We use analytics tools to understand how people use the site. They're optional: if you decline, the site works the same, no analytics cookies are set and Google gets only a cookieless, anonymous count signal. Your votes are saved either way; the details are in the privacy policy.
09Deletion of Sponsors From Public Bills and Resolutions
Daily Digest
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced
23 public bills, H.R. 7970- 7992; and 2 resolutions, H. Res. 1122-1123 were introduced.
Pages H2595-97
Report Filed
A report was filed today as follows: H.R. 5713, to authorize the expedited removal of aliens who are criminal gang members, members of foreign terrorist organizations, or have been convicted of certain specified crimes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-555).
Page H2595
Recess
The House recessed at 10:49 a.m. and reconvened at 12 p.m.
Page H2558
Republican Conference Resignation
Received a communication from the Representative McClain, Chairwoman, House Republican Conference. Pursuant to clause 5(b)(1) of Rule X, Chairwoman McClain notified the House that Representative Kevin Kiley has resigned as a member of the House Republican Conference.
Pages H2580-81
Committee on Education and Workforce: Vacancy
Received a communication from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in which he notified the Committee on Education and Workforce that Representative Kevin Kiley's election to the Committee on Education and Workforce has been automatically vacated pursuant to clause 5(b) of rule X, effective March 18, 2026.
Page H2581
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Vacancy
Received a communication from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in which he notified the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that Representative Kevin Kiley's election to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has been automatically vacated pursuant to clause 5(b) of rule X, effective March 18, 2026.
Page H2581
Committee on the Judiciary: Vacancy
Received a communication from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in which he notified the Committee on the Judiciary that Representative Kevin Kiley's election to the Committee on the Judiciary has been automatically vacated pursuant to clause 5(b) of rule X, effective March 18, 2026.
Page H2581
Recess
The House recessed at 2:54 p.m. and reconvened at 4:45 p.m.
Page H2581
Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act
The House passed H.R. 556, to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, by a recorded vote of 215 ayes to 202 noes, Roll No. 93.
Pages H2576-80, H2581-82
Rejected the Dingell motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Natural Resources by a yea-and-nay vote of 206 yeas to 209 nays, Roll No. 92.
Pages H2581-82
Pursuant to the Rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted.
Page H2576
H. Res. 1115, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 556), (H.R. 1958), (H.R. 4638), and relating to consideration of motions to suspend the rules, was agreed to yesterday, March 17th. Deporting Fraudsters Act: The House passed H.R. 1958, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify that aliens who have been convicted of defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits are inadmissible and deportable, by a yea- and-nay vote of 231 yeas to 186 nays, Roll No. 94.
Pages H2568-76, H2582-83
Pursuant to the Rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted.
Page H2568
H. Res. 1115, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 556), (H.R. 1958), (H.R. 4638), and relating to consideration of motions to suspend the rules, was agreed to yesterday, March 17th. Suspensions: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and pass the following measure: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government: H.J. Res. 139, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government, by a \2/3\ yea- and-nay vote of 211 yeas to 207 nays, Roll No. 95.
Pages H2560-68, H2583-84
Meeting Hour
Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow, March 19th.
Page H2584
Discharge Petition
Representative DeLauro presented to the clerk a motion to discharge the Committee on Rules from the consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1096) entitled, a resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4213) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026 (Discharge Petition No. 17). Page H Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H2581-82, H2582, H2582-83, and H2583-84. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:58 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: 169 of 216 spoken turns were found. Turns without a time are still listed; they just can't seek.
Morning-Hour Debate
The SPEAKER. 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, today I rise to honor the Segerstrom High School girls' soccer team for earning a victory and the CIF Division 6 championship, again showing Santa Ana as the home of champs. The Jaguars won 4-0, securing their first CIF championship in history. This is a testament to their hard work and dedication.
Congratulations to Coach Diego Aguirre for his leadership, and players Aymar Salgado, Isabella Barrera, and Jewel Orellana for scoring in the CIF championship game.
Congratulations to all the players on the team's success. They have made their school and the Santa Ana community so proud, and we look forward to seeing their future successes.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bera family and their multigenerational commitment to service, education, and our community.
This family legacy began with Kanta and Babulal Bera, who came to the United States from India in the late 1950s. Kanta and Babulal believed that education was the pathway to opportunity in the middle class. They worked multiple jobs, while pursuing graduate degrees and raising Raja, Rimal, and Ami, their three sons.
The Beras' dedication to global health spanned from Orange County to India. From starting an all-girls school in India that has graduated more than 7,000 students to supporting health and housing efforts not only in India but in southern California, the Beras have expanded opportunities to countless communities to pursue their educational opportunities.
Two generations now of Beras have attended UCI School of Medicine. UCI School of Medicine has become the center of their efforts to support future medical graduates.
In 2020, the Beras donated $100,000 to the UCI School of Medicine to permanently support medical students traveling to India. These aspiring medical students are able to work in global clinical environments and underserved communities here in the United States.
The personal history of the Bera family inspires all of us to pursue education and to give back to our communities, not only in America but around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Bera family. I thank them for showing us how it is done.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of Levittown's own Gerard ``Jerry'' Galloway of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, my hometown. He passed away at the age of 75 after a courageous and hard-fought battle with cancer.
Born in Philadelphia as the first of 10 children, Jerry's deep Catholic faith instilled by his parents, Jim and Jane, guided him throughout his life of service to his family, his community, and to his country.
Drafted into the United States Army in 1968, Jerry served our Nation with quiet strength before earning a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees in education and psychology later in life.
He devoted his career to serving individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities, working with students who were too often labeled as difficult or unreachable. He showed every child the attention and love that only he could give.
A lifelong member of Queen of the Universe parish, my home parish in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jerry brought Holy Communion and companionship to those who were unable to attend Mass. He and his family are the heart and soul behind the annual Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Parade. He will be remembered not only for his faith and service but for his ``king of cool'' spirit that made everyone he met feel known and feel loved.
We extend our deepest sympathies to his beloved wife, Edna; his daughters, Meaghann, Bridget, and Maria; his grandchildren; and to all who knew and loved him.
Jerry Galloway's legacy of faith, family, and service will forever be remembered with pride by the Galloway family and the entire Bucks County family. He will be dearly missed, and we love him.
Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate the 100th birthday of my friend, the indomitable Mae Krier of Levittown, Pennsylvania, one of our Nation's original Rosie the Riveters.
As a young woman in World War II, Mae went on to work for the home front, helping build the aircraft that formed the backbone of America's airpower.
For decades since she has been a tireless advocate to ensure that millions of Rosies receive the recognition they have long deserved. They riveted, welded, and labored in our factories, in our shipyards, in our farms, in our schools, and in our hospitals.
Mr. Speaker, I was honored to lead the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act and to present Mae Krier with that gold medal, the very first one, the highest civilian honor from Congress, on the shores of Normandy during the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in tribute to all the women whose hands and hearts helped win this war.
Mae is the embodiment of a trailblazer. Her contributions during the war and her tireless advocacy for women's empowerment and equality have laid the foundation for the America we cherish today and for the next generation of young women.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Rosie the Riveter Mae Krier a very happy 100th birthday and in honoring all the Rosies whose courage and patriotism changed America forever.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of James A. Lewis IV, who tragically passed away on January 26, 2026, at the age of 46.
James was the beloved son of Reverend Dr. James A. Lewis III and Lady Zandra Lewis of Miracle Missions Full Gospel Church.
He was a loving brother to Lisa, Colby, Tamara, Jamila, and Jermaine. He was a trusted friend. Above all, he was a devoted father to Jadah and grandfather to JaKai James Smith, instilling a love that will forever run deep within them.
For James, his friends, family, and community were everything. On Sundays, one didn't have to look far to find James. He would be at the grill, apron on, with tongs in hand and a smile on his face, graciously making sure everyone had a full plate. It was a simple demonstration of his kind and generous spirit. One of the quiet ways he showed love was by making sure everyone was taken care of.
He carried that same spirit of service into every facet of his life, including his work at the Erie County Medical Center and Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo. He helped keep patients safe, supported frontline caregivers, and ensured that healing could happen.
James went on to build a business of his own, starting a cleaning company, driven by excellence and commitment to service. Through his work, James supported community institutions of all sizes and helped create spaces where opportunity and hope could flourish and take root.
James measured his success by whether his family was cared for, whether his work was done well, and whether he lived in accordance with his faith. Today, his legacy lives on through his beloved family. In them, his strength endures; and his spirit carries forward.
The backbone of this Nation is built by those like James A. Lewis IV, people who serve quietly, love fiercely, and build community one act of kindness at a time.
May we honor him not just for what he did but for who he was. May we carry forward his example by loving our families more intentionally, serving our communities more faithfully, and remembering that greatness is often found in everyday acts of devotion.
Our community and our Nation grieves with the Lewis family. May memories of his life and the knowledge that he is now in the arms of the Lord comfort them. May James A. Lewis IV rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the extraordinary life and legacy of Bernard LaFayette, who passed away on March 5, 2026, at the age of 85. He was a giant of the civil rights movement and a lifelong champion of justice, equality, and nonviolence.
Bernard LaFayette was an extraordinary man who had extraordinary talents and extraordinary courage. As a Freedom Rider and a cofounder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, otherwise known as SNCC, Bernard placed himself on the front line of the struggle for civil rights, risking life and limb to challenge injustice and dismantle segregation across the South.
As a trusted lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, he helped to advocate a philosophy of nonviolent social change that moved our Nation closer to its founding promise of liberty and justice for all.
His liberation was one of selflessness. His leadership was instrumental during the most pivotal moments of the civil rights movement, especially in my hometown of Selma, where his organizing efforts helped secure the right to vote for countless Black Americans.
Yet, what set Bernard LaFayette apart was not only his bravery in those defining moments but his lifelong commitment to ensuring the principles of nonviolence would endure forever.
Through his ministry, his scholarship, and his teaching, Bernard LaFayette dedicated himself to training new generations in the principles and the discipline of peaceful resistance.
He believed deeply in what Dr. King called the Beloved Community, a Nation and a world rooted in justice, in reconciliation, and love. He worked every day of his life to make that vision a reality.
On a personal note, as a proud daughter of Selma, I am forever grateful for the sacrifices made by Bernard LaFayette in the name of justice and equality. I know that I get to walk the Halls of Congress as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman because of the resilience, the courage, and determination of people like Bernard.
My thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife, Kate, as well as his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.
On behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of a civil rights icon and a nonviolent advocate, Bernard LaFayette. May he rest in power and in peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in keeping the people of Nebraska in their thoughts and prayers as our State confronts the worst wildfire crisis in our history.
Nebraska has always been defined by resilience. From the pioneers who endured brutal blizzards, devastating droughts, and an uncertain future to build a life on the Great Plains, to the families who call it home today, that spirit has never left us. It is who we are.
Today, that spirit is being tested once again. On March 12, four fires ignited across central and western Nebraska. In less than a week, they have burned over 826,000 acres, and there is still no clear end in sight.
This past weekend, I joined Governor Pillen and Senator Ricketts to tour the affected areas and meet with local officials to learn about the latest containment efforts. What I saw and heard was certainly sobering. The scale of this devastation is staggering.
Across 10 counties, no less than 46 structures have been destroyed and 470 more are threatened. At least 600 Nebraskans have had to evacuate their homes, and 1 Nebraskan, Rose White of Arthur, Nebraska, has lost her life. I certainly take a moment to offer my heartfelt condolences to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who knew and loved her.
Right now, these fires continue to burn, and Mother Nature is not predicted to be of any assistance any time soon. The Morrill fire, now the largest wildfire in Nebraska's history, has already burned more than 643,000 acres
Yet, even in the face of this disaster, Nebraskans are doing what we have always done, and that is coming together. Neighbors are helping neighbors. Unaffected communities across our State are sending their support, and a countless number of brave volunteer firefighters and first responders continue to work around the clock, putting everything on the line to protect lives, land, and livelihoods.
Governor Pillen has deployed the Nebraska National Guard, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has sent Iowa National Guard helicopters with Bambi Buckets and crews trained for firefighting operations to assist in these efforts. This is what it means to look out for one another.
While this fight is far from over, we must remember what is at stake. Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska's economy and a way of life for countless families. These fires are not just burning land. They are threatening livelihoods.
Heading into the summer, it is expected that more than 35,000 head of cattle will be without grass this grazing season. Tens of millions of dollars' worth of fencing, fence lines, and other crucial infrastructure have been lost. This means for many producers that the hardship will continue long after the fires are contained.
I ask those producers to please document their losses when it is safe to do so. Federal disaster assistance programs are available, and I want to ensure that support is received for those who are eligible.
I also will take a moment to be honest about what is happening here in Washington. While Nebraska is battling the worst wildfire in our State's history, Senate Democrats are continuing to hold funding for the Department of Homeland Security hostage, putting future FEMA disaster relief funding at risk. Enough is enough. Disaster relief and other vital programs, including TSA and others, should never be used as a political pawn.
All Nebraskans should know that they have the full support of the entire Nebraska Federal delegation, and we stand ready to help in any way that we can. We have faced tough times before, and we have always come through them stronger together. We will do that again now because that is who we are as Nebraskans.
Mr. Speaker, to the American people watching, I am here to say clearly on the floor of the House of Representatives:
You deserve a say in whether our country goes to war.
You deserve a say in whether our children are sent into combat.
You deserve a say in whether your tax dollars are fueling a $1 billion-a-day conflict.
You deserve a voice because the decision to go to war needs to reflect the will of the people who fight in and pay for that war. That will is exercised through the American people's elected Representatives in Congress. It is not about bureaucratic process. It is about the fact that you should have a say in whether your country goes to war.
The White House has cut the American people out of that conversation to launch a war without articulating a compelling imminent threat. They are taking our children to war with no goal, no justification, and no off-ramp. Yet, I will be clear that we still do have the power to stop this.
Public support for Trump is collapsing. If the American people stay loud, more Republicans in this body will have to decide whether they stand with their constituents or with the war. People in red States and blue States want and need the same things: good jobs, safe neighborhoods, a stable economy, affordable healthcare and housing, and the ability to thrive in their communities.
They do not want war, especially not a war being led by Pete Hegseth from day one, who has been failing to demonstrate that he can keep Americans safe. At least 13 soldiers have already died on his watch, and over 1,000 civilians have been killed. It is becoming increasingly clear that the U.S. military is responsible for bombing a school full of elementary school children, killing at least 168 people. The American people do not support this horror.
To my Republican colleagues: Do the right thing. Stand up for our constituents.
To the American people: Do not look away from the truth of what is happening. Refuse to normalize being silent and complicit. You must stay loud.
Mr. Speaker, alerting the public to government wrongdoing is not a crime. Yet, sadly, administrations of both parties are increasingly using the Espionage Act to target and prosecute whistleblowers and journalists for sharing critical information, important information, with the public. Such prosecutions undermine our government's transparency and are a clear violation of the First Amendment and fundamental right to due process.
That is why I am introducing the Daniel Ellsberg Press Freedom and Whistleblower Protection Act, which would prevent abuses against whistleblowers, journalists, and the American public for exposing government corruption.
Ever since it became law in 1917, the Espionage Act has been used to criminalize political dissent, and that is dangerous. It has been used to target whistleblowers who alerted the American people about government lies about the Vietnam war, mass surveillance, torture, drone assassinations, and the U.S. war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In recent years, the use of this repressive tool has prosecuted whistleblowers and journalists acting in the public interest and has expanded dramatically, producing a major chilling effect on the right to dissent in our country. In our country, war has always been used as an excuse by the powerful to take away the rights of our people.
This legislation is named in honor of the late Daniel Ellsberg, the celebrated whistleblower who bravely exposed government lies about the Vietnam war with the publication of the Pentagon Papers.
Today, our government is committing horrific war crimes against humanity, from Iran to Palestine to Cuba, while expanding mass surveillance and spying on Americans more than ever.
If we allow Presidential administrations to continue to abuse this power and erode our rights, we will lose our freedom of speech and so much more.
It is time to put an end to these abuses and stand up for our First Amendment rights and freedoms.
Mr. Speaker, as we approach the celebration of Eid al- Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan, thousands of our families in the 12th Congressional District who have strong ties to Lebanon are struggling right now.
This year's Eid feels different for us. I know many have lost loved ones. Many mosques are full of memorials, and many, many, again, are watching their grandparents' homes be bombed and seeing relatives, uprooted from their neighbors, becoming homeless. This campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Israeli Government has already killed nearly 1,000 people, including over 100 children that we know of.
Over 1 million people in Lebanon, one-fifth of Lebanon's entire population, has been forcibly displaced and told by the Israeli military that they will not be allowed to return to their homes and their villages. This has all been supported and enabled by our tax dollars.
Mr. Speaker, entire families have been wiped out, and towns and city neighborhoods have been completely erased. Entire generations-- grandparents, parents, and children are gone. Medical centers and universities are being targeted. Look it up. They are
We are witnessing the same genocidal playbook used against Palestinians in Gaza, and now they are doing it in Lebanon.
Mr. Speaker, I will be introducing a House Resolution standing with the people of Lebanon against these war crimes and calling for an end to this illegal invasion. It is time for us to be able to stop this illegal invasion, enact a total arms embargo, and put an immediate end to this destructive regional war.
Mr. Speaker, in Detroit, we say that we don't have healthcare in our country. We have sick care in our country.
Under the Trump administration, we know that this crisis is getting worse. Trump has already cut $1 trillion from programs like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, so I introduced a bill to be able to hone in on the pharmaceutical industry. It is called Medicines for the People Act, a plan to develop essential medicines and medications in the public sector and distribute them to all Americans at not-for- profit rates.
The National Institute for Biomedical Research and Development would drive the development of these drugs and devices to lower costs and expand access to medicines, boost innovation, and address public health concerns. It creates the real competition that we need in our healthcare system: lower the prices and save lives.
We all know that there are real consequences to these higher costs and fewer breakthroughs in the industry that prioritizes profits over public health, so I urge my colleagues to please support Medicines for the People Act. It is important because healthcare is a human right.
Mr. Speaker, it is time to build a system that ensures that lifesaving prescription drugs are affordable and accessible to everyone. When my residents tell me that we have sick care instead of healthcare, that should be a signal that we need to do more and need to be able to combat profit and corporate greed within our healthcare system.
Mr. Speaker, last week, our Nation lost six American servicemembers in a tragic aircraft crash over Iraq. They are among the 13 who have lost their lives to date after Trump waged war in Iran.
Among them are three Ohioans serving in the Ohio National Guard: Captain Seth Koval, Captain Curtis Angst, and Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons. These were brave men who answered the call to serve their country.
Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons was only 28 years old. He had what his family called his dream job in the Air Force. His cousin said that he had a million-dollar smile that could light up a room and that he loved flying and serving his country.
Captain Curtis Angst, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, spent a decade serving his country as a pilot.
Captain Seth Koval, who served nearly 20 years in uniform, had dedicated much of his life to flying missions that kept other aircraft in the sky and other servicemembers safe.
These men flew one of the most demanding and dangerous missions in the Air Force: refueling other aircraft midair so that they could complete their missions and return home safely. Yet, these airmen never made it home.
Each of these men have families, friends, and communities that will carry this loss forever. Today, my heart breaks for them.
To those families and the families of other servicemembers who we have lost, please know that the people of Ohio are grieving with you.
Mr. Speaker, these six Americans are not the only lives that we lost. Since President Trump dragged us into this war with Iran, 13 Americans have already died. These are 13 families who have received the worst knock at the door imaginable, and more than a dozen communities across the country are now mourning someone who stepped forward to serve.
While those families are paying the ultimate price, Americans here at home are feeling the consequences of this war in other ways. Gas prices, oil prices, and the cost of nearly everything else are skyrocketing. Families feel it every time they fill up their tanks, during every trip to the grocery store, and with the cost of food at the market. Their paychecks are not stretching as far because of the President's reckless America last decisions.
In Ohio's 13th Congressional District, families were already struggling with rising transportation costs. Cars, gas, insurance, and public transit costs are becoming increasingly expensive.
According to the House Budget Committee, Ohio families saw transportation costs increase by an average of $65 last year alone because of Republicans' careless policies.
President Trump promised that prices would go down on his first day in office, but that promise turned out to be a lie. Instead, his tariffs, which act like a national sales tax on American families, and the Republicans' big, ugly bill are driving up costs and squeezing families' budgets even more.
Mr. Speaker, I refuse to sit back and watch working families in Ohio get squeezed like this. That is why I have been pushing for policies that actually lower everyday costs and put more money in people's pockets.
I introduced the Lower Your Taxes Act to do such a thing. The bill would expand the earned income tax credit and child tax credit so working families can keep more of the money that they earn.
This effort and other commonsense solutions I have proposed, and my Democratic colleagues have offered, to lower costs have been blocked or opposed by Republicans.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot forget the real people caught in the middle of all of this: families who now have to decide between filling up the gas tank and buying groceries, between fixing their car, going to the doctor, or paying their rent.
Americans cannot survive Trump's dangerous actions overseas that are taking human and economic tolls. Republicans have ignored warning signs and blocked cost-cutting solutions, and they have left working families to fend for themselves. That is a failure of leadership.
We can act to restore affordability, or we can keep letting costs spiral while Republicans protect the millionaires and the billionaires. I hope that we protect American families because the people we represent deserve so much better than what they are getting right now.
May God bless our troops, and may God bless the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the sentiments of my constituents in the 12th Congressional District in New Jersey. They are furious.
The President's war in Iran is one of the greatest foreign policy blunders in American history. It is a war of choice, and he took this action without consulting either Congress or the American people.
The President's reasoning after the fact has been one lie after another. In briefings to Congress, the administration has admitted this isn't about regime change and that there was no imminent threat, that there was no nuclear threat.
The administration has gone before the American people and provided zero clarification of the objectives, nor have they planned for the obvious consequences of this action. There is no clear off-ramp.
The Strait of Hormuz has been closed, with several cargo ships already destroyed, choking the global supply chain. This has led to higher oil and gas prices, which President Trump has declared is a good thing. In addition, a third of the world's traded fertilizer has been blocked from the market, putting agricultural work at risk.
