Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of my mother, Heikyung Chun Min, known to family and friends as HK, who passed away on August 29 at the age of 79.

When you are young, you tend to think your parents are invincible, that

they are larger than life, and that they will be around forever.

If you knew my mom, you can understand why it was particularly easy to believe that about her. She was brilliant, funny, fiercely determined, and deeply loving. She had an incredible joy for life and what seemed like an endless supply of energy.

When I was a kid, some of the things that made my mom so uniquely her could also feel embarrassing. One of my mom's notable habits when we went out to eat was to ask the waiter to divide her meal in two, to give her half of it and put the other half in a to-go container.

None of my friends' moms ever did anything like that. As someone who was self-conscious back then, I felt awkward when we went out to eat.

When I got older, I realized that what she was doing was actually brilliant. Restaurant portions are too big. Half is plenty. The other half is tomorrow's lunch instead of extra calories I don't need.

Now that I am a dad, I often do the same thing: half now, half to go. Are my kids embarrassed by me? Probably. But I tell them that this is what their ``grandma''; ``halmoni'' did. They know she is very smart, and maybe we started a family tradition.

My mom was different than the other moms in so many other ways. She grew up during the Korean war, studied hard, and got into the top college in Korea, Seoul National University, where she studied chemistry.

She came to America in 1972 to get her Ph.D. at Brown University, got married to my dad, had me and then my younger brother, Andrew, and moved out to California where we grew up.

My mom was one of the early women engineers and executives in Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry, working at Fairchild and later at National Semiconductor. Most of the other moms I knew back then didn't work, and I don't remember any moms who took business trips like my mom did, to exotic locales like Taiwan and Israel.

As a kid, I had no idea how remarkable that was. I will be honest. I didn't know what semiconductors were. It was only when I got older that I understood she was working at foundational companies helping to pave the way for an industry that would transform our global economy.

Years later, I remember reading about supermoms, the moms out there balancing successful careers in a patriarchal society where they were also expected to be wives and mothers. I remember thinking that my mom was the original supermom.

But I didn't think any of that as a child. To me and my younger brother, Andrew, she was ``mom''; ``eomma.'' What I remember about her is that she was always there: at my parent-teacher conferences, my violin lessons, and my soccer games. Despite a demanding career, she was home just about every evening by 5 p.m. making dinner, taking care of us, and watching over us.

Mom never stopped watching over us. Even toward the end of her life, she would call me after seeing me on TV to compliment my haircut or text me after seeing a video from Minneapolis to tell me I needed a heavier coat.

A few months back, I used some language on social media my mom did not approve of. Within an hour, my phone rang. Even though she was weak from cancer, she still had enough energy to give me an earful. ``We did not raise you to be the type of person who uses the f-word. Please take that post down. We raised you better than that.'' Of course, I took the post down.

My mom also loved telling stories, especially embarrassing stories, about her sons. One of her favorites was when I was 4 years old. My dad had given me a few dollars at the grocery store and told me to buy flowers for my mom.

When he found me at the checkout line, I was chewing Bubble Yum. He asked me whether I had bought the flowers, and I supposedly told him: ``Even better, I bought flower seeds. We can get lots more flowers from the seeds, and I had money left over to buy gum.''

My mom loved that story and told it probably hundreds of times to people. Every single time, she laughed, that beautiful laugh that I miss so much.

In February 2024, my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of deadliest and most unforgiving cancers. I will be honest. I still thought she was going to beat it. I still thought she was invincible.

She went into that fight with so much conviction and energy. We were initially told she might have only weeks to live. But weeks became months, months became a year, then 2 years. She lived for more than 2\1/2\ years after that diagnosis. For so much of that time, she was still mom, still laughing, still telling stories, and still watching over us.

Every single extra day she gave us was an extraordinary gift to my dad, Brian; to me; my wife, Jane; our kids, Teddy, Emmy, and Paxton; to my brother, Andrew; his wife, Melissa; and their kids, Zach and Niko.

The last text message my mom sent me reminded me again of those flower seeds I had bought her as young child. She ended simply by saying ``saranghaeyo''; ``I love you.''

At her memorial, we gave everyone a packet of flower seeds in her honor to hopefully keep spreading the joy and brilliance and energy that she had spread in her remarkable life on this planet.

