Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, this budget is a bad deal. It takes billions of dollars from programs that working families rely on and gives that money to the very wealthiest Americans in the form of $7 trillion in tax breaks.

It slashes funding for programs like Medicaid. Nearly 2 million people in my State of New Jersey rely on Medicaid for healthcare. It raises the healthcare costs for folks who get their coverage through the Affordable Care Act. In my district, folks could see their premiums go up by $1,400 per year under this budget.

Though I know my colleagues across the aisle are very concerned with the Federal debt, this budget adds more than $5 trillion to the deficit. This is a rip-off for working families, and I strongly encourage my colleagues to oppose this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a man whom I have known for his entire life; longer, in fact. I knew him when he was a bump in his mommy's belly.

Michael Reed is the proud son of Trenton and one of the most intelligent, dedicated, and capable public servants that I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

When I was first elected, it was Michael's counsel that I relied on to get my office up and running. It was Michael who helped me navigate this new and peculiar space, and it was Michael whom I could call day or night, weekend or weekday, and I still do.

I have the deepest love and respect for Michael. He has been a blessing in every sense of the word. I thank him for his public service. I know that he will continue to make a positive impact on people's lives in all that he does.

I wish Michael and his beautiful bride, Keenan, nothing but the best as they begin their next chapter in life.

Mr. Speaker, ask any Member of Congress and they will tell you, none of us could adequately serve our constituents without staffers. They are a necessary component of our office.

Today, I will take a moment to thank my chief of staff, Kari Osmond, who will be leaving our office at the conclusion of today's work.

Kari has been working with me since I was first elected to represent the 12th Congressional District a decade ago, but I have known her since my time in the State assembly.

In fact, we spent so much time together during my first campaign, driving around the 12th Congressional District listening to gospel music, I nearly turned her into a Black Baptist. We preferred Hezekiah Walker's ``Every Praise.''

Her dedication and her commitment to the people in the four counties that I represent has never wavered in all of the time that I have known her.

Kari is not just a friend. Bill, my husband, and I consider her family. She has been a tremendous professional, a committed organizer, and a courageous leader who has always run toward the fight.

In her time as chief of staff, she also helped me to assemble a talented team committed to representing the values of the 12th Congressional District and fighting for everyday New Jerseyans.

A Congress Member is only as good as their staff, and she has led one of the best on the Hill for the last 4 years and the best in our district office in New Jersey.

I will miss her greatly. I will miss her dearly. I am certain, though, that she will carry her talent and her commitment to service to her new role at the College of New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I wish Kari Godspeed, best wishes, and know that she goes with my love.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Courtney Billington for his many years of service to our community. Courtney is retiring after thirty-three years with Johnson & Johnson where he's worked tirelessly to improve public health policy and support the thousands of innovators and medical professionals who are driving medical progress.

Courtney has lived a life dedicated to serving others. After graduating from West Point, he served as a Quartermaster Officer in the U.S. Army, ensuring that our soldiers get the equipment they need.

He has been a lifelong advocate for veterans, currently serving as a board member of the United Services Organization, the Cohen Veterans Network, and as Executive Sponsor of the Veterans Leadership Council.

For five years Courtney has been the president of Janssen Neuroscience, where he's worked on innovative treatments for patients with serious mental illness and neurodegenerative diseases.

He has strived towards bridging the racial disparities in healthcare; particularly increasing the mental health treatments available for Black men.

While at Johnson & Johnson, Courtney led the Community Health Equity Alliance, which works at the community level to provide mental health care across twelve states.

Through the Congressional Black Caucus, I have had the opportunity to work with Courtney, Johnson & Johnson, and partnering associations on those pressing issues, and I'd like to thank him for his thoughtful and fierce championing of the health of Black Americans.

While Courtney's years of service have taken him around the globe, New Jersey is all the better for being the state he calls home.

We are grateful to Courtney for his years of service and the work he has done to make our communities and our country healthier.

I hope that he and his wife Lisa will have many wonderful years ahead of them enjoying a well-earned and much-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our chairman for his work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, was an essential milestone in the progress of all humanity toward a more fair, just, and democratic society. It is work that continues to this day. As we reflect upon the last 250 years of progress toward these ideals, we must impart the lessons that we have learned to future generations.

