Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today as we begin Hispanic Heritage Month, a time for members of the Hispanic community to honor their culture and to join together for traditions and gatherings.

Hispanic Heritage Month starts today, September 15, as we commemorate the fight for independence of five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Celebrations across Westchester and the Bronx will take place, including a community-wide event honoring the past, present, and future of the Hispanic community in New Rochelle, with events as well in Port Chester, Yonkers, Elmsford, White Plains, and in Wakefield and Edenwald.

A gathering with Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins in September will occur at the Westchester County office building, as well as many other events celebrating Latino-owned small businesses and cultural organizations, such as 100 Hispanic Women National, Incorporated; El Centro Hispano; Neighbors Link; and others.

I look forward to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with our flourishing Latino communities across my district.

Defending Vote By Mail

Madam Speaker, I rise today to defend against attacks on a cornerstone of our free and fair elections: our right as Americans to vote by mail.

The first large-scale absentee voting took place during the Civil War, under the direct order of President Lincoln, to ensure those who were bravely serving our country were still represented. It was a nation divided but then still committed to the democratic principles upon which the Nation was founded.

For over a century, those ballots have allowed rural, disabled, and elderly voters to participate in our democratic process.

Today, mail-in voting is facing unprecedented attacks by President Trump, seeking to prevent hardworking Americans across the country from being represented at the polls. We will not allow Federal overreach, bureaucracy, and conflict to impede our democratic principles.

I implore my colleagues to acknowledge the great benefit vote by mail has brought to our democracy and to do everything in our power to protect it.

Rising Cost of Living

Madam Speaker, 49 percent of Americans cannot afford the true cost of living in our Nation. The Consumer Price Index is on a steady incline, and threats of new tariffs mean

even pricier receipts when shopping for everyday goods.

Hardworking families worry about how they will survive until the next payday. Our elderly go without care. Young people cannot afford their future. This is not the American Dream we were promised.

However, hope to return to an affordable Nation is on the horizon. The goal is simple: lower costs, rein in executive overreach, and restore trust in those in Washington that are working for you, no matter where you are in this country.

It is time to put the financial stability of everyday Americans ahead of partisan agendas. I call on my colleagues in Congress to use this time to chart a path to a better, more affordable future for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump announced that he promises to send $5,000 to every American adult if his party is kept in power after the midterm elections.

At home in New York, I have been asked by constituents about these checks, not because they want to use it for vacation that they may have been wanting to take or to buy a new car. Rather, they are trying to put food on the table in the face of rising grocery prices and gas in their tanks as fuel prices soar.

Instead of finding ways to practically help Americans afford their basic expenses, the President would rather try to bribe voters to keep power.

I implore my colleagues to come together to condemn a false promise from the President and work to find real solutions to help lower costs for Americans.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump announced that he promises to send $5,000 to every American adult if his party is kept in power after the midterm elections.

At home in New York, I have been asked by constituents about these checks, not because they want to use it for vacation that they may have been wanting to take or to buy a new car. Rather, they are trying to put food on the table in the face of rising grocery prices and gas in their tanks as fuel prices soar.

Instead of finding ways to practically help Americans afford their basic expenses, the President would rather try to bribe voters to keep power.

I implore my colleagues to come together to condemn a false promise from the President and work to find real solutions to help lower costs for Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as we begin Hispanic Heritage Month, a time for members of the Hispanic community to honor their culture and to join together for traditions and gatherings.

Hispanic Heritage Month starts today, September 15, as we commemorate the fight for independence of five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Celebrations across Westchester and the Bronx will take place, including a community-wide event honoring the past, present, and future of the Hispanic community in New Rochelle, with events as well in Port Chester, Yonkers, Elmsford, White Plains, and in Wakefield and Edenwald.

A gathering with Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins in September will occur at the Westchester County office building, as well as many other events celebrating Latino-owned small businesses and cultural organizations, such as 100 Hispanic Women National, Incorporated; El Centro Hispano; Neighbors Link; and others.

I look forward to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with our flourishing Latino communities across my district.

Defending Vote By Mail

Madam Speaker, I rise today to defend against attacks on a cornerstone of our free and fair elections: our right as Americans to vote by mail.

