Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, which Elon Musk should we believe?

In February, he called the U.S. Agency of International Development, USAID, ``corrupt'', ``beyond repair,'' and ``a ball of worms'' that needs to be eliminated. He claimed that there is a ``gigantic fraud loophole'' where government funds given to NGOs lack sufficient oversight.

In March, Elon Musk called Social Security ``the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,'' and policy followed his comments.

Then this week he said that: ``If the massive deficit spending continues, there will only be money for interest payments and nothing else: no Social Security, no medical, no defense, nothing.''

This week he said about the big, ugly bill: ``I am sorry, but I just can't stand

it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.''

Which Elon Musk do you believe? The erratic rhetoric and policies of this administration are becoming clear to all who watch.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, my district has over 30,000 small businesses, from restaurants and small grocery stores in New Rochelle to construction companies in Yonkers.

Every day, I hear from businessowners that they need certainty to run their businesses. They rely on an immigration system that ensures that their employees won't be targeted and unjustly detained on their way to work. They rely on trade policies that keep the cost of their products stable, and they rely on Federal partners who will be there when they need assistance.

Since taking office, President Trump and SBA Administrator Loeffler have outlined an agenda that will harm small businesses. Proposals such as cutting the SBA workforce by 43 percent; relocating SBA offices away from New York City, the center of that region; and firing an independent inspector general do not represent anything that looks like America First. It is an ideological agenda, and it is imposed upon the majority of this country that functions differently and requires tailored policies.

In addition, last week, my home county of Westchester was branded a sanctuary jurisdiction by the Department of Homeland Security, completely inaccurately. Westchester is not and has never been a sanctuary jurisdiction. In the last 7 years, we have reduced violent crime, and we have brought economic strength over a period of time that rivals any county in this Nation.

Westchester County cooperates with Federal immigration law. County law, however, requires that no administrative police can circumvent due process. We do this to ensure that all residents will cooperate with local law enforcement.

Westchester rejects the deep state police that appear masked and without badges and proper identification. This bill represents an attempt by House Republicans to enact retribution on places because this administration wants to impose its view of law enforcement: deep state authority not subject to judicial review.

The result of petty and punitive motives of this bill is that small businesses will suffer. You would think that, when you offer support for this President's tariff strategy, reckless as it is, which is damaging small businesses that rely on international goods, components, and supplies, they would instead be working to stimulate that. Yet, this bill could not be further from that goal.

If this bill is passed, SBA offices will be relocated as political payback, away from public access in major cities. In fact, that is the point: to reduce programs that help small businesses gain access to capital, professional services, and predictable tariff policies.

That is why I introduced an amendment to prohibit SBA from relocating an office if the next closest office is more than 50 miles from the communities that were relocated. We should be debating legislation that will help small businesses tackle what they identify as their biggest needs: workforce development, stability, and access to capital. That is not what we are doing.

If we continue on this irrational path, American businesses will suffer.

Mr. Speaker, the mistakes we are making in this Congress, bill after bill after bill, will damage this Nation's strength at a time when we need unity and strength more than ever before.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks the 81st anniversary of D- day, a unique mission that took months of planning and turned the tide of World War II.

America's military, working with Canada and our European Allies, made the difference that day by beginning the liberation of France.

Now, 81 years later, another European country is fighting off an invasion by an aggressor. The Ukrainians have fought valiantly, with thousands giving their lives to protect freedom and democracy.

They have proven to be strong fighters, creative in the art of war. The assault over the weekend on Russia's bombing fleet is a modern marvel. They are capable of defeating Russian aggression and remaining a free nation only if they have sufficient support from their allies.

It is all the more concerning that today President Trump said it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia fight for a while before pulling them apart like children in a schoolyard. Ukraine and its people don't have that time. This war must end.

With D-day on our mind, Congress must commit more assistance to Ukraine and defend democracy before it is too late.

Mr. Speaker, on May 21, Sarah and Yaron were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. They worked at the Israeli Embassy and were planning their engagement, but their future together was cut short when a man yelling, ``Free Palestine,'' murdered them.

