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55 public bills, H.R. 9892- 9946; and 11 resolutions, H.J. Res. 205-207; and H. Res. 1451-1458 were introduced.
Pages H5194-97
Reports Filed
There were no reports filed today. Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Bost to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
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Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran
The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 89, directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, by a yea- and-nay vote of 214 yeas to 208 nays, Roll No. 282. Consideration began yesterday, July 22nd.
Page H5186
Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act
The House passed H.R. 8884, to amend title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize demonstration authority for the disability insurance program, by a yea- and-nay vote of 232 yeas to 188 nays, Roll No. 283.
Pages H5182-86, H5186-87
Pursuant to the Rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 119-34 shall be considered as adopted, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill.
Pages H5182-83
H. Res. 1438, the rule providing for consideration, was agreed to Tuesday, July 21st. Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment the following Member to the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party: Representative Suozzi.
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Work Period Designation
Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he designated the period from Thursday, July 23, 2026, through Sunday, August 30, 2026, as a ``district work period'' under clause 13 of rule 1.
Page H5192
Quorum Calls: Votes
Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H5186 and H5187. Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 11:37 a.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: 57 of 62 spoken turns were found. Turns without a time are still listed; they just can't seek.
Nigeria is the deadliest place on Earth to be a Christian today. Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by jihadis, ignored or enabled by the Nigerian Government.
Extremist groups like Boko Haram are allowed to operate without any meaningful response from authorities.
A courageous leader named Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was convicted in a farce show trial for speaking out about what is happening. He is currently serving a life sentence in prison, convicted on false terrorism charges.
I implore my colleagues to support my resolution, H. Res. 1321 calling on the Nigerian Government to conduct another trial in accordance with its own Constitution based on: evidence, with access to legal counsel, medical care and international law pertaining to humane conditions of detention, or, better yet, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally.
America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide. We have the moral obligation to stand up so our Christian brothers and sisters can worship the Lord, our God, in peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel Rosemarie Guerrero of the United States National Guard as she retires after an extraordinary career dedicated to serving our Nation.
Lieutenant Colonel Guerrero started her brilliant career in 1989, when she enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard. In her current role as Cyber Warfare Branch Chief, she oversees a $205 million Cyber Mission Force portfolio and provides direct guidance on mobilization, training, resourcing, and posturing for the Air National Guard Cyber Mission Forces.
At a time when the Pentagon faces more than 10 million cyber intrusion attempts every single day, her work defending our country against cyberattacks has never been more important.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Lieutenant Colonel Guerrero for her decades of leadership, sacrifice, and service. I wish her a happy and well- deserved retirement.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the great State of Ohio, my home State, for being named the number one State for business. As someone who owned and operated manufacturing businesses in Ohio before coming to Congress, I know firsthand that our State's greatest asset is the hardworking, resilient, and dedicated people who power Ohio's economy and build up our communities that make Ohio thrive.
Ohio's number one ranking is a testament to the commitment that has propelled Ohio into national leadership in economic growth and opportunity that directly benefits our workers and our families.
Ohio's success didn't happen by accident. It reflects policies that encourage investment, reward innovation, and reduce unnecessary barriers to growth. When government gets out of the way, Americans do what they do best. They build their families, grow businesses, create jobs, and strengthen our communities.
Looking ahead, I know Ohio's business leaders, our Chamber of Commerce, and, most importantly, Ohioans themselves will continue to thrive. With God all things are possible, and that is especially true in the great State of Ohio.
Mr. Speaker, Private First Class Isabella Gonzales, First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, Sergeant Angel Rampersad, and Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton.
Mr. Speaker, it has been 5 months since President Trump started his reckless war with Iran, 1 week since these young servicemembers lost their lives.
Isabella, only 19, was graduated from Hebron High School in Texas last year. Her friends remember her as outgoing and how she pushed herself through boot camp to prove her bravery.
Angel had a smile her loved ones say lit up every room she entered. She had plans to travel the world.
Tyler, at 25, leaves behind his family and a community at Southern Utah University. He was mere weeks away from finishing his MBA.
Michael leaves behind his wife Mia. In the last photo of Michael, he is holding his daughter in his arms before deployment.
Eighteen American troops are dead, and more than 400 are wounded, all in the name of an ill-conceived and ill-begotten war. Dropping more bombs on Iran is no way to remember these heroes, and if our President won't say their names, I will.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a remarkable Arizonan and celebrate the 100th birthday of Mr. Conrado ``Beto'' Villegas.
Reaching a century of life is an extraordinary milestone, and I was honored to join Mr. Villegas' family, friends, and neighbors in Nogales to celebrate this special occasion, highlighted by him taking over the dance floor with his wife at his birthday party.
Mr. Villegas is a proud World War II veteran whose courage and selfless service continue to inspire all of us. Like so many of his generation, he answered our Nation's call in a time of great need, helping defend the freedoms we cherish today. His service and his life remind us of the enduring values of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment to country and community.
I extend ``mil gracias''; ``1,000 thanks'' to Beto for his service, his example, and the extraordinary legacy he has built over the past 100 years.
On behalf of the people of Arizona's Seventh Congressional District, I extend my heartfelt thanks and wish him a very happy 100th birthday.
``Feliz cumpleanos. Que Dios lo bendiga''; ``Happy birthday. May God bless you.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of the newest inductees to the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Mr. Matt Trevenen.
A graduate of Montclair High School, he is one of the most decorated attackmen at Montclair. He was a two-time first team all-State selection, a two-time Lacrosse all-American, and a two-time New Jersey Attackman of the Year.
In 1998, Mr. Trevenen was named the Star-Ledger New Jersey State Player of The Year and the first player in State history to record two 100-point seasons.
He currently still holds or shares six individual Montclair records.
As if that wasn't enough, he went on to Princeton where he was a 3- year starter and a member of the 2001 NCAA championship team.
In 1999, he was one of five New Jersey players selected to the U.S.A. Lacrosse U-19 National Team, which captured the World Championship in Adelaide, Australia.
Mr. Speaker, since retiring as a player, Mr. Trevenen dedicated himself as a coach and a leader in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. I rise to celebrate him.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I call up the bill (H.R. 8884) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize demonstration authority for the disability insurance program, 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 1438, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means, printed in the bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print at 119-34 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 Ways and Means, or their respective designees.
The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith), and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) each will control 30 minutes.
The chair now recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, introduced by our colleague from Georgia, Representative Austin Scott.
Many Americans that are living with disabilities want to enter the workforce and seek gainful employment. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of Americans who receive benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program have stated a desire to return to work. Yet less than 1 percent leave the disability insurance program each year for a job. That is a gigantic gap between the number of disabled Americans who want to work and the number who successfully return to work.
The Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act seeks to shrink that gap by simply restoring the Social Security Administration's authority to test drive solutions that can empower more of our fellow Americans to get back to work.
