Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on August 31, 2026. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 284 and YEA on Roll Call No. 285.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today after returning this morning from Israel convinced of something simple: We do not have to choose whose humanity matters.

I stood at the Nova Festival site where young people went to dance and 364 never came home.

I walked through Kibbutz Kfar Aza and saw the remains of bloodshed and attacks on peaceful people.

I sat across from people who survived captivity and somehow found the courage to tell us what it means to come home.

Their humanity matters.

I also met World Central Kitchen workers feeding Palestinian families in Gaza, and at Kerem Shalom, I saw the urgent work of getting food and medicine to innocent people trapped in a war they did not choose.

Their humanity matters too.

At Hadassah Medical Center, I saw perhaps the clearest reminder of all: Jewish and Arab doctors and nurses working side by side to save whoever comes through the door, because medicine does not ask who you choose whose life is worth saving. Every life is worth saving and neither should humanity.

We can mourn the victims of October 7 and demand dignity for innocent Palestinians. We can demand security for Israelis and humanitarian relief for Gaza.

When the world asks us to choose whose humanity matters, America should have the answer: Everyone's.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor America's 250th Anniversary. 250 years ago, a band of ordinary citizens, dedicated to the simple idea that all are created equal, came together and formed an enduring experiment that changed the course of history.

For 250 years, America has been a model for democracy. A global beacon of freedom, lighting the path forward for governments of, by, and for the people in every corner of our world.

For 250 years, America has been the land of opportunity. Where unions built the middle class and built an economy where all had the opportunity to succeed and create a good life for their family.

For 250 years, America's natural beauty has outshined the world. With our Great Lakes and our national parks. With our spacious skies, our amber waves of grain, and our purple mountains majesty.

For 250 years, America has been the launch pad of dreamers and doers. Henry Ford put the world on wheels. The Wright Brothers took us to the skies. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted our flag on the moon.

For 250 years, America has pushed for progress. From westward expansion to the abolition of slavery to the expansion of the right to vote. From women's suffrage to civil rights to workers' rights. From Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, from Frances Perkins to Dolores Huerta, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Gloria Steinem.

For 250 years, America has not stopped at the mountaintop. America has always looked beyond, pushing toward what is next. And 250 years on, America looks pretty damn good.

Mr. Speaker, each of us takes an oath when we arrive in this storied chamber to support and defend our Constitution. Included in that oath is a promise to never give up on our shared pursuit of a more perfect union.

We will never give up on a more perfect union where all get to live with dignity no matter what zip code they grow up in or what schools they attend.

We will never give up on a more perfect union where all can freely practice their faith without fear of violence; where children and parents do not have to worry about guns; where Americans can feel safe in their homes, in their grocery stores, in their houses of worship, and in their communities.

We will never give up on a more perfect union where parents can afford to raise their kids, buy a home, take vacations, and give their family a good life.

We will never give up on a more perfect union where we invest in manufacturing, support union jobs, and fight back against giant corporations that screw workers out of fair treatment in the workplace.

We will never give up on a more perfect union where every American is equal, where all have the right to vote and have their vote count. Where the promises of our 250-year-old Declaration of Independence are upheld and preserved for current and future generations.

There is nothing that Americans cannot do when we put our in minds together and work to achieve our common goals. No star is too distant to explore, no depth too deep to discover, no disease too complex to understand, no cure too impossible to devise. Nothing is out of reach in the United States of America.

Nothing is impossible in the land of the free. Nothing can stop us from forever seeking that more perfect union.

When I think of America, I think of Michigan. And when I think of Michigan, I think of the greatest place on earth.

I wish Americans a Happy Fourth of July, Happy Independence Day, and a Happy 250th anniversary of our great country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May as Huntington's Disease Awareness Month. As representatives in Congress, we hold the tremendous responsibility of representing our constituents bravely battling this condition.

Huntington's Disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder--with no treatment that slows or stops the progression--that causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. For over 30 years, we as a Nation have honored this month by ``going blue'' in support of our loved ones with Huntington's Disease. In that time, we have identified root causes, defined metrics for early detection, and had revolutionary breakthroughs in treatment. We have come a long way, but we have much more to accomplish in this fight.

Given the genetic nature of Huntington's Disease, it often impacts families for generations. Christina, one of my constituents, has endured the loss of her grandmother and the pain of watching her father and aunt battle this disease. All too familiar with the uncertainty this disease brings, she is committed to breaking the cycle and has become an advocate for all Americans with HD.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent and amplify the fighting spirit of the Huntington's Disease community in Congress. I call upon my colleagues to join Christina and myself in committing to greater federal support for brave Americans with Huntington's Disease.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to share with you today's remarks and to have you hear them, because on January 3, 2019, it was a special day for many of us in this very Chamber. It was my first day here.

