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04National Security Strategy of the United States: Message From the President of the United States
05House Republican Retirements
07Adjournment
1 member spoke
08Oath of Office Members, Resident Commissioner, and Delegates
Daily Digest
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced
65 public bills, H.R. 6419- 6483; and 7 resolutions, H.Res. 926-932, were introduced.
Pages H5048-51
Reports Filed
Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 4503, to improve environmental reviews and authorizations through the use of interactive, digital, and cloud-based platforms, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-392); H.R. 573, to require the Council on Environmental Quality to publish an annual report on environmental reviews and causes of action based on alleged non-compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-393); H.R. 3170, to amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to cover, for purposes of workers' compensation under such chapter, services by physician assistants and nurse practitioners provided to injured Federal workers, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-394); and H.R. 4776, to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-395).
Page H5048
Guest Chaplain
The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Dr. Yancey C. Arrington, Clear Creek Community Church, League City, Texas.
Page H5029
Oath of Office: Seventh Congressional District of Tennessee
Representative-elect Matt Van Epps presented himself in the well of the House and was administered the Oath of Office by the Speaker. Earlier, the Clerk of the House transmitted a copy of a letter received from Mr. Mark Goins, Coordinator of Elections with the Tennessee Office of the Secretary of State, indicating that, at the Special Election held on December 2, 2025, the Honorable Matt Van Epps was elected Representative to Congress for the Seventh Congressional District of Tennessee.
Pages H5029-30
Whole Number of the House
The Speaker announced to the House that, in light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from Tennessee, the whole number of the House is 433.
Page H5030
Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act
The House passed H.R. 1069, to prohibit the availability of Federal education funds for elementary and secondary schools that receive direct or indirect support from the Government of the People's Republic of China, by a yea-and-nay vote of 247 yeas to 164 nays, Roll No. 313.
Pages H5032-36
Pursuant to the Rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Workforce now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted.
Page H5032
H. Res. 916, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 4312), (H.R. 1005), (H.R. 1049), (H.R. 1069), (H.R. 2965) and (H.R. 4305), was agreed to Tuesday, December 2nd. Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act: The House passed H.R. 1049, to ensure that parents are aware of foreign influence in their child's public school, by a yea-and-nay vote of 247 yeas to 166 nays, Roll No. 314. Consideration began yesterday, December 3rd. H. Res. 916, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 4312), (H.R. 1005), (H.R. 1049), (H.R. 1069), (H.R. 2965) and (H.R. 4305), was agreed to Tuesday, December 2nd.
Pages H5036-37
Meeting Hour
Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow, and further when the House adjourns on that day. it adjourn to meet at noon on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 for morning-hour debate.
Page H5037
Presidential Message
Read a message from the President transmitting the National Security Strategy of the United States of America-- referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Page H5037
Quorum Calls: Votes
Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H5035-36 and H5036-37. Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 12:28 p.m.
Every speech and line is the Congressional Record's own text, read from GovInfo. Speakers are matched to members by GPO's own metadata. Referandom places each turn on the Clerk's video by matching its words: 73 of 93 spoken turns were found. Turns without a time are still listed; they just can't seek.
Welcoming Dr. Yancey C. Arrington
The SPEAKER. Without objection, Mr. Arrington of Texas was recognized for 1 minute.
Mr. Speaker, what a joy and honor it is to hear the voice of my older brother leading the people's House in prayer this morning, continuing the sacred tradition since 1789 of calling on Almighty God to consecrate our service for the good of the American people.
Dr. Yancey Cook Arrington is an eighth-generation Texan who, for over 25 years, has served as the teaching pastor at Clear Creek Community Church in the bay area of Houston.
He is joined today in the Chamber gallery by his lovely wife, Jennefer. They are proud parents of my three nephews, Thatcher, Haddon, and Beckett.
Mr. Speaker, I am eternally grateful for my brother's spiritual influence over the years and have always been inspired by his unwavering devotion to God's Word, to God's people, and to God's only begotten Son, Jesus, our Lord.
Thanks be to God for men like Yancey, pastors and preachers throughout these United States, who have dedicated their lives to reminding us that America is great because God is good, and only--and only--if we continue to trust in Him, the sovereign and eternal source of that goodness, will America continue to be great.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Tennessee, the Honorable Matt Van Epps, be permitted to take the oath of office today.
His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.
The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER. Will the Representative-elect and the members of the Tennessee delegation present themselves in the well.
All Members will rise and the Representative-elect will please raise his right hand.
Mr. VAN EPPS appeared at the bar of the House and took the oath of office, as follows:
Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you God.
The SPEAKER. Congratulations, you are now a Member of the 119th Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with our Republican colleagues, including Mr. Fleischmann, who joins me as the dean of our Republican delegation, to welcome our new colleague to the House.
Matt Van Epps brings a great personal story to us here in the Congress. He is a West Point graduate and a lieutenant colonel, and he has a distinguished record of combat service as a helicopter pilot and mission commander.
He is a proven leader with government experience as a member of Governor Bill Lee's Cabinet, serving as the commissioner of the Department of General Services for the State of Tennessee, managing the day-to-day operations of just about every aspect of Tennessee State government.
Most importantly, he is a husband and father, titles much more important than the one he will soon have as Congressman. We are also happy that Meg and Emilia are here, as well as so many other family and friends joining him on this momentous occasion.
Matt has lived his life to the values of duty, honor, and country, and I know that he will carry those values into the Congress. We are excited to have him working with us, and I know so many in this Chamber on both sides of the aisle will also appreciate and enjoy serving with him, as well.
Matt, let me quickly interject here. This institution is built on debate, and as every Member in this Chamber can tell you, we don't always agree on things. Matt, let me give you your first chance at providing a rebuttal. As the father of a Naval Academy graduate, we have a pretty important game coming up, so I will simply say: Go Navy, beat Army.
Mr. Speaker, I now welcome and yield to the gentleman from Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District, Congressman Matt Van Epps, for his response.
Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today humbled by the trust the people of Tennessee's Seventh District have placed in me.
I come to this distinguished body as a Christian, a husband and father, and an Army Special Operations helicopter pilot with nine combat tours, who has seen firsthand what makes this Nation exceptional.
America's strength comes from our enduring belief that freedom is worth fighting for and from our commitment to protect and empower the hardworking families who make the American Dream possible.
My commitment is simple: Lower prices for Tennesseans, bring down healthcare costs, protect communities, and restore American energy independence and economic strength.
I will work every day with President Trump and my colleagues in this House to deliver on the America First agenda.
Our constituents are looking for results. The people of Tennessee didn't send me here to just give a speech. They sent me here to deliver, and that is exactly what I intend to do.
Today, we make history as this is the first time a West Point graduate will succeed another West Point graduate for the exact same congressional seat, so respectfully, sir: Go Army, beat Navy.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride to welcome our guest preacher here today, our guest chaplain, if you will, Dr. Yancey Arrington. Dr. Arrington serves as teaching pastor at Clear Creek Community Church.
Dr. Arrington is from my district, in my district, and does a great service in our district. He has a vibrant congregation under his tutelage. He is in the heart of Texas' 14th District. He is a devoted follower of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the righteous.
For decades, he has been a shepherd to families across our communities, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. Dr. Arrington preaches about the Savior with conviction, clarity, and a heart firmly rooted in service.
I have known Dr. Arrington personally, and I can tell you he is the real deal, and I know that because his wife told me. His walk matches his talk. Whether he is teaching Scripture about Jesus, mentoring young leaders, or helping folks through some of life's hardest moments, he does it with humility and a steady faith that strengthens everyone around him.
He also happens to be the brother of my friend and Texas colleague, Congressman Jodey Arrington, a true family known across Texas for their Christian leadership.
Mr. Speaker, we are so grateful to have Dr. Arrington open today's proceedings in prayer. May God continue to bless him; his bride, Jennefer; their three boys; and the great work being done at Clear Creek Community Church.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of my bipartisan Fast Track Healthcare Apprenticeships Act, alongside my friend, Congressman Mike Kennedy from Utah.
Across the country, and especially in Texas, families are feeling the strain of a healthcare system that simply does not have enough trained professionals. Longer wait times, higher costs, and fewer options for care are symptoms of a workforce that is stretched far beyond its limits.
Our bill takes a commonsense approach to address the shortage. It streamlines and modernizes the healthcare apprenticeship approval process, requiring Federal and State labor agencies to act on the application within 45 days, and directs the Department of Labor to digitize and update
These changes will help aspiring health workers get trained faster and step into good-paying, stable jobs. It will reduce barriers for employers, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and expand access to care in communities that desperately need it.
Our bipartisan bill supports workers and providers and helps ensure that every family can rely on a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable, and built to meet their needs.
I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, which mandated that every child with a disability in America should have access to a high-quality public education.
When Congress passed IDEA in 1975, it was a landmark step toward educational equity. It opened classroom doors to ensure that every child with a disability could grow, learn, and succeed at school. The legislation expanded opportunities for millions of students with disabilities, helping them reach their full potential.
Unfortunately, before 1975, students with disabilities had long been denied access to public education, but IDEA transformed the public school experience for students with disabilities and their families.
Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to our students in this country. Thanks to IDEA, our education system is working to serve the needs of every student in America.
This important milestone shows how far we have come in educating students with disabilities, and the legacy of this landmark legislation means a brighter future for all.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Daniel James Sullivan of Chicago, a veteran, a man of deep faith, and, above all, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
Daniel served our country during the Korean war where his compassion stood out, once building a false-bottom delivery truck to secretly deliver bread to nuns at a nearby orphanage.
Daniel brought that same spirit to his family, his church, and his community. A loyal Chicagoan and a proud Chicago sports fan, nothing gave him more joy than the time he spent with his six grandchildren.
Of his six grandchildren, I had the pleasure of working with Catherine Flannery who interned in my Washington, D.C., office.
Mr. Speaker, we remember and honor Daniel Sullivan not just as a veteran but as the kind of American we should all aspire to be. May his memory be a blessing.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend and fellow east Tennessean, Charlie Tombras, Jr. Charlie passed away at 83 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Charlie was a Knoxville native. After high school, he continued his education at the University of Tennessee where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
After his time at UT, Charlie served his country by joining the Army and heading to Vietnam, becoming a decorated Army Ranger. After his service, he returned to Knoxville to work for his father, the legendary Charles P. Tombras, Sr., founder of the Tombras Group Advertising Agency.
Charlie demonstrated grit and dedication to advertising and pioneered campaigns for many of the world's most recognizable brands. Charlie also kick-started the process of establishing the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations at our beloved University of Tennessee in 2022.