Mom, ``I love you''; ``saranghaeyo.'' I'm sorry for the f-word I used on social media earlier this week. I will try to do better, and I hope to see you soon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of my mother, Heikyung Chun Min, known to family and friends as HK, who passed away on August 29 at the age of 79.

When you are young, you tend to think your parents are invincible, that they are larger than life, and that they will be around forever.

If you knew my mom, you can understand why it was particularly easy to believe that about her. She was brilliant, funny, fiercely determined, and deeply loving. She had an incredible joy for life and what seemed like an endless supply of energy.

When I was a kid, some of the things that made my mom so uniquely her could also feel embarrassing. One of my mom's notable habits when we went out to eat was to ask the waiter to divide her meal in two, to give her half of it and put the other half in a to-go container.

None of my friends' moms ever did anything like that. As someone who was self-conscious back then, I felt awkward when we went out to eat.

When I got older, I realized that what she was doing was actually brilliant. Restaurant portions are too big. Half is plenty. The other half is tomorrow's lunch instead of extra calories I don't need.

Now that I am a dad, I often do the same thing: half now, half to go. Are my kids embarrassed by me? Probably. But I tell them that this is what their ``grandma''; ``halmoni'' did. They know she is very smart, and maybe we started a family tradition.

My mom was different than the other moms in so many other ways. She grew up during the Korean war, studied hard, and got into the top college in Korea, Seoul National University, where she studied chemistry.

She came to America in 1972 to get her Ph.D. at Brown University, got married to my dad, had me and then my younger brother, Andrew, and moved out to California where we grew up.

My mom was one of the early women engineers and executives in Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry, working at Fairchild and later at National Semiconductor. Most of the other moms I knew back then didn't work, and I don't remember any moms who took business trips like my mom did, to exotic locales like Taiwan and Israel.

As a kid, I had no idea how remarkable that was. I will be honest. I didn't know what semiconductors were. It was only when I got older that I understood she was working at foundational companies helping to pave the way for an industry that would transform our global economy.

Years later, I remember reading about supermoms, the moms out there balancing successful careers in a patriarchal society where they were also expected to be wives and mothers. I remember thinking that my mom was the original supermom.

But I didn't think any of that as a child. To me and my younger brother, Andrew, she was ``mom''; ``eomma.'' What I remember about her is that she was always there: at my parent-teacher conferences, my violin lessons, and my soccer games. Despite a demanding career, she was home just about every evening by 5 p.m. making dinner, taking care of us, and watching over us.

Mom never stopped watching over us. Even toward the end of her life, she would call me after seeing me on TV to compliment my haircut or text me after seeing a video from Minneapolis to tell me I needed a heavier coat.

A few months back, I used some language on social media my mom did not approve of. Within an hour, my phone rang. Even though she was weak from cancer, she still had enough energy to give me an earful. ``We did not raise you to be the type of person who uses the f-word. Please take that post down. We raised you better than that.'' Of course, I took the post down.

My mom also loved telling stories, especially embarrassing stories, about her sons. One of her favorites was when I was 4 years old. My dad had given me a few dollars at the grocery store and told me to buy flowers for my mom.

When he found me at the checkout line, I was chewing Bubble Yum. He asked me whether I had bought the flowers, and I supposedly told him: ``Even better, I bought flower seeds. We can get lots more flowers from the seeds, and I had money left over to buy gum.''

My mom loved that story and told it probably hundreds of times to people. Every single time, she laughed, that beautiful laugh that I miss so much.

In February 2024, my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of deadliest and most unforgiving cancers. I will be honest. I still thought she was going to beat it. I still thought she was invincible.

She went into that fight with so much conviction and energy. We were initially told she might have only weeks to live. But weeks became months, months became a year, then 2 years. She lived for more than 2\1/2\ years after that diagnosis. For so much of that time, she was still mom, still laughing, still telling stories, and still watching over us.

Every single extra day she gave us was an extraordinary gift to my dad, Brian; to me; my wife, Jane; our kids, Teddy, Emmy, and Paxton; to my brother, Andrew; his wife, Melissa; and their kids, Zach and Niko.

The last text message my mom sent me reminded me again of those flower seeds I had bought her as young child. She ended simply by saying ``saranghaeyo''; ``I love you.''