Amid the ceremonies and celebrations and the chaos of that day, I will never forget watching my dear, sweet cousin, Brogan Dolata, who had just turned 12, run through the aisles of this very Chamber to join in the chorus of children at the rostrum and help swear in then-Speaker Pelosi.

She also sat by my side as I raised my hand and was sworn in as a Member of Congress on behalf of Michigan's 11th District to the 116th session of Congress.

Brogan helped send a message to the country that a new Democratic majority had come to Washington to protect America's children and to get our country back on track.

Seven years later, that little girl who carried her pink coin purse everywhere she went, soliciting small, dollar donations from her friends and neighbors to send her cousin Haley to Congress, is now the talented, brilliant, beautiful young woman who fills our lives with joy and hope. This weekend she accomplishes a major feat as she graduates from high school and begins her next chapter.

Brogan was born in Michigan's 11th District and raised along California's Central Coast. She is smart, funny, down to earth, and dynamic no matter what gets thrown her way. At a young age, she taught herself how to drive on her grandfather's farm and she hasn't stopped running circles around us since. That is the Michigan grit in her blood.

Brogan is also a star athlete. She found her passion in lacrosse and recently took her high school all the way to the California State championships. She scored 7 goals in the semifinals, secured a coveted spot in the northern California all-star game, and led her team to victory. Brogan knows how to win, and she does it gracefully, always looking out for her teammates and making sure everyone around her shares in success.

Brogan is the rock in our family, constantly defying expectations and making us proud. She sets her mind on her goals and works hard to achieve them. Nothing gets in her way. It has been such a treat to watch her grow into the dedicated and determined young lady she is today.

We are so excited for Brogan to pursue her dreams this fall, attending Santa Barbara City College with the plan to transfer to UCSB and become an entrepreneur just like her mother. It is only a matter of time before she takes the whole world by storm.

We know that achievements like this never happen on their own, so I congratulate my dear first cousin Chloe Dolata, and Brogan's father, Jay, on this important milestone in their lives. They have raised an exceptional daughter, and for that they deserve all the praise we have.

From her mom and dad, to her l'oncle Brendan; to Grandberry Marcie and Gramps and Auntie Maria; to her cousins, Blake and Haley, we are so proud of her. She is the pride and joy of this family. She is our future and we can't wait to see all she accomplishes.

We have always been at each other's sides through thick and thin, and I will always be there for her no matter the circumstances.

I wanted to take a moment in this storied Chamber to recognize Brogan's accomplishments and to write her achievements into our country's history books.

Congratulations on this milestone. I love you and I cannot wait to see you soon.

Madam Chair, I was unable to vote today on Roll Call No. 145. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 145.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jill Ann Hartwig, a devoted mother, wife, teacher, and community member whose impact will be felt for years to come. Born in Lansing, Michigan, Jill reflected the very best of Michigan: resilience, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping others.

A proud Spartan, she played softball at Michigan State University, where she demonstrated teamwork and quiet determination, ultimately being recognized with the Spirit Award for her leadership and character. She later graduated summa cum laude from Central Michigan University with a degree in Social Work.

Jill devoted her life to caring for others, showing up every single day with love and intention. Serving as a preschool teacher, foster parent, and mother of four, Jill strengthened her family and community in lasting ways. For too many families, cancer is personal. It underscores the importance of continued research and care so that fewer families face this kind of loss.

Jill passed away on March 4, 2026, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her wife, Misti Rice, and their children: Jacob, Adrian, Alston, and Avery.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to recognize a life grounded in love and service. Known for her warmth, humor, and her ability to make people feel seen and included, her loss will be felt by many in our community. Please join me in celebrating Jill and the radical kindness she shared with us.

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the Jewish community in West Bloomfield, Michigan, narrowly avoided a fatal act of anti-Semitic terrorism. The temple may be burned and battered, but every single life inside that sacred space was saved and spared.

Michigan is forever grateful to the private security guards who sprang into action and put their lives on the line to avoid serious tragedy. Because of their bravery and training, as well as the quick response of law enforcement, the congregants of Temple Israel are alive and safe.

We saw the images on our television screens. Dozens and dozens of police vehicles showed up immediately. We thank Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard, along with the West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Township Police Departments for answering the call.

In far too many houses of worship--in synagogues, in churches, in mosques--Americans now find themselves praying under the watchful eye of armed guards. No one should have to fear gathering at a synagogue, sending their kids to religious school, or simply practicing their faith.