The American people were already struggling to pay the bills, thanks to Trump's self-declared trade wars. Now, we are forced to deal with the economic fallout, the personal fallout, and the loss of lives of this self-declared war.
The American people are paying for this war of choice with a price tag of $1 billion a day. The families of the 13 servicemembers who were lost are paying for this. Meanwhile, the President stands to profit from this war.
Trump's sons are investing in drone companies with contracts with the Pentagon. This is a clear conflict of interest that calls into question the President's motives when sending our brave servicemembers into harm's way in the first place.
The President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is gallivanting across the Middle East for his private firm while simultaneously serving as one of the United States' chief negotiators.
We have come to expect corrupt self-dealing from this President, the most corrupt President in our history, his family, and their cronies. However, now American lives are at stake.
Finally, this week, the President's Secretary of Defense said that we will ``keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy.'' The Secretary of Defense is committing war crimes at a press conference.
Declaring that the United States will offer no quarter puts our own troops at greater risk. It represents an appalling lack of concern for the well-being of our troops, a direct violation of both U.S. and international law, and highlights his incompetence and his lack of soul.
Mr. President, if you have the ability to feel shame, you will end this war now.
If my colleagues in this Chamber have a shred of dignity left, they will immediately pass a War Powers Resolution and bring an end to this disaster before more lives are lost.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. Members are also reminded to address their remarks to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss this administration's massive coverup of the Epstein files in order to conceal President Trump's involvement.
This coverup reached its apex last month when Attorney General Pam Bondi falsely testified under oath before the House Committee on the Judiciary. The Attorney General testified: ``There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that.''
This is a lie. In the 3 million or so documents that the DOJ has disclosed to Congress under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, there is credible evidence that Donald Trump committed a crime. That, of course, excludes the nearly 3 million pages that the DOJ is refusing to turn over.
Donald Trump is mentioned thousands of times in the Epstein files. There are multiple allegations that he sexually assaulted young girls, but I want to focus on one victim's allegations that the FBI unquestionably found to be credible.
The DOJ tried to hide reports of three of the four interviews that this victim gave to the FBI, but pressure from the media and Congress forced them to disclose them. Now we know why. She credibly accuses Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her when she was between 13 and 15. In each of her interviews, this victim recited the same account of her interaction with Donald Trump.
On August 7, 2019, she explained that she was between 13 and 15 when she was left alone with Donald Trump, who ``mentioned something to the effect of, `Let me teach you how little girls are supposed to be.' Trump unzipped his pants and put [her] head down, `down to his penis. [The victim] bit the [s] out of it.' Trump struck [the victim] and said words to the effect of: `Get this little [b] the hell out of here.' [The victim] advised she bit Trump's penis because he disgusted her.''
She provided some additional details in the next interview 2 weeks later. Then, a month later, she met again with the FBI and asked ``what the point would be of providing the information at this point in her life when there was a strong possibility nothing could be done about it.''
She didn't speak to the FBI again, but the FBI certainly found her story credible. In a 21-page PowerPoint presentation that the FBI made to prosecutors, they included this victim's testimony. They would not have done so if they did not find the evidence credible, which means that Attorney General Bondi lied when she stated under oath that there is no evidence that Donald Trump committed a crime.
We are just scratching the surface because the Epstein files also reveal that Donald Trump has made false statements over the past quarter century about Jeffrey Epstein. We know, in 2002, he called him a terrific guy and said: ``It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.''
In a birthday card in 2003 that Donald Trump gave to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday, Donald wrote for himself: ``We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.'' ``Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?'' ``A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday--and may every day be another wonderful secret.''
In that same year, Palm Beach County opened an investigation into Epstein that eventually was turned over to the FBI. The investigation became public in 2006, and the Palm Beach County police chief received a call quickly after from Donald Trump, where Trump told him: ``Thank goodness you're stopping him. Everyone has known he's been doing this.'' What innocent person calls the police chief about an investigation upon just learning about it?
The recent documents also show that Jeffrey Epstein e-mailed Ghislaine Maxwell and said: ``I want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is Trump. [Redacted victim] spent hours at my house with him. He has never once been mentioned.''
Trump also denied that he ever went on Epstein's plane, but, of course, the Southern District of New York said that he was on his plane eight times, often with young women.
The reason why this matters is because we don't have half of the Epstein files. If the Attorney General is covering this up in such a degree that she is redacting things from the public that she then shows to Congress, what else is she covering up?
I will just show that this document here was redacted to the public. It was unredacted to Congress, and it completely disputes everything that Donald Trump has said about Jeffrey Epstein, about what he knew about the allegations, about his disgusting behavior, about whether he had ever been to Jeffrey Epstein's house, saying: ``I may have been there with my wife.'' Asked if any young girls were there, ``No. May have been children of guests, but that's it.''
Well, we know that is not the case.
Now, why is this important? Because if the Attorney General is covering up this information that she then reveals to Congress, what else is she covering up about Donald Trump's involvement in the Epstein files?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded again to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the rapid rise of AI chatbots and the urgent need to put clear guardrails in place.
Artificial intelligence chatbots are becoming increasingly common in our daily lives. They are embedded in our phones, our classrooms, and our workplaces.
There is no question that this is an innovative technology with the potential to democratize access to information, reduce costs, and expand opportunity. As promising as this technology is, we must also be clear about its limits.
AI chatbots are not and should not be treated as substitutes for licensed professionals, like doctors, therapists, lawyers, and financial advisers.
We have seen this most clearly in the mental health space. Users, including children and other vulnerable individuals, are increasingly turning to chatbots for therapy.
Tragically, we have seen too many cases in which the children took their own lives after interacting with chatbots that failed to recognize a person in crisis and even encouraged their harmful thoughts.
These limitations extend beyond mental health, too. People are turning to unqualified so-called robo-lawyers for legal advice and AI financial advisers for guidance on investing their hard-earned retirement savings.
These are high-stakes interactions that can have devastating consequences without proper oversight, which is why every State regulates the licensing of these professionals according to rigorous standards.
Many chatbot providers have added disclaimers, saying their products are not licensed professionals, but, Mr. Speaker, disclosures are not enough.
For example, here, in just a few messages with my staff, this chatbot readily claimed that it was a licensed healthcare professional and even invented a fake license number. For a vulnerable user, that claim can be all it takes to place complete trust in a system that is incapable of consistently providing clinical care or sound professional guidance.
In another example, a seemingly benign bot, marketed as offering legal guidance, quickly claimed to be a licensed attorney.
Clear rules are needed now to protect consumers, promote trust in responsible innovation, and ensure a level playing field for companies that are doing the right thing.
That is why I am introducing the CHATBOT Act. This legislation would prohibit companies from claiming or implying that a chatbot is a licensed professional through marketing or the bot's output.
This is a narrow, commonsense consumer protection bill. I am proud that it has been endorsed by a broad coalition of healthcare, legal, financial, and trade organizations as well as consumer protection and technology policy organizations.
We must come together to ensure this new technology is developed safely and responsibly.
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the CHATBOT Act.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the outstanding presence in the city of Mount Vernon of Macedonia Baptist Church. Founded 113 years ago, Macedonia has been a bedrock of faith and community service in the African-American community on the south side of Mount Vernon, where I grew up.
The church is led by Pastor Rev. Dr. Darren Morton, also a local Mount Vernon boy, who holds a degree in business administration and a doctorate in education and is a graduate of the Tabernacle Bible Institute and the Manhattan Bible Institute.
The Macedonia family holds weekly Sunday services, Sunday school for young people, Wednesday Bible study every week at 7 p.m., and midweek Lunch with Jesus fellowship discussion over lunch.
As they approach the solemn Christian season of Good Friday and Easter, Macedonia provides a daily 40 Day Lenten Journey series.
Macedonia's outreach into the community as well--feeding those in need, clothing those in need, providing positive outlets for young people, and attention and care for our seniors--helps put their Christian values on display every day to the people of Mount Vernon.
From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute Macedonia Baptist Church, its lay leaders, and its spiritual leaders for its vibrant presence in Mount Vernon.
Mr. Speaker, along the Hudson River in Westchester County, there is a place to go on a Saturday morning where you can find farm-fresh produce and goods from the Hudson Valley, the Hastings Farmers' Market.
The market supports regional agriculture by bringing these products close to home on alternate Saturday mornings in the winter season and every Saturday throughout the spring and summer seasons, in the winter season from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Hastings Farmers' Market opened the summer of 1998. Now, under the leadership of Ms. Pascale Le Draoulec, it features dozens of vendors with a wide variety of offerings in the strategic location across from the Hastings-on-Hudson Metro-North Railroad station.
The market, along with its sister market in Irvington, the Irvington Farmers Market, which is on Sundays, is convenient to all the Rivertowns residents and the city of Yonkers residents.
The market's mission also includes educating and inspiring the market community about the benefits of local farming and sustainable practices. They invite charitable nonprofits and organizations to participate in the farmers' market, groups from the Girl Scouts of Hastings to the local volunteer fire department.
From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute the Hastings Farmers' Market as a valuable and estimable community asset.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute the leadership and the membership of the Knights of Columbus Father John M. Grady Council 503 located in Port Chester, New York, for their service to the community.
The Knights, an organization of Catholic men nationwide, are organized into local councils and draw their membership in Council 503 from the parishes of St. John Bosco and the churches within the parish, including Corpus Christi-Holy Rosary, and formerly named Our Lady of Mercy.
The Knights of Council 503, led by Grand Knight Mark Scocchera and Deputy Grand Knight Phil Dorazio, have an active program that works to support the parish with local dinners and fundraising events, programs for the seniors and the veterans of the Port Chester community and the Rye Brook community, and programs for young people, especially through the Scouting troop programs.
They maintain an active Knights of Columbus hall that hosts their events and other events in the village with the ever-present chef, past Grand Knight Charlie Sacco, and his wife, the head of the Ladies Auxiliary, Toni Sacco, in charge. You can join them for Pasta Fridays every Friday night during Lent. It is very affordable.
From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute the Knights of Columbus Father John M. Grady Council 503 for their service to Catholic values and their service to the local Port Chester and Rye Brook communities.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Susan Williams, the president and CEO of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce. Susan will retire at the end of the month after 20 years of dedicated service.
Susan first started working for the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce in 2006 as the assistant executive director. She became the president and CEO 1 year later.
During her first year with the chamber, Susan operated with a team of just two full-time staff and a summer intern. However, she quickly expanded the team and the programming offered by the chamber.
Susan was instrumental in the launch of FLEX, Venango County's young professionals organization. This initiative helps young people in the county collaborate and develop leadership skills.
In addition to FLEX, Susan helped launch Leadership Venango. This is a 9-month program designed to educate and motivate individuals in the community who aspire to be leaders.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Susan for her selflessness and serving Venango County so well.
This week marks the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a time that strengthens our faith, deepens compassion, and brings people together in care for one another, but I also know that this Ramadan has been incredibly difficult for many of our families, especially those with loved ones in Lebanon and in Palestine.
I am sending love to all of the families who have lost loved ones and those who are celebrating Eid on top of the rubble of their masjids and their homes.
Even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, our Muslim neighbors have continued to show resilience. They continue to come together in community and supporting one another. As we gather to celebrate, let us keep showing up for each other and speaking out against injustices and caring for our communities with compassion and solidarity.
To all of the millions of Muslim Americans in our country right now, I want you to know that not everybody in this Chamber sees you as less human. A majority of us in this Chamber know that you are worthy of life, liberty, and justice.
May this Eid bring us closer to a future grounded in peace, justice, and dignity for all.
``Blessed Eid''; ``Eid mubarak'' to every Muslim here in the United States and around the world.
Mr. Speaker, Iran has been at war for 47 years, murdering American families, justifying President Donald Trump to respond to the imminent threat from the Iranian regime.
Since the 1979 embassy seizure in Tehran to sponsoring terrorism through puppets like Hezbollah, Hamas, Iraqi militants, and Houthis, to Iran boasting to Envoy Steve Witkoff of 11 nuclear bombs, the regime in Tehran has chosen oppression of Iranians over peace and prosperity. They chant: ``Death to America.''
President Trump has made the decision, with Israel, defending Americans: destroying missile capabilities, annihilating naval assets, and ensuring that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
We are forever grateful for the servicemembers defending American families.
Courageous commentator Mark Levin of Buckley, Goldwater, and Reagan heritage, stands with Trump, condemning isolationists as either dumb or evil.
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 and mocking Trump as Putin provides targeting information to Iran to kill Americans.
Mr. Speaker, artificial intelligence is already transforming the way Americans live, work, and learn. It holds enormous promise for our future. From improving healthcare outcomes to helping small businesses grow, AI can be a powerful force for good when we, as legislators, create the environment to use it responsibly.
We also have a responsibility to prepare our workforce for the challenges ahead. That is why I have been leading on this issue in Congress, focusing on expanding job training and ensuring that employees and employers alike in north Texas and across this country have the tools they need to succeed in an AI-driven economy.
We cannot afford to fall behind. Other nations are investing aggressively in this technology. If we don't act, we risk ceding both economic and national security leadership.
Congress must act to prepare our workforce for this new reality and to establish a smart, reasonable regulatory framework--one that encourages innovation while protecting the public and keeping our kids safe in an increasingly digital world.
AI presents extraordinary opportunities, but only if we are prepared. That means investing in our people, setting
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Diane Orlowski. She was a true force of nature. We came to know her affectionately on the campaign as Mama Deetz.
Mama Deetz would go shopping. She would call and make tons of volunteer efforts. She would do parades. She really was everywhere, but she had such an exuberance, a spirit about her, that was infectious. If someone heard her laugh, they might not even know what the joke was, but they were captivated by the laugh and would find themselves laughing, too.
She was a leader in the Myrtle Beach area, but also in Connecticut in the business community. She had decades of experience as a businesswoman. After retiring, of course, she did like most and retired to the Grand Strand.
We are going to miss her very deeply because of the life that she led and the person that she was. She loved her family dearly, her sons, her grandchildren. We were always impressed by the stories that she would share, the trouble that she would get into with her grandkids. She brought light into every room she was part of, and her absence leaves the world a little bit quieter without her laugh echoing through it. She will be deeply missed.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today, during Women's History Month, to honor Ellen Lewis of Wake Forest, North Carolina, a remarkable community member who is not often remembered in the history books.
Born into slavery, Ellen Lewis was about 15 years old when Union soldiers came through Wake Forest after the Civil War and told enslaved people that they were free.
After emancipation, she built a life of service to her community, becoming a respected nurse and midwife who delivered hundreds of babies, both Black and White.
Her story reminds us of the generations of Black women who have been the backbone of maternal care in our communities. Yet, today, Black mothers in America are still far more likely to experience complications or die from pregnancy-related causes.
Let's recommit ourselves to building a healthcare system where every mother can give birth safely and with dignity.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Kenneth John Brown, a marine, teacher, husband, and man of deep faith who recently passed away at 102 years old.
Ken Brown was just 20 when he landed on Iwo Jima, where he proudly served his country. He came home, started a family, earned his doctorate, and spent his career teaching our youth in the classroom.
He was, by every account, a man who showed up for his country, for his church, for his students, and for his family for over a century.
Mr. Speaker, lives like Ken Brown's are worth pausing to recognize. He is a reminder that one person committed to the right things can leave this world better than he found it. May his example inspire all of us to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the Sierra Pacific girls' basketball team for their amazing 2026 season.
This past year, the Lady Bears finished an incredible season by winning the Division II State championship, the highest CIF State division title in school history.
These student athletes have shown what is possible through teamwork, discipline, and grit. They put in long hours, battled through adversity, and continued to push themselves to be better every single day. That dedication has absolutely paid off.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the players, coaches, and families on this well-earned victory. They have made their school, community, and the Central Valley proud.
Mr. Speaker, the war in Iran is crushing the economy here at home. Working-class and middle-class Americans are struggling.
Today, I read that the price of gas has gone up 27 percent in just 2 weeks. Every day, we are spending $2 billion of American money in Iran.
To put that in perspective, for 20 days in Iran, we could have free public college for every American. We could have a thousand new trade schools. We could have childcare at $10 a day for working-class Americans.
Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and I are introducing the Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act for oil companies. They need to be paying a tax, and that money needs to go back in the pockets of ordinary Americans who are struggling at the pump.
Instead of putting more money into Iran, we need a Marshall Plan for the United States of America. The Democrats stand for America's economy first, building jobs here, childcare here, and healthcare here.
Let's focus on our people and our communities instead of draining more money to the war in the Middle East.
Mr. Speaker, founded in 1891, Elizabeth City State University celebrated its 135th anniversary.
As the community gathered to celebrate a convocation, Chancellor Hargrove announced MacKenzie Scott's generous $42 million contribution to the university, the largest dollar per student enrolled gift of any HBCU of her recent gifts.
Our HBCUs are game changers. They are transforming regions and lives in northeastern North Carolina.
We are reclaiming our future and keeping the American Dream within reach.
Mr. Speaker, I am so grateful that MacKenzie Scott sees the value of educational institutions like Elizabeth City State University. Viking pride, Viking pride, Viking pride.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 139) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The text of the joint resolution is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) each will control 30 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.J. Res. 139.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arizona?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today our national debt exceeds $38 trillion and grows second by second. On a per-person basis, the national debt amounts to $113,000 for every person living in the United States.
For generations, Congress has chosen to max out our national credit card and leave the bill to the next generation instead of having hard conversations about spending.
Families across our Nation have had these hard conversations, and they balance their budgets. The leaders of this Nation should do the same.
Americans know that debt comes with strings attached. Every dollar we spend beyond our means today is a dollar and change we must repay tomorrow. It is no different for government. The more America borrows, the more expensive every next borrowed dollar becomes.
Indeed, annual Federal spending on interest is now one of the largest line items we have. We spend more on interest than we do on Medicare. We spend more on interest than we do on national defense.
Republicans and Democrats may have different policy ideas and priorities, but surely we can all agree that a budget hamstrung by huge interest payments benefits nobody.
Our fiscal trajectory is alarming and unsustainable. Higher-than- expected interest rates or other challenges could trigger a debt spiral. It has happened to other countries throughout history.
Without changes, it will happen to us. The day of reckoning will come, and it will not be big and beautiful. It will be big and ugly.
There are two choices: spend a lot less on the future or spend a little less starting today. I choose the second option. That is why I support the balanced budget amendment. It is the only way to cement our commitment to long-term fiscal stability.
A 5-year path to balance will allow us to make prudent spending choices to gradually balance the budget and wean us from our reliance on deficit spending.
It is simple. The balanced budget amendment will restore fiscal sanity and take us off the path to an economic calamity.
But the balanced budget amendment will not merely beat back a future fiscal crisis. It will also reduce the cost of living here and now. The enormous Federal debt is currently driving up borrowing costs for all Americans. Mortgages, car payments, and student loans are all more expensive because of Congress' profligacy and irresponsibility.
We saw the disastrous effects of budget-busting deficit spending during the catastrophic 4 years of Biden-Harris rule. With the eager support of Democrats in Congress, the Biden-Harris administration approved $4.7 trillion in new deficit spending, ultimately racking up $8.5 trillion in new debt.
What did the average American get? The worst inflation in 40 years.
When Biden-Harris took over in January of 2021, inflation was just at 1.4 percent per annum. By the middle of the term, it exceeded 9 percent per annum.
Inflation is a tax on everyone, but we all know who it hurts the most: the poor, the working class, seniors on fixed incomes, and American families, who saw their expenses explode and their salaries stay flat.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise to oppose H.J. Res. 139, a feeble attempt by the President's budget-busting, blank-check enablers in Congress to distract America from their own staggering and historic fiscal irresponsibility.
Everyone knows they control the House. They control the Senate. They control the White House, and they have used their total power over our Federal Government to drive our country into a deep ditch of deficits, debt, illegal tariffs, undeclared wars, and economic destruction.
After adding $4 trillion to our national debt with their tax breaks for the super rich, every Republican in the Chamber but Representatives Massie and Davidson voted to allow President Trump to keep spending between 1 and $2 billion every day, not of his own money but of our money, on his unauthorized and unconstitutional war in Iran, without so much as a single vote or a single honest debate on the floor of the House.
This war of choice and aggression, which is spiraling out of control now in the Middle East, and which President Trump now calls this ``little excursion,'' has already cost 13 American servicemembers their lives and wounded over 200 Americans in uniform, while killing more than a thousand Iranian civilians, including 170 children at a girls' school that was bombed in the first week of Donald Trump's war.
But still our colleagues sit there passive, invertebrate, and complicit in the face of this brazen usurpation of congressional war powers, rising from their constitutional stupor only to vote ``no'' on our War Powers Resolution, which every self-respecting Member of the Article I branch should have voted for.
The administration reports that the first 6 days of this war cost the taxpayers $11.3 billion, or $1.9 billion a day.
Have Republicans come to the floor to explain why this war was necessary or to offer evidence of an imminent threat posed to the American people?
Have they asked for a special Iran war tax to demonstrate their fiscal responsibility?
No. They just put Trump's little excursion, as he calls it, on the national credit card like an impulse trip to Disney World.
But our constituents are paying through the nose for this historic folly right now, not just as taxpayers but as consumers. We have already been buffeted by Donald Trump's illegal tariffs and imbecilic trade wars against the rest of the world and the soaring cost of living under his corrupt economic policies. Now, we also have to contend with skyrocketing gasoline prices thanks to their foolish disruption of the global oil supply. Gas prices have shot up more than 25 percent since the lawless mullah theocrats of Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz after the lawless MAGA theocrats of America bombed Iran.
Now, our Republican colleagues present a doomed proposal to deface our Constitution with the same kind of witless, self-incriminating graffiti someone recently scrawled on the exterior front wall of the Kennedy Center, which they call the Trump-Kennedy Center.
This proposed constitutional amendment pretends to address a problem that the Republicans created and that Republicans have refused to address legislatively, even though they have all the political control and all the legislative tools they need at their disposal to address it.
We don't need a balanced budget constitutional amendment. We just need a balanced budget. If you believe in a balanced budget, bring us one. Show it to us. You control the Congress. But don't start a fiscal wildfire with your out-of-control spending and then throw the Constitution into the flames, too.