This past weekend, 12 people who gathered weekly to bring attention to the hostages held captive by Hamas were firebombed by an anti- Semitic terrorist in Boulder, Colorado. Committing violent acts and murder against Americans living their everyday lives is not justifiable protest.

These two unconscionable tragedies in just the past 2 weeks are a product of a terrifying rise in anti-Semitism in our country. Sadly, this does not come as a surprise to the American Jewish community, who regularly face hatred and threats.

According to AJC, roughly 7 in 10 Jewish adults have experienced anti-Semitism online, and 77 percent feel less safe in America over the past 18 months.

I will be clear that I do not stand for normalizing hate and anti- Semitism. I stand with the Jewish community in my district and around the country against these increasingly brazen attacks.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McGarvey for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the colleagues who have joined me in leading this bill, Congressman Alford of Missouri, Congressman Mfume of Maryland, and Congresswoman Goodlander of New Hampshire. I appreciate the opportunity to work together and to highlight why this important legislation is needed.

Small business owners are often resource constrained. Every day, these individuals play the role of salesman, compliance officer, marketing professional, and more, often juggling a variety of business- related activities to support their business.

When a small business owner submits a proposal to work with the Federal Government, they invest considerable time and resources into making their submission the best it can be. They are also forced to navigate a complex and time-consuming contracting process while balancing their other important responsibilities.

Last year, the Small Business Committee heard testimony from a small business owner who said that solicitation proposals can cost a small business upward of $10,000 worth of labor to draft, develop, review, and execute.

With that in mind, it can be rightfully frustrating for a small business owner if a Federal agency decides to cancel a solicitation without transparency into why that decision has been made. Without insight into how the decision was made, it can feel as though their hard work and considerable investment to submit a proposal was made in vain.

If we are serious about bringing more small businesses into Federal contracting, then we must ensure that businessowners have confidence and trust in their Federal partners. This bipartisan bill, the Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act, would improve accountability in the Federal contracting process for small businesses.

The bill would require SBA to issue rules requiring that when an agency cancels a solicitation, they must share a justification for why they are canceling the solicitation and provide information about any plans to reissue it. If an agency does not plan to reissue the solicitation, then the bill would create procedures for a small business to receive assistance in identifying similar contracting opportunities.

This bill passed the Small Business Committee unanimously in March and passed the House by voice vote in the last Congress. It is a bipartisan and commonsense solution to help our small businesses more successfully navigate the Federal contracting process.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues here to support this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, during Small Business Week here in the House, it is timely that we speak about what we need to do to help American businesses increase their revenues, hire more workers, and grow profits that support our economy.

The travel industry is an economic powerhouse in the United States, with nearly $2.9 trillion annually in economic activity. The U.S. ranks behind Spain and France in global competition for travel. China, India, and Saudi Arabia are gaining on us. Our market share is 9.1 percent, but we can generate 127 million new additional visitors over the next decade and $478 billion in additional revenue, which translates into $55 billion in tax revenue, creating 140,000 new jobs.

With upcoming marquee events like the Ryder Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics, we need to be investing in systems to make the experience seamless. This means updating airplane screening technology, modernizing TSA, full-strength staffing at Customs and Border Protection, and extensive marketing efforts. New York City, which I represent in part, is a major worldwide tourist destination.

There is still time to build this industry to make us the best in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the U.S. Travel Association for leading the way.

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, the House may be voting on America's worst budget ever. It includes cuts to SNAP and Medicaid funding that will hurt those who can least afford it and provide tax breaks for those who don't need them.

Also among these tax changes are rollbacks to critical clean energy taxes and credits that were part of the Inflation Reduction Act. These include phasing out clean energy production and investment tax credits and ending longstanding home energy efficiency tax credits.

If these aren't bad enough, they also add provisions to require the accelerated sale of public lands for oil and gas drilling and to rescind funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that protects America from pollution and lowers the cost of energy bills.

Climate change is real, and it is happening now. We must act. These were commonsense initiatives to move us away from complete reliance on fossil fuels and move toward a clean energy future.

Mr. Speaker, try to spin it any way you want. Americans will suffer. Our world will continue to burn.