In addition to his successful business ventures, Charlie was a great outdoorsman, holding records in marlin fly-fishing, sailfishing, and spearfishing, and loved to spend his spare time in the Smoky Mountains and the rivers of Colorado.
Mr. Speaker, Charlie was a known all-American family man, who passed in the presence of his loved ones after a long battle with leukemia.
Mr. Speaker, commanding our Armed Forces and safeguarding our national security requires exemplary honor, experience, and loyalty to the Constitution.
Yet time and time again, the President and his Defense Secretary have proven themselves unfit. They have ordered dozens of illegal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean without congressional approval. This week, we have learned they likely committed war crimes by ordering a second strike targeting and killing survivors.
At the same time, President Trump is pardoning criminals like Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former President of Honduras who was convicted in a U.S. court for smuggling more than 500 tons of cocaine into our country and was sentenced to 45 years.
The President is also threatening violence against our very Members of Congress who simply reminded our military of their constitutional duty not to follow illegal orders. Most troubling, the President doesn't know how to lead, and he doesn't care.
Mr. Speaker, I implore my Republican colleagues, ask yourself: Is the President serious about stopping the flow of fentanyl?
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 25 years of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership program known as MARL.
Twenty-five years ago, MARL was founded with the goal of developing the skills of Minnesota's agriculture and rural leaders, connecting them with educational resources to build their influence and effectiveness at local, State, national, and international levels.
In the year 2000, the first MARL class was selected with the inaugural seminar held that November. Today, MARL is recognized throughout Minnesota as the leading agriculture and rural leadership development program.
The idea for MARL was sparked by a 2-year research and development project between Southwest Minnesota State University, University of Minnesota Extension, and the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota.
Since its creation, the MARL program has continued to grow throughout the past two-and-a-half decades, with some of Minnesota's well- respected leaders among its alumni.
Mr. Speaker, as a past board member of MARL, I am especially proud to recognize this outstanding program for its commitment to educating and training tomorrow's rural leaders for the past 25 years. I wish them many more years of success.
Mr. Speaker, the United States Institute of Peace was created
In February, President Trump issued an executive order dismantling the United States Institute of Peace. Subsequently, law enforcement removed the president of the United States Institute of Peace forcibly from his office, and then the Trump administration fired every employee and dismantled the office.
A district court has ruled that he acted improperly because the Congress created the United States Institute of Peace and the President didn't have the authority to dismantle it.
Today, I have learned that President Trump has had his name in massive letters put over the United States Institute of Peace calling it the Donald J. Trump Peace Institute, none of which is legal.
Will his ego stop staining this city by putting his name and his picture all over banners contemporaneous or similar to Teddy Roosevelt at the Department of Labor and others?
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 916, I call up the bill (H.R. 1069) to prohibit the availability of Federal education funds for elementary and secondary schools that receive direct or indirect support from the Government of the People's Republic of China, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 916, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Workforce, printed in the bill, is adopted and the bill, as amended, is considered read.
The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and Workforce or their respective designees.
The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will control 30 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1069.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Michigan?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1069. American classrooms are becoming battlegrounds for foreign influence. For years, my colleagues and I have sounded the alarm about adversaries exploiting our education system. Malign foreign entities like the Chinese Communist Party are working to undermine American values not just on college campuses but across our K-12 schools, as well. This is not only an attack on education and academic integrity, it is a threat to our national security.
Across U.S. colleges, the CCP established Confucius Institutes to push false narratives, whitewash history, and endear American students to the CCP while obscuring its brutal human rights abuses. However, these propaganda operations didn't stop at higher education. In K-12 schools, Confucius classrooms sprang up, aiming to shape the minds of our youngest learners.
At a 2023 Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education hearing, Defending Education highlighted a report exposing nearly two decades of CCP efforts to influence thousands of children. At one point, more than 500 schools hosted Confucius classrooms, many located on U.S. military bases. That is no coincidence. Those programs are a deliberate attempt to undermine American values and compromise our security.
That is why I proudly support H.R. 1069, the Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids, or the PROTECT Act, from Representative Kevin Hern and Representative Kevin Kiley. This legislation prohibits Federal funds from going to any school that also accepts funding from the Chinese Communist Party. It also sets a clear precedent: The U.S. will not allow a foreign regime to dictate what our children learn.
When schools accept CCP funding, they are effectively letting a totalitarian government decide their curriculum. In China, students are taught only what the Communist Party allows. America must never cede that authority. Confucius classrooms have never been reciprocated in China, where U.S.-style cultural exchanges on this scale are forbidden.
The CCP is not interested in genuine cultural exchange or open dialogue. Its goal is indoctrination, teaching students that China is benevolent, while erasing events like the Tiananmen Square massacre and ignoring the ongoing Uyghur genocide and other human rights abuses. By accepting CCP funding, schools shield students from the truth because the party does not want them to know it.
The PROTECT Act gives schools a clear choice: Federal funds or CCP funds, but not both. In the wake of years of learning loss and education decline, schools should focus on student achievement, not spreading foreign propaganda. Under the Trump administration's leadership, we are restoring focus to the education system, putting students first, and protecting them from authoritarian influences.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1069 to protect students, uphold American values, and safeguard our national security.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in opposition to H.R. 1069, the so-called PROTECT Our Kids Act. This bill would add a new stipulation that disqualifies public schools from receiving Federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act if the school receives contributions, materials, or other resources from China or an individual or entity acting directly or indirectly on behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of China.
The bill gives no guidance on what ``acting directly or indirectly on behalf of'' means or how you are supposed to know and how a parent's contribution to a school program should be evaluated, and really, are you supposed to scrutinize all parents' contributions or just those from parents of Chinese-American students?
H.R. 1069 would specifically prohibit Federal funding for any school that operates the program sponsored by the Confucius Institutes or Confucius classrooms. It is worth noting that although there may have been a lot of programs in the past, right now there may be as few as five Confucius Institutes in this country serving K-12 students. The provisions of this bill will have to be administered not by those five school systems, but every school district--15,000 school districts-- will have to administer the provisions of this bill.
As written, the bill would create significant administrative burdens to our schools and chill community investment in our children. For example, the bill would disqualify a school from receiving Federal funds by simply accepting donations from a Chinese immigrant if it turns out the immigrant is acting indirectly on behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of China. That is if you can find out.
The bill bestows upon the Secretary of Education the sole discretion of deciding if an individual is acting indirectly on behalf of the Chinese Government, the very department which the Trump administration is actively dismantling. Without any additional funding or dedicated help, schools would have to become investigators and determine if an individual who wanted to donate to the school or participate in parents' contributions could possibly be tied to the Chinese Government. The justified fear of losing critical Federal funds would almost assuredly lead schools to eye any well-meaning donations skeptically, sowing distrust in our neighbors.
Now note, there is no limit to this level of funding. It doesn't say contributions over $1,000 or over $10,000. It is any contribution. It must be said that there is no credible evidence to support the claims that China is exerting any inappropriate or undue influence over America's K-12 public schools. Even the report from the group Parents Defending Education, which makes these allegations, offers speculation rather than verifiable incidents or actual influence.
However, even if we are able to verify that China poses a credible threat to our K-12 schools, this bill, as written, does nothing to actually address any national security threats. Instead, it seeks to punish schools for accepting educational materials or participating in cultural exchange programs. Actually, our schools would be the victims of the undue foreign influence, but instead of deterring the bad actors, the bill seeks to punish the victim and, in effect, punish our students. The bill is, therefore, poorly written, poorly tailored, misdirected, and ultimately counterproductive and not a targeted national security measure.
Similar to H.R. 1005 and H.R. 1049, which we considered yesterday, H.R. 1069, if passed, would force school districts already facing shortages of teachers, counselors, and support staff to divert critical time and resources from instruction to completing bureaucratic paperwork. This is the very definition of an unfunded mandate. It imposes obligations on 15,000 school systems without offering any capacity or funding to meet that obligation.
Lastly, we have to note that the Trump administration is in the process of trying to abolish the Department of Education, with key responsibilities being shifted to other agencies. We are left with a chaotic patchwork of authority and no one apparently left to actually administer the provisions of this bill.
For those reasons, Mr. Speaker, I recommend a ``no'' vote on the bill and reserve the balance my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Hern), who is the commonsense bill sponsor as well as chair of the Republican Policy Committee.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1069, the PROTECT Our Kids Act, and I urge my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to support this bill.
Through the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese Communist Party has been spreading its malign influence for over a decade. This initiative has one goal: to increase China's economic and political dominance over the United States and the world. Disguised as harmless global infrastructure, transportation, and production networks, this global campaign is anything but harmless.
Education is one of the primary targets of the Belt and Road Initiative, and they are succeeding in their mission to indoctrinate American students with their Communist ideals.
Mr. Speaker, Chinese state media has even bragged about the success of Confucius Institutes and other educational initiatives in spreading the CCP's influence.
This doesn't stop at our college campuses. Right now, China is invading our K-12 schools through Confucius Classrooms. Over the last decade or more, the CCP has infiltrated our public education system, setting up Chinese language and cultural programs in primary and secondary schools.
Similar to the Confucius Institute model at our universities, China rapidly expanded these programs to over 1,000 established worldwide by 2017, with over 500 in the United States. In exchange, their contracts allow China to staff these programs, provide curriculum, and require teachers to sign contracts, ensuring they do not damage the national interests of China.
Make no mistake, this is not out of the kindness of their hearts. The CCP is not interested in helping American students learn Mandarin. They want to brainwash our children, plain and simple.
Since 2013, the authoritarian Government of the People's Republic of China has sent curriculum and PRC-trained teachers into hundreds of K- 12 schools across America as an unofficial component of its global influence campaign.
Concern over the threat posed by Confucius Classrooms is not new. In 2020, Secretaries DeVos and Pompeo sent a letter to State education commissioners, outlining their concern with these types of programs and urging schools to consider the threat they may pose to academic freedom. The State Department found that approval from the PRC's Minister of Education is required when filling teaching positions associated with Confucius Classrooms.
Concerns over the threat posed by Confucius Classrooms are not always exclusive to the United States. In Australia, the New South Wales Department of Education ended the Confucius Classroom presence in public schools due to concerns of potential propaganda. They replaced the programs with Chinese language programs funded and managed solely by Australians.
Similarly, in 2019, the Canadian Province of New Brunswick initiated a two-stage removal of Confucius Institute-funded programs from elementary and middle schools--once again, due to the threat of Chinese propaganda.
