turned 4 years old that day, running behind us. It was so much fun. Yet, the comments we received from the folks who are unique enough to watch something like this commented on the little boy, not necessarily the math.
I was trying to make the point at one moment saying: Here is my 4-year-old we have adopted. It is the greatest gift God has ever given someone, and he is healthy. We were terrified he would never be healthy. He was born with rather severe drugs. This government has made a decision we will need 104 percent of that little boy's lifetime earnings just to pay the Federal Government pensions, to cover Social Security, Medicare, military retirement, our retirement, 104 percent of the generation of young people today, we are so upside-down mathematically.
I also tried--and I am going to do it again because apparently I didn't do it very well. We passed a housing bill. I voted "no" because there were too many gimmicks and it made government too big. Fine, personal opinion. I actually have a background in housing economics.
However, not once did someone come behind these microphones and say that one of the primary problems in affordability of you being able to purchase a home, Mr. Speaker, is the fact that if we had a normal debt load, then you would be paying 5.5 percent on today's 30-year loan. Instead you are paying 6.5 percent.
Why?
It is because the United States is going to borrow probably $2.3 trillion this year. We are crowding you out, Mr. Speaker. We are raising the price of money.
I have given presentation after presentation saying that if we keep this up for much longer, then the bond market is going to run this country. We will exist in a fear of the weekly and monthly debt auctions.
We actually brought some data just trying to show the difference between 2011, and right now the interest rate movement. This is interest rates. We are paying 1 point higher because of the scale of U.S. sovereign debt borrowing that when you buy that 30-year mortgage, Mr. Speaker, on an average priced home--and I think we used an average priced home in Arizona, not here in D.C.--you are going to pay about $2,500 more, and over the life of that loan, $76,000 more.
That is just the cost of money because we, as a government, borrowed so much. We are responsible for that higher expense in the interest rates.
Except for the problem here is the hallways here are full of armies of people coming into our office demanding more money.
What happens when, Mr. Speaker, you and I go home?
We tell the truth.
Now, we make people angry because I am starting to worry: Voters, do you want us to lie to you?
Is that actually what you are asking for?
Do you want us to tell you things that set off a good dopamine hit, that make you feel this, but don't tell you the truth about the demographics, debt, and deficit?
That is because at that point, it is not a conversation of what else we can give you. It is going to be a conversation of how we are going to fix it.
The data is actually pretty darn clear. Our borrowing raises your car loan, Mr. Speaker, and raises the cost of you financing your small business. Heaven knows, it is going to cost on an average home in Tempe, Phoenix--not Scottsdale--about $76,000 more in interest. That is a knockoff effect.
Let us actually start. I am going to produce a whole bunch of boards here. My rule used to be that I am going to give you the problem, Mr. Speaker, and then I am going to give you a series of solutions. I am tired of coming here with solutions and then realizing there is not a chance in hell--I can't even get cosponsors because it would mean telling the truth.
When I have come here and shown the MedPAC reports, there is $1 trillion, $2 trillion of misalignment because some of it is legal on the edge. We introduced a bill. The preliminary score was $1.84 trillion of savings over 10 years just to fix some of the things in Medicare Advantage that wouldn't cut a single service, and I got told this morning in conference: David, you don't understand. It has the word Medicare. We are not allowed to talk about that in an election year, but we will fix it next year.
I have been here 16 years, and it is always next year.
Let us take a look at this chart. I often start with this one because so few people understand.
Mr. Speaker, do you see the blue area?
That is all you, as a Member of Congress, get to vote on, unless it is a reconciliation budget, except we now use reconciliation budgets to pass things, not save money. Here is your math problem: As of today, just this little net interest sliver for this fiscal year will be 20 percent of all tax receipts. So when you pay $1, 20 cents of that is just covering interest.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to show you some charts here that in 9 years how big that math actually gets. But understand, your government is functionally an insurance company with an army. I love that line. Think about it. It will make sense.
Nondefense and defense, that is all we vote on, and we are about to make this much bigger. People go to war with us when we are trying to cut down nondefense.
Mr. Speaker, a moment of truth. Let's have some fun here. DOGE identified $0.25 trillion in potential savings modeling. What has made it through the legislative process is about $7 billion, basically what we will borrow today.
I know folks aren't really good at math with lots of zeros. Our government borrows about $1 million every 13 seconds or so. In 13, 13.5 seconds, we borrow $1 million, and then $1 million. So often we will have debates here and say that this will save $3 million. I try to explain that it barely covered 30-some seconds of borrowing.
We are now borrowing about 90--if you do just this fiscal year so far, so just this fiscal year, about $73,000 a second.
If you do the last 12 months--understand there is a blip in there because we had the extraordinary measures where we didn't have a debt ceiling and we had to refund it. But if you do the last 12 months, we are borrowing about $98,000 per second.
I know everyone is going to talk about that, right?
All right, let's get to the math. Let's do some speed dating on math.
Do you see this chart, Mr. Speaker?
This is basically to make a point. We are in the OECD, basically the organization of developed economies.
Do you notice the red one down here, Mr. Speaker?
If you add up everything, Mr. Speaker, we are borrowing 7.9 percent of our entire economy. We are the worst in the entire industrialized world.
Mr. Speaker, if you actually start to take a look, you start seeing countries like Greece--and those are much healthier than we are. Do you realize today Greece can sell a 10-year bond substantially cheaper than the United States?
Of course, we are going to work on that and talk about it next year.
Let us actually walk through some of what is going on.
Remember, Mr. Speaker--I am going to try to make this point a couple of times through the presentation in some of the last slides--the primary driver of the debt is not a tax cut over here. It is our demographics. Next year the data looks like we are going to have fewer under 18 than we had 20 years ago and double the number 65 and up.
Are we allowed to actually say that?
It is not personal. It is not actually Democrat or Republican, it is just math.
Mr. Speaker, I am blessed to hold the chairmanship for the Joint Economic Committee, so I have a handful of guys who all have Ph.D.'s, and we geek out on this. We are trying to find ways, and they are terrified with me.
I have done presentation after presentation here of my chairmanship from Ways and Means over the Oversight Subcommittee, where the fraud we found in so many programs--can I get a piece of legislation? Can we actually have an honest discussion of fixing it?
Well, we would have to take on the lobbyists. We would actually have to tell the truth. We would actually have to redesign the programs. We would actually have to have an honest conversation of some of the fraud we found in things like Medicaid and Medicare. Even then, understand, we have worked on this over and over.
It is still 7 to 12 percent of the spending we can figure out is missed payments, fraud. The majority of it isn't some international syndicate coming and stealing money from us. It is things we, as Members of Congress, have allowed to happen because when we find it, we don't go back and fix the law because that would be hard because we will have to take on advertising. They will say mean things about us.
"Raising spending, not falling revenues, have driven long-term deficits."
Here is a point: Revenues. Go back to 2015 all the way through what we have modeled. You will notice it is consistent. It is basically that the long-term projection sits about 18.8 percent of the entire economy we are collecting. Back down here was slightly below, 17.8, 17.9. It is not tax cuts. It is demographics.
Here is the problem: Our spending, when we get 30 years from now, almost 28 percent of the entire economy, but I need to make a point. When you actually look at some of these charts, you are going to actually see--and I am bouncing around--if we do current policy--let me explain for those who are not budget geeks.
Here is the law. In our laws, we have: Oh, taxes are going to go back up in 4 years. Oh, that program is going to get cut in 4 years. We used to have this thing called paygo, pay as you go, except in the law, there was a scam. It says if it goes beyond 5 years, we have to find offsets to pay for it, but if you write the law that it ends in 5 years, even though they never end in 5 years because we always extend it, then you don't have to score it. You don't have to score it as more long-term debt. We lie in our budget documents.
Here is the current law. So last summer, 1 year ago, we had a whole fight about this. Do you use current law or current policy, even though this current law had all these things ending? So we couldn't win that so we used current policy, which actually gave it--extending of the current spending.
Now, when you start to take a look, you start realizing that revenue has basically stayed the same, but now you are borrowing about or spending about 32 percent of the entire economy. Then, you take another look at it: Budget deficits under current policy will exceed 14 percent of the entire GDP.
That is in 30 years. How many of you plan to be around in 30 years? If you plan to be around in 30 years, think about this: Treasury tomorrow wants to sell a 30-year bond. There is still a remarkably liquid market buying our bonds. When will the folks buying that 30-year bond start to realize: I have a problem.
Thirty years from now, if we stayed with the current both law and our policy baseline, you have about 14 percent of the country's GDP just in borrowing, not spending. It is not in building things. It is just paying interest.
Let's get back on track here. This is one of the things I have railed about over and over because I get frustrated with it.