Mr. Speaker, in just a few hours, the Rules Committee will be making the final touches to America's worst budget ever. They are doing it in the middle of the night to hide the fact that this bill will make Americans sicker and poorer.

Take SNAP, the most effective antipoverty tool we have. This bill is the deepest cut to food assistance in history, making it harder to put food on the table for seniors, families, and veterans, including 74,000 people in my district.

Vivian, in New Rochelle, said: I have been delivering food to seniors and people in need since 2009. I do this every day because I know what it is like to be in need myself. I had to stop working when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and now I rely on SNAP, and it is still not enough. If those benefits are cut, it would be devastating.

Republicans are taking food assistance and healthcare away from those who need it the most to give tax breaks to those who need them the least.

Try to spin it any way you want. Everyday Americans will suffer.

Mr. Speaker, America's worst budget ever is what we are voting on this week. It is essentially a tax scam that will benefit the wealthiest of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, 196,000 people in my district will have their healthcare taken away, including 73,000 children and 27,000 seniors. Continuing a cap on the State and local tax and SALT deduction, instead of full restoration means New Yorkers will keep paying more in Federal taxes. It is all for tax breaks and giveaways to those who don't need it.

Mr. Speaker, 74,000 people in my district will lose their SNAP benefits, which will make it difficult or impossible to put food on the table. These are the deepest cuts to food assistance ever. The result is more hungry children.

Last week, our country's bond rating was dropped one grade down from AAA. We need to change the direction of our country's economic future. This bill doesn't do that, no matter what my colleagues hear on the floor this week. In fact, it will add $5 trillion to the national debt.

Mr. Speaker, spin it any way you want. Everyday Americans will suffer from this budget.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding contributions made by At Home on the Sound to benefit senior citizen residents of Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Tonight, they are celebrating their 15th anniversary with their Crystal Celebration. I can't be there in person, but we are there in spirit.

At Home provides a support system to help seniors continue to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle as they age--able to remain in their homes and highly active. At Home volunteers and professionals deliver a monthly schedule of educational programs, active discussion groups, social gatherings, and the necessary transportation.

When I retire, not that long from now, I know exactly where I can go to learn how to paint and play bridge, canasta, mahjong, and a host of other recreations.

At Home on the Sound complements the already active senior recreation programs offered by the Village of

Larchmont, the Village of Mamaroneck, and the town of Mamaroneck, providing a complete menu of services and programs for those 60-plus years of age in our area.

I congratulate them on 15 great years. The best is yet to come.

Mr. Speaker, I recently wrote a letter to Secretary Noem and Secretary Rubio, which I will share with my colleagues.

``I write today to express my grave concern over the administration's apparent misuse of obscure provisions in our Nation's immigration laws to deport or detain indefinitely individuals without due process. Independent of whether a noncitizen is guilty of what they are being accused, I fear these actions are setting a bad precedent that undermine the American justice system, runs contrary to the letter and the spirit of the U.S. law, and pose a risk to American citizens at home and abroad.

``The Fifth Amendment provides that all persons in the United States are entitled to due process of law, including, at minimum, notice, an opportunity to be heard, and a decision by a neutral decisionmaker. Contrary to this constitutional protection, the administration has decided to leverage exceptions in the law, such as invoking the foreign policy bar of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and/or the Enemies Alien Act of 1798 as its reasoning for detaining or deporting individuals without due process.

``The foreign policy bar of the INA states that if the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe an alien's entry, proposed activities, presence, or activities in the United States would have `potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, that person can be excluded or deported from the United States.'

``Similarly, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 permits summary deportations during times of war and was last invoked during World War II. These provisions now have novelly been used during peacetime as grounds to send Department of Homeland Security agents to the homes of individuals with varied alien status, including permanent residents and asylum seekers, arrest them, and either detain them indefinitely or forcibly deport them. Lawyers representing the subjects have been denied access to their clients as well as access to the warrants and other official documents. Judicial orders have been blatantly ignored and courts denied access to potentially evidentiary information.

