Gregory W. Meeks

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished service and impactful leadership of Justice Kenneth C. Holder. His 41- year legal career is defined by his commitment to the public good and his overwhelming compassion for the people he served. He approached the law with the belief that the justice system should uplift communities and create lasting, positive change throughout Queens.

Born in London to a Jamaican mother and Guyanese father, Justice Holder lived in Canada and Jamaica before eventually settling in New York. His path across countries and cultures ultimately led him to the borough he would serve so faithfully. Justice Holder earned an undergraduate degree from Lincoln University, the nation's first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and later attended the University of Toledo School of Law.

Justice Holder began his legal career as a Queens Assistant District Attorney and rose to become Chief of Narcotics Trials. He did far more than carry out prosecutions, he worked to change the system itself. Recognizing the need for compassion-centered alternatives within the justice system, he helped establish Queens County's first Felony Drug Treatment Court. He secured $6 million in federal funding to support the initiative and chaired the team responsible for its rules, regulations, and protocols. His leadership built a program that offered thousands of individuals battling drug addiction a real opportunity for rehabilitation, dignity, and a path forward.

In 2006, Justice Holder was elected to the Queens County Civil Court. He was later elected to the New York State Supreme Court in Queens in 2008 and reelected in 2021. Throughout his tenure on the bench, he presided over hundreds of serious felony cases, ensuring the safety and well-being of more than 750,000 Queens residents. In 2024, he was selected to serve as Interim Administrative Judge of Queens Supreme Court. His service extended far beyond the courtroom. He also served as an undergraduate instructor at St. John's University, preparing the future generation of lawyers and leaders.

Justice Holder's dedication to the people of Queens is evident in every facet of his career. His legacy, built on fairness, innovation, and steadfast service, will continue to strengthen our community for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Representative Moulton's Iran War Powers Resolution.

We are 7 months into a war of choice that President Trump said would only last 4 to 6 weeks. American families have paid over $100 billion more for gasoline and diesel, roughly $800 more per household, while gas averages more than $4 a gallon and diesel is near $6.

This resolution closely follows my resolution, H. Con. Res. 86, which passed both the House and the Senate. That resolution made clear what the Constitution makes clear: Congress, not the President, has the power to decide when the United States goes to war.

This Congress has not authorized a war with Iran, and yet this administration has kept our troops in harm's way, without a declaration of war, without an authorization from Congress, and without any plan for how to win or end the war.

Congress has already acted. H. Con. Res. 86 passed both Chambers, directing the President to remove U.S. Forces from hostilities with Iran, and in July, the House again passed H. Con. Res. 89 with the same message, a simple message: End this war.

It is important that we do so again.

I have also introduced a binding resolution demanding Speaker Johnson take legal action to defend congressional authority. When Congress' constitutional authority is challenged, this institution has an obligation to defend its own prerogatives.

The administration hasn't just continued to wage this illegal war in direct violation of the Constitution, it has done so while Americans bear the costs: 19 fallen servicemembers and more than 750 servicemembers wounded, extended troop deployments, and billions of dollars in additional spending.

The President's mismanagement of this war has hurt America's ability to prepare for future threats.

I ask this body a simple question: Are Americans better off now than before this war started?

Are we safer? Are we more secure?

Has this war produced any of the results the administration promised the American people?

The administration has yet to demonstrate that 7 months of war have produced a lasting strategic resolution to the threats posed by Iran. The Strait of Hormuz remains a source of enormous risk to global energy markets, and Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, despite what the administration claims, clearly remain.

One only needs to ask our Gulf partners who continue to bear the brunt of Iran's missile and drone attacks.

This war has been a strategic failure. What is left are depleted weapons stockpiles and a tab of more than $100 billion that taxpayers will have to cover, while families continue to pay more for gas, groceries, and electricity.

Let me be clear: This should not be a partisan question. It is a constitutional one. It is a vote about whether Congress still believes that the power to decide when this Nation goes to war belongs to the Congress, as the Constitution provides.

Our servicemembers deserve clear objectives. Their families deserve accountability, and the American people deserve a Congress willing to exercise its constitutional authority.

Let me remind this body that the House Foreign Affairs Committee has still not held a single public hearing with an administration official on this war, the committee charged with matters of war and peace, zero hearings. Our constituents did not send us here to be a rubber stamp for any administration.

We cannot bomb our way out of this war. We need dialogue and diplomacy with our allies and adversaries alike. We need real diplomats at the table, not real estate developers who are in over their heads.

We, this body, need to hold this administration accountable.

I ask my colleagues to uphold the oath that we all took. Join us and make clear, once again, that this President cannot wage war without our consent.

The American people have made it abundantly clear they do not want and they do not support this war. We should stand with them and not Donald Trump.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the life, service, and enduring legacy of Staff Sergeant Angel Sarah Rampersad, a proud daughter of Carol and Basdeo Rampersad, whose extraordinary courage, selfless sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our nation will never be forgotten. Staff Sergeant Rampersad embodied the profound ideals of our country and the resilient spirit that defines our community of Queens.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Angel immigrated to the United States with her mother and sister at just two and a half years old, embracing the belief in the institutions and opportunities this nation offered while never losing sight of the values of family, faith, and service. She began her education at Narissa's Daycare before attending P.S. 108 in the heart of Queens M.S. 202 in Ozone Park, and later Forest Hills High School, where she graduated in 2015. She continued her education at John Jay College, where she obtained a degree in Criminal Justice, and discovered that her greatest calling was one of service. Determined to protect the nation that had become her home, she enlisted in the United States Army in 2019 and quickly distinguished herself through exceptional leadership, discipline, and commitment to duty, rising to the rank of Sergeant in just three years.

Throughout her military career, Staff Sergeant Rampersad served with honor across the globe. She was stationed in Hawaii before serving in Germany as a Signal Operations Support Specialist, where she supported critical communications missions and assignments throughout Europe. Most recently, she answered the call of duty once again and deployed to Jordan where she made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. Her devotion to duty reflected not only her love for her country, but also served as a reflection of her family's values that she cherished dear to her heart.

Whether it was serving her community, supporting her fellow soldiers, or encouraging those around her, Angel led with humility, kindness, and grace. She will long be remembered by those who knew her dearly as an eternal symbol of strength, unwavering compassion, and infectious bundle of joy that left a mark on every life she encountered.

Staff Sergeant Angel Sarah Rampersad's legacy is one of courage that embodies the heart and soul of Queens. Her life is a testament to the promise of America and to the countless men and women who bravely answer the call of duty to serve with honor and conviction. I honor not only a decorated soldier, but also a beloved daughter, wife, sister, friend, and Queens Borough hero. May we forever remember Staff Sergeant Angel Sarah Rampersad for her extraordinary service, cherish the example she set for future generations, and remain forever grateful for the sacrifices she made on behalf of our Nation.