Angela D. Alsobrooks

Mr. President, I would like to honor the life and legacy of Richard Calvin Montgomery, an accomplished filmmaker, music industry executive, storyteller, and devoted community servant whose creativity, generosity, and commitment to uplifting others left an enduring mark on Prince George's County and beyond.

Born in Cleveland, OH, Richard pursued his education at Hampton Institute and Howard University. A proud initiate of the Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he remained deeply committed to his fraternity and the lifelong brotherhood it represented. He went on to build a distinguished career in broadcasting, music, and entertainment. From his early work at WHOV-FM and WHUR-FM to leadership roles with A&M Records, Venture Records, Alchemy Entertainment, and his own company, Mediaview Communications, Richard became a respected creative force whose work elevated artists, businesses, and communities throughout the Washington metropolitan region.

Richard believed every person and every community had a story worth telling. Whether producing films, documenting community events, or promoting the achievements of others, he used his remarkable gifts to preserve history, celebrate excellence, and inspire future generations. Just as impressive as his professional accomplishments was his generosity. He freely shared his time, talent, and encouragement, making others feel seen, valued, and supported.

I had the privilege of witnessing Richard's dedication to public service firsthand. During my tenure as Prince George's County executive, he served as our videographer, helping tell the stories of the programs and initiatives that strengthened our communities. During the global pandemic, his thoughtful storytelling helped us combat vaccine hesitancy, share trusted public health information, and reach residents with lifesaving messages. His contributions to our county were invaluable, and I will always be grateful for his friendship and unwavering commitment to serving others.

Richard's warmth, humility, and compassion touched everyone who knew him. His legacy lives on in the artists he championed, the stories he preserved, the communities he strengthened, and the countless lives he enriched through his friendship and generosity.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the life of Richard Calvin Montgomery--a gifted storyteller, visionary creative, faithful servant, and proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., whose legacy of service and love for community will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object.

Let's be clear. This bill would roll back the clock by 25 years. It limits access to a safe and effective medication that has been approved by the FDA since 2000. Hundreds of robust clinical trials have demonstrated mifepristone's safety. That is not political; that is science.

This bill would impose new requirements on prescribing healthcare providers, and it would restrict drug dispensing to in-person administration, specifically targeting women living in rural areas and women without access to a primary care doctor or OB/GYN.

For the past year, we have all watched as Secretary Kennedy and this administration have peddled conspiracy theories and junk science to dismantle public health structures in this country.

Just like with the pediatric vaccine schedule, changing the rules on FDA-approved drugs without specific scientific input, legitimate evidence on safety risk, or transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients.

This bill undermines the critical role of the FDA in ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical products through a gold standard review and approval process. It overrides the FDA's oversight authority by prematurely banning approval to medications, even if they are safe and effective.

That is not gold standard science; it is an effort to control women's bodies and their healthcare decisions.

On the very anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, Senate Republicans are looking to continue to restrict access to care.

I want to remind my colleagues that mothers living in States with abortion bans are nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth compared to those in States that allow women to access reproductive care. These tragedies happen when there are delays in miscarriage and emergencies because reproductive medicine is criminalized.

I object to this legislation.

As I just said, on the very anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, Senate Republicans are looking to continue to restrict access to care.

In stark contrast, Senate Democrats are working to expand access to healthcare for women. We are working to better support new and expecting mothers and babies. I introduced the Healthy MOM Act to do just that.

Uninsured pregnant women are more likely to miss critical prenatal care. These gaps in care lead to a 31 percent higher likelihood of adverse hospital and delivery outcomes. My bill would ensure that all women eligible for coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces and private insurance can access affordable health coverage throughout their pregnancies by establishing a special enrollment period for expectant mothers.

Right now, marriage, divorce, changing jobs, or having a baby are considered qualifying life events that trigger a special enrollment period, but becoming pregnant is not considered a qualifying life event. That is unless you live in a State like Maryland, which allows women to enroll in or change their health insurance plan outside of the standard open enrollment period after they learn they are pregnant.

If you want to protect moms and babies, you need to make sure that they have health insurance and access to the care they need. I ask unanimous consent to pass this commonsense legislation to close a senseless loophole and keep expecting mothers across the country healthy.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 3274 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 381, S.J. Res. 125.

Mr. President, I filed a joint resolution of disapproval to restore the CFPB's existing rule against charging consumers a convenience fee to pay their bills a certain way. Adding these surprise pay-to-pay fees to bills are useless and unnecessary in general but especially in a time when American families are struggling with the growing affordability crisis.

During my time here in the Senate, I have worked to lower costs and fought to make everything from housing to groceries more affordable for Maryland. I am also fighting these unfair fees because our residents have also had to contend with these unfair debt collection practices.

Maryland consumers have now filed nearly 24,000 complaints against debt collection with the CFPB. The CFPB has stood on the side of consumers, creating an advisory opinion to clarify debt collectors' obligations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and explicitly prohibiting debt collectors from charging pay-to-pay fees.

Unfortunately, this administration has chosen the side of making things harder for American consumers by withdrawing this rule. Although underlying statutes like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act continue to prohibit abusive debt collection practices, this administration's rescission of this guidance signals to bad actors that they may have leeway to charge convenience fees without fear of facing any real consequences from the current CFPB.

That is why I filed a joint resolution of disapproval to restore the CFPB's rule, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Senate Democrats and the CFPB have been committed to protecting working families, and fighting these unlawful fees is another step to making life fairer for all of them.

Vote on Motion to Proceed