Up until 2022, the SSA had such authority to run demonstration projects on improving work outcomes. With that authority expired and with so many disabled Americans still unable to successfully navigate the current program, we have to find a better way forward.
In fact, some of the challenges cited for why so few SSDI beneficiaries successfully return to the workforce are confusing rules of the road for eligibility, that and a fear of overpayments and benefit cliffs.
Just so we do not forget why we should be focused on this issue, at a hearing of the Ways and Means Social Security and Work and Welfare Subcommittees in September, we heard from a witness, a former beneficiary, about how the work he found helped give his life real purpose and a different outlook. He was talking about the dignity of work, and that is what this bill will help deliver.
Representative Scott has been a long-time--and I would say long-time, tireless champion for Purple Heart veterans. Many of them wish to return to work but cannot afford the severe restrictions placed on their work status. I commend Mr. Scott for expanding his bill to allow the SSA's demonstration authority for so many impacted individuals, including blind Americans. He has identified a commonsense solution and is fighting to see it come to pass, just as it did through the Ways and Means Committee with bipartisan support.
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, at a time when Americans are dealing with skyrocketing prices and vulnerable populations like seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to get help with their Social Security benefits because this administration has created a customer service crisis through reckless staffing cuts, it is shameful that Republicans have chosen to bring H.R. 8884 to the floor. This bill won't lower costs, won't improve customer service, and won't make it easier for people with disabilities to access the benefits they have earned. Instead, it opens the door to cutting those benefits while making SSA's customer service crisis even worse.
H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, aims to remove barriers to employment faced by individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, benefits. It tries to do this by authorizing the Social Security Administration to conduct demonstration projects designed to test program changes that may encourage work.
Let me be clear that Democrats strongly support the goal of reducing unnecessary barriers for disabled Americans who want to explore returning to work. Over the years, Democrats many times have supported giving SSA this demonstration authority. However, the bill before us today tries to accomplish this worthwhile goal in the worst possible way.
Instead of protecting beneficiaries, it hands the Trump administration broad new authority to experiment with Social Security disability benefits with virtually no meaningful guardrails.
First, let me be clear about what Social Security disability benefits are for. SSDI supports some of the most vulnerable Americans who have severe and long-lasting medical impairments that prevent them from being able to work at a level needed to financially support themselves.
SSDI is an earned benefit, with the average beneficiary having worked and paid into the system for 22 years before becoming disabled. It also has stringent eligibility criteria. To qualify, applicants must provide extensive medical evidence and undergo a rigorous eligibility determination process. Many applicants are initially denied and must appeal a process that often takes a year or more. Even after all levels of appeal, SSA typically finds only about one in three applicants eligible. SSDI benefits are extremely low, at an average of about $20,000 a year.
Most SSDI beneficiaries could not survive without these monthly payments, and that is why we must ensure that any potential change to the program does not put those benefits at risk. Yet, this bill explicitly leaves that possibility on the table. Rather than protecting earned disability benefits, it gives the administration broad discretion to test policies that could reduce them.
This isn't some abstract policy debate. Here is what this could look like in the real world.
Picture this: You have been on Social Security disability for the past 10 years after a devastating car accident rendered you unable to work and support yourself. Your monthly SSDI check isn't much, but it is the reason you can pay your bills and keep food on the table. Then, one day, the Social Security Administration contacts you about an opportunity that sounds promising--a demonstration program that will make it easier for you to get a part-time job while remaining on SSDI.
This sounds great to you because it could mean some extra income for you and your family. You sign up and start working only to realize that you are no better off financially because for every dollar you make at your new job, you lose a dollar in SSDI benefits.
After a few months, the demands of the new job start taking a toll on your health, and it becomes clear that it isn't sustainable. You contact SSA to revoke your participation in the demonstration so that you can start receiving your full SSDI benefit amount
Two weeks later, you still have to call SSA's 1-800 number every day, trying to get your benefits back. Every time, you are on hold for more than an hour. Even when you do get through to a staff member, they say there is a backlog. No one can tell you when you will get your check. Rent is due in a few days. You don't have the money. You feel desperate.
That is exactly the kind of outcome this bill fails to protect. Here is why. The problem is simple. This bill only guarantees that an individual's total income will not be reduced due to participation in a demonstration project. That deceptive phrasing does not guarantee that your Social Security disability benefits won't be cut or reduced because you are earning money at a part-time job.
These are two very different things. The empty promise of no reduction in total income leaves the administration with enormous discretion over people's earned benefits.
This isn't a hypothetical concern. The Trump administration has repeatedly tried to cut disability benefits and make it harder for disabled Americans to qualify. They have shown us exactly what they want to do given the opportunity.
During the first Trump administration, President Trump repeatedly tried to throw disabled people off their benefits by making it harder to qualify and subjecting them to more frequent continuing disability reviews. He proposed a budget plan that tried to slash disability benefits by $50 billion over 10 years, and a key part of that plan was to push beneficiaries into demonstration programs.
No past demonstrations had indicated that savings of any level, let alone $50 billion, could be possible without punitive measures to cut beneficiaries who can't return to work.
Just last year, the Trump administration was reportedly considering a plan to eliminate age as a factor in deciding whether someone is unable to work and eligible for SSDI, which could have blocked an estimated 750,000 people from receiving benefits. Thankfully, this plan was dropped after enormous public outcry, but that shouldn't be enough to convince us that this administration isn't still gunning to slash benefits.
An administration that has a track record of trying to cut Americans' earned disability benefits should not be given any new authority to conduct open-ended experiments that could reduce benefits.
This couldn't come at a worse time. Thanks to the administration cutting over 7,000 staff at Social Security, our constituents are waiting for hours on the phone and facing extremely long backlogs when trying to get their issues resolved.
SSDI beneficiaries rely on their benefits every month to make ends meet. They can't afford delays or roadblocks to getting the full amount of the benefits they have earned.
To make matters worse, this bill would require any new demonstration programs to be funded by SSA's operating budget, the same budget that supports the agency's customer service. In other words, this bill asks SSA to take money away from serving the public to run experiments that could jeopardize people's disability benefits.
When the Ways and Means Committee marked up this bill last month, Ranking Member John Larson offered a commonsense amendment that would have addressed these concerns by requiring demonstration projects to be funded not by SSA's customer service budget but by the SSDI trust funds, and by adding guardrails to what the Trump administration might do with the demonstration authority.
Those guardrails included ensuring that no one would see their benefits, not just total income but actual benefits, reduced due to participation in a demonstration.
The amendment would also have ensured that no demonstration could be used to deny eligibility for new SSDI applicants and would have required the SSA to provide notice and public comments on the details of any planned demonstrations.
These were basic protections to ensure that people with disabilities couldn't lose their earned benefits simply for participating in a demonstration project, yet every Republican voted this down.
If Republicans truly cared about making life better for people on Social Security disability benefits, we would be discussing bills to increase monthly benefits, fix the appeals process so people with disabilities aren't waiting years to get approved for benefits, and fix customer service at SSA by undoing this administration's disastrous staffing cuts.
