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18 public bills, H.R. 6974- 6991; and 4 resolutions, H.J. Res. 138; H. Con. Res. 69; and H. Res. 982-983, were introduced.
Pages H251-52
Reports Filed
Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 178, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-429, Part 1); H.R. 179, to direct the Secretary concerned to coordinate with impacted parties when conducting a forest management activity, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-430, Part 1); H.R. 2250, to reauthorize the National Landslide Preparedness Act, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-431, Part 1); H.R. 435, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide direct hire authority to appoint individuals to Federal wildland firefighting and firefighting support positions in the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 119-432, Part 1); H.R. 1110, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and implement a strategy to increase opportunities to utilize livestock grazing as a means of wildfire risk reduction, with amendments (H. Rept. 119-433, Part 1); H.R. 2405, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to carry out activities to provide for white oak restoration, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119- 434, Part 1); and H.R. 839, to prohibit the implementation of a Land Protection Plan for Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119- 435).
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Speaker
Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Wied to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
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Recess
The House recessed at 11:50 a.m. and reconvened at 12 p.m.
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Order of Business: Consideration of H.R. 6938
Agreed by unanimous consent that the question of retaining a portion of the bill on H.R. 6938 may be subject to postponement, as though under clause 8 of rule 20.
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Recess
The House recessed at 2:05 p.m. and reconvened at 2:30 p.m.
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Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
The House passed H.R. 6938, making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, by a yea-and-nay vote of 397 yeas to 28 nays, Roll No. 7. Earlier, the House agreed to retain Divisions B and C by a yea-and-nay vote of 419 yeas to 6 nays, Roll No. 6, and to retain Division A by a yea-and-nay vote of 375 yeas to 47 nays, Roll No. 5.
Pages H151-H205, H209-11
H. Res. 977, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 4593), (H.R. 5184), and (H.R. 6938) was agreed to yesterday, January 8th. Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act--Presidential Veto: The House voted to sustain the President's veto of H.R. 504, to amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area and to carry out activities to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding, by a yea-and-nay vote of yeas to nays, Roll No. 8 (two-thirds of those present not voting to override).
Pages H208-09, H211-12
Subsequently, the veto message (H. Doc. 119-120) and the bill were referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
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Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act
The House voted to sustain the President's veto of H.R. 131, to make certain modifications to the repayment for the Arkansas Valley Conduit in the State of Colorado, by a yea-and-nay vote of 248 yeas to 177 nays with one answering ``present'', Roll No. 9 (two-thirds of those present not voting to override).
Pages H205-08, H212
Subsequently, the veto message (H. Doc. 119-119) and the bill were referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Page H212
Breaking the Gridlock Act
The House passed H.R. 1834, to advance policy priorities that will break the gridlock, by a yea-and-nay vote of 230 yeas to 196 nays, Roll No. 11.
Pages H212-13, H213-27
H. Res. 780, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1834) was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 202 nays, Roll No. 10.
Pages H212-13
Quorum Calls: Votes
Seven yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H209-10, H210, H210-11, H211- 12, H212, H213, and H226-27. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 8:47 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: 248 of 385 spoken turns were found. Turns without a time are still listed; they just can't seek.
Morning-Hour Debate
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of January 6, 2026, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.
The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties and each Member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is much to unpack from the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Above all, there is the stark contrast between the American socialists who are bitterly denouncing the ouster of this socialist dictator and the masses of ordinary Venezuelans celebrating their deliverance from him.
Socialism under Chavez and Maduro utterly destroyed the prosperity and freedom of Venezuela, reducing it from one of the wealthiest nations in the world to one of the poorest. Like all socialist regimes, the Chavistas depend on brutal intimidation, terrorism, and violence to maintain their grip on power. A third of the population has now fled that afflicted nation. With Maduro's ouster, this diaspora of socialism's victims finally see a cause for hope, and they are rejoicing in the streets.
This should be a warning to our fellow Americans who today are flirting with the same socialist movement in our own country. It has long been foretold that when socialism comes to America, it will come as a smile.
Venezuelans are not the first to be seduced by the siren song of a benevolent and all-powerful government. Like every people who have blundered down that road, they awakened one morning to find the benevolence was gone and the all-powerful government was still there. Let that be a lesson to our misguided countrymen.
This should also be a warning to our adversaries around the world that the Monroe Doctrine has been revived and that America is again willing and capable of defending the New World from the intrigues of the old.
Every thug and despot around the world has new reason to fear the ancient warning: sic semper tyrannis.
Mr. Speaker, has the President acted within his inherent authority as Commander in Chief? The Federal courts have already answered that question time and again including the attacks on Libya by Obama and the arrest of Noriega by Bush. They have consistently ruled that these nearly identical precedents were within the prerogatives of the President and that Congress just as consistently has acquiesced.
As law professor Jonathan Turley put it: ``If Obama can vaporize an American citizen without even a criminal charge, Trump can capture a foreign citizen with a pending criminal indictment without prior congressional approval.''
This is an important debate that goes to the heart of the separation of powers and one that we ought to have. The Constitutional Convention originally considered giving Congress the exclusive power to make war. Elbridge Gerry successfully replaced ``make war'' with ``declare war.''
Madison explained this distinction as ``leaving to the executive the power to repel sudden attacks.'' That distinction has been widened over the centuries, and perhaps it is time to take a fresh look at this question of what distinguishes declaring war from making war.
In 1847, Congressman Abraham Lincoln addressed this very point and unsuccessfully argued that once the executive initiates a hostile act against a foreign power, it has, in fact, declared war by giving that power casus belli. He said that reacting to a military attack is one thing, but initiating an attack is quite another.
Personally, I think he had a point. I disagree with the current precedents, although I find it hard to fault the President from acting within them.
Restoring the many guardrails that separate executive, legislative, and judicial powers in our Constitution would be a fitting way for Congress to celebrate our Nation's 250th anniversary. The Supreme Court is doing its part by restoring the President's exclusive control over executive agencies, and perhaps it will soon restore Congress' exclusive control over tariffs. I certainly hope so.
Reasserting Congress' supremacy and the momentous question of war and peace will require a serious and sober discussion in Congress. When I hear the hyperbolic and hyperpartisan rhetoric of the Democrats in this House with their hatred of Donald Trump dripping from every word, I fear that discussion
In the meantime, let us rejoice in the fruits of this action. They include the removal of the worst despot in the Western Hemisphere; the revival of the Monroe Doctrine; the ejection of malignant powers insinuating themselves into Latin America; the unmistakable warning to tyrants around the world that America is back; the triumph of American arms; and most of all, setting the stage for the return of liberty, justice, and prosperity to the people of Venezuela.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask Mr. Scalise: Where is my 1 minute when I need it?
Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear and close friends, Steve Womack and Madam Speaker, for being here. I also thank my colleagues and my dear friends, Majority Leader Scalise and Majority Whip Emmer, for being here.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with, obviously, mixed emotions and reluctant conviction. There is a true story I have told many times over the past 60 years. It is about a young man--myself--who was a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, just a few miles from this place.
As a freshman, like many young people, I lacked a vision for my future. I nearly flunked out of college and didn't enroll in the 1958 fall semester. Fortunately for me, I reenrolled the following spring.
It was the spring convocation of April 27, 1959. Classes were canceled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. so that we could all go hear the guest speaker. Frankly, I had not planned to attend. However, I was walking up the hill near Cole Field House where the event was located. I saw our guest drive up in a 1958 Pontiac convertible. That, Mr. Speaker, was a cool car. It was so cool that I decided to go to this convocation.
That walk was my road to Damascus. It changed my life. The speaker was John F. Kennedy. In his remarks, he urged us to do our duty in those days of world chaos. In particular, he charged us students to become more active in our communities. Nancy heard those same words.
Like many hundreds of thousands of young people, I was deeply inspired by Senator Kennedy and his words. Jack Kemp, who was my colleague when I first came here, had a similar story. A week later, I changed my major from business to political science.
Mr. Speaker, 7 years later, in 1966, 5 months out of Georgetown Law School, I was elected to the Maryland State Senate. Mr. Speaker, 15 years after that, in 1981, the voters of the Fifth District elected me to the United States House of Representatives.
I stand here now, after some 60 years in public service, including nearly 45 years as a Member of this House. I have won elections and lost a couple. I celebrated triumphs and suffered setbacks. I enjoyed friendships and endured hardships.
As the song says: ``Some days are diamonds. Some days are stone.'' Happily, I have experienced more diamonds than stone.
Shakespeare advised us all: ``This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.''
In that vein, Mr. Speaker, I have decided not to seek another term in the people's House. I make this decision with sadness, for I love this House, an institution the Framers designed to reflect the will of the American people and to serve as the guardian of their liberty and their democracy.
Through the past 45 years, I have come to know many good, decent, and patriotic Members chosen by their neighbors to represent them. They come from both parties and all parts of the ideological spectrum.
The Congress I entered in 1981 was somewhat different. Most Republicans and Democrats worked together in a collegial and productive way. The leaders of the House, Tip O'Neill and Bob Michael, fostered that environment. It was, of course, not a Congress without conflict.
In the year to come, I will have much more to say about the issues we have grappled with and the ways this House has changed during my time. At the outset, I have said that I spoke with reluctant conviction. That reluctance is because I am deeply concerned that this House is not living up to the Founders' goals.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to examine their conscience, renew their courage, and carry out the responsibilities that the first Article of the Constitution demands. Only in that way can we ensure that our 250 years will be a preface to a stronger and brighter beacon in a free and principled democracy. It will be a nation of laws, not of men. It will be a nation respected around the world for its strength, certainly, but even more for the ideals it represents and the justice with which it acts.
That effort must extend beyond this House. I fear that America is heading not toward greatness but toward smallness, pettiness, divisiveness, lawlessness, and disdainfulness.
We must respect and love one another. We must remember that we are not great or unique because we say we are great but because we are just, generous, and fair.
I hope that spirit can guide us the rest of this Congress because I still have much I want to do in the coming year, not least of which is keeping the government open. To do that, we must send all our appropriations bills to the President in a bipartisan and timely fashion.
There are many people I intend to thank in the coming months, but here are a few I will recognize now:
First, my family, who has borne much of the burden of my service. I ask them to stand.
To my late wife, Judy, who died too young and gave so much.
To my beloved daughters, Susan, Stefany, and Anne, who paid a price for Dad's absences.
To my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, for giving me great joy.
To my mother, who thankfully lived to see her son become the president of the Maryland State Senate.
To my staff, for serving me and their Nation with great loyalty and ability.
To my colleagues, for trusting me with leadership.
To the people of Prince George's County, particularly the African- American community, without whom I would not have won my elections.
To the people of Maryland's Fifth District, who gave me a majority of their votes 23 times.
To my wife, Dr. Elaine Kamarck, who has made my life whole and happy. Thank you, Babe.
And to God, for sending me down this road so many years ago that I call the ``Road to Damascus.''
I thank all of my colleagues--extraordinary people, decent people, people whom their neighbors respect and sent here. The only way they got here was through their neighbors saying that they wanted them to represent them.
I thank you all.
Mr. Speaker, with tremendous gratitude, I yield back.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. To my friend, Mr. Hoyer, you have served your district, your State, and your country with dignity and honor, and the institution wishes you Godspeed.
Mr. Speaker, before I get into my primary remarks, for which I was going to rise, I reflect on 18 years ago when I came into the House of Representatives.
Some of my staff had been on the Hill for, actually, a couple of decades at that point.
My chief of staff said: If there was ever a Democratic Member of Congress who literally represents the term ``statesman,'' it is Steny Hoyer.
He truly is. He has not failed at that task, and so I offer my congratulations on his announced retirement and my thanks for his service as a statesman, especially at a time of what we have been living through, of growing divisiveness.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight some of the great work that my office delivered in 2025 that was reflected in my year-end report.
Last year was full of legislative victories. From ensuring more milk options in public schools to making certain that rural schools receive the funding that they need, we continue to deliver for Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.
I was proud to lead the charge to bring whole milk back into our schools, push for the largest investment in American agriculture in a generation, advocate for career and technical education, and establish a Federal regulatory framework for digital assets like cryptocurrency.
On the policy front, I helped to ensure the passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act. I secured numerous provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which benefited American agriculture, as well as a provision authorizing Workforce Pell Grants.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act will soon be signed into law, and the House approved both my Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 and the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2025.
At home, I was honored to nominate seven exceptional students to our Nation's service academies, celebrated a talented young artist, and delivered more than $6.1 million in Federal funding for nine excellent community projects.
My office responded to more than 81,000 constituent letters, answered nearly 8,000 phone calls, and closed nearly 1,600 constituent cases, helping folks navigate the Federal agencies and Federal bureaucracy.
The most rewarding part of being a Representative is helping individuals and families get the assistance that they need. Throughout the year, my staff hosts office hours across the 18 counties in the 15th Congressional District to assist constituents with issues related to the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, IRS, and other Federal agencies. Appointments are not necessary, and I am pleased that we are available to help those in need. Personally, I hosted over 1,200 meetings in 2025 and sponsored and cosponsored 183 bills.
Mr. Speaker, as many around the Capitol complex know, I often come to this floor to share good news from Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District. I spoke 91 days on the House floor in 2025, delivering 120 speeches. I am glad to have had the ability to communicate with my constituents in this way and to recognize their achievements.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the people of the 15th Congressional District for allowing me the privilege to be their voice in Congress, and I firmly believe that our best days lie ahead. I look forward to working hard in 2026 to continue to earn their support.
Mr. Speaker, today is a day of joy but also a day of some sadness that our great leader, Steny Hoyer, has announced his retirement from Congress.
He still has another year. He still has another year, and I know a lot will come.
I join the gentleman in saluting Elaine, Stefany, Susan, Anne, and Judy. Judy--we loved Judy when she was here, and now we rejoice in the gentleman's happiness with Elaine.
My colleagues, we all know that Steny Hoyer has been a pillar of strength in the House of Representatives and a champion for the people of Maryland for more than four decades. His patriotism, mastery of the legislative process, and steadfast commitment to America's working families have left an indelible, positive mark on our Nation.
Steny has been a steady presence in our Caucus and the Democratic leadership and a valued colleague. He has been a great leader in bipartisanship in this body. He spoke in his remarks of how it was when he came here. Many of us were here at that time. We didn't get along because we always agreed; we got along because we respected the differences that we brought in representing our districts. It was a very positive time, which he harkened us back to and challenged us to return to.
I thank Steny.
Mr. Speaker, his deep knowledge of the institution, respect for its traditions, and commitment to public service have earned him the admiration of colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
Personally, Steny has not only been a trusted partner in leadership but a dear friend. He mentioned the Presidency of John F. Kennedy. When President Kennedy was President, Steny and I worked in the office of Danny Brewster of Maryland. That is when I got to know him. I was just out of school. He was in law school. Sadly, we saw the assassination of the President, and that was a horrible thing.
As he concludes his extraordinary leadership and service in the Congress, we celebrate his legacy of decency and devotion to our country. He has been just so remarkable. Our gratitude to him and his family is boundless, and we wish them every happiness in the years ahead.
Steny has been a leader to us and a mentor to many. He has really been an example of leadership and can be viewed as one of the most substantial, respected Members of Congress in the history of this body.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Hoyer for his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I also offer my personal thanks and congratulations to my dear friend, Steny Hoyer, on the announcement that he has made today. We wish him the very best.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great friend and fellow northwest Arkansan, Doug McMillon, who steps away at the end of this month from a 12-year run as chief executive officer of Fortune 1, Walmart, in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Doug's is a story of incredible American success. Much like the company he has led, his journey started with humble beginnings.
At 16, Doug's family moved from Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Bentonville. The eldest of three children, Doug was a guard on the Bentonville High School Tigers basketball team. I had the privilege of watching him play high school sports with no way of knowing where his dreams and ambitions would take him.
He began his career at Walmart as an hourly associate in 1984, picking orders and unloading trailers in the warehouse. He attended the University of Arkansas and worked part time at the Bank of Bentonville. Later, he enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Tulsa.
He later became an assistant manager at Walmart Store 894 in Tulsa, and that launched a career with the Nation's leading retailer, with promotions to CEO of Sam's Club in 2005, Walmart International in 2009, and finally CEO of the entire enterprise in 2014.
With a market cap of $195 billion, under his tenure Walmart's value has increased by more than 350 percent and a current market cap of around $900 billion. His leadership in the company's digitization and strong e-commerce platforms was a major shift for the company from that as a brick-and-mortar company to an omnichannel retailer.
Supply chain automation in warehouses and major pay increases for hourly associates were instrumental in his visionary leadership and success.
Mr. Speaker, I could speak volumes about Doug McMillon's legacy. Suffice it to say, his quiet and patient demeanor, his bold and innovative leadership, and his commitment to the shareholders and associates of Walmart make him one of America's true success stories, and not only that, but his spirit of charity and funding opportunities for young entrepreneurs and in healthcare for fellow citizens.
I am proud of what he has accomplished and the inspiration he has given to thousands of people who have had the privilege of serving under his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I know Doug McMillon well enough to know that he would be embarrassed by all of this fuss that we are making about him. That is who he is, but this tribute is well deserved. Few among us have lived the American Dream like he has, and what a difference he has made.
Mr. Speaker, I say to Doug and Shelley: Well done. I know I speak for a lot of people. I thank him for his example of selfless service and his commitment to helping his fellow man. Godspeed and may he enjoy a well-earned retirement.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark a solemn anniversary.
Fifteen years ago today, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was doing her job, holding a ``Congress on Your Corner'' event at a grocery store in Tucson, standing outside in the January sunshine, listening to her constituents, figuring out how she could help them.
Then the unthinkable happened. In an instant, this moment of democracy turned into a tragedy. A gunman targeting Congresswoman Giffords killed six of our fellow Arizonans: Federal Judge John Roll, a dedicated public servant; Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, beloved members of the community; 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, born on September 11, 2001, a budding public servant who had just been elected to her middle school student council; and Gabe Zimmerman, Gabby's director of community research who died doing the work that he loved.
Thirteen others were wounded, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She survived a gunshot wound to her head through the sheer force of her will, exceptional medical care, and the unwavering support of her husband, Captain Mark Kelly.
I worked closely with Gabby when she was in the State legislature, and I served on the Phoenix City Council. She was a singularly talented leader, brilliant and tough as nails, with the rare gift for bringing people together. There is no doubt in my mind that if it were not for that day, Gabby Giffords would be sitting in the United States Senate right now or the Governor's office, maybe even the White House.
We have seen the consequences when political disagreements metastasize into something darker. In the last few years, political violence has increased in frequency and intensity, and this violence has been directed at both Republicans and Democrats.
Gabby Giffords herself has shown us the path forward. Despite a long and difficult recovery that continues to this very day, she has transformed unimaginable tragedy into courageous action.
Through GIFFORDS, the organization she cofounded with Mark Kelly, she leads the fight for a future free from gun violence, not with bitterness, but with courage, determination, and with hope.
Her example stands as a rebuke to the cynicism that too often characterizes our politics. Gabby reminds us that we can disagree and disagree strongly while still recognizing the fundamental humanity in one another. We can fight for our principles without demonizing our opponents.
On this 15th anniversary, we honor those who we lost by recommitting ourselves to the work that they believed in, a democracy where disagreement is not just tolerated but celebrated, where robust debate strengthens rather than threatens our institutions, and where every American can engage in civic life without fear.
That is the America Gabby Giffords fought for then. That is the America she fights for now, and that is the America we must build together.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Brigadier General Keith Connolly, who sadly passed away on Christmas Eve.
Keith lived a life defined by service, by family, and by purpose. He was married to his wife, Pat, for 65 years, and together they raised four children and were blessed with nine grandchildren and four great- grandchildren, with another expected this spring.
A devoted husband, father, and friend, Keith chose a life of service to his country. He served with distinction for 33 years in the United States Air Force as a general officer and a fighter pilot, flying more than 4,800 hours and serving across the United States and overseas, including in Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. He was awarded two Legions of Merit and seven Air Medals for combat missions, primarily in the Pacific theater.
After retiring to Tucson in 1990, Keith continued serving veterans at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, volunteering more than 23,000 hours over 26 years, helping veterans navigate VA claims. He also recruited and mentored volunteers, assisting thousands through tax assistance programs, and he shared his passion for aviation through the Pima Air & Space Museum.
In 2016, Keith was inducted into the Arizona State Veterans Hall of Fame in recognition of his many years of volunteer service.
It was an honor to recognize General Connolly as part of the initial Veteran Servant Leader Award that I have the pleasure and the honor of conducting every year.
General Keith Connolly's life reflected deep love for his family, his community, and his country. His legacy of service will endure.
Mr. Speaker, I thank him for his service and may he rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mica Mountain High School's football team on winning the championship for the second year in a row.
Number 7 Mica Mountain Thunderbolts defeated number 1 undefeated Arcadia High School with a score of 42-17. Mica Mountain started the season 2-2 and ultimately finished 12-2. It was the first time a southern Arizona school repeated as champions among the big-school ranks since 1976 and 1977.
Head Coach and Mica Mountain Assistant Principal Jay Campos led the Thunderbolts to their second consecutive State championship and the first of his coaching career.
Evan Wheeler finished with 194 yards and three touchdowns which earned him both offensive and overall MVP.
Sergio Raygada had an 18-yard pick six and was named the defensive MVP.
Mr. Speaker, this team has made their school and community very proud. This was a great victory for the Thunderbolts and one they earned. I congratulate them on yet another successful season.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the memory of one of my constituents, Dolores Owens.
She came to Santa Ana 60 years ago when she married Dewey Flournoy, and together they raised five boys. After Dewey's passing, Dolores later married Neddie Owens and continued to build a life rooted in love, family, and faith in Santa Ana.
Dolores was a strong and active woman, always cooking for her family, even at the age of 92. She had a deep love for the word of God and a heart for giving, donating to community. Whenever she found anybody in need, she would give, no questions asked. She was a true example of a strong woman and a loving mother who took care of everybody in her community.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in my district, Xiong Yi.
Xiong's app, MathFluent, helps students understand math by transforming complicated equations into helpful visualized stories. Users can input an equation or a problem, and MathFluent will generate a story or art piece that helps explain the solution.
Xiong is a student at Fairmont Prep Academy in my home city of Anaheim, and he is a perfect example of how the 21st century students are incorporating technology into their educational experience.
Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Xiong on a well-deserved honor.
Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago, I was on this floor when insurrectionists stormed the Capitol to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power.
On this anniversary, I remember the brave Capitol police officers who put their lives on the line to protect not only Members of Congress but America's democracy. Today, in 2026, political violence continues to threaten the fabric of our society and of our country.
I hope as we reflect back on January 6 that we look at those memories as a lesson that we have to stand together and we have to fight, not with violence, but with debate, looking at each other with understanding the way we have done in this great democratic country for over 250 years.
That night of January 6, it was both Republicans and Democrats that came together after the insurrection that night to make sure we completed the peaceful transfer of power and make sure that democracy continued to reign in America.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible career of Jim Monaghan, a dedicated public servant who has spent a lifetime serving the people of Stony Point.
Jim's public service began with a 29-year career in the New York City Police Department, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. From January 2016 through this past December, he served as the town supervisor of Stony Point, focusing on affordability for families and seniors and ensuring public safety. Before becoming town supervisor, Jim served for 2 years on the town board.
A lifelong Rockland County resident, Jim and his wife, Jackie, have lived in Stony Point for 30 years with their two children and now their grandchildren. Community and family remain central to his life. Jim and his wife are active parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church and have volunteered in community sports programs and nonprofits throughout the county.
As Jim retires after a long career serving the people of Stony Point, Rockland County, and New York, I am proud to recognize my good friend, Jim Monaghan, for his many contributions to our community. May this next chapter for him be just as fulfilling as the last.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Anthony Adamo, southern region president of the Civil Service Employees Association who passed away this week at the age of 46.
Born in Flushing, Queens, Anthony graduated from New Paltz High School and began his career at SUNY New Paltz in 1999. Not long after, he stepped up as a union activist in CSEA's SUNY New Paltz Local working as a shop steward and grievance representative, driven by his belief in standing up for the working people.
In 2009, Anthony was elected as the local president, a position he held for 10 years, during which he also served as the chair of the union's statewide political action committee.
In 2019, he became southern region president and was reelected by his peers again in 2024. Additionally, Anthony served as an AFSCME delegate and vice president of the New York State AFL-CIO.
Anthony embodied the very spirit of union leadership: passionate, hardworking, and unwavering in his commitment to others. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the workers he proudly fought for. He was a great friend, an honest broker, and a true New Yorker. I will miss my friend dearly, and may he be at peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John ``Spo'' Esposito, a remarkable young man from my district. John passed away peacefully on December 28 at just 25 years old.
John grew up in Somers, New York, where he graduated from Somers High School in 2018. A proud student-athlete, he was a member of the 2016 New York State Championship varsity football team, as well as the track and basketball teams, forming lifelong friendships.
John went on to attend Manhattanville University earning his business degree in 2023. He pursued his entrepreneurial spirit by working at B&E Sports Collectibles and starting his own business, Eye On The Ball Sports Collectibles, alongside his brother Joey, combining his love of sports with his ambition and his family.
Beyond his accomplishments, John was defined by his heart. An avid Yankees fan, he remained deeply connected to his community as a member of the New York Bombers, a blind beep baseball team, and showed us all what it means to persevere with humor, courage, and grace.
My deepest condolences go out to John's parents, Joe and Patti; his brothers, Joey and Michael; and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Layla Elizabeth So, a remarkable young lady from Pearl River, New York, whose kindness and creativity touched everyone who knew her. Layla passed away on August 7, 2024, after a heroic 2-year battle with cancer.
Layla grew up in Pearl River, New York. She attended Lincoln Avenue Elementary, Pearl River Middle School, and was a rising sophomore at Pearl River High School where she earned High Honor Roll.
Layla excelled on the varsity bowling team, earning the most improved player award. She also participated in the marine science club, enjoyed baking, and volunteered at Pearl River Library.
One of Layla's proudest accomplishments was being a founding member of Eagle Scout Troop 97G in New City. Her Eagle Project, completed posthumously by Troop 97, transformed 10 55-gallon steel drums into decorative trash cans for the town of Orangetown and earned her the title of Eagle Scout after her final board of review in which she also became a Life Scout.
Layla's legacy reminds us that life isn't always numbered in years but in the impact we leave behind. Though her time with us and in our community was far too short, Layla's ambition and kindness will endure. May her memory always be a blessing.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary Orangeburg resident, Pieter Grosbeck, who passed away at the beginning of December due to a 9/11-related illness.
A proud Eagle Scout, a graduate of Tappan Zee High School and of Rockland Community College, Pieter dedicated his life to serving others. After working as a technician for ITT in Antarctica, Pieter began his career in public safety with the NYPD in 1984, serving as a patrolman in the 44th Precinct in the South Bronx.
In 1990, Pieter continued his career by joining the FDNY where he was later assigned to Engine Company 3 in Chelsea and later transferred to Battalion 7, serving with distinction until his retirement in 2018.
Pieter devoted 45 years of volunteer service to the Blauvelt Volunteer Fire Company, serving as president, chief on three occasions, and an active board member, being awarded life membership in 2019.
He was a loving husband to his wife, Lisa, for 32 years; a devoted friend; and a man who consistently put others before himself. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, his fellow firefighters, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Blood Donor Month, which takes place each January, and to thank our fellow Americans who voluntarily donate blood.
As a proud blood donor myself, I commend the New York Blood Center and all the community blood centers across the United States that provide a lifeline to people and patients in our hospitals.
This week the center declared a blood emergency.
A single blood donation can save up to three lives, making the work of our community blood centers and the generosity of the employees and the volunteer blood donors who contribute their work extremely important.
NYBC has been serving New Yorkers with lifesaving blood products since 1964. Today, as part of the New York Blood Center Enterprises, that mission extends far beyond New York. Together, they serve 75 million people and provide 1 million blood products annually to over 400 hospitals.
From newborns and their mothers to cancer patients and trauma victims, community blood centers provide patients with the blood that keeps them alive. This month and always, I thank them.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the work of those who are leaders and members of the Port Chester Historical Society. Their volunteer efforts have kept alive the memories and stories of the years past that represent the foundation of the village of Port Chester today.
Led by president Jordan Allen, the society has maintained the historic Bush-Lyon Homestead and has been able to follow through with a host of different items for this building that was built in 1760, involving the community and activities at that site: celebration of historic dates, fairs and festivals, and important seminars.
This month, in concert with the Village of Port Chester and Westchester's Revolution 250, the society cosponsors An Evening With Benjamin Franklin. The society cosponsors that evening, and he will visit us in the 21st century to tell us a little bit about the 18th century.
Also this month, the historical society holds a workshop on research and genealogy for interested adults who want to do their own family research. The energy and resources activated by those in the society, Kikki Short, Toni Sacco, Carolee Brakewood, Mike DeVittorio, Lou Russo, Joanne Bellantoni, and others, is one more example of everyday Americans doing their part to advance the story of America.
From the floor of the House of Representatives, I salute the Port Chester Historical Society.
Protecting Drivers From Dangerous Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Mr. Speaker, I rise today because this week I am proud to introduce new legislation to protect drivers from dangerous electric vehicle battery fires with my colleague Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
This bill called the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Battery Safety Act of 2026, H.R. 6948, comes in response to several fatal EV accidents which occurred in my district. The accidents involved extremely hot and difficult-to-fight chemical battery blazes and have led to loss of multiple lives.
I became aware of the lack of standards governing EV battery design and heightened risks to passengers in EV accidents, including electrical door releases becoming disabled and lack of information on EV firefighting techniques and exposure to chemical toxins from those fires.
This bipartisan bill addresses all of those issues, requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation standards for battery safety, mandates for mechanical door releases, disseminating best practices for firefighters to tackle these runaway blazes, and requiring a study by HHS on the health risks to firefighters.
These new standards will help assure Americans that they are not taking unnecessary risks every time they get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle and ensure our firefighters have the most current knowledge and protection to handle the latest in automotive technology.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional public servant, David McMahon, whose career reflects unwavering leadership, unwavering patriotism, and a true commitment to the security of America.
Dave has spent much of his life and service to the State of South Carolina. He grew up in Charleston and today oversees the TSA operations at the Charleston International Airport along with five other airports all across South Carolina. He has served as a Federal security director since January of 2020, managing operations and directing security efforts all across our great State.
Dave's record of service is both extensive, and it is remarkable. He has served as an honorary commander with the U.S. Coast Guard Base Charleston through the Joint Base Charleston Program and has made equally significant contributions to national security policy through service and working on various groups.
Dave has had a distinguished record of service. Prior to his time with the Coast Guard, Dave served as the deputy Federal security director for Minnesota at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. He also played a pivotal role as a primary field leader for Super Bowl LII.
From assistant Federal security director roles to active director positions, Dave has consistently delivered strong leadership and results wherever he was placed. Notably, in the early days of TSA, Dave helped federalize six airports while serving as a crisis management coordinator.
His lengthy service record goes on. Prior to joining the TSA, Dave served more than 4 years as a deputy sheriff with the Dane County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin. He also served our country for 12 years in the United States Army, a tenure which included a combat tour in Saudi Arabia and Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division.
His military roles included criminal investigator, patrol supervisor, SWAT/sniper team lead, SWAT/police sniper instructor, and military police officer basic instructor. Dave also taught criminal justice for Central Texas College while stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
Dave's life is one truly defined by his service. His commitment to our community, to our great State, and to our Nation has been unlimited. Above all, Dave's family has always been his greatest source of strength. Dave has been married to his wife, Jeanette, for over 39 years, and together they have raised two sons who continue their father's proud tradition of service as members of the United States Air Force.
Apart from his public service, Dave enjoys being with family and spending time outdoors. Dave McMahon is truly a man of strong character. At every moment, he has continually shown up with integrity, with professionalism, and with a commitment to making his community safer. He represents the very best of public service.
On behalf of the people of South Carolina, I am proud to acknowledge Dave McMahon for his decades of service, his steadfast leadership, and the example he sets for all of those who follow in his path. As a father, as a soldier, as a public servant and steadfast South Carolinian, his story is a reminder of the impact one individual can have when they devote their life to the security and well-being of others.
On behalf of our great State of South Carolina's Fifth Congressional District, I thank Dave McMahon and wish him Godspeed in his well- deserved retirement years.
Mr. Speaker, let us make two things clear today, the
Here is another truth, Mr. Speaker, that in no way conflicts with this first one: The President of the United States must come to Congress before ordering a military engagement against any country.
Mr. Speaker, you cannot uphold the rule of law by breaking it. You cannot protect or abide by the Constitution by assaulting it.
Again, so there is no confusion between these two positions, Nicolas Maduro was not a legitimate President, and unauthorized military action is illegal without the consent of Congress.
With Nicolas Maduro now in the rearview mirror, we must look forward and craft policies that support a free and democratic future for Venezuela and policies that return war powers to the United States Congress, as enshrined in the United States Constitution.
That is why I and the executive board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will propose a forward-looking framework for a democratic and stable Venezuela. As members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, we come from different nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are immigrants, like myself. Many of the members also have ancestors who settled in places in these United States before the United States even existed, and everywhere in between. We share, like most Americans with roots from all over the world, a special connection to Latin America and the Caribbean. Hence, we have crafted a series of recommendations, a roadmap if you will, for democracy and prosperity for the people of Venezuela.
Our first priorities will support a free and democratic Venezuela. That means rejecting authoritarian governance, whether the orders come from the Miraflores Palace or the White House.
The Venezuelan people deserve institutions that are accountable, transparent, and responsible to the world and a restoration of democracy through timely and legitimate elections that reflect the voices of the Venezuelan people themselves.
This is not just about the Venezuelan people. This is ultimately also about the American people, and the American people deserve a government that preserves, protects, and even respects our own rule of law, our own Constitution.
That is why we reject any further U.S. military intervention without congressional authorization. If we are together, as a nation, to put our men and women in uniform at risk, then our Constitution wisely demands that the decisions be made by the Representatives of those people. It may well be that Congress will have voted for or against an intervention, but, ultimately, it is Congress that should do it.
Now that we are so deeply involved with Venezuela, we must act according to our principles. That means ensuring humanitarian protections at home and abroad for the Venezuelan people who have been victims of tyranny for so long.
At home, that includes extending TPS. We cannot deport people to a nation where our actions have set off a new wave of oppression.
In Venezuela, that means pushing for an end to that repression. It means the release of political prisoners, including journalists and civil society leaders. It means freedom of expression and freedom of the press. We must also ensure that Venezuela's future is decided by Venezuelans.
Our future is also in balance. Mr. Speaker, we are not a nihilist nation. Mr. Speaker, we are a nation of values, principles, and laws. We must act as one.
Mr. Speaker, as we begin the second session of the 119th Congress, we should take a moment to reset our focus and remember why we are here. A new year and a new session bring new opportunities, but the mission remains the same. Kansans sent me to Washington, D.C., to deliver results for the people of the Big First District, and that is what I will continue to do.
The Big First is home to farmers and ranchers who get up before the sun and work until the job is done. It is home to small business owners and families who balance budgets, meet payroll, and expect the same discipline from the Federal Government. Kansans are practical people who believe in hard work, common sense, and accountability. We don't want excuses. We expect results.
After President Trump's first term, the Biden administration inherited near-record lows in inflation and an agricultural trade surplus of $6 billion. After 4 years of failed Democratic policies, we were left with a 21.5 percent increase in prices and an agricultural trade deficit of $40 billion.
When a ship runs into an iceberg, it takes time to turn the ship around, Mr. Speaker. You need to bail the water, repair the planks, and restart the engine before you can fully correct course. Fortunately, thanks to the leadership of President Trump and congressional Republicans, we are back on track and moving away from the iceberg that was President Biden's administration.
Over the course of the first session of this Congress, we made important progress for Kansans. We pushed back against burdensome regulations that drive up costs for Main Street. We worked to strengthen American energy production so families can afford to heat their homes and fuel their vehicles. We advanced policies that support agricultural producers and rural communities and restored the rule of law at our border. Most importantly, we cut taxes for working families, giving the average Kansan $2,200 more per year in take-home pay beginning this month.
That work matters, and I am proud of the progress we have made, but after the damage done by the previous administration, there is much more work to do. That is what this second session must be about.