CBO keeps having to readjust its baseline. Why does it have to readjust its baseline? It readjusts because things happen: COVID happens; a war happens; 2008 happens; and Congress happens. Understand, if you and I take a look at what were our projections, we functionally have added just about--I think this all adds up to $1.39 trillion in additional spending in the baseline.
It is geeky, but what it means is, when CBO puts out a report, it is of what they have, but they are constantly having to update it because things happen in the economy; interest rates go up; and we spend money and don't pay for it.
Let's actually walk through another famous chart. Ever since the pandemic legislation--during the pandemic, we were spending about $63,000 per American citizen. Guess what. Today, that is way down. We are spending about $55,000 per American citizen, but over the next 9 years, it goes up to $66,000. If you add up all the spending, add up all the residents of the United States, citizens, $66,000 is our spend. Right now, it was $55,000. Anyone see a math problem? If you don't see the math problem--I am going to bite my tongue.
Budget deficits under current law will reach $3.1 trillion by 2036, so that is 9 budget years from now, because we are working on right now--hopefully, we are finishing and passing the 2027 stuff. This is under current law. I need you to understand how devastatingly ugly this number is, and when I show you under current policy, it is even worse.
This is 9 budget years from now. CBO last February said, hey, we are going to be borrowing $3.1 trillion that year, 2.1 of it will be just interest. So, the structural deficit will be only a trillion dollars, but on top of that, we owe $2.1 trillion in interest. Okay.
What does that actually mean to us if we just--this is under current law. That means, in 9 budget years, 31 percent of every tax dollar that is paid, meaning income tax, payroll tax, and tariffs, everything coming in, in 9 budget years, 31 percent of all those tax collections will be just interest. It will be just interest, and this is on current law, assuming no wars, no pandemics, no market crashes, and no additional spending from Congress.
If you come back over here, my math says 20 percent. The chart says 19 percent. Depending what revenues are, it could be 21. That is this year. Let's just use 20 percent. This year, when you write $100, $20 of that just went to pay interest. Anyone see a problem?
Let's see. "Budget deficits under current policy will reach $4.4 trillion." See what I am doing here. This one said the deficit--and I am sorry; this is a little awkward--in 9 budget years is $3.1 trillion under current law, but if we keep doing what we have been doing, which is we just extend current policy.
I am sorry this is geeky, but it is math. This is going to destroy the Republic. We have made it a quarter millennium, I would like this to be another American century. I would like it to be the place my 10-year-old and my now 4-year-old prosper. Hell, I would like to have a nice, quiet retirement, but in 9 budget years, it is no longer $3.1 trillion of borrowing. It is $4.4 trillion if we follow current spending policy, current baseline spending, not current baseline law. Anyone see a problem?
Mr. Speaker, are we even allowed to talk about this? Because I know the armies of folks, often both at home and in our hallways here, demanding more money, telling us they are going to say mean things about us on social media unless we hand them more checks or we do things to regulate their competition. This is what this place has become. I am terrified we have hit the point where, on Twitter and X, someone saying something mean about me is now a policy override over a calculator.
Here is one of the drivers of this, one of the things that is really uncomfortable to talk about: We have a shortage of young people in the country. It is a math problem. Look, we are only a couple ticks over zero population growth right now. There are a couple datasets out there--depending on what continues with immigration policy and a couple of other things--sometime in the next 5 years, we may actually, as a country, go slightly negative. You go, oh, good.
Remember, Medicare and Social Security are pay-as-you-go programs. I did the presentation a couple weeks ago on the Social Security actuary report. I am sure every Member of Congress pulled it out, read it, highlighted it, and noticed you had about 6 years and 3 months before the trust funds are empty.
If we followed the law--I think the Social Security actuary report is wrong on their math, but they said in 6 years, 3 months, you get a 22 percent cut. I think it is 24 percent. If you extend that out, that is doubling senior poverty in the following year. Yay, we are going to double the number of homelessness living on the street of baby boomers. Is that moral?
Are we allowed to talk about it? Allowed to fix it? Are we allowed to do the really hard things? Guess what, Mr. Speaker. At that same time, the Medicare trust fund is also empty.
From last year to 2032, Medicare doubles in spending. It goes from 1 trillion to 2 trillion. The Medicare Part A trust fund, if you are a hospital, you take a 12-percent cut. That is the law.
How many of you on Medicare are going to be able to see your doctor in that hospital?
Start to take a look at this. In 2025, people 0 to 18, we had 76 million people but 63 million over 65. In 9 years, we will have 70 million, so we will actually have fewer people under 18, and we will have 76 million, 65 and up. I am one of them. I am 64--yes, I am 64 with a 4-year-old. Yes, I am really optimistic about the future. I am just cranky about the math.
All right. Let's continue on this. Workers per Social Security beneficiary. We have got a problem. In 2011 we had 2.9. In 2025, last year, we had 2.7. It continues to do this. It is a little hard to do as a pay-as-you-go program.
That is why every month when Social Security checks go out the door, the Social Security administrator reaches over to their special Treasury bills and say, Treasury, we are short because the payroll taxes don't cover all the checks going out the door. Give us some of our money back. That goes on and on for about another 6 years and 3 months, and then they don't have any more to cash in.
Seniors per 100 working-age adults. 2011, we had 21.9 seniors per 100 people in the labor force. Last year, it is now 32. I am just trying to pound this point in. We prefer it to be: Oh, it is horrible Democrat policy. And they say: Oh, it is a tax policy. I have already shown you the percentage of the economy that we take in in taxes has stayed remarkably stable. The economy grows so you may have a lower tax rate but, because the economy is bigger, you are still taking in the same percentages of the GDP.
U.S. population age 65 and up. 2011, we had 41 million. 2026--this is a projection for this year--we have 63 million.
Estimated share of outlays by group. I know there are a lot of bars on this chart. The punch line here is actually very simple. In about 25, maybe 26 months, over half of the Federal Government spending will go to those 65 and up.
Now, why is this important? Now, remember, think of baby boomers as large demographic quartiles. When I was a kid in the 1970s, for every dollar for seniors, there was $7 spent for those functioning under 18. That is almost reverse now. It is not really about a change in policy. It is actually a change in demographic populations.
This is really important. National defense in 9 years will take 12 percent of our spending. Seniors over 65 will take 52 percent in 9 budget years. It is just math. We know it. Hell, we knew people were going to turn 65--we knew we had a baby boom 65 years ago--actually 70-some years ago.
Why are we so terrified to go in front of our voters and tell the truth about math? Why are we afraid to tell them that often the crap that they see on this thing is fake? It is meant for you to click, get a nice dopamine hit, but it is not budget policy.
I had a woman the other day at an event--beautiful event, wonderful people--I think it was up in Prescott, talking about this. She was absolutely positive, if we just cut this one benefit off, we could balance the budget.
We spent a couple moments. We walked on the internet using our phones, and she saw it was like $9 billion was the total value of the benefit over a year. It did cover about a day and a quarter of borrowing--not spending, borrowing. She was devastated. It was as if I said something horrible to her.
Is that why politicians are terrified? Is that why we are terrified to actually tell the truth to our brothers and sisters? Remember, you have a country that is borrowing about $6 billion to $7 billion every day.
I started to talk about DOGE before. My economists, we helped them. I am a believer we have to have a revolution in how we provide government services: the adoption of technology, the elimination of excess positions, those things. All that has passed so far is about $7 billion in actual spending cuts that have made it through Congress, Senate, and to the President's desk for his signature.
Functionally, it barely covers one day of borrowing. How many of our folks back home get a text message every other week saying: Are you ready for your DOGE check? Just send us a couple thousand dollars, and we will send you a DOGE check. Those text messages are fraud.
The point of this is: It is just demographics. I am one of them. I am at the tail end, but I am a baby boomer. It basically means, in 9 budget years, 21.4 percent of our population will be 65 and up. We will have moved into our earned benefit years: Medicare, Social Security, military or public service retirement, whatever it is. Then you take other calculations that I am not going to geek out too much on: labor force participation, the number of our population that is actually in the labor force, and then we have a math problem.
What is the moral obligation of those of us who are elected to actually know what--sorry, I can't curse on the floor--know what the hell we are talking about, know the math, stop trying to sell shiny objects and things that basically are enraging but don't take down the republic?
I will argue this debt, unless we find a way to start stabilizing it, we are not going to make it another 250 years.
Is this miracle of a self-governing republic worth saving? Then it is worth telling our voters and the public the truth about our demographics, the cost of financing it, and how much trouble we are actually in.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will go back and look at all of the angry comments I am going to get because, once again, telling the truth means you get the crap kicked out of you around here. I am perfectly happy to do it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Defense Innovation with Ukraine
Pages H4357–H4358 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. Kaptur of Ohio was recognized for 30 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to spotlight the urgent need for deepened cooperation between the United States and Ukraine in defense innovation. This follows yesterday's important announcement of $18.4 million of investment through our Department of Defense in our Northwest Ohio region.