At her memorial, we gave everyone a packet of flower seeds in her honor to hopefully keep spreading the joy and brilliance and energy that she had spread in her remarkable life on this planet.

Mom, ``I love you''; ``saranghaeyo.'' I'm sorry for the f-word I used on social media earlier this week. I will try to do better, and I hope to see you soon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of University of California, Irvine Chief of Police Liz Griffin.

After more than 33 years of serving her community in law enforcement, including 7 years serving Irvine, Chief Griffin is retiring.

Throughout her career, Chief Griffin has led with integrity, transparency, and a deep commitment to community-centered policing.

At UC Irvine, Chief Griffin's leadership helped the UCI Police Department implement initiatives that have set new standards for safety, accountability, and public trust. Her work has expanded public access to safety data, helped implement the community safety plan, strengthened partnerships across campus, and increased the representation of women in the policing workforce.

Under her leadership, UCIPD also earned national accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, placing it among the top 10 percent of university policing agencies nationwide.

Chief Griffin's legacy will continue at UCI and across the University of California system. I thank her for her dedication, hard work, and service. I wish her the very best in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Pride Month and to honor Radiant Health Centers, an Irvine-based nonprofit that has been serving Orange County's LGBTQ+ communities, underserved residents, and people living with or affected by HIV for nearly four decades.

Founded in 1985 as AIDS Services Foundation Orange County, Radiant began as a volunteer-led response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, providing dignity and support at a time when too many people were being denied the care they deserved.

Today, Radiant is the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit HIV service provider in Orange County, touching thousands of lives.

Radiant began as an act of courage. The founding volunteers stood up for the most vulnerable amid devastating stigmatization, which saved lives.

This Pride Month, I hope their courage will inspire us all. Amid rising hate and discrimination, let us recommit ourselves to defending dignity and equality for all. I am proud to recognize Radiant Health Centers for their lifesaving work and their deep commitment to the people of Orange County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 8340, the Taxpayer Funds Oversight and Accountability Act.

I introduced this legislation alongside Representative William Timmons, and I thank him again for co-leading this important bill to promote efficiency and optimization in Federal agencies.

I would note that this legislation was originally lead by former Ranking Member Gerry Connolly, and I am proud that I can help carry forward this tool and hopefully continue forward his legacy of trying to improve the way that our Federal Government functions.

This legislation is straightforward. It is designed to modernize how Federal agencies track spending, strengthen financial oversight, and improve accountability in how the Federal Government manages our precious taxpayer dollars.

This bill makes long-overdue updates to the decades-old Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, incorporating longstanding recommendations from the GAO to ensure that agencies can make better management decisions, improve efficiency, and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

For example, this legislation would require Federal agencies to annually assess financial reporting internal controls, link agency performance and cost data to enhance financial valuations, and prioritize the elimination of duplicative systems and unnecessary spending.

As someone who started my career at the Securities and Exchange Commission tracking fraud in the private sector, I think it is important we also try to prevent fraud in the public sector, as well. I think this bill would take an important step forward in achieving that goal.

Congress has to play an active role in reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, and we can do so by ensuring that Federal agency chief financial officers are responsible stewards of taxpayer money.

I am confident this legislation will play an important role in doing so, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.

Mr. Speaker, on May 12, 2026, Oversight Committee Democrats convened the first-ever hearing to solicit testimony from survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes. The hearing, ``Survivors Fight for Justice: Exposing Epstein's Crimes in Palm Beach and Across the World,'' marked a critical step forward in the fight for justice and accountability.

On behalf of all the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes, I rise to include in the Record the testimony offered by Mr. Spencer Kuvin into the Congressional Record:

Ranking Member, and Members of Congress, my name is Spencer

Kuvin, and I have represented numerous survivors of sexual

exploitation and trafficking over the years, including the

first victim to come forward in the Epstein investigation

here in Palm Beach. I am here today because what happened

during the prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein was not simply a

failure of judgment--it was a systemic failure of justice.

In Palm Beach County, credible evidence of widespread

sexual abuse involving minors was presented to state

prosecutors. Law enforcement initially identified dozens of

victims. The conduct was organized, repeated, and

devastating. Yet instead of a prosecution that matched the

scale of the harm, what followed was a secret agreement that

minimized the abuse and insulted the children who had been

abused.