If this proposed amendment were in effect today, the GOP-controlled Congress would be forced to pay for Trump's war by further cutting critical programs for America's working families.
If we gain the majority and try to repeal the trillion-dollar tax cut that they handed to the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, we would have to get a two-thirds vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate in order to engage in an act of fiscal responsibility. But if they wanted to pass another trillion-dollar tax cut for Elon Musk and the richest Americans, they would only need to get a majority vote in the House and the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, even Republicans are denouncing the gigantic, runaway deficits that result from out-of-control Republican spending and stupendously reckless Republican tax cuts for billionaires and giant corporations.
One of our GOP colleagues, Representative Chip Roy, described their One Big Beautiful Bill Act as garbage prior to the House vote, saying: ``If we're going to do the tax policy, at least do the spending policy. Have the courage and the fortitude to do what you campaign on when you're talking about balancing the dang budget.''
Representative Roy's outrage makes sense. Republicans control the House. They control the Senate, and they control the White House. Yet they have not once balanced the Federal budget or even tried to present a balanced budget to Congress.
Their obscene, ugly, profligate law added a jaw-dropping $4 trillion to the national debt because of their massive giveaways to billionaires and corporations, which is the true political mission on their side of the aisle.
They paid for a fraction of their profligacy by stripping health insurance and food assistance from tens of millions of working-class Americans who are now living with these Marie Antoinette policies concocted by billionaires and cyber barons throwing Great Gatsby parties at Mar-a-Lago and bulldozing the White House to build themselves one more gilded ballroom.
Now, rather than showing some discipline and hard work and reversing some of their terrible fiscal blunders from the past to propose an actual balanced budget, no, they waste their time to keep the party going by inviting us to spend the day finger painting on the Constitution of the United States.
To observe the semiquincentennial of the country, they want us to use our Constitution to make them do what they claim they want to do but refuse to do at a time when they possess all the power they need to do it.
With the same foresight and expert planning, the White House has used in their chaotic, forever war in Iran, they will put our government into a fiscal straitjacket forever to cover up for their gilded incompetence and misplaced priorities.
It would mean, for example, that a responsible leader, like Franklin D. Roosevelt or Bill Clinton, would no longer have the flexibility to deal with economic crises created by Republicans like Herbert Hoover or Calvin Coolidge or George W. Bush.
The simple truth is that we don't need a constitutional amendment to balance the budget or have responsible fiscal policies.
They have got one-party control of every branch of government. They have never stopped talking about balanced budgets.
Why don't they just bring us one? That is all we need to do.
However, billionaire rip-off artists like Elon Musk or Peter Thiel don't get rich off balanced budgets. They get rich when the GOP opens the spigots of taxpayer money in Federal Government contracts and giveaways for billionaires and the high-flying, rent-seeking corporate class.
Republicans have run up historic corrupt deficits in this Congress and have never once submitted a single balanced budget. We don't need a constitutional amendment to force the majority to do the right thing. We need a new majority. Republicans may as well introduce a constitutional amendment saying that Federal agents shouldn't shoot American citizens in the face for exercising their First or Second Amendment rights, or a constitutional amendment saying Federal agents shouldn't shoot someone 10 times for lawfully carrying a firearm in Minneapolis.
Mr. Speaker, you don't need a constitutional amendment to respect the law, and you don't need a constitutional amendment to do the right thing for the American people. You just need a new majority, and, Mr. Speaker, it is coming.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to oppose this foolish diversionary legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, histrionics and misdirection won't cover the historical hypocrisy of the reckless spending of Democrats who now even choose to keep parts of the government shut down.
Under the Biden administration, the national debt grew by an unprecedented--unprecedented--$8.5 trillion.
By the way, this used to be a bipartisan issue. When the gentleman mentioned Bill Clinton, I think: Yeah, that is the last time everybody came together from both parties that actually produced a balanced budget.
The gentleman asks: Well, why don't Republicans do it now?
It is because we would like to invite the other side to do it with us. We would like to invite the other side to do it with us, but they don't want to do it with us.
In fact, the gentleman just basically announced that he would like to repeal the tax act and give us the largest tax increase in national history.
What did we get from the runaway spending of Joe Biden?
When Biden-Harris took over in January, inflation was at 1.4 percent. By the middle of the term it was over 9 percent. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will reduce debt to GDP, flip primary deficits into surpluses by 2034, and reduce the deficit by about $4.5 trillion relative to the policy baseline prior to enactment, all of this while averting the largest tax hike in American history that my colleague across the aisle basically just announced they are going to enact upon the American people if they become the majority.
Democrats have proposed radical bills that far exceed the alleged cost of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Let us see what they have done. The Green New Deal will cost $93 trillion over 10 years. That is theirs. Their Medicare for All proposal will cost $32 trillion over 10 years.
Mr. Speaker, forgive me if I think they are projecting a bit on this one here. The simple truth is a balanced budget amendment would hold both parties accountable.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris).
Mr. Speaker, all Americans understand something very clear. We don't have a revenue problem with the Federal Government. We have a spending problem.
Congress has the power of the purse, but we have failed to exercise such authority responsibly. Our national debt currently stands as of this morning I understand at $39 trillion, which equals over $113,000 per citizen. This number grows as I speak and will not stop without radical action from Congress.
We have borrowed our children's futures to pay for programs we cannot afford, putting this country on the path to financial ruin. The only way forward is to set guardrails to ensure Congress can no longer spend money it does not have.
This balanced budget amendment to our Constitution simply prohibits total spending from exceeding the average
While critics may argue that reducing spending will somehow harm the economy, this amendment allows Congress 5 years to adapt to the new requirements. The amendment also sets a two-third majority voting requirement for any new taxes to prevent politicians from taking more of your money to spend rather than doing the hard work of fine-tuning our budget. Despite what some opponents might say, there is no way to tax our way out of this situation.
As I said at the beginning, all of America knows: There is a spending problem, not a revenue problem.
Mr. Speaker, I urge full support of this amendment. It is past time to balance our budget.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the gentleman from Arizona has conceded that the last time we had a balanced budget was under President Bill Clinton, the elected Democratic President for two terms who turned over a surplus of hundreds of billions of dollars to his successor in office. Compare that to President Trump who has been President for a total of around 5\1/2\ years and has added one-quarter of the national debt from George Washington all the way to today. One-quarter of that has come from Donald Trump himself. Mr. Speaker, look not at what they say but at what they do. That is because it is the Democrats who have always been the party of fiscal responsibility. Like they are doing in their Iran war right now, they are spending us into oblivion without even coming to Congress to get the war declared. It is unauthorized-- much less telling us how they are going to pay for it other than putting it on a credit card for our children and our children's children to pay for many generations into the future.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).
Mr. Speaker, I oppose this dangerous, dishonest, and undemocratic resolution.
It is dangerous because it would require shredding the social safety net and gutting vital investments in healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety.
It is dishonest because the same Republicans who hold all the levers of power can pass a balanced budget any time they want, but instead they pass tax cuts for billionaires, creating trillions of dollars in deficits.
It is fundamentally undemocratic because it bakes in policy choices that should be the decision of future Congresses. Each Congress, elected by the people, should decide the contours of its own budget, but this resolution requires a two-thirds majority to raise taxes but only a simple majority to cut taxes. That puts a thumb on the scale for massive spending cuts rather than ensuring that billionaires pay their fair share.
If my Republican colleagues believe so strongly in a balanced budget, then they should pass one. However, this resolution, which will never become law, is nothing more than a press release that lets them pretend to care about deficits without doing the hard work of actually legislating. Vote ``no.''
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I find that the argument that is presented by the gentleman from Maryland seems delusional at best--delusional at best.
This amendment doesn't target programs. It targets overspending. Congress must live within the revenue Americans already provide, and that is about $5.5 trillion a year. The two-thirds threshold applies to tax hikes, not program cuts. Receipts have been stable for decades. Spending is what is out of control. Spending is what is out of control, and they fail to acknowledge it.
What is delusional is for the Democrats to have the audacity to say that they are the party of fiscal responsibility when they are trying to impose the Green New Deal, $93 trillion over 10 years.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), my friend.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my friend, Representative Andy Biggs, proposing a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution.
I was a proud cosponsor of this Republic-saving resolution, and I am proud to support it on the floor today.
I also thank Speaker Johnson for bringing this resolution to the floor and fulfilling a promise that was made when we passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
As our national debt rapidly approaches $39 trillion, Washington is long overdue for a heavy dose of fiscal responsibility. It is not just irresponsible anymore. It is a national disgrace, and it is time to put an end to it.
To put our debt into perspective, this year, the Federal Government expects to bring in just over $5.1 trillion in revenue but plans to spend almost $7.1 trillion. That is almost a $2 trillion deficit. Nearly $1 trillion of that spending goes to purely pay interest payments--no principal, purely interest payments--providing no new services, no investment, no return.
If this were a private business, no bank would keep lending it money, yet this is how our Federal Government operates today.
This trajectory is unsustainable. Global markets will not finance U.S. deficits indefinitely. When confidence in our ability to repay fades, we risk a true sovereign debt crisis--collapsed pensions, failing banks, and shuttered Federal programs.
Despite Democratic claims to the contrary, our debt crisis stems from unchecked spending, not a lack of revenue. Without serious reform, we face two damaging options: either, one, print more money, which fueled the Biden-Harris inflation surge; or, two, borrow more, which raises interest rates and slows growth.
Notably, my home State of Georgia must, by law, operate with a balanced budget, so why not our Federal Government? I have told my constituents that I aim to bring north Georgia values to Washington, and fiscal sanity is at the top of that list.
As a fiscal hawk and a member of both the Budget and Appropriations Committees, I look forward to voting ``yes,'' and I implore all of my colleagues to do the same. Let's pass this balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Yes, it is unchecked Federal spending by President Trump, who is spending up to $2 billion a day on an undeclared, unauthorized, and unconstitutional war in Iran.
Our colleagues won't utter a peep about it, and they won't bring us a balanced budget, but they will bring us a balanced budget constitutional amendment.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).
Mr. Speaker, from the same folks who brought us $4.7 trillion in additional Federal debt and who worship the ``king of debt,'' Donald Trump, as he describes himself, they present this unbalanced budget amendment.
Apparently, this proposal, which reeks of hypocrisy, is designed by those who gave us so much more debt to protect us from them doing even more harm. However, I think it really should be known as the protect our billionaire buddies act because that is what it is really designed to do: to prevent a future Congress from ever demanding a fair contribution from the billionaires and the multinational corporations that pay a tax rate lower than that for a teacher or a nurse, and to shift our jobs overseas.
Our loophole-filled tax code has more holes than swiss cheese. By imposing this first-in-history supermajority requirement before any tax can be increased, they prevent plugging those holes and doing anything about the injustice and inequities in our tax code that shift the burden onto working people and small businesses.
These Republicans aren't really deficit hawks. They are war hawks these days, and they created a special loophole in their own amendment for war, to ease the funding of the war machine. With Trump in office, we can expect more wars wherever his latest whim and ego take him, endangering all of us.
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing balanced about this amendment. Let's reject it.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and classmate from Arizona for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, let's pause for a brief moment of intellectual honesty. Both parties have failed. This institution has failed. We have failed our country.
We have jeopardized our economy, our security, and our leadership in the world. Worst of all, we have compromised on our children's future and the blessing of their inheritance of freedom and opportunity.
We have failed. That is why we are talking about a constitutional amendment to impose fiscal responsibility on a body politic that has not done that, that has not mustered the political will to do that.
We have a national debt per GDP that exceeds World War II levels of debt, an annual deficit that is larger than both the defense and nondefense discretionary budgets, with 50 cents or greater on every dollar that we borrow up to $2 trillion going to service our interest payments.
Half of what we borrow, a trillion dollars, is more than what we spend on defense. Then, there is this ominous forecast by CBO that even at $39 trillion today, where we are teetering on a potential sovereign debt crisis, we will add $180 trillion to the national debt in the 30- year out. If that is not unacceptable to everybody, I don't know what is.
If we can't concede to the fact that this body politic does not have the political will to address it, to rein in the spending that is driving this unsustainable debt trajectory that will bankrupt our country and our children's future, then we must support this forcing mechanism. Force us to do what the American people have to do. Force us to do what State and local governments do.
Here is another stunning, and startling for some, but for all a sobering fact: We won't even get a simple majority vote today.
What shall we do? We should look to Article V of the Constitution, where the sovereign States and we the people can petition their government for another path to amend the Constitution. Guess what. They have done that.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, they had the requisite applications to have an Article V convention of the States, to rein in us, the knuckleheads that refuse to accept that it is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem. It is an institutional problem that persists and will destroy the greatest Nation in human history.
Let's look to the States, and let's call that convention like we should have done in the 1970s and 1980s. Let's let them rein us in, restore fiscal sanity in their Nation's Capital, and reverse the curse that looms large over this country.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that refreshing intervention in the debate, but I think, as the President Clinton example demonstrates, we can have and we have had the political will at different points to balance the budget.
It is not politically impossible, but it does start with some people taking some courageous votes.
For example, let's vote on whether or not we should be at war in Iran, costing the American people $1 billion to $2 billion a day. If you can't even have the courage to decide that we will exercise our warmaking powers and our power to declare war under Article I, Section 8, and our spending power to do it, then nothing will save you, I am sorry.
You can pass a constitutional amendment saying don't shoot people in the face, but still, you have to tell ICE not to shoot people in the face. You have to demonstrate your commitment to actually making that policy real.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), a very distinguished legislator.
Mr. Speaker, let's talk about that Clinton budget.
Clinton's budget passed when the deficit was $290 billion. The Republicans fought it tooth and nail, and didn't deliver a single vote on that budget. When it finally got down to about $10 billion, the Republicans jumped on the bandwagon just before it was going to balance, whether they agreed to it or not. They were prancing around like peacocks, like it was their idea all the while.
They could get credit for ten of the $290 billion of Clinton's deficit reduction. For years, Republicans have been talking about reducing the deficit and doing nothing about it.
If you look at what they did last year, they added trillions of dollars to the debt in that big, ugly bill. In fact, every Republican administration since Nixon has made the deficit worse and delivered a worse deficit to their Democratic successors and every Democrat since Kennedy has produced a better deficit.
The reason we have a deficit today is because the Democrats haven't been able to clean up the mess as quick as the Republicans can make it. Now they come up with a so-called balanced budget amendment. It doesn't produce a balanced budget. In fact, it will make it more difficult to produce a balanced budget. It requires a two-thirds vote to pass the budget.
Let's get serious. You are not going to balance the budget cold turkey in 1 year without tax increases. We are talking about a two- thirds vote. Which is more likely: Balancing the budget cold turkey or having a two-thirds vote without any limit to how bad the deficit gets?
I think people have been around here long enough to know that it is going to be the two-thirds vote, and it is going to be a horrendous deficit. Republicans have used their time to enact massive tax cuts for big corporations and the top 1 percent. They have exploded the deficit in the process. To balance the budget, Congress has to make the tough decisions to actually balance the budget. It is not going to balance itself.
Mr. Speaker, this amendment will actually make it more difficult to do, and that is why we need to defeat this amendment.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I will set the record straight on that history. It was very colorful but a little bit inaccurate. If you remember, it was the '96 budget that was balanced. It was balanced with all the Republicans and a plurality of Democrats. It would have been nice if it would have been unanimous, wouldn't it? It would have been nice, but we couldn't get there.
Perhaps all the rhetoric you have heard today is political partisanship. It is posturing from that side of the aisle over there and maybe some from us because it is a bipartisan problem.
I think the previous speaker just said what are the odds of us ever just doing it on our own. That is right. Hell froze over once about 30 years ago. Are we going to wait 30 years again until the structural deficit exceeds $5 trillion a year when we actually have a national debt that is somewhere north of $100 trillion?
We are not going to last that long. We need to do this now.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder), my friend.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this amendment to the U.S. Constitution to require the Federal Government to maintain a balanced budget.
Republicans have warned for years about the dangers of unchecked Federal spending, but because of the Biden administration's unprecedented spending spree and Democrats' ongoing unwillingness to return spending to pre-COVID levels, we are now at a defining crossroad.
Within a few years, the debt held by the public will surpass every previous record in our Nation's history, even levels reached during World War II.
Two years ago for the first time in our Nation's history, we began spending more on net interest on our debt
When we spend more on servicing past debt than we spend on veterans, education, and transportation combined, it is clear our national priorities are dangerously off course.
A constitutional amendment is necessary because previous attempts to curb spending are not working. Congress' budget resolution process is routinely ignored. Pay-as-you-go laws are routinely waived. The debt ceiling has been referred to as a ``bad joke,'' and the results are now catching up to us.
Amending the Constitution is, indeed, a drastic measure and should only be employed in the most extreme circumstances, but at almost $40 trillion in national debt, that is exactly where we are today. It is time to end the irresponsible spending spree.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this balanced budget amendment.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, the American people obviously have to be so confused about this debate because one side claims they are bringing us an amendment, the balanced budget amendment, and their history has been-- and I have been here for some time, but Ronald Reagan increased the budget by 189 percent.
Why do I say Ronald Reagan did it? Because he could have vetoed any spending bill, and we would not have overridden that veto.
In 2001, we cut taxes and were told by our Republican colleagues it would raise additional moneys. It did not.
Then some, particularly those who are claiming we made a deal and we are keeping it to get this constitutional amendment on the floor--what was the deal for? The deal was to vote for the big, bad bill, which created $4.7 trillion of additional deficit.
That is a tough way to want to balance the budget. We have a paying- for problem. That is the discipline, a paying-for problem, not a spending or revenue problem. What we have is a paying problem.
If we would pay for things, which presumably this constitutional amendment would seek, then we would not have this continuing deficit, but you and I both know we are not going to do that, and you haven't done it. We haven't done it.
Jodey Arrington is right to that extent. This is a problem where we do not recognize the real problems of why we are so deeply in debt, and we pretend cutting nickels and dimes will make a difference.
Now, they are big nickels and dimes. I get that, but the fact of the matter is, it is dishonest in my view for me or anybody else to come to the floor and say: I want to balance the budget and then vote for the largest creation of debt ever on this floor.
Mr. Speaker, I urge defeat of this amendment and defeat of the suspension bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's comments. I think in one sense he is right on the money. Both parties can share in the blame of this massive, structural national debt we have, but I will point out that in 2001 when taxes were cut, something happened in 2001 which changed the trajectory of the entire Nation, and we are still dealing with the fallout.
You will remember it. We called that 9/11, right? Some things happened in 2001, which changed our spending. That is important to recall.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry), my friend.
Mr. Speaker, I am fascinated by my good friend on the other side of the aisle telling me that they are the party of fiscal responsibility. Let me just say, as others have said, including the former majority leader, that this is an institutional problem because it is, indeed, that.
Let me just make clear to the American people when they say there is not a dime's worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats on spending, to a certain extent they are right. However, the Republicans are using a handcart on this railroad and the Democrats are on some kind of bullet train on this train to hell.
As much as we have spent, and there are many in this room who have fought against this spending, I can't imagine how much worse it would be if we had to go to the Democrats for a vote. That is the problem.
Mr. Speaker, some say that, well, it is never going to become law. Why will it never become law, Mr. Chairman? There are seven Democrats in the Senate that refuse to vote to balance the budget ever. It is going to pass here maybe, but it definitely won't pass there. That is why it will never become law.
All the people I know that I represent have to balance their budget. I will say I went to the President. I said: Mr. President, we are spending too much money. You ran on cutting spending. I ran on cutting spending. We are spending too much money.
He said to me: You are right, Scott; but I can't get them to vote for less.
He is right about that. My Democrat colleagues tax and spend and tax and spend, and our folks are willing to spend without taxing enough. I am not saying that we should tax more. The American people are taxed enough, plenty. We are overspending and continuing to overspend. When I got here, I think the individual debt per person was like about $40,000. What is it now, $130,000?
Mr. Speaker, this place cannot control itself. The American people are going to have to step in. This allows them the opportunity. We ought to give it to them.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for offering the amendment. I thank leadership for honoring their promise.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am charmed by the story that the gentleman from Pennsylvania just told us about having gone to the White House to talk to the President and telling the President he is spending too much. I am just recording the story as it was presented to us.
He said to the President: You are spending too much.
That is the understatement of the 21st century. He is spending $1 billion to $2 billion a day on an undeclared, unauthorized, unconstitutional war in Iran. He has given us one-quarter of all the debt that has been created in the United States from George Washington until today. That is under the Trump administration.
The gentleman represents that he spoke to the President and said: You are spending too much.
The President's response was: I know we are, but I can't get them to stop spending more.
Who is ``them''? Was that an implied critique of the Democrats? They control the House. They control the Senate. They control the White House. Who is President Trump in that vignette referring to? Is he referring to the Republicans? He must be because they are the ones who are controlling the Chamber, as they are proud to tell us. At least until the end of this year, they are the ones doing it.
If Republicans think they support a balanced budget amendment, why don't they start with a balanced budget? Just bring us one balanced budget. That is all that we need from them.
Mr. Speaker, they have taken what is a math problem and tried to turn it into a constitutional problem. Every family in America knows they have got to make their expenses come within their means and within their resources. Every family does that. Republicans don't want to do that. They want to turn what is a simple math problem or an economic problem into a constitutional problem.
To celebrate America's semiquincentennial, 250th anniversary, for the first time they want to say that what we need to do is to amend our Constitution to make us do what we want to do but we can't do. We don't have the will and political courage to do it.
It was offered by the majority itself. We have got the will on our side to do it. President Clinton did it, and we will fight to try to make our resources match up with our expenses.
We have already heard that their side of the aisle is looking for a military budget of $1.5 trillion for next year. They are looking for $1.5 trillion for the war budget, for Secretary of War Hegseth. They want $1.5 trillion. That is where they are headed: endless wars in the Middle East, undeclared wars of choice, wars of aggression, not authorized by Congress.
None of them will even utter a peep about it today. That is where we are hemorrhaging money in America. Instead, they want to talk about a hypothetical pie-in-the-sky constitutional amendment that no other generation of Americans has ever needed before in order to do the right thing.