After over 10 years of Russia's brutal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine has given the world a master class in the future of warfare. Ukraine has pioneered drone tactics and technology. It has developed cost-effective air defense systems, all under the most difficult of circumstances.
Imagine Russia, a nation of 11 time zones. Ukraine has but one. Russia has 3.5 times as many people as Ukraine, but Ukraine fights on nobly.
Ukraine's ecosystem of innovation is a model that the free world can't afford to ignore.
No matter where I travel as a member of our Defense Subcommittee and meet with U.S. troops who are close or in theater, do you know what they say to me? Congresswoman, please help us advance drone technology.
I have heard many things from troops, but that has been one of their most constant clarion calls to Members of Congress, and we intend to deliver to them.
That is why today, I introduced the bipartisan Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act--I underline bipartisan--along with Representatives Fitzpatrick, Quigley, McCaul, Costa, and Bacon. These are Members with experience, both military and civilian.
This companion legislation to its Senate counterpart introduced by Senators Rosen and Rounds would establish a landmark strategic defense innovation working group with Ukraine and NATO. This working group would accelerate joint production of innovative systems to defend our nations at a time when liberty needs it most and it is being challenged in many, many ways globally.
Remember, Iran just killed American troops with the same weapons it tested with Russia. Iran and Russia have a relationship, and then they used the technologies against Ukraine. But it was Ukraine that came to our defense with its innovation in the Middle East. It was Ukraine. That is the mark of a true ally and friend under very difficult circumstances.
Mr. Speaker, when I visit U.S. troops defending liberty, I ask them: What else can we do? They say: Just get us better drones faster.
Thus, today, I rise in celebration of the announcement of $18.4 million in F-Drone manufacturing to be anchored in Ohio; both Central Ohio, which has already received Anduril's investment, and now in Northwestern Ohio, $18.4 million to begin to manufacture F-Drones on our soil.
An all-hands-on-deck local, State, and Federal approach won the day for Northwestern Ohio. Our sustained engagement now has attracted one of the leading manufacturers of unmanned systems: Ukrainian defense drones, the U.S. arm of Ukraine's F-Drones, to stand up assembly in Northwestern Ohio.
It will complement an equally significant investment by Anduril in Central Ohio. Already, our State of Ohio is well recognized as the home of aviation, of space exploration, and defense industrial base manufacturing. We are the home of the best fighter wing in the United States of America, F-16s, and they are a guard unit. We are so proud of them.
This UDD drone firm will operate on the cutting edge of drone technology and defense innovation. Its systems have been battle-tested on the frontlines of liberty, defending the free people of Ukraine from Dictator Vladimir Putin's merciless and unprovoked invasion.
UDD is now one of the leaders in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program, ensuring that American troops can defend themselves with the best technology available.
I have been honored to work with the innovative UDD team to spotlight the benefits of investing in Northwestern Ohio.
Working closely alongside the Regional Growth Partnership and JobsOhio, and with Governor Mike DeWine, together we achieved a strategic partnership with the potential to grow into a substantial and sustained presence across our Great Lakes region.
We have it all: land, air, sea. Our region has a talented workforce, proven manufacturing infrastructure, research and testing, phenomenal assets with our space agencies, as well as a community that honors and celebrates the shared benefits of working with our freedom-loving allies abroad.
We are confident in our potential to be a global leader in U.S. drone manufacturing, and Northwestern Ohio's manufacturing genius has formed the backbone of the arsenal of democracy. We understand steel. We understand forging. We understand propulsion. We understand tooling. We make things. We form things. We helped defeat fascism in World War II, Soviet communism in the last century, and remain committed to liberty and to sustaining our NATO alliance against all enemies. Building our Nation's defense also builds our middle class, and we keep them free.
Our region stands ready to stay vigilant at creating a future to ensure jobs and industry leadership for Northwest Ohio's manufacturing workforce and making sure that China and other countries like Iran do not have the most sophisticated technology that is known to the world.
The urgent national security imperative of dominating the drone space and the economic benefits for our communities are why I am honored to lead on these issues here on Capitol Hill. These include introducing today, my bipartisan Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act to ensure America continues working with our Ukrainian allies on these vital issues.
Together, we will submit Northwestern Ohio as a critical drone manufacturing capital of America, and with Anduril's investment in Central Ohio, together we will meet our U.S. military's new needs at home and abroad.
Mr. Speaker, in helping to close today, as we return home for Fourth of July commemorations, I rise especially to commemorate and celebrate our Nation's 250th anniversary.
We are still strong. We are still free. We have lots of work to do, but it was this week in 1776 that our Founders, our Framers, our forefathers and foremothers, in Philadelphia, came together to make the courageous declaration that we chose liberty over tyranny.
How that must have felt at that time.
A year before, Delegate Patrick Henry of Virginia, just a little south of where I am standing, proclaimed: "Give me liberty or give me death." A year later, he became Virginia's popularly elected first Governor.
Imagine the courage and the vision.
Our Founders were farmers, printers, and merchants--hardworking, ordinary people who did the extraordinary and envisioned the extraordinary. They gave rise to the idea that freedom is a right, not a privilege granted by a king.
For 250 years, that Declaration of Independence and choice of liberty has carried our Nation through wars and expansive economic recessions, through innovation and growth, and through division and unity.
It was stronger than the weakest among us.
It is important that we don't just look back with pride. We must look to the future with purpose to what the next 50 years, 100 years, and even 250 years of the American experiment might require of us.
First of all, it should require duty--duty to country--duty to country before self, because liberty is not free. It requires citizens who rise to duty for our Republic.
In this era, each citizen must make a vital decision to ensure our Nation and people can flourish not just today but for the decades to come. That requires some wisdom, and we could do a little better at that.
Let Americans be proud of our progress when celebrating the next milestone anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, may God bless America and give us all the courage to fight for a good and prosperous and free people, a productive future for all the generations of Americans to come, and gratitude, gratitude, gratitude for where this 250 years has moved America.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
People of Texas Stepping Up
Pages H4358–H4361 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Roy of Texas was recognized for 30 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the bipartisan nature of remarks tonight in remembrance of the importance of this week and Independence Day and our great Nation's history and this particular one, celebrating the 250th.
I am going to first, though, focus a little bit on my home State of Texas. It was 1 year ago this week that we were in the throes of negotiating what was called at the time the big, beautiful bill, an important piece of legislation that I am very honored to have been a part of working through. It was difficult in working through all the complexities of the tax policy, dealing with the complexities of the reforms to Medicaid, to welfare programs, saving $1.7 trillion, pulling back some of the subsidies and unreliable power that was so critically important.
But all of that was going on--and my son, Charlie, who is here with me now, we were here. We were in the throes of the debates. We were at the White House on the 2nd, debating it. We were here on the 3rd, late night. We vote on this thing.
And then I was supposed to be in Kerrville, Texas, which is where I go every summer for the Fourth of July. There was a big concert down on the river, and I was supposed to be there, where my family has gone for, now, at least a decade.
I talked to the President about being here for the bill signing because of all the work we had gone through, and I ultimately told the President that I would stay here for the bill signing.
So I stick around, visited with some friends on the night of the 3rd, and I am watching the weather forecast. I wake up on the morning of the Fourth of July. My son and I were getting ready to go see some friends, and I see the news reports.
All of a sudden, it starts to sink in what had happened in Kerrville. We have had a number of moments here on the floor of the House, one in particular almost a year ago, in which we remembered those lives who were lost and what occurred there in Kerrville.
But now, 1 year since this coming Saturday on the Fourth of July, I do think it merits reflecting on what occurred and, importantly, what occurred after.
That area of the Guadalupe River is surrounded by high cliffs in certain areas. It is a very beautiful part of the State. It cuts through the limestone, and so we had been in drought conditions. You have hard ground, limestone. A massive amount of water pours into that area. It is an area that was inhabited by thousands of people, celebrating, obviously--it was Fourth of July--but summer camps. That is what a lot of people came to focus on.
Remember that we lost 27 little girls from Camp Mystic, and, fortunately, we didn't lose any from any of the other camps, but we lost over 100 other people. A lot of people forget that part. They were people who were camping with their families, whole families that were swept down the river.
There has been a lot of Monday-morning quarterbacking since then, people saying what could have been done and what should have been done, the force of the floodwaters, all that occurred, all that happened, ripping up 100-year-old Cyprus trees, but I just want to focus in on what I believe is the true story of what occurred after.