For Kansans, this starts with agriculture. Farmers have been facing higher input costs, tighter margins, and growing uncertainty since 2021. They need predictability, risk management tools, and a strong farm safety net. Completing a farm bill that reflects the realities on the ground is vitally important, and I will continue pushing for a fiscally conservative, 5-year farm bill that reflects the priorities of our producers who feed, fuel, and clothe the world.
While real wages are rising and inflation is nearing a 5-year low, there is more to be done to lower costs for families and small businesses. Washington regulations often hit Americans hardest in rural communities like the ones I represent. Commonsense regulatory relief is not about cutting corners. It is about letting people work, grow, and innovate without unnecessary government interference.
Energy is another area where House Republicans are working hard for the good of our Nation. Kansans support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that prioritizes American oil, gas, biofuels, and renewables. This approach supports good-paying jobs, strengthens our economy, and keeps prices affordable. Green New Deal policies that pick winners and losers or ignore rural realities do not work in places like the Big First of Kansas, and this Congress has a responsibility to pursue solutions grounded in reality, not ideology.
Finally, Congress needs to ensure that we continue good stewardship of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Families in Kansas must make tough choices every day, and they expect their government to do the same. Last year, we rescinded $9.4 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse found in Federal programs, such as funding for Iraqi ``Sesame Street,'' electric buses in Rwanda, and LGBTQ programs in Uganda. Fiscal responsibility is not optional. It is a basic obligation that House Republicans are focused on each and every day in the 119th Congress.
Mr. Speaker, the second session of this Congress is not about starting
Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to say thank you to Steny Hoyer for an incredible career and for being a role model and my friend. He is always a class act.
I also rise today to speak for the families who are forced to choose between groceries, rent, and healthcare because prices keep climbing. Affordability is equal to economic stability. Let me repeat that: Affordability is equal to economic stability. Americans are struggling to pay for groceries, rent, gas, and healthcare. They are drowning under rising costs while promises to lower the cost of living have remained unfulfilled by this administration.
On day one, President Trump said he would put America first and lower costs. Instead, he pardoned violent insurrectionists, a mob that attacked this Capitol to overthrow a fair and free election. It was an attack that resulted in the deaths of five law enforcement officers.
We were promised America First, but what we are seeing is that a majority of Americans, who have been polled on whether we are headed on the right track or the wrong track, believe that we are on the wrong track.
This administration has prioritized costly foreign entanglements without transparency or congressional approval while working families pay the price at home.
Instead of protecting the economic well-being of Americans, we are seeing the following: Tariff policies are increasing the costs of essential goods. My farmers are struggling, as well as American consumers. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing for millions. Critical programs that help families stay afloat are under attack. The cuts in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as well as SNAP and other programs, are taking their toll.
Take healthcare as an example. The enhanced premium tax cuts that help millions afford coverage are now expired. In California, new enrollments are down 31 percent last year, and nearly 190,000 families have canceled coverage because it is no longer affordable. Middle-class Americans who are earning more than $62,000 are no longer eligible for the Federal premium tax credits, doubling cancellations from 8 percent to 16 percent.
Californians are switching to bronze plans to save on premiums, but these plans carry higher deductibles. For pregnancy care or cancer care treatment, costs can more than double compared to silver plans.
In my district, over 65,000 families risk losing Medicaid, and another 22,000 families will face higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Nationwide, nearly 100,000 American families could lose their coverage each year if Congress fails to act.
Last year, Republicans passed a partisan bill that failed to renew the essential premium tax credits, forcing millions of Americans to pay higher costs this year, even though a bipartisan solution is at hand. Families, therefore, unfortunately, are left waiting.
Americans are also struggling with the rising costs of energy, transportation, and other critical services. What we need are bipartisan solutions that create jobs, lower costs, and increase enhanced premium tax credits so millions of American families can afford their healthcare.
What we need is bipartisan legislation such as my bipartisan Rural Homeownership Continuity Act that will reduce financing costs and bipartisan legislation on permitting reform to get infrastructure like energy, transportation, and housing projects more quickly approved for working families.
Mr. Speaker, we need bipartisan solutions, and they are clear. Congress must act now to ease costs, expand access to healthcare, and invest in the future of our communities throughout the country.
The cost of living is not a partisan issue. It is not. It is a matter of fairness, security, and justice. From groceries to gas and from rent to healthcare, Americans cannot afford to wait any longer.
Mr. Speaker, it is time that we get together. It is time for Congress to act in a bipartisan effort to renew the sense of Congress as the people's House that we can work together. It is time, Mr. Speaker, for Congress to act. America's people, American citizens, and our constituents must come first.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Carl J. Stewart, Jr., a proud son of Gaston County, North Carolina, and a former speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, who passed away on December 23 at the age of 89.
Carl grew up in a working-class family as the son of two Firestone Mill employees. He earned a scholarship that helped him attend Duke University and Duke University Law School. He then went on to serve in the North Carolina House for 13 years and made history as the first speaker elected to serve two consecutive terms.
Throughout his life, Carl was a very well-respected attorney in our area with an absolutely great law practice. He combined his legal work with public service, along with serving in the legislature. He held leadership roles on the North Carolina Board of Transportation, the North Carolina Economic Development Board, the North Carolina Ports Authority, as well as the North Carolina Ethics Commission.
His legacy lives on in the infrastructure and educational access that he helped build, especially at Gaston College. For six decades, Carl Stewart served the community college, first as a business law instructor, then as legal counsel, forming a partnership with college presidents and board members rooted in innovation, integrity, and unwavering commitment to student success. In every role, he focused on building a stronger North Carolina, and he really put in so much time to improve the lives of folks in Gaston County. Whether it was education or other things, you name it, he was always there.
I will tell you one thing about Carl. He never lost sight of where he came from, and he spent his life helping. I got to know Carl even before I was speaker of our statehouse, and I can tell you, he was a great mentor. He was somebody who loved nurturing folks who were coming up in public service and getting involved and folks who really wanted to try to make our State a better place. I am going to tell you, North Carolina is a better place because of Carl Stewart's work and his example.
I join our community in mourning this tremendous loss. I ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers in appreciation for all that he has done for so many in our great State.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and service of Officer Michael Miles, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this week.
He was a proud marine, a loving father, and a dedicated police officer serving the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for more than 13 years. He spent much of that time protecting and mentoring others in the Freedom Division.
Before wearing the badge, he wore the uniform of the United States Marine Corps and served his country with honor. That same spirit of service guided him every day on the job and at home.
His sudden passing is a heartbreaking loss for his loved ones, his fellow officers, and our entire community. Officer Miles leaves behind his partner, Hannah, and four children. I ask my colleagues to join me in lifting up his family in prayer.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today carrying the voices and the lives of the people in the Massachusetts Seventh whose survival depends on the Affordable Care Act tax credits: the grandmother skipping meals to pay for her prescriptions; the young mom lying awake at night wondering how she will afford her baby's asthma inhaler if premiums go up; families like Deborah's in Boston, staring down premiums that will double while they care for loved ones, serve their community, and do everything right.
These are not abstract numbers. These are real people with real lives and real fears about whether they will be able to see a doctor, fill a prescription, or keep their families healthy.
In my district alone, 29,000 people will be forced to pay more for healthcare if Congress fails to act, and up to 35,000 could lose their coverage entirely.
This is a shameful policy choice. It is a choice, a choice by my colleagues across the aisle, and it is a violent one at that.
Let me tell you more about Deborah. Her family buys insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector. Right now, for a family of five, they pay just over $1,000 a month. If these ACA tax credits expire, they will pay nearly $2,000 a month for an even worse plan, and that doesn't even include their daughter, who has aged out of the plan, is underpaid in her job, and whose premiums they will have to help cover.
Deborah told me they are fortunate they can afford it, but that affordability does come at a cost. Between paying for their premiums, their son's college tuition, and caring for her disabled sister, Deborah's husband, a dedicated public defender, now works weekends just to keep up.
As Deborah told me: Even work you love shouldn't require you to give up every day of your life just to survive.
Mr. Speaker, Deborah's story is no anomaly. It is the reality for millions of families across this country, and this crisis did not happen by accident. No, this is manufactured, man-made. It was manufactured by an occupant of the Oval Office and a Republican Party that is hell-bent on making families poorer, sicker, hungrier, and less safe. It is the same party that was content to let these lifesaving tax credits expire until Democrats had to force them to vote on a clean 3- year extension. That is the shame and the sham of it all.
Dr. King once profoundly said: ``Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane because it often results in physical death.'' His words still ring true today.
Mr. Speaker, healthcare isn't a nice-to-have. It is a fundamental human right. It is a matter of life and death.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do right by the people who sent them here and join us in passing this extension before it is too late.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Massachusetts Seventh's very own Super Bowl champions, the Randolph High School Blue Devils.
Showcasing electric offense and stifling defense, the Blue Devils shut out West Boylston at Gillette Stadium, capping off an undefeated season with another championship.
These student-athletes have made their school and families proud and proven to themselves and the Commonwealth that the town of Randolph has the talent, commitment, and the tenacity to succeed on and off the field.
I thank Superintendent Stovell Herndon, Principal Licorish, Head Coach Jon Marshall, the players, and the entire team for putting teamwork on display at the highest level.
Congratulations on earning the Division 8 Super Bowl title. Go, Blue Devils.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Alice Wong. Alice was a civil rights and disability justice activist who called the question that changed the conversation. She stoked our consciousness, built community, and saved lives.
She was a published author, community organizer, and a beloved friend. Alice was unapologetic in her pursuit of building a more just world and shining a light on issues society hesitated to address. She saw the humanity of everyone and spoke about intersectionality from her hometown to Capitol Hill to Gaza to the border. She affirmed that mutual aid was not a nice to have, but a lifeline.
She loved science fiction as it gave her the ability to think of a world where choices weren't limited because of a person's disability. She gave us all permission and fortitude to dream of what is possible.
Mr. Speaker, Alice is already deeply missed, and her legacy carries on.
Mr. Speaker, some achievements don't just earn applause, they open the door for others. Today, we honor someone who has done just exactly that: Miley Meredith, the first female Eagle Scout in Nassau County, Florida.
From Troop 9152 of Scouting America in Yulee, Miley has shown outstanding dedication, creativity, and a genuine commitment to serving others, qualities that earned her the rank of Eagle Scout. The accomplishment, Mr. Speaker, as you know, is impressive for any Scout, but for Miley's achievement, it also marks an historic moment for our community--expanding what is possible for young women in northeast Florida.
As part of her service project, Miley devoted more than 155 hours installing a 25-foot flagpole and creating a 6-foot mural for the Yulee Lions Club, strengthening a valued community organization.
On behalf of Florida's Fourth Congressional District, I proudly congratulate Miley Meredith, an Eagle Scout whose achievements earn and deserve applause and whose example will continue opening doors for others.
Mr. Speaker, Americans are in a state of total desperation. For weeks, Floridians have been calling my office in tears. They are looking at their budgets with panic while President Trump rips away their healthcare, sends ICE to neighborhoods, deploys soldiers to new global conflicts, and floods billionaire and megacorporations with free money.
People cannot pay their bills, and Republicans here in Washington, D.C., are totally unfocused, busy defending the latest cruelty done by the administration.
Healthcare open enrollment ends next week. Enrollment is down. Americans can no longer afford their coverage. We are in a healthcare crisis.
Democrats don't control the House, the Senate, or the White House, but we still managed to get this bill to the floor to extend the Affordable Care Act tax subsidies. We are fighting with every tool, with every option we have to save healthcare for our people.
I am voting ``yes'' to get this bill passed this week. I encourage every single Member of Congress, whether they are a Democrat or Republican to do the same. I say this as someone who represents a community in the State of Florida, the largest Affordable Care Act marketplace in the entire country. We have millions of people in the State of Florida that will be impacted by this, and I encourage everyone to vote ``yes.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise today deeply disturbed, distraught, and angered by the shooting and the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent that happened just yesterday in Minneapolis.
This is a direct result of Trump's dangerous weaponization of our immigration system and Federal law enforcement. This is the direct result of an agency that is so emboldened by the President that they truly feel like they can do anything with zero impunity and zero accountability.
It shows up in small ways, like when I showed up to tour an ICE facility in my own community and was asked by a Federal agent, in a very condescending way, how old I was, to what we saw yesterday, which was the killing and shooting of a U.S. citizen in her own damn community.
Then yesterday, on the Oversight Committee, my Republican colleagues voted ``no'' on a simple subpoena so we can get information, documents relating to the murder of a U.S. citizen by a Federal agent. Then my colleagues broke into this righteous debate: Let the process play out, let DHS do their investigation, the agent gets due process.
Yes, all persons in the United States are entitled to due process. Renee Nicole Good didn't get that due process because the agent was the judge, jury, and executioner in the middle of a residential neighborhood. There was no process or due process before the administration that runs our Nation labeled her as a domestic terrorist just minutes after this happened.
We won't allow this President to gaslight us, and we won't allow this administration to lie to us about what we have seen before our very eyes.
Not only am I going to vote ``no'' on any funding bills that gives this agency more resources to do this type of thing and terrorize our communities from the State of Florida to across this entire Nation, but I am going to continue to show up physically at bases of operation, field offices, detention centers, and the so-called Alligator Alcatraz to conduct oversight and work with our communities to keep our people safe.
Renee Nicole Good was the mother of three, had a daughter and a son aged 15 and 12, and a 6-year-old with her husband who tragically died in 2023. She was a devout Christian who participated in youth mission trips to Northern Ireland when she was younger. According to multiple reports, she was a poet, a writer, a wife, and a mother.
She had lived most of her life in Colorado and briefly moved to Kansas to stay with her parents after her second husband, a military veteran who suffered from PTSD, died in 2023.
We will honor her life with action, of course fighting to end gun violence because what happened yesterday was gun violence, but also to fight to end ICE's campaign of terror on our communities and our people.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.
Mr. Speaker, Governor James Baxter Hunt, Jr.'s story is inseparable from North Carolina's.
From humble beginnings growing up in Wilson County, North Carolina, to his historic service as our Lieutenant Governor, he was first elected as Governor at 38 years old. He served four terms as our 69th and 71st Governor.
North Carolina's longest serving Governor was a farmer and loved North Carolina State University--a die-hard fan--although he later completed law school at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Governor Hunt believed that public service should lift people up and create opportunities for everyone. His unwavering dedication to education changed the lives of countless children and families.
Through heartfelt initiatives such as Smart Start, early childhood education, teacher support, and school accountability, he helped generations of children have a stronger foundation and a brighter future.
Beyond policy and politics, Governor Hunt led with honesty, with humility, gentleness, and genuine care for others. He believed that the government, guided by fairness and compassion, could be a force of good.
His leadership modernized North Carolina's economy, strengthened its institutions, and elevated the State as a national leader in education and innovation.
Throughout decades, bridging party lines and his unmatched energy, his influence defined an era.
Governor Hunt was not only a dedicated public servant but also a mentor, inspiring many elected and appointed officials. He was my constituent who didn't mind sharing his thoughts and, above all, sharing his support and encouragement.
He was devoted to his family. His legacy of love and service lives on through his family that he cherished and those he inspired.
Governor Hunt was admired, respected, and loved deeply by the people of North Carolina. His reach went beyond our State and made America stronger. Through his leadership, our Nation saw the best of eastern North Carolina. His vision, humble leadership, and faith that came from his days at Marsh Swamp Free Will Baptist Church and later at First Presbyterian Church of Wilson, drove him.
He passed away at 88 years old on December 18 on his farm in Rock Ridge, where he grew up and lived with his beloved wife, Carolyn Joyce Leonard Hunt, for 67 years.
Our Governor and First Lady shared a deep, deep partnership built on love and friendship. He took great pride in his children's accomplishments, especially seeing his daughter Rachel follow in his footsteps as our Lieutenant Governor.
Mr. Speaker, our hearts are with Carolyn, Rebecca, Baxter, Rachel, and Elizabeth. North Carolina will miss one of its greatest public servants. His family will miss a beloved husband, brother, father, and grandfather. I will personally miss a dear friend.
Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Mother Peggy Noble. She was an inspirational leader and a champion for economic justice and for working families.
Mother Peggy has dedicated her life to her College Park neighborhood where she lived. She was a community organizer, supporting her neighbors, advocating for children, and bringing people together. She believed deeply that real change is built through relationships and advocacy and showing up for our communities. Year after year, that is what she did.
Peggy was a fierce advocate for our families from standing up for her neighborhood to fighting for fairness in our broken auto insurance system. Detroit is stronger because of her voice, her leadership, and her unwavering belief in people. We carry her spirit forward in how we organize, how we protect one another, and how we show up for our neighbors.
My thoughts are with her loved ones, Rochelle, Eugene, Kimberly, Jaimi, Asante, and all of Peggy's loved ones, during this difficult time. May she rest in power and in love.
Mr. Speaker, we always seem to have money for war, to bomb countries, but we never have money for healthcare for our families.
On January 1, Republicans ended the Affordable Care Act tax credits and raised healthcare premiums for millions of Americans, our neighbors throughout the Nation. This comes, of course, after Trump's big budget betrayal ripped healthcare away from 17 million Americans and cut Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion.
Last year, Congress did approve over $1 trillion for the Pentagon budget, which just failed its eighth audit in a row. I want folks to think about that. They are cutting money for healthcare and spending it on bombs and death.
The ACA tax credits are what help keep insurance affordable for many of our neighbors across the country. They are the difference between my neighbors having insurance or going without healthcare. It is heartbreaking to read the emails and messages I get from so many families that are putting off seeing a doctor and filling their prescriptions and now rationing their medication.
No parent, Mr. Speaker, should have to choose whether to take their child to the doctor because healthcare is too expensive. Our healthcare system is already broken, and it is inhumane.
My residents always tell me: Don't call it healthcare. Call it sick care. Because we know right now the for-profit schemes within our healthcare system are making it so unaffordable for our families. Why have we not passed the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act?
Again, we are so grateful for the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries as we push forward a force vote for a 3-year ACA tax credit extension today.
Again, instead of extreme cuts, we should be expanding access to care and guaranteeing healthcare as a fundamental human right in our country. We must pass this tax credit extension today and put pressure on the Senate to take it up immediately.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican colleagues to help fix this mess they have made by restoring the extreme Medicaid cuts and joining us in extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Mr. Speaker, housing is a human right, but as everyone knows, we are facing a housing crisis right now.
On any given night right now, more than three-quarters of a million people are unhoused nationwide. The last time the Federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour was increased was in 2009.
Since then, average rental costs have increased 76 percent. That is just completely wild.
We need action at every level of government. I know that many of our local elected officials are desperate to reduce housing costs and need the Federal Government's partnership. We know often here in this Chamber there are officials that will not promote affordable housing or address the unique barriers that our communities are facing.
That is why I introduced the Housing Our Communities Act, and it is meant to address it immediately. This is part of a legislative package that passed out of the Financial Services Committee this past year.
My bill directs the HUD Secretary to establish a competitive grant program to support a wide array of affordable housing planning and implementation activities.
For example, grants, Mr. Speaker, can support officials in crafting their own housing plans, updating zoning codes, and increasing the capacity to conduct housing inspections so that developments are completed faster, reducing project costs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Housing for the 21st Century Act and provide policymakers and our local governments with the resources they need to make affordable housing a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. I have some prepared remarks, but I will also be speaking from my heart as well because, unfortunately, today I am here to honor the life and legacy of my friend, former sheriff and Fire Chief Dave Haverdink.
Dave was a staple in Allegan County who dedicated his life to serving his community until the moment tragedy struck in the line of duty on December 23. Dave passed away on December 25, Christmas Day.
He was there serving others as there had been an incident on a roadway and, unfortunately, he was struck and killed.
I first got to know Dave while he was serving as a county commissioner and was running for sheriff of Allegan County. While Dave excelled in both of those roles--in fact, he did 8 years, two terms, as the sheriff--his service didn't stop there.
Perhaps what Dave will be most remembered for was his astounding 51 years of service with the Hamilton Fire Department, including 40 of those years when he served as chief of the department.
Prior to coming out to Washington, D.C., I had a chance to go and be with his family at a visitation. I was touched and moved when his wife said to me that she and Dave pray for me and everybody in Washington every single day. It just speaks to the character of this family. At a time when the focus should be on them and supporting them, they still were thinking of others, including me and all of our colleagues here.
While Dave undoubtedly had a tremendous impact on Hamilton and all of Allegan County, his legacy, though, is going to be one as a husband and a father and a grandfather who loved his family deeply. My heart and prayers go out to his wife, Judy; sons, Jeff and Tim; and the entire Haverdink family during this tragic time.
This is a true loss. It is a loss not just for a particular community. It really is a loss for humanity. He is one of the good guys. He is one of those that put service to others above self. He is someone that focused on making sure that others were okay at every turn and didn't think about himself.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring the memory, life, and legacy of Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Haverdink with a moment of silence.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with outrage and with grief.
Yesterday, not even a full week into the new year, ICE murdered a U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, after shooting her multiple times as she was seemingly attempting to drive away, blocking her from medical care, and letting her die, while a doctor stood by offering to help.
The video of this tragedy is damning. I encourage every American to watch it and make their own judgment.
A woman is dead. A child has been left without a parent. A community is shattered. The American people are left, once again, demanding answers from an agency that has shown time and time again that it operates without accountability.
Mr. Speaker, what happened to Renee Good in Minneapolis demands a full, independent, and immediate investigation.
I represent Arizona's Third Congressional District, a diverse and rich community of immigrants. For over a year now, ICE has been terrorizing my constituents. No agency is above the law. Yet ICE is now the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the United States, receiving more funding than most militaries around the world, while operating with virtually no meaningful checks and balances.
In the immediate aftermath of Renee Good's death, the Trump administration did what it does best. It lied. Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller rushed to smear a dead woman as a ``domestic terrorist,'' while Donald Trump took to Truth Social to gaslight the American people, asking them to deny their own eyes and accept his version of events instead.
This is what authoritarianism looks like. This is what happens when the leader of a nation turns a Federal agency into his personal paramilitary force against the civilian population of the United States.
Donald Trump has weaponized ICE, not to keep communities safe but to terrorize them. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has called for ICE to vacate his city, and I echo that call. People in our communities don't feel safe because they are not safe.
In my district on Christmas Eve, a woman named Flor, a DACA recipient, was detained while Christmas shopping. Why is ICE spending resources to detain a DACA recipient on Christmas Eve? They claim they are going after ``real criminals.'' That, too, is a lie.
Just days ago, ICE detained two day laborers outside a Home Depot in Phoenix, briefly detaining a U.S. citizen in the process. These people are not criminals. This isn't law enforcement. This is a Federal agency operating outside of its mandate, using fear as a tactic to spread fear and chaos in our neighborhoods.
It is no coincidence because Stephen Miller is rapidly hiring tens of thousands of new ICE agents. Many are poorly trained. Many have troubling backgrounds. This is all to meet this reckless mass deportation agenda that he has set out.
We have been sounding the alarm for well over a year, and now the worst has happened. An American woman has died. That is why I am introducing legislation to rein in ICE, demand transparency, and stop the unchecked funding that enables these abuses.
I am also joining as an original cosponsor in an effort led by my colleague Congresswoman Robin Kelly to introduce Articles of Impeachment against Kristi Noem, the Secretary of
A woman has been murdered. Silence is no longer neutrality. It is complicity. We must rein in ICE. We must demand accountability. We must protect our communities from this abuse of power.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation witnessed the killing of a fellow American in broad daylight, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her name was Renee Nicole Good. She was a concerned citizen and a mother. The loss of her life was entirely preventable.
This tragic loss of life comes the same week that we remember what occurred here 5 years ago on January 6. On that day, violent insurrectionists attacked police officers, many of whom sustained serious injuries and five of whom have passed away since the attack, including Brian Sicknick, a New Jersey native and a proud Capitol Police officer.
Instead of remembering and healing from the events of that day, President Trump pardoned close to 1,600 seditious and violent insurrectionists who were convicted of criminal charges. The President and House Republicans have tried to vanish the events of that day from our collective memory, but we will not let them.
Last year, alongside my colleagues Congresswomen Watson Coleman and McIver, I witnessed firsthand outside Delaney Hall how far this administration will go to silence dissent and opposition when more than 20 armed ICE and HSI officers physically prevented us from doing our job.
What I said then and what I would say today is that all of this should be completely unacceptable to all Americans and should shake every American to their core. I have said time and time again that no one is safe in Trump's America. Mothers, Capitol Police officers, our neighbors, Members of Congress, no one, not a single person should feel safe with him as our President.
This administration's extreme agenda does not reflect the best of who we are as a country but, instead, seeks to turn us against each other. We cannot allow that to happen.
Madam Speaker, Americans are grateful that last week, under the courageous leadership of President Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, General Dan Caine, Pam Bondi, and John Ratcliffe, that our professional military completed an inspiring, legal operation to arrest Venezuela dictator Maduro and his wife.
Dictator Maduro rigged elections and also operated a murderous, drug- dealing regime. Drug cartels, which killed hundreds of thousands of young Americans, have now been damaged.
The murderous axis of evil of war criminal Putin, Iranian and Cuban regimes, and the Chinese Communist Party are unraveling, exposing dictators with rule of gun which invade democracies with rule of law.
In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Trump is reinstituting peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies, insulting Trump, mocking Trump, with ghost Russian tankers financing the Maduro murderous dictatorship.
Our prayers for a speedy recovery for Dr. Jim Baird and his wife, Danise.
Madam Speaker, I rise to share the unbreakable ties between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, demonstrated this week through the Annual Crucian-Rican Tramp and Big Breakfast, a powerful reminder that Virgin Islands culture is inseparable from our Latin Caribbean heritage.
Puerto Rican immigrants began coming to the Virgin Islands by the thousands in the late 1800s, cutting cane alongside Crucians, whose ancestors endured the same cane fields. Families planted roots, building communities throughout the island and on St. Thomas. They established social clubs and created businesses.
Spanish became our second language. Our children grew bilingual. Our families intertwined. Our kitchens became sacred ground, where callaloo met asopao, fungi sat beside mofongo, and johnnycakes shared the table with bacalaitos.
Yet, before the migration to St. Croix were the boats of enslaved Crucians, who were fleeing slavery by making the dangerous trip to Vieques and Culebra. This isn't fusion. It is family, Caribbean people who refused to let colonial borders divide us, who
The Crucian-Rican Tramp celebrates this truth: We are stronger together.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life and the service of Father Mike Crisostomo, a Catholic priest from Guam who devoted his life to caring for others and strengthening our island community.
For nearly three decades, Father Mike, affectionately known as Pale Mike, served the people of Guam, offering guidance, comfort, and support in moments of both joy and hardship. He was known for showing up when people needed him the most, whether in times of celebration, grief, or uncertainty.
Father Mike's service extended beyond the walls of the church. He worked with families, the vulnerable, and those facing difficult circumstances, always with compassion and humility.
Father Mike Crisostomo lived a life rooted in faith, service, and love for his community. Guam is in a better place because of his work, and his legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched.
Madam Speaker, Madam Speaker Emerita, Senator Mark Kelly, the Arizona delegation, and to all of my colleagues who are present here today, I rise on the 15th anniversary of the tragic mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, that took 6 lives and injured 13 others, including our former colleague, our good friend, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, an extraordinary American leader who I am pleased to say is here with us in the Chamber today.
At 10:10 a.m. mountain standard time, in Tucson, Arizona, during a Congress on Your Corner event being held by Representative Gabby Giffords to serve her constituents, a gunman opened fire on this peaceful gathering.
We mourn for those whose lives were lost on that fateful day: John Roll, a Federal judge and public servant; Gabe Zimmerman, a dedicated congressional staffer; a precious 9-year-old girl named Christina- Taylor Green; and beloved community members Dorothy ``Dot'' Morris, Phyllis Schneck, and Dorwan Stoddard.
At the same time, we are thankful to God for the survival, the resilience, the courage, the strength, the persistence of Congresswoman Giffords and all those who survived on that fateful day.
Prior to this assassination attempt, Congresswoman Giffords served this body and the people of Arizona's Eighth District with great distinction, dedication, and determination. Her policy interests were diverse, spanning from immigration reform, economic opportunity, and promoting solar and clean energy.
After experiencing firsthand, in the most horrific fashion possible, the horror of a mass shooting, she refocused her efforts on ending the gun violence epidemic in America once and for all. We honor her and celebrate her for the transformational work that she has done in the years that have followed.
House Democrats stand with Gabby and with all Americans who say enough is enough.
Enough with the gun violence epidemic being the leading cause of death for the children in this country.
Enough with mass shootings being as frequent as the common cold.
Enough with the text messages to parents saying ``I love you'' because there is another active school shooter.
Enough with the mass-casualty incidents at concerts, grocery stores, movie theatres, nightclubs, churches, mosques, synagogues, and other gathering places.
Enough with weapons of war flooding our communities, while merchants of death rake in record profits.
Enough unnecessary loss of life due to preventable, senseless gun violence.
This is the cause to which Congresswoman Giffords has now dedicated her life, and we all join her in proclaiming enough is enough.
It is time to end the gun violence epidemic in America once and for all.
While the challenges to address this crisis may feel insurmountable at times, we cannot and will not give up hope, inspired by the perseverance of our dear leader, Congresswoman Giffords.
I am heartened by the work that has been done despite the considerable forces that have been arrayed against us.
That progress includes, under the leadership of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, which represented the strongest new Federal gun safety legislation in 30 years.
Our job, of course, as Gabby makes clear, is far from finished. Every day an average of 327 people are shot in this country, including 23 children shot on average every day. Over 65 million Americans say at least one person in their family has been fatally shot, their lives extinguished by gun violence in this country. There are 393 million guns in the United States of America, more guns than people, and law enforcement can't tell you where a majority of those guns are because of barriers that have been erected keeping criminals protected.
It does not have to be this way. We know there are commonsense solutions to stop the gun violence and keep the American people safe.
We can start by closing the gun background loophole that allows dangerous people to buy firearms without background checks.
We need to ban assault weapons in the United States of America to prevent these weapons of war from continuing to destroy the lives of everyday Americans.
Led by our distinguished appropriators like Rosa DeLauro, we are continuing to fight for robust funding for community violence intervention programs and appropriate funding for the ATF and gun violence research. Breaking the devastating cycle of gun violence that has a choke hold on this country is one of our Caucus' highest priorities and will be a high-priority issue when we take back control of the majority after the November election.
Democrats are continuing to maintain our commitment to keep everyday Americans safe from the scourge of gun violence, and we will not stop fighting for proven policies that we know will reduce gun violence in every community throughout our Nation.
I encourage my colleagues to support the resolution introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to commemorate the tragic event that occurred on January 8, 2011.
I once again thank our colleague, our fearless leader, our distinguished champion, Congresswoman Giffords, for her presence here today on this solemn anniversary and for her tireless, matchless, incredible advocacy to end the scourge of gun violence in the United States of America once and for all.
I now ask everyone in the Chamber to stand, and for everyone throughout the campus to join us in a moment of silence to commemorate the lives lost and the lives forever changed by the tragic shooting that occurred on January 8, 2011.
Madam Speaker, Christmas has come and gone. As the ball dropped bringing in a new year, families in eastern North Carolina and across the Nation literally on New Year's Day are feeling the squeeze of rising healthcare insurance costs.
It is not a happy new year for everyone. These are hardworking families, our neighbors and friends, trying to raise kids and buy groceries, and they are small business owners.
Congress must act to extend these subsidies so hardworking families aren't left stretching out tight budgets
We can pursue meaningful reforms. Let me say it again. We can pursue meaningful reforms without sacrificing access to affordable care, and that is exactly what the people sent us here to do.
Madam Speaker, thousands of Minnesotans and millions of Americans are facing unaffordable healthcare costs. Because of their cruelly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Speaker Johnson's refusal to act, the Republican majority is creating a healthcare crisis that will literally dismantle American public health.
Americans are being forced into crushing medical debt, are in danger of losing their closest hospital, clinic, or emergency room.
As a doctor, I worry for the patients delaying their care and for clinics and hospitals already struggling to meet the needs of their community.
As a Minnesotan, I am heartbroken for my State. Minnesotans have suffered immeasurable loss following the tragedies of recent months.
The Trump administration's reckless actions and deliberate inaction from Republicans in Congress jeopardize the operation and availability of facilities that are the first site of care in the most tragic circumstances.
I have a responsibility to be abundantly clear, Madam Speaker. The consequences of inaction and ignoring hospitals, doctors, patients, and your own constituents will be catastrophic. The price of failing to deliver affordable healthcare isn't losing elections. It is real human suffering and American lives.
Madam Speaker, this year the Westchester Jewish Council is celebrating their 50-year anniversary, advancing a vision to serve the Jewish community of Westchester County: 130,000 people and 126 member organizations. Led by president Michael Mittelman, the board of directors, and the talented professional staff headed by CEO Elliot Forchheimer, the WJC has sponsored and organized public programs from Holocaust remembrance to Passover celebrations and gatherings. They have ensured greater synagogue security, programs to combat hatred and anti-Semitism, and the connection to Israel.
At the upcoming 50th Anniversary Gala, two outstanding individuals will be honored: board member Stu Seltzer and Pam Goldstein.
Pam is the chief operating officer of WJC. Stu, a Mamaroneck resident, is a professional in brand licensing and partnership marketing, president of a firm dominant in that field. Along with serving as a NYU adjunct professor, he is active in his local community and of the Westchester Jewish Center.
Pam has a long record of activism and volunteerism as a member of Temple Israel Center, active PTO leader and parent at what is now the Leffell School, and important nonprofits such as the Breast Cancer Foundation and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Friends and colleagues of Stu and Pam will join in the celebration of their accomplishments and the 50-year accomplishments of the WJC.
From the floor of the House of Representatives, we salute the Westchester Jewish Council.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Don Stevens, the legendary voice of the Rochester Americans, as he calls his final season behind the microphone.
For four decades, Don has called over 3,300 games for the Amerks and became the longest tenured play-by-play broadcaster in the American Hockey League.
From Calder Cup runs to cold weeknights downtown, he has been the soundtrack of winter in Rochester calling games from a press box at the Blue Cross Arena that now proudly bears his name.
Known as the dean of AHL broadcasters, a member of the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame, and a two-time winner of the James H. Ellery Memorial Award for media excellence, Don has served in roles from public relations director to TV host, and founded the AHL Broadcasters and Writers Association.
We thank Don for the memories, the excitement, and for making Amerks hockey sound like home. I wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.
Madam Speaker, I rise today because the House has a critical opportunity to support families and small businesses who are struggling to afford healthcare for 2026.
I am thinking of the parents I have talked to who will drop coverage for their families because their premiums are doubling and tripling, the nonprofits who won't be able to cover employees anymore, the manufacturer that is now paying more for health insurance than most of their raw materials.
The impacts of this healthcare debate are real and they are immediate.
This week Congress can solve the problem and actually make people's lives better.
Everywhere I go across New Hampshire, I hear the same thing: Money is tight, and people are worried about their futures.
The millions of families who rely on the Affordable Care Act tax credits for health insurance have waited long enough for Congress to do the right thing.
I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure that hardworking Americans can maintain their coverage and have the health and financial security that they deserve.
Madam Speaker, this week marks the first anniversary of the southern California wildfires that took lives, devastated communities, and left families across our region displaced.
We are lucky that the damage was not worse, and that is only because of the wildland firefighters who run toward danger and risk their lives for all of us.
For decades, these heroes were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection, even as the science made clear that wildfire smoke causes lasting lung damage and is linked to more than a dozen cancers.
Firefighters' life expectancy is now nearly 10 years shorter than the average American. That is unacceptable.
The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act changes that. It directs our Federal land agencies to develop and require respiratory protection when smoke exposure becomes dangerous.
Protecting our firefighters' lungs should not be controversial. This bill ensures that those who protect us are finally protected themselves.
Permission to Postpone Proceedings on Retaining a Portion of H.R. 6938, Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the question of retaining a portion of the bill on H.R. 6938 may be subject to postponement as though under clause 8 of rule XX.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Oklahoma?
Madam Speaker, Pursuant to House Resolution 977, I call up the bill (H.R. 6938) making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, 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 977, the bill is considered read.
The text of the bill is as follows:
DIVISION C--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED
limitation on administrative expenses, federal prison industries,
DIVISION C--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED
contracts and agreements for wild horse and burro holding facilities
office of the under secretary for natural resources and environment
gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland research
council on environmental quality and office of environmental quality
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts
forest service facility realignment and enhancement authorization
american women's history museum and national museum of the american
bureau of land management actions regarding grazing on public lands
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees.
