Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet.

The scale of destruction is heartbreaking. This horrific tragedy has taken the lives of nearly 1,000 people, destroyed homes and livelihoods, and left families grieving the loss of their loved ones.

As search and rescue operations continue across the region, we pray for safe recovery of the more than 4,000 people still missing in the wake of this disaster, including an estimated 90 Americans.

We are committed to supporting our Asian-American communities across the United States, and especially those who live in my district in Queens, New York, as we navigate this profound tragedy. We stand with all those affected, both at home and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence to remember the victims, support the survivors, and honor those working tirelessly on recovery and rescue efforts.

Mr. Chair, my constituents in Queens are facing an affordability crisis, and this bill will only make it worse by endorsing a failed America-alone policy that diminishes our presence on the world stage, abandons women and girls, and guts our soft power.

This bill cuts our national security budget by another 6 percent to fund more tax cuts for billionaires and a proposed military budget now exceeding $1.5 trillion. That is a ``trillion'' with a capital T.

It comes after this administration destroyed USAID, clawed back hundreds of millions in humanitarian aid already approved by Congress, and canceled over 80 percent of our foreign aid programs. Existing cuts have already led to an estimated 760,000 preventable deaths and are projected to cause up to 23 million by 2030.

Instead of gutting diplomacy and development to pay for a record Pentagon budget, we should be growing our diplomatic presence and investing in programs that tackle conflict and instability at the roots.

By eliminating funding for the U.N., this bill would cede ground to our adversaries, letting Russia and China reshape the U.N. without meaningful U.S. influence. It also doubles down on attacks on women and girls, gutting international family planning and banning funding to the U.N. Population Fund. Instead of abandoning the world's women and girls, we should be investing in them.

It also locks in the administration's expanded global gag rule, exporting a radical rightwing agenda, politicizing aid, and targeting women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ people--people who look to America as a beacon of freedom, not repression.

Our national security budget is not waste. It is not a playground for radical social ideologies or attacks on the world's most vulnerable populations. It is a strategic investment in America's security, global stability, and the power of democracy.

For these reasons, I cannot support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member DeLauro for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the 2026 Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.

I thank Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Lois Frankel and their team for their hard work on this bill.

America is at a fork in the road in our international affairs. Over the past year, our soft power has been decimated. Millions of people in need have been recklessly cut off from vital assistance. Billions of dollars in lifesaving health and food supplies purchased by American taxpayers have been stranded in supply chains, or worse, destroyed. Thousands of public servants, including many of my own constituents, who dedicated their lives to protecting our country and projecting our soft power, were fired.

This bill isn't the one Democrats would have written if we were in the majority, but I want to share why I support it. First, it continues U.S. support for women around the world. Women are one-half of the world's population, but too many still face obstacles to economic opportunity, gender equality, and their fundamental freedoms.

This funding has been a core pillar of U.S. assistance since the 1950s, and it is lifesaving. Estimates suggest that each year, it prevents 17.1 million unintended pregnancies and saves the lives of 34,000 women and girls who otherwise would have died from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

The UNFPA is a critical piece of that puzzle too. This bill ensures continued funding for international organizations, including UNFPA.

History has taught us that we cannot bury our head in the sand and abandon the international community without consequences for our own national security, and we certainly can't afford to leave women and girls behind. With this bill, this Congress is doing our part to make sure we don't.

Second, this bill protects U.S. leadership and taxpayer investments in global health, including scientific, medical, and agricultural research in my home State of New York.

It funds PEPFAR, which fights HIV/AIDS, well above the President's anemic request. Since 2003, this program has saved over 26 million lives. It also includes funding for programs that support the health of moms and children and fights other infectious diseases that know no borders, like tuberculosis.

Third, it takes steps to further protect American taxpayers from waste, fraud, and abuse perpetrated by this administration.

It maintains important directives on education, conservation, water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. It reins in the Trump administration and reasserts congressional oversight on the uses of funds by increasing transparency requirements. It includes provisions I championed to make sure lifesaving commodities and supplies purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars can't simply be destroyed.

Mr. Chair, while this bill won't right every wrong, it represents Democrats and Republicans reaching an agreement that asserts Congress' authority, pushes back against this administration's overreach, and stands up for proven policies that have made our country and world safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this appropriations package.