What is their loyalty and fidelity to the Constitution? Let's say they got their amendment. Right now, Article I, Section 8 says that Congress must declare war. It is not the President, not Donald Trump, not JD Vance, not Tulsi Gabbard, or somebody in their chat group. Congress must declare war.
What do they do? They do nothing. They just let the President go ahead and enter into his wars of whim and caprice, vanity, conceit, imperial ambition, whatever. They do nothing. They won't even have a vote to support it or oppose it. They won't have an honest debate about it.
That is the war power, which Madison said was one of the essential powers Congress must have, because the kings were always plunging their countries into wars of conceit and vanity, imperial plunder and corruption. So it had to be vested in the Representatives of the people, but they won't follow that.
Mr. Speaker, how about the spending power? Exclusively Congress has the power to spend money. It has to arise here in the House of Representatives. We have the power to spend, and we have the power to tax. The administration has been struck down dozens of times for abusing our spending power, and they won't say a word about it.
What about the taxing power? Donald Trump became the first President in American history to unilaterally impose tariffs, which is a huge tax on our people. It is not on other countries and not on China. It is on us. We told him it was unconstitutional. They wouldn't do anything, with the exception of Representative Massie from Kentucky, who is the conscience of the Republican Conference--although I don't mean to damn him with faint praise--maybe a handful of others opposed the tariffs. They all went along for the ride, even though we have the power to impose tariffs. It has always been Congress that has established the framework for tariffs, not the President. We can't make it up as we go along, but that is what he did.
Of course, he was struck down even by the Supreme Court that has been sliced and diced and gerrymandered to his advantage. Even that Supreme Court struck it down on a 6-3 vote, but we hear nothing from our colleagues about it.
What about the First Amendment? There shall be no law abridging the freedom of speech. Yet, this is the most anti-free speech administration the United States has ever seen. Donald Trump's chairman of the FCC the other day said that broadcast licensees, television stations, better watch out what they say about the war.
I can't think of a more naked violation of the First Amendment than the government threatening to revoke broadcast licenses of media entities who disagree with the President's policy, especially about something as important to the American people as war.
They don't utter a single word about it. That is their demonstrated fidelity to the Constitution. They are now saying: Yes, we are not balancing the budget. We haven't presented a single balanced budget. If we are made to do it through the Constitution, we will follow the Constitution.
Fool me once, well, blame on you. Fool me twice, blame on me. We are not falling for that.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague from Arizona for a spirited discussion of this important issue.
Mr. Speaker, I will take the example offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) of President Clinton. We could take many historical episodes, but we have time only for one.
President Clinton was determined to balance the budget, and he returned hundreds of billions of dollars in a surplus to his successor in office. He worked with the Republican-controlled Congress and led them along to eliminate the deficit.
The government ran a huge surplus without the aid of a contrived balanced budget constitutional amendment. Clinton bequeathed to his successor, George W. Bush, famously a budget surplus of $236 billion, which Bush and the GOP Congress quickly squandered on tax cuts for the richest people in the country and then the staggeringly costly forever wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Mr. Speaker, what do you know? History repeats itself. If it doesn't repeat itself exactly, it certainly rhymes. What do we have now? They have added $4 trillion to our debt with their massive giveaways to the richest people in the country and the richest corporations.
What are we in now despite all of Donald Trump's campaign promises? We are in another undeclared, unauthorized, forever war of regime change, although it is not really a regime change war because the President obviously doesn't care about democracy or human rights in Iran any more than he cares about democracy or human rights in America. In any event, we are there. We are in that war, spending $1 billion to $2 billion a day.
What do our colleagues do to try to deal with this fiscal catastrophe? They offer a balanced budget constitutional amendment, saying this is a bipartisan problem we are in. It is a pox on everybody's house. Let's just amend the Constitution to make us do what we really want to do but we can't do because we don't have the political resolve and the courage to do it.
At the same time, they don't have the political resolve and courage to exercise Congress' powers over war. They don't have the resolve and courage to exercise Congress' power over spending or over taxes or over our ability to regulate commerce domestically or nationally. They have given it all away to the President of the United States, when we are the Article I branch. We have the power. We can do it if we are willing to exercise it.
What is the President's power? It is very simple: to take care that the laws are faithfully executed.
If we pass a balanced budget, the President will have to remain within it. If we are going to say that we are going to have a debate about that war, that he can't just run off to war and start plundering the public fisc and spending billions of dollars of the people's money, he can't do it. Yet, our colleagues in the majority will not exercise any kind of discipline or institutional self-respect.
Mr. Speaker, the Framers of the Constitution thought that people in Congress would stand up for congressional power, just like the President would stand up for Presidential power and would always try to aggrandize the power of the executive branch, and the Supreme Court would stand up for the power of judicial review and what the courts do.
Yet, they thought that, as Madison put it in Federalist 10, ambition would counteract ambition. We would stand up for ourselves.
Our colleagues in the majority will not stand up for congressional powers under the Constitution of the United States, so they want to finger paint some more on the Constitution by adding their balanced budget constitutional amendment.
We don't need a balanced budget constitutional amendment, which will be a fiscal straitjacket in times like COVID-19 or times of war, where Congress needs the flexibility. All we need is for the majority to bring us a balanced budget, show some fiscal discipline, and show some fiscal resolve. Then, we can take it seriously.
Otherwise, it just seems like a massive, fantastical distraction from what is actually taking place in America today and on Earth, which is we have a President who is bulldozing everything from the White House itself to the Bill of Rights to the separation of powers.
What do we have on the other side of the aisle? It is nothing but legislative
Mr. Speaker, that wasn't the handiwork of James Madison. That wasn't the handiwork of Alexander Hamilton, who took balanced budgets very seriously. They didn't think that America needed it.
If the political leadership is not rising to the task, then we need new political leadership. If this congressional majority can't do it, let's elect a new congressional majority, but let's not throw the Constitution into the fire with all of the other constitutional principles that have been set ablaze by this administration.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, hyperbole and sophistry right here on the floor of the House from politicians, who would have thunk it? Really, who would have thunk it? I get a big kick out of that.
Do you know what the national debt was when Barack Obama became President? It was $8 trillion. Do you know what it was when he left? It was $20 trillion.
Do you know what the gentleman from Maryland did? He defended every wild-eyed, anticonstitutional program and every abuse of the First Amendment under the Biden administration. When you had reporters being castigated, investigated, and prosecuted, not a peep from him. Not a peep, but, boy golly, he is going to come up here and attack President Trump. That is what he is going to do, and then he has the audacity to talk about abasement--abasement of this body, and to say that we have absolute control over all three bodies.
I wish we did. That would mean that we had 60 Republican Senators in the Senate. Quite frankly, I have a major problem with that because that is a supermajoritarian body under the cloture rule. That wasn't contemplated by the Founders either. They thought it would be a simple majority.
The rationale for his argument is that James Madison and Alexander Hamilton wouldn't have said it, but do you know what? James Madison and Alexander Hamilton would have said that we are not going to have direct elections of Senators. They are going to be elected by their State legislature.
That rationale doesn't make sense in this argument. It is specious and weak. That is the rationale that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are throwing at us today.
The gentleman said that we have never needed a balanced budget amendment before. Perhaps he is correct, but we sure have a massive structural deficit today. We have a structural deficit because, even though we bring in a record amount--a record amount--of revenue, we keep spending more. This body doesn't have the political will.
That is the point that our side has been making. We don't have the political will, not on our side or the minority's side. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to turn this constantly into a partisan affair. I am saying that both sides have recklessly spent too much--both sides.
Madam Speaker, do you know who is punished by it? It is not us. It is not us. It is the American people. It is the American people who are taking the burden of feckless, blind spending and reckless spending.
Even if you get the record amount of revenue, this body is not going to make a concomitant amount of spending. It is going to spend more. It will always spend more. We will always spend more. Only if we have a balanced budget amendment, which, by the way, used to be a bipartisan issue.
It used to be a bipartisan issue on the national debt and deficit. Both parties' national security leaders used to say that that is our number one security threat. I mean for 25 years, a generation or more.
Madam Speaker, we don't hear that today from my colleagues. It is too bad. I wish we did. Man, I wish we did. I wish we could both say: Let's put this together. It is delusional. It is delusional. The fact of the matter is that what was spent during COVID--massive amounts, literally trillions of dollars--without any productive capacity to go with it fueled the Biden-era inflation, and we are dealing with that today.
Oddly enough, the inflation rate under President Trump is back down to almost what it was when he left. That is the reality.
How about my Democratic colleagues saying that we are going to put in the Green New Deal program. Remember that one? Yes. It was $93 trillion worth of spending with no pay-for over a 10-year period. It was $93 trillion.
Medicare for all, $33 trillion over a 10-year period, no pay-for.
Madam Speaker, do you know what the pay-for is? We are going to print more money. We are going to print more money, and do you know what that does? It devalues your currency. By the way, the valuation of currency is the classic definition of ``inflation'' because you can't buy as much with the same dollar. You are always going to need more.
People think that we have seen hyperinflation. We haven't seen hyperinflation. Do you know when we are going to see hyperinflation? We are going to see hyperinflation when the bond markets start saying: Guess what. You guys are effectively bankrupt, and we are not lending you any more money.
That is when the big calamity hits. When that hits, there won't be anybody here who can say that this is a partisan issue. Both parties will be at fault.
I pray to God that both sides here today will vote for this amendment. Get it to the people. Let the people actually impose upon us what 49 States have, and that is a requirement for a balanced budget. If we couldn't print our own money, we would have already collapsed.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 139, a straightforward, commonsense balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution.
Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have consistently supported solutions to address Washington's top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to spending. For decades, Washington has spent beyond its means, avoided difficult decisions, and relied on borrowing to fund an ever- expanding government. That approach has proven unsustainable, and today the consequences are impossible to ignore.
History has shown that we cannot afford to wait any longer. In 1995, when our national debt was $4.9 trillion, the Senate failed to pass a balanced budget amendment, by a single vote.
The last time this house debated this important measure was in April 2018--just 8 years ago, but that was before a global pandemic, and our debt reached $21 trillion. This measure was critical then and is essential today with our national debt now exceeding $38 trillion, and annual deficits are approaching $2 trillion.
This is not abstract math. Rising debt means higher interest costs, fewer resources available for national priorities, and a growing burden for future generations. Working families, farmers, and small businesses in central Arkansas live within their means. They make responsible choices every day about spending, saving, and prioritizing their needs. The federal government should operate with the same level of discipline.
Yet Washington cannot get its excessive spending under control. Addressing this issue is long overdue. A balanced budget amendment is just one tool to get our fiscal house in order. Its purpose is simple: restore accountability and discipline to a broken budget process. It would require Congress to confront tradeoffs honestly, set clear priorities, and stop treating unlimited borrowing as a substitute for responsible policymaking.
Passing this sends a clear message that Congress is serious about reining in spending and putting our Nation on a sustainable fiscal path. Our Nation must spend within its means.
I will continue to support efforts that restore fiscal discipline, strengthen our economy, and ensure a stronger future for our children and grandchildren.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) that the House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 139.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Madam Speaker, Pursuant to House Resolution 1115, I call up the bill (H.R. 1958) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify that aliens who have been convicted of defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits are inadmissible and deportable, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1115, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, printed in the bill, is adopted and the bill, as amended, is considered read.
The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary or their respective designees.
The gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1958.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, for years, Republicans on the Committee on the Judiciary have sounded the alarm about the costs of the Democrats' open-border policies on our schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, food banks, law enforcement, and American wages.
What we are now discovering is that many within these populations immediately set out to rob our country of literally billions of dollars paid by American taxpayers to help needy Americans.
Worse still, evidence is now emerging from whistleblowers that this was done while Democratic officials in sanctuary jurisdictions deliberately turned a blind eye to industrial-scale larceny in exchange for political support.
We have already heard from TSA agents who watched helplessly as Somali immigrants brazenly shipped millions of dollars out of this country in their carry-on luggage while alarms to the Biden-Harris administration were simply ignored.
We have heard audio recordings of these criminals discussing with Minnesota's Democratic attorney general how they had each other's backs. We have heard whistleblowers tell us their warnings to Minnesota's Governor, resulting in retaliation against them, but no actions to stop the fraudsters.
One estimate is that the Minnesota scandal accounts for some $9 billion of stolen funds. As investigators begin turning over rocks in other Democratic sanctuary jurisdictions, like California and New York, this may prove just the tip of an iceberg of corruption.
There is more. Although this fraud may well end up implicating thousands of illegal aliens allowed into our country and then protected from prosecution by the Democrats, Social Security fraud and other fraud offenses implicate literally millions. Yet, our ability to remove such fraudsters is hamstrung by the courts, sometimes for decades.
In one case from 2017, the Board of Immigration Appeals held that an alien was not removable from the United States for having committed an aggravated felony despite the alien's fraud conviction for $169,000 in food stamps theft.
In another case, an alien was placed in removal proceedings in 2005 while he remained until at least 2013, when his case finally made its way to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to determine whether his conviction for conspiracy to traffic in identification documents made him removable from the United States.
Another fraudster spent 2 years challenging his removal proceedings even though he admitted that he had received up to $3.5 million through food stamp fraud.
Other cases with aliens convicted of wire fraud and food stamp fraud languished for 1\1/2\ years to 4 years, respectively, before a Federal court finally upheld their removal orders.
In many other cases, aliens remained eligible to stay in the United States indefinitely despite their fraud convictions.
The Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026, introduced by our colleague, Dave Taylor, streamlines this removal process. The bill is simple. If you admit to or are convicted of fraudulently receiving public benefits or committing other fraud offenses, you are out of here on the next plane and can never return.
This bill also incorporates my Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act, which the House passed on a bipartisan basis 2 years ago. That bill simply says that if you are an alien who admits to or is convicted of Social Security fraud or identification document fraud, you cannot enter our country. If you are already here, you are to be deported. That is just common sense.
Even The New York Times reported late last year that as many as 1 million illegal aliens ``are using fraudulent or stolen Social Security numbers.''
According to another report, in 2017 alone, there were 1.2 million cases in which illegal aliens used Social Security numbers that belonged to someone else or that were fabricated. That number surely has skyrocketed following 4 years of the Biden-Harris border crisis.
A 2022 investigative report found that because of this fraud, victims ``may face tax bills for income they didn't earn or depleted benefits,'' and may suffer from poor credit histories or even criminal histories.
That is exactly what happened to Daniel Kluver, a Minnesota man whose identity was stolen by a Guatemalan illegal alien with a criminal history and multiple deportations. Because of the identity theft, Kluver lost thousands of dollars through garnished wages and increased taxes, and spent years unsuccessfully trying to untangle the mystery of his stolen identity.
Now, imagine if that victim is you, and the perpetrator is an illegal alien who is allowed to stay in the United States indefinitely while a dysfunctional court system takes years to decide whether or not to deport him. That is absurd.
By specifically listing Federal crimes that make an alien inadmissible to or removable from the United States, this bill closes loopholes, removes the yearslong litigation that so often bogs down the removal process, and strengthens our immigration system.
Finally, the bill guarantees that the fraudsters described in this bill cannot exploit Americans' generosity again by receiving any immigration relief in this country.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, another week, another redundant and completely unnecessary immigration crime bill. This one purports to make the commission of certain fraud offenses into deportable offenses, but conviction of a fraud offense is already a deportable offense, as the gentleman's recitation of all the cases involving people who were convicted of a crime and then deported and removed from the country demonstrates.
Fraud is considered a crime involving moral turpitude and a specifically enumerated aggravated felony, the conviction of either of which subjects any immigrant to deportation and removal from the country.
In the past, we have heard our colleagues claim these bills are necessary to resolve an undefined ambiguity in the law, but there is no ambiguity.
Section 101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act specifies fraud as an aggravated felony, which is by definition a deportable offense. Supreme Court precedent for more than 70 years has treated fraud as a crime involving moral turpitude and therefore a deportable and removable offense.
I know that President Trump, who knows a lot about the criminal justice system, wants to strike a new pose of being tough on fraud. We still have a First Amendment, so that is his right. But at every turn, the Trump administration has dismantled the government programs and offices that actually combat fraud.
At the DOJ, they disbanded key anti-kleptocracy efforts. They eliminated the Consumer Protection Branch that prosecuted corporate fraud. They gutted core anticorruption units like the Public Integrity Section and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit. As all of America knows, they have completely ravaged and shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the first and only agency devoted solely at the Federal level to protect American consumers against being cheated by scammers and fraudsters and big corporations.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau delivered $21 billion back to more than 200 million Americans who were victims of fraud, scams, and other predatory business practices, and the administration has been gutting it because they are soft on corporate fraud and white-collar crime. That is the reality of what is going on here.
Hell-bent on meeting Stephen Miller's arbitrary mass deportation monthly quotas, this administration has directed FBI agents to deprioritize white-collar crime and instead devote their time to the big immigration roundup, whose beautiful results we can see in the nightmare of Minneapolis, where American citizens were shot down for exercising their constitutional rights.
As a result, prosecutions of white-collar crimes, which include a variety of fraud offenses, were down more than 10 percent in the Trump administration in 2025.
If that weren't enough, ICE is interfering with States' abilities to successfully prosecute crimes, like fraud and theft, and to ensure that perpetrators pay their fines and make restitution to their victims. Why is that? Well, they are deporting people before they can actually be tried and fined and before the fines are paid.
Take the case of Jeson Nelon Flores. He was accused of stealing $100 million worth of diamonds. Before his trial was set to take place, ICE swooped in and simply deported him before trial. That meant he served no jail time and was never ordered to pay any restitution to his victims, leaving them with lots of questions about where the $100 million of diamonds are but no justice.
By bypassing the conviction requirement, this legislation would hand a literal get-out-of-jail-free card to immigrants who commit fraud by deporting them without going through the criminal justice system and giving their victims a day in court.
This is part of a broader trend of this administration siding with the perpetrators against the victims, a trend America has seen in the administration's shameful decision to cover up for Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's co-conspirators, accomplices, and enablers, while outing the identities and even the photographs of survivors. It is a trend that includes the President's outrageous abuse of the pardon power to let fraudsters, who also happen to be MAGA donors, to purchase a pardon and skip out on their obligation to pay any fine or restitution to their victims.
That includes Trevor Milton, who defrauded investors in his company to the tune of $676 million. Milton and his wife donated $1.8 million to the President's reelection campaign. In March of last year, Milton got his pardon, and erased all of the restitution, the hundreds of millions of dollars he owed to his victims.
Take Lawrence Duran, who was sentenced to the longest prison sentence in American history for Medicare fraud in September of 2016. He filed hundreds of thousands of false claims with Medicare, bilking the taxpayers out of more than $87 million. Then he got his Trump pardon and skipped away without having to pay any of the fines or the restitution.
If you can remember one statistic from today, in just 1 year, Donald Trump's pardons wiped out more than $1.3 billion in restitution and fines to victims and survivors of fraud and other scams and white- collar offenses.
This bill is simply another effort to push a fake narrative while ignoring all of the fraud that engulfs us, which the administration has tolerated or even approved through these outrageous pardons.
The administration used fraud as an excuse to send thousands of masked Federal agents to terrorize the people of Minneapolis and surrounding areas, a blunder so egregious our colleagues are told not even to use the phrase ``mass deportation'' anymore because the vast majority of Americans reject what they saw on the streets of Minneapolis, agents beating up peaceful protesters and killing them. American citizens are dying because they dare to exercise their First Amendment rights and their Second Amendment rights in public.
We saw the price of this authoritarianism. Every day this administration is pushing lies to try to get the American people to ignore the reality that is discernible by our own senses. That is the real fraud on the American people.
Now, they want us to believe that they are combating fraud when they pardon it, and they wipe out all of the government units that are designed to ferret out fraud. They started by firing 17 inspectors general, whose job it is to fight fraud, waste, corruption, and abuse in the Federal Government. They sacked all of them to make it possible for the kind of rampant corruption we have seen to take place. The American people can see what is going on.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to oppose this redundant, unnecessary, and distractionary bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
My friend fundamentally misunderstands the provisions of this bill. There is nothing in this bill that prevents the prosecution and punishment of an individual for fraud.
In fact, when they admit the fraud, I think that is a plea of guilty. They can still be prosecuted. They can still be incarcerated. But this assures at the end of the judicial process and at the end of their punishment, they be deported.
Remember, the Democrats' sanctuary policies require that criminals in jail be released back onto our streets rather than be deported. That is what this bill fixes. They claim it is unnecessary because aliens with fraud convictions are already inadmissible and removable. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Although aliens who commit some forms of fraud may be found deportable, it is far from certain.
Take, for example, a case in which an alien stole an American's identity for 19 years. Although convicted, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this wasn't enough to constitute moral turpitude and therefore was not deportable.
In a Fifth Circuit case from 2021, an alien already had been in removal proceedings for 6 years before the Federal appeals court finally found that this made him deportable.
Another fraudster spent 2 years challenging his removal proceedings, even though he had admitted that he had received some $3.5 million through food stamp fraud.
These criminal aliens should have been out of this country once they had served their sentences, and that is why H.R. 1958 is imperative.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
Mr. Speaker, nothing angers a law-abiding American more than being stolen from and then watching the system let the thief go to do it over and over again.
Our immigration system only works when people who come here follow our laws and want to build the American Dream, not strip it away from the very people who make this country work.
Right now that trust is broken. These are not small scams. They are organized, deliberate fraud schemes that target the most vulnerable among us: a single mother relying on food assistance or an elderly couple who spent a lifetime paying into Social Security, or a child whose identity is stolen before they can even speak.
Here is the part that makes no sense. Under current law, defrauding the U.S. or stealing taxpayer dollars is not explicitly a deportable offense. That loophole has allowed criminal fraud networks to operate for decades.
We have seen the consequences. In Minnesota, Somali fraud networks stole millions, and Federal prosecutors now estimate Medicaid fraud in that State alone could hit $9 billion. Even in my own home State of Arizona, fraud exceeds billions of dollars.
