Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the U.S. Post Office as one of the Nation's most enduring institutions and the role it has played in keeping our Nation states federal government responsible for providing postal service in the United States. It is one of the few agencies authorized by the United States Constitution.

Since its beginning, the U.S. Postal Service has gone through and will perhaps continue to

go through many change. However, its value of service to the American people will remain a vital part in the United States of America. Therefore, in recognizing December 4, 2025 as Postal Workers Recognition Day, we say thank you to the workers who make it happen.

Mr. Speaker, the American Postal Workers Union is a labor

union which represents 200,000 employees and retirees of the United States Postal Service who belong to the clerk, maintenance, motor vehicLe, and other services divisions. It was founded July 18, 1971 as a former clerk in the Chicago post office, beginning in 1961, prior to the APWU being organized and accepted. I congratulate the Chicago leadership in the personage of Keith Richardson, President, Diatta Grant, Director, Jackie Chambers, Vice President, and Michelle Johnson, Secretary/Treasurer.

Labor unions function in many ways to generate fair equitable wages, benefits, working conditions, and quaLity of life enhancements. They are the bridges between employers and employees. Without labor unions I often wonder what Life in this country would be? Therefore, I take this opportunity to thank the leadership of the Chicago Local APWU 0001 for leadership well provided and a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation commending the Mu Mu Lamda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on its 50th Anniversary.

Whereas, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., founded on

December 4, 1906, at Cornell University, stands as the first

intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for

African American men, committed to developing leaders,

promoting brotherhood and academic excellence, and providing

service and advocacy for communities nationwide; and

Whereas, the mission of the fraternity is to stimulate the

ambition of its members and prepare them for the greatest

usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity

through scholarships, leadership, service and advocacy; and

Whereas, for fifty years, the Mu Mu Lambda Chapter has

lived this mission with distinction--strengthening

communities, mentoring youth, awarding scholarships,

advancing civic engagement, shaping leaders, and uplifting

humanity through service, advocacy, and brotherhood; and

Whereas, the Mu Mu Lambda Chapter was charted on April 14,

1976 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, by twenty-two visionary

brothers whose leadership established a lasting legacy of

excellence and impact; and

Whereas, the Mu Mu Lambda Chapter has demonstrated the

fraternity's motto ``First of All, Servants of All, We Shall

Transcend All,'' and it aims--Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and

Love for all Mankind--through five decades of transformative

programming, community partnerships, youth initiatives, and

leadership development activities; and

Whereas, the chapter's Golden Anniversary in April 2026

marks a momentous milestone for the Chicagoland community and

the broader fraternity; and

Whereas, the chapter's presidents from 1976 to 2026 are

recognized for their dedication and leadership in advancing

the mission and sustaining the chapter's legacy: Ernest

Gibson (1976), Mickey S. Brown (1977), Arthur Thompson

(1978), James H. Ivory (1979-1981), Walter R. Bauldrick, Sr.

(1981), Clarence R. Lewis (1982-1984), Robert L. McMillian

(1984-1986), Harold W. Kelly (1986-1988), Fred L. Miller

(1998-1990), Roland E. Wesley (1990-1992), George A. McCrowey

(1992-1994), Isiah P. Ward (1994-1996), Austin V. Harton

(1996-1998), Kenneth R. Watkins, Sr. (1998-2000), Warren G.

Smith (2000-2002), Norman P. Fleming (2002-2004), Michael J.

Bates (2004-2005), Undray Wilks (2005-2007), David A. Lewis

(2007-2009), Rahmad D. Bauldrick, Sr. (2009-2011), Seth L.

Wilson (2011-2013), Leonard C. McKinnis, Jr. (2013-2016),

Eddie H. Reynolds (2016-2018), Decature Tounsel (2018-2019),

David A. Lewis (2019-2020), Ashton L. Clark (2020-2022),

Rahmad D. Bauldrick, Sr. (2022-2024), L. Bernard Jakes (2024-

2025), and Robert O. Harris Jr. (2025-2026);

As a proud member who share brotherhood with this outstanding group of distinguished men, some of whom I met as a freshmen in college (Kenneth R. Watkins and Ernest Gibson) and one (Isiah P. Ward) who was my line brother when we joined Mu Mu Lambda.