The CCP has committed countless violations of human rights, and its authoritarian agenda is antithetical to
We have taken important steps toward mitigating Chinese influence at our American universities by cracking down on Confucius Institutes. Now that the Chinese Government has directed its attention toward our elementary and secondary schools, it is time we do the same and protect our children from the malign influence of the CCP.
The PROTECT Our Kids Act would prohibit Federal funding for any elementary or secondary school that continues to host a Confucius Classroom. Schools will be notified of these requirements and given guidance for how to comply.
To be clear, this legislation is only concerned with programs funded or supported by the CCP. Language programs in schools that do not partner with the CCP are not threatened by this legislation. The only objective is to prevent CCP propaganda from being taught to our kids. This should not be controversial.
Mr. Speaker, I will say it again: Protecting our kids from Chinese propaganda should not be controversial. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I have to say, today, we are here considering a bill that is named the PROTECT Our Kids Act. I am going to speak and shift this conversation a little bit in the direction I think we really need to go.
This bill, the PROTECT Our Kids Act, does absolutely nothing to protect our kids. Just 5 days after three children and a 21-year-old were shot and killed in a mass shooting at a birthday party in Stockton, California, is a level of tone-deafness that I don't think I have seen during my 7 years here in Washington.
There are four families burying their children this week. There are four families burying their kids just like I had to when my son, Jordan, was murdered simply for playing loud music in his car.
Mr. Speaker, 8-year-old Journey Rose, 8-year-old Maya Lupian, and 14- year-old Amari Peterson will never get the experience that they deserve or the promise that this country offers. They will never get that chance--all because they went to a birthday party--and this Congress refuses to do anything about it time and time again. I don't know how many times I have to stand here on this floor to debate and talk about the number of children and people who are dying in this country.
We call this bill the PROTECT Our Kids Act? It does absolutely nothing. My Republican colleagues are deflecting over and over again against the real crimes against our children. Today, they want to bring to this floor a bill that will do absolutely nothing to protect our children.
The real way to protect kids is to keep them safe from unnecessary gun violence. That is what we should be doing at this time, but my Republican colleagues refuse to say anything about protecting children from unnecessary gun violence.
Over and over again, I cannot say how many times--I meet families every single day. I get alerts from my staff every single day of every mass murder and every tragedy in this country. It is overwhelming.
Excuse me, but if we are going to sit here and talk about protecting our kids, if my colleagues are really willing to do that, then they should bring up gun violence prevention legislation. They should bring up policy that really does the very thing that they are pretending to do through this bill: Protect our children.
There is no greater threat to our kids in school, at church, at their birthday parties, or at any other private or public space across this country than gun violence.
We took a very important step with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. We did really good work, not just for Democratic children but for Republican children, as well, but we must do more to keep our children safe.
Shootings are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in this country. Yes, my Republican colleagues have children and families who are dying by gun violence every single day, just like us here in the Democratic Party. We would never know that from this bill or when we are listening to our Republican colleagues.
For people like me, for people who have buried their son or their loved one, their daughter, their big sister, or their little brother before their time, we really know what is at stake. We cannot continue to play this game over and over again, fooling the American people by telling them that we are protecting their interests, protecting their families, and protecting their children with pieces of legislation like this that do absolutely nothing to protect our children.
Mr. Speaker, we know this cannot wait. I am just so sick and tired of the tone deafness. Every time we come to the floor, my Republican colleagues want to put forward a piece of legislation that fools the American people into believing that we are really working on their interests and on their behalf, when it really does not do that at all.
We know that the longer we do nothing, the more likely it is for someone else to have their family torn apart like I have or for someone else to attend a wake or a funeral instead of a wedding or a graduation ceremony. It doesn't have to be this way.
Mr. Speaker, I just--if we want to say it this way--celebrated the 12th anniversary of my son's murder. If my colleagues want to talk about protecting our kids, let's really do that and not this facade.
Mr. Speaker, unlike Columbine, Newtown, Las Vegas, Uvalde, Lewiston, and Stockton, your home does not have to be next.
Trust me, my colleagues. Every single one of us in this body has people dying every single day in our constituencies. We should use this time to really protect our kids and not just act like we are protecting them, while this Republican Congress does nothing about these tragedies at all.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to oppose this bill.
Mr. Speaker, to my friend and colleague, I think she knows that I share her grief and cannot fathom the grief of the loss of her son, especially during the past 12 years.
Protecting kids is a multifaceted process. We are talking about just one aspect in our school systems today. That does not mean we disregard. We may have different approaches, but I certainly want my friend to know we hear her. I guess I will leave it there at this point.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Kiley), the bill's co-lead, as well as the chair of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1069, the Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act, in order to protect our kids and to protect our country.
The Chinese Communist Party is responsible for severe human rights abuses and the suppression of fundamental freedoms, with a long and well-documented history of censorship, oppression, and disregard for human rights.
However, it is equally well understood that the CCP aggressively pushes its propaganda worldwide to reshape global narratives in its favor. That effort has extended into virtually every facet of American society, including, unfortunately, American classrooms.
Findings from the State Department have revealed that CCP-funded so- called Confucius classrooms have operated in over 500 K-12 schools across the United States.
Now, these programs are not about education. They are about influence. The CCP does not act with charitable intent. These programs exist because the CCP expects something in return: control over curriculum and influence over young minds.
It is unacceptable that American school districts have entered into financial arrangements with entities tied to the CCP, an adversary of the United States and a regime with one of the worst human rights records in the world.
The simple premise of this legislation is that no Federal tax dollars
American education should teach American values, not communist propaganda.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and take a firm stand against foreign influence in our children's education.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), who is vice chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1069, the PROTECT Our Kids Act. For far too long, American education has been undermined from within by actors who have taken advantage of our free and open society to advance the nefarious and anti-freedom objectives of the Chinese Communist Party.
Under the veneer of cultural and educational exchange, the CCP and operatives have restricted free speech, monitored Chinese students and faculty, and served as intelligence-gathering conduits on emerging American technologies.
These soft power tactics are part of a broader strategy to cultivate networks of communist influence, within the very institutions responsible for shaping the next generation of American patriots.
These subversive efforts are not limited to our universities. The CCP has even reached into elementary classrooms, cultivating favorable attitudes toward the Chinese Communist Party among young American students.
With passage of the PROTECT Our Kids Act, schools that refuse to confront this reality will no longer be eligible for Federal funds, full stop. The message is straightforward and simple to education administrators who don't understand the concept of American patriotism. This behavior will not be tolerated and no longer subsidized by the American taxpayers.
Under this Republican majority and this Trump administration, American education will be protected and renewed. Our classrooms will return to their rightful purpose: teaching and preserving our great American values.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), who is the chair of the Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1069, the PROTECT Our Kids Act.
The Chinese Communist Party is executing the most sophisticated global influence campaign of our time. They are not just targeting our military or U.S. companies. They are targeting our children.
One of the CCP's key tools is the Confucius classroom program. These programs are funded, staffed, and overseen by the Chinese Government, giving them direct influence over curriculum, teaching materials, and the content presented to American children.
We cannot allow an authoritarian regime that censors information, rewrites history, and silences dissent to have any role in American education. Our classrooms must remain places of learning; not foreign influence.
The PROTECT Our Kids Act sets a simple but necessary safeguard: If a school chooses to host a CCP-funded Confucius program, then it should not receive Federal taxpayer dollars. It is as simple as that. This bill upholds academic integrity, protects parents' rights over their child's schooling, counters communist propaganda, and strengthens our national security.
The CCP is playing the long game: influencing minds early and often. We must meet this challenge head-on.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and stand firm against foreign indoctrination in American schools.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, when you hear the title, PROTECT Our Kids Act, you wonder what this bill is all about. You might think it protects kids from guns, protects kids from bullying, or protects kids maybe from online predators; but no, this is from the foreign influence of China.
There is no credible evidence of any improper influence in K-12 schools, yet this is what the bill is about. It imposes sweeping penalties that do nothing to enhance national security. It only harms students. The apparent target of this legislation seems to be the maybe five school districts that have Confucius Institute programs, but it applies the provisions of the bill to 15,000 school systems in America.
All of this unfolds while the Trump administration works to dismantle the Department of Education, leaving critical responsibilities scattered throughout agencies. This bill wastes critical resources without any apparent benefit.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1069, the PROTECT Our Kids Act, makes clear that schools receiving funding from the Chinese Communist Party will not receive Federal dollars.
For too long, schools have turned a blind eye to the CCP's demands for fear of losing CCP money. However, every dollar came with strings attached: lessons glorifying tyranny, rewriting history, and indoctrinating students instead of teaching American values.
Even more concerning, many of these schools were near U.S. military bases, raising risks of monitoring and surveillance of personnel. This is unacceptable.
To protect our students and our national security, we must pass the PROTECT Our Kids Act. It helps prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting our classrooms and promotes education grounded in truth, freedom, and American values.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 916, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15- minute vote on passage of H.R. 1069 will be followed by a 5-minute vote on passage of H.R. 1049.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 247, nays 164, not voting 22, as follows:
Mr. COURTNEY changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (H.R. 1049) to ensure that parents are aware of foreign influence in their child's public school, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 247, nays 166, not voting 20, as follows:
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on Roll Call No. 313 and Roll Call No. 314. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 313 and YEA on Roll Call No. 314.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Indiana High School Athletic Association 3A football State champions, the Cascade Cadets.
The Cascade High School football team triumphed over Fort Wayne Luers with a 29-14 victory, securing the first football State championship in the school's history.
These outstanding athletes played their hardest at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday. The Cascade Cadets secured a commanding lead in the first quarter and remained dominant throughout the game, ultimately emerging victorious.
I congratulate these outstanding student athletes on winning the State championship, a fitting way to end their perfect season. The students on Cascade's football team should be extraordinarily proud of their tireless efforts and dedication. I know this win means so much to everyone in the Clayton community who was cheering them on to victory.
Congratulations, again, to the Cascade Cadets on this historic championship.
Mr. Speaker, our farmers are the heart and soul of eastern North Carolina. They wake up before the sun rises, working hard to put food on the tables across this country and to keep our local economy strong.
Right now they are facing real and growing pressure. Tariffs are hitting many of our farmers hard. Costs are climbing, markets are shifting, and it is getting harder and harder for them to make ends meet. It is as if they are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs, and they can't keep taking it under the chin.
We can't sit back and watch our farm families, who feed this country, get pushed to the brink. Their livelihoods are hanging in the balance, and they deserve more than words. They deserve action.
We need fair, balanced trade policies that strengthen our agricultural communities so our farmers can thrive and not just survive. We must not sit back, but that means we need tariff-relief assistance so our farmers can stay open and our rural economy can be strong.