As a cofounder and co-chair of the America 250 Caucus, along with my co-chairs, Mr. Evans, Mr. Aderholt, and Ms. Salazar, it is an honor to see this legislation come forward today as just one small part of our Nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

This bill will authorize, as we have heard, the Architect of the Capitol to create a time capsule and have it buried on the West Lawn, to remain sealed until July 4, 2276, the Nation's 500th anniversary.

The contents will include items that represent important legislation and institutional milestones of Congress, a message from the 119th Congress to the 244th Congress, and other items that reflect our history.

No one here today will see it when it is opened, but an old Greek proverb states: ``A society grows great when the old plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.''

The body does its best work when we don't seek fame or followers, renown or retweets, but rather when we work so that distant generations of Americans for whom our names will be mere footnotes will enjoy the fruits of our work here today.

This bill passed last Congress, and I certainly look forward to its passage again today. I am honored to be able to speak to this piece of legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I am standing in opposition. During their campaigns, Donald Trump and my Republican colleagues promised to get to work to lowering prices for the American people. This budget is a betrayal of that promise. It is a betrayal of millions of our children, our parents, and our seniors. It is a betrayal of the one- third of New Jersey children who rely on Medicaid. It is a betrayal of the one-third of new mothers who count on Medicaid for their prenatal care. It is a betrayal of 6 in 10 New Jersey seniors living in nursing homes. It is a rip-off of New Jersey taxpayers as Republicans have prioritized tax cuts for their billionaire donors over the lives of everyday citizens who will suffer under this new budget.

My neighbor, Tom Kean, has over 70,000 Medicaid recipients, including over 27,000 children. Does Congressman Van Drew from New Jersey know a vote for this budget means abandoning 177,000 of his residents for the billionaire class? Does Congressman Chris Smith know that there are 178,000 Medicaid recipients in his district, including nearly 100,000 children who will be cut and will lose their coverage simply to enrich Trump's billionaire friends?

A few weeks ago, I offered an amendment in the Budget Committee to eliminate these disastrous cuts. Not a single Republican gave me a vote on this issue. Last night, I offered the same amendment to the Rules Committee, and we had the same outcome. There was not one Republican vote. I only hope that there are at least a few of my Republican colleagues today who have the courage and the humanity to stand up for their most vulnerable constituents and to vote ``no.'' I urge a ``no'' vote here.

Madam Speaker, today is February 6. It is my 80th birthday, and I should be celebrating, but you know what? I am mourning. You know why? Because Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire donor, has mounted a hostile takeover of the Federal Government.

It is an astonishing display of corruption: A billionaire CEO who is not confirmed, who is accountable to no one, and who donated millions to Donald Trump's election campaign is now in charge of the Treasury Department's payment system. He is doing what vulture capitalists have done to American businesses across the country.

They come in, do a hostile takeover, strip a company of its parts, and layoff a third of the hardworking people who make the company run. But you know what the difference is? This company is the United States of America. The parts that he is stripping out are our private information. They are attempting to dismiss committed workers who make this country run, and they are ripping the American people off in the process. Donald Trump is cosigning all of it.

The richest man in the world now has access to the personal information and financial information of millions of Americans, including Social Security numbers and bank account details. This unprecedented breach of public trust puts countless Americans at risk of identity theft, financial fraud, and political retaliation.

Handing over such sensitive information to a reckless billionaire with a history of self-serving business dealings and foreign interests is not just irresponsible, it is dangerous.

He is attempting to dismantle the systems within the Federal Government for several reasons. First, contrary to the image he has worked to cultivate, he is not a competent manager. He does not understand how many government organizations function or the important role they play in supporting the United States and its citizens. Rather than learn, he is choosing to break them like a frustrated and impatient child.

Second, he sees an opportunity to make more money. His companies already receive billions in government contracts by taking control of key parts of the Federal system. He can steer more taxpayer money into his pockets.

Last is ideological. He was born and raised in South Africa under the apartheid system, and he is a white supremacist. He elevates the opinions of neo-Nazis on his social media platform. He proudly gave a Nazi salute at a rally earlier this year. He does not want the government to work for or answer to anyone who is not a straight, rich, White man.

Since the moment my office opened Monday morning and continuing, my constituents have been calling my office understandably furious at this naked display of corruption. I share in their outrage. This is an outrageous thing we are witnessing.

My congressional colleagues and I have been in discussions over the past

few days about what we can do to fight back. I am fully committed to using every tool at my disposal to resist this egregious, un-American, and unconstitutional overreach.