Instead, Republicans have brought us a bill that gives the Trump administration new authority to experiment with Social Security disability benefits while failing to protect the very people it claims to help. People with disabilities deserve certainty, not experiments with the benefits they have earned.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the first thing I will do is thank Chairman Smith and his staff for working with me to get this piece of legislation to the floor. I also thank the many bipartisan cosponsors of the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act.
Mr. Speaker, I want Americans to know how this piece of legislation originated. I was taking a young man, a marine, hunting several years ago. That marine stepped on a pressure plate and lost both legs. We were having a discussion as we were in the vehicle headed to the farm that we were going to hunt, and I asked him if there were things that we could help him with.
We had a candid conversation. He said that he wanted to go back to work. He worked at the local auto parts store and wanted to work more hours, but if he made $1 more than, at that time, the $1,100 a month, he would lose 100 percent of his Social Security benefits.
Here, we have a young, combat-wounded man who lost both legs and wants to work. Let me tell you something: If you want to help a disabled veteran, let them get out of the house and go back to work. Let them. This doesn't force anybody to do anything. It is voluntary.
The idea that if a combat-wounded veteran wants to go back to work and they make $1 more than some imaginary number, then their family has less money at the end of the month than if they didn't work is ridiculous. So we wrote the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act. I have had broad bipartisan support for that bill, but I have not been able to get it through and signed into law.
We went back, under Chairman Smith's leadership and with his team, and looked at other ways to do this. This authority was there, up to and until 2022, I believe. President Biden had it and could have done it. Other Presidents have had the ability to do it. We are simply asking that we do the same thing, give the same authority that we have had in the past so that we can do pilot projects.
It doesn't force anybody to do anything. It gives people who are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits the ability to go back to work if they voluntarily choose to, in order to have a little more money at the end of the month instead of less. That is what it does.
I don't understand the objection from the other side in allowing people to go back to work and not lose 100 percent of their government benefits. It is something that we, as Republicans, have pressed for across a wide range of benefits, and that is to get rid of the cliff.
We are not trying to force anybody to do anything. We are simply giving people the ability to go back to work, not lose 100 percent of their Social Security benefits, and have more money left over at the end of the month.
After my conversation with that young man, that young marine, that warrior, I honestly couldn't believe it. I came to D.C., and I met with the lawyers. I said, this can't be right. This defies logic. We went through the law. The lawyers told me he was right, and we wrote the bill.
I am going to tell you, I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues are taking the position on the floor that they have with this. We want people to be able to go back to work. This originated with a marine who stepped on a pressure plate, lost both legs, and wants to go back to work. If they go back to work, they lose 100 percent of their Social Security benefits if they make $1 more than this imaginary threshold, which is not enough for them to live on.
I think this is a wonderful piece of legislation. I thank the chairman and his staff for helping us find a way to solve this problem. I think the President will do a pilot project--if you give him the authority--that will be very close to the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act.
Purple Heart Day is coming up August 7. It will be wonderful for us to get this across the finish line and be able to do it on that day for them. I hope my colleagues, in a very bipartisan manner, will support H.R. 8884 and help us remove the barriers to work for disabled Americans.
The same things that will work for our wounded warriors will also work for other Americans, if they choose, if they want, if they volunteer, if they voluntarily want to go back to work and make a little extra money, and not lose 100 percent of their Social Security benefits.
The Purple Heart Freedom to Work, I think it will work for a lot of Americans. We, as Republicans, believe work is good. We know there are a lot of people that are on Social Security disability that want to go back to work. It is voluntary. They will always have more money. They will not have any less money if this is done.
Again, I hope my colleagues, in a very bipartisan manner, will support H.R. 8884.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Helping Purple Heart recipients find employment is wonderful and laudable. There is nothing in H.R. 8884 that requires SSA to test the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act. It is not mentioned in the underlying bill at all.
At a Ways and Means Committee markup, Ranking Member Larson asked the majority if SSA had shared information on what demonstration projects it had planned. They said: No. Trust us.
In fact, when the bill was considered at the Rules Committee a few weeks ago, Ranking Member McGovern made a motion to add a new section to the rule that would have provided for immediate consideration of Representative Scott's Purple Heart bill on the House floor. Republicans all voted ``no'' on this motion, including Representative Scott himself.
If Republicans want to do the Purple Heart bill, let's vote on that bill, not on H.R. 8884, which doesn't even mention Purple Heart recipients.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Chu for her leadership on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that you can measure the greatness of a society by how well it treats its old, how well it treats its young, and how well it treats those who have difficulties caring for themselves, through no fault of their own, yet need help from other elements of society.
If this bill is an indication of how we value our most vulnerable citizens, then we are not in good shape. Instead of going after billionaire tax cheats or ultrawealthy tax evaders, my Republican colleagues are advancing a bill that purports to remove barriers to work for disabled Americans.
In all actuality, H.R. 8884 targets the earned benefits of workers who qualify for the Social Security Disability Insurance, SSDI.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose H.R. 8884 and urge my colleagues to do the same, rather than give the Trump administration unfettered authority to conduct a demonstration program that will ultimately result in a reduction of benefits for older, severely disabled, and low-income workers.
The bill under consideration today fails to remove employment barriers for some of the most financially vulnerable Americans. Past Social Security Administration demonstration programs have shown these reemployment initiatives to be unsuccessful in helping beneficiaries return to work.
Additionally, let us be reminded that the first Trump administration repeatedly proposed massive cuts to Social Security disability benefits. Its plans included stripping away benefits from older, severely disabled workers, making it harder to qualify for benefits and throwing disabled people off benefits by subjecting them to more frequent continuing disability reviews, just to name a few.
Alarmingly, President Trump's budgets proposed using SSA demonstration authority to slash disability benefits by approximately $50 billion over 10 years.
Let me say it again. The first Trump administration wanted disability demonstration authority to slash $50 billion of earned benefits.
Just last year, the Trump administration proposed a rule that would exact deep cuts to SSDI, particularly for older workers. These are workers who cannot support themselves due to severe and longstanding disabilities that impact their ability to work.
Mr. Speaker, with this bill, my Republican colleagues want to grant the Trump administration unchecked power and authority to conduct demonstration programs aimed at reducing SSDI benefits.
Just to further imagine, the Trump-created customer service crisis at SSA due to massive staffing reductions, this bill requires funding for these demonstrations to be supported out of SSA's operating fund.
Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, among others, H.R. 8884 is opposed by the AFL-CIO, Social Security Works, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
The Trump administration has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to harm the elderly, the disabled, and the poor, and so I urge my colleagues to reject this harmful bill in exchange for a more thoughtful approach to improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that we ought to want and should help, not harm and not hurt those individuals who deserve and need disability benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the risk that this bill poses to vulnerable Social Security disability benefits cannot be overstated. President Trump has tried time and time again to kick people with disabilities off of their benefits, including by pushing people into demonstration programs. This bill would give this administration open-ended authority to do that.