Despite the efforts of some fantastic Federal agents, the

U.S. Attorney's office in the Southern District, decided to

have secret meetings with Epstein's attorneys. The U.S.

Department of Justice in conjunction with the Palm Beach

County State Attorney's Office colluded in secret to quietly

shelve this case with minimal state charges that branded and

treated 15 and 16 year old child victims as ``prostitutes''--

a sweetheart deal for Epstein and four named, as well as

``unnamed'' co-conspirators. The Southern District U.S.

Attorney at the time, Alex Acosta, spearheaded what every

attorney looking at it subsequently would describe as the

worst non-prosecution agreement every entered by a U.S.

Attorney. This sent a message. It told victims that even when

the evidence is strong, accountability is negotiable if

you're rich and powerful.

This awful non-prosecution agreement effectively shut down

further federal charges for the events they were

investigating in Florida. As I mentioned that tragic deal was

negotiated and signed in secret. Not only was it kept secret

from the world, it was kept secret from me as an advocate for

multiple victims at the time and it was kept secret from the

victims of the crime. I was forced to file motions with the

court to compel its disclosure, and even take the matter up

to the appellate court before it was finally provided to the

victims, a full year after it was signed.

The victims were not consulted.

Their advocates like me, were not consulted.

Victims were never given an opportunity to be heard.

This was not just a moral failure--we believed it was a

violation of law. Under the Crime Victims' Rights Act,

originally passed in 2004, and subsequently amended in 2006,

2008 and 2015, victims have the right to confer with

prosecutors and the right to be treated with fairness and

respect. Yet those rights were ignored at the very moment

they mattered most--when decisions were being made that would

determine whether justice would ever be pursued.

The result was predictable. Survivors were retraumatized--

not only by the abuse they endured, but by a system that

excluded them from the process designed to protect them. And

the public was left questioning whether justice can be

trusted when powerful interests are involved.

This failure by the Department of Justice was the subject

of litigation in the case of in In re Wild. What that case

ultimately exposed is a gap in the law--one that must be

closed.

Today, I want to offer a clear path forward.

First, Congress should amend the Crime Victims Rights Act

to make explicit that victims must be notified and given a

meaningful opportunity to confer before any non-prosecution

agreement or deferred prosecution agreement is finalized.

Second, there must be enforceable remedies. Rights without

remedies are not rights--they are suggestions. Victims should

have standing to challenge agreements reached in violation of

the Act, and courts must have the authority to review and,

where appropriate, void those agreements.

Third, transparency must be the rule, not the exception.

Secret agreements that extinguish criminal liability--

particularly in cases involving multiple victims--should not

exist in our system of justice.

And finally, there must be accountability. When prosecutors

fail to uphold victims' rights, there must be consequences

sufficient to ensure that these failures are not repeated.

This is not about relitigating the past.

It is about ensuring that what happened here never happens

again.

The survivors in this case showed extraordinary courage.

They came forward. They told the truth. They trusted the

system.

The system failed them.

Congress now has the opportunity--and the responsibility--

to fix it.

Thank you. I look forward to your questions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Garret Anderson, a Newport Beach resident and Anaheim Angels legend.

Garret was a SoCal native who grew up in the L.A. suburbs in Granada Hills.

After graduating high school, he was drafted by the Angels in the fourth round of the 1990 draft.

Over 15 seasons with the Angels, he became the franchise's all-time leader in hits and built a career defined by consistency, grit, and leadership in the clubhouse.

His most famous hit was the bases-loaded double he hit in game 7 of the

2002 World Series, which won the Angels their first and only World Series championship.

That 2002 season was a Cinderella journey for Garret and the Angels, with the Rally Monkey inspiring the team to come back in the late innings over and over again.

Garret was a two-time Silver Slugger award winner and was the all- star game MVP in 2003, but those who knew him best remember something beyond his baseball accomplishments. They remember his humility, kindness, and joy inside the clubhouse and outside.

Mr. Speaker, Garret Anderson represented what is best about baseball: dedication, teamwork, and grace both on and off the field. His legacy will live on not just in the record books but in the memories of fans, teammates, and our Orange County communities. Our deepest sympathies are with his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mary Kageyama Nomura, lovingly remembered as the ``Songbird of Manzanar,'' who passed away peacefully last month at the age of 100.