That is the faith of the community of Kerrville who came together to figure out how to rebuild through the great charity of people across not just the county or the State, but the entire country and the world. We raised over $150 million in private contributions, of which over half, pushing $80 million to $100 million, had been pushed out the door--the rest of it should be out the door by the end of this year--to help small businesses, to help people keep afloat, mental health, keeping people in houses and apartments, giving people the ability to stay on their feet, and all done through the power of the strong faith of the people of Texas.
In the town of Kerrville, there is a giant cross that sits up on the hill, and there is an entire garden there dedicated to the gospel of Christ. The extent to which Christian faith was driving the people of Texas and central Texas and the Hill Country to help their brothers and sisters and help families cannot be overstated.
I have to tell you that, as a Member of Congress, I don't tend to do a lot of the requests for funding. I don't come up here and try to file bills when there are disasters in my home State of Texas. My view is that we are the eighth biggest economy in the world. We have 31 million people, and the Federal Government is not an ATM for every ill that befalls the people.
I am proud of the people of Texas stepping up. Yes, FEMA was there. Yes, the Federal Government was a part of the effort in dealing and managing with the aftermath, getting assets there, the Coast Guard heroism.
But there were a lot of volunteers, too--colleagues, friends of mine, Morgan Luttrell, others who were literally in the water looking in search and rescue. The number of people who volunteered, I came in on the night of the Fourth of July, and I went to the facility where they were gathering in all of the experts and all the people who were there and all the volunteers, and the sheriff and all the local law enforcement.
This one young man was just sitting in the parking lot, and he had just driven down from Lubbock 5-odd hours and just came down on a whim as a volunteer with a bunch of drones so he could help.
I kept running into people from all over who had just driven there, the Cajun Navy who came over. All of the people who stepped up to help, I want to express my gratitude and thanks to so many different people, local volunteers, the people who helped out, but all the way up to the President of the United States himself; Susie Wiles herself; former Secretary Noem; Governor Abbott; the head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Chief Nim Kidd; the Kerr County sheriff, Sheriff Leitha; and countless local leaders.
More than 850 people were rescued from the floodwaters during those critical days, notably the Coast Guard, which President Trump had acknowledged at some point here. The $150 million of charitable contributions, all of the things that occurred, it is such a great place, central Texas.
There is a reason people from all over the country--my colleague Buddy Carter had one of his family members, even though he is a Congressman from Georgia, who was impacted by the floods. There were friends of mine and colleagues from other parts on the other side of the aisle who were reaching out to me because they had people who were affected by the floods.
At the end of the day, it is that cross sitting above Kerrville. It is the cross that reminds us that, even in our darkest moments as humanity, hope remains. The suffering is not the final word.
The love of Christ was on display there. The love of Christ is constantly on display there in the Hill Country and reflected in the actions and the compassion shown by Texans and Americans around the world.
I want to remember those people. I want to remember the lives lost. I want to remember the heroes. I want to remember the people who were there at the moment.
With all due respect to a lot of politicians, particularly in Austin, Texas, particularly some of the statewide, elected officeholders in the State of Texas--and they know who they are--they sit around pontificating and pointing fingers at people about what they should or should not have done from the comfort of your office and your perch in Austin, Texas, when good people lost their lives trying to help little girls who lost their lives.
Dick Eastland, who was swept away in the flood, and his family and the people who are maligning their family for what the camp should or should not have done--the fact of the matter is, they were there at 4 o'clock in the morning. They were there trying to figure out how to manage one of the most devastating floods that we have ever seen. Politicians who want to Monday-morning quarterback and want to try to point fingers are not helping.
The people who had faith in the Lord Almighty, the people who stepped up to help each other in the time of tragedy that we had last year, they are the ones who I want to lift up and thank because it is not about finger-pointing. It is about standing alongside our brothers and sisters when bad things happen because bad things have always happened, and bad things will happen again. It is how we respond to them. It is what we do in the wake of them. It is our faith in the Lord Almighty and our faith in Jesus Christ that is what perseveres, not political self-interest and self-motivation.
I also note here, as I think about what happened there and the greatness of Kerrville, the greatness of the Hill Country, and the greatness of the State of Texas and the whole world in response to that, from my perspective, I think about all the things that that day represents, July Fourth.
Now, so many of us are going to remember July Fourth there in Kerrville for that event, but I am going to be back in Kerrville this Fourth of July. I am not staying here in D.C. for the great celebration here. I have been to a bunch of them in this town. I am going to go back to Kerrville because I want to be with the people who I represent, and I am proud to represent them as the Congressman for the 21st Congressional District.
The Fourth of July, what I prefer to call Independence Day, is for me such a special reflection of who we are as a people, as a sovereign nation.
I was blessed during the window of COVID to road trip with three of my staffers to Philadelphia on July 2, 2020. People will recall that, at the time, much of our Nation was shut down. You couldn't go anywhere. You couldn't do anything.
At the time, there was a lot of turmoil, rioting in the streets, burning down businesses, statues being thrown in the water, and statues being defaced. I wasn't going to have any of it. I wanted to exalt the greatness of our country.
So, I grabbed my staff, and I said: You guys want to go on a road trip, the great American statue road trip? We drove to Philadelphia, and we went straight to Independence Hall. I recorded a video outside of Independence Hall, talking about how it wasn't the bricks, the building, the Liberty Bell sitting out there in front of Independence Hall--none of that. You could graffiti it, paint it. You could destroy it. You could throw it in a river or a harbor. It was what was done in that building.
I went over to the National Park Service, and I said: Hi. I assume the building is not open because of COVID. And they said no, God bless them. As a Member of Congress, they let me go in with my three staffers.
There we were there on July 2. Any student of history will know why that matters. It is, in fact, on July 2, not July Fourth, that we voted, that our Founders voted. That was the vote that mattered.
The words of the Declaration of Independence are awesome. I say that as a University of Virginia graduate and proud believer in all of those principles articulated by Thomas Jefferson and the other people who had a hand in that drafting. It was the vote--it was the willingness to vote and say we are leaving and breaking away from the Crown. Those last words in the Declaration of Independence, pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor--we talk about those words, but they lived them. They sat there in Independence Hall, looked each other in the eye, and voted to do it.
Again, at that time, in that summer, when statues were being torn down and stuff being thrown into the water, my point when I went up there and recorded video was: You can undo all of that, but you don't undo the courage of those who came before us to fight to give us this great Republic and great Nation in which our freedoms can be enjoyed by us and by our progeny.
I recorded a video at Independence Hall. We stayed there and visited. We got to be there in Independence Hall on July 2.
I don't know if I will ever do that again, but certainly not in a building that was pretty much empty except for me and three staffers.
Then, we left and went down to Fort McHenry, where we were regaling the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and Francis Scott Key coming back down through Baltimore. You think about what that meant. I could sit here and give an entire speech on the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
People want to diminish "The Star-Spangled Banner," saying that it is more difficult to sing or doesn't soar as "America the Beautiful" or something. I disagree wholeheartedly. The words echo when you are at a stadium and listen to the words and see what it means: that that flag was, in fact, still there. It is so important that we remember that and remember why that is our national anthem.
Then, we drove back down to D.C. and went to various monuments here in Washington. We went down to the Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. We went to the Roosevelt Memorial. We continued to do that to honor the greatness of this country, even as some were trying to tear it down.
I say all of that to say that our sovereignty as a nation matters. It is not something that you can just sort of trivially dismiss.
I am going to make a quick political commentary here and then come back to our celebration of the 250th. I have about 15 minutes left. I want to talk about the Supreme Court ruling today, because it matters a great deal.
Today, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion that I believe was profoundly misguided and undermines our national security and our sovereignty as a nation in a profoundly damaging way.
I have friends and people who have debated this issue for years, good friends on both sides of the aisle. This is the issue of so-called birthright citizenship. Are you an American citizen for simply and solely being born on American soil? I remember thinking a long time ago that there was something kind of magical about that concept, that if you are here and in America, and you are born here, you are an American.
It became clearer and clearer to me as that privilege--it is not a right; I want to come back to that in terms of what the 14th Amendment says--but what that privilege means to be an American. It was being abused. It was being abused by people for profit and being abused by people for some sort of monetary benefit or a benefit of some social welfare or benefit of going to a hospital or going to school, all things which I understand, as a parent, seeking, but we have turned on its head everything that is good and great about our Nation.
This opinion today by the United States Supreme Court, saying that the 14th Amendment, which was very clearly ratified to deal with the issue of slavery in a post-slavery world--to whom do these former slaves now owe allegiance? To factor that into determining how you define our character, as we are adopting the 14th Amendment, it was very clear that "subject of the jurisdiction thereof" was meant to deal with that.
For five Supreme Court Justices today to manufacture in whole cloth that the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, somehow conferred upon someone citizenship because a parent came to the United States and birthed the child on American soil, despite not being a citizen and despite not having any allegiance to the United States, is not just appalling, but it begs: Who we are as a nation?