However, Minnesota isn't the outlier. It is the warning sign. A GAO report found nearly 3 million Social Security numbers with evidence of misuse. A Cuban national defrauded Medicare of more than $3 million through a fake medical equipment scheme. A 3-year-old child had her Social Security number used to take out credit cards and auto loans. These are not isolated cases.
Fraudsters can exploit SNAP, Social Security, Medicare, and other programs because the law does not clearly state that these crimes make an alien removable from the U.S. Litigation delays and loopholes let these offenders stay here and continue to harm Americans while their victims struggle to recover.
The Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026 closes that gap, and it does it with simple, commonsense steps. It makes clear that any alien who defrauds the U.S. or steals government funds intended for American citizens is inadmissible and deportable. It ensures that an alien's own admission to committing fraud can trigger consequences because courts in multiple circuits have ruled that certain Social Security fraud offenses do not automatically carry immigration penalties. It bars these offenders from receiving immigration benefits, including asylum, so they cannot exploit our generosity twice.
This is not complicated. If a person comes to this country to build a life, then follow our laws and contribute. We will welcome that person. If a person comes here to steal from American taxpayers, that person doesn't get to stay.
Becoming an American is a privilege. It carries responsibilities, and when someone abuses that privilege by stealing from the very people who welcome them, then they forfeit the right to remain here.
This act is a commonsense reform that protects vulnerable Americans. I am proud and pleased to be a cosponsor of this bill.
Now I will just touch on the Biden pardons. Literally hundreds of millions of restitution dollars forgone. In fact, one individual, Paul Daugerdas, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a multibillion-dollar tax fraud scheme described by prosecutors as one of the largest criminal tax fraud cases in U.S. history.
Now, Mr. Speaker, why do I bring that up?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, it is because my friend across the aisle is obsessed with this Trump derangement syndrome that we hear about so much.
What about the 1,400 people who were pardoned in the last waning hours of the Biden administration?
Many of them were fraudsters. Hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution is forgone. I didn't hear any outrage from the gentleman over that, but there should be outrage when an illegal alien is committing fraud. This bill will help make them inadmissible and deportable.
That is what this bill is about. It is not some imaginary or delusional sophist argument that we are hearing from the other side.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, they are entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. I am afraid that the gentleman owes former President Biden a major apology for what he just said.
He said that hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution owed by people whom Joe Biden pardoned was forgiven. According to a study by the Cato Institute, which the gentleman can look up, all of the fines and restitution forgiven by Joe Biden was $680,000, not even $1 million; whereas, Donald Trump has forgiven $1.3 billion in fines and restitution owed by the fraudsters and conmen and white-collar criminals whom he has pardoned since
No, Joe Biden did not forgive hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. What Donald Trump has done is utterly aberrational in American history.
I see the gentleman is fleeing the Chamber right now rather than dealing with the facts and the reality of it.
The gentleman was completely wrong.
The gentleman was fleeing the Chamber rather than deal with the reality that he was absolutely wrong when he accused President Biden of forgiving hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and restitution to people he pardoned. It never happened.
It was less than $1 million. It was $680,000.
Mr. Speaker, I will submit the Cato Institute report for the Record.
Mr. Speaker, I would love to be contradicted if there are any facts over on that side of the aisle. If anybody wants to traffic in facts-- but, no, maybe it is more imaginary and delusional sophistry from the gentleman.
Does he have any facts?
It is no problem just saying: I made a mistake.
It is like Secretary Noem calling Alex Pretti a domestic terrorist, calling Renee Good a domestic terrorist. That was a terrible mistake and a blunder, but she couldn't admit it.
Will the gentleman admit that he was wrong about that or does he have facts?
I don't know. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether there might be some way of determining whether there are any facts available to contradict me on this, but the study that I have shows that all of Joe Biden's pardons result in less than $1 million in fines and restitution to be forgiven.
Mr. Speaker, do you know why that is?
It is because up until President Trump, every other President had demanded ordinarily as a matter of course that fines be paid and restitution be paid.
I hope that there are some people on the other side of the aisle-- they have got a huge staff of hundreds of people, can somebody find a fact that would contradict what I have just said.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), who is the ranking member of the Subcommittee of Immigration Integrity.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1958.
This bill was inspired by the allegations of fraud in Minnesota that a conservative YouTuber claims to have discovered, and it is part and parcel of the Trump administration's deadly assault on Minnesota.
The Trump administration used these fraud allegations to surge thousands of lawless ICE and Border Patrol agents into Minnesota who used increasingly violent tactics to terrorize communities, to kidnap people off the streets, to break into homes without a warrant, to deploy chemical weapons, and to assault anyone who dared to peacefully and lawfully protest, observe, or record their activities.
We can never forget that ICE's lawless actions resulted in the killings of two U.S. citizens. Renee Good, a mother of three, had just dropped one of her three children off at school and stopped to support her neighbors when an ICE agent shot her not once, not twice, but three times at point blank range and killed her.
Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, tried to help a peaceful observer whom Federal agents had shoved to the ground when several agents attacked him, wrestled him to the ground, and, Mr. Speaker, shot him 10 times.
The harm that the Trump administration inflicted on Minnesota has resulted in generational trauma on people of all statuses, all in the name of so-called fraud. However, this was never about fraud. We know that because the Department of Justice under President Biden began investigating these crimes back in 2022. Likewise, the bill before us today it is not really about fraud either.
Current law already allows people to be deported for committing fraud. Individuals can become deportable if they are convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or CIMT, for which a sentence of 1 year or longer may be imposed. The fraud offenses in this bill carry maximum penalties between 1 and 30 years, which clearly meet the 1-year minimum required for deportability.
Additionally, multiple fraud offenses are specifically defined as aggravated felonies, if the crime carries a sentence of 1 year or more. Conviction or an aggravated felony makes a person deportable, but the key word here, Mr. Speaker, is ``conviction.''
This bill is really about stripping due process and making it easier to deport immigrants with lawful status, like green card holders. Under this bill, a green card holder who has been in this country for decades could be deported without a conviction. Under current law, most deportability grounds require a person to be convicted of a crime.
As a result, if this bill were to become law, it would be easier to deport someone for fraud offenses than it would be to deport them for murder, rape, or sexual abuse of a minor.
We should all ask ourselves: Why are Republicans again trying to deport people who came here legally without requiring a criminal conviction and without any due process?
Why are they constantly trying to fearmonger Americans into thinking that fraud among immigrants is a giant problem?
Could it be, Mr. Speaker, to distract from the mega corporations that are bankrolling Republican campaigns, getting Republican tax cuts, all while screwing working Americans and spiking prices?
At a time when DHS agents are killing, arresting, and unlawfully entering the homes of U.S. citizens and immigrants alike, when the Department of Homeland Security is defying court orders, violating constitutional rights, and unleashing violence and chaos in cities across the country, the Republican response is to hand this out-of- control agency yet even more power.
This is another bill that is straight out of the Republican playbook that we have seen over and over again. It is an attack on two things that have been a core part of America since day one: immigration and due process. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, my friend from Washington objects to the provision that says if an alien admits to fraud, that should be enough to deport them. They demand a criminal conviction. How ironic that the Democrats are quick to take an alien's word when he illegally enters the country, gives a fake name, and claims asylum, but they can't take his word when he admits to committing crimes in the United States.
An admission of guilt is an admission of guilt. That ought to be enough to trigger the provisions of this law, and this is not even breaking new ground. In fact, the language in this bill is identical to the grounds for inadmissibility for a multitude of circumstances.
An alien can be removed for overstaying his visa, violating his nonimmigrant status or a condition of entry, smuggling aliens, committing marriage fraud, being a drug user or drug addict, falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, or engaging in espionage, all without a conviction.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
Mr. Speaker, I don't mean to respond, but I am going to have to respond here. I am going to first include in the Record: ``Biden clemency for committed fraudsters met with outrage: `Slap in the face.' ''
Mr. Speaker, what the gentleman would have us believe is that Rita Crundwell, who stole $54 million from Dixon, Illinois, repaid that $54 million before she received her pardon. That is what we would have to believe.
We would have to believe that Paul M. Daugerdas, sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a multibillion-dollar tax fraud scheme, one of the largest in history, had reimbursed the Federal Government for those multibillion dollars.
We would have to believe that Toyosi Alatishe, who abused his position as a caretaker for patients by filing fraudulent tax returns on behalf of these poor folks, paid everything back.
There is no indication of that from the Dixon, Illinois, folks. No indication at all.
In it, it answers the question between the gentleman and me. I thought that I was submitting a very simple, humble request, that he withdraw the false statement that Joe Biden, as President, had forgiven hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and restitution. That is an absolute falsehood. It is inaccurate.
Now, look, let's start with this: I am going to educate the gentleman to the extent that he wants to be educated any further on the matter about the difference between pardons in the Biden administration and the Trump administration.
Joe Biden granted a total of 80 pardons in his 4-year term. President Trump issued 166 individual pardons in his first year and then, of course, famously, the mass pardon of 1,500 January 6 rioters and insurrectionists who stormed this Chamber and the Capitol.
I am quoting directly from the Cato study, for the benefit of the gentleman from Arizona: ``Biden's pardons eliminated roughly $680,000 in financial penalties (fines, restitution, and forfeitures) owed to victims or the government.''
This is money that a court has determined is owed and must be paid. Biden forgave $680,000. Now, I am sure that if you are one of the victims, you are not happy to hear about that, that that was forgiven, but that is within the power of the President.
``In contrast, Liz Oyer, the former lead pardon attorney of the United States, has calculated that Trump's second-term pardons''--that is just 1 year of pardons--``have forgiven criminal debts''--fines, restitution, and forfeitures--``of more than $1.5 billion.''
In other words, Biden didn't even forgive $1 million. President Trump has forgiven more than $1.5 billion to the fraudsters, white-collar criminals, and scammers who have found their way to Mar-a-Lago and the White House and have been able to finagle the pardon that they always wanted.
``This staggering sum,'' as the Cato Institute puts it, ``has been zeroed out by Presidential edict.''
That is in a completely different galaxy than what President Biden or any other President, Democrat or Republican, has done in American history. It is stratospheric.
I am glad that the gentleman's blatant misstatement and his refusal to retract it have given us the opportunity to focus on this extraordinary corruption that is taking place because it tells the true story of fraud and how fraud is being treated by the current administration.
Cato says to consider the case of Trevor Milton, ``who no longer must repay the investors he defrauded $660 million'' that he owed them. Take the case of Lawrence Duran, ``who no longer must repay the government he defrauded $87 million.''
You can add up all the people who were pardoned by President Biden, and you don't even get to $1 million. Then, you have individual criminals whom Donald Trump pardoned after they made various kinds of overtures to the White House or showed up at Mar-a-Lago, and those people were getting hundreds of millions of dollars or tens of millions of dollars forgiven in fines.
The gentleman got back up to say these people were either convicted for or accused of tens of millions of dollars in fraud under President Biden. I am talking about what a court ordered them to pay. That is the apples-to-apples comparison that the gentleman doesn't want to deal with.
It is interesting that he happened upon that particular issue because it is not one that benefits their side of the argument at all, as they claim to be interested in saving the victims of fraud.
Victims of fraud, thousands of them, have lost more than a billion dollars because of the pardons of Donald Trump. That is the direct policy of the administration.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I can't blame the ranking member for digressing into his Trump derangement syndrome. That is a lot easier, I suspect, than explaining why Democrats believe that aliens who have defrauded American taxpayers and stolen people's identities should remain in our country. That is their sanctuary policy in a nutshell. I wouldn't want to try to defend that either.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris).
Mr. Speaker, we have a massive fraud problem in America. Fraud costs our country an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion each year.
Just recently, in Minnesota, allegations have been brought against a group of Somali immigrants running fraudulent daycares with American tax dollars.
The bill we are considering today, the Deporting Fraudsters Act, ensures that aliens who commit acts of fraud or fraudulently receive public benefits face the consequences of their actions. This creates grounds of inadmissibility and deportability for any alien who admits to or is convicted of certain fraud offenses.
The worst part of the Minnesota case, we all know, was the actions of lawmakers who decided they would rather cover it up than see the perpetrators brought to justice. Unfortunately, I think we will see that same behavior today with this vote.
Time and time again, we have seen our colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to prioritize American citizens over aliens.
Let me remind all Americans: We just saw an example of this recently at the State of the Union Address when President Trump asked us to stand if we believed the most important priority of the Federal Government is to protect American citizens, and all of America watched as Democrats refused to stand. The American people saw a party that is unable to put their interests first.
Living in America as a noncitizen is a privilege, and when people abuse that privilege, they must be held responsible. We must be a nation that follows the rule of law. We must punish illegal aliens who are misusing taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to put American citizens above alien fraudsters and vote ``yes'' on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, some of our colleagues jump up like a jack-in-the-box whenever the President tells them to do that. Others in the Chamber want to stand up for American citizens exercising their First and Second Amendment rights, like Alex Pretti and Renee Good. They were shot down by ICE agents, who somehow believed that, with this Trump administration, they are above the law and beyond the law.
We are going to stand up with the American people. We are not going to take orders from the executive branch, which is utterly humiliating and self-defeating for a Member of the Article I
The gentleman, I think, accuses us of something he called the deranged Trump syndrome, which I can only imagine means following a President who plunges the country into an illegal, unauthorized, undeclared war, spending $1 billion or $2 billion a day, and then not asking any questions about it because somehow you think your political destiny is intertwined with the President, who has shown no loyalty to the people who show loyalty to him. That is a personal problem on their part. We don't have deranged Trump syndrome. I think that falls on that side of the aisle.
Mr. Speaker, let's just step back and understand the Democrats' position for a second.
First, they were for a wide-open border. You don't have to take my word for it, just remember what we saw. Every single day for 4 years of the Biden administration, people were lining up on the southern border, camping out under the bridges in the various towns along the border, 8 million to 10 million people in a 4-year timeframe.
They were all fine with that. They lost track of 300,000 kids during that time.
Then, another position they were for was to abolish ICE. They don't want to enforce our immigration laws. No. We have to abolish ICE. Being doxed, tracked, harassed, spit on, sworn at, and attacked, and making death threats on ICE agents and their families, as if that wasn't enough, now the Democrats say we want to get rid of them altogether. That is really going to help the situation in our country.
Third, they are for sanctuary jurisdictions. We just passed legislation in our committee 2 weeks ago to deal with this in 18 cities, 11 States, 3 counties, the District of Columbia. Mr. Speaker, 31\1/2\ percent of the population of this country resides in a jurisdiction where leftwing political leaders tell local law enforcement not to work with Federal law enforcement when it comes to enforcing Federal law. That is maybe one of the dumbest things I have ever heard, but that is their position.
Guess what. Last year alone, 17,864 times a detainer was filed at the local jail, local detention center, when an illegal migrant was in that facility and charged with another crime, and ICE files a detainer and says: If you are going to let him out, give us a heads-up. Just tell us. We will come to apprehend the individual there in the jail so we don't have to do it on the street where our agents are going to be spit on, harassed, sworn at, and attacked. Just let us do it at the jail.
These jurisdictions said no, and now here we are today.
Mr. Speaker, the final one: If you find some fraudster who is a naturalized citizen and rips off the taxpayers, you can't deport them. They are, like, no, we are not going to deport them. We are going to give them, as the chairman said, sanctuary here in the country.
These are the most ridiculous positions: open border, abolish ICE, sanctuary jurisdiction, and don't deport fraudsters who are here.
This is craziness, but that is their position, and this bill is so common sense.
I thank Mr. Taylor for sponsoring this legislation. I think it was Sarah Huckabee Sanders a few years ago who said in a response to President Biden that the divide in America today is normal versus crazy. This is just normal, commonsense stuff. Every position they take is crazy.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Taylor and our chairman, Mr. McClintock, for the great work they have done on this legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, there is such a thick fog of propaganda and disinformation in the Chamber that I think we have lost sight of what the bill is about and what the law is.
The law is very clear today, which is: Conviction of a criminal fraud offense is already a deportable offense. It already gets you deported. That is why the majority began with a whole litany of cases where people were being deported after committing crimes.
They didn't like the fact that they had the right to appeal it. They don't like the fact that there is due process, but they appealed it. Then, they were deported. That is what the law is.
Their bill is simply an effort to say you don't need a conviction anymore. You could just deport them based on hearsay evidence. An ICE agent says that this person admitted to me that they had committed fraud, and that substitutes for a prosecution, trial, and conviction by a jury.
In the meantime, we have hundreds of judges in America who are condemning ICE for lying in court. We have Department of Justice lawyers who are saying literally in court that their job sucks because they can't defend what is taking place with ICE. We have judge after judge denouncing the fantastical, misleading, deceptive, mendacious testimony of people from ICE, and now you want to just trust an ICE agent to say this person admitted to me that they committed criminal fraud. We are just going to kick them out of the country without a trial.
Thomas Jefferson said during the Alien and Sedition Acts that there are people who want to strip away the rights of aliens and who will inevitably come to attack the rights of citizens, too. We already saw that in Minneapolis.
There were a lot of people in this Chamber willing to look the other way when they were knocking down the doors of immigrants without a search warrant, without probable cause, when they were roughing up immigrants, or when immigrants were dying in custody. Then, suddenly, these ICE agents thought they could get away with it when it comes to U.S. citizens, and that is when America woke up to this threat and said no.
ICE agents are not superior to the rule of law. They are not above and beyond the law. Even President Trump understood that, which is why he has pulled a lot of people out of Minneapolis. They wanted to change the subject. They said stop using the words ``mass deportation.''
A majority of the American people reject these authoritarian tactics that have been unleashed against both citizens and immigrants.
This is a nation of laws. It is a nation under the rule of law and under the Constitution. Their bill is, at best, if not completely redundant, unnecessary, and silly, a gloss on what the law already is, which is that if you are convicted of fraud and you are an immigrant, you get kicked out of the country. You are removed. They want to pick a fight on a nonsensical problem.
We don't need to degrade our own rule of law by taking action against people without a criminal conviction. The criminal justice system works just fine, so we should be encouraging government agents not to lie to judges, not to render false testimony, as judges across the country have been saying. Both Republican and Democratic appointees have been rejecting what is coming out of this administration.
This bill, as far as I know, is not about naturalized citizens. I think our distinguished chairman said something about that. He may have gotten it confused with another bill, but this bill is unnecessary and redundant.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, my friend seems so overwrought that he is simply misspeaking and doing so quite prolifically.
This bill does not say that you can deport on hearsay evidence. It says you must deport upon a conviction or an admission of guilt. That is it, and there are many offenses that already fall under this same process, and the standards are rigorous.
The alien's admission must be explicit, unequivocal, and unqualified. The immigration judge has to find that the admission fits within the relevant statutes and that the admission is based on reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence.
The Democrats clearly aren't interested in due process. They are interested in gumming up the process so
Mr. Speaker, that is the whole point of their sanctuary cities and the whole point of their opposition to this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor), the author of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McClintock for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Deporting Fraudsters Act. As Mr. Harris just said earlier, estimates show that between $233 billion and $521 billion is lost to fraud each year. These funds are taxpayer dollars from American workers, intended to go to Americans who need help getting back on their feet, not to illegal alien fraudsters who shouldn't even be in our country to begin with.
The massive fraud we have seen in Minnesota and other places around the country should be a no-brainer. If a person is not an American citizen while defrauding the American people, they should not be able to walk freely in this country.
The story that inspired this bill originally came from California where five foreign nationals were apprehended with over 160 fraudulent SNAP cards on them. These were non-Americans stealing from the most vulnerable among us. It needs to end.
Democrats have used American taxpayer dollars to attract and retain an electoral majority for too long. To my Democratic colleagues, the bill before us is a binary choice. Do they support the American people, or do they support illegal immigrants who steal American tax dollars?
Failing to support this bill is betraying the Americans whose interests Democrats claim to represent. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, before the distinguished gentleman leaves, I would be happy to yield to him for an answer to a question.
The bill, as he originally introduced it, required a criminal conviction. I wonder why it was changed and whether that was changed with his approval or not. What was the logic for changing it?
I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) for the purpose of a colloquy.
Mr. Speaker, it was not part of the original text. It was suggested in Committee. This was in the Judiciary Committee. I wasn't a party to those conversations. I was consulted about the decision to add that, and I fully supported it.
Representative Taylor, this is your bill, H.R. 1958. It begins like this:
``Any alien who has been convicted of an offense that involves defrauding the United States Government or unlawfully receiving a Federal public benefit . . . or a State or local public benefit . . . is deportable.''
You have got the language of ``convicted'' in there. It was changed by the Committee. I am just wondering: Why did you originally have it in such a way as to require a conviction?
That is the way it has been changed. It has been altered to that. When you introduced it, it required a conviction. I am just wondering: What was your original logic, and why did you change your mind about that, if you did? Maybe you didn't.
In looking back at that, it is probably something I should have included in the original text. If the person is going to admit it, they probably should be deported, obviously, if they are admitting it.
It is something that is, honestly, apparently commonly occurring at the border as people come in.
I supported the original vision. It was basically unnecessary because it was a restatement of what the law is, to put it all in one place, so I could certainly support that.
Then your language was completely diluted in committee to open up this huge, gaping hole to say that you don't need a criminal conviction before deporting someone. We have enumerated the problems with that.
For one thing, it deprives victims of a crime the opportunity to be heard and perhaps to get their restitution and to get their proper justice in court.
Also, it sets a terrible precedent. This is the Thomas Jefferson point. When we say we are going to have lesser standards relating to immigrants, that then carries over to citizens. We have seen already in this huge immigration roundup what that means in terms of the trampling of the rights of our people under the Bill of Rights.
Mr. Speaker, in this situation my read of the bill is an un-withdrawn admission is the same as a guilty verdict. This is a person who has admitted they have broken the law. Therefore, they sit in the same position as someone who has been convicted of it, if they are not even going to say: Oh, no, actually I didn't break the law. They admitted it. They are deportable.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the ranking member should know that once the bill is introduced, it leaves the control of the individual Member and becomes the property of the House and is subject to modification by a majority of the House.