As a member of the chapter, and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I take great pride in congratulating the officers and members past and present of the Mu Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., on the occasion of their 50th Anniversary. The chapter is commended for its steadfast commitment to the fraternity's mission and its unwavering dedication to leadership development, community upliftment, youth empowerment and social advocacy. Best wishes to all of them for their continued success, brotherhood, and impactful service for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, December 4, 1969 is a part of history that many Chicagoans would like to forget especially the family and friends of Fred Hampton, Sr., who was killed by Edward Hanrahan Cook County States Attorney and his band of police raiders in an apartment on W. Monroe Street. Although people were outraged and mourned they also used the atrocity as a rallying point, they agonized, they organized, they advocated, they registered people, they voted, they voted Edward Hanrahan out of office, they elected Jane Byrne, they elected Harold Washington as mayor, they projected Rev. Jesse Jackson, Lu Palmer, Nancy Jefferson, Tim Evans, Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, Mariam Stamps, Jim Compton, Rev. Ray Evans and others as leaders, they changed the culture and the history of Chicago.

As a result of the murder of Fred Hampton, the city of Chicago will never be the same. One could go so far as to say that the country will never ever again be the same. Chicago produced individuals who contributed significantly to America, especially Black America becoming what it is today.

Home of Rev. Jesse Jackson, and home of Barack Obama when he was elected President. Illinois is a progressive state, with Chicago leading the way. Not nearly as progressive as it could and should be; but much better than what it was and Chairman Fred Hampton's life and death played a great role in causing Chicago to become what it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on December 1, 2025, due to a flight delay. If I were present for Roll Call votes, I would have voted aye on: Roll Call No. 306, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 5348, Social Security Child Protection Act of 2025; and Roll Call No. 307, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass as Amended, H.R. 4423, No New Burma Funds Act.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the historic and valued contributions of the Greek Orthodox Christian

Church to the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the United States of America. Since our Nation's inception, Greek Orthodox Christians have been an integral part of the American experience. The church established its first parish in Florida in 1768, followed by the establishment of Greek communities in New Orleans in 1864 and a permanent presence in New York in 1892.

Built upon the pillars of love, faith, and order with the Church of Christ, the Greek Orthodox Church in the U.S., particularly in Chicago, has significantly and positively impacted the fabric and unique community-oriented spirit of the City. The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago consists of 58 parishes and two monasteries across five midwestern states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, located near the heart of Chicago, serves as the seat the Metropolitan of Chicago, with a current membership of approximately 400 families.

The Church is well known in the Chicagoland area for its charitable works and giving spirit toward our Nation's most vulnerable populations. In recent years, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago spearheaded several charitable activities and humanitarian campaigns, such as the Chicago CEO COVID-19 Coalition, thereby demonstrating its longstanding commitment to serving its surrounding community.

I also would like to take this moment to join many of my constituents in Illinois' 7th Congressional District and the families of the Greek Orthodox Church in welcoming to the U.S. this week the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All-Holiness Bartholomew. As the spiritual leader and the Primus inter Pares (First among Equals) of Orthodox Christianity worldwide, a Church of 300 million people, His All-Holiness Bartholomew has been at the forefront of the cause of religious freedom for his entire ministry and now stands as the longest-serving Archbishop of Constantinople in the two millennia history of Christianity.

Further, I would like to congratulate His All-Holiness Bartholomew on the recent honor of being named the 2025 Templeton Prize Award recipient, which is the world's most prestigious award in Religion and Science. This honor, along with the noted historic contributions of His All-Holiness and the Greek Orthodox Church, at large, help to highlight the church's enduring influence and commitment to its members and the broader community.

I am proud to represent many of the members of the Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago and even more proud of the fact that, for over a century, the Church has served as a focal point for Greek immigrants and their descendants, contributing to the cultural and social fabric of the communities it serves in Chicago and around the world.

I congratulate the Greek Orthodox Church on its recent accomplishments, and welcome to His All-Holiness Bartholomew on his visit to the U.S. this month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the extraordinary service and enduring legacy of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known with pride and reverence as the Six Triple Eight.

Formed in 1944 during World War II, the Six Triple Eight was the first and only all-Black, all-female battalion deployed overseas in United States military history. Comprising over 850 courageous women from the Women's Army Corps, the WAC, the unit represented 32 States across our Nation. Many trained at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, a rare opportunity afforded to African-American women at the time.

These women answered the call to serve their country despite the dual burdens of racism and sexism, which too often obscured their contributions. Yet, their mission was essential.

Deployed to England and later France, the Six Triple Eight was tasked with clearing an enormous backlog of more than 17 million pieces of undelivered mail, reconnecting American troops with their loved ones.