Our farmers have always had our backs. We must have their backs.
Mr. Speaker, while I am happy to say that Indiana is one of the most affordable States for homeownership in the country, I know the dream of owning a home is still far off for many Hoosiers.
We have a serious housing shortage in this country. A key reason for this is outdated and obstructive government regulations that prevent and delay new construction. That is why I introduced the bipartisan Streamlining Rural Housing Act.
This bill would require HUD and USDA to develop a joint environmental review process for rural housing projects, cutting red tape and making rural housing easier to build.
If we are to help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership, we must make it easier to build new homes. That means getting government out of the way and allowing developers to build faster and at a lower cost.
I look forward to continuing my work to make homes affordable for Hoosiers and remain committed to addressing the housing shortage in this country.
Mr. Speaker, on October 7, my constituent, Vicente Ventura Aguilar, was snatched off the street by Federal immigration agents.
According to a friend who was detained alongside him, Vicente was last seen on October 8 when he suffered a medical emergency and was separated from the group to receive care. Today, he is nowhere to be found. He has been missing for 8 weeks.
Homeland Security claims he was never in their custody despite multiple credible eyewitnesses who say otherwise.
Mr. Speaker, Vicente has lived in the United States for 17 years. He is not a criminal. He has a family that loves him and is now desperately searching for answers about his well-being and whereabouts. We should not have to chase down Homeland Security, call hospitals, or even the morgue just to get them.
This is not about immigration status. This is about humanity. The United States cannot simply disappear
I demand answers on Vicente's disappearance, and I will not stop until I get them.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a lifetime of service and leadership of Terry E. Branstad, Iowa's longest serving Governor and America's Ambassador to China.
Terry was born and raised on a family farm near Leland, Iowa, where Governor Branstad lived the values that define the State of Iowa: hard work, faith, and service before self.
He carried those values from the fields of northern Iowa to the halls of government, where he helped shape a legacy that touched every corner of our State. In every corner of our State, he knows a story about an Iowa family and how he helped them.
When Terry first entered public service, he brought boundless energy and a deep sense of purpose. As a young candidate for Governor, he was known for literally running to the stage. His predecessor said that is not very Governor-like, but it was very Terry Branstad-like. It is something we have all tried to live in our lives going forward.
He went on to become the longest serving Governor in history, with 22 years of steady leadership. He served as U.S. Ambassador to China, advancing trade, advocating for human rights, and strengthening America's agriculture.
I had the honor of a lifetime of interning for Governor Branstad in 1995. His example of integrity, discipline, and humility is shaping who I am today. We are both Drake grads, military members, veterans, and committed to serving Iowa.
Governor Branstad and his wonderful wife, Chris, are more than just mentors. They are friends to every Iowan. He is a leader who helped build our State, and we are proud to call it home.
I congratulate Ambassador and Governor Branstad on receiving this year's Iowa Award. He more than earned it.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to honor the life of Jordan Ball, a Galesburg seventh grade history teacher and basketball coach, a former Monmouth-Roseville High School teacher, and a proud graduate of Monmouth College.
On Monday, he was involved in a bad car accident, and he lost his life at just 26 years old. Jordan leaves a loving wife, Alex, and young son, Atticus. His wife is also pregnant with their next child, who will be born with a guardian angel for a father.
I know how hard this has been for everyone in the tight-knit communities of Wataga, Galesburg, and Monmouth. His students revered him as a leader, and we should all move forward today with his legacy of working together as a team to achieve great things.
Western Illinois is better off today because Jordan Ball was there. May his memory live on with his students, his family, his community, and our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Menominee Maroons football team.
The Maroons proudly represented Michigan's First Congressional District and the Upper Peninsula by winning the Michigan Division 7 State championship, capping off a 14-0 season.
This wasn't luck. This was discipline, toughness, and outright superiority.
What makes this championship even more special is how the U.P. made it possible. With just days to prepare for the long trip to Ford Field, the Maroons suddenly needed tens of thousands of dollars for buses, lodging, and meals. Our Yoopers stepped up, raising nearly $30,000 in a matter of days with the entire community pulling together because they believed in this team.
Coach Brandt restored U.P. Power to Michigan high school football, bringing home the first State title to the Upper Peninsula since 2015. As Coach Brandt said: ``We couldn't be here without our town and community.''
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the Menominee Maroons for bringing the State championship back to the U.P. The undefeated State champions are a true source of pride for our Yooper community. I congratulate the Maroons. Well done.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the anti-education agenda of the Trump administration.
The Department of Education's RISE Committee is offering a proposal to downgrade the professional status of various careers that they think, after many years, don't deserve academic stature and access to vital funding. These include nursing, physical therapy, audiology, architecture, and social work.
This assessment comes from the leader of the Department of Education, who has no advanced degree in education but does know a lot about pro wrestling.
I was the chief executive officer of a government for over 1 million people, with a budget of $2.5 billion and 4,200 employees. These Secretaries and committees can theorize all they want. I needed professional, well-trained, and certified nurses, social workers, and the like to deliver real-world services to real people in the day-to- day management of a large county.
Let's stop the ideological foolishness. Place this proposal to downgrade careers where it belongs: in the department of garbage and sanitation. Let's get back to grownup, serious government that understands the problems in America and addresses those problems.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of Kathleen Atencio, a beloved wife and mother who passed away peacefully at her home after her courageous fight with brain cancer.
Born and raised in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, Kathy lived a life defined by her service and dedication to her faith, family, and friends. Her family knew her as someone who was extraordinarily accomplished, humble, and intelligent. She lived her life by the quote often attributed to Maya Angelou: ``People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.''
Everybody who was part of Kathy's life--family and friends--was made a better person by her. Kathy had a gift for making others feel seen, supported, and loved. Whether offering a prayer, a home-cooked meal, or a steady voice of encouragement, she made people better simply by being in their lives.
A rich life and a storied legacy, Kathy leaves behind her husband, Joe, and her children, Audrey and August. May she rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, the Uniform Code of Military Justice is clear. It requires servicemembers to obey lawful orders and to refuse illegal orders.
We can't order a servicemember to commit a crime. It is that simple. If someone is a servicemember, he can't follow an order that requires him to commit a crime.
Recently, my Democratic colleagues merely reminded our servicemembers of their lawful duty. The President's reaction was that these Democratic Members of Congress were traitors and should be hanged.
Fast-forward to last week, when we learned that Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the illegal killing of defenseless survivors of an attack on a boat in the Caribbean. This is what our colleagues were warning about.
Mr. Speaker, Secretary Hegseth and anyone else who commits war crimes must be held accountable. Secretary Hegseth has to go.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, in Pooler, Georgia, which was named Best Museum in Georgia in the 2025 Best of Georgia Awards.
This honor reflects the museum's significance as a leading institution for historical education in our State. The museum preserves the legacy of the Mighty Eighth Air Force and teaches the history of World War II aviation through exhibits, artifacts, and educational programming.
Visitors can explore restored aircraft and walk through immersive spaces that allow them to connect with the people who served. Many leave with a deeper appreciation for sacrifice, duty, and the responsibility we all share to remember their stories.
I am proud of Pooler for keeping this history alive and accessible. I congratulate the museum, which holds a special place for me, as it was established during my time as mayor. In fact, it was the first speech I gave as mayor of the city of Pooler.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the staff, veterans, and volunteers for their important work.
Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Chief Brian Layton on his retirement from the Fredericksburg Police Department after three decades of service.
Chief Layton has served in the department since 1994 and as chief since January 2020. He has strengthened department recruitment and retention, modernized their operations, and is expected to soon achieve national accreditation for the city's emergency 911 center.
The role that Chief Layton has played in regional public safety is invaluable. On behalf of the city of Fredericksburg and its residents, I extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Layton for his unwavering service and dedication. His impact on our community will be felt for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Chief Layton on this well- earned moment and recognize him as this week's constituent of the week. I wish him a restful retirement.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the upcoming 70th annual tracking of Santa Claus by the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Space Force Base in my district in Colorado Springs.
Originally tracked by the Continental Air Defense Command, which is now known as NORAD, the command tracks Santa on his sleigh, pulled by nine reindeer, including their leader, Rudolph, as he travels around the world to give gifts to all the children on Santa's nice list.
I encourage every family to track Santa on the NORAD Tracks Santa website this upcoming Christmas Eve and to keep a watchful eye on the skies for Santa as he passes overhead, bearing gifts for all those good kids.
Mr. Speaker, to all the children, even some who may serve in Congress, I would say it is an exciting time of the year. Look up in the sky on Christmas Eve and track Santa on the NORAD Tracks Santa website.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Rhode Island Manufacturers Association Executive Director David Chenevert.
David is retiring after more than a decade, leaving our State's leading manufacturing organization. For more than 40 years, David has worked tirelessly to strengthen Rhode Island's manufacturing sector. He hasn't just been the president. He has been a member. David built a successful company providing precision components for multiple markets.
During his tenure at RIMA, he championed workforce development through the expansion of career and technical education for our students and helped countless small businesses transition to the future.
At the height of COVID, he helped the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation create the pledge program to deliver personal protective equipment to manufacturers so that they could remain open and operate safely.
David's hard work and strategic vision leave a legacy of growth for an essential part of Rhode Island's economy, our manufacturing strength.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Veena Black, an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, a dedicated elementary schoolteacher for over 20 years, and a personal friend who has served our office with exceptional commitment this past year.
Veena was selected amongst a highly competitive group of peers to come to Washington to better understand the legislative process and to improve STEM education in the United States.
For 1 year, she has not only stepped away from the classroom and her beloved students, but, as a devoted wife and exceptional mother, she also left behind her husband, Gabe, and their two children: Aidan and Sydney.
Veena's passion for STEM education and her students was unmistakable and contagious. Her kindness and the time she gave to everyone who stepped into our office enriched our team. She was the dependable, welcoming smile that greeted us each day.
Her time in our office was impactful and memorable, and it permanently deepened my understanding of what it means to teach in America today. I came to rely on her invaluable insight as an award- winning educator. Her hard-earned classroom experience directly shaped our education policy work, giving us a clearer understanding of how Federal decisions truly affect teachers and students.
While we dearly miss Mrs. Black in our Cannon office, I am grateful that she returned to the place where her impact is greatest and most needed which is in the classroom.
Mr. Speaker, here it is, the word ``affordability.'' It has become a cute buzzword nowadays because during the last 4 years of the Biden administration and in my home State of California, so many things have caused things to become unaffordable.
So the idea is going to be to paper over with borrowed money in this place when, really, if we attack the core issues that make things unaffordable, cause inflation and an inability to start businesses in my home State and in this country, which is energy costs, electricity and fuel, especially in my home State in northern California. We have the highest electricity everywhere.