Congress has authorized this kind of SSDI demonstration authority in the past but only after working with SSA to closely review its intended projects and their impacts.
In contrast, the current SSA has not disclosed any information on how it plans to use the SSDI demonstration authority, and Ways and Means Republicans rejected a Democratic amendment that would have required a notice and public comment period for any demonstration before it gets enacted.
The bottom line is that this administration cannot be trusted to not cut people's benefits. These are earned benefits that people with disabilities rely on to make ends meet. This bill puts that lifeline in jeopardy, and that is why this House should reject this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard some amazing arguments on the floor just now, but one thing that has been crystal clear by the arguments that we have heard in opposition to this bill which helps veterans is simply that the Democratic Party is focused on legislative items that allow them to control Americans.
They want to have 100 percent control over the benefits of Americans. They don't even want to give them the opportunity to have the dignity of work. They said it on the floor today.
I can't believe that they would possibly want to say that they know better for your livelihood than what you do, but that is what the speakers are
Mr. Speaker, you hear individuals say that it is a risk. The only risk of this bill is simply that my Democratic colleagues can't have 100 percent control over the benefits of veterans who are disabled. This bill allows them to give the opportunity to have the dignity of work and not lose their benefits but to still be able to thrive.
We are focused on the success of the individual, not the fact that the government can control your livelihood.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage this body to support this great piece of legislation that Mr. Austin Scott has worked on for some time to deliver relief for real Americans, for veterans, and not to the Democratic Party, who wants to control their benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, 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.
Directing the President, Pursuant to Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to Remove United States Armed Forces from Hostilities with Iran
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on adoption of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 89) directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on adoption of the concurrent resolution.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 214, nays 208, not voting 9, as follows:
Mrs. HOUCHIN, Messrs. LATTA, JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mrs. LUNA, Messrs. BILIRAKIS, FITZGERALD, Mrs. FEDORCHAK, Messrs. MOORE of North Carolina, EMMER, MORAN, NORMAN, CRAWFORD, and BRECHEEN changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Mr. NORCROSS, Ms. ADAMS, Messrs. KEATING and NEAL changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
Mr. GOSAR changed his vote from ``present'' to ``nay.''
So the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Intern Day, celebrated this year on July 30. This day is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the future leaders of the world: interns.
This day serves as an opportunity for thousands of employers to commemorate and thank their hardworking interns. I take this time to recognize and thank the interns who joined me this summer--both in my personal office and on the Agriculture Committee--for their efforts.
Chloe, a Pennsylvanian and descendant of dairy farmers, worked in my personal office and was instrumental in helping the people of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.
Jimmy, Katelyn, Harper, Raymond, and Madison supported the Agriculture Committee staff through dozens of hearings, roundtables, and other committee events as we work on behalf of farmers and ranchers across all 50 States.
From leading tours, helping constituents, drafting speeches, and attending briefings, these interns were a fantastic addition to my offices this summer.
Mr. Speaker, our interns are some of the best and brightest across our Nation. They should be proud of all that they have accomplished this summer.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the upcoming opening of the Gordie Howe bridge. It is a bridge that I see every day from my home. I live on the beautiful riverfront in Detroit, Michigan.
The bridge, located in the heart of Michigan's 13th Congressional District and built by thousands of Michigan workers, is a critical economic link between the United States and Canada.
Canada is one of our greatest allies and the largest international buyer of Michigan products and goods. The Gordie Howe Bridge means more Michigan jobs, increased U.S.-Canada commerce, faster travel times, and lower toll costs. I am grateful to all the partners in Michigan, the United States, and Canada who are working hard to make this bridge a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the Trump administration to facilitate the opening of this bridge without further delay.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Heath Helton of the Little Rock Police Department for his three decades of public service to our capital city, and to
As chief, Helton implemented the city's comprehensive crime reduction strategy, leading to 4 consecutive years of falling crime. Violent crime has declined by 15 percent under his tenure.
Chief Helton is an inspired choice to help shape the law enforcement training standards for Arkansas. His proven leadership will serve Arkansas well as he trains that next generation of officers.
Mr. Speaker, I join all central Arkansans in thanking Chief Helton for his service, and I wish him continued success as he works to make Arkansas a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alan Slater, whose 35 years of leadership have strengthened the Orange County Superior Court and promoted justice.
As superior court executive officer, Alan prioritized the well-being of those who are too often overlooked by the justice system.
Under his direction, partnerships with community groups and leaders created a bona fide safety net of legal aid and social services, ensuring all residents were able to access due process.
As a visionary in court technology, Alan pioneered statewide models that expanded access to restraining orders, improved officer safety, and advanced transparency through open access to court records.
His service reflects a deep commitment to public accountability and through good service to all people.
Today, I ask my colleagues to reflect on how local leaders like Alan Slater strengthen our institutions and protect the rights of those who are most in need.
Mr. Speaker, every day law enforcement officers across this country put on the badge, putting their lives on the line.
Anderson County Sheriff's Deputy, Alex Albrecht, experienced that reality firsthand. During what began as a routine traffic stop with another officer, Deputy Albrecht responded to a call for backup and was shot in the line of duty while serving his community.
By the grace of God, he survived, has recovered from his injuries, and continues to embody the courage and resilience that define America's law enforcement officers.
Deputy Albrecht's story reminds us that there is no such thing as a routine day in law enforcement. Every traffic stop, every call for service, and every shift carries risk. Yet, our deputies and police officers answer that call regardless, putting others before themselves.
For the people across South Carolina, men and women like Deputy Albrecht represent the very best of public service.
May God continue to bless Deputy Albrecht, his family, and every law enforcement officer who faithfully serves our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Debbie Espinosa, president and CEO of FIND Food Bank, and her 8 years of extraordinary leadership.
Debbie and I have stood together through disaster response, through the darkest days of the pandemic, and in the fight to protect the Federal nutrition programs that many children and farmworker families depend on.
When I served as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I invited Debbie to Washington to brief my colleagues on the unique food security challenges facing farmworkers in our valley, because their story deserved to be heard on the national stage.
She has also been a trusted partner to my office, helping provide food assistance to Federal employees and families during shutdowns and supporting community conversations on food insecurity.
Debbie never just simply distributed food. She built bridges, connecting Federal resources to local solutions, and ensuring no family in our district went without in moments of emergency or everyday hardship.
As she moves on to lead Harvesters, serving 27 counties across Missouri and Kansas, our valley's loss becomes the Nation's gain.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Debbie for her partnership, her compassion, and her unwavering commitment to the people in the Coachella Valley region and for her friendship. I am forever grateful.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Cary Grant for his remarkable testimony of faith and unwavering determination.
This past Sunday, Cary preached his first sermon in American Sign Language at Deaf Michiana Mission Church in South Bend, Indiana, nearly 8 years after losing his ability to speak because of a neurological disease.