The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) each will control 30 minutes.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Oklahoma?
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6938, a three-bill package covering the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment appropriations measures for fiscal year 2026.
These bills are the product of bipartisan, bicameral consensus and are grounded in a Member-driven process.
As I stand here today, I think of the genius of our Founding Fathers. They designed Congress to be an engine of thoughtful and deliberative policymaking. It wasn't meant to be easy. In fact, difficulty is what separates serious legislating from political performance.
In her 250 years, America has never shied away from hard work, nor does the Appropriations Committee in carrying out our constitutional responsibilities for fiscal year 2026. Even after the longest government shutdown in history, political obstruction, and tough deadlines, we remained resolute and took responsible steps forward to restore regular order.
I am proud to say we have ended the cycle of pork-filled omnibuses decided at the last minute. Just as importantly, we have been turning America First priorities into action. President Trump set a critical foundation by signing three appropriations bills into law in November, and we are carrying that momentum forward today. The measure before us keeps us on track to complete all 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026.
With passage of these three bills, we will provide full-year funding for many of our most critical programs.
We prioritize public safety by supporting law enforcement and stopping the flow of fentanyl into our communities. We advance American strength by unleashing energy dominance, securing critical minerals, and investing in nuclear power. We uphold stewardship by protecting public lands, supporting wildland firefighters, ensuring responsible resource management, and fulfilling our obligations to our Tribal nations.
All of this is achieved while cutting waste and keeping total fiscal year `26 spending below the current continuing resolution.
These results are not accidental. They are by design, and they are the result of the hard work of our subcommittee chairmen, Hal Rogers, Mike Simpson, and Chuck Fleischmann. Thanks to their leadership, good will, attention to detail, and strong relationships with their negotiating partners, the power of the purse is, once again, being exercised by lawmakers through the committee process, as Article I intended.
To their accompanying ranking members, Grace Meng, Chellie Pingree, and Marcy Kaptur, I thank them for their partnership and collaboration, which was instrumental to this effort.
As I look ahead to today's action, Republicans are strongest when they are focused; Democrats are more effective when they negotiate in good faith; and the country is better off when Republicans and Democrats work together.
In its Statement of Administrative Policy on this package, the White House said, in part: ``The administration urges every Member of Congress to support this fiscally responsible bill, which is a win for the American taxpayer.'' Not surprisingly, I completely agree. I look forward to enacting these full-year appropriations and taking every action to complete our work.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill. It is the product of a genuine bipartisan compromise, something that was once common in this body but has since fallen out of fashion.
I am eager to share all the great things that are in this bill, but before I do, I must take a moment to express my profound gratitude to the devoted public servants who worked tirelessly to make this happen.
They are Ranking Members Grace Meng, Marcy Kaptur, and Chellie Pingree on the Appropriations Committee, who led these negotiations and secured crucial funding for key programs. Subcommittee staff, especially Bob Bonner, Rita Culp, Scott McKee, Adam Wilson, Nora Faye, Jamie Wise, Faye Cobb, Jocelyn Hunn, Michael Schmeltz, and Ippo Dellatolas worked through the holidays to craft this legislation. I send a shout-out to Chris Bigelow, the appropriations staff director.
Of course, I thank our Republican counterparts on the committee under the leadership of my dear friend, Chairman Cole.
When we began this process, we set out three goals: protect Democratic priorities, eliminate any poison pills, and reassert Congress' power of the purse. I am pleased to report that this package accomplishes all three.
It protects funding for key Democratic priorities, and it rejects draconian cuts proposed by the Trump administration. It invests in programs at the Department of Energy that will bring down energy costs and utility bills, which are core drivers of the ongoing affordability crisis, programs that President Trump proposed to cut or eliminate, despite the cost-of-living crisis he has led us into.
This package promotes community safety, increasing funding for Violence Against Women Act grants by $7 million, supporting victims of abuse who otherwise would have nowhere to turn.
It rejects efforts by the Trump administration to eviscerate scientific research funding, providing $4.8 billion more for the National Science Foundation than the White House proposed.
The agreement also rejects the Office of Management and Budget's illegal efforts to undermine America's dominance in scientific innovation across the entire government by protecting the indirect costs that research institutions depend on to do groundbreaking work with the Department of Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. This is something Chairman Cole and I have worked on in the past with regard to the NIH, and it is critical for us to expand it to other agencies in this package.
The bill provides funding to protect our national parks, natural resources, endangered species, and public lands, rejecting $9.5 billion in proposed cuts in the Interior bill. It protects our environment while restraining polluters, providing $8.8 billion in funding for the EPA, nearly double the budget proposed by the White House.
Additionally, there is not a single poison pill policy rider in this bill. I know my friend, the chairman, and I may disagree on what constitutes a poison pill, but it is a testament to the
I know some of my Democratic colleagues may be reticent to support a funding package for an administration that has been rife with abuse since the day they took office. I understand their concerns, and I share them. However, abandoning the appropriations process only empowers the President and the Office of Management and Budget to continue manipulating Federal spending as a partisan weapon. If we give up on appropriations, there are only two alternatives: a permanent shutdown or endless stopgaps with funding on autopilot. Neither is a viable option.
Stopgap measures afford the administration broader discretion over the budget and cede our authority over Federal spending. The more ambiguity we afford them, the more they will exploit it. One of the best ways to rein in this reckless administration is by providing precise spending levels for specific projects that they are bound by law to carry out.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), who is the distinguished chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, the chairman emeritus of the full committee, and the dean of the House.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my chairman for the introduction. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the CJS Subcommittee, I rise in support of H.R. 6938.
From national security and law enforcement to American innovation and space exploration, the CJS bill before us puts the Nation on a path to greatness while reinforcing President Trump's bold agenda on trade and combating illicit drug trafficking.
To continue the fight against the drug cartels that are ravaging American communities, the Drug Enforcement Administration receives an increase of $63 million in this bill.
The bill also streamlines and enhances support for the National Weather Service to ensure Americans receive lifesaving information in times of need.
This bill is pro-law enforcement. It includes increased funding for State and local police through the Byrne Formula Grant Program and COPS hiring grants, while also making cuts to wasteful grant programs.
I thank Chairman Cole for his steady leadership. This has been a courageous effort on his part and our committee to restore regular order to the way we apportion taxpayer moneys that are entrusted to us. This legislation is a product of good faith, bipartisan negotiations.
I thank and recognize Ranking Member Meng and Ranking Member DeLauro for their partnership as well as staff for their hard work on the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished ranking member of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee.
Mr. Speaker, I very much thank Ranking Member DeLauro for yielding time. I also thank Chairman Cole and the chair of our committee, Charles Fleischmann, for their cooperation. Please let me thank our diligent staff for all their hard work on this bill, both majority and minority, including from the minority staff Scott McKee, Adam Wilson, Ippo Dellatolas, and on my personal staff Jed Bullock, Kaitlin Ulin, and Margaret McInnis.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2026 Energy and Water Development bill, a measure that chooses progress over retreat, American energy independence in perpetuity inside our borders, not dependence on foreign energy supplies.
At $63.3 billion, this legislation provides a critical $2.4 billion increase over last year. Our bill aims to help address significantly rising energy and water bills coast to coast for families, as well as climate-caused water shortages in the West and across our Nation, with crop losses from coast to coast and increasing flooding across our beloved country.
Our Nation must help communities reimagine affordable power grids and water conveyance systems. We must also assure technologies like artificial intelligence and data centers don't bankrupt the ability of families to afford to live, nor take our society down dangerous roads without a roadmap.
For those of us from the industrial and agricultural heartland, energy and water drive the lifeblood of our economies. This bill invests $10.4 billion in the indefatigable Army Corps of Engineers. That is $3.8 billion more than the Trump administration's shortsighted request.
It includes more dollars for harbor maintenance. It ensures that our Great Lakes stay vibrant, our ports on all coasts stay open, and our water infrastructure is built to last for Mother Nature's complexities in this century and beyond. Our bill maintains our commitment for critical regional commissions and authorities to build America forward in the underinvested corners of America right here at home.
While the White House astoundingly proposed eliminating the Weatherization Assistance Program entirely, this bill restores and increases that funding to $329 million, a commonsense investment that puts an average of $372 back into the pockets of thousands of struggling households in every single congressional district. Every dollar counts to make ends meet nowadays in an era marred by ill- considered Trump-inflicted tariffs that make living in America more expensive as prices rise.
To tackle the cost-of-living crisis and affordability head-on, this bill provides an additional $375 million for electric grid modernization to help reduce prices to target the primary driver of skyrocketing utility bills and ensure every American has access to reliable, affordable power.
This bill provides $3.1 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, an increase of $1.3 billion over the Republican bill. Our goal seeks to secure U.S. energy independence in perpetuity to drive down prices for the long haul.
Further, with $8.4 billion allocated for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, we invest in the next generation of technological breakthroughs. In the past, we have had some--like fracking, for example, that unleashed the gas deposits of this country, but we want those investments inside our borders. American innovators, universities, and labs--not foreign adversaries overseas--must command the new energy frontiers and not lose the edge on inventing our common future.
Finally, our bill provides an increase to $25.4 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to focus on our National Nuclear Security Administration, where we must maintain safe, secure, and credible nuclear deterrents that power our unparalleled, remarkable nuclear Navy--thank God for them--and counter the threat of nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. America can and must meet the new-age frontiers of energy and water. Let us invest in our workers, protect our water, and power our future. Future generations are depending on all of us to pass this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), chairman of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and my very good friend.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to begin consideration of H.R. 6938 today, which includes the fiscal year 2026 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
First, I commend Chairman Cole for his leadership over the Appropriations Committee and his continued support of the Interior bill. A lot of people don't realize how hard it is to get all these bills done. We had them all marked up through the committee by the end of September, on time. That is an amazing task by the chairman of this committee, and I thank him for his continued work on this.
I also thank Ranking Member Pingree for her partnership, as well as
The fiscal year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill provides $38.6 billion in total nondefense discretionary funding, reducing spending from fiscal year 2025 by $1.9 billion.
This legislation prioritizes critical needs and addresses specific concerns brought to my attention through more than 8,000 Member requests.
The bill invests $1.74 billion in 1,277 Community Project Funding and Congressionally Directed Spending projects. These projects will improve clean and drinking water infrastructure throughout this country.
This bill also fully funds all of our, what I call, must-pays, such as PILT payments--payments in lieu of taxes--to States and territories and payments to Tribes through Contract Support Costs and section 105(l) leases.
This bill eliminates waste and restores fiscal responsibility, prioritizes unleashing American energy, and protects public lands and access to those lands. It bolsters national security and public safety by reducing our reliance on foreign countries for energy and mineral resources and by increasing law enforcement funding for our land management agencies and for our Tribes.
It protects our communities, fully funding firefighter pay to support wildland firefighters and prevent catastrophic wildfires.
The bill prioritizes upholding our trust and treaty responsibilities with Tribal nations. I continue to say that I refuse to balance this budget on the backs of our Tribes, and I am proud that this bill does not do that. The bill increases support for public safety and justice through Indian Country and provides over $8 billion to the Indian Health Service for key healthcare programs, prioritizing Federal investment where it is needed.
We need to pass this bill that efficiently invests in our priorities, supports the programs our communities care about, and reduces the bureaucratic overreach of the prior administration. This bill does just that, and it makes sensible cuts across 28 bureaus and agencies and closing one agency that has completed its mission.
Thoughtful cuts were made to the Department of the Interior, resulting in a nearly 2 percent reduction in the top line. EPA is cut by nearly 4 percent.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, renewable energy is cut by $34 million, while providing targeted increases that preserve our Nation's natural heritage and ensure a sustainable and fiscally responsible future.
Passage of these bills will send a strong message that Congress is determined to return to regular order and deliver results for our districts.
Mr. Speaker, this bill works to ensure our priority programs receive funding without any poison pills. We had to make some tough decisions, but I am proud that this is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that both parties and Chambers see as a benefit to the American people. I urge its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), the distinguished ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the consolidated appropriations act.
First, I thank Ranking Member DeLauro for yielding me the time, but also for her leadership and perseverance in this challenging time.
I thank Mr. Simpson for his collaboration and partnership in this committee, and I also thank Chairman Cole for the work he has done on this committee.
Mr. Speaker, I will give the most applause and great thanks to our committee staff, Rita Culp, Jocelyn Hunn, and Michael Schmeltz, who put in many long hours, as we know, and worked over the holidays. We wouldn't be standing here today if they and so many others on both sides of the aisle hadn't put in this work.
I am pleased we were able to reach a bipartisan agreement to produce a bill that protects Tribal lands and the environment, invests in our Tribal communities, supports the arts, and rejects billions in extreme cuts proposed by the administration.
Rather than handing the Trump administration a blank check through another stopgap measure, this bill imposes precise, legally binding spending requirements that constrain executive overreach.
This will provide much-needed funding and certainty to public land management agencies, like the National Park Service, that have suffered tremendous disruption over the past year.
The bill also protects funding for programs important to combating and adapting to climate change. It rejects House Republicans' effort to gut funding for renewable energy and funds USGS climate science.
Funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's environmental justice, a top target for this administration, is included at $30 million. The continuation of these grants is a sharp rebuke of this administration's attack on communities of color and low-income communities facing high pollution burdens.
The bill also protects the arts and humanities, maintaining the enacted funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which the administration tried to eliminate entirely. This funding will support the arts in communities across the country.
Finally, this bill supports Native American families by investing in a strong and resilient Indian Country, including through education, public safety and justice, and healthcare programs.
Importantly, this bill strips out every single partisan poison pill rider that the Republicans tried to jam into the process, including the pesticide liability shield that would have let chemical giants evade accountability.
This bill is significantly better than a continuing resolution. It is not all that we would want or all that we should be delivering, but its investments will improve the lives of Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann), my very good friend and distinguished chairman of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee of Appropriations.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6938. As chairman of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I worked hard to ensure this bill includes many House Republican priorities.
The bill provides a total of $58 billion to advance our national security, strengthen our economy, and unleash American energy dominance.
The bill delivers strong support for our national defense and provides $25.4 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, prioritizing the continued modernization of the nuclear weapons stockpile and the United States Navy nuclear fleet.
The bill strengthens our Nation's energy security by advancing American leadership in deploying new nuclear technologies and supporting the administration's efforts to make full use of our Nation's vast fossil fuel resources. The bill will reduce reliance on foreign materials and secure the full supply chain of critical minerals.
The bill furthers our Nation's scientific and technological leadership, including a strong focus on laying the groundwork for AI and quantum efforts, by providing $8.4 billion for the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
At the same time, the bill reduces funding by over 29 percent across numerous other Department programs, including the applied energy technology offices, to ensure taxpayer resources are focused on the highest priority research and development projects.
The bill also strengthens our economy and promotes public safety, providing $10.3 billion for the great Army Corps of Engineers, including full funding of harbor maintenance and over $2
Additionally, the bill prioritizes funding for the Bureau of Reclamation for projects that increase water supply and support drought resilience.
Mr. Speaker, there are many other important provisions in the Energy and Water bill, but before I conclude, I will specifically congratulate and thank Chairman Cole for being an outstanding chairman of the full committee. He has let the cardinals do their work. He has worked with Members in the minority and the majority. He has worked with Members of the Senate and the House. Mr. Speaker, I also thank Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur and our colleagues across the Capitol.
This is a strong bipartisan bill. It addresses America's needs and is a great bill, and it should get bipartisan support. This is a strong bill for America.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank the staff, and I do not say this lightly: My staff, Republican and Democratic staff, worked up and through Christmas and after Christmas to get this done. These men and women are outstanding. They do a great job. Let's pass this great bill for America.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Meng), the distinguished ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this appropriations package.
As the ranking member of CJS, this may not be the bill I would have drafted if my Democratic colleagues and I were in the majority, but it is a strong, responsible compromise that meets the needs of the American people. I will be voting in favor, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
I am proud that this bill increases funding for grants to State and local law enforcement, including for Community Oriented Policing Services programs and the Violence Against Women Act. These funds are vital for the public safety of all of our local communities and for victim services.
Earlier proposals, including the President's budget requests in the previous House bill, eliminated funding for the community violence intervention and prevention program. Thanks to Democrats' advocacy, we secured level funding to continue this important program in this bill.
Earlier proposals also zeroed out funding for grant programs to prevent hate crimes. I am proud that we ensured these programs will continue without cuts.
We secured strong funding levels for the Economic Development Administration and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which both work to create and preserve good jobs in the United States.
We continued and funded three agencies that the Trump administration wanted to eliminate entirely: the Minority Business Development Agency, the Legal Services Corporation, and the DOJ's Community Relations Service.
This bill also resoundingly rejects efforts to cut funding for basic scientific research, technology development, and STEM education at NSF and NASA.
Importantly, this bill strengthens congressional oversight and control over funding for Federal agencies, to ensure that they spend this money as Congress intended rather than for their own political purposes.
Last but not least, every single one of the extreme, partisan policy riders contained in the previous House CJS bill has been removed from the bill before us today.
I am proud of the work we have done in this bipartisan package. I thank Chairman Tom Cole and his team, and our subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers and his team, for their cooperation. I thank our ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, and her team, for her leadership. I especially thank our Appropriations subcommittee staff, Bob Bonner, Jamie Wise, Nora Faye, and Faye Cobb, for their tireless work on this, and also Tom Dinegar and Rebecca Lee from my individual office, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cloud), my very good friend and the distinguished vice chairman of the Energy and Water and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations Act.
As vice chair of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am encouraged by this bill's historic commitment to unleashing American energy dominance, while also responsibly stewarding taxpayer dollars.
We are at a time when our Nation is at an energy crossroads. Certainly, as we work to win the AI race against China, energy dominance is mandatory. This bill appropriately allocates resources to invest in our nuclear capabilities, mining production, water resources, and more.
Specifically, this bill repurposes wasteful Biden administration spending on things like unproductive carbon capture toward real infrastructure and energy production capabilities. This includes $1.785 billion in total resources for nuclear energy technology, $720 million in investments for fossil energy production, and $190 million to improve cybersecurity and grid resilience.
Unleashing American energy dominance means truly building our production and infrastructure to meet the modern demands, not just coming up with more and more regulation.
A prime example of real building is found in the $10.435 billion secured for the Army Corps of Engineers and their projects such as improvements to the Matagorda and Corpus Christi Ship Channels in south Texas. The Port of Corpus Christi, for example, is the leading energy exporter in the country, and its strength is essential to our Nation's energy security.
In addition to these critical energy investments, this bill points investments toward desalination projects, drought response, and rural water supplies so that our communities can receive much-needed relief and long-term stability.
This bill gets us on the right path in accomplishing the Trump administration's goal of energy dominance and leaves behind wasteful and destructive, often counterproductive, Biden administration spending and regulation that created things like the Office of Energy Justice and Equity and crippled our efficient and cost-saving energy production capabilities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Chair for his diligent work on this piece, and I thank him for his guidance on this committee. I look forward to our continued work, and I encourage support of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member DeLauro and Chairman Cole for their work in bringing this bipartisan package to the floor. I especially thank Ranking Member Pingree and Chair Simpson. I serve on the subcommittee with them.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation that secures funding for public safety, public infrastructure, public lands and, yes, public health. This bill will help reassert Congress' Article I power of the purse and provide clear funding direction to this administration.
I want to highlight how this bill maintains funding to our trust and treaty responsibilities to Indian Country. It continues to support education, healthcare, public safety, and human services for our Native American brothers and sisters.
This bill maintains Indian Health Service advanced appropriations, which is targeted for elimination by President Trump's budget. I thank the leaders for their work on making this part of the bill. The Tribal leaders fought hard to establish this advanced appropriations security, and I am glad it is included. I am so proud of our bipartisan ranking members working hard to get this provision and this bill across the line.
I am pleased this bill includes nearly $9 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, a significant increase over the House position and twice that of what the White House had proposed for the EPA.
This bill also fully funds the National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities at $207 million each. This bill, as has been pointed out, rejects all the poison pill riders.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this appropriations bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6938, which includes the FY26 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
This bill makes critical investments in our national defense by increasing Department of Energy defense program funding by $912 million. This includes $25.4 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, an increase of $1.3 billion. These funds ensure we can maintain today's nuclear stockpile, prepare for future needs, and modernize aging infrastructure that underpins our nuclear deterrent.
Our bill also delivers a nearly 10 percent increase for naval reactors, advancing Columbia-class submarine reactor development, and supporting the safe handling of naval spent fuel.
This package is not just about national defense. It reins in the Biden administration's climate agenda that dismantled our energy independence and hurt American consumers. Instead, it refocuses the Federal Government on affordable and reliable energy that will drive down costs.
For Florida, this bill continues funding for critical infrastructure projects that protect our waterways, help our rural communities, and grow our economy.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the negotiated FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act.
As a new member of the CJS Committee, I am pleased to have been part of crafting this legislation. I thank my fellow Appropriations Committee members and staff for their extraordinary hard work making this bill happen.
Despite being in the minority, Democrats on the Appropriations Committee have fought for months to reject the Trump administration's proposed cuts to crucial programs, programs that make our communities safer and support our law enforcement. Our fight was fruitful.
For example, we secured $50 million for community violence intervention and prevention initiative grants, despite the President and the House Republicans' attempts to eliminate this funding that so many of our local law enforcement rely upon. These programs have immeasurably reduced crime and gun violence.
We successfully removed 76 partisan policy riders that would have eliminated firearms trafficking regulations, climate change, and so much more.
Further, this bill provides $938 million for STEM education so that we can invest in the next generation of innovators, despite the House Republicans' attempt to eliminate this funding.
Overall, this is a strong repudiation of the Trump administration's antiscience agenda. The Interior and Environment bill appropriates $8.8 billion for the EPA and includes provisions to protect staffing levels at EPA so that the agency can perform its mission to protect human health and the environment.
The Energy and Water bill includes strong funding for energy research and innovation programs including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
This isn't just good for the environment. It is good for business. Amid rising energy demands and higher prices, an increase of $3 million to the Weatherization Assistance Program will help low-income households reduce their home energy use.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, these bills, while not perfect, reflect months of hard work by the Democrats to fight against the administration's cuts to vital programs and services so many Americans rely upon.
They reassert Congress' power of the purse, impose checks on the administration, and provide stability to our country and economy by avoiding another stopgap measure.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole. I thank the ranking member. It has been a privilege to serve on this committee, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the package.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and my good friend, Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, for their leadership.
Mr. Speaker, for too long, Washington has governed by crisis: shutdown threats, continuing resolutions, these omnibus bills, and backroom deals that the American people never asked for.
Mr. Speaker, this bill proves that those days are coming to an end. The Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 is bipartisan, bicameral, and built the right way--from the ground up, from subcommittees up.
It strengthens our national security, restores American energy dominance, backs law enforcement, combats illicit drugs, and supports responsible land management, all while spending less than the current continuing resolution.
Mr. Speaker, that is not chaos. That is responsible governing. There are no poison pills, no partisan games, and full-year funding that takes shutdown leverage off the table and allows America to plan, build, and lead.
As an appropriator, I am proud of what this bill delivers for Missouri's Fourth Congressional District. There are several investments that I won't go into here, but I am proud of this process. I am proud to be under the leadership of Tom Cole. I have never seen a committee--and I know I have been on your committee, as well. I have never worked this hard in my life, but I have never been more proud of what I am able to do in this body and on this committee.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for this time.
Mr. Speaker, since my first day as an elected Federal official, I sought to serve on the House Appropriations Committee because the work of this committee is so critical to the economic success of our Nation and the safety of our communities.
This focus and interest are also what led me to choose to be a member of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. I am so pleased today that a reasonable and bipartisan version of these two measures is included in this legislation.
I thank the ranking member and the chairman of both the full committee and these subcommittees, as well as all the dedicated staff, for their similar commitment to put in the hours, find common ground, and move these essential bills forward.
Notably, I express my profound appreciation for the inclusion of the community project funding requests in these measures, including the funds specific to the members of northwest Indiana law enforcement agencies. I am grateful every day for the selfless service and sacrifice that first responders, including our local police, fire departments, and emergency personnel, provide to our communities every day.
These requested funds will ensure that our officers and public safety personnel have the resources that they need to carry out their responsibilities safely and effectively, while ensuring that families in northwest Indiana can live, work, play, and raise their children without fear.
I thank the leaders of this committee for advocating for a transparent process that allows Members to advocate safely for the well-being of the communities that we represent and for prioritizing the protection of northwest Indiana and our neighborhoods.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to supporting this measure and continuing to work with the Appropriations Committee to deliver real, meaningful public safety investments for the people whom I serve.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank Rosa DeLauro, our ranking member, and Chairman Cole for the countless hours truly working in a bipartisan way and being an example to me of how people should work together for the interests of our Nation. I thank them both very much for their work on this bill, and it is a pleasure to serve on their committee.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong), my very good friend and distinguished vice chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.
Mr. Speaker, as vice chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I rise in strong support of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, our Republic is alive and well. This bill refocuses Washington's spending. It cuts waste, restores accountability, and delivers on President Trump's agenda. It cracks down on fentanyl and foreign adversaries, defends American values and principles, and ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent on public safety and national security, not bloated bureaucracy.
It provides strong support for State and local law enforcement partnerships, and it defends the Second Amendment and America's right to bear arms.
Republicans are working to advance regular order and deliver results for the American people--reliable and affordable energy, strong national security, safe communities, and long-term fiscal responsibility. The appropriations process works for America.
I also highlight the provisions important to my community and, as a result, the security of our Nation. This bill ensures continued American dominance in space, making crucial investments that secure the future of the space launch system, human landing system, and nuclear thermal propulsion, for all of which Marshall Space Flight Center in north Alabama plays a central role.
These investments reinforce America's leadership in space through competition and innovation, while strengthening our national security, protecting taxpayers' dollars, and ensuring NASA remains focused on results.
This legislation returns the FBI to its core mission and ensures that our dedicated FBI agents are back in the field and out of the beltway. There is no better place to achieve this than the FBI Redstone in Huntsville, Alabama. We are making America safe and secure again.
This is a responsible bill that supports law enforcement, strengthens national security, and puts America first.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Chairman Rogers for their steady leadership throughout this process, and I thank the subcommittee staff for their hard work on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill. Our time is now.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill because investing in energy infrastructure, education, and public safety is not optional. It is essential.
Mr. Speaker, I will focus on what this bill does for the people of Puerto Rico. I have the honor to represent them in the United States Congress.
This bill incorporates one of my amendments and assigns $235 million for the Department of Energy to support grid modernization in the 50 States and Puerto Rico, which so direly needs it.
This bill also incorporates another of my amendments to provide $14 million to the Corps of Engineers that could support water infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico, which so direly needs it.
In this bill, we also secured $1.7 million in community project funding that updates crime prevention technology in Juana Diaz, provides new patrol vehicles in Cabo Rojo, and supports STEM education in San Juan.
This bill is an important step in delivering Federal funding for Puerto Rico and communities across the United States. I praise the bipartisan work led by the chairman and ranking member. Let's continue marching forward and finish the six remaining bills. The American people deserve a Congress that works for them.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I extend my thanks to Chairman Cole, an incredible partner in working on all 12 appropriations bills.
The Appropriations Committee is the lifeblood of the government. It is a place where you can only achieve work on behalf of the American people through bipartisan, bicameral legislation. Without it, we know what happens: the catastrophe with the continuing resolutions that go on forever, or the government shuts down. That is not a path to success on behalf of the people of this country.
Mr. Speaker, I continue to say that it is the lifeblood of our government. Those of us who serve on the Appropriations Committee know that. I will be bold in saying that, quite frankly, if they left these things to us, we would get them done. In this regard, we have. We are through six bills. We have six more to go. We are going to get this done, and we are going to meet the January 30 deadline.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this bill. I am proud of the process that produced it.
We have shown good faith, bipartisan negotiation is still possible in an era of increasing polarization, and the kind of constructive conversations that produced this package continue with regard to the remaining six funding bills. The negotiations are ongoing. We haven't stopped the conversations in order for us to meet that January 30 deadline, and I remain confident that we can meet the deadline and avoid another continuing resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I will begin by recognizing the hard work of my distinguished ranking member and my very good friend, Ms. DeLauro from Connecticut. We have had the opportunity to work together for a long time in a variety of capacities, and I particularly appreciate the cooperation, the bipartisanship, and the professionalism that she and her whole staff always show when we sit down. To paraphrase my friend, if they would just leave us alone, we will get this job done. I could not have a better working partner than my good friend from Connecticut.
I am very proud that this bill is, as my friend said, bipartisan. This has been in negotiation at every level, and the ranking member and I have worked hard to push the decisionmaking down to the subcommittee levels as much as we possibly can. I know we have both told our respective chairmen and ranking members: ``Hey, if you don't send us anything up, you are making us happy. We want you to make the decisions.'' The members of the subcommittees know the subject matter better than anybody else. They have done the hearings. They have done the work. They work well. The higher up the food chain it goes, frankly, the more political the decisions become and the less informed. Let the people who have actually done the work write the bills. In this case, in these three and the three preceding bills, that is exactly what happened, and I couldn't be more pleased with that result.
I would be remiss not to build on a remark my friend, Ms. McCollum, made in her speech. I am very proud of
I, for one, am very proud of the community projects in this bill. It allows the Members, not just on our committee, but across the entire Congress, to do things that they think are important for their constituents. They are the best people to make that judgment because they represent them in the House.
My friend, again, Ms. DeLauro, has worked over the years to build a system that will make sure that these things are used appropriately, honestly, and openly. We continue to work together on that matter. Again, I am very proud of her.
Mr. Speaker, I want to join every other speaker today, which is unusual in a very partisan-polarized era, to urge the passage of this bill. We have worked together. We have worked in good faith. We have worked effectively. We have actually cut spending in these bills collectively. I think we have a common commitment to get the most out of our tax dollars.
I think this is a three-bill package, as the previous three-bill package was, that Members of this body can be proud of, should point to, and should celebrate. When we have bipartisan, bicameral cooperation and work together, we can get the job done and do a great job for the American people. I share my good friend Ms. DeLauro's opinion in this case, that is exactly what we did.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill and urge its passage. I urge my colleagues to support this, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 977, the previous question is ordered.
Pursuant to section 4(a) of House Resolution 977, the Chair will put the question on retaining Division A of the bill, and then retaining Divisions B and C.
The question is: Shall Division A of the bill be retained?
Pursuant to section 4(b) of House Resolution 977, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the order of the House of today, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act: Veto Message From the President of the United States
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of January 2, 2026, the unfinished business is the further consideration of the veto message of the President on the bill (H.R. 131) to make certain modifications to the repayment for the Arkansas Valley Conduit in the State of Colorado.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is, Will the House, on reconsideration, pass the bill, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?
(For veto message, see proceedings of the House of January 2, 2026, at page H6135.)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) is recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), the ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the veto message of the President of the United States to H.R. 131.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, facilitates the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, or AVC, by easing the repayment requirements for project beneficiaries.
The AVC is designed to provide potable water from Pueblo Reservoir to 39 communities in southeastern Colorado, many of which are dependent on groundwater supplies that contain unacceptable levels of naturally- occurring heavy metals and radionuclides. According to the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, 18 of those communities are currently failing to meet Federal drinking water standards due to these contaminants.
H.R. 131 passed the House Committee on Natural Resources and then the House of Representatives in July 2025. However, President Trump has returned H.R. 131 to the House without his approval. I respect the administration's views on this legislation and its commitment to fiscal responsibility. President Trump's record demonstrates a commitment to prioritizing unleashing abundant water supplies across the West.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in 1962, Congress authorized a 130-mile pipeline, known as the Arkansas Valley Conduit, to deliver clean, reliable water to communities in southeastern Colorado. More than 60 years later, the project remains uncompleted, while communities in the region continue to face unreliable water supplies and serious water quality challenges.
The drinking water sources they rely on are often contaminated with unsafe levels of radium, uranium, and other pollutants. Treating these contaminants places a significant burden on rural communities and forces many families to rely on bottled water or expensive filtration systems to meet basic needs that we all take for granted.
The Arkansas Valley Conduit was designed to address these challenges, but the project is still not completed largely because the communities that it will serve do not have the financial capacity to meet the traditional repayment obligations. They need our help.
For over a decade, the Colorado delegation has worked to advance this project so that families in southeastern Colorado can finally have access to clean, safe drinking water. Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper helped secure $500 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for this project that was a major step toward completion.
Last year, this body worked in a bipartisan manner to pass H.R. 131. Now, as introduced, Representative Boebert's bill did raise some concerns about removing interest payments and extending the repayment period, but our colleagues in the Senate worked to address these shared concerns, and we in the Natural Resources Committee came together to build on that work to ensure that this legislation addresses the real water reliability challenges facing the people of southeastern Colorado while remaining consistent with core reclamation law principles.
Together, Congress sent the President a carefully negotiated and narrowly tailored bipartisan bill to support the completion of this project.
The administration has no problem subsidizing water for certain stakeholders, including large-scale agricultural projects, yet when it comes to a tailored bill to ensure access to safe drinking water for rural communities, unfortunately, the President has taken a different path.
Now, we are going to talk about the merits of this bill today, I am sure, but we all know that this veto has nothing to do with fiscal policy, nothing to do with the merits. There has been extensive reporting that raises broader concerns about the administration's posture toward the State of Colorado and even toward the sponsor of this bill.
We know what this veto was about, and the message that that sends to Colorado and communities awaiting the
Meanwhile, and the good news, is that this Congress has kept working to find a solution, and the legislation before us today is reasonably negotiated and bipartisan. It is going to help communities who have waited too long to finally have clean water.
I thank my colleagues for their commitment to working with us to reach the language before us today. I am deeply disappointed that the President chose to veto a bill that would help communities gain access to clean drinking water. The communities of southeastern Colorado deserve better, and today we have a bipartisan opportunity to do that for them.
I express my support and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on overriding the President's veto, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our House Natural Resources Committee and the ranking member of our committee for all the work that has been put in on this legislation. I also thank my colleagues in the Senate for their work on this important bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of today's veto override to ensure my bill, H.R. 131, becomes law.
In December of last year, this commonsense, bipartisan, and bicameral bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that my bill will not result in a measurable increase to Federal spending.
H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, will help small rural communities in southeast Colorado finally complete a Federal water project that was authorized in 1962 under the Kennedy administration.
Radium, uranium, and other naturally occurring elements are found in the surface and groundwater of southeastern Colorado, and the water quality is problematic year-round because of its salinity, selenium, sulfate, hardness, and manganese levels.
The Bureau of Reclamation has found that these contamination levels are so severe that local communities could see the costs of their drinking water triple without this legislation.
Contrary to what the veto message states, my bill does not authorize any additional Federal funding. It simply modifies the repayment terms for small rural communities in my district so they are able to afford their 35 percent cost share of the project that they are statutorily obligated to repay.
After the project broke ground, inflation took place. Costs doubled under the previous administration. The price tag of this project doubled due to construction and labor costs.
Once completed, the Arkansas Valley Conduit will provide 7,500 acre- feet of water per year to as many as 50,000 Coloradans across 40 different communities in Pueblo, Otero, Bent, Kiowa, Prowers, Crowley, and Baca Counties.
I boldly remind my colleagues here today that this project broke ground during the first Trump administration in 2020 due to major investments from the Trump-led Bureau of Reclamation and the State of Colorado.
From 1962 until 2020, only $24 million had been invested in this project. In 2020, President Trump and his team, his administration, did the right thing, continuing with their commitment to improve Western water infrastructure. He more than doubled the Federal investments in this project with $28 million going toward it. The State of Colorado then invested over $100 million in this project.
Former Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt personally attended the groundbreaking of the AVC and retweeted: ``For nearly 60 years, Colorado's leaders have worked to move the Arkansas Valley Conduit forward.''
The Trump administration got it done.
A press release from the Department of the Interior announcing the groundbreaking reads: ``Western water supply reliability and infrastructure investments has been a priority for President Trump and his administration.''
This bill makes good on not only a 60-year plus commitment without wasting hundreds of millions of dollars in State and local and Federal investments, but it also makes good on President Trump's commitment to rural communities, to Western water issues.
President Trump's commitment to Western water supply and reliability will be upheld, and the Arkansas Valley Conduit will finally be completed.