Operating in grueling conditions in cold, dark, and often dangerous warehouses, they worked around the clock in three shifts, accomplishing in just 3 months what had been projected to take 6 months. Their guiding motto: No Mail, Low Moral. It was more than a slogan. It was a lifeline.

By restoring vital communication between soldiers and their families, they uplifted the spirit of the Armed Forces and strengthened the emotional backbone of a nation at war.

Despite their unprecedented success, the women of the Six Triple Eight returned home to a country that failed to

properly recognize their valor. For decades, their contributions were left out of the mainstream military narrative.

That silence began to break, though, in 2022 when Congress passed and the President signed the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act, affirming that these women's sacrifice and excellence are integral to our national story.

Let the record show, let the record reflect, the Six Triple Eight was not merely a military unit. It was a living testament to discipline, resilience, and the unyielding patriotism of Black women in service to a country that had yet to fully serve them in return.

As we enter this legacy into the Congressional Record, I call upon my colleagues and future generations to honor the Six Triple Eight, not only in commemoration but in our ongoing pursuit of justice, equity, and historical truth.

It is recognized that August 10, 2025, is Six Triple Eight Day in Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all residents across the Nation to honor the service, sacrifice, and legacy of the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The women who served in the 6888th battalion from Illinois are listed in this communique.

Mr. Speaker, I thank them for their service and dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rules to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition and can never vote for this big, bad, inhumane, and ugly bill because it will wreck healthcare delivery. It takes food from hungry children. It sentences seniors to early deaths. It eliminates jobs and destabilizes our economy just to give the superrich and wealthy more influence, more power, and more wealth.

It takes from the poor, from the disabled, from the sick, from the hungry, and gives to the wealthy. This bill is cruel. It is immoral. It is a crime about to happen. It is draconian. It is dangerous. It is criminal. If you want to stop crime, vote ``no,'' as I will.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition and could never vote for this Big, Bad, Inhumane, and Ugly bill because it will wreck health care delivery, take food from hungry children, sentence seniors to early deaths, eliminate jobs, and destabilize our economy just to give the super rich and wealthy more influence, more power, more wealth. It takes from the poor, from the disabled, from the sick, and from the hungry and gives to the wealthy.

As our country prepares to celebrate its independence, the extremist Republican Congress and Trump Administration enact the most cruel, draconian, inhumane legislation that I've voted on since I've been here. Government, I seriously believe, should help people and not hurt them. At a time to celebrate that people from diverse backgrounds worked together to create a new country, the Republican Congress and Trump Administration advance hate and brutality to divide our great nation.

I reject this bill that makes poor people poorer, sick people sicker, and hungry people hungrier.

I reject this bill that bill rips health care from 17 million Americans, with over 535,840 Illinoisans expected to lose their health insurance, including 102,174 children and 27,000 seniors in my District alone.

I reject this bill that will close hospitals and kick people out of their nursing homes--not only in my district but across the country, especially in urban inner-city communities and rural communities for sure.

I reject this bill that explodes poverty and suffering while giving the wealthy trillions in tax cuts.

I reject this bill's irresponsible explosion of the deficit that triggers statutory cuts to critical programs supporting children and families. These Paygo reductions would eliminate funding for the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program--known as MIECHV--that is proven to improve mother and child health, family safety, and child development. It would eliminate the guaranteed funding for the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program that we know helps prevent child maltreatment and strengthen families. It would eradicate the Social Services Block Grant that provides substantial investment in childcare, child welfare, and adult protective services. These egregious cuts alone will cost Illinois over $72 million dollars and hurt Illinois' children, seniors, and families.

I reject this bill that gifts tax cuts to the wealthy, paid for by denying and depriving low-income, poor people, senior citizens, and sick people, the health care, food assistance, housing assistance, and economic development opportunities that they need.

There is a fundamental flaw in the thinking that brings this bill before us. It is Robinhood in Reverse. It takes from those who have the least--the poor, the disabled, the sick, and the hungry--only to give to those who already have the most, the wealthy. This bill is cruel. It is immoral. It is a crime about to happen. It is draconian. It is dangerous. It is criminal. So,

if my colleagues want to stop crime, vote no as I will.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that affirmed marriage equality nationwide on June 26, 2015. This ruling positively impacted the lives of millions of LGBTQIA+ Americans and serves as a significant milestone toward equal rights for all. I wish to honor the legacies of Jim Obergefell, his late husband John Arthur, and all the couples who brought the battle for marriage equality to the steps of the United States Supreme Court.