After delivering his final verbal sermon on July 2, 2018, many thought his opportunity to preach had come to an end.
Instead, through faith, perseverance, and learning American Sign Language, Cary found a new way to continue sharing the gospel.
A regular attendee of Grace Bible Church where his son, Kyle Grant, pastors, Cary has inspired his community through his resilience and steadfast trust in the Lord. His journey reminds us that challenges can become opportunities to glorify God and serve others.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Cary on this incredible milestone. He has been such an inspiration in his return to preaching God's Holy Word. I wish him God's continued blessings as he continues sharing his message.
Mr. Speaker, 57 years ago this week, the world watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped foot on the Moon.
That historic achievement was thanks to American innovation and engineering breakthroughs, and it showed what is possible when we dream beyond the stars.
Now, 57 years later, we are preparing for our return to the Moon. Through NASA's Artemis program, the U.S. will once again set foot on the Moon, opening the door for the next era of space exploration. But missions like Artemis would not be possible without the skilled technical workers, scientists, and innovators whose talent turns bold ideas into reality.
If America is to remain the world's scientific leader, we must continue investing in the programs and inspiring the next generation of students who make these missions possible. That is why I urge my colleagues to pass my resolution that would recognize July 20, the day the astronauts landed on the Moon, as Moon Day.
Mr. Speaker, I will keep working to support policies that get us one small step closer to the next giant leap for mankind.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy Erika Serrato, who was killed in the line of duty this year on June 28.
With 6 years of service protecting our community, she began her career at
Erika lived a life of service and embodied the values of courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to protecting others.
On behalf of the Texas Eighth Congressional District, I am grateful for all that Erika did to protect the citizens of Montgomery County.
As our community grapples with the immeasurable loss, my prayers are with the family, friends, and the entire Montgomery County Sheriff's Office during this difficult time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Carl Kunasek, a devoted Arizonan who passed away this week at the age of 94.
Carl, an Air Force veteran, came to Arizona in 1959. He opened a pharmacy in Mesa. When his families couldn't afford medicine for a sick child, he let them sign the book, and he would have them pay him later. To the people who lived there, he was a hero.
That same spirit carried him into public service. He served in the Arizona House, Arizona Senate, and on the Corporation Commission. He helped design AHCCCS, our State's Medicaid program, finding a made-in- Arizona solution to make sure lower income families could get the care they needed.
As Arizona Senate president, he presided over the difficult impeachment trial of a Governor of his own party. He did not want that duty, but he believed the Constitution left him no choice, and he did it with fairness. It cost him his seat, but he did it anyway.
Carl Kunasek did not see party first. He saw people. We would do well to remember his example.
My thoughts are with his wife, Karen, and his children, both of whom followed him into public service actions.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your combat service and my combat service, but, most importantly, the combat service of those currently on the front line.
As a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a colonel, I respect America's strength and that it starts at home.
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2027 has been delivered in a bipartisan way, and I am proud to share that the NDAA passed yesterday with eight of my amendments, one of the most of any Member of Congress, and in a bipartisan fashion.
They included enhancing our Air National Guard capabilities, countering Chinese aggression, rebuilding our defense arsenal, supporting our servicemembers' health, pay, and support increases for our veterans and our members.
However, I am most proud of my amendment No. 930, which directs the Air Force to identify bases that already have runways and technical expertise to support the next generation of aircraft but currently lack a permanent flying mission.
The 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines is a perfect example. The 132nd has a proud history as the premier flying unit in our Nation's history for F-16s, both training and operational.
Together, the F-16 and the 132nd have built a world-class drone, cyber, and intelligence operation mission while still having access to a fully operational runway. This gives the 132nd a rare winning combination of top-tier expertise, a secure facility, and an active runway.
I thank all of my friends at the Iowa Air National Guard.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the remarkable life of Dorethea Branch of La Grange, North Carolina, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
She has lived a life defined by faith, service, and a steadfast commitment to her community.
As a social worker, educator, businessowner, and civic leader, she broke barriers, including becoming the first African-American member of the board of trustees at UNC Health Lenoir.
Through decades of volunteer service and leadership, she strengthened lives and opened doors for others.
I wish Dorethea Branch a joyful 100th birthday and thank her for a century of faith, love, and service that continues to inspire eastern North Carolina and our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding men and women of the United States Coast Guard Port Security Unit 308, proudly headquartered in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for receiving the Rear Admiral Bennett ``Bud'' Sparks Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon the Coast Guard Reserve unit.
This prestigious award recognizes excellence and operational readiness, reserve integration, and mission performance. PSU 308 has more than earned this distinction.
Over the past year, these citizen servicemembers supported critical missions across the Indo-Pacific, became the first Coast Guard Reserve unit to execute back-to-back embarked security deployments aboard Military Sealift Command vessels, and deployed within 48 hours to help secure our Nation's southern maritime border during Operation River Wall.
They also conducted hundreds of patrols while maintaining an excellent reserve readiness rate of nearly 97 percent.
These achievements reflect the professionalism, discipline, and unwavering commitment of the men and women who balance civilian careers with answering our Nation's call whenever duty requires.
As chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I know firsthand the vital role that our Coast Guard plays in protecting America's maritime interests. The members of PSU 308 embody the Coast Guard motto of semper paratus, always ready.
To the servicemembers of Port Security Unit 308 and their families, I thank them for their sacrifice, their dedication, and their faithful service to our Nation. Mississippi is proud of them, and so is the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my constituent Jack Perme. I first met Jack several years ago in Westchester, where he was volunteering to help bring clean water to people in need, and that generosity would come to define his life.
Jack began experiencing symptoms of spinocerebellar ataxia as a child. This progressive neurodegenerative disease impaired his coordination, his balance, his speech, and his ability to swallow. It ultimately took his life at just 28 years old.
As the ataxia progressed, Jack had to give up driving and the many hobbies that he loved, including blacksmithing, woodworking, and 3D modeling. Yet, when Jack discovered that he could ride a recumbent bike, he regained a sense of freedom and independence. He immediately set out to share it.
In 2024, Jack founded Moving Forward for Ataxia. He rode thousands of miles, raised more than $55,000, and provided 17 recumbent bikes to people across the country.
My heart is with Jack's parents, Monica and David; his stepmother, Leslie; his siblings, Grant and Ricky; and everyone who loved him and was touched by his bravery and his generosity.
Jack's message to all of us was very simple: Build connections, be kind, and whatever struggle you face, keep moving forward.
That is exactly what his legacy will help others to do.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Association of Pacific Ports and its more than a century of advancing maritime commerce, cooperation, and security across the Pacific.
For Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, our ports are lifelines. They connect our islands to the world and ensure our communities receive the food, fuel, medicine, and supplies we depend on every day.