We were able to get this bill passed and sent to the White House the right way, the way that I have fought for since I have been in Congress. This is a piece of legislation that has gone through committee, has been negotiated, has been debated, has gone back and forth between both Chambers, and we were able to pass this single- subject legislation all the way through with unanimous support in this body and in the Senate. It is something I am very, very proud of, and it is past time that we finally fulfill the promise that the Federal Government made to the communities I represent in Colorado. I urge my colleagues to support this override to finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the time. I support this bill for many reasons. I support it for the reasons that were articulated by the sponsor, my colleague from Colorado, Ms. Boebert; by the ranking member; and by the chairman. I think they have ably explained why this water infrastructure project for southeastern Colorado is so critical, a project 60 years in the making.
I support it because, as was noted, there are no cogent issues with this bill as were purportedly articulated in the veto message from President Trump. Far from it, this bill will cost taxpayers virtually nothing as was referenced. It makes good on a promise to the people of rural Colorado.
I support the bill because I believe that the people of Otero County and Bent County and Crowley County deserve access to clean water just as every citizen of the great State that I serve and that Ms. Boebert serves, that Mr. Hurd serves, and my other colleagues in the Colorado congressional delegation deserve.
I think what is perhaps missing from this debate, and it is important for us to level with the American people, is: Why are we here? Why, despite all the reasons that this bill makes a whole lot of sense? Why, despite the fact that this bill passed unanimously in the House and in the Senate, Mr. Speaker? Why did the President veto this bill?
We are here, unfortunately and profoundly, because the President has declared war on our State. In the last 40 days, he has taken step after step to harm the people whom I serve and whom I represent. He is denying disaster assistance for folks in Rio Blanco County and down south in La Plata County. He is freezing childcare assistance and food assistance for hungry families across our State and trying to dismantle a scientific institution in my district. Now, he is denying access to clean water to 50,000 people in southeastern Colorado.
It is unconscionable.
Now, I am speaking to my Democratic colleagues. To be clear, it is important in this moment for Members to support this override and ensure that this promise that was made to the people of southeastern Colorado is not impaired and is not abrogated by the President's retaliation against the State of Colorado. We cannot let that become the new normal.
I will say to all of my colleagues: As you consider where you land on this particular vote, let me be abundantly clear. It does not matter if your community supported Donald Trump politically. If we don't take this step, then, trust me, no town is safe, no county is safe, and no State is safe from political retaliation by the administration. We will be back here on the floor debating a veto for a project in Arkansas or in Texas or in Ohio.
The House has an opportunity, in my view, to do the right thing on the merits and to support this important legislation that Ms. Boebert has introduced and that she has fought for with our colleagues in the Senate, Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper.
I am urging every Member of this body: Put aside political differences. Recognize that this is a bill you already supported as recently as last month. Recognize that it is going to
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote to override the President's veto of H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act.
This is not a symbolic vote. It is not messaging. It is not partisan. This is a test of whether Congress keeps its word not just to southeastern Colorado but to every community in every State and district that depends on Federal commitments being honored.
For those of us who represent the American West, this vote is personal. In the West, water means survival. It means whether communities grow or disappear, whether agriculture survives, and whether moms can trust the water they give their kids out of the tap. Westerners understand something instinctively: When the government makes a water promise, it should keep it.
In 1962, Congress authorized the Arkansas Valley Conduit to deliver safe drinking water to rural communities in southeastern Colorado. These communities grow amazing watermelons, cantaloupes, and chilies, and support families who ranch and raise livestock.
When we talk about honoring Federal commitments, we are talking about whether the people who grow our food can have clean water.
Decades later, that promise remains unfinished. More than 50,000 Coloradans, across a distance spanning more than some Eastern States, still rely on contaminated and radioactive groundwater. Eighteen systems are under enforcement orders for violating EPA standards. These are real families, real towns, and real public health consequences.
Rural Colorado and rural America more broadly voted overwhelmingly for this President and for an agenda that promised they would not be forgotten. They expected Washington to keep its word, not abandon them midway.
H.R. 131 doesn't expand this drinking water project, authorize new construction, increase the Federal share, or create any new entitlement. It doesn't bail out any mismanagement. It simply gives rural communities more time and flexibility to repay the Federal Government. It extends the repayment period and lowers the interest rate in cases of economic hardship. It prevents hundreds of millions of dollars from being stranded mid-construction. It lets communities doing their part and repaying the government finally access clean water.
This bill passed both Houses unanimously. Republicans and Democrats from across the entire country all agreed: This is a project worth completing, not abandoning.
Mr. Speaker, veto overrides are rare, and they should be. However, the Constitution gave Congress this authority for moments exactly like this: when the legislative branch speaks with unity and clarity, and the executive branch says no anyway.
In modern congressional history, it is extraordinarily rare, and perhaps unprecedented, for a President to veto a bill that passed both Chambers unanimously while his party holds unified control of the government. That should give every Member pause.
If Congress cannot keep a clear, longstanding, bipartisan commitment like this, then what message does that send to communities in every State and every district relying on similar commitments? What certainty do they have that our word means anything?
Yesterday, the administration issued a statement opposing this override, claiming it continues failed policies of the past and burdens taxpayers with a local water project. This is not a new water project. It is a federally authorized water system underway for decades with consistent bipartisan congressional support. This exact project was previously celebrated by this President himself. On October 3, 2020, President Trump's Department of the Interior issued a press release titled: ``Trump administration breaks ground on long-awaited Arkansas Valley Conduit to bring safe, clean water to rural Colorado communities.''
Earlier that year, the President visited Colorado and praised the Arkansas Valley Conduit. He said that we got the money to begin construction. His own Secretary of the Interior broke ground on this project.
If the project was worth supporting in a campaign rally and celebrating at a groundbreaking, then surely it is worth finishing. It was the right position then, and it is the right position now.
Mr. Speaker, if a bill that passed unanimously that costs almost nothing and fulfills a 60-year Federal promise and protects public health can be vetoed under these circumstances, then bipartisan work in this institution is at risk.
I ask my colleagues: How would you feel if a project like this in your district that was passed unanimously and fulfilled a decades-long promise was vetoed anyway? That is what these rural communities are facing.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents are watching, and your constituents are watching, to see whether Congress means what it says. This vote is not about defying a President. It is about defending Congress. It is about strengthening this institution and standing for the people who trust us to fight for them.
For those of us who represent the West, this is also about standing together. Western water projects are long-term, complex, and federally driven by necessity. If Congress walks away from a 60-year commitment mid-project, then no Western project is truly secure, and no district anywhere in the country can trust that a Federal infrastructure promise will be kept.
I ran for Congress to fight for my district, even when it is difficult, even when it is uncomfortable, and even when the outcome is uncertain. This is one of those moments.
Mr. Speaker, some of my colleagues may be feeling pressure today to accept the veto. I get it. However, I would ask every Member to consider the pressure felt by the communities they represent, especially those in rural America who need infrastructure built, who need clean water, and who need Washington to mean what it says.
What does it say to them, to all of our constituents, if this institution makes this kind of commitment and walks away when it matters most?
This override is about finishing what we started, honoring commitments, protecting taxpayer dollars, and standing by rural communities. Yes, it is also about protecting this institution.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge my colleagues to vote to override the veto of H.R. 131.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I really, in this moment, could care less about Ms. Boebert's politics or Mr. Hurd's politics. What I see before us is a piece of legislation that does an awful lot of good for people, a bill that was carefully negotiated, is bipartisan, and is common sense.
It is a water infrastructure bill, and every Member of this House looked past their political differences and did the right thing when we passed this unanimously out of the House of Representatives. That was Congress just doing its job.
If a noncontroversial, bipartisan, good bill like this can be taken hostage and become a weapon for settling political scores, well, it may not be in your State, it may not be in your district, but that could happen and will happen to any of us.
Mr. Speaker, this may seem like a little water infrastructure bill, but this is a bigger moment than that. This is a bit of a Spartacus moment for the Members of this body because any of us could face this, and we are about to find out.
I hope the people of this country are watching. I know history is actually going to be watching what happens here because if Congress is able to override this veto, it is a statement that even in a moment of extreme polarization, dysfunction, and conflict, we were able to get some work done. That would be Congress doing its job. If we fail to override this veto, that would say something much, much more troubling.
I urge my colleagues to do the right thing, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I respect the administration's views on this legislation, and I respect my colleagues from Colorado's passion for their districts and for their State.
I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is ordered.
There was no objection.
The question is, Will the House, on reconsideration, pass the bill, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?
Under the Constitution, the vote must be by the yeas and nays.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings will be postponed.
Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act: Veto Message From the President of the United States
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of January 2, 2026, the unfinished business is the further consideration of the veto message of the President on the bill (H.R. 504) to amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area and to carry out activities to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is, Will the House, on reconsideration, pass the bill, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?
(For veto message, see proceedings of the House of January 2, 2026, at page H6136.)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) is recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), the ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the veto message of the President of the United States to the bill H.R. 504.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we are here today as President Trump has returned H.R. 504, the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act, to the House of Representatives without his approval.
H.R. 504, sponsored by Representative Gimenez, would amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act, or MRAA, to include the Osceola Camp, a Tribal village within the Everglades, as part of the Miccosukee Reserved Area. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Tribe, to safeguard structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding events.
The Miccosukee Tribe is currently located in the Greater Everglades in southern Florida. Following Federal recognition of the Tribe in 1962, the Miccosukee's northernmost villages within what became Everglades National Park were managed under a special use permit until 1998, when Congress placed that permit framework with the MRAA, authorizing the Tribe's use of the area and noting it as Indian Country.
The original law did not include Osceola Camp. H.R. 504 would include the Osceola Camp in the Miccosukee Reserved Area and formalize a partnership between the Tribe and the Federal Government to address flooding risk in the area.
H.R. 504 passed the House Committee on Natural Resources in June 2025 and the House of Representatives in July 2025.
However, I respect the President's views on this legislation and his commitment to fiscal responsibility, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The Natural Resources Committee is entrusted with working on behalf of Indian Country. While we don't always agree on everything, we have a long history of bipartisan work and a shared commitment to advancing legislation that benefits Tribal communities. H.R. 504 is one clear example of this. It addresses longstanding challenges caused by past Federal policies, and it is an opportunity--I would argue, an obligation--to support the Miccosukee Tribe in their efforts to protect their homelands.
President Trump has undermined that work, vetoing this bill based on unrelated policy disputes and a fundamental misunderstanding of Tribal sovereignty.
H.R. 504 would expand the Miccosukee Reserved Area to include Osceola Camp, which would strengthen the Tribe's ability to self-govern and, importantly, to address serious flooding concerns facing the village. This bipartisan bill is narrow, targeted, and respects Tribal sovereignty.
After reviewing the President's statement regarding his veto, it is very clear that this decision was not limited to the merits of the bill or to any particular policy. Instead, his statement criticizes the Tribe for actions taken to protect the Everglades, their homelands, from environmental risks. It even takes issue with the Tribe's opposition to his administration's unpopular immigration policies.
Moreover, the statement reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of Tribal Nations and the obligations that the United States has to those sovereign governments. Let me be clear: Tribes are not special interests. They are not seeking special treatment. They are sovereign nations with legal and moral responsibilities to protect the well-being of their citizens, their homelands, and the United States has a government-to-government responsibility to work with them. Unrelated policy disagreements should never be used to undermine that relationship.
The Miccosukee Tribe has worked for generations to protect their homelands within the Everglades. H.R. 504 would ensure that a historic Tribal village is protected, while allowing for critical restoration efforts to move forward without displacing the community.
It is pretty straightforward. It is noncontroversial. It was broadly universally bipartisan. It never should have been vetoed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 504. Vote ``yes'' on overriding this veto. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing that I must rise to support this veto override of the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act.
It is a very commonsense bill, as our unanimous vote in both houses of Congress clearly demonstrated. It is simple. This act would absorb the Osceola Camp into the Miccosukee Reservation and directs the Tribe and Department of the Interior to jointly protect the camp from flooding.
This work is already underway, as we speak, but let's address the erroneous reasons that it was vetoed.
First, it does not appropriate or authorize any new spending. The Congressional Budget Office verified that.
This bill in no way bestows special treatment, as it was alleged in the veto message, because the site wasn't authorized when it was inhabited.
On these points, it appears the President's staff gave him bad advice, bad facts, or both.
The reality is, the Tribe came to the Everglades after being driven from their homes in the early 1800s. As the Miccosukee moved to what is now Everglades National Park, they formed temporary camps on tree islands. The water that flows through our River of Grass was a source of food, water, and a means of transit.
Depot Tiger settled on a tree island at the turn of the 20th century. Her son, John Tiger Poole, was born there and later helped found the Osceola Camp. However, the construction of a new major roadway split their camp, and it dried up the water that they relied upon, forcing the family to move to a different part of their camp.
Family members still live, visit, and protect the land where Depot Tiger's home once stood.
None of these facts are in dispute, as my Republican colleagues, who sponsored and voted for this, well know.
Protecting this land and the Miccosukees' ability to live there must never be sacrificed by party politics or revenge.
This bill was introduced by House and Senate Republicans, backed by the Florida delegation, and approved unanimously. This is hardly a candidate for a veto.
Our Nation made a commitment to the Miccosukee, and hundreds of other Tribes, to protect their lands, resources, and sovereignty. Congress must stand by that commitment and override the President's veto.
The sanctity of Native-American lands is something that is of the utmost importance to Native-American Tribes, and all of us in this country that represent Native-American lands and Native Americans make a commitment regularly that we are going to help protect those rights.
Allowing this veto to stand flies in the face of that, especially because each of us, in both Houses of Congress, lent our votes to this legislation. There are times for vetoes, and I have seen Presidents in both parties issue a veto and then robust and healthy debate plays out on this floor for good reason and Members decide where they want to land, but that is always when we have seen a result that was mixed, where there were people who voted against the bill. No one voted against this bill.
This bill is entirely noncontroversial, and it is so narrowly focused that it makes absolutely no sense other than the interest in vengeance that seems to have emanated in this result.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote to override this inappropriate and unfortunate veto.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, to state the obvious, this bill has nothing to do with immigration. It is a very important bill, though, about Tribal sovereignty. It is a well-crafted bill. It is bipartisan. It is noncontroversial. Someone in the White House has decided to use it as a hostage to play politics, very petty and personal politics because of score settling.
They have chosen to do that, but that doesn't mean that all of us have to be used as pawns to advance that nastiness. This veto signal sends a terrible message, and it comes after a year of uncertainty in Indian Country, which included significant funding cuts, workforce reductions, and a withdraw of key executive orders that were designed to support Tribes.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do the right thing by the Miccosukee Tribe and pass this veto override. Let's ensure that this Tribe continues to have access to the historic Osceola Camp and their homelands remain protected for future generations.
Mr. Speaker, I respect the administration's views on this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is ordered.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is, Will the House, on reconsideration, pass the bill, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?
Under the Constitution, the vote must be by the yeas and nays.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the order of the House today, the unfinished business is the vote on retaining Division A of H.R. 6938, making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, 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 retaining Division A of the bill.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 375, nays 47, not voting 9, as follows:
Messrs. CROW, SCHWEIKERT, MILLS, OGLES, and DAVIDSON changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Mr. COHEN changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the question was decided in the affirmative, and Divison A of the bill was retained.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will now put the question on retaining Divisions B and C of the bill.
The question is: Shall Divisions B and C be retained.
Pursuant to section 4(b) of House Resolution 977, the yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 419, nays 6, not voting 6, as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. There are 2 minutes remaining.
So the question was decided in the affirmative, and the Divisions B and C of the bill were retained.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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.
Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 397, nays 28, not voting 6, as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. There are 2 minutes remaining.
Ms. PETTERSEN, Messrs. MASSIE and GROTHMAN changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Mrs. LUNA changed her vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act: Veto Message From the President of the United States
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the question of whether the House, on reconsideration, will pass the bill (H.R. 504) to amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area and to carry out activities to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding, and for other purposes, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding.
In accord with the Constitution, the yeas and nays are ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 236, nays 188, not voting 7, as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. There are 2 minutes remaining.
Mr. LaHOOD changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
So (two-thirds not being in the affirmative) the veto of the President was sustained and the bill was not passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The veto message and the bill are referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
The clerk will notify the Senate of the action of the House.
Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act: Veto Message From the President of the United States
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the question of whether the House, on reconsideration, will pass the bill (H.R. 131) to make certain modifications to the repayment for the Arkansas Valley Conduit in the State of Colorado, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding.
In accord with the Constitution, the yeas and nays are ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 248, nays 177, answered ``present'' 1, not voting 5, as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. There are 2 minutes remaining.
Mr. GUTHRIE changed his vote from ``yea'' to nay.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the veto of the President was sustained and the bill was not passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The veto message and the bill are referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
The Clerk will notify the Senate of the action of the House.
Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 10, I mistakenly voted YEA when I intended to vote NAY.
SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL EXPLANATORY REGARDING H.R. 6938, COMMERCE,
JUSTICE, SCIENCE; ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT; AND INTERIOR AND
Pursuant to section 6 of House Resolution 977, the chair of the Committee on Appropriations submitted explanatory material relating to H.R. 6938. The contents of this submission will be published in Book II of the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 780, the House will proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1834, which the Clerk will report by title.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 780, the amendment in the nature of a substitute, submitted by Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts, and printed in the Congressional Record of November 12, 2025, is adopted and the bill, as amended, is considered read.
The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith). General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to $100 billion worth of bailouts for a broken system that is fueled by Democratic mandates.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to subsidizing insurance plans for wealthy people. Any support for the bill ensures that subsidies go to wealthy families making as much as $600,000 a year.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to using hard-earned taxpayer dollars to bail Democrats out of their own decision_their own decision_to make this COVID-era spending temporary so that they could give Green New Deal tax breaks to the wealthy for electric vehicles and solar panels.
They had the option. They had the option to make it permanent twice, whether it was in the American Rescue Plan or the Inflation Reduction Act. Instead, they wanted to put their resources into their wealthy environmentalists.
Check the math. Nearly half of all Americans get their insurance from their employer, nearly a quarter from Medicaid, and a bit less than that from Medicare.
Mr. Speaker, only 7 percent of the population relies on ObamaCare marketplace plans. This Chamber should be about helping 100 percent of Americans, and lowering the cost of healthcare and premiums, not just 7 percent.
Mr. Speaker, it is shameful that Democrats are only focusing on 7 percent of the population while ignoring the millions of working families who are struggling to afford healthcare.
Since ObamaCare was enacted, premiums have increased by 80 percent. Since ObamaCare was enacted_let me say that again_the premiums have increased by 80 percent. Deductibles and out-of-pocket costs have skyrocketed. Families worry about medical debt_that is, those who still have access to doctors. In fact, 150 rural hospitals have closed since passage of ObamaCare, and small businesses were crushed under the weight of the new mandates.
Not only did Democrats refuse to fix any of this, but they want to make it permanent at a cost of $400 billion. No thanks, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, reverting these tax credits back to the original structure that the Democrats designed means that 93 percent of enrollees will still retain very generous subsidies next year. Mr. Speaker, 60 percent of the enrollees will still have access to a plan at or below $50 a month.
I represent one of the poorest congressional districts in the country, and still, 99.7 percent of my constituents in my district, one of the poorest congressional districts, will be unaffected by this expiration.
This is all about subsidizing the wealthy, so why are we even having this debate? It is because Democrats chose to make these giveaways temporary_not once, but twice, Mr. Speaker_as part of their partisan spending bills. The reason they did so was to shower the rich with Green New Deal subsidies, which they made permanent. We reversed those in the big, beautiful bill.
Mr. Speaker, here is a word you won't hear from Democrats: ``fraud.'' They forced taxpayers to pay up to $27 billion for as many as 6.4 million individuals fraudulently enrolled in the ObamaCare plans. Nearly half of all enrollees_that is, 12 million people_didn't even file one single medical claim, not even a prescription, all year, last year. It sounds like they didn't even know that they had insurance through ObamaCare, but those insurance companies were subsidized, almost half of them, on the exchanges.
1540
If Democrats think that is not a problem, that is pretty scary.
I called on the Government Accountability Office to investigate. They created fictitious ObamaCare applicants with fake documentation, and 100 percent_not some, but 100 percent; not half, but 100 percent_were approved in the first year, and 90 percent are still being subsidized, resulting in checks worth more than $12,000 per month going to insurance companies.
One Social Security number was associated with more than 125 different ObamaCare policies. One Social Security number was tied to more than 125 policies_waste, fraud, abuse. Apparently, the other side doesn't see that. They don't see the truth. In fact, more than 58,000 dead people were being subsidized, according to the Government Accountability Office.
In response, Democrats only brag about higher health insurance enrollment. They are really celebrating.
Mr. Speaker, Republicans are putting real, living Americans first. Republicans blocked illegal immigrants' access to taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits, then eliminated over $185 billion worth of fraud and waste in the ObamaCare marketplace. For Americans who are eligible, Republicans actually lowered ObamaCare premiums and expanded access to health savings accounts, direct primary care, and telehealth for millions, including ObamaCare enrollees, as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts.
There was $50 billion invested in the healthcare needs of rural communities. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act was passed, which also lowered premiums even further, as well as provided more freedom and flexibility for healthcare access and increased competition by negotiating better drug prices for workers.
Mr. Speaker, I will take greater access to affordable healthcare any day over shoveling more tax dollars into Democrats' healthcare fraud schemes. I oppose this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this argument is about universal access. For years, the Republican leadership in this institution has attempted to avert this very moment. For us this is not to be about spiking the football. This is not to be about an end-zone dance. This is about to declare a major victory for the American people.
Despite what I have heard, they have used every maneuver and procedure to prevent the very debate that we are going to have for the next hour. All these years later, they never even had a plan or an alternative.
We can finally choose families, and they can join us today in extending the ACA tax credits and save healthcare for millions of members of the American family. How easily and quickly they did a massive tax cut for the wealthiest amongst us while subsequently arguing that they could deny average men and women an opportunity for health insurance.
So here we are all these years later, as one who helped to write the Affordable Care Act, the ACA is still standing. We will continue to improve it every single year. When I consider now the uninsured enrollment in America is down to 6 percent, it is thanks to the ACA.
If Congress did not do what we are about to do in the next hour, a family of four making $130,000 would see their marketplace premium go from $921 to $1,992. That would be an 18.4 percent increase. Our enhanced credits make sure that nobody would pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for coverage.
Now, Republicans think that people can afford increased premiums by 37 percent, and that is what they are proposing today. They said 2 weeks ago that they had a healthcare plan that they wrote on Friday night. As I noted at the time, it was held together by bubble gum and Elmer's Glue. By the way, Democrats never even got to see it. If they had a healthcare plan alternative, they should have shown it to us.
Let me say this, Mr. Speaker. This is a good day for the American family. This is an important consideration for this institution. Despite repeated denials and efforts to thwart this very moment, in the next hour, my colleagues are going to do for the American family what they said they would do, and that is to extend these tax credits for the ACA.
Mr. Speaker, my friend from Massachusetts talked about not seeing the Republican bill. There was a bipartisan provision in there that would lower premiums by 11 percent per the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan budget office. This is a provision that the Democrats all supported. They know we have to make the ObamaCare market work. It doesn't work today. The facts belie that: double premiums, double deductibles, one out of five claims rejected, limited choice. It has failed. That experiment has failed.
The only game in town that has actually lowered costs of healthcare, reduced premiums is what Republicans passed out of the House. There was not a single Democrat vote to join us.
Here is what I can't understand for the life of me, and I have some good friends over there, and I am not mad. I am miffed that Democrats would all talk about affordability in healthcare and bring to this Chamber the idea, the notion that Congress take a COVID-era program that Democrats all designed to expire when COVID was over, that every watchdog group has said is loaded with fraud and waste--as the chairman said, Social Security numbers from tens of thousands of dead people--it is siphoning money out of the taxpayers' pockets, away from the vulnerable, and enriching insurance companies.
There are millions of ineligible people, billions of dollars of fraud, and people are watching what is going on in the country, especially in Minnesota. How could my colleagues across the aisle, in good faith, call this affordable healthcare and stewardship of the sacred treasure of our fellow Americans?
Republicans have a plan. It works. It is not perfect. There are some things Congress could work together on. But for the love of God and country, please, it is intellectually dishonest to tell the American people that this COVID-era, fraud-ridden program is somehow going to make healthcare affordable any more than the underlying bill itself, ObamaCare, which everyone knows hasn't.
I said it the last time, I will say it again: Ronald Reagan was spot on. Government isn't the solution. Government is the problem. This is a case study for that. America needs less mandates, less taxes, less regulations, and people need more freedom, more choices, more competition.
Republicans are willing to work with Democrats, but this is beyond the pale, and it is audacious to call it affordable healthcare. I am amazed. I am surprised. I encourage my colleagues to roundly, soundly stand firm and reject it, and no Republican should ever support this. They didn't support ObamaCare when it was designed. They shouldn't support doubling down on a failed policy, and I encourage them to not begin now.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the Democratic minority whip, who can stand at that microphone and say the following: Every child in Massachusetts has health insurance and 97 percent of the adults in Massachusetts are covered because of the ObamaCare plan.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the Commonwealth for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, today, thanks to the persistence of the American people, because millions of constituents have called their Members of Congress, shown up at townhalls, shown up and marched in the streets, because of parents who spoke out for their kids, for doctors who spoke out for their patients, neighbors who mobilized together, today, Congress has a chance to vote for Americans' healthcare.
Today, thanks to the strength and unity of our Democratic Caucus, the House will vote to restore the ACA tax credits, and I will vote to restore the affordable marketplace plans that working people depend on to stay healthy, to live, to survive.
Today, I will vote to prioritize the lives of regular people over the greed of billionaires and start bringing the Republican healthcare crisis to an end.
This vote won't solve every problem the GOP has created. We still have to reverse their cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. We still have to stop the closure of rural hospitals and deal with the maternity health crisis and work together--yes, work together--to create a healthcare system that is affordable and accessible to everyone.
Today, we can begin. Today, the people's House has a chance to stand with and for the people. I hope we have a strong bipartisan majority for this vote and that the Senate will immediately do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, when your old roof keeps leaking, you can keep adding shingles to it, but eventually you must admit the structure underneath isn't built to weather the storm. Rather than double down on a problem that keeps getting more expensive, it is time sometimes to rethink the foundation. Such is the case with ObamaCare.
Mr. Speaker, we all remember those promises made when Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. It turns out that wasn't true. It is also not true the promise made that this ObamaCare will bend the cost curve for healthcare downward. That is not true at all. Premiums for the average ObamaCare plan have skyrocketed much higher than traditional inflation leaving patients with higher costs and fewer choices.
If Americans are just tuning in to C-SPAN, you might assume that Republicans are eliminating the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare altogether. That is simply not the case.
The premium tax credits were developed during COVID to subsidize Americans making more than 400 percent of the Federal poverty level, including those making up to $600,000. People making up to $600,000 are getting subsidized by the American taxpayers. In northeast Florida, we call people making $600,000 rich, and that is who we are subsidizing with these premium tax credits.
I have also got a news flash for you, Mr. Speaker: COVID is over. We made these premium tax credits during COVID. COVID is over, and these subsidies should be over with it.
ObamaCare will continue for those who need it. Americans making up to 400 percent of the poverty level are still eligible for the tax credits. At this very moment that is still happening. That means a family of four can make up to $128,000 and still qualify for help.
To call this, and I have heard it said a couple of times already, a Republican healthcare crisis is fake news. There is new hope, Mr. Speaker. Instead of throwing more money away, we can have a new day for America to look at health savings accounts, to look at the Lower Healthcare Premiums for All Act that according to the CBO is going to lower premiums for everybody, all Americans across the Nation.
It is time to give more choice and more competition. Those are the only ingredients that are going to make costs lower. We can't keep patching the same roof. Everybody has sticker shock.
Mr. Speaker, I urge everybody, the right answer is to vote ``no'' on extending these horrible tax credits.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the Democratic leader, whose tactful leadership has brought us to this moment.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts for yielding and for his tremendous leadership on behalf of protecting the healthcare of the American people.
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of this bipartisan effort to protect the healthcare of the American people and ensure that we extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, to make sure that tens of millions of Americans do not experience dramatically increased premiums, copays, and deductibles.
From the very beginning of this Congress, House Democrats have made it clear that we will find bipartisan common ground with any of our Republican colleagues in order to address the affordability issues that are making life more expensive for everyday Americans, working-class Americans, and middle-class Americans. That has been our commitment from the very beginning.
Today, we are able to take a substantial step forward to address the healthcare crisis that does exist in the United States of America and was made worse by the one big, ugly bill. Medicaid was cut by the largest amount in American history. As a result of the policies that were part of that legislation, hospitals, nursing homes, and community- based health clinics are closing all across America.
We have also seen an extraordinary assault on the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, on vaccine availability, on public health, and on healthcare of everyday Americans here in the United States of America.
Today, we have an opportunity to push back against that assault and do it in a bipartisan way. That is what the American people have been calling for: Democrats and Republicans working together to address the affordability crisis in this country. It is not a hoax. It is very real.
Housing costs are out of control. Grocery costs are out of control. Electricity bills are out of control. Childcare costs are out of control. Healthcare costs are out of control.
What we do here today will not be the end of the effort that is necessary, but we can begin the effort that is necessary and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Several things that were mentioned earlier by some of my colleagues are completely and totally inaccurate. The Affordable Care Act tax credits benefit working-class Americans, middle-class Americans, and everyday Americans. That is why we are waging this fight.
We know that over 90 percent of the people who benefit from the tax credits that we are working to protect today make on average $63,000 a year. That is working-class America. That is middle-class America. That is the heartland of America. That is rural America. That is urban America. That is small-town America. That is what we are protecting when we extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
This is not a partisan issue for us. This is an American issue.
In fact, we know that the 10 States that will be most adversely impacted by the lapse in the Affordable Care Act tax credits are all, Mr. Speaker, run by Republicans. We are standing up for the American people. We are talking about States like West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, South Dakota, and North Dakota will be the States most impacted by the lapse in the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
This is not a partisan issue for us. It is a patriotic one, and we will always defend the healthcare of the American people. That is exactly why.
This is an important moment for everyday Americans. It is what they want to see out of this Congress, the people's House, the Article I branch of government, the House of Representatives, the first amongst equals coming together today, every single House Democrat and at least 10 House Republicans to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Now, we believe as House Democrats that in this great country of ours you work hard, you play by the rules, you should be able to live a comfortable life, an affordable life, live the good life. You should have a good-paying job, good housing, good education for your children, good healthcare, and a good retirement. That is not too much to ask for in the wealthiest country in the history of the world.
There is a lot of work that needs to be done to make that aspiration, the American Dream, the good life, a reality. Today, we take an important step forward in that regard by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
When we get this done, we can send it over to the Senate, and, hopefully, get it out of that Chamber and to the President's desk. It will be part of our continuing commitment to lower the high cost-of- living, fix our broken healthcare system here in the United States of America, and ensure that in every single part of this country, for working-class America, urban America, rural America, suburban America, exurban America, the heartland of America, and small-town America, we can bring the American Dream to life.
We will protect the healthcare of the American people today, but our commitment doesn't end today. We will protect it tomorrow, this week, next week, this month, this year, and next year. We will protect the healthcare of the American people always and forever, and we will always fight to bring the great American Dream to life.
Vote ``yes'' on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Mr. Speaker, I want to point out before I get to my prepared remarks that Leader Jeffries just said
Mr. Speaker, that is why I rise today in opposition to this Democratic discharge petition. It is fiscally irresponsible and fails to address the waste, fraud, and abuse of ObamaCare while ignoring the real problems in our healthcare system and ignoring the fact that these temporary COVID-era enhanced subsidies have done nothing but pad the profits of big insurance companies and drive up the very premiums that they purport to reduce.
Mr. Speaker, let's look at the facts more closely. First, ObamaCare has yet to deliver on the promises made to Americans over a decade ago. Since the ACA was enacted, premiums have increased by roughly 80 percent. Guess what. Ninety percent of that increase has been paid for by the taxpayers.
It is important to note that these premium tax credits are sent directly to insurance companies, not the taxpayers, and it is no secret why. The ACA was written by insurance companies to benefit insurance companies, and it has served to drive up the stock price for those insurance companies by more than 1,000 percent since the ACA came into existence.
Meanwhile, families face out-of-pocket costs exceeding $20,000 a year and a 95-percent increase in their premiums over that same time period. This is hardly a coincidence in a system designed to reward the insurers, not the patient.
Let's not forget that today's proposed extension of these pandemic- era tax credits only relates to the 7 percent of Americans who are actually enrolled in the ACA, not the other 93 percent of Americans who are not participants in the failed ACA exchange. Of those 7 percent, roughly one-half did not even use their coverage once last year. Yet, the Democrats want to pour more money into a failing ACA program at a cost of $400 billion.
Far too often, Mr. Speaker, taxpayers have been left paying the bill for a broken system that lacks proper guardrails and has been grossly mismanaged. The ACA is just another example of this, and we should not spend more money to prop up a failing program, certainly not a COVID- era, temporary program that they put in place and they, the Democrats, set to expire this year.
Waste, fraud, and abuse in this program cannot be ignored. My fellow colleagues have gone over that today in large measure, but today, Congress is being asked to pass a clean 3-year extension and to continue to prop up this madness and to prop up the waste, fraud, and abuse. This cannot stand. The Democratic-backed Big Insurance business model is clear: charge excessive premiums to get excessive profits, deny coverage to patients, and shift costs onto both patients and providers.
This has to end, and I urge my colleagues to oppose this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi). There is no finer leader or person who was more determined to help bring us to this moment and whose fortitude helped to give us the ACA than Speaker Emerita Pelosi.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to quote him when he said that this is a happy day. I thank Mr. Leader for making it so, and I thank the chairman for making it so and bringing it to the floor. My mouth will breathe an exclamation point to the gentleman's beautiful comments earlier and those of our distinguished leader, Mr. Jeffries.
Mr. Speaker, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., famously said: ``Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman,'' he said, because people can die.
The Affordable Care Act, proudly also known as ObamaCare, is a pillar of health and financial security for America's working families. Today, we vote on Leader Jeffries' clear, commonsense, and urgent bill to extend the ACA tax credits signed into law by President Biden so healthcare remains affordable and accessible for the American people.
Every Democrat supports this bill because we believe healthcare is a right for all and not a privilege for the few. No family should be pushed out of coverage, and we welcome our Republican colleagues who will be voting with us today. This makes it a happy day.
As we vote today, let us remember the stories of Americans we have heard across the country. Parents saying: My baby was born with a heart condition costing millions of dollars before the Affordable Care Act. Husbands saying: My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we couldn't afford it. Families saying: Dad had a stroke, and we couldn't handle the cost.
That will not happen anymore because we are protecting these families in this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and support this bill to protect healthcare and the dignity of America's working families.
Mr. Speaker, Hyde amendment protections need to be added to this bill. Taxpayer funds should not be forced to subsidize the killing of an unborn child by dismemberment or by baby poison pills.
The Hyde amendment was not--I will say it again, was not--included when the ACA was enacted in 2010, nor was it included when President Biden significantly expanded subsidies during COVID.
It has gotten so bad, Mr. Speaker, that, according to a 2025 article by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 12 States, including my own State of New Jersey, absolutely require all plans on the ACA marketplace to cover abortion on demand. We permit abortion until birth in my State, as do many others. That is all covered by ObamaCare.
The House has passed my bill, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, on four separate occasions beginning in 2011. It is pending again in this Congress, but every time it has gone over to the Senate, it got nowhere, sadly.
I remember the day, Mr. Speaker, when my friend and colleague, the author of the amendment, Henry Hyde, first learned that about 1 million children were alive because of his amendment. He was overcome with joy. He had a tear in his eye. I was there when it happened, when he found out that 1 million mothers were spared the agony of post-abortion pain, and 1 million children were alive and well, growing up, going to school, playing sports, dating, marrying, and having kids of their own.
Today, that number is estimated at over 2.6 million children not aborted, all because abortion subsidies have been prohibited by the Hyde amendment in Federal Medicaid programs and other HHS programs.
It is time to add the Hyde amendment to the ACA.
I believe it is time, as well, for all of us to face the harsh reality of what abortion does to children and look beyond the slogans and the surface appeal arguments.
The so-called abortion pill, mifepristone, is baby poison. It kills the unborn child by how? Starving the innocent child to death. That is its operation. They can't get food, so they die. Then, the body of that baby is often flushed down the toilet.