Born in Los Angeles in 1925, Mary had endured profound hardship from a young age, losing both of her parents and trying to help hold her family together during unimaginable uncertainty.

At just 15 years of age, she and her siblings were incarcerated at the Japanese-American internment camp at Manzanar during World War II.

Yet, even during one of the darkest chapters of American history, Mary brought light through her music. Her remarkable voice lifted spirits throughout the camp and earned her the enduring nickname, the ``Songbird of Manzanar.'' Through song, she gave comfort, hope, and humanity to those around her.

Mary later built a beautiful life with her husband, Shiro Nomura, raising five children and helping establish a thriving family business in Orange County. Though she never pursued fame or riches, she continued sharing her extraordinary talent with communities across California and Japan for decades.

Mary Nomura's life is a testament to resilience, grace, and the power of art to heal and unite us. May we honor her memory by preserving the stories of those who endured injustice and by ensuring that their voices are never forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of George Lieu, who passed away peacefully on March 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. George was a resilient and spirited father, husband, and writer.

George Lieu was born in Chongqing, China, on May 22, 1944. Five years later, his family relocated to Taiwan, where he eventually received a law degree from Soochow University and served two years of military service.

In 1968, George married the love of his life, Kerry, and soon became a father to his eldest son, Ted. Shortly after, George immigrated to the United States and pursued a Master of Laws at Cleveland State University College of Law. With his heart set on bringing his wife and son to the United States, he stretched himself to build a life for his family. He took on numerous jobs while in school: dishwasher, cleaner for the school library, waiter, and day laborer. As hoped, Kerry and Ted immigrated to America in 1972, and the next year, George and Kerry's second son, John, was born. Together, George and Kerry began working weekends at flea markets, opened a small gift store, and eventually grew their efforts into a successful business spanning multiple states, building a life for their two children. They are the embodiment of the American Dream.

George's decades of determination and vision for his family eventually led him to fulfill his lifelong goal of becoming a writer. His two poetry books and his collection of short stories, ``Dreams Entwined With Destiny,'' ``Walking in the Rain,'' and ``A Collection of Short Stories by George Lieu,'' were published in 2004, 2024, and 2026.

George will be remembered for his humor, liveliness, and his love for family. George is survived by his beloved wife Kerry, his two sons Representative Ted Lieu and Dr. John Lieu, his daughter-in-law Betty Chim Lieu, and his grandsons Brennan and Austin.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 6409, the FENCES Act, which would gut the Clean Air Act.

For over 60 years, the Clean Air Act has stood as our Nation's landmark air pollution law, serving as our most effective tool to try to keep the air that our children and families breathe safe and to hold polluters accountable.

Despite this achievement, we still have more than 100,000 people prematurely dying in the United States every year because of air pollution. That is simply unacceptable.

We should be building on the progress of the Clean Air Act, not gutting it. We should be decarbonizing transportation, regulating carbon emissions, acknowledging that climate change is happening and that the science is real, and trying to improve air quality and reduce the climate trends that we are seeing that are so alarming. Instead, we are debating another bill that would give yet another free pass to corporations and billionaires at the expense of working families.

I understand my colleagues across the aisle are debating right now, and will introduce later today, a bill to rename the big, ugly bill to something maybe more palatable to the masses. They are doing that because the big, ugly bill is so unpopular right now that they are trying to run away from it as fast as possible.

I have a news flash for y'all. It is not the name that is the problem. It is the substance of the bill that helps, again, the Epstein elites that y'all are protecting so hard. It does so at the expense of the working class--in this case, with the FENCES Act gutting the Clean Air Act and polluting our air and water.

The bill before us today is yet another attack on the Clean Air Act that we cannot afford. The FENCES Act would pave the way for States to avoid their responsibility to improve air quality and protect public health by claiming air pollution in their State as a foreign source.

This bill is completely unnecessary because, under current law, States are not penalized for pollution they can't control, such as from foreign sources or other States. This is a solution in search of a problem.

It is important to remember that air pollution doesn't vanish when we don't see it. It moves across national borders and has deadly impacts on Americans here at home.