Tragically, this appears to be our new normal. Anti-Semitism is at its highest levels in decades. Driven by hate and vitriol and stirred up by social media, it has become widespread and all too common.

It has consequences. Anti-Semitic incidents are up 900 percent over the last decade. In just one year, we have seen deadly attacks in Boulder, Colorado, as well as Washington, D.C. A temple in Mississippi burned down. America's only Jewish Governor and his family were victims of arson. America's Jewish community is scared by what this means for them and their place in our society.

There is nothing like it when we see this hit our own community. When I got that first phone call on Thursday afternoon, I nearly fell to the ground.

Michigan's 11th District is home to one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in the United States. They make our State and our country better in every way, and I am proud to represent them here in the Halls of Congress.

I spent the last few days speaking with parents, religious leaders, and community members. I was honored to join the congregation for Shabbat services on Friday night. They are shaken, but they are resilient. They are grateful for the outpouring of support the world has shown their community in recent days.

Mr. Speaker, we must call out anti-Semitism wherever we see it. It is no longer just enough to condemn it, though. We must root it out everywhere, and Congress must act. We have to fund Holocaust education programs. We must invest in efforts to combat anti-Semitism. We must urgently fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to ensure that houses of worship, regardless of faith, can keep their congregations safe from acts of terror.

Congress has fallen short. The security guards who saved Temple Israel were only there thanks to private grant funding from the Jewish Federations of North America. We must make sure we never come this close to tragedy again.

I want to offer a glimmer of hope. In the worst moment, we saw the best of Michigan. In the aftermath of the attack, the 140 students-- young children--and the staff inside this building were escorted safely across the street to the Shenandoah Country Club, founded by the Chaldean Iraqi immigrants who escaped persecution themselves.

In a world of division, lies, and fear, the Chaldeans welcomed their Jewish neighbors with open arms. They offered them shelter, food, and safety. They gave the kids coloring books and M&M's. Chicken tenders and fries were brought out. The parents were given the space to process and call loved ones.

Then 24 hours later, this Iraqi Christian country club hosted the whole congregation for Friday night Shabbat services.

This is America, and this is Michigan. That selflessness, that patriotism, and the love for thy neighbor makes me so proud to be a Michigander and the Congresswoman for Oakland County. We come together in times like this because that is who we are.

Mr. Speaker, Jewish families in Michigan and around the world are rightfully shaken, but they will do what they have done for centuries. They will endure. They will keep going. Temple Israel will reopen. We will rebuild. In Michigan, we write our own story. We will not be defined by one act of extremism.

Our Jewish community should be proud of who they are. We want them to know that we see them and we stand with them from the neighborhoods of West Bloomfield to the Halls of Congress. We will be alongside them in times of celebration and in times of difficulty. They are resilient, they are unbreakable, and their Congresswoman is with them.

Mr. Speaker, after Monday's college football national championship, I rise to express my concern about the trend of private equity firms attempting to buy up college sports. These deals will be bad for athletes, students, and fans.

We have seen this play before. Media corporations' pursuit of college football and basketball viewers created nonsensical conference realignment that destroyed the regional nature of

college sport. For generations, the Big Ten was known as the Midwestern Conference. In recent decades, that identity has slowly been eroded as coastal schools were admitted in the name of more revenue and higher profits.

Now private equity is looking to buy college sports revenue streams. If these deals are normalized, it is only a matter of time before private investors demand control over our university athletic departments. This creates the risk of further conference realignment, cutting nonrevenue sports, and expanding for-profit influence over universities.

This is why I have sent a letter with my Republican colleagues to end the NCAA.

Mr. Speaker, PFAS are everywhere, and they are endangering Michiganders' lives. PFAS, as we know, are toxic forever chemicals that persist in the environment, contaminate the water we drink, and accumulate in the body. Sadly, Michigan is ground zero for PFAS pollution.

I am proud to have worked across the aisle to deliver results for Metro Detroit and Michigan in this regard, but we must do more. That is why today I am introducing the PROTECT Act. It is bipartisan legislation that takes urgently needed steps to remove PFAS from our environment and prevent future contamination in the air we breathe.

By listing PFAS as hazardous air pollutants, this bill sets the foundation for strong, science-based standards that will reduce emissions. The PROTECT Act also holds major polluters responsible for the cleanup of these poisons, delivering real transparency and accountability to affected communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my bipartisan cosponsors from Michigan and across the country for joining me in this important effort. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, over the weekend, the world watched in horror as Jews celebrating the start of Hanukkah were murdered on the shores of Sydney, Australia.