The Chief Justice, no doubt, and Justice Barrett, and the other three Justices who joined that opinion no doubt believe they were doing some sort of great service by trying to establish that this means some great thing for the United States.
I would argue that what they are doing is destroying the United States because you no longer have a sovereign nation. If you are telling the world that all you have to do is flout our laws and break our laws, come to our country and have a child, and that child gets to have citizenship, which has things conferred upon it--voting and other privileges and access to welfare benefits--then all of those who bled and died for this great Nation, to just hand that over in violation of the entire text, spirit, and letter of the Constitution and the 14th Amendment, is detrimental to our republican form of government.
Roberts, emphasizing: Children born of parents unlawfully or temporarily present in the United States satisfy both elements of the Citizenship Clause under the Constitution, he concluded, they are citizens at birth.
That is false.
The Supreme Court majority ruled that illegal aliens invading our country, having U.S.-born children, and is somehow legally sound even though the Justices in Wong Kim Ark rejected that notion.
This is something that has been debated for a long time, but when we think about this, an estimated 124,000 to 300,000 anchor babies--which are children born to illegal aliens--are born each year. In 2023, up to 250,000 children were born to illegal aliens, which accounted for 7 percent of total births.
I cannot imagine that if you told those men that were sitting in the foxholes in Bastogne, and they were storming the beaches in Normandy to scale the cliffs, had bullets firing at them, that they would say: Yeah, sure, let's turn over the country and our sovereignty as a nation to anyone who comes onto our soil and just tries to claim it.
It is being abused by our adversaries to undermine our national security.
The fact is, the United States Congress cannot just sit idly by and allow the Supreme Court to do this. People will say: Well, Chip, separation of powers. The Supreme Court is going to get the final word on what the law is.
Well, I would tell you that the Supreme Court has clearly made significant errors in judgment in the past. No one needs to look too far to figure out what that is: Plessy. There have been other opinions, Roe v. Wade, which the Court has now rightly gone in a different direction.
I would argue, though, that the Congress needs to react swiftly and make very clear that we define what "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" means, that Congress should act swiftly to say we are not going to fund this false notion of who citizens are; and, thirdly, that we are going to just pause immigration.
If the Supreme Court of the United States, in its infinite wisdom, says they get to decide as the final arbiter who is or is not a citizen, then why should Congress allow people to come into the United States to abuse it, to have children, to take advantage of a citizenship that is not actually allowed under the Constitution because the Supreme Court got it wrong?
If the Supreme Court were to order or interpret the law that the President of the United States or the Speaker of the House or the majority leader of the Senate needs to appear before them unclothed to report to the Supreme Court, should those leaders of the other branches comply?
Well, Chip, that is absurd. Okay. Well, if the Supreme Court issues a ruling that is patently and factually unconstitutional, must the other branches follow it?
I say no. I say no.
Well, Chip, that is a controversial opinion.
I don't think so.
The Constitution of the United States does not stand for the proposition that the Court ruled today. It simply does not. I think even a basic reading of the Constitution would make that clear.
Justice Thomas and Justice Alito, both excoriating the majority opinion, made sure that it is very clear how wrong their opinion was. However, to make that determination begs the question of what this body, Article I, must do. Not can do, must do.
This is the people's House. I can tell you that the people who I represent have no interest in continuing to pay taxes to fund people who are coming to the United States to take advantage of our country for profit or for any other motive. They have no interest in doing that. So why should we continue to fund a government that would do that?
Look, I can tell you right now that for the decisions I have remaining in my time in Congress in this term, for the remainder of our funding decisions and appropriations, for whatever we are going to do in reconciliation, we better fix this. This Congress better fix this because I have no interest in continuing to fund the operations of a government that has been undermined by the United States Supreme Court.
We should pause all immigration immediately. And, by the way, they say: Chip, you can't get that through the Senate. We have 60 votes.
Well, let's keep having that fight, too, because the SAVE America Act is not the actual full nature of the fight. The issue here is whether there is in any way, shape, or form a 60-vote threshold that we have to follow. There is not.
The Senate, as a body, is, yes, to be a cooling saucer. Yes, as a conservative, I like there to be barriers to quick action for legislation, but under no circumstances does the Constitution or anything else contemplate 60 votes, besides rules arbitrarily set by Members of the Senate.
Here we are at a time when this body, Congress--the House and the Senate together--need to act to protect our Nation's sovereignty: By allowing only American citizens to vote in American elections; to require voter identification in elections of our Federal officials; to, yes, make very clear that "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" means what it means; and, no, we are not going to import people into the United States as long as we are being told absolutely you must grant citizenship for any child born here.
We have a choice, and we need to make it. We can pass the laws necessary to address what the Court did. We can also codify what the President has been doing to secure our border to stop the abuse of the American people that was happening under Biden and Mayorkas by codifying--as we did under H.R. 2 in the last Congress--that work, stop the abuse of asylum, stop the abuse of parole, stop the abuse of catch-and-release policies and all the policies that were being abused to undermine our country which, by the way, is also tied to the birthright citizenship issue.
You cannot have laws that are being openly exploited by certain Americans in conjunction with NGOs and outside groups and people who want to exploit us, including our enemies, to put people in the United States, have the Court just declare that they can be citizens because they decided so, have taxpayer dollars providing benefits to people who have no allegiance to this country, who come here and fly other flags, who come here and say we should change our country; that cannot be how a sovereign nation exists.
We are here this week in this town, and we are going to have a great celebration, and we should. This country has been able, more than any other country on the face of the Earth in history, to provide a better way of life, prosperity, freedom, and the ability to carry out one's faith. This country has led the world, but here we are, and this country hangs in the balance.
For 250 years, we have been that beacon of hope. God bless all of the people who want to come to our country. I am glad they do, and I want to be able to invite and have people come to our country. However, when our country has been badly exploited for decades, when there are people here right now who want to destroy the United States, who want it to become an Islamic state, who want to milk our welfare benefits, commit fraud against the country, and who don't want to raise the American flag with the flag of another country, I do not understand for the life of me why we do not continue to do what we are doing by this President and remove people and why this Congress will not act right now, immediately, to respond to the Supreme Court.
There is no criticism of leadership. I understand why we are leaving. It is July Fourth. I want to go to Kerrville. I get it, but right now I would rather be here.
I would rather be here every day from now until we actually solve the problem.
If we do not defend this country, if we do not make sure that we can have laws that we can depend upon and a Constitution that we can rally around and believe in it, then what do we have left?
The other thing that is getting lost in the shuffle of this celebration--I do want to close with this. I have talked about it before. It is not just the 250th birthday of the United States, but the 200th anniversary this Saturday of the passing of both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on the same day.
I bring that up for a reason in closing. We have a duty to protect that which I believe was divinely inspired by the Lord Almighty. We put In God We Trust up there for a reason. We have Moses overlooking the Chamber for a reason.
You cannot tell me, Mr. Speaker, that Jefferson and Adams, both so central to both the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and its adoption by the Continental Congress on July 2 by a vote, July 4 by drafting, in 1776 to then pass both 50 years to the day on July 4, 2026, with Adams passing saying: Jefferson lives, only to find out, in truth, Jefferson had passed.
These were two men who squabbled, two men who fought, and two men who had different views in terms of federalism but who came together in mutual respect for what they had accomplished and 50 years later pass on the same day, you cannot tell me, Mr. Speaker, that this Nation was not divinely inspired and divinely created.
As we sit here in our 250th birthday and that 200th anniversary of the passing of those two great men, my ask of all Americans and the leadership of this great Nation is that we put it all on the line to save that which was, in fact, divinely given to us.
God gave this to us and to the world. The people of the world who want to come here will not have a nation to come to if it is no longer a nation. We have a duty to protect it. It is, in fact, compassionate to protect this Nation for everyone in the world.
That is our calling for our next 250 years. That is why we are here. It is why I wish we were all here right now, in full-throated debate, just as they were in the Continental Congress, at its each other's throats until they finally got unanimity to adopt the Declaration and to take that vote and to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Adjournment
Page H4361 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 13 of rule I, the House stands adjourned until 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
Thereupon (at 8 o'clock and 23 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Executive Communications, Etc.