To those listening, call your Representatives and tell them how you feel about this out-of-touch billionaire reaching his hands into your private information. To the civil servant employees who work every day to keep the government running, I ask you to stand your ground.

Tell those minions of the unelected billionaire donor that you don't work for them; you work for the American people. When they demand access, tell them no. When they tell you that you are dismissed, tell them to speak to your union rep because you are not leaving until you hear from them.

Stand up, American people. Stand up for your families and protect your rights. To my Republican colleagues, aren't there at least three who believe in America?

THE SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair and not to a perceived viewing audience.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Sara Cullinane on her exceptional accomplishments as Director and Founder of Make the Road New Jersey. As she embarks on her new chapter of her life and passes the reign to new leadership, I want to recognize the extraordinary and powerful work that she has accomplished for the immigrant, working-class, and Latinx communities in the State of New Jersey. It has been an honor to partner with her.

Sara's leadership has been instrumental to the growth of such a powerful organization that truly serves those who need it the most. In acknowledging her time with Make the Road NJ, I want to applaud her unquestionable commitment to bettering New Jersey. Sara's work in providing immigrant and working-class communities with vital resources and education on the importance of knowing their rights in unprecedented times is admirable.

Make the Road New Jersey's success in assisting the immigrant community with legal services, health outreach, and educational programming have reached thousands of low-income individuals from underresourced and marginalized communities with critical, life- sustaining services, and transformational education. Sara has provided extraordinary leadership and guidance, and I add my voice to the sea of many who commend her remarkable vision.

I want to thank Sara for her hard work and dedication, which has inspired countless others to pursue their lives helping those who need it the most. I hope she takes immense pride in all the exceptional work that she has accomplished throughout this past decade. I wish her the best of luck in her next chapter.

Mr. Speaker, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was born in New Brunswick and raised in South River, and he died in D.C. on January 7, 2021.

He succumbed to two successive strokes just hours after being pepper- sprayed by violent criminals attempting to stop the peaceful transfer of power and undo our democracy.

The men who attacked him just hours before his death, who were charged, tried, and convicted of assaulting a police officer, were just able to walk free. They were pardoned by Donald Trump.

Officer Sicknick made the ultimate sacrifice. Pardoning his attackers is an assault to his memory, an affront to his family, and a disgrace to the Constitution that he swore to uphold and gave his life to defend.

January 6 was a violent insurrection. We have proof. We have videos, and nothing will change that history.

Mr. Speaker, the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, was an essential milestone in the progress of all humanity toward a more fair, just, and democratic society, work that continues to this day.

As we reflect on the last 250 years of progress toward those ideals, we must impart the lessons that we have learned to future generations. As cofounder and co-chair of the Congressional America250 Caucus along with my co-chairs, Mr. Evans, Mr. Aderholt, and Ms. Salazar, it is an honor to see this legislation come forward today as just one small part of our Nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

This bill, as you know, authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to create the time capsule and have it buried on the west lawn to remain sealed until July 2276, the Nation's 500th anniversary.

The contents will include items that represent important legislation and institutional milestones of Congress, a message from the 119th Congress to the 244th Congress, and other items that reflect our history.

No one here today will see it, as has been said, but to be redundant, an old Greek proverb goes: ``A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.''

This body does its best work when we don't seek fame or followers, renown or retweets, but rather when we work so that distant generations of Americans for whom our names will be mere footnotes will enjoy the fruits of our work here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Leonard Lowinger on his 90th birthday.

This month Leonard Lowinger--who normally goes by Lenny or Len-- turned 90 years old. Born on December 4, 1934, Len was raised in Mount Vernon, New York. Growing up he attended AB Davis High School where he played as a defensive guard and a kicker on the high school's football team. After graduating high school, Len enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served as a radar operator out of the Wadena Air Force Station in Minnesota during the Korean War. Len left the Air Force with the rank of Airman 2nd Class.

After his time in the service, he met his soulmate, Harriet Robbie, and the two were married on September 21, 1957. They had three wonderful children--Marci, Jeff, and Judy.

Len went into the dairy industry working for Belford Farms for forty years. When Len was not with his family or working, he filled his free time by bowling and playing golf. He also loved being a referee for high school football and basketball.

Today, Len lives in Somerset, New Jersey in my congressional district where he is loved by his three children, ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, Harriet passed away in 2023 after 65 wonderful years together.