The first large-scale absentee voting took place during the Civil War, under the direct order of President Lincoln, to ensure those who were bravely serving our country were still represented. It was a nation divided but then still committed to the democratic principles upon which the Nation was founded.

For over a century, those ballots have allowed rural, disabled, and elderly voters to participate in our democratic process.

Today, mail-in voting is facing unprecedented attacks by President Trump, seeking to prevent hardworking Americans across the country from being represented at the polls. We will not allow Federal overreach, bureaucracy, and conflict to impede our democratic principles.

I implore my colleagues to acknowledge the great benefit vote by mail has brought to our democracy and to do everything in our power to protect it.

Rising Cost of Living

Madam Speaker, 49 percent of Americans cannot afford the true cost of living in our Nation. The Consumer Price Index is on a steady incline, and threats of new tariffs mean even pricier receipts when shopping for everyday goods.

Hardworking families worry about how they will survive until the next payday. Our elderly go without care. Young people cannot afford their future. This is not the American Dream we were promised.

However, hope to return to an affordable Nation is on the horizon. The goal is simple: lower costs, rein in executive overreach, and restore trust in those in Washington that are working for you, no matter where you are in this country.

It is time to put the financial stability of everyday Americans ahead of partisan agendas. I call on my colleagues in Congress to use this time to chart a path to a better, more affordable future for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the long- term financial outlook of Social Security.

According to the Social Security Administration, the Social Security trust fund will be able to pay full benefits only until the end of 2032.

Social Security is a lifeline that lifts seniors, widows, and dependent children out of poverty.

If Congress does not act to fix this problem, over 3.3 million New Yorkers will be affected by future benefit cuts, with the average retiree in New York seeing their benefits reduced by more than $500.

Inaction will only perpetuate an inevitable spike in poverty if Congress fails to act to ensure Social Security's long-term solvency.

I implore my colleagues to come together in this moral moment to save Social Security before we subject our constituents to a reduction in their hard-earned benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute the work of the men and women volunteers and leaders of the White Plains Beautification Foundation. They have amassed an army of committed citizens under President Terry Hanson to get their hands dirty, and sometimes a little back and leg cramps, with sweat equity that enhances the visual improvements to the many city parks and open spaces across White Plains. This adds to the city's appeal to new residents and longtime neighbors alike.

The Adopt-a-Park program, the extensive tree-planting efforts, and the improvements on Mamaroneck Avenue and North Street as travelers enter White Plains are very real achievements by this group and their generous base of donors.

In addition to their president, let me recognize former presidents who serve as current directors: Mary Merenda, Deborah Donahoe, Beth Wallach, Marie Silverman Marich, Jean Bello, and Barbara Ramsdell; and former Westchester County Commissioner P. Lynn Oliva,

who heads up the Adopt-a-Park program.

Mr. Speaker, from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we praise the work of the White Plains Beautification Foundation for all they have accomplished.

recognizing co-op city leaders

Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue to recognize the men and women who are leaders in their respective buildings in Co-op City in the Bronx, the largest housing cooperative in the world.

These leaders organize community events, holiday celebrations, and fundraisers and help advocate for building improvements and upgrades.

We salute the following individuals for their tireless commitment to their community and their neighbors: Douglas Handler, Building 3; Dawn Mitchell, Building 4; Debbie Lowden, Building 5; KaTrina Dinham, Building 12; Josie Ferguson, Building 14; Dorothea Castle, Building 15A; Sandy Krasnov, Building 15B; Jacqueline Salmon, Building 16; Francine Jones, Building 20; Toran Smith, Sr., Building 21; Joan June, Building 22; Denise Gerrald, Building 25; Michael Adolphus, Building 29; Susan Lecoq, Building 30; Kim Toulson, Building 31; and Melanie Clunie, Building 34. There are clearly a lot of these folks.

There are also townhouse associations: Kenneth Graham, Adler Place; Eva Lazaar, Broun Place; Anika Green-Watson, Cooper Place; Jacqueline Mason, Debs Place; and Ida Clark, Earhart Lane.

Mr. Speaker, from the floor of the House of Representatives, we commend all of these Co-op building association presidents for their dedication in improving the community around them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, Will Plunkett, who was recently selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft.