Furthermore, I would like to honor the incredible activists--Marsha P. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Audre Lorde and Harvey Milk--who played instrumental roles in fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights decades before this case reached the Supreme Court. To this day, their legacies inspire Americans to advocate, celebrate, and respect the differences we have as people to promote equal rights. It is fitting that this anniversary falls during Pride Month, a time to recognize the strength and perseverance of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as a call to action for equality.

Unfortunately, the Trump Administration and extremist Republicans are attacking LGBTQIA+ rights around the country. These extremists are banning books that feature LGBTQIA+ characters from schools, eliminating the suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQIA+ individuals, rolling back civil rights protections, and undermining the health, military service, and education of LGBTQIA+ Americans. House Republicans recently passed a dangerous bill out of Committee that threatens to jail parents and doctors offering medically-affirming care to trans youth. Policymakers in Washington should not make private health decisions for Americans. LGBTQIA+ individuals are humans and deserve equal civil rights protections under the law, autonomy, and dignity. I reject extremist efforts to promote hate and harm based on who one loves or how they self-identify.

In the face of these intensified efforts to hurt LGBTQIA+ individuals, I promise to continue to fight for equal rights for LGBTQIA+ Americans. We must protect same-sex marriages and civil rights laws for LGBTQIA+ individuals. We must enact the Equality Act that would amend the Civil Right Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. We must enact my bill--the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act--that would prohibit any entity that receives federal child welfare funds from discriminating against children, youth, or prospective adoptive or foster parents based on religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. I am committed to continuing to support legislation that protects the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals because everyone deserves the right to be who they are, free from discrimination.

Celebration is an act of resistance. In the face of an administration that wants to reinvigorate injustice and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people, it is essential to celebrate our country's landmark marriage equality ruling and Pride month and to commit ourselves to ensuring that ``We the People'' includes all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about gun violence and its devastating impact on our citizens and Nation. It is a time to honor the lives of those tragically taken due to gun violence, to recognize that gun violence inflicts trauma and tragedy on individuals, families, and communities, and to advance effective gun violence prevention efforts.

In 2023, there were nearly 47,000 firearm-related deaths, which is approximately 128 people dying due to firearms every day. In 2024, more than 500 mass shootings occurred--more than one a day. Gun violence is the leading cause of death of children and teens. Yet the Trump Administration pushes action after action to make Americans more likely to suffer gun violence.

President Trump effectively legalized machine guns, rescinded millions of dollars in grants for gun violence reduction, eliminated gun violence data, and revoked the zero-tolerance policy that was a powerful tool for combatting gun trafficking and straw purchases. Further, the Republican budget bill would eliminate the gun silencer tax on the purchase or transfer of silencers and eliminate silence registrations. The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans seek to undo decades of progress reducing gun violence. It is imperative that we continue to fight for the right for our youth to live in a society where they do not have to worry constantly about gun violence.

Illinois and the City of Chicago have made great progress in implementing programs that reduce gun violence. Three years ago, Illinois created the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention which is responsible for awarding grants to organizations rooted in helping reduce gun violence, including the Chicago-based Peacekeepers Program. The Peacekeepers Program currently serves around 30 communities. In the communities that the Peacekeepers served, there was a 31 percent reduction in gun violence in 2023 and 2024 compared to the previous two years. Illinois and the City of Chicago can implement strict gun regulations and fund programs that reduce gun violence, but if neighboring states like Indiana and Wisconsin keep weak restrictions in place, then almost anyone can cross those state borders and acquire a gun.

We must do more. We must limit the number of guns that exist in our country. We must

ban assault weapons and enact strong background checks with no loopholes. We must repeal immunity for firearm manufacturers so individuals can bring civil actions to hold these companies responsible for their role in the gun violence epidemic. We must provide funding for programs with demonstrated success in reducing gun violence.

During my time in Congress, I have worked diligently to pass legislation that will effectively regulate firearms and reduce gun violence. I lead the Ammo Identification Act and the Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act. These bills aim to reduce gun violence by requiring serial numbers to be engraved on ammunition to improve and creating guaranteed funding for gun violence prevention programs by increasing the excise tax on firearms and ammunition.

Gun violence is a public health crisis, and our federal government must lead the effort to enact effective gun violence prevention legislation.

