Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the bills under this rule, and, in particular, to the so-called Equal Representation Act. I filed an amendment to this bill with Representative Cleaver to ensure that the Census not only fully counts the U.S. population but that it counts it accurately.

When the Census occurs, incarcerated people are counted as residents of the towns where they are imprisoned rather than the places they call home. This practice tends to reduce the population in urban areas, where most prisoners are from, and inflate the populations of rural areas, where most prisons are located. Ultimately, prison gerrymandering creates a gross inequity of representation at the expense of urban areas and communities of color.

The over 1 million incarcerated people in the United States are being used as pawns to falsely increase the voting power of areas that do not represent their interests.

My amendment, which was blocked from reaching the floor, would have required the Census Bureau to count incarcerated people at their last place of residence.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject the so-called Equal Representation Act and instead support efforts to end prison gerrymandering.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the extraordinary achievements of the NC State men's and women's basketball teams, which had amazing runs through this year's NCAA championships.

For the first time in NC State's history, both teams made it to the Final Four in the same year. The underdogs of the season, the men's team shocked the Nation when they beat top-seeded UNC to win the ACC Tournament, claiming the title for the first time since Jimmy V was the coach in 1987.

They continued to defy the odds by beating Duke and making it to the Final Four.

The three-peat ACC champions, the women's team, also made the Wolfpack community exceptionally proud, starting the season unranked and making it to the Final Four with an incredible final game against South Carolina.

I congratulate both teams on their fantastic season.

Go, Pack.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Alabama Supreme Court's decision declaring that frozen embryos created through IVF are people, upsetting family planning and medical science.

This ruling is just the latest in a long line of assaults on the rights of women since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Within days of the decision, women struggling to get pregnant were faced with the devastating reality that their appointments had been canceled and that their hopes of starting a family were put on pause.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot accept this latest attempt to control women and our bodies. There are 184 House Republicans who have cosponsored bills that would classify embryos as children under Federal law-- despite their empty and meaningless promises to support IVF.

Now is the time for action.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the one- hundredth birthday of Dr. Henry Stanley Zaytoun, a significant figure in the North Carolina orthodontic community and beloved father, grandfather, and grandfather. Henry turns one hundred on February 23, and he will be surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren.

Dr. Henry Zaytoun grew up in New Bern, North Carolina before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he completed his pre-dental studies. He subsequently attended the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. After graduating from the V-12 Navy College Training Program, Henry went on active duty and served as a Naval Dental Officer at the U.S. Third Army Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. Following his tour in Germany. Henry married Martha Nassif of Wilson, North Carolina, and practiced general dentistry in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Henry returned to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to earn his M.S. in Orthodontics and moved to Raleigh in 1960 to establish his orthodontic practice, where he worked for the next 50 years. He has steadfastly supported the UNC Adams School of Dentistry over the years, co-chairing the capital campaign to construct the building that houses the school, establishing an endowment for a Term Professorship in Orthodontics, and establishing the Henry S. and Martha N. Zaytoun Professionalism and Ethics Award.

In 2004, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley awarded Henry with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest honor that acknowledges exemplary service to the state. He has also been recognized for his support for the arts across the state, even endowing an associate principal trumpet chair for the North Carolina Symphony.

Henry is a beloved father to nine children, grandfather to 24, and great-grandfather to 15. He has made significant contributions to the dental and orthodontic communities in North Carolina and has led a lifetime of extraordinary dedication to the Wake County and North Carolina communities. I am pleased to celebrate his achievements as a community leader and philanthropist, and I wish him well in his next year of life.

Mr. Speaker, last year, Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly enacted egregiously gerrymandered congressional maps that effectively silenced the voices of North Carolina voters.

North Carolina is a purple State, and we finally have a congressional delegation that reflects the rich ideological and racial diversity of our great State.

However, with these new maps, Republicans have dismantled the important progress we have made toward fair representation, and they did this behind closed doors and with minimal public input.

That is why I led the entire North Carolina Democratic delegation in introducing the Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act. This critical legislation would establish extensive opportunities for public input in redistricting and for congressional maps to be fair. It would require disclosures regarding individuals and groups that participate in the map-drawing process.

We cannot have government by and for the people as long as politicians determine election outcomes long before voters get to the polls.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the House Republicans' harmful Pregnant Students' Rights Act.

Make no mistake. This legislation does nothing to protect pregnant students and fails to provide young parents with the real tools they need to succeed, including affordable childcare, affordable housing, and so much more.

Masquerading as an attempt to support pregnant students, this misleading bill is a part of Republicans' dangerous anti-abortion agenda. It would require institutions to distribute limited and even inaccurate resources to students about their existing rights should they choose to carry a pregnancy to term, while omitting information about abortion services, contraception, and while also advancing anti- abortion rhetoric.

Last year, I introduced the Understanding Student Parent Outcomes Act with Congresswoman Lucy McBath. This legislation would take concrete steps to support pregnant and parenting students by requiring the Department of Education to collect critical data on barriers that student parents face to graduating college and providing recommendations and resources to institutions of higher education.