Pages H4361–H4362 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows:
Text printed in the Record (9,029 characters)
EC-3949. A letter from the Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations (RIN: 1210-AC17) received June 23, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
EC-3950. A letter from the Special Counsel and Legal Advisor, OEA, Federal Communication Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection [WC Docket No.: 11-10]; Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program [WC Docket No.: 19-195]; Delete, Delete, Delete [GN Docket No.: 25-133] received June 23, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
EC-3951. A letter from the Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Guidance for Technology-Inclusive Risk-Informed Change Evaluation (Regulatory Guide 1.261, Revision 0) received June 17, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
EC-3952. A letter from the Deputy Director of Congressional and Public Affairs, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's final rule -- One Year Suspension of Expansion of End-User Controls for Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities [Docket No.: 251106-0169] (RIN: 0694-AK34) received June 17, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
EC-3953. A letter from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates-Visa and Citizenship Services Fee Changes [Public Notice: 13003] (RIN: 1400-AG13) received June 17, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
EC-3954. A letter from the Director, Office of Regulatory Oversight and Management, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's interim final rule --Implementing Regulation for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Environmental Effects of the Department of Veterans Affairs Actions (RIN: 2900-AS33) received June 17, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-3955. A letter from the Manager, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of Northeastern Bulrush From the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants [FWS-R5-ES-2023-0014; FXES11130900000-267-FF09E22000] (RIN: 1018-BD66) June 17, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-3956. A letter from the Acting Deputy Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Kentucky Regulatory Program [SATS No.: KY-263-FOR; Docket ID: OSM-2020-002; S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 267S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 26XS501520] received June 23, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-3957. A letter from the Wildlife Biologist, Migratory Bird Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Migratory Bird Subsistence Harvest in Alaska [Docket No.: FWS-R7-MB-2025-1694; FXMB12610700000-267-FF07M01000] (RIN: 1018-BI70) received June 24, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-3958. A letter from the Biologist, NMFS -- Office of Protected Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project on Interstate 5 between Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA [Docket No.: 260513-0130] (RIN: 0648-BN34) received June 17, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-3959. A letter from the Chairman, Surface Transportation Board, transmitting the Board's final rule -- Civil Monetary Penalties-2026 Adjustment [Docket No.: EP 716 (Sub-No. 11)] received June 23, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-3960. A letter from the Paralegal, Office of Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Pipeline Safety: Editorial Corrections to Telephone and Facsimile Numbers [Docket No.: PHMSA-2026-1548; Amdt. Nos.: 190-28; 192-172; 193-27; 195-128] (RIN: 2137-AG52) received June 26, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-3961. A letter from the Paralegal, Office of Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Pipeline Safety: Removing Obsolete Provision in Safety-Related Condition Reporting Requirements [Docket No.: PHMSA-2026-1542; Amdt. No.: 191-39] (RIN: 2137-AG46) received June 25, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-3962. A letter from the Paralegal, Office of Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Pipeline Safety: Editorial Correction to MAOP Reconfirmation Requirements [Docket No.: PHMSA-2026-1541; Amdt. No.: 192-170] (RIN: 2137-AE72) received June 26, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-3963. A letter from the Paralegal, Office of General Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Pipeline Safety: Clarification of Incident Reporting Requirements for Gas Pipeline Facilities [Docket No.: PHMSA-2026-1540; Amdt. No.: 191-38] (RIN: 2137-AG44) received June 26, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-3964. A letter from the Paralegal, Office of General Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Pipeline Safety: Consent Orders [Docket No.: PHMSA-2026-1538; Amdt. No.: 190-26] (RIN: 2137-AG42) received June 26, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-3965. A letter from the Director, Regulations and Disclosure Law Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's interim final rule -- Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process [USCBP-2026-0761; CBP Dec. 26-13] (RIN: 1685-AA45) received June 25, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Ways and Means.
EC-3966. A letter from the Regulations Writer (Social Security Specialist), Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social Security Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Penalty Inflation Adjustments for Civil Monetary Penalties [Docket No.: SSA-2022-0007] (RIN: 0960-AI72) received June 17, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Ways and Means.
EC-3967. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Service, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Medicare Program; Strengthening Oversight of Accrediting Organizations (AOs) and Preventing AO Conflicts of Interest, and Related Provisions [CMS-3367-FC] (RIN: 0938-AU88) received June 12, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); jointly to the Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce.
Reports of Committees on Public Bills and Resolutions
Page H4362 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,015 characters)
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1398. Resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8800) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8595) making appropriations for national security, Department of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8884) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize demonstration authority for the disability insurance program; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1383) commemorating the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts; and for other purposes (Rept. 119-718). Referred to the House Calendar.
Public Bills and Resolutions
Pages H4362–H4365 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions of the following titles were introduced and severally referred, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,844 characters)
Carolina, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Riley of New York, Mr.
Simpson, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Feenstra,
Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Ms. De La Cruz,
Ms. Maloy, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Langworthy, Mr. Baird, Mr.
Smucker, Mr. Sessions, Ms. Fedorchak, Ms. Tenney, Mr.
Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Meuser, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Mr.
Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Kustoff,
Mr. Edwards, Ms. Lee of Florida, Mr. Taylor, Mr.
Allen, Mrs. Fischbach, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Guthrie, Mr.
Van Orden, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Flood, Mr. Austin Scott of
Georgia, Mr. Finstad, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Bentz, Mr.
Valadao, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Bost, Mr. Messmer, Mr.
Downing, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Jack, Mr. LaHood, Mr.
Moore of North Carolina, and Ms. Goodlander):
H.R. 9535. A bill to modernize the process for the admission of H-2A workers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. TIFFANY (for himself and Ms. Hageman):
H.R. 9536. A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for certain rules relating to the payment of attorney's fees; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. YAKYM (for himself and Mr. Davis of North
Carolina):
H.R. 9537. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for loan interest payments made with respect to certain watercraft; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Ms. UNDERWOOD (for herself, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Tonko,
Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. LaHood, and Mr.
Bost):
H.R. 9538. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish coverage for certain residential substance use disorder services under the Medicare program; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mr. ALFORD (for himself and Mr. Correa):
H.R. 9539. A bill to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to include consumer facing websites and mobile applications owned or operated by a private entity, to establish web accessibility compliance standards for such websites and mobile applications, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Ms. BALINT (for herself, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr.
Goldman of New York, Ms. Norton, Ms. Stansbury, Mr.
Mullin, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Omar,
Ms. Tlaib, Mr. McGovern, and Mrs. Ramirez):
H.R. 9540. A bill to address the housing crisis through strong perpetual affordability provisions and shared equity housing models, bold investments to increase and preserve the national affordable housing supply, center inclusive local zoning and land use, provide relief for rural renters, and funding paths to homeownership; to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself and Mr. Soto):
H.R. 9541. A bill to prohibit certain Federal funds from being provided to individuals and entities that purchase fiber-optic cable from countries of concern, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania:
H.R. 9542. A bill to repeal the Medicaid-related portions of An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. CASE:
H.R. 9543. A bill to amend the Act of July 5, 1884 to permit the imposition of taxes on vessels operating as tourist accommodations, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. DOGGETT (for himself, Ms. Ansari, Ms. Balint,
Mr. Casar, Ms. Chu, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr.
Cleaver, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms.
DeLauro, Mr. Deluzio, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Garamendi,
Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Garcia of California,
Mrs. Grijalva, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Jackson of Illinois,
Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Khanna, Mr.
Mfume, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Norton, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms.
Omar, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Randall, Ms.
Schakowsky, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Smith of
Washington, Mr. Takano, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Thompson of
Mississippi, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Waters,
Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Carson,
Mr. McGovern, Ms. Tokuda, and Mr. DeSaulnier):
H.R. 9544. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure appropriate payments under Medicare Advantage, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. FULLER:
H.R. 9545. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for increased penalties for sex offenses committed by officers of the United States and Members of Congress, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. GOTTHEIMER (for himself and Mr. Moolenaar):
H.R. 9546. A bill to provide for exceptions for notifications to the United States Government relating to specified foreign entities; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. HAMADEH of Arizona (for himself, Mr. Bacon, Mr.
Crenshaw, and Mr. Moulton):
H.R. 9547. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on emerging investigational treatment options for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and members transitioning to civilian life, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. JACKSON of Illinois (for himself and Ms.
Norton):
H.R. 9548. A bill to provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Ms. JAYAPAL (for herself, Mr. Davidson, Mr.
Garamendi, and Mr. Moulton):
H.R. 9549. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, and the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 to repeal certain reporting requirements related to unfunded priorities, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr.
Quigley, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Costa, and Mr. Bacon):
H.R. 9550. A bill to establish a United States-Ukraine Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. KEAN:
H.R. 9551. A bill to provide for civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. KEATING (for himself and Mr. Moylan):
H.R. 9552. A bill to amend the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act to expand review by Congress of actions relating to sanctions imposed with respect to the Russian Federation; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. LANDSMAN (for himself and Mr. Meuser):
H.R. 9553. A bill to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to submit to Congress a report on for-profit child care providers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business.