Mr. Speaker, after just four short years since I proudly cast my vote to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday

through the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, the very history that this day honors is now under attack by the current administration. While we mark Juneteenth with prayers and proclamations, we must also confront a harsh and unsettling truth: the significance of this day and African American history is being erased. Across our Nation, we are witnessing the systemic losses of our hard-fought gains--the stripping of diversity, equity, and inclusion from federal institutions, censoring school curriculums, and silencing conversations about the true history of America.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed over 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were free--more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is a reminder that freedom and equality remain delayed for Black Americans. For generations, this history of intentional continuation of slavery was ignored, and, now that it is finally acknowledged as part of our Nation's past, we see the Trump Administration trying to strip away Black history. Banning books, censoring lessons, and eliminating honest conversations about race is not about education, it is about control. We must ensure that Juneteenth is not just a day off but a day of truth.

In 2005, I partnered with then-Senator Barack Obama to introduce legislation recognizing Juneteenth. And now that it has become law, we must defend it and the history it represents from being erased. The history of our people is not optional. Let me be clear: Black history is American history. As a Black man who was raised in the rural South during segregation, I know all too well what it feels like to be told that your history does not matter. As the Representative of the 7th Congressional District of Illinois, a district with a rich history of Black culture and resilience, I fight in Congress for equity, inclusion, and the honest American history.

Today, the Trump Administration threatens Chicago Public Schools with the loss of over one billion dollars in federal funding for its efforts to improve the success and reduce suspensions of Black students, teach Black history, and recruit teachers who reflect the students they teach. African Americans have faced enormous challenges in every corner of life--education, economic security, health care, employment, housing and the criminal justice system. We are routinely denied opportunity solely because of the color of our skin. And still, we continue to fight for justice and equity in the face of deep-rooted, systemic racism.

This Juneteenth, Chicago will celebrate Juneteenth as a testament to community, remembrance, and pride. There is the Pullman Porter Museum's Juneteenth parade, games, and concert. Or the Cook County celebration at Malcolm X College, the Juneteenth Annual barbeque at the DuSable Black History Museum, or 1865 Fest in West Garfield Park, to name just a few. Events like these are not just festivals: they are declarations that we will not be silent. We will celebrate. We will educate. We will resist.

I will continue to fight for equality and opportunity at every turn, while honoring the history my forefathers and foremothers endured. Let's not forget, the White House and this country were built by enslaved labor. As we commemorate Juneteenth this year, let it be a call to action. The struggle for freedom will not end here. I am committed to protecting the truth of our past, fighting for justice in our present, and building a future where every African American can learn their history, see their worth, and know they belong.

Mr. Speaker, Representative Charlie Rangel was a dear friend and mentor of mine. He was very engaged and responsible for writing the Affordable Care Act and getting it passed.

Charlie was a great one.

Giving Tribute to Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and its administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and especially students.

Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, located in Chicago, Illinois, is a public, 4-year magnet high school known for its academic excellence and selective enrollment. It offers an accelerated program, called the Academic Center, for seventh and eighth graders. Admission is based on entrance exams, standardized tests, and elementary school grades. The school has a strong focus on developing well-rounded individuals with a variety of performing

and fine arts programs alongside academic preparation.

The school is comprehensive and excels in athletics, as well. For example, during the 2023-2024 school year, they were city champs in boys' water polo, girls' basketball, girls' golf, girls' softball, and girls' swim and diving. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School was also the State champion in the Academic Decathlon during the last school year.

While the school and its students have always been outstanding in the world of academics, this year in 2025, for the first time in the history of the school or any school that I know about in the city of Chicago, 23 of its students achieved a perfect score on the ACT test.

Of course, the ACT is widely used in admission decisions and as a predictor of college success. I am certain that, if the business, civil rights, and National Urban League leader, Whitney M. Young, was alive today, he would join with us to congratulate Principal Rickey Harris and the entire Whitney M. Young Magnet High School community, especially the 23 ACT perfect scorers, on this monumental accomplishment.

Imagine 23 perfect scorers in one school and in one place. What an accomplishment. What an achievement.

I congratulate Whitney Young students, and everybody associated with this great accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, Margaret Wolfe Hungerford said: ``Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.''

I behold no beauty in cutting and seeing cut the heart out of healthcare in America.

I see no beauty in children not being able to take care of themselves because their parents don't have the resources.

I see no beauty in a bill that promotes wealth for the wealthy and decreases services and resources for those at the bottom.

It is a bad bill. It is not good for America.

Mr. Speaker, government should help people, not harm them. Government should aid the vulnerable in asking for help, not exclude them from assistance with excessive barriers only to lavish the wealthy with trillions.

This bill makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. It boosts billionaires by dramatically cutting food, health care, nursing home service, and education from tens of millions of children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and workers.