We know, however, now, that mifepristone is extremely dangerous to women. A big study, the biggest study ever done, found that 1 in 10 women experienced serious adverse events.
Mr. Speaker, that is not what you hear from the abortion lobby. You hear about how safe it is. It ain't safe. They suffer things like sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging, all within about 45 days.
Let me also say to my colleagues, another method of aborting a baby is dismemberment. It tears the child's fragile body to pieces and includes decapitation. Until rendered unconscious or dead by this hideous procedure, the baby feels pain with every cut of the knife.
It is no wonder that the polling shows that the majority of Americans do not want public funding for abortion. Abortion is the polar opposite of healthcare.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, abortion is not healthcare unless one construes the life of an unborn child to be analogous to a tumor to be excised or a disease to be vanquished.
I appeal to my colleagues: Don't ignore or trivialize the battered victim in the womb. Unborn babies need Members of Congress to be their friends and advocates, not powerful adversaries.
Abortion violence must be replaced with compassion and empathy for women and respect for the weakest and most vulnerable.
Mr. Speaker, our vote today represents hope, the hope of millions to access their family physician, the hope for so many Americans who have wondered how they will be able to afford healthcare, hope that by using an extraordinary measure today in the House, we can address an extraordinary need.
After 70 Republican repeal efforts, after rejecting the amendment I offered last May to retain these credits, and after delaying for months to give us the opportunity to provide this care, we are here today with hope.
Now, the responsibility shifts to the Senate. They need to promptly approve this measure and not attach any weakening provisions such as junk insurance and health savings account tax shelters. Keep it focused on affordability, on providing enrollment periods for those who have already lost their coverage because of enormous premium hikes.
We have heard so much about fraud. The only fraud that has been identified relates to broker fraud that Trump has made worse and Republicans have ignored. The biggest fraud of all would be replacing ObamaCare with Republican nothing care.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Missouri for this time.
As a family practice doctor for more than 25 years, I hear directly from my patients about the skyrocketing cost of insurance and prescription drugs. Americans were promised lower costs, more choices, and better care. More than a decade later, too many families are asking what happened.
Since its passage, the unaffordable care act has created a subsidy- fueled illusion with spiraling costs hidden by taxpayer dollars and deficit spending.
Today, many Americans have insurance on paper but still cannot afford to use it. Plans often come with deductibles of several thousand dollars, meaning families pay out of pocket for most routine care. Insurance that cannot be used when people are sick is not real security. It is an illusion.
Let's look at the facts. Healthcare costs have skyrocketed since ObamaCare went into effect. The ACA promised to lower healthcare premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year, but since ObamaCare went into effect, premiums have nearly tripled and deductibles have nearly doubled. The cost of coverage for a family of 4 has increased by more than $10,000.
The benchmark ACA silver plan cost $346 a month in 2014. In 2026, the same exact plan costs $625 a month. The benchmark ACA silver plan deductible was $2,425 in 2014. In 2026, the average deductible will be $5,304, a 119 percent increase. That means that before your health insurance even kicks in, you have to incur $5,304 in out-of-pocket costs.
Such deductibles leave families effectively self-funding their care despite being insured. A policy that you can't afford when you are sick is not a real solution, only an illusion of coverage, leaving individuals functionally uninsured.
Compounding these design failures are serious fraud and enforcement breakdowns within the system itself. A 2024 GAO investigation found that fake identities were approved for ObamaCare subsidies at a 100 percent rate. Often remaining enrolled despite missing or falsified documentation, these ObamaCare subsidies continued for these fraudulent applications. Taxpayers are left footing the bill as reused Social Security numbers, subsidies paid on behalf of deceased individuals, and billions in unreconciled payments expose a system unable to protect public funds.
To be clear, expanding access to health insurance and protecting people with preexisting conditions are worthy goals, but good intentions do not excuse bad results.
Mr. Speaker, faced with these affordability problems, what have my Democratic colleagues proposed? Their answer has been more taxpayer subsidies to paper over ObamaCare's problems. Rather than address the root causes of high premiums, they want to pour ever-larger subsidies to insurance companies to mask the broken system.
Extending subsidies without reform is just paying more for a broken system. I am not going to vote to promote a broken ObamaCare system. If health insurance only looks affordable when Washington pumps in billions of temporary subsidies, the law itself is not affordable. That structure is the real problem that we need to fix. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
Mr. Speaker, House Democrats have fought for months to save Americans' healthcare. That led to four Republicans working with us to bring this bill to the floor today. Yesterday, nine Republicans voted with us to bring this tax credit extension up. Today, it is 11. They know that letting these tax credits expire will hurt the people that they represent as well.
Congressional Republicans set the stage to price 4 million Americans out of healthcare plans that they need. Democrats are fighting to bring your costs down. If you take away the credits that millions of Americans depend on to afford coverage, families will be forced into junk plans that don't cover their needs or will have no coverage at all. When they get sick or hurt, it will cost even more.
This is a good day for Americans. It is a great day for Americans. Vote ``yes'' on this bill to protect healthcare for the people that we represent.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with points that are being made on both sides. The fundamental point of our side is undeniably true, which is that our healthcare system is broken and costs continue to spiral out of control.
However, it is also true that suddenly withdrawing premium support from 22 million Americans is going to force those folks into a terrible dilemma: either paying hundreds or thousands of dollars more, so they face hard trade-offs for their families, losing their insurance altogether in a way that will impact the employer-based market of 150 million Americans, or working less in order to remain eligible in a way that will reduce their discretionary income as well as be bad for our economy as a whole.
We need a solution to this, but this bill is obviously not a solution. Everyone knows that. It is a political exercise that has been engineered by the minority leader at the expense of pursuing an actual solution.
Now, once again, it is falling on the Senate to do the real policymaking, but I am heartened that they seem to be close to a deal that roughly mirrors the compromise bipartisan bill that I have offered with the gentleman from California (Mr. Liccardo) that does a temporary extension with reforms and cost controls to provide runway, so then we can begin the real hard work of fixing our healthcare system in this country.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader of the Ways and Means Committee and rise in strong support of this legislation.
We have heard an awful lot of talk about subsidies over there. Let's cut right to the chase. It is about subsidies. You care about subsidies for billionaires, and you are willing to do it on the backs of the American people.
You would rather see them--thank God for the people who are standing up on your side. They deserve the Profile
Vote your conscience. Vote your constituents. This is not about politics. It is about people.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker, in Illinois, there are 465,000 people who depend on the Affordable Care Act to acquire health insurance. For the past several years, the majority of them have used enhanced Federal tax credits to lower the cost.
In my district alone, 19,000, or 57 percent, will see the cost of their policy go up $696, without the Federal tax credits.
In Austin, Mary will pay an additional $300 per month. On the North Side, Emily will pay an additional $150 a month, raising her cost to $600. Beginning January 1, Rebecca will pay $796 a month.
This is totally unacceptable. All of these are too high. Let's make healthcare available to the American people. Let's pass today, not tomorrow, not the next day, the Federal tax credits.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the many working families who rely on the ACA tax credits.
Speaker Johnson should have let us vote on this bill at the end of last year, but instead of bringing down the cost of healthcare, groceries, or housing, Republicans are focused on protecting President Trump while he invades foreign countries, builds golden ballrooms, and renames monuments to himself, all while families in my district watch their healthcare premiums double.
I will remind everyone: Republicans already kicked 15 million people off their healthcare to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
I urge my Republican colleagues now to do the right thing and to vote on behalf of their constituents' interests. Vote to extend the ACA tax credits and lower costs for America's families.
Mr. Speaker, I remind this body that the reason why these COVID-era tax credits expired is because the Democrats focused all their resources on helping their wealthy environmentalists with permanent tax credits for electric vehicles and solar panels.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of restoring the Affordable Care Act tax credits and lowering healthcare costs for millions of Americans.
As of January 1, more than 400,000 Alabamians faced higher premiums because Republicans in this body let the ACA tax credits expire. That is on top of the nearly $1 trillion in cuts that Republicans made to healthcare earlier this year.
Today's vote represents one more chance for Republicans to do the right thing, reverse their disastrous policies, and join Democrats in making healthcare more affordable.
Let's make no mistake: This vote would not have taken place had it not been for the relentless efforts of House Democrats and our leader, Hakeem Jeffries. I urge my Republican colleagues to vote ``yes'' to restore the ACA credits and lower healthcare costs. In the words of Dr. King: ``The time is always right to do what is right.''
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a bombshell GAO report documenting evidence of widespread fraud, with billions of dollars going to fraudulent enrollees, including as many as 58,000 dead people.
Our Fictitious Applicants in Plan Years 2024 and 2025, Suggesting
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unwavering support for this extension of the enhanced ACA tax credits.
For the last year, my colleagues and I have fought to keep these enhanced tax credits. While this vote is later than it should have been, it is not too late to do what is right for the American people and for my constituents like Gerry, who has already seen a 60-percent increase in his premiums; Steve, whose plan went up by over 40 percent; and Mitch, who is looking at a 420-percent increase for him and his wife.
Republicans and the Trump administration promised to bring down prices. Instead, they have made healthcare a luxury that only some can afford.
I believe everyone should have affordable, quality, accessible healthcare. Because of that, I will be voting in favor of this legislation and supporting the extension of the enhanced ACA tax credits.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here this afternoon to talk about what is so important to all of us, and that is healthcare, not just health insurance.
A clean, 3-year extension brought by the minority would send $110 billion directly to insurance companies.
As the chairman just mentioned, a recent GAO report showed that 23 out of 24 fraudulent enrollees were approved and received taxpayer subsidies directly to insurance companies. The GAO even reported that they were not required to provide documentation, such as Social Security numbers or income verification. It was money sent directly to insurance companies from taxpayers.
Democrats said healthcare would be affordable, yet since the implementation of this bad idea, premiums are up 80 percent. At the same time, nearly 20 percent of the individual market claims are denied by insurance companies.
In 2024, 87 percent of the revenue made by insurance companies selling ACA exchange claims came from taxpayer dollars.
To quote an article from The Wall Street Journal, Democrats sold ObamaCare on the false pretenses that it would make healthcare affordable. Let me say that again: false pretenses. Extending the subsidies would perpetuate that fraud.
We passed a bill before Christmas that would reduce costs by 11 percent, and that was from the CBO. The CBO said that, and we are not exactly the biggest fans of that unique organization. Our plan would actually fight fraud, which was highlighted in the GAO report.
Finally, we would actually give choice to individuals as opposed to this one-size-fits-all debacle. We want healthcare, not a plan to simply fund insurance companies.
Mr. Speaker, 1 week ago, Republicans skyrocketed healthcare costs for 22 million Americans. They chose to let the ACA tax credits expire, even though there was bipartisan support to extend them.
Now, families are seeing premiums jump by hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a month. That is utterly devastating and was entirely avoidable.
Middle-class families are being forced to cancel coverage. People with cancer are going uninsured. Small business owners are being told to pay 34 percent more, or $40,000 a year, or go without care.
Republicans knew this would happen, and they did it anyway. Now, we have a chance to fix it. Democrats have a clean, 3-year extension of these tax credits on the floor today with bipartisan support.
Let's make sure families get the help they need. We must vote ``yes'' on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, every day, more Americans are being hurt by the Republican healthcare crisis. Tax credits that help working people afford healthcare are vanishing, and Americans are watching billionaires get huge tax cuts while the cost of living goes up.
My Republican friends knew that refusing to renew these tax credits would cause healthcare costs to skyrocket.
Mr. Speaker, they decided to cancel work for 2 months and simply ignored the affordability problem. President Trump even called it a hoax.
Democrats put forward this bill to help the American people. Thanks to a few sensible colleagues on the other side, we were able to force a vote on it.
While Trump continues his self-dealing corruption and growing fondness for attacking foreign countries, his administration is lawlessly killing and lying about the death of an unarmed woman in Minneapolis.
Republican leadership in Congress had to be forced to even allow a vote on this bill. Democrats here are focused on a bill to lower costs for tens of millions of Americans and prevent many from losing healthcare.
Mr. Speaker, we speak about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We can't be free, it is hard to be happy, and lives are cut short with no healthcare.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly and proudly support Leader Jeffries' discharge petition to extend the ACA premium subsidies.
Just 8 days ago, President Trump and the Republican Congress let the ACA subsidies expire. Consequently, rather than working on their new year's resolution, 22 million hardworking Americans are forced to decide what sacrifices they need to make to afford their insurance or whether they need to sacrifice their families' healthcare.
That is why today is a happy day. We are one step closer to helping millions of Americans afford healthcare. Getting to this day wasn't easy, but Democrats stayed united and stood firm. After fighting for months, we are joined by Republican colleagues who recognize that we have a responsibility to help ensure Americans can afford to provide healthcare for their families.
Mr. Speaker, it is our job to bring down the cost for Americans. It is our job to make life better for Americans. It is our job to ensure that every family has access to affordable and quality care. Let's do our job. Let's extend the ACA credits. I urge my colleagues to support the discharge petition.
Mr. Speaker, for the past year we have been talking about the damage done by not extending tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. Now this year, no longer is it theory. It is fact. It is no longer talk. It is pain.
The fact is 20 million people are feeling the pain with their healthcare costs going up. Millions more are losing health insurance. In my district, tens of thousands are going to be paying more for healthcare.
Today, the fact is that we can do our jobs and, rather than take healthcare away, we can actually help fix it. I commend all of my Democratic colleagues and, yes, even a few on the Republican side that signed the discharge petition and will vote for this bill today, a day in a week that has been absolutely hectic.
Rather than constantly responding to the craziness from this administration, by voting ``yes,'' Congress can finally focus on the substance of fixing healthcare. The fact is this bill is a short-term fix for extending tax credits. It is also a vehicle for our Senate
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about being on the right side of history. I have taken the time to listen directly to the people of Nevada's Fourth District and all across my great State. They have shared their stories, their concerns, and their fears about their healthcare.
I am talking about people like Richard and his wife who have worked to do everything right. They budgeted. They made sacrifices. Yet, today, they are paying $1,200 a month for health insurance, up from $280 a month just a month ago because vital healthcare lifelines were allowed to expire.
Richard told me that they can identify places to make cuts in their lives, but what worries him is what they will be forced to give up. That includes fewer groceries, fewer essentials, and fewer visits with family.
Mr. Speaker, I get it. Some in this Chamber want to make this about politics. The reality is this is life and death. It is life and death for the 15 million Americans who are at risk of losing healthcare, while Republicans found the time and the money to give tax cuts to billionaires but no time to give relief to middle-class families.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Leader Jeffries and Democrats. I call on my Republican colleagues to join us, and let's be on the right side of history.
Mr. Speaker, everyone here knows that affordability and the affordability of healthcare is the top concern of Americans today. Failure to extend these tax credits will cause health insurance premiums to skyrocket all across our land.
In my district, Mr. Speaker, if you utilize the premium tax credits, a family of four making $130,000 has to pay 8\1/2\ percent of their income for health insurance premiums, or about $10,000 or $11,000 a year. If we refuse to act, their bill will go to $30,000 a year, or $1,500 more per month. That is crazy. They won't even buy their insurance. As a result, it will reduce the risk pool, which will cause everyone's premiums in our country to go up.
That is why for months the Problem Solvers Caucus has been working across the aisle, both here in the House and the Senate, to find bipartisan solutions to this very real affordability crisis.
Mr. Speaker, let's deliver a huge victory for the American people. Let's overcome the partisan toxicity of Washington, D.C. Let's get Democrats and Republicans, Members of the House and the Senate, to work together to serve the needs of the American people. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise in defense of affordable healthcare for all Americans, even though my own constituents are not afforded the same benefits as Americans living in the 50 States. We are not part of the exchange. We have no SSI. We have caps on Medicaid in jurisdictions, unlike elsewhere.
If my colleagues need a clear illustration of what happens when Affordable Care Act benefits are taken away, look to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, which are excluded from those. Our healthcare system is in crisis. Hospitals operate under Medicare formulas from the 1980s with chronic shortages of supplies, medication, equipment, and staff.
Patients bring sheets and diapers to the hospital. Doctors pool their money to pay vendors. Hospital funding gaps exceed $34 million. More than 3,000 people have lost Medicaid. Puerto Rico's capped Medicaid funding forced reliance on borrowing and debt, which contributed to their 2017 bankruptcy.
The failure to extend enhanced premium tax credits has doubled healthcare costs for 20 million Americans. My colleagues don't want the healthcare system we have. Pass this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits through a clean, 3-year extension.
Last year, the Republicans blocked the extension of these credits in the big, ugly bill. With the expiration of the tax credits last month, the health premium costs have skyrocketed, causing millions to lose their coverage.
When more people lose coverage, costs go up for everyone. Uninsured patients often delay seeing a doctor and end up needing more costly care at the emergency room. When there are more uninsured, hospitals, especially in rural areas, face financial hardships and may be forced to close. In other words, those unpaid bills do not disappear. They are shifted onto everybody else, and everyone suffers.
Today, Congress can step in to address the sharp premium increases and provide stability for working families across the country. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to support affordable healthcare.
Mr. Speaker, it is about damned time that this bill is actually going to get a vote. Here is why. The Republicans in the summer passed their One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which I am glad they are not trying to rebrand anymore. It cut Medicaid by almost $1 trillion. It took away food stamps. Then they refused to extend the ACA subsidies that would help ACA tax credits, that would help people in their own States.
That is what the Democrat majority next year is going to do. We will continue fighting for our own people throughout the country. It doesn't matter if a constituent is in a red State or a blue State, if someone is hurting because of the Republican majority this year. Donald Trump has taken away healthcare. He has taken away food stamps. He has taken away opportunities. We are going to make sure that we reverse all that.
The first step is these ACA tax credits because it is going to help working families. The party in the majority now said they were going to lower the cost of living, but they failed. Now we are going to step up.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and to put an end to the Republican healthcare crisis.
This Republican majority wasted all of 2025 by refusing to extend the tax credits in time to prevent the premium hikes that families across the country are facing right now. Costs are outrageous. House Democrats had to use a discharge petition to force them to do the right thing and finally hold this vote.
We have heard a lot of confusing lies from the majority today. Mr. Speaker, the truth is that the ACA tax credits from my legislation work. They are incredibly popular, yet Republicans chose to let them expire on December 31.
Today, we have a chance to fix their mistake, lower costs, and protect care for millions of Americans. I urge a ``yes'' vote.
I thank Leader Jeffries, Mr. Neal, Speaker Pelosi, and Brandon Casey for working with me on this.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to pass this legislation to prevent families' healthcare costs from skyrocketing.
I will share just a few messages from my hardworking constituents who will be impacted.
Kelly from Salem wrote: ``My policy is going to increase from $40 to $191. I will have no wiggle room in my budget, no room for emergencies.''
Rachel from Amity says that her plan will increase from $511 to $1,328 per month. She wrote: ``We will probably choose to only insure our child. We cannot afford 25 percent of our income going to health insurance.''
Janice from Salem said that her monthly costs will go from $465 to $1,100. ``I will go without health insurance if I can't bring it way down to no more than $500 a month. I am 5 years away from retirement.''
Mr. Speaker, these are just three stories from about 16,000 in my district, and there are millions just like these across our country. Our constituents are counting on this body to lower their costs and save their healthcare.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of extension of the ACA tax credits.
I met Shadene Butchart in Chicago. She has ALS. Since the ACA tax credits have expired, her health insurance premium consumes the entirety of her husband's Social Security check. She will not be able to afford any health insurance to cover this incredibly distressing disease.
I rise strongly in support, and I urge my colleagues to support it, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, it is too bad that we had to play this out to the anxiety and consternation of the American people. Think of what this might be like if you didn't know a month ago whether or not your children were going to have health insurance. Think of the anguish that you might feel proceeding into the holidays while not knowing whether or not that child would be able to complete the doctor's appointment that you had made for them because you didn't have health insurance.
I didn't hear the other side complaining about keeping 26-year-olds on their parents' health insurance. How about the idea that, in the ACA, we were able to abolish preexisting conditions being routinely used to deny the opportunity to access even primary care for millions and millions of Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I call attention to this because I have watched over these years how the ACA has not only become more popular, but the American people have come to expect the benefits of the ACA.
This argument for those of us who were here and participated at the time was not really complex at all. The argument was that we would proceed on the basis of the notion of universal access and that you wouldn't have to worry that if you went to the emergency room, you somehow might be turned away because you had not been able to pay another bill.
We don't get a chance on this Earth to predict when we are going to get sick. Those are the basic actuarial realities of what insurance is about. By way of example, we don't get to buy homeowners' insurance after the house has burned down. We don't get to buy life insurance after we die.
The idea of what we did here was to spread the notion of risk, an entirely reasonable consequence, authored by former President Obama and, by the way, the steadfast determination at the time of Speaker Pelosi.
This was negotiated across the board with all members of the healthcare system, and we came up with a reasonable solution that we continue to build upon.
Mr. Speaker, I will point out a couple of pretty important statistics: 4 years straight of record enrollment in the Affordable Care Act, and 24.3 million Americans have now signed up.
That is what we had in mind. When you look back at these enhanced premium tax credits, we keep hearing the other side say that there are billionaires and millionaires who are driving the benefit. JCT has said that nobody over $500,000 is getting this benefit. We are open to these conversations as we go forward, as well. Yet, only 38 percent of their tax cuts inure to the benefit of people at the lower end of the economic spectrum.
By ending these enhanced tax credits, we will stop the Republican assault on the ACA. They have repeatedly said that they want to work with us, but there has been no effort on the Republican side to work with us on expanding and extending these tax credits.
There has been no concerted effort from our Republican colleagues to really put on a piece of legislation, a tax bill, that stands up under the magnifying glass of critical analysis. It is patchwork. It is announced every time we get near some cliff in the debate that somehow they have a healthcare plan. We haven't seen it yet.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to close by saying the same words that I opened with: This is a most significant day. This is a happy day for the American people.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I will remind the body that the reason why these enhanced subsidies are expiring is because the Democrats are the only ones in this Chamber who voted for them to expire on December 31. Apparently, they regret that vote because they focused most of their dollars on making permanent environmental tax policy in the Green New Deal.
Mr. Speaker, they are the only ones who have voted to take away these subsidies. It is laughable, Mr. Speaker, when you hear Members on the other side say that the Republicans created this healthcare crisis.
Guess what. It was the Democrats who wrote the Affordable Care Act that is being debated on the floor right now. They are upset because, as of December 31, it reverted back to the Affordable Care Act, which they have championed, what they passed, not Republicans, Democrats.
Mr. Speaker, the healthcare crisis is clearly created by the Democrats.
We have highlighted the fraud and waste within the exchanges. More than half of the people on the exchanges did not even file one medical claim last year, but those insurance companies were being subsidized.
I want to remind the American people that not $1 goes to them. It all goes to the big health insurance companies that have been doing very well, while premiums for every single American have been rising for the last decade and a half.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I urge this body to vote ``no.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 780, the previous question is ordered on the bill.
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 noes appeared to have it.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1600, the Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act; H.R. 1601, the Defending Ukraine's Territorial Integrity Act; and H.R. 670, the Lady Liberty Act, bills originally introduced by Representative Connolly of Virginia, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
Mr. Speaker, we rise today in memory of Congressman Richard T. ``Dick'' Schulze, who died on December 23 at the age of 96.
Congressman Schulze represented the Philadelphia suburbs from 1975 to 1993 in the people's House. He was the driving force behind designating historic Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, a national park.
Dick was the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee and twice chaired the Republican Study Committee. He also served as chairman of the National Prayer Breakfast. President Ronald Reagan appointed Congressman Schulze to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism, an honor that Dick deeply valued.
Dick's lifelong interest in conservation and wildlife issues led him to found the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and Foundation in 1989. President George H.W. Bush would later appoint him to serve on the National Fish and Wildlife Board.
Mr. Speaker, for 18 distinguished years, Congressman Schulze served in the House of Representatives. He was known for being a fair-minded, commonsense legislator who worked with Members on both sides of the aisle.
Funeral services will take place on Saturday in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Our thoughts are with his wife of 33 years, Nancy, his four children, and all of his family.
May God bless Congressman Dick Schulze.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would ask all Members and those in the gallery to rise for a moment of silence.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize January as National Blood Donor Month.
Since its inception in 1970, National Blood Donor Month recognizes the millions of Americans who help save lives by donating blood. Statistics show that every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood.
On average, one in seven hospital patients need blood, and approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the United States.
Over the last 50 years, public awareness for blood donation has increased. Now approximately 13.6 million volunteers donate blood annually.
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, more than 5,000 blood drives were held in 2025, according to the Red Cross. I am encouraged to see constituents ready to roll up their sleeves and help those in need. In fact, one of the most challenging times of the year to collect blood donations is in the winter months.
Mr. Speaker, I hope all Americans will take the time to consider donating blood this month. It is important to know that one blood donation can save lives.
Mr. Speaker, 74 million Americans depend on Social Security, but because of the Trump administration's actions, customer service has completely collapsed. The agency faces 6 million backlogged cases, 12 million delayed field-office transactions, and some of the worst wait times in history.
Why is this happening? It is because the Trump administration pushed out 7,000 Social Security employees. That is 12 percent of their workforce. Offices were reorganized overnight, hiring was frozen, and thousands of workers were reassigned.
This has real-life consequences for my constituents, like a 75-year- old stroke victim who hasn't received his check for months because he can't drive or use a computer, or an immigrant who may lose his job because a name correction appointment is weeks away, or the retiree who waited hours just to schedule an appointment on the phone.
Social Security is not a political experiment. It is a promise. The American people paid into the system and earned these benefits. They shouldn't have to fight their own government to receive them.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sonny Morris, a dedicated public servant who is retiring after 40 years on the Winder City Council.
First elected in 1985 and taking office in January of 1986, Councilman Morris has spent four decades serving the people of Winder, Georgia, with consistency, humility, and a deep commitment to his community.
Through periods of growth and change, he has remained a steady voice for residents and a trusted leader in local government. Councilman Morris has approached public service with a clear focus on doing what is right for his city.
His long tenure reflects not only the confidence placed in him by voters but also his willingness to listen, to collaborate, and to show up year after year for the people he represents.
Serving as grand marshal of the 2025 Winder Christmas Parade was a fitting way for the community to say thank you. I was honored to participate in that parade and to meet Mr. Morris.
Winder is stronger because of Sonny Morris, and his legacy of service will be felt for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, early last year, the Flat fire burned over 23,000 acres of land in central Oregon, destroying homes and forcing thousands of people to evacuate.
Our historic fire crews were eventually able to contain the fire, but they were unnecessarily delayed because someone was flying a drone in the area, and it punctured a hole in the plane.
Our historic fire crews cannot afford this delay. It is not just happening in Oregon. There has been an increase in drones interfering with fire responses across the country. We know that a quick response is critical to containing wildfire and saving homes and lives. That is why I introduced the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act along with Congressmen Neguse, Crane, and Ciscomani.
As Representatives from States with dangerous wildfire seasons, we understand how important it is to address this issue and that it should not be partisan. I am calling on the House to take up our bill to prevent unnecessary delays to wildfire response efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I have risen before the House several times to recognize the historic rivalry between the Montana State University Bobcats and the University of Montana Grizzlies, but today I rise with enormous pride to honor the Montana State University Bobcats for their historic FCS National Championship victory in Nashville.
The Cats left it all on the field. They played with grit, heart, and determination, carrying the weight of a State that believed in them. From blocked kicks and dramatic momentum swings to a fourth-quarter comeback and the first overtime finish in FCS title game history, this contest delivered everything that makes college football unforgettable.
This win marked Montana State's first national championship in 41 years, ending a drought that stretched back to 1984. With Montana programs reaching the championship stage in four of the last five seasons, it was only fitting that the trophy finally returned to the home of the Treasure State.
The young men in blue and gold made Montana proud. Their victory belongs not only to this university but to an entire State.
Mr. President, if you are watching, we would love to see them in the White House. Go, Cats, go.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the bipartisan Gang Activity Reporting Act with the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Hinson), my fellow appropriator.
This legislation has an urgent purpose: to give law enforcement the accurate, comprehensive data they need to combat gang violence and to keep our communities safe.
From 2021 to 2024, law enforcement agencies reported more than 69,000 incidents of gang activity nationwide. Over half involved violent crime. Yet, today, Federal gang data remains fragmented, inconsistent, and incomplete.
That gap puts officers at risk and leaves communities, especially in rural America, without the tools needed to respond effectively. Our bill would require the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress on gang activity investigations and prosecutions.
While recent FBI data show violent crime trending downward, we know progress does not mean the work is all done. This legislation strengthens public safety, supports law enforcement, and helps protect families from Ohio to Iowa, and coast to coast.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please support this critical Gang Activity Reporting Act.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the resilience of Harrison High School senior Zariea Patrick.
In 2023, during Zariea's sophomore year, she and her Harrison classmates were playing basketball when Zariea took a hard elbow to the side of her head as she went for a layup, leaving her with a concussion.
As her symptoms worsened, an MRI at the hospital confirmed a tumor lodged in the right side of Zariea's brain. What followed were regular trips to the hospital for chemotherapy, which took a terrible toll on her physical well-being.
In the spring of 2024, they believed that the tumor showed improvement. Unfortunately, she recently learned that she would have to start chemotherapy all over again. Despite this, her perseverance and her bright smile continue to light up the entire community.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in praying for Zariea during her battle with this tumor.
Mr. Speaker, in my first year in Congress, I made a simple commitment to my district: to listen and to get things done.
This week, I am proud to share that I am delivering on that commitment. I secured over $6 million in Community Project Funding for seven transformative community-led initiatives across the district in Portland, Gresham, Sandy, and Multnomah County.
These investments will help prevent youth violence, modernize emergency response systems, strengthen wastewater infrastructure, expand behavioral healthcare, and protect the clean water our communities depend on.
Each project came directly from local leaders working to solve urgent issues on the ground, and I fought to make sure every single one received funding.
This is what government should be: responsive, collaborative, and focused on our people delivering results for them and our families.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this progress, and I am just getting started for the people of Oregon's Third.
Mr. Speaker, I met with a lot of angry constituents over the last 2 weeks. They are angry about how expensive America has become. They are angry, in large part, because they realize one simple truth: The Somali pirates are not in the Horn of Africa anymore. They are right here in our country, and their captain is Tim Walz.
While my constituents suffer today, 81 percent of Somali families are on welfare. Nine billion dollars was stolen from child nutrition, housing, and autism services in Minnesota, largely through Feeding Our Future, a program that theoretically opened more than 250 sites and was supposed to be feeding 91 million meals. It was not doing that.
There was a Medicaid program, the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program, where the Federal Government was paying 64 percent and fake autism treatment firms were created.
Our constituents are suffering. Before we ask them to continue to suffer, we owe it to them to root out everyone who was involved in this fraud and hold everyone accountable, and that is exactly what I intend to do.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of one of our Nation's most effective and determined advocates for children and families: the singular Bill Harris, who dedicated his life to this cause.
From founding KidsPac, a political action group dedicated to promoting public investments for children, to enacting the legislation that created The National Child Traumatic Stress Network in 2000, funded at $10 million that has now grown to being a nearly $100 million initiative, Bill was a passionate leader, a persuasive advocate, and he did not suffer fools.
He was never satisfied with symbolic action or minor gestures. He pushed for systemic change and substantive legislation. Together, we were able to expand the child tax credit in 2003 to cover more low- income families.
The Wall Street Journal called these families ``the lucky duckies,'' and in that spirit, Bill gifted me a set of rubber duckies that remain in my office today.
Our proudest achievement--and I say ours because it was a team effort--was the expanded monthly child tax credit that was signed into law in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan.
In 2021, child poverty was nearly cut in half, hunger by a quarter, and it provided economic security to middle-class and working families.
While many may never have heard of Bill Harris, it was his tenacity and his doing, and we will secure its future in his name. We have much to do. We will do it with his spirit.
Mr. Speaker, a simple principle should guide us: where we live should not determine the quality of healthcare that we can get, but for too many Hoosiers, especially in our rural communities, this isn't the reality.
That is why the Working Families Tax Cut Act matters. Through the new Rural Health Transformation Program, Indiana is receiving $207 million in first-year funding, the first of 5 years of support, to strengthen rural healthcare statewide.
This funding will support hospitals and strengthen emergency care for Hoosiers who can get that care close to home. For communities from Connersville to Richmond and across Rush, Shelby, and Henry Counties, this means quality care closer, shorter drives for appointments, faster response times when minutes count, especially for our seniors, veterans, and working families.
This is the right kind of investment, helping our rural communities stay healthy without raising taxes, without growing bureaucracy, and without leaving Hoosiers behind.
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Conrad Piero as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week.
On December 18, Conrad, a loss prevention specialist at a Walmart in Canton, Ohio, was working in the store when a man being held for allegedly shoplifting pulled a gun on a Canton police officer who was present and attempting to question and detain the suspect.
The man pointed the gun at the officer and pulled the trigger, but thankfully, the weapon malfunctioned and did not discharge. In a remarkable act of bravery, Conrad immediately stepped in to pull the gun away from the suspect as he tried to point and shoot at the officer for a second time.
Both the Canton Police Department and Walmart said that Conrad went above and beyond in his service to our community, and I could not agree more.
What could have been a terrible and tragic situation went without anyone being harmed through his remarkable act of courage. It is average citizens doing remarkable things just like this that help make our community the birthplace of champions. Conrad is certainly a champion in his own right, and he has made Canton and Ohio's 13th Congressional District proud.
Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere gratitude to Conrad Piero for his heroic actions and congratulate him on being named champion of the week.
Mr. Speaker, today, the Governor of my State, Gavin Newsom, gave his state of the State address in which he declared that California leads the Nation. Now, the Governor isn't wrong. As the residents of our State know all too well, California does lead the Nation.
California leads the Nation in fraud. California leads the Nation in unemployment. California leads the Nation in homelessness. California leads the Nation in poverty. California leads the Nation in illiteracy. California leads the Nation in gas prices. California leads the Nation in electricity prices. California leads the Nation in housing prices. California leads the Nation in debt and deficits. Just this week, we learned that for the sixth straight year, California leads the Nation in outbound U-Haul rentals. The greatest State in the country has become the most popular State to leave.
That, Mr. Speaker, is the true state of our State during this Governor's tenure.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Governor Jim Hunt, a giant in North Carolina history who sadly passed last month. Governor Hunt leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as a fighter for education, economic development, equality, innovation, and so much more. He was the engine for positive progress in our State.
Hunt was known nationally as the Education Governor. He worked relentlessly to ensure that every North Carolinian had access to high- quality and public education and every teacher earned a decent salary.
Governor Hunt was a visionary who pushed the economy in North Carolina into the modern era, propelling us from economic stagnation to global leadership in technology and innovation.
Personally, he was a mentor to me. I will carry his legacy with me forever. North Carolina is a better place because of Jim Hunt.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a valued member of my team, Pam Moll, who retired last week after an extraordinary career serving North Dakotans. Pam served as my constituent services director. During my predecessor, Kelly Armstrong's tenure, she had the same role.
For 7 years, she has been a steady and trusted presence for veterans seeking answers, seniors seeking help, and families simply trying to be heard. Pam is the kind of public servant most Americans never see but whose work touches countless lives.
She understood that behind every case file and every form is a real person, and she never lost sight of that. Her legacy is not just measured in years of service but in the countless lives she helped improve.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of North Dakota, I thank Pam and wish her the very best in this next chapter.
Mr. Speaker, PFAS are everywhere, and they are endangering Michiganders' lives. PFAS, as we know, are toxic forever chemicals that persist in the environment, contaminate the water we drink, and accumulate in the body. Sadly, Michigan is ground zero for PFAS pollution.
I am proud to have worked across the aisle to deliver results for Metro Detroit and Michigan in this regard, but we must do more. That is why today I am introducing the PROTECT Act. It is bipartisan legislation that takes urgently needed steps to remove PFAS from our environment and prevent future contamination in the air we breathe.
By listing PFAS as hazardous air pollutants, this bill sets the foundation for strong, science-based standards that will reduce emissions. The PROTECT Act also holds major polluters responsible for the cleanup of these poisons, delivering real transparency and accountability to affected communities.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my bipartisan cosponsors from Michigan and across the country for joining me in this important effort. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I attended a hearing today in the Judiciary Committee. There was some confusion in the committee about what we should be doing to enforce our immigration laws and who is at fault for the mess we have in Minneapolis.