As the ranking member of CJS, this may not be the bill I would have drafted if my Democratic colleagues and I were in the majority, but it is a strong, responsible compromise that meets the needs of the American people. I will be voting in favor, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

I am proud that this bill increases funding for grants to State and local law enforcement, including for Community Oriented Policing Services programs and the Violence Against Women Act. These funds are vital for the public safety of all of our local communities and for victim services.

Earlier proposals, including the President's budget requests in the previous House bill, eliminated funding for the community violence intervention and prevention program. Thanks to Democrats' advocacy, we secured level funding to continue this important program in this bill.

Earlier proposals also zeroed out funding for grant programs to prevent hate crimes. I am proud that we ensured these programs will continue without cuts.

We secured strong funding levels for the Economic Development Administration and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which both work to create and preserve good jobs in the United States.

We continued and funded three agencies that the Trump administration wanted to eliminate entirely: the Minority Business Development Agency, the Legal Services Corporation, and the DOJ's Community Relations Service.

This bill also resoundingly rejects efforts to cut funding for basic scientific research, technology development, and STEM education at NSF and NASA.

Importantly, this bill strengthens congressional oversight and control over funding for Federal agencies, to ensure that they spend this money as Congress intended rather than for their own political purposes.

Last but not least, every single one of the extreme, partisan policy riders contained in the previous House CJS bill has been removed from the bill before us today.

I am proud of the work we have done in this bipartisan package. I thank Chairman Tom Cole and his team, and our subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers and his team, for their cooperation. I thank our ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, and her team, for her leadership. I especially thank our Appropriations subcommittee staff, Bob Bonner, Jamie Wise, Nora Faye, and Faye Cobb, for their tireless work on this, and also Tom Dinegar and Rebecca Lee from my individual office, as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 12th Anniversary of Women's Entrepreneurship Day, celebrated globally on November 19.

In the United States alone, over 14 million of our Nation's 36.2 million small businesses are owned by women, employing around 10.7 million workers and contributing an astounding $2.1 trillion in revenue. These women-led businesses are a cornerstone of our economy, and I extend my deepest commendation to the women behind them.

Today, I celebrate the Women's Entrepreneurship Day movement, founded by Wendy Diamond. Twelve years ago, Wendy launched the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) with an unyielding commitment to elevate and empower women in entrepreneurship at a time when then vital role in the global economy was still underappreciated.

Since its inception, WEDO has led transformation initiatives, including providing microloans to over 10,000 women in need and launching the WEDO Entrepreneurial Arts Education Program for disadvantaged female students. WEDO also launched a groundbreaking AI education program with world-renowned experts, aimed at empowering 1 million disadvantaged women entrepreneurs with cutting-edge skills.

WEDO has also partnered with Defy Ventures to drive the Entrepreneurs in Training (EIT) program, achieving an outstanding 84 percent success rate among formerly incarcerated women by providing them with a path to opportunity and reintegration.

This year, WEDO welcomed iHeartMedia as a national partner iHeart's influential broadcast and digital network will promote Women's Entrepreneurship Day, highlight local women entrepreneurs across the country, and amplify this movement's impact in communities nationwide.

In recognition of this extraordinary milestone, the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards honor exceptional leaders who have pioneered new frontiers across various fields.

I include in the Record this year's honorees:

Angelina Jolie, Humanitarian, Artist, and Entrepreneur;

Rachel Drori, Founder of Daily Harvest; Howard Morgan,

Cofounder of Renaissance Technologies, Chairman of B Capital,

and Cofounder of First Round Capital; Chloe Ting, Global

Fitness and Wellness Entrepreneur, Gloria Allred, Civil

Rights Attorney and Founding Partner of Allred, Maroko &

Goldberg, Jesse Draper, Founder of Halogen Ventures, Sheila

Lino Marcelo, Cofounder and CEO of Ohai.ai, and Founder of

Proof of Learn and Care.com.

As we celebrate this profound milestone, let us be resolute in our commitment to providing the essential tools and programs that enable young women not only to survive but to truly flourish in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, on his visit to Washington, D.C., and his reception of the Templeton Prize in New York City.

Patriarch Bartholomew has served since 1991 as the spiritual leader of more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, including many from the Greek Orthodox community from Queens, New York, whom I am proud to represent. Known as ``first among equals'' among the Primates of the Orthodox Church, he carries forward a tradition that reaches back nearly two thousand years to the Apostle Andrew.