As we see in the rest of the country, due to Trump's policies coming in, fuel prices are coming down. We are getting down to about the $2 level.
In my home State of California, they are going to shut down, I hear, three refineries now and we can't keep a pipeline full. We have a new fuel standard which means more carbon has to be taken out of the fuel. That fuel will be more expensive. We are going to see, according to a USC study, perhaps $8.50 fuel in California.
Yes, there is affordability for you right there, driven by Democrat policies and by regulation as well; profligate government spending, creating $2 trillion in deficits every year. It sucks all the money out of the room of other people needing to borrow and spend when the government is spending all the money handing out $2,000 checks, $1,200 checks, and $600 checks, that is all borrowed money. There is no credit then.
There are also burdensome regulations weaponizing NEPA, weaponizing the Clean Air Act, and weaponizing the Endangered Species Act. These were all well-intentioned when they were passed, but they have been weaponized to stop projects and to stop people from doing things. That is what is causing affordability to be unaffordable is these regulations driven by more government.
Congress Has a Duty to Support Communities Affected by Natural Disasters
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to emphasize the duty we have to support our American communities in the face of disaster.
Mountain Maryland in my district was hit by devastating floods last May. In fact, 200 elementary students and teachers were evacuated from their classrooms by boat in heights of water which were over 12 feet.
When this disaster hit Maryland, emergency alerts and warnings were essential to a fast and safe recovery. I commend the effective and exemplary service of our first responders. However, what didn't come quickly was the Federal aid that my constituents needed most.
Today, I am introducing two bills to reinforce strong, reliable disaster response and recovery efforts.
First, the Emergency Alert Grant Fairness Act will ensure that local public broadcasters have the resources they need to reach everyone at risk during a disaster.
Second, a bipartisan Rural Recovery Act would guarantee that USDA Rural Development technical assistance is automatic in order to effectively help communities recover from a disaster.
From Mountain Maryland to every corner throughout America, we should leave no community stranded in an emergency.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of these bills.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cleveland Community College on the anniversary of its founding. Since July 1, 1965, when fewer than 40 students gathered in two rented buildings, Cleveland Community College has grown into a cornerstone of progress and opportunity for Cleveland County and our region.
Cleveland Community College has always risen to meet the needs of our community, training returning veterans in its earliest days, and now preparing students for careers in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and others.
Thanks to strong leadership from the founding president, Dr. James Petty and the current president, Dr. Jason Hurst--and the presidents in between all those years--the college now boasts state-of-the-art centers for technology, emergency services, allied health, and workforce development, along with strong partnerships with local schools and businesses.
Today, it stands as one of North Carolina's highest performing community colleges. In fact, it is one of the highest performing community colleges in the country.
Mr. Speaker, again, I congratulate Cleveland Community College on its 60th anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn the excessive violence that we are seeing from Federal immigration agents on the streets of Chicago, New York, New Orleans, and all across the country.
Donald Trump's militarized secret ICE agents are creating fear and terror around our country. Their lawless behavior has no place in our democracy, and I am proud to lead Democrats in fighting back.
That is why I introduced the No Secret Police Act to get rid of masks, to require agents to show identification, and to hold ICE accountable.
Soviet-style secret police have no place in the America I know and love.
According to ICE's own data, 70 percent of immigrants arrested have no criminal history whatsoever, and just 5 percent have violent criminal convictions.
Despite the lies that we hear coming out of the White House, ICE is meeting its quotas by targeting hardworking immigrants, many here lawfully, simply trying to pursue the American Dream.
The first and easiest step to correct this problem is to pass my No Secret Police Act.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do so without delay.
Mr. Speaker, 267 percent, that is how much energy prices increase in communities located near Big Tech data centers.
DTE Energy, in my State, already charges us some of the highest rates in the Nation with some of the most unreliable services.
Do you like clean water coming out of your taps at affordable prices? So do I. You better hope a data center doesn't get built near you.
Do you like breathing clean air and being outdoors? I do. Organize like hell to keep these extremely loud data centers and their emissions out of your community.
So, for more expensive utility bills, and increased air, water, light, and noise pollution, we get a lot more AI slop bullshit that nobody asked for.
The Silicon Valley billionaires don't care about our communities. Believe me when I tell you, all they care about is profit. They don't care that these data centers will absolutely make life miserable. All they care about is the money and the power.
I am so inspired by the grassroots movement in the State of Michigan right now popping up all over the State to protect our communities from data centers. I want them to know loud and clear, here in Congress, I have your back.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair and to avoid profanity.
Mr. Speaker, with deep gratitude, I rise today to honor the AFL-CIO's 70th anniversary.
Seventy years ago, the AFL-CIO joined laborers with a bold vision: The dignity of a day's work must be matched by the dignity of a worker's life.
Their merger formed a promise: America would be stronger when working people stand together.
That promise is personal. Our mother was a proud union organizer. Her union badge, along with our father's, helped our family be more secure with union membership. It opened doors for opportunities we could only dream of as a working-class family: a living wage and the opportunity for more education, health insurance, and retirement benefits.
Today, let us honor the bold generations of workers who built our factories, powered our industries, cared for our ill, and advanced our communities.
As our Nation faces new challenges, from international outsourcing to corporate consolidation, we recommit ourselves to the fight for living- wage jobs, fair trade, and affordable health insurance, and to passing the pro-worker protections in the PRO Act.
I thank the AFL-CIO for 70 years of solidarity, strength, and service to America's working families. Here is to 70 more.
Mr. Speaker, New York's 19th Congressional District is home to not one but two championship field hockey teams.
The Whitney Point Eagles just won their fifth straight State title. That is 10 championships in the last 11 years.
The Eagles earned this one with a perfectly executed corner in overtime. That is the kind of composure under pressure that you only get from hard work, discipline, and a great coach like Nicole Huston.
The Windsor Black Knights just brought home their first State championship.
The thing I love about this team is how tight-knit they are. During a post-game interview, Abby Guarino said the things she will remember the most wasn't raising the trophy after the game; it was the bonds she built with her teammates.
We are so proud of these young women from Whitney Point and Windsor. They represent the very best of our rural communities, and they have set an example for the next generation of what you can accomplish when you give it your all.
Go Eagles, and go Black Knights.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the names of each player on these championship teams.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York?
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mother Viola Ford Fletcher. She was a living monument to truth- telling and righteous resistance, a steward of Black history and cultural preservation.
At 111 years old, she carried within her the memories of one of our Nation's darkest chapters, the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, and she bore these memories with unmatched grace and courage.
Mother Fletcher refused to let this Nation look away. She traveled the world demanding justice, not just for herself or her family, but for Greenwood, for the generations robbed of life and prosperity.
When she testified in this very institution, her voice shook the Halls of Congress and the conscience of our Nation.
Mother Fletcher's passing is a profound loss, but her legacy is a call to continue to fight for full reparations.
May we honor her transition to ancestor by moving in her spirit with unyielding hope, moral clarity, and faith that justice, though delayed, is not denied.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate JB Harris, JT Chevallier, and the entire team at ECO-CLEAN Solutions for reaching a record-breaking milestone late last year: 1 million square feet of Lake Tahoe shoreline cleaned by the team's beach-cleaning robot, BEBOT.
JB and JT, two longtime friends from Las Vegas, were drawn to the Sierra Nevada by the beauty and lifestyle of the mountains. As their connection to the area and the great outdoors deepened, JB and JT witnessed the toll of increased tourism on their natural surroundings.
With the motivation to give back to the home that had given them so much, ECO-CLEAN was created to respond to the need for environmental responsibility and sustainability.
With the annual number of visitors to Lake Tahoe growing to 15 million people, Tahoe's beaches experienced a surge in waste, particularly during peak travel seasons. JB and JT recognized the problem and set out to find innovative and low-impact solutions to this growing concern.
In their search, the team discovered BEBOT, the first battery- and solar-powered beach-cleaning robot on the West Coast. Through funding provided by the North Tahoe Community Alliance, the team was able to successfully deploy BEBOT to the shores of Lake Tahoe, maximizing beach cleanup efforts through advanced technology and in partnership with local volunteers.
Through this innovative solution, ECO-CLEAN Solutions and their beach-cleaning BEBOT have cleaned more than 1 million square miles of shoreline, picking up over 38,000 pieces of litter that may have become pollution in Lake Tahoe.
In comparison to visible litter items collected by volunteers, BEBOTs detect and remove up to 10 times the number of items hidden under the surface of the sand.
They also partner and collaborate with several local organizations, one of
It is an honor to represent exemplary businesses such as ECO-CLEAN Solutions in the United States House of Representatives. They exemplify how American innovation can serve as a solution to the issues that are facing our communities and the Nation at large.
Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize JB, JT, and ECO-CLEAN Solutions for reaching this significant milestone and for their ongoing dedication to protecting the beauty of Lake Tahoe's shorelines for generations to come.
Recognizing South Tahoe Public Utility District on 75th Anniversary
Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and commemorate the 75-year anniversary of the South Tahoe Public Utility District, a trusted steward of environmental protection and sustainable water management in the Tahoe community.
The South Tahoe Public Utility District was formed in the 1950s to protect the ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe Basin while furnishing customers with reliable water and wastewater treatment services. Since then, they have grown into a nationally recognized utility that exemplifies innovation, resilience, and exceptionalism in public service.
The district supplies quality drinking water and provides reliable wastewater collection, treatment, and export services to over 14,000 residents and 660 commercial and government sites. Their services play a significant role in the function of the region and have improved the quality of life and experiences for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Over the span of more than seven decades, the South Tahoe Public Utility District has achieved a wide diversity of accomplishments, including building the world's first advanced wastewater treatment plant, bringing high-quality Tahoe tap to the community, earning national recognition as the Environmental Protection Agency's Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year, and becoming a 100 percent recycled wastewater operation, just to name a few.
These successes reflect the district's deep commitment to protecting Lake Tahoe's environment, ensuring the sustainability of its water resources, and fostering community engagement.
Throughout its history, the South Tahoe Public Utility District has faced and overcome many unique challenges. During droughts, wildfires, and even a global pandemic, the district did not falter in its mission. In moments of crisis, such as the Angora, Tamarack, and Caldor fires, the district's personnel displayed courage and determination, standing shoulder to shoulder with firefighters under hazardous conditions and evacuation orders to continuously maintain water flow and wastewater treatment.
For three-quarters of a century, the South Tahoe Public Utility District has established a legacy of efficiency, professionalism, and excellence. I have no doubt that that legacy will only continue to grow in the years to come.