As a reminder, not too long ago, in the 1960s and 1970s, Los Angeles, just up the 405 from where I live in Orange County, was one of the most polluted cities in the world, with smog so pervasive that people reported burning eyes and extremely low visibility.

Because of landmark laws like the Clean Air Act and efforts by State and local governments, air pollution in Los Angeles has been significantly reduced, driving down chronic health impacts and having notable and statistically proven quality-of-life improvements for millions of Californians in southern California.

For these reasons, at the appropriate time, I plan to 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 ensure that this bill does not go into effect until the EPA and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee certify that the act will not increase health harms or the costs associated with treating those harms.

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

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will 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.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 103rd anniversary of Second Baptist Church of Santa Ana, the largest predominantly Black church in Orange County.

Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Ivan S. Pitts, Second Baptist Church has become a cornerstone of our faith community. With congregations in both Irvine and Santa Ana, Second Baptist serves as a place of worship where people can find care, dignity, and belonging.

Through a variety of activities, including health fairs, vaccination clinics, youth programs, cultural events, and other civic engagement, the church has met people where they are and served as a vital cultural hub for our region.

In times of crisis, Second Baptist Church has led with action and led with works. From delivering groceries to seniors and single-mother households during the recent government shutdown to dispatching emergency response teams to support flood and fire victims, their commitment to service never wavers.

Madam Speaker, Second Baptist Church represents the very best of Orange County, and I am so proud to honor them today.

Mr. Speaker, it was with interest that I heard the remarks of my colleague from New York. I just wanted to correct a few things as someone who just won one of those swings seats that was in play last year.

I would say that that was not a mandate, but the Republicans did win Congress, they did win the Presidency, and I think that Republicans last year rightly focused on inflation, the cost-of-living, and the economy as key issues that Americans are facing.

Now, I represent a very wealthy district. The median income in my district is about $130,000. Even in my district right now, people are suffering. When I go visit my food banks, the usage right now is at record highs. This is directly related to the policies that were in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as it is Orwellianly named by our Republican colleagues.

The tariffs and the OBBB in combination have caused costs to skyrocket, and inflation right now is as high as it has ever been, as high as it ever was under Biden.

They are seeing their electric costs go up because of the giveaways to utilities and the crackdown on renewable energies, very cheap forms of energy. In places like California, they are seeing their grocery prices go up because of the tariffs. They are set to see their health insurance costs go up massively.

When I go out there and I talk to my families, it is not as if they have one budget for utilities, one budget for food, and one budget for health insurance. They have a budget, and they are struggling right now to pay for things. They are now going to see in the State of California, in my district, their health insurance costs, if they are purchasing it on an exchange, go up between 50 percent to 200 percent or more as was announced by Covered California just last month.

That is a cost that people just can't afford, no matter how much they are making. I know the billionaires do pretty well under this Presidency, under this Republican-controlled Congress, but regular people, even people who are making a good amount of money are struggling to get by right now, to pay those bills.

I have talked to too many people in my district who are making that hard decision. Many of them, we know, will drop their health insurance because they just can't afford to pay it. They need food. They need to keep the lights on. They need to buy gas to get to work. Consequently, they are going to drop health insurance.

That means that we will have more families who are one catastrophic illness or injury away from bankruptcy, something that is far too common. You can multiply that by millions and millions of households across this country right now because millions of households are facing that same dilemma.

I urge my Republican colleagues right now to ignore what their President is doing. He is focused on the ballroom. He is focused on building out our golf courses here in D.C., according to yesterday's news. He is focused on foreign affairs, giving money to Argentina, and blowing up boats off the coast of Venezuela.

What I would urge my Republican colleagues to start focusing on is the cost of things right now. We have a way to do that, a bipartisan initiative. We would love it to be bipartisan, if you all would join us in just giving a clean 3-year extension of the ACA tax credits. This is something that would give immediate relief to millions of families out there that are seeking to lower their costs.

Now, I know we have this vote coming up on this package of healthcare bills. I would say it is very complicated stuff, lots of random proposals in there. There is clearly an attack on women's reproductive rights and access to contraception. That is a key part of what these healthcare bills will do.