It is dizzying, and it is unfathomable. Devastatingly, it has become more common in our world today. It doesn't matter whether it is in Australia, the United States, or Israel, the killing of Jewish people for practicing their faith is unconscionable, and it must stop.

Today we mourn the 15 lives lost at Bondi Beach. We grieve with their families and their loved ones, and we share the pain felt by the entire Jewish community around the world.

Hanukkah is a celebration of light, a proof point that even in dark times, Jewish communities can find the joy. However, these are not easy days. With freedom and lives on the line, we need change, and we need the violence to stop. As co-chair of the anti-Semitism task force, I will always speak out to use my voice to uproot anti-Semitism wherever it festers.

To the Jewish community in Michigan and beyond: I see you, I hear you,

and I will do everything I can to ensure that you can live, worship, and celebrate safely and freely.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable life of Coach Al Fracassa, a Michigan high school football coach that shaped generations of young men in Metro Detroit. Coach Fracassa began his career as a professional athlete in 1951, playing for Michigan State University in the National Championship and the Rose Bowl. Shortly after graduating, Al decided to use his skills to uplift future generations and began coaching football at various high schools around Metro Detroit. He served as head football coach at Royal Oak Shrine and Brother Rice High School, coaching over 40 seasons of high school football and leading his teams to nine state championships. He was more than a football coach, he was a guiding figure for his players, encouraging them to reach their full potential and pushing them to success. Known for his high expectations, Coach Fracassa consistently urged his players to ``do things better than you've ever done them before.'' Over the course of his career, Coach Fracassa sent over 300 players to college and 13 players to the NFL.

Beyond his contributions to the athletic world, Fracassa was a devoted husband, married to his high school sweetheart, Phyllis. Together, they raised four children, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He left his mark on the world in more ways than one, from his military service in 1956 to building up Brother Rice High School shortly after its formation. While he will be deeply missed, his legacy and love live on in the many lives he touched.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to recognize the life and contributions of this great titan, Coach Al Fracassa, who dedicated his life helping hundreds of young men find their place in the world. Please join me in celebrating this incredible individual and the lessons he shared with us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Liam Steadman and Malia Zaidi on the birth of their new baby daughter, Daisy Evelyn Steadman, who was born on September 28, 2025. She has been born to wonderful parents--Liam has dedicated his career to public service, and Malia is a skilled painter and author. I have no doubt that Daisy will be raised in a home filled with laughter and love and look forward to watching her grow into a beautiful young woman.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to celebrate this new bundle of joy in Liam and Malia's life. Please join me in wishing them well on this newest chapter of their journey together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude towards His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Archbishop of Constantinople and spiritual leader of Orthodox Christianity worldwide, for his time spent in our Nation's Capital last week. On behalf of the strong Eastern Orthodox community I represent in Michigan's 11th Congressional District, I enthusiastically congratulate His All-Holiness on receiving the 2025 Templeton Award.

This award underscores his ground-breaking environmental advocacy and unique ability to merge both scientific and spiritual discourses. His All-Holiness has exemplified a sense of responsibility towards coming generations: to preserve, protect, and promote the health of the planet on which we are honored to live.

Beyond his environmental advocacy, His All-Holiness has been an unwavering pillar in support of intersectionality, working to foster relations between devotees of Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. He has been relentless in his pursuit to prevent violence on the basis of religion, to ensure the humane treatment of all, and to join hands across the world in seeking peace and justice.

In Oakland County, we are blessed with a thriving Orthodox Christian community. As their Representative in Congress, I am thrilled His All- Holiness joined us in Washington, D.C., last week. His visit reminds us to be constantly kind and collaborative, one that is much needed during this time.

Please join me in thanking His All-Holiness for his visit and congratulating him on this well-deserved award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the counselors, outreach workers, and credible messengers who save lives as community violence interrupters in Michigan and across the Nation.

These programs, supported by the Community Violence Intervention funding, deescalate conflicts, mediate retaliation, and connect people to essential services like jobs, housing, and mental health care to break cycles of violence.

The impact is undeniable. From May to July of this year, Detroit's CVI zones saw about a 30 percent drop in homicides and shootings with some neighborhoods faring even better.

Despite this, cuts are taking their toll. This spring, the Department of Justice rescinded over $800 million in grants, including $150 million for CVI efforts. Michigan programs lost millions, forcing layoffs and cuts. Worse, the current budget would slash dedicated CVI funding even further, jeopardizing these lifesaving efforts.

Congress must act to restore funding and protect proven prevention strategies.