This bill rips health care from 13.7 million Americans, with over 449,000 Illinoisans expected to lose their health insurance, including over 102,000 children and 27,000 seniors in my District.

Under this bill, a millionaire enjoys $81,500 in tax cuts while those earning less than $30,000 get crushed by a $5 billion tax increase. As any good grift, the Republican bill uses tricks to pretend it's helping regular Americans while it shepherds the biggest loss of health care and nutrition assistance in our Nation's history, exploding poverty and suffering.

In addition to the direct harm, the bill's irresponsible explosion of the deficit triggers statutory cuts to critical programs supporting children and families. These Paygo reductions would zero out funding for the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program that is proven to improve mother and child health, family safety, and child development. It would eliminate the guaranteed funding for the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program that helps prevent child maltreatment and strengthen families. It would eradicate the Social Services Block Grant that provides substantial investment in child care, child welfare, and adult protective services. These egregious cuts alone will cost Illinois over $72 million dollars and hurt Illinois children, seniors, and families.

This isn't right. It is unAmerican. It is immoral. And, I oppose this cruel bill.

Mr. Speaker, the Good Book teaches us to care for the least among us. In medicine, we vow to do no harm. Yet, the Republican budget plan inflicts suffering on the least among us to lavish riches on the wealthiest and most secure.

This bill rips health care from 13.7 million Americans, with 449,818 lllinoisans expected to lose their health insurance. In my Congressional District alone, this cruel Republican plan threatens to cut health insurance from over 240,000 people on the Illinois Medical Assistance Program, including over 102,000 children and 27,000 seniors. Thousands of seniors and persons with disabilities risk losing their nursing home coverage. This Republican bill further raises taxes and health premiums on 24 million Americans, and the $73 billion cuts to Medicaid providers will close hospitals, nursing homes, and other cash- strapped providers.

Government should help people, not harm them. Government should aid the vulnerable in asking for relief, not exclude them from assistance with excessive barriers.

Yet this ruthless Republican bill cuts $300 billion in food assistance for millions of seniors, children, and parents--which then costs farmers at least $30 billion in lost income. The loss of SNAP and Medicaid then threatens the 15.6 million children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals and the 20 million kids who get summer EBT via direct certification. In my District, this bill likely increases hunger for about 244,000 people who could lose SNAP and for over 80,000 children who could lose free lunch.

This Republican scam makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. It boosts billionaires while cutting the food, health care, education, and housing for tens of millions of children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and workers.

In addition to the direct harm, the bill's irresponsible explosion of the deficit triggers statutory cuts to critical programs supporting children and families. These Paygo cuts would zero out funding for the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program that is proven to improve mother and child health, family safety, and child development. It would eliminate the guaranteed funding for the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program that helps prevent child maltreatment and strengthen families. It would eradicate the Social Services Block Grant that provides substantial investment in child care, child welfare, and adult protective services. These cuts cost Illinois over $41 million in SSBG, over $18 million in home visiting, and over $13 million in Safe and Stable funding. These egregious cuts hurt Illinois children, seniors, and families.

As any good grift, the Republican bill uses tricks to pretend it's helping regular Americans while it shepherds the biggest loss of health care and nutrition assistance in our Nation's history, exploding poverty and inflicting suffering. Under this bill, a millionaire enjoys a windfall 310 times greater than a hardworking American making $50,000 or less. A person making over one million dollars a year gets $81,500 in tax cuts while those earning less than $50,000 only get $265--a laughable sum that evaporates in the face of trillions of dollars in assistance cuts. Disgustingly, if you earn less than $30,000, you get crushed with a $5 billion tax increase.

This isn't right. It is un-American. It is immoral. I oppose this cruel bill.

Mr. Speaker, my constituent, Debra, has this to say about Medicaid, and I agree. She says: It is absolutely essential.

She adopted two medically fragile children from foster care. Both have Medicaid as their primary and only health insurance. They both receive services through the Division of Specialized Care for Children in Illinois.

Her daughter has a Medically Fragile, Technology Dependent waiver. Together, they require 19 daily prescription medications. Her son requires a nightly injection that is $4,000 a month. Her daughter requires multiple pieces of expensive medical equipment.

She would never have been able to adopt or afford to keep them without knowing they would receive Medicaid. She is so proud of them. Medicaid is a vital, lifesaving program for thousands of children like hers.

Mr. Speaker, I agree, and let's make it accessible to all who need it. I thank Debra, and I thank her children.