By Mr. LATIMER:
H.R. 9554. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for qualified accessible housing expenses, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. LATIMER:
H.R. 9555. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for qualified residence interest paid or accrued during the taxable year, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania (for herself, Mr. Deluzio,
and Mr. McGarvey):
H.R. 9556. A bill to amend the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide adequate benefits for miners suffering from black lung disease, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. LICCARDO (for himself, Mr. Timmons, Ms. Tokuda,
and Ms. Salazar):
H.R. 9557. A bill to amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to allow certain grantees to use Community Development Block Grant amounts for natural disaster mitigation activities, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Financial Services.
By Mr. LIEU (for himself, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Mr.
Tonko, Ms. Williams of Georgia, and Ms. Norton):
H.R. 9558. A bill to establish a grant program in the National Endowment for the Arts to document the American experience; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. LUTTRELL (for himself, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Bergman,
and Mr. Correa):
H.R. 9559. A bill to accelerate the development of, and access to, psychedelic drugs that could save lives and reverse the crisis of serious mental illness in the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. McDONALD RIVET (for herself, Mr. Kiley of
California, Mr. Landsman, and Mr. Vindman):
H.R. 9560. A bill to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to restrict certain financial trade and ownership for certain federal officials and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. MOOLENAAR (for himself and Mrs. Dingell):
H.R. 9561. A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing an accurate and reliable standardized test for detecting tuberculosis in tissue from a human cadaver, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mr. OGLES:
H.R. 9562. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify the classes of individuals born in the United States who are nationals and citizens of the United States at birth and to provide for the inadmissibility of pregnant aliens who are not married to citizens of the United States seeking admission as nonimmigrants, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. PAPPAS (for himself and Mr. Nunn of Iowa):
H.R. 9563.
Text printed in the Record (8,758 characters)
A bill to require former Members of Congress to file annual financial disclosure reports, and for other purposes; to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. Lawler):
H.R. 9564. A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the use of point-access block design for military construction projects, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. SCHWEIKERT:
H.R. 9565. A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to implement large-scale, non-intrusive inspection technology at land ports of entry identified as high risk, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. SCHWEIKERT:
H.R. 9566. A bill to establish a pilot program for use by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at land ports of entry along the Arizona border to assess the use of artificial intelligence through an anomaly detection algorithm, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security.
By Mr. SELF (for himself, Mr. Crane, Mr. Fuller, Mr.
Perry, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Moore of Alabama, and Mr.
Harrigan):
H.R. 9567. A bill to protect individual liberties guaranteed under the constitution of the United States of America and laws made pursuant thereto; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. STEUBE (for himself and Mr. Boyle of
Pennsylvania):
H.R. 9568. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish name, image, and likeness investment accounts for student-athletes, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (for herself and Ms. Salazar):
H.R. 9569. A bill to amend the National Housing Act to authorize insurance of certain mortgages to finance repairs and improvements to condominium projects, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Financial Services.
By Mr. SESSIONS:
H. Con. Res. 111. Concurrent resolution recognizing the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, honoring the memory of the victims, recognizing the courage and sacrifice of the heroes who answered the call to serve, acknowledging the charitable organizations that continue to support survivors and victims' families, and reaffirming the enduring commitment of the United States to defend freedom and never forget; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans' Affairs, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. MASSIE:
H. Res. 1399. A resolution directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records relating to monetary settlements involving acts of sexual harassment; considered and agreed to.
By Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr.
McGovern):
H. Res. 1400. A resolution condemning the People's Republic of China's Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress and the Chinese Communist Party's campaign of forced assimilation against ethnic and religious minorities; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. ALFORD:
H. Res. 1401. A resolution honoring John Wathan on his induction into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
By Ms. BARRAGAN (for herself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr.
Buchanan, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Bonamici, Mrs.
Cammack, Mr. Carey, Mr. Carson, Mr. Carter of
Georgia, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Davis of
Illinois, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Ms.
Fedorchak, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Johnson
of Georgia, Mr. Keating, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr.
Khanna, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Lieu, Ms.
Malliotakis, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Norton, Ms. Schakowsky,
Mr. Schneider, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Ms. Stevens,
Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Torres of
New York, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Mrs.
Watson Coleman):
H. Res. 1402. A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania:
H. Res. 1403. A resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Medicaid is an important lifeline for the health care of millions of Americans; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mrs. DINGELL:
H. Res. 1404. A resolution recognizing the 250th Anniversary of the United States and reaffirming the importance of prevention, public health, and access to healthcare; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mr. GREEN of Texas (for himself, Ms. Barragan, Ms.
Brown, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Case, Ms. Craig,
Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms.
DeGette, Ms. DelBene, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mrs. Foushee,
Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr.
Khanna, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Meng, Ms.
Norton, Ms. Omar, Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr.
Takano, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Tonko,
Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Velazquez,
and Ms. Wilson of Florida):
H. Res. 1405. A resolution encouraging the celebration of the month of June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. MASSIE:
H. Res. 1406. A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives honoring the men of the USS Liberty, urging the declassification of all records relating to the June 8, 1967, attack, and affirming that the lives and safety of United States citizens and servicemembers shall be paramount in the conduct of United States foreign policy; to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. MILLS:
H. Res. 1407. A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the current design concept for the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial fails to adequately honor the profound sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces, and demanding a redesigned monument that clearly and unmistakably honors the valor, combat reality, and distinct sacrifice of post-9/11 veterans; to the Committee on Natural Resources.
By Mr. MOOLENAAR (for himself, Mrs. McClain, Ms.
McDonald Rivet, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Barrett, Mr.
Huizenga, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Stevens, Ms. Tlaib, Mr.
Thanedar, Ms. Scholten, Mr. Bergman, and Mr. James):
H. Res. 1408. A resolution recognizing the State of Michigan's contributions to the United States on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Union; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
By Mrs. RAMIREZ (for herself, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Norton,
Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Ansari, Mrs. McIver, Ms.
Clarke of New York, and Mr. Moulton):
H. Res. 1409. A resolution recognizing the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States of America and reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to the Nation's founding ideals of liberty, equality, and opportunity for all immigrant communities in the United States; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
By Ms. ROSS (for herself, Mrs. Foushee, Mr. McDowell,
Ms. Adams, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Davis of North Carolina,
Mr. Murphy, Mr. Moore of North Carolina, Mr. Rouzer,
Ms. Foxx, and Mr. Harris of North Carolina):
H. Res. 1410. A resolution congratulating the Carolina Hurricanes on winning the 2026 Stanley Cup Championship, the team's first Stanley Cup win in 20 years; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
By Mr. STEUBE:
H. Res. 1411. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2162) to provide for the protection of the integrity of honey marketed in the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Rules.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Page H4365 · Official textPursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted regarding the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the accompanying bill or joint resolution.
Additional Sponsors
Pages H4365–H4366 · Official textUnder clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (7,584 characters)
H.R. 154: Mr. Cisneros.
H.R. 515: Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Walkinshaw, and Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 621: Ms. Craig.
H.R. 645: Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Clyde, and Mr. Ezell.
H.R. 743: Mr. Whitesides.
H.R. 1065: Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida.
H.R. 1106: Ms. DeLauro.
H.R. 1144: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 1189: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 1219: Mrs. Miller of West Virginia.
H.R. 1227: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 1241: Mr. Onder.
H.R. 1266: Ms. De La Cruz and Mr. Peters.
H.R. 1317: Ms. Goodlander.
H.R. 1340: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 1351: Mr. Fleischmann.
H.R. 1369: Ms. Craig.
H.R. 1443: Mr. Crow.
H.R. 1502: Mr. Sessions, Mr. Van Orden, and Mr. Kiley of California.
H.R. 1505: Mr. Crow.
H.R. 1522: Ms. Davids of Kansas.
H.R. 1523: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 1640: Ms. Garcia of Texas.
H.R. 1695: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 1708: Mr. Cohen.
H.R. 1787: Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Walkinshaw, and Mr. Smucker.
H.R. 1810: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 1824: Ms. Craig.
H.R. 1954: Mr. Beyer.
H.R. 1976: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 2048: Mr. Dunn of Florida.
H.R. 2089: Mr. Pfluger.
H.R. 2185: Mr. Thanedar.
H.R. 2192: Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 2219: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 2315: Mr. Onder.
H.R. 2368: Mr. Khanna.
H.R. 2385: Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia.
H.R. 2398: Mr. Weber of Texas.
H.R. 2512: Ms. Goodlander.
H.R. 2595: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 2598: Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 2649: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 2657: Mr. Calvert and Mr. Neguse.
H.R. 2662: Mr. Cuellar.
H.R. 2678: Mr. Norcross and Mr. Meeks.
H.R. 2705: Mr. Patronis.
H.R. 2756: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 3045: Mr. Menendez.
H.R. 3104: Mr. Larsen of Washington.
H.R. 3164: Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania and Mr. Edwards.
H.R. 3199: Mr. Mrvan.