Throughout his ministry, he has been a champion of religious freedom, human rights, and interfaith dialogue. He has worked to build bridges between Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and has consistently spoken out for peace.

He is also recognized as the ``Green Patriarch'' for his leadership in addressing climate change and environmental destruction, which he has called a sin against God's creation. His efforts have brought together scientists, world leaders, and faith communities to safeguard our planet.

The Ecumenical Patriarch is no stranger to this Capitol. In 1997, he received the Congressional Gold Medal under this very dome. As he visits Congress once again, we honor his lifetime of service as a peacemaker and a bridge-builder for our world.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing His All- Holiness Bartholomew, a voice of faith, hope, and reconciliation for our time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, or National CAPACD. In 2000, 16 local civil rights leaders came together to form National CAPACD, harnessing the transformative power of a dynamic coalition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community-based organizations. Today, National CAPACD represents and supports more than 160 community- based organizations working in low-income AANHPI communities.

National CAPACD has been a steadfast partner to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus since its founding. Through convenings, administering subgrants, and supporting small businesses, National CAPACD has been fearless champions in advancing community development and establishing thriving neighborhoods for AANHPI communities. In 2024, National CAPACD served over 300 small businesses and over 4,000 constituents.

I applaud the leaders, advocates, and allies from across the country who have made this milestone anniversary of empowerment and community- led change possible. On this important milestone, we celebrate the transformative impact National CAPACD has made and will continue to make within AANHPI communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ashook Ramsaran, a distinguished civic and community leader in my Sixth Congressional District.

Mr. Ramsaran has been a resident of Queens, New York, since emigrating from Guyana (formerly British Guiana) in 1968. He is the third generation of Indian indentured laborers who worked on British sugar cane plantations after the emancipation of enslaved people in British colonies in 1834. His great-grandfather, Pooriye, arrived in Guyana in 1853 aboard the ship Adelaide, and his great-grandmother, Radhah, arrived in 1860 aboard the ship Colgrain. His family faced significant struggles and persevered under extremely harsh conditions on the plantations. Throughout the generations, they worked tirelessly to build a better life in Guyana rather than return to poverty in India.

Mr. Ramsaran was the first member of his family to attend school, an opportunity he valued greatly. He attended Auchlyne Church of Scotland Primary School and Corentyne High School through a Booker Sugar Estates Scholarship. He graduated high school with diplomas from the University of Cambridge and the University of London. He briefly worked as a primary school teacher at Yakusari Primary School, then at the Ministry of Health in Georgetown, and as a clerk at magistrate's courts in New Amsterdam and Whim Village in Guyana.

Before leaving for the U.S.A. to pursue higher education and a better life for his family, Mr. Ramsaran married Camille (formerly Camille Ramgadoo). He embodied the American dream with courage, determination, and a commitment to succeed. While attending college and supporting his family, which included his wife and two small children, he held several jobs. He earned advanced engineering degrees from Polytechnic-New York University and persevered through many hardships, including violent racial attacks against his family and their home. With remarkable resilience, he exceeded expectations, purchased a home, quickly advanced to prominent positions in major companies, funded his children's college education, and established a successful engineering firm in Queens, New York. He has become a role model for his immediate and extended family, as well as for others in his community.

Together with Camille, Mr. Ramsaran is the parent of Arnold and the late Gerald, and they are the grandparents of Jaden and Gavin, all of whom reside in Queens.

Mr. Ramsaran holds numerous positions in civic and community organizations, including: Executive Vice-President of the Queens Civic Congress (QCC); Chair of the Community Advisory Council for NY Presbyterian Hospital/Queens (NYP/Q); President of the Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC); Past President of GOPIO International (2011 to 2016); Board Member of the Center for Caribbean & Latin American Studies at St. John's University (SJU/CLACS); Executive Board Member of India Empire, a Diaspora publication; Financial Co-Chair and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Flushing, New York (FPC); Board Member of the Fresh Meadows Civic Association, New York (FMHCA); Chair of the Queens Civic Congress Conference 2022, addressing critical community issues such as civic engagement, transportation, land use, public safety, services for seniors and children, homelessness, education, real estate tax equity, redistricting, discrimination, and racial justice; Member of the District 24 AM Weprin South Asian Advisory Panel (SAAP); Member of the Queens Borough President's Census 2020 Committee; Member of the Queens Borough President's Civic Engagement Committee; and Delegate to the Queens Borough President's General Assembly (QGA).