Before coming to Congress, I had the privilege of serving as the chairperson of the Commonwealth Ports Authority and later as the president of the Association of Pacific Ports. I saw firsthand how collaboration among Pacific ports strengthens our economies, improves resilience, and supports our shared future.
As our Nation increases its focus on the Indo-Pacific, Pacific ports play an increasingly vital role in both economic prosperity and national security.
This August, the association will hold its 112th conference in Guam under the theme Inafa'maolek: Strengthening our Shared Pacific, reflecting the enduring value of partnership and mutual respect.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Association of Pacific Ports for its outstanding service and to congratulate its members and this important milestone.
ICE arrested and detained him for exercising his First Amendment rights. They targeted him for speaking out against genocide and standing up for political prisoners.
Ya'akub is a photojournalist who has lived in the United States for 25 years as a Dreamer, as a DACA recipient. He is a first responder and spent a decade working for American Airlines serving on their CARE Team that supports families following plane crashes.
When the helicopter crashed into a plane in D.C., right here, Ya'akub was there to support grieving families. When Texas experienced the deadliest flood in recent history, Ya'akub volunteered to bring emergency aid to victims.
Now it is our turn to be there for Ya'akub. They are trying to deport him over liking social media posts. Why? Because he wants to save lives no matter faith or ethnicity.
This should frighten all of us. The Trump administration is terrorizing immigrants who disagree with them and targeting political dissent in our country.
Mr. Speaker, today I want to salute the 50th anniversary celebration of an institution in my home community of Rye, Kelly's Sea Level.
A big shindig is planned for the month of August, a little later on, at this iconic restaurant and bar that has welcomed locals and visitors since 1976.
The McGuire family, Jerry and Martha and their kids, are beloved in the community, and they are at Kelly's most every night with their families and friends watching TV sports, the Yankees, Giants, Rangers, Knicks, even the Mets. They also are outdoors in the fall to watch the Rye Garnets high school football games.
Visiting Kelly's is to be at home. For the long-term locals from Rye, Harrison, Port Chester, Greenwich--the financiers, the college kids home for the holidays, hardworking firefighters, and the occasional Congressman--they all come to Kelly's each week.
We know the menu, the bartenders, the waitstaff, and all of those little things that the locals know, like the two-seat table in the back known as The Oak Room.
It is Jerry and Martha who give Kelly's its heart and soul. We all are amazed that we have reached 50 years.
From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute the McGuire family and Kelly's Sea Level on its 50th year of serving the thirsty and hungry people of Rye and the surrounding communities.
Mr. Speaker, this coming Monday morning, July 27, in the heart of the largest freshwater endowment on Earth, the Great Lakes, the iconic $6 billion Gordie Howe bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, will officially open.
This magnificent suspension bridge, built totally with Canadian financing, coupled with the might of American union muscle, will usher in a new horizon for our international and connected economies and freshwater kingdom. This achievement will lift up our industrial and agricultural nations to new possibilities.
As with President Dwight D. Eisenhower's visionary construction of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System following World War II that connected our distant heartland region to the Atlantic Ocean through Canada, this singularly masterful achievement will propel economic growth in long-neglected corridors as multi-transport by rail, air, sea, and land are reimagined and joined.
I implore the President of our country and his coastal advisers to see the Great Lakes nation as a long-ignored bastion. Don't put more tariffs on us. Help us build our economy forward in the most sustainable region on planet Earth.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of SEIU-FPSU President Alphonso Mayfield, a beloved labor leader and tireless champion across the State of Florida and across the South.
Alphonso was a young, Black labor leader from the South who understood the struggles of working-class families and dedicated his life to advancing economic and social justice.
For more than 25 years with the SEIU, including serving as president since 2010, he fought tirelessly for union members, securing important victories and inspiring countless workers to stand together in solidarity. He understood that the true power of our communities rests in the hands of working people united with a common purpose.
Alphonso led with love and an unwavering commitment that rests in the hands of working people.
As we mourn his loss, we must also honor his legacy by continuing the work that he dedicated his life to.
My deep condolences to his family and all touched by his leadership.
May his memory continue to be a blessing, and may his vision continue to guide us forward.
Mr. Speaker, the data is in, and Trump's and Republicans' big, ugly law has been disastrous for Americans.
We can now confirm that they have succeeded in ripping food assistance
In Rhode Island alone, that is over 16,000 people who are now heading to the grocery store with less to spend as costs rise because of Trump's tariffs and illegal wars.
Across my district, I have spoken with food pantry leaders seeing rising demand. I have heard from Rhode Islanders struggling to feed a family on $90 a month in SNAP benefits.
In the wealthiest country in the world, no one should have to worry about putting food on the table. We can do better than Trump's foreign wars and putting billionaires over the welfare of working people.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my family--my husband, Conan, and our daughter, Cora--and the city of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to honor the life of Pastor Byron Christopher Sumner.
A beloved son of Roxbury, Chris deserved to grow old, but he transitioned on July 5 due to complications from ALS.
He excelled from a young age in athletics, particularly basketball, which brought him to Canada, where he earned scholarships and eventually played semi-pro. His commitment, talent, agility, and strength went beyond the court.
He returned to Boston, where he devoted his career to serving his community as executive director of the I Have a Dream program, Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club, Boston TenPoint Coalition, and St. Stephen's Youth Programs.
His final role was an appointment from Governor Healey as executive director of the Melnea A. Cass Recreation Center, what he often called his dream job.
Chris' true passion was his family and his faith. I have said so often, I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day. Chris was a sermon, the best kind.
He married his wife, Katani, in 1985, and they raised three beautiful children: Kandice, Kortney, and Kristian.
He also faithfully served as executive director and executive pastor of Jubilee Christian Church, supporting our community with spiritual covering, stewardship, and, most of all, joy.
As we grieve his loss, may we move forward in service of our children, young adults, families, and elders, or, as Chris would say, our city's treasured assets.
Mr. Speaker, happy Disability Pride Month, which originated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This month and every month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of New Mexicans living with disabilities in our State and across the country.
They have fought for accessible schools, reliable transportation, inclusive workplaces, and the freedom to live with dignity, self- determination, and joy.
I thank our leaders, advocates, and communities for their work.
To every New Mexican living with a disability, their voice, their advocacy, and their leadership matter. They belong in every classroom, every workplace, every community, and at every seat at every table.
We will continue to fight and celebrate alongside them, not just this month but every month, to build a New Mexico and a world where every person can live with dignity, independence, and pride.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of Bishop McKinley B. Johnson, who passed away last week after seven decades of service to the Albany community as a faith leader and a powerful moral conscience.
As his family said last week, Bishop Johnson always believed that ``the work of the Gospel and the work of justice were never separate errands.''
Through every step of his long and transformative career, Bishop Johnson personified these powerful ideals of justice and faith.
From the pulpit of the Greater Saint Johns Church of God in Christ in Albany's South End, Bishop Johnson never hesitated to speak truth to power.