H.R. 3368: Mr. Menefee and Mr. Foster.
H.R. 3401: Mr. Davis of North Carolina.
H.R. 3512: Mr. Goldman of Texas and Mr. Pfluger.
H.R. 3538: Mr. Castro of Texas and Mr. Mrvan.
H.R. 3562: Mr. Garbarino and Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 3597: Mr. Fallon.
H.R. 3674: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 3701: Mrs. Foushee and Ms. Ross.
H.R. 3808: Ms. Goodlander.
H.R. 3868: Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 3869: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 3876: Mr. Vindman.
H.R. 3885: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 3974: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 3978: Mr. Evans of Colorado.
H.R. 4040: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 4143: Ms. Craig.
H.R. 4166: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 4199: Mr. Goldman of Texas and Mr. Gooden.
H.R. 4227: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 4231: Ms. Pou.
H.R. 4433: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 4448: Mr. Harris of North Carolina.
H.R. 4487: Mr. Case.
H.R. 4516: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 4542: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 4648: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 4763: Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 4821: Ms. Tokuda and Ms. Craig.
H.R. 4829: Mr. Subramanyam.
H.R. 4876: Mr. Mrvan and Ms. Pou.
H.R. 4966: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 5032: Mr. Neguse.
H.R. 5052: Mr. Subramanyam.
H.R. 5109: Mr. Pfluger and Mrs. Fletcher.
H.R. 5127: Mr. Quigley.
H.R. 5168: Mrs. Grijalva and Mr. Menendez.
H.R. 5267: Mrs. Miller-Meeks.
H.R. 5269: Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 5343: Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Mrvan.
H.R. 5399: Mrs. Foushee.
H.R. 5454: Mr. Obernolte.
H.R. 5509: Ms. Schrier and Mr. Sorensen.
H.R. 5543: Mr. Vasquez.
H.R. 5544: Ms. Tenney and Mrs. Kim.
H.R. 5557: Ms. Schrier.
H.R. 5588: Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Mannion, and Ms. Meng.
H.R. 5641: Ms. Clarke of New York.
H.R. 5642: Ms. Clarke of New York.
H.R. 5684: Ms. Schrier and Mr. Carson.
H.R. 5731: Mrs. Beatty.
H.R. 5733: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 6005: Mr. Magaziner.
H.R. 6170: Mr. Quigley.
H.R. 6181: Mr. McGovern and Ms. Jacobs.
H.R. 6199: Mr. Carson.
H.R. 6203: Ms. Craig.
H.R. 6231: Mr. Magaziner.
H.R. 6350: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 6375: Ms. Pou.
H.R. 6423: Ms. Schrier.
H.R. 6438: Ms. Lofgren.
H.R. 6475: Mr. Langworthy.
H.R. 6633: Mr. Wittman.
H.R. 6806: Ms. Moore of Wisconsin.
H.R. 6818: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 6835: Mr. Guest.
H.R. 6858: Mr. Guest and Ms. Craig.
H.R. 6951: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 6998: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 7096: Ms. Hoyle of Oregon.
H.R. 7145: Mr. Vasquez.
H.R. 7187: Ms. De La Cruz.
H.R. 7210: Mr. Lawler.
H.R. 7227: Ms. Craig.
H.R. 7391: Mr. Rouzer.
H.R. 7452: Mr. Burchett.
H.R. 7520: Mr. Rouzer.
H.R. 7539: Ms. Brownley.
H.R. 7545: Mr. Huffman.
H.R. 7565: Mr. Garcia of California.
H.R. 7653: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 7657: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 7718: Ms. Gillen and Mr. Sessions.
H.R. 7732: Mr. Garbarino.
H.R. 7733: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 7741: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 7747: Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina.
H.R. 7802: Mr. Foster.
H.R. 7805: Ms. Waters.
H.R. 7855: Mrs. Foushee.
H.R. 7871: Mr. Bilirakis.
H.R. 7931: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 7957: Ms. Lofgren.
H.R. 7961: Mr. Sorensen.
H.R. 7968: Mr. Cisneros.
H.R. 7970: Mr. Goldman of Texas.
H.R. 8003: Ms. Maloy.
H.R. 8081: Ms. Goodlander.
H.R. 8200: Mr. Himes and Mr. Comer.
H.R. 8236: Mr. Babin and Mr. Perry.
H.R. 8261: Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 8291: Mr. Neguse.
H.R. 8313: Mr. Fuller.
H.R. 8324: Mr. Cloud, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, and Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina.
H.R. 8330: Mr. Pfluger.
H.R. 8342: Ms. DelBene.
H.R. 8414: Mr. Golden of Maine.
H.R. 8462: Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia.
H.R. 8465: Mr. Magaziner.
H.R. 8476: Mr. Moylan.
H.R. 8482: Mr. McCormick.
H.R. 8532: Mr. McGuire.
H.R. 8691: Ms. Lofgren and Ms. Norton.
H.R. 8711: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 8730: Mr. Cohen and Mr. Davis of North Carolina.
H.R. 8744: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 8781: Mr. Sessions, Mr. Aderholt, and Mr. Moore of North Carolina.
H.R. 8788: Mr. Levin.
H.R. 8891: Mr. Flood, Mr. Vasquez, and Mr. Davis of North Carolina.
H.R. 8892: Mr. Issa.
H.R. 8938: Mr. Harrigan.
H.R. 8968: Mr. Garamendi.
H.R. 9003: Mr. Cisneros.
H.R. 9047: Mrs. Hayes.
H.R. 9048: Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Gottheimer, and Ms. Ross.
H.R. 9061: Mrs. Kim and Mr. Gottheimer.
H.R. 9067: Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina.
H.R. 9080: Mr. Davis of North Carolina and Mr. Rose.
H.R. 9086: Mr. Goldman of Texas.
H.R. 9103: Mr. Fuller.
H.R. 9129: Mr. Bilirakis.
H.R. 9131: Mr. DesJarlais.
H.R. 9132: Mr. DesJarlais.
H.R. 9134: Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 9191: Mr. Grothman, Ms. Scanlon, and Mr. Onder.
H.R. 9208: Mr. Menendez.
H.R. 9210: Mrs. Watson Coleman.
H.R. 9250: Mr. LaHood, Ms. Norton, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Kean, and Mr. Veasey.
H.R. 9259: Mr. Lieu.
H.R. 9261: Mr. Landsman, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Gottheimer, and Mr. Pocan.
H.R. 9265: Ms. Underwood.
H.R. 9289: Ms. Balint.
H.R. 9298: Mr. Jack, Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. McCormick.
H.R. 9325: Mrs. Fletcher.
H.R. 9331: Ms. Garcia of Texas.
H.R. 9332: Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 9335: Mr. Evans of Colorado.
H.R. 9337: Ms. Maloy.
H.R. 9340: Mr. Fuller and Mr. Wittman.
H.R. 9347: Mr. Garcia of Illinois.
H.R. 9364: Mr. Wilson of South Carolina.
H.R. 9368: Mrs. Kim.
H.R. 9369: Mr. Fuller.
H.R. 9371: Mr. Moulton.
H.R. 9387: Mr. Taylor.
H.R. 9414: Mr. Krishnamoorthi.
H.R. 9417: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H.R. 9447: Mr. Fuller.
H.R. 9448: Mr. Menefee and Ms. Clarke of New York.
H.R. 9458: Ms. Adams and Ms. Tlaib.
H.R. 9473: Mr. Murphy and Mr. Van Orden.
H.R. 9514: Mrs. Harshbarger and Mr. Grothman.
H.J. Res. 63: Ms. Dexter, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Latimer, Ms. Ansari, Mr. Mannion, and Mr. Keating.
H.J. Res. 113: Ms. Ross.
H.J. Res. 172: Mr. Tiffany and Mr. Clyde.
H.J. Res. 196: Mr. Espaillat.
H. Con. Res. 44: Ms. Ross.
H. Res. 181: Ms. Ross.
H. Res. 833: Ms. Ross.
H. Res. 1106: Ms. Escobar, Ms. Jayapal, and Mrs. Trahan.
H. Res. 1277: Mr. Johnson of Georgia.
H. Res. 1286: Ms. Tokuda and Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania.
H. Res. 1328: Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina, Mrs. Kim, and Mr. Garamendi.
H. Res. 1368: Mrs. Dingell and Ms. Ross.
H. Res. 1379: Mr. Davis of North Carolina and Ms. Meng.
H. Res. 1384: Mr. Mfume.
H. Res. 1390: Mr. Magaziner.
H. Res. 1391: Ms. Brownley.
Deletions of Sponsors from Public Bills and Resolutions
Page H4366 · Official textUnder clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were deleted from public bills and resolutions, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (24 characters)
H.R. 2555: Mr. Landsman.