Most recently, Len was just elected the Resident Council President at his assisted living community The Bristal in Somerset--Congratulations.

I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing Len a happy and healthy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus for taking this time to acknowledge this champion.

Today, I rise in recognition of the late Shirley Chisholm, who was born 100 years ago last Wednesday. A child of immigrants raised in Brooklyn, Shirley Chisholm would go on to become the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first woman ever to seek the nomination for President from either major American political party.

The values she championed throughout her career still serve as noble guiding principles for us all today. She ran unequivocally, unashamedly, and unreservedly on antipoverty, antiwar, and antiracist platforms. She spoke plainly, forcefully, and with a moral clarity that cut through the smoke-filled rooms where men made deals for us on behalf of themselves.

Now maybe more than ever, our country is in need of the strength of a Shirley Chisholm. As I close, I will say everyone has a Shirley Chisholm story, and I thank God I have one, too.

I spent the day with her talking about the building of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women. She asked me--no. She said to me: Bonnie, I need you down here in D.C. to work with us on the national level. Little did we know what God has prepared for you.

I am because she was. I am grateful to God.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great concern for the people of New Jersey and the future of our country. Project 2025 puts our healthcare access at risk.

The conservative pledge would impose lifetime caps on Medicaid benefits putting coverage at risk for nearly 1 in 40 New Jerseyans.

It also raises prescription drug costs for almost one-half million residents by eliminating Medicare out-of-pocket limits. Even worse, it would block the government from negotiating lower drug prices, lining the pockets of pharmaceutical companies at the expense of our most vulnerable communities.

The attacks on Medicare and Medicaid would be devastating to Black and low-income people's access to vital healthcare. Black women, especially Black expectant mothers who already are facing among the worst infant and maternal mortality rates in the developed world, would face even worse outcomes.

The criminalization of abortion, tracking of miscarriages and stillbirths, and restrictions on access to Plan B would impinge on the freedom of Black women to make their own decisions and eliminate their healthcare options.

That is not all. Project 2025 would eliminate programs like Head Start which provide critical childcare for over 12,000 children in New Jersey alone.

It would force 167,200 student loan borrowers to pay thousands more each year and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, cutting vital funding for schools serving low-income students and putting nearly 4,000 New Jersey teachers and their students at risk.

Project 2025 isn't just a political pledge. It is a direct attack on our families, our values, and the future of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand together against the dangerous assault. Let's get back to work not for the uber-wealthy and mega corporations behind the 2025 agenda, but for the people.

Suicide Prevention

Mr. Speaker, in 2023 we lost over 50,000 people to suicide across the country. The year before, more than 1.6 million individuals attempted to take their own lives.

These deaths of despair disproportionately affect some communities more than others. Systemic issues such as generational trauma, racism, economic disparities, and historical oppression have compounded mental health challenges leading to an environment that has been devastating to our Black youth.

For example, between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 17 increased by 144 percent, and from 2018 to 2022, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 19 increased by 54 percent while decreasing elsewhere.

Every life lost to suicide is an incomprehensible tragedy, and the heartbreaking truth is that these deaths are so preventable. That is why it is so important that we act. Our choices can make a real difference in people's lives. We have a responsibility, especially here in Congress, to ensure that resources and support are available to people who need help.

In 2019, I chaired the Congressional Black Caucus' Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health. The product of that task force, the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, would provide resources to increase access to mental health care among America's youth, as well as help train a new generation of culturally competent mental health professionals.

Mr. Speaker, no matter your race, your background, or your gender, each one of us wants--no, prays for our children to grow healthy. When we see them struggle, we struggle. When we see they are in pain, we feel that pain deeply. Democrat, Republican, or Independent, it does not matter who you are.

However, it doesn't have to be this way. Children who have access to help can thrive. They have shown an ability to bounce back and become strong, happy, and resilient, and to be active and productive in their communities.

We can create the conditions in which all of our children have a shot at happy and fulfilling lives. All that is required is for us to break through the partisan gridlock. Our children's and grandchildren's lives depend upon it.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise during Police Week to honor a son of New Jersey's 12th District who gave his life protecting many of the people that are Members of this Chamber.

Brian Sicknick was raised in South River, New Jersey. He attended East Brunswick Technical High School where he dreamed of being a police officer.