It has been a privilege to work alongside the South Tahoe Public Utility District throughout my tenure as Tahoe's Representative in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am proud to celebrate this milestone and to commend the South Tahoe Public Utility District for their 75 years of unwavering dedication to the region and to the protection of a national treasure that is Lake Tahoe.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge prompt action on a matter that could make life a lot more difficult for millions and millions of people in this country, and that is the expiration of tax credits that could lead to a massive increase in healthcare costs.
We are talking about 22 million Americans who will be directly affected, some of them seeing thousands and thousands of dollars in increases in their healthcare costs. That is something that a lot of these folks simply cannot afford.
Mr. Speaker, that is the reality of what will happen if Congress does nothing and if Congress fails to act. Since that is not acceptable to me--and I know it is not acceptable to a lot of Members on both sides of the aisle--I have introduced bipartisan legislation with Sam Liccardo called the Fix It Act, which will stop this cliff from occurring and will spare these Americans this massive increase in healthcare costs.
Here is what it does: It extends these tax credits for a temporary period of time, for 2 years. That will give us the runway that we need to work on a broader solution to the healthcare affordability crisis in America without forcing millions of Americans to pay the price in the meantime.
Mr. Speaker, importantly, our bill not only provides this temporary extension, but it also includes reforms that pay for themselves. In other words, the savings that we get through our reforms are actually greater than the cost of the extension itself. This is according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which analyzed several proposals that are out there and found that the bill that Sam Liccardo and I have introduced is the only one that actually does not increase the deficit and, indeed, actually achieves savings for taxpayers.
We do this with sensible cost controls, income caps, to make sure that the tax credits go to those who truly need it. You will still be eligible as long as you are a family of four with an income level up to $192,000.
It also includes strong antifraud measures that will save billions of dollars from the fraud that we know is far too pervasive in this program. It enacts reforms to a program called Medicare Advantage that are supported by the AARP because we have seen that insurers have been overcharging in this program to the tune of tens of billions of dollars over the course of a decade.
Mr. Speaker, all of those elements not only actually make it so that we are not increasing the deficit or having to raise taxes or increase spending with this extension, but they also make the extension inherently temporary in the sense that, if you have a pay-for, like we do, then any extension will need another pay-for that will entail additional tradeoffs. That is an accountability measure to make sure that this doesn't become just a never-ending series of extensions but truly is temporary.
Mr. Speaker, there are a growing number of Members in both parties-- we just had a press conference--who understand what is at stake here. It is not just, by the way, for 22 million Americans who will be directly impacted by utilizing the individual market and benefit from these tax credits, but if you see millions of people who ultimately choose not to get insurance and drop out of the market, that is going to cascade to the employer-provided market, as well. People are going to see increased costs there, as well.
Mr. Speaker, when we talk about affordability, which is so important to so many people in this country right now, there is perhaps no single policy issue that will have a higher impact on affordability in this country than doing something about this issue right now.
For my colleagues on the Republican side, I simply point out this: When Members look at the 22 million Americans who will be most directly impacted, a lot of these folks are people who Republicans have been fighting for, for a long time. For example, independent contractors, freelancers, gig workers, and Uber drivers. They have been under attack from the likes of Gavin Newsom and the corrupt political class in Sacramento, who have targeted them and made it very difficult for them to practice their professions.
The Biden administration actually brought in Newsom's labor secretary, Julie Su, to try to do the same thing, targeting independent contractors on a national level. They are the folks who will perhaps suffer the most if these tax credits expire because they rely on that individual market, and they don't really have any other option. They will be forced to pay thousands and thousands of dollars more when their income is already uncertain.
We simply can't let that happen to them or small businesses. Small business owners' employees who rely on the individual market, this will absolutely be devastating to many of them if they are forced to shoulder this cost.
Early retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare, millions of them rely on these tax credits.
That is why I believe that doing nothing is not an option, and I have made no secret of the fact that I think the House of Representatives has been missing in action in a lot of ways in recent months.
The House was literally not here for a period of almost 2 months. The Speaker inexplicably canceled session for 6 consecutive weeks. The House has not been in the driver's seat when it comes to many important policy issues facing the country. The House has even chosen to cede some of its own legislative authority on certain issues. This is extremely troubling to me. I have been encouraging a change of course.
Mr. Speaker, this issue right now, which is a matter of urgency and needs to be dealt with before the end of the year, is an opportunity for the House to change course, to reclaim its legislative authority, to actually drive policy in the right way, and to become the people's House again by actually serving the American people in a way that will make a profound difference in the lives of many of them throughout the country.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present some truly bewildering and completely unacceptable news out of my State, the State of California. I have been very critical of government performance in our State, with giving taxpayers the services that they are paying for. This latest example makes that point very clearly.
For the last 6 or so years, Californians have been paying an extra fee on their phone service. This was due to legislation enacted by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor. All of these fees were collected for the purpose of creating a next-generation 911 system, which, honestly, is something we need. The system is quite outdated, antiquated, and not up to the task of serving the many different kinds of emergencies that we get in California.
For the last 6 years, these extra fees paid for by California taxpayers, which are in addition to the State budget itself going up over 50 percent during that time period, were used to build out this new 911 system. The State spent $450 million building out this 911 system.
Just last week, it was announced that after spending all of this money, the State is scrapping the entire project because the technology does not work. It is absolutely beyond belief. The $450 million that Californians have been paying on their phone bill was absolutely, completely squandered, wasted by the State, which not only wasted all that money, but has now left Californians with an inadequate 911 system because they need to start over from square A.
This, Mr. Speaker, is an example of how the failures in Sacramento that have degraded the quality of life for people throughout our State are not a matter of Democrat versus Republican, but simply a matter of competence, of basic government performance, and of serving the people of our State as opposed to serving other agendas.
I hope that this latest debacle will be a wake-up call to demand the sort of accountability that our taxpayers are entitled to in California, and for the way the government in Sacramento is run to be completely revisited, to be reoriented in a way that is based on performance, that is based on competence, that draws upon the best practices of the private sector, and that ultimately is geared toward citizen service rather than the other interests and agendas that too often prevail at our capital.
Mr. Speaker, for years, I have been warning about the declining education outcomes that exist across our country, but in particular, in my State of California. We just received a jarring reminder of just how bleak things have gotten.
UC San Diego, which is a rather selective school in California, has recently announced that a large share of its students can no longer even do basic math. The school announced that the number of students who require remedial courses has gone from 1 out of every 100 to 1 out of every 8.
This truly jarring state of affairs comes in spite of a massive increase in education funding in California. Indeed, since Governor Newsom came into office, the overall education budget has increased by almost $40 billion. Yet, what is the outcome of that? We have students at a fairly selective university who can't do basic math, and, by the way, the State also has the highest illiteracy rate in the entire country.
I have advocated for reforms to our education system in California that would actually close achievement gaps and serve students. As chair of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee here in the House of Representatives, I have advocated for those reforms not just for our State, but on the national level, as well.
We have seen that when States and districts take a data-based approach to instruction, they can get tremendous results for students. We see examples like KIPP or Success Academy. These are charter networks that have vastly outperformed other public schools, despite serving students who are well below the poverty level in many cases.
If Success Academy were its own district, it would rank at the very top of the rankings in student performance in the State of New York, which is one of the reasons I am sponsoring the High-Quality Charter Schools Act that would make more opportunities like that available throughout the country.
We have also held hearings in my subcommittee on teaching literacy appropriately, which California is finally moving in that direction, teaching math appropriately, getting back to basics, utilizing education technology in the right way, without having students be exposed to excessive screen time. We have looked at school choice programs, including, most importantly, expanding charter schools. We have looked at the foundational importance of parental rights.
In California, unfortunately, we have an education system that is not about the kids. That is why we have among the highest achievement gaps in the country. That is why we have these jarring statistics that we are getting out of UC San Diego. That is why California had the longest school shutdown in the entire country during COVID-19.
I would hope that these latest numbers will serve as a wake-up call to enact the sort of education reforms that have worked well in other States because we are failing our students right now, and we are imperiling our State and, increasingly, our country's future.
Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that affordability and the cost of living are increasingly salient issues for many people in this country.
It is becoming harder for many people to get by, and there are many reasons for that. I have proposed, and in fact passed, legislation in a number of areas related to the cost of energy and the cost of healthcare to start to address those problems.
I was caught somewhat by surprise to hear the Governor of my own State of California commenting on this issue and even saying that no State matches California's success, that ``the numbers speak for themselves.''
I thought I would go through what some of those numbers are when it comes to the lack of affordability in the State of California. I think it offers insight into the steps that we could take nationally to make life more affordable for folks not only in California, but across the country.
The basic gist of it is to do exactly the opposite of what California has done. Newsom says the numbers speak for themselves. Here are the numbers:
California has the highest gas prices in the entire country, number one out of all 50 States. It is not even close. You can drive a few miles from here in Maryland, which is another blue State, by the way, and you will get gas for $1.50, $2 cheaper at least. You can go to Hawaii, which is an island State after all, and you will get gas for 20 cents cheaper than you do in California.
The cost of electricity: California is number one in the country. The New York Times recently published a map showing how much electricity rates have increased over the last several years, which tracks the time that Gavin Newsom became Governor. California saw by far the biggest increase
Water bills: California ranks first, or close to it, of any State in the country for how much we pay for water.
The cost of housing: California is number one in the country for the median cost of a home--actually, number one in the continental United States. Hawaii is a little more expensive there.
Taxes: California is number one, has the highest income tax rate of any State in the country, as well as the highest gas tax rate of any State in the country.
Government spending and debt are so much higher in California, and that relates to affordability as well because, of course, it means that we have to get more money in taxes and fees. It also means that the infrastructure that supports businesses is inadequate, which raises their cost of living, which results in higher costs to consumers, not to mention California being the worst business environment of any State in the country.
It has repeatedly been rated as having the worst litigation environment as well, which means that those costs are passed onto consumers, too.
Insurance: When it comes to fire insurance in many parts of our State, you pay more than you pay just about anywhere in the country because of the catastrophic fires that have done so much damage and because of the way the insurance issue itself has been mismanaged.
What is the lesson here?
Well, number one: The lesson is, California needs to change its own policies.
Number two: We can learn from California's failures as we enact reforms at the Federal level to improve the quality of life and affordability for folks throughout the country.
Gas: When it comes to gas prices, it is no mystery what has happened. California's taxes and regulations and insistence on special fuel blends have caused costs to go up inordinately. This, by the way, doesn't even factor in that we have two refineries that are about to close. Fortunately, we just passed legislation here in Congress to partially address this issue of the refineries. There is one study from USC that says that by the end of next year, Californians could pay $8 for gas.
