Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the Congresswoman for affording me this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I am heartbroken by the passing of my dear friend, Donald Payne, Jr. Like myself, Don came from a family legacy of public service, and we bonded over discussions of our trailblazing fathers and the work that they did together in New Jersey.

I cherish the 10 years that I had the honor of working with Don on issues that were important to us, such as access to childcare, improved transportation, and, of course, fighting cancer.

I will especially remember our time on the Homeland Security Committee where we both chaired subcommittees dedicated to protecting vital infrastructure. I loved him like a brother, and he would often call me his ``sister-mother'' depending upon whether or not I was giving him a hard time about his health or some other issue.

Donald was a dapper dresser, always with matching glasses, matching bow tie, and matching suit. He was a true gentleman, a loyal friend, a great Representative, and my husband and I will pray for his soul and pray for the comfort of Beatrice and their children and family. We loved him dearly.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this handout for Big Oil and Gas producers.

This bill removes a requirement that DOE first determine LNG exports are to be in the public interest before approving export applications to non-free trade agreement countries. It is basically saying all LNG exports are in the public interest. This is simply not true.

Study after study has found that increased LNG exports directly lead to higher natural gas prices here at home.

According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, LNG exports cost American consumers more than $100 billion over a 16-month period. After doubling our LNG exports in the last 5 years, natural gas prices in 2022 more than tripled.

If enacted, this bill will only compound those burdens on middle- class families trying to make ends meet while enriching big corporations. This doesn't sound like legislating in the public interest.

For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee.

If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would prevent the bill from taking effect until the Secretary of Energy can certify that the bill will not increase domestic natural gas prices.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Trenton Branch of Girl Friends Incorporated on their 60th Year of serving the Capital City.

Girl Friends Incorporated is one of the oldest social organizations of African American women in the United States.

For nearly 100 years, the Girl Friends have exemplified Dignity, Service, Graciousness and Conviviality, performing civic services in 48 locations throughout the country.

Through their charitable giving, Girl Friends Inc. has supported the United Negro College Fund, the Children's Defense Fund, the Flint Water Crisis, and student scholarships.

I thank Girl Friends for serving the people of the Greater Trenton area with dignity and selflessness for over 60 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today denouncing hate. Whether hate manifests as Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, transphobia, or any other form, hate has no place in our communities.

Madam Speaker, that is why I am supporting Mr. Nadler's plan to combat anti-Semitism by implementing the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism and increasing funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

It is why I am supporting Mr. Green's two-state solution resolution.

It is why I signed on to Ms. Wasserman Schultz's letter regarding the safety and security of our college campuses.

Condemning hate is not just about words, it requires action.

The resolution I am introducing will not merely condemn hate, it will support the implementation of comprehensive policies to prevent and respond to hate crimes, including education and training on prevention and response and acknowledgment of the challenges facing vulnerable groups.

Madam Speaker, together, we can build a future where compassion prevails.

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I want peace. I want a decisive victory over Hamas and an end to its hateful and destructive reign. I want Israel and Palestine to coexist safely, securely, and with prosperity for generations to come.

It is difficult to talk about peace during wartime, but that is exactly what we must do. We cannot be distracted by disingenuous messaging bills that do nothing but grab headlines with no plan forward.

As a person of faith, I have been taught not to hate, but I must admit that I have hated what I have seen in this Chamber recently. For as I hate anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and racism, as I despise homophobia and transphobia, as I reject and revile hatred and bigotry of any kind, I am also disgusted by the way those prejudices have been weaponized in our Chamber.

We voted yesterday on yet another nonbinding messaging resolution denouncing anti-Semitism, H. Res. 894.

To be clear, I have supported efforts to push back against anti- Semitism. That is why I am supporting Mr. Nadler's plan to combat anti- Semitism. It is why I am supporting Mr. Green's two-state solution resolution. It is why I signed on to Ms. Wasserman Schultz' letter regarding the safety of students on college campuses.

Let's face facts. That was not what this resolution was about. This resolution offers no solutions. It does not seek to bring people together. This resolution was a cynical attempt to weaponize the very real fears of some of our Jewish friends and our neighbors to push a specific political agenda, one that is strikingly disrespectful to the Palestinian state, the State of Israel, and others who support the cause of free and sovereign Palestinian and Israeli states.

On Monday, my colleague, Mr. Nadler, laid out how reckless and uninformed clause 4 of this resolution is. By making it the official position of this Congress that ``anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism,'' we are labeling the thousands of Jews in this country who don't believe their deeply held faith is intrinsically tied to the modern State of Israel as anti-Semitic.

