Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the so-called Fair Tax Act.

Right now, Oregonians don't pay a single cent in sales tax. Ask anyone and they will tell you: It is a good thing. We rejected such proposals multiple times. It protects working folks who are disproportionately impacted by the undue burden of spending additional dollars on basic necessities.

I am not here to raise taxes on Oregonians. That is not why my constituents sent me here. I am here to help working folks get ahead, which is why I am so troubled by this congressional proposal to mandate a 30 percent sales tax.

This is far from fair. It is not even close. The top 1 percent may not sweat a 30 percent sales tax, but for working families, that could be the difference between putting food on the table or having to go without.

I stand today to redirect our attention to the pressing needs of Oregonians: the need to lower costs and fight inflation, not to raise taxes. That is what I am focused on, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my first Mental Health Monday.

There are 731,000 adults in Oregon who have a mental health condition. These 731,000 of our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members are struggling, and we in Congress have an obligation to find solutions to their struggles.

That is why I am dedicating my Mondays to mental health. For too long, we have allowed stigma to shame people into silence, and that silence has cost lives. It is my hope that, by raising awareness, we can make strides in care, treatment, and recovery for those struggling with their mental health.

Today is also the first Monday of Black History Month, so I would be remiss not to acknowledge the troubling disparity in mental health care for the Black community. Lack of access to culturally responsive care makes treatment inaccessible to too many Black and Brown individuals. Congress must work to bridge that gap.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join me for future Mental Health Mondays as we work to break new ground on this very important issue.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the DelBene amendment and in defense of Oregon's coast.

The Oregon coastline is a wonder of nature and a critical piece of Oregon's economy. We love our coastal playground. We respect our coastal communities. And that is why we must fight to protect them--not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Oregonians who cherish our environment and our people.

Oregon led with the first-ever ``Bottle Bill'' to reduce litter on the beaches. Oregon led when it made its coastline free and open to the public. Now we must lead the fight against offshore drilling, which threatens our coastline, the people who call it home, and fisheries and families who depend on it for their livelihoods, and our environment.

Offshore drilling is a mistake, and it will only exacerbate our energy and environmental crisis down the road. We must say ``no'' by voting ``yes'' on this amendment.