He later joined the New Jersey Air Force National Guard's 108th Wing at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.

Officer Sicknick served in Operation Enduring Freedom, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He later moved to Springfield, Virginia, and joined the United States Capitol Police. One of his first assignments was the inauguration of President Obama.

For 12 years, Officer Sicknick was a dedicated protector of our Capitol. On January 6, 2021, he found himself at the front lines on the Capitol's west side, facing off against a violent mob bent on dismantling our democracy.

He came under repeated attacks but held his post, defending the lives of the people who had been elected, their staff, and employees of this Capitol. Later that night, Officer Sicknick collapsed at the Capitol and sadly passed away the next day.

Officer Brian Sicknick gave his life defending our democracy against an insurrection fomented by the former President of the United States of America, who is currently on trial.

Were it not for that insurrection, Officer Sicknick would still be with us today. Were it not for the heroism of Officer Sicknick and his fellow USCP officers, we would not be here today.

For those who were not with us on that day, it must be hard to imagine the danger of the moment, how close we came to losing everything, particularly our lives and our democracy.

We have a responsibility to the officers who defended the Capitol on that day and who still protect us now to ensure that never again shall they be called upon to sacrifice in such a way.

I will be forever grateful to Officer Sicknick and his fellow USCP and Metro Police Department officers for defending my life, for the lives of my colleagues, and most importantly, for our democracy. We are all forever in his debt.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Illinois for yielding and organizing this Special Order hour on what I think is a very important topic.

Five years ago, I founded and chaired the CBC's Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health.

Mental health emergencies and suicides among young Black youth have been on the rise, but this troubling trend had gone mostly unnoticed outside of the mental health field. Steadily and quietly, our children were dying, succumbing to depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

So I and several of my colleagues, who will speak here tonight, came together to get to the bottom of this problem. We brought in experts, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, teachers, school administrators, and students to help us paint a picture of this problem.

The picture was grim.

Between 2007 and 2020, a Black child died by suicide every 3 days. The suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 17 increased by a staggering 144 percent. Among young children ages 5 to 12, Black youth were twice as likely to die by suicide, and the suicide rate for teenage girls increased by almost 7 percent each year.

These findings would make anyone sick to their stomach.

It inspired the task force members to write the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, which would surge funding to the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and to develop an outreach and education plan to reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions and substance abuse.

Flash forward 5 years and the devastating impact of COVID has brought this crisis to everyone's attention. The social isolation, the constant fear of getting sick, and watching loved ones die have taken an unparalleled toll on all of us.

Our Nation suffered a collective trauma made up of millions of individual crises.

However, the pandemic fell especially heavily on Black women. The expectation of Black women to be pillars of their families and communities, combined with the greater likelihood of being essential workers increased the vulnerability to both physical and mental health problems.

As a result, 50 percent of Black women experienced elevated levels of depression and 20 percent reported experiencing severe psychological distress. While other groups rebounded steadily after the pandemic, unemployment among Black women stayed high, even increasing at times when overall unemployment was falling. This persistent unemployment created additional stress on already struggling communities.

It is our responsibility to ensure that overburdened communities, especially in impoverished urban and rural areas of the country, have access to mental health care.

Since the task force was convened, we have addressed bits and pieces of this issue like improving and simplifying the process of accessing the suicide crisis hotline by calling 988, but so much more work needs to be done.

Our children have been given neither the tools to maintain their health nor the care that they need to cope.

It does not have to be this way. Children who have access to help can thrive. They have shown an ability to bounce back and become strong, happy, and resilient; to be active and productive in their communities. We have the capacity to create the conditions in which all of our children have a shot at happy, fulfilling lives.

No matter your race, your background, or your gender, each one of us wants--no, indeed, we pray--for our children to grow up healthy. We must have and we need our Black women to be mentally and physically equipped to provide that growth that is so necessary.

When we see them struggle, we struggle. When they are in pain, we feel that pain deeply. We know this to be true; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, it doesn't matter what your party affiliation is.

Yet here we are. Fifty-two months after the introduction of the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act and 7 months after the introduction of the Youth Mental Health Research Act, bipartisan bills to get our children the care they so desperately need, and we still can't come together.

Look around the country. People are fed up with this Congress, the least productive Congress in decades. Surely, we can come together for the sake of our children. I implore my colleagues to take this situation seriously, to put aside our differences, and to show our children that we care and get them the help that they need.