Time after time, he and his wife, Sue, advocated fiercely for their beloved community and stood at the forefront of decades of struggles for civil rights and equality.
While I join Bishop Johnson's many loved ones in mourning this tremendous loss for our community, I also know that his legacy will live on forever in the battles he fought, the changes he spurred, and the people he inspired.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share that Oregon State University has received 1 of 12 National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines.
This investment in Oregon's semiconductor industry will strengthen educational partnerships across the State, meaningfully influence regional economic development, improve pathways to semiconductor careers, and create thousands of new high-paying, high-tech jobs outside the Portland Metro area.
Oregon could receive up to $160 million to grow the State's semiconductor industry that already employs 30,000 Oregonians.
Oregon's FAST coalition brings together State partners across education, government, the technology industry, nonprofits, small businesses, and investors.
It will also bring our innovation corridor closer together across 12 counties and foster innovation.
Demand for semiconductors is rising, and the NSF FAST Engine will help Oregon State University design the world's most advanced semiconductor chips and reaffirm our position as leaders in that space. Go Beavers.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Sue Rainey, a remarkable public servant in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sue served as the mayor of Moraga, California, in the late 1970s and later as the mayor of Walnut Creek, California, from 2001 to 2010, where she worked diligently to develop that city into the business, retail, and arts hub that it is today.
She also volunteered with the Cancer Support Community in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years, ultimately serving as the board chair of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter. Thanks to her leadership in the cancer community, the chapter now supports over 100 families each year.
Sadly, Sue passed away last month at the age of 86, a remarkable life of 86 years. She will be fondly remembered for her commitment to our community, for bettering the lives of thousands of people.
Please join me in honoring the life and service of my friend, Sue Rainey.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to once again demand that ICE immediately provide my constituent, Carlitos Ricardo Parias, urgently needed medical care.
Carlitos is a father, husband, and volunteer in our community who was even recognized by city council for his service.
Last October, ICE shot Carlitos near his elbow. He received initial care at a hospital, but since being transferred to the Adelanto ICE facility in December, ICE has denied him proper care for the injury they caused.
I visited Carlitos in late May. His hand was purple, his fingers were atrophied, and he is experiencing headaches and nerve pain. I am worried that he may have a bone infection and that his arm could be amputated.
Carlitos urgently needs medical attention, and many more at Adelanto do, too.
Last week, a Federal judge ordered sweeping changes to improve Adelanto's conditions for detainees. It is time for ICE to comply with this judge's orders and end this cruelty at Adelanto and nationwide.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the legacy of Detective Luis Alvarez and the advancement of a bill to rename his hometown post office in Oceanside in his honor.
Detective Alvarez was a true American hero and bravely answered the call on 9/11 after the worst terror attack on American soil. He spent months searching for survivors among the toxic rubble at Ground Zero and, as a result of his exposure, received a cancer diagnosis in 2016.
He continued his legacy of service and became a leading advocate for 9/11 first responders, famously appearing before Congress in 2019 to fight for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
Detective Alvarez represents the best of us, and we must ensure that his heroism and sacrifice are never forgotten.
I am proud to say that my bill to rename the Oceanside Post Office is supported by the Alvarez family and the entire New York House delegation.
I am urging the Speaker to act quickly and bring the legislation to the floor to honor Detective Alvarez ahead of the 9/11 25th anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, as families across Maryland's Sixth Congressional District prepare for a new school year, they are facing yet another hit to their wallets. Parents will be spending an average of $485 extra per child on back-to-school costs, nearly 12 percent more than last year.
I am a mom of four daughters, and I have lived through various stages of raising a family, buying backpacks, new sports shoes, equipment, and back-to-school supplies, even getting them off to college.
Today, my youngest will be at college, and I know that these costs continue after high school, including how many families are struggling with affordability of college and career and technical training.
Families shouldn't have to struggle to choose between paying for childcare and school supplies. That is why I have launched a costs down agenda to focus on new ways to address accessible daycare, fortify the child income tax credit, further food co-ops, prohibit algorithmic pricing of consumer goods and groceries, and end nonsensical tariffs which drive up costs.
In Maryland, we leave no one behind and we shouldn't in Congress, either. Team Maryland is working at Federal, State, and local levels to mitigate costs and address these costs, and we need to do it in Congress, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Amy Reardon on her selection as the 2027 Region 3 Teacher of the Year.
This prestigious award honors teachers who represent the very best in education across the Commonwealth of Virginia and recognizes the extraordinary impact they have on their students, schools, and communities.
An English language teacher at Chancellor Elementary School in Spotsylvania County, Amy has dedicated two decades to serving students in Spotsylvania schools. This includes 13 years as a first-grade teacher at Battlefield Elementary School.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, fostering inclusive classrooms where every student is encouraged to succeed.
Her passion for supporting multilingual learners has helped countless students build confidence, develop their skills, and reach their full potential.
I congratulate Amy Reardon on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for the lasting difference she continues to make in the lives of Virginia students.
Mr. Speaker, and still I rise. And I rise today as I always did, censured but not silenced, a very proud, unbossed, unbought, liberated, and unelected Democrat.
And I rise today to bring two things to the attention of the House and to the people of the United States of America. The first is a brief update on ICE, and the second is an explanation related to crypto crony capitalism.
Let us begin. With reference to ICE, Mr. Speaker, we had a briefing just yesterday, and at that briefing some things were discovered and other things were uncovered. What we found, of course, we knew, and that is that there was not a body camera on the ICE officers who took the life of Mr. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
Officers did not have body cameras on, and there was not a dash camera in the vehicle. The video that we have seen was taken by some public device, and that video, of course, has given us reason to understand that Mr. Salgado Araujo was not committing what I perceive as an infraction related to the law. He was not.
The evidence that we heard yesterday gave us good reason to believe that there would be body cameras. And these body cameras would be in place on all officers who are performing this type of activity where they are taking people into custody or desire to take
I brought up the question of dash cameras, and they indicated to me that that would be given consideration. So I am very proud that the persons who were available indicated that they would not only give us the body cameras in 60 days, but they would also consider dash cameras in the vehicle itself.
I think these things will help not only the public but also the officers because the officers can immediately have the evidence to exonerate themselves when there is some question as to whether or not the officers have committed an infraction of the law.
I am very proud to know these things will happen, but there will be a follow up to make sure they do happen.
I am also proud to tell you that tomorrow there will be in Houston, Texas, a forum, a forum wherein we will have an opportunity to have a discussion about these issues associated with Mr. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's death. We will have an opportunity to ask questions of people who can give us more information.
These things are important.
Finally, on this question of ICE, I would only make this point that we will get the body cameras. I believe we will get the dash cameras in time.
Here is what I know: I know that we will have them because lives were lost. And I regret that it has taken the loss of lives--the loss of lives--to have us do what ICE should have been asking us to do. We should not have been asking that these things be done. One would think that the officers would say: These body cameras are going to benefit us, would you please, Congress, give us body cameras? That was not the case.