Will graduated from Mamaroneck High School this spring, where he led the baseball team to the Section 1 championship as the starting shortstop.

During his senior season, Will had nearly a .500 batting average, hitting 6 home runs, knocking in 28 RBIs, and stealing 23 bases.

Mamaroneck High School baseball coach Mike Chiapparelli describes Plunkett as a heck of a baseball player, being able to stay calm in a high-pressure situation, kind of like politics.

Mr. Speaker, from the floor of the House of Representatives, I congratulate the Plunkett family and Will personally on this momentous accomplishment. I look forward to seeing Will on a professional baseball field very soon and on my television set thereafter.

Mr. Speaker, in July, ICE arrested 50,000 people. To put this in perspective, this could fill up Madison Square Garden more than twice over.

The arrests in July are not because ICE is exclusively seeking out dangerous criminals harming our communities. This is because people are being ripped away from their loved ones at traffic stops and medical visits by State and local law enforcement officials who have been enlisted to operate as assistants to ICE's campaign, all while eroding the trust that community members should have in their local law enforcement.

To top it off, ICE is carrying out these raids using taxpayer dollars that could otherwise go to quelling the affordability crisis, strengthening American jobs, and aiding our economy during the President's costly war with Iran.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to rein in this out-of-control agency and work to restore public trust in local law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to pay tribute to Anthony Joseph Manto, a Rye resident and neighbor whom we lost a few days ago at the age of 83.

Tony was the consummate good guy, and for many years a dedicated family man, married to his wife, Claire, for over 50 years; father to Gina, Anthony, and Chrissy; and grandfather to five grandchildren.

He served at Con Edison for decades, starting from the manhole up to the corporate offices. He coupled family and career with extensive community service, with POTS, Meals on Wheels, Helping Hands, and other groups.

He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967, serving a stint in Vietnam. A Queens native, he graduated from Queens College and made his life in Westchester.

Tony was the life of the party at every party on Adelaide Street, at Playland, and elsewhere. He was a warm, friendly, well-traveled man, and he was loved by all.

We will miss Tony, and we remember him on this day.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to salute the 50th anniversary celebration of an institution in my home community of Rye, Kelly's Sea Level.

A big shindig is planned for the month of August, a little later on, at this iconic restaurant and bar that has welcomed locals and visitors since 1976.

The McGuire family, Jerry and Martha and their kids, are beloved in the community, and they are at Kelly's most every night with their families and friends watching TV sports, the Yankees, Giants, Rangers, Knicks, even the Mets. They also are outdoors in the fall to watch the Rye Garnets high school football games.

Visiting Kelly's is to be at home. For the long-term locals from Rye, Harrison, Port Chester, Greenwich--the financiers, the college kids home for the holidays, hardworking firefighters, and the occasional Congressman--they all come to Kelly's each week.

We know the menu, the bartenders, the waitstaff, and all of those little things that the locals know, like the two-seat table in the back known as The Oak Room.

It is Jerry and Martha who give Kelly's its heart and soul. We all are amazed that we have reached 50 years.

From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute the McGuire family and Kelly's Sea Level on its 50th year of serving the thirsty and hungry people of Rye and the surrounding communities.

Mr. Speaker, I want to salute the tremendous community contribution of The Hudson Independent, an online publication that chronicles the lives and stories of people, organizations, governments, schools, businesses, and the like, in the municipalities that border the Hudson River in Westchester County in New York: Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Hastings-on-Hudson, Tarrytown, and Sleepy Hollow.

The team that does this reporting every day is led by Editor in Chief Barrett Seaman and Editor Rick Pezzullo, both experienced journalists with long resumes of achievement. The senior management group President and Chairman Walter Montgomery and colleagues: Robert Kimmel, Dean Gallea, Paula Etzel, and Michael Richards, have guided The Indy, as it is known and loved, from its founding in 2006.

The calendar of local events captures all of the many varied activities of the river towns and featured stories on the

issues and the personalities of the area are given full attention at a time when hyperlocal news is disappearing from view.

From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute The Hudson Independent for its commitment to fair and accurate journalism and the communities of Westchester, the river towns, their people, and their stories.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today more than 5 months since the American people were forced into a war of choice in Iran. As the President's negotiations fail, Americans are still bearing the expense every day. This is all while Russell Vought and Pete Hegseth claim the cost of the war to be roughly $30 billion, but the President's request for extra funds puts the true cost at a staggering $100 billion, if not more.