During the committee markup of this egregious bill, Congresswoman McBath highlighted our bill as an alternative solution that will help student parents succeed while recognizing that all women deserve the opportunity to make their own choices about when to start a family free from persuasion from their schools.

I hope my Republican colleagues will see the harm that their legislation will cause and join Democrats in opposing this bill. There are better ways to help our pregnant and parenting students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Supreme Court's recent decision allowing Idaho's extreme abortion ban to go into effect.

The Idaho law will prevent women from accessing abortion even when the health of the mother is at risk. This dangerous decision rejects medical science, ignores established precedent, and imperils the rights and safety of women. I am terrified that women will die, and doctors will be treated like criminals.

Unfortunately, this isn't the only case before the High Court with grave implications for our reproductive healthcare. As the Supreme Court reviews the disastrous decision from the Fifth Circuit, restricting the availability of mifepristone, the future of abortion access nationwide now hangs in the balance.

Mr. Speaker, women across America will not accept this assault on our basic rights. We won't do it without a fight, and we will make our voices heard this year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional achievements of the Women's Cross Country Team at North Carolina State University.

Go pack.

The Wolfpack women have dominated the NCAA once again, winning their third national championship in a row.

Senior Sam Bush and all-American Katelyn Touhy helped NC State storm to victory in a close finish against Northern Arizona.

With their latest trophy, the NC State women's cross country team has now passed the men's basketball team for the most national titles in the university's history.

In addition, no college team has won three straight women's cross country titles since Stanford in 2007.

Far too often, outstanding women athletes don't get the recognition that they deserve. I am proud to represent the Wolfpack women and congratulate them on their fantastic accomplishment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to House Republicans' transportation and housing appropriations bill.

This week Republicans are fast-tracking a bill that would make it more difficult for people in North Carolina to commute to work and find an affordable place to live.

Specifically, this legislation slashes funding for the HOME program, the sole Federal housing program dedicated to affordable housing construction.

Under their plan, funding will be cut by two-thirds, and 17,000 fewer affordable homes will be built or rehabilitated in the coming fiscal year.

I consistently hear from constituents about the high cost of housing and how it is an unbearable burden. Across North Carolina, 25 percent of all renter households are categorized as extremely low-income. These families need our help.

Madam Speaker, we must do more to make housing affordable, and we must reject this deeply flawed bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the impending government shutdown and House Republicans' refusal to set politics aside for the good of the American people.

Rather than working across the aisle with Democrats to fund the government like the Senate, my Republican colleagues are threatening a catastrophic shutdown unless their extreme demands are met.

Make no mistake, a government shutdown is entirely preventable. Extreme Republicans in the House are choosing to put politics over the American people.

A government shutdown threatens the lives and livelihoods of our servicemembers, small business owners, children, and families who rely on Head Start and WIC, and so much more.

Mr. Speaker, with only 1 day left until the government funding runs out, House Democrats are willing to work across the aisle to keep government open.

It is time for Republicans to do the same for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of North Carolina's Dr. John Gilbert, who recently passed.

From Dr. Gilbert's time serving in the U.S. Army to his tenure on the Wake County School Board, he devoted his life to serving others.

John Gilbert was a towering figure in Wake County, best known for his unwavering dedication to the Wake County Public School System.

At a time of enormous change, Dr. Gilbert spearheaded innovative efforts to combat segregation and bring additional resources to underserved schools.

After 16 years of service on the school board, John served on the Wake County Board of Elections where he worked to uphold fair elections and secure voting rights for all.

Today, John Gilbert's enduring legacy lives on through the many people and students whose lives he transformed. Our community is forever indebted to John Gilbert.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the urgent need to implement Medicaid expansion in North Carolina. In March, our State became the 40th to pass legislation to expand Medicaid after over a decade of political gridlock.

Nevertheless, Republicans in the general assembly are needlessly delaying implementation because they continue to bicker with each other over the State budget, jeopardizing healthcare for over 600,000 North Carolinians. Every day that Republicans wait to expand Medicaid is another day that a mother with cancer or a grandfather with diabetes cannot access the care they need, care that saves lives.

More than a decade ago, I fought for Medicaid expansion in the general assembly. More than a decade ago, vulnerable North Carolinians desperate for affordable healthcare began waiting for their leaders to do the right thing.

Mr. Speaker, our people have been waiting a decade too long. The people of our State deserve action now--not next month and not next year--to ensure that they can access the healthcare they desperately need.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the U.S. Women's National Soccer team which is currently playing in the World Cup. It was quite the match last night.

Mr. Speaker, I give special recognition to the five players on the team

who have connections to my home State of North Carolina: Aubrey Kingsbury, who played at Wake Forest University; Lynn Williams, who played on the North Carolina Courage in my district; Casey Murphy, who currently plays on the North Carolina Courage; and Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn, who played at UNC and are currently on the North Carolina Courage.

As we cheer them on and while they are representing the USA abroad, it is important that we also support them at home. We must ensure that all women athletes receive the same pay, treatment, and resources as their male counterparts.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of all the strong, talented women on our national team. We are rooting for them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the epidemic of gun violence

in America, which continues to inflict bloodshed and heartbreak on our communities.