``I am concerned these actions by the administration are simply a trial balloon to expand Presidential authority without judicial or legislative oversight in order to detain individuals at their will or discretion. The constitutional checks and balances and our Bill of Rights have been the envy of the free world and a warning to dictators everywhere that a nation can be strong and secure and at the same time show forbearance in the administration of justice. Seeing the erosion of these concepts in our own Nation is disheartening, to say the least, and a dangerous precedent to entertain for any free people.

``It is my responsibility to speak out, not because I agree with the affected individuals or sanction acts for which they are accused, but because if we wish to live in a democratic society, we

must defend the lawful rights of all, including those whose actions make them subject to the American justice system. The actions taken by the administration to arrest, detain, or deport without lawful due process sets a dangerous precedent for us all, even those who one day may count themselves among former holders of high office. Americans also now risk being subject to retaliatory treatment in other countries. Given the centuries-old protections granted by our Constitution, I urge the administration to rethink its actions in order to preserve the letter and the spirit of our American laws.''

Mr. Speaker, President Trump fired the Librarian of Congress just 1 year shy of completing her 10-year term. He also fired the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, replacing them with his former lawyers and current DOJ appointees. While the President may get to appoint the Librarian, these offices are under the jurisdiction of Congress, and we should be consulted.

I have raised concerns about troubling patterns that we have seen emerging in our country, patterns that echo tactics of regimes in Hungary, North Korea, and Venezuela. These are not governments we admire. Yet, this latest move fits that mold.

The Library of Congress is the world's largest library and a symbol of our commitment to free thought. We have seen growing attacks on libraries and books nationwide. Now it seems even the Library of Congress is not off limits.

While personnel were fired, this is about power, who controls what Americans read, learn, and dream. When you limit access to knowledge, you limit freedom. You send a clear message that questioning authority is no longer welcome.

The slide away from democracy continues.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the New York Post Editorial Board wrote about President Trump's plans to accept a free gift from Qatar of a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet.

The New York Post said: ``What is President Trump thinking? He's bragging of winning a $400 million `gift,' a `palace in the sky' . . . from Qatar that, in effect, he'll eventually own personally.

``Sorry, this `gift' is from far free; Qatar will surely expect something in return.

``And the optics are beyond awful, especially as Congress mulls hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts.''

The New York Post continues: ``That not only looks bad; it creates all kinds of conflicts of interest and runs smack into the Constitution's Emoluments Clause, which prohibits foreign gifts.''

The Post Editorial closes: `` . . . but given all the foreign investments and conflicts of interests--and now a $400 million plane-- they seem designed to benefit the President more than anything.''

This from the New York Post editorial board. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Madam Speaker, allow me to paint a picture of a country: threats to the media to control the flow of information to the citizenry; cutting funds to childhood education, higher education, and the arts to limit free and independent thought; telling families it is time to tighten their wallets for the greater good; a focus on investing in prisons; members of the judiciary jailed for following the law; military parades that celebrate the leader.

When Americans hear this, we associate them with the likes of Lukashenko of Belarus or Kim Jong-Un of North Korea, but these are all examples of our country, the United States of America, in the last 3 months and what is planned.

Fear is the ultimate goal of leaders like this. We need to stand up for freedom and democracy or we may lose them forever. This Congress must stop being a rubberstamp for this President and perform its constitutional duty as a check and a balance.

Mr. Speaker, today, I honor George Torres and Ursula Cruz-Greene from Bronx Community Board 12 which serves the north Bronx neighborhoods including Wakefield and Edenwald in the 16th Congressional District. My friend, Ritchie Torres, represents other neighborhoods in this area.

George Torres is the district manager of Community Board 12. Born and raised in the Bronx, his parents still live in the Parkchester home that he grew up in.

After serving in several roles in the Bronx for city and State officials, including Jose Serrano and Mayor Bloomberg, George joined Community Board 12 in 2015. His experience makes him a tremendous liaison for public officials and community leaders in the Bronx.

Ursula Cruz-Greene is the community coordinator and has been with Community Board 12 since 1995. She started as a temporary employee, and her hard work paid off. She became a permanent employee 6 months later. Ursula's dedication to the community is clear to anyone who knows her.

Mr. Speaker, our community is lucky to have such dedicated public servants like Ursula and George.