With this money, we could have instead paid for: 66 million Social Security retirement checks, 2 years of free school lunch for every child in the United States, 2 million teachers' salaries, 1 million 4- year college degrees, or the entire SNAP program for a year, serving 40 million Americans in need of food assistance.

It is imperative that Congress exercise our congressional oversight authority so that these stratospheric costs receive due scrutiny and the voice of the people we represent may be heard.

Trump's Un-American Legacy

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as President Trump lays the groundwork for a namesake arch right here in the heart of our Nation's Capital. Despite the arch's violation of a height restriction for D.C. buildings, a panel consisting of the President's allies is likely to permit the plans.

Unfortunately, this symbolism of corruption coming from the President of the United States is not novel. Need I remind the American people that he has already demolished the White House Rose Garden, planned to take over a 100-year-old public golf course in Washington, D.C., and plastered two large posters of his likeness on government buildings along The National Mall, just to name a few, and also placing his name on our coinage and currency.

Donald Trump is trying at every attempt to enshrine his legacy in Washington, D.C., but legacy doesn't always mean being remembered for your name. This Nation is not a hotel chain. He is leaving rather a legacy of being the most un-American President we have ever had.

Disability Pride Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Disability Pride Month. In July of 1990, Congress passed the Americans With Disability Act, also known as the ADA.

The passage of this landmark legislation was seen as an international victory for many Americans with disabilities and inspired similar legislation in 181 countries worldwide. The ADA changed the way we view disabilities and brought a level of compassion and understanding for those with a disability, oftentimes invisible.

We celebrate this month with pride, for the one in four Americans reported to have a disability and the millions around the world who want to continue without limitations.

In the name of furthering the ADA's mission, we must continue to create a country that is equitable, inclusive, and accessible for everyone, regardless of differences or limitations.

Mr. Speaker, this week we were horrified to learn of the death of four U.S. servicemembers in Jordan and Kuwait as a result of the ongoing war with Iran.

The President and the Pentagon may dismiss these deaths as unfortunate consequences of war; however, I do not accept these catastrophic events as acceptable in any way, shape, or form.

Someone must answer to the American people why soldiers serving at support bases neither in Iran nor the at the Strait of Hormuz are being exposed to enemy fire. Are there adequate defenses in place? If not, why? If so, why are they not working?

If the entire Middle East is a battlefield, as a consequence of this President's war, then this administration has to be honest with the American people about the scale of the conflict we were led to believe was winding down.

Mr. Speaker, I implore my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in exercising constitutional scrutiny that our constituents demand on the many other excesses that have occurred during this current administration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the leaders and the members of the Mount Vernon, New York, branch of the NAACP as they plan their annual Community Heroes Award Luncheon this coming Saturday at the Macedonia Community Center.

The branch will be honoring 10 outstanding individuals, each of whom has made a significant contribution to the community.

They will be recognizing Mr. Al-Farid Salahuddin; Mr. Abishai Ben- Rubin; Coach Craig Ramsay; Ms. Donna Houston; Dr. Natasha Hunter- McGregor; Fire Commissioner Kevin Holt; Ms. Judith Watson, CEO of Healthcare Neighborhood Health Centers; Mr. Martello Payne, Jr., a Korean war veteran; Mr. Ralph Burts; and special recognition to Jermire Pyatt.

From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute the NAACP Mount Vernon branch.

Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues have spoken about the affordability crisis, forcing families to figure out how to make ends meet, but let's make something clear: The affordability crisis isn't just a political buzzword like the President claims. This is a real crisis, and it is made worse by the President's decisions: a war of choice in Iran, indiscriminate tariffs, and tax cuts for billionaires, just to name a few, all this while 1 month of groceries in my home district in New York now averages over $1,200 a month.

Since this President took office, the average additional cost of living for basic essentials in New York has risen to $4,000.

These costs are more than just numbers. They reflect sacrifices at the grocery store, an elderly couple without care, or a young person unable to put away savings.

As some in public life line their own pockets by the billions, my colleagues and I remain focused on the only thing that matters: making life more affordable again.