There are very real steps that we as the United States Congress can and should take to combat anti-Semitism in a productive and bipartisan manner. Condemning anti-Semitism wherever it rears its ugly head is critical, but continuing to vote on nonbinding resolutions week after week after week to score political, partisan points does not get us closer to a solution. It is disrespectful to the seriousness of this situation.

Until Republicans are willing to address rising hate and fascism, we will be sitting here waiting without being able to accomplish anything. It is no better than moments of silence or thoughts and prayers with no substantive action to back it up, which were offered during the mass shootings in our schools, malls, and places of worship.

We have work to do for the American people. The rise of anti- Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and xenophobia are a threat to the American experiment in multicultural democracy, and there are Members of this body who are putting in the work to defend the more perfect Union that we built over the last 250 years.

When Republicans who have been obsessed with these messaging bills are ready to join us, we will welcome them with open arms.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would strip Federal funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission. This amendment would remove $715,000, funding that I secured through the community project funding process.

This amount is mere pennies within the entire Federal budget and provides an outsized return on investment for the millions of Americans who rely on the Delaware River Basin for clean water and recreational use.

The basin provides drinking water to over 14.2 million people and contributes approximately $22 billion in annual economic activity.

The Delaware River Basin provides immense value to the region, and the Federal Government's small but critical role in managing the region's water resources is vital to maintaining the Commission's work.

This amendment is an assault on the communities that rely on the resources and the economy of the basin, and it is an attack on those who have fought to secure this necessary funding for the next fiscal year; therefore, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, needless to say, I disagree with the premise of my wonderful colleague across the aisle.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

Mr. Chairman, I simply say as we finalize this discussion, that there are 14.2 million people who are being affected, who will be affected, and who think this is important.

There is a $22 billion economic activity that will be impacted. Needless to say, I have chosen this as a project that I support because in the time that I have had the opportunity to serve the 12th Congressional District in the State of New Jersey, this is an issue that I find very important. I do hope that my colleagues will oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, yet I am tired.

I am tired of having to come down to the well of this Chamber to mourn the needless death of another child.

I am tired of gun violence being the leading cause of death among our precious children.

Finally, I am tired of my colleagues across the aisle. When presented with an opportunity to do something about these tragedies, they do nothing.

I am disgusted that so few have signed on to any mental health legislation. My bill to invest in mental health resources for our young people passed this body just 2 years ago in a bipartisan fashion, but now, Republicans' sense of bipartisanship, and even caring for the lives of others, has vanished.

Mr. Speaker, I must confess I am tired of marching down here to demand something that should have been given to these children from the very beginning--their sense of safety.

I may be tired, but I will not stop.

Madam Speaker, I stand before this room to hold this Supreme Court in contempt; this Supreme Court that is wildly out of step with both precedent and public opinion.

This Supreme Court which, through its terrible lack of judgment, both in chambers and on luxury vacations, has lost the faith of the American people.

This extremist Supreme Court, through its affirmative action decision, has reaffirmed the entrenched power of the wealthy elite who pay for their luxury vacations while, at the same time, pulling the rug out from under millions of minority students who have excelled despite adversity, who strive to attain the American Dream, and who seek to help their communities.

I will talk about the real life-and-death consequences of this decision, the collateral damage these Justices have inflicted, because in this country Black women have a maternal and infant mortality rate three times that of their White peers, while the rate of African- American medical residents entering OB/GYN programs has been declining.

The mortality rates for Black mothers and their babies in the United States rivals those of many Third World countries. What happens to our Nation's shameful infant and maternal mortality rate when fewer Black doctors are entering the field able to recognize and combat the biases that lead to such misery?

How many mothers will bear the burden of burying their newborn because some faceless organization engaged the Supreme Court in its radical politics to uphold white supremacy?

How many young mothers will be ripped away from their children and their husbands due to the perceived slights of fragile men in black robes?

These decisions have consequences.

Right now, just 4 percent of psychologists are Black. At a time when suicide rates are climbing among Black children, what is the consequence for a generation of Black children when a generation of culturally competent Black therapists and counselors disappears?

How many American families will be destroyed because the help their children needed was not available due to the extreme decisions of unaccountable, reckless political actors?

Something tells me these questions were not top of mind for Justice Samuel Alito or Clarence Thomas. They are making decisions not based on honest interpretation of the Constitution, but on their own radical ideology.

They are a captured, unelected arm of the extreme rightwing of the Republican Party. The American people recognize this and have lost faith in their ability to pass judgment impartially.

This decision is not just about who gets to go to school. It is about who lives and dies and who is left to pick up the pieces.

We must reform the Supreme Court and balancing it through expansion is a critical response to the crisis we experience.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Black women and girls everywhere.