Electricity: California has passed all kinds of regulations that no other State has, at least not to the extent that restrict the supply of energy in our State. By the way, it is done ostensibly in the name of the environment, but California's policies have been incredibly damaging to the environment, as well.
In just 1 year, for example, the catastrophic wildfires that our State had erased all of the emissions reductions from the prior 16 years. In fact, it erased them two times over because of our State's very poor policies when it comes to forest management, which goes to the insurance issue, as well.
That is why I am very proud to sponsor the Fix Our Forests Act, which allows for more effective forest management which will stop catastrophic wildfires and will make it so we don't have to keep raising the price of insurance. That has passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, and it is time for the Senate to pass it, as well.
Housing: When it comes to the cost of housing, we have seen how California has piled on fee after fee after fee so that a project costs tens of thousands of dollars before you even break ground. Even worse, we have seen how California has allowed frivolous lawsuits to delay projects for years and for decades. That all gets baked into the price of the home, and that is why I am sponsoring a number of measures here to try to make housing more affordable.
Of course, the tax issues speak for themselves.
We have a lot we need to do to continue to make life more affordable for Americans. We have seen some progress in certain areas when it comes to the price of gas across the country, when it comes to the supply of energy, and some other issues.
Unfortunately, people in my State are bearing the brunt of it. I would, again, encourage the leaders of our legislature and the Governor to chart a different course, to start actually working for the people of California.
This is why, by the way, we have the highest real poverty rate in the entire country. It is because the cost of living is so high and the economic opportunity is so low. We actually have the highest unemployment rate in California, as well. As the Governor would say, the numbers speak for themselves.
I encourage us here not only for those of us in California to encourage a change in action on the part of our State's own leadership but for Congress itself to follow the anti-Newsom playbook in making sure that we don't see costs across the entire country rise to the level they have in California.
Mr. Speaker, I will share some data that has recently been published on the safety of autonomous vehicles and self- driving cars, which have been widely deployed in a number of cities across the country.
In California, Waymo has been operating for years now in San Francisco and in Los Angeles, and now their footprint is actually about to expand to the wine country and even into the Sacramento area. They may even be coming to Washington, D.C., soon.
Tesla has a self-driving feature available on its cars as well and they have been publishing some very encouraging data. What the data shows, very clearly, is that even at the current state of the art that is going to continue to improve, autonomous vehicles are overwhelmingly safer than human-operated vehicles by a factor of about 10 when it comes to the risk of injury or death.
When you think about that, that means that being in an autonomous vehicle, in a self-driving car, is a much more effective safety intervention than wearing a seat belt, which, of course, you should continue to wear a seat belt as well.
There was an article in The New York Times a couple of days ago from a doctor who actually likened this to a clinical trial, where you actually have to stop the trial because the drug performed so well and it becomes unethical to continue to give people the placebo and not give them access to the drug.
We have 40,000 people who die in this country every year on our roads. Many, many others suffer serious life-changing injuries. Every American pretty much has been affected in some way, knows someone who has been involved in an accident, and we now have the technology within our reach to drastically reduce that number, to save tens of thousands of lives every year just in this country and to spare tens of thousands of people devastating injuries.
I do believe it is a political policy and a moral imperative to use whatever levers we have here to remove barriers to expanding access to this technology.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with the administration as well as folks on both sides of the aisle to do that because we really do have an opportunity here to do an immense amount of good.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Green for yielding and for his moral clarity and always for his leadership, especially during these deeply consequential times.
Mr. Speaker, every parent hopes that no harm, heartbreak, or hardship finds their child. We want our children, especially when they are babies, to know safety, warmth, full bellies, and a peaceful slumber.
When they are young, especially during the fall and winter months in the throes of cold and flu season, little ones carry raspy coughs and runny noses home from the playground. Dads
They hold their babies to their chest and listen for the threat of labored breathing, wondering if they will have to make an ER run in the middle of the night. They whisper a prayer every parent of every faith knows: I hope my baby is okay.
But for parents in Gaza as the weather turns, heavy rainfall and freezing temperatures present new threats. Palestinian families have endured a genocidal campaign for years. Their homes have been reduced to rubble. Many have no warm jacket to wrap their child in or a dry blanket to tuck them under, and still they whisper the same prayer: I hope my baby is okay.
Mr. Speaker, in Gaza, children have been murdered as U.S. bombs deployed by the Israeli Army have rained down on civilians. Children have been murdered by sniper fire and starvation. Every one of those more than 20,000 children murdered was someone's whole world.
Since the cease-fire was declared, the media and the world have shifted their gaze, but families in Gaza still live under constant threat: of violence, of the elements, of starvation.
Earlier this year, my colleagues, Congresswoman Pettersen and Senator Gallego, and I led over 100 Members of Congress in urging the State Department to immediately surge humanitarian aid and ready-to-feed infant formula to families in Gaza to save lives.
In a written response, the State Department expressed concern about the crisis, but words without action are not only empty, they are deadly.
We have doubled down on our cause and demand the State Department send Members of Congress a weekly update on exactly how much aid is entering Gaza and reaching desperate families.
However, Mr. Speaker, aid alone is not enough, especially not for our children who have suffered injuries, especially not for children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. Medical evacuation is a critical aspect of lifesaving humanitarian work, and right now over 16,500 people are waiting to be medically evacuated from Gaza for essential treatment.
I recently heard from a mother named Hadeel. Seven months ago, her 6- year-old son died while awaiting medical evacuation. He suffered from a kidney condition, and the decimated medical system in Gaza could not provide him the care he needed to survive.
Now her daughter, Lana, who suffers from the same kidney condition, is on the wait list for medical evacuation. Each day that goes by without adequate treatment, Lana's life is in danger.
Hadeel is no different from the parent in Boston who clutches their child in their arms and listens for labored breathing as they ride out the flu. Just like that parent, she would do anything for her baby. Just like that parent, she whispers a prayer: I hope they will be okay. Every child deserves to live and thrive.
In the timeless words of James Baldwin: ``The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.''
Mr. Speaker, the United States of America built, bought, and sold the bombs that killed Palestinians throughout this horrific genocidal campaign carried out by the Israeli military.
The United States of America once claimed to be a moral and just authority, but today all the globe sees is the blood on the hands of this Nation.
It is not too late to appeal to our better angels, to act with urgency to save lives, to support medical evacuations, to surge baby formula and aid, to chart a path forward to save lives. Every child is someone's whole world. Every life is a universe, and our destinies are tied.
Mr. Speaker, permit me to commend the gentlewoman for her very moving and powerful commentary. With her consent and permission, I would associate myself with it.
Mr. Speaker, and still I rise, a very proud, liberated Democrat, unbought, unbossed, and unafraid.
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to address a question that many are posing and a question that I thought I should answer publicly so that all would understand. The question is: Why am I moving to bring impeachment again against the President of the United States of America?
The answer will be better explained when the Articles of Impeachment are presented. However, I do believe that it is necessary to give some indication today and possibly at a later time as to why this is so important, why would I do such a thing.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with Vice President Dick Cheney. I agree with him. I agree with a statement that he has made. Yes, Vice President Cheney represents the Republican Party or he did when he was Vice President, and everyone knows that I am a Democrat, but that doesn't mean that we can't agree on some of the important and great issues of our time.
One of the great issues of our time is before us now, and I would like to read the words of Vice President Cheney, words that I agree with, Mr. Speaker.
Vice President Cheney indicated--and if I may use my pointer--on September 6 of 2024 when this was published: ``In our Nation's 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump.''
Let me pause for just a moment. I would like to highlight this language: `` . . . an individual''--one person--``who is a greater threat to our Republic''--an important statement--``than Donald Trump.'' He says in 248 years. I will come back to these in just a moment.
``He tried to steal the last election . . . '' Now, this was September of 2024, so it is the election prior to September of 2024. ``He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He can never be trusted with power again.'' I agree with this.
``As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution.''
Now let's walk back through this with emphasis on certain things. One individual, Donald Trump, is a greater threat to the Republic than any others. Never before has there been a person who has been a greater threat than Donald Trump.
Why is he a greater threat? Well, you first have to understand, if you don't, that we have a Republic. A Republic is government by the public, but it is done by and through representation, representatives, the House of Representatives. Representatives, the Senate. The Republic speaks through representatives. We have a Republic. He indicates that this President is a great threat to representational government, to the Republic.
Well, let's look at this: He, Donald Trump, doesn't respect the separation of powers. He believes that the judiciary should agree with him, and if the judiciary does not agree, he has as much said they should be impeached. He was so emphatic about this impeachment that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America had to call him out publicly. He didn't use his name, but we all knew that he was speaking to the President at the time, President Donald Trump.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court reminded the President that in this country we have a history of appealing decisions of the courts. We don't impeach judges because we don't agree with their decisions. We appeal these decisions. He doesn't respect separation of powers. He owns the House of Representatives. He owns the Senate. The Senate and the House will not make a move without his consent and permission.
Mr. Speaker, as of late, however, there are some indications that some independence is starting to present itself.
Generally speaking, the President doesn't respect the separation of powers. If a Member of the House disagrees with him, he immediately calls upon the constituents of that Member to do what is necessary within the law, generally speaking, to make sure that that Member gets phone calls. He makes
This is the President of the United States, the intimidator-in-chief. He prides himself on his ability to intimidate and to get persons to cooperate. He doesn't believe in the separation of powers. He disrespects the House, the Senate, and the Members who don't give him what he desires.
He is also a person who thinks that he can literally do whatever he pleases given that he has this mandate from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has indicated--I say ``mandate.'' The Supreme Court has given him an indication that he is above the law in certain areas. The Supreme Court didn't use the language ``above the law,'' but the Supreme Court has given him this belief that he is above the law.
The Supreme Court talked about immunity. He has taken this as an indication that he is above the law. He will do pretty much whatever he chooses.
One of the reasons that Vice President Cheney made these comments was because, as the President of the United States of America--these are my words and not Vice President Cheney's--the President incited the insurrection. There are people using other terminology. I believe it was an insurrection. It was an insurrection that took place after the election wherein he was defeated.
He incited the persons to come over to the Capitol of the United States of America, the citadel of democracy, as it is called and known. He incited them to come over here and to invade the Capitol itself.
After the invasion took place, they went through the Halls. They did some very ugly things. Aside from calling for the lynching of people, aside from having some anti-Semitic commentary on various pieces of paraphernalia, they had gallows. Aside from these things, they committed other demeaning and vile acts, such as defecating in various public places within the Congress, within the buildings.