There are some people who are apparently under the impression we should only enforce our immigration laws if the people who came here illegally commit another crime. If we think about it for 2 seconds, that is completely ridiculous.
Right now, every year in this country, about 850,000 new citizens are naturalized citizens. When I was a child, that was under 200,000. That is without taking into account people who become citizens because of birthright citizenship, which is not even intended under our Constitution.
We must not fall for the idea that all a person has to do is sneak across the border and hang around here and not commit a felony and, therefore, they come in here.
I feel so sorry for our great President Trump. He was left with such a mess when Joe Biden let in 10 million people, and he is now honor bound to remove them from this country. That is why we have a mess in Minneapolis.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise with immense pride to celebrate two exceptional football teams from Texas' very own 30th Congressional District for their championship wins this season. They are South Oak Cliff High School and DeSoto High School.
This win comes as no surprise to those of us who call the district home. These young men showed up, put in the work, and, once again, proved that if we are looking for champions, all eyes should be on Texas-30.
I am proud of each of these students' commitment, as well as every faculty member and parent who supported them along the way. Their dedication, commitment, and passion made these wins possible.
I anticipate celebrating the many successes yet to come. Celebrate big, keep striving for greatness, and continue standing out.
Go Bears and go Eagles.
Mr. Speaker, I will not yield back. I will say something real quick about this ICE situation.
The reason we have a mess as it relates to ICE has nothing to do with President Biden. We need to accept responsibility for what is going on, and it is the mess of this administration.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday ICE murdered an American citizen. Renee Good was a wife and a mother who has now become ICE's latest victim. To those at DHS and in this Chamber who have created and rewarded a culture of murder, I ask the same question that God asked Cain:
What have you done? You have slain your sister who gave you no offense. The voice of her innocent blood cries out from the ground where it was spilled, where you try to cover and hide. But we saw what was done.
What kind of monster shoots an unarmed, fleeing woman in the head? What kind of monster watches the video of that crime and chooses to lie to the American people as they defend the murderer and defame the victim? How do we prevent ourselves from descending to their monstrous depths?
Mr. Speaker, I will tell my colleagues how. We prosecute the murderer with
Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize George Hinckley on his work in founding Smart Community STEM Camp.
This camp is a youth program that teaches kids coding and how to fly and operate drones, provides mentorship, and brings communities together.
As camp director, George encourages young Virginians who are interested in pursuing technology-based careers as their pathway to success.
George's dedication to STEM education is contributing to the future of learning and exposes students to diverse opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, George's leadership and unwavering commitment to this program are truly deserving of this recognition. I am honored to congratulate him on this well-earned moment and recognize him as this week's Constituent of the Week.
I congratulate and thank George for all that he does for our students.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the House floor with a heavy heart for the family and the community of Renee Nicole Good.
My heart is heavy and not just because of the unabashed and violent killing that happened last night by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, but because I am also sad for our country, to see the Vice President of the United States and officials impugn a young woman who leaves behind her community and an orphaned child.
This is not our country. Shame on you. To those of you who are continuing to provide cover for this lawless, unconstitutional, abusive, and violent administration, shame on you.
I will be joining to file Articles of Impeachment against Secretary Noem. Enough is enough.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Utah?
Mr. Speaker, I am saddened and honored at the same time to be able to host, alongside my California colleagues, a special hour dedicated to the memory of Congressman Doug LaMalfa from California.
As I looked at some of my notes here of the amazing things that he had accomplished and who he was, I realized that we are going to hear that over the next hour.
The thing that my team and I were reflecting on earlier today, and all I wanted to share as we kick off this memorial to an amazing man, was that, as vice chair, I get to, every week, host an evening of floor time for my colleagues on a myriad of topics. Doug LaMalfa was here every single time. Every time we needed him to be here, he was here, but he was here whether we asked him or not. Most times, he was the only one.
Yet tonight, when I asked my colleagues if they wanted to share a message on Doug, the reverse: It is a packed house.
That is all I wanted to share, to think about the legacy that he has left and the importance that he has to so many of our colleagues. He was always here for me, and we are all here today for his family. They are hopefully able to take some comfort and solace in his memory as we share this.
We have a lot of folks who want to share a message, and we are going to kick it right off. I am just going to go around the room and start calling on people as we move forward.
We are going to first hear, of course, from the California delegation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. Speaker, the sudden passing of our close friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa, has caused both shock and sadness throughout the entire House of Representatives. We lost a friend and a colleague. His northern Californian constituents lost their tireless advocate in the House.
Most tragically, his family lost a husband, a father, and a grandfather.
Doug was a proud family man. He and his wife, Jill, have four beautiful children. He just recently became a grandfather.
Doug was a fourth-generation rice farmer and a contributor to our State's important role of producing the food that sustains America. His experience as a farmer provided the foundation for his future as a legislator, both in Sacramento and here in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Speaker, it comes as no surprise that in 2024, Doug was unanimously elected to serve as the chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, one of the largest congressional membership groups on Capitol Hill, focusing on rural policy and issues that affect the West and beyond.
Doug left an indelible mark on this institution and the people whom he got to know along the way. For those who knew him, they understood his unique love of nicknames, movie quotes, and NASCAR. They understood his dislike of food waste, smartphones, and ketchup on hot dogs.
Doug's sense of humor, collegial manner, and expertise will be sorely missed. While he is no longer with us, Doug's significant contributions to agricultural and rural policies will endure long after his passing.
I will very much miss my friend and my colleague. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill; the entire LaMalfa family; his friends; and his staff.
Mr. Speaker, the Romans had a saying: ``Time is fleeting, remember death''; ``Tempus fugit, memento mori.'' It reminds us that life is not a gift. It is just a loan, and when it comes due, all that matters is what we have given to others.
Doug LaMalfa was the kindest and most sincere person I have encountered in more than 40 years of public service. He passionately defended the working men and women of the rural community where he was born and raised and grew up, but he always did it with a good-natured smile and a quiet, respectful manner.
Just 3 weeks ago, on December 15, I took my seat on an early Washington-bound flight from Sacramento, about eight rows behind Doug.
When I looked up, he was standing there in the aisle with an outstretched hand. He leaned over, and he quietly said to me: Tom, I know this is a hard day for you, and I want you to know that my prayers are with you and Lori.
You see, that was the fourth anniversary of my dear wife Lori's death, and how he knew that, remembered it, and offered such warm comfort on such a cold morning tells you what a truly caring and wonderful man he was. And now he is gone, for time is fleeting.
Yet, death can't take the kindnesses and memories that he gave us all, or the wisdom, common sense, and achievements that he gave our country. Our Nation, our State, and our community have all suffered an irreplaceable loss, and rural America has lost its most tireless and effective advocate. Most of all, we have lost a good man, a very good man.
To his family, I can only say that you are not alone in your grief. Your community and your country grieve with you.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend, fellow farmer, and colleague, Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
I have known Doug for about 16 years, going back to our time together in the State legislature. From day one, his commitment to the people of northern California, especially those in agricultural communities, was clear.
In Congress, Doug was one of the fiercest advocates for wildfire mitigation, disaster recovery, California water issues, and farmers and ranchers who keep this country fed.
As chairman of the Western Caucus, he fought tirelessly for domestic energy production, public land access, and rural communities that way too often get overlooked.
Beyond his lasting legacy as a public official, Doug was my friend. We served together in the State legislature, and one year, on my birthday, he stopped by my office, not with a card but with a bag of rice and just a little Post-it Note that said: Happy birthday.
I brought that bag home, gave it to my mom, and she made Portuguese rice pudding for him, and I brought it back. The next week, he brought me another bag of rice, and still to this day brought up that he wanted more. Doug just had one of those senses of humor that you loved.
Doug was a friend to all and someone you could always count on for leadership, loyalty, and just a good laugh. He will be deeply missed in the Halls of Congress.
My prayers are with his wife, Jill, his children, and all of his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a very heavy heart to honor our colleague Doug LaMalfa.
Doug was larger than life, but what I will remember most is how he lived big in the small moments with warmth, attention to detail, and genuine kindness.
Doug was the only Member of Congress who ever called me by my Korean name, Kim Young Oak. He didn't have to remember it. He never needed to do that, but that small, thoughtful gesture meant the world to me and spoke volumes about who Doug was.
Doug was a strong, conservative leader who served with a deep love for our country and brought the heartland to Washington, not the other way around.
As a fourth-generation rice farmer, he never forgot who he worked for--farmers, families, and rural communities who were too often ignored by Washington.
He will be missed. We will all miss him. My heart is with his family, his staff, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss.
Mr. Speaker, I rise with an incredibly heavy heart to honor the life of my friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
Doug was one of the most effective Members of this Chamber. He was deeply passionate about issues that affected his constituents in northern California.
As most of the Members of this Chamber know, we all have little silos where people come to us for advice. I always could count on Doug to give me the straight scoop on anything related to water, agriculture, or rural America. That is why we elected him as the chairman of the Western Caucus 2 years ago, and he did a phenomenal job in that role. I will miss his service there.
I will also miss the man that he was. He was an incredibly decent man, a man of exceptionally high moral character. Everyone that knew Doug would remark on his authenticity. When you met Doug, what you saw is what you got. He was a man of deep kindness, never had a cruel or unkind word for anyone in the years that I knew him. He was a man of incredible humility, and anyone in this Chamber knows that we could use some more of that in here.
Above all, Mr. Speaker, I will miss my friend. I will miss our conversations about cars. He was a car guy; I am a car guy. I would tease him every summer when we came back into session because he was restoring a De Tomaso Pantera, and I would ask him: Doug, what progress did you make on the Pantera this summer? He would hang his head and say: Nothing.
On this playing Galaga with him, a little known fact about Doug LaMalfa, he was a fierce competitor at Galaga. Above all, I will miss our conversations.
I am honored to be here joining my colleagues in saying farewell to Doug and to honor his life. Godspeed to my friend, Doug. We will miss him.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa.
Doug was a steadfast champion of rural California and for the issues that matter most to millions of Americans across the West, starting in the California legislature to the Halls of Congress.
He fought for water storage and forest management. He fought for energy abundance. He fought for the farmer. He fought for common sense.
I had the privilege of serving alongside him on the Committee for Transportation and Infrastructure and as a fellow member of the Western Caucus during his time as chairman. He would always greet me with a big smile by the nickname ``The Fongressman.''
Over the years, I was fortunate to be mentored by Doug. He was a great role model and friend. His guidance, leadership, and example left a lasting impact on me and on so many others who had the honor of working with him.
Doug will be remembered for his deep love for his family, his faith and core principles, his unwavering dedication to his community, his humility, and his enduring legacy as a leader and lawmaker.
I am personally grateful for his mentorship and know he will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.
I certainly will vow to honor Doug's memory by continuing to champion the values that we both share that unite California's Central Valley to the rural communities like Doug's in northern California.
I will continue fighting for rural priorities in Congress just as Doug did.
Amanda and I are praying for his wife, Jill; his family and loved ones; and his staff during this difficult time. His absence leaves a void that will never truly be filled.
Mr. Speaker, Doug LaMalfa was my neighbor. Our districts bordered one another. This was true during my time in the State legislature as well.
The region of our State that he represented is an area where people often feel like their voices are not heard in the corridors of power, in places like Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
Doug LaMalfa made it his mission to make sure that their voices were heard. He used every opportunity he had to make sure their voices were heard, but he didn't just speak for the communities that he represented. He advocated, and he used every policy tool available to see that their values were reflected in policy here. He was a leader in our delegation and in the whole Chamber on issues like water, forest management, and agriculture, and that leadership, of course, culminated in his chairmanship of the Western Caucus, the second largest caucus in the entire House of Representatives.
I know we are all still so shocked and in grief over his loss, but Doug LaMalfa's legacy in the North State will be felt for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of my friend and colleague, Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
As you know, Doug was a happy warrior who cared immensely about his country, his State, and the people he served. A few years ago, he took time out of his busy schedule to travel with me to Arizona to better understand the border crisis and the serious impact it was having on my State as well as his own. Doug was always willing to listen, learn, and engage on the issues that matter most. He was the most curious man.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with him on a wide range of policies and challenges that uniquely affect the West and the hardworking communities we both represent.
Doug was a true friend. He will be deeply missed in this Congress and beyond. My team and I continue to pray for Doug, his family, and for all who loved him during this particularly difficult time.
May God bless Doug LaMalfa's memory and may he rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, a lot can be said about my friend and colleague, my Western Caucus chair, but today was a special day for us. We had lunch today as California members, and Doug paid for it because every week somebody sponsors it. His death was so sudden that it literally had been prepaid. It arrived, and we sat there thinking of the person who had the best joke every week, who had a constant, positive sense of humor, even about dire times.
We talked not long ago about how much he got done during the shutdown and what it was like to actually meet with his constituents multiple days in a row, day after day. That was Doug LaMalfa--a farmer, a family man, but most importantly, somebody that could always find the positive and the funny about whatever we were doing.
We are a body of 431 right now. At our best, we are a body of 435. It is the one that we are missing that can make a difference, and that was Doug. He will be missed for a very long time by all of us.
Mr. Speaker, there is mourning across the aisle and across the State of California. I chair the California Democratic delegation, and we are deeply saddened by the loss of Doug LaMalfa. It was a pleasure to serve with Doug since his election in 2013.
He was a man who cared so deeply for the communities that he represented in California's First District. As has been said, he is a fourth-generation rice farmer. He was one of the strongest voices in this body for rural America because he knew firsthand the struggles that our agricultural sectors were facing.
He and I worked very closely together on the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act which would provide stabilization for farmworkers, farmers, and the ag sector, and he added so much because he really knew how farming worked and what would work and what wouldn't work, and he was a collaborator.
We also introduced together the bipartisan Utility Resilience and Reliability Act that really was commonsense safety standards to minimize power outages.
Now, Doug and I didn't agree on everything. I am a proud Democrat. He was a proud Republican, but he was always approachable, and he was a colleague with whom you could disagree without being disagreeable. It is a quality that Members should strive to emulate here.
He was a good man, friendly, with a sense of humor, a gentle giant. Our deepest condolences are with his wife, Jill; their children; and his staff. It always hurts to lose a friend and a colleague, but I know that Doug's legacy will be remembered by all of us and the Californians he so proudly served and served with.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), a gentleman on the Natural Resources Committee, a committee that Mr. LaMalfa cared so much about.
Mr. Speaker, there were few people in the Congress that tangled with Doug LaMalfa more than me. There is probably some competition for that honor among House Democrats, but I was certainly right up there.
Yet, I can tell you as we honor Doug today, I know plenty of people who disagreed with him, but I don't know anyone that disliked him. When you hear these qualities about his authenticity, his warm sense of humor, just how relatable he was, that is all very, very true.
I go back almost 20 years with Doug because we were in the State legislature together. A lot has been said about his sense of humor, which is also very, very true. I want to just share something that I always think of with Doug because it speaks to the type of humor which is really, I think, something that tells you about the man. There are plenty of people who have a great sense of humor at other people's expense. Doug LaMalfa had a very gentle and disarming sense of humor.
One of our colleagues together in the State assembly was our former colleague and the current mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass. I will always remember how Doug used to crack her and me up by calling her Bassomatic. That was the nickname. His staffers back here are far too young to remember the ``Saturday Night Live'' skit in which Dan Aykroyd puts a bass in a blender and makes this gross smoothie and drinks it. It was funny, and that is the kind of thing that Doug would pull up spontaneously and crack everyone up. I loved that.
I will tell you, Karen Bass loved it too. She liked it so much that she went up to Doug's district when she became speaker of the assembly, and I remember he just not only welcomed her there--this is a person he had very little in common with, a southern California urban African- American member that voted together with him almost never, but Doug gave her the VIP tour of his farm and of the Sacramento Valley and rice country. He got her up in a combine and had her do things that I am sure she will never forget. I think he loved every minute of that.
That is how I am going remember Doug. He was a great guy. I am certainly thinking and sending best wishes to his family and everyone who loved him.
The list is very long of individuals on this side of the aisle that like to tangle with the ranking member himself as well but also very much like him. Thank you for those awesome words.
I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee.
I thank the gentleman for yielding and I thank him especially for holding this Special Order hour for someone who we are all going to miss. He was a really great guy.
I am honored to be able to reflect a little bit on the life and the service of an extremely dedicated Member of Congress, Doug LaMalfa.
I served northern California alongside Doug from the day that he was sworn in to this body. His area was an area that I represented when I was in the State senate. In Congress, we represented neighboring regions of our State. We shared many of the same challenges and worked together on issues that matter deeply to the people that we both served.
I was proud to work with him on bipartisan efforts to support our farmers and ranchers, to strengthen wildfire prevention, to build Sites Reservoir, and to address the growing home insurance crisis facing families across all of northern California.
He and I worked together to deliver over $500 million in tax relief to fire victims in our district that lost their homes then had to sue in order to get the financial relief to rebuild their homes only to find out that they were going to be taxed on that money that they got in the suit, which wasn't in itself enough to even rebuild their homes. He was caring, and he was a terrific fighter for the folks that we worked for in delivering this.
He believed in practical solutions, and I always respected and appreciated his collaboration on the issues important to our constituents.
I am saddened by the loss of my longtime colleague and friend. Jan and I extend our deepest condolences and keep Doug's wife, Jill; their children; their grandchild; and his devoted staff in our prayers during this very difficult time. I thank the gentleman again for hosting this Special Order hour.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time to do what is fitting and appropriate, and that is, honor the life of our colleague, a life well lived, a Member of the House of Representatives who did such a good job on behalf of his constituents who he represented faithfully since coming to Congress in 2013.
Doug and I knew each other before then. We had interactions on a number of issues that we were mutually passionate about beginning with rural California and people who live in rural areas, which both reflected his and my background.
He, perhaps, represented if not the, one of the largest congressional districts by geography in California, a lot of northern and eastern California. A lot of my colleagues when they think about California they think of Los Angeles or the Bay Area, but we have parts of California where the communities are a white spot in the middle of a major highway or, you know, are 400, 600 people.
Doug was a Member's Member and a Representative who believed that his entire constituency was his passion. He would go to some of those remote areas to indicate and to listen on how he could be a better Representative and make their views known here in our Nation's Capital.
I served with him the entire time that I have been on the House Agriculture Committee, three different farm bill reauthorizations, and he was always willing to meet halfway. Of course, we understood the ag issues affecting California, and he was very proud, very proud to represent the upper Sacramento River Valley and all the wonderful people there.
When disaster struck his district with the wildfires, he was among the first to be there with the challenges of some of the floods in Lake Oroville and Yuba areas. He was there. He reminds us why we serve: not only the passion, but the desire always to put our constituents first and to help people. Let that be a role model for all of us.
Doug, we miss you. Doug had a life well lived. He was a person who cared passionately about our country and about the people's House. May you rest in peace. I give my condolences to your wife and your family. I thank all of you for giving us an opportunity to serve with our friend, Doug LaMalfa.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I look at the photo and say, Doug, for 12 years, you and I represented the Sacramento River. We developed a friendship based upon the working part, but mostly upon sharing, sharing things. We would get on the airplane to fly to Washington, and you had your seat all the time. We said hello and talked about what was coming and then going home. It was a friendship that was deep and meaningful. There was plenty of work to do.
The Sacramento River is the most important river in California after the Colorado. It was yours. You had the upper, and I had the lower part of it. Together, we worked to protect the river, to protect the farmers, and to protect the flow of water. It is good work, and you did a good job. You were good at representing your district and representing the very complex issues.
I remember standing on one of the levees, and you were talking about your rice field. I said, Doug, let me talk about my cows in my fields. He said, Okay, you go ahead, but I am going to go first.
You shared your knowledge with me and with others. You were good. You were really good at the work you did for your people. You were a quality Representative.
I miss you. I miss the work that we did together on the Sacramento River Valley and all the issues that we had. It is a long list, and it would take another hour to go through them all.
I miss you, and Patti misses you because she would get up from her seat and go back to your seat, which you always had on that plane, and the two of you would talk and share.
I know your family misses you. I know your constituents miss you. Doug LaMalfa, you are going to be remembered by those of us who have had the honor of working with you.
Mr. Speaker, this week started off very difficult with losing Representative LaMalfa. I had the privilege of serving with him for 7 years on the Natural Resources Committee. He also chaired the Western Caucus this past year. He did a wonderful job.
He was that gentle giant, Mr. Speaker, that you could always count on. He was a person of reason, but as you got to know Doug, Mr. Speaker, he was an even better person. He was a humble, Christian, faithful person.
Mr. Speaker, we need more of that in this body, especially now.
We know that Doug is with his Savior. We know that his Savior chose this time earlier this week, but Doug is resting in eternity with Almighty God, his Savior, Jesus Christ.
To his wife, Jill, I thank her for allowing him to serve not only in the California Legislature but here in this body. I thank her for allowing him to travel, as Mr. Garamendi just said, all that way to and from the great State of California. After those long trips, he would come in, and you knew on Monday or Tuesday nights, the start of the session, when he would come in here wearing some tattered clothes. He was a little bit disheveled, but he had had a long day.
He was here for the people of his district, and he left a legacy that we all should cherish, honor, and remember.
That is why we are here today, Mr. Speaker. We are honoring Doug. He always had a nickname for every one of us.
Doug, I know you are resting in peace for eternity, but I thank you for serving this great Nation. I thank you for serving the great State of California in the way you did. You left a legacy. You helped all of us become better Representatives.
To Jill, our thoughts and prayers are with her and her four children. God bless you and take care of your family.
Mr. Speaker, our colleague Doug LaMalfa passed away on Monday, and I want to take just a minute--he would have liked that--to honor him the best way that I know how: plainly.
Doug believed that we should speak clearly, not in jargon. He had a whiteboard in his office labeled unacceptable words, and he meant it. The words ``stakeholders,'' ``empower,'' and ``equity'' were banned. He thought government should sound more like the people it serves. He hated what I called LaMalfa-isms, overcomplicated government explanations for simple things, like saying that the transportation infrastructure is undergoing a temporary operational suspension pending structural optimization instead of just saying that the bridge is closed for repairs.
Doug loved this institution. He loved the West. He loved 1-minute speeches. I will miss his humor, his directness, and the clarity he brought to a town that too often hides behind big words. May he rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of my friend Doug LaMalfa, whom I would refer to as the gentle giant.
Doug was known by all for his love of agriculture and the great outdoors. As chairman of the Western Caucus and as a California Republican, he was a rare breed on Capitol Hill. His time will always be remembered for his love of this great Republic, a government that he believed in, the Founding Fathers, and the principles of government of the
Mr. Speaker, I believe that there is a Scripture in the Old Testament that captures the impact that Doug had on the lives of his friends and colleagues. It is Proverbs 27:17. It says: ``As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.''
Doug made all those who knew him better people, and his impact will live on long after his passing. I know he will be missed by all, and my prayers are with his family and friends.
Mr. Speaker, I chuckled when Ken mentioned pet peeves and names. We need to add quinoa and potatoes to that list. He definitely didn't like those. For the record, my nickname was Barracuda, so figure that one out.
God works in mysterious ways. In the face of disaster, I found a friend in Doug. Doug and I didn't agree on a lot of things, but we always showed up for each other. We cosponsored bills, worked on disaster funding and rural health, and traded a lot of jabs and took funny pictures of each other in our Agriculture Committee hearings. I gave him Spam musubis, and he brought me my favorite lemon almonds from Oroville.
I will never forget November 8, 2023. Doug stood here on this floor, and he marked 5 years since the Camp fire. I was marking 3 months since the Lahaina fire in Maui. He came up to me and gave me a hug after, and he said: We are going to get through this together.
I believed him. I still do. He gave me hope.
Doug and I are two very different people. It would have been the most unlikely of friendships, except that he was one of the kindest, most gentle, and genuine people I have ever met.
I don't know about you, Mr. Speaker, but the House floor feels a little less warm and a bit empty without Doug, but maybe I just miss my friend.
To his wife, Jill, and the LaMalfa ``family''; ``family,'' our prayers, our aloha, and our love are with you.
May you rest in aloha, my friend, until we meet again.
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, this Chamber lost a kind friend, loving husband, proud father, and tireless advocate for rural America and the Western United States.
Doug LaMalfa brought joy and sincerity into the Halls of Congress every single day and fought for the good of northern California.
I first met Doug in freshman orientation. Of course, he was a more senior Member than I was, but we go to leadership elections, and because ``LaMalfa'' was near ``Mann'' in the alphabet, I sat right behind Doug, who quickly introduced himself to me, found out I was from Kansas, and spent 3 minutes digging through his phone to find pictures of a road trip that he took in one of his classic cars right through Kansas. Seven minutes later, I walked away from Doug very aware of all the stops that he had made in my great State. From that moment on, I was always the Mann from Kansas.
During our time together on the House Agriculture Committee, Doug routinely brought the priorities of farmers and ranchers in his district directly into committee hearings and roundtables. His multigenerational family farm grounded him and his beliefs, making him an even better advocate for the abundant agricultural producers of California's First District.
Audrey and I are praying for Doug's loved ones as they grieve through this tragedy.
Psalm 34:18 says: ``The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.'' It is our prayer that Doug's family, friends, and team would feel that closeness as they honor, and we all honor, his life and legacy.
Mr. Speaker, Doug was one of the first friends that I made when I joined the Agriculture Committee back in 2021.
I soon learned that we had a lot in common. We are both fourth- generation family farmers with a shared love for the land which we call home. Doug was also one of the first Members to join my Congressional Family Caucus and was a strong advocate for parents and children.
One of my funny memories was somehow we were having a conversation about what we would do if we had to bug out of D.C., and he offered to give me a ride in his classic Cadillac--I guess he had it here--and give me a ride to Illinois, as he headed to California.
I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Mr. Speaker, because Doug accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, he is now in the presence of the Lord.
I am praying for his wife, Jill, and their children. May they receive comfort from Revelation 21:4 and the promise that: ``He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.''
We thank Doug for his friendship, and we will carry on with the work that he started. He will be missed.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah for yielding and for arranging this Special Order.
It is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor my friend and colleague, Representative Doug LaMalfa. He was a true champion for rural America and a staunch supporter of our Nation's farmers.
I often describe Doug as a gentle giant. You will hear others say that. He was tall and broad enough for me to assume I better not mess with this guy. His impact on Washington is just as giant. However, I suspect many of us will remember his gentle side the most.
Members of this body, including myself, often counted on Doug's lighthearted comments, for his moments of levity. Doug always handled himself the way we would all aspire to. He spoke calmly, with conviction, and with his constituents top of mind.
Representative LaMalfa fought hard for the issues that mattered to California's First Congressional District and for farmers, broadly, across our country. As an eighth-generation Tennessee farmer, I found it easy to relate to Doug, a proud fourth-generation rice farmer.
Throughout our service on the House Ag Committee, I appreciated having a partner with similar perspective and values as we worked to set ag policy. I learned quickly to trust his instincts. I will miss that.
Doug and I were avid competitors. I will miss that as well. Long before I served with him on the Ag Committee, I came to consider him a very worthy opponent, and I will miss those days very dearly as I move forward.
I will close by extending my condolences to his family, including his wife and children. While Doug will be missed here, I can only imagine how he will be missed at home. We will be praying for them in the days ahead.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Congressman Doug LaMalfa, a dedicated public servant who spent his career standing up for rural America and the communities he called home.
A fourth-generation rice farmer from northern California, he brought a deep understanding of hard work, responsibility, and service into public life. Those values guided him as he served in the California State Assembly, the State senate, and later in the United States House of Representatives.
In Congress, he was a strong and respected voice for agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. His colleagues recognized that commitment when he was unanimously elected chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.
I had the honor of working alongside him as a colleague and a friend on the Natural Resources Committee, where his connection to the land and the people he represented was always clear.
My thoughts are with his loved ones and the people of northern California. May we honor his memory by continuing the work he cared so deeply about.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Moore doing this Special Order this evening. It is truly an honor and a privilege for me to join my colleagues in honoring the life and the legacy of our good friend, Doug LaMalfa.
Throughout my time in Congress, I worked hand in hand with Doug on the many issues that face the American West. He had a love for his work. He had an understanding as a fellow farmer in the value of the rural way of life, and he fought to protect all of those things.
When I stepped down as chairman of the Western Caucus, Doug was the clear choice to take the gavel. He was elected unanimously to lead the caucus into its next chapter. Truly, Congress and the people of California's First Congressional District have lost a true advocate for the issues that we all face.
Mr. Speaker, Doug was much more than a colleague. Doug was a dear friend. He had a kind soul and a sincere love for all of the people in his life, as you have heard this evening. While Doug may have towered over you, as you shook his big hand, you were never small in his eyes. He was humble, generous, a loyal friend, and liked by everyone he met.
I am going to miss Doug's big grin, as he always greeted me as Lieutenant Dan. Joan and I are going to truly miss Doug. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jill, and their four kids during this incredibly difficult time. I thank and ask all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in honoring the great work that Doug accomplished over the years.
May we preserve his legacy. May we be more like him, and may he rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, when we heard that Doug passed away, I asked several people the same question. They all agreed overwhelmingly: If something were to happen to this institution and only 10 of us survived and we had to build it up from scratch, Doug would be one of the 10 people we would want to start out with and maybe one of the top five or maybe even the top one, but everybody around here knows what a special guy Doug LaMalfa was.
I used to have a lot of discussion with him around this time back in the parlor, talking about the bills today, how to vote on this or that. As a politician, you can't resist it when you decide how to vote on something, what is the politically right thing to do, what politically will help me get reelected.
I never heard Doug talk that way. Doug always talked about the right policy, doing the right thing, and then selling it back home, which was one of the reasons why I think he was so special.
Another thing that was so special, in all the conversations I had with him, I never remember him saying anything negative about anybody. I say a lot of negative things about people, so I am really jealous of a guy like Doug LaMalfa who manages never to say anything bad about anybody.
One final thing, the other thing I know about Doug is we met every Thursday morning in a Bible study known as Capitol Ministries, which is really a Bible study for the erudite Christian, men of deep faith. I will tell you, Doug--a lot of people talk about it--was just such a good Christian. So in any event, a great Christian, a great Congressman, I will never forget Doug LaMalfa.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and my colleague, Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
Doug was always a steady voice for his district and a principled Member of this House. He was serious about policy, direct in his approach, and deeply committed to the people he represented, but anyone who has worked alongside Doug also knows he had quite a sense of humor.
I learned that early on. Doug and I both did a lot of 1 minutes. He used to intentionally leave this speaking podium raised up to above my head to remind me of how short I was and how tall he was.
However, that small moment says a lot about Doug. Doug worked hard. He took his job seriously, and he still found room for good-natured humor and friendship.
Tonight, we thank Congressman LaMalfa for his service, his leadership, and the many moments he shared with all of us.
Mr. Speaker, it is hard not to smile when I stand here and talk about Doug LaMalfa, even on this really difficult week because Doug always made me smile.
From the beginning, he made me feel like I was really special, and I have learned this week that that is maybe the least special thing about me because everybody here felt like they were Doug LaMalfa's best friend.
The night I was sworn in as a Member of Congress, I started getting texts on my phone from a number I didn't recognize. They were pictures of me being sworn in from an angle that looked suspiciously like the House floor, which is against the rules.
I promised him I would never tell anyone where I got those pictures, so I am not going to tell you, but I still don't know how he had my number the minute I got sworn in.
He has never missed a chance to get me to sing Utah's State song with him whether we are in an airport or on the House floor or walking through the tunnels. He never failed to accompany that with jokes from ``My Cousin Vinny'' about the ``youts.''
I hope that hearing all of these memories and all of these stories that people have of Doug will comfort his family, his staff, and everybody else who is missing him at this difficult time because, even though I am smiling, I am deeply mourning for my friend, Doug LaMalfa.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Doug LaMalfa, my good friend. His office is right across from mine and his district is right across from mine in California from Oregon. This meant we worked together over and over again on issues involving water to try to save it from the grasp of misguided environmentalists.
He was a great friend and an incredible advocate for his district. He did his very best for his constituents. He never gave up. He focused on wolves, water, forests, and fire. May my good friend find solace in Heaven and may his family find comfort in knowing he was a man of integrity, faith, and truly deserving of our honor and our deepest respect.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my colleagues this evening to honor a dear friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Being from the great State of Idaho, the land of famous potatoes, I am the one the good Congressman referred to as ``Mr. Potato Head.'' I had the privilege of working with Doug on the pressing issues facing the West and America's rural communities.
There are no adequate words to express my sorrow upon learning of his passing, but his legacy and spirit lives on. My prayers are with his wife, Jill, and the entire LaMalfa family during this time of unimaginable grief.
Mr. Speaker, from Mr. Potato Head to that rice farmer from California, here is my final: Way to go, Idaho. God bless.
Mr. Speaker, obviously like all of us here, I am here to pay tribute to our dear departed friend, Doug LaMalfa.
I first got to know Doug before I ever met him because I had so many Indian
I don't think I have ever been so shocked in my life when I learned that we had lost him because I knew he was coming back to fight the good fight for the things in which he believed, the State which he loved, and the institution which he cherished.
I will add my voice to the many voices tonight that remind America that we lost a great American, we lost a great Californian, and we lost a great human being.
My prayers are with Jill and the family. My thoughts are with his constituents because they lost somebody who each and every day came to this floor determined to advance their interest, to protect their values, and to make this country stronger and better.
Mr. Speaker, I will miss Doug LaMalfa, but I will miss what he stands for and what he fought for and how he represented those things more than anything else.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today like every other person with a heavy heart to honor the life of my dear friend and colleague, the gentleman, the giant from California, Doug LaMalfa.
Doug was a devoted public servant, a fierce advocate for rural America and the West, and a man who deeply loved his country and the people that he was honored to represent.
As a lifelong resident of northern California, he understood the land, the communities, and the values of his district in a way that cannot be taught, only lived.
He fought tirelessly for the farmers, the ranchers, and the communities too often ignored by the coastal elites, and he did so with candor and conviction and a sense of humor that made even the hardest days feel better.
Doug was more than a colleague. He was a friend. He was a brother. His leadership, his wisdom, and his heart for service will be deeply missed. Doug's legacy of faith and service and love endures.
Lord, accept this gentle giant, this dedicated giant, Doug LaMalfa. May his family have the goodwill to know that he lies in your comfort.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, boy, do I have many stories that I could tell, but I will not. No one cared more for the people of California and for America than Doug. As a fourth-generation rice farmer, he was the true embodiment of the steward of the land and a great steward of common sense, too, I might add.
He understood the needs of rural America and had such a genuine desire to serve the people who lived there. Doug and I worked closely on many issues, but one of my fondest memories was hosting him in North Carolina for an agriculture roundtable. He engaged with my constituents, speaking their language, and truly listening to their concerns.
Doug LaMalfa stood tall, both literally and figuratively, for the people who feed this country. To know Doug was an honor and a privilege. His absence will have a profound void in this Chamber. This body and the Nation will miss him deeply.
Mr. Speaker, my prayers are with his wife, Jill; his children; his grandchildren; the entire LaMalfa family, including his great staff. I thank them for sharing him with us in service to our country.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute of our friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa.
When I arrived in Congress in 2015, I noticed a large man with long hair. He was a big man, but the biggest thing about Doug LaMalfa was his heart.
As Secretary, I got the opportunity to tour his district that had been devastated by wildfires. I walked with him and looked at the devastation, the despair of people losing their lives and everything they had, and Doug knew them by name.
He cared. He cared about every Member of this institution, but, more importantly, he cared about the people he represented. He cared about their life, their values, and represented them as well or better than anyone that has ever served in this great body.
Mr. Speaker, today, we mark the passing but also the privilege of knowing a great man. It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we all learn from Doug LaMalfa and understand that we represent the people. We give prayer to his family, but take solace to know that Doug is with his maker.
Mr. Speaker, as with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I stand before my colleagues with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend and esteemed colleague, Doug LaMalfa.
Doug's sudden passing this week leaves a void not only in this Chamber but in the hearts of all who knew him. To a person, a testament from everyone who has crossed his path would be this: What a really good man.
As a Member of the Western Caucus, I witnessed firsthand Doug's fierce advocacy for farmers, ranchers, and hardworking families who form the backbone of our Nation. It was inspiring.
On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I saw the same tenacious commitment to his beloved State of California as he championed water rights and fought for the conservative values at the very core of our American culture.
Doug was a steadfast warrior for the country and State he loved. He will be sorely missed. His faith, grit, and authenticity have inspired us all. Rest assured, we will continue to carry on the torch that Doug championed so well.