What they do not do in any way, shape, or form is address the fact that people are going to pay thousands of dollars, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars more for their health insurance because of Republican policies.

You have a chance right now to do right by the American people to try to rectify the wrongs that your policies have created. This has nothing to do with Trump. It has nothing to do with Biden. It has to do with an opportunity right now to get some bipartisan legislation passed.

This is going to save lives. We are literally talking about people in your district, in my district, in Mary Gay Scanlon's district. We have a chance to really help save lives right now. Even in districts like mine--again, a wealthy district--I have talked to many people right now who are set to lose their health insurance, set to lose their healthcare.

Whether they have kids with cancer or whether they have autistic children, they are struggling right now. We have a chance to show the American people that we can rise above partisan politics and do what is right. I think there is broad consensus on both sides of the aisle that extending the ACA tax credits is good policy. I urge them to join us.

Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of Ms. Houlahan, and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this straightforward amendment to the Electric Supply Chain Act, an amendment that strengthens our workforce, supports veterans, and helps ensure the reliability and security of our Nation's energy supply.

As a Representative of California, I know how essential it is that we shore up the workforce powering our electric supply chain. Manufacturers in California and across the country consistently tell us the same thing: Workforce shortages are slowing down projects, driving up costs, and ultimately are a major contributor to higher prices for working families.

The data is clear: Nearly 10,000 electricians retire each year, while only about 7,000 new entrants come in each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Goldman Sachs has estimated the United States will need roughly 510,000 new workers just to meet rising power demand over the next decade. Annually, we have more than 200,000 servicemembers who transition out of the military, many with exactly the same technical skills, discipline, and mission-focused mindset that our energy system needs and that employers are looking for.

This amendment would simply direct the Department of Energy to regularly assess how to expand veteran, servicemember, and military spouse participation in this workforce, what barriers are preventing entry into these fields, and where improved Federal coordination can better coordinate this talent to areas of real need.

Strengthening supply chains means strengthening the people behind them. Few are better prepared for these careers than our veterans and military families, and this is an important transition for them, as well.

This is a practical improvement to the underlying bill, which promotes national security, energy resilience, and economic opportunity for those who have served.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, my amendment to the Electric Supply Chain Act would expand the periodic reports required under this bill to include a critical assessment of advanced transmission technologies.

In my district and across the country, families are seeing soaring energy costs brought on by load growth and extreme weather, including wildfires. An aging and inefficient grid is bottlenecking the growing demand for new and reliable power, causing prices to go up and limiting the electrons that can reach areas that need this electricity.

We must meet this challenge, grow our economy, and bring down the energy bills that are rising so quickly and crushing so many of our constituents today. To do that, we need to build more transmission infrastructure.

We also need to leverage innovation that we have to maximize our current electric transmission rights-of-way. Advanced transmission technologies like high-performance conductors present a unique opportunity to upgrade the electric grid we already have and ensure that new infrastructure is more efficient and affordable.

According to the Department of Energy, using advanced conductors can double the capacity of existing transmission lines, and over 100,000 miles of lines can currently benefit from these technologies.

Importantly, these technologies have minimal land use impacts, can be installed without the decades-long permitting timelines required for new lines, and increase the resiliency of the grid against wildfires helping keep districts like mine safe from the growing threats of these natural disasters that are often under severe fire risk.

It is why major utilities in California are building their lines with advanced

conductors and why States across the country are passing new laws to promote their adoption.

I am proud to actually represent two of the largest manufacturers of advanced transmission conductors in my district: CTC Global and TS Conductor. These companies are extraordinary examples of American innovation and manufacturing which is helping pioneer the grid of the future and create high-skilled domestic jobs in the process.

Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my colleagues we are all here voting on the bill because President Trump, who has the power to release the Epstein files at any time, has refused to do so. He called this a hoax.

We are here because Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump have gone to extraordinary lengths to try to kill and delay the discharge petition, including refusing to seat Adelita Grijalva for over 40 days and threatening House Republicans who signed on.

Several of my Republican colleagues have accused us who support justice here of having Trump derangement syndrome. They suffer from something much worse, which is pedophile protection syndrome.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to stop protecting pedophiles. Release the Epstein files. The victims deserve justice.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1558, the Taxpayer Funds Oversight and Accountability Act, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly of Virginia, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.