I must say I find his objections rather curious, considering the fact that dozens of House Democrats have supported requiring an admission for a ground of deportability included as part of the Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act, which was approved by 55 House Democrats just 2 years ago. That was legislation that I introduced and is now incorporated into this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the CBO Cost Estimate for this bill.
H.R. 1958, DEPORTING FRAUDSTERS ACT OF 2026 AS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for this lively debate. This bill is redundant. It is unnecessary. It is dangerous in terms of eroding a basic principle that we have, which is that there should be full due process and people should not be deported without a criminal conviction. The prosecution is
At a time when we have seen Big Brother bloated beyond belief in terms of budget and in terms of power, the last thing we should do is to look for further ways to aggrandize the power of the executive branch at this point.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the question before us is a simple one. Should an alien who is here in this country as a guest of America be deported if they commit fraud and steal the funds of American families and American taxpayers or if they commit identity theft by stealing the Social Security numbers of American citizens?
That should not be a difficult question for anyone with a lick of common sense. We have enough problems with domestic criminals without tolerating the presence of criminals from every other country in the world.
If a person is a foreigner and commits fraud in this country, they need to go home and never be allowed to return. The Democrats want these criminals to stay. The Republicans want them to go. I don't wonder for a moment where the American people stand.
President Trump put a very simple and revealing proposition to the Democrats during his recent State of the Union Address. The first duty of the American Government is to defend the American people and not illegal aliens.
The Democrats made their answer crystal clear for the entire world to see. I am willing to bet they haven't learned a thing since then, but I am pleased to put that proposition to them today in this form. Should foreigners who commit fraud against the American people be allowed to stay in our country, ``yes'' or ``no''?
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 1115, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1115, I call up the bill (H.R. 556) to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, 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 1115, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources, printed in the bill, is adopted and the bill, as amended, is considered read.
The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources or their respective designees.
The gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) each will control 30 minutes.
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 H.R. 556.
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, I rise in strong support of H.R. 556, sponsored by my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).
This commonsense bill protects hunters' and anglers' ability to continue using cost-effective lead ammunition and fishing equipment on our Federal lands. At the same time, this legislation gives land management agencies the flexibility to make targeted decisions on lead usage based on sound science and in coordination with State fish and wildlife agencies.
In the United States, sportsmen and -women participation is crucial to the success of wildlife conservation. The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation operates on seven interdependent principles. Embedded in these principles are sound science, active management, and access to hunting and fishing.
The success of this model is best characterized by the millions of dollars that hunters and anglers pay for wildlife conservation each year, mainly through excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and fishing tackle.
In fiscal year 2026, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service apportioned over $800 million in receipts from excise taxes on firearms manufacturers alone. Of that, nearly $700 million was for wildlife restoration. Similarly, $442 million was generated from excise taxes on fishing equipment for fish conservation.
It was with this in mind that the Trump administration changed the paradigm for hunting and fishing on Federal lands earlier this year.
Historically, Federal lands were considered closed to hunting and fishing unless specific regulations were issued to allow these activities in certain places. With the signing of Secretarial Order No. 3447 by Secretary Burgum, Federal lands are now considered to be open for hunting and fishing unless existing authorities and unit purposes require an area to be closed.
This change charts a path forward toward opening thousands of acres of
H.R. 556 will further these goals by ensuring that Federal land management agencies follow specific science and coordinate with State agencies when regulating the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle.
Providing these safeguards is critical, as alternatives to lead ammunition and fishing tackle are often cost prohibitive, with some costing as much as 10 times more than similar lead products. Instead of regulating hunters and anglers out of our Federal lands, the Trump administration is working with State managers, conservation organizations, and sportsmen and -women.
When lead is shown to cause harm to wildlife, it will be addressed accordingly, but wide-reaching bans or even refuge-by-refuge bans, where no specific science link can be made, are the wrong approach and ultimately undermine wildlife conservation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we are on day 19 of Trump's illegal war of choice with Iran. So far, 13 American servicemembers are dead, and 200 more are wounded. Gas prices have surged 80 cents a gallon just in the last 3 weeks. Grocery bills are climbing. Oil is over $100 a barrel. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed.
Mr. Speaker, what is it, in the face of this chaos and calamity, that the United States House of Representatives has chosen to do this week: debate a bill about lead ammunition in our Nation's wildlife refuges.
Mr. Speaker, we should consider the iconic national symbol of the bald eagle when we talk about this subject. Every year, bald eagles across America die. They drop out of the sky in some cases because they ate carcasses and remains that were laced with lead fragments.
Bald eagles are not alone. Lead poisoning has been documented in over 130 species: the common loon, condors, trumpeter swans, many species of ducks, and even some mammals. For species already struggling on the brink of extinction, each piece of spent ammunition or lost fishing tackle left in the environment is another potential lethal dose of lead.
We banned lead from gasoline. We banned it from paint. We banned it from children's toys. We did that because lead is a known lethal neurotoxin that never breaks down.
That same lead in the form of spent ammunition or lost fishing tackle can kill wildlife, and it does so on our public lands and waters right now, in some cases at levels that are far too high.
Mr. Speaker, Republicans are proposing a bill that would make this a lot worse. H.R. 556 would block Federal land managers from using commonsense, science-based safeguards, when necessary, to protect wildlife from lead poisoning on Federal lands and waters.
The bill does have an exception, at least technically or hypothetically. Agencies can act when a species decline is ``primarily caused'' by lead. That evidentiary requirement and the standard that goes with it, the way this bill is written, is going to be impossible to meet.
The bill demands site-specific field data for each individual unit of land, ignoring decades of peer-reviewed science and imposing costs that most land units, already stretched thin by Trump's budget cuts, simply cannot afford.
States are already moving to protect wildlife in many cases. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont banned lead tackle to protect loon populations. California banned lead ammunition to protect the California condor. However, this bill creates a very murky legal landscape that would undermine these safeguards, replacing State laws and policies with a Federal mandate written by and for the gun lobby.
Most concerning, this bill claims to protect access for hunters and anglers. Yet, in reality, the bill could result in less access for some of America's biggest conservationists. The legislation conflicts with the Endangered Species Act and with a 2022 settlement governing hunting and fishing in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Mr. Speaker, even under the Trump administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued targeted lead restrictions in eight refuges, specifically to open new hunting and fishing opportunities near sensitive Endangered Species Act-listed wildlife species.
Yet, if this bill is enacted, the Fish and Wildlife Service would have to close those sensitive areas for hunting and fishing entirely to comply with the ESA. That is going to leave hunters and anglers with fewer places to fish and hunt.
Transitioning away from lead is a step toward a more sustainable future for the sport. We saw this in 1991 when the Federal Government phased out lead shot for duck hunting. The gun lobby said at the time all the same things that it is saying now: This will kill the sport. People will be priced out. It will be the end of a way of life.
It was nonsense. It was wrong in every case. Waterfowl populations rebounded, giving duck hunters more opportunities, more birds, and more places to hunt.
Proponents of this bill often claim banning lead will price out hunters and anglers, but the data tells a very different story. An analysis of 86 different bullet calibers and cartridge sizes found no significant price difference between lead-free and lead-core ammunition in popular calibers.
Switching to non-lead tackle can add less than 1 percent to the average angler's total annual cost. In the handful of refuges that do restrict lead to protect endangered species and to make sure that they can continue hunting and fishing, the Fish and Wildlife Service already offers vouchers and programs providing free or low-cost ammunition and tackle to hunters and anglers.
Congress should always remember that our public lands belong to the American people, not to the NRA and the gun lobby. H.R. 556 imposes a Federal mandate to allow the spread of a known lethal toxin across our Nation's
My colleagues must reject this bill and let public land managers make the tough calls and do their jobs.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), the vice chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources and the lead sponsor of this legislation.
Before he takes his 3 minutes, I will mention that Mr. Wittman is not only an active member of our committee, serving as vice chairman, and the lead sponsor of this bill, but Mr. Wittman also holds degrees in biology and public health and policy. I could actually call him Dr. Wittman, with a Ph.D. He is also an avid outdoorsman. If there ever was an expert in this area, I would consider Representative Wittman an expert.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act. This legislation safeguards the rights of sportsmen and -women who play such a critical role in the conservation of our lands and resources across our Nation.
As a lifelong hunter and recreational fisherman, I know firsthand how important access to our public lands and waters is for America's sportsmen and -women.
Hunters and anglers are some of the Nation's most dedicated conservationists. They care deeply about the lands, and they demonstrate that. Through the license fees that they pay, the excise taxes that they pay, and on-the-ground stewardship, they have helped fund wildlife management and habitat conservation for generations and have been responsible stewards of the land.
Unfortunately, in recent years, we have seen efforts to restrict the use of traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle on Federal lands and waters, policies that would have placed unnecessary burdens on sportsmen and -women and limited the access to these outdoor traditions that are so fundamental to what Americans cherish.
I appreciate the Trump administration and Secretary Burgum for taking action through a Secretarial order to address this issue and protect access for hunters and anglers, those true stewards of the great resources that are part of this Nation.
This legislation builds on that effort by codifying these protections in law, ensuring that future administrations cannot impose sweeping restrictions that are not grounded in science or consistent with State wildlife management authority.
The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act ensures that any future restrictions on lead ammunition or tackle on Federal lands and waters must be supported by sound science and aligned with State law. Let me repeat that again. Counter to the gentleman from California's statement, this requires a demonstration of sound science in coordination with State management agencies.
State wildlife management agencies have primacy in managing the resources in their States, and Congress should make sure that we honor the regulations and requirements that they put in place to make sure that hunters and anglers have access to the resources that belong to them. These resources belong to the citizens of the United States of America, everyone, not just a group that says, no, we want to restrict access, or we want to use pseudoscience to say that there is a threat here, or we want to state that a species that is actually on the road to recovery is somehow threatened or endangered.
My colleagues can mislead, but the American people aren't going to fall for that. The American people understand what this is about, and that is allowing them to have access to the lands that they own and to the resources that belong to all of us. That is what makes this Nation great.
States have long been the primary managers of fish and wildlife. That is their responsibility, and they are best positioned to make decisions that balance conservation with continued access for hunters and anglers. Congress should respect the States. The 10th Amendment tells us to do so.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation will also help ensure that participation in these outdoor traditions remains affordable, which means they will be accessible.
Republicans want to reduce barriers that could prevent the next generation of sportsmen and -women from getting involved. The young folks of today want to be a part of the outdoors. Let's make sure we don't stop that.
I was proud to see this bill pass the House last Congress, and I remain committed to advancing it once again so that it can be sent to the Senate and, ultimately, to President Trump's desk.
Protecting access for hunters and anglers means protecting the conservation model that has sustained America's wildlife and public lands for decades.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of points. First of all, Federal wildlife managers under current law already have to follow the best available science. If they were to issue lead ammunition regulations randomly, arbitrarily, in a way that contravenes science, they would find themselves immediately in court, and those actions would be overturned.
In terms of deference to State law and State wildlife managers, I certainly agree with the gentleman on that. The problem is that many States have actually taken steps to restrict lead ammunition and tackle. This bill is so poorly written that it is not clear whether Federal wildlife managers could continue to comply with those State laws or whether they would have to ignore them and continue to allow lead in those cases.
Those are several reasons why this bill, in addition to the policy problems I have highlighted, is technically not ready for prime time.
Mr. Speaker, at this point, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
Mr. Speaker, as a former chair and proud member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I have worked tirelessly to defend our public lands and wildlife for the benefit of all outdoor enthusiasts. I am here today on the floor to continue to fight for healthy wildlife populations and to protect public lands access for our Nation's hunters and fishers.
I have been warning my colleagues for years that this legislation, as written, will undermine science-based conservation of wildlife and will result in closures of areas to hunting and fishing.
The fact is that when land managers are allowed to follow the best available science, restrictions on lead ammunition and tackle can be used as a tool to expand access for hunters and fishers, not limit it. This is especially important in places like national wildlife refuges, where managers must ensure that hunting and fishing activities are compatible with the refuge's purposes, including safeguarding threatened and endangered species.
Even last fall, I saw new hunting and fishing opportunities combined with restrictions on lead. The Trump administration's 2025 hunt-fish rule combined these limited lead regulations for new hunting and fishing opportunities with its Lead-Free Hunting Voluntary Incentive Program.
For example, at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, they combined a new opportunity for lead-free bear hunting with a program that distributed all needed lead-free ammunition to hunters.
The bill as currently written undermines that effort by requiring costly and unworkable unit-specific analysis before any regulation on lead can be proposed. In many cases, this bureaucratic burden in H.R. 556 may cause entire units to be closed to hunting or fishing.
From an administrative perspective, it is less risky to remain in compliance with the ESA and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act by closing units to hunting and fishing than to navigate the complex process required by this bill.
Meanwhile, wildlife populations are under increasing pressure from a range
That is why, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee.
If House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, my amendment ensures that land managers can make science-based decisions to protect both wildlife and hunting opportunities so they don't face a choice between keeping lands open to hunting and fishing or protecting wildlife.
As someone who strongly supports our hunters and anglers, I want these activities to remain sustainable and accessible for future generations. Hunters and anglers are among conservation's greatest champions, and they deserve our support.
Grounding conservation and recreation in sound science supports both the natural resources we value and the outdoor traditions we cherish.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Michigan?
Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit that will protect our Nation's rich wildlife heritage for future generations.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I will point out that H.R. 556 checks the boxes. It allows State agencies to make the rules on what kind of ammunition is being used. It also allows for the best available science.
It has been argued almost like the science totally supports the ban of lead, but I want to read from a quote from the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, who is actually the lead advocate for all State fish and wildlife agencies here in Washington:
On the Biden administration's proposal to ban lead, I am quoting what they testified:
What the people closest to this issue said was that there is no conclusive science that we should ban lead, yet that is what the previous administration wanted to do and not only on fish and wildlife refuges. They wanted to ban it not only for hunting but also for fishing.
Fishing and hunting are sports that people in my district do that maybe can't afford to do a lot of other activities. When you increase the cost of ammunition or the cost of fishing tackle by a factor of 10, you are going to price people out of that sport.
Going back to my opening comments, hunters and fishermen are the ones who fund conservation in America through excise taxes, and a lot of that comes from ammunition and fishing tackle.
What this would do is force more people out of those sports. It would reduce funding for conservation, and it would create a downward spiral.
We need to use common sense. We need to use thorough, science-based research, and we need to be able to make these decisions as they arise.
We are not preventing lead from being banned. We are not saying that you can go back and use lead to hunt waterfowl and migratory species. We are just saying to these fish and wildlife agencies, for certain game, you can still use lead shot. We are not going to allow that to be banned just because somebody has a political agenda to ban it.
This is a commonsense bill. It is good for hunting and fishing. It is good for hunters and fishermen, and it is ultimately good for our country and conservation. I strongly support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing.
About this best available science, just to be very clear, best available science is what wildlife managers have to do right now. If they don't, any regulation that they promulgate involving lead tackle or lead ammunition restrictions is going to be invalidated and will mean nothing.
What this poorly written legislation would do, though, is substitute a brand-new scientific standard that we have never seen. We have no idea what it really means. It would have a narrow exception to allow restrictions on lead ammunition or tackle on specific units of land if the applicable Secretary determines that: ``A decline in wildlife population at the specific unit of Federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field data from the specific unit of the Federal land or water.''
These are very new and ambiguous terms. A simple reading would suggest you have to do a complete forensic analysis that would, in the real world, make this standard totally unattainable. It would effectively mean you would never be able to regulate lead ammunition or tackle, even when it was forcing the closure of hunting and fishing in our National Wildlife Refuge System.
As the National Wildlife Refuge Association has pointed out, this is an impossible standard because population monitoring data is not available at the unit scale in most cases.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot today about hunters and anglers, but let's talk about what this bill actually does.
First, it is bad for wildlife. It strips our land managers of the tools they need to limit lead, a known neurotoxin, on our public lands and waters, putting the recovery of species like the bald eagle, our national symbol, and the California condor at great risk of further loss and potentially extinction. We cannot claim to support wildlife while handcuffing the people tasked with managing it.
My colleagues across the aisle talk constantly about States' rights and keeping the Federal Government out of local decisions. Then they bring a bill like this that amounts to a Federal mandate preempting, overriding, State laws on behalf of the gun lobby.
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and California have already banned lead ammunition or tackle in some cases to limit lead and protect wildlife. This bill would throw all of that into legal limbo. Land managers wouldn't even know whether they can honor these State laws.
This bill also harms the very people it claims to champion: our hunters and anglers. It creates a direct conflict with the Endangered Species Act in ways that would force the Fish and Wildlife Service to close off public lands currently open to fishing and hunting.
It does all of this for a problem that doesn't even exist. Lead-free alternatives are widely available and cost about the same in most cases for the most popular calibers. They have been working since 1991. Fewer places to hunt and fish does not grow the outdoor economy, and the places that have sensibly restricted lead tackle and ammunition have not seen a reduction in hunting and fishing.
The people who actually use these lands--our hunters, anglers, and families--are among the strongest conservationists in this country. We agree on that. The last thing they need is for Congress to do favors for the gun lobby at the expense of these lands and wildlife that they love.
We banned lead from gasoline, from paint, and from children's toys. I don't think anyone in this Chamber would argue for putting lead back in any of those circumstances, but House Republicans are asking us, through this bill, to guarantee the sacred place of lead in our wildlife refuges. The people and the wildlife who depend on healthy public lands would pay the price for that.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to see this bill for what it is, a step backward for our environment and our economy, and vote ``no'' on H.R. 556.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing.
Hunters and anglers are the backbone of American wildlife conservation efforts, and they are heavily invested in the long-term health of wildlife. It is important that Congress come to their defense against ideologically driven, unscientific decisions that limit access to our Federal public lands.
Mr. Speaker, I have a letter here supporting H.R. 556. I want to read some of the names who signed onto this letter before I ask to include it in the Record.
These are organizations like the American Catfishing Association, American Sportfishing Association, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, Boone and Crockett Club, California Waterfowl Association, Catch-A- Dream Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, Dallas Safari Club, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, International Game Fish Association, Major League Fishing, Mule Deer Foundation, National Deer Association, National Professional Anglers Association, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Public Lands Foundation, Quail Forever, Safari Club International, Sportsmen's Alliance, The Bass Federation, The Walleye Federation, Whitetails Unlimited, and Wildlife Forever.
These organizations represent millions of Americans who participate in outdoor recreation through hunting and fishing. I don't think they would be signing a letter encouraging the passage of H.R. 556 if they thought there was something that would endanger our fish and wildlife populations in this bill.
Again, to be clear, this bill doesn't prevent the Federal Government from making decisions regarding the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle, but it does say that any ban must be backed up by site-specific science demonstrating that lead use is harming wildlife in that refuge.
It also requires that States be properly consulted when the Federal Government proposes to ban the use of lead. I believe that a true partnership between States and the Federal Government in wildlife conservation is the best path forward, and this bill is a step in the right direction.
Mr. Speaker, I include this letter I just mentioned in the Record.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank Congressman Wittman for his leadership in working on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 1115, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 556) to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes, offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk will redesignate the motion.
The Clerk redesignated the motion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 206, nays 209, not voting 17, as follows:
Messrs. MOORE of Alabama, MORAN, THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, JOHNSON of South Dakota, BURLISON, and Mrs. CAMMACK changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Ms. LEE of Nevada, Messrs. FIGURES, and CARSON changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (H.R. 1958) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify that aliens who have been convicted of defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits are inadmissible and deportable, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 231, nays 186, not voting 15, as follows:
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Requiring a Balanced Budget for the Federal Government
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 139) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) that the House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 211, nays 207, not voting 14, as follows:
So (two-thirds not being in the affirmative) the motion was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Mr. Speaker, I missed votes in order to attend the dignified transfer of six fallen U.S. Service members. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 92, AYE on Roll Call No. 93, YEA on Roll Call No. 94, and YEA on Roll Call No. 95.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) as cosponsor of H.R. 1007 because he was inadvertently added to the legislation by my staff.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York?
Mr. Speaker, tonight, the Kentucky congressional delegation rises to honor Army Staff Sergeant Benjamin Pennington and U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt, who were both killed in the line of duty while serving in support of Operation Epic Fury. Their selfless sacrifice will never be forgotten by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and these United States of America.
Staff Sergeant Benjamin Pennington of Glendale, Kentucky, was 26 years old. Growing up in Hardin County, he ran track at Central Hardin High School and was an Eagle Scout. After graduating in 2017, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with distinction ever since. He leaves behind a loving family and community.
Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky, was 34 years old and a native of Nelson County. In high school, she was a member of the Air Force Junior ROTC program. Joining the Air Force in 2017, she found her passion as a boom operator aboard the Boeing KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. She leaves behind her husband, Greg; their 3-year- old daughter, Emilia; her stepson, Oliver; and her loving parents.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States of America will forever be grateful to these brave heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our Nation. Their families and loved ones will always remain in our prayers.
On behalf of the Kentucky congressional delegation and the House of Representatives, I ask the United States House of Representatives to observe a moment of silence in their honor.
Mr. Speaker, there are more than 60 million Americans aged 65 and older, nearly 20 percent of our population.
Older Americans face a range of challenges: dealing with rising costs on a fixed income; getting access to the care they need, housing, and transportation; dealing with scams and elder abuse; and more.
That is why we must reestablish the Select Committee on Aging in the House of Representatives, to ensure that older Americans' needs are being looked at holistically by this body.
The committee existed from 1974 to 1994. Its work led to the passage of legislation to make nursing homes safer, increase home care benefits, improve research and care of Alzheimer's, and more. It is time to bring it back.
Along with Republican Representative Maria Salazar of Florida, I am reintroducing a bipartisan bill to do just that. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it for today's seniors and for future generations.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include this article in support of the bill in the Congressional Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Rhode Island?
There was no objection.
Bipartisan Push To Restore House Permanent Select Committee on Aging
Mr. Speaker, with heavy hearts, alongside my colleagues from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I rise today to honor the life and the service of Specialist Krystofer Lopez, who passed away on Thursday, March 12, following a training exercise at Letterkenny Army Depot in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
Specialist Lopez answered the call to serve by enlisting during his junior year of high school at Biglerville High. He was driven by a deep love of his country and a sense of duty that truly defined his life.