While Black women play one of the most active and essential roles in our economy, we continue to be left behind and are the ones who are hit the hardest by economic downturns.

Every day, Black women face seemingly insurmountable challenges ranging from structural barriers to systemic inequities that can hinder us from achieving full and meaningful lives.

According to ``An Economy for All: Building a `Black Women Best' Legislative Agenda,'' a comprehensive report that provides compelling and connective legislative policy proposals to improve the lives of Black women, when we center and uplift Black women, we are, in fact, uplifting everyone.

At its core, Black Women Best serves as a blueprint for economic, racial, and gender prosperity. Today, the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, which I cofounded and co-chair, released an updated report outlining a legislative agenda informed by the Black Women Best framework.

The report's policy proposals include everything from maternal health to criminal justice reform to food injustice and breastfeeding injustice, all of which demonstrate just how vital it is to craft legislation that benefits all communities.

Soon, I will reintroduce the Black Women Best resolution to address the systemic injustices Black women and girls face and to encourage Congress to craft legislation that benefits every American as laid out by the Black Women Best framework, which was developed by former Labor Department chief economist Janelle Jones.

These policies all have two things in common: They bring Black women from peril to prosperity; and they benefit the economy, as well.

Black Women Best is about giving Black women the freedom to thrive, the freedom to stay employed, and the freedom to continue driving our Nation's economic growth. Equity-focused legislation uplifts not just Black women but our entire economy.

If we are going to change anything, we need to start giving Black women and girls the very tools that they need to thrive. Black women and girls are the missing piece to securing our Nation's future, and I hope that every single one of my colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike, support the Black Women Best resolution. Every action we take towards bettering the quality of life for Black women and girls everywhere is a step in the right direction.

Mr. Speaker, I demand that Republicans get back to Washington and finish the job the American people sent all of us to Washington to do.

House Republicans have fled the Capitol leaving their worries behind, ready to enjoy the holiday weekend. The everyday American doesn't have that luxury.

My constituents have been calling and writing expressing their anxiety and feelings of uncertainty. Americans are worried about paying their rent, buying their groceries, and caring for their children in the event of a default.

Everyday Americans will spend the weekend worried about whether or not they will receive their next social security check. Everyday Americans will spend the weekend hoping their retirement savings will still be intact by next week. Everyday Americans will use their weekend to figure out how to pay their rent and mortgages in the event of a default.

In the event of a default, at least 7 million jobs will be lost, unemployment will rise, our GDP will decline, and roughly $10 trillion in household wealth will be wiped out.

The House Republicans don't have these problems to worry about. The House Republicans don't have to feel the consequences of their own actions like their constituents will.

The Democrats are here and ready to pass a clean debt ceiling. We are working for the people. It is deplorable that my Republican colleagues won't do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my great sadness and sincerest sympathy over the loss of Mother Carrie Lee (Hamilton) Simmons, who departed this life for her Heavenly Home on April 20, 2023. It will never be forgotten how much Mother Simmons loved the Lord and contributed to society.

Originally from Georgia before later settling in New Jersey, Mother Simmons was active in her community and leaves behind a lasting legacy. She devoted her life to service including as a healthcare worker, who worked hard as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the former Donnelly Hospital for over 25 years. Additionally, she fellowshipped at Friendship Baptist and El-Bethel Baptist Church, and then became a devout member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Furthermore, she was known for her always-open door, her ``world famous'' sweet potato pie and candied yams, and for always cooking beans in the kitchen.

Her memory and legacy will be forever remembered by her beloved husband, children, and extended family. I extend my condolences and prayers to all her loved ones as they grieve. We thank God for the memory of Mother Simmons, and may God continue to bless your family at this difficult hour.

Madam Speaker, I rise today heartbroken by perpetual tragedy and outraged by perpetual inaction.

On Monday, a school shooting in Nashville left three 9-year-old students and three adults dead. The next day, when asked about solutions to the American gun violence epidemic, the majority leader of the House of Representatives offered his solution: prayers.

Let's be clear, thoughts and prayers don't save a single solitary life. Yet, after more than 130 mass shootings in less than 3 months, the Republican Party has still chosen to allow our children to be murdered in their classrooms.

To be clear, this is a choice. After every mass shooting, Republicans choose to offer empty thoughts and prayers instead of commonsense solutions, and then they turn around and cash their NRA checks.

I have spent my entire career in public service and every Sunday in church. I will never understand how a human being, let alone one elected to serve others, would willingly endanger the lives of their children for a little bit of money. Frankly, it makes me sick to my stomach.