We know where Doug is at this moment. Our prayers are with him, with Jill, and with his family. Rest in peace. May God bless him.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise this evening with my colleagues to honor Doug LaMalfa in the joint remembrance of his life. He was one of this body's best Members.
Doug was a dear friend whom I will miss. He was a talented and trusted colleague who was serious about his work, representing his constituents as he was constantly seeking to move policy that helped them and our Nation.
Doug was a rice farmer, an occupation that he loved and that in many respects was foundational to his work ethic, his love of the land, and his love of the people and rural communities.
More than anything else, he was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. I will miss Doug and our weekly Thursday morning Bible studies.
I will miss his humbleness, his even temper, his humor, and his presence in this body. I will miss hearing him call me Francis Gary Powers after the U.S. spy plane pilot who was shot down over Russia and captured in the 1960s.
My wife, Ann, and I are praying for God to comfort Doug's wife, Jill; his children; his family; his staff; and all who, like those who have gathered in this Chamber this evening, knew and loved Doug LaMalfa.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to share a few words about my dear friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
Doug was a husband, a father, and a fourth-generation rice farmer. He dedicated more than 20 years to public service, both in this House and in the California State Legislature.
Doug was a giant in both stature and character. After meeting Doug, you couldn't help being struck by his kindness and gentle manner. He had a reputation as an affable colleague, a principled legislator, a fierce advocate for
Doug was an expert on farming, forestry, and water issues. He chaired the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture, and he was chairman of the Western Caucus.
We traveled the country together, coast to coast, north to south, meeting with men and women who feed this great country. They are memories I will always treasure. He was supposed to be with me in Pennsylvania this weekend. His presence will be sorely missed.
In a town full of self-important figures, Doug was authentically normal. I will certainly miss his wisdom, his sense of humor, and incredible friendship. I turned the tables on Doug when it came to nicknames. I affectionately named him the ``Governor of Jefferson,'' and he eagerly accepted that.
Doug was a man of great faith, and I find comfort in knowing he was welcomed into the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Rest easy, Brother. We will take it from here.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore) has expired.
Mr. Speaker, On January 5th, our dear friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 65. A lifelong resident of Northern California, Doug was a fierce fighter for the people he represented and for his state's vast and beautiful natural resources.
Representing one of California's largest districts, Doug never hesitated to drive hundreds of miles to meet a handful of constituents. He drew no distinctions between those living in the more remote corners of his district and those in the big city. Doug believed everyone deserved to have their representation and voice heard in Congress. It's that spirit of duty and selfless service that made him so admired among his friends and colleagues, and which made him one of the most respected people in this institution.
Doug became a close friend of mine during my tenure as Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference, where my weekly responsibility was to recruit other Members to help me amplify the House Republican message on the House Floor. Even in late night sessions and on days when others had left town early, Doug was always faithful to show up, eager to speak to the greatness of this country and about our tireless work to improve the lives of the people he represented. For that commitment, his kindness, his optimism and faith, and his sense of humor, I and all of my many Republican colleagues will miss Doug dearly. He was in every sense a giant among us.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on the subject of my Special Order hour.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California?
Mr. Speaker, as a Member from California, I yield to my colleague from the great State of Utah, Congressman Blake Moore, so they can continue honoring Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say Doug was a kind and gentle giant. He was firm and fair. He was wise, and he was funny.
I remember one day in the Agriculture Committee when he spoke for 5 minutes. He spoke so long that he finally remembered that he forgot to leave people any time to answer his questions. It was a pretty funny moment for the committee. He laughed about it, and he didn't make that mistake again.
Mr. Speaker, I will say this about him. He was 100 percent American. When the local sheriff's department asked for help with people who knew how to operate diesel equipment, Doug showed up. Doug is the one. He is the Member of Congress that we saw on camera, getting on a bulldozer, saying: I love the smell of diesel power in the afternoon. It smells like victory.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to be here today as a freshman Member. I didn't know Doug long, but I met him on one of our first days in the orientation sessions and the planning sessions for Congress. He was warm. He was friendly. He was helpful to a new freshman who didn't know much.
From there, I learned how fun he was. He loved to play with my last name, ``Fedorchak.'' He used to say: ``How much wood could a Fedorchak chuck if a Fedorchak could chuck wood?''
It always made me laugh. I also learned quickly that not only was he fun but he was thoughtful, he was pragmatic, and he was a really, really good thinker. I turned to him on issues that I found to be difficult. I wanted to get his thoughts on them.
He was a strong conservative. He was warm, kind, and principled. In my mind, he was exactly the kind of leader that Americans want. He is going to be dearly missed. I feel robbed that I didn't get to work with him more, and I will keep him and his family in my prayers.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of symbolism that is happening at this point. I appreciate the bipartisanship. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. It is a reflection of what really should happen around this place. We should love and help each other and try to find common ground. It is a great representation of how Doug LaMalfa served.
He was a man of the people. He served his people well. He was a man of the land. He loved his land. He loved his rice. He would talk about it with me and everybody else here regularly. He also loved people sufficiently to give them nicknames.
My nickname had something to do with the villain in ``Ocean's Twelve.'' I was the ``Night Fox.'' I don't know if I agree with that characterization. He was the guy that did a break dance across a laser dance floor to steal things. Maybe some around here would think that is the kind of person that I am. I knew it was all in good taste and good fun. Doug game nicknames to everybody.
Mr. Speaker, I will point out the last thing about Doug is that he loved his country. He knew that on the top the Capitol rotunda was a statue called the Statue of Freedom. Doug served not only his people but he served his God. He certainly loved both. In serving his country, he understood he was serving freedom.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that I, as well as all of us, can live up to Doug's standard of service, his love for people, and his love for God.
Mr. Speaker, to close, I again thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Rivas) for yielding a few more minutes to finish out these thoughts in Doug's memory.
Mr. Speaker, I will wanted to give a quick closing message to his wife, Jill, and his four children: Kyle, Allison, Sophia, and Natalie.
I get an hour every week to do these floor messages. I am lucky to get five Members to come. I try to fill up 20 minutes, 15 of which your dad would actually take. He would go on and on. I would try to get him to wrap up so I could go to dinner. He was always there for me.
Tonight, we ran over time with the amount of people who wanted to come and take time out of their very busy schedules to come and share a brief message. They sat for an hour to spend 60 seconds to reflect on your dad and your husband.
I hope you can take from that some sense of appreciation and connection that we all have with your dad and what an amazing man he is.
Mr. Speaker, my condolences to the family of former Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to be here on the floor today to lead this important discussion with my Congressional Progressive Caucus colleagues about protecting healthcare for millions of Americans.
Earlier today, the House voted to pass Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries' bill to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits for 3 more years. I thank Leader Jeffries for his relentless leadership to make today's vote a reality.
House Democrats have been fighting for months to save these critical tax credits and for years to protect the Affordable Care Act from Republicans' constant attacks.
The ACA tax credits are the reason that record numbers of Americans have health insurance today. The ACA tax credits lower monthly premiums and make coverage realistic for working families, small business owners, seniors not yet eligible for Medicare, and people who fall through the cracks of employer-based insurance.
Because of these tax credits, people can go to the doctor before a problem becomes an emergency. They can manage chronic conditions. They can live with dignity instead of fear of bankruptcy.
Democrats did not give up on the American people, unlike many Republicans, who chose to let these tax credits expire 1 week ago. That is right. When the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve, millions of Americans saw their healthcare premiums rise. That is a direct result of the healthcare crisis that Republicans created through their inaction on Americans' most pressing concerns.
Over the past year, instead of working on meaningful solutions to lower the cost of groceries, lower the cost of housing, or protect healthcare, Republicans chose to rename the Gulf of Mexico, redefine what a showerhead is, rename The Kennedy Center, look into annexing Greenland, and regulate fridges and gas stoves.
Yet, in all seriousness, there are real problems that our country is facing. ICE is terrorizing communities across the country, and yesterday, masked agents murdered Renee Nicole Good in broad daylight in Minnesota. Trump is entertaining entering another war with Venezuela. Vaccines are being rolled back, which will make students and communities sicker. Americans are struggling to afford basic goods.
Speaking of affordability, we are in the middle of an affordability crisis that Republicans refused to address. Republicans chose to shut down the government instead of extending the ACA tax credits to help Americans afford healthcare.
During the longest shutdown in government history, my colleagues and I heard from our constituents about how Republicans' inaction to extend the ACA tax credits would impact them. I hand-delivered several of these stories from my freshman colleagues to Speaker Johnson so that he could see how his shutdown was creating hardship for Americans from California to New Hampshire, Washington, and everywhere in between.
In my district, the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, nearly 31,000 people would have seen their healthcare costs rise if the ACA tax credits expired, and nearly 11,000 people would have lost access to healthcare entirely.
Additionally, a 60-year-old couple in my district earning nearly $83,000 per year would have seen their annual premiums rise by nearly $14,000, and a family of four earning nearly $130,000 a year would have seen their annual premiums rise by over $6,000. This is just in my district.
Republicans were willing to let this happen to Americans across the country, regardless of political affiliation.
I am proud to have voted with my colleagues to pass Leader Jeffries' bill to extend the ACA tax credits and protect healthcare, but our work is not done. The Senate needs to take up this bill immediately so that Americans don't have to worry about their premiums skyrocketing. In the richest country on Earth, no one should have to worry about choosing between paying for groceries, making rent, or having healthcare.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall), my cohost for tonight's Special Order hour and my friend and fellow freshman classmate from the beautiful State of Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to be here together on the House floor today to lead a conversation about how we fix our broken healthcare system.
Across our country, working families are feeling the pain of rising costs from every direction. Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have failed the American people. They promised to lower costs. Instead, costs keep going up. Housing is more expensive. Electricity bills are through the roof. Childcare costs keep rising.
Now, Republican leadership, who love to extend tax breaks for billionaires, are making things worse by, for months, refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act's tax credits for regular people. These tax credits, which expired on December 31, could have been continued had Republicans not skipped every opportunity to prevent it, but they chose to walk away from the negotiating table.
Let's be clear about why these tax credits exist. They were created because the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, and without help, millions of working families are simply unable to afford coverage.
This was never a handout. It was a lifeline. Yet, because Republicans refused to act before December 31, millions of Americans have faced skyrocketing healthcare costs.
In my district, I hear from neighbors every day about how devastating it has been to lose these tax credits. Right now, families who rely on the ACA in Washington's Sixth are facing an average increase of $1,500 a month in healthcare costs. That is some people's rent, three car payments. That strips the ability to put anything away in savings.
Even if you are on private insurance, monthly costs are estimated to rise across the board by 21 percent in Washington because of the overall strain on our system. When healthy people are priced out of insurance, costs go up for everyone else. That is just math.
This Republican-created crisis will price out an estimated 80,000 Washingtonians from coverage, and that doesn't even include the millions more in Washington and across the country who are losing care because of the cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.
Mr. Speaker, who is being hit hardest when these tax credits disappear? Women who are already struggling with restrictions to reproductive care, who make less money than men do, and who are on the front lines of growing childcare crises.
Who else will be impacted? LGBTQ Americans, who are more likely to rely on the ACA because of lower incomes and employment discrimination, on top of this administration rapidly stripping away access to their lifesaving care and protections.
Families really struggling to get by, living paycheck to paycheck, are more likely to work jobs without employer-provided benefits, making the ACA their only real option for coverage.
I want to make this clear: Republican leadership let tax credits expire in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. They didn't make an abstract budget decision. They decided that their wealthy and well-connected donors deserved the very best that this country has to offer while condemning everyday Americans to lose health insurance and to have to wait until they are sick enough to end up in the emergency room.
I will say what we all know: We don't have a genuine healthcare system in this country. We have a sick care system, a system where people are forced to delay care until a problem becomes a crisis, a system where chronic conditions go unmanaged or managed with unprescribed medication, a system where cancers are caught later when treatment is more expensive and outcomes are worse, and a system where more people die.
One thing drove me to public service and has continued to drive me: Everyone deserves access to healthcare. That is why, in the State legislature, I worked every day to protect and expand access to care, passing laws to expand postpartum Medicaid so that new
I have seen the way families thrive when access to care is expanded and the devastation that follows when it is taken away. While families are worried about whether they can afford insulin, inhalers, or mental health care, Republican leadership chose inaction. They found time to give tax breaks to corporations but not to protect healthcare for working people before tax credits expired.
That tells you everything you need to know about Republican leadership priorities.
President Trump says that he has concepts of a plan and has been making empty promises for a decade, but the American people don't need concepts. We need affordable healthcare now.
I am very glad that 17 of my Republican colleagues joined Democrats today in doing the right thing by voting to extend the ACA tax credits for 3 more years to protect access to affordable healthcare. I hope that my colleagues in the Senate follow suit by passing this bill immediately, but I also know that it is not enough.
We need a universal healthcare system, a system where you can go to the doctor, receive the care you need, and walk out without worrying about what other bills you will have to skip to afford it.
We need a system where losing a job doesn't mean losing your healthcare and where starting a business doesn't mean risking your life in addition to your livelihood.
We need a system where no one lies awake at night wondering if they will be able to afford insulin, whether they will be able to afford it if their kid breaks their arm, or whether they will be able to afford it if their spouse has a pregnancy complication or a cancer diagnosis.
It is not radical. It is not unrealistic. It is humanity.
The United States, arguably the wealthiest country in the world, doesn't have a universal healthcare system like every advanced nation in the world does. It is time for our Nation's leaders to stop making excuses. It is time for us to find real solutions that put the American people first.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman yielding and thank both Congresswoman Luz Rivas of California and Congresswoman Emily Randall of Washington State for hosting us with this Special Order hour. I know with them being two freshmen Congresswomen, and I know at least one other freshman Congresswoman that will be joining in the discussion, that it just reflects the tremendous amount of talent and passion to make a difference in this freshman class. We are so blessed to have them in the Caucus. It is so important to witness the efforts that the two congresswomen hosting us have made in regard to accessibility and affordability. It is most appreciated.
After months of pushing, Democrats succeeded in forcing a vote to extend ACA subsidies that offer lifesaving healthcare benefits to millions of families. That extension passed the House just hours ago, but the fight isn't over to secure these benefits and meaningfully lower costs for Americans. The Senate must act at once to restore these benefits and ease the burden of rising costs for people like Mekhiya, one of my constituents from New York's 20th Congressional District.
Mekhiya was born and raised in Schenectady, New York. She recently turned 26 and was bumped off of her parents' health insurance plan. She made the smart and responsible choice to switch to an ACA plan. Because Republicans let vital ACA subsidies lapse last year, she no longer knows how she will afford coverage. This is at a time when she and her wife are thinking about starting a family together.
So often I hear the reaction from those on the right saying: Just get a job. Well, Mekhiya already works at a job, in fact two jobs; one for her local school district and one as a manager at McDonald's. All told, between both jobs, she works some 16 hours a day. Neither position offers affordable or comprehensive enough healthcare, so an ACA plan is her only real option.
In this, the richest country in the world, the richest country in the history of the world, this is simply unacceptable. No one should be spending nearly all of their waking hours working multiple jobs and still unable to afford basic healthcare coverage for themselves and their family members. Yet this is the painful reality for millions of Americans.
Faced with this impossible scenario, Mekhiya said that she may try to work even more hours to make ends meet, but there are simply not enough hours in the day to work much more than she already does.
We have the chance here in Congress to ease the immense burden being carried by Mekhiya and the tens of millions more seeing a spike in healthcare premiums. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do right by families and act without delay to lower healthcare and help working family people breathe a little easier.
Make no mistake, the fight to lower costs is far from over. We have got to put our foot on the gas when it comes to driving down those healthcare costs and making life much more affordable for the American people.
Mr. Speaker, indeed, it is a great State because we have great freshmen Representatives. I thank them for this Special Order hour and the opportunity to really talk about a critical issue for our constituents in California and really all across America.
If we go back to the beginning of the Trump administration and we think about the various issues that he has put forth and the burdens that he has placed on America, one of the most important is in the big, ugly bill. If you take a look at the big, ugly bill and you get into the details, well, there are the enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, and we will talk about that in a few moments; but also in the big, ugly bill is the big problem coming up at the end of this 2026 year.
They have put in place a dismantling of the Medicaid program. They pushed it off until after the election, but the facts of the matter are those impacts are already being recognized across the healthcare system. It is going to affect every American and particularly those that are relying on Medicare.
Now, if we talk about what the issue is today--and thank goodness, the Democratic leadership in this House put forth an opportunity to solve one of the most critical problems that face Americans right now, and that is the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. That has happened. Today, on this floor, there was a vote. Fortunately, the House of Representatives, led by the Democrats and a handful of Republicans, pushed forward an extension, a 3-year extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies which will be exceedingly important.
The Affordable Care Act enhanced premium credits expired. They expired last year at the end of the year, and 4 million Americans immediately faced a problem. The expiration of these tax credits not only raised the cost for individuals in the marketplace, but it also raised the healthcare costs all across America because it rippled down into all aspects of the healthcare system, the insurance, and the operations at hospitals and clinics. These harmful impacts won't stop at the Affordable Care Act insurance premiums. Those costs are now across the system.
Let me level with the American people. The Republican healthcare crisis will make the American people wait longer for healthcare. It will make Americans pay more for worse healthcare systems. And for people who live in rural, as well as urban areas, your clinics and your hospitals are shut down. Why? Because the Republicans have been after a challenge dating back to the 1960s when the Medicare program was put in place to eliminate the government's operations there.
There is still time to avoid this crisis, and today, this House, led by the Democrats, took action to solve at least one of the major pieces of that, the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. It is up to the Senate Republicans now.
Hello, where are you, Senate Republicans? Are you paying attention? It is in your House. You have the opportunity to save this system, Senate Republicans. I know that Senate Democrats are already on board. They want to do this. Let's get this done.
So let's challenge the Senate Republicans, see where they stand. We know where a whole lot of our Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives stand. They did not stand with Americans. They didn't stand with those people in your districts, in my district, that are going to lose their Affordable Care Act insurance premiums.
We have got work to do. This isn't the end of this healthcare crisis. This is just one more step along the way to try to find some way to overcome the terrible burden that the Trump administration and the Republicans have placed on Americans as they go about trying to provide healthcare coverage for themselves, for their families, and for their communities.
We met that challenge today. The Democrats here in the House of Representatives met that challenge today, and we forced through a 3- year extension of the Affordable Care Act insurance premium subsidies. We are thankful that many, and a handful of Republicans, stood with us in this.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), my colleague and friend and the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my California colleague for yielding to me and thank Congresswoman Rivas for co-hosting, and I thank Congresswoman Emily Randall from Washington for also co-hosting this important Congressional Progressive Caucus Special Order hour.
Now, we are here because this heretofore do-nothing Republican Congress has let 22 million Americans get priced out of their healthcare.
I learned of a coffeehouse owner in Riverside, a good friend of mine, whose health insurance went from $600 a month to $1,100 a month. We are here because my Republican colleagues think our national budget is too tight to ensure that our seniors and families can afford healthcare, but it is flush enough with enough cash to fund escapades in Venezuela and billions of new spending on ICE and giving billionaires permanent tax cuts.
We are here because Democrats are the ones that are keeping healthcare front and center for this body. Republicans wish we would stop talking about this, that we would stop bringing it up, but we will not stop because healthcare is vital. It is essential to every American.
It was the Democrats that forced this do-nothing Congress to actually act. Neither Speaker Johnson nor President Trump wanted to make healthcare more affordable, so we took it upon ourselves to pass a 3- year extension of these vital tax credits, 3 years that match with the remaining 3 years of this Presidency.
Mr. Speaker, 17 Republicans joined us to actually lower costs and to make health insurance affordable. Now, I am sure the President will have in his mind that he should target for retribution these 17 Republicans for defying him, for defying the orthodoxy of the Republican leadership. He can choose to lead with fear, to be more concerned about Venezuelan oil or how many more people he can deport or how much more he can enrich himself, or he can use his considerable influence and power over Republicans, over Senate Republicans.
We saw the reach of his power today as Republicans unanimously voted for water projects for poor people in Colorado and for a Native American Tribe in Florida, reversed themselves and sustained his veto. They voted for these two measures before. That is how immense his influence is. The question is: Will he get seven Republicans to do something right for the American people and lower healthcare costs, and will he use his influence to help Americans lower healthcare costs for all Americans or will he act in retribution? He can lower healthcare costs for all by expanding the pool of insureds.
The fight is not over. We still have to get through the Senate, but the key to all this is President Trump. Will he demand that the Senate pass a 3-year extension of this bill, 3-year extension of healthcare tax credits? That is the big question.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Rivas and Randall for leading on this very urgent healthcare issue.
Millions of Americans who depend on the Affordable Care Act are selecting their plans right now, and what they are seeing are healthcare options that they cannot afford due to Republicans' refusal to extend premium assistance.
I am here today speaking on behalf of my constituents in southern Arizona and those throughout the Nation. I am here for the parents that are going through their monthly budget trying to figure out what they can give up just to be able to pay for these premiums. I am speaking for those who have the horrible feeling in the pit of their stomachs because they know the risk of being uninsured, being one hospital visit away from bankruptcy.
My Republican colleagues and, certainly, Donald Trump might not understand this, but health insurance is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
The facts are clear. Republicans paid for their trillion-dollar tax giveaway for the wealthy by cutting healthcare, plain and simple.
Over 10 million people will lose their Medicaid, and now millions more could lose their health coverage because they can't afford their premiums.
Mr. Speaker, 22 million people, including 400,000 Arizonans with marketplace coverage, are already seeing their healthcare premiums skyrocket. These cuts mean the closure of rural hospitals in Arizona, job losses in our healthcare sector, higher healthcare costs for those with private insurance, and the overall stress to an already stretched thin healthcare system.
The State of Arizona has estimated the impact of Medicaid cuts alone to be $34 billion over the next 10 years.
For every $1 billion tax cut there is an estimated loss of 36,000 jobs across multiple industries. While the economic impacts will be devastating throughout the State, the most immediate impact will be on those going without needed healthcare.
Already a community health center in my district is feeling the impact of the healthcare cuts. In 2025, they saw significant cuts in their Ryan White part B funding.
Due to these cuts, some positions had to be eliminated and workflows realigned, including the loss of medical case management and treatment adherence support.
The impacts are real. For instance, a 29-year-old woman was diagnosed with HIV during her pregnancy. She is a mom of two young kids, 7 and 1 years old. She has struggled with mental illness, depression, and cognitive delay. Because she lacks daily adherence support for her lifesaving Valley fever medication, she has been hospitalized three times due to sepsis related to the condition.
Another 18-year-old with HIV who works as a landscaper has not been able to get back on his medication due to the loss of insurance. His employer does not provide insurance, and he makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Now the health center team is trying to get support from pharmaceutical companies for this individual.
These are the types of stories of real people that simply want to live their lives. Illness and disease do not discriminate, neither should Congress. Americans have had enough of cutting programs that Americans need for basic survival, enough of the attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, enough Republicans' skyrocketing costs.
It is up to Donald Trump and the Republican Party to decide if they will join Democrats to restore these tax credits or whether they will keep making life unaffordable for hardworking Americans. I urge the Senate to act immediately and take up the premium extension bill passed by the House.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. This has been a week. We invaded Venezuela; threatened to invade Greenland; put Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia on notice that they could be next; had the administration and many of my
These are dark times, and it is really easy to get bogged down in the negative, but today, something really good happened. Mr. Speaker, today, 17 Republicans joined Democrats to override the Speaker's attempt to stifle the will of this body to vote to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act for 3 years.
My district is just over 17,000 square miles. It is mostly rural with rural hospitals hanging on by a thread. Some of them have just 15 percent commercial payer mix. Without the Affordable Care Act subsidies, we will have more uninsured people, and these hospitals could go under.
Prior to being in Congress, I worked at the United Way before the Affordable Care Act working on healthcare access, and my county had a 21 percent uninsured rate. We have a lot of farmers, small business people. We have people that couldn't afford insurance. Now our uninsured rate is just under 8 percent. That is because of the subsidies.
I have had people call me. One woman called and said she was paying $87 a month. She now will have to pay over $1,000 a month, and she can't afford her medication or the treatment that keeps her alive. I have people, small business people in my district, that are calling to say this is the first time they have ever had to go without insurance.
The fact of the matter is this is the right policy.
Now, if people want to talk about how to deliver quality, affordable, appropriate healthcare with less money going to hedge fund-owned medical practices or to insurance companies, I would love to work with my colleagues on that. We have a Medicare for All bill that anybody can get on. That is what we should be moving toward.
The bottom line is this: I remember when my mother, who was working as a contractor because her job got shipped offshore, didn't have insurance and she badly broke her leg, lost her home, went bankrupt, lost everything, and had to start over.
Many people in this country will lose everything. This is the right thing to do for right now, and then we should work together and be responsible as Congress to lower the cost of healthcare, take out the middleman, decrease the price of pharmaceuticals, and make sure that people have access to healthcare wherever they are in this country.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do that, and I encourage the Senate to take up this bill and get it done so that we can actually do what we got sent here to do, which is the work of the people.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Rivas and Randall for hosting this Special Order hour.
Mr. Speaker, I represent Phoenix, Glendale, and Guadalupe, communities where families are working hard every single day to stay afloat. Across this country, including throughout Arizona, millions of families are struggling to afford basic healthcare. With costs rising on everything that they need to live, housing, food, and childcare, they have been through enough.
The ACA enhanced premium tax credits were a lifeline for these families, but Republican inaction allowed these tax credits to expire on December 31 because they don't care about regular people.
The consequences were immediate. For many families in Arizona, ACA marketplace premiums have already more than doubled as a result of Republican negligence. That means parents are skipping doctors' appointments for their babies, seniors are reconsidering prescriptions, and families are facing the very real possibility of going uninsured.
Take Cricket, for example, a constituent in my district. At 63, Cricket is self-employed and not yet eligible for Medicare. She has relied on ACA coverage for 8 years, paying $350 a month.
Last year, she suffered a head injury that required emergency care, and ACA kept her bill around $1,000 instead of $10,000, saving her from potential bankruptcy. She fears rising premiums. The ACA is her lifeline, and without it, she could lose her home and everything else that she has built.
Today, the House of Representatives finally voted to extend these enhanced premium tax credits for 3 years. Despite 17 Republicans standing up to Donald Trump and to their own leadership, I want to point out that not a single Republican from Arizona's delegation chose to put their constituents first and extend the lifesaving subsidies. That is egregious, and that is unacceptable.
There is still so much more work to do, even after today's passage in this House. We must apply pressure to the United States Senate to pass a clean 3-year extension of these ACA tax credits.
Arizonans cannot afford any more delays. Let's be clear: Extending these tax credits is necessary, but it is certainly not enough. We need to pass Medicare for All. We are the richest country in the world, and we pay more for healthcare per person than any other developed nation.
On average, we spend at least double per person as countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Japan spend on healthcare, so we should be the healthiest. We are not. We are 48th in the world for life expectancy.
Do you know, Mr. Speaker, what most of the countries doing better and paying less than us have in common? They have universal healthcare. Americans' physical and financial health depend on us doing the same.
It is time to take real action to bring down healthcare costs for Arizonans and for people all across the United States. That means Medicare for All before more Americans lose their healthcare or go into medical debt.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California and Representative Randall for hosting this Special Order.
Seven days ago, the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits expired. For years, these credits allowed millions of Americans to afford health insurance that they would otherwise not be able to get. For tens of millions of others, these tax credits drastically lowered premiums--for some families, by as much as thousands of dollars. They gave working families essential relief amidst an ongoing cost-of-living crisis that Donald Trump has only made worse.
Without these tax credits, an estimated 5 million Americans will lose their insurance as a result of higher premium costs.
Today, House Democrats successfully forced this body to vote to extend those tax credits so that those 5 million Americans can hold on to their health insurance with a 3-year extension of these premium tax credits, and it passed this body.
Now, this bill goes to the Senate, which must pass it in order to save health insurance for millions of Americans.
In my State of New York alone, more than 140,000 people relied on the tax credits. These credits also supported an additional 1.7 million New Yorkers who would probably otherwise not be able to afford health insurance.
One constituent of mine who lives in public housing and holds a good job told me that without these tax credits, her monthly premiums have gone from $450 to more than $1,000, which she simply cannot afford. She is in her sixties and will be left with no health insurance.
It is not just those eligible for the tax credits who will suffer. That is because when people lose coverage, they don't stop getting sick. They delay preventative care. They skip prescriptions. They end up in emergency rooms. Emergency rooms become overrun, and care gets worse and more delayed. Costs rise for everyone, and all outcomes suffer.
Because of months of inaction by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, those tax credits have expired and will be gone without this legislation that we passed today. This is nothing short of a crisis, and it is a crisis created entirely by the President of the United States and his Republican Party.
Let me say this clearly to the American people. If you cannot afford health insurance anymore, you have one person and one party to blame: Donald Trump and the Republican Party. It is the same party that cut taxes for billionaires and cut Medicaid for working-class Americans.
Mr. Speaker, you can count on one thing at all times with this Republican Party: They will always choose billionaires over babies.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues who participated in this Special Order hour on the ACA tax credits. The Affordable Care Act tax credits are why our country has a record-high number of insured people.
Like many of my colleagues who today shared stories of their constituents and how this will impact them and their daily lives, I also have heard many stories from my own constituents. This includes Angel from San Fernando. Angel's husband is self-employed, and she works part time. Because of the ACA, they can have reliable healthcare that covers her husband's preexisting conditions. Angel is dreading the update that will make healthcare more costly. They will have to make it work, but it will come at an extreme hardship. Angel and her husband are two of the over 31,000 people in my district who will see their healthcare costs rise if the ACA tax credits are not extended.
Another constituent from North Hollywood said that their costs will more than double. They write: ``My husband and I are already scraping by, living paycheck to paycheck each month. Rent and groceries are both harder to pay for. I also have two kids who are on Medi-Cal.'' Families of four like this woman's will be forced to pay over $6,000 more this year if the ACA tax credits are not extended.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure Congresswoman Randall has heard hundreds of stories from her constituents, too, and would like to share some with us.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington for the purpose of a colloquy.
The gentlewoman is right. I think all of us have been receiving stories, texts, emails, and phone calls from neighbors, friends, families, and constituents around the country who are impacted by rising healthcare costs because of the decisions that Republican leadership has made.
It is certainly not just my district. We know that in central Washington and Washington's Fourth District, a family of four earning $66,000 a year is seeing annual premium increases of $2,651.
In Louisiana's Fourth District, we are seeing a family of four that is earning $66,000 have the same increase.
In Texas, a 60-year-old couple earning $85,600 a year would see their premiums increase 333 percent, $20,466.
The numbers can sometimes feel abstract, right? What are those numbers? They are people.
Amanda in Bremerton told us that for her family, the ACA credits were the only way that she could afford healthcare. If they lose the discount with the ACA, they wouldn't be able to have healthcare, period. Her family members won't be able to afford the medications that they need to help keep them alive.
Healthcare should be affordable for all citizens in the United States. Amanda is worried that they will possibly lose their home if they get sick and have to go to a doctor.
Andrea from Tacoma works for a California-based company. The insurance that they offer would cost her $1,000 a month, which is out of her budget, but obtaining insurance through the Washington marketplace, with ACA tax credits, allowed her to purchase it for just $300 a month, less than a third of what her employer-sponsored coverage would be. She still struggles to make this payment.
If she can no longer afford healthcare, Andrea is going to feel the impact significantly. She makes just too much money to receive Apple Health, our version of Medicaid. She is pregnant. She will be swimming in medical debt. She says she is the only one who provides for her and her children.
Our neighbors deserve better, and they deserve us to keep fighting, not just for this ACA tax credit extension, which we will continue to put pressure on the Senate to pass, but also for a system that meets our needs nationwide.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Randall for sharing those stories. We are hearing these stories from all over the country, not just blue States, but also red States, everywhere.
The Affordable Care Act tax credits keep healthcare affordable for all Americans. If the Senate does not act immediately, constituents like Stephen from Van Nuys will bear that burden. Stephen and his wife are both independent contractors who pay for their own health insurance. In 2026, they are facing a monthly increase of over $1,000 a month each. This is absolutely unacceptable in the United States.
Before I close, I thank Congresswoman Randall for joining me for tonight's discussion and would like to yield to her for any closing remarks she may have.
Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, this comes down to a simple question: Who is Congress fighting for? Right now, Republican leadership is offering Americans higher healthcare costs, less coverage, and more uncertainty.
By refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expired last month, they made healthcare costs more expensive for working families when people are already stretched thin.
I have heard from families across my district who are forgoing coverage this year because of the absurd premium increases.
A small business owner in Bremerton said that her new monthly premium for her family of three would be more than her mortgage, costing $35,000 a year. She is now being forced to look for a new job that includes health benefits and told us it is very likely she will have to sell her home in order to pay for insurance.
If the Senate doesn't pass the 3-year ACA extension immediately, families will be locked into these higher prices for 2026, and they will lose coverage. People will delay care, skip prescriptions, or avoid seeing a doctor, not because they don't need it, but because they can't afford it. That is not a healthcare system that works.
Healthcare is a human right, and your ability to get it shouldn't depend on how much you earn, where you live, or whether your employer offers coverage. No one should have to choose between paying rent and seeing a doctor or between putting food on the table and buying a prescription.
The ACA tax credits exist because Congress recognized a simple truth. Without them, millions of Americans would be priced out of care. These credits make coverage possible for seniors who are not yet eligible for Medicare, for small business owners, and gig workers, for families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to absorb soaring premiums. Allowing these tax credits to expire was a choice, and it was the wrong one.
Americans are being screwed by this administration. Tariffs are screwing our farmers and raising prices. Trump is killing energy projects that raise our utility bills, and Republicans screwed around with our health insurance by refusing to extend the ACA tax credits.
Congress has a real opportunity right now to take action: to lower costs, to protect coverage, and to improve the health of people across the country. Extending the ACA tax credits will keep families insured, reduce financial strain, and prevent avoidable deaths.
This is a moment for leadership, a moment to put people over politics. Republicans in the Senate must act to extend these tax credits. We must make it clear that in this country access to healthcare is not a privilege; it is a right worth protecting.
I am glad to be a partner in this fight with Representative Rivas and all of my other Democratic colleagues who spoke on the floor tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Randall and thanks again to my other colleagues who spoke tonight.
Today's vote will help keep healthcare affordable for millions of Americans, but our work isn't done. The Senate needs to pass this bill immediately, and then we need to get back to work on progressive and equitable solutions that leave no family behind.
Families are still facing high costs for housing, childcare, groceries, and other everyday necessities. House Democrats and the Congressional Progressive Caucus will continue to stand with the American people to protect their healthcare against Republicans' attacks and keep the American Dream attainable for all.
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.
Mr. Speaker, I was actually going to come here and do some things on demographics and some things that are optimistic, but I actually think we should first jump into the fact that we work in a math-free zone.
If you listen to the people coming behind the microphones, particularly today, it is as if they have read none of the CBO reports, none of the HHS reports, or the other things, particularly in regard to the ACA, which are subsidies. They are subsidies on top of subsidies to insurance companies.
Did you read the reports? Last year, 41 percent of those subsidies on subsidies of the people that had the enhanced subsidies paid no premium, so they had no skin in the game, which is not what we were promised when ObamaCare came into existence a dozen years ago.
We actually showed an economic report. I did entire floor speeches on it showing that only a third of that $35 billion, $40 billion a year subsidy on top of the subsidies actually goes to healthcare.
We also showed that a third of the folks never made a claim because now we are finding rampant fraud of people who were signed up because if they don't have a premium to pay, they had brokers signing them up, and they had no idea they had coverage.
Where is the passion to actually deal with the fact that particularly the left--and I have got to blame my brothers and sisters on the Republican side, we have done the same. We have turned healthcare into financial engineering, instead of having it be about the cost, access, and delivery of having our brothers and sisters get healthier.
Is it you have sold your soul to the insurance companies? Remember, the ACA model is an insurance company model. You promised them rates of return, you promised them a market, so this is 7 percent of the healthcare market, and 94 percent of that 7 percent gets a subsidy.
Let's actually do math because you have been listening to--oh, yeah, there has been actually no math today as people talked about subsidies on top of subsidies. The CBO report that updated yesterday--and I can do this off the top of my head--basically said the 3 years cost $80 billion.