He served as a military police officer and as a Personnel Force Innovation member of the 947th Quartermaster Company.
In the words of Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, Specialist Lopez gave his last full measure of devotion. For that, we as a Commonwealth from Pennsylvania, we as a country, and we as a community are forever grateful.
It has been said that our flag does not fly because the wind moves it but with the last breath of those who defend it. Specialist Krystofer Lopez now rests among those heroes. Now and forever, this brave soldier will be a source of inspiration throughout his enduring devotion to duty and call to service.
Please join us, the Members of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania delegation in the United States House of Representatives, in a moment of silence to honor the life of Specialist Krystofer Lopez.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of North Hall High School teacher and coach, Jason Hughes.
Mr. Hughes was more than just a teacher. He was a beloved mentor and role model. From heading the math department and educating students in the classroom to coaching multiple teams and leading Bible studies, Jason met every opportunity with a simple, yet thoughtful, question: How can I serve you better?
Jason's service-driven life made an unforgettable impact on countless students, athletes, parents, and teachers throughout the North Hall community.
In addition to his passion for serving others, Jason was known as a devoted husband, loving father, and a man of deep faith.
Tragically, a terrible accident cut his remarkable life short too soon. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Laura, and their two sons, Owen and Luke, during this unimaginably difficult time. I ask that we continue to pray for comfort and healing over his loved ones and the North Hall community.
Mr. Speaker, may we take comfort in knowing that Jason is with our Heavenly Father, who welcomed him home with the words: Well done, good and faithful servant. ``Soli Deo Gloria''; ``To God alone be the glory.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the exemplary work of The Rye Record, the local newspaper that covers the comings and goings of the Rye community since 1988.
Printed twice each month, The Rye Record features stories about the activities of local government, city council, the planning board, zoning board, and other such agencies.
Chronicles in The Rye Record include programs and services provided by local nonprofit organizations such as the Rye YMCA; the Rye Free Reading Room; the Rye Nature Center; the Rye Historical Society, and much more. It also includes the event and religious services of Rye's houses of worship and the many advanced recreation programs and special events.
The newspaper, owned by the new team of John Elsen and Zach Wydra, has led a group of new and experienced writers working together on local sports, letters to the editor, calendar of community events, articles about Rye's history, school news, and sports.
The Rye Record features reporters Camille Botello, Chris Marshall, and Miranda Ferrante, among many. It also includes contributing writers like longtime Rye residents Paul Hicks and David Hessekiel. They capture it all.
From the floor of the House of Representatives, we salute The Rye Record, another example of local entrepreneurship and media savvy.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for being recently recognized by the Safari Club International as their 2026 Governor of the Year.
Governor Kemp has excelled in his efforts to support wildlife conservation, sportsmen's rights, and public access to hunting lands. Governor Kemp has a long history of fighting for and protecting Georgians' right to hunt and their Second Amendment rights.
His administration has prioritized funding for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which has supported wildlife habitat and conservation initiatives in the acquisition of high-value game lands.
On a personal note, knowing Governor Kemp as I do, I can assure my colleagues very few people love the outdoors and love hunting as much as he does.
Mr. Speaker, we thank Governor Kemp for prioritizing these important freedoms and congratulate him on being awarded the 2026 SCI Governor of the Year.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize America Cazares, an extraordinary young woman from my district and a proud fellow warrior from Pueblo High School.
Over the past 4 years, America has electrified her community with her talent, determination, and relentless drive on the basketball court. Through countless hours of hard work and unwavering commitment to excellence, she has achieved a truly historic milestone.
America is now the all-time leading scorer in Arizona girl's basketball history across all divisions. This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to perseverance, discipline, the power of believing in yourself, and believing in your abilities.
America has not only raised the bar for athletes across our State but she has also inspired young people in southern Arizona and beyond to dream big and work hard. Her success reflects the strength of her family, her coaches, her teammates, and the Pueblo community that has supported her every step of the way.
Mr. Speaker, we are incredibly proud of America. ``Felicidades''; ``congratulations'' on this historic achievement. We look forward to all she will accomplish in the years ahead. ``Adelante''; ``forward.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Agriculture Week. In my home State of Georgia and in Georgia's 12th District, who I represent, agriculture remains our number one industry.
During this special week and every week, I recognize and celebrate the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who keep America strong, clothed, and fed. Their hard work, innovation, and dedication helps to sustain our community and provide the food and fiber that we rely on every day.
As the son of a farmer and having grown up on our family farm in Columbia County, I know how important it is to ensure that future generations can pick up that mantle and become agricultural leaders.
That is why, in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, House Republicans included a provision that saved over 6,000 family-owned farms in Georgia-12 from an increased death tax. This means more farms stay in the hands of Georgia farmers and not the Federal Government.
This week, let's take a moment to thank those who work in acres and not hours.
Mr. Speaker, I was 5 years old in 1993 when Tupac Shakur said:
Today, those words feel as real as ever.
President Trump, no one wants this war, and the American people literally cannot afford it.
Mr. Speaker, I am not an economist, but I understand that the U.S. war with Iran has shaken global markets, driven oil prices up more than 40 percent, and is even raising fears of a worldwide recession, impacting flights and the cost of goods. We feel it at home, where the price of gas is far more expensive than it has ever been.
This is not just about economics. It is about accountability. As a lawyer, I understand all too well that every President, including Donald Trump, takes an oath to defend the Constitution. That Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the power to declare war. Yet, Congress was sidelined. The American people were given no clear cause, no clear strategy, and no clear endgame.
We cannot afford this--not economically and not morally. America's conscience cannot afford it.
When leaders promise peace but deliver war, that is not just a policy failure. It is a betrayal of trust.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Sergeant Cody Siebert, a beloved member of the East Range Police Department, who tragically passed away at the young age of 33.
Cody spent most of his career serving communities on the Iron Range, including his hometown of Babbitt. While serving there, he pioneered the department's K9 program, which he later carried over to the East Range Police Department with his trusted partner, K9 Taconite.
Cody served as the resident K9 officer in the Mesabi East School District. In reading the many tributes shared in Cody's memory, one sentiment stood out. He had a remarkable gift for connecting with people, especially with students.
Beyond the badge, Cody's most important role was that of a father to his two young sons, Reese and Bayne. Cody also leaves behind the love of his life, Karen.
Cody's sudden and unfortunate passing has left a void that could never be filled in his department, in the schools and community he served, and, most of all, in the lives of his family.
Mr. Speaker, the impact he made through his service and kindness will endure forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace, and may his K9 partner, Taconite, be allowed to stay with his loving family.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary service of Kirk Fernitz, a dedicated public servant who is retiring after decades of service to our Nation, to our veterans, and to our community at the Coatesville VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District.
Born and raised in Germany, Kirk came to the United States as a student and earned his degree from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania before becoming an American citizen and commissioned as an Army officer.
Over the course of 30 years in uniform, he served in the Active and Reserve Components of the U.S. Army, deploying to Iraq twice and supporting peacekeeping missions in Africa under Joint Special Operations Command.
Following his military service, Kirk devoted more than three decades to the Coatesville VA, culminating in his role as the director of community and congressional affairs, where he worked tirelessly to strengthen the connection between veterans, the VA, and our community.
Kirk's career reflects a lifetime of commitment to service, to our veterans, and to our community, and they are better for it.
On behalf of Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District, I thank him for his dedication and wish him and his wife, Kristin, and their sons, Erik and Haydn, all of the very best in retirement.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Earnest Wesley Dempsey, Sr. He was a restaurateur, veteran, and a pillar of the St. Charles County community.
Ernie spent years of his life serving in the Navy before becoming an active member of the VFW post 2866, where he advocated for his fellow veterans.
In St. Charles, Ernie was locally famous for running Pio's Restaurant. He started there as a manager, and his hard work ethic paid off when he took over the business.
Ernie was a dedicated leader in his community, serving as the charter member of the Optimist Club and as a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of St. Charles County.
In 2019, he was honored with the Key to the City of St. Charles and was named Restaurateur of the Year.
Ernie contributed to everything that makes Missouri great, and he will be dearly missed.
Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to express my profound upset at the loss of American servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation for a cause in Iran that the administration has yet to adequately justify.
There was no imminent threat. There is no strategy for success. There is no end in sight, and the American servicemembers remain in harm's way.
To add insult to injury, the administration's unilateral decision has made rising price concerns only worse for working families, who are already struggling with the costs when going to gas stations or to the grocery store.
Just yesterday, I met with the members of the Indiana Farm Bureau, who also were already struggling due to the increased costs of tariffs. Now, the war has further skyrocketed their input costs and, in particular, fertilizers.
We must be strategic in our approach to protecting our warfighters and end the cost increase this conflict is causing to everyday Americans.
As we move forward with the appropriations process, I will work with all of my colleagues to conduct rigorous oversight and hold the administration accountable for their actions.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary young women of the Anthony Wayne High School cheer team.
Just weeks after capturing the National Cheer Championship title in Orlando, Florida, these remarkable athletes brought home the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators State Championship title.
Led by Erica Black and Robin Buffy, the Generals had the highest score across all teams in all divisions.
Championships are not handed out. They are earned with early mornings, late nights, and countless unseen hours of practice. They are built by coaches who mentor, parents who sacrifice, teachers who encourage, and neighbors who show up again and again.
This victory belongs to the entire Anthony Wayne community. It reflects the strength of our schools, the spirit of our families, and the promise of our young people. Our champions have inspired us and reminded us what teamwork, perseverance, and hometown pride can achieve.
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 glad to be joined by my colleague this evening. Before I provide my remarks, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Haridopolos).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Ted Kimmey, who served in the United States Army and has been selected as Brevard County's Veteran of the Month.
Captain Kimmey served our Nation honorably, rising to the rank of captain before his honorable discharge from the Army.
Like so many veterans, Captain Kimmey answered the call to serve during a critical time in our country and handled himself with professionalism and integrity.
After his military service, Captain Kimmey continued to exemplify the values of service and civic responsibilities at our home in Brevard County.
Mr. Speaker, it is because of veterans like Ted Kimmey that our Nation remains strong and free. I am honored to recognize his service and thank him on behalf of a grateful nation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. James Comerford, a servant leader whose life reflects a deep commitment to our country, community, and public service.
Dr. Comerford retired as a captain in the United States Army after serving 25 years. During his career, he served as company commander, brigade medical officer, and U.S. Army combatives instructor, earning numerous commendations along the way.
Following his service, Dr. Comerford continued to serve as a college professor, collegiate chiropractor, and mentor to young students across our community, especially at-risk students.
Today, he serves as the associate coach and team doctor for Palm Bay athletics and operates a chiropractic practice that provides care to veterans throughout the VA Community Care Network.
Now, in his third year as chairman of the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine, Dr. Comerford continues to lead with integrity. He embodies the Army's core values every single day.
I thank Dr. Comerford and his family for their sacrifice and service to our community.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share important news for the families of Florida's Space Coast.
Through the recent appropriations package, I was proud to help secure nearly $14 million to improve water quality projects and protect the long-term health of the Indian River Lagoon.
The lagoon is one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America. It supports wildlife, sustains local fisheries, drives tourism, and anchors the quality of life for all of us in Brevard County.
In recent years, harmful algal blooms and water quality challenges have threatened this vital ecosystem.
This funding will support restoration efforts, strengthen habitat protection, and advance projects that reduce nutrient pollution that has entered the lagoon.
The Indian River Lagoon is more than just a waterway. It is essential to our life on the Space Coast.
I will continue working on this project and many more to make sure that our quality of life stays high. Thanks to the work of the Congress, we are able to give the funding necessary to keep this national treasure in place.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy boys' soccer team on winning the Class 2A State soccer championship.
With discipline, resilience, and relentless effort, these student athletes earned the State championship as a testament to their commitment on and off the field.
This victory belongs not just to the players, but also to the coaches, the families, and the community who supported them every step of the way.
Championships are built through long practices, strong leadership, and a belief in one another. This is one great example of just that.
The Space Coast takes pride in its student athletes, and this team has given our community a moment to celebrate. Their success represents the strength of high school athletics and the character it builds in young leaders.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Holy Trinity on an outstanding season and a well-earned State soccer title.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation that affirms America's commitment to exploration, innovation, and leadership in space.
The bill reauthorizes NASA's priorities for lunar and Mars missions, strengthens our presence in low Earth orbit, and encourages scientific and commercial partnerships that expand our capabilities and grow our economy.
Working through the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, led by Dr. Babin, we have emphasized continuity, strategic investments, and maintaining the U.S. competitiveness in space, making sure we stay number one in space. As the President said: ``You can't be number one on Earth if you are number two in space.''
This legislation supports exploration and innovation, uplifts STEM education, and solidifies America's role at the forefront of discovery for generations to come.
As an original cosponsor of this bill, I am proud to stand with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance these goals and defend our Nation's legacy of space leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida. He has a clear passion for his State and the ways that he is going to support it.
I have taken my young son to Cape Canaveral before, and after going on a cruise, which we were fortunate to go on, we literally went to the cape. I think, even after the cruise, Cape Canaveral that afternoon was one of the most fascinating experiences for him, a unique place.
Utah's First District is actually a leader in space as well, with Thiokol of olden days, now Northrop Grumman. We do a lot of amazing work with--I think it is Houston, areas in Florida, Utah, and Huntsville, Alabama, that are big on this.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank him for his support and great work.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you today for this time to be able to talk a little bit about a really important piece of legislation that I have put forward. It is a proposal for a solution to what I think many have considered out-of-control prediction markets.
Just hours before the United States military strikes in Iran, more than 150 accounts made investments of over $1,000 in event contracts based on the timing of the strikes, with six traders together making over $1.2 million.
In traditional betting, an individual places a wager on an outcome with odds set by a bookmaker that determines the winnings. In a prediction market, a trader buys shares in an outcome of an event. There are no odds, and share prices fluctuate based on market responses, allowing investors to turn a profit if they sell high or if their chosen outcome proves correct.
Our classified military strikes should not provide an opportunity for bettors to play or profit. Underregulated prediction markets have exposed America to needless public safety and national security risks by allowing traders to invest in outcomes related to sensitive matters like terrorism, assassination, war, or elections.
This nonpartisan issue has spiraled out of control, and Congress needs to pass legislation to require enforcement.
Congress previously included a subtle provision in the Commodity Exchange Act that preempts State regulation on betting when it is offered through event contracts. This loophole has opened a door to gambling on anything from Taylor Swift's appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game to when the United States might launch a strike on Cuba.
Sports betting is illegal in 19 States, but prediction markets, like Kalshi or
Again, this is a loophole for a legitimate financial tool that has existed for decades, maybe even centuries, but they are using this as a loophole to allow for betting in all States.
In January, one investor netted over $400,000 on Nicolas Maduro's fall from power, making the timely purchase just before President Trump announced the deposed leader's capture. Prediction market Kalshi claims that, legally, this is investing, not gambling.
I introduced H.R. 7840, the bipartisan Event Contract Enforcement Act, to address these concerns and put an end to reckless event-based gambling. This bill strengthens existing law, requiring the CFTC to prohibit event contracts related to terrorism, assassination, war, gaming, or criminal behavior.
The bill also bans trading on election outcomes and government activities to protect our elections from manipulation and insulate the government from insider trading opportunities.
This nonpartisan issue ensures event contracts can continue to serve in legitimate business interests while also protecting Americans from risk. I am looking forward to moving it through the legislative process.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in 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, I am here today because we have yet to see a bill offered on the floor during my time in Congress that would make life more affordable for working families.
In fact, since the last time my freshmen colleagues and I were on this floor talking about the Republicans' affordability crisis, Donald Trump unconstitutionally started a war with Iran. So far there has been no meaningful plan or strategy to ensure that America's national security interests or our servicemembers are protected.
We mourn for the families and loved ones of the 13 servicemembers who have already lost their lives in this war, and we hope that another life is not lost.
After just over 2 weeks, Donald Trump's war in Iran has cost the American people $11 billion. Donald Trump would rather pour billions of dollars to start a war with another country than address the affordability crisis that he and Republicans have created.
I recently conducted a survey of nearly 70,000 constituents in my district and asked them a simple yes-or-no question: Instead of the war in Iran, should Trump focus on making the cost of living more affordable? Over 90 percent of those who responded said ``yes.'' This sentiment is reflected across the Nation.
Donald Trump's war in Iran has the worst-ever support for a war at its start. Trump's reckless and illegal war with Iran is yet another example of how this administration has been out of touch with the priorities of American families since he has been back in office.
The American people do not want our country to get sucked into another forever war. The American people want the Epstein files released. The American people want ICE to be reined in. The American people want to pay less at the grocery store, at the gas station, and at the doctor's office.
Since the war in Iran started, prices for gas, food, and other essentials have spiked. Gas prices shot up 50 cents in just one week, and oil prices hit $100 a barrel.
Experts believe that Trump's war in Iran could push the average cost of gas to above $4 a gallon within weeks. Gas stations in Los Angeles have hit over $8 per gallon.
But Trump says he doesn't have any concern about skyrocketing gas prices. He even called anyone who is worried about the rising cost of gas a fool.
When asked whether Americans should feel scared about retaliatory attacks on U.S. soil, Trump replied: ``When you go to war, some people will die.''
It is not enough to say that Donald Trump is completely out of touch with the needs of the American people. He does not care about everyday Americans. He is more concerned about lining the pockets of his billionaire donors and starting wars to deflect from the issues people actually care about.
My House Democratic Caucus freshmen colleagues and I refuse to let Trump's distractions deter us from fighting for our constituents. We remain focused on lowering costs for our constituents and holding Trump accountable.
We all voted against Trump's war in Iran, to stop him from abusing his power. It is clear that the American public and Congress do not influence Trump's decisions, and he would rather be influenced by his impulses and emotion.
Our constituents sent us to Washington to make life more affordable for them, not to rubberstamp Trump and Republicans' agenda that actively makes their lives worse for them.
Tonight, we will hear from some of the freshmen Democratic Caucus members and the work that they are doing to make life more affordable for their constituents.
I will start with the Congresswoman from Texas.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson), my colleague and friend.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Congresswoman Rivas for hosting this Special Order hour.
Mr. Speaker, millions of American families are struggling with the skyrocketing cost of living. They can't afford gas, groceries, or their bills.
Republicans in the White House week after week are gaslighting the American people. Now, we are seeing Donald Trump make reckless foreign policy decisions which are increasing the costs for American families as we speak.
Over the past few weeks, the news out of the Middle East has been alarming. Trump has significantly escalated military involvement in Iran, a war that puts American lives at risk.
Now, let's talk about what this means for working families. Wars aren't just fought overseas, but they are paid for right here in the United States. Every increase in military spending and every escalation of conflict has a ripple effect that touches grocery bills, utility costs, and most immediately the price at the pump.
Gas prices are rising with an average gallon in Texas now between $3.26 and almost $3.50, while diesel approaches $5 a gallon, a jump of 25 cents just this past week.
It is families who are paying the price: parents who are driving their kids to school, commuters trying to get to work, and seniors who are trying to make their Social Security stretch just a bit further.
All of this is happening while Trump and Republicans continue to ignore the affordability crisis facing everyday Americans every day of every week and every hour.
We are talking about real families deciding whether to fill their car with gas or put food on the table. We are talking about the anxiety that comes from not knowing how to cover the next bill when our leaders gamble with the lives and the money of American taxpayers abroad.
The billion dollars that we are spending each day on this war could be spent on supporting families, tax relief, the child tax credit, healthcare, the Affordable Care Act--everything.
How many times have we heard from Republicans coming to this floor clutching their pearls saying: Oh, we don't have the money to spend to make healthcare accessible for so many people.
There are so many things that Republicans come down here to say that we don't have the funding for, yet they are willing to let this President spend
While families are tightening their belts, Republicans in Washington are going on a spending spree. They are continuing to try to fund a foreign war with no end in sight, which the American people do not want. All without addressing concerns right here on affordability right now, at kitchen tables at home right now, for people in this country.
The picture could not be clearer. While Republicans prioritize reckless wars over the well-being of the American people, Democrats are laser focused on protecting working families and making sure they can afford what they need to survive.
I urge Republicans to remember the people behind the numbers. Remember the families struggling to fill their tanks, to buy their groceries, and to pay their rent. Remember that every dollar spent on this never-ending war is a dollar taken from American families already stretched too thin.
Mr. Speaker, I stand here today not just to call attention to the human cost of war but to call on all of us to act to protect the families of this country, act to prioritize affordability and lower the costs for those who need it, and act to ensure that the promise of the American Dream is not priced out of reach for the millions of people who sent us here to fight for them.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of southern Arizonans who are being squeezed to the brink, families who cannot keep up with rising healthcare costs, soaring gas prices, and a future that feels further and further out of reach.
Working families are struggling to get by. Instead of relief, they are being ignored, all while Trump and House Republicans continue to serve their billionaire friends and special interests.
Nearly 60 percent of families in this country are living paycheck to paycheck. Yet, there is always money for war but never enough money for the urgent needs of everyday people here at home.
The American people want healthcare, not warfare. This war alone has cost us $22.8 billion. Think about that. That kind of investment could have provided Medicaid to over 6 million children, funded head start for 1.3 million families, canceled $20,000 in student debt for 1 million borrowers, or funded the ACA premium assistance that Republicans refused to extend.
These are investments southern Arizonans and Americans across the country want to see. Working people are not interested in funding another endless war while they struggle to fill their gas tanks and pay their bills. Instead of putting billionaires first, Congress should focus on policies that make people's lives better. It is time to start putting the American people first.
Mr. Speaker, when I was 5 years old, Tupac Shakur said: ``You know, it's funny when it rains it pours. They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor.''
Those words hit differently today.
Mr. President, nobody wants this war, and the American people cannot afford it.
I am not an economist, but I do know this: The U.S. war with Iran has rattled global markets, driven up oil prices more than 40 percent, and sparked real fears of a worldwide recession. We feel it at home. Gas is more expensive than it has been in a very long time. Flights cost more, and groceries cost more.