Mr. Ramsaran takes initiatives and leads efforts to landmark and secure street naming in recognition of outstanding institutions, communities, and individuals. His landmarking efforts include the Brinckerhoff Colonial Dutch Cemetery (1713), and he has facilitated street namings such as Little Guyana Avenue, Don Capalbi Way (in honor of an exceptional civic leader), Old Towne of Flushing Burial Ground Lane (a historic cemetery for African Americans and Native Americans), Brinckerhoff Memorial Way, and others that honor civic and religious leaders.

Additionally, Mr. Ramsaran has established memorials to commemorate Indian indentureship in various British colonies from 1828 to 1917, including the Kolkata Memorial in India and Indian Arrival Monuments in Guyana. Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, and other locations. He embraces his noble and selfless service to the global Indian Diaspora community in various ways, tracing his roots to a rich and enduring heritage.

Mr. Ramsaran expresses that he ``feels blessed to be an American,'' where he lives and contributes to improving the lives of others by utilizing his skills, resources, and advocacy. He is dedicated to his moral obligation and duty to give back to society--specifically to Queens, New York, and the Nation--providing him with opportunities and the freedom to progress while helping those who are less fortunate.

Queens is the most diverse county in the United States, and Mr. Ramsaran actively collaborates with many groups and organizations to address common concerns. He deeply engages with community issues of interest and importance, making significant contributions that resonate throughout the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

There are 25 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., representing the fastest growing racial group in the country. We have made invaluable contributions to our country and play a vital role in shaping America for the better.

However, at a time when we should be celebrating, our communities are anxious and afraid. This celebration of our heritage, culture, and stories is dampened by the Republican scheme to strip away benefits from those that need them most.

This big, bad billionaire bill would impact nearly 200,000 Asian- American constituents, many of them senior citizens in my district alone, not to mention the nearly 1 in 10 Asian Americans across our country that rely on food assistance through SNAP and the 1 in 6 NHPIs living in poverty.

Meanwhile, the top 20 percent of income earners will get nearly 70 percent of the benefits of this bill.

There are hungry grandmas, sick children, and veterans who were promised care after serving our country. What a way to celebrate and uplift our diverse AANHPI communities.

Our communities deserve not just to survive but to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this partisan bill.

As ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, I cannot stand by as the GOP slashes funding for law enforcement,

the courts, and NOAA, which includes the National Weather Service.

This bill hurts our local police officers by taking away $247 million from their public safety technology and equipment. Additionally, it cuts $350 million from projects that support community efforts to prevent crime, improve law enforcement, to provide precincts with equipment to prevent car theft and provide victim services. These are projects that Republicans and Democrats on our committee approved and agreed on.

Furthermore, the bill does nothing to prevent this administration from gutting NOAA. As a result, the lifesaving weather forecasts we all receive will be less accurate and timely.

Federal funding cuts in the GOP's continuing resolution are dangerous to communities like Queens and so many others. This includes Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP benefits which serve as a lifeline for millions of Americans.

Let's be clear: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are not entitlements. They are earned benefits that hardworking Americans pay into throughout their lifetime so they have the opportunity to retire with dignity.

Mr. Speaker, this bill allows the administration to fire thousands of employees at the Social Security Administration and close offices nationwide, which will mean long wait times and delayed benefits for families.

For these reasons, at the appropriate time I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to the House Appropriations Committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would prevent any law or executive action from eliminating, restricting, or reducing access to these programs lawfully owed to beneficiaries across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the text of this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in honor of Dr. Hazel Dukes, a lifelong activist, a champion for civil rights, and the president of the NAACP New York State Conference.

Dr. Dukes' fierce commitment to fighting for equality and justice is simply unmatched. She was a trailblazer in New York State and across the country, a renowned community organizer, and a leading voice at the NAACP for nearly 40 years. She worked tirelessly for equity in housing, healthcare, and education.

I remember sitting next to Dr. Dukes at a long meeting where we were standing for hours, clapping and cheering. I was so tired and kept trying to sit down, but she reminded me that it was a privilege to be there, and I stood right back up.