And because it was not the case and because Mr. Pretti lost his life, Ms. Good lost her life, Mr. Salgado Araujo lost his life, and we have a person in Maine who lost life, these four persons, all of these things occurring within this year, these issues, these persons losing their lives will now give us the opportunity to have body cameras.
It is a disgrace, a shame, and a sin to have to conclude that lives have to be lost for us to do the right thing. I want the world to know that I will never, ever stop the challenge that is before us to make sure that ICE is an institution, as it were, an organization, if you will, that will treat people fairly and justly.
Not all of the ICE officers are engaged in illegal activities, and some of the activities are illegal when they engage in extrajudicial killings, but not all of the officers are doing this, so I am not painting everybody with the same brush.
I am saying that enough of them are doing it for us to demand some additional reforms with ICE. Of course, we are still demanding that they have uniforms that are indicative of the work that they do, that their names be displayed on those uniforms, and that they not enter property without a proper warrant. These are the things that we would just take for granted that the Constitution would afford us and would be recognized by officers of the law.
I promise you, Mr. Speaker, I am going to stay in this fight, and we are going to get positive results.
Now, moving on to the crony crypto capitalism. For those who do not know, the President has a meme coin, and the President's meme coin has done quite well.
The President's meme coin, the dollar sign Trump meme coin, that meme coin has made $1.64 million per day over a 1-year period of time. Over that same 1-year period of time, nearly 1 million people lost $3.8 billion. Let me repeat that: Over that same period of time, nearly 1 million people lost $3.8 billion.
How did this happen?
It happened because the meme coin that the President has is a part of a Ponzi scheme. A Ponzi scheme is a means by which a person can convince people that they should buy something that does not have any worth except for the purchase of that thing itself, which is nothing in this case. Mr. Speaker, you purchase nothing with the belief that someone is willing to pay more for nothing than you paid for nothing, and, as a result, the value is increased for you if you paid nothing at a lower price than someone else is going to pay for this same thing for nothing.
The President has sold nothing to nearly 1 million people who lost $3.8 billion. The President made $1.74 million per day on the deal, pumped it up, took his $1.74 million per day and left nearly 1 million people to lose $3.8 billion. That, Mr. Speaker, is the President's Ponzi scheme.
One would ask: How can this be?
It exists because we have a President who lives without the law by causing certain persons to believe that things should be legal that clearly have not been and should not be.
Ponzi schemes have been illegal in this country. The President has managed to get his persons who are in charge to indicate that this is not illegal, that this Ponzi scheme is not, and others still are. I am mentioning this to you, Mr. Speaker, because this scheme, this whole scam, is having an impact on capitalism.
There are people who are now starting to see this as a part of capitalism, the Ponzi scheme, a means of making money on what is called a free market. They believe that the free market is designed in certain places to benefit very wealthy people.
They have breaks in benefits from capitalism by having laws passed to benefit them and by engaging in things such as this Ponzi scheme that benefit them. In a sense, this is harming the concept of capitalism. One should be able to understand why some people are looking at other options. If this is the way we are going to manage capitalism, by having your cronies do quite well while millions of others are taken advantage of, this is one example of why people would say: Maybe this is not working well enough, and we will try something else.
My hope is that we can correct these things, especially this thing associated with the President and his Ponzi scheme. My hope is that we can correct these things and let people see that truly we can have an economic order that treats people with the kind of justice that they deserve. This is an unjust system, the Ponzi scheme, and we have to bring justice to it. Probably the best way to bring justice to it is going to be to see this President walk away and then, thereafter, do some serious investigations, serious hearings, and get to the bottom of things, not only associated with the Ponzi scheme but other things, as well.
I regret that some people are not going to get their money back. My hope is that there would be some way to reverse it, but my belief is that a good many people are just going to suffer and will not get their money back.
I also know this: That, as I am speaking now--and I am telling people this is the case--the Ponzi scheme continues. People are going to buy into nothing and expect to get something.
You have been noticed. Please understand that the President is just taking advantage of you. He is. Not only is he doing it in this area, there are many others. I am just talking about this today. I will talk about others at a later time. He is taking advantage of you. You can stop it by not buying into this Ponzi scheme.
Capitalism is taking a hit, and it is for many reasons but the chief reason, I think, being the President who is doing things to aid and abet his friends, allowing people to make contributions and then have certain benefits. A President who clearly has lived beneath the law and above the law. Beneath it in the sense that he doesn't believe it exists so he pushes it aside. Above it in the sense that he doesn't get charged for his criminality the same way other people would be charged if they were doing similar things.
My belief is that we have time to cure some of the harm, but time is not on our side. Every day the President continues to find new ways to take advantage of the economic order that has been in place in this country since its inception, for the most part.
I would only say to you this: One of the remedies that we have available to us is one that I will pursue. I said we needed to wait until we could get control of the House, the Senate, and the Presidency, yes.
People want to know: What are you going to do now? I have said, and I continue to say, that we are in a countdown to impeachment. My desire will be to do this: When next we are in session, for all to know, Articles of Impeachment will be filed. The countdown will continue, but it will become that which will be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives when next we are in session. When next the House of Representatives is in session, I will take the Articles over to the clerk, they will be filed, and at some time thereafter--a reasonable amount of time thereafter, to give Members a chance to see exactly what I have filed, although I plan to publish the articles before they are filed so people will know what we are going to file--file these Articles of Impeachment.
That will give them plenty of time to prepare the defense of, well, it is too soon. The Senate won't take up the articles seriously. You don't have enough senators there to convict. Let's see, what else will people say? Always, whatever it is, is not impeachable until maybe they decide that they want to file Articles, and then it becomes an impeachable offense.
Let's be reminded of what President Ford said: An impeachable offense--meaning impeachment--is whatever Congress says at a given time. Whatever given Congress says at a given time. It is not appealable. It is not something that will require you to report how you came to your conclusions. Really, it is a matter of conscience for me, and I hope for others, as well.
We will file the Articles of Impeachment. We will notice them prior to them being filed. People can start preparing now your arguments for why you can't support the Articles of Impeachment. Here is what I do know: Posterity is not going to look favorably upon us for allowing a President to commit impeachable offenses and do nothing.
Of course, someone would say, but we will do something when we are in the majority. Now, that is another interesting question, as I close. I have been out on the campaign trail, and I hear the people talking about all of these things that they are going to do when they get to Congress. Well, I have seen at least one example of the person getting to Congress and concluding: I will be doing something next year when we have the majority.
Run on doing something great now but get here and realize that you don't have the power to do what you thought, so you will do it next year.
Well, I am going to do things now. I am not going to wait until next year. I am a right-now kind of guy. As a right-now kind of person, I will bring the Articles of Impeachment.
Mr. Speaker, this is what the Constitution requires. It is what I will do because, again, I am an unbought, unbossed, unafraid, unelected, liberated Democrat.
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.