These were some very vile and mean-spirited people who invaded the Capitol. They did this at the behest of the President of the United States of America.
After all of this was done, with the President being sworn in on January 20, 2025, after all of this had taken place at a prior election, the very first act that the President engaged in, it seems, after he had raised his hand to be sworn in, upon lowering his hand, he seemed to have rushed over to someplace where he had a document that allowed him to pardon the people who defecated in the Congress, in the buildings.
These were the people who marched through, looking for the Vice President at that time, indicating that they wanted to do harm to him. President Trump pardoned these people. It seems this was his very first act immediately after being sworn in. This is the person who is President of the United States of America.
Unfortunately, there are many people who just brush aside what happened on January 6, 2021. They just brush it aside, as though: Oh, well, that happened, but it won't happen again.
That seems to be the attitude that is preeminent among the minds of many. If he did it once, what makes us think he won't do it again? Where is the empirical evidence to support the notion he won't do it again? This is a person who incited this. He pardoned these people as one of his very first acts, if not the very first act that he engaged in, after being elected President again.
On January 20, the President was sworn in. This is when he signed the pardon for these people who came into the Capitol in a very rambunctious way and in a very demeaning way, in fact.
People died as a result of this. He instigated this. What causes people to think that he won't do it again? I believe that he will. I believe that he will find great difficulty in stepping down from office.
As a result of my belief, as a result of his not respecting the separation of powers, as a result of his not understanding that there should be some independence in the judiciary and that the judiciary is not for him to supervise, I put all of this into my collection of thoughts.
As I do so, I have to agree with Vice President Cheney. I mentioned that in our 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump. Yes, he tried to steal the last election, the election before September 2024, when this statement was published. He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters, the people of the United States of America, the voters, had rejected him. He can never be trusted with power again.
Mr. Speaker, I will bring Articles of Impeachment because what Vice President Cheney--may he rest in peace--what Vice President Cheney said on September 6, 2024, is true now. We should never have trusted him. He has been given a second chance to steal fire from the gods. We should never have allowed him to do so.
Mr. Speaker, there is a remedy. When the courts can't control him and when his party won't control him, then the only remedy left is impeachment. That is all that we have.
There are some people who would say this is not the right time. Let's address the question of timing. Dr. King said that the time is always ripe to do what is right. If the Republic is at risk, the time is always right to do what is right, to make sure the Republic is protected. I will be doing what I believe is right to protect the Republic. There were people who said to those persons who were at the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday: This is not the right time to march. Don't march now. Let's do it another day.
The Honorable John Lewis, who was a Member of this House, a colleague, said: No, we march.
They did march. They marched, knowing there would be harm that they would have to suffer. They knew this. They saw the constabulary as they approached the crest of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They knew what was going to happen, but they marched on.
If they could march on, knowing that they were going to be harmed-- and the Honorable John Lewis told me personally he thought he was going to die on that bridge. They beat them all the way back to the church where they started. These were churchgoing people. They beat them all the way back.
If they could march on, facing this kind of danger, surely, I should march on and bring Articles of Impeachment. I am not requiring or asking any Member of this House to vote with me. I ask my colleagues to vote their conscience. I ask them to do what they believe is right. I will vote my conscience. I am not going to vote to table these Articles of Impeachment.
For whatever reason, those who vote to table are indicating that they don't think it should be an actual vote or that there should be an actual vote on the articles themselves. They are saying they want to put this off. If that is their opinion, they can do that. That is not my opinion.
There needs to be a vote not only on this motion to table that will be presented, but also a vote on the actual Articles of Impeachment.
This man is a threat to our Republic. He cannot be trusted. Vice President Cheney was right then, and he is right now.
I am going to bring those Articles of Impeachment.
The public is constantly asking me: How many votes do you think you will have?
I can only assure them of one thing, Mr. Speaker: I will have one vote. This I can assure them of. I will have one vote.
Why?
It is because I believe that it is better to stand alone on some issues than to not stand at all. I will stand. I will present the articles, and when I vote, if I am the only person to do it, then I will know and posterity will know that I have done the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today proud to be a liberated Democrat, proud of what my country stands for in many of its great documents, and proud of the notion that we are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
I am proud to know that the pledge has in it the notion that there should
I am proud that we would receive and have the Statue of Liberty. The statue speaks to the world about who we are. It really symbolizes the United States of America. It is an awesome piece of work that was accorded the United States and given to us from our friends, the French. It is a piece of work, a piece of handcrafted work, that is known the world over. People recognize this as a symbol of the United States of America.
It has some words on it. Mr. Speaker, it has these words:
``Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.''
The United States stands for freedom and for liberty and justice for all.
``The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.''
Bring them to us, the United States of America.
Then it goes on to say:
``I lift my lamp beside the golden door!''
Mr. Speaker, the golden door is the door that stands for opportunity and that stands for liberty and justice for all. It stands for government of the people, by the people, and for the people. That is the golden door.
For those persons who are homeless, for those persons yearning to breathe free, that is what the Statue of Liberty has stood for until recently.
The beautiful lady has these words:
``Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.''
Now the beautiful lady, the symbol of the United States of America, hasn't been enshrined on it, but at this point, given the behavior of this President, Donald Trump, given his behavior, these words should be associated now with the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be breathe free, with one exception: people of color need not apply. People of color need not apply.
The President of the United States has indicated that there are nations from which all immigration applications have been put on hold. There are 19 nations, and the interesting thing about the 19 nations, Mr. Speaker, is all, saving maybe one or two, are nations where persons of color are preeminent. This is the case in all, save one or two.
The President is giving the impression, Mr. Speaker, that if you are a person of color and an immigrant, then you are a threat to the United States of America.
This is a form of collective punishment that is unacceptable. He is causing people within this country to fear the other, the other, the people from other countries.
If you are Latino in this country, you are now suspect. Mr. Speaker, it doesn't matter where you are from. If you are a Latino in this country, then you are now suspect. If you look like you are a Latino, then you are now a suspect in the United States of America.
I remember when I was suspect, I probably still am in some quarters, but I remember when I was suspect. I remember when I was a young man in the United States of America, and generally speaking, it was thought among the minds of many, that young persons of color would commit crimes, that they were criminals, that they would steal, and that you have to watch them.
When you go into a store, Mr. Speaker, people watch you. This is when I was a younger man.
It was thought that we were somehow undesirable. In fact, I had people tell me: Go back to Africa.
They didn't even know who I was. This is what I was told as a much younger person.
I think longevity has some benefits. It causes you to understand the now because of what happened to you then.
I appreciate and understand why others are apprehensive about their being in this country now. I appreciate it because I saw what happened to me and others and how we were treated then. It was called segregation, but that was another form of invidious discrimination which was nothing more or less--maybe more, could have been more--than racism. It was all about racism.
We are returning to that past that I thought we had left behind, Mr. Speaker, when you decide that countries of color, saving one or two of these 19, that you are not desired, you need not apply, you can't apply.
What is interesting about this whole scenario is there are people from European countries who have overstayed on their visas. They are here unlawfully after having overstayed, by the President's definition, but we never hear anything about it being unlawful. I am saying unlawful. They use other language. I say undocumented immigrants, and they say other things about the persons who are here without documentation.
People who have overstayed their visas from European countries, you don't see them being pulled out of cars, generally speaking. There may be an exception, and the press will take that exception to prove a rule, but that is not the way the rules are proved. You don't see it.
You see people of color, people from south of the border, people from these 18 countries, that are being discriminated against with this policy that he is implementing.
The American public, a good many people, not all, have bought into the notion that if you are from a foreign country, you are likely to be a criminal and you are likely to hurt me.
This symbol of freedom of the United States of America should have enshrined now: People of color need not apply.
In spite of everything I just said, I love my country. I love my country. I stand for what the Constitution stands for.
The Constitution of the United States of America should be respected. I stand on the Constitution.
I believe that this President has gone too far in many areas, but I especially am concerned about the way people of color are being treated.
I have a history that I have to harken back to, and that is what advises me as to how I can conclude that people of color need not apply.
I want the President to know that he is not a king. Yes, he has control over my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Yes, the Supreme Court seems to have become a partisan institution, unfortunately. But there are some other folk in this country that will have the last word. They are the people who are known as ``we, the people,'' known as ``we, the people'' in one of our great documents.
We, the people--we will have the last word.
Not all Americans agree with this. They are people of good will. I believe most people in this country are people of good will, and they see what is happening. I believe that they want to make a difference, and I encourage people to make a difference.
Don't do anything unlawful. I do not condone any acts of violence. I do not. But peaceful protest is a part of American history. It is as old as the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock. It is as meaningful as the farmers coming to this Capitol complaining about how their farmland was being treated. It is something that is as meaningful in this country as the actual Constitution itself because it is the Constitution that gives it its meaning.
Peaceful protest, I support that. However, I also support something else other than peaceful protest, and that is for people to vote. Everybody ought to vote. I am not going to tell you who to vote for, but I am going to say this: We have a country to save. We have a country to save. You can't save your country by not participating.
It is a participatory democracy. You have every right as any other person in this country, if you hear my voice. I have no greater right to vote than any other person in this country, and neither does the President. One person, one vote, Baker v. Carr. We have a duty and responsibility and obligation to vote.
Today, I am encouraging people to vote. Vote, vote, participate. However, I have a very, very special group of people that I want to approach now with voting.
There will be Articles of Impeachment brought to the Congress of the
But I want to say to the persons who are going to be a part of this impeachment, and that will be all of the Members of the House of Representatives, if they choose to be a part of it. People can opt out if they choose to.
I would encourage you to vote. I am not going to tell you how to vote. What I am going to suggest to you is this: I will be voting my conscience. I will be voting to protect liberty and justice for all. I will be voting to protect government of the people, by the people, for the people. I will be voting to make sure that all persons are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I will be voting to protect the country I love. I hope that you will do a similar thing. If you don't vote the way I vote, just understand this: I am not expecting everybody to vote with me, but I can assure the public of one thing: I will be voting for those articles to not only come to the floor but to be voted on so that at least one person can show that we believe--this one person believes, and I will be that one person possibly. One person can show that I believe in what the country stands for, and I am willing to take a stand to support what I believe. On some issues, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all.
I pledge to bring the Articles of Impeachment to this floor before the Christmas break. I invite all to participate. Vote here and be alert so that you may understand better why I will do what I will do.
I am honored to do what I do. I am honored to serve in this House, and I am grateful to the Speaker and the minority leader for allowing me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President, including making references to other sources that would have been out of order if spoken in the Member's own words.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 28 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11 a.m.