Dr. Dukes' strength came from her compassion and love for our communities. The legacy that she leaves behind will inspire women, girls, and advocates across New York for generations to come.

It was an honor to have known Dr. Dukes. May she rest in power.

Mr. Speaker, my Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and I are proud to honor Black History Month and stand with our Congressional Black Caucus colleagues in the shared fight for equality and justice.

There is a long and storied history of solidarity between the Black community and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

In the 19th century, Frederick Douglass spoke out against the racist Chinese Exclusion Act and used his voice to advocate for Asian immigrants who wanted to earn the right to become U.S. citizens.

During the civil rights movement, Asian American activists protested alongside Black Americans in the fight for equality.

The allyship between our two communities remains critically important in the face of a vicious campaign to erase our stories, voices, and contributions to this Nation.

Make no mistake, we will fight tooth and nail for our communities and stand up to these attacks. We will not let anyone tell us that our stories don't matter.

Our stories are American history, and without us, our Nation would not be where it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 11th Anniversary of Women's Entrepreneurship Day, celebrated globally on November 19.

In the United States alone, over 12 million of our nation's 33.1 million small businesses are owned by women, employing around 10.7 million workers and contributing an astounding $2.1 trillion in revenue. These women-led businesses are a cornerstone of our economy, and I extend my deepest commendation to the women behind them.

Today, I celebrate the Women's Entrepreneurship Day movement, founded by Wendy Diamond. Eleven years ago, Wendy launched the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) with an unyielding commitment to elevate and empower women in entrepreneurship--at a time when their vital role in the global economy was still underappreciated. Since its inception, WEDO has led transformative initiatives, including providing microloans to over 20,000 women in need, launching the WEDO Entrepreneurial Arts Education Program for disadvantaged female students, and sponsoring those students to attend the United Nations. WEDO has also been instrumental in supporting the Restart Academy, which serves students ages 13 to 21 in transitional environments, and leading the ``Women's Disability Startup Cohort,'' the first Accelerator Program for disabled women in business--supported by Google for Startups. This past year, WEDO launched a groundbreaking AI education program with world-renowned experts, aimed at empowering 1 million disadvantaged women entrepreneurs with cutting-edge skills. To date, 55,322 women have already enrolled in this transformative program.

WEDO has also partnered with Defy Ventures to drive the Entrepreneurs in Training (EIT) program, achieving an outstanding 84 percent success rate among formerly incarcerated women by providing them with a path to opportunity and reintegration. Over the past decade, WEDO has ignited a global movement with over 300 ambassadors across 144 countries, impacting 112 international universities and colleges.

In recognition of this extraordinary milestone, the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards honor exceptional women leaders who have pioneered new frontiers across various fields. This year's honorees include Reta Jo Lewis, President and Chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; Marilyn Simons, Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Simons Foundation; Suneera Madhani, Founder & CEO of Worth AI and CEO School, and Founder of Stax Payments; Tina Nova, Co- Founder of Genoptix Medical Laboratory; Angeline Mikiri, Founder of Rock Solid Trust and Shekinah Media; Maria del Rosario Velasco Lino, Founder & General Director of the Sanctuary of the Queen Bee; Tanis Jorge, Founder of the Cofounder's Hub and Co-Founder of Trulioo.com; and Helena Christensen, supermodel, former Victoria's Secret Angel,

UNHCR Global Ambassador, and original Creative Director of Nylon magazine.

As we celebrate this profound milestone, let us be resolute in our commitment to providing the essential tools and programs needed for young women to not only survive but to truly flourish in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship.

Madam Speaker, October 7, 2023, was supposed to be a day of joy. Jewish communities around the world, including many in my Queens district, were gathering to celebrate a holiday, but instead, it was and forever will be a day of agony.

October 7 was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, murdered over 1,200 people, took more than 251 hostages, and destroyed entire communities.

I will never forget going to shuls in Queens that night to share the news of the attack with my constituents.

Madam Speaker, 1 year later, our hearts remain heavy as we pray for all remaining hostages to be returned home safely. Our souls remain shattered as we see the rise in anti-Semitism at home and abroad.

The sacred bond between the U.S. and Israel will not be broken, and our commitment to Israel's security and countering the Iranian threat will not waver.

May the memories of all those murdered that day be a blessing, and may we continue working to achieve peace.