The reason it is lower than my $105 billion is because they made an assumption that this year, if the Senate were to pass these, that there will be a delayed sign-up, so there will be half a year or so where people--but if they did a claw back, the actual number on these subsidies is about $105 billion.
Okay. Even if you do the CBO's number of $80 billion for 3 years of subsidies on top of subsidies, and then you put in the 10 years of interest, you know, because of the interest window, this costs $111 billion.
Understand what the left is telling you. They are basically saying they don't give a damn about healthcare. It is financing. If we wanted to change the price of healthcare, we would actually be looking at the innovations that are going on and start to legalize them, but there are too many damn lobbyists walking up and down our hallways here trying to stop us.
Look, here is an article from 2 days ago. Bless the State of Utah. If you are like me--I have hypertension. Can you imagine that? I have had it since I was a teenager. I take a calcium inhibitor. It lowers my blood pressure. Hopefully, I don't pop an aneurysm, but every 90 days, I have to pick up the phone to renew a doctor's prescription or go visit the doctor, even though it is the same prescription I have had for decades.
Utah just created AI that will take my data and renew my prescription. It will save a fortune for the people of Utah--cost, access, not subsidies.
Stanford medical reviewed basically being able to use certain wearables. Their new AI model predicts disease risk as you sleep from over 100 health conditions. They take some data as you are sleeping off your wearables, and boom, basically you are wearing a medical lab. Except the problem is, it is not allowed to prescribe. That would be illegal because that would require us to actually do things, modernize access to healthcare, use the technology to crash--oh, we can't use technology to crash the price. It would really annoy a whole bunch of the lobbyists. People are lined up at our doors. People would show up at our fundraisers.
OpenAI chat health to connect data from health apps medical records-- there is a revolution coming where we as people of America can stay dramatically healthier.
Why aren't we doing the discussion of what to do to lower the price of healthcare instead of having debates of another $100 billion that goes on the very credit cards of the people who get--the insurance companies that get the subsidy that only as--our model is 38 percent of that subsidy actually ends up going into healthcare. We are still trying to figure out where the hell the rest of the money went.
Have we lost our minds? Why is it so much easier to just keep borrowing money and borrowing money and borrowing money and say: I am giving you something, but I am putting it on your credit card. It is like we are engaging in a level of financial lunacy here.
Now, let's actually go on to the even more difficult part of this discussion. I am doing this because I want us to start to have a benchmark. If there is anyone out there listening that has ever had to tolerate--because I have been doing these for a decade, and I am just exhausted. I am frustrated. I am angry.
My brothers and sisters here, Democrat and Republican, I like most of these people, and I am crushed. I am just absolutely intellectually, emotionally, even physically crushed at the inability to tell the truth. We don't want to tell the truth because our constituents get pissed off at us when we walk them through the math. The constituents look back and say, so you have been lying or the politicians have been lying to us for decades. The answer is yes, but it is not Democratic. It is not Republican. Much of the crisis that we are facing is demographic.
I am not going to explain all of this chart, but I am basically going to tell you, if you look at the financial lines on this chart, Mr. Speaker, it basically says, in 3 years, over half the money this Federal Government spends will go to those 65 and up. In 3 years, half the money we spend will go to those 65 and up.
Now, I need you to work through something with me. I have already presented the Moody's Analytics report that is saying, in 8 years from now, 30 percent of our spending, 30 percent of tax collections, will go just to interest. You are now seeing, in 3 years, the majority of our spending will actually go to benefits here. We have a math problem. Today, we have fewer 18 year olds than we had 20 years ago, but we have double the number of 65 year olds.
We can sit here and blame each other, but it is just demographics. It is happening over the entire industrialized world, but we are not allowed to actually have an honest discussion about it because the moment you say something, the other side is writing political commercials to rip your face off
It is real simple. Mr. Speaker, you are going to run for U.S. Senate. In your next term, the Medicare trust fund is empty. The Social Security trust fund is empty. It takes that first year, 2033, to just cover that shortfall that is over $638 billion. If you don't fix it, you double senior poverty. You double the number of baby boomers who will live on the street, and everyone's Social Security check has a 24 percent cut.
How many people have you heard this week get behind the microphones and say maybe we should actually start to adopt technology, modernization, deal with the reality of our fiscal cliff that is coming? Instead, I watch a parade of my brothers and sisters here say: I have an idea. It costs more money, but it is a really good idea. Let's just put it on the credit card.
It is out of order, but I will get to it. I am going to say it a couple of times because I did a presentation of a report from I think it is the Massachusetts or Boston economic council, freaky smart professors. If you use a 6 percent discount rate, which you can argue something lower, but sometimes you have to talk about math. A child born today, you need 104 percent of that child's lifetime income, so more money than they make in their entire lifetime, just to cover Federal pension benefits, Social Security, Medicare, military, Federal employees, and railroad retirement.
Does anyone care? Does anyone care? What is wrong with this place? The immorality that the next generation will be poorer than us--but we are not allowed to say that because, let's be honest, people want more stuff. If we keep giving them more stuff, they vote for us. They might even contribute.
Look, let's just continue to do some of the basic demographics. From 2004 to 2024, you see this one line here, those are 18-year-olds. Somewhat similar, but now you start to get to 2035 and start to understand, without immigration, you have a world where you functionally have more 65-year-olds than you have 18-year-olds.
We are having debates right now. There is a report out that--now, it is not adjusted for self-deports--saying that the United States had about 400,000 as a first snapshot growth in 2025. We have another report that says the United States had zero population growth last year. We have another report that says the United States will have zero population growth this year.
Mr. Speaker, are we going to tell the truth about math? You want our Social Security. You earned it. You deserve it. You want our Medicare. You earned it. You deserve it. In 7 years, both of those trust funds are empty.
What are we going to do? The argument is we will just borrow more money because, God forbid, we have any conversation about the cost of delivering healthcare. That will upset someone's business model or bureaucracy's model. It is hard to read.
The basic point was trying to show we are having terrific economic growth. I will show some slides here. With our GDP growth, some of the tax policies and some of the regulatory policies adopted in the last year are working.
Our problems are spending. Almost all the spending growth is interest because we are refinancing. We have $30 trillion out there we have to bring to market over the next few years. I think this year refinance was going to be about $11 trillion. That is bonds, notes, and paper that come due, plus another $2 trillion probably in virgin. That is new issuances. They are subject to the higher interest rates today than we had 5 years ago.
That is why our interest coverage costs have gotten so much more expensive. That is why if we do total interest from last year--the interest we also pay back to the trust funds from the money we borrowed from the trust funds--we spent $1.2 trillion on interest last year. Interest was the second biggest expense in this government last year, and it is getting worse.
What happens when we produce economic growth? We see this in red here. Our debt projections are actually every bit as bad as last year. That means for every dollar we take in, in tax receipts--remember that our tax as a percentage of GDP is basically back to the mean that it has been for decades. For every dollar we take in, we will spend $1.43. That is $1 in and $1.43 out. How long can we carry that on, Mr. Speaker? Yet, you start looking at where we are demographically.
What frustrates me is this is just what we are. There is not a magic: Well, we will suddenly have more children. Really?
This is happening all over the industrialized world. We have countries that buy you a house on your third or fourth child, and it didn't increase fertility rates. Yet our pension systems were designed on four or five workers.
Remember that Social Security and Medicare are pay as you go. We had a benefit of building reserves when the baby boomers were in the labor force. They ultimately were designed as pay as you go.
I have been in a 50-50 district for years. The political consultants lose their minds. They tell me I am not allowed to talk about the truth in math, but no one here wants to go near it, not even the people in 20-point or 30-point partisan districts. Will anyone here help us plan for the future?
This future is coming fast. We have economists now say we have functionally 3 years before we get in the interest cycle back and forth. I will try to explain that one of these days.
You have to understand when we hit in--what was that? In 2020, we had 2.7 workers per Social Security retiree. We are actually getting to the point over here where we think we are down to 2.3. In the coming decades, it is even less. So you and your spouse, you and your partner, functionally have your own retired person. It is just to understand the basic economics of the math.
Then we have the brain trusts who say we will just borrow the money each year. Did they hear the math? In 2033, the year the trust funds are empty, it is well over $600 billion. You are going to borrow basically half. That is 40 percent equal to what is the--well, actually almost 60 percent equal to today's defense budget. We will just throw that on the credit card. The next year it is bigger, and the next year it is bigger.
There are good things happening. The GDP numbers, which means the baseline economic growth numbers, are remarkably healthy. There is huge investment going on right now in technology that could actually boost productivity. Therefore, it will boost wages.
Where is the unified theory here? We are going to do another reconciliation where we are going to tell the markets that we will start limiting the spending so we get lower interest rates and so we can have more market growth. People can afford houses, all the input. Instead, you have a government that for every dollar we spend, we have to borrow another 43 cents. This is insane.
I was going to try to walk through some things I consider really hopeful. These are the contributions to GDP growth. Many of these contributions in the GDP growth, if we can get our policies and our regulatory designed properly, we can get some pops and productivity. Pops and productivity means pops in people's wages and pops in tax collections.
We have to get all the stars aligned at the right time. I just don't see us doing that because somehow it is not part of our lexicon. I will do presentations. We have too many people, particularly even on my side, who say things that aren't mathematically true. We hear something, and we repeat it. The customs duties, tariffs, are helpful. It is not as much money as so many people think.
Mr. Speaker, I am blessed to chair the Joint Economic Committee. I am number four on Ways and Means. I chair the Oversight Committee. I am the guy running a bunch of committees and am responsible for a number of these really uncomfortable investigations. I am blessed to have a staff that is a hell of a lot smarter than I would ever have hoped to have been at their age.
We start to work out charts like this. I am going to make some people mad. As a matter of fact, I am not even going to bother with that one. I will walk us through the straight number.
We are still vetting the number because we are doing predictions. All of this could mean nothing if the Supreme Court tomorrow changes its rules on the President's authority to
We have to understand our latest articles that we are looking at saying, for 2026, $215 billion of what we call customs receipts-- tariffs--the baseline, if there had been no changes, it would have been $84 billion. Mr. Speaker, is everyone working with me on this? That means there was $131 billion of new tariff money coming into the budget this fiscal year.
If we pull out our calculator, so far in the first quarter of this fiscal year, we have been borrowing $8 billion a day. We are hoping it actually comes back to the mean of being about $6 billion. Let's do $131 billion divided by 8. We functionally are covering 2 weeks of borrowing. It is helpful. It is not a solution.
Yet I will do the speech. I ask anyone who is watching if they have some suggestions of how I can actually start to break through because I am exhausted. Then I will watch someone come up. I am sitting in my office, and I am watching the floor. On occasion, I will pull out my calculator. I am just enraged because of the mathematical lying that goes on behind these microphones over and over. This is the survival of our Republic.
Let's actually do something that is semi-optimistic here. Let's look at waste and fraud. I had a meeting with a wonderful woman the other day. She actually is involved in our county party. She is really smart and absolutely lovely. I hope I misheard her. She seemed to believe that if we just didn't have that fraud in Minnesota, we could have covered a whole bunch of our national debt. She was genuinely concerned. It sounds like she was trying to quote what she actually thought she heard on cable news.
Mr. Speaker, I had to walk her through saying, okay, here is the best projection. Remember, some of this fraud may have happened over a decade. We are still getting all the numbers. There have already been a number of prosecutions, ``Minneapolis woman pleads guilty in $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.'' She stole $250 million. There are a number of these articles that I have here, but you still have to do the math.
The fraud, just to give you an idea of the scale of our Nation's borrowing, is only a couple of days of borrowing. How do I help people understand the perspective of the scale and the fact that everything that we as Members of Congress vote on is borrowed?
If you told me today that I have to balance the budget, I can do it. Every part of government has to be shut down--no Park Service, no Congress, no EPA, no FDA. Everything that is discretionary is gone. Today, my math is that several hundred billion dollars of mandatory spending have to be gone. We are borrowing so damned much money now that we have to borrow money just to cover our Medicare obligations.
Do we understand? What if I came to you tomorrow and said that I can end most of the fraud in the IRS and the government and the SNAPs and all of these subsidies, like welfare and nutrition support programs?
We have actually had a bill for 6 or 7 years to use AI to audit the Pentagon. The Pentagon, I think, last year was its ninth audit. It failed. It could not pass an audit.
The same technology that we wanted to use to audit the Pentagon, it turns out that all of these programs, you just put that in the back end. Instead of doing the pay-and-chase model that, for some reason, the left seems to embrace, why let the fraud money ever go out the door?
I want to give you a simple example. How many of you have a credit card? How many of you have ever gone to a place where you have never purchased from before, and you stick your credit card in because I am going to buy some fishing tackle or whatever the hell you are buying, and suddenly, you get this text message saying: Is this you? Can you put in your PIN? Can you put in your code?
That technology has been around for a decade. If the credit card companies now have even more advanced AI to know that someone isn't you, that it is fraud, and that the data on your application and other things are fraud, you are telling me that we put billions and billions at risk trying to help our brothers and sisters, only to later find out that we have been financing scammers.
I have a passion for dealing with the long-run debt of this country. How do I convince the American people that we are going to have to do hard things when they are able to point and say that you haven't taken care of the filth and the stealing from our society, from our taxpayers? How do I get them to trust me when I still have scam artists robbing them?
Mr. Speaker, we have proposal after proposal to use technology to stop the scamming. Will it ever get a hearing here?
There almost seems to be a war to stop us from using technology because--I actually can't give you an honest answer. We know that, for years, I have been trying to fix technology at the IRS, and the IRS union loses its mind thinking: You are trying to get rid of us.
When we have been doing the audit at the Pentagon, the unionized auditors come and want to have meetings with me. They are concerned that we are trying to get rid of their jobs. I am just trying to protect the American taxpayers, but the technology already exists in the private sector. It is time we adopt it.
On healthcare, I just want to give this as an example. Utah, a couple of days ago, announced that they are going to allow AI as a pilot program in Utah to prescribe. It is for the renewal of your prescriptions. As I was talking about before, my calcium inhibitor, my hypertension medicine, the same one I have had for decades, I could plug in my data to the AI, and it would order my prescription, and it would be sent to me. It functionally has almost no cost.
We have dozens of examples that I have brought to the floor here over the last--actually, dozens and dozens of examples that I have brought to the floor here over the years, showing how we could crash the price of healthcare instead of doing the scam of let's just keep subsidizing the subsidy and the insurance companies. How about we change the accessibility and use technology to make it less expensive?
We are actually working on a thought experiment--and this will be the end--a crazy thought experiment. President Trump and the White House actually get a lot of credit, though we worked on this for years. Glutides, GLP-1s, I believe by the end of this month, one of the tablet versions will be available for $149 a month.
If obesity is responsible for 47 percent of U.S. healthcare spending, according to the Milken study, what would happen in our society, particularly where we have States where technically over half of their populations are considered obese? What would happen if access to the drug and, hopefully, nutrition and all the other things that need to go with it--but just do this thought experiment with me. The lobbyists weren't able to stop access to the glutides.
You might be on the cusp of a revolution of people who are morbidly obese, who have multiple chronic conditions, and who are losing their feet are about to get healthier.
Let's actually start accepting the technology, thinking creatively. With that, Mr. Speaker, we might be able to do some amazing things out there.
Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I prayed, and thanks to God for saving the lives of every single one of our precious soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and intelligence officers who were deployed secretly to Venezuela by the President of the United States without consent of Congress.
Importantly, this operation was planned and executed in violation of the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Clause 7: ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.'' That clause also requires publication of all publicly expended money, funds.
None of that came to Congress, even in some of the most sequestered private meetings--nothing, no information, no support.
This military operation expended billions upon billions of U.S. taxpayer funds. The prior speaker, Congressman Schweikert, talked about the deficit going up. Well, where did the money that was not appropriated come from?
No one could be more grateful than I that our valiant combat teams all came home safely. Without question, because of funds that have been provided over the years, their readiness and performance resulted in their safe return. However, the commanding officials who are responsible for their deployment have not responded to requests by Congress to report from which accounts the money was withdrawn-- billions and billions of dollars, for almost 6 months--for the deployment and actions in the Gulf and Atlantic theater.
The Trump administration has failed to account for the funds that they have expended. Commanding officers and administration appointees have withdrawn billions and billions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury, from our taxpayers, without legal authority, as constitutionally required. For this, the executive branch and those who are in charge must be held accountable. That day will come.
The draw down of billions of Federal taxpayer dollars to conduct these military operations has been expended without a vote of Congress, nor even a notification. I can attest the administration has failed, despite two requests I have made in public and private meetings with the highest level of Department of Defense officials and this administration, to provide the Committee on Appropriations of both Chambers of Congress the details of which accounts were drawn down and how much will it be to carry out these costly continuing operations. Tonight, for a third time, I place on the public record asking the U.S. Department of Defense: What funds have been expended in years 2025 and are being expended currently, and from which specific accounts, and are projected to be expended from which accounts in this year of 2026 in the Venezuelan operations.
Billions and billions and billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent and are being spent in the Gulf and Atlantic theater for these operations since midyear last year. Secretary of State Rubio has claimed the Venezuelan invasion was not a military operation. Do you believe that? He calls it a law enforcement action. Really? Did these funds flow from the Department of Justice? Congress doesn't know. Thousands upon thousands of America's finest have been positioned and missed holidays and family days on dozens of battleships, some lifted in the air and then dispatched to ground action. This operation was much more than a law enforcement action. It was an action of war and regime change in another nation.
This country is powerful enough to do almost everything, but you can't violate the Constitution. That is different.
Can Secretaries Hegseth and Rubio give us examples of other so-called law enforcement actions that have cost U.S. taxpayers billions and billions of dollars? Moreover, this Presidential administration has not legally appropriated a single dollar. Rather, it appears billions and billions of dollars have been expended, some might say illegally transferred and some might say stolen, from other Department of Defense accounts or from executive accounts or from other Federal agencies to conduct these costly Venezuelan operations. From where? So now the simple question: How much did it cost to capture the dictator of Venezuela, Maduro, and his wife?
I ask, Mr. President, how much money and exactly from which accounts? Give me the specific numbers and accounting titles from which billions and billions of America's taxpayer funds were transferred. These shorted accounts are going to have to be refinanced. How and when?
Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Rubio and perhaps OMB Director Russell Vought, their chief budget manager, it is your sworn constitutional duty to provide the American people which Defense or other Federal department and agency accounts have been shorted because you transferred untold billions of dollars to depose Venezuela's dictator Maduro and his wife.
Do you know that our own citizens can't get through to the Social Security office because you have cut the staffing back so much? Do you have any idea what is actually happening at the local level in this country? No one in this Chamber is a fan of Maduro, and the people of Venezuela have a humongous, difficult task of building their country forward now, but why behave deceitfully when you swore an oath to the Constitution of the United States.
Now, based on President Trump's press conference this past weekend, it seems that this lengthy and costly deployment of U.S. military into the Gulf and the Atlantic aims to reclaim very dirty crude oil deposits with out-of-date refineries in Venezuela. How many refineries are there? One? Who formerly owned them? Is it only the former Chevron facility? What is the business plan going forward, starting with how are we going to reimburse the accounts that were raided here?
For the sake of the American people who are footing the big bill for all of this, here is an idea. What if Congress considers a taxpayer recovery fee on every Venezuelan or American energy company that will benefit from the heroism of America's military. How about putting some of that money into military housing, which is a disgrace.
Let's refund it back to our taxpayers in the form of an energy rebate to help them pay their rising utility bills. That is, Congress could mandate that any company that draws up Venezuelan dirty crude oil for their corporate coffers should instead be required to share in the cost of the operation and rebate any profit to the hardworking American taxpayers. The military operations amount to billions of dollars, so any energy company benefiting from the heroism of our military should pay an energy tax refund to U.S. taxpayers. Think about it.
U.S. energy prices are rising and even doubling across Ohio, our Buckeye State, and many other localities across our country due to the rise of data centers. Meanwhile, this administration is cutting off funds for modern energy systems. Wouldn't such a rebate not only be sensible but welcome and impactful for America's households that are seeing rising energy bills every month and rising water utility bills?
Historically, the human lust for crude oil--and Venezuela's crude is very dirty--is legendary. It is a subject about which the American people are going to become even more keenly aware. Why? Because the blood of war and the quest for dirty crude oil are tightly bound. Far too many members of our military have lost their lives to defend the interests of dirty crude. That isn't always in the headlines, but underneath, that is exactly what it is. The Saudi oil kingdom is but one example of the bondage of blood and oil to military dictatorships and war. To gain a sense of it, I recommend a book, ``Sleeping With the Devil'' by Robert Baer. You will learn a lot about blood and war and the sacrifice of the people in our military of this country over several generations.
Over the last three-quarters of a century in particular, the rush and fixation for crude has become a very costly cause of U.S. war deaths across our military forces. Thousands upon thousands of our war dead have been sacrificed in such conflicts for which I will now put figures on the Record.
Over the last century, time and again, in war after war, excepting for World War II, but for the China-Burma-India theater, our most precious U.S. military has rendered hundreds of thousands of selfless Americans, men and women, who have been ordered to battle and sacrificed their lives to gain access to the world's crude oil deposits.
The time for foreign oil conquests should be over. Frankly, America must not live in the past. We must keep inventing. We can't go back. We have got to go forward. Our energy future is right here at home. Over the last 50 years, new American energy sources have been invented. All exist in our homeland, with more to come. I am just so proud of the inventiveness of the American people. The discovery of natural gas in the Utica and Marcellus shale deposits at the border in Ohio
Our objective must be to make America energy independent here at home in perpetuity. Our military has gone to war too many times in the last century to engage in wars in oil-rich places.
How President Trump is going to run Venezuela remains a mystery. My concern remains how much is this going to cost the taxpayers of our country. He has already expended billions, without the approval of Congress, to decapitate the corrupt leaders of Venezuela; but the White House can't even tell Congress how much has been expended, nor which accounts their budget director, Russell Vought, moved money out of to cover the billions and billions spent on this Venezuelan operation.
What this administration is carrying out is in clear violation of the appropriations authority of Congress. It is undermining our Constitution under Article I. That is the beginning of the Constitution. I recommend every American go back and look. It puts everyone in danger when you don't follow the law.
Operating dilapidated oil platforms in Venezuela is really not the President's job. That is what he says he is going to do. Now, the President does have responsibility for America's security, and so does Congress, to assure our energy independence, but he is shortchanging many programs across the Federal establishment that would make energy independence in perpetuity a reality.
Our energy portfolio domestically must be balanced and comprehensive, a truly all-of-the-above strategy in order that there be competition not reliance on dirty crude. That day should be over. That means continuing progress on renewable energy systems like modern nuclear, green hydrogen, fusion, biofuels, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and capturing thermal waste heat. Though the President does not like wind power, in some remote and coastal locations they do make sense.
The administration's Venezuela obsession is going to prove to be, I am sad to say, very expensive. Whatever happens will also take time. Forces of sabotage may lurk in an impoverished nation of over 30 million people, and its institutions are run down. Is the Trump administration assuming the task of nation building? That could add billions and even trillions to our debt.
When I asked Secretary Hegseth how many billions of dollars the Venezuelan operation had cost us in the United States to date, I asked where the unappropriated funds had come from. He rather dismissively blew me off and stated: From the general accounts. Mr. Speaker, there is no such thing. I asked that he identify the specific accounts at the Department of Defense from which he diverted funds to pay for this operation. He did not reply.
For example, I have been told military housing has been shorted to spend billions on military action. Secretary Hegseth then had a second thought. He said: Call my office. I asked him directly with whom in his office should I speak, and he replied: Anyone. Mr. Speaker, I am from the working class town of Toledo, Ohio. We understand a dodge when we hear one. I then reasked the question yesterday in a bipartisan convening here in the Congress: From which accounts, Mr. Secretary, were funds diverted to pay for the billions of dollars being expended in the Gulf and Atlantic theater. Again, he dodged and refused to answer.
The Secretary of State calls this Venezuelan deployment ``a law enforcement action.'' I have never seen--and please anyone listening to this, if you have seen a law enforcement action that has cost multiple billions of dollars, please let me know. Call my office.
The briefings we received before Christmas were hollow, and as we know now, totally misleading. The bipartisan briefing yesterday described the operation but not the costs.
Again I ask: Name the accounts exactly from which billions of dollars have been diverted to pay all the expenses of this major continuing military operation? Is the administration going to hire mercenaries in the next several months? If so, exactly from which accounts and which companies?
I would prefer any funds be rebated to our American people for the rapidly rising costs of energy because of the emergence of AI and data centers. The operation executed by our military that the administration has just perpetrated is not a law enforcement action by any stretch of reasonable consideration. It is an act of war and occupation.
Are funds being taken from our nuclear Navy shipbuilding program which is already 2 years behind schedule? Are funds being subtracted from cybersecurity accounts that are so essential to national security and our future? What about military housing, which I mentioned for servicemembers and their families all across this country and world, or how about the healthcare of those who have served in theater?
I can guarantee this: There aren't enough people at the Veterans Administration to answer the phones when our vets call in and ask for appointments because they are being shorted on doctors and nurses. The thousands of people they need to hire that Elon Musk erased from Federal employment, that is un-American.
The American people have an absolute right to know account by account how much this U.S.-Venezuela military oil operation has cost over the last several months. Rebuilding Venezuela is not the top priority for the people of the district I represent in northwestern Ohio.
While we observe billions being spent in Latin America for oil, the Trump administration has just canceled millions of dollars to Ohio manufacturers who were hoping to make their operations more energy efficient to compete with China and other countries around the world who compete so unfairly.
Those projects to manufacturing companies in Ohio have been halted by the administration over the course of the last year and then just again before the holidays. The U.S. Department of Commerce, for example, canceled all Federal assistance for manufacturing extension long relied upon in Ohio and across our country, especially in manufacturing areas that were depleted after the passage of NAFTA to help spur business extensions for small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
When we get the tax refunds from oil that is going to be spent in Venezuela, let's help some of these companies that need to build the future for our communities.
The question must be asked: Why does the administration expend billions for capturing dirty, defunct crude refineries in a foreign country, rather than investing in the future of American companies right here at home?
The American people deserve an answer. This is not a small amount of money. They deserve transparency by the Trump administration.
I lived through the first Arab oil embargo of this country as our people endured the great harm it caused. Our Nation should not be funding recovery of defunct, dirty crude oil companies in foreign nations, rather, investment is needed here not just in our northwestern Ohio district but nationwide to modernize and advance modern energy systems.
Our grid needs modernization across our Nation. Why? The poor condition of the existing grid and the recent doubling of electric bills across our region due to a surge of data centers consumes massive amounts of power. Our grid is old. All over the country we must focus on building new energy systems at the cutting edge of American technology. Dirty Venezuelan crude is not the answer. We can't live in the past.
America needs investment in new, diversified energy platforms, in green hydrogen, in modern nuclear. I know our young people will do this. I just know they are going to grow into this, in natural gas applications and advanced biofuels, more powerful thin film energy arrays, including solar, thermal heat recovery, fusion, advanced batteries. Our region has oil refineries
Nuclear power plants in our region of Ohio are over a half century old. We don't need old nuclear, we need modern, safer nuclear. We need the President's help to modernize Ohio's Nuclear North with a new grid. Our industrial corridor produces heavy truck and car platforms, steel, strategic metals, cryogenic hydrogen, biofuels, renewable fuels, natural gas, advanced solar, and nuclear power. I would like the President to take as much money as he just spent in the Gulf on this Venezuelan operation and modernize the electric grid across the Great Lakes region that I represent. There is enough money in that to cover other areas of the country.
America should be excelling in new grid replacement and creating jobs, but guess what, Mr. Speaker, we are very, very far behind.
The people of my region work in manufacturing. They work in steel. They work in strategic materials. We prefer not to import steel here. We make it. We build cars. We prefer not to import. We build tanks. We can't import our defense industry base. We must build it. That is what we do. Our region operates among the top 10 finest National Guard F-16 Fighter Wings in this whole Nation. Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago our, pilots flew the first biofueled F-16 aircraft out of a major base in our country.
We grow crops for biofuels right where we live, and those fuels went into those planes. We don't import it.
Our military is looking for more renewable fuels. The American people and our military need domestic energy investment in our country, not Venezuela. We need jobs here, not in penny-wage havens.
It is clear that the President deployed the U.S. Navy to the Gulf and the Atlantic to take over Venezuela's oil industry. Both China and Vladimir Putin's close relations with Venezuela have been a regional concern, but we don't need to take over old, broken-down former platforms for oil to block Putin. We just place further financial sanctions on Russia, which could happen in this House Chamber with two more Members signing discharge petition No. 8 at the Clerk's desk in this Chamber. We need only two more signatures to get it across the finish line to put more sanctions on Russia. That would make a big difference.
President John F. Kennedy, a Navy man and the only President ever awarded the Purple Heart, understood exactly what to do when faced with the Cuban Missile Crisis perpetrated by Communist Russia one-half century ago. He blockaded the region.
This country has the strongest defense ever known to humankind. We can protect ourselves if we are smart enough to do it, but we can't do it without investments in this country to make our companies stronger.
The President of the United States should not seek to run foreign countries' oil companies.
What is morally troubling is that the President sought $1 billion in campaign donations from major oil and gas interests. He should reflect on our Nation learning a hard, painful lesson from our decades-long presence in long conflicts that dragged on. Tutoring other governments to make them work is a deep, dangerous, and expensive hole that is being dug by this administration. The American people don't want to go down this path anymore.
Our primary job must be to defend our country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That means being strong inside our own borders. It means abiding by the rule of law and our Constitution. We had best focus on the future right here in the USA, abide by our country and the rule of law, and strengthen our ties with other proven democracies of the world. That alliance is our insurance in war. America must not be sucked down into unstable situations.
The lingering challenge of our own future energy security here at home is real. The solution demands the brilliance of invention inside our own borders, and we must never tie our future to imports or foreign crude.
The good news is that our citizens and inventors have been busy inventing our new energy future inside our borders right here at home.
Mr. President, if your staff allows you to watch this speech, I personally invite you to join me with members of our American energy team. We will show you the new energy future that is developing right here inside our own Nation. They have you captured down there in Mar-a- Lago. There is a lot bigger country to see.
Our nuclear Navy is the best in the world. Their work matters. They are behind. We need your help. We are on the horizon of advanced nuclear. We need your help.
Our farmers, too, have figured out how to grow a range of biofuels. One-half of their crop now goes into fuel. Come. Meet them. Your tariffs limit their global reach, even as their role in new energy fuels is huge.
Our water and wastewater utilities are beginning to capture vast amounts of geo-power in a way prior generations have never even imagined possible. Building materials inventors are creating more energy-efficient windows, better siding and materials for construction, better roofing, and better batteries. So many power options like green hydrogen await on the horizon.
Why would any wise leader handcuff their nation to imported and dirty foreign crude dependency?
I have devoted a major share of my career to helping America regain its energy independence in perpetuity across all sectors of energy. That keeps it competitive.
Our domestic deposits of oil and natural gas must be used judiciously. We are now the largest exporter of oil in the world. We will not be the last generation, however, to populate this country, and we cannot live in the past. We must live in the future.
In the last century, and even this one, America often headed to war for oil interests. Our soldiers fought unending battles in godforsaken places anchored to dirty crude. We even had to pass legislation here in Congress that began in my district to create the toxic exposure fund, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, to allow treatment for the toxins our vets who fought in the Middle East and Vietnam endured as their health failed. No member of our military should ever die for dirty crude.
Folks, what a pity it would be if the Trump Presidency went down in history as taking American progress backward on energy independence. That hangs in the balance.
Just in my lifetime, here is a summary of U.S. military personnel who died in foreign conflicts where crude oil interests underpinned the surface warfare. I say no more.
World War II, in the 1940s, during World War II, our Uncle Tony was deployed by the Office of Strategic Services, or OSS, to the China- Burma-India theater. He served as an Army parachutist and truck driver--he was so brave--under command of General Vinegar Joe Stilwell. Fighting off Japanese regulars in bitter combat, our uncle was part of an elite unit building the Burma Road. His dangerous mission helped stop the flow of oil to Japan from the surrounding oil-rich East Asian deep-sea crude oil deposits. Again, control of oil was central to warfare. Today, the former Burma Road that he helped build is a major corridor for China's Belt and Road Initiative. Pay attention, folks, to oil.
In the Korean war, 1950 to 1953, we lost 36,000 U.S. troops, 36,000 U.S. war dead. It was the second most deadly war of the Cold War, which was undeclared by a gutless Congress involved in the North Korean People's Army that invaded South Korea in an attack along the 38th parallel, the dividing line between Communist North Korea and the Democratic Republic of South Korea. Again, the war occurred along the Korean Peninsula, which still remains divided but which accesses oil from multiple fields along the eastern rims of both nations. Today, South Korea does not produce oil, but it has the fifth largest refining capacity in the world after the U.S., China, Russia, and India.
In Vietnam, over 58,280 conscripted U.S. troops died near the Chinese border in an undeclared war by another gutless Congress. More than 60,000 more Vietnam veterans died when they returned home by their own hand.
Mr. Speaker, they were and are America's patriots, drafted and sent to that horrible war
Kuwait Gulf War--1991--147 U.S. War Dead:
About a decade later came the Gulf War. U.S. troops were deployed to save the Royal Kingdom's dirty crude oil for the monarchy of Kuwait. Republican President George Herbert Walker Bush of Texas was buddies with the Saudi Family and its lobbyists and the Kuwaiti and Saudi royalty. Together they mobilized the U.S. military and other nations to push neighboring Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein back into Kuwait's border. Hussein's objective was to steal from Kuwait's crude oil fields which extended across the adjoining borders of Kuwait and Iraq. The Coalition of the Willing Forces rolled back Saddam's forces inside his own borders. When I landed in Kuwait during the Iraq War that came two decades later, I entered the headquarters complex of the U.S. military command. It was huge. It looked like a massive Mission Control for a U.S. space launch. Video screens, hundreds of employees, and a full color, smiling portrait of former President and oil man George Bush Senior--probably 5 feet by 6 feet plastered on the wall of the secure entryway. So, another U.S. President also from Texas supported another crude, dirty oil kingdom war in the complex Middle East political array of undemocratic states.
2001--Iraq War--U.S. War dead--3,481:
Saudi religious dissidents snuck into the U.S. under the tutelage of Saudi religious zealot Osama bin Laden--they highjacked four airplanes and flew those planes into New York City's tallest buildings--the World Trade Towers--the first foreign attack on U.S. soil in American history. Another plane hit the Pentagon and a fourth headed for Washington, DC crashed near Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
In New York City, the demise of the World Trade Center occurred with the first plane crashing into its North tower above the 80th floor. That impact brought down the Cantor Fitzgerald trading company whose President is Howard Lutnick (who today serves as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce). That firm handled Wall Street's major oil trader called e- bond's from the Middle East through its New York World Trade Center offices by denominating them in dollars. It also ran a London Office. Had the London office not existed on 9-11, it is likely the U.S. financial bond markets would have collapsed that day. Chaos would have reigned across our entire financial markets.
By way of history, Ronald Reagan who had served as President from 1981 through 1989--importantly with oil man George Bush Senior of Texas as his Vice President--had negotiated an agreement during his Presidency with the Saudis to dollar denominate all its oil revenue trades, bringing enormous financial benefit to the U.S. financial markets. Moreover, it is important to follow the footsteps of Richard ``Dick'' Cheney, then Secretary of Defense, and late Vice President during the George Bush II Presidency from 2001 to 2009. When he left his position as U.S. Secretary of Defense for George Bush I, he worked for Haliburton company whose purpose is earning money off drilling, and refining dirty crude oil from everywhere in the world. Oil is not liberty. But its presence has impacted liberty throughout modern history. Osama bin Laden was intelligent. He understood the finances of Middle East oil interests. I believe he knew exactly how Cantor Fitzgerald and U.S. bond markets were directly tied to the Middle East kingdoms' stability, and U.S. markets.
History demonstrates our nation has rewarded tens of thousands of American lives for dirty crude oil interests. We should not be sending our sons and daughters to die in Venezuelan jungles so oil companies can squeeze wealth out of that sovereign nation to pad their profit margins, and fill the pockets and bank accounts of the influential president's billionaire buddies, or presidents and financial interests whose top priority is not the American people, nor liberty.
To remain strong and energy independent in perpetuity, the United States of America must continue its steady progress in building competitive modern energy systems forward here in our homeland. May God bless America.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