However, this is bigger than just economics. It is about accountability. I am a lawyer, and I know that every President swears an oath to defend the Constitution, and that Constitution empowers Congress to declare war, not the President. In this instance, Congress was sidelined. The American people got no clear cause, no strategy, and no endgame.
I say this as a proud son of two veterans. Their sacrifice meant something. Mr. Speaker, you do not send our sons and our daughters into harm's way without purpose, without justification, and without an imminent threat.
We cannot afford this war, not economically, and not morally. When a leader promises peace but delivers war, that is not just a policy failure; that is a betrayal.
Americans do not support this war, and the President should end it immediately.
I draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the poster behind me. This is a real photo that my staff took of a gas station in Los Angeles. It is a real photo. It is not AI, and it is not photoshopped. Your eyes are not deceiving you, Mr. Speaker. You are seeing a real gas station showing $8.71 a gallon for regular gas. In the span of 1 week, gas prices shot up 50 cents--in just 1 week--and oil prices hit $100 a barrel.
Gas prices are nearly $3.50 per gallon on average across the country, but experts believe Trump's war in Iran could push the average cost of gas to above $4 a gallon within weeks. Analysts say that Americans will spend nearly $1 billion more on gas next week. Diesel prices are up 86 cents to $4.60 per gallon, and jet fuel prices have skyrocketed, hiking prices for shipping and airfare.
Trump has not shown concern for how the rising cost of gas could hurt Americans' wallets saying: ``If they rise, they rise.''
The United States produces more oil than any country on Earth, and even that supply could not stop gas prices from surging 50 percent in 10 days. Drilling more will not help Americans at the gas pump when oil companies are shipping oil barrels overseas, and it certainly will not help when a strategic waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, is shut down.
Trump's only response is to call us fools and gaslight the American people into thinking he is doing a good job. That is an out-of-touch response from an out-of-touch person. Working families in Los Angeles and across the country cannot afford Trump's war.
Across the country, families are sitting around the kitchen table and are seeing their monthly costs rise with no help in sight. It is adding up quickly, but then they turn on the TV and see that Trump has unconstitutionally started a war in Iran without strategy or justification.
Housing costs are skyrocketing. Grocery costs haven't gone down. Healthcare is being placed out of reach for millions of Americans. Republicans estimate that Trump's war is costing taxpayers upwards of $2 billion a day, and yet they cannot find a dime to lower the cost of living in this country.
Already, the cost of this war could have likely paid for extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits this year. Instead, families across the country are seeing their healthcare costs double and triple. In my district, 31,000 families have seen their healthcare costs rise because of Republican inaction. Additionally, nearly 11,000 people in California's 29th District will lose access to health coverage because of Republicans' refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that annual out-of-pocket premium payments for ACA marketplace enrollees will increase from $888 in 2025 to over $1,900 in 2026.
Constituents in my district have made their voices heard: They would rather Trump and Republicans focus on making healthcare more affordable, not getting involved in another foreign conflict.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Hernandez).
There is a common thread that connects families across Puerto Rico and the United States. It is the feeling of looking at a grocery receipt and wondering if the math is wrong. It is the worry that comes when the baby formula runs low or the doctor's bill comes due.
It is the simple, honest truth that for too many of our neighbors: It has simply become too expensive to live, and they are right to be frustrated. That is because while they are doing the hard work, waking up before dawn to get to the job and stretching every dollar to keep the lights on, Washington has made a different choice.
Donald Trump has chosen a war of his own making in Iran. As a result, every one of us is being asked to pay a war tax that we never voted for and that we cannot afford.
In Puerto Rico, we feel this more deeply than most. We see the ships on the horizon, and we know that almost everything we need to survive-- the food for our tables, the clothes for our children, and the fuel for our cars--comes from abroad.
When a war starts halfway around the world, it doesn't stay there. It makes the cost of running these ships higher, and so the cost of war shows up at our local gas station. It shows up at the supermarket in the price of a pound of chicken. It shows up in our paycheck where $10 here and $20 there are being snatched away to pay for a conflict we don't need.
Washington should focus more on us, not on another endless foreign war. Democrats are here fighting for Puerto Ricans. We are fighting for the mother in Puerto Rico who deserves the same help from SNAP to buy groceries as a mother in Florida or California. We are fighting for the grandfather who shouldn't be turned away at a medical appointment by his doctor because Medicaid ran out of money.
We are fighting for every family who deserves to know that when they flip the switch, they won't go bankrupt because of higher electricity and utility rates.
The Republican Party is thinking about war rooms and drones. We are thinking about living rooms and kitchen tables. Americans and Puerto Ricans should not have to bear the brunt of reckless decisions made thousands of miles away. We have done our part. Americans have worked the hours, they have kept the faith, and they deserve a government that finally puts them and their families first.
Mr. Speaker, before I close, I want to once again take a moment to mourn the lives that have already been lost to this conflict.
My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the 13 servicemembers who have been killed in this war. My heart also goes out to the innocent lives that have been taken as a result of this war, including the over 170 people, mostly young girls, who were killed in a school.
As we have seen, Donald Trump does not have a strategy to keep innocent lives or our servicemembers safe. He started a war because he once again refuses to address the issues Americans actually care about: releasing the Epstein files, reining in ICE, and addressing the affordability crisis he and Republicans started.
My House Democratic colleagues and I know that working Americans are not interested in another forever war. They want to be able to afford their rent, pay for their groceries, see their doctor, and fill their tank without fear of going into debt.
I am proud to work with my colleagues to drive down the high cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system, and make sure that immigration enforcement in this country is fair, just, and humane. House Democrats stand with working Americans and will always work on solutions to alleviate their fears and keep their dreams within reach.
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 rise today to honor Michael Proctor, who, sadly, passed away on February 12 at the age of 58.
Michael, a Georgia native, attended Worth County High School, where he first showcased his natural athletic ability. He started for the Murray State Racers at Murray State University as quarterback, where he was honored with the nickname ``The General.''
During this time, he earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and OVC Offensive Player of the Year, and he set the Murray State record in career yards. He was inducted into the Murray State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000, with his No. 11 being retired.
After college, Proctor played briefly for the New England Patriots, the Cleveland Browns, the World League of American Football, and the Canadian Football League. He was an accomplished football player with incredible talent and determination.
Proctor's journey from small-town Georgia to the football spotlight is truly inspirational. May he rest in peace, and his legacy live on.
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Pastor Scott Morrison. He serves as discipleship pastor at the First Baptist Church of Vidalia, Georgia.
Pastor Morrison has a legacy of leadership with over 25 years of experience. In 2001, he became the minister of students, making discipleship a priority for the youth of the church. Several of his students entered the ministry and later became missionaries themselves.
Pastor Scott embodies the Scripture through his work at First Baptist Church, helping others every day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he started a nonprofit effort at Vidalia High School called Whisper to address rising mental health concerns. His efforts have increased student well-being across the region, as it has expanded to other schools. His dedication to bettering the lives of young people in his community sets an example for us all.
Pastor Scott is married to Mindy, and they have two sons and a daughter.
I thank Pastor Scott Morrison for his community leadership and service to others over the past 25 years. He is and will be a critical part of the Vidalia community for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of former Milledgeville Mayor John William Grant, Jr., who passed away on February 14 at the age of 99.
Mayor Grant was born in 1926, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and graduating from college soon after. Back in Milledgeville, he successfully ran his family jewelry business while simultaneously serving 20 years as a Milledgeville city councilman and 4 years as mayor.
He was known for his integrity, thoughtful leadership, and deep commitment to the people of Milledgeville during his time in office. He led with a hands-on approach, focusing on improving infrastructure, encouraging community growth, and fostering unity among residents.
Mayor Grant is survived by his children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, and countless friends. He will be remembered as a kindhearted leader who truly cared about the people of Milledgeville.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the entire community.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Tony Petrea, a proud Savannah native who passed away at his home in Statesboro surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Tony was a man of discipline, integrity, and strength who built a respected name for himself in his community through hard work and dedication.
He cherished his years coaching baseball, sharing his time and wisdom with young athletes. He was also an amateur radio enthusiast and loved to travel, exploring destinations from Mexico to the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas.
In addition to his many passions, Tony established the J.L. Petrea Construction Scholarship at Ogeechee Technical College, allowing two students each year to receive financial support to pursue their education.
Tony's generosity and kind spirit were a hallmark of his life. He connected easily with others, gave selflessly, and never sought recognition for his good deeds. His legacy will live on through the lives he touched and the opportunities he created for others.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding achievement by the Georgia Southern University Ethics Bowl team from Statesboro, Georgia.
This talented group of Eagles has qualified for the 2026 APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl National Competition in St. Louis, Missouri.
After a strong performance at the regional competition in Dahlonega, they earned their spot among just 36 top undergraduate teams nationwide.
In the Ethics Bowl, students engage in thoughtful, collaborative discussions on real-world moral, political, and social issues. They prepare cases for months, apply ethical theories, present reasoned positions, and offer civil commentary on opponents' views. It is not about winning arguments but about analyzing complex dilemmas with clarity and respect.
Team president Cade Huff credits Ethics Bowl with sharpening his communication skills and preparing him for a potential career in law and government.
I congratulate the Georgia Southern Ethics Bowl team for exemplifying intellectual rigor and ethical leadership. May they bring home strong results and inspire others to thoughtful engagement.
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the life of Miriam Kantsiper Center, who passed away on February 17.
Mrs. Center was a prominent member of the Savannah community for many decades. In addition to having a lifelong interest in politics and civic issues, she established a successful real estate business and an all-female Little League team in Savannah.
Miriam was also the first female chairperson of Savannah's Metropolitan Planning Commission. She played an instrumental role in getting her husband, Leo, elected to the Savannah City Council on multiple occasions.
At the age of 74, Mrs. Center became an author and at 80, a playwright.
In 2020, she received the Savannah Woman of Vision Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design for her invaluable impact on the Savannah community.
I knew Miriam well. She was a very special lady. My thoughts and prayers go out to her two sons and five grandchildren.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Georgia State Representative Jan Jones, whose term ending this year will mark the end of an impressive and impactful tenure in the Georgia legislature.
Representative Jones was first elected to the Georgia House in 2002 and became speaker pro tempore in 2010. She was reelected to that position every term since, making her the longest serving speaker pro tempore in the country and the most powerful woman in the Georgia State House.
Jan led Senate Bill 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, through the statehouse. This established a voucher program for students who switched from a low-performing public school to a private or home school program. Despite multiple times of the bill being in danger of failing, Representative Jones' strong connection throughout the legislature ensured its passage.
Current House Speaker Jon Burns has called her a trailblazer who will leave a significant mark in State history.
I thank my friend, Representative Jones, for her many years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia and congratulate her on a job well done. It was, indeed, an honor to serve with her.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Joe Randall, a prominent member of the Savannah community, who passed away on February 14.
Mr. Randall played an instrumental part in shaping southern cuisine through his cookbook ``A Taste of Heritage: The New African-American Cuisine.''
The book's popularity led to it being inducted into the James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame. Chef Randall was affectionately known as the ``Dean of Southern Cuisine'' and featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture for his contributions to southern cuisine.
In 1993, Randall founded the African American Chefs Hall of Fame as part of the Taste of Heritage Foundation. In addition, he founded the Chef Joe Randall's Cooking School in Savannah where he trained aspiring chefs and local students.
Mr. Speaker, Joe is survived by his wife, Barbara, along with his children, his sisters, and his grandson.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Randall Eugene Davis, Sr., who passed away on February 16.
Randy was a lifelong Savannahian and a proud resident of Wilmington Island.
In 1994, Randy and Sherry, his wife of 35 years, opened Davis Produce in Savannah and grew it to the Wilmington Island staple that it is today.
For 31 years, Randy dedicated himself to his community, paying their generosity forward. Mr. Davis understood that small businesses such as his survive through hard work, determination, and service to the community. These are values that he exemplified each day.
Known as the ``home of the killer tomato,'' Davis Produce became a place of community gathering and friendship for all.
Randy was an exemplary member of the community who found happiness by bringing joy to others, both within and outside of his business.
Mr. Speaker, Randy is survived by his wife, his father, his siblings, and community at large who greatly appreciated his years of service.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John S. Kern, who passed away on January 30.
He studied at the Florida Institute of Technology, the University of Delaware, and the University of South Florida, earning degrees in civil and structural engineering.
John built a distinguished career as an engineer, opening his own firm in 1976 and, with it, a reputation for excellence and quality.
His impact on Savannah didn't stop at his profession. John was heavily involved in a variety of Savannah-based organizations like The Landings Club and The Savannah Golf Club. John was an avid golfer and aviator, enjoying piloting his own plane all across the Southeast.
Above all, he deeply valued the life he shared with his wife, Sherry, and the many lasting friendships and memories they created together.
As mayor of the city of Pooler, I had the honor of working with John on many projects. He was truly an asset to our community.
Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his friends.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Albert Jernigan ``AJ'' Swann III, who passed away on February 16.
Born and raised in Macon, Georgia, AJ graduated from Lanier High School before attending Georgia Tech, where he competed in golf and basketball for the Yellow Jackets. His love for golf turned into a lifelong passion, being a longtime member of the Harness Golf Club, recording an outstanding eight holes-in-one during his golf career.
AJ was equally known as a long-distance runner, proudly finishing nine marathons and 31 half marathons. Professionally, he was involved in construction, real estate development and commercial cleaning, operating Beacon Property Services.
Above all, AJ embodied qualities of the true southern gentleman: warm, genuine, and quick to make everyone feel valued and appreciated.
He often said none of this would have been possible without the unwavering love of his devoted wife, Ruth.
Mr. Speaker, we hold his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend, Georgia State Representative Carl Gilliard, who announced he won't be seeking re-election.
Representative Gilliard has been a dedicated public servant, serving Georgia's 162nd District for the past 10 years.
During his time in office, he has been a force for community and progress, passing more bills than any other Democratic lawmaker.
His accomplishments include passing the blind bill to protect blind parents' rights, creating Chatham County Gang Prevention Commission as a statewide model, and establishing authorities to preserve cultural heritage.
He chaired the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, has renamed countless roads and bridges to memorialize local heroes, and fought for our communities through Feed the Hungry Youth programs.
His retirement can be summed up in his words: It is time to come home.
Mr. Speaker, his legacy of service from Atlanta to Savannah inspires us all and we thank him for his extraordinary contributions to Georgia and our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michele Knight for being named the new chief executive officer of the Bryan County Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Knight is a proven leader whose career has been defined by service and results. Throughout her career, she has brought together boards, elected officials, investors, and community leaders to advance shared priorities and foster long-term sustainable growth.
Her background in nonprofit management, hospitality, marketing, and business development makes her exceedingly qualified to lead the chamber into the next chapter.
Through Ms. Knight's leadership, I am confident the chamber will continue to grow and serve the people and businesses of Bryan County. We are very proud of her and look forward to the great work she will do in this new role.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Lighthouse WECC, an aspiring nonprofit radio station serving southeast Georgia and northeast Florida.
Rooted in the timeless truth Romans 10:17 gives us: ``Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,'' The Lighthouse is dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel, offering hope, and being a shining beacon in the darkness.
Far more than a station, it serves as a voice of encouragement, equipping and uniting the body of Christ in a world that desperately needs truth and love.
Its ministry extends beyond the airwaves through The Rock Ministry Center, where Bible studies, youth programs, and partnership with local ministries like Cub Scouts and Fellowship of Christian Athletes bring its vision to life and fosters lasting impact in our communities.
We are deeply grateful for their faithful service in strengthening faith, sharing the good news, and ministering to others with compassion and conviction.
Together, we continue to shine His light in our communities and across the Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, District 15 Georgia State Senator Ed Harbison, who will not be seeking re-election.
First elected to the Senate in 1993, Senator Harbison is the longest- serving member of the Georgia Senate and has faithfully represented the people of his district for more than three decades.
Throughout his time under the Gold Dome, Senator Harbison worked to serve and protect the citizens of his district and the State of Georgia. Before his time in the Senate, he was the vice president of the Muscogee County School Board and a member of the Columbus Review Commission.
Over the decades, Senator Harbison witnessed and helped achieve many milestones in the Georgia general assembly during his distinguished career. His public service to the people of Georgia will not be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Harbison for his years of leadership and commitment to the great State of Georgia. I had the honor and privilege of serving with Senator Harbison. He is truly a great Georgian.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fayette County State Court Judge Jason B. Thompson on his appointment to the Supreme Court of Georgia's Commission on Dispute Resolution.
Judge Thompson has served as a State court judge in Fayette County since 2013. Prior to that, he held multiple roles as a prosecutor and as a municipal and magistrate court judge in Georgia.
Mr. Speaker, he helped create the Griffin Judicial Circuit's DUI/Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court programs. These initiatives focused on treatment and accountability within the legal system. Since its inception, this program has graduated over 100 participants and saved the community $1 million in jail costs.
In his new position, Judge Thompson will serve on the commission that sets standards for mediation and dispute resolution throughout the State. These programs allow legal conflicts to be resolved outside the courtroom, saving time and reducing costs.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Judge Thompson on his appointment.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Garry Joseph Patrick, the general manager of Old Town Trolley Tours in Savannah, Georgia, who passed away on March 5.
Garry Patrick was a respected leader and a valued member of Savannah's community. He began his career with the Old Town Trolley Tours in 2010 as the depot sales manager. After a successful 3 years, he stepped forward to serve as program manager for the Ghost and Gravestones Tour.
Throughout his career, Garry also worked in the Groups and Charters department and served as assistant general manager before becoming general manager.
Most importantly, the key to Garry's success was his kindness and his deep commitment to the people around him. He made a lasting impact on his colleagues and on the Savannah community he served. He helped shape the experience of countless visitors who came to learn about Savannah's rich history.
Mr. Speaker, Garry will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an incredible achievement in Division II basketball for the great State of Georgia. In Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Young Harris College Mountain Lions claimed their first-ever Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championship, defeating Chowan University 82-79 in a thrilling title game.
This victory marks a milestone for the program, securing the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II men's basketball championship and capping off a remarkable 22-8 season.
Led by Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Carl Cleveland, the Mountain Lions showed resilience and heart. Cleveland scored a game high of 34 points, including 6 three-pointers, accompanied by Cameron Bleshoy's 11 points, Justin Payne's 14 points, and Christian Drummer's 10 points. The team forced 15 turnovers for crucial transition points, fighting against it constantly.
To Coach Jeremy Currier, the players, staff, and the entire Young Harris community, congratulations on making school history. Mr. Speaker, I honor my alma mater.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Preston Lawrence of Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. Lawrence passed away on Saturday March 7, 2026, in Brantley County.
He was a fearless and daring outdoorsman who found his peace while
Preston was dedicated to the Lord, often participating in Bible study with his friends. His love of all things outdoors was only outdone by his commitment to his friends and family.
A class of 2024 Glynn Academy graduate, Preston was a dedicated employee of GP Cellulose since 2024.
Above all, Preston loved people with unwavering loyalty. To know him was to have a protector, a prankster, and true friend in your corner.
Preston's memory will be carried on by his loving family and friends who cheered him on throughout his life.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of longtime educator and civil rights giant, Daniel W. Wright, Jr., who passed away at the age of 95.
Mr. Wright, who was born in 1930, is remembered as a man of kind words, a thoughtful demeanor, and sincere encouragement.
In 1963, Wright served as the president of Chatham County Teachers' Association in Savannah. As president, he took on the Georgia Teachers and Education Association, fighting for equal pay for Black teachers and school administration. Additionally, he fought for pupil-teacher ratio equity, understanding that a lower ratio would improve individual attention per student.
These actions are a testament to Mr. Wright's commitment to ensuring all people receive equal rights and freedoms, especially in the education sphere.
A husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Mr. Wright was dedicated to his family and constantly poured love into their lives.
On behalf of all Georgians, we thank Mr. Wright for his devotion toward the fight for civil rights and equal freedoms.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the service of Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah, a decorated Army aviator and proud University of Georgia graduate, who was tragically killed in a terror attack at Old Dominion University.
A native Virginian, Shah enlisted in the Army in 2003, honorably serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He earned his MBA from UGA's Terry College of Business in 2018, while stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, in the First Congressional District.
With over two decades of service, including 1,200 flight hours and 600 in combat, he led as Professor of Military Science at ODU's Army ROTC, mentoring future leaders.
Described as having a passion for impacting lives daily, his bravery lives on through the courageous students who subdued the attacker.
Our thoughts are with his family, the University of Georgia and Old Dominion University communities, and all who knew this devoted patriot. May we remember his legacy of service and sacrifice.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Alexandra Estrella, a veteran educator and proven school system leader, for being named as the sole finalist for Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. This is Georgia's largest district and the 11th biggest in the Nation.
With over 26 years in education, Dr. Estrella has served as superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools in Connecticut since 2020. While there, she drove remarkable progress, elevating the 4-year graduation rate to 92.6 percent, slashing chronic absenteeism to 17.9 percent, and achieving academic growth in language arts and math that surpassed State averages.
Starting her career as a science teacher in New York City, she later founded Esperanza Preparatory Academy, a dual-language school focused on college preparation; and she led complex systems with clarity and purpose.
After a thorough national search informed by thousands of community voices, the Gwinnett Board praised her intellect, her integrity, her courage, and deep commitment to equity and excellence. Her data- centered leadership will help ensure every child in Gwinnett is seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
I congratulate Dr. Estrella and welcome her expertise.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Roy Thompson, the former chairman of the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners in Georgia.
Mr. Thompson was a dedicated public servant, a businessman, and community leader who spent decades working to improve the lives of those around him.
A lifelong resident of Bulloch County, Thompson served for 12 years as a county commissioner, where he helped guide the county through a period of huge growth. Through this transition, he helped collect thousands of pounds of food and raised money to support families in need throughout Bulloch County. He also worked to ease financial burdens by helping cover utility costs for those facing hardship.
Mr. Thompson was known for his generosity, his strong character, and his deep love for his community. Whether supporting local families or giving back in quiet ways, he served others with heart and with purpose.
Mr. Speaker, his impact on Bulloch County is lasting, and he will be deeply missed.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 6 o'clock and 58 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 9 a.m.