Every American--Republican, Democrat, and Independent--wants to live in a country where they don't have to fear that dropping off their child at the bus stop may be the last time they see them alive.

Too many of us, however, accept this dystopian reality. The cycle of murder, devastation, and inaction has become so commonplace that most mass shootings don't even make the headlines. Outside of war zones, no country on Earth so consistently chooses to accept so much death and terror.

I certainly choose not to accept it. I choose to take necessary action to curb the scourge of gun violence in our country. I choose to fight for universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, and whatever it takes to protect our communities.

I dream of a safer America. I choose to keep fighting until it is no longer just a dream. Words mean nothing. Action is what we need.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1, the polluters over people act.

This bill is nothing more than a shameless handout to fossil fuel companies, and it speaks volumes that House Republicans have made it their number one priority for the 118th Congress.

My colleagues across the aisle have once again chosen to side with their Big Oil buddies and stand against the American people, our planet, and our future.

Let me be clear: The last thing that Big Oil needs is another handout. Last year, we all felt pain at the pump while fossil fuel companies raked in record profits. When House Democrats voted to crack down on gas price gouging, Republicans voted ``no.''

With their new majority and this bill, Republicans are letting us know exactly where their loyalties lie and the lows that they will sink to in order to appease those special interests. They are even giving polluters free rein to dump toxic waste on our public lands.

The Republican Party has made it clear that they are happy to poison our planet if it helps their fossil fuel friends make a quick buck.

Under the polluters over people act, working families will pay the price, literally. Through taxpayer-funded subsidies and reckless deregulation, Republicans are rewarding Big Oil for bad behavior, and this time, they are not even hiding it.

Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to please oppose this.

Mr. Speaker, on World Water Day, I rise on behalf of every American who lacks access to the most basic necessity of human survival.

Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, 15,000 households in Newark, New Jersey, were forced to rely on bottled water due to the lead in the city's supply. As lead contamination levels approached record highs, residents of my State's largest city were forced to reckon with the reality that access to safe drinking water would not be and could not be taken for granted.

I am grateful that Newark has since replaced nearly all of its lead pipes, and their residents can once again trust that their tap water is safe to drink.

In fact, had this emergency been unique to one city at one time, I probably wouldn't have been compelled to speak here today.

However, the year after Newark put an end to its emergency, infrastructure failures in Jackson, Mississippi, cut off residents' access to safe water. Mississippi's capital city still lacks the resources to support residents in need.

Let me be clear. This is not a Newark crisis or a Jackson crisis, or for that matter, even a Flint, Michigan, crisis. It is an American crisis.

Due to climate change, outdated infrastructure, and systemic disinvestment in our most vulnerable communities, millions of Americans risk losing access to water.

As the wealthiest Nation on Earth, we have the resources--not to mention the moral imperative--to change that situation. Safe, clean water is a human right. If we continue to ignore the water crisis, communities across the country will face dire consequences for their health, safety, and well-being.

Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the WATER Act because the time to act is now. In addressing water scarcity, we must revitalize our failing infrastructure, remove dangerous contaminants from our water supplies, and reinvest in the communities that have been hit hardest by decades of privatization and austerity. The WATER Act tackles the crisis on all three fronts.

My legislation would provide $35 billion annually to modernize our Nation's water and sewer infrastructure. Cities like Newark are not outliers. Lead pipes are used in every single State. By overhauling our infrastructure, we can remove these dangerous components and eliminate the threat of lead contamination.

My legislation would also clean up other contaminants, as well, including PFAS, ``forever chemicals.'' New Jersey has some of the highest PFAS levels in the country and Black, Brown, and low-income communities suffer disproportionately from this contamination.

Everyone, regardless of their race, their income, or their ZIP Code deserves reliable water access. That is why, in addition to cleaning up contamination, my legislation will provide grants to low-income communities to stop water shutoffs due to unaffordable bills.

With these long-overdue investments, we can prevent further water shortages, protect our current supply, and make emergencies like those in Flint, Jackson, and Newark a thing of the past.

Water is the essence of human life, and as public servants, we must ensure that every family in every community has reliable access to it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this Chamber to take up the WATER Act and pass it without delay.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my alma mater, Ewing High School, on winning the NJSIAA 2022-2023 Group 3 girls' basketball championship--and their first State title in 24 years.

Their hard-fought victory comes after months of diligent work, consistent growth, and exceptional achievement.

I hope this big win instills in them the confidence and determination to succeed in any challenge that comes their way. There is no obstacle that these young women cannot overcome.

I hope head coach Dan Montferrat and the girls' basketball team are celebrating their accomplishment and enjoying this exciting time.

I wish Ewing High School all the best, and, as always, go Blue Devils.