Last week, Americans were supposed to be celebrating the Fourth of July, but big cities and small towns across the country were once again devastated by senseless gun violence.

In October, my own Raleigh community joined the long line of American communities forever changed by a mass shooting. We should not have to live this way.

While we took a momentous step forward last summer by passing bipartisan, commonsense reform, we must do more. I am proud that the Raleigh Police Department is leading the charge through education, awareness, and prevention.

June was Gun Violence Awareness Month, but the call for action shouldn't end then. Today and every day, we must work together to end gun violence once and for all.

Loretta, thank you. I admire your passion and your enthusiasm for the Congress to Campus program. I have had the fortunate opportunity, of course, of doing one of those digitally with you. It was inspiring for me as well and something I hope that we continue to develop with the game plan we have.

Today, my colleague Bart Gordon and I would like to report on the Congressional Study Groups on Germany, Europe, Japan, Korea, and maybe in the future with Ireland--who knows.

In the past year, there have been critical developments on the international stage amongst America's closest allies and partners around the globe.

We witnessed the somber anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and rededicated ourselves to a robust and reliable NATO alliance and celebrated one of our closest partnerships in the Indo- Pacific with Korea's President Yoon visiting Washington on an official State visit that culminated with his rousing speech right here in this Chamber.

With consideration of these and other international developments, it is my great pleasure to highlight the work of the Congressional Study Groups on Germany, Japan, Europe and Korea, the flagship international programs of FMC.

As you know, our four Congressional Study Groups are the most active and unparalleled peer-to-peer exchange involving current Members of Congress and senior congressional staff in a highly impactful dialogue with their colleagues in legislative branches overseas.

In an ever-changing world, the year-round bipartisanship, and nonadvocacy outreach of these study groups to Capitol Hill remains the premier forum for productive, candid, and timely dialogue on the issues most relevant not only to America's leaders but to our friends and allies abroad.

One is hard pressed to find another organization that so consistently engages a diverse group of Members of Congress, the diplomatic community, administration officials, the private sector, and civil society in such critical conversations.

Each study group is proud to count over 75 Members of Congress as members, and each is led by a bipartisan, bicameral group of four co- chairs. These co-chairs exemplify the study groups' dedication to meaningful and robust education, not only serving in their role at the official study group events, but connecting with the embassies and outside organizations to speak on panels, attend roundtables, and meet with countless visiting delegations to further the goals of their respective study groups and the international relationships that they support.

In the past year, the study groups have led six tours for Members of Congress and their senior staff; engaged new Members of the 118th Congress in introductory events with our embassy partners; hosted a German delegation of parliamentarians, business leaders, and key members of German civil society on a study tour in Texas; and held dozens of roundtables between Members of Congress, chiefs of staff, the diplomatic corps here in D.C., and business advisory members on critical issues such as the war in Ukraine, the debt ceiling, the IRA, supply chain security, energy, and international security, among other topics.

This critical work, however, would not be possible without the general patronage of a dedicated group of individuals, organizations, and business advisory council members.

In particular, I recognize Dr. Satohiro Akimoto of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, Thomas Byrne of The Korea Society, Sung Won Bae of the Korea Foundation USA, Heather Conley of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Paige Cottingham-Streater of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, and Julia Friedlander of the Atlantik-Brucke for their support as key funders of the Congressional Study Groups in 2023.

We also benefit tremendously from our partners and Business Advisory Council, and I include their names for the Congressional Record.

BAC partners to FMC and Congressional Study Groups

Aflac, Allianz, All Nippon Airways, BASF, Bayer, B. Braun

Medical, Beam Suntory, Central Japan Railway Company, CJ

America, Deutsche Telekom, DHL, Fresenius SE, Hitachi, Honda,

Hyundai, Itochu, JTI, KITA, LG, Lockheed Martin, Lufthansa

German Airlines, Marubeni America Corporation, Mercedes-Benz,

Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Mitsubishi Heavy

Industries America, Mitsui & Co., Mizuho, NEC, Nissan,

Nomura, Panasonic, Philips North America, POSCO,

Representative of German Industry and Trade, Samsung, Sojitz,

Subaru, Tellurian, Toyota Motor North America, UPS, and

Volkswagen Group of America.

Since last year's report to Congress, FMC's Business Advisory Council has grown with the additions of Philips North America and LG. Our Business Advisory Council continues to benefit from the guidance and leadership of advisory board members Brad Knox of Aflac, Majida Mourad of Tellurian, Anna Schneider of Volkswagen, Mark Sobol of Longwave Partners, Jeff Werner of Panasonic, and Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel of Lockheed Martin.

Amidst economic uncertainties, supply chain difficulties, and energy and climate crises, these companies continue to be champions for effective and productive dialogue between our elected parliaments. We thank them for their support of our Congressional Study Groups.

In an increasingly tumultuous world where the bonds America shares with her allies abroad are more important than ever, I am proud to say the sustained involvement of our stakeholders and continued engagement with our international partners play a critical role in the maintenance and growth of these relationships and will continue to do so in the years ahead.

I yield to my friend and colleague, Mr. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, for further remarks.